limeyangler

Hi all, another holiday instalment. This time its some footage of me casting from the beach. I had taken a couple of days off from fishing but after seeing all the baitfish at my feet the temptation was too great, my wife was understanding

Nice looking fish, that is chilly fishing for sure.

Thanks Dan! I wish I had had another week there, I was beginning to figure stuff out. Lost loads of fish because of bent swivels and bent hooks, even heavy duty hooks are easily bent by even relatively small Tarpon. Line strength was not an issue and 30lb brain held up fine, 30lb swivels…not so much, ended up tying straight to lures with 30lb Seaguar Blue (that stuff is the dog's bollox!) but then ran into bent hook issues. Worked out the hook issue literally on the last day, after having also discovered a snook infested shoreline the night before which I never had the chance to wet a line in. I ate the first Snook I ever caught on a trip to the same place 10 years ago. It was DELICIOUS! Since then though I have become way more of a catch and release fisherman, I even ended up replacing some of the treble hooks on my lures to afford less injury to the fish for their eventual release, I am lucky to be wealthy enough to release all the fish I landed. When the water is chest high and mud knee deep with barracuda and shark around I try to focus on the positives….lol. The nastiest thing I saw this trip was a load of jellyfish on my second trip to this same bay…never gopt stung but glad I did not as they even looked painful. Yeah, those roots would really do a number on your ankles if you slipped, but Its like any other outdoor pursuit, there are risks….try to be aware of them and don't go against that little voice that says…"eerrrr…I don't think you want to do that". That area was not as remote as it seemed and you could hear vehicles on the nearby road all day. especially by noon as it is only 100meters over to the next bay which is one of the bigger tourist attractions on the island…its just that you would never even know or probably even care that bay was there unless you were one of the local conch fishermen or a crazy angling addicted englishman with the power of Google earth at his command and a wife that tolerated scouting mission ten years ago when we were on HONEYMOON!!!! Thanks TC. The caribbean holds a special place in my heart as it brings back many happy childhood memories….its a magical place to be out and about with a rod. Wicked, have a blast man…I'm sure you will….report and pics please! CONGRATULATIONS!! Holy moly. Jack loved it, but he did not get out fishing with me because I was leaving really early and getting back mid morning, he was more interested in Geocaching, swimming at the beach and at the house pool, and hanging out. Lots of cool coast walks and holes in the sand dug.

Its so relaxing just being in the bush, a few pelicans and my manic thoughts of what bait to try next!

Hi All, After a break of a couple days from fishing I hit up another cove on the North East side of the Island I discovered years ago. Much better results than the first outing. Tarpon, snook, baby barracuda, an unknown specimen and various versions of trevalli/jacks. Rapala walk the dog/subsurface lures, and the trusty clacking rap were the most effective of the baits i tried. Water was chocolate milk like my native Lake Wabigoon as that Easterly was whipping in the bay, but the Snook were on fire, landed one, lost 2. Tarpon was first cast but I got tied up in a conch fisherman's bouy and it spat the hook(I learned that they are experts at that by the end of my travels). I have to say I can't think of anywhere I have been more at ease ever than when I wading through the mangroves….way prefer this to big game offshore. HERE IS A VID.

I am back already, got back on the 21st Jan.….no way I was spending time doing videos when I was there! That is what cold nightshifts in Dryden are for!! Did not waste a single moment of family time……no chance.

Cold wet forests are awesome too! Looking forward to camping at Lac Seul this year with my family more than anything else!

Yeah, we all had fun. My mum and dad were also there, plus my sister and my niece. Our yearly family reunion. They fly in from London England. So, I have to try and curb my addiction somewhat, was only partially successful…..lol.

Hi all, put this together quick, it was the first morning after we arrived. Went to my usual spot in a cove I have nicknamed 'Pelican Cove'. The pelicans were there diving at bait fish that were just out of casting range given the strong easterly that blows in there all year. Managed a small 'Jack' but that was it. Fishing got better after that day with the exception of one day, but that is another story, coming soon.................... DAY 1

LOLOL...thanks for the laugh man...best comment ever!

LOL...well its no coincidence that 'bureaucracy' is a French word.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30993608

Crazy huh? So much for 'The Farmer's Almanac'. Got some good vids of fishing out there, just gotta find time to get it put together. We still aint fished on the ice together yet.

I lived in Sweden when I was a young boy. All the tennis/basketball courts in the municipal parks were flooded in the winter and turned into rinks. Even a few soccer pitches were flooded to play 'Bandy'....why not here?

Glad you are OK, go see the Doc.

plenty of room in Dryden!

Hi all, Some of the citizens of the mangrove swamps I was wading in in search of fishes.

Nick...that is so fun...smiling from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat. Thanks. Si.

I am a great fan of bait runners, but am wary of Okuma reels, especially the 'Trio' range. Owned one….not impressed, springs on the bail arm died after one month…returned it. However………. I've owned a Shimano Aero GTE 5000B for 10 years now. Its a bit banged up but the gears and drag are as smooth as the day I got it back in 2003. Awesome…awesome….awesome reel! Used it to free line sand eel baits for stripers sea fishing, used it for multi species in the tropics (it has cranking power) and very effective as an alternative for down rigging. Advantages for free lining live bait is you can have it on freespool but it also has a separate drag adjustment for freespool. basically have it on freespool with a small amount of tension, fish takes it……you can hear your drag going as an indication a fish has the bait, one turn of the handle clicks you out of freespool and you are fighting the fish, with easy access to adjust your drag with the rear drag feature. Advantage for bigger game fish is it has cranking power and even though the 5000 was the smallest model (think it goes up to an 8000) its spool can take 140yrds of 20lb test mono. So using braid I can load a full spool (almost) of 80lb Power Pro! For down rigging you engage the freespool feature with a tighter drag setting and just let the canon ball go down, when at depth, one turn of the handle and freespool is off and your up and running.

LOL....... too true.

Wicked video!!!! You really should do one every year…that was so cool. ENJOYED THAT I DID