Florida

[ladypamela2]

Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

www.ladypamela2.com

954-761-8045


November fishing has started out with a bang and the Lady Pamela II fleet is gearing up for some serious kite fishing this season. The mullet have been a huge help. Large schools of bait fish have made their way to the Gold Coast and the migrating pelagic fish weren’t too far behind. Fort Lauderdale has seen several Sailfish offshore and the bite is only looking to pick up and be comparable to last year.



Sailfish fishing is one of the most exciting sports and Fort Lauderdale is one of the top Sailfishing destinations in the world. During the winter months, great Sailfishing will be affected by the passage of cold fronts, in a good way. When the wind patterns pick up and it’s blowing offshore, the cold air moves through and the water temperatures drop. The Sailfish move through looking for warmer water and multiple catches are common. The only disadvantage is nasty seas, big rollers, but a great bite. To us Fort Lauderdale diehards, it means perfect Sailfish conditions and what we long for year after year. Trolling bait or dangling live goggle eyes from the kite usually attracts a Sailfish within minutes. These pretty pelagics are caught year round; however, November through March comes in at number one for the Sailfish bite. During the height of season, 20 bites per day is common, it happens and we catch 'em. That must be how the name Sailfish Alley came about for Fort Lauderdale, Florida!









With the weather change in Fort Lauderdale, the Atlantic Sailfish will be the leading catch offshore. Other species will be involved as well such as Blackfin Tuna, Bonito, Kingfish, Wahoo and Dolphin. Let’s get out there and catch some fish.


Tight Lines!

Captain David Ide

www.ladypamela2.com

954-761-8045

[fishtales]

November 11, 2009

INSHORE:

Tough fishing conditions along the Treasure Coast had anglers scratching their heads and wondering when and where they might go fishing lately. Lots of wind each day made it a challenge to get out on the water. Offshore was pretty much out of the question and inshore wasn't much better. After canceling several days, we finally made the attempt on Sunday. It made for a very limited area to fish.

Will Whitehead and his friend, Ty Fisher, were back out with me on Sunday. They caught fish, but it was tough fishing in both the wind and waves that we endured. The water was pretty chopped up and will take several calm days to clean up the water conditions. The trout bite should continue to hold it's own, but don't forget that it's catch and release. I didn't hear much about snook fishing this week. The conditions were right for activity around the jetties at night, but few dared the adventure. The weekend is much more promising for fishing. Still some winds, but nothing like the past week out there.

Pompano fishing should improve with the cooling off , sand fleas, Doc's Goofy Jigs and DOA jerk baits will work well when fishing for pomps. Add that toof the water temperatures. They have been in the river and along the surf. Live shrimp your next trip out fishing. Some sand perch have been caught around the bridges and it should take off now as well. Live or dead shrimp are great off the catwalks. We should see some flounder around the jetties and bridges soon. As things get back to normal, the fishing should be good out there.

Tip of the Week:

Make sure you pack your rain gear as winter continues to work its way into the Treasure Coast. It might not rain, but those windy days can get you wet just as well on the water. Wear your rain gear when traveling around on the water to keep that cold spray from getting you soaked. We have many windy days throughout the wintertime and into spring. Planning on how to battle the winds and deal with the waves and sea spray can make an otherwise uncomfortable day into a much more enjoyable trip on the water. Have a safe and fun time out there!

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[capt_ron]

Cabin fever, needing to fish, but wind does not cooperate

Finally, I have recovered from by crab trap wound enough that the doctor said I could go fishing. It’s been two months off the water and I am ready to go. Only one problem - the weather. The wind has blown and blown and blown. Every scheduled trip has been short-circuited by the constant wind.

Since I have not been able to fish because of the wind I thought I would share a few tips about fishing in the wind. With the wind blowing like it has been lately I am not likely to head out on a fishing trip. However, sometimes you are already out when the wind begins to blow and then you need to make the most of it.

Of course the obvious solution is to find cover behind a causeway or other structure large enough to dampen the force of the wind. If that is not available you might be able to find a creek or canal that offers some protection from the wind.

If no protection is available you just have to use best techniques to make the best of it. Always position the boat so you can cast with the wind. Sometimes that can actually be an advantage by giving you longer casts and the ability to cover more water.

Maybe the most important thing you can do to improve your fishing in windy conditions occurs before your get on the water. If it’s windy you must avoid high arching casts. If your casting style results in the high arching cast you have to realize that by the time the baits touches the water the wind is blowing all that excess line away from the bait. You loose contact with the bait and if you get a strike you will set the hook on nothing but loose line.

To prevent this arching condition you must make more of a line drive cast by loading the rod and letting it do the work for you. This is something you can practice when you’re not fishing. Then, when you are on the water and the wind raises its ugly head you are prepared to compete against it. This practice should include loading the rod properly, but also closing the bail before the lure hits the water. This simple technique will result in the momentum of the lure pulling the slack from the line and giving you direct connection with the lure and any fish willing to bite.



For More Fishing Tips You Might Consider my New Book

Announcement: I want to take this opportunity to announce my book is out and available in book stores and the internet. Entitled Secrets From Florida’s Master Anglers it is intended to provide many tips and pro secrets to fishing success. It is based on interviews with 20 of Florida’s top guides on various fishing topics. The book is published by University Press of Florida. Regardless of your level of fishing skill this book will have something for you.

Here is what some early readers of the book say:

"Ron's highly privileged interviews with many of Florida's top guides expose lots of secrets that are sure to improve fishing success."--Phil Chapman

"A great peek into twenty of the finest fishing minds of Florida! No matter your current skill level, this book will improve your confidence on the water."--Brett Fitzgerald

"Unique in that it includes a variety of approaches to inshore saltwater fishing, provided by a broad selection of some of Florida's finest fishing guides. There is something for almost everyone who fishes the Florida coast."--Richard A. Davidson

[Fishbuster]

Bill Story and friends, Mike, Dave, Jim, Marvin and Ed picked a nice calm morning to fish offshore with me on Tuesday, 10/28. We headed out of New Pass about eighteen miles and fished in 43 feet with live shrimp. The guys were after pan-fish for a fish-fry they planned for this week, and we did well to fill their table with keeper lane snapper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, grunts, Spanish mackerel and porgies of the whitebone and jolthead varieties. We released lots of smaller snapper, as well as short triggerfish and red grouper.

Friday morning, 11/6, Mark Murphey, Tom Stefaniak and Jerry Craig fished with me in Estero Bay. We had a great morning, mostly because of the 32 1/2 inch snook Mark caught on shrimp--It was a beauty, and we were holding our breath when we measured it. Fortunately, it fell 1/2 inch below maximum size (see photo.) The guys also caught some nice keeper sheepshead and mangrove snapper, along with four sand bream. We released crevalle jacks, an 18-inch snook and all but ten of the 35 mangs we caught. The group planned to go have their catch cooked for lunch at Fish House, then to ride back to where they were staying on Marco...probably a long ride for Tom and Jerry, listening to Mark brag the entire time!

Though Friday had been windy, it seemed calm, compared with the winds of Saturday morning. I fished Estero Bay again, this time with Jim and Kytha Eibel and their ten-year-old son, Graham. The high winds made for a tougher time fishing, but we caught three keeper sheepshead and released lots of smaller sheepies, along with snapper and two large stingrays to 20 pounds.

The storm out in the Gulf, north of us, caused our winds to grow stronger and stronger throughout the weekend. The party I was to fish with on Monday decided that even bayside fishing would be too challenging, with wind gusts predicted to reach 30-35 mph, so they deferred their Monday trip. As it turned out, winds laid down pretty nicely that morning and didn’t become gusty until after noon.

Winds were moderate Tuesday morning, when I fished Estero Bay with Ed Leroux and friend, Jim. We caught too redfish, one too small to keep at 17 inches and one a bull, too big to keep at 30 inches. We released those after photographing the larger one, along with small mangrove snapper, crevalle jacks, and two stingrays. We caught a few keeper sheepshead for table-fare.

The photos shown are of angler Adam Koenigsmark, with a 34-inch king mackerel, caught on a sand perch on a recent offshore trip, and angler Mark Murphey with his 32 ½ inch snook, caught on shrimp in Estero Bay this week.

[fishtales]

November 6, 2009

INSHORE:

I usually talk about windy weather in March, but here we are in November and we have windy conditions throughout the Treasure Coast and it appears to be here for several days. The fishing has been very good out there, but few anglers have been able to brave the choppy waters to give it a try. I managed a day out earlier in the week, but had to cancel the last couple of days with small craft advisories out.

The pompano bite has been good and I found some early in the week that were feeding under the ladyfish and jacks. They have been nice size in the 15 - 18 inch range. Live shrimp, sand fleas, DOA shrimp or Doc's Goofy Jigs can get you some action on a very tasty fish this time of year. There are also pomps along the beach when it is fishable. Snook fishing around the inlet has continued to be productive on the tide changes and at night. Live mullet, Bait Busters and feather jigs are all good choices for snook. If you are fishing around the spillways, try the Bait Busters or TerrorEyz for good results. Redfish reports were mostly north of Fort Pierce around the Moorings. It's a tough place to fish this week though. Trout season is closed, but the bite had been very good. Release the fish carefully and handle them as little as possible.

Bridges have held snapper, black drum and sheephead with a few reports of some sand perch moving into the inlet. The river is overrun with jacks and ladyfish and lots of fun for the kids and young at heart. I found lots of tarpon at first light around the turning basin earlier in the week. Live mullet will be your best bet at coaxing one into striking. Bluefish have been hanging around the mouth of the inlet along with big jacks, tarpon and snook. It's a great time of year to fish......just a little challenging this week.

Please take a moment and keep one of my good fishing buddies, who is also a cousin, in your thoughts. Tom Hull has accompanied me on many scouting trips to try out new lures, try new fishing areas and just help me enjoy a day on the water. He was diagnosed with cancer this summer and has been going through treatments since then. I haven't been able to get him out fishing since August and look forward to having a chance to take him out one day soon. He truly loves to fish and I miss him being on the water. Thanks for thinking of him!

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

Tom Hull on one of his recent fishing trips on the Indian River.

[administrator]

For immediate release

TBF’s Peel representing U.S. as Commissioner to ICCAT
The Billfish Foundation President Ellen Peel in Brazil for 10 day worldwide summit but is not overly optimistic about strong conservation measures being passed

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA and RECIFE, Brazil -- (November 6, 2009) -- Ellen Peel who was recently appointed as the new U.S. Commissioner to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) is in Brazil today for the start of the 21st annual meeting of the commission.
But on the eve of the 10 day (Nov. 6 – 15) summit Ms. Peel, who has been the president of The Billfish Foundation for over a decade, is not highly optimistic any strong changes will be made among the attending countries to conservation of tuna and related species.
“The past failure of ICCAT to pass science-based conservation measures for Atlantic bluefin tuna have been cited in proposals by Monaco and other nations to have the species listed by the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),” said Peel.
“Last month the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior announced that they will support a CITES listing if ICCAT fails to pass strong conservation measures during the Brazil meeting. A CITES listing would prohibit international trade in bluefin tuna but would not affect the recreational or commercial harvest and trade of fish taken within a nation's waters.
"TBF took a position supporting a CITES listing last July," continued Peel, "and while we stand ready to endorse a very strong conservation measure by ICCAT this year we are not overly optimistic."
ICCAT is an inter-governmental fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas which includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea. The commission holds a regular meeting every other year and a special meeting in alternate years. Currently there are 48 member nations.
In October Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, said, “We are sending a clear and definitive statement to the international community that the status quo is not acceptable. Over the past 40 years, the international body that manages bluefin tuna, ICCAT, has overseen a 72 percent decline in the adult population of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock of bluefin tuna and an 82 percent decline in the adult population of the western Atlantic stock.”
TBF Chief Scientist Dr. Russell Nelson, who served as a research biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, and was the Chief Scientist and Director of Marine Fisheries for the State of Florida is again serving on the U.S. delegation at the ICCAT meetings.
Nelson stated, "I do not believe that anything short of a fully enforced ICCAT moratorium on international trade of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic will send a message sufficient to avoid a CITES listing. It’s frankly unlikely that the illegal and unreported fishing that is landing twice the tonnage recommended by the science can be controlled."
A meeting of the member nations of CITES will take place in March 13 – 24 in Doha, Qatar.
Peel added, “We do feel somewhat optimistic though that the new Chair of ICCAT, Fabio Hazen a scientist from Brazil, is working hard to get something out of this session.
“We are also encouraged there will be a working group meeting on Sport and Recreational Fishing this week at the Brazil meetings. This is a first. Many nations do not acknowledge their sportfisheries and view them more as a nuisance rather than an economic driver and an activity compatible with conserving the resources. Many nations therefore do not collect data from their sportfisheries, hence no data, no fishery that needs acknowledgement.”
She said TBF wants to help change that, getting members from the sportfishing communities on the delegations of other nations to change the dialogue.
“If others, commercial and government, are only thinking of ‘pounds of fish dead on the deck for consumption’ there is no meaningful debate. This will take a long time, but we all know there are many businesses in Asia and elsewhere that benefit from sportfishing, and we need them to be part of the ICCAT dialogue.”
Many overfished species like juvenile tuna are part of the food chain for the migrating billfish. Increasingly more countries are witnessing the value of the migration of sailfish and marlin in their regions as catch-and-release sportfish adding greatly to tourism dollars and to the growth of their economy.
Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., The Billfish Foundation works with governments worldwide advancing the conservation of billfish and associated species to improve the health of oceans and regional economies. Most recently it has been assisting with governmental efforts in numerous Central and South American countries.
Established in 1986 by the late Winthrop P. Rockefeller, TBF is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations worldwide. TBF’s comprehensive network of members and supporters includes anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs, sport fishing and tourism businesses. By coordinating efforts and speaking with one voice, the organization works for solutions that are good for billfish, not punitive to recreational anglers and good for the local economy.
Reach Ms. Peel at Ellen_Peel@billfish.org or by phone at 800-438-8247, ext 108.
###

TBF PR counsel - Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications
Scottsdale, Ariz., USA
480-951-3654 (ph) -- JohnsonCom@aol.com

[ladypamela2]

Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

www.ladypamela2.com

954-761-8045




It may not be snowing or below 50, but between the north winds, the blue water and thousands of bait fish, it sure does feel like winter has arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Our first very welcomed cold front has come and gone and was much appreciated by us Fort Lauderdale fishermen. It blew 15-20 out of the northeast and gave us a few cool October afternoons. Not only were the two days extremely refreshing, the Sailfish bite offshore was solid and exactly what we anticipated.



October has provided a mixed bag of fish, from giant Wahoo taking runs to gaffer size Mahi Mahi, Kingfish, Bonito and Blackfin Tuna on the troll. And as November and December approach us, we only expect fishing to improve in South Florida with the Sailfish bite. Large pods of baitfish are chuggin’ it down from the north and the bigger fish tend to follow. Expect to see the Atlantic Sailfish free jumping within feet of the boat and big Dolphin lookin’ to eat your bait. The Ballerina of the Sea puts up a wicked fight and many high fives will be given after the battle.



The Wahoo was definitely a hot item offshore this month. Between the dark, electric blue color above and the shiny, vertical stripes throughout, you can’t mistake this fish especially when it’s smoking your reel. The Lady Pamela II was very successful with the Wahoo bite and we sure did land some monsters that could’ve fed a village. Several anglers went home with smiles and sore arms after reeling in this prize game fish offshore in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.




Tight Lines!

Captain David Ide

www.ladypamela2.com

954-761-8045

[fishtales]

October 29, 2009

INSHORE:

Warm fall weather has been the norm lately along the Treasure Coast. Light winds have allowed anglers to enjoy the great fishing action around the Indian River. Lots of baitfish all over the river this time of year makes it a fantastic time to fish. There is some great action all over the area, so plan on a fishing adventure soon!

Trout fishing continues to be the best bite all along the river. Jim Kosko, son, Brennan, and his friend, Grey was out with me earlier in the week. The guys battled with some snook around the docks, losing several big fish. We headed north of Fort Pierce and fished the grass flats for trout. Lots of trout continue to feed around the bait schools in two to five feet of water. The trout were waiting on the guys and along with some snook, ladyfish and jacks, they had a busy morning of fishing the Indian River flats. Brennan and Grey had a great time catching fish. DOA Deadly Combos or live shrimp will keep you busy reeling during the fall months. Harbor Branch, Bear Point and Queen's Cove continue to yield good amounts of good size trout.

Snook fishing around the inlet has been good on the high end of the tides and at night. James Herta sent me an email and photo of his first slot snook (29"). He caught it on a Mirr-O-Lure along the Stuart Causeway. Lots of tarpon continue to feed the inlet at night. The bluefish are along the jetties and invading the river for their share of the spoils. Spanish mackerel are spreading around the river and the turning basin will soon provide some great action for anglers. Pompano are along the surf and lots of fish are being caught south of Fort Pierce on the deeper flats. Redfish are being caught around the docks in the river. Bridge anglers are eagerly awaiting that first sign of the sand perch bite. There is action all over the river, so get out fishing soon!

Tip of the Week:

Just a reminder that trout season is closed November and December each year. Everyone is always attuned to snook season, but many forget about the closing of trout season. Catch and release is very important to trout. A de-hooker can reduce handling the fish for a quick release. The season will re-open on January 1st. Vermilion snapper will also go out of season on November 1st in the Atlantic and re-open on April 1st. It is important to keep track of seasons and sizes of fish. Ignorance of the law is never an excuse to possess an illegal fish.

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

Action from this weeks fishing!

[Fishbuster]

Seasonal business is just beginning to pick up around here, though most of the recently reserved dates are for later this month and into next. I did get offshore Saturday, 10/10 with long-time customers Jerry and Barb Rudan, from Wisconsin. We headed out of New Pass to about 18 miles, but it was slow going heading out in sloppy seas. Predictions were for one-footers, and it did eventually calm to about that, but the trip out was definitely not that calm. We used live shrimp to catch a lot of different fish but many of our catches were frustratingly just short of keeper-size. We released red groupers that were as little as one eighth of an inch short of legal. The same was true of many yellowtails and mangrove snapper. Triggerfish were abundant and would have been keepers prior to the regulation change, which now demands 14-inch minimum, so we released those too, along with lots of ladyfish. On the bright side, we did manage to catch a mess of keeper-sized snapper too—mangs, lanes and yellowtail, as well as Spanish mackerel.

David Koenigsmark, son Adam, and father-in-law, Hubert, fished offshore with me Thursday, 10/15. We had a full-day so we headed out 37 miles west of New Pass to 74 feet. David had fished with me this summer, but we were bayside to accommodate his younger son. This time, he wanted his fourteen-year old son to have some offshore adventure. We caught a variety of fish, some of them pretty good size, which included a 34 inch king mackerel, a 28 inch king, whose tail was bitten off as Adam reeled him in by a huge barracuda, a 3 ½ foot sharpnose shark, a very large stingray, and an 8-pound bonito. We kept the kingfish and released the shark, stingray and bonito. We also caught some good table-fare—lane snapper, mangrove snapper and yellowtail snapper—all keeper-sized, though we released all the lanes and a few mangs, as we already had plenty of fish, and also released lots of grouper shorts. At one point, we spotted about fifteen large mahi-mahi, right beside the boat—we had just arrived and weren’t rigged up yet, and they spooked and swam off.

Sunday morning, 10/18, I had planned to fish offshore with Dan Wampler, son, Barry, and eleven-year-old grandson, Max. The weather, however, had other ideas, as our first real cool-front came through the area, bringing not only much cooler temperatures, but also stiff winds and rough seas offshore. Dan and family decided to brave the cold morning temps and fish in the calmer waters of the bay. We stayed as sheltered from the wind as possible, and used live shrimp along the mangrove shoreline to catch five keeper sand bream and nine keeper mangrove snapper. We released small sheepshead and two small snook.

As the winds continued to be strong and seas rough offshore on Monday, Chester Yanik, son Mark, and friends Jim Basara and Tom Murphey also swapped their offshore plans for two days of inshore fishing in Estero Bay. Monday, we caught a dozen keeper-mangrove snapper out of twenty-five total mangs, and four keeper-sheepshead out of a bunch of sheepies caught. We released the smaller snapper and sheepshead, along with a 16-inch snook. We were fishing with shrimp and small bait- fish along the shoreline, wherever were able to stay somewhat sheltered from the winds.

Tuesday, the same group caught a bunch of trout--about 30 throw-backs measuring 14-15 inches--and they kept three nice trout that were 16 inches, along with keeper mangrove snapper. We released four redfish to 17 inches, an Atlantic spadefish, and a 3 1/2-foot bonnethead shark. We fished mostly in areas behind Ft. Myers Beach, using live shrimp and popping corks for the trout and reds.

The photo shown is of angler Mike Page, with an 18-inch sheepshead, caught on shrimp on a recent trip.

[ladypamela2]

Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

www.ladypamela2.com

954-761-8045


This afternoon, the Lady Pamela II set sail with two different groups of people who had never been deep sea fishing offshore. Skip, an avid trout fisherman, had never hooked a saltwater fish in his life, nor had John and his family who traveled from Denmark. The water looked great today; a beautiful blue edge, a steady current, but no fish. The further south we trolled the better the bite got. Three big King Mackerel ate along with two nice size Barracuda. Skip was in awe when he got up close and personal with the Barracuda and its mean set of teeth. After our Kings and Cudas, we got a killer bite from a monster fish. John was battling with this fish for a while before Paul got a hold of the leader and we finally got the 30 lb Wahoo in the boat. The slim, streamlined fish showed John whose boss in Fort Lauderdale. The Wahoo is one of the fastest fish South Florida has to offer and one of the tastiest fish in my book.

Awesome catch!






Tight Lines!

Captain David Ide

www.ladypamela2.com

954-761-8045