Sailing Vessel Runs Out of Gas, Founders on Venice Beach

Sailboat founders in waters off Venice beach, Florida; runs out of gas and Captain Anchors vessel. After motoring it down along the coastline oblivious to an impeding storm, running out of gas and not knowing what to do, dropped the anchor. Sailing vessel drifts ashore from pounding waves and is now an albatross on the beach. My question is why did they just not raise some cloth and sail away. Is that not what a sailboat does, sail?



From hollybigolly's Channel: Views in Venice

Cold Water Today Equals Kings Tomorrow

A strong moving cold front moved through last weekend, kicking up the waves and plummeting water temperatures from the high 80s down into the 70s. This certainly chilled the fishing on Sunday and Monday, but inshore conditions are already recovering and by this upcoming weekend, the fishing should improve. Sunday was not a complete wash out, with my son Edwin catching small undersized King mackerel, Jacks and small Blue fish using cut baits and flashy spinners to Butterfly jigs. The waters that were a greenish to brownish patch with fish bites and hook ups on the patch lines. Near the beach end of the pier, anglers were catching Flounder, whiting, trout and lingering snook. It was not like last week when hefty thirty pound plus Kings were being hauled onto the decks under the trolleys with the occasional Tarpon hook up and a couple of really nice keeper Cobia. AS the water temperature is at 75 degrees today, I suspect a number of Kings caught today and this weekend should produce an onslaught of fish out on Sharky’s on the Pier in Venice Florida. Reports of some bruiser sharks caught late night out on the boards as of late if equipped with the right tackle and baits. Bulls should be on the move as waters dip towards the sixties and birthing begins on the beach lines (sandbars). Remember to try to practice CPR (Catch, Photograph and Release) when at all possible to ensure a productive tomorrow and be responsible by following the rules to where you fish. Great Angling, Tight Lines and “Fish On!”

School Starts Means Great Fishing in S. Fl.

First of September around the Corner and the first hint of fall arrives this weekend as school has begun everywhere in Southwest Florida and the fishing should be about as good as it gets. Water temperatures will start to creep ever so slowly downward and fish will become more aggressive. Schools of redfish are now scattered through out the area. Look for tailers on a low tide then work the bars on a rising tide for easy strike ability.

Snook fishing is improving as these Linesider’s slowly begin their move back to the winter haunts. River mouths, island points, tidal creeks with good moving water should produce. Snook are fattening up for the winter and will take most offerings if presented correctly. If the fish you have found are meticulous eaters, try tackling down and finesse fishing to entice a strike.

Kingfish should start moving south and the runs in our area should be bigger and better than last year. Start looking for water temps in the mid to lower 70’s with a good hard bottom and bait, you should have success. That magic number of 75 to 80 will produce the biggest from the pier at Sharky’s in Venice, Florida.

Beach Macks Are Back!

Armed with Strike King sunglasses and our circle hooks, tagged to a free spooled live Greenback minnow, Ed was sure in hooking it up with a Spanish darting through the black bait balls moving in abundance about the sides of the pier. Along the outskirts of a large balled bait pod was a barracuda of at least four if not five feet in length, cruising in a circular motion around and around the pod causing it to become tighter and tighter and then in a burst of speed, a flash and slash, the pod dispersed and the Cuda made its kill. Awesome! Like watching the Discovery channel in prime time live action as his line also tightened and “fish on!”
The afternoon started as Edwin searched the surface for sizable Greenies, in the three-inch range and I worked an MR-17 in search of topwater action from anything trout, reds, snook or mackerel. Working the shoreline, I managed a couple of rats, a keeper trout and a couple of spit-off snook. Keeping none, Ed was motioning he had the baits and I met him out on the boards. Changing over to a 2/0 circle hook, on a forty pound test leader of around three feet long, I too was ready for macks. Hooking the greenies just below their gills, in front of their gut line, they were tossed out to frantically swim and drift with the prevailing currents or wind on the lose line. Watching for that first twitch or straighten of the line gave hint to a strike, though with my Strike Kings on, usually I saw the flash at the bait just before the strike.
Even though the water temperatures are in the high eighties or even nineties, fast moving storms and uplifts over the waters in the form of fast moving lows will produce fish to turn on and if bait is present, it is frenzy. As was the case today. Keeping an eye to the sky for boomers is necessary and a need to remove you from harms way but other wise it is a refreshing change from the doldrums of August. The fall run on the mackerel should be a good one this year and I predict an early one, Kingfish included as the Spanish we kept for the grill were full of roe and they are starting to school up.
A new thing to remember this year here in Florida is all need a fishing license on the beach as of August 01, of this year. The new shoreline licenses cost $9, while saltwater fishing licenses are $17, for residents. Non-residents need regular licenses to fish from the shore or a boat. The new law allows exemptions for resident anglers fishing in their home counties using live or natural bait, on a line or pole without a line-retrieval mechanism. The exemption does not apply to people using nets, traps, gigs, spears or who gather seafood by hand.

To purchase Florida fishing license click here
or call
888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).

Mahi Mahi, Mutton Avets and Kite Angling; The wild world of extreme sport ...

Dolphin, Mahi mahi, Dorado, Mutton, Kingfish, Another Great fishing trip out of Haulover Inlet near the Nude nudist beach, sunny isles Bal Harbour, Miami beach.

Florence Oregon A Sportsman’s Extravaganza!

BEAUTY & THE BEAST: Landing in Eugene, Oregon in the middle of the night after a twelve-hour plane flight from North Port, Florida is not the best way to view the stunning landscape of the Oregon terrain as one drives their rental car from the airport to Florence. Dark and winy roads at a seven percent grade only make one think you are lost in finding the way. Cell phone usage was at a minimal, depending what side of the mountain you were on when lost and looking for directions to mom’s house. Of course I was not really lost, just misdirected and we were calling to let my stepfather know of our soon to be arrival if we were on the right road! Upon arrival at the house, the usual greetings were exchanged with the exception that mom was not there, just with us all. Catherine and I were planning a vacation out to the trail, (Florence, Oregon is where the Oregon trail meets the Pacific ocean), latter in the summer for a visit and some heavy angling of the trout filled streams, sturgeon gladdened Siuslaw and the many a species from smallies to bucket mouth bass in the lakes. Mom’s sudden loss brought us out a bit early but I now know why she moved here. Not only was Florence a total beauty with everything a sportsman could ever want but it was full of life from the birds to the flowers, the stunning color and the wildlife to include many an elk on the grazing hills abound. Chuck’s house, nestled in the hills outside Florence, overlooked a beautiful small lake, beaming with tailing fish as we awoke to a magnificent splendor; Siuslaw lake. I could have been in the lake country of Florida except the air was a crisp 55 degrees as we watched an early riser net a whopping cutthroat to his boat. Shortly afterward, gently releasing it back to the mirrored lake, with but a few ripples off the sides of his Alumaweld, a boat used in these parts in contending with both river, lake and tidal waters. As I sprang up for another cup of Joe, the martins buzzed in a grouping as another hatch lifted from the lakes edge and a flock of honkers above rode the winds towards the north to Alaska as spring was now in session.

The Rhododendrons were coming into bloom and the town of Florence was in properness of the arrival of those who follow the blooms with its annual Rhododendron Days, a festival of colorful landscapes and mountains adorned in both flowers to humming birds everywhere. We started our morning with that treat of the angler catching cutthroats to bucket mouth bass all morning long and then Chuck treated us to breakfast at Charlie’s, a roadside family restaurant located on hwy 126, the main throughralfare into downtown Florence and the Siuslaw river crossing from Eugene, about and hour or so away from the east. Made to order sour dough pancakes, sausages, bacon eggs and more coffee started our day as we laid siege to Old Town Florence, nestled alongside the Siuslaw port of the river. Little shops of Old Town, gave the charm of a secluded coastal town adorned with artist shops, trading posts and Pacific eats to treats all along its avenues. Incredible & Edible Oregon, located at 1350 Bay Street, owned and operated by Ron and Patti Gates, an Oregon products shop that boasts of many a knick-knack to Oregon wines and other local influences. The customer service is of the best in show and a real treat in finding out all one needs to know about the local area of surrounding Florence and its tidal estuary of the Siuslaw. A cold front was coming off the Pacific and winds were increasing to twenty miles per plus as Chuck suggested we try lunch at a local Mexican restaurant which he had heard was really good. Knowing of my mother’s chilies and of my being a true to the word coenuruses of most any food south of the border, Chuck suggested we try Los Compadres, just this side of the river bridge in Florence, across from the warning speakers used in case of a tsunami. I had to go to Oregon to find a true to the word Mexican food restaurant with helping heaping mounds of perfection to the palate. If for no other reason, I shall return to this establishment to curb my wants for that south of the border want in Florence, Oregon. Véale otra vez amigo! Back into Old Town, I purchased a leather hat from the Leather Factory where regardless of your purchase, from leather pants to jackets; to hats, all cost a twenty-dollar fee. Great pricing and lots of leather too.

Back one the docks, there lined with commercial fishing boats, I could see diggers out on the flats or spoils of the Siuslaw digging for Razor clams, a delicacy one must try if visiting the area. Just East of Florence, clamming at low tide, participants dig six to sixteen inches under the tidal flats in the estuary area north and south of the North Fork Bridge on highway 126 in finding their fill in these delicious clams. Extreme caution exercised; as tides are swift when coming in or going out, at all times in one could become a grave hazard.
As with most docks and commercial fleets, crab pods with buoys abound awaiting trips out to catch the Dungeness crabs, which by the way can be caught anywhere in the port city and Florence even has a crabbing dock to the south up river if you are into that type of angling. Dungeness crab is on the Siuslaw River just about anywhere from the mouth of the jetty to Old Town Florence. For a three-dollar pass, Crabbing in Florence is best at the docks at the south jetty. If you per chance decide to crab, obtain a license and be alert of the size you keep as there is a minimum size for Dungeness crab, which is 5 3⁄4 inches measured in a straight line across the back immediately in front of, but not including, the points.

While Sturgeon fishing On the Siuslaw River happens anywhere, there are drop-offs and holes in the twenty to forty depth range from the Port of Siuslaw boat ramp up river that offer you best bets in landing one of these magnificent fish. Using herring or shad as baits and depending on the swiftness of the incoming tide a half a pound up to a pound and a half of weight to keep it on the bottom, one rigs up a single circle hook in the 12/0 range and the waiting game begins. When there, Sturgeon was going on as we watched from the banks but the Siuslaw River also provides anglers with some very challenging and productive Chinook salmon and Steelhead fishing throughout the year.

The sand recreation area of the Oregon Dunes is a sight of surprising elegance as these dunes are hundreds of feet in height. The sand is that of sugar fine sand and one where sand boarding is a past time for many a local as well, tourist alike. It is much like skiing in powder and a fall is a mere brushing off with not a sand burn one. Recreational dune buggy riding, also done within certain restricted zones, is another sought after past time but just the sight of these dunes is awesome. Many an Rver choose this area for its close proximity to camping, boating, clamming and other activities all within walking distance of the shops, galleries and restaurants of Old Town Florence. There are around a hundred sites available in the local RV campground and a state park around almost every bend of the roads around Florence. Wither picnicking, camping or using the RV, one has but to choose your own paradise. No matter the time of year, the Port of Siuslaw offers river and ocean fishing for salmon, crab, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and more. Special events are within walking distance of Old Town, to include Rhododendron Days, July 4 celebrations, Chowder, Brews and Blues Festival all located at the Florence Events Center.

Heading north up Hwy 101, the road whips around shear drop-off cliffs to a staggering seven hundred odd feet in a matter of minutes as you can see the imagistic dune turn to wave pounding rocks of the Pacific rim on the Oregon coast. A scene only described as the beauty and the beast as the wind blows a frantic howl and one looks down to see perched sea lions to seals claiming rocks below. Visiting Sea Lion Caves is an awesome sight as this cave offers a secluded visitation from the furious sea out side, lining the rocks in an obedience to nature and size as these creatures are in a mating frenzy, while just off the breaks are the sign of great whites awaiting a chance for the unexpected. Situated at the point of the Devils Elbow National Park is the often photographed Heceta Head Lighthouse, bring many a seafarer home from the fishing grounds of the rim and warning them of the tremulous rocks abound before finding the safe haven Port of Siuslaw through the extending jetties into the pounding blue green Pacific waves.

We ended the day with a bowel of Chuck’s infamouse split pea soup as we watched the sun slip westward into the Pacific and rings of tailing fish bid us goodnight on the lake below. We ended our evening at the Three Rivers Casino with a bit of gaming, returning back to the house with the days thoughts racing by. There was not enough fishing line to last this trip, but later in the year I will be back in catching a few more to remember. “FISH ON!”

New Florida Grouper Rules in Effect...

A set of new regulations went into effect May 25, 2009 regarding the harvest of reef fish in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Fishery managers at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council ended two years of debate and deliberation by establishing the following regulations for recreational anglers:

Aggregate grouper bag limit is reduced to four fish per person per day

Red grouper bag limit is increased to two fish per person per day

Gag bag limit is decreased to two fish per person per day

Grouper season will be closed for all of February and March for all shallow-water grouper species

21st Annual Old Salt LADIES Inshore / Offshore Fishing Tournament

Proceeds Benefit: Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation

21st Annual Old Salt LADIES
Inshore / Offshore Fishing Tournament
Event Dates: June 11th - 13th, 2009

Captain’s Party:
Date: Thursday, June 11th, 7:00pm
Where: Madeira Beach Municipal Marina,
503 - 150th Ave, Madeira Beach 33708

• Huge Raffle (fishing equipment, hotel stays, jewelry and much more!)
• Great food and drink • Music • Silent Auction
• Registration • Rules and Regulations • Arts & Craft Vendors • Much, Much, More. . .

ENTRY FEE: $55 Old Salt members • $75 non-members
(Become a member at Captains meeting)
First 100 anglers receive canvas goody bags
Pre Register now – www.OldSaltFishing.org

FISHING BEGINS Saturday, June 13th, 12:00 A.M. (midnight)

SPECIES:
Inshore
Trout, Sheepshead, Spanish mackerel
Offshore
Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack

Weigh-In:
Date: Saturday, June 13, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Where: Madeira Beach Municipal Marina,
503 - 150th Ave, Madeira Beach 33708
(Fish may be transported by boat or car)
• RAFFLE • Great food and drink • Music • Fish Weigh In •
Do not miss the Fun!

NEW REEF AT KEY WEST-Florida

Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a large World War II ship to be sunk in aid of the overstocked surrounding natural reefs around by giving fish a new place to dwell. Thus the surrounding coral reefs around can be given a breather with this new wreck to explore and set up new dwellings.
The Vandenberg will become the world's second largest intentionally sunk artificial reef. At seven miles off Key West, where it will become one of the world's biggest man-made reefs, the 17,000 ton, 523-foot-long ship will be sunk on a sandy bottom in about 140 feet of clear water.
The Vandenberg began as the Gen. Harry Taylor. The ship was later commissioned by the Army as a transport vessel for ferrying troops and supplies from San Francisco to island bases in the western Pacific Ocean in 1944.
In 1945, it carried troops home from Europe near the end of World War II. It was later used by the Navy as a transport ship, and was transferred to the Air Force in 1961, when it was renamed the Vandenberg. From 1961 until 1983, the ship served as a missile tracker throughout the height of the Cold War and was retired in 1983.

A Florida Whale Tail

A Whale of a Tail



A 50 odd foot Sperm whale surfaces off Boca Grande Pass as anglers wait the tagging of the poons, Tarpon that is, silver giants, silver kings and their annoying carnivorous monsters the sharks to follow from Bulls to Hammers. This whale meanders in, swims about and swims away in a totally awesome yet unexplained reason why other than it was just curious too.

We now carry Haber Vision; Seeing them before they bite is a real treat!

Spanish Blues

As that cool brisk wind slapped you in the face with a Northwest blow and the whitely caps churned about as far as the eye could see against the Blue sky, I knew this could be a day for a great bite on a King or at least a novel day with the Spanish to tarpon as the sun set to the west on this hot mid eighties May day here in Sunny south Florida. Armed with a small Aqua Float on an eight foot Star with thirty pound Cajun Fire on my ancient Mariner, I drifted out a small Spanish caught earlier on my first cast with a yellow and white Gotcha from atop the boards here at Sharky’s on the Pier in Venice Florida, in hopes of tempting a cruising King Mackerel from out of the blue water and onto the shallows of the sandbars. With a trailer hook a dangling, the mackerel proudly displayed a thrashing under the float on the thirty-five pound steel wire with a flashy DE nickel-plated attractant above it in wait for bigger prey to come. As the wind increased in strength so did to the abundances of a blow up of Spanish to Tiny Tuna or Bonita as they may be, in schools of the hundreds; though they were not on a bite of most any tackle. Those caught snagged, as the grouping was so thick it was the only way. The mackerels were charging into the wind, onto the surface, across the wave tops like that of surfers catching a curl and riding the tube in an attempt to catch tinny minnows invisible to the eye unless grouped together in a ball and then only forming a grey like color under the ever so clear water below. Schools of Jack Crevalles guided by, with a few taken by trolley to show a presence at the “T” on the end of the pier, but overall the day ay the end was pretty much just a bunch of blow. After awhile a lone smoker took a likeness to my bait under the Aqua Float but by now, it was dead meat and the King went on by in search for a more lively prey. On the end, just before the sun set to bed, a youngster hooked it up with a small fifteen or twenty pound king to proudly take home as a prize to all to see. We went home for pork chops and tatters and to get ready for another day out on the water to play. Remember to Keep’em Wet, CPR and “Fish ON!”

Snooky Looky Goody

As the end of season appears on the horizon May 1, we cast our lines on fruited waters and behold we caught a number of monsters that were never seen. Three to be exact with one keeper for the camera and then back into the water she went. Story forth coming...

Chrome Cruiser: Megalops Atlanticus aka Tarpon

Above Photographed Tarpon with half ounce white tailed jig in mouth caught on a Bluerunner under an AKA kite Casey Key beach.
Imagine150 pounds of a chrome rocket launching out of the water and then taking off on a 200-yard run, while dancing on its tail to the tune of your screaming drag; welcome to the world of tarpon fishing. Megalops Atlanticus aka Tarpon, Silver kings, the Silver Bullet, from the upper Keys to the Venice Pier, Sarasota Bay, the Sunshine Skyway and Egmont Channel, The tarpon fishing has been pretty consistent for the month of April and it is only going to get better with May and June around the corner. This is prime time for migrating fish. Some people prefer to fly fish for ocean cruising fish, or laid up fish in the backcountry, and others rather catch them on bait. It really does not matter how you catch them, they are one of the most exciting fish to catch on any tackle heavy to light with light being the bear of them all and not recommended unless you possess a permit because the lactose build up in the fish is a sure killer on light tackle landings. Tarpon have an affinity for points, bridges, rivers, channels, hard bottoms and cuts while alluring itself into areas of stagnant water devoid of all others with the exception of any large pod of baitfishes. Engorging food with minimal effort to its maximum affordability.

अक फिशिंग किट्स कात्च मोरे फिश!

When flying a kite, just like casting your first conventional, practice makes perfect in putting out your AKA, Kahula kite. If you are kiting from a fishing vessel, it just takes a little practice to keep the boat motion either with the engine at an idle speed or with a drift so that the kite remains in the same relative vertical space over your honey hole consistently. The Kite is actually a vertical outrigger. From the highest point on your boat, the kite is launched and flown from the stern of a boat from its own rod and reel. A short stubby stoker attached to an EverolUSA 6/12 WP with PowerPro 16/65, and fishing line attached at the kite similar to an outrigger, only instead of keeping the line out, it keeps it up, is used in presenting your baits to the waiting trophies below. If propelling at a slow troll or idle drift your bait will be suspended just below the surface. As your bait, like a live bluerunner, is just at the surface, it will thrash and become excited in an attempt to get further below the surface. Ideally, the best in bait presentation when fishing for Kings, El Dorado or Billfishes is fishing live baits under a kite and do not forget some of the IGFA record tunas have been caught too.

Brand New AKA Big Game Fishing Kite

Large Kite - 34" x 34"

Featherweight Fiber/Carbon Spars - Kite Weights Only 3.8 oz.

Reinforced Double Stitched Spar Pockets - Leather Bridle Adjustment

Clear Plastic Water Resistant Storage Tube – Full Instructions Included



This New Model AKA Fishing Kite has a Large White Leaping Sailfish graphic.



Like all of our Kites, it has been tested and Flies High and Tight! The Material used is

the EXACT same Quick Drying, Lightweight material that is used on Kites costing over $129.00.



This is a Light to Medium Wind Kite, great in conditons from 5-15mph.



We're so sure you will be impressed with the Quality and Workmanship of this AKA Kite, that

we're offering a complete 30 Day Guarantee. if this Kite does not perform as indicated,

simply return it for a Replacement Kite!

Shark Bite Right near Venice Beach Florida

Venice Shark's Tooth Festival 2009
The festival opens from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, swings into high gear from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and concludes Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the airport festival grounds at the end of Airport Avenue in Venice, Florida.
More than 100 artisans will market homemade crafts, food, jewelry and clothes.
The Shark's Tooth Festival also features children's adventures such as the Shark's Tooth Scramble and a hands-on exhibit designed by Mote Aquarium in Sarasota.
Live entertainment will include country western, calypso, reggae, salsa, rock, and blues.

INTO SHARKS & PIER FISHING?

Venice Pier Anglers is a mirrored site to Inshore Florida with the exception it is land locked, as the participants are those who fish the Venice City Pier at Sharky’s. From children young adults angling tournaments to clinics and more experienced anglers angling for Kings, Tarpon and sharks in the 100 of pound classes; Venice Pier Anglers to Inshore Florida is where you want to be!


Teaching Respect to the Environments of Today

For Your Children of Tomorrow!
Venice beaches reportedly collect more sharks' teeth than any other stretch of sand in the world!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Anderson Florida Fishing Shorts: Saturday, March 28, 2009

Zippity Do DA, Zippity Day, My Oh my what a windy ole’ day; Winds continue to be heavy, setting back any coming of kingfish by at least a week। Anglers should be using a variety of baits, such as white bait to straws in bagging bragging rights to some of the biggest Spanish mackerel seen in years just off the beaches of inshore Florida। Larger mackerel have invaded the artificial reefs 5 to 7 miles offshore along with scattered kingfish. During the daytime, pompano and nice-size sea trout are being caught in the holes adjacent to the flats, and Reds are found tailing falling tides along side channels to docks.

Kahula Fishing Kites Catch Fish!

Kingfish Fever

Remember the Acme Yo-Yo and doing the “walk the dog” trick as it went up and down? That trick and all reminds me of our passing cold fronts, up and down temperature readings, along with baits trying to make it to the beach line. As each day the water temperature tries to hit that magically delouse number of 68 to 72 degrees, only to plummet as March continues to roar in like a lion. Yesterday, the temperature at the pier in Venice, Florida was a hot 71 degrees (water) and the mackerels abounded everywhere within the Spanish to Cero lines. Couple this with a westerly wind and we will begin to see smoke as that big daddy of them all will appear just off the beaches as King fever begins its migration north as spring temperatures prevail and the baits pod along the bars in a smorgasbord of delights to all in a feeding frenzy to Kingfish fever. The “schoolies” are the first on the scene, showing up as schooled mackerel falling within the small to fifteen-pound class. All Kingfish under twenty-four inches, measured from the fork, must be returned back to the water as they are undersized and against the law to possess. Kingfish must be 24 inches or longer if kept, with a limit of two. It is all in the tails folks, from the dorsal to the tail and you too can tell the difference between a regular mackerel (Spanish or Cero) and the Kingfish. Some of you experts say it is in the color or spots and sometimes that works but sometimes all mackerel look similar and it can be confusing even to an expert just by judging it spots. All fish have a lateral line on them. Some colored in scale others in an actual line, like the Mackerels. By looking at this line, you can save yourself the embarrassment of a ticket and be an expert too. King Mackerels have a break or sudden drop in their lateral line in the shape of a slanted “L”. Spanish and all the other mackerels have either a wavy or dropping lateral line with no slanted “L” shape. In addition, Kingfish minimal slot is 24 inches at the fork to keep with a possession limit of two per person. All other mackerels are minimal slot 12” at the fork, with 15 fish in possession per person. Stupid is not looking for that slanted “L”. Large King fish are considered Smokers because they can burn up a drag on a fishing reel and Smokers are caught out at the end of Sharky's on the Pier, with the "T-Gang”; those angling the trolley system.

West Coast Florida Fishing Report: Venice

If you can bear the cold, there are some nice sheepshead along the Venice inlet. The whiting bite continues to be excellent on the beaches of from the jetties down to the city pier. Small trout are being caught on trolling grubs and sinking Mirr0Lures in the Alley. For bigger trout, flounder and some black drum, fish the north side of the south jetties at the inlet. The fish are in the deeper water. It is a Welsh wind on the end of the pier and if you can brave these elements, have fresh mullet and the virtue of patience a shark is almost a hook up nightly. Wear layered clothing to prevent that chill to the bone from that Welsh wind. A Welsh wind is a lazy wind; it would rather blow through you than around you.

Ban on Gag Grouper Fishing Killing Florida’s Economy

Federal and state fishery managers have closed recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for gag starting February 01, 2009 and continuing until March to stop overfishing. Overfishing means gags caught at an unstained rate, although gag stocks do not suggest evidence of overfishing; go figure how this came about without evidence in a decision to cost southwest Floridians millions in lost revenues. Out of all the time in which to pick a closure, the council closes the season down during a time when this type of fishing is at a peak in bring in angling dollars in state to merchant revenues. A trickle down effect could cause small businesses to close and tourist dollars to go elsewhere. Tourist to locals who spend money to go private charter fishing target the first three months of the year as the best opportunity in catching a grouper and will plan their trips accordingly around this angling event. Peak Snowbird season (tourists) is February and March of any given year. With this new ruling, it doubles last year's original recreational closure, from Feb. 15 to March 15. At a time where housing is at a rock bottom low and the dollar in a stimulus mode why, would anyone wish more ills on an already plagued state of economical failings? This closure may need to be but not at a time where people are depending on Gag dollars to pay the bills. By placing an additional ban on gag grouper by extending the closed season through Florida’s peak tourists time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Southeast Region and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are killing Florida’s economy in Gag Dollars. These dollars represented in the forms of lost tackle sales, fuel sales, charter captain sales, fishing license sales, food, and ice and lodging all lost because of bad timing. In a time where we are all pinching pennies, someone needs to do their homework before taking dollars away from us anglers.

Great White Sharks in Florida

[FWC/NOAA (2007)]
This white shark head was seized by federal and state authorities from a Seminole storage facility in 2007, where
the jaws of this estimated 10- to 12-footer caught in the gulf could be worth $20,000 on the black market.

Commercial shark season recently opened in the Gulf of Mexico, but anglers should know they might get more than they bargained for if they are angling for jaws.
This is the time of year that big bulls are out on the beaches at night delivering pups between the bars with a hunger and thirst for fresh meat. If they can catch their own first-born and they do often, it goes back inside as a meal. The Venice City Pier located at Sharky’s on the Pier 1600 Harbor Drive South, sets some three hundred feet outside the last sandbar or just over seven-hundred feet from the waters edge, making it as a pearl in location for catching big winter sharks. Zebco need not apply here at night as only the mighty are amongst the victors at fights end; Penn, Avet, International, Accurate to name but a few are the names of equipment in aid to the Venice pier anglers who are in pursuit of the biggest and best shark to claim as their own. Baits range from Barracuda to Kingfish heads and reel sizes from a cheeky 4/0 to massive workhorses in the 18/0 category, one speed or two, four hundred pound test leaders and hooks to match in strength, shark fisherman are serious in their quest to be the best. Many a large predator has but picked up bait and made that long zinging sound of a reel groaning in action, only to keep right on going and spooling out five-hundred yards of line to tail whipping a four hundred pound test leader at twelve feet in length. Even better yet, to an amazing surprise of a straitened out 12/0 hook or bit in half wire leader to match none! These great sharks are the ones that got away. I wonder if it could be…
Florida Great White Sharks.

Hot Tips on a Cold Bite Inshore the Offshore of southwest Florida

The limestone ledges and hard-bottom areas along the 10-fathom (60-foot) curve, located on nautical charts inshore the offshore, have always been productive for pelagic and benthic fish. Amberjack moved onto the 10-fathom wrecks and provided drag-pulling action for anglers trolling large plugs or anchoring and fishing with large live baits. The biggest surprise was scattered schools of kingfish feeding near the bottom in several areas in the 60-foot depths. Linking your line to your downrigger ball with a short length of monofilament leader material of a pound-test appropriate to the size of the bait, the depth of the weight and your trolling speeds to get plugs and spoons deep enough, but once found, bag limits filled the box. You could use a No. two or three planner but Downrigger releases suffer from a notoriously undependable reputation. Rubber bands fail on their own capricious schedule, and mechanical devices succumb to problems caused by immersion in salt water. When you are ready to use your downrigger, start by setting the bait back the desired distance and wrapping a sturdy rubber band (at least number 32, but 64 is sometimes better) to the line and thread one rubber-band loop through the other to secure it. Now attach the mono release loop to the rubber band with a loop-to-loop connection. Finally, attach the other release loop to a snap on the downrigger ball.
To make the link, use a 10-inch section of mono with the breaking strain that you desire and tie a loop in each end. (A double surgeon's knot makes a good loop.) When deploying the rig, lower the ball to the water carefully so you do not break the nylon link in the process. Now when the mono link breaks, you know that you just got a strike and not just another release failure.

BIRDS TO THE RESCUE ON A COLD BITE...

The usual method of looking for baitfish on the surface to locate schools of kingfish underneath will not work this time of year because of the absence of the bait and colder waters. An alternative is to begin deep trolling wherever several cormorants, those deep-diving ducks, are in the area submerging. Their presence usually indicates that schools of smaller fish are in the area along with the larger predators that feed on them.

El Jobean Florida Feeding Frenzy

Inshore Florida Offshore Anywhere: is an advocate in helping to keep the sport of game fishing ethical while working to improve the survival outlook for several of our pelagic species through research, habitat protection, public education, community outreach, networking, and advocacy.


Feeding Frenzy of January Begins at Dusk
The full moon occurs on Sunday at 3:47 a.m., while the lunar perigee happens a day later. Both facts combined create the largest nighttime feeding period of the month and if the daytime weather is ideal, perhaps the largest daytime feeding period of the month.
Normally, the new-moon event produces the best daytime fishing experience of the month, but as in all cases with judging which fishing day is better or was better, the weather usually determines the winner.
Today, however, the major feeding migration of the day occurs during daylight hours from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a peak time of 10 a.m., however the amount of fog and clouds or lack of, along with any barometric pressure changes, will influence when exactly the peak period will actually occur.

The secondary feeding migration of the day occurs during nighttime hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Expect this to increase in intensity and duration each day over the next week as the moon causes the majority of fish to feed in unison by the light of the waxing full moon. The nighttime feeding session normally becomes the major feeding migration of the day, over the daytime feeding session, during the full moon-event week. Nevertheless, if the weather produces cloud cover during the night and the barometer rises or remains unchanged, less fish will feed successfully, meaning they will attempt to feed again during the daytime migration period. We found this true this week as we fished El Jobean Pier for a wide mixture of fish caught on live shrimp to grunts and Pinfish.

Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast

Bean Bay from El Jobean Pier

It has been spotty on the El Jobean Pier with Spotted Seatrout on the grass-flats. Small sharks, Snapper, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Ladyfish, and many short Grouper are scattered all around the pier and channel. We found some slack times but most of the times allotted us to bait ups and loosing up drags to running fish. This is also the time that keeper size Grouper start coming into the bay, holding just under the causeway near the channel. The channel at 23 plus feet deep rises to skinnies and six-foot ledges as a perfect spot for may a fish on a falling barometer or approaching cold front. If angling at night, be sure to being plenty of bug spray or you will find out who really is the bait.
Fresh caught live Pinfish and Grunts make excellent bait on the bay for the larger fish like Grouper.


Historical Facts:
From 1888 until 1921, Southland existed solely as Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad depot that serviced Hall Naval Stores and Stephen Brothers turpentine camps that leased prisoners for labor.

In 1922-23, Joel Bean had the town replanted and renamed to an anagram of his name, El Jobe-an, and began building up the town by providing a Post Office & General Store and a Hotel.