GAFF Tips

Hurricane To-Do's

2010-06-15T22:02:00Z

As the hurricane season churns into full swing, it is important to prepare yourself, your family, and your boat for the worst. Please read our top ten things to do before a hurricane comes your way.

1. Develop a detailed plan of action to secure your vessel.

You should either remove your boat from the threatened area or take your boat to a previously identified storm refuge. Be sure to identify and assemble needed equipment and supplies, keep them together and practice your plan to ensure it works before the hurricane season. As a back-up plan, arrange for a qualified and reliable friend or a licensed professional captain to carry out your plans if you are out of town or somehow incapable of securing your vessel before a storm.

2. If storing your vessel in a marina, check your lease or storage rental agreement.

Know your responsibilities and liabilities as well as those of the marina. If you fail to follow any one of their necessary precautions, you may be named responsible for damages in the event of a claim.

3. Owners of non-trailerable boats in wet storage have options that include the following:

a. Secure the boat in the marina berth

b. Moor the boat in a previously identified safe area

c. Haul the boat to a safe location

4. Owners of boats remaining in a marina berth can take the following precautions:

Double all lines and rig crossing spring-lines fore and aft. Attach lines high on pilings to allow for tidal rise or surge, making sure the lines will not slip off the pilings. It's also important to inspect the pilings and choose those that appear the strongest and tallest.

5. Cover all lines at rough points or where lines feed through chocks to prevent chafing.

You can wrap them with duct tape, rags, rubber hoses, or leather. If necessary, install fenders, fender boards or tires to protect the boat from rubbing against the pier, pilings, and other boats.

6. Fully charge the vessel's batteries and check to ensure their capability to run automatic bilge pumps for the duration of the storm.

If there are any doubts, you should seriously consider backup batteries. Be sure to shut off all devices consuming electricity (except bilge pumps), and disconnect shore power cables.

7. When a hurricane is impending.

After you have made anchoring or mooring provisions, remove all portable equipment such as canvas, sails, dinghies, electronics, cushions, biminis and roller furling sails. Lash down everything you are unable to remove such as tillers, wheels and booms.

8. Maintain an inventory of both the items removed and those left on board.

Items of value should be marked so that they can be readily identified. You should also consider maintaining a video or photographic record of the boat and its inventory in a secure location.

9. Consolidate all records including insurance policies.

A recent photo of your vessel, boat registration, equipment inventory, and the lease agreement with the marina or storage facility are important to have. Ensure that you include the telephone numbers of appropriate authorities, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, Harbor Master, National Weather Service, and your insurance agent, and keep them all readily available. We've found a zip lock bag works perfectly for this!

10. Do not stay aboard.

Winds, during any hurricane, can exceed 100 mph and tornadoes are often associated with these storms. Above all, safeguard human life. Climate experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) continue to predict active Atlantic Hurricane seasons in the coming years. We could experience several named storms each year, a few of which may have the potential to become major hurricanes. These predictions reinforce the need for boaters in hurricane-prone regions to have preparation plans in place. Boat owners and the marine community should take proactive measures to minimize the potential for injuries and damage to their boats. Remember, key factors in protecting your boat from hurricanes or any severe storm are planning, preparation and timely action.

For more information on hurricane preparedness or other boating safety tips, visit www.nboat.com.

Your Engine is Fine -- It's the Fuel that Sucks

2010-06-15T21:58:00Z

Boat mechanics are finding themselves dealing with a flood of frustrated owners who bring in their boats because the engine isn't running right or has a gummed-up carburetor, only to bring it back as soon as a month later with the same complaint. The problem is not the engines - it's the fuel.

The introduction of ethanol into fuel has caused a wide range of problems. Ethanol is a fuel, but blending it with gasoline results in issues that are very often blamed on engines or the mechanics who maintain them: rough idling, hard starting, gummed-up injectors or carburetor jets and an overall loss of power and cruising range. Mechanics are reporting that the new blended fuels are raising havoc with boat engines because the fuel breaks down very quickly, forming gums too fast for traditional stabilizers to keep up. The "tried & true" marine fuel stabilizers and additives that rely on 50-year old technology just don't work with today's new fuels. They either cannot remove gum or they remove it in big chunks that end up causing clogs. The solution is simple; today's new fuels demand new technology, and that is Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment. Star Tron is a new, very effective way of solving a wide range of fuel-related problems. It uses a proprietary blend of enzymes to stabilize fuel chemistry and break down gum into sub-micron-sized particles that can be eliminated while the engine is running. Star Tron will dramatically slowing the aging process in order to keep fuel fresh and at peak combustibility even after long periods of storage. Its enzymes are particularly effective at cleaning the entire fuel delivery system to allow engines to once again perform at peak efficiency.

Gum formation is a major problem with ethanol-blended fuels. Because ethanol and gasoline do not chemically bond, E10 can begin to break down and form gums very quickly. As a result, engines that come out of the shop after expensive carburetor rebuilds or injector cleaning, but then sit idle for several weeks, may go right back to running poorly when they are finally used. Star Tron stabilizes fuel while it also disperses any existing debris to keep it from clogging injectors or carburetors. It also helps prevent phase separation that occurs when water and ethanol bond together and then "fall out" of the gasoline, resulting in degraded fuel and an engine that can't perform at its best.

Engines powered by Star Tron-treated fuel start easily and run smoothly even after sitting idle for extended periods. The enzymes in Star Tron allow more oxygen to bond to the fuel hydrocarbons which results in a more complete burn of the fuel charge, even in ethanol fuels. This translates into easier starting, better throttle response, decreased emissions, the prevention of carbon deposits and an overall improvement in engine performance and fuel economy.

Ever since ethanol first appeared in marine fuel, Star Tron has been solving ethanol-related problems, quickly and effectively. Star Tron works in all 2 and 4-cycle engines, regardless of size or age.

For more information or to find the dealer nearest you, log onto www.startron.com or call (800) 327-8583.

Making Your Better Half a Better Angler

2010-06-01T17:34:00Z

By Matt Draper

Some anglers consider heading out on the water their one opportunity to get away from it all. They yearn for the peace and solitude fishing affords and hope only to hear the sound of their drag or the splash of a fish as it tries to fight free from the lure. Some, on the other hand, can't even imagine being alone on the water and insist on sharing the experience with a close friend.

Regardless of the personalities involved, surprisingly few anglers choose to fish with their wives. In some cases, that may be best-certainly there are wives out there who are much happier doing something else-but for many anglers a wonderful relationship-building experience could be going to waste.

It's possible this opportunity is so often avoided because it seems too complicated. After all, you know how thorny it is for guys to teach their wives to drive like them or to grill like them-"like them" being the operative words here. So how in the world will you be able to teach them the subtle nuances of making the perfect cast or applying the correct amount of pressure with their palm to the spool to slow a speeding fish without breaking the line? Granted, it won't be easy, but with a reasonable amount of patience and just a hint of foresight, you may just find a new best buddy to fish with that doesn't require coming up with another tired excuse to appease your wife.

I wouldn't send you off on this mission without guidance, so here's what I learned in a nutshell from some wise old fishermen:

Number one - Don't try to teach your spouse (or girlfriend) anything that has an element of danger involved. She will blame you and only you if something goes wrong. If she gets finned, hooked or worse, dunked, you'll receive the brunt of her frustration. The best thing to do is locate a good friend or hire a professional (preferably an accomplished female angler) to do the teaching. Women know how to explain things to women better than most men do, and accidents will more often result in laughter, instead of anger. Once your lady-friend has the gist of the goal and technique, you're ready to take over.

In a perfect world, I'd leave it at that, but how many guys are actually going to go through the trouble of finding and hiring a female fisher to educate their sweet darling? That's what I'm thinking... not many. So let me offer a few pointers for the do-it-yourselfers.

First, you have to disassociate yourself from her. Forget she's your girl. Either get it in your head that she's a buddy's girlfriend, or pretend you're courting her all over again. You know, back in the days when you couldn't wait to spend your free time with her.

Next, slow down and explain everything you're doing. Speak in laymen's terms, not the slang you and the boys babble. Explain why and how you read the computers on your console. Where you are going and why you feel it will be a productive place to fish on this particular day and tide. Teaching her about some of the mysteries you've had to solve will peak her interest and better help her to understand why you are so passionate about the sport.

Explain the mechanics behind a cast. How the rod flexes, stores energy and slings the lure forward. Teach her this from the position tennis pros use to teach a young lady the backhand stroke-you know, from behind, while holding both of her arms to aid in her casting form and timing. This alone could put a little spark in your relationship.

Explain how the different lures are designed to mimic certain indigenous baitfish or invertebrates. Why you think the one she's throwing is the best choice, even though it looks nothing like anything she's ever seen swimming in real life. Impress upon her how she directly controls the lure's action and that she can make it appear weak or injured, or frightened and fleeting to entice a predator fish. (I find they're often better at this than we are.)

When she hooks up with a fish, it's very important you don't get overly excited and start raising your voice-women don't respond well to that. Calmly talk her through the many elements of the fighting process. When she does something wrong-and she will if it's her first fish-explain why it's better not to do that particular maneuver and calmly continue coaching. Remember, your goal is not to get the fish to the boat, but to make sure she learns the correct way to angle and to do it while avoiding upsetting her.

Once her fish is in the boat, explain the different parts of the fish and what makes the species easily identifiable. Now's the time to impress her with any interesting facts you know about the fish. It may be a completely foreign animal to her-help her understand it. Offer to let her hold it. If she doesn't want to, no big deal, she'll probably want to hold the next one she catches.

Hopefully you're starting to see what's going on here. We're not talking about teaching your spouse or girlfriend to fish; we're showing her all of the things that made the sport so special and alluring to us, or more particularly, to you. The things that fascinated us in the beginning and challenged our understanding of the sea are the same things that will capture her imagination and bring her pleasure if delivered correctly and in a pleasant or fun way.

I suggest you give it a try. Who knows, you may start sneaking off with your lady on the weekends and making up excuses to appease your buddies.

Eye to Eye with the Great White

2010-03-01T16:16:00Z

By Capt. Ron Gauthier

On the list of creatures that scare people the most, sharks are right up there at the top for a lot of us. If you have ever gone swimming or capsized a small boat in coastal waters-off Florida or practically anywhere else-you know what I mean. Sharks are on your mind. This is especially true since Steven Spielberg's movie "Jaws" came out in 1975, based on the novel of the same name by Peter Benchley. The star of the show was a great white, the embodiment of everything that frightens us about sharks: huge size, awesome power, cunning, speed, and a gigantic mouth full of razor-sharp, serrated teeth.

Great whites are the largest predatory fish on earth. Specimens of over 20 feet and 5,000 pounds have been recorded, though the average length is a mere 15 feet-barely big enough to swallow you whole. Great whites can sense tiny amounts of blood in the ocean from over three miles away, and they have the capability of detecting minuscule electromagnetic fields generated by animals. They are so sensitive that they can perceive one billionth of a volt. Mainly, they prey on seals, small toothed whales, sea lions, turtles, dolphins, porpoises, and carrion. They have been clocked at 15 mile per hour. You may have seen film or video footage of great whites impressively breaching the sea in the process of taking an unsuspecting seal or waterfowl. Most studies tell us today that they don't find certain animals particularly satisfying, such as goats and humans. They taste but don't necessarily swallow. Humans, on the other hand, are their biggest predator (a fact they cannot comprehend, of course) and that has put them on the endangered species list. The only natural predator that they appear to fear is the Orca, or killer whale. It is reported that after an Orca attack, the population of great whites will completely leave the local area for a while. I don't blame them.

Knowing all this, still, I found myself heading to Southern California with friends to join the crew of the vessel Searcher on a diving trip designed to bring me eye to eye with the great white. We arrived in San Diego in early September, surprised to find the weather a cool 50 degrees. Coming from Florida, I was picturing something a tad warmer, but the day was beautiful and we met the Captain and crew on the docks with anticipation and excitement-after all, we would soon be swimming with the most awesome sharks in the world. Once we had loaded our gear on board and the crew had packed the ship with the supplies necessary for 25 people out at sea for six days, we continued our journey to Isla Guadalupe (Mexico), a small island over 200 miles to the south off the coast of Baja California. The weather report looked good as we left the harbor dominated by the huge naval base, passing aircraft carriers and many other impressive military ships, even a nuclear sub. Beyond the quieter waters near shore, we steamed south on a course for Guadalupe Island, keeping a keen eye out for whales along the way, since we were reminded that there were several types of whales that migrate along the Pacific Coast. They're big, but they're hard to find. No whales.

At last we arrived at Guadalupe, and the crew dropped anchor about 200 feet deep and a few hundred feet from the beach. We immediately spotted several types of seals covering the few beaches between the rocky outcrops. You see a lot of seals on the beach but they don't swim around the boat. After leaving their feeding grounds they hug the bottom to avoid attack, only to surface on the beach one at a time-a grim reminder that nature's own were smart enough not to get into the water with the great whites except out of necessity. Humans, well, we're a different breed, I guess.

One of the techniques that makes diving with great whites so exhilarating is cage diving, the use of a form of underwater fortification that lets the diver get very close to these giant and potentially violent creatures. As it happened, the cages were dropped into the sea and fastened to the back of the boat by the crew while another crew member made the so-called "burley," a mixture of tuna, water, and other fish. Once the water around the ship was chummed, it did not take long before one of the crew yelled, " Shark!" Scott, a member of the crew, went over the rules and broke the group into teams before anybody actually got into the water. About this time, the adrenalin was flying through our blood as we watched a couple monster white sharks swimming around the cages and waited for our turn to enter the water.

When the first team of divers got out, you could see nothing but amazement and awe in their eyes! Then their mouths started going nonstop-just running on like machine guns about the experience of being so close to these incredible creatures as they tore at the bait and rubbed and jostled the cages and how their power transferred to the water around them. They just hoped and prayed that the camera shots they took would somehow capture those moments as they felt them.

Watching and listening, I had trouble holding my water. Then... it was my turn. What a rush. I dropped into the sea and within seconds came eye to eye with my first great white. His eyes were pure black. The colors of his torpedo-like body were extraordinary: deep dark blue with that characteristic white underside that adds camouflage to help in hunting prey. But mostly, I remember those eyes.

After the first day of diving the crew pulled out the dropper cage. The plan now was to lower each diver down 30 feet and allow this courageous devil to sit on top of the cage with Scott stationed behind him, watching his back. If the sharks got too aggressive or started to sneak up on the cage, Scott would tap you on the back and you would drop into the cage. Well, that proved to be really an amazing time-what an adrenalin rush! There you were, surrounded by great white sharks, the water beautiful at 70 degrees, crystal clear with visibility stretching to over 100 feet. Oh, yes, we got some great pictures and video!
_______________________________________
For those interested, this trip was taken through Great White Adventures; their website is www.Dive@greatwhiteadventures.com

Fly Fishing Honolulu

2010-02-01T17:46:00Z

by Louie the Fish!

Aloha Ya'll!

I got up this morning, looked outside my small apartment near the University of Hawaii in Honolulu and saw an almost clear blue sky, with very light trade winds. I had time to kill and an urge to fish, so I grabbed my gear; a 6-weight TFO Axiom fly rod with an Orvis Mid Arbor V reel, floating line, my pair of the locally-made, neoprene, felt-soled reef booties, My FishPond USA Seychelles waist pack, shooting basket, polarized sunglasses, hat etc., and off I went in my beat-up, old Toyota Tercel.

Ten minutes later I arrived at a spot on the south shore of Oahu, near Aina Haina, we call the Park. In another ten minutes I had waded out to my hot spot coral ridge about halfway out on the flat and was standing in ankle deep water. I began blind casting downwind into a big area about waist deep where I know the elusive Hawaiian bonefish often cruise. I had a very long leader, un-tapered 17 pound Vanish Fluorocarbon almost two rod lengths long, and an orange fly, similar to a Crazy Charlie, size 6, with large sinkchain brass eyes.

The ticket with blind casting is to cast long, 60 to 70 feet if possible, to get out to the "stupid zone" where a passing bonefish is not yet aware of the angler's presence. A slow, jerky strip, with pauses to let the fly sink almost to the bottom, will often inspire a strike. A shooting basket really helps to keep line organized, and even though you can make a lot of casts before getting a strike, in the long run, blind casting is the most effective way to fish many areas on Oahu.

On this particular morning, with the tide just starting to come in, I had only made about ten casts or so when something stopped the fly. I set the hook and a bonefish headed for the reef's edge in a sizzling 100-yard run. Eventually, a nice six-pounder came to hand--about average for Hawaii. That's how easy it can be, but like all fishing, it can also be very hard.

Bonefish are found all over Oahu, which has the best flats of any of the Hawaiian Islands. Access is easy, and we have a fly shop here that basically pioneered the sport in this area and they're always willing to help visitors (see www.nervouswaterhawaii.com). I guide a bit for them, along with my buddy Ed Tamai. I have been guiding about eight years now, part time, along with my 21-year-old, New Zealand born son, Joaquin, who does most of the guiding (see www.louiethefish.com). We try to do as much sight fishing as possible and have a small boat to access the few offshore flats here. These offshore flats, and a few select spots on the south shore, on the right tide and without too many clouds, are good sight-fishing areas, but we resort to blind casting when needed. We seldom fish out of the boat, as wading allows us to get closer to cruising bonefish.

I tie a lot of my own flies, re-inventing the wheel many times over, but generally our fish like orange, tan and brown flies. I add weed guards on most to prevent snagging the coral bottom. Crazy Charlies, Gotchas, various crab and mantis shrimp flies, and most standard bonefish flies work well here. The fish are not leader shy, and some guys use 25-pound leader, but I stick to 17, in case I get that IGFA record fish! Spin fishing with jigs can also work well on our bonefish.

The bonefish can be very big, with double-digit fish landed on occasion. My biggest is 14 pounds, but I know of a guy who landed one about 18 pounds, 37 inches long--a potential IGFA record, had he killed it and weighed it in. But we are almost all catch and release fly fishers here.

Hiring a guide for first timers can make a huge difference, but Oahu is fairly easy to figure out for the do-it-yourself anglers too, especially with Google Earth. The entire south shore from Kokohead to Diamondhead is one long flat, only about knee deep on average at low tide, and about 500 yards wide to the break zone. I can call my guide buddies and find out where on this ten mile long stretch the bones have been appearing, so networking helps. West of Diamondhead is Waikiki, seldom fly fished at all, loaded with bonefish, slightly deeper wading, and of course, you might have the misfortune of having some gorgeous surfer girls in bikinis paddle right over your floating line. We suffer through these moments.

There are two lagoon areas, Keehi lagoon and Kaneohe bay, with big flats which can be accessed by boat or kayak, and kayak rentals are easy and inexpensive here, so that's a good option for the adventurous do-it-yourself angler. Hawaii's outer islands are not as easy as Oahu. Only Molokai and Kauai have decent flats, and access and fishing can be a lot harder.

When the fly guys visit here, I also like to turn them on to our fun freshwater fishing. We have one long reservoir, Lake Wilson, that is loaded with peacock bass up to eight pounds or better. My friend Stan Wright is a longtime guide there (see www.Hawaiibassfishing.com), and I have had some great days on that lake, both fly and spin fishing. Oahu, and Kauai also have some great stream fishing. On Oahu, Nuuanu Stream is easy access, and when I creep around in the bush there with my wee 3-weight fly rod, I usually catch 10 to 20 smallmouth bass, from six inches long, up to my biggest, a hefty 17-incher. I use nymphs, mini-jigs and big drys. Kauai Island also has good trout fishing up high in Kokee State park. I am the secretary of Hawaii's only Trout Unlimited Chapter (see www.tuhi.org), and we are currently working toward enhancing this rainbow trout fishery. Also on Kauai, an adventurous angler can find great peacock bass fishing in the streams and reservoirs. But, that takes a bit of research.

One of the perks to having your fishing holiday here is that Oahu, Honolulu and Waikiki are very much favored by the fairer sex. While you are off fly fishing, wives can shop till they drop, kids can swim, snorkel, surf, boogie board, or enjoy all the countless tourist attractions available here, including the Zoo, the Aquarium, and the gorgeous Hanauma Bay Marine reserve. There are restaurants of every description, from Sushi bars, to Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and just plain "local" food. Transport is easy--you can even fly fish by bus--and hotels are offering great deals these days.

I think Oahu is the most beautiful of all the tropical islands. I am sure it gets just as warm back there in Florida, but here it's year round and we have almost constant trade winds that make our climate arguably the best on the planet. The ocean water is warm and clear, offering great snorkeling and scuba diving, and teeming with fish if you know where to go.

So why wait? Jump on a flight to Hawaii and try your hand at fly fishing in Paradise!

Louie the Fish!

www.louiethefish.com

Daytrippin' by Yak

2010-01-14T18:18:00Z

Using a Mothership affords more-distant excursions

By Jason Callaghan

I've been content for several years to paddle the shorelines of Florida's coast fishing for resident species such as redfish, trout and even migrating tarpon. I was always within a couple hour's paddling from the public-access launch site where I started. As flats skiffs, bay boats and offshore rigs would fly past me, I would silently congratulate myself for having the disciplined patience to slow down and actually find the fish that everyone else was passing by. But, as I fished the same area of coastline year after year and caught the same species season after season, I began to look at the wake left behind by those boats and think to myself, "Where the hell are they off to?"

The saying goes: all boats have limitations, and it's especially true of most paddle craft. The range and speed at which one can get to any particular fishing area is, for most kayak anglers, limited to a few miles in any direction. This was always my perception of kayak fishing-until a few months ago.

I met Capt. Mike McNamara of St. Marks Outfitters last year while kayak fishing together in a local charity tournament. He talked to me about his budding guide and outfitting service. He also expressed his desire to be able to guide clients on unique paddling and fishing experiences.

St. Marks Outfitters is no ordinary guide service. They cater to kayak angling and ecotourism, but still offer half and full-day standard inshore/offshore excursions in one of Capt. McNamara's boats. St. Marks Outfitters offers kayak rentals and a variety of guided kayak angling experiences. They have a couple of 24-foot Carolina Skiffs, each custom rigged and outfitted to carry up to four kayaks and kayakers to outlying areas.

Toward the end of summer, a friend of mine, Michael Ray, and I finally got a chance to go fishing with Capt. Mike aboard one of his skiffs. He told us to bring our kayaks and some sturdy tackle. After loading our kayaks and gear aboard the skiff, we stopped and sabikied some pinfish, then headed about 10 miles offshore. We anchored up over some rock piles and offloaded our kayaks in about 25 feet of water.

It was a bluebird day with a light wind hardly making a ripple on the water. I didn't know what to expect and was a little overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of my open surroundings. I dropped a live minnow on a spinning outfit off the side of my kayak and drifted quietly. Moments later controlled chaos erupted. My rod doubled over violently and my drag started singing as the line ripped out and away, not down. A few minutes later I caught a glimpse of the fish-brown with a white stripe. A cobia! Eventually, with the help of Mike from aboard the skiff, I was able to safely gaff and land a nice 25-pound keeper fish.

We continued to fish the rock piles the captain had previously marked with a temporary buoy, while Capt. Mike idled a few hundred yards away and identified more structure with his bottom machine. He called us over, and after refreshing our bait supply and getting a cold drink from the skiff, off again we drifted. Michael and I caught some small grouper and jacks for a while before he started yelling-a big fish was pulling him in circles. I had barely enough time to check on him when my rod again bent over hard. This time the fish pulled straight down. After several minutes of an extreme tug of war, I was again able to safely land an even bigger cobia. Michael's fish was so big, he was unable to pull it out of the rocks and it ended up breaking his leader.

I've been asked, "Why go through all that hassle? You may as well just fish from a regular boat." As we were heading back in after just a few hours of fishing, I knew the answer to that question. I realized that I had just experienced something special. It was the same feeling I had after I had caught my first redfish from a kayak. It was the same feeling I experienced when I had a 100-pound tarpon dancing on the end of my line and pulling my kayak wherever it wanted to go. This was the feeling that even before I got back to land and my everyday life, I knew I had to go experience again-and soon. I was finally able to go where all those boats that had passed me had gone, and I wanted to go back again!

And I have. Not long after the offshore trip, we planned an inshore daytrip to an area about eight miles from the nearest public access. This outlying area is well known for the hundreds of marked and unmarked limestone rock formations that lie just below the water's surface. The rocks-which are a bane to gel coats, trolling motors and the lower units of outboard motors-are also the very reason anglers are attracted to this area. The rocks hold lots of bait, and that bait attracts lots of fish.

After anchoring the skiff a safe distance from the area we planned to fish, we set out in the kayaks for a fun-filled morning of redfish and trout fishing. The shallow drafting kayaks didn't mind the rocks one bit. Once again I was able to enjoy a unique day of fishing from my kayak. I remember Capt. Mike remarking as we were heading back in, "We just fished an area where the fish have never seen a kayak before."

Saving Memories... and Face: How to Take a Good Fish Pic

2009-11-12T17:29:00Z

By Matt Draper

Here at GAFF, we see it day in and day out-probably more often than any other fishing magazine. Excited anglers snapping images of their prize catches, so they can show the world through our pages their achievements. These days, with fewer fish hitting the ice, and more being released to fight again, these photos are often the only proof the angler has that the event ever happened at all. Which makes one wonder: If it's the only evidence you have of such a memorable moment, shouldn't the photo taken be one worth looking at?

It's sad, at times, when a proud parent sends in the shot they took of their child's first fish and I have to turn it away because it was so poorly taken. If the child's face is even visible, you can almost make out how overjoyed they are... and how upset they'll be. It's not the child's fault their parent didn't put any thought into what the photo would ultimately look like, but it is the child who is robbed of a scrapbook memory he or she could have shared with many generations to come.

Because of this, we decided it was time to spell out some simple pointers that can improve the quality of your family fishing photos. By no means will this substitute for the knowledge or pleasure you could gain from attending a photography class, but this should allow you to produce images far better than 85-percent of what comes through our doors.

Here are some basic, yet very important, things to think about when preparing to take a photo of your friend or child's trophy catch. Remember, you are capturing a fraction of a second in time to last for all eternity, or at least until you accidentally delete it, or your computer crashes-so do it right.

- Light right.

Pay attention to the location of the sun. If the sun is not directly overhead, make sure it is at your back when taking the picture, so the sunlight casts across the front of your subject. If the sun is directly overhead, take the subject's ball cap off or use a fill flash to prevent the harsh shadow created by the cap's bill from obscuring their face. Smaller, inexpensive point-n-shoots will have a weak flash, so it is important to stand close enough to the subject for it to be effective. Even with high-end cameras, you need to learn the range of your flash.

Showing off a record catch to your buddies is great, but if you can't prove it's you because the face in the photo is blacked out in shadows, good luck with your claim.

- Be a director.

Select a pose or position that is flattering to the subject and the fish. Make the effort to show the fish's best side, not just its belly or back to the camera. If the fish is dangling from a line and slowly spinning, time your picture for when the fish's side is facing the lens. We receive countless, precious photos of youngsters with their first catch, but the fish has twirled around and the picture was taken while its belly or back was facing the camera. Often the fish is unidentifiable-a real shame.

Also, pay attention to what parts of the angler are covered by the fish or rod and reel. If the fishing line is running across the angler's face, move it. If the float on the Boga Grip is covering part of the fish or an important part of the angler, reposition the float.

- Watch your attitude.

It's been our experience that the best pictures involve a happy angler. Unless you are dragging up fish commercially, you should be having a good time. Have your angler smile, or better yet, laugh, if you want a great photo that captures the mood of the trip. Excited anglers make exciting pictures-deadpan, expressionless anglers seldom do.

- The big picture.

Look behind and around your subject. The picture you take contains much more visual information than just the angler and fish you are focused on. The truck and trailer to their left, the beer cans, the gutted remains of future chum on the gunwale, the condo destroyed in the hurricane, the bozo on the boat who isn't even aware you are taking the picture and who is standing behind your subject scratching his rear end, all are damaging to the final product and should be accounted for when staging the photo.

Also, be aware of your horizon in the background. Unless you are purposely going for some sort of "artsy" effect by tilting the camera at a 45-degree angle, you're really just showing you didn't pay attention to what you were looking at, and in the end, your final picture may suffer.

- Fill the frame.

Unless your subject has especially nice legs, they aren't the focus of the portrait and therefore are not needed in the picture. Your subject, fish and friend, are all that need be within the parameter of your viewfinder or LCD screen. If your angler is holding the fish chest high, walk up closer until their head, chest and fish fill the frame. Everything else is just a waste of pixels. Your images will turn out much more interesting and professional looking if you simply step up and shoot what is truly your center of attention.

- Go big.

Lastly, make sure your camera is programmed to take photos at its highest resolution possible. If you want to take hundreds of pictures throughout the day, simply to document the trip and email to friends, low-resolution settings are fine. But, when that once-in-a-lifetime fish does come aboard, remember to reset your camera to its maximum megapixel potential. You can always reduce a photo later, but unless you're a photo manipulation expert, you can't add information to a small photo and make it big and sharp.

We understand not everyone cares enough about photography to put a whole lot of thought into this lesson. But, if you'll remember and execute just a couple of these basic pointers, I can promise you'll notice a distinct improvement in your photos the next time you pull them up on your screen. And, I'm betting, so will your friends.

Romance on the Wahoo Highway

2009-11-12T17:03:00Z

By Steve "Mazz" Mazzola

It is a warm, tropical winter day and we're high-speed trolling aboard our boat the Venturesome. While zigzagging the Bimini ledge, I look back to check the lines and I see a big foamy wake with ten pink toenails in the foreground resting on the transom of the boat. My wife Chris is lounging in a beanbag chair reading a mushy book. I bring my attention back to the sounder when an adrenalin-filled yell erupts from my bride. "Fish On!"-those two beautiful words that have come to mean so much in our marriage. The 50-wide is dumping line and our marital dance begins.

I am the luckiest guy in the world; I have a wife who loves offshore fishing. And, at the top of our list of winter species to target are Bahamas Wahoo. Disclaimer #1: Now, I know I'm no expert on catching these magnificent predators and there are plenty of folks out there who've caught tons more and been doing it longer. But, I did find my niche when I had to figure out a way to high-speed troll with just Chris and me on our boat. So, when GAFF's Editor-in-Chief asked me if I would be interested in writing on the subject of couples fishing, I said sure! After all, sharing information so others can enjoy the sport is a pleasure in and of itself.

To be honest, wahoo had eluded us for years-we just couldn't break the code. Then, high-speed trolling became more publicized and in my frustration I decided it was time to learn. I read all I could find on the subject and discovered I would need to see this technique first hand. I was fortunate enough to ride along a few times on a big sportfish off Palm Beach that had the game figured out. I quickly realized this was going to be a big challenge for just Chris and me on our center console.

How was I going to manage 4 or 6 lines?

Who was going to drive the boat on and off the ledge?

Who was going to clear the lines?

What in the heck was going to happen when that big cigar weight got to the rod tip?

How about hand-lining all that shock leader?

Gaffing a ballistic set of choppers... forget it?

Sure, a top-notch crew of four made it look easy, but how do you pull it all off with just the two of us?

These were the questions that kept me up at night.

My Solutions

Well, I put the grey matter to work and decided I had to simplify the operation.

First, I opted for just two rigs deployed at a time. Yes, we might miss some multiple knockdowns, but I was willing to sacrifice that for a more manageable cockpit.

Next, boat steering and line clearing duties. I decided since I was already at the helm, I would just stay there. I have the knowledge at my fingertips of where the ledge is and that is critical for getting off of it and heading out to deeper water after a hookup. Also, I can manage our speed during the initial wahoo runs. Chris, therefore, inherited line clearing duty. More on that later.

The third stage is when the hoo stops running. Who is going to reel it in? This is where Chris and I switch roles. My thought is that if I'm on the reel during the retrieve, I can better judge line pressure, boat tracking, and fish behavior. And, since I am going to leader the fish anyway, I may as well get on the rod early. Chris then takes over the helm and makes small adjustments to throttle and steering based on my inputs while I'm reeling in the fish. (Not much yelling going on at this point!) Also, she is the angler for all billfish, tuna and dolphin, so I figured I would take one species for myself.

Finally, and this is the biggest point of all, we decided we would not gaff a wahoo with just the two of us on the boat. We are lucky that we have the perfect transom door at the waterline of our boat. Everything I had read pointed to handling a wahoo through the transom door as a viable option. I also read that a wahoo pulled through a door would just lay there without going berserk. That clinched it for us.

When, Where and How

So, with all this background fodder out of the way, let me spell it out for you, start to finish. I'll call it the When, Where, and How. Disclaimer #2: The when and where I learned by reading all the information I could find, and by dock-talking to whoever wanted to share information with me. I didn't invent any of this. Nuff said!

In my opinion, the "when" is one of the biggest challenges to winter wahoo fishing in the Bahamas. The good news is the fish are there. The bad news is you need to thread the needle between cold front north winds to make a safe Gulf Stream crossing! Chris and I plan one trip per month in November, December, January, February, and March each year. Our perfect length of time is three days, two nights, but we will flex to a two-day or even a one-day trip if the weather drives us into that corner. Safety first! Bottom line, if the winds have a north component or I see the elephants marching on the Stream, we don't go.

A second "when" is ahead of an approaching cold front. If I see a cold front two days out from our trip, I get very excited. Don't ask me why, but a falling barometer seems to make them bite better.

A third "when" is the week of the full moon-another one of those mysteries. The final "when" depends on the tide schedule on the ledge over there. I want to be able to cover at least one complete slack tide change while trolling. So, the magical perfect world "when" is an approaching cold front two days out, the week of the full moon, with good tides in the middle of the day. Good luck having all those stars align!

The "where" are the Bahamas ledges. Period! Bimini, West End, Walkers, e.g., any of the defined areas with steep ledges. I like to run a zigzag pattern across these ledges from 150 to 450 feet. We seem to get fewer cuda hookups by staying deeper. Also, clean blue water has worked well for us.

All Together Now

OK, lets put all this together now so you can see how Chris and I do this on the Venturesome.

I setup a pair of 50-wides in the corners, safety tied to a cleat. Our lures are high-speed trolling lures, heavy in front, rigged with 4 to 5 feet of cable. Behind the lure I run 30 feet of 300-pound mono shock, and behind that, a 32-ounce cigar weight with a couple of feet of cable on each side of it. Finally, the cigar weight is attached to my main line. I use all stainless double ball bearing swivels to attach everything. We deploy one at 100 feet and the other at 150 feet, as this seems to keep the lures from finding each other during my crazy Ivan turns on the ledge.

Speed on our boat averages from 11 to 12.5 knots. I'll call it the sweet spot for our hull. The boat feels good, the water is fairly clean way back, and the speed is easy to manage. When we are setup, Chris takes her place in the beanbag chair with her favorite book, and I take my place at the helm. Note: Whoever is driving cannot be distracted by anything. Not food, not Kalik Golds, not conversation, and not bikini clad ladies (difficult at times). The boat driver's number one duty is attacking the ledge and staying on it. There is no point in going through all of this trouble if you aren't in the zone 100% of the time. When I'm driving, I'm glued to the sounder.

Chris has line watching duty (in between reading). Her job is to let me know if any line is slowly pulling out which would indicate weeds or a tangle. Speaking of which, how much drag? I use just enough drag on the reel to keep line from being pulled out at trolling speed. This has worked well for us and all of our wahoo have come aboard with solid hook penetration.

At the musical sound of Chris' "Fish On" scream, the marriage dance begins. I immediately do three things: I start an easy turn off the ledge (head for deep water to avoid getting sharked), hit MOB (so we can come back to that spot), and put my gloves on (for leadering). Notice I haven't touched the throttles. I maintain trolling speed for about thirty seconds for three reasons; to keep heavy line pressure for hookset, to avoid slack if Mr. Hoo decides to turn and charge the boat, and to encourage his buddy out there to jump on the other lure. On my call, Chris starts bringing in the other line if it hasn't been hit. She clears the other line by storing the cigar weight in the haws pipe (a rod holder will work) and walking the lure to the front of the boat. This does a couple of things for us; it keeps the weight from swinging around and breaking stuff, and it gets the lure way up to the front of the boat where the hook and all the shock leader are out of the way.

When I start backing off the throttles, I do it slowly and smoothly and I drop the port engine into neutral. That's the side where our transom door is and I don't want that prop spinning (learned that lesson the hard way). The starboard motor evens out at an RPM that gives me around 3 knots on the boat-key to keeping pressure on the wahoo's head the entire time. Once the throttle is set, I head to the rod and start reeling after the wahoo has stopped running. Chris now mans the helm and follows my directions for steering and speed inputs. At this point, small corrections to the boat are key for us.

The End Game

As we get to the cigar weight breaking the surface of the water, the excitement goes up a few notches. I always try to remember that the experts say most wahoo are lost at the boat. I slow everything down in my mind when it's time to handline all that shock leader. Chris' focus now becomes that of safety observer. She will call out if I'm stepping on the leader or have a pile of it in a bad place. My focus is on the fish, which will usually start the final fight when it sees the boat. When I see color I try to time the final wraps to the rhythm of the fish. As the wahoo's head clears the transom, I slide it straight into a corner to pin the head in case it thrashes. We have landed countless wahoo this way and it has produced consistently for us.

Fishing with guys is a traditional brotherhood event. But, fishing alone with your mate, especially when you target a tough, exciting fish like a wahoo, can be extremely rewarding and may even be good for your marriage.

Romance on the Wahoo Highway - GAFF Magazine from GAFF Magazine on Vimeo.

Steve Mazzola shows the art of short-handed wahoo wrangling with his wife. Video supplement to the GAFF Magazine Sept/Oct 2009 article of the same name. http://www.gaffmag.net

Eco Tours of North Florida by Kayak: Wacissa Wonder

2009-11-02T16:55:00Z

By Capt. Jason Callaghan

As we slid through the lily pads in our kayaks, our guide, Georgia, in excited but hushed tones, pointed out a bird hidden in the vegetation on the edge of the river. The limpkin, as we were told, was busy dining on a breakfast of apple snails and seemed hardly as impressed with us as we were with it. By birdwatcher's standards, we were getting a rare treat by observing a once near-extinct species in an even more endangered habitat. We were near the headwaters of the Wacissa River in the Florida panhandle and less than fifteen miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

On this day, Georgia led a group of eight kayakers through the stunningly beautiful array of open springs and lush flora of a truly unique river system.
There are at least 12 known springs along the upper 1.5 miles of the river. The smallest, Cassidy Spring, is neatly tucked away in a half bowl of cypress and sweet gum trees. The spring's opening, which is a mere eight feet in diameter, is clearly visible from the water's surface. The sand-lined banks around this natural swimming pool seem to beckon a few hours of picnicking and swimming on a hot summer day.

About a half-mile farther down river is the first access water trail to Wacissa's largest first-magnitude spring. The shallow, tree-lined trail suddenly opens up to an awe inspiring site-Blue Spring, a bright, emerald-blue pool more than 50 feet in diameter and at least 30 feet deep. Though, on this day we were to turn around at Blue Spring, the entire length of the Wacissa is easily paddled in a full day.

The Wacissa River starts in the town of Wacissa, Florida and is about 12 miles long. There is parking and a small boat ramp at the river's start. At over 100 feet wide for most of its length, the water flow is slow and conducive for paddle craft. It ends in a broken flow of cypress swamps and near unnavigable wetland, before eventually pairing with the Aucilla River. This lower stretch was painstakingly excavated in the mid 1800's in an effort to provide passage for cotton barges from the Gulf to the upper Wacissa. The Slave Canal, as it is now called, was never fully completed and was abandoned over 100 years ago. It remains passable only by canoe or kayak. This stretch of the river offers a remoteness and pristine natural beauty that can be found in few other areas in Florida. From the Aucilla it is another few miles downriver to complete this unique estuary.

Wildlife on the Wacissa is truly spectacular. Alligators, turtles, otter, and a host of smaller reptiles and water mammals can be observed on its banks. There are few places in Florida that offer the diversity of the Wacissa's bird population. Many large birds such as herons, red tailed hawks, bald eagles and egrets thrive on the river.

The fish population contains many freshwater species such as largemouth and Suwannee bass, blue gill and catfish. Farther downriver into the lower reaches of the Aucilla River, saltwater species such as mullet, seatrout, and redfish can be found. On this day, Brad Kirn, a fellow paddler and avid freshwater angler, was able to coax a few hungry bream and small bass into eating the flies he offered. Fishing is very popular and productive along the entire stretch of river.

Kayaking on rivers such as the Wacissa offers a unique way to discover and experience Florida's interior wetlands. Though most of our rivers have been clear cut for timber in the last century, with our help, their recovery is well on its way. Aside from the lack of a true mature forest and the introduction of some exotic species, it is still possible to quietly slip down these spring-fed rivers and imagine life here when the plants and animals were their own caretakers.

-------------

Georgia Ackerman is the owner and ecotourism guide for the kayak based The Wilderness Way just south of Tallahassee. She and her highly qualified staff have been offering guided kayak tours on many of north Florida's rivers for over five years. These trips range from short and sweet beginner-friendly trips, to all day excursions. Georgia's technical knowledge of both kayak touring and the wildlife she visits is impressive. Though our morning spent with her on the Wacissa River consisted of a group of kayakers with various degrees of experience, from veteran to novice, she managed to give attention to the entire group. Tour locations offered by The Wilderness Way include multiple sections of the Wacissa, St. Marks, and the Wakulla River, as well as coastal marine tours in the Florida panhandle. The Wilderness Way can be contacted
at (850) 877-7200 or visited by web at www.thewildernessway.net.

Young Salts - Are You a Stakeholder in Florida Fisheries?

2009-08-17T12:12:37Z

By dictionary definition, a stakeholder is a person who holds a concern or interest in something. A stakeholder will not work towards short-term gratification, but towards the long-term quality and prosperity of his respective organization or business. He or she will make sacrifices and put in many hours so that many years later, they may pass on their responsibility to another with full confidence.

Like anything else, the Florida Fisheries have stakeholders - a great many of them, in fact. You may be one of them. Just ask yourself one question to find out:

Would you be willing to release one fish today, to catch two tomorrow?

It's easy to say yes right now, but when you've got that gator trout ready to be thrown on the ice, it may be a tougher call. Stakeholders in our realm look forward to having the same solid fishing experience decades from now, and hold that dream far above the idea of filling the cooler to the top today. Sure, it's cool to keep some fish, but releasing those big ones does wonders for the reproduction of the species. Simply, the bigger the fish, the more eggs it can carry/fertilize. If one considers the value of that fish in the water versus in the cooler, a stakeholder would do everything possible to promptly release that fish. In doing so, an exponential number of fish will be created over a long period of time for posterity to enjoy.

The "big fish" is just one of many examples of how one could increase the longevity of quality Florida fishing. Much of it is simply doing the right thing concerning regulations, and keeping the waters free of harmful substances. Another aspect is communication to your fellow anglers about what it means to be responsible for the fisheries.

So ask yourself: Are you a stakeholder, or simply a participant?

Feel free to contact me at gjscibelli@gmail.com.

Young Salts - Rainy Days and Mondays

2009-08-17T12:02:15Z

Some of the experiences I've had out on the water will continue to shape the way I go fishing forever. In a world where school, careers, and plain old-fashioned responsibility seem to dominate life, fishing in 50-degree rain seemed like a pretty good idea to Capt. Mike, Alex Gramovot, and yours truly one Saturday in January. The logic was simple, really: The fish were there, and we had the means to catch 'em. What's a little rain?

So, we took up a collection of sweatshirts and rain jackets, saddled up, and throttled out to Turkey Point. The rain was more of a mist, with no electricity within sight or earshot, and the layers of clothing were more than enough to ward off the chill. Spirits were high as we set up on our first drift. Jokes were made about the weather and the fact we were the only souls on the water. We were "real men." ...Until the wind picked up and brought with it the sort of rain you hear pounding the sea's surface long before it hits you in sheets.

Just as the "real men" were questioning the situation, Capt. Mike set the hook on a 22-inch red that was quickly followed by a spotty barrage of trout and more reds over the course of an hour. Most of the strikes were out of frenzy, but we still managed to bag four tournament-worthy trout.

The rain, forgotten, soon became a factor again when the fish had had enough. Soaked to the skin and hungry, we made a frigid run back to the house, calling ahead to make sure there were plenty of hot drinks waiting when we arrived. Nothing like pan-fried trout and hot coffee to kill off a January chill.

Moral: The fish don't stay in on a rainy day. Get out there and you'll have a good story to tell the landlubbers on Monday.

North Florida's Jungle Tarpon

2009-08-13T16:50:22Z

In Florida, the word "tarpon" insights visions of clear saltwater covering expansive grass flats; technical skiffs that draft only a mere, few inches of water; angler's sight casting to rolling fish along beaches, or to laid-up fish in the backcountry; flies tied to perfection and carefully placed in boxes like newborn babies in a crib. Thoughts of Boca Grande Pass may even drift in and out of ones conciseness. Yes, this fish - Megalops Atlanticas - has its own cult-like following of seemingly possessed anglers - rightfully so. But, this setting doesn't resemble a stereotypical Florida tarpon destination - maybe largemouth bass - but not everything is, as it seems. Especially, when it comes to late-summer tarpon opportunities in North Florida.

The feel of adventure was in the air. It was evident by the smile on the face of my good friend, as he pointed to a large alligator sunning on the river's bank ahead of us. Once again, Andy had made his annual pilgrimage from West Virginia to North Florida - a tradition spawned over five years ago - in search of some nerve-rattling excitement. The three-day quest we were embarking upon would provide spectacular views of Florida's wilderness and an opportunity to pursue a premier saltwater game fish in a place of solitude.

Ideal conditions were present, as I eased my skiff around the bend in the tributary river, which eventually feeds Apalachicola Bay. Alligator gars were breaking on the water's surface, clouds of bait were visible on the depth recorder, a swift current was flowing and in the near distance - tarpon were rolling. Little time was wasted as Andy proceeded to slip a stout casting rod from storage beneath the gunwale. He stepped to the bow while readying to cast in the direction of the next rolling tarpon. Barely a minute had passed. My focus was still on clearing gear from the boat's deck. I did not realize what the chaos was about, until I looked up to see a tarpon clear the water only a few yards from my skiff. I managed to unsnap the latch on my camera case and get a few quick shots of the action before the first tarpon of our adventure departed to points elsewhere. "Worth the price of admission, you get a picture?" and "Pick up a rod, start fishing!" were the next words I heard. Our short three-day hiatus was rewarded with many hook-ups, jumps and a few fish brought boat-side for release. Not bad for an escapade, cast during Florida's sweltering August heat.

During late spring, tarpon begin a silent migration invading the waters off Florida's Big Bend and Panhandle coasts. Anglers awaiting this invasion endure sleepless nights preceding the first sighting of these mighty fish. For the unwitting anglers, sheer amazement is onset by the tarpon's aerial antics and hard runs, when caught off-guard by a happenstance hook-up. Often times, these chance encounters result in an addiction, which may very well last a lifetime.

Through early- to mid-summer, tarpon sightings are common as they make their way across shallow grass flats providing light-tackle fisherman a coveted opportunity to place small artificial baits before them. Live bait anglers join the fishing fray; targeting fish feeding on bait schools around river mouths, passes and harbors. All of this fishing activity generally occurs until early in July. Then, for some reason, the number of fish seemingly diminishes and local enthusiasm wanes. Flats skiffs with guides perched on poling platforms, and fly fisherman, seem to disappear along with the numbers of fish. At this point in time, many anglers move on to targeting other species, and some just sit in the air conditioning reminiscing of recent trips, cooler days to come and next year. Little known to most, many of these visiting tarpon are still around. They have just taken up a different local residence.

Mid- to late-summer and into Fall, up rivers, generally out of the sight of bays and flats, waiting in deeper water where concentrations of mullet, crabs and other small finfish can be found, are tarpon - large tarpon - and for the most part, an overlooked fishery. These tarpon are not always easily found, but are present, and readily waiting to inhale a large plug or swim bait. Searching out these concentrations of fish requires time and effort, but is well worth the reward.

Being on the water early and late in the day provides the best opportunity to locate feeding tarpon in estuarine rivers. These fish are more active when the sun is not high in the sky. Deeper holes in the rivers, which hold bait, hold tarpon. Generally speaking, I confine my search to the sections of a river that are affected by the rising and falling of the tide. Look for surface rips or areas of increased current - current plays a key role. A good bottom machine can play a role in locating concentrations of bait and water depths of interest - find bait, find the tarpon. Pay special attention to sections of rivers where alligator gars and other fish are present, feeding, and breaking the water's surface - sure sign of bait. Tarpon may not always be visibly rolling on the surface, but if they are, you can bet for every one you see roll, there are several more present.

Due to the hard-pulling, tenacious attitude of tarpon, and the nature of fishing for them in these sometimes-tight confines - specialized, easy to cast, strong tackle is a necessity. Seven-foot, heavy-action, casting or spinning rods capable of accurately delivering medium plugs or swim baits are a must. Reels with a strong drag system, capable of holding a minimum of 200 yards of 50-pound braid are recommended. A three- to five-foot 60- to 80-pound fluorocarbon leader tied between your mainline and plug should be sufficient to handle the size fish you will encounter.

Tarpon can be finicky eaters. A wide selection of artificial plugs that can cover the water column, in different colors, will aid in your success. Remember, you will not be fishing in crystal-clear water. The artificial baits you choose do not have to be huge, but should create some commotion. Tarpon, for the most part, do not feed on extremely large prey. Your bait should only be heavy enough to accurately cast a respectable distance with the rod and reel you are fishing with. Strong, sharp hooks are a must to hook and land a tarpon. Don't be afraid of upgrading the hooks and split rings on the hard baits you purchase. I personally like to use artificial baits - soft plastic or hard - that I can vary the depth they run by the rate of retrieve. I am very fond of soft-plastic baits with a single hook like the D.O.A. Bait Buster. Though, lipped crank baits like the Bomber Heavy Duty Long A also do a good job of generating arm-jarring strikes from feeding tarpon. And, at times, a properly presented top water plug will open a hole in the water that can make your lower jaw bump the boat's deck.

Now, the summer heat has set in and the dog days are approaching. It's up to you; will you sit in the air conditioning dreaming of days to come, or get out and pursue the mighty Silver King in the shade of native fauna, somewhere along the upper tidal reaches of North Florida's estuarine rivers in a jungle-like setting?

Fishing Partners: Married Captains Chris and Lacey

2009-08-12T10:37:47Z

Since our inception, GAFF has tried to instill in you, our readers, the value of sharing our saltwater world with your significant other. In effect, trying to erase, or at least lessen, the stigma that all men must venture out into nature's raw elements alone, or with their buddies, and essentially get away from the wife and kids. So, over the years we've found and featured couples - husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend - who personify this pursuit to equally enjoy our sport. We call them "fishing partners" and our latest take it to an extreme we've yet to see.

Meet Chris and Lacey Rush.
Talk about a match made in the great outdoors of heaven. Mutual friends first introduced the couple to each other at a wild-game party. Quickly hitting it off, the two started dating - as one might expect - except, their dates consisted of stalking snook in the mangroves together. When asked what he remembered about their first date, Chris was quick to recall the sixty-pound tarpon Lacey expertly subdued.

They can't help themselves; after all, both come from a long line of serious and proficient outdoorsmen. Chris was raised in Fort Myers, Florida, and as the son of the owner of San Carlos Marine, spent every bit of his playtime learning and fishing in Southwest Florida's vast labyrinth of backcountry waterways and small islands. Lacey was even more destined to spend her life on the water. Her fishing lineage goes back four generations. A true water baby, Lacey was swimming before she learned to walk. Her first real employment was at her father's fish market, Kelly Fish & Seafood, Inc., where she absorbed invaluable knowledge of the area's marine life. She spent her summers commercial diving for lobster in the Keys and when she needed extra cash for girly stuff, like hitting the salon, she caught and sold grouper from her local waters.

The self-confessed snook-a-holics dated for about a year-and-a-half, mostly on the deck of a skiff, before Chris popped the big question. They had just gathered the live bait they'd need to rip some more snook off of North Captiva Island, when Chris found a secluded stretch of sand to beach the boat. Once on the pristine shore, Chris knelt and proposed.

Chris had already established himself in the region as a successful guide with ten years under his belt before tying the knot. The addition of Lacey, who promptly earned her captain's license, has made Rush Charters a one-of-a-kind outfit. With three professionally equipped boats in their fleet, they can either pair up and help each other out with a large party, or split up and accommodate two separate parties in a single day. And don't go thinking there's a drop off in fishing prowess just because your captain is a lady. The skills Lacey has developed over her lifetime and her good ole southern hospitality has brought her annual bookings into the realm of Chris'.

Whenever scheduling permits, the tandem also enjoys competing in as many as twenty tournaments per year. And, they do extremely well. Visiting the "tournaments" section of their website speaks volumes about their ability to produce fish under pressure.

GAFF meets Rush
I had the privilege of getting to know the Rush's a short while back, when Capt. Chuck and I paid them a visit down in Matlacha, Florida, for an afternoon of shook hunting. They met us at a small ramp in their 2410 Ranger Bay. Dark grey clouds and an annoying drizzle forced the normally bikini-clad Lacey to sport her foul weather gear. She seemed visibly uncomfortable so bundled up, but assured us once we outran the weather, she'd be back in her trademark two-piece - three-piece, if you count the flip-flops.

We blazed along quickly through channels and around islands until we arrived at one of their secret, snook coves. The water was shallow and clear with a mottled, sand bottom, and the shore was wild with dense, overhanging mangroves. (Chris has won countless tourneys from this spot, so further elaboration on the locale would be uncouth.)

Lacey killed the big Yamaha as Chris jumped to the trolling motor and began scanning the water for the faint shapes that have defined his livelihood. Within minutes, the excitement escalated as Chris spied a slow-moving school of large snook easing out from the shadows. Like the team they are, Lacey grabbed their rods while Chris plunged into the live well for two frisky greenbacks. Dropping the Power Pole held us off the foliage by about eighty feet, allowing both to make huge casts and remain undetected.

I have to say; witnessing a young lady whip a live bait to a target under branches from that distance is pretty impressive. Five seconds later and they're both rearing back into their hook-sets, as heavy boils erupt just this side of the mangrove's reach.

We've all seen athletes who are so exceptional at what they do, that they make it look effortless. Well, that's exactly what I was witnessing. They just made it look easy. Snook after snook was carefully and silently stalked, and then plucked from its watery home like it didn't even have a choice. Over the next two hours, Chris and Lacey boated more and larger snook than I've caught in my whole life. Granted, I'm from the panhandle and snook don't live that far north, but this profession allows me to get around, a little.

Something else uncanny was Chris' almost freakish ability to see the fish long before anyone else could. He'd sneak up on a point 60 feet away and then start counting off the number of fish and their approximate weights. At times I thought he was just painting an exciting picture, since he had Chuck and me along for the ride. But, then he'd shoot a bait right were he said they were, and WHAM, he'd be hooked up again.

The weather we'd tried so hard to stay in front of finally caught up with us, so we covered up and shot back to the dock quite a bit sooner than we had hoped. Feeling kind of bad about cutting their day short, Chuck and I apologized for the conditions as we prepared to run for the truck. To our surprise, Chris and Lacey were delighted and planned to fish the rest of the day together; pointing out how rare it's become for the two to fish alone due to the success of their charter company.

The man's got it made
If you think about it... how many men can say that when they are spending quality time with their wife, doing what she loves to do, they, too, are doing what they love most to do? If that's not cool enough, try this on for size; Every November, Chris takes two weeks off and heads for Fulton County, Illinois, to hunt for giant whitetail deer. Occasionally, Lacey follows, as she also loves the rifle nearly as much as the rod. But, when she stays behind, she picks up all of Chris' clients, so he never even misses a beat... or a payday. Not too shabby, huh?

If you'd like the opportunity to fish with a truly unique outfit in the Fort Myers area, one that I can guarantee will put you on the snook and show you a great time, just go to www.rushcharters.com or give Capt. Chris or Capt. Lacey at call at: 239-482-0193.

Fish 'N Muscles: Getting in Shape for Sport Fishing

2009-08-12T10:25:35Z

Okay, guppies and whales, we're here to talk about your favorite subject, getting in shape for the big fishing vacation. Whadaya want, the long story or the short?

Time's flying, so let's get to the point: Walk 'n jog, hit the weights, and eat right. The trio is a snap, but must be practiced regularly and sensibly, and way before you board the boat and bait the hook.

If, on the other hand, you've got time in a net, we can take the long and circuitous route and discuss some of the finer points of going where you're going and getting what you need. Strength and health is for everyone, for all occasions.

You're a sport fisherman who is generally fit and loves your time and tasks aboard a rippin' and robust craft and at the smart end of a mean and unpredictable fishing pole, the line of which is extended in deep and blue Floridian waters. Grappling large fish is challenging and exhilarating - not a spectator sport for wimps and weaklings.

Preparing the boat, gear and bait is no easy task, and once you're on the big waters - with a little luck and skill, guesswork and knowledge - you just might have your hands full, and I don't mean with a brewski and peanuts. The thing straining the line and tormenting your pole might be bigger than your pickup truck.

You'd better be strong, enduring, confident and agile, Chum, or one slick fish will make a monkey out of you. You need stability in your torso, power in those shoulders, arms and back, and a heart that beats like a bass drum.

GAFF's beloved Editor-in-Chief, Matt Draper, is my nephew (don't tell nobody). Aware of my rep as an incorrigible musclehead who eats a case of tuna a week, he asked me to write an article for ya'll about getting in shape for fishing.

The last time I went fishing, I caught a bass, maybe it was a perch, from the side of my rowboat on Lake Gerard in New Jersey. I was 12 years old and the slippery fella was three pounds -- twelve inches. I had a few clanky-clunky years of weight lifting behind me, could run like the wind and was fish-fighting fit. I felt like a 50-horse Merc, and the hook, line and sinker had met their match that fine summer day in Still Cove.

I let the little guy go as quick as I could... back to its friends, family and sweetheart. To this day I can't fish, I can't hunt, I can't swat a fly or eradicate a spider, but I can squeeze the daylights out of a dumbbell.

Today, thinking of a fishing vacation, I imagine a bunch of guys loading a boat with tangled gear, some scraps of bait and plenty of ice cold beer. Fishing? In shape? What's it take... hic... to hoist a coupla... burp, snicker... cool ones? Matt's gonna kill me if he gets wind of my take on fishing and fishermen.

Here's my long-winded plan for the recreational sportsperson (not your typical worldwide physical wreck) who wants to add zap and capability to his body for the fishing trip this summer... and, incidentally, the job every day and a trip to the mall, market and park any afternoon.

Step # 1) Clean out the fridge and empty the cupboards: no soda pop, no beer, no chips, no sugary stuff and no grease; more protein, more water, more salads and enough fruit, and smaller meals regularly throughout the day. And last, but not least, include gobs of discipline, heaps of commitment and piles of perseverance regularly.

Go. Do not hesitate and do not look back.

Rule # 1) Fitness is for everyone: you and me and us and them and fishermen.

Pure, unadulterated fitness is, in fact, the most sensible and least demanding physical condition one can pursue, and is achieved by sound eating habits and fundamental exercise. Physical conditioning is common sense; fitness reflects personal responsibility.

I like to think of being in shape as the consequence of habitual conscientious living. We need to attend our fitness always, as we do our hygiene, literacy and civility.

Act # 1) Walk a lot, jog if you can, sprint if you're able -- three or four times a week: a mile minimum on the walks and rationality applied on the ambulatory upgrades.

Consider steady walking with a weighted backpack, up hills and stairs and across rugged terrain.

Fact # 1) You need a gym, down the street, around the corner or in your garage, on the deck or in the basement. Here's where you comfortably and regularly, and with attention and deliberation, practice your freehand and weight-resistant exercises.

Be strong and courageous.

Start #1) 10 minutes of torso and midsection exercises to warm up and get the body in motion, which leads to action, which leads to muscle and might, and endurance and endorphins... victory and euphoria (the list never ends), fame and fortune. Rope tucks and leg raises are my choices. Ease into everything, never rush. Push, but don't burst. Smile, be happy and never gripe.

Goal #1) Give yourself something like three hours a week for your dedicated resistance exercise: 60 minutes, three days a week or 45 minutes, four days or 30 minutes, six days a week.

If you're present and accounted for, committed and diligent, the few hours invested will reap great and inestimable rewards, today and tomorrow, in you and in those around you. You're becoming a better person and people notice it, including your kids, your spouse and you... of all people. One problem: Fish will hide.

Routine #1) Your menu, leg- and torso-stability, endurance and energy are in control. Congratulations! You are a rare individual, indeed.

It's time to focus on the strength of the arms and shoulders and back. You're ready for the primary muscle- and strength-building, push-pull exercises that enable you to wrestle the big ones and hoist them aboard... without fatiguing, tearing your biceps, trashing your back, groaning and losing a grip on your pole and yourself.

Wait, there's more. Exercise enables you to sit patiently as you watch your limp, unstrained line play dead in the baby blue waters -- forbearance and self-control are major benefits of disciplined training.

This is what I would do if I were you.

The routine -- the simplest (I did not say easiest) part of your job -- is composed of only three basic exercises: Standing barbell curl, 45-degree-incline dumbbell press and seated lat row. I call it The Shark. Perform 4 sets X 12, 10, 8, 6 reps of each exercise, take two days off and work out again throughout the weeks and months.

The all-purpose scheme, when done with form, finesse, exertion and consistency, along with your cardio and warm up, will equip you to reel in any gorilla swimming in your neighborhood any time.

Disappointed? Try these three - add them: Dumbbell clean and press, straight-arm dumbbell pullover, seated lat row. The Barracuda.

Bored? Give these a go: Bench press, squat and deadlift. The Giant Squid.

Confused? Try them all; mix them, match them and decide what works for you.

Lost interest? I know a fish market on the pier with a great assortment of fresh-caught fish in a barrel. Like the weights, just grab 'em.

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Who is Dave Draper? Dave Draper, formerly Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Mr. World, lives and trains in California with his wife Laree. He is the author of three critically acclaimed fitness books, a frequent contributing writer in major fitness magazines, and the inventor of several proven weight training devices. As a movie and television actor, Dave toured with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Tate and Elvis Presley. He has appeared on 26 magazine covers, spoken at over 200 seminars and book signings, and holds a place in the Bodybuilder's Hall of Fame.

Prepare to Succeed - 10 Tips

2009-07-01T11:56:24Z

As a professional fishing guide in the backcountry and flats around the Florida Keys, I've noticed some of my clients come more prepared than others. Experience and casting ability are important, but skill is no match for the elements. Whether you fish with a guide 100 days a year, or it's your first guided fishing trip ever, there are things you can do to stack the odds in your favor and enhance your next fishing experience. Follow the ten tips below to make certain you're ready when the action starts.

These tips are aimed at flats or backcountry fishing, but can be applied to almost any fishing adventure you seek.

Remember: you can share you're own fishing tips with the GAFF community by creating a free member account on our forums.

Practice casting. The better you've prepared your ability to cast, the luckier you'll be. Go to the park, backyard, parking lot or any open space where you can practice. Be sure to practice with the wind in various angles because the fish seem to know when you have trouble casting in a crosswind.
Dress warm. Yes, it does get cold in Florida! Maybe not Canada cold, but when you start out in the chilly, wet morning and add some wind, all of the sudden it feels like the thermostat is broken and the cold air blows right through your core for 45 minutes. Layering is the answer. Bring raingear, a light jacket or sweatshirt and long pants. You can even get the long pants with the zip off shorts if the weather gets too hot to wear the full length pant.
Bring polarized sunglasses. Can't catch what you can't see. This isn't so important if you're going to be "blind casting" most of the day, but still, c'mon, get some polarized sunglasses. You don't have to spend a fortune. Most sporting goods stores and even some gas stations will carry some kind of polarized sunglass.
Wear comfortable shoes. You'll be standing for most of the day and you'll want to protect your feet from the sun and from the hard deck of the boat. It'll also help your back. Leave your wading boots behind unless you plan to get out of the boat.
Wear a hat and sunscreen. Don't bring your favorite "lucky" hat, unless you don't mind it getting wet, lost, or fishy smelling. Hats reduce glare, protect your noggin from the sun and keep you cool. Put sunscreen on before you get to the dock and every two hours - especially if you haven't seen the sun in a long time. Don't forget the back of your neck, legs and hands.
Have a good attitude. Even if the weather gets you down, don't frown. The bite may be on or it may take some time, but you've got to be ready when it happens. If you're bummed because the fishing is slow and decide to make a few calls or write some text messages, that's when the fish will decide it's time to strike.
Bring a camera. No, it's not bad luck. A camera captures the memory and keeps the fish alive. Video is cool, too. Some folks have underwater housing and take exotic photos, while others just keep the camera dry and whip it out for the release shot of a lifetime. Make sure the batteries are charged before you leave the house. Camera phones work, too, but their resolution is often too low for quality reproduction.
Bring food and drink. I usually have an assortment of refreshments on ice, but bringing along your favorite drink, like a frapaccino-latte-mocha-whatever, Gatorade or a Redbull might be the ticket to keep you going. Think easy packaging too. While a green salad sounds like a great idea, it might blow away if you try to eat while the boat is moving. Stick to heartier and easier to handle foods like tuna salad, ceviche, egg salad, fried chicken, beef jerky, trail-mix, power bars or deli sandwiches.
Make a plan. Decide what you want to fish for before leaving the dock. It's always good to have a plan. And while things change, at least it gives you a strategy for the day. If you're not familiar with the area or kind of fish you might encounter, you can let the guide decide what might be best for the day. It always makes good sense to call your guide the night before so he can be ready with the tackle and the strategy. A day of bending a rod and a day of catching bonefish are very different things but can be equally as fun and exciting. Your guide might have you in a good area for redfish, but far away from an area that's productive for tarpon. Keep your options open, but be aware that not all species of fish are in the same areas that you might be fishing in for the day.
Listen to your captain. Your guide is out there everyday and sees all situations. The more you act like a team instead of competitors, the more fun you'll have and the more fish you'll catch.

These tips and a conversation or two with your guide will ensure a great time on your next fishing charter. After all, it's all about getting out on the water and enjoying the day. When you're more prepared for what might happen, the luckier the fisherman you'll be.

Capt. Steve Friedman
www.afishingguide.com