flatsfishingonline

Bedraggled by Boomers....

2009-07-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

This mornings' tarpon quest came to a screeching halt from 5 a.m to 7 a.m. as a huge ferocious squall line of gale force winds, thunder and lightning raked coastal Miami. At 7:15, another band of blackness marched northward, the wind picked up to around 30 knots, but the sky lightened to a ubiquitous gray blanket. I left the dock, edged up the ICW and turned into one of my "protected" spots- as if anything is ever really protected.

I found the tarpon making quick rolls into and across the wind-riffled surface. But it was the kind of "one here, one there" rolling that spells no soap and that's just what happened- nary a strike on bait or lures. The wind would stop at times and I'd sweat into the humid atmosphere and all over myself. Then the wind picked up and I donned a jacket in the cold stiff breeze under a sky with a sun that was merely a suggestion.

No consolations of "it was good just to get out" worked-nor will they ever. I ended the day by noon just plain wet and tired. A hot shower and an ice-cold Diet Coke did the trick as I continue to wrap up a story on Captain Ralph Allen and the fabulous Punta Gorda fishing. That super trip cancels today and then I'll dream of distant shores.

Jan
www.fishingfloridasflats.com

Looking Forward to Pitt River Lodge!

2009-07-07T01:31:00.000-07:00

This is one destination that has me tossing and turning in my sleep as images of salmon, rainbow, and bull trout cavort in in B.C. waters.

www.pittriverlodge.com

HEADED TO LOS SUENOS COSTA RICA

2009-06-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

LOOKING FORWARD TO STAY IN COSTA RICA-

While the REST of the fishing world is so often pockmarked by crime and crazy politics, LOS SUENOS remains my choice as the oasis of stability for angling travel!

CONTACT - www.stayincostarica.com

TOLL FREE PHONE 1-866-888-6424

Photographer Art Blank and I just cannot wait to get aboard this beauty.

Sunny One

BRAND NEW MAVERICK 32 feet Hard Top Express with large fishing cockpit

EQUIPMENT-U.S. Coast Guard approved equipped.-460 horsepower Caterpillar diesel.-Cruise speed 30 knots-2 Furuno GPS Chart Navigators-Furuno powerful 50/200 sounder-2 I-Com radios-Rupp spreader outriggers-Blue water marlin chair-Live bait well -Built in tuna tubes.

COMFORT-Full size marine head-2 well ventilated bunk beds below-Comfortable shaded fishing area.

FISHING TACKLE-50# Tiagra reels 30# Shimano Tyrnos reels 80# Tiagra reels 20# Shimano spinning rods. All on custom IGFA rods

CREW-Captain Walton Smith, fully bilingual, with 18 years of experience fishing different spots in Costa Rica. Mate Miguel Barrios is also bilingual with 14 years of experience fishing in Costa Rica.

Scenic Waterfall and Stream Near Water Shed Cabins by Jan Maizler...

2009-06-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

This beautiful moving image of the trip was oh-so-enhanced by the rainbow trout in the pool below the falls!

http://www.watershedcabins.com/

Lakes Around Water Shed Cabins by Jan Maizler.....

2009-06-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

The train we're on flies by over a weathered but safe bridge to reveal this come-dive-in-me lake.

http://www.watershedcabins.com/

Summer Transition: Trout to Tarpon...

2009-06-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Back in the SOFLA summer saddle, I released a 50-pound specimen this morning and lost two strikes. After that I anticipated a buildup to the west and scrammed it to port. I was safely done with the boat and marina when the squall hit.

The recollections of my Watershed Cabin in Bryson City, N.C. are tugging at me.

Jan

Western North Carolina Images of WaterShed Cabins and Nantahala Outdoor Center by Jan Maizler...

2009-06-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

CONTACT DATA-

Watershed Cabins

www.WatershedCabins.com

1-888-604-3075 office phone Toll-free reservations line

E-Mail- sharon@watershedcabins.com (reservations)

Nantahala Outdoor Center

www.noc.com
13077 Highway 19W
Bryson City, NC 28713
Phone 828.488.2176

Cory Sutton
cory_sutton9@yahoo.com
Fly Fishing Guide with NOC

Mobile Phone 828-736-3270

Thanks to Watershed Cabins and Nantahala Outdoor Center

2009-06-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

Well, despite a sunday of extreme showers and rising water levels of increasingly turbid stream water, we scored well on rainbow trout with guide Cory Sutton of Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). We fly fished exclusively using fly tackle with nymphs and strike indicators.

Two special excitements were a huge brown trout bashing Corrie's hookless strike indicator ball float as well as my losing a trophy rainbow as it blasted my nymph as it dragged downstream after a drift: I was really shocked!

Last night we dined at Relia's Garden on the NOC property. I ordered the tomato dill soup and the pork chops which were pan seared with a sage gravy and served with sweet potato and collard with a butter garlic sauce. I hasten to add that some local microbrewery operations are turning out some good beers and ales, an ideal refreshment after a day of stream fishing.

The full story of this western North Carolina adventure will be appearing in a future article in CyberAngler- http://www.cyberangler.com/

Contact data-

http://www.noc.com/

http://www.watershedcabins.com/

Hello from Bryson City, North Carolina

2009-06-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

We're up here to do a trout fly fishing story in western North Carolina.

Once again, the pleasures of new pristine/pastoral environs soothe and offer a tonic from brusque and not really very hip Miami.

So far, 1 sunny day and we did the Nantahla Gorge via train with the evening topped off by a sumptuous wine, cheese, and fruit party. Today is a partly rainy day and the fishing is about to begin on the 'morow.

All possible thanks to Nantahala Outdoor Center. http://www.noc.com/

Super thanks to WaterShed Cabins!!!!! http://www.watershedcabins.com/

Much more to follow....

The excitement is building for taking some trout on fly..maybe even a brookie.

Jan

Travel Editor, CyberAngler http://www.cyberangler.com/
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/

New Field Test- Pro-Cure Super Gel...

2009-06-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

I had such excellent results using this product on weedless spoons (with Captain C.A. Richardson) on Sarasota redfish, I wanted some of my own.

For the balance of the year, I'll be testing the Pro-Cure Mullet and Shrimp Super-Gel against bare artificials on inshore fishing trips.

CONTACT DATA-
http://www.pro-cure.com/

Jan Maizler
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/
http://flatsfishingonline.blogspot.com/
Jan Maizler's Amazon Blog

Field Test Results on the Daiwa Saltist Spinning Rod STE70MFS

2009-06-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

I've been about 6 weeks "deep" into my tarpon season. In a stretch of water from Belize to Biscayne Bay, I've released 14 tarpon with over 8 of the fish topping 80 pounds.

All of these fish have been on my Saltist rod and the rod has performed quite well. Guides, reel seat, and grips are intact. The blank puts a huge amount of pressure on fish despite its light weight. It's a great rod!

Jan Maizler
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com
http://flatsfishingonline.blogspot.com

Fine Friday....

2009-06-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, I was able to wrap 2 articles this week so I could finally get to fishing for tarpon. The week before, I got washed out by a dawn deluge that gave way to blue skies by 10 a.m., but the bite was long since over.

I returned to one of my tarpon spots and the fish were there, but not in an eating mood. One non-conformist grabbed my offering and ran like hell, punctuating it with a water-clearing jump 100 yards away. I fired up my engine and slowly gained line. After twenty more minutes of maximum pressure, give and take and a few jumps, I released a fish of around 80 pounds.

By then, the the balance of the fish were spread out and sounding.

Back at the marina, the ramp was loaded with garish muscle boats revving in ready for a run to Bimini and back...for what? To say I'm faster? Yet I'm sure should they have thought about my angling obsessions, they would be scratching their heads too.

Field Test Results on Cabela's Salt Striker Spinning Reel..

2009-06-07T01:34:00.000-07:00

It's been about 4 months into prime bonefish and now, tarpon season.

I've brought my 2 Salt Strikers (loaded with Berkley 10-pound Big Game monofilament) to Abaco where the reel took 23 bonefish to ten pounds.

Then, I took them down to Belize where I employed them tarpon fishing to release 4 fish (out of 14 jumped) to 40 pounds.

The reels have done remarkably well. The bail mechanism, line roller, instant antireverse, spool stability, line capacity as well as ergonomically-designed reel handle have made these 2 reels some of my favorite items in my gamefish "power arsenal".

Jan Maizler

http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/

http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/

Tarpon Summer Underway...

2009-05-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

Though the recent torrential rains changed the salinity, water clarity and temps for certain Biscayne Bay tarpon schools, the right adjustments- see this blogs' archives- are all it takes to achieve a measure of success. After all, necessity is the mother of invention, whose mother, in turn, is new thought.

One quick hint in a rain blown-out bay is to recognize that the incoming tide will bring warmer, saltier water back into the picture..the closer to an inlet your spot is, the quicker this will take place. More so, the fullest effect will be felt by the fish at high tide when all the saline fluid for that tide will have been restored.

I actually had one morning when I saw tarpon practically every spot I went. Their feeding behavior was very locale-specific- no surprise, really, is it?

Jan
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/

New Field Test for Haber Vision Amalfi Sunglasses.....

2009-05-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

FlatsFishingOnline is pleased to field test an exciting pair of sunglasses By Haber Vision that emphasizes great features coupled with value.

A summer season of hardcore tarpon fishing awaits this handsome item.

CONTACT DATA:

http://www.habervision.com/

'Luxe Tarpon Time!....

2009-05-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Let others grouse about the cloudy skies and rain. As for me, I know the silver kings never mind -actually, really like- the low light moments. Clouds and light rain are okay... just no boomers, please.

With the water temperatures this high, find the bait schools in the historic SOFLA spots and you should be in business- provided you're willing to employ whatever method the fish and the water column dictate. I did and the results were just fine!

Jan
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/

Images from Tranquility Bay Resort, Ambergris Caye, Belize by Jan S. Maizler

2009-05-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

We had an incredibly memorable angling travel experience at Tranquility Bay Resort under the able hands of managers Carlos and Isabelle Settle and guides Roy and Winfield. Lots of great action with tarpon, bonefish, barracuda, horseye and crevalle jacks, in addition to the full spectrum of scrappy snappers- all of this in a set-away-from-town paradise with awesome diving as well! Stay tuned for the full story soon!

CONTACT DATA-
Tranquility Bay Resort
North Ambergris Caye
Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve
San Pedro Town Belize
Tel: 011-501-624-3686
E-mail: TBR-BELIZE@tranquilitybayresort.com
Web: http://www.tranquilitybayresort.com/

(Images copyright Jan Maizler)

Back from Tranquility Bay Resort, Ambergris Caye, Belize! Game Fish Images by Jan S. Maizler

2009-05-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

CONTACT DATA-

Tranquility Bay Resort

North Ambergris Caye

Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve

San Pedro Town Belize

Tel: 011-501-624-3686

E-mail: TBR-BELIZE@tranquilitybayresort.com

Web: http://www.tranquilitybayresort.com/

(Images copyright Jan Maizler)

Back from Sarasota/Captain C.A. Richardson (www.flatsclass.com)/ Hibiscus Suites Inn- Images by Jan Maizler

2009-05-10T11:58:00.001-07:00

"C.A." and I had constant redfish action on north Sarasota Bay. This is right in the midst of Florida's major candidate city for great angling alongside some of this state's best art and culinary communities.

The story of superb flats fishing along the shores of Super Sarasota will appear in a future article of CyberAngler ( http://www.cyberangler.com/ )

CONTACT DATA-

Captain C.A. Richardson

http://www.flatsclass.com/

727-647-9356

carichardson@flatsclass.com

Hibiscus Suites Inn- Sarasota

http://www.hibiscussuites.com/

800-822-5247

info@hibiscusuites.com

Hello from Sarasota Bay!

2009-05-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

Captain C.A. Richardson and I had a great day on the redfish. We released 14 fish to 7 pounds and pulled the hook on 5 reds. More later!

Jan

Punta Gorda /Babcock Wildlife Refuge Images by Jan Maizler

2009-05-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Abaco Images Roundup by Jan Maizler

2009-05-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

WWW.ABACOFLYFISH.COM

Sanibel Roundup with Captain Mike Smith by Jan Maizler

2009-05-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

Captain Mike-239-573-FISH

Phenom Mornin'

2009-05-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

It always pays to keep your eyes open and work outside the box. After a lackluster start south of Miami's Broad Causeway, I followed a diving pelican about a half-mile away. It turned out that he was feeding on threadfins, which in turn were also being ravaged by some huge rolling tarpon. When the dust cleared, I released two huge fish of over 100 pounds each.

Later on as I idled into the marina, I spotted a bug cuda alongside a piling. I attached a 12-inch yellow tube lure to a 12-pound spinner and I worked the fish. On the fourth cast, it engulfed the lure and the battle lasted 20 minutes. When I got the fish alongside, it clearly was my biggest career cuda and a quick measuring put the fish in the 40-pound range.

Jan
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/

Why I Support the RFA, not CCA

2009-04-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

Press release from RFA

For Immediate Release: April, 29, 2009
Contact: Jim Hutchinson, Jr. 888 564-6732
Conservation Group Offers "Freedom to Fish" To Highest BidderNew Management Approach Would Sell Off Recreational Access

Galloway, NJ - In what can best be described as a "pay to play" version of fisheries management, the Texas-based conservation group, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), has gone on record with a new socialized approach to managing the nation's coastal fisheries, whereby access to the resource is offered to the highest bidder. According to Dr. Russ Nelson, Fisheries Consultant for CCA, a "free market-based approach to managing red snapper and other marine fishes" could create individual fishing quotas (IFQ) for the recreational fishing community, the same as commercial fishermen.

"IFQ programs have demonstrated some success in controlling commercial fisheries, but restrict access by the general public and necessitate difficult allocation decisions," Nelson said in a CCA discussion paper delivered to the Gulf Council on April 10. Citing current discard mortality problems within the recreational sector, particularly with regard to the red snapper fishery, Nelson said "We are facing new, stricter control measures to assure that our annual catch doesn't exceed the allowable level, and the recreational sector remains without an accurate means of counting the fish we catch." CCA's proposed "free market-based approach" would issue individual, non-reusable tags for red snapper to account for the total allowable catch during an annual cycle.

The tags would be issued for public auction every year, and those members of the public who wish to catch red snapper would make bids on the available fish tags. "Let anyone who so desires to place their best bid and distribute to the highest bidders," Nelson's paper stated, "bidders could be individuals, states or organizations." Tags would remain on individual fish until cooked and consumed, whether in a residential home or at a seafood restaurant, which CCA explains will allow all fishermen who gain access to the tags to do with the fish what they please. "Those who buy the tags can used them any way they desire - take the fish home and eat it, give them as Christmas presents, sell them, take their fish to a market and sell them," the CCA paper continued.

The authors of the discussion paper explain that the current method of surveying recreational anglers through the Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey (MRFSS) could be eliminated, since only anglers possessing tags would be allowed to fish for regulated species like red snapper, and only a certain allotment of tags would be issued during any given cycle. "It is simple and arguably the most fair and equitable approach. Every one - anglers, commercial harvesters, seafood processors, investors and conservationists would have the same opportunity to access the resource," the CCA paper added.

Many members of the recreational fishing community fear the proposal, if put into policy, would take the common man out of fishing. "We think it is bad policy to rest fishing rights in a select few," said Jim Hutchinson, Jr. Managing Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). "Such a proposal would create a fishing elite to the exclusion of the American fishing public." "Together with marine reserves, this plan, if implemented, would completely eliminate open-access fishing in America," Hutchinson added.

"Hopefully, the Gulf Council can squash this idea before it gains any credibility within fisheries management circles." "We do not intend that our natural resources shall be exploited by the few against the interests of the many. Our aim is to preserve our natural resource for the public as a whole, for the average man and the average woman who make up the body of the American people." - President Theodore Roosevelt.

###### The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.