Windy, cold northeaster conditions have stopped the boats and most pier anglers from venturing out to the wave tops this week but that is not where to be but to go down and jig off the bottom in a fast and irregular sweeping and dropping of your rod tip as the bite occurs on the drop. From baited, tipped jigs to casting small spoons in your favorite color, it is of the same sweeping motion that yields a sure fire wham bam fish on! The smokers are on again off again with a few caught right off the beaches of Casperson’s on surf gear under mini-balloons, Caught in Flight Kites and Aqua Gem Floats with live threadfins or needlefish. Boats trolling one, two or four ounce rudders with there favorite island lure or any which leads a bubble trail has been doing pretty well on the King Mackerels, with an occasional one pulled on to the boards in Venice, Florida, on their City Pier. If wind should shift slightly, and the temperatures not drop too sharply, this Halloween weekend ought to be hot on the Kings in Venice, Florida! As the winds change direction, the baits, like a magnet, change direction with them and make a move towards the next area of hard bottom in that direction. AS the wind blows from the north or south for a couple of days, the bait will follow the wind; a key point to know if angling from a vessel.
“FISH ON!” ©
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Kings to Tarpon East is the Least
The Venice Pier Report sponsored by
Kahula Kites and the Venice Pier Anglers
For the weekend of the 18th Oct.
With the water teaming with boo coo bait this should be the best time of year to fish the waters of our area for Kings to Tarpon this time of year with the exception we have three things stacked against us; the wind, the moon, the temperature. At 83 degrees it is ten degrees too hot and with the wind blowing from the east as they say, “the fish bite least”, topped with a full moon and higher than normal tides and it equates out to some real itty or hit and miss angling! Changing all of the above except the water temperature this week has yielded Cobia to thirty inches, kings to 48, Spanish averaging three to seven and nice slot Reds to Snook at the beach head but only on a westerly wind!
Easterly winds, there are the here and there kings brought up on the boards like Erik’s 48 incher earlier this week and my 26 inch Schoolie caught on 12# test with a spoon and no wire, sure was tasty grilled in lemon butter king. Ben’s Slashed Jack on a Trollied and Edwin’s thirty pounder miss as it tried to hit a greenie free lined on a 12# line and hook; ha, ha, ha. Last night the runs were quite often with small sharks brought to the boards but none up on the boards and, of course the cut off and ones that got away. If the wind should change any direction from the southwest, west, northwest or north the King action should improve dramatically so keep an eye to the weathercocks. Water temps are dropping and it will take time for this to take place so do not hold your breath or you will be dead and blue before tis happens and the moon is waning down, so in a couple of days you may join me on the dark side Luke and we will catch more fish. Until then, Same’O Same’O Pier stuff… “FISH ON!”
Kahula Kites and the Venice Pier Anglers
For the weekend of the 18th Oct.
With the water teaming with boo coo bait this should be the best time of year to fish the waters of our area for Kings to Tarpon this time of year with the exception we have three things stacked against us; the wind, the moon, the temperature. At 83 degrees it is ten degrees too hot and with the wind blowing from the east as they say, “the fish bite least”, topped with a full moon and higher than normal tides and it equates out to some real itty or hit and miss angling! Changing all of the above except the water temperature this week has yielded Cobia to thirty inches, kings to 48, Spanish averaging three to seven and nice slot Reds to Snook at the beach head but only on a westerly wind!
Easterly winds, there are the here and there kings brought up on the boards like Erik’s 48 incher earlier this week and my 26 inch Schoolie caught on 12# test with a spoon and no wire, sure was tasty grilled in lemon butter king. Ben’s Slashed Jack on a Trollied and Edwin’s thirty pounder miss as it tried to hit a greenie free lined on a 12# line and hook; ha, ha, ha. Last night the runs were quite often with small sharks brought to the boards but none up on the boards and, of course the cut off and ones that got away. If the wind should change any direction from the southwest, west, northwest or north the King action should improve dramatically so keep an eye to the weathercocks. Water temps are dropping and it will take time for this to take place so do not hold your breath or you will be dead and blue before tis happens and the moon is waning down, so in a couple of days you may join me on the dark side Luke and we will catch more fish. Until then, Same’O Same’O Pier stuff… “FISH ON!”
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
King Mackerel Sunset Trolley Rigging Blues
Upon reaching the end of the pier, Edwin and I attached a four-ounce trolley weight to the end of our 12 beach spinning outfit and heaved it out as far as I could. Pointing the rod tip straight down towards the water below the pier, I slowly started racking the bottom by twitching the rod tip in a jerking action as to catch the anchor weight into the bottom. Weight caught and now it was time to attach my PVC six-foot pipe to the rails with bungee cord as a home for the trolley. For our king rod, we decided to use my a Daiwa Beef Stick and an older reel; the Penn Mariner with 1000 yards of twenty pound test and thirty feet of fifty pound shock leader. Rigging it; 38 pound American Wire and a number seven Owner hook with a number four treble, as a stinger, I was ready to catch some bait but not before attaching the rig to the trolley with a quick release clip.
As you looked out across the pier you could see Venice Pier Anglers scurrying everywhere in a mad attic to catch some bait and be the first one in the water with their trolleys. One small Jack Carvel was landed and like ants to a bread crumb everybody was at that spot, crisis crossing lines in an attempt to catch bait also! Though the Jacks were small, they appeared too large for catching Kings but when it’s all you’ve got, just do it! The single hook attached just shy of the fish’s head and the stinger attached under its anal fin, this fish was ready for someone’s lunch. Off this fish went, on the ride down the trolley, to swim in circles, as we now settled down to catch more bait fish, hopefully some Lady Fish, mullet or some King Candy; the Blue Runner. Runners were like playing the Florida Lottery; one to none. We ended up with a couple of Ladies, Bluefish, and a couple of lucky finger mullet.
Wham, Bam! Our Trolley bounced as the reel let out a low groaning in a high-pitched fashion; this Penn spinning reel was smoke’n! The fish had first come in and nudged the Jack. Then it ripped across the surface and took a passing glance to the Jack. This fish was bleeding and coloring crystal clear water an off brown to red. Before you could say “Jack”, the Smoker homed in and engulfed the bait while shooting the pier, across the wave tops like a torpedo blast. The King wire was no match for this five foot bolt of lightning. He sliced through that wire like a knife in butter, while stealing that hard to come by first bait.
The entire afternoon went like this; fish on, fish off; playing light switch with our baits and loosing plenty of tackle in the process. Overall, it was a great day, with lots of action but very, very slow. Even though the water temperature had dropped and was back to 83 degrees, someone forgot to send an invite to our guest, the big Kings, as only the schoolies were ever so present, mixed and matched with a few cobias and Spanish. By now, we all had either mullet or ladies dangling from our trolleys, in hopes a King would show.
As the wind up above played tag with the clouds down below the made love to the horizon and to that we called it a night until well maybe tomorrow…maybe…
“FISH ON!”
As you looked out across the pier you could see Venice Pier Anglers scurrying everywhere in a mad attic to catch some bait and be the first one in the water with their trolleys. One small Jack Carvel was landed and like ants to a bread crumb everybody was at that spot, crisis crossing lines in an attempt to catch bait also! Though the Jacks were small, they appeared too large for catching Kings but when it’s all you’ve got, just do it! The single hook attached just shy of the fish’s head and the stinger attached under its anal fin, this fish was ready for someone’s lunch. Off this fish went, on the ride down the trolley, to swim in circles, as we now settled down to catch more bait fish, hopefully some Lady Fish, mullet or some King Candy; the Blue Runner. Runners were like playing the Florida Lottery; one to none. We ended up with a couple of Ladies, Bluefish, and a couple of lucky finger mullet.
Wham, Bam! Our Trolley bounced as the reel let out a low groaning in a high-pitched fashion; this Penn spinning reel was smoke’n! The fish had first come in and nudged the Jack. Then it ripped across the surface and took a passing glance to the Jack. This fish was bleeding and coloring crystal clear water an off brown to red. Before you could say “Jack”, the Smoker homed in and engulfed the bait while shooting the pier, across the wave tops like a torpedo blast. The King wire was no match for this five foot bolt of lightning. He sliced through that wire like a knife in butter, while stealing that hard to come by first bait.
The entire afternoon went like this; fish on, fish off; playing light switch with our baits and loosing plenty of tackle in the process. Overall, it was a great day, with lots of action but very, very slow. Even though the water temperature had dropped and was back to 83 degrees, someone forgot to send an invite to our guest, the big Kings, as only the schoolies were ever so present, mixed and matched with a few cobias and Spanish. By now, we all had either mullet or ladies dangling from our trolleys, in hopes a King would show.
As the wind up above played tag with the clouds down below the made love to the horizon and to that we called it a night until well maybe tomorrow…maybe…
“FISH ON!”
Monday, October 13, 2008
Catching Macks on Hookless Lures???
For years I have caught toothy fish with nylon stockings, drinking straws and knitting yarn because they are cheap to use and easy to make on the spot lures. The drinking straws work on almost any species of fish where as the stockings only on those with teeth but both are not eco-friendly as one is plastic and the other nylon, both lasing hundreds if not more, years to degrade if ever. Yarn on the other hand is rope, twine and is esuriently, biodegradable and hook free if you wish to fish that way making it kid friendly! Yarn Flies are with a hooks optional clause but try without and just see how many mackerels you will still catch. Add strips of flash as in foil or spray with glue and add silver glitter; the colors are endless and the price is unbelievable. You won’t know until you try it, so what do you have to lose. Other people in other parts of the world and country use this for Pike to Musky like in this video on how to make such a lure. Try it, have fun and “FISH ON!”
YARN FLIES:
How to Tie a Yarn Fly for Fly Fishing -- powered by ExpertVillage.com
YARN FLIES:
How to Tie a Yarn Fly for Fly Fishing -- powered by ExpertVillage.com
Lured Kings to Trollied Spanish
Not knowing the Difference between a King and a Spanish can put you in jail
A Kingfish by any other name is a summons or even jail time it your that stupid. The first king mackerel have appeared with most of them falling within the 10 to 20 pound class, and a few smokers at 48 inches today, peeling twenty-pound class lines off Avet to Penn’s attached to Down-East Rod Holders. Contestants lined up in a bout to feast on presented spoons to trolleys with live suspended baits, just off the boards of the pier at Sharky’s located in Venice, Florida. Ladies, Jack mackerels, Jack Crevalles and large Threadfins were the choice live baits of the T head, with Threads taking in monster twenty inch plus Spanish and the Jacks as prime for the Kings, both schoolies and smokers. Rolling Tarpon a plenty but no hook ups today. The schoolies were living up to their names as they were congregated in schools of 50 to 100 or more as they boiled the pods of baits about and around the boards of the Venice Pier at Sharky’s in Florida. The inshore waters were black with bait and the pier loaded with anglers catching plenty a fish and not a clue as to what it was they were catching other than it was a fish or maybe a mackerel; think God it did not have wings or they might have thought it was a bird. I even heard one Father tell his son it was to small to be a Kingfish. Ehhh? The simple difference between a Spanish and a King is one has a slanted “L” on its lateral line and the other does not! In addition, generally one is of different spots, color and sometimes size but remember you cannot always judge something just by its spots alone. Also boxed or keeper Kings to other mackerels must be of a regulatory size limit or called “slot.” Measured from the tip of the nose to the bottom fork of the tail or beginning of the V. We use a “FISH STIX” because they are virtually unbreakable, bendable plastic, have a picture of all Florida’s game fishes printed on it for easy I.D., gives limits, bags, seasons and is fold up at 36 inches long giving all of us no excuse to be stupid when fishing. Also if the fish bounces on the deck and says Ola, it must be a Spanish, compared to the King who may just sing out a tune of “the Jail House Rock’ if too small but I would not count on that!
On my son, Edwin’s, last cast, with a silver cast master, jigging along at a medium retrieve using a Pflueger loaded with Big Game Trilene Blue 12 pound test, he hung on to a fish which seemed to pull in an odd fashion. This fish was a drag pulling mamma, as it was at twenty-one inches at the fork, once landed this Cero Mackerel was not caught on his lure but on another in its gill plate; a brand spanking new Clark Reflector-Spoon. Somehow, his hook had slid through the eye of the barrel swivel attached to a leader, half-ounce weight and Clark Spoon with fish attached. What are the odds? I took that same Clark Spoon, attached to my line and casted out this Clark, ripping it in across the surface of the lapping northwestern waves, as in a split second, a monster of a fish slammed the spoon and peeled out about 150 yards of my twelve-pound test fluorocarbon. My Pflueger reel and Ugly Stik bowed in agony as the line sang a tune in the wind. Twenty minutes later Edwin, my son, dropped the bridge net, and we brought up a 26 inch at the fork Schoolie kingfish. The person standing next to me said wow nice Spanish Mackerel, I did not think they got that big. You know folks if a Game Warden had been present today Edwin and I would have been the only people left on the pier, just about, with the exception of a couple of friends I know who also know what their doing, like Barry Garmen. The rest would be in county, waiting bail on Monday, maybe reading the rules and regulations on Florida Saltwater Fishing Laws. Especially the picture pages on the differences between the different mackerels and yes the do come small!
The really odd thing today was it was a backwards day. The people casting spoons on the pier were up to their necks in all types of mackerels. I watched as one gentleman casting a Down-East Demon Bait caught a king that had to be at least forty pounds but on such light tackle, no wire leader and the fish wrapping his ten pound test line around a pillion; ping, ding, good-bye. Then the ones angling with the trolleys for Kings were catching monster Spanish, with the exception of Captain Erik who placed a great hook set in a 48-inch smoker. If you had been in a boat with either planers and spoons out or skipping baits under a Kahula kite behind tour motor craft, you would have been on some fish…Oh well, there is all ways tomorrow and the next up until the water gets too cold.
Fish Tails 101
It is all in the tails folks, from the dorsal to the tail and you too can tell the difference. Some of you experts say it is in the color or spots and sometimes that works but sometimes all mackerel look similar and it can be confusing even to an expert just by judging it spots. All fish have a lateral line on them. Some are colored in scale others in an actual line, like the Mackerels. By looking at this line, you can save yourself the embarrassment of a ticket and be an expert too. King Mackerels have a break or sudden drop in their lateral line in the shape of a slanted “L”. Spanish and all the other mackerels have either a wavy or dropping lateral line with no slanted “L” shape. In addition, Kingfish minimal slot is 24 inches at the fork to keep with a possession limit of two per person. All other mackerels are minimal slot 12” at the fork, with 15 fish in possession per person. Stupid is not looking for that slanted “L”. “FISH ON!”
A Kingfish by any other name is a summons or even jail time it your that stupid. The first king mackerel have appeared with most of them falling within the 10 to 20 pound class, and a few smokers at 48 inches today, peeling twenty-pound class lines off Avet to Penn’s attached to Down-East Rod Holders. Contestants lined up in a bout to feast on presented spoons to trolleys with live suspended baits, just off the boards of the pier at Sharky’s located in Venice, Florida. Ladies, Jack mackerels, Jack Crevalles and large Threadfins were the choice live baits of the T head, with Threads taking in monster twenty inch plus Spanish and the Jacks as prime for the Kings, both schoolies and smokers. Rolling Tarpon a plenty but no hook ups today. The schoolies were living up to their names as they were congregated in schools of 50 to 100 or more as they boiled the pods of baits about and around the boards of the Venice Pier at Sharky’s in Florida. The inshore waters were black with bait and the pier loaded with anglers catching plenty a fish and not a clue as to what it was they were catching other than it was a fish or maybe a mackerel; think God it did not have wings or they might have thought it was a bird. I even heard one Father tell his son it was to small to be a Kingfish. Ehhh? The simple difference between a Spanish and a King is one has a slanted “L” on its lateral line and the other does not! In addition, generally one is of different spots, color and sometimes size but remember you cannot always judge something just by its spots alone. Also boxed or keeper Kings to other mackerels must be of a regulatory size limit or called “slot.” Measured from the tip of the nose to the bottom fork of the tail or beginning of the V. We use a “FISH STIX” because they are virtually unbreakable, bendable plastic, have a picture of all Florida’s game fishes printed on it for easy I.D., gives limits, bags, seasons and is fold up at 36 inches long giving all of us no excuse to be stupid when fishing. Also if the fish bounces on the deck and says Ola, it must be a Spanish, compared to the King who may just sing out a tune of “the Jail House Rock’ if too small but I would not count on that!
On my son, Edwin’s, last cast, with a silver cast master, jigging along at a medium retrieve using a Pflueger loaded with Big Game Trilene Blue 12 pound test, he hung on to a fish which seemed to pull in an odd fashion. This fish was a drag pulling mamma, as it was at twenty-one inches at the fork, once landed this Cero Mackerel was not caught on his lure but on another in its gill plate; a brand spanking new Clark Reflector-Spoon. Somehow, his hook had slid through the eye of the barrel swivel attached to a leader, half-ounce weight and Clark Spoon with fish attached. What are the odds? I took that same Clark Spoon, attached to my line and casted out this Clark, ripping it in across the surface of the lapping northwestern waves, as in a split second, a monster of a fish slammed the spoon and peeled out about 150 yards of my twelve-pound test fluorocarbon. My Pflueger reel and Ugly Stik bowed in agony as the line sang a tune in the wind. Twenty minutes later Edwin, my son, dropped the bridge net, and we brought up a 26 inch at the fork Schoolie kingfish. The person standing next to me said wow nice Spanish Mackerel, I did not think they got that big. You know folks if a Game Warden had been present today Edwin and I would have been the only people left on the pier, just about, with the exception of a couple of friends I know who also know what their doing, like Barry Garmen. The rest would be in county, waiting bail on Monday, maybe reading the rules and regulations on Florida Saltwater Fishing Laws. Especially the picture pages on the differences between the different mackerels and yes the do come small!
The really odd thing today was it was a backwards day. The people casting spoons on the pier were up to their necks in all types of mackerels. I watched as one gentleman casting a Down-East Demon Bait caught a king that had to be at least forty pounds but on such light tackle, no wire leader and the fish wrapping his ten pound test line around a pillion; ping, ding, good-bye. Then the ones angling with the trolleys for Kings were catching monster Spanish, with the exception of Captain Erik who placed a great hook set in a 48-inch smoker. If you had been in a boat with either planers and spoons out or skipping baits under a Kahula kite behind tour motor craft, you would have been on some fish…Oh well, there is all ways tomorrow and the next up until the water gets too cold.
Fish Tails 101
It is all in the tails folks, from the dorsal to the tail and you too can tell the difference. Some of you experts say it is in the color or spots and sometimes that works but sometimes all mackerel look similar and it can be confusing even to an expert just by judging it spots. All fish have a lateral line on them. Some are colored in scale others in an actual line, like the Mackerels. By looking at this line, you can save yourself the embarrassment of a ticket and be an expert too. King Mackerels have a break or sudden drop in their lateral line in the shape of a slanted “L”. Spanish and all the other mackerels have either a wavy or dropping lateral line with no slanted “L” shape. In addition, Kingfish minimal slot is 24 inches at the fork to keep with a possession limit of two per person. All other mackerels are minimal slot 12” at the fork, with 15 fish in possession per person. Stupid is not looking for that slanted “L”. “FISH ON!”
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Kings and Cero and Spanish OH My; on Straws?
As we approached the beach, it had that look of dead floating seaweed awash on the lapping waves, yet none was sticking to the sand on the back flow of the wash. Upon closer review of the waters edge, revealed acres of greenies to threadfin herring abound as far as the eye could see! A black line of batfishes against a mixed greenish muddied sea, diving seagulls as in numbers like out of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and many a mackerel breaking the surface in giving chase for a mixed and fulfilling dinner. Pulling out a Johnston ‘Sprite’ my son Edwin whipped it out across the diving birds and to the edge of this migrating pod of bait on the move. Bam on the first skip as not even a rotation of a crank happened and it was “FISH ON!” as his Pflueger spools drag screamed in an agony of despair. “Twenty-one inch Spanish at the fork, not bad for my first cast eh Dad,” Edwin exclaimed. “Wonder how many more I’ll get cause it is the only one we have with us today, maybe they will take a straw, is that what your going to use?” He was probably right as I chunked out a Gotcha in a smirk and said, “Lucky You, Watch the ole man work!” and work I did as I was changing lures like they change tires at Daytona and still looking for that first nudge much less a real hit and fish. Hmmm…he did say straws right.
On that note, I too was now in catch up mode to Ed, as I tied a Jansik onto two #1 hooks and rigged up a pair of straws…
Start calling your friends Ed and I will call mom to go to the store, looks like a fish fry tonight. Remembering Spanish are measured at twelve inches at the fork of the tail to be a "keeper" and bag limit is 15 per person maxium. Filleted out, beer battered and eaten, this almost a bag full was as good to eat as it was to catch, it was the cleaning that was the hard part.
In two and a half hours, we bagged out and headed for the house as the sharkers were heading out to the setting sun on the “T”. Bet it is a good one tonight but then again I will hear about it tomorrow and let you all know the rest of the story...
AND OUT ABOUT:
Angling the skinnies of Lemon bay via kayak to getting the legs wet the bite on the flats was not exclusive at all this Saturday morning. Spanish from last night out on the pier at Sharky’s to a hit on redfish, trout, snook and jack, all in a cooperative mood to feast on my soft crank baits or live greenies under a Cajun bobber. A true smorgasbord of fish this week and smiles for all, including the Offshore groups where I have heard reports of big Bonita’s to bunker sized Blues mixed with large Schoolie Kings and a mix of marauders out of the Inlet to New Pass from Grouper to Scamp. Sharks in an abundance around three miles out with yellowtail, lane and mangrove a bit further to the west from New pass at around thirty-six miles to the spot of enlightenment.
A MUST HAVE BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO FISH INSHORE FLORIDA WATERS IS A QUICK REVIEW OF THE LATEST FACTS TO TACKS ON FIN & SKIN MAGAZINE!
Your Guide to Fishing the Flats
A sportsman “Must have” packed to the rim with articles to many a destination ‘Flats Arena” in catching that big one with facts and techniques in the latest of fashion from “Fins & Skins”, it is where you want to be! From catch’n to cook’n, it serves up a plate to the pallet for all to enjoy. King mackerel is the name and King Creole is the game.
“FISH ON!”
On that note, I too was now in catch up mode to Ed, as I tied a Jansik onto two #1 hooks and rigged up a pair of straws…
Start calling your friends Ed and I will call mom to go to the store, looks like a fish fry tonight. Remembering Spanish are measured at twelve inches at the fork of the tail to be a "keeper" and bag limit is 15 per person maxium. Filleted out, beer battered and eaten, this almost a bag full was as good to eat as it was to catch, it was the cleaning that was the hard part.
In two and a half hours, we bagged out and headed for the house as the sharkers were heading out to the setting sun on the “T”. Bet it is a good one tonight but then again I will hear about it tomorrow and let you all know the rest of the story...
AND OUT ABOUT:
Angling the skinnies of Lemon bay via kayak to getting the legs wet the bite on the flats was not exclusive at all this Saturday morning. Spanish from last night out on the pier at Sharky’s to a hit on redfish, trout, snook and jack, all in a cooperative mood to feast on my soft crank baits or live greenies under a Cajun bobber. A true smorgasbord of fish this week and smiles for all, including the Offshore groups where I have heard reports of big Bonita’s to bunker sized Blues mixed with large Schoolie Kings and a mix of marauders out of the Inlet to New Pass from Grouper to Scamp. Sharks in an abundance around three miles out with yellowtail, lane and mangrove a bit further to the west from New pass at around thirty-six miles to the spot of enlightenment.
A MUST HAVE BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO FISH INSHORE FLORIDA WATERS IS A QUICK REVIEW OF THE LATEST FACTS TO TACKS ON FIN & SKIN MAGAZINE!
Your Guide to Fishing the Flats
A sportsman “Must have” packed to the rim with articles to many a destination ‘Flats Arena” in catching that big one with facts and techniques in the latest of fashion from “Fins & Skins”, it is where you want to be! From catch’n to cook’n, it serves up a plate to the pallet for all to enjoy. King mackerel is the name and King Creole is the game.
“FISH ON!”
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