The Official Floridafishandhunt.com Blog

We heard about a cool web site this week that allows you to look up restaurants, hotels, boat ramps and more by region. This is a great resource for traveling anglers that are looking for great places to stay and eat while fishing in new locations. Visit http://www.floridabywater.com for more information.

check out this video from Sam Root. Him and his crew hook up a nice redfish on fly, all the way up in the mangroves.  This is a great clip!

We found this video on how to rig ballyhoo for sailfish. We know it is summer time, but you might as well start practicing, winter will be here before you know it!

floridafishandhunt.com would like to encourage all our members a safe and happy long weekend!

We will leave you this weekend with a great video that shows a leopard attack a hunter. It is a wild one so enjoy!

Thanks,

floridafishandhunt.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnn8zsnxE1c

Mark Castlow teamed up with long time friend Jimmy Buffet to build a skiff that allowed oil spill clean up crews to recover wildlife from the water in and around the Louisiana area. This vessel was designed by Castlow to allow workers to find and recover oil soaked wildlife and hydrate them while transporting them to locations for rehabilitation. Jimmy Buffet funded the project and we are glad to hear there are 3 additional boats being built.

This boat and it’s sister skiffs will be instrumental in allowing workers to safely work on recovering oil soaked wildlife. The boat features a 40 h.p tiller outboard supplied by Evinrude ETEC as well as fresh water wash downs and  a misting system. The boat also features a collapsible canvas top that delivers more than substantial shade. The center line of the skiff holds a cleaning table that allows the workers to safely contain and administer cleaning techniques .

Here is the Dragonfly press release with some photos and some quick footage of the skiff. Our hats are off to Jimmy and the Dragonfly crew!

Jimmy Buffett S.W.A.T. boat TO AID OIL-SOAKED WILDLIFE IN GULF

Contact:  Mark Castlow

Tel:  772-567-8835

Cell:  772-473-0479

Fax: 772-567-8836

Email:  dragonflyboats@bellsouth.net

The first of four specially designed Shallow Water Attention Terminal (S.W.A.T.) boats built and designed by Florida-based Dragonfly Boatworks,and funded by Jimmy Buffett heads to the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Southern Mississippi this week to begin a massive rescue effort.

Prompted by images of an ever-widening oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which threatens Mississippi, Alabama and Florida’s coast, Vero Beach boat-builder, Mark Castlow, Jimbo Meador and Meador’s longtime friend, musician Jimmy Buffett, “had to do something.”  All three men have long histories in, on, and around water earning their livings and loving the lifestyle.  All three are concerned with short and long-term effects the spill will have on the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean, on visible marine life and the less-visible eggs and microorganisms that support the system.

“Instead of pointing fingers, we wanted to lend a hand,” Meador said.  That led to the design of the S.W.A.T. boat.  Using multiple resources, Buffett, Castlow and Meador designed the “life” boat for oil-injured wildlife.  Unique features set the rescue boat apart: shallow draft with a bow-mounted trolling motor to avoid unnecessary noise, a tiller-steered Evinrude outboard motor, a worktable mounted mid-deck coated with a sanitary gel and a coarse surface to help animals grip without slippage, solar fans, a misting system to cool researchers and wildlife, plus a folding, collapsible canopy shading the entire boat.

Evinrude’s concern about the cleanup effort in the Gulf prompted the speedy contribution of boat power via four low-maintenance 40-HP ETEC.

www.dragonflyboatworksllc.com

[View with PicLens]

HERE IS A QUICK VIDEO OF THE DRAGONFLY SKIFF!

Last Friday I was fishing with two good friends on the beach for Tarpon and Snook. As we cruised the beach we scanned the horizon looks for bait, but more importantly the flash of silver kings. When we finally located our pod of Poons, we all began to man our battle stations.

Without hesitation, we all began to discuss what rods had what hooks on them. This time around our hook of choice was the circle. Picking which hook to use is really dependent on what you are trying to accomplish and what you are comfortable with. I typically associate setting the hook on a fish with an aggressive draw back and pop of the rod tip to drive the shank of the hook into the jaw of the fish. Try that with a circle hook and the chances of getting tight to the fish are greatly diminished.

A circle hook is designed to rotate as the hook leaves the jaws of the fish and catch or embed itself right in the corner of the fish’s mouth. This process is really a great way to catch fish without hooking them in places that decrease the fish’s chances of survivability.

So really the difference in the hooks are how you set the hook. A J Hook requires an actual hook set, while a circle hook requires you to real tight, while letting the hook set it self.

Here is a great video by Captain Blair Wiggins that gives an overview of each hook and how and when to use it!

I will never forget the first time I opened my tackle box to find that my brand new container of gulp soft plastics had leaked. It was the worst smell, and before too long I realized that buying some tupperware to store my baits was a better answer. Storing these baits in the plastic zip locs that they are sold in are fine if you plan on using the entire package within a couple of days, but they will dry out in these bags, and they will definitely leak all of your gear and make an awful stinky mess. Gulp did come out with plastic storage containers like you see in the image left, but even those have been known to leak, and they arent easy to organize in you tackle box or bag.

Plano came out with the Liqua Locker and it is the real deal, it allows you to store your scent infused baits in a organized locker to ensure that your stink bait are in one leak free place. This is a great product and will ensure that you never have to worry about your baits leasking all over your boat, garage, or vehicle again!

Here is a video that explains the system in greater detail!

For those of you that don’t know, SHAME ON YOU! This Saturday is the day for the 103.1 The Buzz KDW fishing tournament. There will be all kinds of entertainment, and everyone is expecting a great turnout and fun times. Here is a little info.

Join us on Friday and Saturday, June 18th and 19th as 103.1 The Buzz and Stingray Fishing Outfitters of Jupiter present the Second Annual Buzz Kingfish, Dolphin and Wahoo Offshore Fishing Tournament.

Registration is just $250 per boat and there is no limit to the number of anglers your team may have.  There will be over $20,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs!  Entry fees and completed applications can be dropped off at our studios or at Stingray Fishing Outfitters of Jupiter (N. Alt. A1A).

There will be $1,000 cash prizes for the largest snapper and grouper caught.

A mandatory Captain’s meeting will take place at Carlin Park in Jupiter on Friday, June 18th at 6pm.  Then on Saturday, June 19th, just minutes after the last fish is weighed, courtesy of Grand Slam Tackle, the party is on.  There will be live music from Smitty’s band “Ladies and Gentlemen” and Buzz artist Trevor Hall.  This event is free and open to all ages. A portion of the proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Coastal Conservation Association.

The Buzz KDW is also brought to you by Greater Yamaha, located on Military Trail in West Palm Beach.

Great news ladies and gents! Our Governor Charlie Crist has announced that any angler both resident and non-resident are allowed and encouraged to fish this Memorial Day weekend for free! Not license is required!

This gesture was offered as a way to reassure both Florida and Non-Florida residents that the recent oil spill in the Gulf has not truly affected our waters. Whether or not it rears it’s ugly head is yet to be determined! For now go fishing!

Here is the official statement taken for the FWC web site.

May 28, 2010
Contact:  Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

Gov. Charlie Crist has announced two free fishing weekends to help draw visitors to the beautiful Sunshine State. Both residents and nonresidents in Florida can fish for saltwater species around the state without a license during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, May 29 to May 31, and the weekend of June 5 and 6, which is the first weekend after Florida’s popular red snapper season opens in the Gulf on June 1. All other fishing rules apply.

“Florida is the fishing capital of the world,” Crist declared, “and our beaches are clean, the fish are biting, and we invite our friends to enjoy some Florida hospitality.”

Chairman Rodney Barreto of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) applauded the governor’s decision.

“Gov. Crist’s actions to offer free fishing this weekend and next will do wonders for our business communities that have been suffering cancellations since the oil spill started,” Barreto said. “We aren’t experiencing any oil impacts here, and the fact remains that Florida is open for business.”

The FWC will continue to monitor all of the potential impacts of the oil spill on Florida’s fish and wildlife and continue to be involved with many aspects of the oil spill response, Barreto added. In addition, the FWC has consulted with key representatives from several fishing organizations in Florida who are very concerned about inaccurate public perceptions regarding the condition of Florida’s fisheries and the state’s marine environment.  There has been strong agreement from these stakeholders that the fishing business in Florida is “as usual” and that fishing remains a safe and viable recreational and commercial activity.

Go to MyFWC.com/Fishing to learn about fishing regulations in Florida.

Here is a link to our floridafishingnewspage.

Every once in a while, we find it necessary to post an event or happening on our Florida blog thtat has nothing to do with Florida! Check out this crappie that was caught by 33 year old Mike Zimmer. Here is the story, and a few pictures.

Mike Zimmer was enjoying a phenomenal morning of crappie fishing. Then, it nearly turned historic. The 33-year-old angler from Menomonie was fishing a lake in Menomonie on March 15 when he hooked a 4 pound, 5 ounce white crappie. Most crappie caught are in the half- to 1-pound range.

“It was unbelievable,” Zimmer said. “It’s probably like catching an 8- or 9-pound bass or a 70-pound flathead (catfish). Crappie fisherman know just how big something like this is.”  The behemoth that measured 19 inches long and had a girth of 16 inches was part of a crappie bonanza for Zimmer. He started fishing that chilly morning — the temperature was about 40 degrees — at 7:20 a.m.  By 10:30 a.m., he was already at the dock with his limit of 25 crappie. Among the keepers were a 3-pounder and one that weighed 3 pounds, 8 ounces.  The previous day, Zimmer also caught his limit of 25 in under four hours. That’s why he declined to reveal the name of the lake that harbors his crappie honeyhole.  “Next thing you know, they’ll be people all over the place fishing for crappie,” Zimmer said with a laugh.  Clad in his thermal duck hunting clothes, Zimmer was one of the few fishermen on the lake that morning. The nippy temperatures didn’t faze Zimmer, who said he has been fishing since he was in diapers.  “For me, I’ve always caught my bigger ones early when it was cold,” he said. “For most people, they would not even go on a day like that. It wasn’t ideal by any means, but it was for me.”

Zimmer was using a 12-foot crappie pole outfitted with 4-pound test and a slip cork. His bait of choice was a Grizzly jig tipped with a small minnow. Knowing the crappie were preparing to spawn, he was fishing in shallow water (between 2 and 10 feet) around some downed trees. It didn’t take long for Zimmer to realize he had landed on a school of crappie. Big ones, too. “I had beaten my own personal record (3 pounds) on the 12th or 13th keeper of the day,” Zimmer said. “The 4.5-pounder was the 23rd keeper. I knew I only had three more fish to go, and here I catch this one.”  When he hooked it, Zimmer didn’t think it was a crappie.
“I’m thinking that’s a catfish because it stayed down low,” he said. “It didn’t want to come up. A muskie will do the same thing. They’ll put a good fight up and not come up to the surface.

“After a little bit of fighting I started to see it, and I realized it was a crappie. All I could think of was that 4-pound test breaking, because I knew it was a big one. I don’t know how long I fought it because all I was thinking was getting it in the boat.”

Once he landed the papermouth, he collapsed into his seat due to a combination of exhaustion and excitement over his catch. After he caught his breath, Zimmer weighed the crappie on a hand-held scale. It came in just under 4.5 pounds. Zimmer then had the fish weighed on certified scales at the Millstadt post office and a butcher’s shop in Sparta . The fish is currently at a taxidermist, where Zimmer plans to have it mounted. Coming oh-so-close to breaking a 37-year-old record didn’t seem to bother Zimmer, who is a chemical operator at a plant in East St. Louis . “It might even be better than catching the state record because I might have gotten more publicity than I wanted,” Zimmer said. “Then, I would have really had to give up my spot.” News of Zimmer’s near-record catch has been making the rounds. “My brother, who lives in Waltonville, had someone come up to him saying ‘Man, did you hear about this dude that caught a 4.5-pound, 3.5-pound and 3.25-pound crappie?’” Zimmer said. “He’s like ‘Yeah, I did. I seen them because he’s my brother.’ I guess news like that gets around pretty quick.”