The Four

As day was breaking, and we could still hear the birds singing their morning songs, we loaded all our gear in the Morgan 39 (power boat), ready to leave the dock. As we pulled away the morning songs gave way to the hum of the diesel engine....ah what a wonderful smell of the hint of diesel and salt air intertwined to start a relaxing day of offshore fishing.

Cruising through the mangrove lined channel, we are heading for the bay that leads us past the last hint of civilization, as we exit the pass for a 40 mile trip to the azure blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is there that we will begin true rejuvenation of body and spirit as we reel in large groupers and snappers, enjoy a few cold ones, and begin concocting our great fishing tales of the day. 

Well, the cooler is full with the days catch, and it's time to head back to civilization. We have about a 2 1/2 hour trip back. Looks like a storm brewing about halfway between us and land. The weather report was very good for the day, as a good fisherman always checks the reports prior to venturing offshore. Storms are normal during the summer months in Southwest Florida, so with the favorable weather report, we are not overly concerned.

Wow....we are approaching the storm, by now very wide spread, and we see the water from the churning sea being blown sideways, maybe 40 to 50 knots! As we get closer we throttle back a little until we decide the direction of what looks to be a monster of a storm. To our good fortune the storm is headed out...and we are headed in, so not to much of a change in our heading. We are now in the thick of it, smashing into the giant waves, and then down hill to the next set! we are taking water over the bow down in between waves - four of us on board with plenty of skill to ride this one out.The waves seem to be 10 to 15 feet, and the wind is about 50 to 60 knots now! 

The front hatch cover has just ripped off completely and is sitting between the hatch and cabin!! This is a miracle - 60 knot winds and the hatch hasn't moved from it's resting place! The big problem here is the boat diving down the waves and taking water over the bow with an open hatch! Springing into action Captain Morgan (yep you guessed it....he built the boat) told me to take the wheel, at which point he makes the dangerous journey to the bow to save the hatch cover. While he is holding on for dear life and putting the hatch cover back in place, I direct my father and brother-n-law down below to hold the hatch cover from inside.

Captain Morgan has made it back to safety, and now we can stay afloat while we continue to ride out the storm as we head for shore. After about another 45 minutes the seas finally begin to subside, and we see the pass about 5 miles ahead! It was truly one of those times when there is no time for worry or being scared. If it has ever happened to you in any type of situation, then you know the feeling I am speaking of. We are back now and the local news and coastguard are reporting on the freak storm that came from the Atlantic, crossed the state in South Florida onward into the Gulf of Mexico, with 20 foot seas in which 24 plus boats were capsized. We just said WOW -we were in that. Our fish tales for this trip were pale in comparison to the monster storm tales.

Author of this article,
Gary Vanderpool

Tournament veterans win at Los Cabos Billfish Tournament with 543-pound blue

2011 Los Cabos Billfish Tournament, Day 3 and Final Results

CABO SAN LUCAS, BCS — Angler Horace Barge of San Marcos, California, caught a 543-pound blue marlin on day one of three days of tournament fishing to earn his Team Chupacabra First-Place Team and a $47,500 cash prize at the 13^th annual Los Cabos Billfish Tournament held October 11 through 15 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

Chupacabra’s blue marlin also won the team, including Capt. Jesse Scarbrough, mate Bobby Cline, and anglers Mike Mullen, Robert Cline, Timothy Donnelley, Horace Barge and Michael Thompson, tourney honors of Largest Blue Marlin, Days One through Three Daily Marlin Jackpots, and the Winner-Take-All Marlin Jackpot to bring Chupacabra’s total tournament prize money to $364,764.25. The team also holds a unique distinction of being one of few teams to fish every year of the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament.
Team Angelina I, which was captained by Job Villavicencio and comprised of mate Hernando Gonzales, Florida anglers Anthony and Kathy Sposato, and Eduardo Liero Ceseña and David Martinez of CSL took Second Place Team with its 408-pound black marlin winning $28,500. That black won the team Largest Black Marlin category and an additional $14,250, bringing their winnings to $42,750.

Third Place Team and $19,000 went to anglers from Madrid, Spain, fishing aboard Picante 45 with Capt. Daniel Carrera and mate Pedro Orates. The team — including, anglers Jose Antonio Sud Roman, Francisco Muñez Pavon, Carlos Muñez Pavon, Jorge Garcia, Pedro Nolasco Romero de la Cuesia, Pedro Orantes Lieras, NS Luis Alberto Orantes Lieras — released one blue marlin for Pedro Orantes Lieras, a Pacific sailfish release by Fracisco Muñez Pavon, and a blue marlin release by Jorge Garcia to earn 1,100 points total and First Place Billfish Release Points team earning them $9,500; total winnings $28,500.

The Second Place Billfish Release Points Team was Go Deeper with 1,000 release points, first from five sailfish and one blue marlin. Team Miss Behavin’ earned the Third Place Billfish Release Points Team with 1,000 points from four sailfish, one striped marlin and one blue marlin release.

In the gamefish jackpots, Team Karma 3 angler Bob Manroe weighed a 216-pound yellowfin tuna Wednesday, earning them the Day One Jackpot. Day Two Daily Tuna Jackpot went to Team Fisherman for its 240-pound yellowfin. And Team Zhao’s 135-pound yellowfin tuna took the Day Three Tuna Jackpot money.

Team Karma 3 weighed a 27-pound wahoo on Thursday to take home a double Daily Wahoo Jackpot, and Team Wildcatter brought a 39.3-pound wahoo to the scales on Friday to take the Day Three Wahoo Jackpot. Team Red Rum weighed the tournament’s only qualifying dorado at 28.5-pounds, taking triple Daily Dorado Jackpots.

The tournament awards banquet took place at the Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa’s exquisite beachside terrace adjacent to the Brigantine Restaurant. Participants enjoyed a fine dinner of filet mignon and lobster, incredible door prizes and raffle items, and a slide show and multimedia production. The tournament honored the late Don Luis Bulnes Molleda and raised funds for the Solmar Foundation, thanks to the generosity of its participants.

In all, the Cabo San Lucas 2011 tournament season started off with a an impressive showing, as the tourney fleet of 42 boats weighed a 543-pound blue marlin and 408-pound black marlin, and successfully presented video of 51 billfish caught and released — two black marlin, seven blue marlin, 16 striped marlin and 26 sailfish.

2011 Los Cabos Billfish Tournament Final Results

Los Cabos Team Division

Furuno First Place Team
Chupacabra with 543 points wins $47,500 and invitation to the 2012 IGFA Offshore World Championship
Captain Jesse Scarbrough, mate Bobby Cline, anglers Mike Mullen, Robert Cline, Michael Thompson, Horace Barge
Total Team Chupacabra winnings: $364,764.25

AMD Second Place Team
Angelina I with 408 points wins $28,500
Captain Job Villavicencio, mate Hernando Gonzales, anglers Anthony Sposato, Kathy Sposato, Eduardo Liero Ceseña, David Martinez
Total Team Angelina I winnings: $42,750

Rick Bogert Third Place Team
Picante 45 with 1,100 release points wins $19,000
Captain Daniel Carrera, mate Pedro Orates, anglers Jose Antonio Sud Roman, Francisco Muñez Pavon, Carlos Muñez Pavon, Jorge Garcia, Pedro Nolasco Romero de la Cuesia, Pedro Orantes Lieras, Luis Alberto Orantes Lieras
Total Team Picante 45 winnings: $28,500

Biggest Blue Marlin
Chupacabra angler Horace Barge 543 pounds wins $14,250
Captain Jesse Scarbrough, mate Bobby Cline

Biggest Black Marlin
Angelina I angler Job Villavicencio 408 pounds wins $14,250

Most Billfish Release Points — First Place Team
Picante 45 with 1,100 release points wins $9,500

Most Billfish Release Points — Second Place Team
Go Deeper with 1,000 release points wins $5,700
Captain Javier Allejandro Abarua Gallado, mate Francisco Artro, anglers Chris Vincent, Luis Abaroa Gallardo, Francisco Arturo Montelongo V., Tony Berkowitz, Bobbi Whitcomb
Total Team Go Deeper winnings: $12,382.50

Most Billfish Release Points — Third Place Team
Miss Behavin’ with 1,000 release points wins $3,800
Captain Jose Reyes, mate Jose Loria, anglers David Finkelstein, Ben White, Paulo Soto, Luis Reyes

Optional Jackpot Divisions

Baja Brewing Co. Daily Marlin Jackpot, Days 1-3, Levels 1-4
Chupacabra with 543 pounds wins $213,914.25

Fin-Nor Winner-Take-All Marlin Jackpot
Chupacabra with 543 pounds wins $89,100

King Sailfish Mounts Daily Billfish-Release Jackpot — Day 1
Auriga with 600 release points wins $6,682.50
Captain Lobo Martinez, mate Norberto Landas, anglers Kenneth Eberle, Jane Eberle, Alyson Eberle, Marco Ehrenberg

King Sailfish Mounts Daily Billfish-Release Jackpot — Day 2
Go Deeper with 700 release points wins $6,682.50

King Sailfish Mounts Daily Billfish-Release Jackpot — Day 3
Reel Quest with 600 release points wins $6,682.50
Captain Ty Valli, mate Antonio Botoguez, anglers Dick Landfield, Walker Evans, Chuck Oltman, Bill Savage, Michael Loffer, Vincente Botoguez

Transcabo Day 1 Tuna Jackpot
Karma 3 angler Bob Manroe 216 pounds wins $5,049
Captain Juan Jose Abaroa, mate Kyle Manroe
Total Team Karma 3 winnings: $15,147

Transcabo Day 2 Tuna Jackpot
Fisherman angler Hugo Pino Olachea 240 pounds wins $5,049
Captain Alfredo Periko Sanchez, mate Hector Hugo Pino Miranda

Transcabo Day 3 Tuna Jackpot
Zhao angler Donald Whitter 135 pounds wins $5,049
Captain Carlos Bertran, mate Eduardo Aripez Beltran

Transcabo Day 1 & 2 Wahoo Double-Daily Jackpot
Karma 3 angler Bob Manroe 27 pounds wins $10,098
Captain Juan Jose Abaroa, mate Kyle Manroe

Transcabo Day 3 Wahoo Jackpot
Wildcatter angler John Martin 39.3 pounds wins $5,049
Captain Angel Gilberto Kakogui, mate Juan Osuna Garcia

Transcabo Day 1-3 Dorado Triple-Daily Jackpot
Red Rum angler Randy Pruden 28.5 pounds wins $15,147
Captain Javier Ceseña, mate Jesus Ramero

The History of Tarpon Fishing

It probably all began on a hot summers day when one of Southwest Florida's Native American Indians cast his gaze out over the Gulf of Mexico and marveled at the sight of a gigantic silver fish propelling itself completely out of the water. I can imagine the feeling that this image must have invoked, as to this day I still get a tingle up my spine with every leap made by the might Silver King.

The concept of trying to catch one of these mighty brutes I'm sure caused many to wonder and question the probability of hooking, subduing and then actually landing a fish of such phenomenal size and strength. I am sure this was a topic of numerous heated discussions among the early anglers and although no one knows for sure who actually landed the first Tarpon on the southwest coast of Florida we do know that it was accomplished with a twisted cotton hand line. What battles they must have been, having only a pair of leather and cotton gloves as protection from the blistering runs of the Silver King.

As the sport progressed into the mid 1800's the advent of the rod and reel came into play. The first successes were accomplished with a typical outfit consisting of a twenty five dollar, one piece, six and a half foot rod, with agate guides and tip, a big forty dollar reel, a four dollar twenty-four tread line, two hundred yards long tested to forty eight pounds and a one dollar hook usually dressed with a strip of fresh mullet for bait. 

From the onset the anglers knew that as the Tarpon felt the steel of the hook this fish had a propensity for skyrocketing from the water and ejecting both bait and hook high into the air. Even when an angler was lucky enough to actually survive this first burst of aerobatics and succeed in finding a place for the hook to imbed in the Tarpons bony mouth, then and only then did the angler truly understand not only the awesome strength but also the tenacious will to survive of the mighty Silver King.

Soon the word spread through out the angling world and by the late 1800's anglers from around the globe were making their arrangements to come to southwest Florida to pit their skills against this mighty adversary. The only mode of transporation was the Flagler railroad and the most common destinations were Fort Myers and Boca Grande. Once here it depended on your financial resources as to how you would fish for your Tarpon. Whether you stayed on your own yacht, rented a houseboat or stayed on land the most common method of fishing was to hire a boatsman. For a sum of two dollars on the low end to six dollars on the high end you could hire a boatsman to either paddle a canoe, row a small skiff or operrate a small skiff with a tiny outboard. Anchoring and bottom fishing for Tarpon was considered the lazy mans way and trolling was considered the sportsman way. But either way, once the hook was set the real fun began and the method with which it was achieved became immaterial. From now on the battle was just a test of will, yours against that of the mighty Silver King. 



It is important to note that the times have changed. The tackle, boats and guides are more specialized and do cost a bit more now but the things that have not changed at all are the graceful leaps and the tenacious will to survive that set this one fish apart from the rest. It is because of this that anglers from around the world still flock to the legendary Tarpon haunts along Florida's southwest coast to once more test their strength and endurance and to more often than not be subjected to a lesson in humility from one they call the Silver King.

Springtime is Ling Time (lemon fish, cobia)

How to Catch & fish cobia (ling or lemon fish)
Learn the right season, techniques, how to, tips, methods, and tactics for fishing & catching cobia!

0ffshore cobia can be tricky to the point of frustration. Getting a school of cobia, ling, or lemon fish–as they are frequently called by Gulf Coast anglers–to rise to the water's surface is one thing. Getting them to strike your offering can be an all together different story.
Ever since the first time I saw a pair of cobia lingering below the shaded side of a wellhead just east of Belle Pass out of Fourchon, Louisiana, I have always been intrigued by their inquisitiveness and peculiarities. That particular day I had just gotten off my boat and onto the structure to see if jigging might be the answer to the scarcity of specks in the ice chest–when the two curious cobia moseyed on up to the surface.

Spontaneously, I tossed my plastic minnow lure right in front of one of them, and it quickly became aggressive, clobbering the lure and running line off my spinning reel at breakneck speed. Since my fishing buddy was still in the boat, I didn't think I would have a chance landing the fish on my own, especially being so high above the water with barnacle covered pipes lurking below.

Needless to say, we did manage to boat the fish, after I handed over the rod to my companion, which allowed me time to reboard and assist. Afterward we tried to get the accompanying cobia to fall for the same trick, but he wasn't going for it. Thereafter, it was impressed upon me that cobia are not just curious, but are also smart enough to know not to fall for the same tactic twice.

This leads me to believe that something must alert them to be cautious of the same thing, at least for a short duration of time. Undoubtedly, what works one time may be the only time. To be in swing with ling, diversity is one of the keys to success. What that means is don't be so bent on sticking to just one bait or lure–or tactic for that matter.

Cobia have been known to strike an extensive parade of baits and lures. On the natural menu, cobia eat crabs, shrimps and small fishes of all kinds. This includes hardhead catfish between 6-10 inches of which cobia seem to unduly delight in. And don't worry about the catfish stickers; they pose no threat to the cobia, only the angler who cares not in cutting them off.

Stu Sheer of Cocodrie, Louisiana, is one charter fisherman that has possibly caught more cobia than any other Louisiana angler, and he is the first to admit that cobia can be very finicky to catch at times, even when you can see them. He usually starts off using jig lures, and then moves to live bait if they're not obliging. Stu also likes to fish oil structures south of Atchafalaya Bay where both specks and cobia like to abide.

Another famous cobia pursuer is Capt. Ben Fairey who operates out of Orange Beach, Alabama, aboard his charter boat Necessity. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory considers Fairey and his crew main contributors for cobia tagging research, having tagged 139 fish in 1991.

His success is chiefly due to diversity in bait choices. Among his favorite live baits are live eels, but he brings other baitfish and jigs as well. Admittedly, even with all the right ammo, presentation can make the difference in getting a strike or just a passing glance from this fickle species.

Probably the easiest time to catch cobia is near shore during their migratory run, starting in spring when they move from their wintering grounds along the coast of South Florida. From here they head north, some to the Atlantic side as far as the Carolinas, while some move into the Gulf. The Gulf cobia after reaching to the extreme north of Florida's coast, then move west along the north central Gulf, then back again along the same route in late fall and early winter.

It should be noted that not all Gulf cobia make their winter migration south. Some northern Gulf cobia, possibly the larger species, appear to move to deeper, offshore waters during frigid, winter months, and then closer to near shore areas and structures with the warming trend of spring. At this time, biologist do not know for sure if there are distinct breeding populations of Atlantic and Gulf cobia stocks.

As a result of most anglers being misinformed about cobia migratory patterns, they disregard fishing them as fall sets in and cobia reports subside. But consistent with the biological findings, tagging data and local catches prove that some cobia do move offshore along and beyond the 100 fathom curve, deserting the route toward Florida.

I for one admit having been among those guilty of not fishing for cobia during winter. It wasn't until several years ago that the thought to do so struck me, after I was astonished to see a cobia swim by while night snapper fishing Block 57A, South Pass, Venice, Louisiana. Those with me initially weren't convinced that it was a cobia, until it made a second pass a little closer.

A subsequent trip to the same rig removed all doubts when one was hooked and boated. Since then, other cobia have been caught at various other rigs during winter, proving that it pays off to stay in swing with ling no matter what the season.

After their spring run abates, cobia seem to have a change in spirit, becoming less aggressive and more temperamental about taking a bait. This is when they begin to seek out wrecks, oil rigs, deep reefs, and any structure capable of providing any type of shelter. Simply stated, it's a time when these fish are homesteading that they're more likely to insult your fishing intelligence. It is this very fact that makes the cobia a challenge to catch and formidable fighter for any angler.

To the unfamiliar, this is a fish that looks like a shark, and in the water has now and again fooled even the experienced. One reason is due to its broad mouth and husky head section. But for the most part, cobia are in a class of their own, having no close relatives.

Its coloration is dark brown above paler brown sides which diminish into white along its under-side from jaw to stomach. Along the mid side it flaunts a black lateral stripe, wider than its eye, that extends from the snout to the base of the caudal fin. Though the cobia's smooth lines, crescent shaped tail fin, and projecting lower jaw are traits that cast a menacing appearance, what really isn't a sham are the 7 to 10 dorsal spines atop its body.

These spikelike projections are something to be aware of when handling or unhooking. What's fascinating is the cobia's ability to retract them inconspicuously below the skin surface when not threatened. When the fish becomes agitated, these dorsal spines defensively stand erect, ready to cut and gouge anything in their path.

Every time I see a cobia, I can help but recall how these dorsal spines cut a gapping gash in the hand of a friend of mine who was trying to dislodge a hook from its mouth. At the time the dorsal spines were lowered and not visible, until he proceeded to jostle the hook around in the cobia’s mouth.

Like the shark, the cobia is by far not a bashful fish, and can at times be brought to the surface by making noise such as revving the boat's engine, or slapping the water's surface with a paddle, or leaving a hooked and thrashing fish overboard. In fact, avid cobia hunters will make it a point to cause as much surface noise in order to allure the fish as close as possible to the boat.

What emphasizes the point that cobia can be attracted by noise can be seen in what happened to an angler fishing out of Empire, Louisiana, at Block 41, West Delta. Shortly after his hooking up to the oil platform and shutting off the boat’s engine, he proceeded to let down his line to bottom fish, when a dark object slowly swam to the transom. Discerning it to be a cobia and not a shark, he quickly grabbed his gaff and gaffed the fish, flinging it into the boat where it battered almost everything on board with its tail, including the anglers.

While the angler didn't premeditate this unsportsmanlike confrontation, one should be careful about nabbing these inquisitive fish in such a manner. Nevertheless, the intentional use of noise to draw cobia has cleverly been termed by some as the "weeding-out" method. This is because it will drive away most other quarry, leaving only cobia.

Strangely enough, though, the only other pesky intruder that might be undaunted by the noise tactic is the jack crevalle. To have him hit your bait or lure and wear you down for no good reason can be a disappointing incident; not to mention what they can do in the way of line twist to those using spinning gear.

However, don't mistaken the latter statement to mean that spinning gear has no place when fishing cobia. Spinning reels have gotten a lot bigger with stronger drag systems for handling sizable fish like cobia. But before you come to any conclusion as to what is the best tackle, it will first have to be determined how you choose to fish them.

One popular method is sight seeking around structures such as buoys, ships, floating debris, rigs and anything that provides shade or cover for the cobia. Once located, freelined live fish are cast out in front of them. This tactic can be employed fairly successfully with the use of a quality heavy spin casting combo with 20-30 lb. test. The only pitfall with spinning reels is line twist after one or two hard battles with a cobia.



Now heavy jigs can also be used in the place of live bait in the previous method, but they are usually dropped to the bottom and briskly worked in a jerking upward fashion with the use of a stiff rod. This can be done either while someone maneuvers the boat at idle speed around the structure, or while anchored or rig hooked.
Free-spool type reels are usually the choice for the latter method, in about the same line class as aforementioned. These type reels have the broad side of the spool facing the rod eyes and have star drag systems. The advantage over spinning reels is they virtually cause no line twist. On the other hand, common place with spinning reels and jigging come line entanglement around the rod tip, due to line twist, which can happen upon each downward stroke of the rod. The danger presented here is line breakage if a strike occurs at the same time.

Smooth operation of tackle is imperative when going after these denizens of the deep. This is especially so during their first show between late March through May when the biggest of the herds make their presence known. During this time, anglers fishing for other species do well to check out the waters first for cobia, before tossing lures with tackle meant to catch trout. These fish can wreak serious havoc on light tackle.
The cobia is a prize catch in more than one way. As tablefare goes, few fish can compare in texture and taste. Its white, firm flesh makes for easy grilling and some claim it naturally has a slight lemon flavor–hence the name lemon fish.

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Isn't Just For the Big Boys.

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Isn't Just For the Big Boys. 
More and more small-boat owners are heading to the blue water battle grounds.
LEARN THE HOW-TO FOR CATCHING YELLOWFIN TUNA LIKE THE BIG BOATS

The line peeled from the wide-­spool reel at an incredible pace. The angler struggled to lift the pole from the rod holder and to place it in his previously strapped on stand-up harness. His companion instantly took over control of the cockpit, wedging himself between the driver and the controls, and swiftly turned the boat 180 degrees in pursuit of the line heading off into the distance.

"Don't stop reeling," he instructed, "until you can get some line back on that spool."

The line was replenishing fast, but for the time being, he could only recover less than half of the 550 yards the reel was originally spooled with. "Charlie," the tuna that is, was not yet finished.

Two hours later, after wearing out 3 men and locking up a new and very reputable reel, "Charlie" had to be hand lined in the rest of the way for the gaff.

Ol' "Charlie," a 117 pound yellowfin tuna, had the odds of being lost in his favor, if it weren't for quick thinking on the part of an experienced fisherman aboard that day. Obviously, catching yellowfin tuna can in no way be equated with catching any inshore species— no matter what size you have encountered.

More and more northern Gulf Coast small-boat anglers are catching on to offshore species and what the blue water battle zone is all about. Notable places like Venice, Louisiana, make for easy access to the tuna grounds out of both Southwest Pass and South Pass of the Mississippi Delta.

When going after tuna, newcomers try their luck with much disappointment, but catch on quickly after finding out the basic how-to and following through.

It’s definitely not a battle with a redfish! Novices discover firsthand that hardly is there a fish, pound for pound that can peel off 500 yards of 50 pound test line from a reel in less than 60 seconds— something like snagging onto the back of a Mack truck speeding down the highway.

These football-shaped, guided missiles are designed by nature to move through the water with lightning speed. They are literally meat building factories, with a relatively small head and tail section. Everything in between is finely tuned, explosive muscle.

The yellowfin tuna is the most brilliantly colored of tunas, with a poorly defined stripe of golden-yellow on its upper sides and much bright yellow in most of its fins, hence the name “yellowfin.” It exhibits white spots and vertical stripes on its lower sides and has a dark bluish-black upper section.

Off the Louisiana coast, yellowfin tuna commonly reach 60-150 pounds and can reach over 200 pounds. The current state record is 240.19 pounds caught by Anthony Taormina, March 2005.

Connecting with one of these proficient, elusive predators is perhaps more easily accomplished than successfully boating one. That's because they have the ability to wear down and humiliate both the best of tackle and tacklers, seemingly effortlessly.

Yellowfin tuna can be caught basically like many other species: (1) trolling and (2) casting bait or lures. Trolling, however, seems to be the most popular and successful method for many anglers.

Compared to the offshore yacht owner, the small-boat owner will need to dress up a bit more for the encounter— much like a prize fighter preparing for a match.

The first thing one needs in order to catch Ol' “Charlie" is a stand-up harness. Of course if one has a fighting chair, this
won't be needed. The purpose of the stand-up harness is to attach the reel and rod to the body. It is basically a leveraging mechanism to take the long fight off of the arms and to disperse it onto the back and leg areas.

The section that attaches around the back has two hook latches for attaching to the reel housing ears. These straps should be adjusted so that the rod is in about the two-o-clock position when standing upright. The gimbal belt section should be adjusted to rest on the upper thighs of the legs.

Once this is all adjusted, the proper fighting stance will require you to face the fish with legs apart, bending only at the knees while pivoting forward and moving your body to the upright position while reeling and pumping the rod. It will take some practice, but it is not hard to do and is generally caught on to after one long fight.

It is important to place the gimbal part of the rod butt into the cross bolt or piece in the gimbal belt pole holster so that the rod butt doesn't twist, holding it firmly against the legs when fighting a fish.

The next thing you will need is a good rod, between 5 - 6 ft. in length and rated at least in the 50 lb. class. The shorter ones will be best and, if you are using it for stand-up fishing, make sure the rod eyelets are not roller type. Roller eyelets are for use in fighting chairs. It's okay if there is one roller at the end and/or one ahead of the reel with the rest being circular type eyelets. Rods with all rollers may bend or twist when used for stand-up fishing.

A good one-piece reel frame with ball bearings throughout and a heavy-duty drag system is mandatory. Line capacity should be no less than 450 yards when using 30 1b. test and 350 yards when using 50 lb. test. Big game type line should only be used. Always match the reel with the rod rating. Most reputable sporting goods stores will be happy to assist you if you let them know what you are going after and how much you want to spend.

It is very important to use a lever type drag reel and to set the specified fighting drag tension only after the drag clutches have been properly warmed up by pulling line abruptly from the reel several times at about the drag setting of 4­10 lbs. (warm-up setting).

This can be accomplished by attaching a snap swivel directly to the line by means of an improved clinch knot. Then attach a hand-held fish weighing scale to a fixed object, perhaps a tree or fence post, and affix the snap swivel loop to the scale hook and set the drag tension to the "warm-up setting" aforementioned. Warm up the drag clutches by lifting the rod tip up so line is pulled from the reel while someone reads the scale. Do this several times, reeling it in and pulling it out by lifting the rod tip, while staying within the warm-up setting.

Now you are ready to preset the drag according to the pound test being used. On 50 lb. test, preset the drag around 10-11 lbs.; on 30 lb. test, preset the drag around 8-9 lbs.

When contending with a yellowfin tuna, you will fair much better by exercising patients rather than brut strength. When the equipment is all set and adjusted properly, a person with minimal strength will be able to contend with the fish for a reasonable time before wearing out.

Most fish are lost before they are ever seen, due to impatient drag tighteners. Leave the drag alone after you have properly set it— unless you are very adept at catching heavyweight contenders in the open sea. Expect to fight a fish of about 60-80 lbs. on 301b. test for at least 40-60 minutes— with no lunch break.

While many different trolling lures catch yellowfin tuna, one of the more preferred lures is the Rapala Magnum CD 18 or its larger cousin the CD 26. These are deep diving lures with a wide fin blade in the head section. This is a tapered, cylindrical,  fishlike lure, very effective in enticing yellowfin to strike, as well as various other species that abound in the same waters. Ironically, these lures come in various colors but it seems to matter little to the yellowfin.

What does matter, however, is the inadequacy of the hooks furnished with the CD 18's. They will not suffice and need to be changed to the identical size hooks (4/0) but in heavier gauge. Changing to a different size is not recommended since it will throw the lure out of balance. The larger version of the Rapala needs no hook alteration.

These lures need to be trolled between 5 and 6 miles per hour. A good indicator that the lure is moving through the water properly is by observing the rod tip action. The tip should have a steady vibration up and down in very short strokes.

Place the lure in the water at the designated speed and count 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, etc. with spool in free setting, thumbing it lightly so not to backlash. Count to 25,000 and set the lever drag to the strike position. Then place it in the rod holder. If more than one rod is trolled, stagger each by at least a ten count differential to prevent entanglement. Down riggers may be used but are not normally needed unless you are trolling in mid to late summer. Always keep at least one flat line— a line with nothing more than the lure attached.

Once the lines are set out, troll around structures like oil production platforms in the blue water zone. It’s a good idea to staying 100 yards clear of production platforms, especially if you are deep trolling. Deep diving lures trolled with down riggers can hang up on cross pipes from these rigs which extend out under the water. Circle the rigs, broadening the circle each time you complete the route.

For rigs less than a mile or so apart, make figure eight patterns around them broadening the course each time you complete the route until you find fish. If a good rip line is found, troll the green water side near its edge but stay clear of floating debris.

You’re not going to flip tuna into the boat like speckled trout. Thus, other essential items are a long-handled gaff, kept easily accessible, along with a "subduer" (club) and a 1/2" nylon rope of about 12-15 ft. in length for lifting the fish from the water. The latter is not needed, of course, if your boat is equipped with a boom winch. A 6 inch eye splice should be fashioned at one end of the hoisting rope so that the opposite end of the rope can pass through the loop for tightening.

Once the fish is brought to gaff, it will be better to place the rope around the narrow section ahead of the forked tail and pass the length through the loop, pulling it tight rather than making a lasso and trying to place it over its long forked tail while it's thrashing.

The fish should be gaffed in an area away from the fishing line and lure. A miss-gaff can readily set the fish free if it strikes the lure, hooks, or the taut line. If you are confident, go for the head near the gill area.

If the fish can be lifted and boated with the gaff by one person, then the lifting rope doesn't have to be used. In any case, the fish after being gaffed will need to be subdued before it can be brought aboard, unless you are one to welcome wildly whipping hooks which can snag someone if not careful.

With the fish securely gaffed, strike it on top of its head even with its eyes several times until it is relaxed. Be careful not to strike a hole in the boat.

Be prepared for a big fish! Don’t find yourself out in the open sea miles from shore with a fish 4 times the size of the ice chest you brought along. Hence, an 8 x 10 tarpaulin can be used to wrap the fish in if it is unable to fit into an ice chest. Even better is an insulated fish bag, normally found through an internet provider rather than at your local Wal-Mart. Canyon makes some very nice ones and you can do a search for a source: “Canyon insulated fish bags.” Ice may be placed around the fish if the trip in will take more than several hours in hot weather.

Now, with any good fortune, catching  Ol’ “Charlie” will be a cinch!

G.O.M. GROUPER

Gulf of Mexico Grouper
by Gary Anderson

Grouper, being one of the most prized fish in our Gulf of Mexico, are excellent table fare and awesome fighters. The most common targeted species are gag, scamp and red grouper with the occasional elusive black sea bass, which is often mistaken as a black grouper. These grouper, along with their cousin the black sea bass, inhabit natural as well as artificial reefs, wrecks, offshore mounds and ledges on the sea floor.

Grouper are best fished with live baits. Frozen sardines, squid, and cut baits work well but live squirrel fish and Pinfish work best.

So if you are serious and want the best catch, you will do whatever it takes to fill your bait well with live baits prior to reaching your favorite haunt. Your best bait catching techniques might include chumming first and then cast netting or use of a sabiki rig. 

The most recommended arsenal for catching grouper is a stiff rod, any reel which will hold 50 to 80 pound line, 12/0 circle hooks, 150 pound mono leader, an 8 oz. or better weight and a 100 pound snap swivel. Though I use a 3/0 straight hook so as I may set my own hook, instead of letting the circle do it for me, because sometimes the fish are finicky and will just mouth the bait, not inhale it.

 

Now that we have our bait and equipment, let s catch some fish! Anchoring on top of a suspected ledge, cheese hole, or spot on the fish finder, we fish vertically with the live bait. Drop a squirrel fish on one of these mules and it is usually an offer he can not refuse. Hold on tight and put your back into it, for this mule of the deep will do anything it takes to disappear back into his rocky home.

Florida fishing regulations for the Gulf of Mexico allow a daily aggregate bag limit of 5 grouper per angler. Gags must be 22 inches and red grouper 20 inches overall length. As always, take what you can realistically use and release the rest for future fishing trips. The fishing should be good right now because gag and red groupers spawn from February to April in the Gulf. Go ahead, get out on the water and try to get some of those mules of the deep and see why I call them mules? What a rip, what a trip!

AMBERJACK ALERT

According to a press release from the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and on the heals of radical changes to the grouper fisheries in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and an expected total closure of red snapper fishing, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has now closed Amberjack fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, effective October 24, 2009. 

According to the release, the science involved in this decision is sketchy at best. Commercial fishing interests are apparently not affected by this latest closure. The reason being stated is that the recreational harvest has reached its quota for the year. How that harvest is measured remains a mystery - I have never been stopped or asked about my catch in over 50 years of fishing. None of my captain friends have had their catches question. So - where does the NMFS get their catch numbers? Good question...