Mixed Conditions, Mixed Catches!

March 2nd to 5th 2012
Dick and Ken Ault and good friend Larry Gadjerowicz spent a few days with me this past weekend. The plan was to mix it up and show Larry a good time.

Day one the weather was warm and the wind was Southeast. Conditions were still favorable to try and catch a Tarpon in the backcountry. The Tarpon action had slowed today but Larry came up with a 130 lb fish that must have jumped 10 times. Larry used the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo to catch his fish. Quite a few medium sized sharks were biting today as well.

Larry with his Tarpon putting on a show. The eight foot
Sailfish Trek rod and 750 Diablo reel can
handle big Tarpon and Sharks all day long

Larrry Tarpon flying leap

Day two the wind was up out of the South. We spent the morning fishing with Rage Ultralight rods paired with Diablo 350 reels.We fished the Transition Zone. It is on the outer edges of Florida Bay just as you get to the Gulf of Mexico. Using Fox Rage Ultalight 185 rods paired with Diablo 350 reels we spent an action packed morning catching Seatrout, Ladyfish, Mangrove Snapper and Spanish Mackerel. Dick Ault loves catching Sharks so we hung a ladyfish butterflied off the back and soon Dick was catching Sharpnose Sharks one after the other. Great fun catching these on the ultralight tackle.

Dick Ault caught this Atlantic Sharpnose Shark on the
Fox Rage Ultalight 185 rod fitted with a
Diablo 350 spinning reel

Larry with a nice Seatrout caught on the
Rage 185 rod paired with a 350 Diablo spinning reel

We moved to a spot further out and sent big baits to the bottom in hope of catching a really big shark. Not one but three "Mud Marlin" (sawfish) were caught and released. That gave the Fox Trek XT Boat rods a real workout. My anglers did a bit of tag teaming as these fish are back busters. Also caught were some big Nurse Shark and Blacktips.  After getting abused by these big fish the boys decided to call it an early day and head back to the pool are rest their backs.

Ken Ault puts the pressure on a big bottom dweller
using the Fox Boat rod XT paired with an EOS 50 spooled
with Horizon 65lb braid

The Fox Trek Boat rod XT is my choice for the really big critters

Three of these Mud Marlin were released today

Day 3 we decided to stay close and fish on the Atlantic side of the keys. A strong cold front was due around mid day so the reef patches were a good option. The wind was freshening all morning out of the south west. Fishing was very good. All sorts of Grouper, Yellowtail, Hogfish ect were caught. Dick caught the fish of the day. A Gag Grouper of about 15 lbs caught on a Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo. By 1pm a squall line moved through. By this time we were at the dock cleaning our catch. The wind switch to Northwest and was gusting to 40 mph. By morning it was 54 degrees.

Dick Ault captured this splendid Gag Grouper on a
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

My wife's niece and her husband were in town staying with us and I had promised a fishing trip to husband Brandt. I told him conditions were extreme but we could find something to catch. With the north wind blowiing a steady 25 fished on some close in reef patches on the Atlantic side somewhat in the lee. Not much to start with but after a move we got into a bite of Red Grouper. Brandt used Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combos for this fun.

Brandt catching Cudas around the lighthouse

Brandt Snedeker used Fox Bonefish Trek rods
fitted with Diablo 350 reels on a dozen Grouper

Brandt used Permit Trek rods fitted with
Diablo 550 reels for the Barracuda

The wind died down somewhat and now a school of ballyhoo were chummed up behind the boat. I cast netted a couple dozen and we pulled anchor. Hoping for a Sailfish we spent 2 hours on the dropoffs. Very quiet so I decided to give Brandt some action near Alligator Reef Lighthouse with some Barracuda. A good move. Brandt had a blast catching a releasing a dozen of these toothy critters before time to head in.

Yesterday and today the winds are really up and we are tied up to the dock.

Captain Skip Nielsen