Inshore Florida and Everol Reels

Inshore Florida and Everol Reels

(One without the other is like a rod without the reel)


About Everol

All reels feature uni-body construction! Check out the new 2.5/0 and 4/0 TS as well as our new 6-12 Waterproof! Call 941-426-6118 or contact us here for more information.

Everol is an Italian company that has been building exquisite, finely machined lever drag reels since 1958 when the company started building reels that were up to the task of battling the giant Bluefin tuna of the Mediterranean. Everol's reels are built with only the best, most anti-corrosive materials to withstand the rigors of big-game fishing and the insidious saltwater environment, but what really sets Everol apart from its competition is the unique and unrivaled Everol drag system; Everol has incorporated this system into their reels since 1958 and it has yet to be duplicated.

As a big billfish, tuna, Wahoo, dolphin or other gamester peels line off a reel the laws of physics dictate that even without touching the drag lever the drag has increased due to the progressive reduction in the diameter of line on the spool. With other offshore reels, once line is in the water, it is anyone's best guess as to what the effective drag setting has become due to this phenomenon(regardless of whether an accurate initial drag setting was taken on a scale). Everol's system gives anglers a clear picture of what the effective drag has become allowing anglers to purposefully adjust their drag rather than fumbling with it haphazardly.

Everol's system works as follows: There are three scales on the side of the reel, which correspond to the amount of line on the spool as indicated by notches on the spool itself. The outermost, largest number represents a full spool, the middle, medium sized number a half spool, and the innermost, smallest number an almost empty spool. As an example, a 6/0 Everol set with 14lbs of initial drag would have an increased drag setting equal to 21lbs when half spooled. The benefits inherent in this system are evident but become even more pronounced when fishing light line or when possible records are at stake. As for the drag mechanism itself, Everol incorporates a silky smooth, forced air-cooled, multi-disc stainless and carbon fiber drag system in the reels.

For those who have grown accustomed to a pre-set drag, Everol has introduced the stellar Waterproof Series. These reels feature an internally sealed disc drag, which protects the double-sided drag washers from the corrosive saltwater environment. These reels are very lightweight yet strong, and, like the Special Series, they too are available in either right or left hand retrieve.

Everol is truly a legendary name in sportfishing and will continue to be for many years to come. Everol reels definitely deliver the kind of value and performance that is demanded by those who ply the offshore waters in search of big game fish. Whether you are a dealer or an interested individual, we welcome you to contact us. Thank you for visiting Inshore Florida’s Everol page and good luck on your next fishing adventure.


The Everol Drag System

In years gone by, one of the cardinal rules of fishing was to set your drag and then dare not adjust it once a fish was hooked. Given the variability in the drags of the day, this was probably some good advice to heed. The drags of modern reels are more precise, but most still leave the crucial drag setting variable very much up in the air. Everol is the only company whose reels are designed around a simple system, which allows these finely machined, high precision offshore reels to eliminate most of the guesswork and greatly simplify the drag setting process.

To get an accurate drag setting in pounds on other offshore reels, the drag must be physically tested, preferably on a precise scale such as a Chatillon. To get an accurate initial drag setting in pounds on an Everol, all that needs to be done is to move the lever drag to the setting desired as indicated by the outermost number on the dial on the side of the reel with its three concentric graduated scales(see picture).

If this were the end of the story, this system would not offer that much benefit to anglers, but the ingenuity and usefulness of Everol's system extends much further. As a big billfish, tuna, Wahoo or dolphin peels line off a reel the laws of physics dictate that even without touching the drag lever the drag has increased due to the progressive reduction in the diameter of line on the spool. With other offshore reels, it is anyone's best guess as to what the effective drag setting has become due to this phenomenon. Everol's system gives anglers a much clearer idea of what the effective drag has become. This, in turn, allows anglers to purposefully adjust their drag so as to closer maintain the initially decided upon drag setting, rather than haphazardly fiddle with the drag in a futile attempt to do so.

The system works as follows: There are three scales on the side of the reel, which correspond to the amount of line on the spool. The outermost, largest number represents a full spool, the middle, medium-sized number represents a half spool, and the innermost, smallest number represents an almost empty spool. As an example, a 6/0 Everol set with 10lbs initial drag would have an increased drag setting equal to 15lbs when half the spool was spooled. The benefits inherent in this system are evident, but become even more pronounced when fishing light line or when possible records are at stake.

As for the drag mechanism itself, Everol incorporates a silky smooth, forced air-cooled, multidisc drag system (click on small thumbnail above for a closer look). This system works much like a motorcycle clutch, floating on oversized springs and actuated by a large race plate. This drag configuration results in unparallel smoothness and allows the washers to wear evenly. The long lasting carbon fiber drag material sandwiched in-between the stainless plates enables the drag to last for season after season.

Everol has been building top-quality, low maintenance fishing reels since the late 50's, and our reels are built with only the best-anodized and stainless materials to be able to withstand the rigors of big-game fishing and of the insidious salt-water environment. Everol's unique features, quality craftsmanship, and attractive pricing truly do make them the best value available in offshore reels today -bar none.




In addition, We Are not Just About Reels, Check out our
Roller Guides and Downriggers too!




EVEROL ROLLER GUIDES $400.00

Easily, the finest roller guides available today. These guides are extremely lightweight yet feature ball bearings throughout (there are 14 ball bearings used in the set--4 for the stripper and 2 each on all the other guides). All rollers are completely recessed in the frames, eliminating the possibility of line getting between the roller and frame. If you are looking for the ultimate guides for 80 or 130lb tackle, these are the guides for you!

EVEROL NAUTILUS DOWNRIGGERS
$450.00 without Rod Holder $470.00 with Rod Holder


The Everol Nautilus Downrigger is simple yet functional. Built with only the most anti-corrosive components, the Nautilus is built to withstand the insidious saltwater environment. The Nautilus can swivel 360 degrees and stop at will, and its ingenious clutch system can be controlled effortlessly with one hand (by simply winding counterclockwise, the ball or Z-Wing can be gradually slowed down until the desired depth is reached--as measured on the meter counter).

The Nautilus can be mounted on a permanent fixing plate either where desired or ordered with a gimbaled mount for use in any standard rod holder. The use of the rod holder mounting is perfect for those who only use their downrigger occasionally or for those who do not want to drill holes in their boat for a permanent fixing plate. The Nautilus comes standard with a stainless rod holder, so use of the rod holder mounted Nautilus does not mean that you will lose use of one of your boat’s rod holders.

Feature List:

- 360 degree rotation, can be stopped at any point

- 28” boom (long boom model available soon)

- built with only the best, anti-corrosive components

- easy, one-hand operation

- available with a fixed mounting plate or a gimbaled rod holder mounting

FREE EVEROLUSA REEL GIVE AWAY:

CHECK OUT THE
Everol Booth at The Shows, Come Check It Out!


Mobile Boat Show (FEB21-24), Louisiana Sportsmen's Show (MAR 6-9)

Just letting you all know that EVEROL fishing reels, which recently moved to Mobile from Miami, will be at the Mobile Boat Show (FEB21-24) and also at the Louisiana Sportsmen's Show (MAR 6-9). They will have a large booth and plenty of reels to see, touch and buy if you are so inclined. In any case, please stop by the booth, shake Keith Wichmann’s hand and introduce yourself. Oh by the way, for those that are coming to the Mobile Boat Show, Keith Wichmann is giving away a FREE Reel on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so stop by the booth and register to win.
Keith Wichmann
EverolUSA, President






EVEROLUSA FACTS:

Everol built its first big-game reel in 1958 to target the Mediterranean's Bluefin tuna off Italy. The manufacturer devised a simple yet effective drag system that uses physics to take the guesswork out of drag settings. As a fish pulls line off a reel, the diameter of line on the spool gets progressively smaller, causing the drag to increase. Everol places three sets of numbers under the lever drag that correspond to the amount of line on the spool as indicated by notches on the spool itself. The outermost, largest number represents the pounds of drag at full spool; the middle number equals the pressure at medium spool and the smallest number, the drag at an almost empty spool. For example, a 6/0 Everol set with 14 pounds of initial drag would have 21 pounds of drag when half-spooled.


Everol offers a complete lineup of one- and two-speed offshore reels made from anticorrosive materials in a unibody construction. The drag systems feature stainless and carbon fiber discs for superior power and a large surface area. The company is known for building some truly huge reels and now has the biggest boy out on the block with the 18/0. Designed for 200- to 300-pound test and capable of 100 pounds of drag, this reel will offer more line capacity than the company's 14/0, previously the largest reel in production. Everol currently offers nine sizes of one-speed lever-drag reels from 2.5/0 to 14/0. There are eight two-speed reels, including a 2.5/0, 4/0, 6/0, 6/0-wide, 9/0, 9/0-wide, 12/0 and 14/0.


For more information, visit Inshore Florida or drop us a line inshoreflorida@gmail.com and we will bite back or contact Mr. Keith Wichmann at:
EverolUSA@yahoo.com

SAIL KITE FISHING

Sail kite fishing is simply enough, setting out a sail attached to a line of hooks running between the sail and the shoreline. Many Fishermen have been very successful at this method of fishing. Here are my simple tips on Sail line fishing, I will try to keep it very simple and set you up with the basic information to get you started in this sport. Be sure to read and follow the State regulations listed below, or find the regulations for your state before attempting to Sail Line fish, if you are planning on multiple set ups (hooks) as this method could be construed as trot lining. Otherwise using two rods, one for the sail kite and the other as the baited rig, your just trolley fishing but on a grander scale. Now you can choose wither to troll out your baits and wait or run them out, drop them off and retrieve in the sail kite for another run off the beach with a different rod, though it is possible to attach more than one rod to a sail kite using different release clips, the odds of entanglement do increase.
Simple rules to follow:
1) Make sure the wind is blowing towards the water, If not your sail wont go out!
2) Try and set up your sail line where there is Very Little Boat Traffic.
3) Bait your hooks with live, cut or artificial baits.
4) Use "Tacking" to adjust for wind direction.
TACKING:
Tacking is an adjustment, as a sailboat does to move against the wind, through adjusting the clip to your line to the chain on the rig so it sails off at an angle to the wind. If the wind is blowing straight out and you want your sail line to go to the left, simply clip your line a bit to the left of the centerline. To make it go right you clip to the right of the centerline. This also works if the wind is blowing out at an angle if the wind is blowing over your left shoulder as you face the water; simply clip on your line to the left of the centerline of the chain until it seems to be going out straight.
You can build a simple sail rig out of PVC PIPES and a few connectors you can buy at just about any hardware store. The sail can be made of anything, but your best bet for this is Rip stop Nylon (Kite Material) which you can get at a cloth store. I hope that you know a tailor who can sew it for you. If not, maybe the cloth store could recommend someone or you could get it done at a laundry/cleaners that does alterations or just do it yourself with staples and duct tape, no one said it had to be pretty. Here are some simple ideas for getting you started in building Sail Kite Rig. The pieces are actually all white, I color coded them so you could tell where each piece goes.




NO WIND? NO PROBLEM!
Here is a nice tip for using your sail line in an area where there is Current instead of wind, Use all the same methods as above except you would have the sail line rig upside down with the sail under water catching current instead of wind.

Yaking the Inshore on the Inshore, in Florida; Brackish Waters.

By Gary A. Anderson
When the wind whips up I love the brackish waters from Snook Haven to the canals of Ft. Myers and down through the vast stretches of the Glades and across Alligator Alley for that is where one can find an abundance of super fish! Yaking the brackish waters of our canals, streams and rivers will pit you up against some hefty critters on the rod, fly and gators in your eye. Caution should be taken when angling these waters in late winter to early spring for gators are on the prowl for a mate. They can be extremely aggressive and that yak your in only is of a different color, get my drift? Stay away or make noise when approaching basking reptiles. Otherwise, happy hunting for the first fishes on our list The Tiger Fish and a Super Fish it is too.
SUPER Tiger FISH!
Super Mayan cichlid that is! The Mayan cichlid (pronounced sick-lid) is a small fish, about five to ten inches in length, with dark vertical stripes and a blue spot at the base of its tail. The Mayan cichlid is an “exotic” fish from Central America that was discovered in Everglades National Park fourteen years ago. It is not known who brought it to Florida, but since its arrival this fish has spread rapidly throughout most of the Everglades, from the saltwater estuaries of Florida Bay to as far north as canals in Palm Beach County and west through-out Ft. Myers.
Adult and juvenile C. urophthalmus have a yellow to olive-brown body, with five to seven distinct vertical bars and a prominent dark ocellus at the base of the caudal fin. Otherwise known to local as the Orange Tiger Fish. Spawning in south Florida occurs April to June, meaning they are on their way to the beds pretty soon and go on a binge before the spawn, seek and find for being an exotic fish there is no limit and they a tasty too. Put that together with a 3-weight fly rod and a kayak and you have one heck of a showdown. The IGFA World record is one at 15 inches long and 2.6 pounds in weight. That is shark size to the Bream and Sunfish who share the same habitat. Found in the canals or mangroves as far north as Ft. Meyers to the Glades, these fish offer thrill and excitement to old and young alike. Windy days make the bays, inshore and offshore rough sometimes so it is nice to sometimes stay in side and fish for locals. Tiger fish are found in both salt and fresh water but prefer that of brackish and they sport a good; white, flaky meat with mild flavor; no bag or size limits. Easily caught on worms, insects, and dead or live shrimp, dry fly, and wet fly, poppers, under a cane and on beetle spins with light spinning tackle. Since they are considered a freshwater fish, even in saltwater, you will need a freshwater fishing license and too, if you’re boating you must have a license. So, to be on the safe side, it is best just to pick-up a combo-license anyway covering all the bases when you too are stopped.
(Ictalurus punctatus)
CHANNEL CATFISH
Common Names - spotted cat, blue channel cat, river catfish
Description - Channel catfish closely resemble blue catfish. Both have deeply forked tails. However, channels have a rounded anal fin with 24-29 rays and scattered black spots along their back and sides. They have a small, narrow head. The back is blue-gray with light blue to silvery-gray sides and a white belly. Larger channels lose the black spots and also take on a blue-black coloration on the back with shades to white on the belly making my mouth water and drool as I write. This could be why many a guy calls me Cat Man Do! Hmmm…
Fresh to brackish water, the Channel cat normally feed on the bottom; channels also will feed at the surface and at mid-depth. Major foods are aquatic insects, crayfish, mollusks, crustaceans and fishes. Small channels consume invertebrates, but larger ones may eat fish and chicken livers to hearts free lined with a current or under a Cajun cork with a number one wide gap Eagle Claw snelled circle hook. I can smell the grease heating now. These incredible fish will take almost any lure thrown at them too but prefer baits that slowly drift or lay on the bottom for an easy ambush.
Average weight is between two to five pounds but areas I fish they exceed thirty, with the state at 44.50 pounds. Most channels are caught by bottom fishing with baits such as dried chicken blood, chicken livers or gizzards, and night crawlers. They prefer dead or prepared stink baits to live bait, but at times will take live minnows and lures such as spinners and jigs. Strong fighters with good endurance, they are frequently caught on trotlines. Since channel catfish can also be taken by commercial fishermen, except where stocked by the Commission, they are not legally classified as sport fish. By bush hook, setline or trotline baited with cut bait or other substance; but not including live game fish or any part of any game fish; bush hooks, setlines or trotlines (limited to 25 hooks total) are permitted for taking non-game fish for personal use only. Trotlines, bush hooks or set lines are permitted statewide except in these areas of the State of Florida and if more than 25 hooks are on the line a Commercial License must be in possession there of.
(Ameiurus catus)
White Catfish
The White Catfish too lives with the Channels and are of the same eating habits or you eating them, delicacies to the pallet. The sides are blue-gray to blue-black and may be mottled. The tail is moderately forked, and the anal fin is shorter and rounder than that of channel or blue catfish. Whites have only 19-22 anal fin rays. The chin barbells are white or yellow. They have a blunt, more-rounded head, and they lack black spots on their body. In Florida, they are found statewide in rivers and streams and in slightly brackish coastal waters. Seldom exceeding four pounds in weight, the state record is just over 18 pounds.
(Ameiurus natalis)
Yellow Bullhead
The yellow bullhead closely resembles the brown bullhead with a squat body and a round or squaretail. It is yellow-olive to slate black above and lighter, often yellow to yellow-olive, on its sides with little to no mottling. The belly may be white, cream or yellow. The chin barbells are yellow to buff or pale pink; the upper barbells, which are light to dark-brown, help distinguish this species from brown bullheads. The anal fin has a straight margin with 23 to 27 rays. Another tasty critter though smallest of all our area catfish weighing in on an average of about two to three pounds and a record in Florida of… everybody eats them and nobody has turned one in for a record, the books are open on this one.
(Lepisosteus osseus)
The Gar or Garfish
Found throughout the state, they are olive-brown or deep green along the back and upper sides, with silver-white bellies. There are a few irregular, large dark spots on the body. The young display scattered spots over both sides, the upper and lower jaws and on their ventral fins. The longnose is generally distinguished from other gars by its longer, more slender body, and especially by its longer, narrower snout. The snout is twice the length of the rest of the head.
Gars are sporty fighters; however, they are not fished for to a great extent. They can be taken with minnows and artificial lures or during daylight by spearing (although not by spear gun) and snagging them with treble hooks. They are popular with bow-fishermen and anglers using frayed nylon cord as a lure snag, which entangles the gars teeth.

Although the flesh of longnose gars is edible, it is not popular. However, the Seminole Indians reportedly prefer gars over other fish. They roast them completely in the coals of open fires. The roe is poisonous to humans, animals and birds and the State record is that of 41 pounds.

And then of course catching one of these babies in a kayak is quite a rush, if not completely insane, the Florida Alligator Gar, Atractosteus spatula, a monster compared to its cousins coming in at a state record of just over 123 pounds. The largest I ever caught with my wife ‘Cat’ and friend David came in at 179 pounds in Rockport, Texas, where the record there is still unbroken since 1951with a whopper at a hundred pounds more 279 pounds and over eight feet long.

So from little Tigers to whopping Gars, there are lots to catch out there in those brackish waters of the in shore’s inshore and I failed to mention the other Florida has 3 million acres of freshwater lakes and 12,000 miles of streams and rivers. From those waters over 250 different species of freshwater fishes have been collected. This includes several rather rare native fishes and 73 species of non-native fishes (fish that come from outside of the United States and would not have been found in Florida if it were not for man's intervention). And that is just the tip of our berg for there are a number of saltwater fish that are caught up here in the freshwater/brackish end of the ditch too. From Bull Sharks to Sturgeon, Redfish to Snook so what are you waiting for, pick up that license and go get em!
“FISH ON!”
And Don’t Forget the
Inshore Florida Fishing Report
Where you too can get that big one!

Catching Sharks With Kids.

Matched with some of the best fishing products on the market today, add a little fun, water, and a pier and area youth we came up with a reel outdoors adventure:

Catching Sharks With Kids.

By Gary Anderson

We are a group of dedicated anglers, so dedicated we formed a company, The Island Angler Inc., to promote mentoring, angling, stewardship, responsibility and self-awareness through helping out those around you on a mission of showing ‘one hand washes the other’ through the actions of Positive Mentoring through Fishing. We are in need of a sponsor or sponsors who could provide us with enough seed money to produce a fishing based reality television show sizzle reel for a five-minute trailer, to be viewed by all the networks, as well Comcast. We have a major television production company committed to our task, with a crew on stand-by, when we raise our needed finances.

This investment is of a multi-fold paramount exploration into the introduction of either old products needed to be re-born or new products promotion, in that it pushes your product out through the major networks as a sizzle reel trailer. It would running continuously on all of my sites and affiliated Charter Captain sites, as well, our email listings and press-releases as a new event till picked up, to then be converted to an advertisement for the show and lastly, when production is complete on the sizzler reel for distribution. This production also introduces our program of Positive Mentoring through Fishing, our website The Island Anglers and its affiliates along with my own Inshore Florida, which is partnered with Anglers Legacy. All of the sites here a recognized either through the FWC or in part with our states initiative of Florida’s mentoring programs, as we are on a mission to make all anglers responsible individuals to our marine ecosystems, especially our youth, disadvantaged and those with handicaps.

"If you can dream it, you can do it." ~Walt Disney

‘The Island Anglers’ are a group of dedicated anglers, so dedicated we formed a company, The Island Angler Inc., to promote mentoring, angling, stewardship, responsibility and self-awareness through helping out those around you on a mission of showing ‘one hand washes the other’ through the actions of Positive Mentoring through Fishing. The Island Anglers website represents all of us who care for the environment while showing direction to the youth of today for a greater tomorrow, ensuring the best there is to offer for years to come. Stories, articles and such are all about fishing the city pier located in Venice, Florida.

From the website our numbers grew, visitors from around the worldview the site for constantly changing information on the happenings of the pier, as well did the number of youth involvement and sense of accomplishment of self. Anglers catches, stories and photographs of our youth in action helping each other out; mentoring themselves as well as those around them through deeds in offering advice to actual endeavors of stepping up to the plate, when needed. An example of this would be of one of The Island Anglers members saving a diver life last year as he was fishing from the pier. Taking his own life out of the picture Phillip Hansen jumped twenty feet to the water below the boards of the pier swimming to the aid of a diver in distress. Later after the event, Phillip said, “had I not learned the values and appreciation of what I have learned by fishing with mentors such as Jaime Fuentes, Mike Cavallo, Mr. Anderson along with my fellow Island Anglers, she might still be out there drowning. My mom’s skills as a diving instructor and a loving parent told me it was the right thing to do, so I jumped in.”

The Island Anglers, ranging in age from 12 up and are teamed up with area professionals in a search of an investor or individual to pitch out ten to twelve thousand dollars to become the Sponsor of a Reality TV First; Real kids, Catching Real Sharks off of a Real Pier. A Sponsor to back a sizzle reel for distribution to all the major networks, as a trailer and then, like fishing, we will see who bites.

You as a Sponsor would be investing in the philosophy of “Positive Mentoring through Fishing.” No actors here but some real characters in kids helping kids while older youth and adults pitch in while helping out, maintaining posture and catching some really big fish! With your help, The Island Anglers, are in need of aid to produce the first ever reality television show with real kids, catching real sharks, on a real pier in southwest Florida. Mentoring in the raw! Real baits with large rigs on gigantic reels hooking big sharks with kids half their size. Reality TV where it should be; in the real world, on a real mission to enhance the capacity of Florida’s citizens, visitors and those of our children alike to serve their responsibilities as Stewards to our Florida marine ecosystems through training-education-technical assistance-applied research and a public service with A Faith-based Community Initiative of mentoring!

If interested or need more information, please contact: Gary A. Anderson here at

The Island Anglers.

“Education is Freedom as Freedom is being educated in

Knowing the Rules. Educate yourself and those around you

In becoming a Responsible Stewart with the world around you, while

Joining us in practicing Positive Mentoring through Fishing with

The Island Anglers.”… Gary A. Anderson

Fishing Lingo for Spotted Seatrout Angling by Gary Anderson

Ploop: The sound a feeding surface trout makes when breaking the water; much like the same sound bass to tarpon make when on a bite.

Sinkers: Lead weights used to keep live bait near the bottom or to add weight to a plastic lure to improve casting distance and action. D.O.A. C.A.L. pinch on weights work best in adding distance to offset hooks; a pinch on the shaft weight.

Setting the hook: Pulling on the rod (once the fish bites the bait) so the hook will embed slowly in the fish’s mouth. If a circle hook is used, letting the fish move pulling out line freely as you slowly retrieve back against the force of fish pull causing the hook to turn a circle and engage itself usually in the jaw.

Jigging: Bouncing a jig, round-headed weighted hook in assorted colors and either feathers, quill or a plastic tail attached to the hook end (rigged with baits or not) on or close to the bottom.

The Bite: When fish are actively feeding.

A Rig: A combination of various tackle, as well, a rod-and-reel combo is sometimes called a rig, as are combinations of lines, hooks, weights and leaders.

Slowing-baiting: Fishing a lure or live bait very slowly, barely reeling.

Slot: The prescribed or legal length at which a fish is allowed to become part of your bag limit.

Bag Limit: How many fish you are allowed to take home on that particular outing.

Gary Anderson’s personal Spotted Seatrout or Weakfish set-up:

-- 6-and-a-half or 7-foot rod with medium action and a fast action tip will have enough force to set the hook on a slow bite and enough backbone to keep your fish out of the weeds (mangos, oysters or other snags).

-- 12-pound test, monofilament line with a 50-pound mono saltwater leader rigged with a small hook (1/0) and quarter-ounce sinkers rigged about 18 inches from the hook or free-shrimped with no weight or under a popping cork, depending on weather conditions and area fishing.

-- A small reel, like a Pfluger.

-- If angling with a float use a 3-inch popping cork (use-weighted corks if you are not using sinkers).

-- While using live shrimp, pinching the tail slightly off before running the hook under the shrimp’s horn increases scent distribution and makes bait flop wildly.

The Quarry: the Spotted Seatrout

-- Spotted Seatrout are dark gray or green above midline, with sky blue and silver shading, white below, and numerous black spots on back with one or two canine teeth at the tip of upper jaw.

-- They are found in our inshore Florida waters over grass flats, sandy and shell bottoms. They move into deeper, slow moving current areas during cold weather, like that to the ICW, potholes, stream mouths and canals behind many a home in Florida.

-- Florida state record is 15 pounds, 6 ounces.

-- Feed mainly on shrimp, sand fleas, small crabs and small fish.

-- Spotted Seatrout can be taken on live baits as well, jigs, top-water lures, cranks, spoons and most freshwater bass baits.

-- Prefers water temperatures between 58 and 81 degrees

-- Longevity is eight to 10 years.

Regulations

Anglers need a fishing license ($17.50 for Florida residents) if angling from a boat or are not a resident of the state. Licenses can be purchased at places like Wal-Mart or local bait and tackle stores. The daily limit for our area here in SW Florida waters is four trout per angler between 15 and 20 inches in length. One of the four trout may be longer than 20 inches. If catching Weakfish (the other trout) limit is still four daily bag but slot is 12 inches for keepers.

Spotted Seatrout Season is Closed November and December.

For All Your Rules & Regulations from your Florida FWC

“FISH ON!”

Balloons & Fishing Inshore Florida at Sharky’s on the Pier

Balloons & Fishing Inshore Florida at Sharky’s on the Pier

By

Gary Anderson

The evening started as most do when trudging up the ramp to the bait shop at Sharky’s on the Pier, with glanderous thoughts of bringing in the new year with the big one. My cart, as usual, was filled with a couple of mullet heads, Spanish and a bag of fillet of sail kitty along with gaff, buckets, gloves, a snap-float, rags, spotlight, terminal tackle and rods; the usual garb in fishing for sharks! The infamous balloons, left behind months ago when I learned of their destruction to our marine wildlife, replaced by the ingenious Aqua Gem Snap Float, a marvel to work with but as with balloons the currents and wind must work together or it becomes a perilous achievement. The wind was prevailing out of the south blowing in a straight parallel line with the “T” at the end of the pier. Light at best but no wind really described the blow and the current, partnered to the wind, was meandering in the same direction on a northbound trek. Looking out across the vast empty plane of inshore Florida waters were the occasional silhouettes of vessels crisscrossing the seas on journeys to somewhere as the clouds played tag with the setting sun to images of rods lining the rails, on the boards with the snowbirds and locals alike bidding the day a goodnight.


Looking for fellow Island Anglers, I spotted Mike Cavallo,
“Hey Mike”, I shouted as he answered with “Hey Garr”, looking about to find an opening to which I could cast, I decided to lean on a rail and shoot the…you get the drift. Mike said he had arrived about twoish and a few macks were caught along with the local lizards and the area was frequented off and on through the afternoon with tunny or false albacore or as we refer to the bunch as bonita. To us pier anglers, no matter what their name, these fish are but used for the same purpose, shark bait! Avet to Internationals lined the rails all in wait for that familiar click to scream, putting a gleam to any angler’s eye. “Any runs I asked?” Heads shook to silence and that answered that. I cut up Spanish into chunks (hand-sized pieces of cut bait) and placed one chunk on each pole. Casting the six (Penn 6/0 high-speed) in-between a garble of lines stretched across the waters of the pier, one heard the plunk of a splash and tightened the slack to see where your line was in conjunction with the others on the pier. If you are lucky, or good at casting into the night, your line might go right where you want it too but if you are like me, it is a crapshoot! I compare casting fishing lines to playing golf; some slice, some do not. I slice a lot. Get over it, it is a public pier and if you cannot handle this, go build your own. Overall, most anglers fishing on piers all understand because we all do it at one time or another, so it is put up with. What most, including me, do not understand is why I do it all the time. Oh Well, go figure.

On the south end of the “T”, groups of anglers were attempting to drop balloon sets in drifting their baits out into the abyss of the night in lure of a big shark. This is a practice that is practiced world wide in a bait delivery system to which one can use a 6/0 or larger to get the bait to the fish big baits. A 9/0 or larger reel is used with hundreds of yards of line spooled out and the balloons are released so as the wait begins with the bait on the bottom. As more and more anglers became aware of this method in catching big sharks and as equipment became more technical and lighter in weight, more anglers took up the sport of ballooning out. Thus, a problem is in existence in both the use of balloons and using the correct equipment or in some cases the lack in brains as to how to use a balloon in fishing. On the Venice City pier at Sharky’s, located near the base of the “T” at the end, is a big silver box with antennas, poles, solar panels and atop a wind vein. Most people with logic would look up at the wind meter to see at which direction they are pointing and gather that if the arrow is pointing north, the wind is blowing from the south to the direction of the arrow, north. Maybe these anglers had not the capacity to look up or wet their finger, point it to the sky and figure which way the wind might be blowing or maybe they did not have a clue. I’ll choose number three! Fifteen lines into the waters beyond the pier pointed to the west, on the bottom, in lure for a big fish and these anglers, on the south end of the “T” are launching balloons. Balloons traveling north with a nine foot leader attached underneath crossing fifteen rods pointing in a direction of intersection is a problem. If you are going to learn the talk, then please learn the walk and you will have a better time out fishing, the next time.

In most states of our United States of America, God Bless America, angling with a balloon is against the law and you will be fined, go to jail or both. In Florida balloon fishing, regulated by the county and not the state, except in the usage of garbage bags and that is against the law, so you need to check out your local regulations before blowing up that balloon. In Sarasota county, there is no mention to balloon fishing in their statutes or regulations. The reason ballooning in angling is unlawful and outlawed is because when the balloon is released it could become a mariner’s navigational obstacle, it pollutes our waters with more plastic or latex and is eaten by both marine fish, animals and marine birds. Once eaten, they usually die a slow death. No good, not very responsible and plain dumb if you asked me so why use the balloon. The garbage bag became outlawed because it is plastic, pollutes, and can obstruct propellers or water jet propulsion if becoming entangled. Balloons do not just float away to be played with in some distance land by unknown children. Balloons decay in the sun and saltwater, break and float along the currents of the waterways. Some balloons are biodegradable and that is great unless eaten for by the time it degrades in the throat of a bird or stomach of a fish; it is dead. Balloons kill so just do not use! Buy a snap float and save a fish. They do not work as great as a balloon but they are safe to your environment.

As 2008 was approaching, about an hour or so, Dave, on of our local professional shark guys reel started that slow moan to groan in a full-blown scream. One, two, three sets to the tip and we had a fish it was screaming drag like a runaway train, “Fish On!”

This fish knew how to shake his head and commanded the pier with all at attention to the bent pole and monster into the night. The battle ensued a good twenty-eight minutes as we all got our first glance of this rising shark to the surface. Snaking its body and thrashing its head this beauty was that of at least an eight to nine foot nurse. Nurse sharks are not of the best table fare and I do not know which book out here in Florida says so but believe me, they do not taste good no matter how you cook them, so gaffing or landing was out of the question. Anyway, even if it was the best meat in the world, how do you preserve two hundred pounds of fillets and who wants to clean a three hundred pound shark? Judging by her size, she was most probably pregnant anyway and needed to be released. Photograph taken, she was cut loose and all went quite through the rest of the night, with the exception of a couple of quick runs at the bringing in of the New Year.

Happy New Year to all and to all remember if in doubt, do not do it, practicing Catch & Release as much as possible ensures more catches for years to come.

“FISH ON!”