Fall's Realization at Self-Assertion...

As a full-fledged front sweeps the state of Florida-its "foot" giving a little taste to the Yucatan Channel as well-the fishing is changing in SOFLA. It's now a windier, cooler world down here, with daylight savings poised for another clock change and as jack o' lanterns go up in the windows and porches of traditional Americanos.

My scouting trip yesterday in North Biscayne Bay was a sour soupy enterprise and yielded few happy discoveries. Prefrontal winds were up to 20 mph and the Bay was baitless from Haulover to Government Cut, save a patch of finger mullet tucked up into the lee of a Miami Beach indentation. All of that had me rethinking that better plans would have inculded catching the incoming tide at Stiltsville for bonefish. I took refuge in the mantra, "such is fishing", but wondered whether that self-utterance wasn't becomimg my consolation prize of the last two weeks.

That said, I headed to the grass flats in the hopes of some action. The final results were a few nice seatrout that would only strike fresh pinfish fillets. I was glad that hair hooks, split shot, and a bit o' bait are always part of my North Bay kit!

Jan

Looking Forward to Casa Blanca Lodge...

It's with great pleasure and excitement that I look forward to traveling to Casa Blanca Lodge right in the midst of Ascension Bay off Mexico's Quintana Roo state. Their website is www.casablancafishing.com/ .

For traveling anglers headed to the Yucatan Peninsula, visiting this destination is like getting a new Lexus on Christmas morning. In other words, their reputation is stellar. In addition, I'll be visiting its sister lodge, Playa Blanca, on Espirito Santo Bay. Both habitats offer vast flats for bonefish and permit as well as lagoons, canals, and bays for snook and tarpon. Florida Sport Fishing Magazine www.southfloridasportfishing.com/ looks forward to telling the Casa Blanca story to all of its readers.

Jan

Fall's Arrival in South Florida

It has been torrid in SOFLA. To this angler, it looked like the days of summer would never scram, despite the daily shortening of daylight. This morning carries gustier, drier and cooler air from the Far North and the Gulf Stream is "humping up." These are welcome signs!

Two days ago, on a much too August-like Friday, I fished the flats around Key Biscayne and northern Stiltsville. There were a few schools of finger mullet showing up. When these schools passed through structure like pilings or over rocks, the snook came out to feed on them. Using a small DOA TerrorEyz, I released two small snook. I pulled in a school of bonefish from the crown of a flat and hooked a honker, but lost the fish as it ran into a channel and hung me on a submerged lobster trap line.

Jan

Canadian Maritimes....

FOR THE WRITING AND/OR TRAVEL TRADE ONLY-

If you are a Florida writer-like myself- who also covers destinations outside this state, you know the importance of developing and maintaining solid contacts in these venues. I’ve just returned from the Canadian Maritimes and Atlantic Coast. The following contact data is composed of professionals who were profoundly helpful in the generation of ideas, facts, and services for story development and image support. If you are headed towards this region or mulling over international destinations, you’ll find these good people invaluable.

Saint John/Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada

1.Margaret Totten
Manager
Tourism Saint John
POBox 1971
Saint John, NB, Ca. E2L 4L1
Telephone: 506-649-6046
Fax: 506-632-6118
Website: http://www.tourismsaintjohn.com/
Email: margaret.totten@saintjohn.ca

2.Beth Kelly, CTP
Owner/Operator
Aquila
Aquila Tours
POBox 6895
Saint John, NB, Ca. E2L 4S3
Direct Line Telephone: 506-631-0142
Telephone: 506-633-1224
Fax: 506-658-0969
Website: http://www.aquilatours.com/
Email: beth@aquilatours.com


Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

1.Deanna Wilmshurst
Communications Manager
Destination Halifax
1800 Argyle Street, suite 802
Halifax, NS, Ca. B3J 3N8
Phone: 902-423-1133
Fax: 902-492-3175
Website: http://www.destinationhalifax.com/
Email: dwilmshurst@destinationhalifax.com

It appeared to me that the lake, stream, coastline, and offshore sportfishery had not been developed fully: this fact gives the region and its beautiful habitat excellent potential. Wildlife is prevalent in this region and the whole area had striking fall colors at the time of my visit. I’m happy to answer any further questions.

Jan Maizler
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/
http://flatsfishingonline.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Captain Alan !

A fishing trip today with Captain Alan Zaremba was a great way to ease back into Miami urban life. Under his tutellage, we fished the Magic City's canal system and did remarkably well using lures with light spin and plug tackle. By 11 a.m. this morning, we had released 26 peacock bass, 5 largemouth bass, and 1 jaguar guapote. It was a pleasure fishing with him, and it's likely he is South Florida's Supreme Peacock Authority.

Captain Alan's website is www.floridapeacocks.com/ and his email is SFLPeacock@aol.com . His phone is 954-961-0877.

While we fished, he told me of some adventurous tales of huge peacocks in the rivers of the Brazilian rain forest. Captain Alan offers wilderness Peacock charters in Brazil as well as his marvelous mainstay Peacock fishing in Dade and Broward counties. I'll be writing a great deal more on Captain Alan in the near future.

Jan

Back From The Canadian Maritimes...

There is so much to say about this magical region. My travels focused on Halifax, Nova Scotia as well as Saint John, New Brunswick.

These provinces are abundant with fish, lots of wildlife, and some unforgettable geography. Like a fine wine, these regions will be slowly savored on the palette of my experiences and ultimately well-and-thoughtfully described. What a marvelous corner of the earth!

Jan

Fall's Attempt at Self-Assertion...

The day began chilly, featuring northwest winds of 15 mph- and did the tarpon ever feel it! Bushwacked by the half-alive ghost of a front from Canada, the silver kings rolled less and struck less. I jumped off one fish of fifty pounds and had another forty-pounder do a see-saw/channel drop cutoff of my double line just before the leader touched the tip-top of my rod. Such is fishing!

Disappointed but not dejected, I ran to the grassflats and consoled myself by catching and releasing a few small seatrout. By midday, the cumulus clouds were building up with the radiant heat of Indian Summer in South Florida, giving fall's early morning strut a real slapdown!

The whole outing would have been far more fertile had the mullet run reached Biscayne Bay. It has not, but hopes run high.

Jan

Fall Staging Begins...

As Helen gets punted towards England by a "cold front", Florida East Coast anglers await the muller run. Though the little critters have not appeared, tarpon and snook are staging at ocean junctures and feeding quite well. On plug tackle armed with a DOA BaitBuster, I caught one 6-pound snook, jumped 2 tarpon around 60-pounds, and released a tiny tarpon around 10-pounds. Waiting for the fall migration is a bit like the savoring anticipation of a first date kiss.
Jan

Clash of the Titans?

It's quiet on the beaches of Miami. Stars shimmer in the cloudness heavens-all of it bathed in silence. Yet for all the Gold Coast calm, if our limited senses lost limits, we'd be soul-traveling to the east far out to the high seas of the Atlantic where two giant forces are moving towards collision. Though this event may be silent for others, it won't be for me. That's the magic and inspiration.


In a practical sense, I feel every good angler should have a keen weather sense to achieve optimized results and personal evolution.

I don't think it's often we find a front and a 'cane so "on course" with each other. Presumably, the 'cane will slide to the North-Northeast as the front eases it up and along.

For me, it's another addition to the planetary scrapbook that keeps me in perpetual awe.

Jan

Space Coast Fishing Bonanza with Get1Charters...

Space Coast Fishing Bonanza

by

Jan Maizler

Photography by Jan Maizler

Even though it would take another month to complete the angling portion of my Space Coast expedition, the results could not have been any better. Under the shrewd guidance of Captain Bryan Pahmeier, the Indian River off Titusville, Florida yielded a bounty of gamefish.

Fitting in this fishing trip was a bit like people squeezing in the subway- a bit of pushing, shoving, and rearranging, but generally leading to "all hands on deck." What this looked like was a "night-before" scoot from Miami to Titusville on I-95, a trip of four hours. I spent the night at the crisp Hampton Inn at Exit 215, which put me only twenty minutes away from Parish Park where Bryan would launch his boat.

After a night of the excited, tossing and turning sleep that only a true angler understands, I prepared myself and drove down to the boat ramp. I recognized Bryan and his impressive flats rig: it was an 18-foot East Cape Skiff powered by a brand new Honda electrostart tiller handle model.

It was important for us to get a quick start so we could arrive on the flats as early as possible. This strategy would place us at the epicenter of the rising and tipping redfish tails that would greet the early light of dawn. As we headed away from the ramp into a patch of lighter sky that would eventually become the day, Bryan remarked on the excellent conditions.

In no more than twenty minutes, Bryan slowed his skiff down and cut the engine. In five minutes more, he was pointing out the first school of tailing redfish with his trusty pushpole. I flicked out a fifty- foot cast with one of his spin outfits and the plastic jerkbait landed right in front of the tailing fish. It took two easy flicks of my wrist and...pow!... I was hooked up. After an excellent ten minute fight of two long runs and lots of surface thrashes, we released a big redfish over 15 pounds.

Over the next four hours, I stopped counting after redfish number twelve. Amidst countless leaping mullet, rolling dolphin, bellowing 'gators, and circling osprey, we enjoyed nonstop action with Captain Bryan's excellent guiding.

We also spotted numerous tarpon, but I was far more interested in plugging for the snook that Bryan was pointing out. I used a dancing surface plug at first and had three good snook strikes: they would not connect because the bow wave of the strike shoved the plug into the air. As soon as I tossed a jerkbait under that same mangrove point, I had a solid hookup and was soon releasing a 5-pound snook.

We reached a point where I had to call it a day for other commitments, yet I was thoroughly satisfied. There'll be more to report on Captain Bryan and his Space Coast bonanza, but that story and its telling belongs to another place and time...

CONTACT DATA-
Captain Bryan Pahmeier
Get 1 Charters
Titusville, Florida
Telephones- 1-321-698-4381, 1-321-268-5266
Email- get1charters@earthlink.net
Website- www.get1charters.com

Looking Forward to Cheeca Lodge...

I am pleased to announce that the world-famous Cheeca Lodge (www.cheeca.com) is on my list of destinations. The location of this magnificent resort is in the heart of Islamorada in the Florida Keys- " The Sport Fishing Capital of the World." Flats Grand Slams are common here, and Islamorada has the largest numbers of huge trophy bonefish in the entire Western Hemisphere, if not the world. Last year, the winter sailfishing offshore featured record numbers of spindlebeaks- over two hundred-being released in three-day tournaments.

The Cheeca mirrors and embodies the same five-star status of the fishing and waters that surrounds it! I'll be writing a great deal more about The Cheeca in the future.

Jan

A Bone is a Bone Wherever It Be...

A fine full moon Friday it was today. The rising sun carved a cornflower blue pocket out of the indigo night sky, providing me with a heavenly bearing as I steered my skiff towards a mangrove-studded beach. Behind me, the moon was dropping down into the horizon, surrendering the very same firmament to the bright yellow adversary it had bested during yesterday's dusk.

This "lune" of a moon was pushing a thick boiling incoming tide around Key Biscayne and into Biscayne Bay. As soon as my depth recorder showed the 15- foot deep channel shallowing where the flat begun, I cut my engine, and eased the anchor overboard. As my skiff pulled tight against the anchor line, I could hear the water rushing by my skiff with a momentum that would demand a bucktail jig of at least 1/2-ounce. In the low light, it was impossible to sight fish the beach flat, so I planned on casting the contoured dropoff until I could see into the water.

I rigged my plug tackle with a 1/2 ounce white Spro bucktail and tipped it with a shrimp tail. I cast the lure upcurrent and fished it along the bottom. The line came tight on the second sweep of the rod and I struck my unseen opponent. After a strong five minute battle, I brought a six-pound green jack alongside my skiff and released it. The next cast produced a five-pound mutton snapper, which I released. Two casts later, I'd caught a three-pound mojarra-this was quite large for this species. The next hour of incoming tide produced this same kind of delightful potluck merry-go-round action.

At this point, the rising sun had given me the visibility into the water I needed. I repositioned the boat farther onto the flat and tossed out a chum tube full of chopped live shrimp about 15 feet "downstream" of my bow. It took about twenty minutes for the scent to do its work, but the wait paid off as two big submarine forms tracked towards the skiff. I made a perfect cast and the lead fish of the pair gobbled my crunchy breakfast offering. The fish fought with the renewed vigor a spring tide current usually bestows on summer's heat-besotted waters. It made three good runs of at least seventy yards, then fifty yards, then twenty yards.

As I brought the fish alongside my skiff, I could see it was between between nine and ten pounds. I reflected that this trophy fish was taken no more that fifteen minutes from the boat ramp and in clear sight of Miami's skyscrapers. I considered the fact that this fish would not have been the slightest bit more exciting if it had been hooked on the atoll flats of the South Pacific or the pancake flats or beaches of Los Roques. Even though travel is one of my greatest passions- even bordering on obsession- ultimately, when I "wet" a line, for me it's always the fish, the fish, the fish!


Jan

Goodbye, Steve...

In South Florida this morning, the copious showers morphed to heavenly sobs as I opened YahooNews and read the headlines that Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray today in the waters off Cairns.

Steve had a profoundly personal meaning for me- not the least of which were his total lack of pretension, infectious enthusiam, love of adventure, and love for the animal world. He knew nothing of boredom and better yet, no need to be "cool." In this day where matching Supplex ensembles, scarves, and tented caps spawn Lawrence of Arabia clones, Steve's khakis and boots were a real breath of fresh air.

As he swam over a creature that he meant no harm to, the ray reacted wildly as it flexed its body, and drove its barb into his chest in a moment of underwater Caeserian irony. Yet the ray was doing "what it does", as was Steve and he died in his greatest moments of love and inspiration. How many people can lay claim to that? For the future finger-waggers, I'll also point out that "caution" is a relative term that rarely finds its way alongside inspiration or passion...so, take your choice. He did!

Jan

A British Columbia Fishing Adventure

A British Columbia Fishing Adventure

By Jan Stephen Maizler

Photography by Art Blank

The plans to fish the fabulous rivers and streams of British Columbia with Professional Angling Guide Clint Goyette of Valley Fishing Guides were long in the making: by winter of 2005, my photographer Art Blank and I knew we’d be there in July of 2006. Though there were some interesting assignments that kept me busy in the interim, I especially hankered for Canadian fishing where sight casting for trout and salmon in crystal clear knee-deep water was the method.

The time finally arrived and we landed in Vancouver. We’d secured a rental car well in advance knowing we’d probably be meeting Clint in Squamish or Whistler, which are both simple one or two hours drives from the Vancouver International Airport. A quick call from my cell phone confirmed we’d meet in Squamish. The drive through the beautiful Vancouver was simple, and the further north we went, the more striking the terrain became- it was as if with each few miles traveled on the Sea to Sky Highway, snow-capped mountains sprouted up for our pleasure.

It wasn’t long before Art had driven into the center of Squamish, where we spotted Clint’s SUV. After we picked up some terminal tackle, we lunched at a popular restaurant set right alongside the Squamish River. As we dined on pasta, salads, and cold Molson beer, Clint explained that the recent hot weather that had melted some snow up in the mountains had the rivers swollen with “glacially-silted “ water- this would limit the number of choices of streams, but would not be an overwhelming problem.

After lunch, we caravanned to Whistler, which turned out to be an exquisite resort city. Clint then checked us in to the beautiful Greystone Lodge (www.greystonelodge.com/). We found our two-bedroom suite to be luxurious and provided with all the amenities. After check-in, the afternoon had matured and dusk was not far off. It was time to fish!

We hopped in Clint’s vehicle and he drove us to nearby Green Lake. We geared up with waders, flippers, and float tubes and walked a short distance to the lake’s edge. After a short period of instruction by Clint, we eased into the water and over to the area where an underwater bank dropped off from three feet to ten feet. As the sun set over snow-capped glorious mountains, the trout started rising on insects. In the next two hours, we released about twenty rainbow trout to 12 inches on ultralight fly and spin tackle. Before we knew it, pitch darkness emerged and encouraged us to quit fishing for that day. After a quick dinner at a fashionable crepe restaurant in Whistler, we retired for the night feeling thoroughly satisfied looking back on the day’s action, and looking forward to the wake-up by Clint six a.m.the next morning for more adventure.

The wake-up knock seemed only an hour or two later, but clearly an eight-hour night had passed. In seemingly no time at all, we were headed north to the streams of Pemberton. We had to access the streams through the bush and when we emerged, Clint found their condition and fishability to be in excellent shape. We were geared up with light spinning tackle and small spoons as well as large spinners. Art recorded our every move with his trusty digital camera. The first few streams held some nice char, and I released one beautiful specimen about five pounds and pulled the hook on two more. As we trekked further down the river system, we saw many Chinook salmon from twenty to thirty pounds. I briefly hooked one of these magnificent fish in knee-deep water, but its’ violent head thrashing threw the barbless hook on the spoon I’d been using. We saw many more salmon on this day, but they were slow to strike. Clint laughed as he explained the advantage a giant Chinook has over the angler once the fish “got its head” and rocketed downstream- there would be no stopping it! As the day neared an end, Art and I were thoroughly impressed: the size of this fish, racing waters, and snow-capped mountains created an enormous thrill for two Florida flats fishermen.

CONTACT DATA:
Oufitter: Clint Goyette/Valley Fishing Guides, Ltd.
Telephone: 1-877-85TROUT, 1-604-938-4458
Email: contact@valleyfishing.com/
Website: www.valleyfishing.com/ -

At the Crossroads of Indian Summer with Big "E"...

Even though using the term, " Post-Ernesto," has the same oxymoronic tribute and shaky credence as genuflecting to a wind devil of newspapers in some Manhattan alley, we could say conditions momentarily changed-but not much. I only keep my eyes on NOAA, since the commercial channels-mindful of the Nielsen ratings given off by spectacularity ("look at that palm frond wiggling!")- had reporters out in droves in their all-too-familiar foul weather gear. Problem was, there was not much of a problem. It is crucial to be cautious, but "incautious" to go crazy when a threat is not a threat. SOFla. residents engulfed the gas stations and food stores either stoked by commercial TV's Ernesto fanfare or under the dark spell of the PTSD panic Ernesto dug up from the cyclone graveyard with not-yet-dead ghosts like Wilma, Katrina, Ivan, et. al. Max Mayfield called the storm "mediocre", which may be a meteorological way of saying, "not much."

So the secret, then, is really, stay calm and carefully watch the development or devolvement of the storm system, prepare with temperate timeliness, and stay abreast with NOAA.

Back in the world of summer, early mornings on the flats of South Biscayne Bay has some bonefish moving along and some rolling tarpon in some basins and channels-if you know where to look.

I'll be looking towards reporting on a July trip I made to the streams of British Columbia with Valley Fishing's Clint Goyette for char and chinook as well as look forward to Space Coast redfish and Maine stripers.

Jan

Indian Summer Bonefish and Travel Talk...

This last Friday saw good numbers of dawn tarpon, permit, and bonefish. As a " Japanese sunrise" unfolded, I tossed a live crab upcurrent of a stilt house. In moments, a big permit's bulged head surged through the water's surface, gulped the crab, and cut me off on the pilings in less time than this sentence takes to read. After running a mile north to Mashta Point, I found tarpon rolling in Cape Florida-they were "happy," but unresponsive to flies, jigs, plugs, crabs, or shrimp. How different these fish are from their silvery comrades in North Bay! As the sun rose, I eased up on a sandbar that featured a good flow of falling tide: a bit of chum and in a flew a nice-sized bonefish. A quick cast well upcurrent of the fish sunk the shrimp to its level and the bone gulped it down. Five minutes later, I released a beautiful six-pound specimen into summer seas and an eastern sun.

When my engine starting tilting up by itself moments later, I tried the engine tilt switch and found it was shorting out. I managed to stabilize it long enough to come back to the marina and made a short day of it. I later learned more about what I could have disconnected to stop that "Sorcerer's Apprentice" behavior from my mechanic-next time (never, I hope), I'll know better.


Back in the shade, I dwelled on rememberances of "places past". I had some time and chronicled some destinations-each place was a uniquely-colored building block that, together with the rest, made a mosaic of recollected adventures, pleasures, and friends. Some destinations were deliberately for fishing, where I lugged rod tubes all over the globe. Other destinations offered fishing as a co-feature rather than a primary purpose, and then I generally toted a small travel pack with a five-piece rod and ultralight reels. Still others revealed fishing I did not anticipate and the best I could do was dream and drool. Here are some of them. Maybe you've been there or you plan on going....In any case, good luck and safe traveling!

Jan Maizler Angling Partial Travelography

Alaska-
-Anchorage
-Juneau
-Ketchikan
-Skagway
-Prince of Wales Island

Bahamas-
-Abaco-
--The Marls
--Sandy Point
--Green Turtle Cay
-Andros-
--North and Middle Bights
--Fresh and Cargill Creek
--Small Hope Bay
-Bimini, North and South
-Grand Bahama Island-
--Water Cay
--South Side
-Long Island-
--Deadman’s Cay Region
-Little San Salvador Island
-Coco Cay (Little Stirrup)

Belize-
-Goff’s Caye
-Belize City
-Belize River
-"Big" Flat

Bonaire-
-Salinas/salt pans
-Lac Bay

British Columbia-
-Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands
-Whistler
-Pemberton

Central America-
-Costa Rica- Tortuguero Canals
-Panama- Gatun Lake

Curacao-
-Willemstad
-Caracasbaai
-Piscaderabaai
-Westpunt

Fanning Island, South Pacific-English Harbor

Florida-
-Jupiter
-Sanibel/Captiva/Pine Island/San Carlos Bay
-Rookery Bay/Naples
-Biscayne Bay
-Key Largo
-Islamorada
-Marathon
-Little Torch Key/Contents
-Key West
-Marquesas
-Placida
-Punta Gorda
-Charlotte Harbor/Cape Haze
-Mosquito Lagoon/Indian River

Jamaica-
-Port Antonio
-Black River

Grand Cayman Island, British West Indies
Little Cayman Island, British West Indies

Mexico- Riviera Section-
-Cabo San Lucas
-Puerto Vallarta
-Acapulco
-Mazatlan

Mexico- Yucatan/Quintana Roo State-
-Cozumel- flats, drop, and offshore
-Xel Ha/ Tulum south flats
-Ascension Bay
-Bahia Espiritu Santo

Bay Islands, Honduras-
-Roatan
-Moret
-Barbaretta

Windward and Leeward Islands
-Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
-St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
-St. Martin
-Antigua
-Saint Lucia
-Dominica
-Martinique

American Errata-
-Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
-Franklin, North Carolina
-Cowee Valley, North Carolina
-Long Island, New York
-Portland, Maine
-Ocean City, Maryland
-Savannah, Georgia
-St. Augustine, Florida
-San Francisco Bay, California
-Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Jan Maizler Partial Travelography/Residence

Antilles-Lesser and Greater-
Haiti
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Jamaica-
-Montego Bay
-Orracabessa-Residence
-Ocho Rios
-Kingston
-Spanish Town
-Mandeville


Bahamas-
-Freeport/Lucaya
-New Providence/Nassau
-Salt Cay

Central America-
Mexico-
-Mexico City- Residence
-Tasco
-Cuernavaca
-Guadalajara
-Oaxaca-Residence
-Merida-Residence
-Playa del Carmen

Costa Rica-
-Limon

Panama-
-Colon
-Panama Canal

Belize-
-Belize City

Europe-

England-
-London

Austria-
-Vienna
-Salzberg

Lichtenstein

Switzerland-
-Lucerne

Iberia

Portugal-
-Lisbon

Spain-
-Barcelona
-Madrid
-Mallorca-
--Palma
--Valdemosa

Mediterranean

France-
-Paris
-St.Tropez/Nice/Blue Coast
-Marseilles

Gibraltar

Greece-
-Athens

Italy-
-Lake Como
-Florence
-Naples
-Positano
-Salerno
-Sorrento
-Civitivecchia
-Rome
-Venice

Israel-
-Acco
-Jaffa
-Golan Heights/Mount Herman
-Dead Sea/Masada
-Haifa
-Tel Aviv
-Jerusalem
-Eilat

Morocco-
-Casablanca
-Marrakesh

Morocco, Spanish-
-Ceuta

Turkey-
-Istanbul
-Kussadasi

Windward, Leeward, and ABC Islands-
-St. Johns, Trunk Bay
-St. Kitts
-Barbados
-Grenada
-Trinidad
-Aruba

South Pacific-
-Tahitian Islands-
--Tahiti/Papaette
--Bora-Bora
--Moorea
-Hawaiian Islands
--Hawaii/Big Island
--Honolulu/Oahu
--Lahaina/Mauai
--Kauai

Canadian Maritimes-
--Saint Martins, New Brunswick
--Saint John, New Brunswick
--Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jan Maizler
www.flatsfishingonline.com/

The Dog Days

Ambient heat pervades the biosphere. Nightime sweltering skies sound soft, unless the rolling leviathan thunderheads move in, throwing fiery bolts and heaven-shaking booms that say, "Thor's hammer is here." The rising sun burns up the blustering buildup bullies. Later in the afternoon, the very same heat will recreate them over the Everglades when they'll begin their seaward march. But midday, things go hot and flat, save the leg-grinding droning chirp of Cicadas, cocky in the shaded sanctuary of seagrape trees.

The tarpon still are providing early morning excitements that break this monotony. But the vibrancy comes from dreams of mullet streaming down the coast, bringing the Fall Run Circus- the sooner, the better. The headlines this dawn announce actor Bruno Kirby's death and a resolute inner voice says once again, "make the most of this very tiny window" as the day's heat ramps up to pull the sweat from us all.

Jan

Florida's Space Coast

Space Coast Florida Attractions and Features for Fishing Families

By

Jan Stephen Maizler

Up until the present, my contact with Florida’s Space Coast was basic. Yet in the overall planning I did for an upcoming story on Space Coast redfishing with Captain Brian Pahmeier (www.get1charters.com/), I learned a great deal more. The cities of Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, and Titusville comprise the major cities of the Space Coast. While four cities may seem a modest constituency, you’ll quickly learn - as did I - that this covers a huge amount of pristine lagoon, river, marsh, and “beach and bluff” habitat. If you’re arriving from an urban area, you’ll quickly realize that the local populace has succeeded in preserving not just the land, but the sky as well: there are blessedly few high-rise buildings. In Miami, these structures are a blight to sighting the Heavens - not so, on the Space Coast!

It would take many days to deeply experience all the wonderful features and attractions that would delight the traveling angler and their family. What really ramped up my familiarity (and subsequent love of this area) was my involvement in the Florida’s Space Coast “Blast-Off” Media Tour. What follows is a gosh-honest chronicle of what I experienced there and my appraisals for outdoors readers who are devoted to exploration and adventure as well as fishing.

We arrived at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront (1-321-777-4100) at 2605 North A1A Highway in Melbourne. This was to be the place we would be lodged and our base of operations. I do not recall seeing a single boat in the ocean behind this hotel resort for three days! Surf conditions were likewise calm and pristine. Pelicans would gather every morning and evening to dive on the copious bait schools: in observing this, I was glad I’d brought some light tackle up from Miami. I fished to the bait schools during low light times with white Spro bucktails and DOA small TerrorEyz with good effect, catching jacks, mackerel, and even a small bonito. I found I had to wade out to waist deep water to get off a far-enough cast.

As to the rooms and amenities at the Crowne Plaza, I was thoroughly satisfied. The bedrooms were extremely sumptuous and well appointed with a full complement of snacks and electronic features, which included wireless Internet capabilities. The staff was friendly. Before leaving, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet, which featured the full array of fresh and chef-prepared foods as well as fresh raspberries, huckleberries, smoked salmon, and croissants as pleasant additions. The view from our room on the sixth floor featured an ocean expanse of an uncluttered sea and sky. Indeed, the conditions were so calm that the sky and ocean blended into a huge blue-green medium unfettered by a horizon line. Of note is that the hotel sits near the south end of the Space Coast, which would mean planning on drives of about an hour to get around the region.

Our first stop featured a drive along the Indian River up to Historic Cocoa Village for dinner at the Cara Mia Riverside Grill (1-321-639-3388). While the group bonded, Captain Rodney Smith joined us and talked about the specifics of the Space Coast sport fishery. The food was entirely pleasing and featured Italian dishes cooked with subtle skills. The main courses were supplemented with appetizers like fresh bruschetta and tasty mussels in tomato garlic broth. The wines were quite good as well. My impression of this friendly, well-situated establishment included visualizing Cara Mia as an ideal setting for recounting and celebrating a day of fishing the Cocoa Area.

Our drive from the restaurant to our next stop was but a few minutes. We arrived at a pier where Island Boat Lines (www.islandboatlines.com/) ( 1-321-302-0544) had a large old-style paddleboat awaiting us for a sunset cruise. Our group boarded the vessel and in no time at all, we eased off into the calm river waters under the setting sun. We declined some sumptuous dishes, but gladly grabbed some ice cold Heinekens and headed for the top deck to get the best view. It again became instantly apparent that Big Development had not been allowed or encouraged to sink its teeth into this delightful region. As we eased along and dusk blended into night, we saw jumping mullet and rolling porpoises galore. It occurred to me that the best way to end a day on the water is to spend the evening on it as well!

The next day dawned with a full morning to night schedule, and thus demanded a hearty breakfast to provide nutrient and caloric fuel. Our two-car SUV caravan headed to Cape Canaveral Inlet, where a large table at Grills Tiki Bar and Restaurant (1-321-868-2226) awaited us. This was clearly a full-blown seaside Florida eatery with excellent around the clock food. It was decorated in a fun maritime fashion and offered adjacent views of the cruise ships. Grills Tiki Bar and Restaurant is located at the epicenter of Cape Canaveral “action” and enjoys a broad-based customer following.

Our next destination on the tour was Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (www.kennedyspacecenter.com/), an absolutely essential place to not only visit, observe, and learn- but more importantly, to experience. As members of a press tour, we also got an incredibly in-depth look at the actual workings of N.A.S.A. (www.nasa.gov/). Firstly, anglers and their families will be astonished by the experience, strength, and hope that have been the foundation of the N.A.S.A. program. Secondly, fishing folks- who are aquanauts- should easily identify with the exploratory passion, technical expertise, and cosmic reverence of the wonderful astronauts of the program from inception to present. When you watch men walking on the moon with Planet Earth hanging high in the sky above them, you’ll feel a keen sense of respect and perspective that will quicken the philosophical foundations of why and how you should fish.

There are many images and experiences that whirl around in my mind from Kennedy Space Center, yet there are two that stand out with the strongest color and clarity. The first was a delightful question and answer session over lunch with astronaut Storey Musgrave, whose vision for mankind’s relationship to science, space travel, and the human race itself was deeply enriching. The second was the obvious and demonstrable excellent stewardship for the marine, marsh, and beach environment that this program has been able to achieve and maintain. Wildlife abounds on N.A.S.A. grounds! As our tour bus took us deep into in the program’s property, I saw resplendent bird life aloft and wading as well as lots of redfish tailing over pristine flats and creeks. Visiting and experiencing Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is sure to give you and your family a day to remember. Their contact number is 1-321-449-4444.

Like all good experiences, the day passed quickly and all of a sudden it was six o’ clock and time to leave for dinner. Our little caravan quickly reassembled itself and headed for the famous Dixie Crossroads restaurant (www.dixiecrossroads.com/) in nearby Titusville. This landmark eatery is more than a visit- it’s an event! The owner, Laurilee Thompson, has seen to it that a staggering array of fresh ocean-caught seafood is available in various preparations that are sure to please any palette. Added to this incredible base are steaks, ribs, soups, salads, and Old Florida desserts that guarantee a home run dining triumph for all visitors. Their phone number is 1-321-268-5000. As I lingered over some key lime pie and iced coffee, Laurilee informed our group that she’d be joining us on that evening’s kayak trip.

As nightfall settled over the Space Coast, Laurilee lead our caravan deep into the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. We made a brief stop to watch some manatees feeding alongside Haulover Canal Bridge. In five more minutes, we arrived at our kayak launching area. This part of the tour was to be headed up by A Day Away Kayak Tours (1-321-268-2655) – (www.adayawaykayaktours.com/). Owner Mike Mahn greeted our group and gave us a kayak safety and operation talk as well as discussing our paddling itinerary. Our nighttime water safari would take us from the northern reaches of the Indian River through Haulover Canal into the Mosquito Lagoon. This particular kayak tour featured Biolumenescent Amazement, which is caused by glowing organisms in the water that give off a “cold light” as your paddle goes through them in the water. Although the ambient light of the half moon cut down on optimal darkness for viewing this phenomenon, it was easy to see the fiery trails of these organisms if you kayaked in the shadows of the tree lines. Other highlights included up-close and personal contact with porpoises swimming alongside us as well as the cascades of mullet that showered over our kayaks as we paddled through them. I did see some tarpon strike the mullet, but my not bringing a rod was dictated by the parameters of this itinerary; and besides, the nighttime magic of glowing fish trails under a serene summer nighttime sky was completely sufficient! The trip took two hours and was a delightful adventure. This day and the entire Tour was something that will find itself in my Hallway of Cherished Memories.

Some of the best news I have to report is that my monster redfish trip with Captain Brian Pahmeier remains in the near future and not in the past. This means I’ll be journeying to the Space Coast very soon, a trip I’m sure I’ll be taking again and again.


Jan Maizler
www.flatsfishingonline.com/
http://flatsfishingonline.blogspot.com/

Back from the Space Coast!

I just returned from a Media Tour of Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville. These cities surround and abut the Indian and Banana Rivers, as well as the Mosquito Lagoon. These waters are home to probably the best shallow water fishing for monster redfish and seatrout in the entire western hemisphere. I'll be reviewing this tour(which includes an in-depth look at the waters of the Kennedy Space Center) in the near future.
Jan

Lightning Safety Guidelines from NOAA posted on the Web

CREDIT FOR POST AND PHOTO: NOAA
PLEASE SEE NOAA WEBSITE FOR MORE VERIFYING DATA

Lightning Safety
Lightning is the MOST UNDERRATED weather hazard. On average, only floods kill more people. Lightning makes every single thunderstorm a potential killer, whether the storm produces one single bolt or ten thousand bolts.In the United States, lightning routinely kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes COMBINED. Tornadoes, hail, and wind gusts get the most attention, but only lightning can strike outside the storm itself. Lightning is the first thunderstorm hazard to arrive and the last to leave.Lightning is one of the most capricious and unpredictable characteristics of a thunderstorm. Because of this, no one can guarantee an individual or group absolute protection from lightning. However, knowing and following proven lightning safety guidelines can greatly reduce the risk of injury or death. Remember, YOU are ultimately responsible for your personal safety, and should take appropriate action when threatened by lightning.While no place is 100% safe from lightning, some places are much safer than others


Where to Go
The safest location during a thunderstorm is inside a large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring. These include shopping centers, schools, office buildings, and private residences.If lightning strikes the building, the plumbing and wiring will conduct the electricity more efficiently than a human body. If no buildings are available, then an enclosed metal vehicle such as an automobile, van, or school bus makes a decent alternative.


Where NOT to Go
The safest location during a thunderstorm is inside a large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring. These include shopping centers, schools, office buildings, and private residences.If lightning strikes the building, the plumbing and wiring will conduct the electricity more efficiently than a human body. If no buildings are available, then an enclosed metal vehicle such as an automobile, van, or school bus makes a decent alternative.

Not all types of buildings or vehicles are safe during thunderstorms. Buildings which are NOT SAFE (even if they are "grounded") have exposed openings. These include beach shacks, metal sheds, picnic shelters/pavilions, carports, and baseball dugouts. Porches are dangerous as well.Convertible vehicles offer no safety from lightning, even if the top is "up". Other vehicles which are NOT SAFE during lightning storms are those which have open cabs, such as golf carts, tractors, and construction equipment.


What To Do
Once inside a sturdy building, stay away from electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures. As an added safety measure, stay in an interior room.If you are inside a vehicle, roll the windows up, and avoid contact with any conducting paths leading to the outside of the vehicle (e.g. radios, CB's, ignition, etc.).


What NOT to Do
Once inside a sturdy building, stay away from electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures. As an added safety measure, stay in an interior room.If you are inside a vehicle, roll the windows up, and avoid contact with any conducting paths leading to the outside of the vehicle (e.g. radios, CB's, ignition, etc.).
Lightning can travel great distances through power lines, especially in rural areas. Do not use electrical appliances, ESPECIALLY corded telephones unless it is an emergency (cordless and cell phones are safe to use).Computers are also dangerous as they usually are connected to both phone and electrical cords. Do not take a shower or bath or use a hot tub.

Lightning Safety Plan

A lightning safety plan should be an integral part of the planning process for any outdoor event. Do not wait for storm clouds to develop before considering what to do should lightning threaten! An effective plan begins LONG before any lightning threat is realized. You can't control the weather, so you have to work around it!Detailed weather forecasts are accurate only out to seven days at best, but outdoor events often are planned many months in advance. Because of this limitation, every outdoor event coordinator should consider the possibility of lightning, especially if the event is scheduled during the late spring to early autumn months.

The key to an effective lightning safety action plan lies in your answers to the following questions:
Where is the safest lightning shelter?
How far am I (or the group I am responsible for) from that location?
How long will it take me (or my group) to get there?

Knowing the answers to these questions will greatly reduce your chances of being struck by lightning, provided you know them BEFORE thunderstorms threaten!

The 30/30 rule
Any lightning safety plan should incorporate the 30/30 Rule. The 30/30 Rule states that people should seek shelter if the "Flash-To-Bang" delay (length of time in seconds between a lightning flash and its subsequent thunder), is 30 seconds or less, and that they remain under cover until 30 minutes after the final clap of thunder.

A 30 second lead time is necessary prior to a storm's arrival because of the possibility of distant strikes. A 30 minute wait after the last thunder is heard is necessary because the trailing storm clouds still carry a lingering charge. This charge can and does occasionally produce lightning on the back edge of a storm, several minutes after the rain has ended.Studies have shown most people struck by lightning are struck not at the height of a thunderstorm, but before and after the storm has peaked. This shows many people are unaware of how far lightning can strike from its parent thunderstorm. DO NOT wait for the rain to start before seeking shelter, and do not leave shelter just because the rain has ended.

Safety Guidelines

For YOU!
Plan Ahead! Make sure you get the latest weather forecast before going out. Get it here!Carry a NOAA weather radio (found at most electronics stores) or a portable radio with you, especially if you will be away from sturdy shelter (such as boating, camping, etc.). This way you will always be able to get the latest forecast. At the very least, the reception of an AM radio will have static created by lightning. So if you hear the static, keep an eye to the sky as a thunderstorm may be nearby.

If thunderstorms are expected and you go ahead with your planned outdoor activity, have a lightning safety plan in place. Upon arriving on-site, determine how far away your shelter is in case lightning threatens. Remember to account for the time it will require to get to your safe location. If storms threaten or the sky begins to darken, monitor the sky for lightning.

If lightning is seen and the time delay to its subsequent thunder is 30 seconds or less, or if thunderclouds are building overhead, implement your lightning safety action plan without delay!Remember the "Flash to Bang" method to estimate lightning from your location - If you see lightning, count the number of seconds until you hear thunder. Divide the number of seconds by five to get the distance the lightning is away from you. For example, if you see lightning and it takes 10 seconds before you hear the thunder, then the lightning is 2 miles away from you (10 divided by 5 = 2 miles, too close!).Do not resume outdoor activities until 30 minutes after the last thunder clap.

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE/PUBLIC INFORMATION ATTEMPT. SEE THE NOAA WEBSITE FOR FULL INFORMATION.