Fox Goes Shark Fishing!

The winds have finally died out. But of course this was the day I was going to fly a fishing kite to attract and catch Sharks. Oh well, Not a problem.

Today I had Cliff and Cathy Fox and their best friend Freddy DuPreez aboard Cliff's boat Foxy Lady. Having cast netted live pilchards early on we headed out past Sprigger Bank to the Spanish Mackerel grounds. We caught enough Mangrove and Lane Snapper for dinner and released many more. We also caught over 20 mackerel and bluefish.

Around mid day since I did not have any wind to fly the kite I decided on a different tactic for the sharks. I butterflied a couple of the larger mackerel and tied them off the stern of the boat. We continued fishing for another half hour. It was hard to stop as the bite was on. Ladyfish, Jacks, Macs and Bluefish. We had used Bonefish Trek travel rods fitted with Diablo 350 spinning reels all morning.

Now I rigged 2 rods. A Fox Trek Tarpon Spincast fitted with an EOS 30 Trolling Reel and a Fox Trek Boat rod fitted with an EOS 50. Rigged with a double line tied to 20 feet of 100lb mono then a swivel and 3 feet of #9 stainless wire.

The sharks we would be fishing for are Blacktips and Spinners. Both species are known for their jumping ability. As soon as we casted back into the chum line it was an instant bite. 40 to 100 lb sharks. We were thrilled watching the sharks jump twist and spin. Many came unglued but my crew managed to bring 7 alongside for release. Cathy Fox ended the day fighting a different sort of beast. We finally had to  putt anchor and give chase. Last fish of the day was an estimated 250lb Nurse Shark.

Way to go Cathy.

Captain Skip Nielsen

another jump

pay attention when wiring one of these critters

Some serious big Spanish Mackerel
were caught this morning

The Blacktip slash Spinner Shark is probably the
strongest fighter and best jumper of the shark species

this Blacktip weighed an estimated 90lbs and is all muscle

Cathy Fox uses the Trek Tarpon Spincast
rod to tame a wildly jumping Blacktip Shark

Blacktip Shark getting serious air

Blacktip Shark smile

Cathy Fox uses the Trek Tarpon Spincast
rod to tame a wildly jumping Blacktip Shark

Cathy scores a nice Spanish using the
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

Cliff watches over Cathy and Freddy
fighting a double of Blacktip Sharks

Freddy uses a Fox Trek Boatrod fitted with an
EOS 50 Trolling Reel to bring his Blacktip Shark
boatside after a 20 minute battle

juvenile Mutton Snapper, note wet towel
used for proper release

Early December In Islamorada

Its the beginning of December and even though the wind has been blowing the temperatures are perfect. In the 70's and low 80's. Cliff and Cathy Fox and best friend Freddy DuPreez are fishing in Islamorada this week. We fished 3 days and went different places each day. It is one of the wonderful aspects of fishing the Islamorada area. It is a vast area. One day you can fish offshore for Sailfish and the next be across Florida Bay fishing in Everglades National Park.

On our first day we targeted Spanish Mackerel, Cliff had asked me what was "running", the Mac bite was on fire. We started chumming and chunking and within an hour I could hardly keep up. Triple headers of 3 to 5 lb Macks on the Bonefish Trek rod fitted with Diablo 350 spinning reels to start. Then we went even lighter with the Fox Rage Ultralight rods, so much action.

Cathy and Cliff used Bonefish Trek rods and
Diablo 350 reels to catch loads of Seatrout

catching Redfish near Sandy Key

Freddy DuPreez gets in on the Mac action

On our 2nd day of fishing we travelled to the Sandy Key area and fished small run-offs as the tide got low. Seatrout and Redfish were caught and released. All good fun.

Cathy Fox with a nice Spanish Mac

Cathy, Cliff and Freddy fighting triple
header of Spanish Mackerel

On our 3rd day the wind was really up so we took a long trip around the "Corner" and headed to Cape Sable and the creeks beyond. On his first cast of the morning Cliff scored a big Snook on a Bonefish Trek rod. After that is was game on. The Seatrout bite and Snook bite was non-stop for an hour before we moved to the next river mouth. There we caught a lot of everything including Cobia, Goliath Grouper, Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Ladyfish and way too many Crevalle Jacks. To finish the day we caught some more Reds in another small creek a third on the way back home.

Cathy released this baby Goliath that
someday could weight 300lbs

Cliff caught this Snook on a Bonefish Trek Diablo 350
combo on his first cast of the day

Cliff with a nice Redfish. note
Diablo spinning reels and Rage Ultrllight rods

Cliff with a very nice Red he caught on the
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

Freddy DuPreez caught his first ever Snook on
the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

The Bonefish Trek Travel rod used with a Diablo 350 spin reel is an outfit that can be taken anywhere you want to go and you can be sure it will perform flawlessly.

I am travelling to the Yucatan soon and will be taking an arsenal of Fox Trek rods and reels with me. Well today we are going after Spanish Macs and then hopefully fishing them under a Kite to catch Blacktip Sharks Off to the fishing grounds at 5am.

Captain Skip Nielsen

First Time Fishing The Keys

Ray and Lesli Rogers love coming to Islamorada to fish. I have been taking them out for the last 20 years. On this trip they brought Grandson Harry who is 12 years old. Harry is no stranger to fishing having Ray as his Grandpa but this was his first Florida Keys experience.

We fished the backcountry for 2 days and many species were caught. We only used  Fox Rage rods and Fox Diablo 350 spinningreels. I believe from using these rods the last 4 years that they are THE Toughest and strongest light tackle rod I have ever used.  If you look back through the archives of this Blog you will see picture after picture of great catches on these Rage rods. And it goes without saying that my Fox Diablo spinning reels are just as tough. 3 years of using the same reels day after day and fish after fish I have not done any maintenance except wash and lube.

So here are some pictures of Lesli, Ray and Harry with their catches.

Captain Skip Nielsen

big Mac attack for  Lesli on the Rage Ultralight Diablo combo

Jacks are so much fun on the Rage ultralight rods

Lesli kept this fat Red Grouper out of the bottom with the help of the Fox Rage Ultralight spin rod

Lesli Rogers ended the day with a fine Snook

Lesli Rogers with a  fat Redfish caught on the Rage Ultralight Diablo 350 combo

Lesli with a Gag Grouper on the Rage Diablo combo

Lesli,Ray and Harry. Next cast Ray caught this Snook on the Rage Diablo combo

Ray scores a Red on the Rage Diablo combo

Rays Red of the day. Another great fish using the Fox Rage Ultralight spin rod fitted with the Diablo 350 spinning reel

getting the groove on for day 2

Harry catches yet another species on the light tackle. Bluefish

Harry did some fine angling to keep this juvenile Goliath Grouper from rocking up. He did it using the Fox Rage Ultralight Diablo

Harry even got to catch the dreaded Catfish

Harry had a treat back at the marina giving the manatee's a drink

Harry Roger's 1st fish of his 2 day fishing adventure

Harry Rogers with his first Snook

Harry's 1st Redfish