Take Your Family Fishing!

This past Saturday and Sunday the Magidson family fished with me here in Islamorada. Lately I have had a lot of families out and there is nothing I enjoy more than watching the young ones reeling in fish.

Ryan is 10 and Matthew is 8. They have now been out with me for four years and are quite good anglers. Grandpa Jim Sr. was a deckhand for a couple months in Islamorada in 1958. So the family tradition of fishing in the Keys goes back a long time. We spent Saturday way out back at Middle Cape Sable fishing the River Mouths and Creeks. Lots of fun catching Black Drum, Redfish, and Sheepshead.

10 year old Ryan Magidson caught this fine Black Drum
using the Fox Rage Ultralight rod and Diablo 350 spinning reel

8 year old Matthew caught more fish than everyone
else on his Fox Diablo 350 spinning reel

Jim Magidson had fun catching this Black Drum on a
Fox Bonefish Trek rod and Diablo 350 spinning reel

Grandpa Jim Magidson had a great time with the kids and
caught plenty of fish using the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

The boys did great not snagging near as many trees and roots as I  thought they might. We enjoyed a hot bite of Sheepshead. Jim Sr eats fish 5 days a week and Sheepshead are one of his favorites. He took home a dozen and we released 25 more.

Matthew(8) holds a Redfish for his brother Ryan(10)

lots of tasty Sheepshead were caught on the
Rage Ultralight rods and Diablo 350 reels

Later in the day we learned some patience while waiting the the tide to pick up. When it finally did the Black Drum bite took hold and Ryan caught the largest one of 10lbs. Matthew and both Jims caught Black Drum as well and then it was time to head back to the keys.

On the second day we fished the Patch Reefs aboard the First Growth. It was gusting to 28 mph out of the north and the big boat was a great option. The enclosed cabin was a nice shelter from the wind. The young lads waylaid the reef fish using Bonefish Trek rods fitted with Diablo 350 spinning reels. The Trek rod has a nice long rodbutt which fitted very comfortably underneath the boys' arms.

the Bonefish Trek rod has a long butt section which fits
perfectly under Matthew's arm giving him full leverage

Matthew is not letting this one get away

These kids were a true delight to watch. The Grouper won the battle more than a few times running down and rocking up. The kids learned to use the Bonefish Trek rod to short pump the fish. That keeps the head of the fish up and the tail down and helps to keep them swimming up. The boys caught on quickly and caught some really nice bottom dwellers.

Dad unhooks a brightly colored Porkfish for the boys

Jim Magidson enjoyed using Fox Rage Ultralight rods
fishing on the Patch Reefs

Jim Sr. with his grandsons fishing. Does it get any better

Matthew with a Spanish Mackerel half as long as he is

Ryan and Matthew used Bonefish Trek 350 Diablo
combos on this pair of Gag Groupers

Ryan used the Bonefish Trek 350 Diablo on this Gag Grouper
that  Skip holds while Grandpa Jim looks on with approval

this Black Grouper was heading for the bottom but
Jim Magidson used the Bonefish Trek 350 Diablo combo
to pump him up

this is what fishing is all about

Hopefully next winter the seas will be calmer and we can take the boys to the outer reefs and try for Sailfish and some big King Macks.

Great job Ryan and Matthew. And Jim Jr and Jim Sr thanks for bringing up the children in a fishing environment.

Captain Skip Nielsen