AS SEEN IN THE MAR/APR 2008 ISSUE

Got Crabs? - Will you be ready when crab-crunchers appear within casting range?

If you regularly target permit, tarpon, bonefish, cobia, or redfish, you probably already know that silver-dollar size crabs make up a large portion of these great shallow-water game fishes diet. The crunchy crustaceans I am referring to are blue crabs and brown crabs, the latter of which are commonly referred to as ‘pass crabs’ because they are most often seen swimming in and out of local passes.

AS SEEN IN THE JAN/FEB 2008 ISSUE 

Bridling Gogs – if you’re not doing it, brother you're missing the boat!

Of all the baitfish in the world's seas, bigeye scad, commonly known as goggle-eyes to the South Florida angling community, are likely the most effective live bait for South Florida's most glamorous gamster - sailfish. These Olympian swimmers are unrivaled in their ability to ‘hang in there’ for hours on end while either dangling from a kite, or fished on a flat line. Our own editor, Captain Mike Genoun, jokingly comments, “Once you put a goggle-eye in the zone; one of two things is going to happen. It’s going to get slammed, or it’s going to get slammed!

AS SEEN IN THE MAY/JUNE 2007 ISSUE

“Look at all of that bait! We nearly blacked-out the well with greenies and baby runners. Man, we’re going to beat ‘em up today!” Sixty minutes later, the recently enthusiastic angler reaches into the well to grab his first baitfish of the day and unexpectedly blurts, “What in the world happened to our bait? They’re all dead! They were doing fine when we ripped them off our bait rigs and threw them in the livewell. Now, what in the world are we supposed to do?”

AS SEEN IN THE JAN/FEB 2007 ISSUE 

Load up at the inlet- year-round.

It’s no secret that nearly all passes attract and hold baitfish. None more so than the ones that feature jagged, rocky formations known as jetties. Couple this sort of eco-friendly coastal structure with the oxygen-rich rushing water constantly flooding and ebbing, and it is easy to see why inlets provide ideal habitat for a long list of baitfish species. The most popular and arguably the most effective include pinfish, pilchards, runners, gogs, mullet, and threadfins- and the list goes on. With only a small investment in time and effort, anglers of all skill levels can capture these prime offerings for later use when targeting favorite game fish- completely free of charge.

AS SEEN IN THE MARCH/APRIL 2007 ISSUE

Sabiki Suggestions - 10 tips for guaranteed bait-catching success!

Perhaps no other piece of terminal tackle in recent history has proven its effectiveness as often as the multiple-hook quill rig. Some call them Sabikis or Pescador rigs, while others still refer to them as chicken rigs or gold-hook rigs. We simply call them, “Bait-Catching Machines!”

AS SEEN IN THE SEPT/OCT 2006 ISSUE

Bull Minnow , Fundulus grandis

Cocahoe minnow, bull minnow, mud minnow, Gulf killifish, or just plain killifish, whatever you prefer to call them, this baitfish rarely grows longer than a young child’s palm. Unlike most baitfish species that saltwater anglers across Florida are accustomed to fishing with, Gulf killifish can live in a wide range of environments ranging from nearly pure fresh water to extremely salty surroundings. Their territorial range includes northeastern Florida to Key West, and the northern Gulf of Mexico all the way down to Cuba. They prowl shallow grassy tidal areas, coastal rivers, marshes, and bays feeding on small animals and crustaceans that live on mud bottoms, their preferred habitat. Hence the nickname “mud minnows.”