Big Sky – Part One

Nov 1, 2014

The saddle leather creaked underneath me as my large, gelded Tennessee Walker stood perched rather precariously on the tiny mountain trail. The loose rock that we were walking on was no wider than half a horse width and the mountain dropped several hundred vertical feet directly below us. I had stopped the small caravan of hunters to glass the glen below us. Elk often used this, the southernmost col of our limits, to pass between feeding areas when the temperature dropped. I wanted to make sure we weren’t spooking any animals prematurely, as this was only our pack in to base camp, still six miles away, at the base of the next mountain.

I peered through my Swarovski binoculars, looking for any telltale sign of life, but only finding several crows and a magpie. A light snow began to fall, making a pitter patter sound on my rain hood and prompting my horse to shift its weight in protest. The saddle leather creaked again under my weight and I decided it best to move on to base camp and continue glassing the next day under better conditions. The binoculars fell silently by my chest and as I shifted my weight forward in the saddle, the gelding moved on, navigating the tightrope walkway circumnavigating the mountain.

We reached camp with plenty of daylight left, though the Big Sky had other plans and grey clouds moved in, along with more snow. “Perfect weather for the animals,” I said to my client, and his family. His wife and two sons were along for the experience, but Danny, my main client, wanted to put his tag around a big elk. The heat had kept the family at bay for the last two weeks, until finally the weather turned and I made the call. They flew up from Denver where his law firm is based and I met them in Bozeman. “I’m really excited, just glassing the glen on the way in was getting my heart pumping,” Danny said. I like Danny; he is the right sort that you want to be in the woods with. He respects the bush for both its beauty and the dangers. I first hunted with him in my home state of Florida. We were after Osceola Turkey then and he showed me that he was a man worth investing some time in. After the Florida hunt, we talked on a regular basis and I finally invited him out here on family land to harvest a bull. He was ecstatic.

I dismounted the walker and opened their pole tent for them and got a fire going in the wood-burning stove. I checked all of the cots for rattlesnakes and ushered them in. The boys were in high school and had never hunted Montana before; in fact I’m not even sure they had ever hunted elk before. Danny’s lease in Kansas kept he and his sons busy when they had time off. The boys helped their mother unpack the mules and they all got situated in the tent. I brushed the animals down and lashed them to the run I had strung up between two thick pines. The horses walked to one side, the mules to the other and they rested in the crisp mountain air. After I got the camp fire going,
I heated a griddle and threw on some venison steaks from a few weeks ago and cooked up some potatoes and onions to go with it. The cooler was full of cold beer and we all relaxed around the fire for a long while, talking of past hunts and expectations for tomorrow. “The herd was in that glen we glassed on the way in, three weeks ago, since then they probably moved up the mountain a ways, but with this cold snap they should be moving back down. No matter where they are on the property, they have to move through that col when it gets cold. I’m thinking that depending on the snowfall tonight, we should head back there in the morning and post up and glass the ridges and glens. We’ll find them.”

I could see the excitement in Danny’s eyes and his kids were excited for him too. It’s always a pleasure hunting with someone who appreciates the art and effort that goes into a hunt. Too many people take the logistics and prep work for granted and expect a massive 6×6 every time.

The afternoon passed without much excitement and when it came time to fall asleep the distant bugles began and they were loud and long. Big bulls were telling each other who was boss and it continued for almost twenty minutes. Even I was excited for what the morning had in store for us. To be continued.

Captain Johnny Touchton makes his living from the deck of his skiff, and in the woods around in Tampa. If you would like to experience an adventure with him, he can be reached through his website at: LPineOutdoors.com.

Big Bend Snook

Sal

Sep 28, 2014

Is there a snook fishery emerging North of Tampa, or is catching a snook in the Big Bend considered rare and often referred to as an accidental catch? The area I am referring to is between Chassahowitzka and Yankeetown in the southern end of the big bend region. When did snook really begin to flourish in this area? What makes this unique area the perfect place for snook habitat? Finally, what techniques and methods would allow anglers to have a shot at catching a big bend linesider?

My granddaddy and other old timers used to
tell me stories of catching all the trout and red- fish one could ever dream of, back in the day. I remember hearing about going back in the warm water discharge and catching hundreds and hundreds of trout and reds in the winter, however, I never heard him tell me about a snook. Then, one day about 15 years ago, I found myself fish- ing in the same canal in December. It was just a few hours before dark and the tide was falling and my topwater lure got smashed. I assumed I had a big jack, but after a long fight, it turned out to be a 41-inch snook. For the next two hours, we hooked snook after snook; most fish were between
35 and 40 inches. Over the next decade the snook population grew very fast in this area and became my favorite fish to target. Then in 2010 a freeze killed a large portion of the snook on the west coast of Florida, however, a large portion of the fish in the northern reach were not affected by the freeze.

The southern area of the big bend is able to sus- tain such a healthy snook population due to its fresh water springs, warm water discharge canal and proximity to deep water. All of these factors have given snook a safe refuge during the colder winter months. The springs of Chassahowitzka, Homosassa and Crystal River pump out water with a temperature of 72 degrees year round. The Power plant warm water outflow pumps out warmer water than the gulf in the winter. More importantly, the barge canal had to be dredged out and maintains an average depth of 25-30 feet deep to allow coal barges to access the power plant. Also, the Withlacoochee River has and average depth of around 15 to 20 feet with a few holes that are 40 foot deep. As a result, the snook have been able to survive the colder winters we are known for here on the Nature Coast.

When targeting snook in this area, there are a few very important things to take into consideration. The tidal flow, water temperature, bait/lure you choose to present to the fish and the topography are key. I have found from years of trial and error that an outgoing tide is the best time for snook to feed. Near the new moon, I like a big outgoing tide
early in the morning and near the full moon, I prefer to fish a big outgoing tide near dark. Look for snook to feed when the water temps are in the lower to mid 60’s and above. The best bait in our region is live finger mullet and smaller ladyfish. If you are fishing with artificial bait, the Yo-zuri Crystal Minnow is my lure of choice and out fishes any other lure I have ever used. It can be worked at the perfect depth where the snook are waiting to feed. Our snook will be found near deep-water channels, they stack up on the edges of these channels to feed. If there is structure like a rock pile to slow the cur- rent, the snook will use this to their ad- vantage to exert less energy while holing in place. Turns in the rivers will create eddies when the tide falls and are perfect places to look for snook, also, deeper cuts in between sand and oyster bars are perfect ambush spots for feeding snook.

Not only does the Nature Coast offer an extraordinary snook fishery, I believe there are more large female snook caught here than in any other area on the West Coast of Florida. Much like the largest bonefish in the world are caught in their far northern reaches, I believe the same holds true for snook. I have no idea why the snook worked their way north, but I know why they decided to stay. Snook can be targeted here year round and if you take the conditions into consid- eration and present the right lure to the fish, the snook of a lifetime can be waiting for you on the Nature Coast.

Photos by Captian Jimmy Nelson

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BARRACUDA (SPHYRAENA BARRACUDA)

Sal

Aug 30, 2014

Are you looking for a rod bending fight? How about a big-eyed freak with razor sharp teeth built for speed to show you how hard a fish can fight. Yeah baby, I’m referring to the ever so ferocious Great Barracuda. The Barracuda may not be considered to be a game fish by some anglers,but these fish have had my reel smoking after it snatched my catch and just about spooled me! These silver bullets are pretty creepy in my opinion, but they are a lot fun to fight, especially when you have a big daddy on the line!

So, where do I find these wicked teeth torpedoes to tango with my tackle? My desired spots for these big papas, which range 50lbs or more, are around offshore wrecks and reefs. I’ve noticed groups of Barracudas stacked up in swarms like tiny tornados, but the monster Barracudas usually stalk alone. Furthermore, foot-long kiddos can be found inshore in the flats where they can instinctively hide behind rock piles, wrecks and sea-fan clusters awaiting their prey for ambush.

These bad boy Barracudas, fortunately can be found all year long almost anywhere and anytime, in various sizes throughout South Florida and the tropical islands. During the winter months, I’ve noticed that colossal sized Barracuda tend to move onto the flats and inshore, driving other species into deeper water.

Lets get back to getting set up for a battle with the Great Barracuda. I would recommend a medium weight saltwater conventional rod and reel rated for 20-30lbs test line, or so. I would also set up my rig up with 12 inches of leader wire, to avoid having those razor sharp teeth cut my ****** (use your imagination) line! When selecting a lure, I keep in mind that Barracudas are attracted to things that are silver in color and have high reflection. My favorite lure for this type of mission would be the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Deep Diver; its tight wiggling action paired with a brilliant holographic finish reflects any subsurface light, which will catch the eye of the ravenous Great Barracuda! This same lure is what was used to catch a 50lb plus monster that is featured on the front page. Guess who that is?

When fishing around the edge of reefs and wrecks, my first tactic is to just drop my line in and pray…just kidding. For real, when I’m fishing these areas, I’d just troll slowly with my lure behind the boat, letting it do all the work. I might yank and jerk it a little now and then. It’s going to grab the attention of any Barracuda lurking around. If I want to cast, I make sure it’s a long cast, and then reel, reel, reel!

When fishing the flats, I would take the same approach as I mentioned before. I would quietly use my trolling motor to move around looking for structures such as rock piles, wrecks and sea-fan clusters. Again, I would make long cast along these structures and work my lure fast and erratically. If I spot a Barracuda, I will cast past and beside it, not on top of it (fish don’t usually fall out of the sky). Then reel fast and don’t stop. If I want my lure to mimic a fish, I keep it dancing! No sane fish is going to stop and smell the sea-fan clusters if a predator is nearby. So again, reel fast.

So, to reel this article in, I love fighting Barracuda. They’re basically just like tarpon, great to fight, but that’s about it. There are many other ways to catch these toothy monsters, but it seems to me that the real task at hand is to keep them off my “real” fish! Ultimately, I would use them as shark bait. And, who really goes out to just catch Barracuda?

2014 Red Hot Saltwater Slam

Sal

Jul 30, 2014

saltwater-slam-2014

Mixing it up at the Middle Grounds

Sal

Jun 30, 2014

The famed Florida Middle Grounds has long been a top destination for anglers seeking to fill their fish boxes with a variety of bottom dwelling species and enjoy the solitude provided by this remote destination. Located roughly 90 miles west of the central gulf coast, this expansive area boasts some of the best bottom fishing to be found anywhere in the state. This article will discuss some of the best tips and techniques used to help anglers be successful in their adventures to the Florida Middle Grounds.

GROUPER
Most anglers think Grouper is the number one species target for an- glers going to the middle grounds. There are many techniques that can be employed to target these tasty bottom fish, but here are a few simple ones that have worked very well for my customers on my boat. We start out with a sturdy stand-up rod fitted to a reel capable of hold- ing plenty of 80lb. braided line or 60lb. monofilament.

Years ago the classic 4/0 Penn and Diawa conventional reels were the go-to choice for most anglers, but the advent of smaller stronger jigging reels has allowed anglers to use lighter setups to target bigger fish than ever dreamed possible. On the business end of the rig, I prefer to use a Fish Finder rig consisting of an 8oz egg sinker, a 150lb. swivel, 5 feet of 100lb. leader mate- rial and an 8/0 Mustad 3X Strong Demon Perfect Circle Hook. This rig should be fished directly on the bot- tom with a bait that is big enough so that the grunts and porgies can peck at it but not remove the bait from the hook. I try to build my terminal setups so that they are strong enough to land even the meanest of grouper, but still give the angler the sensitivity to feel light bites from weary bottom fish.

SNAPPER
The grounds are known for hosting a variety of snapper species including Mangrove, Red, Lane, Vermillion and the occasional Cubera, which is the undeniable king of the snapper family. Rigging up to target these notoriously wary fish can be a bit challenging, but with
a few simple tips anglers can be successful in catching good numbers of them. I prefer to have my customers fish with a foot con- ventional rod rated for 30 to 50lb. line and a small conventional reel loaded with 50lb braided line.

Again, a “Fish Finder” rig is employed with a 6oz. egg sinker, a 100lb. barrel swivel, 7 feet of 60lb. fluorocarbon leader material and a 4/0 circle hook, but this time the rig is fished 5-7 feet above the bottom where the snap- pers tend to feed. Smaller baits tend to work better for snapper, so I normally employ a mix of threadfin herring chunks, small pieces of cut bait and live or fresh dead shrimp. The ability to detect the light bite of a man- grove snapper is an acquired skill, but once mastered the fish box will quickly fill up with tasty snapper.

PELAGICS
Many people are under the impression that the Middle Grounds is an area that is only good for bottom fishing for Grouper and Snapper, but this is just not the case. Along with the typical bottom fish, anglers can expect the opportunity to catch pelagic species such as King Mackerel, Cobia, Wahoo, Dolphin and Blackfin Tuna using two simple tactics; flat lining and trolling. The use of a flat line is one of simplest ways for anglers targeting bottom fish to also target surface feeding pelagic fish at the same time.

On my boat we typically use a high capacity spinning rig for a Flat line rod loaded with 20lb. monofilament or 40lb braided line with 10 feet of 50lb. monofilament for a shock leader connected to a C&H stinger rig. I will usually hook the lead hook of the stinger rig in the nose of a threadfin or sardine and then hook the trailer hook of the rig in the tail of the bait. This rig should be free lined with the current about 60-100 feet away from the boat and the drag should be set very light so that a fish can take the bait and turn its head before the hook gets set. The biggest advantage of a flat line is that this rig is good for targeting all of the species that swim high in the water column and it doesn’t interfere with the angler’s ability to catch bottom fish at the same time.

The second technique that I use for locating and catching pelagic species is trolling. Trolling is a fantastic method to use when moving from spot to spot and I normally choose to employ a four line spread. We start out by staggering a pair of Yozuri deep diving crystal minnows to target fish that are down below the surface and then we troll a pair of C&H rigged skirted lures on the top to give us a chance at catching a dolphin or a sailfish. This simple four line spread will catch nearly any fish that swims in the top half of the water column.

For many anglers the Florida Middle Grounds is a bucket-list destination where big catches and stories of monster fish seem to abound. With the use of a few simple tactics this vast area can be narrowed down and a manageable strategy can be used to maximize every hour spent on the water.

It is imperative to check the weather for your trip and make sure that you are up- dated on all FWC regulations that pertain to the species you intend to catch. Tight lines and good fishing!

Captain Clay Shidler of Hang’ Em High Sport Fishing can be reached by phone at 352-586-2748 or online at www. FishingChartersCrystalRiver.com.

Blitz of the Tarpon

Sal

May 31, 2014

The man who has caught trout, black bass, or salmon and has added to this the delight of shore fishing for tautog, bluefish or striped bass, has many pleasant and exciting contests to remember; but if he should once get fast to a tarpon all his other fishing experiences –desperate as some of them may have seemed–will be eclipsed in a moment.

Charles F. W. Mielatz
Excerpt from Tales of Old Florida

The tarpon’s image of ferocity would seem to be immor- tal through the halls of time. Their faces cut from cold steel and scales forged from ice and angular jaws molded and hardened from gray clay. Ice water runs through their veins and more than one angler has tossed in their hats of all shapes and sizes, giving up hope of besting the great Silver King.

The annual tarpon migration north- ward from their Caribbean homes, gives all of us chills. I lay awake at night dreaming of daisy-chaining fish, languidly swimming by my skiff with my client poised to strike, fly rod in hand and the Great Sábalo willingly eating hand spun flies from the night before. It’s a dream we have all had and while fly-fishing is, in my opinion, the best way to fish for tarpon, others would disagree. I asked several cap- tains around the bay how they prefer to count tarpon jumps and on that rare occasion, get a fish boatside.

CAPTAIN BRET GAMROT
Crabs are awesome! “I begin by checking the lunar tables for May and June. As the full and new moons ap- proach, I check the tides to see when the bay is really flushing out, and then I go crab scooping. The best crabs are no larger than an iPhone and I tend to pass on the really big ones. Recently I purchased a telescoping net that reaches well over twenty feet, you know I never miss a crab! I scoop the crustaceans and leave them in the net and once I have enough, in the bucket they go. Then I go to work on their claws. Using my pliers, I squeeze them until the crabs detaches and voila, tarpon candy.”

Tip: “Even if you don’t have any crabs, just get out there. You can just net one that has been flushed and get a hook in it, then just do your drift over and net another. Pretty soon you will have a bucket load of crabs. Just be sure not to miss the bite, which will peak during the hill tides surround- ing the full and new moons. If the crabs are flushing, the poons are eating. Happy crabbin.

Captain Bret Gamrot
(727) 647-2524
www.onshoreoffshore.com

CAPTAIN CLAY EAVENSON
Tarpon Tides. “If I had to name the most impor- tant factor, when it comes to getting on a great tarpon bite, it would be, hands down, the tide. It’s not just as simple as the incoming tide be- ing good or strong, or the outgoing being fast and furious. Each spot that tarpon frequent has a particular tide that is ideal for it.

There some places that tarpon will fire off on a slow incoming or outgo- ing, then there are spots where you need rush- ing white water to get those silver beasts to eat. Learning what the best tides are for your particular area is essential to success. Understanding the tides fully will only come with time and ex- perience. Be sure to fish your tarpon spots thoroughly, on every tide possi- ble, making sure to keep track of what tide and time of day works best.”

Tip: “Take it to the next level. Start figuring out which bait works best at each spot and each tide. Dead bait, cut bait, live bait, crabs, pilchards, ladyfish, mullet, it can take time to learn, sometimes years, to get best combination of tide, location and bait. Once you do figure out the key in- gredients, your efforts will be greatly rewarded.”

Captain Clay Eavenson
(813) 300-2147
www.captainclay.com

CAPTAIN TIM WHITFIELD
“I prefer to fish for tarpon a little differently than most. I like hunting them in the backwaters using artifi- cial lures, mainly D.O.A. Bait Busters. Fishing in the solitary confinement of a deep dark river is more pure than any other method of tam- ing silver, other than catching them on fly. I look for rolling fish and glide on the electric motor up current, way up current. Drifting back using the helm to steer, we toss and swim the baits slowly back to the boat. This covers a lot of water and keeps the bait in the strike zone for a longer period of time. In my opinion, this has to by simple math, increase the chances of hook- ing up but then again, I am no longer there to catch fish. I find I leave a little bit of my soul when I am stalking the great one and again, at times I think I am gaining some of it back. It has become seasoned by the waters and I feel it coursing through my veins.

Captain Tim Whitfield
(813) 714-0889
www.swiftfishcharters.com

And as for me? Well, as I said before, I prefer to chuck fluff at my tarpon. Sitting up late at night at the vice, tying deer hair and rabbit zonker into crab or baitfish pat- terns is just part of my job, much the same as waking up early and netting thousands of pilchards or netting dozens of crabs.

Tying flies has become a part of who I am, just as the tarpon migration has become a part
of most every guide this side of the Mason- Dixon. The tarpon come when the Gardenias bloom and stay for some of the finest weather the state has to offer and more than that, they provide a much welcomed change of pace for those of us who strive to bring awesome fish- ing experiences to thousands of eager tourists and vacationers.

Captain Johnny makes his living from the deck of his skiff and in the woods around his home in Tampa. If you are interested in booking a fishing experience with him, you can visit his website www.LPineOutdoors.com or call him at (813) 713-0237.

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KINGFISH

Sal

May 1, 2014

The feel of offshore big game fishing can be found in a small boat just outside a pass. Even pier fishermen have learned how to get in on the ex- citement of catching large, fast swimming fish on light tackle.

The action happens twice a year. King mackerel migrate up our coastline in the spring headed for waters in the northern gulf and again in the fall as they head back south to the Keys. The migrations seem to coincide with water temperatures, the duration of daylight hours, and the availability of baitfish. Water temperatures around 72-74 degrees seem to be ideal but it may not be the kings that have this preference as much as the baitfish. The mackerel may possibly follow bait schools more than water temperature. For anglers, monitoring water temperatures may be the best way to stay in tune with concentrations of both bait and kings.

There a many fishing methods that are productive for catching kingfish. Each has it’s own benefits for any given scenario. When broken down into their lowest common denominator there are two ways to catch kings. One is with artificial lures the other is with live bait. The use of lures usually requires trolling and typically includes spoons, lipped div- ing plugs, or heavy jigs. Live bait fishing has several sub categories including slow trolling, drifting, and anchoring. The list of productive live baits is extensive including scaled sardines, threadfins, Spanish sardines, cigar minnows, blue runners, ladyfish, mullet, Spanish mackerel, and more.

When it comes to catch- ing big fish, referred to as “smokers”, it’s undis- puted that live bait fishing gets the nod. Troll- ing artificial “hardware” is great for locating and catching “schoolie” size fish but it’s always live baiters that score the big ones. Just talk to any seasoned tournament an- gler. They’ll confirm that frisky live bait is the key, and the bigger the better.

Smokers get their nickname from their scorching fast runs that could conceivably heat up a reels drag to the point of creating smoke. Sto- ries have been passed down for years of pour- ing seawater on reels to cool them down during the heat of battle. These larger fish tend to be loaners and spread out through the migration keeping the smaller fish schooled in concentra- tions. These big breeders are typically caught at the beginning and end of each migration. They are also found very close to shore, just outside the swim buoys along the beaches, and at extreme off- shore distances during the bulk of the migration. These facts tend to lead to a theory that the smokers form a pe- rimeter around the huge mass of king mackerel containing them as they march along their migration path.

For those anglers who can piece the puzzle of fishing together, the rewards are trophy pictures and possibly prize tournament money. For the rest of us, if you’re having fun catching fish, you’re doing it right.

Capt. Brent Gaskill is a 4th generation Tampa Bay native who fishes both inshore and offshore as a full-time guide. Call 727-510-1009 or e-mail captbrent@summervacationcharters.com. View his website at www.summervacationcharters.com for more information.

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Tarpon Tune Up!

Sal

Apr 4, 2014

This April will mark the beginning of the tarpon season in Tampa Bay. Consistent reports of poon sightings and hookups start to spread quickly and everyone starts to feel symptoms of tarpon fever. You know tarpon fever is spreading when tackle shops start to run out of heavier Fluorocarbon leader, bigger circle hooks are disappearing of the racks and guys are flooding in one after another with big dusty spinning reels to get them reloaded with heavier braid. Other symptoms of tarpon fever include: buying big heavy cast nets, practicing your Bimini twist, arguing with other fisherman about the best tarpon tackle, guys sharing their “Top Secret” tarpon techniques with anyone who will listen and people asking where they can find those cute little crabs.

Tampa Bay tarpon come from near and far to do two of my favorite things, eat and make love! They follow the big herring and sardine schools onto the beaches and into the bay and feed voraciously in between offshore spawning sessions. This is the time of year I get geared up and ready for tarpon fishing to break loose. When putting together tarpon tackle, the most important things to consider are where you will be fishing and what kind of bait you will be using. As far as rods and reels go, I recommend a long stout rod with a softer tip and a well-built spinning reel with plenty of drag. Having a few rods in the 7-8 ft. range with a 15-50 lb. class rating is a good idea. Two of my favorites are the Shimano Teramar 8 ft. 15-40 and the Crowder E-Series 8ft. 20-40 for the big boys around the bridge. As far as spinning reels go, depending on how well it’s built and line capacity, a quality reel in the 6000 to 12000 range will do fine. This is one of those times where spending a few extra bucks on a higher end reel will pay off on the water. My go to, all around favorite tarpon reel is a Fin-Nor OFS 5500. Tarpon have a reputation for blowing up less expensive reels and destroying inadequate drag systems in a matter of minutes. You want to look for a reel with 20-40 pounds of drag for when you really need to put the pressure on them.

When it comes to rigging my rods, I like to fill them with 50lb. braid and always tie a Bimini Twist before my leader. Tying a Bimini in braid has many benefits; tied right it will offer a little bit of shock absorption to your connection, which is important since braid has nearly zero stretch. It also allows for stronger braid to leader connection and offers a few extra feet of doubled line for rubbing against any structure. More than once I have had a tarpon rub my line against a piece of structure and frayed or broke one of the strands in the bimini, while the other held up through the remainder of the fight. When it comes to leader selection, two factors to consider are water clarity and braid strength, but fluorocarbon is a must, in my opinion. I do not like using a leader with a weaker breaking strength than my braid and the only time I will is if I feel that the tarpon are being overly leader shy. I like to use 40-60 lb. on the beaches and 60-80 lb. around the bridges when you have to work them around the pilings.

When it comes to keeping those tarpon “glued” and on your line, choosing the right hook can make all the difference. I prefer circle hooks between 4/0-8/0 depending on the size and type of the bait being used. In my opinion circle hooks are far superior to J hooks when it comes to not only hooking tarpon in the right areas of their mouth, but also keeping them on through the duration of the fight.

My favorite all-purpose tarpon rig consists of a spool full of 50lb. Momoi Diamond Braid, finished with a Bimini Twist to a Double Uni to 8 ft. of 60 lb. Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 7/0 Owner Mutu circle hook.

When it comes to bait, the key is to figure out what they are eating and have plenty of it. Often it’s live sardines or big threadfin herring, but sometimes they want to eat pass crabs and only pass crabs. When baiting up for the day, if you’re not sure exactly what they are in the mood for, try to get a little bit of everything. By putting a few different kinds of baits out at once you allow the tarpon to swim down your buffet line and tell you exactly what they are in the mood for. Don’t overlook dead bait either. Tarpon are not exactly the apex predators that many people think they are, in fact, I think they are much more scavenger than predator. Fishing dead bait around the bridges and even off the beaches can prove very successful.
Remember to stop by your local tackle shop and pick up a few tagging kits. They are readily available up and down the west coast and are a great way to keep track of your catches and also help improve tarpon study and research. Being effective at both hooking tarpon and getting them boatside takes practice, skill and good preparation. Take some time before you hit the water in search of the silver king to make sure your tackle is set up correctly and you have a solid game plan!

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Captain Matt can be reached at 813-205-2327, online at www.FishingGuideTampa.com, on twitter at @captainmatts or at Facebook.com/Fishwithcaptainmatt.

Consistant Weather Brings Great Springtime Fishing!

Sal

Apr 4, 2014

Well, March was a month for the winds as cold fronts kept coming and winter would not let go. While fishing was great, in between the fronts, it still made for some nasty days on the water. When I think about April, I think about consistent weather and great fishing. The two rarely go together, but at certain times, in the fall and spring, you can see some absolutely perfect days to be an outdoorsman and April is that kind of month.

We have had a ton of cold fronts and some cold weather this winter, which typically means that fishing explodes in the spring. Fish start moving onto the flats and bait starts to move into the bay. The old saying holds true, where there is bait, the fish are not far behind. One species that really likes springtime is Snook. The snook start their journey from their winter homes and typically are very hungry. Snook are suckers for greenbacks and will rarely pass one up, this time of year. Look to see good numbers of fish around the potholes, mangroves lines and creeks that feed into Tampa Bay. Some of my favorite areas to find Snook are places like Cockroach Bay, Bishops Harbor and the Kitchen, just to name a few. My tackle of choice is the same I use for all other inshore species, but I will step up my leader material to 30 lb. to help protect against the rough mouths that the Snook have. This will help when you hook the big one! While Snook are in season, I still urge everyone to practice catch and release. Snook are on their way to a successful recovery, but have not fully rebounded and every fish that is released is valuable to the stocks. Most slot fish are females! Just food for thought.
If you want to bring some fish home, I can’t think of a better tasting fish than Trout. With Trout currently being so plentiful, why not target them. If you are a novice fisherman and just getting into fishing, Trout is a great fish to target. With the slot being 15 to 20 inches and the bag limit set at 4 per person with one over slot fish allowed, it only makes sense to get some trout for the dinner table. Trout are also great fish to target, when throwing artificial baits.

They are great for the novice angler to build confidence when learning to use artificial baits. Some of my favorite baits are the Zman pearl white jerkZ weedless rig, for shallow water use, and when fishing open areas, you can’t go wrong with the MirOlure MirOdine 17MR. When practicing catch and release with Trout, don’t forget the use a de-hooker to ensure for a safe release.

Redfish start to make a big push this month following the spring mullet run. Look for big schools of reds to show up in the bay and mill around the flats looking for just about any bait either live or dead. Fishing around oyster bars, potholes and troughs will prove to be successful, as fish use these areas to move to and from the flats with the tides. On low tides, find those deeper potholes on the flats and you will typically find fish close by. Using the right tackle will make a difference when targeting any of the species mentioned above. My preferred tackle for my charters is Fins Ohero Adrenaline Braid tied to Ohero Fluorocarbon 30# leader and a 1/0 Daiichi or Trident circle hook; this is simple but effective and will put more fish on the boat.

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Captain Jason Prieto is a native resident of Tampa and has fished its surrounding waters for the past 20 years. He is owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters. To book a charter, you can reach him at 813-727-9890 or . Catch him on the Tampa Fishing Outfitters Radio Show on Sunday Morning from 8 to 9AM on 1040 Sports Talk the Team.

THE LANGUAGE OF SPRING

Sal

Mar 2, 2014

It’s still too early to even see in front of you. The only light available is coming from the bright crescent moon overhead. As I walk into my little piece of heaven, the cool North wind blows through the pine trees, making them whisper their secrets away. I can see my breath, though only barely, in the silhouette of my dim headlamp. This is Florida and undoubtedly by the end of the hunt I will be sweating and batting away mosquitoes.
The state poses an interesting set of challenges that would deter your typical weekend hunter. Alligators, venomous snakes (six different species), spiders as big as your face and mosquitoes that masquerade as hummingbirds are enough to keep most people out of the woods, but I still love it. As a guide, I thrive in the woods, or on the water and the challenges that I have to overcome make it that much sweeter when my clients leave happy.
Today we are stalking the elusive Wild Turkey, the Osceola model. My client followed as I led deep into the swamp in search of an Easter dinner. The water started out ankle deep and began cooling my sore feet. After a couple of steps, it was nearly above my boots and without much resistance it began rushing in to flood my lower legs. Cold now, with the breeze on my back and the water soaking my socks, I began to move with a more hurried pace, steadily sloshing through the creek. As my legs moved, they kicked up decayed plant matter aerosolizing a fetid stench that filled my nostrils. Even with the water now adding substantial weight to my clothing, I felt very much alive. “Press on,” I thought. “This is what you live for.” My mind was set on what I would do if Osceola came within range of my client’s shotgun. How I would set up if his chiefs accompany him, or worse, his squaws. They see all. What calls would I start out with and how would I use them. All of these things crossed my mind as I pressed on.
My light shone through the darkness, just as a hot knife cuts through butter. The forest on either side of me offered vibrant colors. Vines and ivy once muted in the dry season was now lush and green, clinging to the two passerby’s clothes.
We got out of the water and climbed into the palmettos on a trail that I had blazed mere days before. As we went, we were accompanied only by the sound of the fronds scratching our wet camouflage, the dark mud sucking our boots downward and the Earth making us earn every step taken. This was the sound of the Spring stalk. A swamp stalk in one of Florida’s disappearing wetlands.
After a time, the trail grew shallow and with pine trees now surrounding me, it became dry. I was soaked from the waist down and I gave a look back to my client who sported a smile from ear to ear. The squalid mud gave way to white sugar sand with Bahia grass jumbled in amongst the sand spurs and stinging nettles. The dawn was still far off and with my light beaming off of the damp ground a new environment appeared. Hundreds of small eyes glared back at me from amongst the grasses. There were Spiders, predators just as I was, out for a long night of hunting the small crickets, roaches and cicadas that produced the ever-present orchestra of sound that surrounded us. It was spring’s early morning language.
Up ahead I spotted a downed limb. It was cracked away from the tree’s body by the great North wind, no doubt. It was a large Water Oak that was several feet in circumference. With browning leaves and moss blocking my way, I detoured around the tree. Off the trail I stepped slowly and deliberately around the jumble of firewood to the other side.
In an open pine flat, we sat listening to the cool breeze blow above us. The pine trees spoke as we listened to their soothing voice and we waited to hear the special sound. I dozed off at the base of a large pine, waking an hour later to the sound of songbirds calling from the palmettos behind us. Within a few minutes, objects began to materialize. We see other pine trees with the marsh out in front and the palmetto fronds to my sides. Then I heard it. It was the unmistakable sound of our quarry. We heard the war chant of swamp birds. Osceola fired off several gobbles in succession. My client looked back at me from the base of a thick pine tree, still holding that massive smile. I gave the thumbs up, and pulled down my camouflage face netting.
I sent out a series of soft clucks and one good yelp from my box call to the Old Chief just across the marsh. All was quiet. Osceolas are wise. They are ephemeral ghosts that take shape in the humid mists of the swamp, vanishing at the blink of an eye. Making you question if they were ever there. I whispered to my comrade, “He’ll come from the right on the same trail we came in on that circumvents the marsh. Be ready because you may only get one shot.”
I received a nod of approval and the shotgun was aimed and steadied toward the trail. The light began to shine in through the trees from behind us and while the pines across the marsh were obscured in a dense fog, I knew the birds were there. They gave themselves away once more and then nothing for nearly twenty minutes. I was about to get up to re-position us, when from behind the palmetto head on our right, a thunderous gobble echoed out penetrating the mist and piercing us through our hearts.
He knew that there was a lone female here. Osceola had heard her just minutes before and he wanted her badly. I purred softly to him with my diaphragm and he called three more times. I could see the red head bobbing around the fronds and soon enough, he was in sight of the shotgun. Through a thick cloud of mosquitos, a hammer dropped and a legend fell.
My client told me it was a surreal experience. “I’m thankful to have been a part of it.”

Though Capt. Johnny makes his living from the deck of his skiff, he does occasionally take a lucky client into the Turkey woods in both Spring and Fall. Call 813-713-0237 for inquires and be sure to follow his adventures on Instagram@lonepineoutdoors. Email: lonepineoutdoors@gmail.com. Web: www.lpineoutdoors.com.