Fishing Excursion - Julia Tuttle: Less Pictures, More Results

Another day, another fishing story.

After my goose-egg day of fishing in Key Biscayne, I was determined to catch a keeper. I enjoy the relaxation and meditation aspects of fishing, but I also enjoy eating my catch, and I had yet to do that...until this past Thursday.

At the sporting goods store, I'd met a guide who told me there was actually some good sea trout fishing to be had, fishing off the Julia Tuttle Causeway, which happens to be just a few blocks from my house.

I got to the causeway and walked past a semi-homeless man who was also fishing and said he wasnt having too much luck. I walked about 100 yards further down the Causeway.

Well, after 20 minutes of fruitless casting, the homeless man started to walk towards me saying something in Spanish. I was expecting him to ask for food, change, or hassle me in some sort of way, my usual interaction with homeless people.

WRONG.

Sergio, as his named turned out to be, actually came down to offer me some tips because he saw how little luck I was having. He helped me tie on a different hook set-up than the topwater baits I was previously using, and even gave me a little box of bait because I was fishing baitless lures. We chatted for awhile, he was 1/2 Cuban 1/2 American, and has a 23 year old son. When I asked where he lived, his reply, "wherever I feel like on any given night."

Goes to show you that, once again, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

After re-rigging my line, my luck took a 180. I caught a small little speckled sea trout and even this little Pinfish. However, still no keepers.

I decided to try my luck on the north side of the Causeway and casted into the channel. After letting the bait sit for a while, I was holding the tip up and felt the classic THUMP THUMP THUMP of a fish hitting your bait. I gave it a few seconds to eat the hook, slowly started reeling in, still felt the fish in the line, set the hook, and BAM, caught this gorgeous 13 inch Bluefish, just above the 12 inch size limit.

Having successfully caught my first keeper, I headed home to clean it and cook it. Cooking it was the easy part, cleaning, not so much. I need to learn how to fillet a fish, and fast. I did a decent job, if you consider picking bones out of your fish acceptable. Either way, my first caught-with-my-own-hands meal in Miami.

-pj-

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Fishing Excursion: Key Biscayne

So, I went fishing in Key Biscayne a couple days ago.

The day started out as usual. 9am wake up. Coffee, breakfast and internet. Then it was off to Key Biscayne, where I hoped to slay the mighty Snapper.

On my ride there, I passed through a wildlife refuge, and wildlife there was! Tons of Ibis and an Alligator in a pond. Then, as I was cruising along the bike path, I thought I was coming upon a large, obtuse, stick...turns out it was an Iguana, just sunning itself on the pathway. It ran for cover, along with the rest of his harem. I say HIS, because all the other Iguanas, maybe five in total, ran into a storm drain pipe, and he stood his ground outside the pipe, protecting, so I assume it was a male. No joke, he was a good two feet long including his tail. I guess there is actually an over population of Iguanas in South Florida from people letting their pet iguanas into the wild once they get too big to be pets anymore.

I love me some Mangrove trees

I finally got to my fishing pier and started casting. Not too much luck, just a ton of seaweed getting caught on my line. The view wasn't bad though. As they say, a bad day of fishing is still better than a good day of working.

Views from my pier

My tools of the trade

So about catching those Snapper...Well, that didn't happen. I did catch two fish though, both being the Scrawled Cowfish. It's definitely a reef-fish, based on its color. It had the hardest body I'd ever seen in a fish. It was like its body was made of hard plastic, because it kind of clacked on the pier when it was flopping around.

I most certainly wasn't going to try to eat such a fish, so I happily let them go. It had the smallest little side fins I'd ever seen. Very much like Nemo's handicapped fin from Finding Nemo, the Disney Original Film. Due to these baby fins, it wasn't much of a game fish, but it was fun catching my first real fish in Florida.

And as always, no better way to end the day than a Key Biscayne sunset

How to Drink Coconut Water...A Step-By-Step Guide

If you didn't already know, which I'm sure my Northern readers didn't, because I never did, coconut water is extremely good for you. Don't be confused and think coconut milk, that creamy sweet ingredient for recipes. We're talking the water inside the coconut itself.

Seeing as they are very plentiful here in Miami, I decided that it would only be wise to snag a few on my biking trips and drink the water. It's basically like having a Gatorade for free, but even BETTER for you during a workout.

I'm going to start carrying a big fat drill bit and plastic straw with me because using a fillet knife isn't the easiest. The big drill bit will enable me to hand-drill a hole into the coconut, and the straw, well, that's easy enough to figure out. However, the fillet knife sufficed for the tutorial that follows.

Your common Palm tree, heavy with coconuts. Perfect for the picking.

Note: Usually I choose small trees where I can either shake or stand on my bike seat to reach the coconuts. Don't attempt to climb a Palm tree, it's VERY painful, as my chest and leg scratches prove. Also, if you choose to shake the tree, you NEED to catch the coconuts. Even a small fall will crack them and you'll be out a perfectly good coconut.

The tools of the trade. Best to choose a green coconut. Not sure why, but that's what the internet told me.

Starting from the end that was previously connected to the tree, begin by cutting away as much of the outer shell as possible. Shave off more and more coconut shell until you can shave no more.

After you've cut away as much shell as possible, cut out a little circle into the innermost heart of the coconut, where the water resides. Make it big enough that you don't have to cut out a separate air/ventilation hole.

Once you have the hole cut into the coconut, cut out a triangular channel to make the drinking process easier. No channel means you're going to spill it all over your face, clothes, etc.

Enjoy your sweet reward. A coconut this size produces about 1.5 cups of water. I'd say that's nearly equivalent to a 20oz bottle of Gatorade in vitamin and electrolyte content.

Plus, you also just picked, opened, and drank from a coconut. How cool is that?

PS- Who do I know from New Britain, Connecticut? I see them on the traffic indicator all the time, but I'm not sure who I know that lives there.

It's Sunny...and Always Will Be

Being from Minnesota, I've had a hard time coming to believe that it's always sunny, and will continue to be sunny, here in Miami. It's actually taking a toll on my body. Let me explain:

In Minnesota, we're trapped in our houses for around seven or eight months per year, anxiously awaiting Spring and Summer. So, when it finally starts to get warm in June and July, you feel the need to be outside all the time. However, even with it being warm, you still get a lot cloudy or rainy days scattered throughout the week. So really, you only get about three days per week, during three months of summer, of warm sunny days to enjoy.

That equals 36 days of enjoyable Summer sunshine in Minnesota, per year. Not much if you ask me.

Because of this, during the summer, if I woke up and saw sunlight, I felt an uncontrollable urge to be outside biking, reading, tanning, or doing ANYTHING in the sunlight, because I knew that they were so few and far between.

Flash forward to my current location, Miami, where it's been hot and sunny for 21 of my past 22 days. However, because I'm still in the Minnesota mindset, every morning, day after day, I feel the urge to run outside and utilize every last ounce of sun. This isn't a bad thing, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I just want to stay inside and read, work on some projects, write letters, but when I hear the birds a chirpin' outside, and see all the bright sun-lit flowers, I cave and go outside to do something.

The result of this internal outdoor-pulling drive I have? Well, I'm already very tan and I've biked around 200 miles, or 100 miles per week. Not too shabby! On the downside, I feel like I'm falling behind on my reading and small business project because I spend all day outside, enjoying the weather, when I should be spending a few days per week inside, working on my website.

What I'm really trying to work on is internalizing the fact that it's going to be warm and sunny here, all year round. I can't feel bad about staying inside for a day, because if I don't do it once in a while, my body is going to burn itself out.

It's hard to decide to stay inside when:

I know the beach is calling

Or a bike ride down the boardwalk to go people watching

I can drink mate in South Beach

Or go relax in South Pointe Park

-pj-

Fishing Excursion: The First

So I finally decided to buy my non-resident saltwater fishing license. It was a bit pricey at $50, but otherwise I would have had to either:

A) Wait 6 months until I'm a legal resident of Florida
B) Fished without a license like MANY people I've encountered
C) Not fished at all

Since I can never imagine myself waiting 6 months for anything, (A) definitely wasn't going to work out. Seeing as I tend to worry about law enforcement's overbearing power, taking the risk and getting caught, however slim the possibility, made (B) an anxiety-ridden and unwise choice. (C), yeah, that's not happening.

Therefore, being a rather moral person, I chose to buy a license and help out the state's fish and wildlife system.

My next step was to find a bait shop. I've done my research and there's a little place up on 79th street, Navarro Bait and Tackle, that was highly recommended on the internet. It's run by what appears to by a husband/wife team, and they're great. I'm thinking they're Cuban or Puerto Rican, but either way, they REALLY made me utilize my "Spanish Ear." The guy talked so fast, and with such a thick accent, that I'm pretty sure he initially thought I was fishing for Great White Shark, and not your common Snapper.

After working my way through the Spanish fishing sales process, I successfully purchased all my gear and I was set.

Off to the overpass of the Julia Tuttle Causeway at 36th Street. I initially was using a bait-catching line, which is just a rig with about 6 tiny hooks connected to a piece of line with a sinker at the bottom. I was hoping to catch sardines to use for tomorrow, my Key Biscayne Snapper Mission. (Post Tomorrow, Check Back!)

Well, I was having ZERO luck, and then a nice shrimp netter gave me a sardine to cut up into bait. My luck took a 180 and I was catching quite a few small pan fish, all being the common Grunt. Their name comes from the sound they make out of water, which, like their names suggests, is very similar to a pig, or piglet, grunt.

I caught a bunch, but decided to throw them back. I guess they're really good pan fried, but I was just having fun drinking beer and talking with the other fishermen.

Case in point, I'm officially a Florida saltwater fisherman.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Key Biscayne to slay the mighty Snapper. Should I catch one over the 12" limit, you better believe it'll be pan fried with onions and potatoes, just like the trout from the mighty Kickapoo River.

Wish me luck!

I caught many of these little Grunt fish. I gave this one another shot at life. Until next time my dear Grunt friend!

Connecticut Saltwater Fishing Strategies

Connecticut is located in the northeastern part of the United States. It's sometimes referred to as the "Constitution State" because of its long history and influence on the development of the federal government. Connecticut is also known for having some of the best saltwater fishing along the northeastern coast.

Fishing is one of the world's most popular sports and it's enjoyed by men, women and children everywhere. Saltwater fishing provides entertainment and fun plus, it can be very relaxing all at the same time. These are some of the reasons why fishing is such a popular sport. Since the fishing is so great in Connecticut many people visit here just to enjoy this sport.

Whether you go inshore or offshore fishing there is a wide variety of species to seek out. Some of the most sought after species include the following:

Bluefish
Sea Bass
Fluke
Porgies
Bonito
Weakfish
False Albacore Tuna
Shark
Blackfish
Striped Bass
Marlin

There are other species found in these waters as well but these are the most popular. Below are a few strategies that can help you reel in a nice catch each and every time you go Connecticut saltwater fishing.

Strategies for Connecticut Saltwater Fishing

When you go fishing you can simply place some bait on a hook and throw it out to see what happens. You may get lucky and catch a few fish but you may spend all day on the water and not reel in anything at all. If you truly want to have a productive day when saltwater fishing in Connecticut, consider which strategies would benefit you the most. In fishing, strategies are the methods you use to attract the fish and draw them in your direction and the technique used to reel them in. It could be anything from the type of bait used to the type of gear you choose.

To decide which strategies would work the best for you the first thing that you have to decide is where you will be fishing and which species you are seeking out. For instance, will you be fishing close to the shore or do you plan on going deep sea fishing. For deep sea fishing you will need special equipment to handle the larger species found deep in the ocean.

If you plan to go deep sea fishing but it's not something that you're familiar with, it may be a good idea to consider using a Connecticut charter service. They will already have all the equipment you need and they will know which strategies will get the best results based on the species you are seeking out.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best saltwater fishing information possible. Go to http://www.asksaltwaterfishing.com/editorials/4_connecticut-saltwater-fishing-strategies.html for more information on Connecticut Saltwater Fishing Strategies.
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Three Tampa Deep Sea Fishing Tactics

There is a variety of Deep Sea fishing available in the Tampa area. Florida is of course the fishing capital of the United States. Tampa is built directly on the Gulf of Mexico and offers some great Deep Sea fishing.

One deep sea fishing tactic is locating a wreck or other for of structure on the bottom of the ocean. Typically these wrecks occur in water approximately twenty feet deep but can be found in water from twenty to well over one hundred feet deep with the correct equipment and patience. You can also buy books that list the various known wrecks and form of structure by their gps coordinates.

Once you locate a wreck you need to skillfully position your boat so that it rests direct above the target area you will fishing. This can take some skill and expertise as you need to judge the tide and strength of the current in positioning your anchor properly.

It is also essential that you have the proper equipment when fishing wrecks. It is very important that you use a very heavy action stout rod. If you are lucky enough to have a large Grouper or other large game fish take your bait it will immediately head into the wreck once it realizes it has been hooked. You therefore need a heavy action rod to stop these fish in their tracks and pull them towards the surface and away from the impediments to your line.

For the same reasons listed in the previous paragraph you need a reel that is large enough to hold at least two hundred yards of line with a heavy test strength, at least thirty pounds. It also will help immensely if the reel has a large enough gear ratio to give it the highest possible power when cranking a fish towards the surface.

You can use a wide variety of bait in this situation. Live bait as always will work best. Live shrimp will catch just about everything. If you wish to target specifically larger fish you can switch to a live mullet, large blue crab or whatever type of large bait fish is generally available.

It can help also to chum the area with a ample portion of finely ground chum.

When fishing wrecks I like to use the free spool of my reel and allow my bait to sink all the way to the bottom of the ocean. I will then reel it up about one to two feet from the bottom. This way I can feel it directly when the fish grabs the bait. It is imperative that you feel pickups immediate and act to move the hooked fish away from the structures that will cut your line. This technique allows for that action.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best saltwater fishing information possible. Go to http://www.asksaltwaterfishing.com/editorials/7three-tampa-deep-sea-fishing-tactics.html for more information on Deep Sea Fishing.

The Best Bait for Catfishing

If you know anything at all about catfishing, then you know that the bait you use is the key to your success. The catfish is a unique creature that has been sought after by anglers throughout the ages. The catfish is a very aggressive bottom feeder that seeks out food using their sense of smell. They have whiskers that looks like those of a cat and these are what it uses to search for food.

They are well-known for this strong sense of smell and their aggressive behavior.
The catfish is a very exciting species that anyone can seek out although, they may require some strength to reel in. For this reason, children may need some assistance reeling them in along anyone who has a small frame especially if you've hooked one of the larger species of catfish. One thing is for sure, they provide lots of excitement for the angler and using the right bait can increase your opportunity of reeling in a nice catch.

Still, it's hard to say what the best bait for catfishing is because it will depend on your individual situation. To choose the right bait you need to consider location, time of day, weather patterns and anything else that affects the way the catfish will respond to the bait. All of this takes time to learn and you'll need to do lots of experimenting to find the best baits to use in different situations.

Best Catfish Bait

Experienced anglers have learned that there is no one particular bait that will work the best in every situation but there are several baits that will work well in many situations. Having a variety of these on hand will make it easier to discover which bait is the best one for catfishing in your area, based on the time of day and season you go fishing.

Below you'll find a list of the best bait to use for catfishing that will surely get the attention of this unique species:

* live baits
* stink baits
* scent baits
* worms
* crawdads
* shrimp
* minnows
* cut bait

These baits are not listed in any particular order but as a general rule, live bait is always considered the best because it's their natural food source. However, using live bait is not always practical or possible so you'll need to have other options available and the ones above are some of the best.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best bass fishing information possible. Go to http://www.askcatfishfishing.com/editorials/good-choices-in-catfishing-reels.html for more information on catfish reels.

Best Baits for Walleye

Walleye are one of the tastiest and challenging fish to catch. The type of bait I use depends on the season, the time of day, the condition of the water, and if I am fishing by boat or from shore. The layout of the lake or river plays a factor as well. There are several different types of lures and baits that you can use, but following are three of the top lures that I would recommend:

Jigs: Whenever someone asks me about walleye lures, jigs are the fist item that comes to mind. They are small and lightweight and come n a multitude of colors. The color you use will depend on the conditions of the water that you are fishing in. If the water is relatively clean and clear, you should choose darker colors. In contrast, if you find the water to be somewhat murky and dark, fluorescent and brighter jigs will appeal more to the walleye. They are easier to see in the water.
The movement of the jigs can play a part n your success as well. The key to enticing the walleye is to reel in your jig slowly while making jerky and uneven movements at the same time. Another recommendation when using jigs is to choose the smallest weight possible. To make the jig even more appealing, combine it with live bait. I usually use minnows or nightcrawlers.

When walleye begin their spring spawn, I will usually fish from shore using jigs. This is because walleye spawn in shallower waters. They will strike at the jigs for one of two reasons; to protect their spawning beds and to satisfy their hunger. No matter the reason, jigs get the job done.

I also prefer to use jigs in the fall, when I am also fishing from shore. The cooler temperatures bring the walleye back to the shallows. If you prefer to ice fish in the winter, jigs are also a great choice. Normally, as I have stated before, walleye will strike at colourful and flashy baits. In the winter, I would change my tactics and focus on sound instead of looks. Use a jig combined with a rattle. The sound will attract walleye more than a bright lure.


Crankbaits: My second favorite type of lure is a crainkbait. Crankbaits are often overlooked and underused when fishermen choose their bait. However, they do offer many advantages.

They are very colourful, which makes them more appealing to hungry fish. Bright and even fluorescent colors will attract a walleye's attention more than a dull, neutral lure. Never underestimate the power of flashy and sparkly bait. When using these lures, don't simply cast and reel it in with a smooth, even motion. This is of vital importance.

Crankbaits are most effective when reeled in using jerky and irregular movements. Really, this method is preferable no matter what type of bait you are using.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best walleye fishing information possible. Go to http://www.askwalll eyefishing. com/editorials/ best-baits- for-walleye. html for more information on walleye fishing.

Tackle Tip: Tips On Saltwater Lures

Saltwater fishing has a lot to offer any type of angler regardless of the amount of experience you have. You'll have opportunities to reel in species that you can't find in freshwater along with the ones that live in both types of water. There are many different ways to go saltwater fishing. For example, you can fish from the shoreline, go out in a small boat and fish the coves and similar areas or you can even go deep sea fishing.

Since there are so many different ways to fish in the ocean there are also many different techniques used and a huge variety of lures to choose from. In fact, there are so many different types of lures available that it might be a little overwhelming trying to decide which ones will be the best. Experienced anglers learned mostly from trial and error. They tried different things until they found what worked the best for the type of fishing they do.

This is what every angler needs to do in order to become a good fisherman. However, many of these experienced anglers have shared what they've learned to give new anglers a head start. There are a few things that you can do to help narrow down your options when it comes to saltwater lures and this makes it easier to find what you need or something that will get the results you're after. Below are three tips on saltwater lures that will narrow down your search for the ones that will suit your needs the best.

Tip One: Choose Your Technique
Lures are designed to be used with different techniques. By choosing the techniques that you want to use you can narrow down your search and concentrate on two or three specific types of lures instead trying to choose between them all. For example, if you plan on surf fishing and fly fishing then you know to buy lures designed for these two techniques.

Tip Two: Choose Your Species
You can narrow down your options even more by deciding which species you want to go fishing for. This will help you decide what size, colors and special features will be needed to attract the species you want to catch.

Tip Three: Match Your Lures with the Rest of Your Gear
One of the most important things that anglers need to do is match all of their equipment in respect to size. The same thing goes for the lures that you use. If you're using a light weight fishing rod and reel then you need to use a small lure and vice versa.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best salt water fishing information possible. Go to http://www.asksaltwaterfishing.com/editorials/tips-on-saltwater-lures.html for more information on salt water fishing.

Secrets For Fishing Florida Saltwater

Florida is often called the sunshine state because of the beautiful weather that exists most all year long. It's the perfect fishing weather and this sport can be enjoyed in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico waters. Florida is well-known for its great fishing opportunities that include everything from pier fishing to deep sea fishing.

Saltwater fishing is an exciting way to spend quality time with the family. It's fun, entertaining and a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful weather that Florida has to offer. There are so many amazing species that can be caught from the shoreline or by boat that there is something for all types of anglers to enjoy from the novice to the professional.

There are many different strategies and tips available offered by experienced anglers who want to help someone new to this type fishing to be more successful. Taking advantage of these secrets can help to increase the amount of success you enjoy when saltwater fishing.

Five secrets for saltwater fishing in Florida that will make any fishing trip more productive:

1. When fishing from the beach or shoreline it's best to use a light rod and real combination. Add six pound test line, 15 to 20 pound fluorocarbon leader, long shank hooks and a reel with a smooth drag and you'll have an excellent set-up to fish in these waters.

2. Go fishing during the offseason or during the early morning or late evening and there won't be so many people around scaring the fish away. If you have a small boat you can go out to the coves and other areas where very few people can get to. These makes the best fishing holes and they are usually very productive.

3. Find out as much as you can about the species of fish that you're seeking out. This will help you determine which fishing method to use and which baits will work the best in any given situation. It will also give you an idea of how deep you need to fish and when the species you're after will be the most active.

4. If you know there are fish in the area but you're not getting any bites then you should try using a different type of bait or change sizes. If the bait is too small or too big for the fish in the area you won't get any bites. If you're using scent bait it's recommended that you change the bait about every twenty to thirty minutes. This is because it will begin to lose its smell after this length of time and not be very effective.

5. The retrieval that you use when saltwater fishing is very important and can mean the difference between getting a lot of bites and not getting any. Normally, you'll get more bites if you reel in the line very slowly. Many times moving the end of the rod from side to side when reeling in the line will get a better response than keeping it straight.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best salt water fishing information possible. Go to http://www.asksaltwaterfishing.com/editorials/fishing-florida-saltwater.html for more information on salt water fishing.

Shark Fishing Tips

Are you searching for a species that will surely get the adrenaline flowing? Then consider going shark fishing. This is a unique and exciting species that can offer an adventure you won't soon forget. There are several different species of shark for you to seek out and all of them offer their own unique form of fun and excitement. Catching and reeling in shark will provide anglers with an adventure they can tell stories about for many years.

Since the only place you can fish for sharks is in the ocean it's important to know a little about this type of environment. The ocean can be very rough and extremely dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. The waves can flip over boats and storms can pop up out of nowhere. You need to know how to handle the boat in these rough conditions and when it time to head inland before the weather gets too rough. Always check the forecast before heading out but never let your guard down in this type of environment.

The shark is unlike any other species and they can put up an incredible fight. For this reason, it's important to learn as much as you can about the shark before venturing out to try and catch them. Take time to study the species you want to catch and learn where they live and how they respond to different weather patterns. Gather all the information you can and this will increase the amount of success that you have.

5 shark fishing tips that can help you get started:

1. The best time to go fishing for sharks is when the water temperature is warm. This is when they are the most active and when it will be the easiest for you to reel in a nice catch. When the water is cold or hot, they will be much harder to find.

2. Use several different rods at one time when fishing for sharks. This will allow you to use different baits and fish at different depths until you find the one that works the best. Sharks can be unpredictable so everything you do to increase your chances of getting a bite will help.

3. Once the shark takes the bait you're going to have a long battle on your hands. The best advice is to try and tire the shark out before you give out. It can take hours to reel in one of these monsters and if you're not prepared for this, you're going to lose your catch.

4. Get prepared before heading out to the water. You can't catch sharks with the same equipment you would use to fish for bass or catfish. You have to plan for your fishing trip and gather together all the necessary equipment. Your rod and reel should be designed for catching large fish and the rest of your gear needs to be compatible with these. Circle hooks are also recommended for the best results.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best salt water fishing information possible. Go to http://www.asksaltw aterfishing. com/editorials/ shark-fishing- tips.html for more information on shark fishing.