Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Florida Sportsman

Sure looks like it. Microcystin is a component of what’s lovingly called blue-green algae, or other confusing names like cyanobacteria. Or, my choice: poisonous slime discharged on us from special interests inland. Supposedly, a “recent” study at Ohio State University showed that people living in a four-county Florida cluster (Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee) died from liver disease (often cancer) at nearly twice the national average and much more often than elsewhere in the state. This so-called shocking news comes out more than a full decade after noted scientists had already identified nutrient runoffs as the key source of eutrophication, which is known to kill all manner of marine life—and apparently innocent people. For 15 years in fact, I’ve endured seeing on my office wall a large color poster…

King Mackerel Commonly found from mid-depths to surface, especially around schools of baitfish visible topside or marking on sonar. Will take trolling plugs, jigs and baitfish of many types—herring, sardine, runner to name a few—freelined or slow-trolled. Average size: School fish, 8 to 20 pounds. Much larger specimens may take up seasonal residence around wrecks or ledges. Limits: 24 inches minimum fork length. Bag limit 2 per person in Atlantic waters; recently increased to 3 per person in Gulf of Mexico and Monroe County. Special Tackle Notes: Wire leader is advised due to sharp teeth, lighter classes, such as No. 3 or 4 in the singlestrand steel varieties, will get more bites than heavy wire. Light drag and 300-plus-yard line capacity generally best. Greater Amberjack Patrols midwater column over high-relief…

Around the middle of August, the fishing is still good, but most of the tourists have left the islands. Likewise, the large schools of tarpon that flooded the channels and basins are slowly making an exit. The large groups of permit over the wrecks are becoming smaller or in some cases are gone entirely. The mahi are getting smaller and their numbers fewer. Yes, these species are some of the most sought after by our locals and visitors alike, but if you are willing to change gears and work a little bit harder, the Florida Keys always has something to offer. One of my favorite things to do in August is deep dropping for tilefish, yellowedge grouper, snowy grouper, rose fish and others. This type of fishing is a bit…

We are now on the backside of the snook spawn. There will still be some fish spawning around this moon cycle, but the majority have done their business and are on the move. Once spawned, there’s usually one thing on their mind, food! You can find these fish roaming the waters off the beach, especially concentrated around pods of bait. Snook aren’t the only fish cruising the surf. Tarpon will be found as well. Captain Danny Barrow of Silver Lining Charters (gosnookfishing.com) says to keep your eyes peeled for pods of tarpon roaming within 100 yards of shore from Lake Worth Pier to Palm Beach Inlet. “It may not be huge schools of fish, but they will all be big,” he advises. Decipher the way they’re going and pitch a…

I can think of three reasons why you should go fishing for reds and big spotted seat-rout just as the sun comes up in August. One: The water temperatures the previous day most likely reached the 90-degree mark and overnight may have fallen to a more comfortable (for fish) 85. Two: It’s recreational bay scallop season on the Big Bend and crowds of snorkelers will invade the grassflats as soon as the sun’s over the yardarm. And three: It ’s simply too hot for humans to comfor tably fish af ter about 9 o’clock in the morning! August ’s day time water and air temperatures are go -ing to be spoilers all along the Big Bend, but there are a couple of places where there might be fewer scallopers and…

Lake Jackson is one of those lakes whose fame as a big bass lake is greater than its physical size. The lake covers only 4,000 acres, but according to some records, the lake produced 1,350 bass that weighed 10 pounds or greater between 1964 and 1974. In fact, one of the largest weighed 18 ¼ pounds. This was reason enough to draw anglers from all over the country to fish this lake for lunker bass. By all rights, because of the lake’s topography, it should have filled in with vegetation from all the nutrients that flowed into it and turned into a marsh. The saving grace is the lake’s natural cycle: In response to lower surrounding water levels, it drastically reduces its water level and this happens roughly every 20…

No one sets out for a day on the water thinking they may end up adrift at sea waiting to be rescued. The harsh reality is that boats do sink occasionally. Would you be prepared to deal with the situation? Typically, when you hear of a vessel sinking you might assume it’s due to heavy weather or a treacherous inlet run, but are you safe by using good judgment alone? The answer is no. Mechanical failure (pumps, through-hull fittings) combined with dead batteries have put as many boats on the bottom as named storms. The one thing that every rescued survivor agrees upon is that no price for a rescue is too great in those minutes or hours while they’re waiting to be found. Which is why I can’t fathom…

August 6, 2017 is the official start of the Florida spiny lobster season. These tasty crustaceans, also known as bugs, can be found in our inshore and offshore waters. These lobsters hide under rocks, along the reefs, in the sea grasses and under ledges. Catching lobsters is challenging, fun and a great way to stay cool. Lobster hunters are allowed six lobsters of legal size per person. Most of the lobster hunting is done from a boat but can be accomplished right off a shoreline. The best inshore saltwater fishing in August takes place from sunup till 11 a.m. If you have a line in the water during this short time span then there is a great chance that you will be hooked up to snook, resident tarpon, seatrout, jack…

Contrary to popular belief, tarpon season didn’t end on July 4. Silver kings can still be found in quite a few areas around the bay. The shadow lines under the highway bridges on the Peace, Myakka and Caloosahatchee Rivers are all good bets at night. During the day favorite areas include the channel that runs along the east side of Patricio Island, the northern end of Matlacha Pass, the mouth of the Myakka River up to Cattle Dock Point and the slough on the west side of the Cape Haze Bar. And some tarpon will be caught this month in the passes too. Big, hand-sized threadfins are a great live bait for these summertime tarpon. Shark fishing is good along the ICW and up into Charlotte Harbor about as far…

There’s no telling what you might catch within several miles of the beaches of East Central Florida between Daytona and Sebastian Inlet in August. While there are no guarantees, the summertime inshore list may include any of the following: tarpon, kingfish, cobia, redfish, tripletail, big jacks, sharks and sometimes surprises. The root cause that can turn our fishing topsy-turvy—like believe-it-or-not sailfish and deep-water grouper around Sebastian Inlet—is the phenomenon known as cold-water upwelling. And during some summers it can be widespread and extreme. Let’s say that an upwelling has put the chill on some of your deeper water offshore hotspots where readings are in the 50s below a thermocline. You might find that the cobia you were expecting have moved to inshore wrecks and bars where they have found schools…

Three things you can count on in August along the Panhandle—a big hot sun, afternoon thunderstorms and good fishing. Keep a close eye on the weather and radar when you can, because the afternoon storms can be violent at times. Stay safe and never risk losing against the weather. Always keep the weather in your favor. If you’re heading offshore now is the time to go deep and look for tilefish and groupers between 400 and 1,000 feet. Generally, the weather is calmer, making drifts over deep-water locations easier and longer lasting, and the longer days leave plenty of time for distant runs to the spots and ledges. This type of fishing, often called deep dropping, takes patience and trial and error to get good at. Some good starting spots…

If you view docks solely as launch points for boating activities, you’re missing a wealth of angling opportunity that’s particularly relevant during the warmer months. Indeed, these emergent reefs of wooden or concrete creation nail the two things bass favor—shelter and feeding opportunities. Shade over their heads, structure and shadows from which to ambush passing prey, along with the meals sharing residence—what’s not to love? No doubt, docks offer one of your best summer patterns, but minding these principles will increase your productivity. Thorough Coverage: While it’s tempting to buzz down a line of docks with one cast to the left, one to the face and one to the right of each structure you’ll ultimately effect better time management by picking apart a few docks. On the initial approach, hit…

Black Bart Pro Metal Series Black Bart reports that the Pro Metal Series has had great success over the last two years of testing. Originally designed to target wahoo at higher speeds, the lure has been tested at a range of trolling speeds. At a conventional 8 to 9 knots, the Pro Metal Series displayed “outstanding side to side movement with deep dives at the slower speeds.” Testers documented with underwater camera a 100-pound blue marlin attempt nine times to grab the Ascension model, largest in the series. The fish would not quit and eventually got hooked on the relatively large rig. Prices range from $49.95 to $69.95. See www.blackbartlures.com Ballyhood Mini Cowbell No trolling weight and no bait required to shake fish-attracting sensations out of the new Ballyhood Mini…

The balmy weather will make you feel as if you are in a South American rain forest, but knowing when and how to beat the weather is vital this time of year. As the humidity builds throughout the day, it is generally accompanied by mild winds from an easterly direction throughout each morning, giving way to slicked out conditions or a mild chop. Look for a change in wind direction from the west as lunch time approaches and clouds build over the Everglades. We have nearly predictable afternoon thunderstorms and some can be quite dangerous so exercise caution if you are making a full day out on the water this month. A pre-dawn start is ideal to take advantage of the light winds and milder temperatures. Run to your farthest…

Bluewater anglers out beyond 120 feet may find weedlines that hold bait. These pods of bait are natural attractors for dolphin, blackfin tuna, bonito, wahoo, sailfish, a variety of snappers, groupers and others. Any kind of cover or floating object is worth investigating for its fish-attracting ability because of the limited amount of shade offshore, and keep your eye out for tripletail. A small jig or shrimp freelined to a trip will typically result in adding a fish to the box. Mangrove snapper and tarpon are perhaps the most tolerant of the elevated temperatures, so targeting them will be a little easier. Tarpon season traditionally explodes in May but this year’s start was nothing like last year’s early beginning. Finicky fish that were there one day and gone the next…

As August arrives it will be interesting to see what happens along the beaches of Northeast Florida. I know I sure remember the years before we ever started importing farm raised shrimp. Over 70 shrimp boats called Mayport home during a good shrimp year, and every morning the sight of tarpon gulping the croakers and sand trout that got shoveled over as bycatch was a sight to behold. Now I’m not ever going to propose we do away with the devices being used by modern shrimpers to reduce bycatch, but the reality is shrimping has gotten really good over the last few years, and the number of shrimp boats may well trickle back into Northeast Florida. I also know more and more people are shopping for locally caught shrimp, realizing…

With government intervention and help from the US military eliminating cocaine trafficking, Colombia is now back on the fishing destinations list as a go-to place for finding huge speckled peacock bass, among other species, fresh and salt. One operator based in Miami is Alex Zapata, a fishing guide, originally from Colombia, and offering trips through the well-known www.flyshop.com. Recently I went with Javier Guevara of Ecuador Fly Fishing Tours to Tucunare (meaning peacock) Lodge, owned by Alejandro Dias. Flights to Bogota, the capital, take about four hours from Miami. Spending a couple of nights there with friends was like being in Coral Gables, with lots of vibrant bars, restaurants and shopping areas. The trip cost was $2,950 including hotel stay, internal flight of about an hour and food and drinks.…