If you’re a diver, you’ve seen first-hand how lionfish invade the reefs and threaten the balance that sustains many offshore species. You’ve probably also heard of the Lionfish Challenge, an opportunity to help reduce the population of this invasive species.
Here’s a chance for divers and anglers, both commercial and recreational, to make a difference while enjoying Florida’s reefs and wrecks.
The Lionfish Challenge, from May 24 – Sept. 2, is sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The beautiful but venomous lionfish threatens Florida’s reefs. – Submitted
The challenge is a free summer-long lionfish tournament open to recreational and commercial competitors of all ages in Florida. More than 195,000 lionfish have been removed as a part of this challenge since it began in 2016. In its ninth year, the Lionfish Challenge goal remains the same – remove as many lionfish as possible in just three months.
Participants will compete in either the commercial or the recreational division, with grand prizes to the top competitors in each division.
Prizes will be awarded in tiers as follows:
• Tier 1 – Harvest 25 lionfish (recreational) or 50 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 2 – Harvest 75 lionfish (recreational) or 100 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 3 – Harvest 150 lionfish (recreational) or 200 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 4 – Harvest 300 lionfish (recreational) or 400 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 5 – Harvest 600 lionfish (recreational) or 800 pounds of lionfish (commercial).
Are you an accidental angler? Someone who might not be passionate about fishing but who has always wondered what all the hype is about? Maybe you’re an avid freshwater angler from the north unfamiliar with the salt. Whatever your situation, if you want to get a taste of some of the area’s best summer angling with no hassle, beach fishing for snook with Capt. Steve Herich of Beach Fishing Adventures is a terrific option.
Capt. Steve has been fishing almost all his life.
“I started in Canada, fishing freshwater with my uncle Hop. He taught me how to catch frogs and crawfish for bass and how to fillet fish when I was 9 years old. I also fished a lot as a kid with my grandpa in Lake Isabella in California for bluegill and the nearby Kern River for rainbow trout,” he said. “In Florida, I’ve been fishing the local beaches since 1992 and always loved it. I had a boat at one time and went out with friends on their boats, but always gravitated back to shore. After leaving my 17-year insurance career here in Sarasota, I was ready to try something new. In 2011, my old friend Harry was fishing with me one day and an older lady walked up with questions about fishing since her grandsons were visiting and liked to fish. Harry spoke up and said Steve can show you how to fish and the lady booked me the next day. The rest is history and Beach Fishing Adventures was born officially in 2012. It’s been my full-time career since then and I love the opportunity to show folks that you can catch great fish and make wonderful memories, all with no boat in sight.”
Capt. Steve Herich holds a snook that fell for live bait while fishing the beach. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
I recently had the opportunity to fish with Capt. Steve on the beach near my home on Longboat Key. When I arrived on a beautiful early spring morning, Capt. Steve was busy catching bait from a local pier. After hellos, I took over the bait catching duties. While he prepared the tackle for the day’s fishing, I baited a spinning rod with small pieces of shrimp. Action was fast and in only a few minutes we had a baitwell brimming with small pinfish and whiting. I was impressed with the captain’s homemade rolling beach cart that he had built specifically for fishing the beach. It was equipped with large tires to handle the often soft sands and equipped with rod holders and space for his bait and tackle.
We began fishing around a rock riprap structure along the beach. Capt. Steve approached the structure and quietly entered the water until he had a view of the whole perimeter where he spotted a snook to target. Reaching into the baitwell he hooked a small pinfish through the lips and made a cast to the outside of the structure. He then slowly maneuvered the bait into the path of the snook. Moments later he was hooked up to a 28-inch snook that made a hard run to the structure. Backing up while working the fish away from the structure, I watched as he expertly played the fish to the beach. We then moved farther down the beach where some trees had fallen into the water, providing the perfect habitat for snook. Unfortunately, the beach was filling up with tourists and they were in the water where the snook were congregated. We fished the area anyway and managed a couple of halfhearted strikes before deciding to move back up the beach. At another rock outcropping on the Gulf, Herich spotted a group of fish and made a cast in their direction. Almost as soon as his bait hit the water it was blasted by what turned out to be a fat sea trout.
Herich decided it was getting too crowded and suggested we move to another spot further to the south on Longboat. Unfortunately, I had an obligation and couldn’t join him, but about an hour later he texted me pictures of another fat trout and two snook he had landed. Not bad for a three-hour stint on a Saturday morning. I highly recommend Capt. Steve. He’s personable, prepared and passionate, a perfect fit for anglers wanting to try their hand at catching some of the area’s most iconic fish. The fact you won’t need tackle, any experience, or a boat is icing on the proverbial cake. Book a trip with Herich by visiting his website, www.beachfishingadventures.com. You won’t be disappointed.
Extending approximately 5 miles from Anna Maria Island to St. Petersburg, the mouth of Tampa Bay is fronted by the barrier islands of Egmont Key and Passage Key. The surrounding waters are beautiful, ecologically important and provide anglers with some excellent fishing opportunities. The history surrounding the islands is rich and, in the case of Egmont, goes back some 2,000 years. They seasonally hold some of angling’s prized species, including tarpon, snook and permit.
Egmont Key is a Florida State Park and a National Wildlife Refuge. Steeped in history, the entire island is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Artifacts and pottery dating back two millennia have been found on the island. The first recorded landing there dates back to a Spanish explorer in 1757 and its recent history spans from the Spanish-American War to World War II. The island is home to the Tampa Bay Pilots and has miles of old brick roads, a holdover from a time when there were over 70 buildings and 300 people living there. It has a functioning lighthouse, rebuilt in 1857 after a hurricane destroyed the original structure. Ever changing, Egmont Key was once 50% larger than it is today.
Passage Key, the southernmost island, is uninhabited and also a National Wildlife Refuge. It was first established as a bird sanctuary in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt. At the time, it was a 60-acre island and had a freshwater lake. That all changed in 1921 when it was decimated by a hurricane and has never been the same. Over the past decade, Passage Key has been little more than a constantly changing sandbar but is building back. In the 1970s, the island was designated as a wilderness area. Together the islands hold nesting colonies of all Florida seabirds including the largest concentration of royal and sandwich terns in Florida.
In the spring and summer, schools of tarpon and permit can be sight fished on the vast clear white sand flats that surround Passage Key. During the warm months of the year, there are also schools of sharks and large houndfish on the flats. In the cooler months, trout, redfish and pompano can be found on the edges of the flats and the grass beds to the east side of the key. Houndfish, which resemble large needlefish, gather in schools and, while they are not often pursued by anglers, they’re great sport on flies and light tackle. Small white clousers and lures that resemble baitfish can elicit some explosive strikes.
Egmont Key has a much more varied habitat and also has excellent fishing for tarpon, snook, permit and sharks. Old structures, vestiges of the Spanish-American War, can be seen along the western side of the Key, many of which are submerged. They provide a perfect habitat for species including pompano, trout and sheepshead as well as other pelagic species that swim these waters. On the east side, the pilot’s dock holds sheepshead, black drum, trout and redfish. Extensive grass flats there are home to trout, pompano, Spanish mackerel and redfish. A ship’s channel north of the key provides access to Port Manatee and the Port of Tampa. This deep waterway holds a plethora of gamefish including kingfish, Spanish mackerel and little tunny. The exposed ledges along the channel are also home to mangrove snapper, grouper and sheepshead.
If you haven’t explored these historical islands, a trip there will be eye-opening, and, whether you’re swimming in the clear Gulf waters, exploring the rich history or angling for a trophy, you’ll find these islands enchanting.
Although tarpon can be one of the most exciting gamefish to engage, they are also one of the most demanding and exhausting. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of epic two-hour-plus battles, which are not good for the angler or the tarpon.
After experiencing the thrill of the catch, many anglers, not concerned with landing a tarpon again, prefer the hunt, the hook-up and the jumps that usually follow a hook set. They use light bite tippets which allow the tarpon to work through the leader with their abrasive mouths. The key to landing tarpon, especially on fly, is accuracy. While there are exceptions to every rule, the fly must be placed perfectly, move in a precise direction relative to the fish and be at the proper (fish’s) depth. Even when all these factors come together, there’s still about a 50% chance that the tarpon will reject the fly.
The go-to bait for spin anglers is a live crab. Small blue crabs can be purchased at bait shops and pass crabs can be dipped from the local passes on a falling tide. Other effective baits include pinfish, threadfin herring and pilchards. Artificial lures like the DOA Bait Buster and the 4- to 6-inch shrimp, jigs and even topwater plugs can be effective. Patience is a critical factor when fishing for tarpon, especially when fly fishing. One strategy used by fly anglers is to find the edge of a sand bar or other underwater feature that tarpon track, anchor in casting range and wait. Sometimes tarpon come at a steady rate, but just as often there are long periods of time when the only thing to look at is the water and the bottom. This really separates the great anglers from the good anglers. Others use their push pole to intercept their target. There are times when you need to move to a different area altogether, but knowing when and where is a skill that is developed, if never mastered.
Once set up, the angler must be able to make a 40- to 50-foot cast to a location the size of a dinner plate. The placement of the fly cannot be overemphasized because tarpon will seldom vary a foot or two from their path to eat a fly. Although there is always a rare exception, a fly must never travel in a path towards the intended target. A tarpon’s prey species wouldn’t survive long if it moved toward its aggressor and tarpon know it. If all this wasn’t demanding enough, once a tarpon decides to eat the fly, an angler’s mettle is really tested.
Tarpon phenom Andy Mill demonstrates the technique of “bowing to the king.” – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Conventional anglers usually look for rolling fish in the nearshore Gulf and motor well ahead of them to intercept their path. Trolling motors can be effective for following a school in deep water but will spook them in the shallows. One thing that all tarpon anglers should practice is courtesy. Often a boat has been working long and hard to get properly set up for a shot at an approaching school and a boat running up on the fish will spoil the day for everyone. Tarpon are not trout and attempting to raise the rod to set the hook is a cardinal mistake. Fortunately, once a tarpon decides to eat the fly there’s no need to make a lightning-fast hook set. The right set is called a “strip strike” which involves letting the line come tight and immediately setting the hook with a combination of the line hand and the rod. Conventional anglers should also have the patience to let the line come tight before attempting to hook the fish. After the initial hook set fly, the angler’s attention must go immediately to clearing the line. In most cases, the angler has been stripping in line when the fish bites and the hook is set. That line can easily foul on the angler, the rod or the reel. Once the line is on the reel, it’s time to set the hook with several more strip strikes, using the rod.
Conventional anglers often use circle hooks which don’t require a hook set. They just need to let the line come tight and enjoy the action. In any case, the tarpon cannot be aware of the angler on the other end until the hook is set. While it’s important to exert maximum pressure on the tarpon during the fight, anglers must yield on jumps. On the jump, the standard maneuver is to thrust the rod forward to relieve pressure on the line. This prevents the tarpon from breaking off if it lands on a taut line. This maneuver is known as “bowing to the king.”
If you’re looking for a good jump shot, here’s a great tip. When a tarpon makes any long run, motor close to it, applying only enough pressure to make sure the hook doesn’t dislodge. As soon as you are in place, frame the shot you want and then have the angler apply maximum pressure. Most times the tarpon will make a jump that’s close enough to the boat to get the angler and the fish in the shot. It’s not a sure thing, but when it works it can present an awesome photographic opportunity. Finally, don’t try and rush the tarpon when it gets near the end of the fight. Keep the pressure on but don’t clamp down and try to force the fish to the boat.
Good action can be found right through July for fly anglers, while the best month for conventional anglers is generally June. Tarpon fishing is a challenging endeavor, but it’s well worth the effort when you finally get that first-scale rattling jump. If you’re looking for fly tackle for tarpon, a local guide or timely advice seek out AMI Outfitters on Pine Street in Anna Maria. There’s no substitute for local knowledge!
Tarpon season is one of the most anticipated times of the year in local waters. While I’ve encountered tarpon occasionally most every month of the year, April through July is the time ardent anglers turn their sights to these beautiful fish. Their arrival in numbers worth pursuing is generally water temperature dependent. The magic number is debatable and a moving target, but as a general rule, when water temperatures hit the 80s, it’s time to get serious.
The tarpon that frequent our waters in numbers from May through August can weigh over 200 pounds and average from 80-100 pounds. We are blessed with some of the best tarpon fishing in the world and the local beaches and inshore waters host some of the finest fly and spin fishing to be found anywhere. This isn’t a game of numbers, and to the anglers who pursue tarpon, it’s the hunt and the action that keep them on the bow for hours in the hot summer sun.
The tackle should match the size of the quarry and most anglers opt for a 20- to 30-pound spin outfit and an 11- to 12-weight fly rod, line and reel. A heavy bite tippet is required because of the size of the tarpon and its rasp-like mouth. Fly anglers generally use a 60- to 80-pound tippet while spin anglers choose an 80- to 100-pound test. While it might seem like a difficult task to land a tarpon on the fly, or any tackle for that matter, an angler who knows the limits of their tackle can land a tarpon in a surprisingly short time. The key is to apply maximum pressure from the hookup and never let up. Too many anglers baby their tarpon in a misguided attempt to land them. The truth is that the longer you fight a tarpon the better chance you have of losing it.
A properly (IGFA-approved) tied tarpon leader used by fly fishers usually runs between 10-12 feet and is tapered to properly deliver the fly. The leader includes a class tippet (weakest link) from 16-20 pounds that is doubled at both ends to soften the (shock) impact on the class tippet and bite tippet. The key to the whole equation is to have a very sharp hook as tarpon have extremely tough mouths. Conventional leaders vary from angler to angler, but a doubled standing line tied to a leader and then to the bite tippet with a blood knot or Albright Special is recommended.
Flies vary from the classic splayed feather Keys style to more complex designs like the Tarpon Toad and various baitfish imitations. Recently, the Palolo Worm fly-fished with a double-handed retrieve has taken the fly-fishing world by storm. These worms that hatch en masse in the Keys are reported to have an aphrodisiac effect on tarpon. Although they do not occur locally, tarpon readily take a well-presented worm fly. Next week, Tarpon primer: Part Two.
How many times have you arrived at the boat ramp to find you left something important behind? How about forgetting to put the drain plug in before launching the boat? Not often, I hope, but if you’re like me, there are a ton of other small items that might get overlooked, like a boat towel for the floor, ice or food and drink.
Unfortunately, this happens to me all too often. It took way too long, but eventually, I decided to create a checklist and consult it every time before ever leaving the house. Each angler’s list will be somewhat different, but I offer you a look at mine in case you want some ideas to get started. I’ve found this to be a living checklist, meaning there’s always something you’ll need to add or subtract. I printed two copies of mine, laminated them and keep one in the glove box of the car and one in the boat. I save a copy as a Word file and periodically update it. Here’s a look at my evolving list.
BOATING CHECKLIST
DAY BEFORE
• Check to make sure boat batteries are charged;
• Check to make sure there is adequate fuel;
• Make sure winch battery is adequately charged.
BEFORE LEAVING GARAGE
• Sunscreen applied and extra available;
• Make sure trolling motor handle isn’t elevated;
• Remove leaning posts from overhead storage;
• Remove wheel chock;
• Remove push pole and install on boat;
• Bring a boat towel.
BEFORE LEAVING FOR RAMP
• Check that trailer is secure;
• Make sure plug is in boat drain;
• Plug in and test trailer lights.
FISHING AND OTHER GEAR
• Stripping basket;
• Fly boxes, pliers, cable to charge phone;
• Rods and reels, leaders, hooks, hook sharpener;
• All barbs bent down on hooks before use.
BEFORE LAUNCHING
• Double check drain plug;
• Remove safety chain;
• Loosen winch cable.
RETURNING TO RAMP AND BEFORE BACKING INTO GARAGE
• After backing trailer to retrieve boat, tighten winch cable;
• Remove leaning posts;
• Make sure safety chain is secure;
• Flush engine;
• Before backing into garage make sure trolling motor is in upright position but not too high;
• Secure wheel with chock;
• Open all hatches.
A checklist can be a valuable asset considering the energy that’s required to get to your destination and start fishing. I’ve employed a checklist for traveling for years but it’s proving more valuable all the time!
I just heard my first whippoorwill last night, a harbinger of spring. While we might still be a few cold fronts away from spring, now is a great time to prepare for the upcoming season, getting tackle in order and keeping an eye on the sky for diving birds and breaking fish.
Under those birds, you might find Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, little tunny, jack crevalle and any number of other predators that come together to feast on schools of baitfish that migrate to nearshore waters this time of the year. Every one of these predators will ambush live bait, lures or flies and can be caught on spinning, bait casting or fly tackle. Except for king mackerel and cobia, most can be landed with light (8- to 10-pound test) tackle, adding to the excitement.
Depending on the species you’re targeting, you’ll want to rig accordingly. Since it’s possible to encounter such a diversity of fish in a single outing, multiple outfits are a good idea. After a long winter, tackle can fall into disrepair and need to be replaced. However you fish, take care to avoid the number one way fish are lost – improperly tied knots. To assure you’ll never lose a good fish to inferior knots, moisten and tighten all knots. Properly sharpened hooks and outfits with the appropriate bite tippet and leader are also key. Options include wire, monofilament, long-shanked hooks or a combination of these. It’s possible to catch a kingfish without wire but your odds aren’t good. The same applies with certain exceptions to Spanish mackerel. Mackerel can sometimes shy from wire. That’s the time to switch to a long shank hook and/or a heavy (60-pound) monofilament leader. Even then, it’s possible to get cut off, but you’ll be guaranteed more action if the fish are feeding.
When using wire or heavier mono for a bite tippet, an 8- to-12-inch trace can be tied to monofilament using an Albright Special knot (best) or a swivel. If you use a swivel, use a black one as opposed to silver to prevent fish from mistaking it for forage. American Fishing Wire makes a product called Surflon Micro Supreme that is extremely flexible and kink-resistant. This wire can be knotted to your lure, hook or fly like monofilament. It also provides greater flexibility and less stretch than monofilament. Umpqua makes a product that’s ideal for fly anglers. Their Re-Twistable Haywire Twist wire is reusable and will allow you to change flies in a snap. This is the quickest and most painless system to rig wire for toothy fish. A wire is less likely to deter a bite under low light conditions like early morning, overcast days and late in the day.
False albacore are one of the fastest fish you’ll find harassing bait fish off Anna Maria Island beaches in the spring. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
One of the most effective ways to find schooling fish in the spring is to look for surface action and diving birds in the inshore Gulf waters. Predators can also be present without revealing themselves around structures, reefs and wrecks, so a few exploratory casts around these areas are advisable. When you find baitfish schools and feeding fish you can approach them by trolling, drifting or with the use of a trolling motor. Whatever method you employ, never let your boat pass through or get too close to the action. With more and more boats and anglers pursuing feeding fish, they are likely to sound and move away. The best bet is to stay outside the action but within casting distance. If trolling, make wide turns so only your lures pass through the action. On species like little tunny that surface, feed and then sound suddenly, only to resurface yards away, learn to watch hovering birds. The birds track the finicky fish as they move from between baitfish schools.
Live bait anglers target schooling fish in several ways. By anchoring up current from a likely area, they may deploy a chum bag and then toss wounded live baits to draw fish into casting range. This can be an extremely effective method. Those who prefer artificial lures find spoons particularly effective as well as jigs like the DOA CAL or the Berkley Gulp. One of the most exciting and effective types of lures are top water models like the MirroLure Top Dog, the Heddon Zara Spook or the Rapala Saltwater Skitter Pop. Not only is the strike visual and often explosive, but the surface action can attract target species.
Fly fishing is also an effective and exciting way to target spring species from cobia to triple tail, Spanish mackerel and even kingfish. The same rigging applies and top water flies like the Crease fly or Garthside Gurgler can produce some memorable strikes. Clouser Deep Minnows are also a great choice for Spanish mackerel and little tunny. This would be a good time of the year to have a 10- or 11-weight rod rigged with a big black fly should a cobia make an appearance.
Whatever your fishing style, take advantage of the great action you’ll find in area waters in the next couple of months. If you’re new to the game, consider hiring a guide. This is a great way to learn the ropes and a great value when shared with a friend. Tight lines!
Reflecting back on the importance fishing has had on my life, I’d like to pass on some of the things I’ve learned over the years about how to introduce children to the marine world and fishing.
Those first experiences on the water leave indelible memories, so we should work to make them uncomplicated and as much fun as possible. Creating unrealistic expectations can discourage young anglers and be the difference between the kindling of a passion or a dislike for the activity. The basics of fishing are not complicated to learn, are easy to teach children and don’t require expensive equipment. If there’s a cardinal rule to getting kids interested in fishing, it’s to make sure and keep them engaged.
Children are naturally curious, they love to play in and on the water and are fascinated by the creatures that inhabit the water. Catching fish isn’t their main objective and you shouldn’t make it the focus of an outing. It’s important to plan a trip that includes other activities such as swimming, wildlife identification and snorkeling, as well as fishing. Being on the water provides an excellent opportunity to teach kids about their environment and boating safety skills. You could also make a game out of learning basic nautical terms such as port, starboard, bow and stern. Every child I’ve ever had on the boat wants to drive, so let them, even if it’s just sitting on your lap with their hands on the wheel!
By being sensitive to what interests children, it’s possible to foster a lifetime passion. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
It’s important let kids be a part of the adventure, and getting them involved is a great way to interject a stealth lesson in responsibility in children. Give them things to be in charge of such as making sure everyone knows where the safety equipment is. Don’t start children out with cheap fishing rods and reels. Provide them with decent equipment that’s light and manageable. An ultra-light rig with 6-pound test line is a great way to start. Try and think like a kid when fishing. Children would rather catch a dozen pinfish in a half hour than wait a half hour for a chance at a bigger or better fish. Try tying on a bait-catching sabiki rig and watch their excitement and boasting about catching so many fish. Action is paramount; kids are easily bored and distracted.
Consider starting kids fishing with a small popping cork that they can watch for signs of action. If you can start teaching kids that the enjoyment of the adventure isn’t measured by the number or size of fish you catch, you’ll teach them an important lesson that many fishermen never learn.
Local shops like AMI Outfitters can suggest the right tackle and the fish to pursue. If you can make the experience interesting and educational for them, even if there’s no hook-ups, they are more likely to want to do it again. Kids might be more interested in collecting shells, counting crabs or looking for manatees or dolphins than fishing, so be sensitive to what’s bringing them pleasure. It’s a good strategy to have children involved in other activities while you search for the fish. When the action gets hot, get them involved. That is a much better way to make a day of “fishing” more memorable and one they’ll want to repeat. It’s also important to emphasize safety, bending down barbs and making them aware of fish with sharp teeth and barbs like catfish and stingrays. This is also an excellent time to teach them to carefully handle and release any fish that’s not going to be kept. The first experiences on the water are very important and you should consider a plan of action in advance in case the fishing isn’t great. The last thing you want to do is bore kids by sitting on a spot too long. Keep your eyes and ears open and you might learn a lesson or two from them!
The fourth annual Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament was held this past weekend. The two-day, fly-only redfish tournament with a snook calcutta was a sellout with a total of 145 anglers registered. The fishing boundaries were wide-ranging, including the west coast of Florida from Crystal River to the southernmost tip of Sanibel Island. The photo submission format and the iAngler Tournament app made it possible for fishermen in this entire range to participate. The tournament culminated in an awards banquet and prize-rich raffle at the Bradenton Yacht Club on Saturday evening that was made possible by many generous sponsors. All proceeds from the fly fishing tournament benefited Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the protection, preservation and improvement of the Tampa Bay watershed.
The two-angler teams received a collared long-sleeve tournament shirt, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper hats, dinner for two at the awards ceremony and one raffle ticket for each angler. The target species were redfish and snook. Scoring was done by the highest combination of the two longest redfish caught over the two days. If a tie had occurred in any of the three top places, it would have been decided by a casting competition based on distance and accuracy.
Dr. Jennifer Rehage was the guest speaker at this year’s banquet. Rehage is a coastal ecologist and professor at the Institute of the Environment at Florida International University in Miami. In her presentation, she explained how water management decisions, water quality and climate affect fish and the quality of recreational fisheries throughout Florida. Her work involves tapping into angler’s local ecological knowledge and knowledge co-production with fishing guides. Her recent work has focused on the presence of pharmaceuticals in our fisheries and the implications for wastewater management, the health of Floridians and Florida’s valuable estuaries.
This year’s anglers faced tough competition from the weather including cloud cover that made sight fishing challenging. To give an idea of the degree of difficulty between the fish and the weather, only 17 teams out of 76 caught at least two redfish to fill their card. Only 34 teams out of 76 caught at least one redfish. The winner of the tournament was Team Juice consisting of Capt. Greg Peterson and Christopher Dierlam with a total of 68.75 inches. Second place was awarded to Trip Saunders and Sean Kersting of Team TBS Beverage with a total of 63.5 inches. In third place was Tim Metcalf and Marlin Marshall, Team The Other Line with 59.6 inches.
I spoke with Team Juice member Peterson after the tournament awards and he offered this commentary.
“The weather was pretty tough for sight fishing and we never got good visibility once in two days,” Peterson said. “We had a ton of tailing fish pre-fishing on Thursday before the tournament, but they were gone Friday morning probably due to higher water and a south wind pattern. We found one small group of really big fish that were in a couple of potholes and we just had to go super slow. You’re never going to get two of these big, wary fish in a day, but we got one of them each morning. We only caught three fish in two days, but two were the right ones. We were in second after Friday but got our second big fish at 7:05 a.m. Saturday.”
Contact AMI Outfitters locally to book Peterson and many other excellent local guides.
Sponsors were pivotal to this event and the fishing community stepped up to support Tampa Bay Waterkeeper’s mission.
Organizations like Tampa Bay Waterkeeper are on the front line of the defense of our coastal environment and deserve the support of anglers and all those who appreciate the threatened coastal environment. As last year’s guest speaker, Bill Horn, mentioned in his closing statement, “If we don’t do this, we might be the last generation of anglers to have this opportunity.”
Please support these men, women and companies that step up to protect our local waters:
Digital photography and videography continue to evolve as phones advance. Anglers have never had more access to capturing images and videos, right in their pocket. Whether you are capturing a picture or a video clip to remind you of your catch, to share with friends and family, or to post on social media, photography has never been easier. Anglers can enjoy this remarkable technology no matter their level of experience. The best part is that these devices are always close at hand, so you have opportunities that somehow always seemed to appear when you didn’t have an SFR camera at hand. Most smartphones employ AI technology and come with software or apps that let you enhance the image, crop the size and share the final product in many ways. You can send the images to social media via email (straight from a phone), download them to your computer, edit and even print them out to frame and display.
Even though snapping a picture has never been easier, there are a few basic rules that will help you capture that special image.
Before ever leaving the dock, be sure you have a full charge on your phone and an extra battery bank with cables to recharge. Shooting video on an iPhone or Android device uses up a lot of power and you don’t want to run out of juice late in the day. Also, carry a cleaning cloth and make sure your lens stays clean.
There is almost always a certain amount of chaos associated with catching a memorable fish, so get an idea in advance of where you’ll compose your image.
An image from an iPhone takes a memorable shot when well-composed and exposed. Rallis Papas’ trout took a black Clouser in Waccasassa Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Check the background through the viewfinder carefully for distracting and cluttered backgrounds. Make sure you don’t have any unwanted objects, like a rod appearing to stick out of someone’s head.
Look to capture photographs that aren’t posed and remember that the sooner you get your picture the more vibrant the colors of a fish will be. First and foremost, fill the frame with the subject, eliminating anything that doesn’t add to the composition.
Since you’re filming on the water, check that the horizon is straight. Most phones have the option of putting a grid on the field of view.
Many photographs taken on the water are exposed in bright light. When possible, shoot with the sun at your back and use fill flash when shooting with the sun in the background.
Take several shots from different angles and get the angler excited and talking to you. One of the great advantages of digital is that you can take lots of pictures and edit them on the go to make sure you have the shot you want.
Modern phones have built-in software to edit images but there are also apps including Lightroom and Photoshop that can be used. Since lighting on the water can be challenging, shoot and then review important shots.
The one disadvantage of phone photography is the lack of telephoto capabilities. There are a lot of excellent digital cameras on the market today that give you that option if needed but today’s phones take excellent images of fish and fishing. Phones can take amazing images, but they have their limitations so if you’re interested in photography, I would suggest getting a camera that meets your needs. Taking the time to capture the moments of life pays in dividends that you can continue to relive by sharing them through your images.
Push poles have been used to propel boats for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Today’s push poles have come a long way since then. They’ve evolved from wooden poling oars hewn from tree limbs to technological wonders constructed of carbon fiber, Kevlar and graphite. In the early years of flats fishing, short poles were all that were needed. In those days, anglers pursued fish by poling from the deck, standing on coolers and from the top of their boat’s motor. As boat design advanced, elevated platforms were built to allow guides a higher vantage point to spot the fish they were pursuing. That required longer poles to reach the bottom, which proved cumbersome because of the increased weight. That compelled Miami angling innovators Dick Snyder, Lee Cuddy and John Emory to search for lighter materials to propel them across the flats. Fiberglass vaulting poles were explored but proved too heavy, so lighter versions were developed. According to Miami outdoor writer Bob Sterns, the first person to make dedicated push poles from Fiberglas was Bill Marks. Marks had a backyard company that he called Moonlighter Marine.
As rod design advanced from Fiberglas to graphite, push poles followed suit. Graphite was lighter, allowing anglers to pole their skiffs faster while expending less energy. Graphite also stores more energy under a load, giving it a much faster recovery rate. That translates into more energy to propel the boat. Graphite also allowed manufacturers to create a more dynamic product that was stiff and used less material.
Initially, these new poles were crafted of pure graphite, but due to the cost and issues with breakage, products were developed that blended graphite with Fiberglas. The new push poles incorporated the strength of Fiberglas with the lightness and dynamics of graphite. It also lowered the price point of the pole. Modern push poles are now constructed of cutting-edge materials including Kevlar, carbon fiber and resins originally developed by the space industry.
A push pole allows a guide to get clients up close and personal with their quarry. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
The points and forks of most major push poles do not vary significantly. Most are made from a specially formulated abrasion-resistant plastic for longer wear. The majority of forks are a simple Y-shaped design. A better option is a fork with a tapered mud bar that runs between the legs of the fork. The best push poles are cupped, widened in the center for support and designed to shed mud better than standard forks. They allow the angler more latitude when poling over a soft bottom, so less effort is expended pulling the pole out of soft mud. Anglers who pole over hard bottom can opt for a metal tip that screws into the end of the point of the push pole. The tip grabs the bottom, wears longer and is easier to push into the bottom to hold the boat.
Push poles are one of the most important components of the modern flat boat. The best poles have a price tag north of $1,000 and they’re worth it for ardent sight fishers. The type and length of the push pole are best determined by the depth of the water, the height of the poling platform and the amount of time you’ll be using it. Eighteen- to 24-foot poles are most common.
The two most popular brands on the market today are crafted by Stiffy Push Poles and Carbon Marine. Moonlighter Poles are also available. Visit their sites for detailed information at www.fibertexandsupply.com/push-poles/, www.moonlighterpushpoles.com and www.carbonmarine.com. Push poles help you approach fish quietly, a big advantage as more and more boats ply the flats, making fish more skittish and harder to approach. A quality pole will last a lifetime so get the best one you can afford. Poling is a wonderful way to expand your angling horizon above and below the surface.
New Year’s resolutions are an annual ritual. It’s a time to look back and reflect on what matters most, how we feel about our lives, and what changes might improve our situation. It’s also a time to consider what positive actions and fresh adventures might be planned for the new year. Anglers can glean some valuable insight by reviewing their year in fishing, examining what they learned from their days on the water, what their experiences revealed and assessing how this knowledge might lead to improved success and enjoyment in 2024.
I’m not suggesting that we write down hard and fast resolutions that don’t give any wiggle room. Instead, think back on even the small things that when done differently might have had a bigger impact than you ever imagined. An example might be remembering when you hooked a nice fish only to lose it to a failed knot, that tell-tale squiggle on the end of your line where the hook used to be attached. This resolution might read, “Always remember to carefully tie my knots, inspecting and testing them before I start fishing.” The same applies to sharpening hooks, checking the drag, and inspecting the line for nicks and abrasions. Reflections like this can be the start of a general review of all your rigging, the state of your tackle and lures and the condition of the line you have on your reels.
Tackle and organization are certainly places to start but extend that same thinking to other equipment like your boat and motor, waders, push pole and trolling motor. Experience teaches us that it’s the little things that we overlook that come back to haunt us. On the water, consider thinking out of the proverbial box by altering your routine strategy. Many anglers go fishing with a plan and never deviate from it. They start at one spot and hit all the usual holes during the day. A different option is to try planning to fish in places you’ve never explored before. I’ve done this and been amazed at how many areas there are that have proven to be productive. Looking at the same place with new eyes can be revealing.
A concerned Anna Maria resident reported this illegal, after-hours mangrove destruction at 111 Gull Drive, now under investigation by city, state and federal agencies. – Submitted
Also, consider trying a new destination. There are lots of beautiful and productive fishing adventures within a few hours’ drive of Anna Maria Island, both north and south. Drive two hours north and you can explore the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and, just north of there, Homosassa, Crystal River and Withlacoochee Bay. Less than two hours south and you can discover Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. Don’t want to go that far? Anyone with a boat can leave Anna Maria Island and be fishing in fresh water in less than an hour. The Manatee River and Braden River provide anglers with a variety of fish from tarpon to catfish, redfish to bass. Both rivers also have numerous launch sites for boats, kayaks and paddleboards.
It might even prove useful to review how you approach fishing. If you’re a fly caster, look at ways you might improve your casting and consider learning how to cast with your non-dominant hand. Anglers who use conventional tackle might want to try artificial lures instead of always relying on live bait. No matter how long you’ve been fishing or what your level of competency there’s always room for improvement. A general review of tackle, techniques and the opportunities available to you can only improve your enjoyment of fishing moving into 2024.
Lastly and even more important, consider getting involved in protecting the resource that determines our fishing today and in the future. Fishermen have the most to lose by not addressing the degradation of our local waters and habitat. There are so many ways to make a difference no matter your circumstance. Keep an eye out and report illegal mangrove trimming and pick up trash on the water. Employ enlightened self-interest by vetting your local, state and national politicians on how they voted on matters that affect the water we drink and swim in and the fish we pursue. If we vote party line rather than on the issues that affect our fishing, we’re working against our self-interest. Write letters, attend commission meetings and join and donate to organizations like Sarasota Bay Watch, Vote Water and Suncoast Waterkeeper who work to protect our watery world. A resolution to act this year will protect what we value most for today and future generations. Happy New Year!
Whether you’re fishing local water, stalking bonefish in the Bahamas, poling a flat in Charlotte Harbor for tailing redfish, or any number of angling scenarios, we anglers spend the majority of our time fantasizing about making the perfect cast to a hungry fish under ideal conditions. When we do get on the water, we face the unpredictable forces of wind and weather that can throw hurricanes, fronts, windstorms, clouds and various adverse conditions at us.
While the world of fishing in general and fly fishing, in particular, presents us with many challenges, it’s surmounting these odds that makes success all the sweeter. That’s why we hunt gamefish with imaginative mixtures of feathers, fur, synthetics and tinsel. The excitement of making a presentation to a gamefish you’ve stalked, enticing it into taking a fly, and then connecting through graphite and cork makes all the preparation, time, money and past disappointments worthwhile.
With so many odds facing a fly angler, there is good reason to be as well prepared as possible. Too many anglers wait for months to take the trip of a lifetime and find their casting proficiency severely tested. The old saying that “luck is opportunity meeting preparedness” is especially true for fly fishers. Why not develop the mindset from the beginning that everything we do, on the water and off, contributes to turning odds into opportunities?
Preparation comes in many forms, and the most important components are practiced throughout the year. That means having tackle in top form, as well as knowing how to tie proper knots and flies that imitate your prey’s food. Casting skills are developed over a lifetime, and practice should not be saved for fishing trips, or even the days leading up to a trip. If you can’t get your fly to the fish, all other factors are moot. The best practice is on grass, throwing to targets placed at different distances and angles. Don’t make the mistake of judging your casting ability by how long a line you can throw. Learn to make a tight (in saltwater), accurate 40-foot cast first and then work on distance.
While I’ve been blessed to learn from some top fly casters, I’ve found the best instructor of all is having a compelling reason to fly fish. That’s what leads successful fly fishers to learn the basics and practice. One of the first and most important lessons I’ve learned is to see the wind as a friend, not a foe. If you’re new to the game, don’t put off a fly-fishing trip because the wind is blowing. On my first trip to the Bahamas, I was face to face with a large school of bonefish just 40 feet away, into a 25-mph headwind. All those days of avoiding the wind meant that I didn’t have the skills to get the job done. Now I appreciate the windy days because I know that if I can be successful on windy days, I’ll be golden on the nice days. Wind-generated waves provide windows into the water and fish are far less spooky and more readily take a fly. If you can make a short, accurate cast into a 15-20-knot wind you’ll excel on those rare perfect days. Practiced fly anglers who are mentally prepared and visualize their outcome (just like top athletes) have a definite advantage. They’re primed when the opportunity presents itself as luck. The next time you have a chance to go fishing, don’t let the wind dissuade you, make the wind your friend. It will pay dividends in your fishing future.
When I first started fly fishing, I would buy my flies from local fly shops and occasionally, guide friends would supply me with the flies I was using. Eventually, through necessity, I started tying flies and quickly found out how rewarding it was to catch a fish on a fly I had tied myself. While I tied the flies I used locally, I still ordered flies that I would take on my trips to the Bahamas. That habit changed too on a bonefishing trip a couple of years ago.
I had ordered some flies the lodge I was visiting recommended from a “reliable” source, choosing a few old classics as well as a current favorite, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp. As it turned out, the flies I ordered didn’t match my expectations. Fortunately, two friends in my party offered me some of their flies. I got bailed out on that, vowing then and there that the next trip I took I’d have a box of my own home-tied creations. Fast forward to today and it’s less than a month from my next trip. This time I’ll have the flies I have confidence in. And confidence is key!
The Peterson Spawning Shrimp, one of the most dependable flies for bonefish, is adaptable for a host of other saltwater species. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
In my experience, flies don’t have to be fancy to catch fish. They do have to resemble something a local species feeds on and appear natural in the water. Two of the most reliable patterns mimic baitfish and shrimp. Probably the most basic, and one of the most effective and popular flies, is the Clouser Minnow, created by Bob Clouser. This was the first fly I learned to tie and is still a favorite. Another favorite is the bend back, a streamer tied to be weedless and fished in shallow water. The bend back is also easy to tie and very effective when properly tied and presented. As mentioned, my current favorite fly, one I tied originally for bonefish and now use locally for redfish, tripletail and snook, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp, has me immersed in tying flies and I’m enjoying the process more than ever. Fly tying is like everything else, the more you do it, the better you get. As in fly casting, golf, tennis and any other endeavor, repetition is key, so it’s better to tie often instead of for long periods of time.
If you currently tie, my advice is to master a fly you have confidence in and then work to make a fly your own. I’m constantly thinking of ways to improve patterns I fish and finding my enjoyment of fly fishing enhanced by the experience.
I would strongly advise fly anglers to take up fly tying if they haven’t already. If you want to explore tying but aren’t fully committed, start with a simple but quality travel kit that you’ll be able to use even after setting up a place to tie at home. I think you’ll find that you enjoy the fly-fishing experience even more and, as a bonus, you’ll have better quality flies at a much better price. Instructions on tying every imaginable fly are available on YouTube.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have spent the last 40-plus years on an island in an area celebrated as the Suncoast. As an ardent angler, I’ve explored the bays, estuaries, islands and Gulf and feel incredibly blessed for the opportunities I’ve had. Like other anglers, I share the desire to “give back,” to work to protect this incredibly rich and diverse habitat after experiencing our effects on its health over time.
When I arrived here in 1981 the waters of the Suncoast were beginning to recover from decades of unregulated dredge and fill projects, stormwater runoff, overfishing and inadequate sewage systems. Over four decades I saw bag and size limits created to protect fish stocks and watched as waters begin to recover as insults were addressed. Seagrass was growing back and there was cause for hope and celebration. Red tides and algae blooms still occurred, and nitrogen levels increased, but we seemed to be on a hopeful track.
Hudson Fisher caught his first redfish in Longboat Pass with his grandfather, Michael Riter, also known as Pickle. Will his children have the same opportunity? – Submitted | Michael Riter
Unfortunately, all that was so laboriously gained over half a century has been lost in just the last six years. Seagrass beds disappeared, lyngbya blooms, late summer occurrences since the 1980s, exploded in early spring and blanketed the already stressed grass beds and left shorelines lined in anoxic milky white water. Populations of some fish species plummeted and businesses suffered.
One of the advantages anglers have living in and fishing an area over time is the ability (given your eyes and mind are open) to gain insight into the seemingly inexorable changes that occur around you over time. As I’ve worked with like-minded individuals to protect mangroves, fish stocks and the waters of our bays and Gulf, I always wondered why harmful algae blooms, a/k/a red tides, were reported by the Spaniards in the 16th and 17th centuries. There wasn’t overpopulation to throw the system off balance. The answer to that question came to me as I read the accounts of those same Spaniards, Cuban fishermen and indigenous Indians in Jack Davis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Gulf, The Making of an American Sea.” In those pages, I learned about accounts relating to instances of the skies turning dark as thousands of seabirds passed overhead on a cloudless day, of fish schools so thick that it wasn’t much of an overstatement that you could walk their backs across broad stretches of the inland bays.
Suddenly it became clear to me (caveat, I’m no scientist) that the same red tides that polluters discount with “it’s natural” (like cancer’s normal is my retort) may have been nature’s way of attempting to keep the waters balanced. Before man left his scars on the ecosystem, the explosion of life was kept in check by this organism that’s triggered by excess nitrogen. It dawned on me that harmful algae blooms may function like forest fires in a natural system. Now the same marker nitrogen, produced by human activity, triggers longer and more intense outbreaks that track population growth.
Every time I’m at the beach and see young children splashing in the surf with gleeful enthusiasm and fishing the local piers I have to wonder, what kind of world will we leave these kids? My experiences, the lessons I’ve learned, and the camaraderie of friends on the Suncoast have been an incentive to give back for all we’ve been given. To be sure in these strange and uncertain times these efforts can verge on being depressing. That’s why I have to constantly remind myself of the words of the Dalai Lama, “If you work to save the world and the world is lost, no regrets.”
