Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Walleye Fishing Lures - Walleye Jigs

I love to catch big walleye, and I'm sure most advid fishermen do as well. There are many factors to look at when trying to locate these big brutes. Spring fishing is a good place to start with.

This is where we find the walleye getting real close up to the shore where there are sandy areas and sand bars, rocky points and weeded areas that have sandy bottoms nearby. Walleye also love to be in rockie areas for spawning and protection.

These areas can be tough to fish. You could lose a lot of tackle. Of course the spring spawn brings out all us die hard walleye fishermen. The males tend to be smaller and are easier to locate because they come in close to shore. The females being the big fish stay out in deeper water.

Spawning walleye are very aggressive and ready to bite just about anything, and they do spawn in current, so give these areas a good workout, they are usually key to walleye fishing success in the early spring months.

Walleye Fishing Lures

My favorite lures to use are jigs, try using 1/4 or 1/8 ounce jigs with black, green, yellow, or white twister tails. If you are looking for one all purpose twister tail, choose white, because I find it does the trick for you, through out the year.

Stick a glow bead on the front of the jig head. This seems to get the walleye's attention. It also works great with live bait. I also like to Troll with crank baits, as well as fishing jigs, and slip bobbers.

All these methods will catch you fish. Nothing seems to beat harnesses though. On natural lakes, try trolling the weed edges and break lines. I like to use mainly leeches, Mr Twisters in White or Black near the bottom.

Erie Dearies using a large night crawler (worm) if your fishing for trophy sized walleye it's best done at night, try trolling slow, right next to shore, especially where there are weedy areas with nice sandy bottoms.

Trolling with spinners (night crawler harnesses) is probably the most productive way to catch these walleye. When fishing in the summer and fall I like to use bigger baits or lures. Small ones in the spring.

Using White Twister tails is one of the best softbaits, but in the spring the Walleyes are more aggressive and will hit crazy colors like chartreuse, pink, yellow or orange.

These colors are all great because in the spring the Walleyes are hitting them to defend their spawning grounds and not just feeding.

You can also add a leech, worm, minnow or Walleye gullet to the jig to get more action but it's usually not needed. Another tip you can try, is fishing on the bottom from one hour before dark until after dark. This will help produce those results for big walleye.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Walleye Lake Fishing - Trophy Walleye Fishing

Its that time of the year again. Fall! More hunters and less fishermen! Meaning more opportunities to catch more and bigger fish. Its about time to get on the water. You may think walleye fishing is done for another season, but wait! Fall is one of the most rewarding times for anglers who understand how fish follow patterns. You can use this information to your advantage. Now that summer is over, the air cools and so does the water. Having the knowledge of walleye movement patterns to follow will help. .

This is when the walleye prepare for the cold weather.The fish will head into deeper water in the lake. The fish can be as deep as fifty feet. The fish slow down a lot because of the cool temperatures. They getting ready for one last feeding frenzy. This happens just before the lakes freeze over.The walleye patterns are followed as closely as the warm weather accept the timeline is different because of the difference in water temperature.

The fishes metabolism will start to slow, and will not move around as much or be as active at feeding.As late fall hits, the Walleye will suddenly energise and become active again.As they move closer to the surface, and begin feeding aggressively. This is the final feeding binge until winter is over, the fish seem to understand that soon the lakes will freeze over. At this time the Walleye may be found in the shallows near the shoreline, because this is where they will find the bait fish and other food sources will be the most abundant.

Once this small binge is over, the fish go back into slow mode. As the water gets colder and the fish move deeper and farther away from shore, their daily migration around the water body will slow. The walleye will still follow the same patterns, it will just be at a deeper level and slower pace. During the late fall the Walleye can usually be located towards the middle of the lake, or in the deeper parts of the river where there is plenty of cover and oxygen.

Learning the migration and travel patterns of the Walleye during the different stages of fall can help you catch more fish. Fishing the drop offs,and deep underwater structure. This is normally where you will find the Walleye, and have much better success at catching walleye.


Experience The "Walleye" Capital Of The World

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Galveston Deep Sea Fishing - A Fisherman's Paradise

By Abhishek Agarwal

Those wondering what's so great about Galveston, are the uninitiated ones who are perhaps unaware of the numerous treasures of the deep hidden in the abundant waters of this Gulf Coastal Region. Known all over for the rich and varied opportunities for deep sea fishing, the area is visited by tourists for this exciting sport as much as it is revered by locals because in enriches their way of life in many ways too.

The best known variety of sea-life known in Galveston's Gulf strip are the hundreds of shrimpers that are open to view from early daylight hours till the afternoon sun bids a bye; bigger charters and other fleet of ships getting on with their sea-faring are also up for viewing towards day-break as are the smaller fishing charters that follow a similar pattern of setting out on a morning voyage only to sail home at night. At times, the tourists of the adventurous kinds may hire charters to explore the underwater delights contained at Galveston, where the big and exotic sea-forms may lie awaiting their interaction with divers, fisherman and people from different walks of life. All in all, this is guaranteed to be a lifetime opportunity and a thrilling one at that!

The three best time periods for visiting Galveston for deep sea fishing is covered by us for all you avid anglers: we begin with the January to March holiday season for fishing for the Wahoo. The catch may range from 50-75 lbs. and take some effort for reeling in while the Yellow Fin Tuna (weighing in the 100 lbs. region) is sure to call on all your energy levels for the heave-ho it'll require - if you're lucky to catch one! These are among the best fodder for winter fishing tales anyone can hope to get in Galveston deep sea fishing holidays!

Come summer (April to September), Galveston deep sea fishing crew charters will help guide you towards the bounty of their region: king mackerel, Dolphin, red snapper, amberjack, cobia, ling and grouper are chief among these. Night fishing trips gives you a chance to tell bigger fishing tales as the larger varieties of Mahi Mahi and Wahoo besides Blue Marlin are up for grabs when the sun goes down while the Dorado also seeks Galveston?s warmer waters so deep sea fishing is the most popular Texan sport during this time!

When autumn sets in here (during September through December), Galveston deep sea fishing scope is at its peak: with numerous chances to reel in Wahoo, Red Drum (redfish), red snapper, mahi-mahi and grouper; though the Gulf of Mexico remains mild, (an ideal fishing location all year round) this is the best bet for deep sea fishing holidays with high head counts (of the fish you catch, that is!) So, if you intend visiting the Texas Coast, Galveston deep sea fishing is something you can?t do without if fun and exciting is what you crave!

Abhishek is an avid Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fishing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 116 Pages Ebook, "Fishing Mastery!" from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/772/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Deep Sea Fishing – Fishing Rods for the Big Ones

By John Gibb

Lighter fishing rods are usually fine for fishing in rivers, lakes, or even from the ocean shore, but when it comes to deep sea fishing for larger fish, you are going to need a much stronger rod. Fishing for marlin, shark, large sea bass or giant halibut takes a strong rod – one that can take the weight of the fish, and that can also withstand the time it takes to land one.

Many deep sea fishermen tend to find graphite to be the best material for a heavy duty deep sea fishing rod. Although graphite is not as flexible as fiberglass, it is extremely strong despite its relatively light weight, which means that it can stand up to the weight of a large fish such as a marlin or shark, and will not be so heavy that a fisherman gets tired too easily when fighting a fish for a long time. Although graphite is used to make all kinds of fishing rods, such as lake fishing rods or fly fishing rods, it is still a good material for a deep sea fishing rod – the rod simply needs to be longer, wider, and denser. Graphite is not the only material used to make deep sea fishing rods, but it definitely is a popular choice.

Fiberglass rods are also used for deep sea fishing, and their greater flexibility means that they can also withstand the fight between a fisherman and a big fish. Though not as durable as graphite, therefore not as long lasting as graphite rods, fiberglass deep sea fishing rods will still last for an acceptable length of time, and will be able to provide a lot of good deep sea fishing hours before they wear out.

One of the best places to look for a good deep sea fishing rod is, believe it or not, the Internet. Even if you don’t end up buying a deep sea fishing rod from an Internet web site, you can still find out a lot of information on the different types and styles, compare prices, and find out what accessories you need to go with your rod once you purchase it. Research is a key factor when you are buying something as important as a deep sea fishing rod; you don’t want to go on that deep sea fishing trip you’ve been waiting for all your life and then find out that you purchased an inferior rod. Take advantage of the information that you can get on the Internet, as well as the information that you can get from experienced deep sea fishermen and personnel at stores that specialize in fishing equipment – especially ocean fishing equipment.

Experienced cooks will tell you that one of the secrets to getting a good deep fried turkey is what you put on it before it goes into the fryer. Do some research and you will find a myriad of recipes for turkey rubs, and once again, which one you choose is a matter of personal preference. The bottom line is, though, that if you put a good rub on your turkey before you deep fry it, you’re going to get a finished product with better flavor.

John Gibb is the owner of fishing rod guides

For more information on fishing rods check out http://www.fishingrod-sources.info/

Monday, April 27, 2009

Things To Bring On A Deep Sea Fishing Trip

In general, when you’ll be going on a deep sea fishing
trip, you’ll be the one to decide on how you want the
trip to go through. You can structure it with a
charter, or have the trip in a party boat, which is
also termed as "head boat" and leave everything else
to your captain’s orders.

Party Boat Plus Points

However, the most relaxing and cost-effective method
to plan a deep sea fishing trip may be considered to
be going with a party boat. This is because usually
they can already work out the details of your trip,
even before you arrive at the marina.

Here, your captain would already know where he would
want to bring the ship. All you have to do is rent a
rod, which would only take a couple of dollars; since
your tackle and bait are already included with your
admission fee. In fact, the mate would even come over
to help you if ever your line gets tangled up with
another’s!

Other Necessities

Other than bringing your basic equipment for fishing
and lunch, there are still some items that you can
bring to make sure that your trip would be
successful-provided that your boat’s captain really
knows how to find the catch! Here are some of the
critical items that you should bring on a deep sea
fishing trip.

Important Items

First off would be a fishing rod, tackle and bait.
Most fishermen are highly encouraged to have their
very own fishing supplies. However, if you are
planning to rent one from the boat, then you can do
so.

Clothing Essentials

The clothing you would be wearing is important too. It
is vital that you wear appropriate clothes if you
really want to enjoy the trip. It is advised that you
wear an old pair of sandals or sneakers, which you
don’t mind getting smelly or dirty. You mat also want
to bring a rain jacket, poncho, or windbreaker, just
in case the weather would be rough. Bringing a
sweatshirt or pullover would be good too, if ever the
wind is sharp or chilly.

Food Tips

For your lunch, having subs or other sandwiches that
are paper wrapped would be better, because other than
being healthy, they enable you to eat without having
to dirty your food. Something light on the stomach is
advised, just in case motion sickness problems occur.

For your beverages, beer would be a good fishing
companion. However, you should take note that it
should be taken in moderation and make sure that you
are of legal age. If not, soda or bottled water would
do.

Safety And Cleanliness

Safety and cleanliness is also important. Bringing an
antibacterial lotion or hand soap would be good, since
often most boat’s bathrooms don’t have soap and in
some cases even running water!

You may want to bring rags or old towels. These are
really helpful so you can wipe off of them after
baiting your hook. Additionally, you can use them
after catching a fish, as you hold on the catch and
remove its hook.

Protection

Skin protection is also important. Sun block should be
applied, especially if you’re the type that burns
easily. You can also bring sunglasses or a hat, so
that you can shield your face and eyes from scorching
rays of the sun.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Some Tips On Deep Sea Fishing At Night

Deep sea fishing is an enjoyed activity by many. The
sun, sea and the adrenaline of adventure makes a
perfect day for such kind of activity. However, for
very experienced fishermen, they would advice you that
if you really want to get a good catch, it would be
best for you to start fishing 2 hours after sunset or
2 hours even before sunrise.

This is why most experienced fishermen would rather
have a night trip than a day trip. However, due to the
difference of environment during night fishing, if you
are new to this kind of setting, then there are
certain things that you should know to make your night
trip a successful one.

Getting Started

Although it may seem difficult, waking up in the wee
hours of the day is still possible. Additionally, you
can always get the help of an alarm clock to be your
wake-up call. There are some other preparations too
that should be done other than being able to wake up,
like preparing your bait.

It would be the best if you have already set up
everything you need and have some wet-bait ready even
half an hour before sun rise. It is important to
remember that anchoring and cooking the bait should be
finished by the time sunset arrives. This is due to
the reason that cooking through your night fishing
could be very dangerous. Plus, your bait should be
able to cool off before you can use it.

The Logic Behind It

The logic behind all these waking up early and
preparations is that fish usually feed shallower
around times like this. Thus, they are easier to
catch, since they’re only about 30 feet below the
water’s surface. In fact, according to experts,
twilight minutes are very productive especially if
you’re fishing for a living.

Where’s The Light At?

If you really want to have good results at the fastest
time possible, whether it be you are fishing in fresh
or salt water, try fishing around piers, which have
some lights. This is because fish are very attracted
to light beams that pass through the water surface in
different sea depths. In general, fishing excursions
usually have a very happy ending when held around
lights on piers or buoys.

Use Something Large

It is also important that you use very large dry or
wet flies, nymphs, and oversized streamers, if you are
really interested in getting a lot of catch of those
active feeders out there.

In fact, night-feeding can be easier for you when your
bait is that large enough for the fish to locate.
Additionally, you should remember to draw your baits
gradually along the surface of the water with a
jerking motion. Doing this would help attract some
trout. Nevertheless, you should also bring some extra
live bait and always keep the lure inside your water
or boat, safely contained.

See The Signs

During night fishing, you should always try to be on
guard for some signs that feeding fish are in the
area. Take note that at this time, you’ll be able to
hear them feeding themselves even before you see their
splashes or swirls in the water. Don’t forget to chuck
in your lure, as soon as possible and once you hear
them breaking the surface, into the spot that you
think they are in.

Additionally, you should try making repeated casts
anywhere that you think they may be circulating, since
fish have some trouble in locating lures during the
night.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Essentials To Know For A Fun-filled Deep Sea Fishing Trip

If it’s your first time to go for a deep sea fishing
trip, there are some essential things to know to make
it a fun-filled and successful one. Here are some of
the key points when having a deep sea fishing trip.

Overlooked Things To Bring

For sure fishing equipment, food and clothing are the
ones that are always remembered by people to bring on
a deep sea fishing trip. However, there’s still some
other stuff that a lot of people overlook bringing
with them to a trip.

One good example would be a cooler. Bringing one with
some ice, icepacks or even frozen water bottles are
very important, since this is what you’ll use to
retain the freshness of your catch and keep it cold.

Another one would be spare cash. Other than being
vital for emergencies, you would need this just in
case you get the biggest fish and you would have to
get in on the pool. You also need this for mate
tipping purposes for providing you help throughout
your excursion.

Also seasickness medicine would be important too.
Dramamine is one effective solution for that problem.
For those who are already used to boats, this kind of
problem may seldom be encountered. However, it would
still be beneficial if you pack a small first aid kit.
Try to bring band-Aids, stomach medicine, tissues, and
disinfectants in the kit, just so in case minor
injuries occur during the trip.

Best Locations For A Deep Sea Fishing Trip

Some of the best locations to have a deep sea fishing
trip are: Bodega Bay and San Diego in California;
Wildwood, or Cape May in New Jersey; Boston and Cape
Cod in Massachusetts; Daytona Beach, Destin, Key West
and Miami in Florida; Freeport, Galveston and Port
Aransas in Texas; Gloucester in Maine; Ocean City in
Maryland; and Point Pleasant in New Jersey.

These spots can give you a variety of fish to catch.
They also offer you different views and experiences
with nature. Each spot can have their own pro’s and
con’s, however, one thing’s for sure they are great
deep sea fishing spots!

General Deep Sea Fishing Overview

In general, a deep-sea fishing trip could last about
four to eight hours, or more depending on how long you
want it to be. You can arrange trips with your charter
or party boast in the morning or afternoon. In fact,
if you have a special occasion, you can even schedule
evening trips. You can also do this if you’re the
night owl type that might not be back to shore even
until wee hours of the morning.

If you’re having one of these late night trips,
especially during the colder months bringing a thermos
that is full to the brim with steaming tea, hot
chocolate or coffee would be a great way to keep
yourselves alert and warm during the trip.

Freebies On The Side

The great thing with deep sea fishing is that
sometimes you can get freebies on the side. Other than
the adventure of being out in the waters, you may be
graced with the appearance of some dolphins too. There
are cases in which you can also have a glimpse of sea
birds that are chasing each other playfully. However,
the situation would not always be like this, since
factors like location, weather, time of the day and
how many people you are with on your boat could affect
whether you’d see such blessings.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Deep Sea Fishing Trip

Deep Sea Fishing is one amazing experience that can be
a very memorable one for you and your fishing mates.
However, it is an activity that is often not
maximized. What most people don’t know is that there
is much more to deep sea fishing than fishing itself.
It’s really sad that trips like these are often not
maximized.

To not commit such a common mistake, here are some of
the ways that you can maximize your deep sea fishing
trip to make it an even more momentous and enjoyable
one!

Understand The Signs

Enjoying the sea itself and the wildlife around you is
often overlooked by deep sea trippers. Try to be
watchful of what nature around you is telling you. If
you can see birds, like gulls or other sea birds that
are hovering over a specific area of water, then heed
on it.

There is a big probability that there are smaller
fishes usually used by fishermen as bait somewhere in
that area. This could imply that there is yet another
big probability that there would be bigger fishes
beneath that area of water. Try following these simple
hints and indications and for sure you’d be having a
catch in no time!

Be Watchful

You may also want to be on the watch for snooks during
your trip. Try to look under ledges since this is one
of their favourite hiding places. In fact, they have a
similar behaviours and habits with bass.

If It’s A Full Moon, Do It The Crab Way

During full moons, crabs usually shed off their skins.
So if you’ll be deep sea fishing on a full moon night,
you could try making use of soft crab imitations as
your bait. Doing this would definitely entice the
stripers from their hiding places to go look out for
the crabs.

Want Some Tuna? Get A Dolphin!

If you’ll be fishing out for tuna, especially
yellowfins, one good way to locate them is follow
where the dolphins are. Tuna usually school with
dolphins, which is why if ever you see dolphins there
is a really big probability that some tuna school
would not be that far away.

However, it is vital to take note that you should be
careful not to land on a dolphin even by accident,
because dolphins are protected species, which should
be treated with some respect.

Don’t Go Solo

Let’s face it, going solo with any kind of activity is
not that always fun. This is just the same with deep
sea fishing. So, if you really want to make something
out of your trip, such as priceless memories and
enjoyable moments, then you should try spending the
trip with some friends or family.

Battle Sea Sickness

If you have sea sickness or motion sickness, then a
fishing trip can be a not so enjoyable activity for
you. However, you should not let this hamper you from
enjoying such great experience. That is why you should
battle it.

If this is your problem, try looking at the horizon.
It might sound ironic and silly, but you should try to
stay up on deck as long as you can; doing this can
make it easier for you to adjust with the boat’s
motion. Additionally, staying away from fumes is
advisable, since they could make you feel even worse.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Deep Sea Fishing Guide To Miami Charters

If you’re going for a deep sea fishing trip, one great
destination would be Miami. This city is filled to the
brim with numerous thrilling entertainment
opportunities. Starting from its immaculate white sand
beaches up to its world class museums, Miami would
never run out of activities to cater you.

Nevertheless, one of the most popular activities in
Miami would be deep sea fishing. It is an exquisite
spot for such an activity because of the "Gulf
stream", which is a river that is part of the Atlantic
Ocean originating from the Gulf of Mexico’s warm
currents.

The slightly warmer currents of this stream are
actually utilized as a highway for different kinds of
migrating fish. You can choose from a great variety of
fishes, small or big. The most popular choices
include: pan fishes, big game fishes, kingfish, and
sailfish. These and many more are prevalent in Miami’s
turquoise waters.

Although there’s a lot of deep sea fishing charters
that are available coming from Ft. Lauderdale going to
Miami, there are those that stand out, which have
credible reputations for class, comfort and catch!

Reel Adventure Charters

First off is Reel Adventure Charters; in which you
have "Spellbound", a 56 ft charter fishing boat. It is
considered to be the number 1 charter fishing boat
around Miami Beach, for whatever kind of fishing
activity you are into; whether it be light tackle
fishing, deep sea charter to big game fishing.

From the docks of Reel Adventure Charters, you’ll be
in the Gulf Stream in no time! In fact it only takes
about 10 minutes travel time to go to the stream. This
advantage in distance makes their record for big
catches quite an impressive one.

Charters are very comfortable, usually with a maximum
of 6 people. If you’ll be having a party of 2 or 3
only, you can then arrange for "split charters". They
provide you with everything you need, except for your
drinks and food.

Sea Cross Sportfishing

If you want a charter with the best modern gadgets and
comfort, then the Sea Cross would be perfect for you.
Their Custom Rigged Hatteras Sportfishing Yacht would
definitely amaze you with all their amenities, such as
live well, outriggers, full air conditioning,
top-of-the-line tackle and rods, and state of the art
electronic gadgets. In fact, they are fully specked
and ready to travel anywhere starting from the Florida
Keys up to the Bahamas!

They can definitely make your fishing dreams true!
They have specialist personnel that have the skills
necessary for you to find exactly whatever it is you
are looking for. They specialize in all kinds of
fishing adventures, such as tarpon to sailfish. They
also provide services like long range weekend trips,
split charters, multi-boat charters, corporate
charters, and night fishing.

Free Spool Sportfishing

Situated at Miami Beach's north end, Haulover Bay, you
can find Free Spool. Their captain, a premiere fishing
guide in Miami area, has been helping people to fish
since 1986. Whether you’re interested in fishing the
reef, shallows, or off-shore, He could bring you
there.

Keys and Bahamas trips can also be arranged. However,
they do not have "split charters", meaning once you
book for the boat, you would have it all for yourself;
no more fishing with strangers. They can arrange full
or half day charters, for a maximum of 4 people. So if
you are looking for a really exquisite adventure with
an expert "old school" captain, try out Free Spool!

Monday, April 06, 2009

Deep Sea Fishing For Yellowtail

One of the most popular fish targeted when deep sea
fishing is Yellowtail. The California Yellowtail along
with the Southern Yellowtail, which is its cousin, are
Jack family members. Both are very tough customers for
reel and rod.

Where To Find Them

The Yellowtail is to be found in central California
and down south into the tropical waters. In fact, this
fish have been a staple in the Pacific fishery for a
lot of years already.

How To Fish

Just like with most other kinds of fish, you have a
variety of ways to choose from in able to fish for
yellowtail. A number of lures and baits would be
needed such as squids, sardines, mackerels and the
most preferred one, anchovy.

Jig Fishing Technique For Yellowtail

Jig fishing for this fish could be very fun and is
considered to be very productive by most people. The
Yo-Yo jig can be done by using a four to twelve ounce
candy-bar type of jig. Once you have the jig, drop it
to the bottom, which is usually not any deeper than
200 feet.

When you feel that you already hit the bottom, try to
lift your jig off of it for four to five feet. Repeat
this several times, then being followed by a very fast
retrieve all the way up to the surface.

It is important to remember that it doesn’t matter how
fast you are cranking, since the yellowtail would
always be much faster than you. Once you feel that
you’re bit, then there’s no mistaking it. Once this
happens, don’t set the hook and just continue reeling.
Once you feel that your catch is already swimming away
from you, then that’s the time that you should set the
hook.

Jig fishing enables you to fish using a much heavier
line than your bait. A 30 to 50 lb. test usually works
pretty well. When yellowtails are feeding on the
surface or near it, they would sometimes take surface
iron.

Surface irons are jigs weighing 4 ounces or less. They
are retrieved with a much slower speed than the other
kinds of jigs. Using a live squid is the much
preferred bait with this kind of jig. In fact, when
yellowtails feed on squid, they have the tendency to
ignore all the other baits.

Using A Fishing Squid

Using a fishing squid is quite simple. All you have to
do is either tie the hook directly to the line or make
use of a sliding sinker which is right on the bait.
However, the size of the weight you’ll be using is
usually dictated by factors and conditions like
currents and depth.

Find the pointed end of the squid and place the hook
once through it. However, take note that when fishing
with squid, even small yellowtails are able to swallow
it quickly. That is why you should not let them swim
far before you decide to set the hook.

Using Anchovies

If you’ll be using anchovy, then you should either
hook through its nose or behind its gill, specifically
on its bony collar. They are weak swimmers, which is
why you would want to make use of smaller line and
hooks.

Using Sardines

When you’ll be using sardines, you can make use of the
same rig. However, this time around, you should put
your hook through the sardine’s nose or on its bottom,
just behind its vent. Your bait would tend to swim
deeper, if you hook it on its bottom.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Deep Sea Fishing: Tips On Conserving Your Catch

So what is it exactly that you do with the fish you
catch? For some, they abide the philosophy of keeping
enough for their meal and releasing the rest. The best
fish would be the freshest ones. Even though you’re
not into cooking them yourselves, a lot of local
restaurants can offer you preparations for a fresh
catch meal. Sitting down on a meal of fish that you
just caught would be the perfect ending for one great
fishing day. Most consider it to be one of the most
satisfying things to do that anyone can accomplish!

Why Conserve?

Fish is a renewable resource. Thus, proper management
and techniques are needed to ensure their survival and
the abundance of the resource for the future
generations. In fact, overfished stocks would require
years of regulatory actions and monitoring to restore
its fishery level into one that is self-sufficient and
self-sustaining.

Additionally, for every year that passes, there seems
to be more restrictions in regards to the recreational
bags. Even size limits are imposed. All of these due
to the occurrence of overfishing which is in
consequence of improved technology.

The Solution

Practicing the habit of catch and release is actually
one of the ways in which recreational anglers like you
could help ensure the health and prosperity of the
future fisheries. In this way, you can also guarantee
everybody’s opportunity to have a fun day of deep sea
fishing that is concluded with a scrumptious and
satisfying meal.

Here are some of the ways in which you can help ensure
survival of the fish that you release and get some
satisfaction by returning your catch to its
environment.

Get Your Tackle Right

First off you should make sure that your tackle
matches the fish you’re targeting. Although it may not
seem obvious, doing this can ensure its safety once
you release it back into the waters. If your tackle is
too light, it would be exhausted by the moment you
land it. Thus due to its exhaustion, it could be a
very easy target for predators when release it back to
the waters; since it couldn’t swim that fast anymore.

Customize Your Hook

Customizing your hook is yet another way to conserve
your catch. By simply using a pair of pliers, you can
mash down your hook’s barb. Doing this would enable
you for an easier release of the catch and better
safety on its side. Another great addition to the
terminal tackle you’ll be doing would be circle hooks.
When the catch swallows the hook, all you have to do
is cut the line closely as you can to your hook, then
release your catch as quickly as you can.

Don’t Suffocate It

As much as possible, while releasing your catch leave
it in the water. If there is no choice but to handle
it out of the water, then be sure that you wet your
hands. You should do this to reduce the removal of its
protective slime layer that covers it. The removal of
this layer can make your catch susceptible to disease
once it goes back to the waters.

Hold It Right

Handling the fish is important too. You should make
sure that you don't grab it in its gills or eyes,
since these are very sensitive areas that fish need
for survival.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Deep Sea Fishing: Knowing Your Tides

It can sound weird but a comprehensive knowledge on
tides and their effect on your fishing area can
actually pay big dividends. In fact, it is considered
to be one key to being successful in the realm of deep
sea fishing, by the experts. A lot of fishing guides
and charter-boat captains know this secret. They even
make close studies on currents, tides, and how they
would affect fishing on their areas.

The Unknown Secret

However, sad to say, that a lot of informal deep sea
anglers actually pay very little attention to such
important details. In fact, some anglers don’t pay
attention at all! And then they would wonder how come
the other guy catches all the fish and they don't.
Nevertheless, there are still those who realize that
somehow tides can affect their fishing. However, they
do not know exactly how and why this happens.

These anglers usually waste their precious hours
trolling, casting and sinker bouncing even when the
tide is not right. However, the deep sea angler who
knows his tides could pick in advanced the most
favourable fishing periods and concentrate on his
efforts during those times. This simply means you can
have less of those wasted days and get more fish on
your deep sea fishing trips.

Getting Started

You don’t have to delve into tide’s science here,
except to point out that tides are due to the
gravitational forces that are brought about the sun
and moon. Since the moon is nearer earth, it has
greater influence with tides than the sun.

Types Of Tides

Every time the tide is up, water would move towards
land, which is also known as "flood tide". On
occasions that tides drop, moving its way back to sea,
is called "ebb tide". The period in which it doesn’t
move either way is termed as the "slack tide". It
usually takes a period of 6 hours for it to rise, and
6 to get low. For every 24 hours these tides occur 50
minutes later than the last, approximately.

Variations

They also vary in regards to the degrees that they
drop or rise. The highest tides occur when the sun and
moon are situated on Earth’s same side, creating a
direct line. Such kind of tide is called "spring
tide", which occur during new-moon and full-moon
periods.

During these times, both low and high tides are higher
than their usual state. However, during the last and
first quarter phases of the moon, tides don’t fall or
rise or fall that much. This is called as "neap
tides".

Which Is Which

So which of theses tides are helpful and which are
not? To start off, most experts believe that moving
tides or currents are most of the time more productive
than having no currents or tides. Thus, a "slack" tide
would rarely produce good catch.

Using The Tides At The Right Time

You can take advantage of tides even more by knowing
when to go. The period in which an incoming tide
starts is considered to be one of the productive
periods for fishing, especially if you are targeting
for gamesters like bluefish, striped bass, channel
bass, and weakfish.

During the periods of slack water, the small bait
fishes tend to scatter, and having a lack of strong
currents they are able to swim faster and escape their
predators.

However, when tides start moving, such small bait
fishes are at the strong rips and current’s mercy.
Thus, they are easier to catch and find by stripers
and other kinds of game fish. When an outgoing tide
starts is yet another good time do fish, simply for
the same logic. In general, the popular change of
tide, whether it be low or high, is actually the best
time to do your fishing.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Choosing The Right Deep Sea Fishing Charter For You

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration
when picking out a deep sea charter. You do not only
have to look for one that is professional and
reputable, but you also have to find one that can meet
your personal needs. Thus, before you go out to sea,
you have to decide on exactly what it is that you
really want from the trip.

What Kind Of Experience?

Your main concern must be to decide on the type of
experience that you want to get. Is it wreck and reef
fishing that you want? How about inshore fishing?
Probably you’re interested in getting a charter which
specializes on targeting specific types of specie,
like billfish, tarpon, etc.? Factors like these would
definitely depend on what place in the world you’ll be
fishing in. For instance, if you’ll be fishing from
the Gulf of Mexico, you would have different options
if you’ll be looking for a deep sea charter in
Northern California.

What Kind Of Level?

Second, you should decide on the level that you want
to fish in. There’s a big difference between charters
catering to novice fishermen than those designed for
experienced ones. Nevertheless, the great thing about
charter boat’s abundance is that they have one for any
kind of level.

Some specialize on catering to beginners and families,
while some specialize in bringing more experienced
anglers out to sea. A lot of charter services can
actually offer you several options. Most likely,
charter boat captains would offer trolling options,
which is especially for novice anglers, families, and
even kids. For instance, a lot of charter boats
situated in Southern Florida can take their patrons
trolling during spring and fall months, in which they
are given the opportunity to have 6 hours hunting some
redfish, dolphin, etc.

However, high speed trolling would be a great choice
if you’re an experienced one that lack some of the
equipments to have your own expedition. This is best
done around summer months, which is when conditions
are best set to catch bigger game fish, like bull
dolphin, sailfish and yahoo.

Ask! Probably the best advice when looking for a
charter would be directly asking the captain exactly
what it is that they offer, and can offer. You would
definitely don't want to be wasting money and time on
an adventure that is not really tailored for your
needs. A lot of charter services are actually up front
regarding the different choices of service that they
can offer. Thus, you have the ability to determine
what type of charter would be the best for you!

Money Matters After deciding on the type of experience
you would want, now it’s time to settle on how much
you’re willing to pay for the trip. In general,
smaller boats that have the capacity of 2-4 people
have a typical price of $200-$400. If you want to get
a bigger boat for a whole day trip, prices usually
play around $900-$1,200. Additionally, factors like
the charter’s reputation play a role on how much they
charge.

Playing It Safe

Although most charters are headed by quality,
experienced individuals, there are some occasional
shady characters that might try to sell their services
to you. If this is the case, you should try checking
their reputation by asking people around the area and
getting some recommendations from the locals.

Doing this could mean having visits in the local
marinas and bait shops. Basically, you should visit
the docks. Another choice would be asking the hotel
that you're staying in. Such hotels usually have
charter services that they usually use and can
recommend to you.

Lastly, you can directly interview your potential
charter captains. This would help you see what kind of
person you’ll be spending the trip with. Most of the
time, this method is the one that shows whether the
charter service is reputable or not.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

A Deep Sea Fishing Family Guide

Deep sea fishing is one great activity that a lot of
families enjoy. It’s something that can give you and
your family momentous experiences and priceless
memories that can last for a lifetime. The family
bonding experience with nature at hand is simply
indescribable.

If you’re new to this sport and wonderful past time,
there are some things that you should know before you
go on with your deep sea fishing trip. It is indeed
one big adventure for you and your family. However,
you should consider some things first to make your
trip a successful one. Other than not forgetting to
bring your camera, for those momentous snapshots, here
are some things that you have to think about before
even making some plans.

Judgment Time: Are They Capable?

First off, you should take a realistic look at your
family’s abilities and age. Let’s face it, you can’t
really maximize a deep sea fishing trip if you’re kids
are still infants or toddlers. If you’re deciding on
what kind of excursion to have, deliberating on these
kinds of factors are important too.

In case you’ll be getting the service of a charter
boat, this would play an important factor too, since
most boat companies have set age limits. Generally,
age limits start at about eight years old. You should
understand that companies set these kinds of rules to
guarantee safety on your part.

Additionally, you should consider the duration of how
long you’d want to be on water. Most inexperienced
fishermen would usually prefer half-day trips, so that
it wouldn’t be that stressful and still be enjoyable
for the whole family. On the other hand, lifelong and
expert anglers would definitely want to have overnight
trips. However, regardless of how long or short you
have been fishing, you should still remember your
family’s physical comfort would affect the trip’s
overall enjoyment. Factors such as attitude and age
play important roles on how can your family adjust
with a temporary boat life.

Be Distance Conscious

Another important consideration is how far away your
target fishing location is from your home. The
packages that you may encounter can vary greatly,
depending on the company. This means the provisions
that they’ll give to you on the boat would also
differ. If you will be travelling a huge distance just
to fish, you might be more interested in availing
packages that are all inclusive, which provides you
with everything you’d need for the trip.

However, packages like these are usually hard to find,
and of course, they are way more expensive than those
for average day trip packages. An average package
usually provides you bait and tackle. But if you’ll
need a license, some packages already include it,
while some can charge you extra for the cost.

Know The Terms

Generally, boats would ask you to bring your own hats,
sunglasses, clothing, sun block, medications for
motion sickness and everything else that you think is
important to bring. Make sure that you are clothed
appropriately with a number of warm layers, since it
would be colder when you’re on water than being on
shore.

Also, most of the day trip packages would ask you to
bring your own food. If this is the case, you should
plan accordingly. Try to pack items that are easy on
your stomach, just in case that waters will be rough.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

The Best Bait - Is There a Best Fishing Bait?

By Trevor Kugler

If you've been fishing for any period of time you must realize that the question posed in the title of this article is all but unanswerable. There is probably no best fishing bait, but rather there are individual anglers favorite bait for fishing. The bottom line is that the best fishing bait is largely up to individual preference. If you've had personal success with a certain bait, that bait will be your 'best fishing bait'.

In this article I'm going to list some of the most popular and effective baits for fishing and some tips on fishing them. You can then draw your own conclusions as to which of these bait's is the best. Sometimes the bait isn't the issue as much as the way in which it's fished. After reading this article you'll get some valuable tips for fishing your bait in the most effective manner.
Let's get down to business, shall we?

1. Live Minnows - One of the most popular and effective fishing baits in the world are live minnows. Crappie and walleye fishermen are very aware of using live minnows as bait. The most popular method for fishing live minnows is to tip jigs with them. Live minnows rigged on a set of gang hooks is also an effective fishing tactic. The downside of fishing with live minnows is carrying them around. Minnow buckets are bulky and inconvenient, especially if you're not fishing from a boat.

2. Live Crayfish - Although not very popular, live crayfish are a great fishing bait, especially for smallmouth bass or large trout. Live crayfish are an extremely effective fishing bait. The downside of these little buggers is obviously the fact that they aren't readily available and they are also difficult to carry around. As far as 'the best fishing bait' is concerned, crayfish need to be on the list.

3. Live Worms - Every angler on the planet knows all about the effectiveness of live worms as fishing bait. Worms and fishing seem to fit together like hands and gloves, it's hard to think about one without the other. The interesting thing about live worms is that most anglers don't fish them in the proper manner. The only way to fish worms in a truly effective manner is through the use of gang hooks. You see, gang hooks are the only way to present live worms in an outstretched and natural manner. This makes a huge difference in bite and catch rates.

4. Synthetic Baits - What do I mean by synthetic baits? Berkley has made incredible breakthroughs in fishing baits with their Gulp and Powerbait products. These fishing baits are molded into every imaginable fishing bait, from minnows to crayfish and every bait in between. Many anglers say that these synthetic baits outperform live baits. At The end of the day, these fishing baits could easily be the best.

Whatever your choice for the best fishing bait, what's important is that you spend as much time on the water as possible practicing your craft. Nothing will make you a better and more successful angler like practice. At the end of the day, the bait you choose to use can be secondary to the experience of fishing itself.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Monday, February 16, 2009

Ice Fishing House Plans - Fish in Comfort in the Freezing Cold

By Wendy Pan

Anglers are said to be passionate and very patient individuals. For your information, they can fish from dawn until dusk without a bite and still would not be disheartened. They fish through the seasons of a year, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Winter or ice fishing provides a different kind of challenge. These anglers go to the extent of even having Ice Fishing House Plans made to complement a hobby/interest of theirs.

For non-anglers and those not into fishing, the idea of having ice fishing house plans could sound non-sensual and even crazy. However, for those that are bitten by the bug, it would only seem a natural step to have an ice-fishing house built. These fishing houses are usually fitted with some basic facilities such as heating to provide extra comfort.

Some of the main features of ice fishing house plans are that it should be feasible in terms of size and easy transportation. For example, there is no reason and no need for a person to have an ice fishing house built if they are to fish only for a day. These fishing huts should be sturdy, collapsible, and easily transported. With additional ski supports, either a snowmobile or even ATV can pull the hut. For these said individuals, ice-fishing houses are more than just a place to fish. It is also their home away from home.

These days, with the internet, it is not difficult to build your own ice-fishing house. Quick surf around the internet proved my belief. Many sites offer ice fishing house plans. Even, there is some with extremely low budget to boot! Over in http://www.webberslodgesfishingblog.com there is an ice fishing ice plan that quoted just $100 as the budget. Imagine having a fishing hut all for yourself, one that is built by you even and costs a mere $100. It is supposedly collapsible and towable even, making it very convenient.

There are other sites available other than the one mentioned above. http://www.ice-fishing-house.com/ would be one. This is one incredible site, which you have to visit it to be able to gain information about anything related with ice fishing house. There are ice fishing house plans and ideas, pictures of featured icehouses, forums and much more, all in the name of ice fishing houses.

With this, anglers need not worry about ice fishing houses that are all rented out and endure heartbreak and disappointment about not being able to fish because of the ice fishing houses all rented out. The simple solution is find a solid ice fishing houses plan and start building your own today. When the next winter season arrives, you will be fishing from your self-made ice-fishing house.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about ice fishing house plans, please visit Ice Fishing Equipment Online for current articles and discussions.