"Handle with Care"

A fishermen is no better than the bait he is using; so always be sure your baits are in the best condition. Try these tips to keep your baits lively and fresh.

1. Avoid chasing your baits around the livewell numerous times;instead let them swim into a bait net. 
2. Always handle baits with wet hands; or a wet towel for bigger baits. 
3. Be careful about overcrowding them in a livewell. Less baits in good condition is much better than more baits in poor condition.

"Sunday Sails"

Now is the time to target south Florida sailfish. Cold fronts and north winds get the sailfish headed south. Fishing live goggle eyes under a kite is the ticket for catching sailfish this time of 

Here's a sweet picture from a sail release today withFishCastings. Capt James has his customers on them again!

"Start em young"

Nothing beats taking a kid fishing(especially for the first time!). The keys to a great first trip and a lousy one are pretty simple. Follow these couple tips and most of the time a kids first fishing trip is one they won't forget!

1. Don't take it to serious, and don't worry if their patience level is only a few minutes.
2. Try to pick an easy to catch species to target. KIds, most of them anyways, don't care what they catch. They just want to catch SOMETHING. 
3. Make it fun and keep smiling. If the fish aren't biting and swimming or playing in the park sounds like more fun, do that; the fish will be waiting for you next time!

"Be ready for the weather"

Offshore fishing is not always sunny skies and a calm ocean. Wind, rain, swells, and many other weather conditions keep the ocean in a constant state of change. And while this can be frustrating to those with small boats and limited chances to fish; the changing ocean conditions are what bring the fish in waves (Yes...pun intended).

Learning to deal with, and fish in, rough weather conditions is hugely important to catching more fish (NOTE never fish offshore beyond the ability of the boat!). This means knowing how a boat handles varying ocean conditions, what the weather will most likely be doing, and being prepared for the weather.

Having good rain gear, deck boots, proper clothes, and all safety gear will make those rough days offshore that much better. And on the plus side...the fish are most likely going to bite better!

"Pro Style Pompano Rigs"
From "Pompano Rich"

Pompano Catcher Rigs were formulated to attract pompano in various water conditions. The colors and the buoyancy flutter with good wave action to virtually drive pompano to hit the flea float combo. Add fluorocarbon leader and the visibility of rig disappears under water. The float colors are varied to meet different water conditions. Years of optic studies have revealed many species of fish see colors, and under the right conditions will be attracted to them.

Two important tips. 
1. If you use braid; you should not tie directly to the swiveled rig. Braid is highly visible and will negate the rigs attraction. If using braid attach approx. 10 ft. of mono or fluorocarbon in around 30 l.b. test to the rig and then use a surgeons knot to connect to the braid. 

2. Fill the hook with bait. A one inch blanched flea is fine but one small 1/2 flea is not enough.

"Take it EZ"

No one lure can do it all, but the EZ family of swimbaits by Gambler comes pretty close. From the TZ up to the Big EZ it is easy to always find the right size bait (and color...they have a bunch of them) to fit the situation.

The TZ and Little EZ are dynamite baits when the baits are small or the fish are finicky. Rig them on a light jighead and they can be slowly swam below the surface or hopped along the bottom for great results. 

The EZ swimmer and Big EZ are great baits to rig weedless and buzz under the surface or through thick cover for topwater action; or rig with a heavy jighead and swim with the current in deep channels or flowing spillways for almost guaranteed bites!

Snook pictured below went crazy to swallow the TZ.  When no other lure was getting bit; the TZ did!

"Taking care of your tackle"

Saltwater is impressive in its ability to creep into, and destroy almost anything. Fishing reels, even those specifically designed for harsh saltwater conditions, are no exception. Saltwater (and sand, for the surf guys) manages to find its way into every part of a fishing reel.

Luckily, all is not lost in the fight against saltwater intrusion. A few simple things, when done on a regular basis, can greatly extend the life of a fishing reel.

1. Always lightly rinse (don't use high pressure) reels after every use in saltwater.
2. Clean the outside of the reel with a soft mitt or brush and a non abrasive dish or boat soap.
3. Shake off any excess water after rinsing, and dry with soft towel or shammy.
4. Store all reels (spinning, baitcast, and leverdrags) with the drag backed off.
5. Depending on how much use the reel gets, have it cleaned professionally once to twice a year (Heavier used reels should be cleaned more often).

"Dealing with the pressure"

The barometer is one of the greatest fishing tools in existence, and also the most overlooked. Fish may not know how to read a barometer, but they certainly know what the atmospheric pressure is doing. 

When the pressure swings wildly (example- just before a storm) most fish get very active. When the pressure begins to drop (example- as a front approaches), fish go on the feed. When the pressure is high and steady (example- high bluebird sky days after a front has fully passed through), fish slow down and are not overly active.

Pro Tip: With so many good weather apps available for smart phones, it is no longer necessary to keep an old school barometer on the wall (Although it is still cool to have one!) Keep a good weather app on your phone, and keep an eye on what the pressure is doing!