Islamorada Guides Club

Florida Keys Fishing – Counting Bones

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:53:55 +0000

The Fall Florida Keys Bonefish Population Census is planned for Saturday, October 23, 2010. With your assistance, this will mark the 8th consecutive year of conducting this study for a very important Florida Keys sport fish. Bonefishing is a multimillion dollar industry in the Florida Keys and virtually all of the fish are released unharmed to fight again. The bonefish census, coordinated by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) and the University of Miami RSMAS (UM), helps to determine population trends of one of the Keys most important sport fish. This is the first and only population estimate ever done on bonefish anywhere in the world. The information provided by the census is vital to evaluating year-to-year changes in the bonefish population, and for providing guidance that ensures a sustainable fishery!!!�
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Last Fall 2009 the event had great participation that was spread out across 19 zones in four regions of the Florida Keys (Biscayne, Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys) stretching from Key Biscayne to the Marquesas. However, results from this year’s spring census have clearly indicated that there must get more sampling coverage in the middle and lower Keys to accurately estimate bonefish population size. Of particular note, your participation in this year’s census is critically important because we are trying to get a handle on the extent to which January’s extremely cold weather and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have impacted the Florida Keys bonefish population.
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Our ability to detect year-to-year differences in the bonefish population size depends on the number of census participants. It’s a relatively simple formula, the more participants the more robust our population size estimate. Please volunteer to help as the study needs greater coverage of the fishery running from Key Biscayne to the Marquesas. All the information collected during the census will remain strictly confidential and be used only for scientific research purposes.�
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If you are able to participate please contact Dr. Jerry Ault at jault@rsmas.miami.edu or 305-421-4884. Once they have heard from you they will mail you a census package with datasheet. Your responsibilities are minimal, all they ask is that you record: the zone(s) you fished; the distance poled; and, the number of bonefish seen. Simple, but very important! Finally, census datasheets will also be available from Florida Keys Outfitters (305-664-5423) or can be downloaded at www.bonefishresearch.com�
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Why choose braided fishing line over monofilament

admin — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:08:30 +0000

I was run in from rain and lightning this morning. Florida Keys fishing charters don’t always have happy endings. My angler and I decided to call it a day because in addition to a pretty steady rain, there was lightning in the area coming off feeder bands from a pesky hurricane/tropical storm skirting the north coast of Cuba. He went home and I started cleaning the boat and getting ready for tomorrow. During the process, I was chatting with another Islamorada fishing guide and his angler who had been run in but were in no particular hurry to do anything except sit under the cover of the guide dock, drinking beer and eating fried chicken that was really intended for later in the day. The angler who was fishing with my colleague asked me out of the blue if I use braided line. I said, “yes”, and he asked me what I liked about it. I’ll tell you.

By now most anglers have crossed paths with a reel loaded with braided line. Power Pro, Spectra, Fireline, Spiderwire are all examples of pretty much the same thing. Braid. I personally use Power Pro. On my old 4000 size spinning reels that used to be filled with 10-pound mono, I now have spooled with 15-pound Power Pro. The 15 seems to have approximately the same castability of the 10-pound mono even though the manufacturer boasts the 20-pound braid is the same diameter as 10-pound mono. The 20 is more like 12. The two biggest reasons I prefer the braid over mono is strength and memory.

The strength is easily quantifiable. Higher breaking strength is pretty cut and dry. It translates to catching more fish but also translates into breaking off less rigs. Instead of breaking off on a snag, more rigs are coming back. Granted, the hooks may be straightened or compromised, but at least I have them back. At a minimum, they’re not littering the environment and more often than not they are useable. I use inexpensive jigheads that bend before the line breaks. Because of that, I can cast around structure fearlessly because I’m pretty confident that even if I get snagged, I’ll probably get my jig head back and bend it back into shape. This mentality makes a difference and I definitely catch more fish. First of all I don’t mind “going for it” when staring at a risky but fishy feeling cast. Second, I don’t have that pit in the bottom of my stomach that if I break off I’m going to have to stop fishing and go through the entire re-rigging process. Braid is liberating in that way.

Lack of memory is another good reason to use braid. In my line of work I take the masses fishing. Many of which are inexperienced fisherpeople. That’s fine, that’s what I’m here for. For my entire Islamorada fishing guide career prior to braid, one of my biggest gripes with people was winding against the drag. Most of Florida Keys fishing is done with spinning reels. They are easy for most inexperienced anglers to get the hang of in a relatively short amount of time. The downside was that by design, the line would twist up after a big fight with a fish or log or rock or whatever. Once twisted up, it is difficult to “unwind” without cutting off all the terminal tackle and letting the line pay out behind the boat when it was underway and drag the length of line behind the boat until it straightens out. Of course, this is not feasible until you move from your current spot to another one and that may not be convenient, not to mention impossible if you are fishing from shore.”Don’t wind against the drag” was every Florida Keys fishing guides mantra. With braid, this is not an issue. It has no memory and the whole line twisting issue is gone. Again, very liberating.

There are downsides to braid. It is expensive, it doesn’t cut easily, it doesn’t stretch and it gets wind knots. The expense I think is outweighed by the amount of tackle you don’t lose by getting less breakoffs. The difficulty in cutting isn’t that big of a deal because you don’t have to cut it very often. I carry a pair of three dollar scissors on board for cutting braid and find that they come in handy for a multitude of things that knives and pliers don’t do and are much safer. The lack of stretch can pull hooks from fishes mouths from “jump the gun” fisherman, not much I can say about that. The wind knots do stink. The good news is the knots don’t happen often and usually can be teased out with some patience and then a good hard pull. So there you have it. I’m a fan of braid. I catch more fish and have much less hassle than when I used exclusively monofilament. What’s not to like.

Captain Ted Wilson

Herman Lucerne Memorial – Islamorada fishing tournament results

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:57:24 +0000

Chris Wilson of Titusville, Fla., along with Miami’s Collin Ross and Ross Reeder, caught five of seven target species to win the 2010 Herman Lucerne Memorial Tournament that ended Sept. 26.

Anglers fished within the boundaries of Everglades National Park for snook, snapper, redfish, trout, tarpon, bonefish and black drum.

Wilson, whose accrued 136 points earned him the high-point angler title, guided the trio. He caught a 33.1-inch tarpon, 32.5-inch snook, 13.7-inch snapper on fly, 31.8-inch redfish and 25.6-inch black drum for the overall win.

The top self-guided team consisted of Fort Lauderdale’s Mitch Howell and Jeff Howell, catching a 10.5-inch and 25.5-inch trout, and a 30-inch redfish.

For the third consecutive year the title of junior champion went to Ridge Murphy, who was guided by his father, Captain Rick Murphy of television’s “Sportsman’s Adventures” fishing show. They caught an 18.75-inch snapper, 18.5-inch redfish and 59-inch tarpon, the tournament’s largest.

Jake Turek of Tavernier, Fla., was the tournament’s top unguided male angler, and no award was given for guided male anglers. Top unguided female angler was Miami’s Carmen Padron, with Kellie Trotta of Palm Beach, Fla., clinching the top guided female angler title. Trotta fished with Captain Frankie Ortiz.

Fly division champion honors went to Paul Spencer of Islamorada, guided by Captain Jared Rascob of Key Largo, Fla.

Forty-seven tournament anglers caught and released 114 fish including 32 snapper and 27 trout.

The 2011 tournament is scheduled for Sept. 23-25.

Islamorada fishing tournaments – Women cast for cats

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:53:14 +0000

Women are invited to catch and release bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon, and redfish while helping feral cats in the Casting for Cats Ladies All-Tackle Backcountry Tournament Oct. 16 in Islamorada. Fishing is out of Worldwide Sportsman, milemarker 81.5, U.S. 1. Entry fee is $125 per angler. For more information about Islamorada fishing tournaments, call Sharon Mahoney-Ellenwood at 305-664-2012 or visit www.castingforcats.org.

Islamorada fishing tournaments – 3-year-old Wilson lands outstanding catch

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:47:46 +0000

For the first time in 13 years it rained during the World Wide Sportsman’s annual Kids Fishing Derby in Islamorada, but the foul weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the 309 young anglers, a tournament record of participants. Youngsters up to age 10 competed from the shoreline or by boat in the backcountry or offshore. The Overall Grand Champion was Vincent Sagona who landed a 21.5-pound barracuda in the Backcountry Ages 8-10 division. Islamorada fishing guide Ted Wilson’s three-year-old daughter, AliBeth Wilson, received Outstanding Catch honors with a 0.7-pound ladyfish in the Backcountry Ages 0-4 division.

Trophy winners include:
SHORELINE DIVISION
Ages 0-4
1st: Emma Galvez, snapper, 1.0 pound
2nd: Aidan Galan, snapper, 0.8 on time
3rd: Luca Santoro, snapper, 0.8 on time
Ages 5-7
1st: Jackson Schafstall, snapper, 1.2 pounds
2nd: Sharyn Epling, snapper, 1.1
3rd: Nathan Hughes, snapper, 0.9
Ages 8-10
1st: Trey Grana, snapper, 1.0 pounds
2nd: Flynn Seckinger, snapper, 0.9
3rd: Ashley Eklund, snapper, 0.8

BACKCOUNTRY DIVISION
Ages 0-4
1st: Reed Tudor, barracuda, 10.7 pounds
2nd: Matthew Goodman, jack, 7.3
3rd: William Weaver, redfish, 4.2
Ages 5-7
1st: Austin Tudor, barracuda, 7.1 pounds
Ages 8-10
1st: Delane Strause, snapper, 0.6 pounds
OFFSHORE DIVISION
Ages 0-4
1st: Jessica Brower, barracuda, 6.2 pounds
Ages 5-7
1st: Cody Brower, jack, 9.8 pounds
2nd: Cody Kennedy, barracuda, 8.8
3rd: Hunter Barth, tuna, 8.7
Ages 8-10
1st: Michael Panse, barracuda,12.6 pounds
2nd: Dominic Austin, barracuda, 12.2
3rd: Lance Arnold, barracuda, 7.6

Islamorada Fishing Tournaments – Fall Fly Bonefish results are in

admin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 04:04:48 +0000

Congratulations to my buddy Frank Juliano from Ft. Lauderdale for landing the largest bonefish award for his 12.13-pounder at the Islamorada Invitational Fall Fly Bonefish Tournament that ended Sept. 17. He fished with veteran Islamorada fishing guide Mark Gilman.

Competing under perfect Florida Keys fishing weather, Miami’s Paul Nute, a tournament newcomer, took home top honors in the prestigious Islamorada fishing tournament. Guided by Fishing Captain Bou Bosso of Jupiter, Fla., Nute totaled three releases, besting 22 other anglers from the U.S. and as far away as London, England, to cinch the win.

The tournament’s runner-up grand champion was Rick Orcutt of Weston, Fla., guided by Eric Herstedt of Coral Springs, Fla.

Tournament anglers posted a total of 19 releases and four weight fish.

Reasons for the Seasons of Islamorada Fishing

Captain Ted Wilson — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:13:29 +0000

At the moment, sport fishing’s capital is actually pretty quiet. Why is that? My anglers always ask me why business for Islamorada backcountry fishing guides is so slow in the late summer and early fall. After asking the question, but before giving me a chance to answer, they usually follow up with their list of possible reasons. “Is it because it’s sooo hot?” is usually number one on their list, “or is it because the fishing isn’t very good?” That’s kind of like asking a guy if he still beats his wife. Can I have an option “C”? Rounding out the top three is usually, “are people worried about hurricanes?” The answer is actually pretty tough to put a finger on, but it is none of the above.

First of all, it isn’t any hotter down here than it is everywhere else in this country in August. In fact, it has never been over a hundred degrees in the Florida Keys. The ocean insulates us from extreme cold AND extreme heat. Not to say you won’t break a sweat visiting Islamorada attractions, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker when considering a Florida Keys fishing vacation in the hotter months.

With that said let’s get on to more important subjects like Islamorada backcountry fishing. There are two seasons down here. Tourist season and fishing season. The two overlap slightly in the spring. Unfortunately, the masses usually start to dry up down here around Memorial Day and they miss some of the best months of the year to enjoy Islamorada backcountry fishing. Bonefish start to get happy and can be found tailing all day long when conditions are right. Permit move from the offshore structures they spawn over in the spring to the inshore flats and basins to look for crabs and other crustaceans. Baby and medium sized tarpon seem to show up consistently in open places where we have a chance to catch them. For a good part of the year, they hunker down safely out of casters reach in the shade of the mangroves lining the backcountry islands. Good numbers of large migratory tarpon hang around well into the summer locally, along with sometimes staggering numbers of tarpon deep in the Islamorada backcountry a little closer to mainland Florida. These “Gulf” tarpon are actually a year-round fishery when conditions are favorable. With the rains, come the snook. Snook (and redfish) get pushed down from the brackish creeks with the additional fresh water and set up shop along the mainland to dine on the hordes of finger mullet and other bait fish that frequent the shorelines. Really there’s not much not to like except maybe a few horseflies.

As far as hurricanes go, this is what I have to say about that. For years I’ve maintained that the best fishing and weather of the year is during hurricane season, barring a hurricane. Of course, in the event of a hurricane coming our way we take whatever precautionary measures are needed to avoid trouble. The truth is, we don’t get hit very often. Grazed is a different story, but full on nailed year after year just doesn’t seem to be our fate. Andrew made things uncomfortable down here for a few weeks but the real damage was well to our north. The last bad one to actually hit us was Donna and that was nearly forty years ago. Before that was the Labor Day Hurricane of ’35. Nobody said paradise was free, but overall not too bad considering we are the mayor of the “cone of uncertainty”. I sometimes get the impression from some of my anglers that the nation views us as living in a constant battle field from June to November, living in fear of when the next “bomb” is going to drop. It’s just not the case. It’s actually really a nice time to be down here because it is so slow. The fishing is great in part because of the lack of pressure, the roads are quiet, restaurants are happy to seat you right away, and we get a chance to get caught up on things before tourist season rolls around again.

So back to the question of why it’s so slow down here in the late summer and fall. It’s actually pretty consistent with tourism in the rest of Florida, but I’ve always felt that it is a combination many things. First, the three reasons I shot down earlier must have an unfounded mental block on many people or they wouldn’t mention them so often. Other than that, you’ve got the kids going back to school, football season starts and nice weather isn’t limited to southern latitudes. The last one is the reason that I think has the most credibility. For many people, their fishing/boating season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day, that’s it. For them, it is the only part of the year they get to dust off the old engine cover and hit their home waters, and I get that. What I don’t get is the notion that it is too hot, there’s hurricanes constantly swirling around and the fishing is lousy because nothing could be further from the truth. Try Islamorada fishing during hurricane season and you’ll probably wonder along with all of us in the know, “why is it so quiet down here?”

Learn more about Captain Ted Wilson>>

Lionfish becomes savory ‘prize’ fish in Florida Keys fishing and diving community.

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:31:07 +0000

Lionfish soon will be added to the list of prize fish caught in Florida Keys fishing derbies. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Reef Environmental Education Foundation will host an inaugural series of lionfish derbies starting in September. Divers who remove lionfish from sanctuary waters will be eligible for more than $10,000

in cash and prizes, according to sanctuary spokeswoman Karrie Carnes.

REEF and sanctuary managers have been working with the Keys dive community to eradicate the invasive lionfish since early 2009. Scientists are concerned about the rapid population growth of lionfish in Keys waters and their lack of natural predators off the Keys and in the Atlantic Ocean.

Lionfish are known to feed on commercially and ecologically important fish species — including snapper, grouper and shrimp — and can disrupt the balance of the marine ecosystem, Carnes said.

This week’s Islamorada fishing report

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:10:38 +0000

In this week’s Islamorada fishing report on MiamiHerald.com, Captain Rick Rodriguez of Islamorada Sea Horse Deep Sea Fishing charters out of Whale Harbor Marina reported large amberjacks and blackfin tunas have been biting on the Islamorada Hump and dolphins and wahoo are being caught under floating debris, along weed lines, slicks and near low-flying birds.

Islamorada fishing guide Matt Bellinger of Bamboo Charters reported finding slot-sized redfish that were eating large live pinfish in the channels of Florida Bay, tarpon and sharks were eating live mullet and small ladyfish in the deeper open waters and tripletail have been free floating north of East Cape Canal.

Plan your Florida Keys Fishing Vacation with the new Florida Keys IPhone App

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:21:26 +0000

Planning your next Florida Keys fishing vacation just got easier! The brand new Florida Keys Smart Phone App is now available. Find Islamorada fishing guides, Islamorada attractions, hotels and much more with just a few taps on your phone. The new App is available now for Blackberry and iPhone devices and is absolutely FREE!

Some of the many features you will find in the Florida Keys App are:

Interactive Maps
Florida Keys travel information
Video
Augmented Reality
Much more!

Learn more here>>