Friday, March 29, 2024
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AMERICAN FISHERWOMEN

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There is little question that the fishing industry has been primarily a man’s game but the novelty
of a female angler is rapidly petering out into normalcy every day.
Although there are women that have been out fishing their counterparts for many decades, the awareness of these women has recently begun to grow with the sudden rise of social media.

Being a new female angler in today’s fishing world is very much a mixed bag and there are two distinct reactions that I receive from other fishing folk. The first response I get is an extremely negative one in which some people are adamant that I use Photoshop or that there is no possible way that I caught a certain fish. There are a flood of comments online that insist women
would never really fish in a bikini, unless they just want- ed the attention and that they probably had someone else rig up for them, even if it truly was their catch. For the majority of women who fish, this is simply laugh- able commentary. There
is, however, a more common response within the community that I am always humbled to receive. There is a great deal of respect and support to be doled out to female anglers and like stepping through some fantastical worm-hole; I have seen the rules of humanity changed.
I have met countless fisherwomen who are happy to lay down their catty weapons of competition and come together through the sport. We share our knowledge and celebrate our successes with each other, striving collectively to be known for the badasses that we are. I have found this behavior anomaly to be true with men as well, albeit sex appeal for whatever reason is still a factor, it is often overshadowed by respect. I have been hit-on by dudes and when it comes up that we both fish, the phenomenon strikes and I find myself discussing fishing with a stranger like we are old friends. I am then usually delighted to have left the conversation without the previous motive arising again. It is a refreshing change of pace to be told “tight lines” over pick-up lines and this is just another reason why I love fishing.

I recently collaborated with “Oy Vey Cafe Vintage” to create a fishing photoshoot that I had intended to be a tribute to all the lady anglers who were rippin’ lips long before it was cool. The whole day ended up being a really fun experience shared amongst some seriously nifty ladies. All of the women who participated in this photoshoot are hard-core anglers. If you look closely enough, you might see that
our hands have seen many fish, hooks and cuts from tying line. We have fished in our fair share of storms and pushed our boundaries with the best of them. Here are the thoughts of some of those great female anglers.

Amanda Gilbert

“I grew up backyard bass fishing in Indiana. When I moved to Florida, I was quickly introduced to a new bigger “blue” backyard which had MUCH bigger fish! My love for the water and a screaming drag has taken me so many places that I never imagined would be possible for me to visit. The trips for Yellowfin Tuna from Cape Canaveral, Tarpon from Boca Grande, Dolphin from Key West, Red Snapper from Venice, Sailfish from Isla Mujeres, Redfish
from Tampa and so many more are just the start of my fishing adventures. It’s my happy place and my passion.”

Dana Duff
“I grew up fishing with my dad, from the time I was a small toddler. We fished Egmont Key, Sneads Island and Terra Ceia mostly. When I got a little older, we did a lot of wade fishing and then going out farther on boats. I always caught the first fish. Reds were my favorite when I was younger. When my parents divorced, my mom later got with my stepdad and then everything turned freshwater, which was a huge difference. It was all airboats, frog gig- ging and freshwater fishing. I now have a two- year-old daughter who I take fishing constantly. She wakes up in the morning and a lot of times the first words out of her mouth are “mommy can we go fishing”? I love it and am so glad she does too.”

Chrissy Rice
“My fishing career started roughly three years ago when I met Trey. I had never touched a fishing pole before, in my life and when I met him he taught me everything. I completely fell
in love with the water and fishing. I’ve learned so much over the past few years, how to rig my own baits and tie my own knots to what kinds of baits to use for different fish etc. I’ve caught so many different species I feel so spoiled. I’m absolutely in love with all of it. Offshore is my favorite fishing, you never know what’s on the end of your line. The only tournament I’ve ever fished is the Old Salts ladies tournament, but I plan on fishing many more.”

There are so many fisherwomen who have been owning the game for years and so many joining every day. I am proud to be a part of that community and to spend my time learning from and teaching other women about fishing. Parents, do your daughters a favor and take them on your next fishing adventure.
Photography: Salvatore Brancifort
www.ilovesalvatore.com
Hair & Make-up: Georgia Kaden
www.GeorgiaKaden.com
Styling: Marissa Baker
www.oyveycafevintage.etsy.com
Quinlyn Haddon: First mate. QuinlynHaddon@gmail.com.

Ultimate Sportfish

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When searching for the ultimate sportfish, many things must be
taken into consideration. Just a few of these factors are the size of the fish, the speed, the fight, the challenge, the beauty and the quality as table fare. There are many fish that have some of these qualities, but there are only a few that possess them all. Seeing a fish explode on a popper, crush a trolling lure or devour a live bait just a few feet from the boat may be rare, but with the Dolphin this is a common occurrence. Even after seeing them demolish your bait of choice, the angler gets to witness one of the most amazing displays of acrobatics a sportfish has to offer. All of these reasons are why the dolphin is one of the most popular fish to target in the world and considered by some to be the ultimate sportfish.

The dolphin has many names. It is referred to as a mahi-mahi in Hawaii (and most restaurants across the US), Dorado in all Spanish-speaking countries and a dolphin by most anglers throughout the US. No matter where you are or what you call it, this fish has been one of the most popular fish to target in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide for decades. They spawn throughout most of the year and are sexually mature by 4 to 5 months of age. Dolphin are among the fastest growing fish in the ocean and they are also incredibly fast swimmers. Since these fish grow so quickly, you can catch very large dolphin that are relatively young and they will often eat almost anything that is thrown at them. The dolphin is not like billfish, snapper, grouper, snook or other game fish that are caught and released over and over again. The dorado
do not become wise to the fisherman, since they generally don’t have the opportunity to be caught and released several times. Most of them are caught once and then end up in a grizzly cooler and are brought home for dinner.

Tackle used for catching dolphin varies depending on where you are fishing and the size of the fish you’re targeting. A Canyon 30 wide trolling reel or smaller conventional reel is sufficient for any size dolphin, even slammers. When casting, an effective set up would be a Tsunami 20-40 class spinning rod paired with a Canyon 6500 spinning reel spooled with 30-65lb braid and 6 feet of 50lb Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon leader. Depending on what you’re comfortable casting with, you can tie a variety of things on your leader. When bait fishing, a 5/0 mustad ultra point j-hook with a live bait or chunk bait will work. For those who like the challenge of an artificial lure, a yo-zuri 3D popper or a wedgetail mullet by Egret baits is a wise choice. The poppers are effective because of the noise and commotion the lure makes. Dolphin react quickly so this is one of the best all around lures to use. When fishing on a piece of floating debris or structure that the dolphin has been spotted on, the wedgetail mullet is a great choice, because it can be cast to the structure, will sink down to the desired depth and can then be jerked quickly away from the structure, which will trigger the dolphin to strike.

One of the most common ways to target dolphin is by trolling. Many anglers find current rips, weed lines, birds diving or any other floating debris in the water and troll different size lures when they are not sure what size dolphin are in the area. A good spread to have ready when you’re unsure what size dolphin are in the area is a variety of sizes and colors of lures. Typical colors to use are pink & white, green and black or blue and white, but almost any color combination will work for the dolphin
because they are so aggressive. The main thing that matters is the movement of the lure and getting the dolphin’s attention. Dolphin rarely travel alone unless they are a large male and female (bull & cow) mated pair. They usually travel in large schools, so once you hook one up, the best thing to do is to get the fish close to the boat, leave the rod in the rod holder with the fish still hooked up and have a yo-zuri 3D popper or a Wedge Tail Mullet ready to pitch at the school of fish following the dolphin. By leaving your catch hooked up on the side of the boat, you will keep the school of dolphin curious and you will be able to continue hooking other fish in the school.

Because the dolphin is very aggressive, beautiful and tasty, it’s no wonder that this fish is marked by many anglers as their favorite species to catch. Once you learn the basics of where and how to find the dolphin, the rest of the hunt should fall into place if you are equipped with the proper tackle. When seeking an exciting battle and fantastic table fare, the dolphin will meet these expectations every time and leave you longing for your next encounter with the ultimate sportfish.

WWW.BOATNATION.COM MERGES WITH BOATSANDSHORE.COM

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WE ARE NOW  BOATNATION.COM  is positioning itself to become THE go-to
online marine resource guide. With over 50 years of combined marine
industry experience, the new merger into  WWW.BOATNATION.COM [2]  will
benefit everyone involved. There expansion will provide an even greater
advertising audience for our customers while still maintaining the most
cost effective and easy to use advertising tool around. Users will
maximize their exposure at a affordable prices.  FREE ADVERTISING  will
still continue, and will always be offered. In an effort to stay up to
date with user’s needs,  BOATNATION.COM   will also be expanding and
offering low cost WEB DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER SERVICES for the marine
industry.

BoatsandShore.com / BOATNATION were founded to offer a low cost
advertising option specifically for promoting marine businesses.
WWW.BOATNATION.COM [1]  now also offer a cost effective online venue for
buying and selling new and used marine equipment, waterfront real
estate, boats and much more.

2015 YAMAHA CONTENDER CONCLUDES

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THE 2015 YAMAHA CONTENDER MIAMI SPORTFISHING TOURNAMENT
CONCLUDES ITS SUCCESSFUL EVENT

Proceeds Go to Marine Conservation, Education, Scholarships and Wounded Warrior Project

The Yamaha Contender Miami Sportfishing Tournament (formally the Miami Billfish Tournament) concluded a successful and exciting fishing tournament and fundraiser! This was the first year of the tournament’s new format, designed to open it up the competition to anglers from all around South Florida, with an emphasis on Funfishing. The new format and tournament produced a winning weekend for everyone! Held at the Miami Beach Marina on South Beach in Florida, 261 anglers aboard 54 boats fished for a $30,000 Top Boat Prize, plus other cash prizes, gifts and trophies. Thanks to its anglers and sponsors, this non-profit organization donated proceeds to area marine conservation organizations, education programs, scholarships and the Wounded Warrior Project.

On Thursday, April 23rd, the tournament started with the Kick-Off Party and Captain’s Meeting with fantastic food from Flanigan’s. Saturday, April 25th, was the day of fishing competition for dolphin, tuna, kingfish, wahoo, cobia and billfish (3 billfish per boat). This mixed bag made it possible for anyone to win! The fleet was able to head out from any South Florida inlet for a day of fishing and then meet back at Miami Beach Marina for the official weigh-in. At the end of official fishing hours, the fleet converged on the marina and the excitement of the weigh-in grew. To make the festivities even more enjoyable, participants and their family, friends and spectators enjoyed ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Tito’s Vodka, Papa’s Pilar Rum and wine at the Presidential Challenge Wine Bar.

Once all the fish were weighed and the billfish catch cards confirmed, it was an extremely close competition, but Eren’s Addiction Too was in the lead after weighing three kingfish, three cobia and releasing three sailfish for a total of 183.6 points. This earned them the title of Top Boat of the 2015 Miami Sportfishing Tournament and won them $39,352.50. This was from the Top Boat Prize of $30,000, plus $2,125 from the Heaviest Kingfish added value prize, top boat in the Kettle of Fish for $2,677.50, another $4,250 for the top boat in the Sportfish Jackpot and $300 for the heaviest Cobia.

Second Place went to Team Doing It All/Bluewater Towers. They were only one pound from first place with a total of 182.6 points and 3 sailfish releases. This won them $9,156.50 as a result of the $5,000 second place prize, $1,606.50 for second place in the Kettle of Fish and $2,550 for second place in the Sportfish Jackpot. Third Place boat in the tournament went to Team First Choice with 172.10 points and three Billfish releases. This allowed them to take home $5,071. Team Covered Up came in forth with 153 points and 3 Billfish releases, but because of winning many of the added value categories, they were able to take home a whopping $19,417.50! Fifth Place went to the Thomas Flyer with 150.8 points and 3 billfish releases and 6th place with 149 points and 3 Billfish releases went to Team D+D/Flanigan’s.

The Master Angler of the tournament also happened to be the Top Junior! He was James David aboard Frick & Frack with 93.9 points. The Top Lady went to Debbie Morrell aboard Bar Bill with 30.4 points and the Top Pee Wee went to Danny Horowitz on Fishing Experience. Other winners included Craig Hardie aboard Smoke Trail for the Top Wahoo, Chris Carpenter on Team Fine Awards.com 1 with the Top Kingfish, the Top Tuna was brought in by Keith McDonald on Covered Up and the Top Dolphin went to Jon Hoffman aboard Instinct, which also won them $1,870 for the Heaviest Dolphin added value prize.

All of the winners received their cash prizes, trophies and other great prizes during the Yamaha Awards Party catered and hosted by Flanigan’s with a fantastic BBQ dinner. This party also offered participants and the public a huge silent auction with exotic trips, tackle, electronics, jewelry and more. The end of the party was the moment everyone was waiting for…the drawing for the 25′ T Contender Boat with twin 200 hp Yamaha 4- stroke engines, Bluewater T-Top and Lean Post, Tigress Outriggers and Lighting and a Continental trailer. This year’s winner was Mary Green from North Carolina.

The Miami Billfish Tournament has now raised and donated $740,000 to marine conservation, education, scholarships and the Wounded Warrior Project fulfilling the Tournament’s mission to promote awareness and support marine enhancement, education and conservation.

Earning Your Stripes

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The sight of a 20 plus pound snook destroying a topwater bait at high noon is something that will be burnt into your brain for as long as you live. The downfall to this approach is that heavier than normal tackle needs to be used, since the strike is so violent. Medium heavy action rods like the Tsunami Airwave 8-17lb class or even the 10-20 lb class rods will surely increase the chances at landing one of these monsters. Using a minimum of 50lb Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon or monofilament leader is necessary to minimize cutoffs.

Another good way to target these fish is with a jig and small soft plastic combination. This technique is more user friendly to the tackle. This may be the best way for light tackle anglers that want to land that trophy. The DOA 3” Cal Shad Tail and the Wedge Tail Mullet Egret Baits are both great baits to use because of their versatility. You can make them mimic a baitfish or a shrimp just by changing the speed of your retrieve. Another great plastic bait to use is the Vudu Shrimp by Egret Baits. This bait seems to trigger a feeding reaction in snook. Using a 30 pound leader is sufficient for jigging because most fish get hooked close to the edge of the mouth where the leader does not come in contact with their rough sandpaper like teeth. It’s just up to the angler to keep the line out of their gill plate, if the fish goes airborne.
Live bait fishing is the most effective way to catch extremely large fish, especially when fishing an area that is near deeper water. The best choice for bait would have to be a 12” mullet on an 8/0 Mustad Demon Perfect circle hook on a minimum 60 pound fluorocarbon leader and 50 pound braided line. Combine that rig with a heavy action Tsunami Air Wave Elite 20-40lb class rod and a Canyon 5000 spinning reel. This sounds similar to what most people would be fishing for tarpon with, because that is exactly what it is. Big fish need big tackle when using live bait.

Whatever method you choose to target snook in the Big Bend Region, please remember to practice catch and release whenever possible. This will insure that they will be here for years to come for all of us to enjoy. If you find yourself up this way and you see me on the water there is a very good possibility that you are in the right area for earning your stripes.

Contact Captain Marrio Castello ofTall Tales Charters at 352-454-7719 or by visiting www.TallTalesChartersFL.com.

Fishing in Cayman

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The Cayman Islands are a well known vacation destination offering beautiful beaches, clear water and great diving. The islands are easily accessible with regular flights from Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, New York and other cities. Flight time from Miami to Grand Cayman is only 1 hour and 5 minutes. Accommodations range from private villas to luxury condos and five star hotels. There are lots of activities for the entire family to enjoy during a Cayman vacation, both above and below the crystal clear water. In this article we will focus on the great sport fishing that the Cayman Islands have to offer.

Starting inshore, battles with Bonefish can be enjoyed year round on all 3 islands. Anglers can cast a fly or shrimp to the Bones on the flats in Little Cay- man or drift through the Bonefish muds in the North Sound and engage in a memorable tug
of war with these majestic fish. Tarpon in the 30 to 100 pound range can also be caught year round from the docks and beaches as well as in the canals. Poppers and other lures can be
used to entice a bite from the “Silver King”, however bait is more commonly used on island, with the preference being gills and guts from a freshly cleaned Snapper or other table fare.

Moving offshore, anglers can test their skills with Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin or Marlin. Blackfin Tuna and Skipjack are great fun to catch on light tackle, especially for novice or budding anglers. Crews regularly troll small feathers on 20-30 pound reels for Blackfin and Skipjack, then use them as live bait for Yellowfin Tuna or Marlin, as well as, strip baits for trolling. Yellowfin are generally tar- geted off the West End of Cayman Brac, East End of Grand Cayman and on the Cayman Bank (12 miles west of Grand Cayman). Chunking is the preferred method to catch Yellowfin in Cayman. Captains start their drifts up current of the bank in a depth of around 1800 feet and will drift into 200 feet before retrieving their lines and starting another drift. During each drift crews chum with Barracuda, Blackfin, Skipjack or Sprats. Hooks can be baited with cut bait, however live Flying Fish, Goggle-eye or Blackfin seem to attract the larger Yellowfin. In recent weeks, Yellowfin caught on the Cayman Bank have averaged 80 pounds with the occasional 100+pounder being boated off the East End of Grand Cayman.

Wahoo can be caught throughout the year, but are more abundant during October through March with the full moon in February traditionally yielding the bigger fish. Most boats troll rigged Ballyhoo or Blackfin strips behind a skirt at 7-9 knots on 50-80 pound reels. Trolling with monel wire is also a popular method in the islands.
For the wire line combos, anglers will back 80 pound reels with braid or mono and top it off with 500 feet of 110 pound monel. High speed trolling for Wahoo with C&H lures is also becoming popular with boats trolling up to five lures between 14-18 knots. Wahoo’s generally range in size from 25-65 pounds however larger catches are not uncommon. The current island record for Wahoo stands at 146 pounds 2 ounces. Captains will troll in depths rang- ing from 100 to 700 feet around each island and on the Cayman Bank when targeting Wahoo. During the early morning hours the fish tend to be found in the shallower depths and they move deeper as the day wears on. Wahoo and other pelagic species can be caught within a quarter mile of shore as the shelf drops off quickly from 60 feet to thousands of feet. Anglers do not have to journey far to find great fishing grounds and multiple catches are quite common.

Dolphin move through the islands in great numbers during the spring and range from 15 to 50 pounds. Trolling weed-lines offshore with a mixture of lures and Ballyhoo will result in a few Dolphin finding their way into the fish box. Frigate birds also lead boats to schools of Dolphin feeding on Flying fish, giving anglers the opportunity to toss a Yo-Zuri 3D pop- per or naked Ballyhoo in front of a hungry bull and then holding on for an epic struggle as the Dolphin entertains the crew with stunning acrobatics. Captains typically deploy a mixed spread and troll up to 15 miles offshore searching for the weed lines and or Frigate birds when fishing for Dolphin.

Blue and White Marlin are caught during every month of the year, however higher numbers are caught in the spring and summer months. Blues can also be found along the weed lines feeding on younger Dolphin and some crews will troll for both Marlin and Dolphin at the same time. A typical Marlin spread will consist of 4-8 lines with a mixture of lures and rigged horse Ballyhoo. Most Captains target the Blues north of the island be- tween the drop and 10 miles off as well as between the Cayman Bank and the Northwest point of the island. Blues in the spring range from 100-250 pounds and the 400+ pound fish show up in
June and July.

There are a number of tournaments held in the Cayman Islands each year with the largest being the Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament held each spring, which offers over $200,000 in cash and prizes.

For more information on fishing in the Cayman Is- lands, please visit the Cayman Islands Angling Club website at: www.fishcayman.com.

Written by Frank Thompson. Photos by Captain Jimmy Nelson of Extreme Fishing Adventures.

FORGOTTEN COAST ROJO

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The sun was just breaking through the tall pine trees on the eastern horizon of Apalachee Bay, when the Toyota rolled up to the beach. My best friend and I sat in the running SUV while we watched as sand plovers began their day scouring the water’s edge for small invertebrates. We were alone in the parking area except for one lone raccoon, typical of a North Florida haunt. The heat from the engine was piped in to our feet, the last warmth that they would see for hours. I looked over at my friend and gave a nod of approval and we both hopped out and donned our Simms G4 waders and boots.

The tide is out fully and finding tailing redfish in the marsh should be as easy as spotting some movement, but as I scanned the horizon I saw no flags this morning. The Gulf was calm, eerily quiet for a good old boy raised next to the hustle and bustle of Charlotte Harbour and Tampa Bay. Two miles out, a mullet boat cranked up and started his search for the roe laden fish, while overhead contrails gave away the positions of heavy planes against the blue backdrop. Again I looked to the water and I spotted an area where ripples have begun to form no more than one hundred yards to my left. The ripples spread outward until the Gulf absorbs them and I decided it was as good a place as any to begin the stalk.

I walked my friend along the beach until we come to the spot where the ripples were last seen and we entered the water together, while I calmly said to keep looking for tails along the marsh grass.

“Watch for the oyster bottom, the fish will stand up on their heads trying to dig shrimp and crabs out.” We walked twenty more yards or so, while only seeing small schools of mullet here and there, until out of the corner of my eye I caught some movement near the marshy shoreline.

Shrimp began firing out of the water doing evade and escape maneuvers that seemed to only delay the inevitable. The big, bulbous head of a redfish came shooting out after them, devouring the hap- less creatures. It was a lone bull, out for breakfast I assumed, and I directed my friend into position. I patiently waited through the false casts and finally gave the order to drop the fly. It landed within a foot of the feeding fish and we watched, as the bull wasted no time striking the hand-spun version of the real thing.

The rise was almost too perfect for such a cold morning. The fish’s head pushed a large wake of water in front as it shot towards the slowly submerging shrimp. Its head burst from below the surface against the marsh-grass backdrop, spraying water as far as the tip of my friend’s outstretched rod and sounding as if someone had dropped a cinder block into the shallow water.

My best friend strip-set the line and it became piano wire taught, shooting through the water at speed, chasing that big red hooked in the roof of the mouth! The 9-plus reel hummed as backing peeled off and as the sun finally crested those lonely pine trees on the horizon, our bodies began to warm at the feat just accomplished. We smiled at each other and I helped retrieve the brute from the chilly water. Several photos later, we watched as the pumpkin colored monster swam off, knowing never to eat that color shrimp again.

The morning progressed and the fish were few. Be- tween the two of us, we only had three shots at tailing fish until our break for lunch. We met back at the Toyota and pulled out the Yeti Cooler. I had agreed to guide my friend and the fact that we only had one fish landed was making me sweat in the cold wind. She was not used to fly fishing for reds and I worried about her having a good time. The sandwiches and cold beer made the long morning more tolerable and then I looked over to see a bright smile across her youthful face.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, “Nothing, nothing at all. I’m just having the time of my life. I’ve never thought about bringing the fly rods out to try for reds. The fact that we actually got one, on the first cast of the morning just makes it that much sweeter.” The smile continued through lunch and on into the next few hours.

Finally as the sun began to set to the west, I spotted a group of tails waving at us from a shallow bayou, the smile turning to seriousness. We crept up on them from the bank, working our way around downed pine limbs and sharp sand spurs. Every now and then we would both stop and check each other for ticks, a constant nuisance.

After ten minutes of bush whacking, I figured that we were close enough to the school and we cut in towards the steep banks of the bayou. We belly crawled the final few yards and peeked over the tall marsh grass to see the school of fish directly below us lounging about, waiting for the tide to come in. I instructed my friend to dapple the fly on top of them and see what happened, as I had only ever used the technique on small creeks up north for brookies.

The shrimp fly was on the surface no more than thirty seconds when a small red smacked it so hard it flew back at the very mud bank we were hiding behind, making this the second time and a second swing and a miss. Finally, the fly became water logged and began to sink faster. A decent twenty-two inch redfish smoked it and began ripping drag in the opposite direction of the school. This gave me an opportunity to hook one and make the finale a double header. My weighted clouser sank on the first try and I was now in the heat of the battle. Both fish fought tooth and nail, until we finally bested them down the bank.

My friend lay against the muddy wall after releasing the fish. “That was one of the greatest days of fishing I have ever had.” I was happy to have been apart of it. Back at the house, we sat around a warm fire and agreed that “fun” fishing isn’t about how many fish you catch or how big they are. For us the real reward is getting to be on the water and sharing the experience with the people you care most about. That smile, on my girl’s face at lunch, the one that stretched from ear to ear, is all the reward I will ever need.

Captain Johnny makes his living from the deck of skiff and from his grandfather’s writing desk at his home near Tampa. The Florida native occasionally takes clients hunting in Old Bay and encourages readers to enquire. He can be reached through his website at: www.LPineOutdoors.com.

Trout in the Big Bend

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The entire northwest coast of Florida Another method we use to target trout is the is known more for its speckled trout fishery than any other species. People come from all over the country to sample the trout fishing from Bayport to Steinhatchee. This is no surprise to me, since this area has miles and miles of shallow grass flats and rocky shorelines.

The most widely used method of targeting these trout is drifting a flat working a jig under a popping cork. This is a simple and effective way to catch these fish since drifting allows you to cover a large area. Typically, we would use a soft plastic like a DOA Cal Shad Tail or a Mirrolure Lil Jon on a 1/8 oz jig. You can also use live bait such as shrimp or pinfish, but these baits will also attract lots of other species that you may not want to catch. It can be frustrating at times when Sea Bass, Lizardfish and small Sharks keep eating your bait. The trout will be waiting to ambush their prey along the edges of grass lines and potholes on the flats. The noise from the popping cork gets their attention and the movement of the jig is irresistible.

Another method we use to target trout is the suspending twitch bait. These baits mimic a wounded baitfish with its erratic action. We use these on the more shallow flats along the shorelines of mangrove islands where the popping cork method would not be as effective. Having a good trolling motor to maneuver these islands will surely increase your catch since this will allow you to control the boat around the edges of these islands. The potholes and edges are much easier to see in these shallow areas. Cast into these areas and work the baits with quick snaps of the rod tip for the best results.

The third way that we target trout is with a jig and scented soft plastic bait without a cork. We use this mostly along the edges of rocky shorelines and large oyster bars that have deep cuts along their edges. This method is most effective in the late fall and early winter months when water temps
dip down in the low 60’s. The metabolism of these trout slows down dramatically as the water temperatures drop. The scented baits give you the extra time needed to let the fish have the opportunity to eat the bait. I try to give it a standing 3 count before setting the hook since these fish eat more slowly than in the warmer months.

If your target is big over slot “gator” trout, then there is no better way to catch them than in mid to late winter in the extreme shallow flats of the back-country. There is no need for hitting the water at the crack of dawn in these cold conditions, since this type of fishing is very dependent on good sunlight. Large trout like to creep onto these dark bottom flats to get warm when the sun is at its peak. The water temperature on these shallow flats can be up to 10 degrees warmer than the surrounding waters, because the high sun warms the shallows much faster than the deeper water. Another thing to note is that the fish that are found on these flats are going to be very big. Smaller fish will avoid these shallow flats for fear of predation from Ospreys and other large predatory birds.

These fish are extremely wary of their surroundings so stealth is very important while targeting them. I like to use un-weighted elongated baits like a DOA 5.5 Cal or even a 7” plastic worm like you would use for bass fishing. Natural colors work best in this situation. A slow and natural presentation is also the key to a successful trip. Light line for long casts and light fluorocarbon leader for stealth is a must. 8 pound braid and a 36” section of 15-pound leader works well.

If you would like to try and catch trout or any other inshore species in the Big Bend, please do not hesitate to give me a call.
TallTales Charters – Captain Marrio Castello 352.454.7719 – www.talltaleschartersfl.com

IN DEEP: PART III

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This is the continuation of the series In Deep, in which Capt. Johnny Touchton, and Capt. Tim Whitfield are explor- ing the backcountry surrounding Chokoloskee.

The night on the chickee went rather well and without problem, though for whatever reason, several mosquitoes were able to find their way into the netting and caused both of us a great deal of annoyance at around three in the morning. Right after the mosquitoes were vanquished, we heard what could only have been a big saltwater crocodile annihilating some poor, small mammal. Other- wise, the night went smoothly and we slept soundly.

The next day we woke to a high tide and by some divine intervention, a working GPS. The Action- Craft floated away from the chickee with Tim and I bidding our night haunt adieu, but not before we carved out our initials into the wood, beneath Alligator Willie’s.

We had seen some promising sandbars on the ride into the creek and after the hassle of breaking the poling platform down and putting it back up again, we cruised to the potential redfish hotspots. It wasn’t long before I spotted a couple of tails and hopped on the poling platform while Tim hopped onto the Yeti Cooler, now secured on the front deck.

The tide was coming out steadily and after what seemed like an eternity of poling, I got us into position, up current. Tim false cast just once and then
threw the fly directly in front of the redfish’s path. Judging by the tail, the
fish was no monster, but any fish caught on fly is well worth the effort and the sweat stains on my Simm’s Cold Weather Shirt were proof of the work put in.

After a strip here and there, the tail dropped. “Set up!” I yelled a little louder than I had anticipated. The fly line ran in the clear southern waters and Tim pulled hard on the line and bent a deep ‘U’ in the rod at the same time. The fish bulldogged hard for it’s size, but eventually gave way to the ten-weight and we got to hold the small pumpkin.

Now it was my turn for some bow time. Tim poled me towards the rest of the school that had seemingly not noticed the commotion. Their tails were still straight up and waving at us like a siren’s song. Following several attempts at fish that were not willing to give up the real thing I finally had a taker. The fish nailed the shrimp pattern just as it hit the water, with a good portion of it’s head coming out of the water, giving both anglers a show. I did my best to untangle the fly line at my feet and did what must have looked remarkably like a pirouette on top of the Yeti, get- ting free. This fish pulled better and as it got boat side gave me the shower I had needed after the night. Luckily my Chroma Pops saved my eyes from the cold water and the fish was boated.

Several times throughout the day,Trout nailed our shrimp pat- tern and on numerous occasions Jack Crevalle would fill the line up. We packed our bags and headed back to the marina for a comfortable night in a soft bed and some tequila shots at the bar. We looked forward to speaking with Cream Soda about our adventures, and seeing what else he had up his sleeves.

Captain JohnnyTouchton makes his living on the deck of his skiff, and from behind his writ- ing desk at his home in Tampa. His work has been published in magazines, and newspapers all around the southeast. He can be reached via his website at www.LPineOutdoors.com

Pelagic Troubadours

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When I began my career as Captain Tim Whitfield, I envisioned stalking redfish and snook most of the spring, summer and fall, while targeting trout and sheephead as winter foes. While the dew was still wet, early in my career, the bite was slow and while moving from one spot to the next, we en- countered a school of Spanish mackerel. The drags started making music and the laughter was only drowned out by the sound of the drag on the big rod going off. I learned a lot that day; maybe it was the moment when it clicked for me that, that’s what it’s all about, fun and bend- ing rods. Most clients are just looking to catch some fish, they don’t really care what. While running most of my charters out of Ricks on the River, just north of downtown, I depend on the pelagic fish to push up into that part of the bay. They are always good for my customer satisfaction rating.

Sometimes clients can only fish for the afternoon, which is fine but can kinda suck when the bait has to be secured as the sun rises. This was one of those times. I had an afternoon group and several hours to kill before the afternoon session. I had Johnny Touchton come and mate for me, he knew a couple of the guys and it was a good opportunity to scout a little and grab an early lunch at Rivers Edge, on the Alafia River. FYI: The “Edge Burger” is awesome!

After securing bait, we had planned to drift the ship channel bait schools and see if any kings were around. We got into a good school of mackerel and landed a couple small kings, but nothing too noteworthy. On the GPS we saw a marked reef and went to investigate. As we approached the spot, we saw a king skyrocket. Our scouting time paid off and on the first drift, we quickly realized that we were underpowered with 4000 series reels and medium power rods. When Johnny hooked up he had a long battle and after what felt like an eternity we finally wrangled the toothy fish into the boat. We estimated the fish at around 50 lbs. Upon inspection of the leader, after taking some photos, we realized that in the excitement of getting a bait out, Johnny had grabbed the rod rigged for Spanish, with 40 lb leader and a 1/0 long shank. We were fortunate to have one fish in the box.

We drifted the reef again, 2 more times and got nothing. As we maneuvered into position again for one last drift, I went with 40# leader. It was the only thing we had done differently on the first drift. WHAM, and instantly gone, a hit and split bite. I re-tied and rinsed
and repeated with another cut off while Johnny, with the heavier leader, had not a bite. I retied again and got a big sardine as we set up one final drift, kinda like one more cast. The strike was nothing spectacular, just a deadening thud. The line came tight and the drag sang the tune of the pelagics. After many long harrowing moments, this fish too came boat side, with less fanfare than the first, after all we had done this before, no need to embarrass the King.

Kingfish are one of my all time favorite species to target. They are fast. They have endurance, and man, those teeth! Surprisingly, with a little luck on your side, you can nab kings in the bay using rather underpowered tackle. Captain Tim and I were originally targeting Spanish mackerel (also good for the smoker) and as I hooked up, I realized that my forty pound leader would probably not last the test of time when battling this king.

I managed to land the brute by virtue of one aspect of our tackle… Tim had decided to use super long shank hooks, I mean, almost four inches long. Due to this one piece of tackle, we bested numerous king- fish in the forty to fifty pound mark, all on inshore rods and reels meant for redfish or trout.

Look for wrecks in the bay that hold large schools of bait. If you find Spanish macks on the wreck, then you are in the right spot. Kingfish won’t be far behind. If you hate sitting still like I do, try trolling the shipping channels with large plugs. I don’t know a kingfish out there that will turn one down yet.

TOUCHTON’S KINGFISH RECIPE
I had never brined a fish before smoking it and wanted to give the method a try. I was surprised at how easy it really is and very happy at how the fish came out on the other side. It’s something that I recommend doing to any fish with a robust flavor, that may otherwise put off uneasy diners.

I use my large five- gallon stainless steel fryer pot; filling it with cold, clean water. Add enough salt to make the fillet pieces float. And, USE SEA SALT. This is very important as Iodized salt will make the fish taste strange.

Add some fresh ginger, soy sauce and several whole cloves of garlic for flavor and let it sit. If you have a smaller fish and are using a smaller brining container, you can let it sit up to 24 hours in the fridge. Since I had so much kingfish and five gallons of stainless steel, I set up my YETI Tank, and put the fryer pot in the center, and iced the sides down as you might a keg and let it sit for twelve hours.
After removing the fish from the brine we smoked it. A good electric smoker from Bass Pro, Lowes, or even Wal-Mart will do. I chose Jack Daniel’s oak chips for the extra flavor. To this day, that smoked kingfish is one of my favorite meals.
The best taste is achieved when the fish is washed down with sudsy beer and shared with good friends for company.

It also should be noted that smoking fish rarely achieves temperatures high enough to kill parasites. It is best to freeze the fish in a cold freezer for up to 24 hours then brine and then smoke.

Captain Tim Whitfield can be reached at 813-714- 0889 or through his website at www.swiftfishcharters.com. Captain Johnny Touchtoncan be emailed at lonepineoutdoors@gmail.com.