Inshore Florida-Offshore Anywhere

A One-Stop Online Fishing Magazine and Resource - Terms to Know When Buying a Boat

2012-01-27T21:29:00.000-05:00

Terms to Know When Buying a Boat

Knowing the difference in lingo when purchasing a new or used boat can be the difference between getting really wet or having a smooth ride and a great day on the water!

A One-Stop Online Fishing Magazine and Resource - Terms to Know When Buying a Boat

TajMahalRFA.m4v

2012-01-24T17:49:00.000-05:00

A Tangled Tale - Trailer

2012-01-12T18:49:00.000-05:00

A One Stop Fishing Magazine - Bass Fishing: Deepwater Winter Tactics

2011-12-29T15:00:00.000-05:00

A One Stop Fishing Magazine - Bass Fishing: Deepwater Winter TacticsWintertime Bass fishing tactics for deepwater structure; with or without a boat!

Dear 16 Year Old Me...

2011-12-23T23:07:00.000-05:00

I Know, I have been here. I live each day one day at a time, as each day is another day I survived. Watch the show, spread the word and help yourself as you help others around you. This is my Merry Christmas present to you world. Listen, learn as Knowledge is power and power can save your life to someone you know! Gary A. Anderson

Impact Recycled Baits w/ Easy2Hook

2011-12-09T19:24:00.001-05:00

Raw unedited just me teaching you what is needed in catching more fish. "FISH ON!"...The Mentoring Angler, Gary A. Anderson

Space Coast area Chapter of Kffac (KIDS Fishing For A Cure), the baits are made of 100% recycled baits; Impact Lures coupled with Easy2Hook Circle hooks catch fish, lots of fish. This time only snap shots, if I can rig a device to hold my cheap camera, we might get the action on video next time as Ed & I battle Florida Largemouth Bass on 4 to 6 pound test lines!

Even a Tilapia took the Impact slug as it lay on the bottom as Edwin was fiddling with something or the other, as he almost lost his rod to this ten pound plus steak with fins. Hey, why not, there species range of cichlid family and they eat anything they want too.

Then there were the little Bass:

and my bass:

And then it got dark with a little rain... Ain't bad for a two hour trip! More tomorrow, if it is not coming down in buckets as the fish do not care; they are wet already!

Baldy's Fishing Joke / Humor Contest: 7 Prizes Packages FREE

2011-12-07T22:05:00.001-05:00

Baldy's Fishing Joke / Humor Contest - Starts Now & ends 12/26/2011 See Prize Page!
Cast a Smile, Hear a Laugh Contest

Fishing Prizes - Fishing Fun! (Win Cool Tools & Fishing Poles with Reels!)

Contest Rules
Being of Holiday Spirit, a good laugh brings joy to the soul. Talk it up, send in your joke! Simply submit your best Fishing Jokes,
vids or Funny Fish Pics by email or phone in before 12/26/2011. Kindly keep it clean enough to tell the kids or grand babies!

(The Best Fishing Joke, Silliest Fish Video or funniest Fish Picture seriously wins any of the 7 Prizes Packages on the Prize Page!)
Win Cool Industrial Tools, Beef Jerky and much more! Tons of Stuff - See Prize Page!
Win a NEW Shimano® Stradic® FJ Reel® CarbonLite™ Rod Spinning Combo!" - See Prize Page!
Win a New - World Wide Sportsman® Gold Cup® Complete Fly Outfit - See Prize Page!

Cast a Smile, Hear a Laugh Contest

2011-12-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

Cast a Smile, Hear a Laugh Contest

Being of Holiday Spirit, a good laugh brings joy to the soul. Talk it up, send in your joke! Simply submit your best Fishing Jokes, vids or Funny Fish Pics by email or phone in before 12/26/2011. Kindly keep it clean enough to tell the kids or grand babies!

Contest Rules
Baldy's Fishing Joke / Humor Contest - Starts Now & ends 12/26/2011 - See Prize Page!
(The Best Fishing Joke, Silliest Fish Video or funniest Fish Picture seriously wins any of the 7 Prizes Packages on the Prize Page!)

Win Cool Industrial Tools, Beef Jerky and much more! Tons of Stuff - See Prize Page!

Win a NEW Shimano® Stradic® FJ Reel® CarbonLite™ Rod Spinning Combo!" - See Prize Page!
Win a New - World Wide Sportsman® Gold Cup® Complete Fly Outfit - See Prize Page!

"This fun contest is dedicated to my good friend and fellow Fisherman Joe Jordon a Great Maintenance Man who went on to be with the Lord Jesus on 11/03/11..."
Thanks & Fish On from Baldy in Dallas! ( :

EASY2HOOK Ties on Quick & Lasts the Whole Trip!

2011-11-21T19:44:00.000-05:00

When your looking for simply the best, in a fish hook, at a fair price and out lasts your favorite ten to one, I choose EASY2HOOK, as it Ties on Quick & Lasts the Whole Trip! It too is the sharpest of any I've seen! Imagine, a no knot hook because, that is what it is. No knot means no kinks and no stress points in your line, above the hook. Installation is half the time and your rod will break before the hook comes off the line; simply amazing! Check out the Easy2Hook Facebook Page and see what others are saying too. You'll be glad you did..."FISH ON!"

A Letter to Gov. Rick Scott; FWC & Sea Trout Delayed Action Needed!

2011-11-15T18:44:00.000-05:00

A Letter to the Governor of Florida; Rick Scott

From the Publisher: Fisheries are an integral part of our nation's food security -- or should be. It is time we began treating them as such -- albeit a food source directly tied to the protection of aquatic ecosystems and science-based harvest levels -- and not just the plaything of a science agency.

THE LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA: RICK SCOTT

Edwin Strokes but almost gets a Poke

2011-10-05T19:30:00.000-04:00

Wading for a Bite; El Jobean, Florida

2011-10-05T16:50:00.000-04:00

Al Gore's five loaves and two fishes – Telegraph Blogs

2011-10-01T22:12:00.001-04:00

Real scientists are starting to pull out if the climate change thing;

17,000 watched climate slide-show... Story from Drudge Report

Al Gore's five loaves and two fishes – Telegraph Blogs

Kite fishing the Gordo Banks Sept 2011 w/ renegademike

2011-10-01T18:32:00.000-04:00

See this crew had to use a balloon to get'er up where as had they used one of our "Maxi-Kites from Caught in Flight Kites" and sold exclusively in the USA from the Online Fisherman kite site, it would have gone up quicker with up to three baits (rods) attached in the catching of more fish. These "NO WIND" kites are unbelievable. Check them out all...

Gulf Council to convene its Standing, Special Shrimp and Special Reef Fish Scientific & Statistical Committees

2011-09-16T19:17:00.000-04:00

Gulf Council Special Shrimp and Special Reef Fish Standings...
Gulf Council Press Release

Meeting Notice Contact: Steven Atran
September 16, 2011 813-348-1630

Gulf Council to convene its Standing, Special Shrimp and Special Reef Fish Scientific & Statistical Committees

The Gulf Council’s Standing, Special Shrimp and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs) will meet October 11 - 13, 2011. The meeting will be held at the Gulf Council Office – 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, Florida beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday, concluding by noon Thursday.

The Standing and Special Shrimp SSC will meet Tuesday to review benchmark stock assessments on brown shrimp, white shrimp, and pink shrimp, and may consider recommending definitions of overfishing limit and acceptable biological catch.

The remainder of the meeting will be a joint meeting of the Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC. The Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC will review and make recommendations on the SEDAR stock assessment schedule. The SSC will also:
* Review update assessments of gray triggerfish and vermilion snapper
* Recommend an overfishing limit and acceptable biological catch for those stocks
* Discuss data needs from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in order to reevaluate the 2012 red snapper annual catch limit
*
During this meeting a representative from the Southeast Regional Office will present the methodology used to calculate the length of the red snapper recreational season, as well as review decision tools for evaluating commercial and recreational greater amberjack management measures under proposed Reef Fish Amendment 35.

The SSC will also hear a reports from the October 4-6, 2011 National SSC meeting and the September 15, 2011 Ecosystem SSC webinar.
Finally, the SSC will discuss possible revisions to the definition of optimum yield based on the revised National Standard 1 guidelines, and it will review the tentative schedule of SSC meetings planned for 2012.

Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813-348-1630. Materials can also be downloaded from the Council’s site – www.gulfcouncil.org -

Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the SSCs for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (M-SFCMA), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the SSCs will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda, as well as any issues that may arise after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) M-SFCMA, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Please direct requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids to Kathy Pereira at the Council at least five working days prior to the meeting.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson‑Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans designed to manage fishery resources in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Black fin Tuna of the Hump w/Greg Poland

2011-09-09T16:29:00.001-04:00

Skip Jack to ten pounds along with same sized or smaller Maui-Maui, as we were looking for one of a twenty pounder or better...moved on to the hump . From out under the Man O wars and the weed lines we approached the hump from about 300 feet of water. Nathan Eolvin and his three buddies were eager to catch some more using light fluorocarbon leaders and Ohero light spinning outfits in a quest for Black Fin Tuna. Trolling smoked jigs to bouncing Diamond jigs we were hot in the action with Black fin Tuna of the Hump w/Greg Poland.

Full Story Forth Coming at The Online Fisherman.com

Poland's Spots; a favorite video snapshot!

2011-09-08T18:57:00.002-04:00

Poland’s Spots!

Get Some Spots of your own and give him a call; tell'em Gary Anderson sent you and you too can Hooker Up on You Tube!
Website:
http://www.gregpoland.com

Lemon Bay Specks & Spots

2011-09-01T20:27:00.005-04:00

Laying it out...No Fish Tale Here!

Angling Lemon Bay, Englewood, Florida for Sea Trout (Specks) and Red-Drum, a.k.a. Redfish or Spots, is a real adventure, this time of year as we are in mid-spawn, so the Spots are extremely active whither following the pack, (females bunched and tailing alike a school of mullet), or hanging in the pots in wait for a meal. Catching Specks to Spots in the Slots is a real challenge, unless you know the secret; finding pristine flowing grasses, with spotted oyster beds with an outflow of nutrients, crabs, shrimp and water, moving towards the two openings, found here, in Lemon Bay, Florida, out to the Gulf of Mexico. Our catching of Lemon Bay Specks to Slots was a real treat to fish, as we wadded along and noticed the starfishes, sea urchins and even sea horses all across the fresh saltwater flat. The in to out flows of Stump Pass to the north and Boca Grande to the south make Lemon Bay one of the best areas to angle when in search of Specks to Slots for the table or in catch release.

Wadding Lemon Bay

Redfish (Spots) is a member of the drum family, whose cousins include the Atlantic Croaker, spotted Seatrout (Specks), and black drum. As they say, birds of a feather, so it is natural these fish, hang together and feed much alike, making them the perfect target to fisherman looking to hook it up with two of Florida's top game-fish, without a endless search across a vast flat to estuary or bay; when you find one and more are to follow. Catching Specks to Spots is best and easiest for novice to pro alike to use live shrimp, finger mullet, dollar-crabs or small yellow-tailed Pinfish; either free-lined or under a slip to popping cork, to which I prefer the pencil-like snap float. The Popping cork is just that, a cork that sounds much like a feeding trout as it Plops the top of the water in its attack of prey. I personality believe it can do the opposite too, pop to much and spook the fish; so what is too much? I'll stick with a Cajan style cork myself; personal preference.
Best baits are:

live medium to large shrimp
finger mullet
dollar crabs
two to four inch yellow tailed pinfish

23 inch Speck
THE REST OF THE STORY...The Online Fisherman; Education, Information and Entertainment for Fisher-people
“FISH ON!”
The Mentoring Angler,
Gary A Anderson

18 inch Speck

Spot with Spots; nice Slot limit Red!

Power Fish'n

2011-08-18T16:10:00.000-04:00

What a remarkable idea and one that is not so disabling on the pocketbook too! I'll try and get one to demo on redfish to Florida Largemouth Bass...that will be the real test?

Ohero Tackle in the Keys by Capt. Greg Poland

2011-08-13T22:03:00.000-04:00

One of our Sponsors and Greg Poland The Online Fisherman “Keys Editor” present this snippet:

Ohero Tackle in the Keys by Capt. Greg Poland

Increasing Trout Limits but No More Hammers/Tigers Workshop

2011-06-18T16:31:00.002-04:00

More Trout Less Sharks Workshop

SPOTTED SEA TROUT

Mel Larsen's Tiger Shark; Venice Pier

Venice Pier Hammerhead

The Florida Wildlife Commission is reviewing possible new regulations on Spotted Sea Trout and Sharks. They will be seeking public input at the following meetings on the Trout issue: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Jacksonville Public Library Southeast Branch, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd., Jacksonville, and July 6 at the Brevard Agricultural Center, 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, Fl. The FWC also is considering loosening some recreational bag limits for spotted sea trout and shortening the closed season. The closest trout workshop to the Keys takes place June 28 in Naples. A call-in workshop will be held July 12.
Anglers may be asked to protect two of Florida's biggest marine predators, the tiger shark and great hammerhead shark.
With concern about possible declining numbers of the two shark species prompted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to schedule a 6 p.m. June 22, Wednesday workshop and comment session at the Harvey Government Center at 1200 Truman Ave. in Key West. Other possible rules being considered include requiring use of circle hooks for recreational shark fishing, and limits on shore fishermen using chum to attract sharks.
Public meetings to discuss possible changes to shark fishing rules will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Brevard Agricultural Center and June 30 at the St. Johns County Auditorium, 4020 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine.
The FWC will have call-in phone workshops for those unable to attend the public meetings. The workshop for sharks will be from 6 to 8 p.m. July 7. The workshop on spotted sea trout will be from 6 to 8 p.m. July 12. Contact the FWC at 850-487-0554 to register for either one of the call-in workshops.

Saying Good-Bye to Billy Pate; "The Pocket"

2011-05-22T14:23:00.004-04:00

Billy Pates boat as his ashes are placed on the Down Tide at "The Pocket"

From the Editor; Gary A. Anderson:

Yesterday, 05/21/2011, Billy Pate, with close friends, family and fly reel, were laid to rest in “The Pocket,” one of the most desirable places to fish at Buchanan Bank, on the edge of the Back Country. A tarpon-rich area of flats and channels that stretches out for more than 20 miles before the open sea is reached, with a

cull-d-sac of about 30 X 30 feet, where for some unknown reason tarpon migrate there and follow the turn around to head another direction; coined “The Pocket.” On April 18th, 2011, saltwater fly fishing lost a pioneer, Billy Pate, a big game fisherman, with a passion for life, “The Pocket,” Billfish and Tarpon. His record 188-pound tarpon on 16 # test, was in the books for over 20 years and many more accomplishments in the billfish arena, including the first blue marlin landed on a fly! He also, collaborated with Ted Jurasick, to create the first anti-reverse reel. Billy was also a conservationist and fly fishing advocate and was one of the founding members of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. It’s the place where Billy Pate used to camp for years. The Pocket is legendary, a place where etiquette was learned the hard way, giving way to first come, first serve but stay to your claim as claim jumpers, in a polite gesture now days, gives way to new occupants. Billy Pate rests now where he fished with many of his own from previous years; Jack Brothers, Jimmie Albright and Cecil Keith too name a few, together again with a Pocket full of memories and some Tarpon, too...

The Billy Pate Reel, too is a rest as it is cast into "The Pocket."

Old friend, Dr. Stanley Sherman reflecting thoughts of 'Days gone by'.

Genesis3:19b " for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
'I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee' (Ezekiel 27:18).
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

Billy, Rolling Down Tide!

BY GREG POLAND

Entire Story may be found here.

<p>&amp;amp;lt;iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=north0d-20.&amp;amp;amp;amp;o=1&amp;amp;amp;amp;p=8&amp;amp;amp;amp;l=bpl&amp;amp;amp;amp;asins=B00006JUJC&amp;amp;amp;amp;fc1=000000&amp;amp;amp;amp;IS2=1&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt1=_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;m=amazon&amp;amp;amp;amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;amp;amp;amp;bc1=000000&amp;amp;amp;amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;amp;amp;amp;f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" align="left" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"&amp;amp;gt;</p>

Florida Matters to Me!

2011-05-11T16:48:00.000-04:00

"FLORIDA MATTERS TO ME!"

I FISH, I VOTE!

American Products, American Jobs, American Patriots!

Believing in a new direction, Believing in Florida.

WWWD - What Would Washington Do?

"Would George Fight or Surrender Over Today's Budget?"

Ten simple words to live by:

PRINCIPLES BEFORE PARTY, PERSONALITY, AND

PROFITS, WITH DEEDS NOT WORDS.

Paul Grant Truesdell, Chairman
Ocala, Florida - January 2009

It's Just That Simple, Send the Modern Tories Packing.

We know that times are tough, and many of you have already made a generous contribution to our organization. This effort is the culmination of months of hard work by my staff and is critical to the future of the Florida Whig Party movement. We are asking you to please help us by making a contribution right now.

Your contribution of $25, $50, $100, or whatever you can afford, could be the difference between success and failure in changing our lives. Gary A. Anderson, cares about Florida, the USA and without subsidies to favorites, pointing him into their direction. He is moving in the direction Florida wants to grow; as a State without ties to the Federal Government. Let Uncle Sam take care of the Federal Government and let us Floridians, take care of ourselves! Gary A. Anderson's staff is preparing to work with conservative leaders throughout Washington, to start taking action on specific pieces of legislation, including stopping the implementation of Agenda 21 and its ties to Catch Shares, Sector Separation, Marine Spatial Planning, the Debt Ceiling, and Obamacare!

If you are tired of being frustrated with Washington, this is your opportunity to have an impact on the direction of your great nation! Please won't you give what you can? Click HERE to show that “Florida Matters!”

Gary A. Anderson Exploratory Candidate U.S. Senate Fl

In-kind Pol. Advertisement by Gary A. Anderson, for Gary A. Anderson, Approved by Gary A. Anderson

Bass Frogging

2011-05-11T15:22:00.000-04:00

Froggin Bass

2011-05-11T15:20:00.000-04:00

Cane Pole Bass

2011-05-11T15:06:00.001-04:00

CANE POLE BASSING...Story on its way, ya' al come back now Ya here!

LEAVE IT CLEANER!

2011-05-11T14:26:00.001-04:00

Jet Ski Horror

They say, one mans trash is another mans treasure but in today’s lesson, one pigs pleasure is in all; a jet ski horror to those who would enjoy the outdoors on a clean, pristine lake, primed full on spotted to Florida Largemouth Bass and an environment to have yet been contaminated by those who really do not care about anything except themselves, until today! I only can hope that you read this article, if you were the sows to have almost destroyed a complete marine habitat, as well, the FWC, its officers and those of our County Sheriff’s dept., as somebody may be able to trace back the serial number, which was almost sanded off, and model number of this two man Wave Runner GP #WRA7007, Serial #0801785.

READ MORE

"FLORIDA MATTERS TO ME!"

I FISH, I VOTE!

American Products, American Jobs, American Patriots!

Believing in a new direction, believing in Florida.

WWWD - What Would Washington Do?

"Would George Fight or Surrender Over Today's Budget?"

Ten simple words to live by:

PRINCIPLES BEFORE PARTY, PERSONALITY, AND

PROFITS, WITH DEEDS NOT WORDS.

Paul Grant Truesdell, Chairman
Ocala, Florida - January 2009

It's Just That Simple, Send the Modern Tories Packing.

Gary A. Anderson Exploratory Candidate U.S. Senate Fl

In-kind Pol. Advertisement by Gary A. Anderson, for Gary A. Anderson, Approved by Gary A. Anderson

Alex Snitker Crashes Media Event

2011-05-05T14:50:00.000-04:00

Alex Snitker Crashes Media Event

Why is it that America's third parties and independent candidates are ignored or escorted out? I thought the country was about 'The People', not just the elites and or those to who capitalize against you, John Doe public and me Gary A. Anderson, a Original Tea Party Member; The Florida Whigs, where we practice the common principals to which Paul Truesdell set forth, Chairman of the Party: “Principles Before Party, Personality, and Profits, with Deeds not Words.” I FISH, I VOTE, I CAN!
Though I do not approve of any disruption of an event to which one is not invited, Alexander Snitker made an appearance too which did send a message; we to are of the people and though we may not have the pleasures of the invited guests, we have the same rights and the sooner the press picks up on this, the more fair our elections will be. The press, along with over 20,000 page views on my Political Blog site, The Political Sandbox, shows promise,and 23,676 others, from Facebook like this, it still does not allow me the same freedoms of my neighbor Marco Rubio, at being invited to anything other than my mother-in-laws for dinner; maybe?
While all the Press is awed by the presence of the royalty at-large, little things like Agenda 21 are not only changing our lives but taking away our Countryside, while we chit chat about dropping Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Why is it our very own Government is supporting through multilateral and bilateral assistance to promote and protect human health under the Foreign Assistance Act; supporting the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO, UNICEF and the USAID as the principal U.S. Agency responsible for carrying out spending programs, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) also support international health programs. USAID provides bilateral assistance for health programs in almost 50 countries.
“I'll bet if you trimmed back from those 50 countries, you could quit looking at hurting our own people, at the expense of others! That is where I would start trimming. Biblical proverb says one must first help themselves before helping others. Might be a good practice to follow.”

The Original Tea Party:
“Principles Before Party, Personality, and Profits, with Deeds not Words.”
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012

Green Lizards; in Memory of Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich

2011-05-01T13:23:00.010-04:00

Sport fishing education and information from the Florida Keys to the ends of the earth. - Green Lizards; in Memory of Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich

Written by Captain Greg Poland

From the Editor, Gary Anderson: When you lose a good friend, let's say a guy like Billy Pate -- the man who really fathered fishing for things like tarpon and sailfish on a fly rod -- it's a hard hit. Add a second friend -- a guy who had two Super Bowl rings on his still-beefy hands, and could handle a 125lb tarpon as well and as gently as he handled pigskins in the days -- and it makes for a hard week. We thank Keys editor Greg Poland for this touching commentary about his good friend and football legend Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich.

READ MORE

Islamorada Daisy Chain, Tarpon on a Roll!

2011-04-14T13:04:00.002-04:00

Rick & Mikey Mandrel Angling for Tarpon

The crisp morning westerly breeze slipped across our faces, as we headed out of Islamorada in search of the annual migration of the Silver Kings, Florida Tarpon! Rick & Mikey Mandrel, his son age ten, were eager to get out on a father, son fishing trip and experience the thrill of angling in the Florida Keys together. During April through May, Tarpon can be found migrating both north and south along the banks off the coastline, throughout the Florida Keys. Tarpon fishing really begins to heat up in April, as these migratory fish show in increasing numbers. Crabs and live mullet are the baits of choice. Yesterday, we were using live crabs as our offerings to the Silver Gods. Up on the flats, there too are plenty of tarpon, bonefish and still some permit being taken but our sights were on the Kings. These overgrown, herring-like fish, show up in good numbers, this time of year and as the waters warm up, so too will the Tarpon, both in bites to numbers. READ MORE..........

Cape Canaveral Cobia Final Florida

2011-04-10T12:38:00.000-04:00

Rat Reds to Ling on a Guess (Florida Cobia)

2011-04-09T22:41:00.000-04:00

Red rat tides as the birds flew by, in search of a feisty fishy dinner, as we scooted around the point coming out of Gasparilla boat ramp, just this side of the causeway to Boca Grande. All through out Boca Grand Channel up through the old docks, great schools of scaled sardines, greenbacks to glass minnows boiled the greenish blue waters with a magnitude of birds dropping from above. Osprey, hawks, Bald Eagles, the Floridian Air Brigade ( Pelicans in dive bomb formation), all in picking meals to treats to eat; only thing missing was the big fish below, they either were on a diet or not there at all!

We tried shrimp under a cork and fed the cats. Switched to a soft jerk bait, in a creme color with an 1/16 ounce Eagle Claw worm hook, for giggles, cast it out and ever so lightly twitched it on the count of three on every drop and catching specks like bees to honey. All fell in the range of 14 to 14 1/2 inches but was a lot of fun. Just before dark, we decided, again to mix it up and threw out floating stick baits by Bass Pro, XLT series and trolled them behind the canoe on speed three of my Motor Guide, 30 pound thrust trolling motor, as the sun was beginning to get a bit lower in the sky and we had miles to go, to get back to the ramp, before dark.

Each time we chunked out the baits, they were slammed by Under-slot Reds in the 15 inch class. Edwin had two break-off, probably because he was angling without a leader and fishing light...six pound test, duh, but the fights to leaps were spectacularly expensive in loosing lures on almost every cast to a fish. I went back to my original set up only this time, I figured as long as we are playing with Bass lures, why not skip a 6 inch Zoom green lizard across the top as we needed to hook it up and get it in. Wham, bam, we saw the fish for a split second before it just about spooled my reel, as we turned in chase. This guy was swimming faster and in more direction than I could do, to keep up with it. As it took us in to the shallows, the props jammed up, rod bent and that really sweet Cobia just smiled to “POP” and swam away.

Think I'll try me some more lizards next time, I mean, maybe it looks like an eel to them Ling. I do not know but I know what I'm fishing with later this week; care to guess? “FISH ON!”

Crabby Permit on a Drift, The Keys, Florida

2011-04-06T13:59:00.001-04:00

Knowing that we had a storm a brewing off the coast meant the words I preach the most to all who fish the inshore to offshore, keep an eye on the sky because it can make the difference between a good day out on the water or a bad day at sea where it could cost you more than it was worth. Listening to the marine channels, eye to the sky and the bait well full of crabs, Tamara & Christopher Stevens from New Jersey were with me for a quick outing out for a morning ride in search of Permit. The turquoise colored chop across the bow was a wonderful feeling as we headed out of Islamorada, Florida, gilding out at a moderate speed along Shell Key, a bit or patch of rock bottom came up and a quick pull back onto the throttle, we began a circling of the wagon in search of a cast to offer. Armed with an Ohero rod & reel on Green Braid with an attached 20lb fluorocarbon leader, Christopher Stevens cast out his live crab for a slow back drift. I prefer spinners when I am slow trolling or drifting baits with clients looking for big Permits. As we were about to pass the rocky patch, sign of a big one was just to my starboard side, so that is what we tried first. First try, first cast and first hungry Permit on the first bite of the morning and not bad either considering that ominous frontal line way off in the distance, looming across the Gulf of Mexico with plenty of rain and blow!

The Permit swam right up under the bait and

READ MORE:

Last chance to STOP gag closure in FLORIDA! The Fish...

2011-04-03T22:57:00.001-04:00

Bo & Denny call it like it is: (This is why Governor Scott picked Bo for his #1 choice to represent the recreational fishermen of the Gulf Council:)
"NOAA has some new data for 2009 and 2010 landings and effort for west Florida gags. it shows what we have been saying ... the effort and landing rates are down. way down - why? the economy and fuel prices that is why! There is no reason to close the fishery, we need to send the message."
Last chance to STOP gag closure.
Stop the closure & stop it NOW!
Dear Robert ,

EFFORT AND LANDINGS OF GAG DOWN 50% over last two years, yet we face a full closure?
Act now to convince the FWC to keep gulf gag open in state waters and to force National Marine Fisheries Service to acknowledge effort and landings drop by rescinding the federal closure of gag grouper. The Florida FWC will take action on the closure this WEDNESDAY, on APRIL 6th.

You can stop this travesty if you take action now.
Get more information and pick up the ACTION PLAN at:

www.thefra.org/gagaction1.htm

MAKE FOUR PHONE CALLS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

"...that government of, by and for the people shall not perish from this earth..."

We will not back down and we will not be denied. The use of flawed science to needlessly, destructively close fisheries will NOT be tolerated, by us or Congress.

I won't back down.........
Denny O'Hern

Lots of confusion out there, here are the facts:

Reds are open, as are all grouper EXCEPT GAG.
Gag are open in State waters (out to 9 miles out)

Next week - Florida FWC Commissioners vote on if the state should follow the federal interim closure for gag grouper. If the state follows the feds then gags will be CLOSED again starting June 1st through September 15th and CLOSED again from November 15th through the end of the year.

Did I get your attention yet? Hey you recreational grouper fishermen and women ... can you put your beer down long enough to email the FWC commissioners and tell them to just say NO ... Florida will not follow the federal Gag Grouper interim closure rule!

Email to: myfwc.com/contact/staff-contacts/senior-staff/commissioners/

It is NO BS time now ... we need you to make a difference!

Tune in on Channel 2 for Tarpon, Florida Keys Style

2011-03-30T22:26:00.000-04:00

By Greg Poland

Greg & Harry looking for Kings

At Mile marker 73, is the famed Channel 2 Bridge, as one from atop can claim everything from Yellowtail Snapper to the famed Silver Giants of Florida, the Tarpon. If on the other hand you happen to be in a boat, your chances of big Tarpon increase with your hours out on the water, understanding the tides and knowing the fish, the baits, their habits and the best way to hook'er up! Added to this, you acquire a guide, who has this knowledge and has lived there, most his life, your in for a rocking good time out on the water with a hook set guarantee, if its Greg Poland at the helm!

Harry & Cristy Kirk from Austin, Texas chartered me out in finding him the biggest fish he could muster, in saltwater and one to which he could not only have bragging rights on but be proud to have caught too. Christy was along for the ride, moral encouragement and to take the pictures of our prized catch of the day. We set out for the historical old Flagler bridge or as us locals call it, the channel 2 bridge which offers some great catches from tarpon, snook, snapper, permit, shark and numerous other types of creatures with fins.

Live-well with Mullet

Our quarry; the Silver King, our Famed Florida Tarpon. The Channel 2 bridge is an older structure and as such offers vertical structure, along with an accumulation of bottom debris over the years, giving the area not only a hiding place for baits but ambush predators, like tarpon on the outflow can take up position behind anything that blocks the current. Armed with all our equipment, compliments of OHERO, we fished free-lined mullet on circle hooks attached to OHERO 50 pound Fluorocarbon attached to OHERO Blue Braid in a true complement to any hook up from sharks to the Silver Giant. Upon the first cast, the mullet changed its direction in swimming up, against the current, behind a block of the bridge and in a beeline to the structure below when that all too familiar sucking sound echoed from under the bridge and this silver streaking locomotive of pure energy exploded next to the boat in the first of many a run to safety. A good twenty to thirty minutes of to and fro as Harry played the game of Fish on!

Harry Fights the Tarpon As Cristy shoots the shot!

Harry, stated it was the time of his life and he was happy to have shared it with his wife Cristy and Greg, stating it was the biggest saltwater fish he had ever caught and impressive it was too, I exclaimed at about one hundred and twenty-five pounds is nothing to sneeze about for a first timer or pro alike! Later, that evening, celebrations were in order at Ziggie's, where it was martini's and the best steak in town, along with pictures and a fish story to die for.

Practicing CPR on this 125 pound Silver King

Greg Poland, "Come fish the Keys with me!"

Sport fishing education and information from the Florida Keys to the ends of the earth. - Fish Wars/Action Needed

2011-03-30T11:43:00.000-04:00

Sport fishing education and information from the Florida Keys to the ends of the earth. - Fish Wars/Action Needed

Help Us, Help You, Our Fishes and the marine environment!

Check out my Ultimate Fishing Town USA entry for Venice/north Port, FL

2011-03-26T14:13:00.001-04:00

Check out my Ultimate Fishing Town USA entry for Venice/north Port, FL

Let us Hook it up and win!Please check it out

Mayakka or Myakka river spells Bass Attack the same!

2011-03-23T20:07:00.000-04:00

[center]Mayakka Bass Attack! [/center]

Gary Anderson's Birthday Wish | Causes Wishes

2011-03-17T11:13:00.000-04:00

Gary Anderson's Birthday Wish | Causes Wishes

Will you not help create a smile?

Chomp, Chomp; Florida Sharks Today!

2011-03-14T22:37:00.001-04:00

Is that a leader or did it eat the whole boat, anchor & all?

Juvenile shark over the rails at Sharky's on the Pier.

Another Pier Shark

Back When The VENICE PIER ANGLERS had a Club!

Saw-fish from the boards of the pier

Beached Sharky's Shark!

From Dusk to Dawn the Feed is on; Anybody for a midnight swim?

Photos of Sharks from Venice Beach, Venice, Florida will be added weekly until well I eat up all the space...CHOMP, CHOMP!

Sport fishing education and information from the Florida Keys to the ends of the earth. - Fishing in the Surf with Blue Crab - Fishing Forums

2011-03-12T15:55:00.001-05:00

Sport fishing education and information from the Florida Keys to the ends of the earth. - Fishing in the Surf with Blue Crab - Fishing Forums

Could it happen?

2011-03-07T20:00:00.000-05:00

"Ever dream of being a Charter Captain? Are you ready? How about if you could do it in the comfort of your own office or home? How about if you didn't have to take two straight weeks off of your regular life to do it?"...Publisher of The online Fisherman, Gary Poyssick

Online, at home and be the dream of a dream of a lifetime; be a Charter Captain and Guide your life to where you want to go, from the ease of the computer, at home, in your time. Save time, money and Gold, I mean Gas; same thing lately...

Sea School at home:

Could it happen?

Indian Key Cero w/Greg Poland

2011-03-07T18:28:00.000-05:00

From the Editor:

The winds of March roar like a lion and roar they have across the Keys here at Islamorada this week, in keeping in many a pleasure to charter Captain alike but Greg Poland is always looking for an opportunity to get out on the water an get some business done! This week, he and a friend found a break and scooted out in some hot water action on a cool breezy day.

On the backside of Indian Key, ocean side of Islamorada, my buddy and I decided to try a little artificial needlefish action in driving up some macks on the bite. The ride was rough as we ran along the leeward side of the key in looking for bird to slick action. Just inside, before the drop-off, along Indian Key there was a floating slick which screamed to be fished. Fishing OHERO rod & reels we pitched out our hard baits and sure enough, it was Mackerel City. The best of the rest was in catching the Cero Mackerel; frantic runs to a couple of leaps and bounds, we were on the fish. The bay side of the Isle was white cap city with a twenty plus knot wind blowing but back here on the lee side it was but a slight chop and the fish, like us, were seeking shelter out of the wind.

Continuing the morning by fishing the trenches we hooked it up with plenty of plate sized Mangrove snapper and more Mackerels than you could shake your rod at! Catching Snapper to Mackerel on light spinning tackle is a real hoot. We were fishing out of my 18 foot flats Chittum's boat with a 70 HP , giving us plenty of edge on getting to and from our angling spots. I have been a Charter boat Captain / Fishing Guide in the Florida Keys sense 1989. I would love to get you out on one of my boats. Let me know when you are ready to go catch the big one. I too am National Business Bureau Approved...Capt. Greg

http://www.gregpoland.com/

2011-03-06T22:11:00.000-05:00

Easy 2 Hook on Knot 2 Kinky Line; Spring has Sprung!

2011-03-06T16:24:00.001-05:00

Well, you know Spring has sprung when everything from small sharks show up at El Jobean to big Black Tips and Kingfish are starting to make a presence at Sharky's on the Pier, in Venice. We have been fishing everywhere this week with the exception of the freshwater action; to which we will do some ultra-light spin tackle Bass fishing on Tuesday morning and kite angling from the beach on Wednesday. Last week, Ed & I were slaying the Snook and caught two in the thirty-inch plus class but could find no trout. I even posted on Florida Sportsmen to which, one of the others showed me a picture of one and a little advice. Hm, got to try that too! Mean while, we angled the canoe through the skinnies of the upper harbor in catching baby Black tips, hordes of dancing Ladies and Ed caught a small one foot Tarpon to make it a bonefish triumph for that day in Tippy Canoe Bay. Setting up a trolley, earlier this week on the pier, as the water temperature was hovering around sixty-eight degrees, we use a live Ladyfish with a 3/0 no tie hook, Easy 2 Hook, plus stinger, tied to three feet of knotable, Knot 2 Kinky nickle-titanium leader wire, at 25# test, tied to 30 pound Cajun red with the new evolution of fishing swivels, the invisible, 'invisaswivel' ,which is the greatest concept since the wheel. It can go through your rod guides with no harm, no foul. Sinks slower than the line it is attached to and the fish cannot see it, so no more cut offs at the swivel! It is also great in tying two different lines together, leaders, like braid to fluorocarbon; using your favorite knot in a not undo mess and loss of that fish.

READ MORE

“FISH ON!”

Positive Mentoring through Fishing

Gulf Tides 11: Deepwater Deliberations - BP Drilling Disaster - Mar. 2, ...

2011-03-03T20:44:00.000-05:00

30milesOUT- VISI CARBON PRO - by yakattack.. KAYAK FISHING VISIBILITY !

2011-03-03T20:01:00.000-05:00

A bit pricey but cheaper than your life!

Captain Zgrabik w/ Bob & Eric Nordstrom; Lemon Bay Gators

2011-03-01T18:46:00.001-05:00

O'dark-thirty came and went as Captain Mike Zgrabik and his clients, Bob Nordstrom of The Englewood Fishing Club, Englewood, Florida and his son, Eric from NJ slipped the Wilderness kayaks onto the waters off Indian Mound Park in Englewood. It was an easy paddle north into Lemon Bay on a sight angling trip for fins. Hopping to hook it up with a visual Red was the objective but “Gator” trout was the final result. Just the day before, Bob & Eric had been angling just off the inshore of the offshore in a trip out for AJ's to Grouper in Bob's boat the BAYRONTO, so today was a new experience as each had never yakked before. Down to the basics, at eye level with nature.

Light spinning gear armed with Cajan corks and 18 to 20 inch fluorocarbon leader, live medium shrimps were presented along drop-offs next to the oyster and rising sandbars of the bay. Watching the sky's for diving birds on baits or the tell tail signs of rooting reds in shallow water regions of the skinnies, Captain mike keyed in on the swirls to slick line, that too, show of fish such as Spotted Sea Trout or Specks in their movement or schooling there of. Finding many a sign along a couple of half submerged bars on the incoming tide, shrimps were fed out like chum on a shark line. “We went through 17 dozen shrimp in just four hours'” exclaimed Captain Mike, “With a fish on just about every cast. We played all morning on those schooling specks and Bob , along with his son took home a couple of real gator hogs for the grill.” It was a great day out on the water and to these guys, CPR is a great way to have fun, in that they only needed a couple for dinner that night and the rest will be there for another day.

Hook'em Up to Tight Lines with Reel Addition and Captain Mike. Where you, too will get a real addiction in fishing for your trophy in our South Western Florida Skinnies to offshore.

If your interested in hooking it up with a Reel Addiction Charter on kayak to the inshore or offshore, Captain Mike is a real mentor in angling knowledge. If on the other-hand, your down Englewood way or wish to join up with a Top notch Club, I recommend the Englewood Fishing Club to you too. Families are welcome and are included in their $35.00 a year dues; a bargain in any language! Captain Mike was a guest speaker at the Englewood Fishing Club back in December of 2010 where the club meets at Bay Harbor Ford, Englewood on the 2nd Thursday of every month. At Captain Mikes seminar, he had around 100 members attend, which was excellent, as it was almost all with in the club. Total membership is around 150 anglers along with their families. Here is an idea of some of their upcoming events:

General Membership MeetingMarch 10, 2011
Location: Bay Harbor Ford Dealership
Englewood, FL., 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Speakers: Gary Ingman & Ernie Fred
Boat & Engine Maintenance
Don Pedro PicnicSat. March 26, 2011-10:00am to 2:00pm
Reservations Required
Spring Fishing TournamentSat. April 2, 2011
Sign-up required.
General Membership MeetingApril 14, 2011
Location: Bay Harbor Ford Dealership
Englewood, Fl. 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Speaker:Capt Jay Withers
Tarpon Tactics
Big Brothers & Big Sisters Fishing DaySat. April 9, 2011
Sign-up required
Spring Tournament Awards Bar-B-QSat. April 16, 2011
Sign-up required

Holding monthly General Membership meetings year round that feature a variety of fishing related topics: fishing clinics, seminars by local guides, boat and engine care, and government agency presentations. They also have numerous other activities throughout the year - beach and boat fishing trips, tournaments, picnics and Bar-B-Ques, a Christmas Party and volunteer events.

"taking kids fishing is our business!"

Amendment No. 548 to H.R. 1 Jones Bill ; NO Catch Shares

2011-02-28T17:40:00.000-05:00

Florida Guides Association

A bill introduced recently by Congressman Jones could stop catch shares in its tracks. Please click the link below and send the letter or your own response to your individual congressmen in Washington. It has been sent to Senator's Nelson and Rubio, but when trying to send it to the members of the house it was impossible without individual zip+4 zip codes. So, you need to send a response to your congressman. Click Here to continue!

North Port/Venice/Lemon Bay Florida Report

2011-02-27T19:45:00.002-05:00

North Port/Venice/Lemon Bay Florida Report

Snook, Redfish, Tarpon & Trout

Snook are thicker than cordwood across El Jobean in the upper harbor as winter slips into spring on the inshore of Southwest Florida.

We started out dropping cut shrimp for Sheepshead, Whiting, Drum or Redfish in the deeper channels, of the skinnies of the harbor in our canoe. The Heads were uncooperative as the sun rose to warm the day and waters around us. My boat thermometer showed 70 degrees before the sun slitted the horizon and by mid-morning we were at 72 degrees in some hot bite action on a cool water day. Ladies to small juvenile tarpon were picking up our live medium shrimps on every cast. Sometimes as the shrimp parted the water, “FISH ON!” was the phrase as the fish hit the baits before the slip Bobber could come to rest and sometimes before the cork even touched the water!

As the day fleeted by and the noontime came and went, the water had warmed to a pleasant 74 degrees. Anchoring down our Mohawk, into the water we slipped in a wading frenzy with the Snook. Doing the sting-ray shuffle and dragging our bait bucket about brought to a couple of fin slicing Black tips in a dancing circle around us. Like a couple of kids at the zoo, we tossed out shrimp to these young fish, to which they frighteningly lashed out in a quick bite to eat. Foolish, maybe but they soon grew tired of us and disappeared into a large school of roaming mullet, to which was scattering to the four corners of the earth. We worked the area until just around threesome to call it a day. Edwin, said, “Hey Dad, I think I'll give'em a plate full,” as he rigged two live shrimp on a single hook to chunk out for that 'one last cast', when the drag was a screaming and the rod a bending to one big fish. Working the Trilene blue ten pound test on a Penn Combo spinning out fit, Edwin finally netted his “Last Cast,”, a 30 inch really nice Snook. No trout out there but a heck of a day while angling to get a catch and release Snook, to be a memory to never forget on light spinning tackle.

Reports also from Captain Mike Zegrabik and Bob Nordstrom of The Englewood Fishing Club, Englewood, Florida where they were in many a rat red up in the ferry area of South Venice popping shrimp under a cork. In the mix as well, were a number of juvenile redfish, making the hot action, nothing short of phenomenal. After angling upper north Lemon Bay and slaughtering the Specks, Bob and Capt. Mike worked the area around the Indian Mound Park area in catching more trout but this time, they were all in the 'Gator” scale of twenty to twenty one inches long with shoulders. Hungary to the bite, Capt. Mike said they polished off 17 dozen shrimp in four hours, fattening up a whole lotta fish!

“FISH ON!”

Story Developing, on the Englewood Fishing Club & Captain Mikes Charters at The Online Fisherman...

On Catch Shares - Ahab's Journal

2011-02-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

On Catch Shares - Ahab's Journal
At the 2009 Milken Institute Global Conference, which was held in Los
Angeles, the new EDF vice president, David Festa, pitched catch shares
to wealthy, would-be investors by projecting a 400% return on their
investments.

NOAA NEWS RELEASE: NEW Red Snapper Quotas in the Gulf of Mexico

2011-02-18T13:18:00.000-05:00

Attached is the subject Southeast Fishery Bulletin announcing:

NOAA is Seeking Comments on a Proposed Rule to Increase the Red Snapper Quotas in the Gulf of Mexico

Please Note: "Comment period will begin on February 22"

You can also access this bulletin on our Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov
Go to the left hand side of the page and click on the Fishery Bulletins Link.
Additional Questions: Contact RICH MALINOWSKI or the Sustainable Fisheries Division at 727-824-5305

NOAA is Seeking Comments on a Proposed Rule to Increase the
Red Snapper Quotas in the Gulf of Mexico
NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would adjust the commercial and recreational red snapper quotas in the Gulf of Mexico from 3.542 and 3.403 million pounds (MP) to 3.66 and 3.525 MP in 2011, respectively. A recent red snapper assessment update projected overfishing (rate of removal is too high) ended in 2009, and therefore, the total allowable catch can be increased from the existing 6.945 MP to 7.185 MP. This action was evaluated in a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed rule publishes in the Federal Register on February 22, 2011, with the comment period ending March 24, 2011.
If the amendment is approved, the final rule may contain NOAA Fisheries Service’s estimated projection for the number of days in the 2011 recreational fishing season.
Request for Comments
Written comments on this proposed rule to increase the red snapper commercial and recreational quotas must be received no later than March 24, 2011, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries Service. See the Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments. All comments received by NOAA Fisheries Service will be addressed in the final rule.
Addresses
Electronic copies of the proposed rule or the regulatory amendment may be obtained from the e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Web site at http://www.gulfcouncil.org, or from NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505.
You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
• Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Enter the following docket number into the “Search” box: NOAA-NMFS-2011-0018. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter, may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
• Mail: Richard Malinowski, NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505.
Comments received through means not specified in this bulletin will not be considered.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the information pertinent to the rule. Any discrepancies between this bulletin and the rule as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.
Need more information on these topics?
Southeast Regional Office’s Web page:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov

The Political Sandbox: Gary Anderson; a right of center Modern Whig Party...

2011-02-17T21:40:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: Gary Anderson; a right of center Modern Whig Party...: " WAKE UP AMERICA! <iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&..."

Spanish Mackerel on the Fly

2011-02-16T17:42:00.003-05:00

Spanish Mackerel on the Fly

Armed with a 9 weight outfit, a couple of bags of chum and a beautiful day ahead of us, Allen from Maine and I headed out of Islamorada, Florida in search of Spanish on the fly. Bob Clouser had recommended to Allen to look me up if I really wanted to experience the whole world of fly fishing saltwater. To me this was quite a complement and one to which I wish to thank him for.

Looking for a blitz or diving to circling birds, we search the surface of the light choppy waters off the key, in my 24 foot Sea Hunter. This time of year you could easily be in a flats boat on the inshore of the offshore as days, like today are more often than not with light breezes and a one foot sea. Not finding any surface baits to throw at, I found a piece of rocky bottom, just off a patch reef. We began to chum the area and...

New Red drum and Bonefish Bag Limits Florida & Mooring

2011-02-15T19:59:00.000-05:00

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet Feb. 23 and 24 in Apalachicola to act on various fishing, hunting, recreational and wildlife issues. The sessions will begin at 8:30 AM each day and are open to the public. The meeting is in the third-floor courtroom of the Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market St.

Traditionally, the Commission discusses marine fisheries issues on the second day, but this time it will take up draft rules regarding red drum (redfish) and Bonefish on the first day, to allow the appropriate number of days to advertise any proposed marine fisheries rules that would be decided on at the next meeting.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Commissioners will consider a proposed draft rule that would establish three regional management areas for red drum, raise the daily recreational bag limit for red drum from one fish to two in Northeast and Northwest Florida, create a statewide eight-fish vessel limit for red drum and modify the red drum off-the-water possession limit.

They will also consider a proposed draft rule that would make bonefish a catch-and-release only fishery, allow the temporary possession of bonefish for photograph and record purposes, and create a tournament exemption permit to allow temporary possession of bonefish for tournament weigh-ins.

In other marine fisheries action, the Commission will review a report on a Goliath grouper stock assessment and implications for future Goliath grouper management, and consider various federal fisheries management issues.

Also on Feb. 23, Commissioners will consider a staff recommendation to remove the Flagler County Manatee Zones draft rule proposal from the agenda to allow additional time to develop the proposal.

Another waterway issue – an anchoring and mooring pilot program – is on the agenda Feb. 23. The Commission will hear a staff report and recommendations for two locations on the west coast and one within Monroe County for the pilot program. Under Florida Statutes, the Commission must select five sites by July 1. The cities of Sarasota and St. Petersburg are likely to be accepted into phase one of the pilot program as the west coast participants. The remaining two selections must be from the east coast.

A mooring field is a controlled area where boaters tie their vessels to a floating buoy, which is secured to the bottom of the waterway. Florida Statutes require the FWC, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to establish a pilot program regulating anchoring and mooring outside of marked public mooring fields to protect public property and safety and the marine environment against improperly stored, abandoned or derelict vessels.

The Political Sandbox: IFQ's (Catch Shares); Do They Work?

2011-02-15T18:42:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: IFQ's (Catch Shares); Do They Work?

North Australian FISH FINDER - Get Your Tackle Out Song

2011-02-13T15:19:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: Think About Catch Shares, Sector Separation & R.I....

2011-02-11T23:07:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: Think About Catch Shares, Sector Separation & R.I....: "When it was passed in 1970, the RICO Act was primarily intended to eliminate the influence of the Mafia in the nation's economy. Though toda..."

Fisherman's Rally FEBRUARY 25th!!!

2011-02-10T18:31:00.000-05:00

Fisherman's Rally FEBRUARY 25th!!!

Its time again for all fishermen to come together and send a message to Washington DC! We MUST do this...nobody is going to do it for us.

captaingregpoland: New Kite...wOw!!!!

2011-02-09T19:18:00.000-05:00

captaingregpoland: New Kite...wOw!!!!: "I took out this new fishing kite a friend sent me & all i can say is WOW!!!! I didn't believe it would fly in such light wind, but look..."

Florida Keys fishermen won’t endorse controversial federal catch share program - Outdoors - MiamiHerald.com

2011-02-07T18:02:00.000-05:00

Florida Keys fishermen won’t endorse controversial federal catch share program - Outdoors - MiamiHerald.com

Saying NO is the first step! Now let us oust Jane and get NOAA back into the clouds, where they belong. Join the RFA today

King Mackerel Fishing Closed 02-06 2011

2011-02-04T16:50:00.000-05:00

Southeast Fishery Bulletin
National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13

Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

February 4, 2011
Susan Gerhart or Susan.Gerhart@noaa.gov
FB11-012
727/824-5305, FAX 727/824-5308

Closure of the Western Gulf of Mexico Zone:
Commercial King Mackerel Fishing

The western Gulf of Mexico zone is closed to
commercial king mackerel fishing, effective 12:00 noon
(local time) February 11, 2011, through June 30, 2011.
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has
determined the 2010/2011 western zone commercial
quota of 1.01 million pounds of king mackerel has been
reached. With this action, commercial king mackerel
fishing is prohibited in federal waters of the Gulf of
Mexico from the U.S./Mexico border to the
Alabama/Florida boundary.
Closure of the western Gulf of Mexico zone to
commercial king mackerel fishing complies with
regulations implemented under the Fishery Management
Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the
Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic and is necessary to
protect the Gulf group king mackerel resource. In
cooperative actions, Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Alabama) are expected to close
commercial harvest of king mackerel concurrently in
adjoining state waters.
During the closure period, no person aboard a vessel for
which a commercial permit for king mackerel has been
issued may fish for or retain king mackerel in or from
federal waters of the closed zone.
There is one
exception, however, for a person aboard a charter vessel
or headboat. A person aboard a vessel that has a valid
charter/headboat permit for coastal migratory pelagic
fish and a commercial king mackerel permit may
continue to retain king mackerel in or from the closed
subzone under the two-fish daily bag limit, provided the
vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat.
Charter vessels or headboats that hold a commercial king
mackerel permit are considered to be operating as a
charter vessel or headboat when they carry a passenger
who pays a fee or when more than three persons are
aboard, including operator and crew.
During the closure, no king mackerel caught in the
closed zone may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold.
This includes recreational and tournament-caught fish.
The prohibition of sale, however, does not apply to trade
in king mackerel that were harvested, landed ashore and
bartered, traded, or sold before the closure and held in
cold storage by a dealer or processor.
If you would like to receive these fishery bulletins via e-
mail as soon as they are published, e-mail us at:
SERO.Communications.Comments@noaa.gov.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the
information regarding the existing regulations. Any
discrepancies between this bulletin and the regulations
as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in
favor of the Federal Register.

New Rules; Commercial Grouper in Florida Out!

2011-02-01T22:35:00.000-05:00

New Rules; Commercial Harvesting Grouper in Florida

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Thursday has allowed itself to propose new rules for the recreational and commercial harvest of grouper in Gulf of Mexico, Florida State waters. The proposed rules follow up on interim measures taken earlier this year, by your friends and mine over on the Gulf Council under EDF and its slave NOAA, run by overseer Dr Jane Lubchenco; A Puppet of Puppets and will match state grouper rules with pending federal regulations and you thought they wouldn't? The goal of the new rules are to improve populations of gag grouper so that quality fishing continue into the future, at least that is what they were miming.

A recent series of federal and state actions addresses overfishing of gag grouper in the Gulf by reducing fishing pressure, through sector separation and catch shares, are in our masters mind the solution to achieve gag grouper harvest reductions of 41-42 percent for the commercial fishery and 26 percent for the recreational fishery, through a combination of fishing season and area closures, annual harvest quota and bag limit adjustments and other measures. It is the other measures that scare the bejewels out of me! These proposed new rules would establish a Feb. 1 through March 31 closed spawning season for all recreational and commercial harvest of shallow-water groupers (gag, black, red, yellow-fin, scamp, yellow-mouth, rock hind and red hind) in all Gulf state waters. This proposed two-month closure, in Gulf state waters, would extend the current one-month commercial closed season for gag, red and black grouper. This way they can put more anglers out of business and we maybe out to change the state motto of “Fishing Capital of the World”, to Florida Home to NO FISHING HERE ANYMORE, go to the market, if your looking to get some fish! The intent of this closure is to limit the catch of gag grouper by closing harvest to all similar shallow-water grouper species during the spawning season. Sounds good but the rule is a bit dry.

These new rules would also decrease the daily recreational aggregate bag limit for all shallow-water groupers from five fish to four fish per person. In addition, the proposed rules would reduce the commercial minimum size limit for Gulf red grouper from 20 inches, to 18 inches total length. This will significantly reduce the number of 18- to 20-inch fish that do not survive upon release. Again, holding no water, what about the one under 18 inches in length? Once they are 18-20 there is a problem but as a juvenile, hooks don't catch or what is the point? A final public hearing on these rule proposals will take place during the next FWC public meeting in Crystal River in June. Are they to get an ear full from me! They ought to from you too. For more info on these new idea to rules, here is from the last meet, as to which these NEW IDEAS are from; 2009? Now that ain't no fresh fish, anyway you slice it!

http://myfwc.com/docs/CommissionMeetings/2009/2009_Apr_10B_GulfRedandGagGrouper_Final_Update2B.pdf

On the Lighter side but it is the Law!

Gulf Grouper Closed
Recreational harvest of shallow-water grouper in the Gulf of Mexico closed Feb. 1 through March 1 on Florida's Gulf Coast, except in Monroe County. The two-month closure coincides with grouper spawning season. The closure includes red, yellow-fin, scamp, yellow-mouth, rock hind and red hind grouper. Gag grouper already closed Jan. 1.
Trout are Out!
Trout season in Northeast Florida closed Tuesday, Feb. 1, for a month. The closure includes all waters north of the Flagler/Volusia County line on the east coast and on the Gulf side, north of the Fred Howard Park Causeway, located about 1.2 miles south of the Pinellas/Pasco County lines. The season reopens March 1.

The Political Sandbox: Mutiny on the bounty of Catch Shares; Aye Capt rai...

2011-01-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: Mutiny on the bounty of Catch Shares; Aye Capt rai...: "WHERE I ASK? DO YOU SEE THE WORDS RECREATIONAL ANGLER? OR HOW IS THIS OUR SITE IN WORKING WITH NOAA? So how does catch shares and marine sp..."

Fishermen say catch limits put them out of business

2011-01-25T19:02:00.000-05:00

Fishermen say catch limits put them out of business: "Grand Strand fishermen say the government is taking away their right to fish and they're going to fight back."

The Political Sandbox: The Voice of America

2011-01-24T14:56:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: The Voice of America: "Scrap the Catch Shares Program, get rid of the 'Witch Hunt' in the fisheries industry and do it with real, up to date data and rationalistic..."

The Political Sandbox: SAVE OUR FISHING INDUSTRY: TELL PRESIDENT OBAMA>>>...

2011-01-23T23:07:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: SAVE OUR FISHING INDUSTRY: TELL PRESIDENT OBAMA>>>...: "Here is a link to the white house web that will give you an opportunity to submit a question for Pres Obama to be answered after his state..."

The Political Sandbox: Stinking Thoughts on Fish Mtg.

2011-01-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: Stinking Thoughts on Fish Mtg.

Do you: Believe in The

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (also known as the Law of the Sea Treaty, or LOST)? Better not if you ever want my vote and the votes of all I can tell!

Capt. Matt Bellinger; Another Key's Crew Member of TOF

2011-01-22T19:31:00.002-05:00

Using a boat, that is built from the ground up by

Yellowfin Yachts, they laid down a design with comfort, safety and speed in mind. This fishing craft is 24 feet, ten inches long, with a beam of eight and a half feet wide, making it great in stability when angling from its platform. Two bait wells, communication gear, as well all the whistles required by the U.S. Coast Guard. Dry storage for personal gear and plenty of cold storage for food to drinks that are brought on board in assuring ones need for hydration and refreshment. The Verado, is powered by a 275 HP 4 stroke outboard engine which runs quite clean and quite for running long days out on our vast and beautiful oceans to bays. For those wishing listening entertainment, there is your choice of Sirius Satellite radio, with you picking your track, as you trek across the waters or just be one with nature in listening to the Everglades in their sounds of solitude.

Geared up with a complete electronics package from navigation to state of the art fish finder, you are ready in catching that adventure of a lifetime with either spin, plug or fly tackle of your choice. Red Bone, Biscayne or Key Largo Rods, equipped with Quantum Boca, Diawa Whisker, Shimano Calcutta, Billy Pate or Abel Reels, you are ready to hook it up with Tarpon, Shark and Giant Goliath Grouper. Capt. Matt Bellinger is dedicated to Florida Keys fishing. Whether it is back country, flats, or reef fishing you can find Captain Matt Bellinger, aboard the Verado getting on the fish and Bamboo Charters is also about giving back to the fishing community. Capt. Matt talks openly to fisherman as to what type of fish is biting and where you can find these fish. After years of building the reputation of Bamboo Charters, Capt. Matt Bellinger is proud to be able to give these reports through RSS feed, live radio reports, The Online Fisherman dot com and TV. He owns and operates Bamboo Charters and has been living in and fishing the Florida Keys since 1989. You can keep up with the bite by going to www.Keysradio.com

TEAM KALEX in third Pushes Forward

2011-01-22T16:50:00.000-05:00

My neighbor's in 3rd but getting ready to make his move.

Captain Alex Alder:

I live next door to one of the best Offshore Captains in the World. Capt. Alex Adler, his 48ft Sport-fisherman the KALEX is no stranger to the winners circle, & tonight i went down to Bud N Mary's to see how he did today, as i got there the crew was swabbing the decks & the sailfish release flags were a fly'n!

Team Kalex is in 3rd with 5 Atlantic Sailfish release flags, the other two boats have 5 & 6 fish but today is the last day of the Cheeca Presidential Sailfish Tournament, fish are caught & released on 12# line,
Go KALEX, the neighbors are rooting for you buddy!!

Greg Poland

Another Part of the Key's Crew: GREG POLAND

2011-01-22T16:33:00.001-05:00

captaingregpoland: My neighbor's in 3rd but getting ready to make his move.

2011-01-22T14:43:00.001-05:00

captaingregpoland: My neighbor's in 3rd but getting ready to make his move.

Captain Mark Schmidt: Lower Keys/Key West Fishing

2011-01-22T13:18:00.000-05:00

INTO FISHING THE LOWER KEYS DOWN TO

KEY WEST FLORIDA?

TheOnlineFisherman.com - Florida Sinkhole Bass

2011-01-18T11:15:00.001-05:00

TheOnlineFisherman.com - Florida Sinkhole Bass

With the lack of spring to summer rains here in south Florida, winter water levels are a bit down, causing foliage and such as aquatic vegetation to also be sparse in places with only large patches of cat-tails or Pussy-willows to make the breaks of your drop-off lines along Florida natural sinkholes. Sinkholes too are areas if which many a gravel to coral-rock quarry are often started in Florida, as this material is sought after in roadways to highways, along with landscaping needs found at various nursery's. To either end, Florida sinkholes offer a natural flow of clean, cold, clear water, in which Florida Largemouth bass and a variety of Pan fishes can grow to enormous sizes.

YouTube - TheOnlineFisherman

2011-01-17T16:40:00.003-05:00

YouTube - TheOnlineFisherman

Hook it up with The Online Fisherman featuring Greg Poland-Mark Schmidt-Matt Bellinger- Alex Adler- The Florida Keys “FISH ON!”

The Environmental Right: Boga Grips are fatal :)

2011-01-16T10:49:00.000-05:00

The Environmental Right: Boga Grips are fatal :): "At a meeting hosted by CCA yesterday in Texas. a college elitist pHd by the name of Andy Danylchuk said that 'I would get sued for saying th..."

Fishing With Greg Poland

2011-01-15T21:44:00.000-05:00

Capt. Greg Poland Redfishing

2011-01-15T21:30:00.000-05:00

Captain write for us over at The Online Fisherman dot com, drop on over and wet a line with us too!

Cold-Water Sails lead to Deep water Kings; Fishing with Poland

2011-01-14T20:17:00.001-05:00

Cold Morning leads to Hot Fishing!~

Broken back Needlefish Lures

Needlefish on left, Tube on Right

but both conquered the Cuda!

The back country of the Keys can be hot this time of year in cold Florida but heading out into the ocean, just after the sun breaks the horizon, to fish the offshore reefs is beautiful. Winter time in the Keys produces many a Speckled Trout, Redfish, Ladies to Jacks but running out to the reef-line was especially fun today, as we jumped a couple of Sailfish under kites as we skipped Menhaden and Google eyes out to them in some really spectacular dancing to jumping feats as the head-shook their baits with a frenetic attitude. Once the sun began to warm our faces, we could shed the winter attire and begun a slow troll along the outer cut of the offshore reef line. Using Ohero Rods and reels, we were battling Barracuda within minutes of the drop. The bait of choice was a Ohero Needle fish broken back lure. The fish were just tearing them up. We had started with Tube lures but the broken back Needlefish were smoking hot! What a rip and what a trip; sails up early and now fast action cuda on the line. Tiring of the troll and frugally thinking of gas, with prices as they are right now, we decided to re-rig with a trace or light wire in the single stainless steel leader type of 30 or 40 pound test to a standard jig-head, to which we jigged, just off the reef on a drift in hooking it up with Kingfish galore. Our whitehead jigs were tipped with shrimp and the Kings were suspended just at the drop off, around 70 feet down. We had a great day out on the water, in the warm Florida sun of a cold winter day in catching fish for all.

State of NC Stops Trout Fishing because of Cold

2011-01-14T19:22:00.000-05:00

A ban, lasting until at least Feb. 11, when the Marine Fisheries Commission will consider opening the closure at its meeting in Pine Knoll Shores, went into effect, today at noon, 01/14/2011, for all speckled trout to protect fish stocks, from being easily caught from the cold. The trout, just like our Snook here in Florida become lethargic, come to the surface to warm up. The State of North Carolina Fish & Game now sound like NOAA in that they too are of putting themselves into a lie. Lethargic fish do not bite, so how are they an easier catch, unless one is scooping them up with a dip net, which is already illegal? Marine Fisheries Commission Chairman Rob Bizzell says “the decision comes after 'cold stun' events in rivers, bays and creeks along the coast. When the trout are stunned by cold temperatures, they come to the surface to warm up, making them easy to catch.” I wonder what is really behind this ban, any thoughts?

The Environmental Right: Boga Grips are fatal :)

2011-01-12T15:58:00.000-05:00

The Environmental Right: Boga Grips are fatal :)

Forget Gold, Go Tuna!

2011-01-08T19:05:00.000-05:00

AFP / Getty Images

A 754-pound blue-fin tuna was sold at auction in the Tokyo's fish market, fetching a record 32.49 million yen, that converts to around $396,000. Yosuke Imada, owner of a upscale Kyubei sushi restaurant, will split the fish with a Hong Kong based sushi chain. These tuna are highly prized in Japan and are sought out more often than any other fish in the region but environmental groups say the practice is unethical and the Bluefin tuna are huge, sophisticated animals with well-developed brains and nervous systems. Maybe they too should be placed together with the nonhuman persons to which Dr Jane Lubchenko and her cronies have placed Dolphins?

The Political Sandbox: Supporting Marine Spatial Closures in Florida

2011-01-08T13:50:00.000-05:00

The Political Sandbox: Supporting Marine Spatial Closures in Florida

Venice, Florida to Charlotte Harbor Report

2011-01-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE OFFSHORE
Reports from dockside at the Crows Nest stated drift boats at the Venice reef, inshore Florida, were catching a small kingfish, porgies and lane snappers, along with some Cobia. Further out in the sloppy waters offshore the inshore, reported of one Wahoo this week, along with some kingfish, a few small sailfish and blackfin tunas being reported.
Piers & Jetties:
The Venice Pier at Sharky's, had scattered Spanish mackerel, some bluefish at night and a few mangrove snappers and some jacks. Head action was pretty good this week on the North Jetty at Nokomis, so I would speculate, the sheepshead action was probably pretty much the same on the south side of the inlet at Venice, as I could see rods bending and fish coming up from their rocks also. Snookering in and out and up through the Alley under the lights around the piers has been hot as we used Luv lures and Storm soft bait jigs. Lower Harbor at El Jobean Pier, Tarpon were biting live shrimp at night at El Jobean along with a few black drum, small redfish and sea trout.

Freshwater Bite:

Monster in the making!

Believe it or not? The bass in Charlotte County ponds, lakes or quarries could be bedding up. As Edwin & I slid the Snapper into the waters of a sinkhole/old quarry, the edges along the ridges to drop-offs and up against the lee side of most of the cattail islands were littered in beds with big bass moving about. Live baits, like shiners worked but what really turned on these bucletmouth bass were Zoom 4 inch lizards in the purple with blue specks. The crystal clear waters of most artisan to deep water ponds/sinkholes, require stealth in approach if angling from the shoreline but when in a canoe, it was like we were one of them. The small want to be trophies were caught on just about every other cast. The Billy Bass, those trophies you see on the walls, only followed or hit and spit before one could set it up. In the blink of an eye, the lizards were in and out of their buckets before you could even think, “set the hook!” Under normal conditions, where there are oak trees around or along side the banks, the water has that appearance of cloudy to dark, though it is still clear in the fish environment, from atop, it looks dark and deep. These sinkholes, on the other hand often than not have no trees around them and thus are clear as can be; Ed and I felt as though we were fishing in an aquarium at Mote, rather than out in the boonies of the county. Twice, we saw what I believe to be a couple of bass in the State record size of at least fifteen pounds or more with a number of smaller ten pound Largemouth in tow! Our day consisted of, no fish story either, catching somewhere around three-hundred bass ranging between six ounces to three pounds; all small and all a photograph moment with a release to get bigger. The genetics of this pond was impressive, to say the least, with every sort of Pan fish one could find and a Bass on every cast.

Cooler weather this weekend will likely slow the bass bite, so flipping and pitching soft-plastic worms, crawdads and creature baits around the outside grass lines, along deep drop-offs is probably the best bet for big fish. Live medium shiners in the North Port canals have produced lots of small bass, with perch were biting live minnows and worms under a slip cork. With the cooler weather, try to fish later in the day and use a worm or lizard with a black or dark purple or flip a creature bait into the vegetation lining the canals.

Lower Keys-Key West Fishing Report

2011-01-06T20:22:00.001-05:00

Jack Dubose's Prize Catch

The wind has given us fits down here the last week in the Florida Keys, changing direction from northeast to east then hard southeast. As I’m writing this, the wind is trying to die out but we have another cold front on the way, leaving but a small window of opportunity in catching fish but catch we shall! Wind or slight wind, none of this seemed to matter to the fish on the reefs, as there were what seemed to be acres of ballyhoo stacked against the shoals and the fishing has been outstanding!

Marauding schools of jack cravelles, yellow jacks, Cero mackerel, barracudas, bonito, blackfin tuna and packs of sailfish have been in shallow water showering the schools of ballyhoo. This is the sound one hears as the fish attack the baits and as they flee, in a mad furry of erratic discomposure, it makes a sound much akin to listening to a shower, as well, the fish spray too looks as though Neptune turned on an upside down shower head.

This past week I was fishing with Gary Kolesar and his sons Ryan along with Justin from Michigan and we caught large jack cravelles, Cero mackerel and barracudas in just 11ft of water. First we anchored and caught live ballyhoo for bait, then set out the baits and waited to draw in the fish. Ballyhoo were showering all around and frigate birds were snatching the flying ballyhoo right out of mid-air. After catching several fish we got off the hook and followed the frigates, casting surface plugs into the melee, when the surface exploded with jacks chasing the bait fish.

Gary Kolesar Catches Jack!

The next day I was out on the reef due south of Key West with the Dubose family from North Carolina, where we had the same conditions and plenty of ballyhoo showers too. We anchored in 25’-30’ of water off the shoal and proceeded to catch blackfin tuna, bonito, Cero mackerel, barracuda, yellow jacks, grouper and yellowtail snapper. Father Will and sons Hill, Brown and Jack all caught plenty of quality fish while mom, Paige took pictures. Even though sea conditions were pretty sloppy everyone hung in and caught fish.

The key to fishing around the shoals is to find the ballyhoo and look for showers of the baitfish and birds working the area. Anchoring and using block chum to draw the fish in or drifting live baits while casting artificial lures all work well. It was a great day angling the waters and you too should come on down to Papa's town and together, you too, can hook it up. Captain Mark Schmidt

Dick's Tarpon Challenge Palm Island, the Florida Keys

2011-01-03T21:20:00.001-05:00

Captain Greg Poland Charters

Large or small Tarpon is a fantastic fly rod challenge, know matter what time of the year it is but when your angling just off of Palm Island, in the Florida Keys, it is a gem on both counts. Little Palm Island, in the Keys, was once used as the exclusive fishing retreat of President Harry Truman. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the island's hospitality has drawn an impressive guest list, including the late President Kennedy, Al Gore and Ivanna Trump. It is known as the south Pacific of south Florida. This island, in the Florida Keys, can be found at Latitude 24°37.11, Longitude 81°24.42, just four nautical miles north of Looe Key Light (marker 24). The Loran coordinates are 13981.6 and 43530.5 at Flashing Red #2, which marks the entrance to Newfound Harbor. This paradise exists, lying discreetly off the fabled Florida Keys coastline. Little Palm Island is not only an escape of choice for presidents, high profile celebrities and savvy travelers alike but a hot spot in catching many a species on a fly.

On the last day of 2010, I had probably the best day of my entire last year of fishing today in fishing with a new client, as we were in pursuit of fishes on the fly off Palm Island. Pam Wilson booked the trip and before actually getting it on, in the water, I was teaching Dick the techniques of saltwater fly fishing. Armed with an Orvis fly rod and matching reel, Dick was doing extremely well in putting my hand tied, white Deceiver, out on a lay of the water. Seven Weight line and a twenty pound tippet, on Dicks third lay, he had a fish on! The excitement of seeing him hook it up was no more than if it was watching my first hook up ever as the air was electrifying. The fish stripped out a number of feet and then spit the hook, as from the corner of my eye, I noticed a roll of a silver King and blurted cast it over there; tarpon on the move! Dick, swinging around, like a pro-angler made three false casts an laid the fly just to the nose of this rolling beauty of majestic size. At the swirl of a tail, again 'Fish On!' and the fight ensued. Angling on the leeward side of the island, this fish too was getting out of the 20 knot wind a blowing from the other side while rolling and feeding in the sea-grass of the shallows. As this happy fish stripped line off the reel, it finally decided in giving a show of presentation as it danced on its tail across the water. Dick raised the rod tip, as one would do if flying for trout or reds in keeping a taunt line, when he should have bowed to the fish in hopes of no shake off but shake off it was with a fish on, fish gone. What a spectacular feat and a few moments of greatness, as the adrenalin was still in full flow in knowing it was a good fish. The funny thing was, Dick had reeled the fish in all the way to the beginning of the leader, which was at the tip of the rod and had the leader made it to the last eye, with a touch of his fingers, it would have been an official IGFA landing. Oh! Boy was that a close one. This trip was in full steam ahead! I told Dick, he was hot and to get that fly back out on the water because, who knows to what else may be feeding in this lee of the island. Dick again lay the fly out and Wham, bam, thank you mam, another fish was on. Though it seemed different but it was stripping line, like no tomorrow. With a straight run back to the sea-grass, up it came to dance on its tail, too, like a miniature minaret, splashing back with another run to the bottom. After a struggling fight on this fishes part, Dick raised a small, fingerling Tarpon! It had as much fight and spirit as did the big boy that got away, only much, much smaller; the fly was only slightly smaller. “Hungary appetite,” I exclaimed, as we both laughed in a brotherhood of togetherness. Dick suggested he was having just too much fun and that I ought to get into the action. I joined in for a little while and hooked it up with a tarpon just before heading in. In all my days, this rates up there with one of the best because that is what it is all about; having a good time while catching fish and the catch to release of that baby tarpon made this the best day of the last day of the year 2010.

THE ONLINE FISHERMAN

The World Record Kingfish, that wasn’t!

2011-01-01T20:51:00.004-05:00

The World Record Kingfish, that wasn’t!

By Captain Mark Schmidt

Back in the mid-1980’s the IGFA opened up the 20lb tippet division for fly fishermen. When a line class opens up there are many more opportunities to set a world record. These fish may not be the biggest or represent the line class that well but they were the first fish to be caught on the open line class.

If your goal as a fisherman is to set a world record this is a golden opportunity to take advantage of an IGFA line class with little or no fish entered. This was our goal as Capt. Greg Poland and I headed out from Key West one calm, clear winter day, those many years ago.

I’ve known Greg for many years and he’s fished with me since he was in high school. We grew up in the same town, Miami Springs, and both had belonged to the Miami Sport fishing Club though not at the same time.

Greg had one specific goal that day and that was to catch a world record fish. There have been many world record fish caught on my boat, some planned and some not, but this trip was planned to fish for a species that could be a quality world record for the newly opened 20lb tippet class. I decided to target kingfish because there were plenty around and we had the right conditions to catch large kingfish on a fly rod.

On the day we were to fish we faced one problem-the night before our trip the NMFS closed the recreational capture of kingfish in federal waters. After conferring with Greg we decided to start in state waters and work our way out trying to find a large kingfish, that was legal to take. Conditions proved tough, so I decide to head west from Key West, to a spot about 30 miles away but well in federal waters. I had reasoned that this spot had other world record opportunities besides kingfish such as jacks and Cobia. Of course, once we anchored up and started fishing, we were covered up with huge kingfish sky rocketing everything we threw in the water. Wasting little time, Greg cast out a large white streamer fly and starting stripping the fly back with an erratic retrieve. The fly didn’t go three feet before a giant kingfish blasted it and went screaming off. After a lengthy fight, Greg worked the fish to the boat and my waiting scale. The kingfish bottomed out the 50lb scale-well over any fish entered on 20lb tippet fly and a great catch on any tackle.

Greg and I now had a decision to make, enter this fish and know we had caught it in closed federal waters or release a potential world record fish that Greg had tried so hard over the years to catch. Greg and I looked at each other and there was no hesitation from either of us, as I released the kingfish to fight another day. We knew what we had accomplished that day and that was good enough. As we headed back to Key West I reflected on how happy I was to have a friend that valued the traditions of fishing and sportsmanship, as much as I did.

Capt. Mark Schmidt is Captain Greg Poland's guide in Key West, Florida,

http://gregpoland.com

who will be working along with Capt. Alex Adler, to make up the best guide team in the Florida Keys.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
THE ONLINE FISHERMAN DOT COM
Fighting for your rights to fish
Keep our waters open!

Positive Mentoring Through Sailfishing w/Greg Poland

2010-12-31T22:53:00.003-05:00

Greg Poland with Will Davis of (Michigan)with his first and memorable sailfish while angling out of the Keys in south Florida. Both his Dad, Jim Davis and Will had the unique experience to encounter a double hook-up. Such a feat is rare and the choreography of two fish going where they are going to go and you on the stern of a boat requires both a great Captain in maneuvering the boat as well the contestants with rods strapped in with a mate along side, is an exasperating experience to think about, much-less do! Great Job done by all. Hook-ups of these great sailfish were just outside the reefs of Islamorada, making for a short ride with a long tale to tell.

"FISH ON!"

by Gary Anderson

Sowing the Seeds to Freedom

2010-12-29T17:25:00.001-05:00

Victory in saving our right to fish, to taking a walk in your favorite park starts by standing up and speaking out in sowing the seeds to freedom!Stand Up America and Shout, Do Not Tread On My Rights, I believe in the US Constitution not the UN and its declaration of rights!

I am a Tea Bagging Whig but that has nothing to do with the price of freedom if I do not stand up and voice my opinion to all that will listen! Your rights are being stripped away, slowly as to the point you do not even notice. The Obama administration and its socialistic style agencies under the direction of one who should know of scientific methods and methodologies, yet the head of NOAA is not a leader but a puppet, following an agenda that is gnawing at our countries foundations. They are coming in the back door where only a bunch of DUMB OLE FISHERMAN reign. But we are not so stupid as they think and through us, a revolution has begun. Join us in preserving what we have, before it is all gone under United Nation rules. Can't happen; it began with the President signing in the Clear Act. Join Up! Fight for your Right!

Fishy tail of shark attack wins woman her contest - National - NZ Herald News

2010-12-25T20:42:00.000-05:00

Fishy tail of shark attack wins woman her contest - National - NZ Herald News

Heads or Tails; call it?

Mayday...Mayday Not.

2010-12-25T12:22:00.000-05:00

By James Elkins
It's a vision that strikes fear in the heart of any mariner: a sinking vessel halfway toward oblivion, its stern pitched up and pointed toward the heavens, its bow already below the waves, aimed for bottom. It is the moment before disaster, the iconic image of a sinking ship, the last thing one sees of a vessel that's lost, scuttled, doomed — except that, hey, maybe, it's not.
That's because the stricken boat, or half of a boat, only appears to be sinking. It's just one of the many arresting, witty and utterly captivating works created by a young French artist named Julien Berthier.
Berthier's perpetually sinking boat, which was christened Love, Love, is a sculpture created from a vintage French sailboat. The sawed-off vessel only looks as if it is about to go down forever but, in fact, the little tub floats very nicely, dabbling along like a puddle duck that has bobbed under the waves with its tail in the air. Some onlookers who have mistaken the seaworthy sculpture for a real calamity have called the authorities.
More often, however, people who whip out cell phones to alert the Coast Guard instead end up taking snapshots. And that's exactly the sort of response that Berthier wants to achieve....READ MORE

FCC Approves Plan to Regulate Internet - FoxNews.com

2010-12-21T14:38:00.000-05:00

FCC Approves Plan to Regulate Internet - FoxNews.com

Blogger? What Blogger, how much is the Government going to charge me to talk? Taking away more of my rights from fishing with Catch Shares, Sector Separation to the internet! Can't afford to fish and can't afford to Blog; well at least I can still sit on my porcelain throne and rule the bathroom, wait a minute, it cost to flush too. Well I can still breath...wait according to LOST, the air will be owned, the seas and no more public lands. We are all turning surf's to the ruling class of the United Nations. The Brave and the true believe in the Red, White and Blue!

Loony Tunes to Full Moons: Full Lunar Eclipse 1-3 AM 12/21/10

2010-12-20T18:57:00.001-05:00

And while your outside in the morning with the hot chocolate and all, be thinking about this:

Cohesion and solidarity with all angling agencies are to what we are to achieve if we are to stop some of the needless legislature going through Congress these days effecting Commercial to recreational anglers alike. Numerous groups through The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,are closing down angling areas on flawed info and incomplete reports in an attempt to stop fishing as we know it today. Through our efforts and the RFA along with all that will cast a rod with us, we will win our fight for The Freedom to Fish.

TheOnlineFisherman.com - Caught in Flight Kites: Kite Fishing

2010-12-19T13:58:00.000-05:00

TheOnlineFisherman.com - Caught in Flight Kites: Kite Fishing

TheOnlineFisherman.com - "Limbo" Mangos Galore

2010-12-18T21:30:00.000-05:00

TheOnlineFisherman.com - "Limbo" Mangos Galore

Florida Winter Bucket-mouth; Mat-Grass Bass

2010-12-17T21:36:00.002-05:00

Florida Winter Bucket-mouth; Mat-Grass Bass

2011 Gag moratorium | Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance

2010-12-12T22:40:00.000-05:00

2011 Gag moratorium | Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance

THE BATTLE BEGINS!

My Next Marina

2010-12-12T15:52:00.000-05:00

Oh where, Oh where, Oh where do I go? Ah Ha! There is my Next Marina right over there.
More than 2,200 marinas in the database, with new listings added regularly. Don't leave port without it! or you may just be rocking with the waves under anchor rather than moored in a safe place with things to do and places to go! Check out "My Next Marina" and you too will be surprised; Europe, Canada, North & South Pacific, the Caribbean and of course on course in the USA; the ICW and the Tenn.-Tom Waterway!

TheOnlineFisherman.com - CCA : Fish or Cut Bait!

2010-12-11T18:58:00.000-05:00

TheOnlineFisherman.com - CCA : Fish or Cut Bait!

Bullet Bass Boat Very Fast

2010-12-11T17:57:00.000-05:00