March 02, 2012
Angling the patch reefs, off
Islamorada Florida, this week, it has been Gin clear waters; an
obstacle in catching many a fish, especially Yellowtails, as they
have exceptional eyesight! The perfect combination in a good catch
are oated sandballs; moistened oats, rolled in sand; making a sort of
dough bait in a hook up with Yellowtails. There are a number of
“secret” recipes for success in dough or rather “Sandballs”
used by different professionals to the everyday weekend warrior but
the simplest is: 1/3 chum of choice or Menhaden oil, 1/3 oats and 1/3
sand, to make it slowly sink to the bottom. As Yellowtail can be
found in small schools, grouped together or suspended just off or on
the bottom. By having a slow sinking bait, your chances of a hook-up
on a suspended fish increases and if it hits the bottom, it is still
likely to be picked up by a moving bottom feeder, to which these
snapper are.
- Fishing Destination: the patch reefs off Islamorada, the Keys, Fl.
- Patch Reefs are outcroppings of marine growth from sea corals to ferns & habitats to marine life in the form of barnacles, crabs, minnows and a horde of other sea creatures
- Water Clarity: Gin Clear
- Bait of choice: Oat sandballs
- Targeted Species: Yellowtail Snapper
Moving on out towards deeper waters of
the 409 Hump, Blackfin Tuna to twenty pounds were the order of the
day on live pilchards, at 20 to 30 feet, as too, were the Kings, at
100 feet, in the taking, with the day ending out in a mixed bag of
catch & release grouper, on the ride home. Thirty-two grouper
fell prey to pinfish action, on Ohero medium-heavy spinning gear, on
a knocker rig, attached to fluorocarbon and a trident 3/0 hook.
- Blackfin Tuna on live pilchards at 20 to 30 feet
- King Mackerel bite at 100 feet
- Catch & Release Grouper falling for live Pinfish, off a knocker rig
- Knocker Rig consists of a 3/0 hook attached to a 48” trace, with an egg sinker
- Ohero Med./Heavy action Spinning w/ Ohero Blue Braid
Ohero Mackerel w/Greg Poland
Captain Greg Poland has been a Charter
boat Captain / Fishing Guide in the Florida Keys sense 1989. He would
love to get you out on the H20... So, just let him know when you are
ready to go and catch that the big one. Capt. Greg
Be Sure to check out his Blog &
Website for more details:
Captain
Poland's Website & the H2O
The
sail bite has been a bit on the slow side as of late but seems to be
picking up a bit for the Jimmy Johnson, the National Billfish
Championship (NBC) “Quest for the Ring”
is a unique fishing tournament held at Jimmy Johnson’s Fisherman’s
Cove and Big Chill Restaurant in the Florida Keys. NBC is full of
excitement with two days of competitive fishing and three nights of
festivities, starting yesterday and ending on the -3rd
of March, 2012. Greg will be filling us all in with the details when
he gets back from his lecturing over in New Orleans. A couple of his
friends are competing and will be keeping him abreast as to the 'Hook
Ups!'
Good luck and good fishing with the
thought of Positive mentoring through fishing! Till next week, “FISH
ON!” Gary Anderson
