http//www.tides4fishing.com

john — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:59:24 +0000

WOW! This is an excellent site for tides, solunar tables, sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, highest activity times, temperature, wind, wind direction and on and on. You get what I mean; there is a lot of very useful information that is if you like fishing as much as I do. It just stands to reason that if you want the most bang for your fishing buck when you go you should probably go at the most productive time. Well that is unless you just go all the time every day 24 hours a day. Which means you are rich and none of this matters, BUT for us poor folk this is the very important stuff because it allows us to make the most of our available fishing dollars.

Many of us know that fishing the tides can make the difference in what and how much we catch. Another example would be scalloping or spear fishing. In bays and river mouths when the tide is at its lowest the water is the clearest. On the other hand bait fish seem to some degree to move with the tide and many game fish will line up at places where they have a funnel effect such as inlets and harbors. When you can fish the tide you can be more productive.

Changes in weather will also have an effect on fish. If you have ever been in Florida just before or after a hurricane or tropical storm you probably know the Grouper go nuts, eating everything in their site. Of course my boat is too small to go before a hurricane or any storm. But I have been out with a friend before it got to bad and we caught the hell out of them. I can tell you it is nice to have a live well large enough that circulates enough water to be able to sort fish. You can also tell you that the calm after the storm is just as productive. However Amber Jack like it sunny and when it is sunny and calm you can some times coax them to the top by chuming with live bait and hit them with spinning gear. That’s right Amber Jack on lite tackle, What a rush!!!

Solunar tables, for some this is a whole new concept. How the moons movement affects fish and other game is proven. It is not a theory. It is a scientific fact that animals move more at night on a full moon. But did you know that they also move just as much at night on the new moon? Now for us deep thinkers we may think they move more on the full moon because they can see better. NOT SO! They move more or less because of the phases of the moon. Full moon being the best new or no moon next best. If you have never done it please buy a light and try fishing at night on a full moon I promise you will be amazed. So if you can predict when the moon comes up (just like sunrise) and when it goes down (just like sunset) and what phase it is in we can predict the time of day the animals will be most active and we can be most productive. Oh by the way if you do try fishing at night on a full or new moon, and you use a lure, try something black. I know how can they see it? Its black seems like if it were white you could see it better right? Not really, try it you’ll love it. I have been diving for years and once you get use to night dives I can tell you that with your light out everything is black untill you look up. No matter what color it is you can see it. The darker it is the easier it is to see.

If what I’m saying here does not make sense to you, you should still visit this web site. They explain it very well with graphs, charts, animation and all the good stuff. They are extremely good at what they do. It is in my opinion the best up to date fishing information available and I use it consistently for fishing and hunting.

Let’s all remember that it is called fishing not caching so you can’t always guarantee that with Bottom and now side imaging, all the right conditions and GPS spots that have been consistent producers in the past that you going to have to get out of the boat or sit on the rail for lack of room (being so full of fish) on the way back but you can get closer.

tides4fishing.com

Circle Hooks Ahoy

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:16:00 +0000

Oh yea tips to catch more fish, yea, yea I remember. You might not think some of my other tips the most important, but they are the ones that insure you and your children will be fishing tomorrow and beyond.

Okay, on to the good stuff…Use circle hooks. Better for the fish and better for you. The one thing that you must adjust when using circle hooks is the snatch and jerk technique. DO NOT DO IT. You simply real up the fish the hook slides to the corner of his mouth and he’s caught. Sounds simple right? When you are use to snatching the rod and pulling back quick to “set” the hook, it is tough to get use to not snatching it.

However that is what you must do. Most of the time just the slight rocking of the boat is enough to hook the fish. This is excellent for kids they actually catch fish they didn’t know were there.

Stay Sharp!

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:14:55 +0000

Keep your Hooks sharp. More fish have been lost because the hook did not penetrate than anything else. First he’s there then he’s not. Sharpen the hook it is very easy and I guarantee you it will make a difference. Try to avoid steel files first time it gets wet it is done throw it away. Many stores carry diamond hones and that’s the best I know of.

john@crazyfishguy.com

Leads to Better Catches!

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:14:26 +0000

You should use a leader that is right for the clarity of the water. It also must be right for the type of fish you are looking for. If you are fishing for Kings using 40 pound test mono leader would not be considered real smart if you want to get any fish to the boat. A steel leader will get more fish to the boat. If you are fishing for AJ’s 60 or 80 might be in order depending on the size of the fish. They seem to be there but don’t seem to be hitting like they should, reduce the size of the leader and loosen the drag you’ll catch a lot more fish. Many times especially in clear water you can see fish but they aren’t hitting. That is a prime time to use a lighter longer leader and a smaller hook.

Keep an eye on your leader if it shows any signs of chaffing replace it. Chafing does two things it increases visibility and weakens the line. Fluorocarbon line is more expensive but in my opinion is well worth the added expense. As the fishing season moves on towards fall from spring and summer the fish seem to get more and more leader shy. Lighter you can go with your tackle the better your fishing will be and the more skill you will develop.

john@crazyfishguy.com

Sinkers and Swivels

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:13:52 +0000

A good thing to remember is the smaller the sinker usually the better you are. The sinker is to get your line down to the bottom. Too much sinker gets you down to the bottom but makes you fight the sinker instead of the fish. When the fish is not at the bottom but running somewhere in the middle a sinker will hold live bait down to keep them where the fish are.

Swivels are a must do. Swivels keep your line from getting all twisted up. Allows you a better feel for the fish and keeps the line from getting kinks and knots as your bait swims around.

john@crazyfishguy.com

Venting

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:13:11 +0000

Vent the fish before returning them to the water. It is now state law in Florida to carry a venting tool on your boat. Venting the fish allows 85% of the fish returned to survive when returned to the water. It keeps them from flopping around on the surface until they die. When you return a fish the water it can be caught again when they are bigger and better table fare. Less dead fish means more fish to catch. It is best to vent the fish as quickly as possible with a minimum of handling. If the fish’s stomach is in or coming out of the fish’s mouth, do not attempt to push it back into the fish’s body. Expelling the swim bladder gases will allow the stomach to return to its normal position within a few hours. Hold the fish gently but firmly on its side and insert the venting tool at a 45-degree angle approximately one to two inches back from the base of the pectoral fin. Only insert the tool deep enough to release the gases — do not skewer the fish. The sound of the escaping gas is audible and deflation is noticeable. If a fish is extremely bloated, use your free hand to exert gentle pressure on the fish’s abdomen to aid deflation. The fish’s stomach should not be punctured. Return the fish to the water as soon as possible. If necessary, revive it by holding the fish with the head pointed downward and moving the fish back and forth to pass water over the gills until the fish is able to swim unassisted.

john@crazyfishguy.com