Friday, November 06, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Thoughts on Optimizing Light Tackle Tarpon Fishing- Part 1
My release/hookup to strike ratio remains fairly high, compared to the fabled averages.
In order to increase your own personal ratio, you might want to:
1. Immediately give up the braided line and go back to monofilament. Yes, braid transmits more energy than mono on the strike to sink the hook, but its' unstretching quality slingshots the hook (more than mono) back at the angler on the jump. Guides love braid and circle hooks for their newbie customers who simply need to reel down. Good perhaps for live bait, but a dull business of starting the battle. A compromise might be cofilament, but I vote for mono!
2. Give up all weighty artificials, as they give tarpon way too much leveraged weight to throw out of their mouths on the jump. There is no reason to use any plugs with treble hooks unless you enjoy mangling fish: 6 or 9 hook points endangers the tarpon's eye for short-lived but mauling moments. Use a fly as an ideal template when constructing your artificial offerings, be they bucktail, feathers, or modern plastics. Consider building breakaway weights on your swimming plastics wherever you are- they must be doing something right in Boca Grande!
3. Lighten your leader as the fish get smaller. I often use 30-pound fluorocarbon in 6 -foot lengths tied to a doubled 12-pound line for fish up to 50 pounds. The long leader arrangement helps to deal with chafing against the length of the fish's body while I use MAXIMUM PRESSURE.
4. Do not forget the "Down and Dirty"- try to tire and upend your tarpon as quickly as you can so the fish can survive. Go for the quick knockout for the sake of the fish. Believe it or not, tarpon can be more fragile than redfish when the battle is over.
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/
In order to increase your own personal ratio, you might want to:
1. Immediately give up the braided line and go back to monofilament. Yes, braid transmits more energy than mono on the strike to sink the hook, but its' unstretching quality slingshots the hook (more than mono) back at the angler on the jump. Guides love braid and circle hooks for their newbie customers who simply need to reel down. Good perhaps for live bait, but a dull business of starting the battle. A compromise might be cofilament, but I vote for mono!
2. Give up all weighty artificials, as they give tarpon way too much leveraged weight to throw out of their mouths on the jump. There is no reason to use any plugs with treble hooks unless you enjoy mangling fish: 6 or 9 hook points endangers the tarpon's eye for short-lived but mauling moments. Use a fly as an ideal template when constructing your artificial offerings, be they bucktail, feathers, or modern plastics. Consider building breakaway weights on your swimming plastics wherever you are- they must be doing something right in Boca Grande!
3. Lighten your leader as the fish get smaller. I often use 30-pound fluorocarbon in 6 -foot lengths tied to a doubled 12-pound line for fish up to 50 pounds. The long leader arrangement helps to deal with chafing against the length of the fish's body while I use MAXIMUM PRESSURE.
4. Do not forget the "Down and Dirty"- try to tire and upend your tarpon as quickly as you can so the fish can survive. Go for the quick knockout for the sake of the fish. Believe it or not, tarpon can be more fragile than redfish when the battle is over.
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/
Friday, October 30, 2009
First Field Test- Wave Spin System Spinning Reels
When I got my Wave Spin Spinning reels in the mail last night, I was determined to give them a rigorous workout on tarpon this morning...and indeed, that is what they got!
I released three tarpon from 30 to 40 pounds and jumped another off. While I won't get into the specifics of my tactics and hook-up ratio just yet, I fish an open bail arrangement at times---times when it is essential for the line to come off the reel without any resistance. I have never seen line come off a spinner by cast or open bail with more ease than with the Wave Cast System-never!
In addition, the drags appear to be the smoothest I have ever experienced out-of-the box!
There are more details to follow and more fishing to do on these reels!
Contact Data-
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Doug Hannon's WaveSpin System
I'm glad to announce FlatsFishingOnline's field testing affiliation with fishing legend Doug Hannon's WaveSpin sytem spinning reels.
Be on the lookout for the results!
Friday, October 23, 2009
It's Good To Be The King!
Before stumbling into the assumption that my header is a narcisisstic proclamation, I'll clear it up as a quote from Mel Brooks' "History of the World." What really applies is my honest intent that "it's good to fish for kings" (the silver ones) or that the tarpon can say in MY world, it HAS become king.
This morning I ran my skiff to a fall "transitional area" and found loads of rolling fish. By the time I saw my 100th roller alongside a zero strike record onboard, I downsized my offering by half its' size as well as dropped to 30-pound leader which is super-thin. I had 4 takes and went 2 for 4. 2 fish wore through the leader and I released 2 fish about 25 pounds each. I was not happy that the reduced pressure needed on lighter leaders created a longer fight time.
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/
This morning I ran my skiff to a fall "transitional area" and found loads of rolling fish. By the time I saw my 100th roller alongside a zero strike record onboard, I downsized my offering by half its' size as well as dropped to 30-pound leader which is super-thin. I had 4 takes and went 2 for 4. 2 fish wore through the leader and I released 2 fish about 25 pounds each. I was not happy that the reduced pressure needed on lighter leaders created a longer fight time.
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Downtown Fort Myers Images During Hours Not Fishing by Jan Maizler
There was loads to do when not fishing . I saw Thomas Edison's Winter Estate and, of course, his mounted tarpon. I checked out Clyde and Niki Butcher's great photo exhibit at the Southwest Florida Museum of History.
Later on, I took in some great meals at Vino De Notte restaurant at the fabulous Hotel Indigo, where I also had my lodgings. Their address is 1520 Broadway Avenue, Fort Myers River District, Florida.
Fort Myers/Sanibel is a very easy place for anglers and their friends and families to love!
Images Shot from Behind the Island Inn on Sanibel by Jan Maizler
After fishing with Captain Mike, I fished the beach behind my lodgings at the Sanibel Island Inn
at dusk and dawn. I caught and released loads of ladyfish. I also released 1 small snook, 1 large snook, and a plump seatrout. Mind you, if I'd been fishing 2 months earlier in calmer waters, my results would have even been higher. I've never seen such productive waters literally behind a resort!
Since I was fishing alone as well as taking any images, the results of the pictures were compromised.
Contact Data-
239-472-1561
Captain Mike Smith/Sanibel Images by Jan Maizler
Miami Herald Outdoors Writer/Editor Sue Cocking and I fished with Mike this past thursday.
When the dust settled, we released over 20 snook and 2 redfish. We lost count of the missed strikes.
CONTACT DATA-
Captain Mike Smith
239-573-FISH
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