retired but keeping my sense of humor
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Ruud & Ton are showing the catch, after a great day fishing
Wahoo / Acanthocybiumsalanderi / Leeuwenkamp / Holland / 89 lbs / 40.3 kilo /October 2001
Tuna-Bigeye / Thunnus obesus / Gerard / Holland /236.7 lbs / 107 kilo / May 2000
Tuna-Albacore / Thunnes alalunga / M.Rustsalainen / Finland / 71.5 lbs / 32.4 kilo / March 2003
Tope / Galeorhinus galeus / S.Redetzky / Germany / 58.5 lbs / 26 kilo / March 2002
Steaked Weever / Trachinus radiatus / H.Kudsk / Denmark / 4.1 lbs /1.86 kilo / January 2001
Spearfish / Tetraptunus sp /. R.Steehouwer / Holland / 68.4 lbs / 31 kilo / May 2001
Snapper-Red / Lujanus campejanus / R Lefevere / Holland / 27.8 lbs / 12.6 kilo / October 2001
Shark-Mako / Isurus oxyrhinchus / S.Courtney / England / 1075 lbs / 488 kilo / July 1997 / Worldrecord on 80 lbs line-class
Shark-Blue / Prionace glauca / Kenneth / England / 40.2 lbs / 18.2 kilo / July 2000
Seabream-Zebra / Diploduscervinuscervinus / F. Jachman / Holland / 4.47 lbs / 2.02 kilo / January 2001
Seabream-White / Diplodus sargus sargus / B.Janssens / Holland / 3.2 lbs / 1.46 kilo / January 2002
Seabream-Common / Pagrus pagrus / J.Groenendijk / Holland / 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kilo / September 2001
Scorpionfish / Scorpaena scrofa / K Westerhof / Holland / 4.5 lbs / 2.04 kilo / October 2001
Marlin-White / Tetrapturus albidus / R Lefevere / Holland / 100.7 lbs / 45.5 kilo / June 2003
Kingfish-Yellowtail / Seriola Lalandi / H.Schalen / Holland / 22.9 lbs /9 kilo / October 1999
John Dory / Zeus Faber / E.Bouwman / Holland / 2.87 lbs / 1.3 kilo / February 2002
Grouper-Dusky / Epinephelus Marginatus / J.Dann / England / 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kilo / January 2002
Comber / Serranus cabrilla / L.Lommers / Holland / 2.2 lbs / 1.010 kilo / October 2001
Bonito-Striped / Sarda orientalis / M.Hashley / England / 15 lbs / 6.8 kilo / January 2000
Bluefish / Pamatomus saltator / K.B.Boesen / Denmark / 19.1 lbs / 8.65 kilo / February 2002
HAHAHAHA!!! LOL !!! anatomically speaking of course !!!
Phil,
I must agree. Nothing beats the site of a couple of strategically placed cans to help guide one home.
Good one !!! LOL !!!
I don't know what yall is talk'n bout. Them thar is buoys !!!
And a smile !!!!
Hope so to, but I think it ended up as lunch.
Kona Hawaii fishing report – November 22, 2003:
November has averaged a pretty good bite overall for the few boats going out. We had screwy currents during the 2nd week that made “catching” more difficult but the guys who know how to work such conditions did OK. This last week we had high winds and rough seas for a few days that made the ride uncomfortable but the bite seems to be pretty good. I say “seems” to be pretty good because I haven’t been out there much. I haven’t had this many days off since the terrorist attacks of 2001 but I stay in touch with the few captains that are going out so I know what the conditions are for my upcoming trips. The striped marlin and spearfish have moved in and the big blue marlin are still here. Billfish are the most common fish coming in right now. Mahi mahi bites remain somewhat common and there’s shibi (small yellowfin and bigeye tuna) showing up on the ledges and buoys. No ono to speak of.
The bottom bite produced a couple of good size amberjack the last time I bottom fished and on another quick bottom drop; sharks bit us off. At least there’s some action happening down there and it usually doesn’t take much time to get bit so it makes sense (in my opinion anyway) to spend at least part of the day trying the bottom for some quick action.
See `ya on the water, Capt. Jeff Rogers , http://FISHinKONA.com
Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 22, 2003
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
The fact you are reading this report is proof I’ve once again survived my annual quest to put the brakes on life and escape to the confines of the Sebastian area of the Indian River Lagoon. For over 20 years, I’ve taken a week off in November to do nothing but fish. My only dilemma was a whole week of seaside fishing adventure, cool salty breezes, magnificent starry nights, spectacular sunrises, and good friends, passed by in the wink of an eye. The old adage is certainly true, time flies when you’re fishing and having fun.
Although life is Sebastian was great, typical blustery November weather conditions kicked up the seas and muddied the water making fishing a challenge and passage through the inlet unthinkable. As we all know, fishing is fishing and all hardcore anglers never let the little stuff bother them. So we sucked it up and made the best of it, and we still manager to catch a ton of fish. Each day on the water was an adventure, and I even had to break out my winter shorts on a couple of the cooler mornings. Listed below are some observation made on our quest:
Snook: The snook bite was going off while drift fishing the inlet at night during periods of tidal change. Many of the local anglers returned to the dock with limits of snook caught on a single drift through the gauntlet of boats and shore anglers using live pigfish, and pinfish. This is full contact fishing, so stay alert and be patient with other anglers.
Mullet Run: There are still heavy concentrations of finger mullet present in all areas of the central lagoon. When conditions settled down, bait showering the water’s surface to escape predators was a common site. Bait schools have begun to thin out in the Canaveral area, and they will begin to diminish in Sebastian as the water cools.
Flounder Run: Flounder concentrations at the inlet have been limited to a few small gulf flounder. This week we targeted flounder each day managing only small undersize fish. The run should intensify as soon as the water cools down a bit, so be prepared to hit the inlet at a moment notice if you are a flounder pounder.
Pompano: Pompano have begun to show up in the inlet cuts and on the flats of Long Point, Honest John’s, and Black Point. We managed to catch several nice pompano while jigging for flounder. We also observed a good number of pompano skipping as we ventured across the flats. These fish are forming up for their annual migration seaward, so their numbers will improve as the cold fronts pass.
Spotted Sea Trout: Although out of season, we did manage to catch some really nice sea trout up to six pounds, using Cootee root-beer curly tail jigs on the channel side of the spoil islands.
Tarpon: Although we didn’t catch any, we did observe a large number of poons rolling in the north fork of the Sebastian River. We worked these fish hard, but our timing was wrong and we couldn’t get them to eat. These fish eat best at first light and sunset, and our assault on them was at midday.
Bluefish: Our best action was an aggressive school of large bluefish located off of Black Point between the clam leases and the shoreline. All of these fish were between five to eight pounds, and they were taken on cut ladyfish and live finger mullet while chunking for redfish. We were cut off by many of these bruisers, so we stepped up our leader size to 60lb test, before putting one in the boat.
All in all, it was a fantastic week of adventure, and I’m already dreaming of next year’s November Sebastian fishing odyssey.
As always, if you have any questions or need information, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 Toll Free
CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956"
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921
912 897 3460 FAX
November 24, 2003
Miss Judy Charters wishes everyone a "HAPPY THANKSGIVING" (May all your turkeys have big scales)
SING UP NOW FOR THE INSHORE FISHING CLINIC 2004 (start the year off right)
We are now taking reservations for January 17, 2004 inshore fishing clinic. The fee is $75.00 per fisherman. This price includes breakfast and lunch.
Captain Judy's College of fishing Knowledge will start on February 14, 2004. The second date will be February 21, 2003. All classes will be held at Tubby's Tank house Seminar Room starting at 8:00AM till 3:00PM. The cost per fisherman is $120.00. (Only 30 fishermen per class) This amount includes breakfast, lunch, class, and tackle kit. We have acquired quite a few donations from different tackle companies. All donations will be raffled off at seminar. (There is no charge for raffle tickets) For more detail please check out web site or give me a call at 912 897 4921 or 912 897 2478. We are now taking reservations for both classes…
We still have a few openings for December 6 and December 13, 2003 inshore fishing clinic.
Now for the fishing report!
INSHORE
A Little Wind and difficult water clarity can't even stop our FISH!
The inshore fishing has been great. I have heard all sorts of complaints from the wind blowing too much to the water clarity being a little off. However, these two little set backs haven't seem to stop the fish from being brought to the dock. There have been increasing amounts of big spot tail bass being caught and released in the over 23 inch range. I have had fishermen stop by my dock with plenty of "bragging rights!" I think it's great that the sport and the sportsman are coming together in one big package. I know for a fact that fishermen have realized that if we don't practice more catch and release we are going to be like other areas, which have "NO FISH PERIOD!" Here's the way I look at it. What area can you go to fish that's this easy? You know I have an answer or I wouldn't have asked. We have great creeks, rivers, and sounds that are gratefully holding not only fish, but also bait. Our resource for fish is unbelievable. When one type of fish doesn't bite we can just move on the some other species.
Let's Fish Night and Day!
I have received reports from both day and night time fishermen. Apparently for those fishermen that don't get enough daytime fishing, there is always the night. For those that want to try nighttime fishing go where the lights are. I have always just fished under the lights that we have on our dock, but for those that don't have a dock here are a few suggestions. While fishing during the day time look for any public docks that have large lights extended over the water area. Most public boat ramps have a floating dock and lights to boot. Some bridges have some lightning, which also makes for a good spot. Large marinas usually have lots of great lightning, which usually partially covers parts of the surrounding water's surface. Believe me all type of fish both big and small are attracted to the light.
Hydro Glow Fish Lights are proven by many to really work! The light that is produced attracts both small and large fish. We put this light about 3 feet deep at my dock and basically waited for fish visitors of which we got many. A friend of mine, Darrell Keith owns and operates HYDRO GLOW FISH LIGHTS. Check out his web site www.hydroglow.com. Once used this is not a product that needs an introduction. In fact you won't want to tell others, because then they also will be able to catch as many fish as you. Purchased yourself one of these lights and you won't have to fish under someone else's light. You will be able to fish at night when and where you wish!
"What's Next on the Inshore Docket?"
The near shore winter Sheepshead season is getting close. The completed migration hasn't fully taken place. However, as you read this Sheepshead are moving to their winter spots. More to come on bait, location, and habits of this hard to catch fish!
OFFSHORE
ARTIFICIAL REEFS
A fish's stomachs and it's contents!
The artificial reefs continue not be the place to score lots of king mackerel. As of last week, there weren't any significant bait build up in these areas. In fact they were considered once again "BAIT FREE!" However, there were a few reports of schooling surface bait, which didn't seem to be at all interested in any gold hook bait rigs that were thrown at them. It all boils down to the fact that the bait that was available was much too small to catch. Over the years I have noticed especially in these areas that after observing the stomach contents of caught bottom fish I am quite surprised. Their stomachs are usually filled to the brim with small juvenile cigar minnows. In fact most of the time they are so full that the acids aren't strong enough to start the break down process. Quite often the small fish exsumed is reusable as bait on our hooks. I know all of this might sounds a little overboard, but it does work and quite well. Another bait that is removed is usually what I call "Krill." Better known by me as "Baby Shrimp." At least that's what I call them. They aren't baby shrimp, but they sure look like them. The shrimp are too small to use on a hook and are usually pretty mushy. Not only is the stomach cavity full, but also the gills and the back of the throat. Upon thinking about it I really don't know how the fish survives it's own feeding frenzy!
Big Spot tail Bass
Large spot tail bass are being seen schooling at the artificial reefs. Quite often and by mistake we hook a few of these fish, which is not a good thing. Sure the customers enjoy the fight and thrill of catching them, but after I explain the situation to them seeing one is enough for them. These large spot tail bass are our true "Baby Makers" for years to come. The less we handle or hook them the better. During this time of the year they migrate to the offshore water to do their thing. Please don't mess with these wonderful fish. According to the rules and regulation you can't legally keep a spot tail bass, no mater what the size, in federal waters. This rule is confusing to some, because I have been asked a lot about this over the pass few weeks. Don't keep any spot tail bass that you catch, no mater what the size, in federal waters. In other words these fish that you catch at the artificial reefs, which are located offshore should be released unharmed immediately.
Savannah Snapper Banks
"Blake's Prefect Fishing Style!"
I had a bonus day's bottom fishing at the banks this pasted week. In fact it was most enjoyable. All customers as well as Captain Ali and me were up for it! Our first trip to the banks was a hands down a "slammer day." Dr. Brad Durham, Blake his son (14 year old), and granddad, Travis chartered my boat for a full day of fishing and that's exactly what we all got! We started out with the usual bait hunt, which is fun because you never know exactly what you might catch. After loading up on sand perch, rock bass, ruby red lips, and small vermilion off we went to drag the abyss. We all munched on potato chips as we talked about how beautiful and calm the ocean was. Upon arriving at my said spot, which was in about 110 feet of water we dropped in our bait offerings. I decided to try a little of it all until we figured out what was best to use. I knew that I had experienced fishermen onboard so all types of baits were thrown down. I didn't take but a minute to decide that the fish were here and hungry. I had marked them on the fish finder, but sometimes fish will show, but won't bite. So I didn't really remark too much on the full screen that I was seeing. The first couple of fish were football size vermilion snapper, which pull pretty good for their size. The next was about a 15-pound scamp grouper, which gladly took us up on our bait offering of a "small ruby red lips!" I am going to stop writing about the next fish and just give you the whole list, because it continued to grow as we dropped our baited hooks. Another scamp grouper was caught, then a few nice red snappers, some more football size vermilion and then a bigger red snapper. I must say, "This was the second place I stopped." The first spot was for bait only. We also caught a few large black fish on the bait spot. The drift at the red snapper and grouper spot was very slow, but just enough to give us the bottom movement that we needed. The fish were so stacked up that it was truly amazing. As with all spots they don't last long. However this spot do us well with all catching some nice big bottom fish. The next spot was about 4 miles away and as we ran to it more snacking took place. As I arrived at this spot I slowly drove over the ledge to take a look see. The fish were there in full force. We baited up and dropped in. All immediately started having big hits and double red snapper hook ups. As one of the red snappers was being pulled in I notice a silver flash. I recognized it as being a very large king mackerel. I quickly while tripping over everything including my feet, rigged up a large live vermilion and cast it out. This bait wasn't in the water, but seconds before the big boy took it. I knew it was a big king because I saw it take the bait. Once the king grabbed and ate the bait the fight was on. This fish ran off half a spool of line before I could hand it off. I had picked up Blake's personal king line, which was lock and loaded with a king mackerel rig. The rod and reel was just like one I had used before, but the line was real light. Upon asking the test, Brad remarked, "it's 12 pound test." I can't tell you exactly what I said because the paper would burn up. All this happened in seconds, I was try to hand the double bend rod over to Blake. As Blake took the rod the big king was still swimming to parts unknown. I hurried up to the bridge so as to get ready for the king chase. The 12-pound test line was nearing the bottom of the spool. However, Blake knew just what to do. He adjusted the drag and set his prefect fishing rhythm into action. His past-learned skills enabled him to get full control of the fish by letting it run when it wanted and then making headway when it so-called "rested." I situated the boat so that I could keep the fish on the starboard side of the boat. Captain Ali had not one, but two gaffs in her hand. She was ready. Blake never complained he just reeled and bowed to the fish when necessary. After 27 minutes Blake landed a 45-pound plus king mackerel.
As soon as Captain Ali gaffed it Brad and Ali brought it on board. The rig fell out of its mouth. The treble hook, which was the trailing hook, was situated right in the front bottom "V" of the king's mouth. Had Blake let this fish have any slack what so ever his trophy fish would have been gone. As I told you earlier and I wasn't kidding I had "real experience fishermen on board that day!" Congratulation to goes Blake Durham for his "prefect fishing style!" I truly do love my job!
Upon inspection of the big king we all noticed that there was a large circle 14/0 or bigger hook embedded near the king's gills. The leader material that was tied to the circle hook was in the 200-pound test range. However it didn't stop the fish from breaking it. Just seeing that hook and the leader that was hooked to it may us all know one thing for sure, "Blake Durham is sure good with that light tackle!"
Secret King Rig
I know everyone will be asking what type of rig that I caught the kings on. Here's the breakdown. I am now tying my line end directly to SPRO (size #6 80lb test) power swivel. These swivels are designed to meet the needs of what I call "Fast Fishing." They will fit and work while being pull through the eyes of most all rods. My leader material of which I am attaching to the swivel is 50 lb test wire. I prefer using the bronze colored wire. For the lure or should I say, "the skirt" I am using a pink and white skirt, (King Buster) which is made of plastic. It's small, but it covers the bait just enough to get your targeted fish's attention. The hook design consists of small live bait hook (size 1) with treble hook (size 6 type 4x strong) in tow. I am placing the live bait hook under the chin of the live fish. The treble hook then should be placed in the mid section of the bait on either side. I suggest when making your rig that you keep your treble hook (trailing hook) about 4 inches behind the live bait hook. I have successfully hooked up 4 times and landed all kings in the last couple of trips to the Savannah Snapper Banks. All of my kings were in the 25-pound plus bracket with this last one being what we call a "tournament king." Now that doesn't sound like a lot of hook ups, but I am not really fishing for king mackerel. I am just using this rig when I actually see an opportunity to catch one. I am keeping the rod, reel, rig, and bait ready to bait up at all times while I am bottom fishing. However, I do suggest for those that are going to target kings that you might want to use one of these rigs in your spread. I know that there are many different ways to rig up for the kings. However, this rig is proven to work successfully and I don't intend on changing the design until those other big fish out there make me! Just call me the "OLD FISH READER!"
Using Bottom Fish For More Than One Thing! For those that think bottom fishing is a little boring you might had better read this. As the hooked bottom fish are being pulled to the surface they are sending off distress signals. These signals of which are being pick up by the large king mackerel are definitely what is responsible for giving me the opportunity to get a chance at a big fish. I have been writing about the lack of the right size bait over the past few weeks. This situation only proves that these big fish are hungry and are looking for the prefect meal. As my customers are bottom fishing they are bringing on board with them what I call my "fish attracters." So therefore a 20-pound plus red snapper or grouper is doing several things. Making my customers real happy and bringing on quite a following!
King Mackerel Report
Normally at this time of the year the mackerel bite in on the "Wide Open Mode!" However, this year has been strange one. Most of the kings that we have caught have been in mostly 100 feet of water. Another thing is that most of the ones that we have caught have been of the large size. I have received report of juvenile kings being caught at the artificial reefs and a few "Smokers." However, it's confusing to say the least. According to my records we should be having a bonus year on the kings. They should be holding at the artificial reefs more so than the snapper banks areas. Here's another instance that is sort of unusual. Last week some of the boats that fished the south ledge caught as many as 7 kings, but not sure about the size of these fish. I think that someone needs to do a little herding at this point so as to bring the kings closer to shore.
"Results on the lobster used as bait" Bad Bait News
Unfortunately I don't have anything good to report about the lobster in the bait-using department. I figure since the lobster came from 2,000 feet of water none of our fish recognize it as food. We gave it our best shot using it all kind of different ways. I tried it whole and just the tail section. My only fish encounter was when a fish probably a hungry trigger pecked a hole in the tail section and basically sucked all of the lobster's meat completely out. I notice when I retrieve my bait it seemed kind of light and it was. I had a complete shell, which was hollow. I Talked with Andy Ambos (who gave me the lobsters to try) and told him the bad news. However my bad news to him turned into good news for me. The leftover lobsters were perfectly good to eat. Now I will do with them what they were originally intended for. I can smell the garlic butter that I am going to make right now! Who says, "Bait experimenting isn't fun?"
Gulf Stream
I talked with Luther, "White Knight" and he told me that there were around 7 to 8 boats fishing this past week in the south ledge area. As I convened earlier there were quite a few king mackerel caught during this time. According to Luther's report a few Wahoo and dolphin were also caught.. He had a big Wahoo tail hooked, which didn't last too long, but long enough to identify what they had on the line. Luther saw a sailfish feeding in the Sargasso weed, but it didn't seem to be interested in what he was offering. Just writing this makes me want to go. There has been a lot more talk about fish being caught at the "Deli Ledge." I just if you lucky enough to get the weather then you should go!
For those that want to target "Black Fin Tuna" now is the time. This fish is being caught in The South Ledge, Deli Ledge, Triple ledge and etc. The bottom line with this fish is that where there is bait, there will be fish especially "Black Fin Tuna!" So therefore go for those ledges in 150 plus feet, because you know that they are holding bait. I will have more information on the Tune in next weeks report. I say, "JUST GO!" There is only a few more fishing weeks left in this year.
"Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
A Thanksgiving story - Brown bag theory
My Aunt Hattie, which was my father older sister always cooked the best Thanksgiving dinner! Her cooking abilities were unbelievable. She could cook along with the help of Bertha, almost anything from scratch. Our Thanksgiving dinners took days to prepare. In fact during my younger years, if I'm not mistaken all ingredients including the bird was raised or grown on her big farm. However, the fruit that she used to make that unbelievable ambrosia was probably purchased from a stand right out there on Highway 17. I know that the pecans that went into this particular dish were picked from the farm, because quite often I helped in the gathering.
Bertha of whom worked with my Aunt for a long as I can remember was always there to help with the cooking bonanza. I was always interesting in how they made everything look so good. Her personally grown vegetables were always the prefect "vegetable color." They baked a coconut cake that was 3 to 6 tears high. It never leaned or anything. The bad news is I wasn't around during the mixing of the cake. I would have loved to lick that bowl.
My aunt had this kitchen utensil that I later called a "child cheater." This reason was a simple one. Whenever I was around while she was baking she used this utensil and it would remove almost all of the tasty ingredients from the walls of the mixing bowl. There was always a little left, which was just enough to get a little taste.
The turkey was always browned to perfection. Her secret was certainly a one of a kind in my book. She cooked the turkey in a brown grocery bag. The bird was put in the bag much like you would have put one in a state of the art "brown in bag." The drums always stuck out a little, but not enough to let them be exposed to direct heat. There was another weird cooking method that I had seen when I was even younger. The turkey was wrapped in a sort of gauze that pretty much look like some source of a bandage. Once cooked this bird also cooked to a golden brown with skin and everything. However, when it was first put in the oven it looked like a real bona-fide turkey mummy.
The food wasn't the only highlight of the Thanksgiving Day. My Aunt Hattie always set the prettiest dinner table I had ever seen. She would always use her best china and silverware for this special occasion. The Table was huge. It would seat at least 10 guests. There were high back chairs with big arms rests. When you sat in them you knew for a fact that you had to be someone special just to be invited. The good news about my Aunt Hattie was that my father and I were always invited. It was a family tradition to spend Thanksgiving Day at her house.
This particular dinner was always served at 2:00PM sharp. You could tell when dinnertime was approaching, because everyone would start showing up. My father and I always arrived early so that we could all watch the televised New York Thanksgiving Parade. It was as I said part of a family tradition.
When it came time to eat everyone was gathered for a prayer. As a small child, I am sorry to admit, I always opened my eyes just to watch what everyone was doing. Most of adults were standing very still with their eyes closed. However, all of us kids basically did the same thing watched and semi-listened as what seemed to be the longest prayer ever said in the world. At least it seemed long to us 7 year olds. At the end of the prayer all adults reached for their chair and proceeded to sit down. The children were all escorted to the kitchen where a special table waited for us, which fit our size perfectly. However, we would always talk about being moved from the kitchen to the big dinner table.
However, now that I think about it when I finally graduated from the kitchen to the main dinning room it wasn't all that I thought it would be. I had to fix my own plate, wait for others to start eating, and definitely try not so spill my tea on the white tablecloth. The food sure didn't taste any different. Don't get me wrong it was still delicious, but somehow it wasn't the same.
This goes to show you that it takes a lifetime to realize that in some instances change and all that implies isn't all that it's cracked up to be! However, I still do miss that "Old Family Tradition!"
"The Old Fish Reader!"
Captain Judy
Kona Fish Report, 11/21/03, Capt. Chip Van Mols reporting from the ROD BENDER
Q: When is the best time to fish in Kona?
A: Whenever it’s the best time for you to come to Kona!
Aside from a few days right on the full moon this month when it slowed down a bit (which is odd for here but the current went haywire) the fishing has been pretty darn good here all month long. Blue marlin of all sizes from very small to very large have been appearing in the wakes of the all the boats that have been lucky enough to get out fishing. The general consensus among the captains I talk to being they are averaging 2 or 3 bites a day from blue marlin. They are really varied in size from little buggers around 60 or 70lb to rather massive and everything in between the biggest to come to the scales recently in the 700lb range. I just got off the phone with a fellow Capt. who’s out today and he already has caught 2 blues, 80lb and 160lb, caught a mahi mahi, missed a mahi mahi and missed a striped marlin, It was only 10:00am and he’s out till 4:00pm. Makes me feel just great sitting behind a computer! Feeling a bit distracted now. Oh well, this brings me to another point. Late fall thru winter and into spring is our best season for variety fishing. Around this time of year is when our striped marlin show up with short nosed spearfish usually not far behind and it’s also the start of our mahi mahi season and they are all right on schedule this year and starting to build in numbers. If the blue marlin continue to hang around as they are now it’s gonna be grand slam city around here! Instead of trolling all day just to catch one measly blue marlin (awe shucks) from now thru March we can often catch several billfish in a day with a mahi or two or twenty thrown in to boot. We averaged 3 billfish per day last winter with our best day 7 stripeys and 2 spearfish (state record last year), all caught on lures and released with the hooks removed. Well also caught 15 yellowfin 15-25lb and 2 mahi that day, Good action fishing, gotta love a mahi or ahi or 2 thrown in almost daily for the BBQ. If blue marlin get scarce during this period then we can really have a ball with their smaller cousins (striped marlin and spearfish) by trolling 30lb, 20lb and 16lb stand-up tackle, great fun and that’s how we caught the 9 in one day last year. You just have to make sure you don’t charter a boat that only carries 130lb gear. 130lb gear in a bucket harness doesn’t really do a 50lb striped marlin much justice. Which brings me to another point that I forgot to mention. The average striped marlin here is rather small. Right now they are 50 to 100lb and mostly coming up as singles, which is good, and as they increase in numbers the size can go down. Last year when we started raising them in packs on our lures they were very small, averaging 30 to 40lb. I’m hoping that when they really bust loose this year they are more in their standard 40 to 80lb size with the odd 100+ thrown in, it varies year to year. Spearfish average around 30lb and are also coming up as singles right now but later we’ll start seeing them paired off and at the same time getting some bigger ones 45+. Average mahi mahi right now is on the large side, 25 to 50lb, they usually get smaller as the winter wears on but increase in numbers.
I spent a couple weeks in October with the boat out in dry dock replacing our Generator and did a TON of other things on my to do list which carried on another couple weeks. I’ve been out only a couple times since then and here’s how we did on the ROD BENDER.
Nov. 2, ¾ day with my daughter Jada and her friend Mercedes. I hadn’t been out in a month but the fish were right where we left them. We had 4 confirmed blue marlin bites and managed to tag a small one (100lb) for Mercedes, her first blue! We pulled hook on a big one after long run and the others looked 150lbs or so and they jumped off. We also had a couple bites that I didn’t see, mystery!
Nov. 9, ¾ day I went the wrong way, all zeros.
Nov. 16th, ¾ day with Jada. We caught a spearfish and an ono and jumped off a small blue.
Nov. 19, ½ day with Randy and his wife. Randy’s wife started us off with a blue marlin, tag and release 110lb on 50lb gear. We missed a stripey that looked 50lb or so and then hooked a double mahi mahi. Randy got a 30lb cow in the boat but his wife’s 45lb bull narrowly escaped the gaff at boat side. We missed another blue right in front of the harbor just before clearing the gear and calling it a day. Good morning!
We haven’t had a winter that was really good blue marlin fishing in quite awhile and this may be it. Quite possible that we’ll keep receiving wave after wave of them for some time to come, it happens here and we’re due. Any day now we’re going to start seeing double, triple and even fipple attacks from striped marlin. Spearfish and mahi are here and getting better. This time of year on the Rod Bender I carry 2 each of 12, 16, 20 and 30lb stand-up trolling gear as well as 2 each of 30lb, 50lb, 80lb and 130lb chair tackle. We adjust daily and on the spot to what we’re likely to encounter and how you want to encounter it. This is our fun, variety, and numbers season. All species swim in the same areas together here. Keeps it very interesting. Ahem. The more versatile you are this time of year the more fish you’ll catch and you’ll have more fun doing it! Let’s rock!
Tight lines, good fishin and ALOHA!
Chip
Capt. Chip Van Mols
Rod Bender Sportfishing
bvanmols@rod-bender.com
www.konasportfishingcharters.com
808-960-5954
Kona, Hawaii
Vortex Charters Fishing Report
11-26-2003
Captain Chuck MacIntyre
Vortex Charters of Tampa Bay
www.vortexcharters.com
This past week, the big news again was Gag Grouper. With the Kingfish season becoming disappointing, at best, these bottom dwellers have taken up the slack and have more than made up for it.
On two trips last week, I had clients literally hanging on for dear life as these fish were hungry and did not want to be caught! We put 6 Gags in the fish box on Saturday that ranged in size from 23 to 30 inches. On Sunday, my clients managed only 4 for the ride home; with a couple of mangrove snapper tossed in for good measure. The one King we did manage to catch ate a frozen sardine meant for the Grouper!
In order to get him to the boat, my client had to loosen the star drag pretty quickly as that King was running for the Keys!
Inshore, even though the Sea trout season is closed for now, there has been some great catch-and-release action on area grass flats 4-8 feet deep. Mixed in with them are some big Bluefish—not great on the table; but a good fight. Snook are becoming more active as the water cools to the low 70’s, and their migration to the warmer canals and residential docks is on its way. We lost 3 on three successive trips—too fast and strong for my clients to handle.
Good Fishin’ to ya!
Capt. Chuck MacIntyre
www.vortexcharters.com
November Bluewater fishing in Venice, LA
Had a great trip Friday November 21 with Terry Pickens et al...they were supposed to fish Sunday but with the approaching front and good forecast for Friday it was just too good not to go...Tough start as bait was hard to come by but it turned out it really wouldn't matter. Thanks to Capt. Al for the live pogeys which unfortunately expired before getting to the "spot". Managed to kill our first and only two hardtails on a pair of dolphin. The bull went about 35 and the cow about 30 pounds...Fortunately I had a few left over cockahoes from last Saturday that had been forgotten in my haste to make it back for anniversary dinner..it amazes me that they survived..ended up missing 2 more dolphin - one on a hook-up and the other on the gaff. 10AM out of bait so we put out three braids and hooked up a serious fish on the pogey murauder..200 yards on the first and only run. With no real fight we started thinking record wahoo or tail wrapped tuna..turned out to be the later...had two gaffs ready when we could see both allison fins to the tail - angler Terry Pickens later admitted that he thought it was a sea turtle at first sight..turned out the fish had hog tied itself with the five foot wire leader slicing to the bone of the tail effectively pinning the snap swivel deep into a freshly cut 4" crease in the fork. The wire leader ran cleanly along the curve of the fish being held by the hooks on the bait and the swivel embedded in the fish's tail - we suspect the fish hog tied itself on the initial run and ran out of gas when it could no longer beat its tail..it came in backwards in less than 10 minutes. The bad news is when it was hauled to the deck it went ballsitic..ripping both J-hooks out of the plug after the welded rings failed on each swivel..the bait was also crushed under the weight of a thrashing tuna...made for some excitement...trolled on a grassline about 48 miles from South Pass until quiting time..notone strike. The fish weighed 149 gutted and bled-I'm guessing it would have been 165 or better had we just thrown it in the box. Glad we didn't because the meat was purple and irradescent to the bone...Saturday Novemeber 22nd left me guessing on what to do..I honestly didn't think about where and what I was going to do until Jeff Edgecombe asked me where he could send some VIP's while I was fueling up. I wasn't going to fight Saturday boat traffic at the usual spots and I wasn't going to make another trans Gulf crossing for 4 hours of fishing time...after a brief disscussion with Bob Collins and crew we decided on wahoo as plan A and AJ/Grouper as the back-up. Samer problem..once we got close toour target area the water turned solid blue..put out the spread and prepared to do our laps...after the first pass at a historically productive spot we got a knockdown on a Braid bait...as we slowed down to fight the fish we left both the ballyhoo baits out and bam..two more wahoo on -one that cleared the water by 6 feet..we thought it was a sailfish at first..with some quick shuffling on the deck and some great gaff work by Darryl we were able to put all three fish in the boat. After a round of high fives at 8AM we readied for our next pass..fish on..a single that pulled a good bit of line and got off...next 2 passes same result..fish on, nice run and fish off. 6 strikes in 20 minutes, 3 fish in the cooler and 3 that won't bite for the rest of the day. Needless to say we were excited about the prospects for the area but with the exception of one blackfin th remainder of the area was dead...pulled on a nice color change to about the 24 mile rigs where it petered out...managed to pick up some AJ's on jigs before heading in early to catch the LSU game... Paradise Outfitters - 985-845-8006
Fishing Report Remarks
Prepared by J.P. Greeson, Bink Grimes, Kendal Hemphill and Karen Taylor for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department under a federal grant through the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program. Updated 3:22am, 11-26-03.
COASTAL
NORTH SABINE: Trout are good under the birds and on the shorelines on topwaters and chartreuse and orange tipped plastics. Redfish are mixed in under the birds. Flounder are good on the shorelines on mud minnows and jigs.
SOUTH SABINE: Trout are good under the birds on topwaters and pearl/chartreuse and red/white plastics. Redfish and flounder are good in the bayous on mud minnows and chartreuse touts. Flounder are also good at the causeway bridge on mud minnows.
BOLIVAR: Flounder are good at Rollover Pass on mud minnows. Redfish and trout are fair to good on the bay side of the Pass on live shrimp. Sheepshead, black drum, and croaker are good on fresh dead shrimp.
TRINITY BAY: Flounder, sheepshead, and croaker are fair to good around the HL&P spillway on live shrimp and jigs. Trout are fair to good on the east shoreline around Hodges Reef on topwaters and shrimptails.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good under the birds on glow/chartreuse Kelly Wiggler shrimptails. Redfish are good in the Intracoastal along the cuts on live or dead shrimp.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good under the birds on red/white and white/chartreuse shrimptails. Redfish are scattered under the birds. Redfish are also good in the Green's marsh and Hall's Bayou on live shrimp.
TEXAS CITY: Flounder are good from the piers on the dike and the shorelines on mud minnows and red, chartreuse, and white curly-tailed jigs. Croaker and sheepshead are good off the dike on fresh dead shrimp.
FREEPORT: Trout, redfish and flounder are fair to good at San Luis Pass and Christmas Bay on live shrimp and jigs tipped with shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in Christmas Bay and East Union on shrimp.
EAST MATAGORDA: Trout are fair to good on motor oil and plum shrimptails and jerk baits under the birds when the wind allows. Redfish are good on the shorelines on chartreuse and orange tipped plastics. Flounder are fair to good at Old Gulf Cut on jigs tipped with shrimp and finger mullet.
MATAGORDA: Redfish are good on the south shoreline on gold and silver spoons and chartreuse and orange tipped imitations. Trout are fair to good on the north shoreline around Twin and Shell Islands on shrimp and glow plastics.
PORT O'CONNOR: Trout are fair to good on the deep shell on glow and red shad plastics. Redfish are good at the jetty on finger mullet and crabs. Flounder are fair to good at Mule Slough and the Intracoastal on live shrimp and red split-tailed jigs tipped with shrimp.
ROCKPORT: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the Estes Flats on red/white and pearl/chartreuse Cocohoe Minnows, live shrimp, and pin perch. Flounder are fair to good on mud minnows on the shorelines and spoil areas.
PORT ARANSAS: Trout and redfish are fair on the East Flats on live shrimp and red/white plastics. Flounder are good on the shorelines near the Lydia Ann Channel and spoil banks on mud minnows and bright-colored jigs.
CORPUS CHRISTI: Black drum, whiting, and sand trout are good in the bay on fresh dead shrimp. Redfish and black drum are good at the Oso Bridge on dead shrimp and mullet.
BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good on topwaters around the Tide Gauge and the Land Cut. Redfish, flounder, and black drum are fair to good at the Land Cut on strawberry shrimptails, live piggy perch and mud minnows.
PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on the spoil banks on red/white artificials. Redfish are fair to good in the Ship Channel on shrimp and red/white Cocohoe Minnows. Flounder are good on mud minnows and finger mullet near East Cut.
SOUTH PADRE: Trout are fair to good on the spoil banks on red/white Norton shad imitations. Redfish and flounder are fair to good on the spoils and in the channel on red/white plastics tipped with shrimp.
PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair at Three Islands and the Gas-Well Flats on shrimp and red/white Gamblers and Sand Eels. Trout are fair at Holly Beach and South Bay on shrimp and red/white and electric blue Gamblers, Sand Eels and Bass Assassins.
November 27, 2003
INSHORE - The snook fishing is still slow compared to years past but there are still some good size fish being caught. The Ft. Pierce and St. Lucie Inlets are producing most of the fish and they are being taken on live croakers. The area's bridges in Ft. Pierce and Stuart are also giving up some big fish like the 27 pounder caught by Russell Blake while fishing aboard the Slow and Easy and fishing around the Twenty-five Cent Bridge using live mullet.
Croakers, black drum and big jacks are all over the Roosevelt Bridge. Try using a live shrimp. And if it is pompano you are looking for, then try the Sailfish point flats or Hell's Gate area down in Stuart. There are still plenty of small snapper all along the channel edges in the Intercoastal. A small live shrimp has been the best bait to use.
The flounder are starting to show up on the flats behind the Library in Ft. Pierce and also at the South Jetty in Ft. Pierce. Use a live shrimp or a finger mullet but make sure you have your bait on the bottom.
This past Sunday was the 1st fishing tournament for the local chapter of the Teen Anglers. There were 33 Teen's that fished and all had a good time. The winners for the Middle School Division were 1st place - Carlos Gonzales - Forest Grove Middle School, 2nd - Richard Salamak - North Port Middle School and 3rd - Vincent Serio - Forest Grove Middle School. For the High School Division 1st place and biggest fish trophies went to David Adams, 2nd - Mario Zungia, and 3rd James Huddleston and all were from Westwood High School. If you are interested in becoming a Teen Angler, just go to the website at www.teenagnlers.org for more info.
OFFSHORE - With a few good days of weather the reports are coming from everywhere. There were scattered dolphin in 120 to 240 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in 600 or more feet out of the St. Lucie Inlet. The kingfish have been consistencely staying in about 70 feet of water. I did get reports of sailfish being caught to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet down around the Stuart area in 80 to 135 feet of water.
The snapper and grouper bite has picked up on the Offshore Bar out of Ft. Pierce and all along the Six Mile Reef out of Stuart. There has been plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish cruising the beaches, just look for the birds and try using a small spoon.
If you would like to report a catch, call me at 772-201-5770 or e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com. You can also contact me on the web at www.captjoeward.com.
Capt. Joe Ward
Sheepshead Catching - The Best of the Gulf
By Alex Crawford
One of the very best of the December best bets on the Gulf Coast out of Apalachicola is the scrappy and tasty sheepshead. Distinguished by its black vertical bands, many call it the convict fish. I call it a prolific winter target species that gives a very good account of itself on proper tackle. They use their broad, thick bodies to give you a spirited battle. And as a bonus, sheepshead are some of the best eating of the inshore offerings. Now is the time to catch them with cooler water and spawning fish.
Other than possibly the gray triggerfish, no other fish measures up to the sheepshead in its ability to steal your bait. This professional bait stealer gets its name from the canine teeth that protrude from the mouth. Like so many fish, the sheepshead has evolved perfectly to suit its environment. Living around barnacle-encrusted pilings and feeding primarily on crustaceans, sheepshead have serious incisors that make short work of small crabs, shrimp and other shellfish. Its diet accounts for the excellent flavor of the flesh.
If you watch a sheepshead eat a fiddler crab, the process is quite remarkable. They don’t actually strike the bait in a traditional sense. The take is more like a sucking technique, whereby the bait is inhaled, crushed and eaten in a nano-second. The shell is simply spit out. Because these fish have such extraordinary abilities to steal your bait, a specialized technique must be employed if one wants to catch a box full.
Anchor or tie up to your favorite piling. Several bumpers may be necessary to accomplish this, especially with a heavy chop. Begin by chumming barnacles off the piling with your flat-blade shovel. Twelve pound spinners with fluorocarbon leaders and stout hooks in the #4 to #1 size range will not bend in tough mouths. Small split shot or egg sinkers are best depending upon the velocity of the current. It is important to fish straight up and down to better feel the bite. Some anglers use small jig heads with success.
Drop your offering straight down at the base of the piling, as sheepshead hold tight to the pilings and don’t venture far away. When you feel a tap-tap and a heavy feel, set the hook aggressively. With really tough mouths, you must penetrate the barb of the hook. Some of the meat boys will use very heavy tackle and simply snatch them out of the water that is rarely more than 12 feet deep around my small pond. Whatever floats you boat, but this is still sportfishing, right?
Bait selections vary from place to place. Chose one that will stay on your hook best and is commonly available in your area. Clams, shrimp, blue crab, oysters and fiddlers are top choices. Cut these offerings up into bite-size morsels and impale them on your small hook.
Fish the tides with maximum current. Sheepshead eat when the current brings food. Try the jetties at the Government Cut for fast action. Tie several leaders in advance, because the granite boulders will claim a few. Bonus fish are reds, black drum and flounder. While anchored, put out a big stick with a pinfish or crab claw on the bottom for bull reds.
As we move into winter, you will have the whole pond virtually to yourself. Many inshore species spawn now and are easy to catch. A fine catch of sheepshead and flounder makes for some mighty tasty eats. Come and get ya some!!!
Amberjacks - Bullies of the Gulf
By Alex Crawford
Vivid memories remain from twenty years ago, when I was painfully introduced to a monster amberjack. Until then, my angling experiences were limited to small AJs in the teens. Indelibly burned into my angling memories, this offshore trip was uniquely different from others. Fishing out of Islamorada in the Florida Keys, our destination was the world-famous Islamorada hump only about twelve miles offshore. Looking at the color bottom machine, we marked large fish holding on the up current side of this massive seamount. I dropped a hand-size frisky pinfish down in about 325 feet of water. What happened next is difficult to describe with simple words. The big 12/0 circle hook found its mark and the brute fish headed for the Bahamas with a heavy, irresistible pull. This was a tractor pull and I was on the losing end. My shoulder rotator cuffs were at maximum torque, as I held on to the rod, so as not to be pulled overboard. Finally and mercifully, the big fish stopped and allowed me to regain a few wraps on the 9/0 Penn reel. Then, we settled into an exhaustive pump and wind tug of war. Can’t remember a more physically challenging experience. After about 20 minutes of sweat and throbbing pain in my arms and shoulders, the brute surfaced with my pinfish hanging from his jaw. The gaff found its mark and two of us lifted the great fish onto the deck. Later, the dock scales registered 59 pounds, a personal best. The learning experience is that large AJs will make you sit down, drink a cold one and recuperate for a long time, regardless of your physical condition.
Greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, gets its name from the amber color stripe that extends from the base of the tail fork through the small eye. Largest of the jack family, their range extends from Massachusetts to Brazil, including all of the Gulf of Mexico. Smaller cousins commonly caught in the Gulf include the great-eating almaco jack, banded rudderfish and the lesser amberjack. The world record AJ was caught in 1981 off Bermuda and stands at 155 pounds. Not far off the world mark, Florida’s state record is 142 pounds for a bruiser caught off Islamorada in 1979. Florida allows a daily bag limit of one fish per angler per day with a minimum length of 28 inches fork.
AJs live on wrecks, rigs and reefs, both natural and artificial, in the Gulf. They are accessible to recreational anglers from 60 feet to several hundred feet of depth. Typically, smaller specimens are caught on the shallower reefs and wrecks. This is a good thing, as the just-keeper fish are better table-fare and don’t inflict as much bodily pain. Deep, offshore wrecks hold the big bruisers. Larger AJs don’t eat as well and are prone to worms, especially in 85 degree, summer waters. Tangling with bully AJs is sometimes a catch and release game for macho masochists. Pull and they pull back!
The very best baits for AJs are healthy, live ones. Although they will take dead baits and trolled lures, a big lively pinfish is the top choice. My second choice is a big hardtail (blue runner), with grunts, croakers and beeliners right up there. As the ultimate prepared opportunist angler, the best live bait is whatever you can catch and keep healthy. Keep some chunk baits at the ready, since this technique will bring fish up, so you can sight cast to individual targets.
Two of the best methods for inducing wreck AJs into eating is jigging. AJ pros know that schools of fish holding up in the water column on a deep water wreck are susceptible to a big white turtle jig that emulates a squid, a primary forage. A heavy diamond jig is a killer lure at times. Large, sweeping motions of the jigs will get the jacks in an eating frenzy. It is common to see a school of AJs follow a hooked fish to the surface. Always have an outfit ready to pitch a live bait, cast a surface popper or drop another jig in the fray. Multiple AJ hookups are sheer cockpit pandemonium. Watching a big fish eat your offering will give you an immediate adrenalin rush, call it AJ ecstasy!
Tackle selections vary greatly from fly rods to 130 pound class gear. Generally, 30 to 50 pound class outfits are ideal. Since this is a standup endeavor, a quality fighting belt is helpful. My favorite AJ tools are Shimano TLDs and Shimano Spheros 14000 spinners mounted on stout six foot glass sticks. I spool the TLDs with Ande 50 and the spinners with 40. Terminal rigs are equally important to handle the torque an AJ puts on the gear. Eighty pound fluorocarbon leaders tied to 200 pound barrel swivels work fine. A hand-sharpened 12/0 circle hook is small enough not to impair the action of a live bait, but strong enough to handle a hard pull.
When wreck fishing AJs, it is important to find the position on the wreck where fish are holding. Many times you will mark the show above the superstructure and on the up current side. Remember, cardinal fishing rule number one: fish where the fish are! When you see the school on your bottom machine, deploy a quality marker buoy that only plays out the exact amount of line as the water depth. Then, position your vessel up wind and up current from your buoy. Depending on the depth where you marked the fish, drop you best live bait over the fish. They feed up. AJs will hook themselves as they pull against the circle hook.. Next, hold on for dear life, as you attempt to crank a small car out of deep water with a small tool.
On the Forgotten Coast out of Apalachicola there are several good AJ spots. Wrecks include the Angela, Gilmore, Stormy Seas, Flaming Star, Empire Mica, Gilmore, Paula and Endeavor. Reefs include the Bryson, Franklin County, Apalachicola, Exxon template, as well as all five of the alphabet towers. The soon to be deployed Saint George Island bridge rubble reef will create perfect AJ habitat within 10 miles of the Government Cut.
A quick and easy AJ recipe: Char-grilled AJ, marinate AJ fillets in Italian dressing for 30 minutes in the frig, salt and pepper to taste, ten minutes on the grill per side until tender and flaky. Celebrate the memories with your good friends, your favorite beverages, your best music and great eats. Realize your dreams, do it today!
Fishing Grand Isle--Louisiana's Cajun Bahamas
By Jerry LaBella
Grand Isle, from earliest days of exploration along Louisiana's coast, has indeed figured strikingly with regard to state history. As early as the 1730's, it was the French that actually controlled a string of islands at the entrance of Barataria Bay. Many have it that they gave the island its name, meaning big island, being that it spans a little more than eight miles unbroken.
Grand Isle is a barrier island, bordered on the east by Barataria Pass and on the west by Caminada Pass. It was formed virtually by the Gulf of Mexico’s wave action and is considered to be a relatively recent geographical development. Though increasing erosion and exposure to various hurricanes have taken a toll on its dwindling width, efforts in recent years have been made to reconstruct it with sand, seareed (beach grass) and some rock-boulder barriers at strategic locations.
During the pirate days, the only flourishing trade may have been the notorious operations of Jean and Pierre Lafitte. Since then, however, business has been mostly centered around the seafood fishing industry, offshore oil rig activity, and the annual influx of island-seekers readying for fishing, swimming, and sunbathing.
Once you visit and undergo the pleasures offered by this island, you will then appreciate further why it is called "Grand" Isle. On a clear summer’s day, you can see its beautiful, sparkling, yellowish sand meeting up with the clear, green Gulf waters that are often freckled with sunbathers, boaters, and surf anglers for miles.
Grand Isle State Park is the only state-owned and operated beach on Louisiana’s Gulf coast, and it is no slouch when it comes to quality fishing. Local biologist claim that the surrounding waters of Grand Isle hold over 280 different species of fishes.
The main attraction is the 400-foot long fishing pier which extends into the Gulf and attracts both day and nighttime anglers for a reasonable fee. It is the only public fishing pier on Louisiana’s Gulf coast. And, after a day of fishing, one can take advantage of the fish-cleaning site near the bathhouse.
Other fishing hot spots are Fort Livingston (located on the west side of Barataria Pass), Caminada Pass, and the "Old Fishing Bridge" that parallels the only access bridge to Grand Isle.
Anglers line up here year-round to fish or to just enjoy the Gulf of Mexico breeze and scenery.
Different seasons offer different types of fishing. For example, speckled trout fishing is good year-round, but the best times are spring and summer. Hot red fish action along the surf occurs in fall and winter, while night flounder gigging is best during the warmer months on incoming tides.
During spring through fall, wade anglers enjoy fishing all around the island, but caution must be exercised when fishing certain areas like Caminada Pass and Barataria Pass located west and east of the island respectfully. These areas have deep drop-offs and swift currents that can cause drowning if one wades out too far from the beach.
The old fishing bridge offers enjoyable crabbing and fishing for such species as croaker, white trout, Spanish mackerel, sea perch, drum, and sheepshead that abound around the barnacle-covered wooden piling legs. This old wooden bridge at one time was the original access entrance to the island, but has since been converted for fishing only.
During the summer, night anglers lower gas lanterns from this bridge near the water's surface by means of a cord, in order to attract bait fish which in turn draws speckled trout and other species. Sparkle beetles and other type lures are then dangled in front of them in an endeavor to provoke a strike. Once a fish is hooked, a crab net is lowered down to land the fish.
Grand Isle offers an array of activities even for those without a boat–like the productive wadefishing that goes on all around the island. For those with a boat, however, the fishing menu can be endless. The offshore platforms common throughout Louisiana's waters appear to teem endlessly out into the Gulf and over the horizon. For example, the famous Sulfur Rig is in plain view from the island– both day and night. The Grand Isle Blocks (G.I. Blocks) are easily reached from either of the deep passes on either side of the island.
Summer tarpon fishing and year-around snapper (seasonally regulated), grouper, barracuda, and other deep-sea quarry avail themselves to those who can reach them. Blue water species such as tuna, wahoo, and dolphin are generally trolled for in deep waters that lie some thirty miles offshore.
Grand Isle is the host of the famous three-day Tarpon Rodeo held every July. Angler come from near and far to fish this highly competitive rodeo, better known as the "Grand Daddy" of them all, since it is one of the oldest fishing rodeos around.
Fishing, though, is not the only attraction to the 300,000 annual visitors to Grand Isle. The park also makes available choice prospects for campers, picnickers, and swimmers, as well as those who just like to scour the beach for seashells of various colors and shapes.
Grand Isle is host to a variety of different bird species, and bird-watching enthusiast come from all over to observe the twice a year trans-gulf migratory birds that congregate there before continuing their journey. There are also a vast number of year-around bird species that have drawn many a photographer to the area. Among such commonplace species are the terns, sanderlings, and gulls that uproariously announce daybreak through the calm of early morning rising.
The state park can accommodate up to 100 families or groups, even though no utilities are provided for those wanting to camp overnight. Nevertheless, there is a nearby bathhouse with running water and an adjacent dump station.
Beside the state park accommodations, local newspapers advertise private camps for rent, some of which have boat docks and private fishing piers for their customers. Commercial hotels and motels, many built like camp sites, line both the north and south sides of the road into Grand Isle.
Last-minute weekend bookings for hotel or motel rooms are hard to find during the summer months, unless pre-summer reservations have been arranged–or you happen to find a cancellation. Nevertheless, hotels prefer booking for a minimum of three days on the weekends.
Grand Isle is not just any remote island on the Gulf coast, it is a real community, with grocery stores, department stores, fast-foods, and Louisiana Cajun seafood restaurants. And it has been rated as one of the top-ten fishing spots in the world, even before the oil industry planted the steel platforms throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
It is not uncommon during warmer months, like July and August, to see people along the beach catching hampers of crabs with little effort. In fact, successful Grand Isle crabbing doesn’t even require fancy crab traps or nets. Many just bring two sticks of appropriate length to drive into the sandy sea bottom near the beach. Between the two sticks, a 20 ft. or so length of twine is tied with 2 ft. drop lines every three feet apart. To the ends of the drop lines a chicken neck is tied for bait. Every 20 minutes the drop lines are carefully lifted out of the water one at time with a landing net under the bait. As the bait clears the water, the crabs fall into the net.
After the crabs have been collected in the net, the net is emptied into an ice chest or bucket. When the crabs are running good, the lines can be checked every five minutes or less.
Grand Isle is one of the few places that you can cruise slowly down the highway, on a light, breezy evening, and enjoy the smell of heavily seasoned boiling crabs at various camp sites along the roadsides. Some of the occupants can be seen inside their screened-in porches, with spread newspapers for tablecloths, wreaking havoc on these tasty critters.
Or, on any quiet night, soon after sunset, when the lapping waves of the Gulf of Mexico can be heard rustling with Grand Isle’s sandy beaches, you can see the days catch being cleaned at one of the fish-cleaning stations at certain boat docks.
This is the way Grand Isle is perceived to those who have shared her abundance, year after year. It is as much a part of Louisiana living as red beans and rice and Barq's root beer. It is the "Cajun Bahamas" of Louisiana–and the natives would have it no other way.
Grand Isle–the mere name says it all!
Sailfish Capital of the World
There are many places in the world that call themselves the “Sailfish Capital of the World” among them Martin County and Islamorada in Florida, USA; Mazatlan and Manzanillo in Mexico; Broome in Australia, Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala and Quepos in Costa Rica. To aspire to such a lofty title means there are probably more sailfish in that particular area than anywhere else in the world, during the year. All of these tourist destinations certainly do have sailfish but lets see if we can convince you that the Pacific Coast of Guatemala is really THE place to catch and release Pacific Sailfish.
Year after year Guatemala has consistent numbers of rises, bites and releases, all recorded and reported, backed up with testimonials from satisfied anglers that agree we are the Sailfish Capital of the World. Of course we are biased since our company is based in Guatemala and while true that statistics about anything in Guatemala tend to be suspect, any brief search over the Internet, in fishing magazines, cable or TV fishing shows and newspaper columns will provide figures that say pretty much the same thing: catches of over 25 sailfish per day are common, double and triple hookups are common, on average between 15 and 22 sailfish are caught and released per boat, per day; fishing is good year round, etc. Local boat captains with conservative estimates affirm that between 1000 and 1400 sailfish are caught and released, per boat, per year, using conventional tackle and bait. Boat captains that go out more place that number around 2000. On the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala has a small sports fishing boat fleet…few boats are catching plenty fish. Our boats only go out of the Marina Pez Vela assuring a safe passage to the Pacific Ocean WITHOUT passing through the old dangerous inlet.
Guatemala is not known for big sailfish tournaments or beach side resorts and is a relatively new destination in the sailfishing circuit, so lets talk about our forte: numbers. Just this last January a group of 20 fishermen, on 5 boats, in a 3-day period caught 369 fish out of which 343 were Pacific Sailfish. Other anglers have caught and released close to 100 sails in two days. Last year another group of 33 anglers on 11 boats, in a 4-day period caught and released 782 sailfish. Of course those are the high numbers, the ones that provoke ooohhhs, aaahhhs and everyone brags about but what are the day-to-day numbers? Try the following figures, per boat, per day (placed in ascending order, not by consecutive fishing days): January: 5, 8, 13, 18, 28; February: 4, 27, 30, 42, 47; March: 12, 17, 20, 30, 45; April: 2, 7, 10, 14, 17; May: 9; June: 5, 6; July: 7, 10, 17; August: 8, 10, 12, 13; September: 3, 4; October: 2, 6, 11; November: 2, 7; December: 3, 8, 10, 15. That’s an aver! age of 13.76 sailfish caught and released per boat, per day. Are we making our case?
What is so special about Guatemala to attract so many sailfish? The shape of the sea bottom, the flow of ocean currents, water temperature, sea life, etc., all contribute to create a habitat in which Pacific Sailfish thrive. In fact some say Guatemala has the world’s most fertile Pacific Sailfish breeding grounds. The Guatemalan Government and local fishermen have also played their part by adopting a catch and release policy for billfish and the use of circle hooks.
The 2002 - 2003 high season has been an especially good one for sailfishing in Guatemala. Using conventional fishing equipment anglers in one boat released a hard to believe season best 83 sails in one day and another single angler, using fly fishing equipment, set a new world record by releasing 23 sails in one day and set another world record by releasing a total of 51 sails in three days, all with fly fishing equipment. In February and March groups of friends went “fishing” with huge coolers filled with goodies expecting to take it easy and catch the average 15 or so sailfish…they came back worn out, with not quite empty coolers, cramped fingers, sore shoulders and barely coherent stories of 30, 40 and 50 sailfish releases per day! Exaggerations? Tall tales? Hardly. Everyone else that went fishing those days made the same comment…if they had not run out of bait they would still be fishing! Of course its not an every year, much less an every day occurrence (if it was it would be called WORK not fishing!) but, what other destination can boast that after adding up some (only 28’ plus sportfishing boats) of the sailfish caught and released in one day the total comes out to almost 375?
Now, this article is to promote Guatemala as the Sailfish Capital of the World so as a parting shot we will only mention that the same boat captains with conservative estimates also stated catching between 800 to 900 Dorado (mahi-mahi) and around 20 to 25 marlins per year, per boat, besides sailfish. Just this last weekend: one boat, in two days, caught and released two 350 to 400lb marlins, 18 sailfish and caught 60 yellow fin tuna; another angler caught a 300lb marlin off a 25’ panga (modified shark boat similar to a Mexican Skiff); and the disbelief felt by another angler who had been battling a 300lb marlin for quite a while just to have the line break near the boat. Besides the marlins those boats, and others, were catching and releasing an average of 8 sailfish per boat, per day.
The Great Sailfishing Company
Kingfish Blitz on the Forgotton Coast
By Alex Crawford
Have you ever noticed that every year around October we experience a massive migration of monarch butterflies here on the Forgotten Coast. Without fail, concurrently, the fall migration of smoker king mackerel occurs. It’s automatic! And for the die-hard angler who loves to get a real stretch on his string, the fall kingfish run is almost heaven.
Targeting kingfish is high fun on the high seas. Fall-run smoker kings will burn your drag and entertain your brain. These toothy, water-rockets are just as fast as their cousin, the wahoo. For the sheer love of fishing, getting connected to a speed-burner king is a quintessential experience. It is the fortunate angler who has watched one of these greenish-silver torpedos light up while striking a bait or lure. Kings will strike a surface live bait with such ferocity, they propel themselves 6 feet out of the water, hence the expression, sky-rocket kings. If your definition of big fun is sizzling drags and melted drag washers, now is your spectacular time on the gorgeous Gulf Coast.
When the water temperature reaches 70 degrees in the fall, king mackerel start their migration east across the Forgotten Coast. A mild autumn will keep the fish around through November. The fish follow huge schools of mullet and cigar minnows south, where they winter in the Keys. In spring, when water temps reach about 68 degrees, the snake kings begin to show up with the bait offshore, normally around the 3rd week in April. Both in spring and fall, smoker kings show up along the beaches. Sometimes pier fishermen are in the right place and capture these “beachcombers.”
Kings of the same size school together. Smaller fish like Spanish are relegated to a lower level on nature’s food chain. Never far from their food source, kings shadow the bait schools that orient to reefs, both artificial and natural. Back in the days before sophisticated sonar, loran and gps technologies, enterprising fishermen would drag lead weights on hand lines to locate rocky, coral and limestone bottoms that would hold bait and predator fish. Today, savvy anglers find natural bottom and find kings and other pelagic species like cobia.
On the Forgotten Coast out of Apalachicola, several reefs and wrecks are prime king habitats in the fall. A short list includes Yamaha Reef, Franklin County Reef, L Buoy Reef, Fathom Rock, Roy’s Rock, Apalachicola Reef, Empire Mica, Bryson Reef, Sixteen Mile Reef, Bee’s Rock etc. All of these numbers are accessible to the recreational angler with a fish plan to target fall kings.
Tackle and tactics vary widely, but following are my most successful techniques. Slow-trolling big hardtails on flat lines or downriggers is a proven, successful tournament pattern. Or, the old stand by, pulling dusters ahead of cigar minnows will always produce. With a hookup, always mark the spot with a buoy or on your gps and go back and pick up a few more fish. Trolling large lures on wire leaders is effective at times. My favorites are Stretch 30s, YoZuris and Rebel Jawbreakers and Rapala CD 18s. Blue and white is the confidence color. Bonus fish are groupers that will swim way up in the column to eat big lures.
Drifting or anchoring on your favorite natural bottom is another technique that produces a good result. Chumming with pogy oil and chunk baiting with cut pogies is a proven tournament winning method employed by kingfish pros. Once the kings move into your chumline, it is like fishing in your own personal aquarium. Just for fun, we break out the bass tackle and throw spinners at individual fish and try not to be pulled overboard or melt the drag washers. Accelerate your heartbeat and arouse your senses.
Tackle for kings is very much a personal choice. Many prefer meat sticks with 4/0 or larger reels. Granted a 30 or 40 pound king will challenge your best skills, even on 30 pound class gear, but lighter tackle makes for a sporty battle. Fall kings are so prolific, losing a few is just in the game, particularly with only a two fish limit. Sometimes personal victories are achieved with catch and release, not the thrill of the kill i.e. catch and fillet.
Stainless steel or haywire twisted piano wire is a necessity for toothy kings. I believe 40 pound test wire or lighter gets more bites, however one runs the risk of breaking off a good fish. For fish going in the box I use 4X strong number 4 treble hooks. Stinger trebles will catch the notorious short-strikers. J hooks linked together in 6/0 size will work fine. Small barrel swivels less than 100 pound will draw more strikes from finicky biters, but, when kings are in an eating mode, anything will get bit.
One of the most important things anglers can do to maximize their chances of putting big kings in the box is to have a prearranged gaff plan with the crew. Big kings are commonly lost at the gunwale. They go into their circular death spiral at the boat and are really adept at breaking you off in the prop, the anchor line or with an errant gaff effort. Catching outsized kings is a crew-team effort with everyone knowing his job in the landing process. Review the plan with your crew, wheel man, wire man, gaffer, angler and cheerleaders, all working together for the common objective. All share in the celebration of capturing a quality fish.
The next best thing to the catching celebration is the dinner party celebration. Kings are not for the folks who like their fish mildly flavored. The flesh has an oily and rich texture. Many people prefer to smoke them, especially large specimens. Others like kingfish steaks on the barby. My favorite recipe is called poorman’s lobster. Cut the circular dollops out of the steaks and boil them until they float. Pour real highly salted, highly cholesteroled butter over the dollops and serve hot. It really tastes like lobster. Cooking with ice-cold beer really helps enhance the dinner party.