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Protecting the Bone, use a rubber…net!!
Suggestive techniques for handling a bonefish boat-side.
Importance of a single species.
Albula Vulpes; better known as the bonefish, is a species worth protecting. Theories of where our local Floridian bonefishery is headed in the not too distant future still remains a topic to be discussed as different groups can debate on and on about this to no end. Groups like the Bonefish Tarpon Trust have devoted many hours and dollars to research these important topics and back them with hard scientific evidence. Either train of thought can not deny that water quality, habitat change, the 2010 winter, fishing pressure, and predation have definitely effected the bonefishery in a negative manner. The fishery is changing indeed but this write-up is not about where the fishery is headed or whether there is a primary cause for why the fishery is what it is today. This article will discuss techniques for a healthy bonefish release.
I truly believe that each and every single bonefish we release is just as important as the next. Bonefish directly and indirectly bring millions of dollars to our sport fishing economy, as well as help in keeping us locals sane when we feel the need to stalk a truly challenging species on the flats. Though they are scrappy fighters at the end of your line, bonefish are actually quite delicate and fragile fish. Depending on how a bonefish is handled boatside, harm can come immediate or minutes later if handled for too long outside of their comfort zone. If we are to help the survival rate of each bonefish released, we must find it within ourselves to take the extra step to make sure they are released healthy and able to evade predators that may have picked up the trail of distress left by the battling bone.
Talk amongst colleagues
I have had many conversations with friend and avid bonefisherman Dr. J.A. Llera, about the state of our bonefishery as well as different tactics he’s explored when carefully handling these delicate fish. Bonefishing makes up 98% of Dr. Llera’s recreational time and he has spent countless hours studying the species from the eyes of an angler. He has gone beyond studying how and where they can be caught (which he has pretty well figured out accounting the many bonefish he successfully releases on fly while fishing solo), but also how to release his caught fish back into the wild giving them the best chance of survival. Dr. Llera has even devised a sling device used to measure the weight of large fish that does not remove the important slime coating that protects a bonefish from disease and bacteria. He has also concluded that it is just as important to have the fish in the water revived before attempting to handle it, then it is right before releasing it. The best analogy for this is letting a marathon runner catch his breath after he has just run a marathon. That is a wise analogy that has stuck with me since hearing it.
So here I stand on my soap box…
So we have touched base on the 2 things to keep in mind; protecting the vital slime coating on the bonefish, as well as keeping the fish healthy and energized before handling it. I personally am sure that a simple quick out of water and back in photo op isn’t too harmful to a bonefish but I beleieve it is best to keep the bonefish in the water as much as possible unless you have a memorable fish you absolutely have to photograph or have to run a weight fish back to the tournament scales in an oxygenated well. I mean how necessary is it to have 50 in the skiff grip and grins of the same person with a 5lb bonefish. I won’t claim to be a saint in this matter as I have made my mistakes in the past when it comes to handling these fish but through mistakes, time, and proper education, my school of thought has definitely changed. I share these thoughts with others hoping to make some sort of difference, as little or big as it may be.
So if you absolutely have to remove the fish from the water for a photo op, keep in mind the 2 things discussed… slime coating and fatigue. Make sure a bonefish is revived before removing it for a quick photo op and keep your hands wet (or even use a rubber glove) when handling the fish. The biggest slime remover and bonefish killer of all time is the bonefish bear hug with a dry cotton or microfiber shirt. If you really care about the fishes survival, try to avoid that at all costs. Handling the fish as close to the water as possible will also lessen any damage inflicted to the fish by dropping a strong wiggling fish onto the hard deck of a flats skiff. If you release a bonefish and it turns belly up, it will likely succumb to predation or disease, even if you poke it with a push pole to “motivate” it to swim off. I’m sure most of us have been down that road.
Rubber usage…
Rubber gloves and nets with rubberized meshes are great tools for controlling a bonefish boat side. Keeping a fish in the water inside a big net with rubberized mesh will keep the fish in the water and swimming into the current without rubbing off it’s slime coating. I have personally witnessed that a bonefish releases much healthier when using these types of net and keeping the fish in the water in the current boat side before, during, and after handling. You know a fish is healthy when it just shoots out of your hand and darts off instead of waddling off. These nets with rubber meshes can be found at most local and retail tackle stores today. You can even purchase retractable versions for those in skiffs with limited storage space. They range anywhere from $20 to over $200.
The most reasonably priced and great functioning nets I have found thus far is actually a net I found at Bass Pro Shops. This net is actually made by their own in house store brand. Here is a link to the net…
Other options are also available as companies like Frabill and Stowmaster make a premium net for such applications.
http://stowmaster.norsemenoutdoors.com/shop/category/stowmaster/saltwater
http://frabill.com/3444.html
No matter what you choose, just keep in mind storability, functionality, and durability. In my experience, with proper maintenance, even the cheaper nets can last a long time.
Now that all the tools and techniques have been discussed, it is up to us to find it within ourselves to take action in protecting these magnificent gamefish for not on their future, but also for the fishery we hand down to the next generation.
Miami boat show 2013
The next few days I will be at the Miami Boat show which starts today and ends Sunday.
Hopefully to find some cool and interesting gadgets and toys.
http://m.facebook.com/saltyshores
Will be updated live as I get to come cool stuff.
I’m suppose to go by :
Kscott booth
Yamaha got some new stuff
Hellsbay
Saw an invincible with 3, 557hp motor on it just now.
My media kit
First Look… New 2014 Maverick 17 HPX-V
The Maverick Mirage has certainly found it’s place as one of fishing history’s most popular V-bottom hull technical poling skiffs for open water crossings and shallow water fishing. It has evolved from Mirage 1 to Mirage II, Mirage HP, and Mirage HPX-V. After the introduction of the new 18 HPX-V, I guess it was only a matter of time before the public asked for the 17 HPX-V to get a facelift. The public asks and the industry gives…
Here’s a sneak peak of the layout on the new 2014 Maverick Mirage 17 HPX-V.
The following rumors say… lighter hull, more storage, larger casting deck, upgraded wiring schedule, rear hatches configured like the 18 HPX, big live well centered between the 2 rear hatches, and did away with the pop-up push pole holders that seem to be a costly repair when broken.
I hear that the actual skiff will be at the 2013 Miami International Boat Show. This is the one boat show I look forward to all year as all of the biggest names in shallow water skiffs on the market will be there. Come get your fix if you want an overload of skiff porn, eye candy, and a taste of one of the great things Miami has to offer. Looking forward to seeing you all at the boat show next weekend…
A Seasonal Shift… Clarity
I hear a strong winter storm approaches our buddies in the NE this weekend and I reflect on how fortunate we are here in South Florida this time of year.
The classic sight fishing scenario in my home waters on the clearer side of the Everglades has been nothing short of epic this year. From fat redfish floating on the surface like a laid up poon to hoards of sheepshead tailing like a school of small permit (just as skittish and at times even tougher to catch on fly). Of coarse, all this fishing helps pass the time between poon season but is lots of fun nonetheless. It makes for a great opportunity to sharpen your skills using clear fly lines, turning over longer leaders, sneaking heavier flies into zones with skittish fish, and of coarse helping to calm your nerves before the day you are confronted with a more difficult or rewarding challenge.
So to my buddies in the NE, I leave you all with some fish porn and wish you all safe passage through this nasty winter storm. Stay tuned… there is far more to come shortly.
Return to the Goon!!! A Photo Journal.
Fall/Winter is my favorite time of year to go out of town and experience fisheries outside of my own. One special place I always look forward to travelling to this time of year is the Mosquito Lagoon. In the interim of dropping my skiff off to get work done and picking up my buddies finished skiff from the area, my buddy Jeremy and I found a good opportunity to get together with Capt. Willy Le (http://nativeflycharters.com) and sneak out for a couple of days in the “goon.”
The ride to the launch destination was a scenic one different from what we are used to in South FL.
Chilly morning rides and blue bird skies in the backdrop made for great expectation for the days of fishing ahead. With great conditions, experienced fly rodders, and the right tools for the artisan; we set out to stalk redfish and trout in some anorexic depths. Can you catch fish with other tools? Sure, but we preferred to use high end tools available to us such as comfortable sun gloves, UV-protecting clothing, high modulus graphite fly rods, technical skiffs, and advanced light weight push poles to make our pursuit a little more comfortable.
We never found the redfish willing to tail these last couple of days but there were plenty of laid up and slow cruising fish that the sun was willing to reveal to us. Moments of good visibility would overcome the 20kt breeze climbing over the small clusters of islands that make up part of the Lagoon.
We encountered many scapes different from that we are used to. They were different from what we are used to seeing in Biscayne and Florida Bay. The wildlife and birds had different attitudes on their own. It was a familiar but different part of the world for those of us who call the Purple Isle our home waters.
And one of the highlights of fishing in the Lagoon is the opportunity to sight fish giant seatrout up in the shallows. As far as fishing goes, this is something we don’t have back at home. The level of difficulty to sight fish a big weary gator trout on a fly rod is somewhat equivalent to the challenge of fishing for big Islamorada bonefish. I managed to catch my biggest seatrout on fly this trip. The epic bite from this behemoth as I slid an olive SS Permit crab fly over it’s head was more memoriable and impressive then the size of the fish itself. What an amazing fishery.
When sight fishing is a little less then great down south, I highly suggest looking towards our neighbors to our north and sampling the great fishery offered by the Mosquito Lagoon. Thanks to Capt. Willy Le for having us. Great times are had as always….
I’ve been boatless now for a week but far from fish-less. Stay tuned…
That’s a fancy camera…
I often hear the comment “That’s a great photo, you must have a really nice camera”. In retrospect, it annoys the hell out of me to hear those words spoken. This is like telling a chef that his cooking is great, he must have a very sharp knife, telling a novelist that his books are amazing, he must have a nice computer/typewriter or a journalist they have very nice stories, he must have a nice notepad. You get the point. In light of this, here are some photos I have shot recently…
… All photos shot using a camera phone. No fancy DSLR.
Silver in the Fall
I made a decision earlier this year to take time off from guiding starting this Fall. I set forth to rediscover the feeling of being the dude on the bow of the skiff facing a great technical fishery right at my doorstep. Of coarse, this can only be possible with an alternative source of income as I am no trustafarian. This past summer was all all about calm windless days, waving flags, and lots of copper. The days spent on the water this Fall amongst friends was set in the Everglades and upper end of the Florida Keys, primarily focusing on silver-clad gamefish.
The shameless plug this time goes to Maverick Boat Company. My first ride in a new Mirage 18 HPX-V was back in 2009 and from there-on, I knew this was to be my next skiff. I sold my 17 Mirage HPX-V shortly after that demo ride and have been fishing in my 18 HPX-V for the last couple of years. For my style of fishing, the 18 Mirage was just the work horse technical fishing platform I needed. A Mercury 115 Optimax ProXs found it’s way on my transom this past year, replacing the 90 horsepower Yamaha I had originally hung on the skiff. This set-up is perfect, achieving fuel efficient 40mph cruise speeds and top speeds in the low to mid 50s. The extra 6lbs on the transom was negligible taking into account the extra speed gained from the motor swap. Recent fishing trips and tournament days have really pushed the limits of this great skiff… traveling over 100 miles a day, covering lots of water, getting there at just the right tide, and remaining stealthy once arriving at the stalking grounds. Kudos to Maverick as all performance expectations were exceeded. It is almost time for a new skiff soon and I may actually have an itch for something a little bit different. Though the idea a new skiff is tempting, it is difficult to not to fish another season out of my 18 Mirage. I guess time will tell…
Summer dol-DRUMS in the Glades.
The wind-less hot muggy slick calm days of summer. While most other parts of the world are enjoying dirty high water, the Everglades makes way for clean water, high water on top of normally ultra shallow flats, and lots and lots of tailing redfish willing to eat a well placed fly or DOA. This is certainly the time of year to spoil yourself. The frustrations amounted from the year, be it spooky fish, missed shots, snobby fish, broken tippets, etc… can all be purged out of your system with a day of throwing at mindless hoards of tailing redfish.
***Disclaimer*** My apologies for contributing to the onslaught of chest thumping hero shots. I know it’s been painful. And for this, let me attempt to offer some compensation in the form of some tailing sequences.
It usually starts with one wave of a flag in the distance…
And then a domino effect to follow…
Fix for tailing redfish this year… check. All of this year’s frustrating moments of fishing… out of system. It is time to rebuild that frustration and resume the pursuit of a different or more challenging pursuit.
The shameless plug for the evening goes to DOA Lures for unmasking the Bloodworm at this year’s writer’s event. The bloodworm CAL shad tails have been deadly but the shrimp is absolutely out of this world.
Fall is just around the corner and the hoards of finger mullet are slated to be here soon. I know of one fish that will be staged up waiting… stay tuned for more on this development. And thank you to those contributors on here who are still keeping it real.
End of Spring 2012
It has been a very short and violent spring this year. The harsh weather we experienced didn’t allow for many epic tarpon fishing days that were anything close to what we’ve experienced in the past 2 years. It wasn’t all that bad as we got the warm weather early and experienced some of the great summer time redfishing and bonefishing available to us. So I spent fewer days tarpon fishing this year and more days chasing the alternative from testing new DOA (http://www.doalures.com) colors on redfish to throwing old reliable at big gator trout, to chucking flies bonefish, and pitching crabs at permit.
Pictured below, DOA Lures has released a new color known as blood worm in the shrimp, CAL Jerkshad, and CAL shad tail. This has been a very effective color used in clear or darkly tanned water. The blood worm shad tails should prove to be a regular in my tackle bag.
Upon returning from my week over at ICAST 2012 in Orlando, there is a lot to catch up on and some new gear to put through the rigors.
Stay tuned…
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