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Gone
fishing Capt. Larry Blue |
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6/12/2007 |
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Fishing Archives |
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Offshore from the
coast the sea is teeming with life. Schools of Spanish |
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mackerel jump out of the water
chasing sardines and pilchards, as Artic terns dive |
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near the activity to collect
their share of the hapless baitfish. As the sun is begins to |
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set there seems to be an urgency
to the mackerel and seabirds as they try to get |
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their fill before the light fades
completely. We will need to catch some of the mackerel |
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to use as bait for sharks; fresh
bait always makes for better catches. About thirty |
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minutes of trolling fills a
cooler with enough mackerel for our needs. |
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The first time on the
water fishing for sharks can be an exciting adventure. |
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You don’t know what to expect as
the boat slows to a near stop arriving at the |
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fishing grounds. Your senses are
tingling with anticipation as the mate lowers the |
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anchor overboard and the boat
heels slightly as the line tightens. The boat settles |
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comfortably into the gentle waves
as the captain and mate make sure everything |
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onboard is just right. They set
up fishing rods, sharpen hooks, check knots and other |
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details not to be overlooked.
There should be no missed opportunities here. |
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Fresh slabs of Spanish mackerel are
adorned from hooks with steel leader |
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for the intended quarry. Sharks
don’t really like rank stinky bait, unlike what you |
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might see in the Hollywood
movies. They want fresh fish and these are as fresh as |
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they get, just caught 10 minutes
ago. The lines are set overboard and now begins the |
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waiting game. As it was once said
describing shark fishing; “hours of boredom |
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followed by moments of
pandemonium.” Not so here on the West Coast of Florida, |
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usually the first strike is just
minutes after the bait goes into the water. This is |
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especially true when the schools
of Spanish mackerel are as thick as they are now. |
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The sharks follow the mackerel
schools up and down the coast feeding on the |
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mackerel much the same way the
mackerel feed on the sardines and pilchards. |
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For those that would like to
experience the thrill of a big shark, there is no |
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better time to go. Without a
doubt, early summer shark fishing is the best. The sharks |
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start to feed after the sun
begins to head down. This time of year that would be from |
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about 4:PM until 10:PM. As the
summer heats up they will feed later in the evening. |
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Are you ready to go? We are. Come
catch yours. |
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Good luck and good fishing, Capt.
Larry |
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Copyright 2007 CLB |
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Capt. Larry Blue is
USCG
licensed full time charter boat operator and guide, |
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departing from The Kingfish Dock,
at “Gators on the Pass”, in
Johns
Pass - |
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Treasure Island . He is a member
of; The Maritime Consortium, The Florida |
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League of Anglers and The
Florida
Outdoors Writers Assn. For charter |
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information call:
727-397-3773
or 727-871-1058
cell OR |
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Capt. Joe:
727-678-2959. |
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