Posts tagged ‘salt water fishing’
Fishing Flea Market and Swap Meet – One Week to Go
There is only one week to go until the Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association 3rd Annual “Fishing Flea Market and Swap Meet”.
The Fishing Flea Market and Swap meet will be held at the Hickory Ruritan Club on South Battlefield Blvd, Chesapeake, Virginia on 10 March from 0800 to 1500 hrs. It is just a short drive from the Outer Banks or anywhere in southeastern Virginia. Rain or shine. Parking is free but there is a $3 entrance fee.
This flea market and swap meet is both entertaining and educational. Local anglers set up booths to sell, trade, swap and give away many current and antique fishing and boating gear. Free Raffles, 50/50’ are held throughout the day. It seems there is something for everyone.
Last year I found several old rods and reel combos that I used when I was very young. It brought back many memories from my childhood.
So if you want a great time to wander through booths and tables of gear – most are antique, talk to experts and amateurs about their own “fish stories” and pick up that item that will bring back memories, then this is the place.
There will be food and beverages and plenty of parking. Get there early for the best deals.
Until next time, Tightlines
New Spotted Sea Trout Regs
More changes are coming to the Speckled (spotted) Sea Trout Fishery on the Outer Banks, effective Monday, February 27, 2012. As you recall we had a major kill off last year and the Division of Marine Fisheries has been working to help the stock recover. We are close but we still need to conserve.
According to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, recreational fisherman may still harvest four (4) speckled (spotted) sea-trout per person per day by hook and line. There is no change from the limit in the previous proclamation.
The minimum length is still fourteen (14) inches total length. But the most significant change states that DMF have eliminated the limit of fish over Fourteen (14) inches. Previous rules state that only two (2) fish over twenty-four (24) inches could be harvested. Now there is no limit to size over fourteen (14) inch size.
As a community, we have all worked together to help this fishery recover. But the work is not over. When fishing for spotted trout, only take what you can use today and return the rest to be caught again.
Only with aggressive conservation can we save this fishery for future generations.
Until next time, Tightlines
Winter Fishing is Slow on Outer Banks
Fishing has been extremely slow on the Outer Banks over the past two months. The only news has been to discuss how beautiful and mild the weather has been. The big Rockfish have yet to make it south. They seem to have found a home off Virginia Beach. Want Stripers, head north just off the beach. Don’t want to travel, skates and Spiny Dogfish are plentiful on Jennette’s pier.
Water temps remain in the uppers 40’s so it anyone guess if we will get those monster stripers this year.
Spring is around the corner so it’s time to ready the gear. You need to go through you tackle box and throw away those old rusty hooks, lures and rigs. You should also change your line on each reel. The worst thing to happen is to hook up on that first fish of the year, only to lose it to defective gear.
I always clean and oil the reels and tighten any lose parts. Check the guides on your rods and if you are inexperienced, let your local tackle shop replace them.
This is a great time of year to step back and take a complete inventory of your gear and ready it for another fantastic fishing year. The spring season will be here before you know it.
I know the question you are asking, ‘Did you catch that monster tarpon in the picture?” And the answer is no it’s an artificial model hanging on the dock at a marina in the Florida Keys for pictures. But you can hook up with one of these beauties. Book a trip to Bud and Mary’s in Islamorda, Florida and you could be in a picture like this.
Until next time, Tightlines
Livin’ the Dream – A Florida Vacation
We returned to the Outer Banks to a cultural shock: weather was colder, the fishing was non-existent and I had to put my shoes back on!!
So I thought I would re-live some of the places we visited in pictures;
Believe me, the pictures can’t begin to tell the story.
Until next time, Tightlines
Next Stop – Fishing in Islamorda
We traveled to Key Largo on Friday with a goal of continuing our Florida fishing adventures.
Our first stop was our overnight lodging at the Holiday Inn in Key Largo. This hotel is a full service with restaurant, pool and newly renovated rooms. It turned out to be very nice and a great value. During your next stay in the keys, you need to check this one out.
The next stop was the Yellow Bait shop and we picked up shrimp and fishing advice. They directed us to the Tea Table channel just opposite Bud and Mary’s Marina – about the 78 mile marker.
Once we arrived at the channel bridge, we rigged our rods with a Carolina rig – 1 oz. barrel weight and a single #4 circle hook. The current was strong so we needed something to help restrict the movement after of positioning cast.
We alternated between the main channel and bridge piles. We rigged the entire shrimp on the hooks thinking that we would hit something big. Only problem, the small mangrove snappers would steal the entire shrimp without touching the hook. Solution was to cut the shrimp into three pieces. Bingo – each cast brought a nice mangrove snapper to shore. This catching continued for well over an hour.
A short time later the first mate hooked up to what she thought was a snag. It turned out to be a huge jack cravelle. With a little help from me, we brought the 24” fish to shore. As always, my philosophy is that a fish is too valuable to catch only once. So we carefully revived the big girl and allowed her to swim safely away under the watchful eyes of a family of brown pelicans.
After we ran out of bait, we headed across the street to Bud and Mary’s Marina. There we shared our story and pictures and they were amazed and happy that we were able to land this huge fish directly from the shore.
Our next stop was the Salt water Sportsman / Bass Pro Shop. This is a fishing supply store like no other. Also, we eat dinner at the Islamorda Fish Company restaurant next door. We then headed back to the hotel to get ready for another busy day.
Until next time, Tightlines
Florida “Gator Trout” in January
On Wednesday we traveled to St Petersburg just south of Tampa to fish with Capt. CA Richardson for big trout. We would have settled for the other big fish we have caught before but it was the monster “gator trout” that we were after. The weather was absolutely beautiful with highs in the low 80s with a slight southwest breeze.
We left O’Neill’s marina at 0730 heading out to the grass flats. There we incorporated both top water and Texas style weed-less jigs. We also tried a new lure called “aqua-dream” spoon. Capt. CA designed this new lure to specifically target big fish. It was definitely a keeper.
We landed several nice trout and one redfish. As the morning moved into noon, the tide changed directions and the flats became crowded with other boats so we decided to move on.
The next area was a secluded area surrounded by mangroves. This protected area is in a “no motor” zone and only accessible by a really shallow flats boat and by poling in.
We had the cove to ourselves and proceeded t
o achieve our goals, to catch the elusive “gator trout”. We succeed catching many trout – most fish were in the 20”-24” range with the largest at 28”.
We are definitely on his schedule to fish for these monsters next year. If you want to enjoy this tremendous fishery, you need to contact Capt. CA. He can be reached at his Flats Class web site.
We are heading to Key Largo and the famous Bass Pro in Islamorada in the morning and we are hoping our good fortune continues.
Until next time, Tightlines
Fishing Boca Grande Pass
We traveled mid-morning Monday to Boca Grande Pass. This area is just south of Gasprilla Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. We planned our day around catching Permit, pompano and whiting. But as things will happen, our best laid plans are not always best occurred.
Our plan was to fish the southernmost point of the pass. Along the main route to Boca Grande, there are several Gulf front parking and beach access areas in route to the southernmost point. Decisions had to be made without the benefit of other angler’s success. So we continued to our predetermined spot.
Unbeknown to us, the big fish were being caught on the western shore just north of the point. Big Redfish and whiting were caught on both live shrimp and sand feas.
We decided to continue our travel to the most southern point of the beach. This spot is where the Charlotte Harbor current exits into the Gulf of Mexico. In this narrow space, a significant current can be found traveling within several hundred feet from the shore. The water depth can change from several inches right on the beach to well over 50 feet just yards of the beach. The current is so quick, that it can sweep an unsuspecting swimmer out into the gulf within a matter of minutes.
This current is home to both huge tarpon all the way down to small pinfish and everything in between.
Although, we missed out on the big fish up the coast, we resigned ourselves of just catching some beautiful speckled trout. I hooked up with three real nice ones with the largest at seventeen inches. Using live shrimp and circle hooks almost guaranteed success.
Even though we were outside the main stream anglers and the big fish, we had a great time.
If you are traveling to southwest Florida, a stopover to wet a line on Gasprilla Island and the famous Boca Grande Pass is a must.
Until next time, Tightlines.
Southwest Florida in January
It’s been a busy two days in Southwest Florida. Weather has been just outstanding for January. A bit usually warm but I am not complaining. This time of year is “in season” for visitors and snow birds. On any weekend you can find some type of activity related to fishing.
This weekend we attended two saltwater fishing seminars – one at the Old Pine Island Marina and the other at Laisley Marine. At both we got the opportunity to meet several captains who discussed local fishing techniques. At Old Pine Island Marina, several local chefs cooked up 7 different species of fish and had a contest to determine which was tasted. I did miss the entire fish sample guesses but not the trays as they were passed around.
We haven’t wetted a line yet but we have good idea where the fish are. Not a banner year to shore line anglers but good all the same. The best fishing is in the grass flats and pot holes on the Charlotte Harbor both East and west shorelines. Boats are catching lots of small bottom fish including trout and plenty of snook. When you find the Redfish, they are trophy size.
We left the boat at home so it’s a bank fishing week. We are heading to Boca Grande Pass on Monday to find the huge pompano and whiting. Also, we heard there are plenty of snook in the neighborhood lakes so although success is not guaranteed, we have a good shot.
Until next time, Tightlines
Starting the New Year Off Wright
Three weeks into the new year and I have yet to even match “new Years’ Day with even another Dogfish (in layman’s terms – sand shark).
Work travel has taken me to many different and interesting places since 1 January. One of the most fascinating was the Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio.
Being a native Washingtonian and a resident of the Outer Banks, I do have a significant basis towards my region. But when I arrived in Dayton and especially, Wright Patterson, I was taken back with all the mentions of the Wright Brothers and the first flight.
Well they do have a point, Wilbur and Orville were born there and they did a majority of their construction and design there, so I guess there is enough of them to share. But I do this reluctantly.
I am now back on the east coast and planning for my annual Florida trip. We have alot planned over the next week, so check back for probably the best fishing news since my “first fish of the year”.
Until next time, Tightlines
First Fish of the New Year
I kicked off the New Year with a trip to the Kitty Hawk fishing pier. The pier is part of the Hilton Garden Hotel Complex and is open year round. Over the past several days I have been watching the birds circling and diving approximately 300 yards off the coast. They were chasing the winter migration of bait fish moving south to warmer waters. Typically, these frenzied schools are followed by big Rockfish and Bluefish. Some of these fish can weigh in excess of 40 pounds.
With such a beautiful day on tap for this first day of the year, I thought I would try my luck.
The weather had winds less than 10 knots and water temps in the lower 50’s. The seas were calm with minimal surf. It was just a perfect day to spend time on the beach.
I took my eight foot surf rod with a standard two hook bottom rig and one ounce sinker. The bait of choice was cut fish chunks. It didn’t take long for the “dogfish” or sand sharks to find my line.
I spent two hours watching the huge migration just out of reach but catching dogfish sharks.
I could not have asked for a better beginning.
Until next time, Tightlines
NCsaltaire 