Fox Sport Fishing Catch Report - 25th July 2011

We switched gears and went offshore in search of Dolphin fish today. The Deardon family visiting from Tampa, Florida joined me aboard First Growth. A 28ft cabin cruiser with a big cockpit designed just for fishing.

We ran offshore in fairly rough seas and we started finding schools of fish at 25 miles out, that is a long run but it was worth it. The family caught 29 keeper Dolphin and released another 20.

Milo with Bull Dolphin caught using the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

We trolled under birds using EOS trolling reels paired with the Trek Boat rod and the Tarpon Spincast rod using Ballyhoo for bait. Once we hooked into fish we left a couple in the water to keep the school close by. Then we switched to lighter gear, Permit Trek rod and Diablo 550's and casted squid, bonito chunks ect. Once located the action was wild.

Milo, Savannah, Miles and Kim Deardon caught lots of Mahi

Savannah caught this Cow Dolphin using the
Permit Trek travel rod and Diablo 550 reel.

Kim gets a little help form Miles and Milo

Milo and Savannah caught the 2 biggest Dolphon of the
day using Permit Trek rods and Diablo 550 reels.

Everybody had a great time and the family took home a cooler of fillets to be enjoyed back in Tampa.

The family ended up with a nice catch of Mahi-Mahi

The Deardons will be back in November for some Sailfishing.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Fox Sport Fishing Catch Report - 22nd July 2011

Andy Little and Adam Tarylor of Fox Sportfishing joined me today on their last day of field testing tackle.

Adam Taylor battles a Tarpon with a squall approaching!

The wind was up a little but the Tarpon seemed to like it, that is an understatement, the fish were in a feeding frenzy. The boys had 2 double headers of Tarpon and lots of singles. By 10am they had released an unbelievable 9 Tarpon. Size ranged from 15 to 60lbs. All these Tarpon were caught using Fox Trek Travel rods with Diablo and Santos spinning reels. At 10am we had a storm approach and a wind switch and it was all over. We fished a couple more hours but it was only sharks that were hungry now.

Andy Little and Adam Taylor caught 9 Tarpon this morning.

Adam's jumper!

Close up.

It never ceases to amaze me how fishing changes day to day. Yesterday we could hardly get a bite on live bait and had to use dead bait on the bottom. Today it was only live bait that worked. You just have to be prepared for everything.

Andy Little keeps the pressure on!

One of Andy Little's Tarpon on this great morning.

Later we ran back to Islamorada and fished the bridges and had some fun with toothy Barracudas.

Adam Taylor caught this Barracuda using the
Bonefish Trek rod and Diablo 350 reel. Andy Little lends a hand.

Toothy critter

A great week of fishing for the Fox crew.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Fox Sport Fishing Catch Report - 21st July 2011

Another day in Paradise! Today I had the whole Fox crew. Cliff, Cathy, Andy and Adam. Running by an island I saw a mullet flip so we stopped and threw the castnet a few times. Plenty of fresh mullet never hurts.

We started fishing with live pinfish where we had seen plenty of Tarpon the day before but no bites. Then a big thunder storm chased us away for an hour.

We tried another spot but only sharks.

It was busy aboard Cliff Fox's boat
Foxy Lady, a Triple header of Shark

Adam Taylor and Andy Little double team a Spinner Shark

Around 11am we got back to our first spot and now the weather was hot and slick calm. Andy hooked a nice Tarpon but it came off before we could get the leader.

I decided to anchor and fish our fresh mullet. This payed off as we caught 4 Tarpon and jumped 5 more off. Andy caught 2, Cliff caught 2 and Cathy had a Tarpon about 80lbs. Adam was on shark patrol today and must have caught a dozen.

Cathy Fox likes using the EOS 30 paired with the
Tarpon Spincast Trek rod to do her Tarpon fishing!

Cathy Fox admires her Tarpon.

Cliff catches his second Tarpon of the day again using
the Permit Trek rod and Diablo 550 spinning reel.

Cliff Fox releases his Tarpon he caught using the
Permit Trek rod and Diablo 550 reel.

Andy Little caught this beauty using
the new Santos 4500 spinning reel.

Skip taking a DNA sample off Cathy's Tarpon

Adam Taylor is the designer and technical expert for the Fox line of saltwater reels. It was great for him to use the tackle and experience first hand what the tackle goes through on a day to day fishing trip.

As the outgoing tide slacked so did the fishing, We finished the rest of our bait catching more sharks and jumping 2 Tarpon off. It was another really good day of Tarpon fishing here in the backcountry of Everglades National Park.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Fox Sport Fishing Catch Report - 20th July 2011

Another beautiful ride across Florida Bay, Slick calm with a few thunderheads about, But we managed to skirt the rain.

Early morning reflections

After catching pinfish and pilchards we fished off the Cape Sable beaches.

Tarpon fishing was on today, everyone had shots but of course Cathy Fox brought the first Tarpon boatside.

Cathy Fox has the Tarpon magic!

Cathy's shadow dancer

In all 6 Tarpon were released by Cathy and Cliff Fox and Adam Taylor. We had 12 bites from Tarpon and as usual plenty of sharks kept us busy in between Tarpon bites. Also caught were a couple of Goliath and Gag Groupers.

Cliff films while Adam uses the new Santos 4500
paired with a Sailfish Trek rod to catch his Tarpon

Adam Taylor got some great jumps from this Tarpon

We used the new Santos 4500 spinning reel and Diablo 550 spinning reels. Both of these reels are super tough and have great drag systems.

The Fox Santos 4500 spinning reel stopped Tarpon in their tracks

Cliff Fox caught this tailwalker using a
Diablo 550 reel and Permit Trek rod

Adam foul hooked a Lemon Shark on the Santos and with 30lb Horizon braid put full clutch on and literally drug the shark backwards against a pretty strong current, this is one great reel. We used the Fox Trek Permit and Sailfish rods as well.

Cliff fighting a Tarpon while Adam has a Lemon Shark

Boatside

Getting ready to take a DNA sample

We moved to another area in the afternoon and found a lot of rolling Tarpon. I can't wait to get back there tomorrow with a livewell full of fresh bait to give them a try.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Fox Sport Fishing Catch Report - 19th July 2011

Today was another slick calm beauty of a day, Adam Taylor and Andy Little joined me for some Tarpon action. We were able to castnet some mullet and pinfish for bait easily enough.

Sunrise departure... 

Early morning Tarpon fishing at Cape Sable

We fished East Cape Sable on an outgoing tide and the bite was slow to start but the last 2 hours of the falling tide the bite turned on. Adam had 3 releases and Andy had 2, A few Tarpon were jumped off as we were filming and rods were in the holders.

Adam Taylor with one of his 3 Tarpon, Adam used the Permit Trek rod and Diablo 550

All the Tarpon were between 40 and 60 lbs. These are so much fun to catch as they do lots of jumping when they are this size. The tackle was Diablo 550 reels paired with Permit Trek travel rods. An Ideal combo.

Jumping Tarpon

The Permit Trek rod, Diablo 550 is perfect for catching 40-80lb Tarpon

We all got wet

Also while fishing for the Tarpon we caught quite a few Jack Crevalle. There were shoals of small fry getting blasted by schools of marauding jacks and mackerel. Quite a sight!

Andy Little with a beauty of a Seatrout caught on the Bonefish Trek  rod and Diablo 350 reel

Later we went exploring in the Gulf but not much going on there, We finished the day using Bonefish Trek/Diablo 350 combos to catch Ladyfish, Seatrout and Mangrove Snapper, Plenty of fun action and a few meals as well.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Captain Skip's Catch Report - 18th July 2011

Hot fishing and very hot weather. Slick calm conditions beautiful but by 1pm everyone is extremely hot, luckily the morning is full of great fishing.

Early on Andy Little released a Tarpon and Cliff had a beauty jump away fraying through the trace. A few other bites were missed and plenty of Shark action was had with Cathy catching a Bullshark and Blacktip.

Cliff Fox fighting a Tarpon at Cape Sable

Cliff's Tarpon did a fantastic jump and came unglued

Andy used the Permit Trek rod and Diablo spinning reel to release a Tarpon

Andy's Tarpon

Under sweltering conditions Cathy Fox fought this Bull Shark using the Trek Boat rod and EOS Trolling reel.

Cathy's Bullshark

At 11 am we moved offshore to a wreck in the gulf of Mexico. We were hoping for Permit which we saw quite a few but they refused our offerings, But plenty of big fish were around and we stayed busy the whole time. Bullsharks, Blacktip and Spinner sharks.

Cliff and Cathy use the EOS 30 reel and Diablo 550 and Trek rods on a double header of Blacktip Sharks

A pair of Cobia swam up and Adam Taylor got one on a light Bonefish Trek rod.

Adam Taylor jigged up this Cobia using the Bonefish Trek rod and Diablo 350

Adam released this Spinner Shark 

Cliff Fox caught the really big fish of the day, A 200lb+ Goliath Grouper, Cliff used the Trek boatrod rated 30-50lb line. This fish fought hard and it took 30 minutes of hard pulling for Cliff to reel it in. 95 degree heat and slick calm, Great job Cliff.

Cliff Fox puts the wood to a Giant Goliath Grouper using the Trek Boat rod 30-50 and EOS 30 reel spooled with 50lb Horizon braid

Cliff with a 200lb Goliath Grouper

6 more Goliaths were caught and released by Cathy, Andy and Adam.

Adam and Andy double team a pair of Goliath Grouper using EOS trolling reels and Trek boatrods

Adam and Andy with a pair of Goliaths caught using EOS 30 reels and Trek 30-50lb boatrods

By now it was 2pm and we were hot and worn out so it was time to ride. And a great ride it was no bumps and natural air conditioning.

Cooling off on the way home

Another great day fishing in the Florida Keys aboard Foxy Lady.

Captain Skip Nielsen