On The Water with Poland

Barracuda Keys Style Angling w/ the Fredricks

Hooking it up, out on the water, with Greg Poland, one could encounter just about anything the Florida Keys could offer. From side splitting fighting of a sail under a kite, to dunking live shrimp over a ledge or reef in looking for Spanish Mackerels to Blues, Captain Poland will put you on the fish. When fishing with Greg Poland, you get more than just a boat ride across some of the most beautiful scenic views of the Florida Keys but a lesson on what, when, where and how to catch that fish of your dreams, if you only listen. A couple of days back, Captain Poland took out a charter with the Chris Fredricks family,  from Baltimore, Maryland. Escaping the cold to the warmth of the Keys was the first part of their plan; the second was a hook up or two! Captain Poland was fix'n to provide them with a great day.

Dunking shrimp was the name of the game, as Poland & company fished with Ohero Spinning gear, Ohero medium braided line with a 2/0 hook, in the Everglades National Park area. In the feasting of these live shrimp offerings, Spanish Mackerels, Blue Fish and Ladies were dancing on the hooks, as the kids catching them and seeing the smiles of the day; made the trip, the best in memories they would never forget.

Keeping the Ladyfish, for cut baits later in the day, was the plan while angling this particular spot.

The Ladyfish were to be filleted and hooked shiny side down and trolled to cast out as a “poor-man’s Cuda-Killer.” A “Cuda-Killer” is a Ohero Needle fish broken back lure or a surgical rubber tube lure that comes in a variety of colors and is used in catching Barracuda, King Mackerels and Sharks. While working Alligator Reef, the Barracuda were diffidently hungry, as a bruiser hit the Ohero 4000 with lightning speed action. The ladyfish fillet on the hook with a trace of wire was the bait of choice as it peeled out drag like a hot knife to butter but after a short fight, the cuda was boated for a quick snap-shot and released back to the depths below! The next cast proved fruitful too, as a small Lemon Shark of around 45 pounds was caught and released too. This day on the water with Poland was one that will be remembered for many a day to come and the tales of the tails may just grow and grow; isn't that what fish stories are a suppose to do? Remembering positive mentoring through fishing and our fisheries will be as healthy, as we have taught our coming generations to be; “FISH ON!” 

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