May 2007
You are currently browsing the articles from Lucky Angler written in the month of May 2007.
Went out last night to about 90 feet in Lake Michigan, set up the lines and started trolling for Salmon. The song (soothing noise lines make as you troll) started playing and shortly after, we scored a nice size salmon.
The sun set and we headed back in and trolled just outside the arm of the Muskegon Channel. Bang, the pole almost jerked out of my hand and the fight was on, it was a massive walleye, but once it saw our faces, it actually spit it out!
Shortly after, it happened again! I grabbed the net prepared for the walleye’s trick and it worked, we netted the fighter and celebrated our first big walleye.
Look hard, notice something about the Walleye? It is out of Alpena, Michigan — it came a long way 
A report from our Michigan section
Written by admin on May 28th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on TROLLING.
LadyFish Fun To Catch Great Bait
Ladyfish, will eat just about anything, they can be caught on surface lures, diving lures, spoons, flies, Ladyfish can hit the bait with the force of a Mack truck, they run all around the boat when hooked, Ladyfish travel in large schools, can be seen crashing baits on the surface, can sometimes be found by watching schools of birds diving on the water. Often travel with schools of Mackerel and Blue runners. When hooked they are like a miniature Tarpon.
Ladyfish are by far one of the most exciting fish that our inshore waters have to offer. No, no one actually targets ladyfish but they do add some excitement to your day when you come across a school. Besides being an aggressive eater and a nice fight Lady fish make excellent bait for Sharks. We chunk them in 4 inch sections on a 5 ought hook and either float them out on a balloon of send them to the bottom. Inshore or off shore, both tactics work .
Today the lady fish is starting to get the reputation the she deserves, “One of the best fighting inshore fish that swims.”
Family Elopidae, TARPONS
Elops saurus
Description: terminal mouth, slender body, small scales; last dorsal ray not elongated; head small and pointed.Similar Fish: juvenile tarpon, Megalops atlanticus.Where found: INSHORE fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals; often forms large schools and harasses bait at the surface.
Size: 2 to 3 pounds.
*Florida Record: 4 lbs., 10 ozs.
Remarks: known to spawn OFFSHORE, ribbon-like larvae very similar to Albula and Megalops, peaking in fall; adult feeds predominantly on fish and crustaceans; leaps when hooked.
Written by admin on May 22nd, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Ladyfish and Salt Water Fishing.
(A good friend ,Jerry’s 1st Kingfish) Not a bad day on the water, most of us only got to go out on Saturday do to mothers day, but we made the best of it.Trolled most of the day managed to get one kingfish and missed two others. 25 to 30 lizard fish and a bunch of squire fish. nothing to speak of. A special thanks to Jerry Sisson for his assist and his first kingfish of the year.
Written by admin on May 14th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Salt Water Fishing.
Women Who Might Become Pregnant
Women Who are Pregnant
Nursing Mothers
Young Children
Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development. So, women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits.
However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.
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Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
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Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
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Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
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Another commonly eaten fish, albacore (”white”) tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
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Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don’t consume any other fish during that week.
Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish:
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“What is mercury and methyl mercury?”
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans and is turned into methyl mercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to your unborn baby and young child. Fish absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in these waters and so it builds up in them. It builds up more in some types of fish and shellfish than others, depending on what the fish eat, which is why the levels vary.
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“I’m a woman who could have children but I’m not pregnant - so why should I be concerned about methyl mercury?”
If you regularly eat types of fish that are high in methyl mercury, it can accumulate in your blood stream over time. Methyl mercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take over a year for the levels to drop significantly. Thus, it may be present in a woman even before she becomes pregnant. This is the reason why women who are trying to become pregnant should also avoid eating certain types of fish.
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“Is there methyl mercury in all fish and shellfish?”
Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methyl mercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methyl mercury because they’ve had more time to accumulate it. These large fish (swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish) pose the greatest risk. Other types of fish and shellfish may be eaten in the amounts recommended by FDA and EPA.
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“I don’t see the fish I eat in the advisory. What should I do?”
If you want more information about the levels in the various types of fish you eat, see the FDA food safety website www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html or the EPA website at www.epa.gov/ost/fish
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“What about fish sticks and fast food sandwiches?”
Fish sticks and “fast-food” sandwiches are commonly made from fish that are low in mercury.
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“The advice about canned tuna is in the advisory, but what’s the advice about tuna steaks?”
Because tuna steak generally contains higher levels of mercury than canned light tuna, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of tuna steak per week.
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“What if I eat more than the recommended amount of fish and shellfish in a week?”
One week’s consumption of fish does not change the level of methyl mercury in the body much at all. If you eat a lot of fish one week, you can cut back for the next week or two. Just make sure you average the recommended amount per week.
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“Where do I get information about the safety of fish caught recreationally by family or friends?”
Before you go fishing, check your Fishing Regulations Booklet for information about recreationally caught fish. You can also contact your local health department for information about local advisories. You need to check local advisories because some kinds of fish and shellfish caught in your local waters may have higher or much lower than average levels of mercury. This depends on the levels of mercury in the water in which the fish are caught. Those fish with much lower levels may be eaten more frequently and in larger amounts.
Written by admin on May 13th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Fresh Seafood and Mercury in Fish and Salt Water Fishing.
Get on out there and get some. The arrival of the Spanish Mackerel brings fun fishing to our Tampa Bay area.
Now that they have arrived you will see many anglers both Fly Fisherman and Conventional Tackle Fisherman getting their limits of these tasty fish.
Here are some of the tricks for catching your share.
TROLLING:
To troll for these fish you will need the following:
1. Bait Casting style reels.
2. Bait casting rods, from six to seven feet in length, medium to medium heavy action.
3. Spool the reels with 50 pound test PowerPro line.
4. Sea Striker # 1 size planers, one for each rod.
5. A supply of 00 and 0 Clark Spoons, with the red bead.
6. 20 to 40 pound test monofilament leader.
7. 100 and 50 pound test snap swivels (BLACK)
The set-up:
Spool the reels with the PowerPro line, from the line on the reel tie on a 100 pound test snap swivel and clip it to the planer. From the other end of the planer clip on a 50 pound test snap swivel, tie to this 10 to 20 feet of monofilament leader line. To this tie on a Clark Spoon. Repeat this step for each rod you intend on using. I like to troll three rods and have a couple more ready to use if you snag one and lose your rig (this sometimes happens).
Good Luck and keep Fishing
Written by admin on May 10th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Salt Water Fishing and TROLLING.
Drag Systems on Fishing Reels
When buying a conventional or baitcasting reel, anglers can choose either a star drag or lever drag system. With a star drag, pressure is increased or decreased by turning the star-shaped “wheel” located just inside of the handle. While star drag systems are simple to operate and are fine for most applications, lever drag systems typically supply smoother, more consistent fish-fighting performance. Most lever drags also allow for drag tension to be adjusted in smaller, more precise increments than star drag systems. If there is a downside to lever drag reels, it’s their price – they tend to be more expensive than star drag models.
If you prefer spinning reels, you’ll discover that there are two basic categories to choose from – front drag and rear drag models. The difference boils down to where the drag system is located on the reel. While location alone doesn’t necessarily make for a better system, front drag spinning reels generally feature larger, multiple disc drag washers that offer a higher level of performance and durability. Rear drag spinning reels may offer convenience and ease of use, but they normally don’t stand up to big fish and demanding conditions like the front drag reel models. As with conventional reels, the smoothness and precision of a spinning reel drag system is extremely important. Whether you select a front or rear drag model, make sure the drag can be tightened in small increments. Also look for consistency. That is, when you pull on the line at any particular drag setting throughout the spectrum, the pressure should remain even and constant. Any inconsistency within the system will undoubtedly cost you a big fish somewhere down the line.
Ball Bearings
Spinning, conventional, and baitcasting fishing reels all feature either ball bearings or bushings strategically placed within the reel for smoothness, support and stability. Many spinning reels also feature a roller bearing within the line roller. When it comes to smooth performance and durability, sealed stainless steel ball bearings are preferable over bushings. Generally speaking, the more ball bearings a reel has, the more smoothly it will perform. Quality reels typically feature at least two stainless steel ball bearings. Top-of-the-line models usually boast about four to six ball bearings. However, some of the newer, deluxe spinning reels on the market feature up to 12.
A Fishing Reel’s Gear Ratio
Another key consideration when purchasing a reel is gear ratio, which refers to how many revolutions the spool makes with each complete turn of the reel handle. This determines, in part, how rapidly line is retrieved as the angler cranks the handle. Spinning reels, baitcasters and conventional models can offer differing gear ratios, ranging from slow retrieves (i.e. 2:1 or 3:1) to high-speed retrieves (4:1 to 6:1). Reels with high-speed gear ratios are better for working lures quickly back to the boat, or gaining line in a hurry when a fish charges toward the boat. Models featuring lower gear ratios don’t offer as fast a retrieve, but provide the greater cranking power ideal for bottom fishing and trolling applications. Anglers thinking about buying a heavier-duty conventional reel, may want to consider purchasing a two-speed model. While pricier than their single speed cousins, two-speed reels provide the best of both worlds when it comes to retrieve speed and cranking power. With a two-speed reel, an angler can shift at will from the faster-retrieve of “high gear” to the more powerful “low gear” with a simple push or pull of a button.
Written by admin on May 10th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Reels and Salt Water Fishing.
