When casting artificials for Tarpon, the floating, Yo-Zuri crystal minnows are my first choice. I’ve had big poons hammer the small 2 3/8 inch model and I’ve had 30-40 pounders hit the magnum series. It’s mostly preference. The magnum’s cast very far, and seem to be very appealing. When distance isn’t a problem, use a smaller minnow around the four inch range.Color. Without a doubt, I would use use the most natural color. Unlike the snook guys love the red head, white bodied lures, Tarpon are much more likely to hit a lure with “realistic” color rather than a colorful color. Many anglers know that lures are designed for the fisherman, not the fish……Crystal Minnow suspending lure follow in the footsteps of its floating and skinking namesakes with unmached looks, action and attraction. The difference is that these suspending lures swim frantically to a depht of 24-36 inches and stay there – even if you stop your retreive and let the lure sit. The suspending Crystal minnow features a streamlined body and brillant holographic finish that lights up in the water… even in low light. In every way, it’s perfect clone of frghtened baitfish.Very good lures for tarpon on night when fishing from bridge ou for snapper fishing. Better use it during cloudy time. Monday, May 30, 2011
Tarpon Fishing With Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Suspending
Tarpon are very finicky and may eat a certain bait one day, and then indulge on another bait the next day. I really can’t help you in your lure selection, but I would highly recomend having some pre-rigged baits ready in case you aren’t getting hits on your “go-to” tarpon lure.When casting artificials for Tarpon, the floating, Yo-Zuri crystal minnows are my first choice. I’ve had big poons hammer the small 2 3/8 inch model and I’ve had 30-40 pounders hit the magnum series. It’s mostly preference. The magnum’s cast very far, and seem to be very appealing. When distance isn’t a problem, use a smaller minnow around the four inch range.Color. Without a doubt, I would use use the most natural color. Unlike the snook guys love the red head, white bodied lures, Tarpon are much more likely to hit a lure with “realistic” color rather than a colorful color. Many anglers know that lures are designed for the fisherman, not the fish……Crystal Minnow suspending lure follow in the footsteps of its floating and skinking namesakes with unmached looks, action and attraction. The difference is that these suspending lures swim frantically to a depht of 24-36 inches and stay there – even if you stop your retreive and let the lure sit. The suspending Crystal minnow features a streamlined body and brillant holographic finish that lights up in the water… even in low light. In every way, it’s perfect clone of frghtened baitfish.Very good lures for tarpon on night when fishing from bridge ou for snapper fishing. Better use it during cloudy time.
When casting artificials for Tarpon, the floating, Yo-Zuri crystal minnows are my first choice. I’ve had big poons hammer the small 2 3/8 inch model and I’ve had 30-40 pounders hit the magnum series. It’s mostly preference. The magnum’s cast very far, and seem to be very appealing. When distance isn’t a problem, use a smaller minnow around the four inch range.Color. Without a doubt, I would use use the most natural color. Unlike the snook guys love the red head, white bodied lures, Tarpon are much more likely to hit a lure with “realistic” color rather than a colorful color. Many anglers know that lures are designed for the fisherman, not the fish……Crystal Minnow suspending lure follow in the footsteps of its floating and skinking namesakes with unmached looks, action and attraction. The difference is that these suspending lures swim frantically to a depht of 24-36 inches and stay there – even if you stop your retreive and let the lure sit. The suspending Crystal minnow features a streamlined body and brillant holographic finish that lights up in the water… even in low light. In every way, it’s perfect clone of frghtened baitfish.Very good lures for tarpon on night when fishing from bridge ou for snapper fishing. Better use it during cloudy time. 
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Banjo Minnow Fishing Lure
Banjo minnow lures are supposed to copy the responses of a minnow fish dying in water. It is used as lure for enticing fish and taking home a big catch. It is by the mimicking action that it is able to attract the larger fish and for a fisherman, this is an added plus. The fisherman is supposed to control the movement pace, struggle as well as the movement of swimming by the bait in order to lure in the fish. Fish get easily spooked by quick motions, disturbance or lures that seem fake. The Banjo minnow lures are made in a manner that eliminates all these possibilities and increases the chances of getting a large catch.
Among the major factors that make the Banjo minnow work is the fact that fish are dominating by nature. As such, when they spot a smaller minnow struggling in the water, the first instinct is to attack and since these are designed in a manner that makes it easy for the bigger fish to attack, it becomes considerably easy to lure the catch.When the Banjo minnow was first introduced in the market, most of the sales were made through TV commercials. While this still remains to the popular method used for selling the lures, there are also several websites that stock the same. Some of the online sites are known to compare different lures plus the costs and afterwards, direct buyers to sites where they can buy high quality Banjo minnow.There are several things that need to be considered before making a buy and while this might be the case; the fact that the Banjo minnow has gained popularity over the last couple of years is considered a positive attribute. The Banjo minnow also comes in different sizes and again, this is viewed by buyers as an additional feature that makes them an appealing addition to buyers.
Among the major factors that make the Banjo minnow work is the fact that fish are dominating by nature. As such, when they spot a smaller minnow struggling in the water, the first instinct is to attack and since these are designed in a manner that makes it easy for the bigger fish to attack, it becomes considerably easy to lure the catch.When the Banjo minnow was first introduced in the market, most of the sales were made through TV commercials. While this still remains to the popular method used for selling the lures, there are also several websites that stock the same. Some of the online sites are known to compare different lures plus the costs and afterwards, direct buyers to sites where they can buy high quality Banjo minnow.There are several things that need to be considered before making a buy and while this might be the case; the fact that the Banjo minnow has gained popularity over the last couple of years is considered a positive attribute. The Banjo minnow also comes in different sizes and again, this is viewed by buyers as an additional feature that makes them an appealing addition to buyers.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Daiwa Leobritz 500MT Electric Fishing Reel
If you want to use an electric reel, Daiwa Fishing Reel Electric Leobritz 500MT can be your choice. This reel has a rewind speed: 200 meters per minute with 15 Kg max drag. and gear ratio: 3:7:1. below are the full specifications of Daiwa Fishing Reel Electric Leobritz 500MT
Here are the full specs :
Unique Power Lever for instant control of winding speed and powerDigital readout measures line out and distance retrieved from the bottomProgrammable auto stop feature stops winding when lure or bait reaches the surfaceManual winding option1kg load speed :155 m/minThe manual in EnglishMenu language in JapanesePower cord and reel bag included.Made in Japan.Programmable jigging functionMEGATWIN Power SystemSpeed technical leverMemory backup function18+1 ball bearingsCRBBBrass and aluminium gearingCompact designWashable design with sealed electronicsConvenient 12-16.8 Volts DC operationMaximum winding power 20 kg. continuous/momentary 43 kg.200m/min per minute winding speed in “Hi speed” mode1kg load speed :155 m/minThe manual in EnglishMenu language in JapanesePower cord and reel bag included.Made in Japan.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Abu Garcia REVO Winch Baitcasting Reel
The Abu garcia Revo Winch makes use of the same compact profile as the other reels in the Revo series yet is instantly recognizable thanks to a two tone motif in which the frame is traditional silver and the sideplates are a rich blue color. The reel is further accented with gold highlights with the matching spool and drag star, overall the combination gives the reel a simple yet elegant look and feel.
Look under the skin of this reel and it becomes obvious that the engineers at Abu wanted to build a true powerhouse of a reel. Abu garcia Revo Winch comes loaded with a massive pure brass master gear that the company calls “DuraGear” because it is also specially treated for corrosion resistance. Adding to the reel’s corrosion resistant features are eleven HPCR (High Performance Corrosion Resistant) bearings. The entire Revo series already has a reputation for having the strongest drags in their class, and the Winch makes use of the same Carbon Matrix drag system for smooth fish stopping performance.
In the lab the reel felt solid but also was noticeably heavier than both the Quantum Energy and Shimano Curado reels which are also contenders in the shootout. To test the Abu Garcia Revo Winch we head straight for the California Delta and paired the rod with a variety of crankbaits. We actually had trouble finding deep enough water that was vegetation free for our deep crank tests so we also decided to fish a number of Northern California lakes including Clear Lake to finish up our comparisons.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Daiwa Saltist Lever Drag Hyper Speed Saltwater Conventional Reels
The Daiwa Saltist Hyper Speed Lever Drag is a one of my favorit fishing reel. There is no other reel
out on the fishing retail market that can compete with the 7.3 to 1 retrieval speed. This Hyper
Speed retrieve is perfect for jig strikes and fast moving fish. The Saltist Hyper Speed is known
for its small compact frame and corrosion resistant ball bearings. The best part of the Saltist is
it precise stainless steel gears and its smooth winding power. The Daiwa Hyper Speed is a must
have for all boat fishermen.
New Hyper Speed additions offer retrieve speeds as high as 7.3 to 1, just the ticket for triggering jig strikes from fast-moving predators—picking up line quickly when you need to.Fast, One Touch gear shiftHyper Speed 7.3 to 1 retrieve ratio, grabbing up to 52? of line with every crankEight CRBB corrosion resistant ball bearingsPrecision stainless steel gears, helical-cut for smooth, powerful windingUltimate Tournament carbon drag (UTD)Offset power handle with round speed knobAluminum frame and left side plate are one solid piece for unmatched strengthDual system Infinite Anti-Reverse (single speed models)Precision ratchet Anti-Reverse (two speed models)Machined aluminum spool
out on the fishing retail market that can compete with the 7.3 to 1 retrieval speed. This Hyper
Speed retrieve is perfect for jig strikes and fast moving fish. The Saltist Hyper Speed is known
for its small compact frame and corrosion resistant ball bearings. The best part of the Saltist is
it precise stainless steel gears and its smooth winding power. The Daiwa Hyper Speed is a must
have for all boat fishermen.
New Hyper Speed additions offer retrieve speeds as high as 7.3 to 1, just the ticket for triggering jig strikes from fast-moving predators—picking up line quickly when you need to.Fast, One Touch gear shiftHyper Speed 7.3 to 1 retrieve ratio, grabbing up to 52? of line with every crankEight CRBB corrosion resistant ball bearingsPrecision stainless steel gears, helical-cut for smooth, powerful windingUltimate Tournament carbon drag (UTD)Offset power handle with round speed knobAluminum frame and left side plate are one solid piece for unmatched strengthDual system Infinite Anti-Reverse (single speed models)Precision ratchet Anti-Reverse (two speed models)Machined aluminum spool
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tips To catch Amberjack
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Tips To catch Amberjack – If you’re craving for the fish with a name as a battler, it’s the bigger Amberjack. Amberjacks are powerful fish and need onerous gear and tackle. a pleasant place to start out targeting the Amberjack is in a hundred to a hundred and fifty feet of water higher than wrecks, salt domes, and bottom breaks like cliffs or ledges, and that they like to concentrate around oil and gas rigs or different towers. These deep-water structure-oriented fish seem to principally cruise within the mid-depths, and one times hooked get ready for a fight.
For Amberjacks a sliding sinker rig is rigged. First, slip an egg sinker ranging anywhere from eight to sixteen ounces onto the most line and then tie on a dull-finish No. one swivel. Next augment feet of ninety to a hundred thirty pound-test fluorocarbon leader material and pack up with a 9/0 to 11/0 circle hook.
In order to discourage the littlest fish within the college from putting initial, go along with the most important bait possible. An Amberjack weighing forty pounds or higher doesn’t have any issue engulfing a 1 to four pound baitfish. A high manufacturing baitfish for Amberjacks is blue runner, different baits which will work are pinfish, spots, grunts, croakers, and squid or mullet.
Although the employment of live bait is effective on Amberjacks, there is various big heavyweight jigs that these fish will take. Thus, it’s perpetually wise to stay various proven amberjack jigs in your fishing tackle arsenal. An assortment of those in seven to 10 ounce weights in colours like silver, chrome, white, chartreuse or mixtures of those hues works well.
When fishing a jig place the reel in free spool and drop the lure all the way down to or close to the lowest. One times the jig is at the lowest retrieve the lure upwards with a swift lifting and then lowering motion of the rod tip. after you lower the rod tip crank up the slack speedy. Repeat this nonstop motion all the far to the surface, then repeat the procedure. in contrast to the additional delicate downward pull of a bite on live bait, the strike on the jig is abrupt and forceful.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Skipjack Tuna Fishing Technique And Tips
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Skipjack Tuna Fishing Technique And Tips – Skipjack Tuna are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. Skipjack is gift in big group feeding at the surface at dawn and dusk. within the coursework of different times they will come back to deeper waters. Skipjack Tuna eat lots of sorts of fish, as well as herrings, menhaden, hake, mackerels, anchovies, still as shrimp and squid.
Trolling little live baits or little lures, feathers, plastic squid or minnows at 5 to six knots is effective for Skipjack Tuna. Trolling strip baits at the surface at seven to 10 knots also will manufacture well for Skipjack. conjointly casting shiny metal lures. Alternatively you’ll fly fish for Skipjack Tuna together with chum. Most Skipjack Tuna caught by sport fishermen are within the 5 to fifteen pounds vary.of the foremost fascinating ways in which of fishing for Skipjack Tuna is to find a faculty of Skipjack feeding at the surface. Then with light-weight tackle casting into the frenzied college with alittle lure. explore for diving birds as a key to a probable bait ball still as a beautiful likelihood of finding feeding Skipjack.
To do this kind of fishing you’ll want a lightweight to medium action spinning reel with a matched rod that’s seven to eight feet long. The spinning reel should have a large line capability and be spooled with a minimum of 250 yards of 10 to twelve pound check. Skipjack Tuna will have long high speed runs therefore a swish drag could be a should. At the end of your mainline tie alittle barrel swivel. To the opposite end of the barrel swivel attach a fifteen to twenty in. piece of 10 pound fluorocarbon leader. Use little lures just like the crippled herring, Lead-head jigs, flies and even soft plastics.
Move your boat in to position a casting length removed from the varsity. create a forged in front of the moving college. When the lure hits the water let it sink for a second or and create a gradual speedy retrieval whereas holding the tip of the rod close to the surface of the water.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Roosterfish Fishing Tips and Technique
Roosterfish Fishing Tips and Technique – Roosterfish inhabit the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California to Peru. Roosterfish frequently travel in big school, chasing baitfish. When hooked or in pursuit of prey it’ll raise its dorsal fin sort of a flag and leap repeatedly. Most Roosterfish catch by sport fishermen are principally within the ten to thirty pound vary however Roosterfish up to one hundred pounds are caught by anglers. Fishing strategies are trolling or casting baits and lures, or live bait fishing from a ship or shore.Slow trolling Rapalas or faster trolled dorado, tuna and wahoo kind lures can take Roosterfish further as belly baits on skirts. Roosterfish may also be caught with slowly trolled mullet, sardines simply outside the surf line. Roosters will be taken all year spherical however they’re a lot of commonly caught from November through March.A very productive and well-liked technique of fishing for Roosterfish is surfcasting. this can be typically done with a graphite composite medium to medium-heavy action rod that’s ten to thirteen feet long, with a high capability spinning reel that incorporates a quick retrieve ratio. The spinning reel ought to be spooled with three hundred yds of braided line that is fifty to sixty five lb take a look at with a sixty to eighty lb mono leader. Attach the four to six feet of leader to the mainline with a one hundred lb barrel swivel. 
When the surf gets massive and therefore the Roosterfish will solely be reached by casting out seventy to one hundred yds use serious surface lures like Rangers within the four to five oz. Size. the foremost affective thanks to fish Roosterfish in massive surf is to solid out as so much as you’ll and then reel in as quickly as potential. it’s not possible to reel too quick for these fish. When the fish will be seen operating bait terribly near shore and therefore the surf isn’t giant, use smaller casting lures like Crocodiles and Hopkins, the most effective size being two to three oz. and within the numerous chrome color patterns.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
May Fishing Ft Lauderdale aboard Hooked Up
Ok so April is behind us and here we go right into one of the best Shark fishing months of the year.
We started out May fishing with Phil, Brain, Piere, Charles and May all from Oklahoma.
We started out May fishing with Phil, Brain, Piere, Charles and May all from Oklahoma.
What a great way to start out the new month!
We started out trolling the reef catching kingfish and bonitos one after another.
Ok so now that everyone had caught a fish or two we brought in the trolling gear and set out our kites with live baits suspended from them along with a couple shark
baits set down deep.
Ok the trap is set and it seemed like only min till this BIG sailfish was chasseing one of the live baits all over the place and just like that we were Hooked Up.
Phil jumped in the chair and the fight was on. 20 min later Phil had his 89 inch sailfish to the boat.
Than all of a sudden one of our deep rods bent over and line started peeling off. Holly Cow we got another big fish on just like that. This time Brain jumped in the chair and the fight was on. After a good 15 min Brain was worn out so Piere jumped in the chair to give him a hand. 10 min later at last this big hammerhead shark was at the side of the boat. J.J. managed to get 2 out of the 3 hooks out of the hammerhead and we watched him swim away in great shape.
What a great trip and as we pulled back to the dock we had our afternoon trip eager to give their luck a shot aboard the Hooked Up off the coast of Fort Lauderdale.
We had Jordon, Elson, Chirag all from Dallas Texas and Tim out of Miami Florida.
Once again we started out trolling the reef catching everyone a bonitos or 2 and than we set the kites right back out there and sure enough another sailfish popped up and this time Elson jumped in the chair.
15 min later he had his first sailfish catch. J.J. cut the leader as close as possible to the sail’s mouth and he also swim away in great shape.
What can I say but this was the perfect way to start out May!!
Thanks again to all of our lucky anglers today and thanks again for fishing with us aboard the Hooked Up.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 ob toll free @(877) SEA-4344
May 3rd
Today we started out fishing with Charles, Brent, Mark, Emma and Andrea from Ottawa Canada.
We went right out to 150 feet of water and set out 2 kites with 3 live baits and one dead shark bait suspended from them.
The bite started out a bit slow only catching a few king fish and a few bonitos than all @ once line started screaming off the one of the reels and we had a big fish on.
After a 15 min back and forth tug a war up came this nice 18-pound black fin tuna.
Guy’s thanks again for fishing with us aboard the Hooked Up and we are looking forward to fishing with you guys again next year.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 ob toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
May 4
Today we fished with Jake and Brent from Lexington Kentucky.
We started out trolling the reef with 2-planner boards running about 45 feet deep along with 3 baits skipping across the waves. The planner boards seemed to be getting all the bites with us boating a half dozen kingfish along with a few bonitos.
Ok now that the skunk was out of the box we brought in the trolling gear and set out 2 kites with 2 live baits suspended from 1 kite and a live bait and a big dead shark bait suspended from the other kite. We also set a shark bait on the bottom and one last shark bait half way down.
Ok so the trap was set and now all we needed was for some big SEA MONSTER to come along and take a bite.
That’s just what happen and Jake jumped in the chair and the fight was on.
It was a back and forth fight till at last Jake got his hammerhead shark to the boat.
We slid him into the tuna door got all 3 hooks out of him a quick measurement to have a replica trophy made of Jake’s catch and watched him swim away in good shape to fight again another day.
Jake and Brent thanks again for a fun day of fishing you guys are first class and we look forward to fishing again.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 ob toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
May 5
Today was kind of a special day of fishing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale for me because I got to fish for the first time with the newest edition to the Hooked Up Local Knowledge Fishing team Brendan. I’m not trying to write this fishing story about one of the crew members but this truly ins a big part of the story today.
Brendan was a customer on the Local Knowledge quite a few months ago and Captain Mike has been using him to book trips and has slowly been training him to be a mate.
Well today both my main crewmembers J.J. and Greg needed the day off and I just wanted to see what Brendan had. By the way I did have one of our fill in Captains Chris ride along just incase things did not work out but as you’ll read things worked out very good.
Ok back to the trip we had Dennis from Sevierville Tenn. and Valery who now lives in Fort Lauderdale aboard.
Dennis told me he had been on 4 ob 5 fishing trips in the past without catching anything! I assured him that I would not let this happen on my watch!
So off we went on our 4-hour fishing trip. We started out trolling the reef with 2 planner board running about 45 feet down, one wire line set way back and two baits skipping across the surface.
We started trolling to the south catching a kingfish here and a kingfish there and while Brendan was wiring in the fish I would yell down to him that I wanted him to gaff the fish in the eye!! I must say this kid can gaff! He gaffed every fish just where I told him to and I think he was starting to feel a little good about himself but I was not going to let him get too at ease yet.
Ok so the kid was doing a pretty good job and at this point Dennis had let me know that he was having a ball and wanted to extend his trip for the whole day.
Good eating fish was what Dennis was looking for so we brought in the trolling gear and started doing deep drops for snappers. While we did manage to catch one good-sized snapper they just were not biting so I decided to switch up and dropped a live bait on a ship wreck.
A few min after our live bait hit the bottom the rod bent over and we were Hooked Up with a big fish that was taking a lot of line off the reel.
Dennis jumped in the chair and the fight was on. After a good 10 min fight up popped this 35 to 40 pound greater amber jack. We got quick photos of Dennis’s Jack and watched him swim back to the bottom to fight again another day.
O by the way I forgot to mention that while Brendan was bring this nice fish aboard he dropped him back in the water but by the grass of god the hook stayed tight and we were finally able to get a photo. (LOL)
Ok things were going good and now that Brendan was a little humbled we decided to go off shore looking for some dolphin fish.
Long story short we never did find any dolphin fish.
Ok no dolphin but I still had one more trick up my sleeve.
We caught a couple of live baits and we did a drop on one of my secret wrecks and as soon as the bait hit the bottom the rod bent over and we were Hooked Up again.
I called out to Valery (who to be honest had not felt very good for the last few hours but never once complained) to jump in the chair and reel up this grouper.
Much to everyone surprise (Me included) up popped this 15 pound black grouper.
Well Dennis you wanted good eating fish and this one is as good as it gets.
Dennis, Valery and yea Brendan it was a real pleasure fishing with you guys and two more things #1 Dennis I am looking forward to fishing with you again soon and Brendan you are not supposed to be happier than the costumers went we put a nice fish in the boat! (LOL) But all the same you did a great job and we’re glad to have you aboard.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 ob toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
Friday, May 20, 2011
May in panama city = drag strippers
Posted by salty soul on May 16th, 2011 | 0 commentsgreetings from panama city . the fishing has been great . theres plenty of bait in the bay now , and the fish are feeding well .
we are still catching some really nice trout and reds on the flats in the early morning . mostly on top-waters and jig-and- popping corks .
another one of my favorite things to do , is castnet some big menhaden and flat-line them for spanish and king mackerel . this is really simple fishing and loads of fun . simply go to my ” secret spots” and hook a bait in the tail , cast him out , and hold on….
we catch anything from bluefish , to 6 to 8 lb spanish macks , to 30+ lb kings , to big blacktip and bull sharks .
pictured here are terry helton and david brown with a few of the fish they caught . we were fishing live menhaden , and almost got spooled twice on the 10 lb rods , b4 switching to bigger shark rods . along with the big macks , we did manage to boat a perfect size blacktip shark for the grill .
later terry told me , he was talking to some guys that went on a charter the same day . long story short , 8 hrs fishing and no fish to eat…i guess it like anything else , its all about who ya know..lol
folks , id like to thank our militairy for their service , and the creator for all his blessings , and you , my fellow anglers , for making my job possible . as always , ive got a bent rod with your name on it . see ya soon , capt. steve
Thursday, May 19, 2011
SW FL Bonita Beach 150 lb shark keeper grouper lanes flounder
Monday, 5/2, was another one of those breezy day, but the wind direction made it possible to at least get my party of four out to the reefs. Long-time customers Dennis Jamie Riddell brought Dennis’ brother, Tom, and sister-in-law, Joan, along this time. We used live shrimp to catch six nice trout to 18 inches, a 16-inch flounder, a couple of keeper mangrove snapper, a few Spanish mackerel to 23 inches, and four sheepshead to 13 inches. We released about 25 gag grouper shorts.
Tuesday, I headed back to fish the reefs, this time with Ralph and Kelly Kroll. Seas were still a little sloppy for getting out well offshore, but the reefs provided us plenty of action in relatively calm seas. We used live shrimp to catch fifteen trout, seven of which were nice keepers, all measuring between 16 and 18 inches. We released eight that were in the 15 to 15 1/2 inch range. We also caught a couple of keeper mangrove snapper, and we released lots of gag grouper shorts and ladyfish.
Thursday morning, a very windy one, I fished Estero Bay with Chris Barbara Hodgson. We used shrimp to catch and release two black drum, two crevalle jacks, and five sheepshead. We also caught two keeper mangrove snapper. The tide was going out most of the morning, with the wind blowing about 18 knots.
Friday, I fished the last of this season’s trips with long-time customer, Ron Musick, joined by Eddie Alfonse, Dick Arnett, and friends, Denzel and Garrett. Eddie caught a keeper red grouper at 21 ½ inches, and the group caught fifteen nice lane snapper to 15 inches. The grouper ate a sardine and the lanes took live shrimp. We released a five-foot barracuda, which also ate a sardine and, after a tough fight that nearly pulled me and Ron out of the boat, we caught, on a sardine on the bottom, a nurse shark that was 7 ½ feet long and estimated at 150 pounds. After we released that one, we called it a day!
Saturday morning, I fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay with Greg Parish and his two sons, Jason and John. We used shrimp to catch and release two redfish, a snook, and trout.
Tuesday, 5/10, I fished 22 miles west of New Pass with Jeff Tina Slabbekoorn and their children, nine-year-old Zayda and seven-year-old Max. We used live shrimp to catch a 21-inch keeper red grouper, seven Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, and fifteen keeper lane snapper to 13 1/2 inches. We released about 25 additional red grouper that were shorts to 19 inches, as well as 35 additional smaller lane snapper.
Wednesday, the ,SW winds made for some sloppier conditions offshore, so David Raynondo and Joe Resendes fished near-shore with me, in 18 to 26 feet of water, with live shrimp. We caught two keeper sheepshead that measured 13 inches each, a 16-inch sea trout, a 17-inch black drum, a 16-inch flounder, and two Spanish mackerel 23 and 24 inches long. We released lots of mangrove snapper and gag grouper shorts.
Long -time customers, brothers, Harry and Grant Kurtz, along with Harry’s daughter, Lindsay, and her boyfriend, Cory, fished with me 22 miles off Naples on Thursday. The wind was up around fifteen knots, with the seas two to three feet. We stopped at the first area in about 43 feet of water, where visibility was about twenty feet. The plan was to catch enough fish for dinner and release the rest. We had non-stop action on nice lane snapper, but there were not many big ones at that spot so, after an hour or so, we moved a little ways, looking for grouper, and found lots of undersized red grouper and a few bigger lanes. Cory also caught his first Spanish mackerel, which was 20 inches long.
The next time I was scheduled to fish was on Saturday, 5/14, when I had hoped to get offshore with a party of six that got canceled a couple of Saturdays ago, due to rough seas. But the weather-front that moved through the area early Saturday had winds and seas kicked up once again, along with ominous looking skies threatening rain. We had to cancel that trip, and hope to reschedule for a day that might finally offer good conditions.
The photo shown is of angler, Joe Resendes, with a 16-inch flounder, caught on shrimp on a recent trip (last week.)
Article source: http://www.charterbooker.com/
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Trout SMACKDOWN 5-12-11
Day 2 with Tim barras. Tim brought his customers Larry Landry, and Rick Oconnell. We departed from the The Reel In Fishing Lodge at first light. Found a calmer gulf today with green pretty water. One stop shop as we had the yellow mouths jumping in the boat 4-8 at a time (60 fish in about 20-30 minutes). The bite slowed then picked up on and off. We had #100 hit the ice right at 9:00 again today. Solid fish today up to 3 pounds. LSU and glow/chartreuse chubs were the ticket today. Thanks Tim for your continued business and look forward to our trip next week.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Trout, Reds, and flounder 5-14-11
After having to reschedule our trips yesterday, I was able to make it out today. Good having Al Reaux back onboard today. Al brought his grandson Nathan Reaux from Florida and his niece’s spouse Wylie Hightree from Texas. After departing from The The Reel In Fishing Lodge, our first stop produced a few trout and a flounder. Made a few more moves looking for a better bite and only found a few trout willing to bite at each stop. Our last stop for trout had them coming in one after the other for a short period, as soon as I thought we hit the jackpot the bite was over!! We went scout a few other areas but found dirty water. Time for redfish!! Hit the ponds to find a slower bite than normal. After 7 reds hit the deck we called it a day. We ended the day with a decent box of fish in the less than favorable conditions. Thanks again Al, looking forward to our next trip coming up.
Looking for Fish
Do you fish the same areas over, and over again? Those same flats; that same channel cutting through the grass; the same ledge or wreck; you know all of the places you fish sometimes like the back of your hand.
You g
ot to know those places over time by being familiar with them. So how can you go to a completely new area and have a chance at catching fish the first time out? Try some of these tips to get you started. First of all, buy a good chart of the area. If its an inshore location, you will need it for navigation. If you are going offshore, wreck locations, bottom contours, and GPS numbers are on lots of fishing maps. Stop at a good tackle shop and ask a lot of questions. Don't expect a lot of good answers in the early morning when they are busy. Come a little later in the morning when bait buying the rush has slowed, and simply tell the owner you are new to the area and that you would like his or her help in locating some fish. They will be eager to help you, because if you are successful, it is likely they just found a new customer! They will mark a chart up for you if you buy it from them, and that chart can end up being the best investment you can make. When you get your chart, sit down one evening and study it. Find the cuts and channels. Locate the deeper holes or humps. Find the flats that will empty to a nearby channel at low tide. Chart study of this nature is basically eliminating large expanses of water rather than finding specific holes or places to fish. In any given area, there are literally miles of water that are not worth your while fishing. By simply eliminating that water, you can concentrate on more productive water. Find out what the tides will be on the day you plan to fish. When you talk to the local tackle shop be sure to ask which tides to fish.
If all el
se fails and you have the funds available, hire a guide. One day of fishing with a guide can teach you the areas to fish, the bait to use, and the tides to fish. Granted, the guide may take you to only one location, but you will at least have that location on which to count. Lots of you guides may get angry at me for suggesting this, but let's face it, it's a paid trip and you'll only be giving up one location, not your entire black book!
Wednesday Burn Hack 5-11-2011
My good customer Tim Barras brought along his daughter Robyn and her friend Danni Vizinat . We pulled out of The Reel In Fishing Lodge bright and early with one thing on our minds…..trout. Only took one stop and Tim and the girls had the silver backs coming in 3-6 at a time. All I could do was un-hook fish!!! Burn Hacks and trout were flying all around the boat. It was the most fish the two girls had ever caught. Todays best bait was the LSU Chub, double rigged of course!!! Good times as always had by everyone. Thanks again Tim.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Surf Casting Techniques
Editor's Note: Randy Kadish is an experienced surf angler from the great state of New York. Here he gives away some of his secrets for long distance casting.
We've all been there. Standing in the beautiful, vast surf, casting our long rods for hours without a single hit.
So we wonder, maybe this just isn't our day. We cast again, but our concentration has ebbed, so instead of watching the line and maintaining contact with the lure, we lose ourselves in the music of crashing waves--until the music is pierced by the sharp, shriek-like howls of seagulls.
Down the beach a flock circles and dives: a sure sign bait fish and probably stripers our moving towards us. Something goes off in us. An adrenaline rush? A predatory instinct?
We don't exactly what, or how to describe it, but it's changed us. Electricity seems to be surging through us. We're wired. Eagerly, we watch and wait.
The seagulls move close.
But darn! They're out of our casting reach.
Disappointed, we wonder, what will we tell our wives--that the stripers just weren't running, again? Maybe. But the sad thing is, it doesn't have to be that way. The seagulls, you see, aren't beyond out reach. They're beyond our skills.
Exactly what do I mean?
For years tournament fly casters have been refining their techniques, and as a result are now casting farther than before. Can their techniques can help us surfcasters reach that faraway fish? Yes, I believe so.
But on a crowded beach, will we have to risk hooking someone with our lure? Absolutely not.
To help me explain, let's begin by looking at some universal casting principals. 1. The lure will move in the direction the rod tip moved just before it was stopped.
2. To effectively load the rod we must begin the cast slowly, then accelerate and reach maximum speed just before we stop the rod. (If we begin the cast too fast the lure will also move too fast and, therefore, not fully pull on the rod.)
3. To use all the power stored in a loaded rod, we must abruptly stop the rod without lowering the tip from the target line.
4. All things being equal, if we lengthen our casting stroke the more we will load the rod.
With these principals in mind let's now turn to the techniques of long-distance surf casting.
Any slack in the line will make it impossible to fully load the rod. Long-distance fly casters, therefore, make sure they begin the cast with their rod and line hands close together so slack can't come between them.
When casting a spinning rod we often add slack by not holding the line with enough tension. Even worse, just before we abruptly stop the rod, our index finger often prematurely releases the line and the lure sails high and off to the right. To avoid this, I place two fingers in front of the reel stem and two behind. I pickup the line with my right index finger, then I move my hand back so that only my index finger is in front of the stem. Next, I pull the line up and back and gently press my fingertip against the stem, but not the line. (I like to feel the weight of the lure to cast it accurately.)
When casting heavy lures, I recommend wearing a golf glove so the line doesn't cut your finger.
(Continue to page 2....)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Learning to Fish
Okay, so you decided you want to learn to fish. And you need to know who, what, where, when, and why on just about every aspect of fishing. There are a number of ways to learn, not the easiest of which is trial and error, although that method has a more lasting effect on your knowledge base.
If you are looking at saltwater fishing, there are some ways to ease your way into the sport, and painlessly learn the ropes. If I were advising someone who was just beginning, here is where I would point him or her:
We are assuming that you have opted out of paying for one-on-one lessons and that you have not hooked up with a friend willing to give of his time to teach you one-on-one. Given these criteria, we will proceed.
Go out and buy a package of seasick medicine. Nothing can ruin your day more than seasickness. You would be amazed at how easy a novice on the water can become ill. My recommendation is Bonine. It has worked in every case for the people I take fishing. If it’s going to be a particularly rough day with heavy seas offshore, I have been know to take some myself. Buy a reference book for beginners. Fishing for Dummies is a good start and is available on all the online bookstores. It gives you simple instructions, terms, definitions, and generally points you in the right direction. Read the book! There may be things you don’t understand, but read the book anyway! Learn to tie several of the knots they will show you. Contrary to popular belief, a double granny knot will not work with fishing line. Spend the money to go on a party/head boat. These are boats that carry from twenty to as many as seventy anglers. They provide everything – bait, rod and reel, hooks, sinkers. They even help you fish and take the fish off your line for you. They will spot you if you are new and one of the mates will stay close to you to help. They will do this partly out of customer service, but also wanting to keep an eye on their rod and reel that they fear may accidentally go overboard. Remember the seasick medicine. This is where you will use it. Take a pill before you go to bed the night before and one when you wake up. Then take one as you board the boat. Trust me, you will thank me for this reminder. Head boats run from $30 to $60 a day, and you get to keep your fish! Compared to the cost of a boat, fishing equipment, gas, and bait, it is a bargain for the beginner. You walk on empty handed and walk off with fish. What a concept! Assuming you have acquired the ability to operate a rod and reel from step three, you need to find a fishing pier. Most coastal cities have at least one public or pay-to-fish pier that goes out into the ocean. Some even have a pier that goes into a bay or river. These piers will often rent tackle. They do sell bait and terminal tackle (that’s the hooks and sinkers and the like) and will help you rig the rod and reel if you did not learn either from step two or three above. From that point you may feel like you are on your own. But fear not; help abounds. If you ask nicely and appear to be struggling on the pier, there are any number of pier anglers that will jump in to help you and give you advice. They are a special breed of angler and some of the friendliest folks around. That’s a major reason for sending you to a pier in this step.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
What Kind of Fishing Leader
Leaders. Some people swear by them; others swear at them. Freshwater anglers rarely use them. Kingfish, bluefish and mackerel demand their use because of the sharp teeth. But, are they really necessary on other types of fish? We were just off of Elliot Key in South Florida trolling, actually wire lining for black and red grouper. Each year in late winter and early spring they come up on the patch reefs to spawn, and some rather large ones can be caught with trolling feathers close to the bottom.
The bottom around the patches runs from twenty to forty feet down, and rises to within three feet of the surface on top of many of these reefs. Trolling is sometimes a tricky proposition, maneuvering around and between the patches.
Grouper will run out from a hole in the reef, grab the trolled feather, and dig back to their hole if they can. The trick to catching the hooked fish is to keep them out of that hole. Once they “hole up”, the only way to get them out is to dive down with a gaff and pull them out. Following the line down, we grab the leader, gaff the fish and attempt to drag it out of the reef – no easy task on a forty-pound black grouper.We are successful most of the time on these dives, and almost always successful if we can get hold of the leader.
We fish for sheepshead – my favorite cold weather fish – in the cold weather months. On my last sheepshead trip I noticed something about our terminal tackle. I had a ten-inch, twenty-pound test fluorocarbon leader on my eight-pound test line. Bob had no leader on his twelve-pound test line. Brett had a twelve-inch, plastic coated, braided steel leader with a large snap on the end. His #1 hook was almost as large as the snap. We will argue the merits and catch rates of these terminal tackle rigs at a later time; for this discussion, I want to talk about leaders in general. Let’s look at the several possible scenarios given the types of leaders each of us used. On my rod, the leader is there to prevent a fish from chewing or cutting the line with their mouth. I use a surgeon’s knot to join the leader to the line. If I hang up, I loose my hook, or in this case jig head. It takes literally about two minutes to tie on another leader and jig head. What I lost was only a jig head.On Bob’s rod, he used no leader at all. The loss to him if his line breaks is the same as mine – one jig head - and the re-rigging time is faster. But the probability of his line being cut by a fish or a rock is much higher. Hence, I caught more fish than he did.
Brett is the one that stands to loose the most in this scenario. If he hangs up, his store bought pre-made leader is lost along with a hook or jig head. Fishing in and around rocks with this type of leader gets expensive for Brett.So what’s the right leader in the above examples? I would say mine, and a check with Bob says I’m right. He was simply in too much of a hurry to re-tie his initial leader and consequently lost numerous fish to a broken line. Lots of anglers use a very heavy leader for larger fish. Our grouper in the reef would have been lost if we had used a lighter leader. The heavy leader helps prevent cutoffs from fish and structure. It also helps in landing or bringing a hooked fish aboard. Some anglers use very heavy fishing line and a leader that is heavy enough for the fish, yet substantially lighter than their line. If they hang on the bottom, the leader should break before the line, thus saving their sinker. Re-tying again becomes relatively easy. Wire leaders present another challenge. They are difficult and time consuming to build, even with some of the magic wire wrapping tools. They kink easily and must be replaced when those kinks appear. Multiple fish can be caught on one leader, but not very often. That one kink puts a weak spot in the leader that will surely break on the next fish.
With king mackerel, bluefish, and other sharp-toothed fish, a wire leader is almost a necessity. Not many toothy fish are caught on a monofilament leader.
Given the difficulty tying them, it makes sense to tie up a supply of them prior to heading out. I use those days when the weather is bad to my advantage and tie up a number of wire leaders. I keep them in small plastic zipper lock bags, and they last indefinitely if they are kept dry. A good leader, one appropriate for the fish being sought, can mean the difference between a full ice chest and an empty one. Common sense defines the word appropriate here. Don’t use an 80-pound test leader on eight-pound test line! The rule of thumb I go by is to use a leader roughly two and a half times your line strength. If you are using light tackle with eight-pound test line, a leader in the 20 to 25 pound test range will work well. A larger leader becomes bulky and tends to spook the fish. I go with this – small fish, small leader; large fish – large or small leader, depending on your preference. Light tackle anglers with light leaders have successfully caught some very large fish. In all cases, I leave the store-bought pre-made leaders where I think they belong – in the store! What you catch has a direct correlation with what’s in your leader. Believe it!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Which Rod and Reel
I receive a lot of email asking me for advice on which rod or which reel to buy. It seems that people are somewhat convinced that there is a perfect rod or perfect reel, and that someone out there knows the brand.
The fact is, there are numerous “perfect” rods and reels, and believe it or not price is not the determining factor.
There are several keys to determining just which rod and reel you should use. What fish are you pursuing?
The size of the fish you pursue needs to determine the relative size of your tackle. You certainly would not fish for two pound fish with offshore trolling equipment. What kind of water are you fishing?
Can you make long casts? Is there a limited space for casting? Are you on the beach or pier? The answers to all these questions play a part in your decision. Are you fishing from a party boat, the shore, the beach, or a pier?
Each of these applications will use a different type of rod and reel.
They are numerous, but they can be broken down into some basic groups. Ultralight Spinning
This kind of outfit is ideal for small fish in confined areas. Line from two to six pound test provides a unique fighting experience, and requires some angling skill. Successfully landing a fish on this tackle is something to brag about! Light and Medium Spinning
These are the staples of the spinning category. Line sizes can range from six to as much as seventeen pound test, and the bulk of inshore saltwater fish can be caught using this tackle. They are ideal from an inshore boat, a pier, or the shore, but not in the surf. Heavy Spinning
These are the big boys, and this is the tackle you will use in an offshore trolling scenario. These reels are also used in combination with surf rods for surf fishing. Line sizes are twenty pound test and above. Lines larger than thirty pound test are about the largest that can be efficiently used on a spinning outfit. Bait Casting
These outfits are conventional reels, sometimes equipped with a level wind mechanism. They are used for casting artificial lures and plugs mainly with inshore fishing. Line weights can range from twelve to as large as twenty pound test. Line weights lighter than twelve pound test tend to bury themselves in the spool, and are extremely difficult to clear in a backlash situation. Heavier lines are more difficult to cast long distances. Bottom Fishing
Here we have what most party boats and head boats use as their mainstay. A six and a half foot boat rod with a conventional reel and line from thirty to eighty pound test makes this an outfit that can take a beating and haul big fish off the bottom. These outfits are not designed for casting, rather straight drop to the bottom from a boat. Trolling
Here is where you can get into some serious discussions about price and size. Basically like Bottom fishing tackle – that is a rod and conventional reel - these outfits can sell fro well over $1000 each. They are very specialized, and I would not recommend you purchase one without some personal advice from a professional.On all these outfits you need to be cost conscious. A high price is no assurance that you have the best deal. I own rods that cost over $300 each and reels to match. I also have rods that work just as good for which I paid under $50. Reels are a slightly different matter. Every reel you pick up and spin at the tackle shop will feel smooth and silky as it turns. The test is how will it perform over time. Cheaper reels – and I mean that both from a quality and price view point – will work well for a while. But, because they use brass or plastic shims as opposed to bearings, they wear and become sloppy over time. Reels that are expensive are generally built with better quality and will have five or more sets of ball bearings. These reels will perform well for a long period of time. If you fish only occasionally, a cheaper reel may suit you. If you fish a lot, I would opt for a reel that has at least three or more ball bearings. Some are advertised to have as many as eleven bearings and their price reflects the higher number.Determine how much fishing you plan to do. Where are you planning on fishing. What kind and size of fish are you pursuing. Choose the outfit that most matches these questions and your wallet at the same time.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Marine Apps for your Phone
Tim Smith Finally Speaks!
Tim has been one of the cameramen for Northeast Angling since the beginning and also hosts the great fishing site Skimmer Outdoors. He is more or less the most tech savvy member of the crew, always having new additions to his cameras and other equipment, and as this century has had such advances in technology, now every time we film he has some new incredible app for his current phone, but because of that he had actually dropped his iPhone overboard during a shoot. Watch this great clip Tim has made about all the amazing apps available for your smartphones including a chartplotter created by Navionics.
Senior Writer/Director of Marketing - Northeast Angling
Mustad Power Lock Weighted EWG Hook
Over the years I have often been reluctant to throw soft plastics early in the spring before the bunker show up because it can be difficult to get a good presentation. Your either threading a shad onto a jig head or using a weedless style hook. The problem with weedless style hooks it that they are unbalanced and give a very unnatural presentation and its a pain to properly thread the hook on.
Many manufacturers have offerred simple versions that consisted of a very simple keeper attached to the hook eye. The keeper was a good addition because it made re-baiting much faster and allowed the bait to sit more flush with the hook, but many times the bait would get pulled off from the bite or while fighting the fish. The other issue is that the hook never stayed straight up, the whole rig would spin, and the presentation would suffer.
6/0 and 11/0 hooks. Feautered baits are a 6in Berkley Gulp Grub "Pink Shine", 4in Berkley Gulp Alive Shimp "Natural" both on 6/0 hooks. 6/0 and 11/0 hooks. Feautered baits are a 6in Berkley Gulp Grub “Pink Shine”, 4in Berkley Gulp Alive Shimp “Natural” both on 6/0 hooks.
Mustad has spent years of research and has truly perfected this type of hook with their Power Lock Plus Weighted EWG Hook. A wire spiral with a central spike is attached to the hook. The tip of the bait is spun onto the spiral while the center pin keeps it in position.
One of the most amazing features of this new hook is the sliding weight on the shaft. In past hooks weights have been fixed on the shaft, which decreases your ability to give your baits a custom presentation. Having this sliding weight is important because with all the different styles and shapes of soft plastics you need to change your rig to suit the bait and that’s exactly what this hook allows you to do.
Jeff Pierce (frequent show guest) and the innovative team from Mustad have created a new spiral gripper with a central pin that holds the bait on. The previous model was not effective enough for many of the new plastic bait styles. The new gripper was able to hold the baits on with up to 4 pounds of pressure which is simply incredible.
The new design of this hook allows you to rig it in a lot of interesting and effective ways which can be seen on the Mustad web site here.
Special note from Capt AndyLoCascio - “This is going to totally change the way we fish plastic baits and all the Berkley Power Baits (which are not actually plastic). We will now be able to make the perfect presentation with the best bait for the situation!”
Kyle OndreySenior Writer/Director of Marketing - Northeast Angling
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Video - How to fillet Walleye - Walleye Cleaning
February 3rd, 2011 Ivo Posted in Fish Cleaning, Freshwater Fishing, Videos |
Hello again folks. This week we’d like to present to you another great video, this time on how to fillet those delicious walleye.
If the video does not load, you can view it here: How to fillet Walleye - Walleye Cleaning
Hello again folks. This week we’d like to present to you another great video, this time on how to fillet those delicious walleye.
Cleaning (or filleting) walleye does not have to be a tricky thing to do. And here we even show you how to get an extra tasty treat from the walleye!
Until next time, good fishin’!
Ivo
You can leave a response, or get your fishing questions answered.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Video - How to Rig Your SP2 Viper Spoon - Rigging With Live and Artificial Bait
December 8th, 2010 Ivo Posted in Drifting, Freshwater Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Top Water Fishing, Trolling, Videos, Viper Spoon |
This week we have a highly requested video on how to rig an SP2 sized Viper Spoon with many different bait examples from a live natural worm to an artificial.
If the video does not load, you can view it here: How to Rig Your SP2 Viper Spoon
This week we have a highly requested video on how to rig an SP2 sized Viper Spoon with many different bait examples from a live natural worm to an artificial.
Let us know what you bait yours with!
As always, good fishin’
Ivo
You can leave a response, or get your fishing questions answered.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Helen H, Moves to Montauk for Block Island Cod
Capt Joe Huckemeyer and the crew of the Hyannis,touches on maintenance as they prepare to take the boat to Montauk, NY for the months of January, February and March.
The move will put the Helen H within easy reach of a solid cod bite on the grounds south of Block Island, RI. Capt Joe explained that he’s been in close communication with Capt Mike Danon of the Freeport, NY based Capt Lou Fleet, who worked the wide-open bite through last winter. The Capt. Lou was docked in Montauk from January on. After much discussion, the two have decided to join forces for, if all goes as expected, this winter’s repeat performance.
“The last couple of winters, the cod fishing out on Georges Bank—what we’ve traditionally worked on—has been very good in November and December but slowed right up in Mid January,” commented Capt Joe. “You compound that with the weather further offshore, and you wind up losing an awful lot of days, too. The bottom line is you’ve gotta go where the fish are biting. Block Island’s been hot the last bunch of winters. In fact, it’s gotten hot right around when the bite’s been dropping off on the Bank.”
Aside from the outstanding fishing, Huckemeyer and crew have always drawn a significant following from the tri-state area, making Montauk a logical winter base of operations: “In this type of economy, we’ll be glad we can accommodate our regular guys from Jersey, New York and Connecticut and save them quite a bit of driving time and expense.”
Weather is no small consideration, either. “The steam from Montauk to Block Island is going to be a lot easier on the boat and a lot easier on the guys,” he said. “We’ll also be able to get in a lot more days. When it’s windy, it’s a much shorter ride, and the grounds are way more forgiving than Georges Bank in the dead of winter on multiple levels.”
From the beginning of January through late March, the Helen H will be sailing daily at 3 a.m. for Block Island winter codfish. The boat will be berthed at Liar’s Saloon in Montauk (401 West Lake Drive). Advance reservations—which are required for these limited-load trips—may be made by calling either the Helen H office (508-790-0660) or the Capt. Lou Fleet at 516-623-5823. Cost per person will be $120. Trips on the 100-foot Helen H will be limited to 50 passengers to give the anglers plenty of elbow room. To get further details, visit the Helen H or the Capt Lou Fleet.
Northeast Angling Filming Excursion
Northeast Angling will be filming a two part show on the Helen H sometime during January or February. A date has not been set yet, so keep checking the Northeast Angling website be sure to sign up for the newsletter so that you can get on that trip and have a great time.
Kyle OndreySenior Writer/Director of Marketing - Northeast Angling
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Light up your Night!
Last winter I was bouncing around on a message board and found a member who was making his own LED lights, I noticed that a lot of other members had tried his products and seemed very happy with them. I had been on the lookout for new spreader lights for my boat since my standard Halogens would either burnout from getting wet, or would just stop working for no apparent reason and that particular model was extremely had to find without contacting my boat manufacturer.
One really great thing about switching to these LED lights is the way they provide their visibility. Instead of one 
powerful light reflecting off the sides of the housing, you have dozens of little ones which create less heat and they draw 0.5 amps per, saving your batteries. A great thing about using these is when I’m chunking at night, I would rarely turn my deck lights on because they created such a glare and even just looking at the deck would hurt my eyes and I knew that this was most definitely causing visibility issues for passing boats. With LED’s, your lighting is much softer and there is very little glare so I feel comfortable having these lights on all the time when I’m anchored up at night and I’m no longer worried about draining my batteries since I’m normally running all of my electronics and livewell which need a lot of power.
The thing that really separates Coastal Night Lights from the large manufacturers is that your getting more than what you pay for. You can spend upwards of a couple hundred dollars to get some LED lights for your boat from some factory in China. Or you can spend less money and get something made by a fellow boater that’s going to work just as good, or better.
Chris provides a great product at a great price and amazing customer service. Send him an email and get your boat lit up the right way. He also has a line of underwater LED’s and LED light strips.
See all the styles and options available at Coastal Night Lights.
Kyle OndreySenior Writer/Director of Marketing - Northeast Angling
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Bass Fishing : Fishing Equipment to Use for Freshwater
In freshwater fishing, the equipment is often smaller, the spools are smaller, the rods are lighter and the materials are often different. Discover which equipment is often the same between freshwater and saltwater fishing with help from a professional bass fisherman in this free video on freshwater fishing equipment. Expert: Ron Colby Contact: baits.com/ Bio: Ron Colby is a professional bass fisherman, has qualified for the Bass Master Classic and has won two BASS Western Divisionals. Filmmaker: Mike Phillips
Tuna Fishing Tags: Bass, equipment, fishing, Freshwater
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Salt Water Sportsman seminar series comes to area Feb. 12
Bluefin Tuna Fishing
Salt Water Sportsman seminar series comes to area Feb. 12
Jensen Beach guide Capt. Rufus Wakeman among the speakers
Read more on The Jupiter Courier
Peak Fish: The Massive Growth of Aquaculture in China
Whether you’re eating tuna fish sandwiches or considering the fate of the Western diet, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010 report might have some surprising insights into the way the world eats. With an estimated one-third of wild fish stocks on the decline and more people eating more fish—about 37 pounds per person per year, or …
Read more on GOOD
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Saltwater Fishing Reels – what you should know before buying…
Bluefin Tuna Fishing
Article by Kevin Baker
Saltwater Fishing Reels, What’s the Difference?
You must choose a saltwater fishing reel which is a good match to your saltwater fishing rod, holds enough of the type of line you need to use and winds in smoothly as you turn the handle. If you do not match rod and reel then you are going to cook yourself a whole pan full of trouble. I am talking about choosing from quality stock with the help of a knowledgeable assistant in a reputable fishing store. Most of those rod and reel combination sets you can buy cheaply are reasonably well balanced and tend to work well for catching bait fish but the odds are against you catching anything bigger, or indeed landing it if you hook it. Sure there will be some one out there who has caught good fish with one of these cheap sets but for every one who has there will be thousands who haven’t.
The vast range of sizes for saltwater fishing reels reflects the many different methods of fishing and the different fish you can choose to hunt. Only you can identify what you choose to fish for and therefore what size reel you will need. All you really need to consider at the moment is what type of reel will work best with your rod. Then match your fishing to that combination. Should you wish to change your targets at a later date then match both rod and reel to that chosen target.
Saltwater fishing reels come in three basic types, the closed face spinning reel, the open faced spinning reel and the bait casting reel. In saltwater fishing baitcaster reels are usually used for trolling fishing from a boat and are excellent for this purpose.should you attempt casting with a baitcasting reel you need to know exactly what you are doing – or be prepared for the proverbial bird’s nest! The closed face spinning reel is the easiest fishing reel to learn how to cast. They work well with bait or sea fishing lures but you should concentrate on working the estuaries, the beaches and around the rocks. The third type of saltwater fishing reel is the open faced spinning reel, beloved of my youth and still my personal favourite. They are excellent multi purpose reels which can provide good casting distance and quick retrieval if required.
In general a medium sized open faced spinning reel with several hundred feet of 12 or 15 pound breaking strain line makes a good saltwater fishing reel. If we add a nice whippy saltwater fishing rod of about 6 feet length we have a good multi-purpose saltwater fishing rig. I like a two piece rod so I can easily pack the rod and other gear away for traveling but that is just personal preference.
Get more fishing related information and fishing gift ideas at the fishing section of GetItHere.info
About the Author
Kevin Baker is a fishing enthusiast and regular contributor to GetItHere.info. Check out GetItHere.info for further information and unusual fishing gifts for the fisherman in your life.
Tuna Fishing Tags: before, Buying, fishing, Know, reels, saltwater, Should
Monday, February 7, 2011
New York Saltwater Fishing License Takes A Hit
December 16, seven Long Island towns went to court to fight the New York saltwater fishing license that was put into effect by the DEC in October of 2009 which required anglers over the age of 16 to purchase a fishing license to fish coastal waters. The towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Shelter Island, Brookhaven, Southold, Huntington and Oyster Bay fought the law claiming that it conflicted with the towns right to regulate it’s own waters.
The License was put in place so that the federal government can keep records of anglers within the state. New Jersey is working to create a free angler registry that anglers will give their information to so that they will not need to purchase a fishing license.
“ This license was only put to gain publicity of a lost cause. The strict fluke regulations have been overcome by the local avid anglers. I have not personally seen anyone enforcing these new licenses, but that doesnt mean they wont be cracking down next year. But when will that be taken as a serious restriction to the future of our fishery?” Says local south shore fisherman Giacomo Albanese.
I contacted the DEC for a statement regarding the lawsuit, but they would not go into any detail since they are currently preparing an appeal.
Professional angler Paul Michele had this to say “Registration is fine but simple fact is the government will continue pushing for a license as long as it is a possible revenue source. I would agree that there should be a law attached stating where that money is going back to the resource, as in many states it is not. RFA, a great organization, does not have all anglers involved so the data of how many anglers exist doesn’t trickle down to what we bring to the economy. Give government their money and also have a solid data source for future regulation battle is a win in my book. So either go with saltwater license or spend the $50 and join RFA.”
Something that makes the license an issue for me is that a license will shy people away from fishing, now they see it as one more fun and enjoyable thing to do that you have to pay for. What do I do if I call a few friends and tell them to come fishing, now they need to find their nearest tackle shop to go get a one day license? It becomes such an inconvenience to try and introduce new people to the sport.
Kyle OndreySenior Writer/Director of Marketing - Northeast Angling
Having trouble catching trout at your local lake?
December 2nd, 2010 Ivo Posted in Freshwater Fishing, Trolling, Viewer Questions |
Viewer question: I have been having trouble catching trout at my local lake. The lake has been stocked with rainbow and Nebraska Tailwalkers up to about 8 in size. The lake is very clear and the water temp is around 60* right now. There’s a lot of underwater vegetation all over the lake with steep drop off closer to the center of the lake. The lake is about 80 feet deep. I am thinking of trolling the lake. What would be the best trolling set up for the type of situation? Thank you. Jason.
Hi Jason,
Very nice to hear from you.
In this situation, with clear cool water, chances are the trout are hugging bottom. A very effective way to troll and stay close to bottom is to bottom bounce. (Click here for an article on bottom bouncing advantages, followed by a short video on bottom bouncing for trout)
This is where you would tie your main line to a 3-way swivel (such as the T-Turn) and then drop a short 1 to 2 foot line to your sinker. The, tie another leader line to your bait or lure and this line could vary in length, up to 3 feet.
Try staying out of the area with the vegetation, and troll on the outside (deeper side) of the vegetation and work the drop off area as well. Most likely, the trout will be in 15 to 30 feet of water (stay away from the 80 foot depth at this time)
If you have a decent wind blowing, you can even drift and bottom bounce. With the clear water you mentioned, the drifting technique will allow you to quietly cover water without spooking the trout. Trout get spooked very easily, so drifting can certainly help.
Otherwise, if you have an electric motor, that will also allow you to quietly troll along and still cover plenty of water.
One more thing to look for - if you have a small river or creek that feeds your lake, fish the mouth in front of that area and work your way back and forth to the drop off towards deeper water. This area will produce more oxygen and will attract the bait fish which in turn will attract the trout.
Thanks for taking time to write to us & as always, until next time, good luck and good fishing!
Ivo
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Video - Shore Fishing for Brown Trout
January 20th, 2011 Ivo Posted in Freshwater Fishing, Shore Fishing, T-Turn Swivel, Videos |
We were fishing down on the shore for those brown trout.
If the video does not load, you can view it here: Shore Fishing for Brown Trout
Our set up consisted of roe bags and a T-Turn swivel to let us fish tangle free!
We started fishing for brown trout at the crack of dawn and caught trout after trout!
Watch as we show you how to catch brown trout from shore of your own.
As always, good fishin’!
Share
You can leave a response, or get your fishing questions answered.
We were fishing down on the shore for those brown trout.
If the video does not load, you can view it here: Shore Fishing for Brown Trout
Our set up consisted of roe bags and a T-Turn swivel to let us fish tangle free!
We started fishing for brown trout at the crack of dawn and caught trout after trout!
Watch as we show you how to catch brown trout from shore of your own.
As always, good fishin’!
Share
You can leave a response, or get your fishing questions answered.
Video - How to Steak Bluefish - Bluefish Filleting and Cleaning
January 6th, 2011 Ivo Posted in Fish Cleaning, Saltwater Fishing, Videos |
We have two great videos planned to start off the new year with. The first one is how to steak a bluefish. One of our favourite ways to have bluefish is to BBQ up a nice thick bluefish steak.
If the video does not load, you can view it here: How to Steak Bluefish
But before you can cook it, you have to clean/fillet it. Watch this video on how Vincenzo, a professional fish monger for 9 years, shows you some tricks on how to steak a bluefish.
As always, good fishin’!
Ivo
Share
You can leave a response, or get your fishing questions answered.
We have two great videos planned to start off the new year with. The first one is how to steak a bluefish. One of our favourite ways to have bluefish is to BBQ up a nice thick bluefish steak.
If the video does not load, you can view it here: How to Steak Bluefish
But before you can cook it, you have to clean/fillet it. Watch this video on how Vincenzo, a professional fish monger for 9 years, shows you some tricks on how to steak a bluefish.
As always, good fishin’!
Ivo
Share
You can leave a response, or get your fishing questions answered.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A Look At Saltwater Fishing Gear (Saltwater Fishing)
Saltwater fishing can be quite different than fishing in a lake or stream because the fish are quite different, so if you plan on fishing in the ocean, you'll need different saltwater fishing gear than for freshwater angling. A saltwater fisherman needs to use very different tactics than a freshwater fisherman to be successful. Modern fishing is not just about skill, but proper equipment as well. A saltwater fisherman often needs very different equipment that a freshwater fisherman might use. If you are a freshwater fisherman that would like to do some freshwater fishing and catch fish like Tuna, Swordfish, Cod, Snapper, Flounder, and Mackerel, do not expect to be successful without some practice fishing in salt water, and some changes to your equipment.
The first thing you need is a good rod. A saltwater fishing rod should be about nine feet in length, give or take a foot. While you are getting started you can use a decent, but not top quality, rod. Look for something between one hundred and two hundred dollars, not something that is dirt cheap. A dirt cheap rod will inhibit your learning and can even lead to bad fishing habits. Also, dirt cheap rods tend to have a resale value far before the little bit you paid for them. If you start with a decent rod you can later resell it for a good price and buy something better.
Next on your saltwater fishing gear list is a good fishing reel that is designed for salt water use. Saltwater is more corrosive than freshwater, so you should look for a reel that resists saltwater corrosion. Look for materials like stainless steel, titanium, plated steel, fiber, or resin. To g with the reel choose different lines for the different types of fish you wish to catch. Shier fish require longer leaders. Fish with sharp teeth and fins require a thicker leader to stand up to their rigors. If you are using a floating line in deep water with a weighted fly, use a longer leader. If you are using a sinking line in deep water, use a short leader.
Many fishermen disagree on whether you should construct your own fly, or buy one from a bait shop. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but whichever you decide to use you should be sure it is suited to the fish you wish to catch and is high in quality. The fly is meant to fool the fish, and low quality materials will not fool anyone. You have to make sure your fly is high enough in quality that it will actually fool the fish into biting.
If you are already experienced in fishing in freshwater then the transition to saltwater will not be too difficult, but you have to approach the task differently. Different techniques are required, and you should not waste your time by using the wrong equipment. No one enjoys an unsuccessful day of fishing, so be sure to hedge your bets by using the saltwater fishing gear that will produce the best results.
The first thing you need is a good rod. A saltwater fishing rod should be about nine feet in length, give or take a foot. While you are getting started you can use a decent, but not top quality, rod. Look for something between one hundred and two hundred dollars, not something that is dirt cheap. A dirt cheap rod will inhibit your learning and can even lead to bad fishing habits. Also, dirt cheap rods tend to have a resale value far before the little bit you paid for them. If you start with a decent rod you can later resell it for a good price and buy something better.
Next on your saltwater fishing gear list is a good fishing reel that is designed for salt water use. Saltwater is more corrosive than freshwater, so you should look for a reel that resists saltwater corrosion. Look for materials like stainless steel, titanium, plated steel, fiber, or resin. To g with the reel choose different lines for the different types of fish you wish to catch. Shier fish require longer leaders. Fish with sharp teeth and fins require a thicker leader to stand up to their rigors. If you are using a floating line in deep water with a weighted fly, use a longer leader. If you are using a sinking line in deep water, use a short leader.
Many fishermen disagree on whether you should construct your own fly, or buy one from a bait shop. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but whichever you decide to use you should be sure it is suited to the fish you wish to catch and is high in quality. The fly is meant to fool the fish, and low quality materials will not fool anyone. You have to make sure your fly is high enough in quality that it will actually fool the fish into biting.
If you are already experienced in fishing in freshwater then the transition to saltwater will not be too difficult, but you have to approach the task differently. Different techniques are required, and you should not waste your time by using the wrong equipment. No one enjoys an unsuccessful day of fishing, so be sure to hedge your bets by using the saltwater fishing gear that will produce the best results.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins
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