"Rigged and Ready" As a tackle shop owner I would love to tell all my offshore customers that they should have eight conventional combos, four spinning combos, and two kite setups like our friend Capt. James Knox (http://fishcastings.com/) routinely carries during sailfish tournaments and charters. Of course for most of us that is unrealistic and in some cases a little overkill. BUT... being prepared for the day, rigged, and ready (with a backup to a backup) is one of the things that makes Captain James successful on the water. If possible it is always a good idea to try and carry twice as many rods as you plan to fish with, and have extra rigs tied and ready to go. This allows for maximum productivity and less down time after a catch, a broken line, or anyone of the other hundreds of things that can go wrong. No fish is being caught when you don't have baits in the water. "Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.” Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea Thanks For Reading, Todd "Hurry up, and slow down" From Capt. Eric at The Freight Train Charters One of the biggest problems I see people make when starting a fishing trip; is getting in an extreme rush right off the bat. Don't get me wrong, I still get very excited EVERY TIME I get to a fishing spot. BUT, it is very important to not rush in to fishing. Take a minute or two and see what's going on. When I stop the boat or walk out on a bridge, before making a cast; I see what the tide is doing, is the bait here, which way the wind is blowing, how are the fish laying, etc. It only takes a minute, but by taking these things into account I know that I will be presenting my baits and lures much more naturally. PRO TIP: When fishing snook around dock lights or bridge shadow lines the first couple of casts are by far the most important. Bad and misplaced casts, bringing the lure behind fish, or plunking them on the head will put them down in a hurry! Catching a fish on the first cast may be considered "bad luck" by some, but when it comes to snook fishing it may be the only chance you get! http://freighttrainfishing.weebly.com/ "Write it down" Nothing beats a good fishing logbook, and Angler Action Program has one of the best free logbooks you can use. Having a backlog of fishing trips, with key notes like: tide, wind, weather, and other info is as good as gold in tough conditions. The Freight Train Capt Eric Gates agrees... http://freighttrainfishing.weebly.com/2/post/2014/02/pro-tip.html "Who is Calico Jack?" While I don't know exactly who Calico Jack is...I do know the rods named after him are great rods and affordably priced. With rods ranging from 7-8' it is easy to find a Calico to fit all of your inshore fishing needs. And, with a starting price of $69.99 they won't leave your wallet completely bare. Don't be fooled by the low price; they are built with quality cork grips, Fuji reel seats, and Fuji Hardloy guides. High end components at a remarkably low price! "Eyes on Top" The way a snook's, and other top apex predators, eyes are positioned always has them looking up. Pay attention to where they are positioned in the water column and present your baits or lures accordingly. If the snook are laid up in a shadow line a foot or two below the surface, try to keep the baits floating right over their heads. If they are stuck tight to the bottom; try to get the bait down just above them. Try to keep the baits moving just over their heads for the best luck. "Keep On Spooling" It doesn't work everywhere; but in certain areas "spooling" the bottom is a deadly technique for catching weary muttons and flag yellowtails. Using the slide rig (catch #29); let your sinker rest on the bottom and continue to feed out line. The ideal situation is for the sinker to rest motionless on the bottom and the bait to float freely with the current. Keep a feel for how fast the line is feeding out, when the speed suddenly increases...your on! Engage the reel and crank like mad until you come tight on the fish. Be sure to keep light pressure on the line, a big mutton can burn some line off quick and backlash a reel in no time! Pro Tip: Use the lightest sinker possible to reach the bottom. A light sinker is less likely to scare the fish and allows for more sensitivity in feeling the bite. |
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