The Spanish mackerel and Bluefish are really starting showing just off the beaches from twenty feet to forty feet of water; you should have no problem catching them.  I’ve had the best luck with deeper spoons on number one planners, yes I’m seeing a few on the top line but the best has been deeper.  Clark-spoons in sizes 00 and 0 are doing the trick in colors silver, gold and pink flash.  The Spanish hitting the top baits are hitting Blue Water Candy’s Spanish Daisy chains in colors pink, blue and silver; the great thing about this rig is you can pull it off lighter tackle outfits.  I’m using thirty and forty pound clear Berkley Big Game mono for all my Spanish leaders.  Tip: keep your trolling and casting speed up; faster moving baits seem to get more bites, I troll around five knots or six mph.  There is still a few Bonita around too!

The Cobia should be here most any day and you know I’m always looking for them!  I look this time of year for Cobia around inlets, shoals and bait schools; near shore/offshore reefs and ledges are also a good place to look too.  With the wind we’ve had lately it will be a little harder to see those brown logs in the stained water, but that does not mean they are not around and hungry. I like throwing big jigs, swim baits and live bait to the Cobia.  Color really does not seem to matter; but “go bright”!  When I’m not sight casting for them, we are fishing around inlets, shoals and near shore artificial reefs.  I float fish, bottom fish and kite fish in these areas with live menhaden, blues and mullet as bait.  If you hook one of these beast, take your time fighting them, they don’t tire out easily; a green Cobia can really tear up a boat and/or you!

The Redfish have slowed a little bit over the last week due to the waters warming up so fast, but we are still catching them; going earlier in the morning seems to help the bite some.  Fishing top-water baits like MirrOlure’s Top Dog Jr or Top Pup also Sebile’s Ghost Walker are catching me some really nice Reds in shallow water.  When I’m fishing in deeper water for Reds like around docks, creek mouths and deeper grass lines; I’m casting Berkley Gulp products like the Ripple Mullet or the three inch Gulp shrimp.  The colors I prefer in the Ripple Mullet are rootbeer gold/chart tail, goby magic chart tail, new penny and pearl white; in the three inch shrimp new penny, sugar spice glow and natural colors.  Rig these baits on a red, black, brown or gray jig head with a thirty to forty pound mono or fluorocarbon leader.  I have had some good luck lately with spinner baits for the Redfish and the trick that seems to work for me is a Ripple Mullet in the color rootbeer gold/chart tail as the grub on the spinner bait.  Remember reel that spinner bait; just fast enough to keep it off the bottom.

Fishing Gear I use:

Reels: Reds, Blues, Mackerel Penn Battle spinning in sizes 2000, 3000 & 4000 sizes Penn Conquer 2000.  Cobia Fishing reels: Penn Battle 5000, 6000 & 7000, Penn Fathom 25N.  Line: Spiderwire Ultra-cast Cobia Line: 30 pound Berkley Big Game Mono.  Rods: Penn Lagion Medium and Medium heavy. Cobia Rods: Ugly Stik Tiger Lite Jigging series in 50-100 class spinning and casting.  Leader material: Cobia;  Berkley Big Game mono & Fluorocarbon in eighty to one hundred pound.  Reds, Blues, Mackerel:  Stren Fluorocarbon leader material in Tannic and Gunsmoke tints; tannic for river and stained waters, gunsmoke for clear water applications.

If you would like to get real time and on the water reports, as well as free tackle giveaways each month; check out my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Capt-Jot-OwensJot-It-Down-Fishing-Charters-LLC/134340373310487

Thanks for reading this report, if you have any questions just let me know!

Good Luck,

Captain Jot Owens
Ranger Boats Pro Staff
PENN Reels Elite Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Neil Taylor, Strike Three Kayak Fishing

There is no way around it: If you are a seasoned angler you know it- Fishing gear, particularly reels are going to need servicing or repairs eventually.   Saltwater gets to parts and fighting fish beat up on gears and bearings.   Many anglers have tried the “do-it-yourself” route, which works fairly well for the most mechanical people.   For the average angler, anything beyond breaking open a reel to oil or lube the gears is a challenge.   On the next tier: Identifying parts that need replacement and then locating them can make reel repairs a major ordeal for even the craftiest types.

For the past few years all of my reels are serviced and maintained by Phil Marz at Bay Area Reel Service.   This has been one of the best moves I’ve made in my years of fishing.   A fisherman himself, Phil knows how to diagnose and fix fishing reels better than anyone I’ve ever used in the past.  A student of manufacturers and their designs, Phil handles just about every kind of fishing reel with ease.   He’s talented, he’s reliable and he’s honest.  This makes him a great resource for this kind of service.   All I have to do is get my reels to Phil and wait for that call a short time later to let me know they’re ready.

Do you have a big collection of reels that aren’t working?    This could be your resource to rescue some of those for return to action.   Phil can tell you whether a reel is worth fixing.   I can tell you that there are very few situations where he has told me that a reel is finished, but he will let you know if one is ready for the graveyard.   Phil also has the experience and knowledge to give you valuable feedback just from seeing your used equipment and giving suggestions to lengthen the time between reel servicing.

When you check in with him on what you want to have serviced, Phil will probably ask you “what kind of reel is it?” for a very good reason.   To utilize his services, you probably need to own a certain quality of fishing reel.

Interior:  Gears and bearings?  Anti-reverse?   Bail springs?
Exterior:  Handles?  Knobs?  Screws?   Bail parts?

Phil can address pretty much every fix that is possible with your equipment.

I would suggest you have Phil work on reels you already have that need attention but I would also ask him “Is there anything you can do with my reels when they’re brand new?”   His brainstorm for reels that I use is an idea that I’m certain has extended the useful life of my reels by 1000%.     That particular service that he does for me is before I’ve even taken a new reel out of the box.   (In the years with Daiwa reels and Phil’s suggestion only one reel has completely “died” in that time.  This is a testament to the reels but it simply wouldn’t have been possible without Phil’s services both before use and regular servicing)

Pro Tips:

Don’t buy cheap reels.  Do your research: Buying once for more money ends up being a good investment for spending the same money once and not replacing reels every couple of months.  

Avoiding the shortening the life of your reels and more time in between servicing-

As a poor minor league baseball umpire, not only did it take longer to save up to buy fishing gear, it “hurt” a lot more when it failed.   I learned a lot of things that extended the life of my equipment.   And years later, as a kayak guide, so much of what I do is much closer to the water and taking completely inexperienced people on a trip can be a “break-even” situation if I don’t give the proper instruction to people who are fishing from my kayaks.   The fact of the matter is, the same things that save your gear and the things that make kayak-fishing easier.   Without the instruction, an angler will routinely dip a reel in the water.    It doesn’t have to happen.   It’s not during the casting and retrieving, it is usually at the conclusion of battling a fish or there is a “problem.”   Learning to eliminate the higher risk “dunking” situations will make your gear last longer and save you money.

Accidents happen and reels will also need regular servicing.   Bay Area Reel Service will do it for you and I’m pleased and very fortunate that he is the one who works on every one of my reels for my charter business.

Contact info for Bay Area Reel Service

phil@bayareareelservice.com

web site:  www.bayareareelservice.com

For the rates, discounts and price info:   http://www.bayareareelservice.com/pricelst.htm

From the home page of Phil’s site:   “All reels being serviced will be completely torn down, thoroughly cleaned and inspected, treat both the interior and exterior parts with a moisture inhibitor prior to re-assembly and lubrication. Turn-around time usually one to two days. Needed parts will be on a case by case basis.”

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Sixwave Lures: The “Middleweight” jighead

By Neil Taylor, www.strikethreekayakfishing.com

Glenn Dunsmore was already making custom, hard-bodied wooden lures at the time I first met him.  A local angler and participant on www.capmel.com popular fishing “forums”, Glenn kept his ears open for items that local anglers would like to use but can’t find.   One particular item he came up with is a jighead that he is making, but most notable: One being made in a specific weight.   The general jighead style he is making is exceptional (especially for using with 3-inch paddletails like the 12 Fathom Mullet).   All previous jighead manufacturers made these in sizes of 1/16 then up to 1/8-ounce with the next heaviest option the one-quarter ounce jighead.  Great jigheads for situation-specific uses, the Sixwave jigheads are available in 1/8-ounce, the “middleweight” 3/16-ounce and the 1/4-ounce.

For many years I had encouraged lure companies to consider producing the “3/16-ounce” jighead in a similar style jighead but to no avail.   My contention was:  In the shallows, the 1/4 is too heavy to be able to swim realistically at a slow enough pace without having it stick in the grass.    The 1/8-ounce is a great option but it has some limitations.   Trying to work a lure cross-wind with the rod tip up and the action of the lure diminishes significantly.   For species like redfish, the action needs to be right.  I believed that this “middle weight” in this style jighead would be absolutely ideal.   Was I right?

Sixwave jigheads, in an assortment of colors "caked and baked" for a durable paint finish.

People argued with me in the past that it was an unnecessary item.   Getting these jigheads and working with them, it is exactly what I suspected all along:   As a test, to compare this to the 1/8-ounce option:  Rig up your paddletails on both weight jigheads and simply drop it in the water next to you and watch how it sinks.   Move the rod tip, dragging them throuh the water to watch how both swim.   But most importantly, cast it where there are feeding fish.   Comparisons in testing how the Middleweight works versus the 1/4 and the 1/8 and “in action”, it is clear:  The “Middleweight” is a winner and has its place in the tackle arsenal.   Ideally weighted for nearly every situation, I believe that the Sixwave “Middleweight” will become one of the top-selling jigheads in a short amount of time.

More benefits of the 3/16-ounce Sixwave jighead:

*Casts a couple of yards farther than the 1/8-ounce jighead.
*Can be fluttered down in deeper locations faster than the 1/8-ounce jighead.
*Swims perfect and true with a lowered rod tip and straight reeling retrieve, not leaning to either side like the 1/8-ounce jighead will do if it is   retrieved at a faster pace.
*Holds in the water column better with wind blowing on the line that is above the surface, maintaining good lure action.
*Available in the 1/8 and 3/16-ounce jigheads with a 1/0 hook, something other companies don’t offer.
*Eyes painted onto every jighead for realistic baitfish look.

Natalee used the Sixwave Middleweight to catch multiple redfish with a 12 Fathom Mullet.

Construction and materials:

The Sixwave jighead is made with a premium quality Mustad (the 32786BLN – a black nickel needle point hook).

Powder coated with premium powder paints and baked, Sixwave offers their jigheads in the following colors:

•Red
•Pearl White
•Chartreuse Yellow
•Copperhead
•Root beer with red and gold flake.

Made with a quality, strong hook: Sixwave jigheads are ready to do battle with the toughest fish.

Unlike other jighead companies, Sixwave sells their jigheads in a re-sealable bag, keeping unused jigheads dry for future use.

Pro Tips:

The 1/8 and 3/16-ounce options have a wider range of uses, particularly for the shallow-water angler.   The 1/8 is going to be a great choice for jerkbait style tails in the shallowest turtlegrass areas and can be used in deeper areas with all tail choices by slowing down the retrieve.

Many anglers new to artificial lures are using “swivels”.   Learn a good line-to-leader connection knot.     Keep the action of the lure best by eliminating hardware but this will also:

A)    Pick up fewer weeds and

B)    Decrease the chances that fish will see your hardware and not strike your lure.

Using the fishing rod:  When the lure gets closer to the angler, drop the rod tip for better action of the lure.   When the lure is farther away, the angler can do different things with the angle of the rod tip and still have great action on their lures.

Using the other options:

The 1/8-ounce jighead is also a great weight and useful for the swimbaits like the 12 Fathom Mullet or similar style tail, particularly for the very shallow areas and times of lighter wind.   It is also ideal for other styles like the SlamR, enabling the angler to glide their bait in the strike zone to connect with feeding fish.

The 1/4-ounce Sixwave jighead is useful in deeper water, particularly if there is current.   It will help you to sink the lure down faster and keep it down when targeting deep-water trout, flounder, pompano or Spanish mackerel.

Get an assortment of these and try them out.   And enjoy “The Middleweight”, a perfect option for a majority of your fishing needs!

To locate Sixwave Lure jigheads, send an email to contact@sixwavelures.com, or go HERE for current dealers that carry Sixwave jigheads.

Instructional kayak fishing with owner and guide Neil Taylor

4-15-2012 —->

4-22-2012 —->

For topwater action, the DOA shallow running Baitbuster lure reeled along the surface has produced some spectacular action. Both species will readily attack this lure. With lots of loose grass floating on the surface now, standard plugs with treble hooks can be difficult to use. In addition to the Baitbuster, the DOA CAL in the 3, 4, and 5.5 inch model have also been catching both redfish and trout every day. Add a Woodies Rattle to the bait if you are blind casting for more bites.

If you are fly fishing, use a soft landing bendback style fly when the winds are calm and the water is shallow. Later in the day, switch to lead eye crab or shrimp patterns to get down quickly. Lots of baitfish are on the flats so pinfish and mullet style flies will also work well. All must have a weedguard. Some days there are tailing fish in every direction and the next there are just as many fish but not one tail breaks the surface. Having sun is the most important factor when fly fishing.

Unlike the past couple years, this has been an excellent spring for seatrout. The younger and smaller fish have been plentiful in 2-4 feet of water and can be caught by the dozens. Ultralight spinning tackle provides added entertainment. The 1-2 foot depths with a mix of grass and sand have been holding the larger female trout. Unfortunately, some anglers have been putting these trophy breeding fish in their coolers. The bite is the best it has been, however, since the devastating freeze of 2010. On clear days, you can sight fish them in the white sand holes. An easier method is to blind cast likely spots using a 5.5 inch DOA CAL and long casts. Trout are much more delicate than redfish and must be handled with care if they are to survive release. I would encourage all anglers to release the big females to help ensure a healthy population for years to come. With an increased commercial trout limit and longer season this year, the big fish in our Lagoon have even less of a chance to survive.

Phil had shots at lots of redfish and trout on his first adventure to Mosquito Lagoon. He especially enjoyed battling this big black drum along with several others.

The following day my clients had shots as hundreds of redfish throughout the morning but only one cast came close enough to the fish to get a bite. Later, they had a chance at a school of 20-30 pound redfish and ended the day catching numerous seatrout.

Dave started out the day landing a redfish on the Baitbuster and continued catching them on the three inch paddle tail as well.

After dropping him off, I went out to check some other spots. It was a successful afternoon with 4 reds on the DOA shrimp and 4 more on a rootbeer colored redfish worm fly.

Some high winds moved in for the next several days changing the water level slightly and moving the fish around. Things settled down after a couple days and the fishing was hot. Trevor had never fished the flats but had a great morning catching redfish on Baitbusters and CALs.

Seven year old Chase wanted to catch a redfish for his birthday. He could handle a spinning rod as good as many adults and slayed the trout on the DOA Deadly Combo as well as a 1/4 ounce jig. The redfish were not as plentiful in the morning as I had hoped. We finally found them just when the wind started to pick up but Chase got his wish.

Big schools of fish were roaming the flats this week. Anglers had varying levels of success catching them. The catching ratio had nothing to do with the fish not eating as every time a lure or fly landed properly, it got a bite. Mike and Matt had the most success and started off with this double header of redfish.

The fishing this weekend will be tough with wind, clouds, and rain in the forecast. After the front passes through, look for the excellent action to continue. Lots of lures, baits, and flies will work but they will only get bites if they are in the right spot. The number one thing you can do to catch more fish is practice your casting.

Capt. Chris Myers

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Guide

Super flat calm seas made everything so much easier, from catching bait to seeing the fish busting baits all over the place all the way out to our spot.
Gather as much bait as you can keep alive and head west, start paying attention to the different types of fish busting baits on the surface. The blackfin tuna will jump all the way out of the water, and you will definitely know that it is not his cousin the bonita. Another thing to look for is the size of the boil on the surface, Tuna will leave a huge boil. Once you see this, start throwing out a lot of live chummers to keep the tuna close by and toss some baits out pinned to a hook and hold on! If the seas are not calm enough to see the fish, find some structure with a little relief in 80 feet and anchor and start chumming to bring the fish to you. This past week brought some of the best tuna fishing in close that I have seen in years with double digits on Monday and Tuesday.

Along with tuna you can expect kingfish, amberjack, cobia, sharks and bonita, so all in all, a lot of drag screamin pullin!