Archive for September, 2011
Learn to Fish with a Pro
I have been fishing for well over 50 years. Yes, and I can say with confidence that I think I know most when it comes to fishing. Or so I thought. In a previous blog, I shared with you pictures of one of my fishing experiences. This trip turned out to be second to none. It turned out to be one of those trips of a lifetime.
The first mate and I hooked up with Capt. CA Richardson, the host on the popular Flats Class TV and a professional fishing guide. We fished out of O’Neill’s Marina, on the north end of the Skyway Bridge near St. Petersburg, Florida.
We used 7’ Falcon medium gulf spin rods, Daiwa coastal reels, Ohero 10# braid and top water artificial lures. We fished both incoming and rising tides. This gear allowed for the longest casts and accurate presentation. We tried several types of retrieves and presentations. We changed methods as conditions changed. It seemed Capt. CA knew how to track the fish and what worked and how to use it once we located our prey. The day was a unbelievable experience.
One tip I got from the trip was the longest cast catches more fish. Keep the lure or bait the furthest you can cast from the boat provides enough stealth that fish are not spooked. Baits and artificial appear more natural. Thus more hook ups.
If you want a fantastic trip for trophy redfish, trout or snook, hook up with Capt. CA.
His TV show web site is http://www.flatsclass.com/ . You can also contact Capt. CA on his web site at http://www.captaincarichardson.com/
You won’t be disappointed.
Until next time, Tightlines
Gulf Stream for Whites
My off shore trip out of Ocean City, Maryland on 23 September was just outstanding.
We left the dock at 0415 on the Marli – 58′ custom Carolina Sportsman. Capt Brian had a goal of whites and meat. His charters this year had an outstanding bite, so we had high expectations. There were four fisherman, two mates and the captain.
With my turn in the chair, I hooked up on the first bull dolphin about 0730. The dolphin bite continued to be productive but somewhat intermittent throughout the morning. Everyone got into the party!!
About mid-morning I brought in the first yellow fin of the day. This fish weighed in at about seventy lbs. Great start. A short time later we had a quad hook up of yellow fin but only brought two in. These two weighed in at 60 lbs each. Not too bad.
Just after lunch the whites began to surface. During the next two hours, we hooked up with seven whites and boated four.
We finished our day with four white marlin, three yellow fin tunas and twenty dolphins. This ended up to be a great day in the gulf stream.
If you are looking for a charter out of Ocean City, ik recommend Capt Brian on the Marli. We stayed at the Comfort Inn which was 5 minutes from the Sunset Marina.
We have already booked our date for next year.
Until next time, Tightlines.
Off Shore Fishing – Ocean City, Md
Heading to Ocean City to fish out of Sunset Marina on Friday. This trip is my annual with my work buddies. Sunset Marina is a full service facility. I might be bias but this is a first class marina.
Weather calls for high chance of rain and thunderstorms. Seas are expected to be 3 to 5 feet with 15-20 knot winds. Should be excellent conditions to raise those white marlin. Only fly in the ointment is that chance of rain. Hopefully we will not melt, so off we go.
Before the “blow”, many whites were caught and released. Charters are also bringing in plenty of “meat fish”. Hope they school up a little before Friday.
Check back for updates on my trip.
Tightlines
2011 Striped Bass Recreational Season Opens
Today the North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries announced the opening of the Striped Bass Recreational Season effective October 1, 2011 at 12:01 A.M.
Rockfish may be caught by hook and line in the Albemarle Sound Management Area seven days per week. These fish must be at least 18 inches and each angler may keep no more than two fish per day.
The season is scheduled to close at 1800 hrs., Monday, April 20, 2012 unless closed by the NCDMF proclamation.
It’s been a long time since we had a good stripe bass fishery. Only take what you can use. All others should be safely returned to the water.
Only you and I can preserve this important Outer Banks fishery.
Tightlines
Fall Fishing in the Outer Banks
As we move into the fall season, we find saltwater fishing in transition. We go from a terrific summer bite in warm water where there is just something different on every cast. Then we move to a more targeted approach and many unpredictable conditons.
We are used to just throwing the bottom rig and waiting for the bite or using a small swimming jig. Typically, we find the smaller fish in the surf with an occasional trophy.
Our fall season opened this week with a bang. There was a 43″ – 26-1/2 lb. drum caught off the end of Jennette’s pier on Monday. As well as many pompano, croaker and plenty of spot still being caught on the surf. The water temps have been steady dropping but there are still many suitable species available.
September can be more of an unpredicatable time. Weather can be rough or calm. Seas can cause havoc with timing and patience. We need to begin breaking out the heavier gear. Line, lures and tackle should be thoroughly checked. The first thing we should do to open this season is replace the lines. Failing this basic chore can mean a disaster when you hook up with that prize. If you can afford it, go with braid. Any premium brand should work.
Next, I try to toughen up the hooks. Exchange the standard ones with a premium brand. They are easy to replace. This is where you should never go cheap. You should buy in bulk so you have replacements throughout the fall season.
Finally, you should check your rods and reels for damage and repair any findings.
Fishing gear in good condition increases your odds at success.
Until next time. Tightlines.
Trophy Redfish on the Tampa Bay
Our annual Labor Day fishing trip to Florida was extremely successful. We chartered a trip out of O’Neill’s Marina in Tampa with Capt. CA Richardson on 7 September. He is a professional guide and host to a very popular fishing show – Flats Class TV.
Pictures say more than a thousand words – so here they are:
Fantastic trip. If you are traveling in the Tampa area and have a free day to fish, you gotta call Capt CA. You will not be disappointed.
Look for more details on this unbelieveable trip in future blog entries.
Until next time, Tightlines
Trying Something New
I wanted to veer away from my standard fishing technique here is Florida.
My neighborhood lakes just off the Charlotte Harbor hold dozens of landlocked snook, tarpon and variety of other species. I typically use a search method to find the fish. I cast in a fan style cast pattern – start casting to the left and moving right to eight o’clock then ten, then 12 and so on until you have made the half circle. If no hits, move down the bank several feet and cast again. This technique has always been somewhat successful. This techniques takes many of blind casts to finally hook up.
This time I wanted see if I could cast directly into the path of a moving snook and have him hit it. I used a 1/4 oz. Rapala swimming plug with “pro-cure” scent. I waited until I saw the v-path of moving water and casted about ten yards ahead. And it seemed that with every other cast, I was hooking up.
Not as much action fishing this way, but the hookups were consistent. I think the key was matching the other bait fish in the lake and putting the artificial right in front of the fish.
I am heading to Longboat Key today to try my luck.
Until next time, Tightlines.
One Last Look at “My Irene”
The Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina area got hit very hard. I am very lucky compared to many others. Several new inlets were cut on Hatteras Island, 25% of the new beach was lost in Nags Head, significant damage to sound side homes and property and many other horror stories both from friends and in the news. With all that was lost by others on the Outer Banks, I am very thankful.
One result of the storm was a neighbors pontoon boat broke its moorings and ended up in my yard. Not sure how we can move it. “No, I don’t need another boat.”
Also, a huge tree fell and landed on my flats boat in the driveway. There was minimal damage even though it appears worse. A BIG thanks to many helpful neighbors who assisted lifting this tree off the boat and moving the debris to the road.
And finally, several huge trees blocked our road. Again, a big thanks to the Town of Southern Shores for the quick cleanup.
Now it’s time to focus on the purpose of my blog – Fishing. As I write this blog, I am heading to Florida. I plan to fish several different areas in the southwest regions; Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Longboat Key and maybe a trip south to 10,000 Islands.
Hopefully, the fish cooperate.
Stay tuned for Forida fishing news.
Tightlines.
NCsaltaire 