MARCH/APRIL 2007

Feature Editorial

For resident and visiting Gulf Coast anglers, spotted seatrout are the perfect spring pastime.

Florida is blessed with many fine species of inshore gamefish, but it is the state’s Gulf Coast that is particularly fortunate when it comes to fish with dots. Speckled hind, red drum, Spanish mackerel and spotted seatrout, commonly referred to as “specks” and the star of this show, are all regular West Coast visitors.

 

Shore-side shark fishing is quickly gaining popularity. If you’re like me and have an attraction to big fish with big teeth, there is simply no other way to target, capture and interact so directly with these magnificent animals. Read on and decide for yourself if big-game beach fishing is for you.

A glimpse of what is new in yak fishing

“Have you noticed all the kayak racks on cars nowadays?” asked Captain Jason Le Valley as he pointed to another passing SUV with a fishing kayak on the roof. We were peering out the front window of a Cape Coral tackle shop that caters to kayak anglers. Both of us agree that this is one aspect to our sport that is a perfect fit for the South Florida lifestyle and one that is definitely here to stay!

Interested in taking up backcountry fishing? Well, you better do your homework before you hit Florida Bay or any other shallow-water estuary for that matter, or the only thing that you’ll be going home with is a damaged outboard motor and a hefty fine! Observing the following guidelines will insure your days on the water are both safe and successful.

Tips, tricks, tackle and techniques for trolling slobs!

The early morning sun scorched through the few clouds sitting over the horizon. It was a typical Abaco morning as my father and I loaded up my 31’ SeaVee in preparation for making our way back to Jupiter, FL. Finally easing away from our slip at Treasure Cay, we glanced over at each other and quickly read each other’s minds, “This day is just too perfect to waste. Let’s fish!”

 

Who says getting’ jiggy with jacks isn’t a ton of fun!

Though no professional would ever dare say, “Let’s go crevalle fishing today,” anyone who has ever found themselves smack dab in the middle of a jack feeding frenzy, will readily admit that pound for pound, crevalle are one of the toughest fighters found anywhere!

Plastic shrimp – quite possibly the most versatile, and arguably, the most effective shallow-water artificial baits ever created.

Bonefish, cobia, flounder, grouper, jacks, ladyfish, mackerel, permit, pompano, redfish, sheepshead, snapper, snook, tarpon, trout, even broadbill swordfish eat live shrimp! The tasty critters are a mainstay in the diet of nearly every game fish swimming in state waters. To clearly comprehend why the hard-shelled crustaceans are so well-liked, one must first understand a little bit about their life cycle.