Casting a lure in January
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Stuart P
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Steve Pitts
- Tobago Anorak
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Bristol U.K
Hi Steve
How were things up at Castara?
I have a friend who is out for the next two weeks with his family and staying in Lambeau. He has been to Tobago before, but did quite a bit of fishing from boats last time.
I think this time, he will be mostly shorefishing and I have mentioned that you are the man to contact for some up-to-date info.
His name is John Morgan and he is a very good / experienced bass angler, so if he should ring you out of the blue, please don't think that he is a mad welshman (well, he is. but he's also a nice bloke) trying it on.
Ask him how his hand is too. That will impress him. He was attacked by a dog a couple of days ago (casting hand obviously) and plans on wearing a rubber glove sealed with plenty of gaffer tape when out fishing. If you bump into him before he contacts you, he should be easy to recognise.
Cheers
Steve
How were things up at Castara?
I have a friend who is out for the next two weeks with his family and staying in Lambeau. He has been to Tobago before, but did quite a bit of fishing from boats last time.
I think this time, he will be mostly shorefishing and I have mentioned that you are the man to contact for some up-to-date info.
His name is John Morgan and he is a very good / experienced bass angler, so if he should ring you out of the blue, please don't think that he is a mad welshman (well, he is. but he's also a nice bloke) trying it on.
Ask him how his hand is too. That will impress him. He was attacked by a dog a couple of days ago (casting hand obviously) and plans on wearing a rubber glove sealed with plenty of gaffer tape when out fishing. If you bump into him before he contacts you, he should be easy to recognise.
Cheers
Steve
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Stephen Hull
Steve
Castara was pretty good. We went out with Rusty on Wednesday morning and found a few tarpon in Celery Bay on livebait. We lost a couple of fish and Steve Ellis who was with me landed a 15 pounder, although there were some bigger fish there too. I just seemed to catch ladyfish all the time! Even my 9 year old son did better than me and landed a 5lb snook. Steve E also managed a small kingfish and snapper trolling on the way out and way back and he lost a much bigger kingfish. Steve E also went out with Rusty on Thursday to Five Sisters and had some good fish there.
Hopefully I'll hear from John soon. If not, I'll go and look for him around the flats at Lambeau.
Steve
Castara was pretty good. We went out with Rusty on Wednesday morning and found a few tarpon in Celery Bay on livebait. We lost a couple of fish and Steve Ellis who was with me landed a 15 pounder, although there were some bigger fish there too. I just seemed to catch ladyfish all the time! Even my 9 year old son did better than me and landed a 5lb snook. Steve E also managed a small kingfish and snapper trolling on the way out and way back and he lost a much bigger kingfish. Steve E also went out with Rusty on Thursday to Five Sisters and had some good fish there.
Hopefully I'll hear from John soon. If not, I'll go and look for him around the flats at Lambeau.
Steve
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Steve Pitts
- Tobago Anorak
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Bristol U.K
Hi Steve
I bet your son was chuffed with the snook. A 5 pounder is a good fish by any standards, so I think you should buy him a beer - or a shandy at the very least.
I have never found Castara to be stuffed with monster tarpon - unlike other well-known areas down around the airport, but big fish do frequent the areas you have fished, so I guess you never know your luck.
Castara certainly has variety going for it though (both on land and in the sea) and the sisters is a wonderful place to be at the right time. I saw two 45lb plus yellowfin tuna caught there a couple of years ago by a local fisherman on a handline. Possibly the most impressive fish I've ever seen.
I can't imagine who they would go on a 30lb outfit.
Looks like we may be out for the second and third weeks in May (subject to me clearing my desk in time), so if you are running low on any gear, let me have a shopping list and I'll see what I can do. I always bring out 10 times as much stuff as I need anyway, but have promised to ration myself this time.
Things are quiet here - closed season for freshwater and too early for bass and mullet. Haven't fished for trout for years and have no intention of starting up again. So I will be raring to go in May.
Cheers
Steve
I bet your son was chuffed with the snook. A 5 pounder is a good fish by any standards, so I think you should buy him a beer - or a shandy at the very least.
I have never found Castara to be stuffed with monster tarpon - unlike other well-known areas down around the airport, but big fish do frequent the areas you have fished, so I guess you never know your luck.
Castara certainly has variety going for it though (both on land and in the sea) and the sisters is a wonderful place to be at the right time. I saw two 45lb plus yellowfin tuna caught there a couple of years ago by a local fisherman on a handline. Possibly the most impressive fish I've ever seen.
I can't imagine who they would go on a 30lb outfit.
Looks like we may be out for the second and third weeks in May (subject to me clearing my desk in time), so if you are running low on any gear, let me have a shopping list and I'll see what I can do. I always bring out 10 times as much stuff as I need anyway, but have promised to ration myself this time.
Things are quiet here - closed season for freshwater and too early for bass and mullet. Haven't fished for trout for years and have no intention of starting up again. So I will be raring to go in May.
Cheers
Steve
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Stephen Hull
Steve
The snook was very tasty. There are supposedly quite a few where the Courland River enters Courland Bay. We tried an early morning livebaiting session there with Steve Ellis but apart from one bite and some large shoals of mullet we didn't see much action.
Steve Ellis had a 12lb bonito at the Sisters which gave a good account of itself on 30lb class tackle so I can imagine a 45lb yellowfin would be very exciting!
Thanks to a constant stream of kind visitors and Veals warehouse, my tackle cupboard is brimful. The only thing I now need is an infallible lure! Failing that, I'll take a materclass instead!
Steve H
The snook was very tasty. There are supposedly quite a few where the Courland River enters Courland Bay. We tried an early morning livebaiting session there with Steve Ellis but apart from one bite and some large shoals of mullet we didn't see much action.
Steve Ellis had a 12lb bonito at the Sisters which gave a good account of itself on 30lb class tackle so I can imagine a 45lb yellowfin would be very exciting!
Thanks to a constant stream of kind visitors and Veals warehouse, my tackle cupboard is brimful. The only thing I now need is an infallible lure! Failing that, I'll take a materclass instead!
Steve H
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Chris Sykes
Neil
Sorry for the delay but here is Bill Benders Tel no: Florida 305 664 8232 his boat is called Chesapeake Lady. He has a flats boat and will take you out for full or half days . We normaly ask him to take us out for what ever is around and if its not happening we move to somewhere else. He is very good
Regards Chris
Sorry for the delay but here is Bill Benders Tel no: Florida 305 664 8232 his boat is called Chesapeake Lady. He has a flats boat and will take you out for full or half days . We normaly ask him to take us out for what ever is around and if its not happening we move to somewhere else. He is very good
Regards Chris
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Neil Roberts
- myTobago Nut
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2003 1:28 pm
- Location: Leatherhead, Surrey.
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Steve Pitts
- Tobago Anorak
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Bristol U.K
Hi Steve (H)
Thought you might be interested in a conversation I had with Dave Box of Veals Mail Order -
Phone rings.....
D. Hello Steve, Dave here.
S. How's it going Dave?
D. Steve - how do you fancy making a prat of yourself?
S. Once more wouldn't hurt I suppose. What does it involve?
D. I need some close-up shots of surface poppers for the new catalogue, so I've hired out the local swimming pool for Thursday evening. Are you free?
S. Yes (not quite sure where this is leading to but I have a good idea)
D. If I take the pictures, can you cast some lures and work them, as if you were fishing?
S. Sounds easy enough to me.
D. So you're up for it then?
S. Why not? Is there anything you want me to bring?
D. I'll take all the gear, but you might want to bring some flop-flops for your feet.
S. I'll wear my flats boots if you like. Will there be a lifeguard on duty?
D. No - we'll have the place to ourselves.
S. In that case I'll bring a gaff - in case you get into difficulties. I usually use a landing net, but for bigger species, I find gaff is far more efficient.
(snorts of laughter from phone)
So Steve, this evening, when you might be down on the beach, with tarpon rolling in the bay - or sitting outside watching the sun set with a cold Carib in hand - please think of me chugging a variety of poppers down the middle lane of our pool, the air thick with chlorine fumes.
I'm not even expecting to catch anything - except perhaps, a balding middle-aged bloke with a camera around his neck (if I do, I'll give him plenty of stick and make sure he gives me a good run for my money!)
Cheers
Steve
Thought you might be interested in a conversation I had with Dave Box of Veals Mail Order -
Phone rings.....
D. Hello Steve, Dave here.
S. How's it going Dave?
D. Steve - how do you fancy making a prat of yourself?
S. Once more wouldn't hurt I suppose. What does it involve?
D. I need some close-up shots of surface poppers for the new catalogue, so I've hired out the local swimming pool for Thursday evening. Are you free?
S. Yes (not quite sure where this is leading to but I have a good idea)
D. If I take the pictures, can you cast some lures and work them, as if you were fishing?
S. Sounds easy enough to me.
D. So you're up for it then?
S. Why not? Is there anything you want me to bring?
D. I'll take all the gear, but you might want to bring some flop-flops for your feet.
S. I'll wear my flats boots if you like. Will there be a lifeguard on duty?
D. No - we'll have the place to ourselves.
S. In that case I'll bring a gaff - in case you get into difficulties. I usually use a landing net, but for bigger species, I find gaff is far more efficient.
(snorts of laughter from phone)
So Steve, this evening, when you might be down on the beach, with tarpon rolling in the bay - or sitting outside watching the sun set with a cold Carib in hand - please think of me chugging a variety of poppers down the middle lane of our pool, the air thick with chlorine fumes.
I'm not even expecting to catch anything - except perhaps, a balding middle-aged bloke with a camera around his neck (if I do, I'll give him plenty of stick and make sure he gives me a good run for my money!)
Cheers
Steve
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Neil Roberts
- myTobago Nut
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2003 1:28 pm
- Location: Leatherhead, Surrey.
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Stephen Hull
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Steve Pitts
- Tobago Anorak
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Bristol U.K
Well I duly turned up, ready to give it a go and the pool was double- booked......30 young ladies in for the aqua-robics class.
Gentlemen that we are (and we were seriously out-numbered), we let them use the main pool and retired to the beginners pool instead.
Now, of course, we had an audience and if I had charged a pound for everyone who said 'caught anything yet?' I would be flying out first-class with BA this coming May.
We farted about for a couple of hours, trying to get the plugs to work and get some good shots, but the humid atmosphere and digital cameras just don't go together. The flash wouldn't work, then the 512MB media card showed it was full, with only 4 shots on it!
Once we got our act together we got some good surface shots of the Yozuri mag popper and the saltwater skitter-pop in action.
Then came the tricky part, where Dave (with Nikon underwater camera) asked me to pull a Rapala J13 past him, whilst he stood waist-deep in the pool and took shot after sub-surface shot of the wriggling lure. Each time I was asked to get the plug closer and closer, until it was only inches away from him.
We then tried the same with a Maria Chase, re-fitted with owner stinger trebles. With hindsight, this was just asking for trouble and Dave came as close to being foul-hooked as you can, or would want to be, in the 'Speedo zone' on several occasions
The temptation to strike (though an instinctive reaction) was resisted and I ended up blanking.
I did manage to get some photos of Dave in the pool, playing with the plugs and these will be appearing in a future issue of the BASS magazine......unless suitable terms for the media card to be accidently wiped, can be aggreed.
Cheers
Steve
Gentlemen that we are (and we were seriously out-numbered), we let them use the main pool and retired to the beginners pool instead.
Now, of course, we had an audience and if I had charged a pound for everyone who said 'caught anything yet?' I would be flying out first-class with BA this coming May.
We farted about for a couple of hours, trying to get the plugs to work and get some good shots, but the humid atmosphere and digital cameras just don't go together. The flash wouldn't work, then the 512MB media card showed it was full, with only 4 shots on it!
Once we got our act together we got some good surface shots of the Yozuri mag popper and the saltwater skitter-pop in action.
Then came the tricky part, where Dave (with Nikon underwater camera) asked me to pull a Rapala J13 past him, whilst he stood waist-deep in the pool and took shot after sub-surface shot of the wriggling lure. Each time I was asked to get the plug closer and closer, until it was only inches away from him.
We then tried the same with a Maria Chase, re-fitted with owner stinger trebles. With hindsight, this was just asking for trouble and Dave came as close to being foul-hooked as you can, or would want to be, in the 'Speedo zone' on several occasions
The temptation to strike (though an instinctive reaction) was resisted and I ended up blanking.
I did manage to get some photos of Dave in the pool, playing with the plugs and these will be appearing in a future issue of the BASS magazine......unless suitable terms for the media card to be accidently wiped, can be aggreed.
Cheers
Steve
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Stephen Hull
Steve
Just as well you missed - Boxfish don't put up much of a fight especially when foulhooked.
John's finger is getting much better. He had a brief fish at Arnos Vale yesterday and hooked and lost a monster - there are some big barracuda in the deep water just off the reef - but it will be very difficult to land one from the shore. He's going back for a more serious attempt this morning.
Hopefully tomorrow we will have a go with some livebait for snook at Courland river.
Steve H
Just as well you missed - Boxfish don't put up much of a fight especially when foulhooked.
John's finger is getting much better. He had a brief fish at Arnos Vale yesterday and hooked and lost a monster - there are some big barracuda in the deep water just off the reef - but it will be very difficult to land one from the shore. He's going back for a more serious attempt this morning.
Hopefully tomorrow we will have a go with some livebait for snook at Courland river.
Steve H
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Steve Pitts
- Tobago Anorak
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Bristol U.K
Hi Steve
John sent me a text message last night, to tell me about his lost barracuda. It is the hang-out for some biggies, but I don't know anyone who has managed to land one yet.
I was working (on a Friday night!!!) and with a client at the time, so his message was really well recieved I can tell you. Now I know that the two of you are winding me up!
Could you tell him that I'm pleased that he came across the turtle whilst snorkelling too - an experience that has managed to evade me so far. May should be good turtle time though and I will be sure to reciprocate with plenty of texts to John whilst he is pounding the pavements of Port Talbot being savaged by rabid dogs and man-eating letter-boxes.
Could you also mention to John, that due to a balls up with the kid's passports, Allan had to cancel his first week in Orlando, but is scheduled to fly out to Belize as planned.
Cheers
Steve
John sent me a text message last night, to tell me about his lost barracuda. It is the hang-out for some biggies, but I don't know anyone who has managed to land one yet.
I was working (on a Friday night!!!) and with a client at the time, so his message was really well recieved I can tell you. Now I know that the two of you are winding me up!
Could you tell him that I'm pleased that he came across the turtle whilst snorkelling too - an experience that has managed to evade me so far. May should be good turtle time though and I will be sure to reciprocate with plenty of texts to John whilst he is pounding the pavements of Port Talbot being savaged by rabid dogs and man-eating letter-boxes.
Could you also mention to John, that due to a balls up with the kid's passports, Allan had to cancel his first week in Orlando, but is scheduled to fly out to Belize as planned.
Cheers
Steve
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Stephen Hull
Steve
We both went fishing at Arnos Vale this morning (I didn't get enough baitfish to go after snook at Courland River!). You should have warned me that John has been Welsh rock hopping champion since he was 9 - I could hardly keep up! There was quite a strong surf so we couldn't fish some of the better spots. We had a few fish on for a short while but didn't manage to land anything - so you're not really missing much! The previous day John lost a big crevalle (10lb+) having got it in close enough to have a good look and he said there was quite a lot of bait busting going on, but we didn't see any signs today.
Steve
We both went fishing at Arnos Vale this morning (I didn't get enough baitfish to go after snook at Courland River!). You should have warned me that John has been Welsh rock hopping champion since he was 9 - I could hardly keep up! There was quite a strong surf so we couldn't fish some of the better spots. We had a few fish on for a short while but didn't manage to land anything - so you're not really missing much! The previous day John lost a big crevalle (10lb+) having got it in close enough to have a good look and he said there was quite a lot of bait busting going on, but we didn't see any signs today.
Steve
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Danny Miners
Hi Steve
Going out to the Island over the for 2nd and 3rd week of April and looking forward to getting to grips with some good fish,last visit was 2003 and had a great time plugging from the beaches.I also got smashed several times by Barra, using not heavy enough gear!.Learnt alot from the fishing articles on this site and will leave a thread on how the trip goes.Would like to try livebaiting this time,can the baitfish be caught on the same type of rigs we use for sandeel?and rig the bait fish up the same way as we fish for the Bass?ps few bass starting to show now Steve down in this part of county !!My (small) angling club is affilaited to BASS.
Going out to the Island over the for 2nd and 3rd week of April and looking forward to getting to grips with some good fish,last visit was 2003 and had a great time plugging from the beaches.I also got smashed several times by Barra, using not heavy enough gear!.Learnt alot from the fishing articles on this site and will leave a thread on how the trip goes.Would like to try livebaiting this time,can the baitfish be caught on the same type of rigs we use for sandeel?and rig the bait fish up the same way as we fish for the Bass?ps few bass starting to show now Steve down in this part of county !!My (small) angling club is affilaited to BASS.
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Stephen Hull
Danny
I have a Sabiki rig that I keep meaning to try. I'm sure these things will work if you can find some baitfish to dangle them in front of.
My only caution with DIY livebaiting is finding some baitfish to catch - so make sure you bring some lures as a fallback.
I normally go down to the port at Scarborough with my cast net for baitfish. While I can throw the net OK, it is quite another to catch the baitfish - the larger fish tend to hide under the jetties or beneath shoals of smaller (unwanted)fish! However, it might be a good place to start with your sandeel trace as at least there are always some baitfish there.
The other problem of course is keeping the baitfish alive. You need an airpump and bucket unless you are going to use them immediately. Otherwise, if you are going to fish where you catch them , an old widemouthed drinks bottle with some holes punctured in it can be useful.
Steve H
I have a Sabiki rig that I keep meaning to try. I'm sure these things will work if you can find some baitfish to dangle them in front of.
My only caution with DIY livebaiting is finding some baitfish to catch - so make sure you bring some lures as a fallback.
I normally go down to the port at Scarborough with my cast net for baitfish. While I can throw the net OK, it is quite another to catch the baitfish - the larger fish tend to hide under the jetties or beneath shoals of smaller (unwanted)fish! However, it might be a good place to start with your sandeel trace as at least there are always some baitfish there.
The other problem of course is keeping the baitfish alive. You need an airpump and bucket unless you are going to use them immediately. Otherwise, if you are going to fish where you catch them , an old widemouthed drinks bottle with some holes punctured in it can be useful.
Steve H
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Danny Miners
Hi Steve
the sabiki rigs are the bussiness,i`ve used them for a varitey of baitfish and like you say it`s finding the shoals.there are some live bait containers on the market that pack down for travelling and a small air pump.I also have a throw net but not that good with it yet!.Definately will be taking plenty of lures and some poppers which seem to be the ones that everbody`s recomending.By the way what size hook would you recomend for livebaiting?
regards Danny
the sabiki rigs are the bussiness,i`ve used them for a varitey of baitfish and like you say it`s finding the shoals.there are some live bait containers on the market that pack down for travelling and a small air pump.I also have a throw net but not that good with it yet!.Definately will be taking plenty of lures and some poppers which seem to be the ones that everbody`s recomending.By the way what size hook would you recomend for livebaiting?
regards Danny
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Stephen Hull
Danny
Re hooks - for tarpon you need something strong - following Mike Northcott's lead - see some of the previous posts - I am using Mustad Big Gun 2/0. As well as tarpon these seem to work fine for pretty much everything else - we have caught ladyfish, kingfish, snapper, snook even lizardfish livebaiting with these! Otherwise circle hooks are also popular.
The locals differ in views on whether to hook the livebait through the nose or the back - my experience is that the livebait are more lively when hooked through the back but whether this results in more takes or hook ups I've no idea.
Re cast nets - you are welcome to have a go with mine!
Steve H
Re hooks - for tarpon you need something strong - following Mike Northcott's lead - see some of the previous posts - I am using Mustad Big Gun 2/0. As well as tarpon these seem to work fine for pretty much everything else - we have caught ladyfish, kingfish, snapper, snook even lizardfish livebaiting with these! Otherwise circle hooks are also popular.
The locals differ in views on whether to hook the livebait through the nose or the back - my experience is that the livebait are more lively when hooked through the back but whether this results in more takes or hook ups I've no idea.
Re cast nets - you are welcome to have a go with mine!
Steve H
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Danny Miners
Steve
Thanks for the advice on the hooks,i will try and locate some before i leave,like using the circle hooks we have been using them for the bass livebaiting with mackeral normally 3/0 or 4/0,lip hooked seems the best for the bass however when i was in Australia up on the east coast we used to hookthe baitfish through the back,deadly for kingfish and the big spainish mackeral.So i will give both methods a try!
re cast net i keep practising but only managed to catch the dog so far!!!
Thanks for the advice on the hooks,i will try and locate some before i leave,like using the circle hooks we have been using them for the bass livebaiting with mackeral normally 3/0 or 4/0,lip hooked seems the best for the bass however when i was in Australia up on the east coast we used to hookthe baitfish through the back,deadly for kingfish and the big spainish mackeral.So i will give both methods a try!
re cast net i keep practising but only managed to catch the dog so far!!!
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Stephen Hull
Danny
Finally got to try the Sabiki rig the other day. We caught lots of small jacks down at the port which make good livebait. My son was delighted - he's never caught so many fish!
However, we didn't hook any "sprats" which are a favoured livebait here, although I did catch some in the cast net. It may be that the sprats aren't interested?
Steve
Finally got to try the Sabiki rig the other day. We caught lots of small jacks down at the port which make good livebait. My son was delighted - he's never caught so many fish!
However, we didn't hook any "sprats" which are a favoured livebait here, although I did catch some in the cast net. It may be that the sprats aren't interested?
Steve