Think Mackerels, Think Bottom, Think Venice, FL!

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!” ©

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!”