Start of the nonsense

First mini species of the year. Having gone down to get some water for my ragworm I couldn't help having a quick dangle to see if there were any Goldsinny or Corkwing Wrasse around yet. The tide had just started to come in but on my visit today there was nothing around except these little chaps ( Common Blenny). Species 4 for the year, said I wouldn't do this again this year :) only42 more to get to beat 2011!

Zip Baits ZBL System Minnow 139F

Just back from a great fishing trip. On arrival at the spot I was dismayed to find the wind gusting to 30 knots from the SE and the surf at over head high so I wasn't expecting much! Amongst other things I wanted to try the Zip Baits ZBL System Minnow 139F as reccomended by JED at Cloud nine tackle Here which I used for most of the session in
rotation with other similar lures (X140, TM145, TM175 SLS etc), and which amazingly produced five fish. I opted for the #721 "See Through Mist Yellow" which seemed ideal for the slightly coloured water and bright conditions as I wanted a highly visible bait. I have to say I'm impressed with this lure, it has an internal sliding weight, similar to my beloved Shore Line Shiner, which stays in the forward position during the retrieve due to a carefully calibrated magnet but slides backwards for the cast (Mag Drive) and she flys straight true and long as a result. Although it wasn't the best of conditions to assess its action (!!!) I couldn't get out of my head that it looked a bit Feed Shallow esqe in the water but I'd like another session to confirm. The lure is certainly very stable at its operating depth of 0.3 -0.5m and the bib is broad and very solid. This lure seems to be a class act. 

Loch Ken

I had a day trying for Pike and Perch aboard Stuart's boat on Loch Ken yesterday. Its the first time Stuart's managed to skunk out on this venue. Despite it looking warm it was actually pretty cold with a brisk northerly wind and the spawning season possibly cooling down the predators appetite. That was the excuse that we agreed on at the end of the day as you do... the other being it was my fault being a newbie here.

Stuart in desperation deployed " the ultimate one" as you can see its quite a lure but this too failed to provoke a response. The only interest that we had was a Signal Crayfish which took a ledgered Mackerel bait that Davy was fishing. These things appear to be a menace of plague proportions introduced to the Loch they are an invasive species originally from the USA. It seems unlikely that the proposed commercial fishery that might address the problem will be agreed. Greed would get in the way over common sense and set a precedent that would see other people follow suit and introduce the Crayfish as a potential revenue stream.

Z Fish Report (3/29/12)

Michelle Clementi  



Steve Hope of Minn. went 75 miles
with Santiago on the Super panga
Gitana for 13 tuna from 30 to 65# 

The blue water is just off the beach, and holding lots of game fish. But with the cooler water temperatures, they slash at the trolled baits and then leave. This is probably due to the cooler water current brings cooler water loving bait species: namely squid. The fish are feeding down below, come back up to the surface to warm up a little, and instinct takes over when a well presented trolled bait comes past. They are attacking the baits, but not eating them.

One notable catch was Michelle Clementi of Ocean City, Maryland with Francisco on the super panga Huntress. She released an estimated 450 pound blue marlin and keeping a very nice bull dorado for dinner at Lety's.

Jorge Alvarez, with his son Jorge Antonio and wife Teri of Vista, California made the long run to Puerto Vicente Guerrero in his 26 foot Glacier. They didn’t catch any fish, but stayed in the small fishing village and checked it all out before heading back to Ixtapa.

The main action has been the light line and fly rod inshore fishing. The cooler water has brought in the good eating sierras in abundant quantities, there are lots of jack crevalle, and tonnage of black skipjack, and chulas (a light meat and good eating tuna with teeth).

Harvey Hayter of Westbank, BC while fishing with Santiago
and Francisco on the Gitana 2 weeks ago

The Roger Myer family of Troncones fished with Mecate on the Aqua Azul, and almost got worn out fighting fish. They got 40 fish of 5 different species. Rob and Sheri Griffin, of Corvallis Oregon, fished with Mecate the next day, and did a repeat.

Ed Kunze (IGFA Representative)



 
 

Lisa Augustin of Kelowna, BC

Adriana Top Boat Today

Mario, our dockmaster snapped this picture as Adriana was approaching the dock - flags flying and Pancho our local sea lion in tow. They had a fabulous day at Punta Gorda in near perfect weather conditions. Father and son Jeff and Jay Schreiber from Sandy, Oregon were aboard and manged to release four striped marlin. Two of the fish were caught on lures, one a guacamaya (this is a term for a parrot colored green, orange and yellow) and one on a light green lure. The other two fish were caught on live caballito, which explains why they have bait left over to feed to the lovable beggar Pancho, who offers a great photo opportunity.

The Sun is Shining & the Weather is Sweet!

Hello everyone, it has been a long time since my last blog update & i am sorry i have not been here posting up my catch reports.

I will try this in date order as this report is going to be pretty big! (Which is a good thing i hope)
So here is goes hope you all enjoy!

So went out on Saturday March the 3rd for a afternoon after the Wrasse on the Soft Plastics. started of pretty quiet and there was alot of cloudy water ( I prefer Clear Blue water) But the deeper water gully's i managed to find had better viability already i feel more confident dropped down my Reins Bubbling Shad and Boom Wrasse on!

Was not a big one only measuring in at 36cm, but still its a first of the day already feels like i got a chance of catching more wrasse or a bigger one!

So carried on fishing away trying all different Gully's getting a couple of bites to keep my hopes up. I then got a follow of a small one wrasse, so flicked it back with the hope to get it & BOOM oh this aint that small "Bloody Hell" I was telling me self. As it came to surface got exited and thought it was a Whopper (5lb+) but it was under the size i first thought, and weighed 4lbs measuring 47cm.

Big Fat Belly on it :) even managed to get a self timer image personally i hate doing this. It always seems to go wrong but it worked first time in this case, which i was quite delighted about :)
Also caught on Reins Bubbling Shad 10 Gram Jig Head

So after another 30 mins i called it a day.

I dont think i went much after then took Alex Plaster for his first ever Bass. He managed one, not bad for his first time fishing for them. Too bad about the Size of it ;)

Apart from that i either blanked or forgot about the session.But simply cant be arsed to go to my van now to get my book telling me what i caught. So just sticking to what images i already have on the Computer :) 

So went out Fishing with Liam Harrison the day before i was off to Mexico. I fished with Crabs for the Wrasse and Liam going for Pollack & Wrasse on the Lures. We went to a low water mark making full advantage of the big 38ft Tides.

 Was quiet to start with until the tide started to turn where my crab got hit by this nice Wrasse:

This one going just over 3lb

Liam Had a Pollack & then Managed his first Lure Caught Wrasse of the Year on the Reins Bubbling Shad again, they do seem to work well throughout the year :)

Right so now i am casually in Mexico in the Riveria Maya. Getting use to the 30 Degree Heat it didn't take me long to rob the Buffet Restaurants of there Bread and be down on the Beach trying to catch Tropical Fish lol! 

Started off Lure fishing Savage Gears but it is very hard to do so, as it is shallow for a long way out!

Close in Shallow work is what i needed to do.

Me into my first  Mexican fishy

Standard float set up using a size 4 hook bit of bread and Boom! 

Only small but its a start this fish is called a Bar Jack! Put up a very good fight for its size!

I did get a bit exited as you can tell by this video

Right so left it a few days didn't want to get in the bad books ;) 

And the mission now was to get my Girlfriend Jess onto a fish! I had first cast to see if the fish was there ;) and managed one straight away. Different species this time, Bream like fish.

Then first cast and Jess got one :) ! 

We did take some awesome photos this holiday of fish just going to show you a couple of my Favorites :) 

Baby Barracuda 

Would be here all day if i were to show you all of them.

So back to the fishing! We went to a place called Xel Ha to go snorkeling was great highly recommend it! Swim with Stingrays i started Stroking them.....i got a bit carried away get in my own little world when i am snorkeling hence how i was in the water for 5 hours hehe ! But when i got out i wet a line and managed this fish :)  

Dont have a Clue what it is dont really care either lol! But so far my best fish of the Holiday! But come on your all thinking where are the fish not the bait??

So booked on with Captain Rick out of Puerto Adventuras on the Boat Named Reel Stripper 

http://www.captricksfishing.com/

We left the harbor at 1.30pm back in for 5pm! 4 Hours fishing for all you people that didn't quite understand Maths :) The Boat looked Decent Enough for just the 2 of us!

Marc is ready to catch some fish!

First hour went by Trawling along and all seemed very quite myself and Marc both looking each other thinking have we just wasted out money haha! But then Rod Screamed off! It was my turn to reel this one in.

It Jumped out water ohhhh its a Sailfish! And after 5 mins Battle it just came off  as it jumped through the air B***** :( I was a bit upset 

But we Carried on 25 mins went by and 2 Rods screamed off at the same time! Whohooo This is Image of us both playing the fish with Marc being the First to get his in! :) 

 Fair Play to the Captain for getting Marc's Camera out of his Bag to take Pictures whilst all of this was Happening :)  

 Then 10 mins later i got mine in! They dont half put up a good fight! This one Estimated at 85lb. I Highly Recommend trying to do this type of fishing.

So on the way back to shore now and 2 rods go off at same time again Marc's turn was next so he was about to grab his rod as i picked up the other one going off. Unfortunately Marc's came of before he felt the fish! But mine was on! Felt a bit bad as it was meant to be Marc's turn. I did offer but he let me have it :) Black fin Tuna was the result estimated at around 15lb :) Put up a great fight also! think all of these fish do!

So i tried couple more times of the shore and caught a few more small fish. My camera broke for the second week. Bit gutted but you didn't miss out on much! Just few more smaller fish of the beach/ rocks etc :) sussed out how to catch Trigger fish on the last day using special limit as bait and lost one on surface around 4lb bite straight through my line. Ohh Well! Thats mexico all summed up! I did the normal holiday stuff mostly though like Drinking/ Chilling.

Back to Jersey! 1pm Tuesday 27th Was fishing by 2pm for 1 hour & Blanked! Was just too tired and Jet lagged! But went last night for a Hour after work and managed couple Wrasse this one being the best (only couple pound on the Reins Bubbling Shad) : 

Chow For Now! Should be going quite a bit now so will keep you updated! Ignore how many exclamation marks i do and how bad my grammar and spelling is. I am literally writing of the top of my head and cant waste too much time as i am at work hehe...right back to work now! :( 

I will end my Blog Post with my Favorite Picture of my Holiday hehe (Sorry Jess xx)

in the mail

In our world of emails, blogs and text messaging, it’s quite nostalgic to see that the red flag on the mailbox is up at the Dirty Dog Ranch. While we wait for the postal jeep to pull up, get caught up with some Mogan news. AF is giving away rods and reels, Minn Kota is giving away cash, and the Mogan Man is on his way to Alabama for the weekend. And the biggest news of all – NEW episodes of Addictive Fishing start this weekend!

***Breaking News***

The NEW Mogan Spoons are in! The most sought after spoon is back on the market with the NEW TroKar hook. Stay tuned for more news about availability.

Lock Down a Deal

Minn Kota is sinking its claws into its latest promotion. Get a $100 mail-in rebate when you buy a Talonshallow water anchor between April 1^st – August 1^st. The Minn Kota Talon, with its strong, fast, quiet deployment, stopped the fishing world in its tracks. It’ll knock ya off your platform! (Just ask Blair.)

 

Around the World and Back

Addictive Fishing and Wright & McGill want to invite you to become part of a legacy; The Flats Blues Traveler. Capt. Blair has a few extra Flats Blue travel rods that he has been using and wants to let you try them out, too. Addictive Fishing will have these rods with them on the water when they’re shooting, at Dick’s appearances, boat shows, events, etc., and will be randomly giving them away to anglers they meet along the way… but there’s a catch. Each recipient must agree to use the Flats Blue rod and Sabalos reel to catch fish, share their story and pass the rod & reel along to someone else. It’s kind of like chain mail, only better.

Showing Off Again

The Mogan Man hits the road this weekend to land in Orange Beach, AL for the Gulf Coast Boat Show. The largest yacht and boat show on the Gulf Coast just got bigger! Come out and meet the Mogan Man Saturday and Sunday as part of the Celebrity Meet & Greet. There will be fishing and hunting expos, seminars, new vendors, exhibits and lots and lots of boats. The Kids Zone is full of fishing games and clinics for the little ones. Watch live tournament weigh-ins and enjoy the tastes of what the gulf coast has to offer. The show runs March 30 - April 1 and it may take all three days to see it all.

New Season of Addictive Fishing Starts Now!

Mogan of the Week - John-Paul Povilaitis

Crank it up! The NEW season of Addictive Fishing is rockin’ Sun Sports starting this weekend! Mark your calendars with the new days and times: Friday @ 10:30 a.m. / Sunday @ 9:30 p.m. (might be bumped later due to the Orlando Magic game this week) / Tuesday @ 6:00 a.m. In this week’s episode, the Mogan Man is fishing in the weeds on the flood tide in Georgia with Capt. Scott Owens. First in the queue is “Blankity Blank” and it’s as thick as stew. C’mon… did you really think we’d cough up the name of the show before our Guess The Title Contestwas over? See the Mogan Lounge or FaceBookfor contest details.  Check out this week’s video clip and let us know what your guess is.

Mogan of the Week

Would you look at that mug?  John-Paul Povilaitis visited the Mogan Loungethis week to do a little bragging. He caught this Mogan flathead on his new Flats Blue travel rod. John-Paul is not part of the Flats Blues Traveler promotion but I’m sure he would say something like “I wouldn’t give this rod up for the world!” Thanks for swinging in, John-Paul. You’re the Mogan of the Week!

Stuck licking the self adhesive stamps,

BillBird

Sea Trout out'nabout

Managed the first ST of the year tonight with a quick session heading south on the way home from work tonight. The fish showed itself and predictably ( for a ST in the sea anyway) took the lure first time when I managed to eventually put a cast on its nose after snagging the lure and then wrapping the line around the tip at the end of the previous cast. Having made a meal of covering it I thought it would have been long gone. Will put the pic up Thursday as I cant find my cable tonight, looked about a pound and half.

I'm looking forward to making the most of my estuary ticket for the Tay this year. Roll on May when that particular sytem should really get going for lures

Loch Etive Club match 24th

Enjoyed my day out as the weather was fine but the fishing patchy. The attendance dropped a little but Jamie and John were joint 1 st with 7 and 4 fish respectively and I was 3rd with 6 fish. I was missing one decent fish to bump me up....

Species caught were, Spurdog, Thornies, Cod , Whiting and Gurnard

Here is a link to the report and another blog I administrate for my club.

http://ayrseaanglingclub.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00Z&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=18

Fishing Takes Off Finally!

Girl Power!  Shown here are Danielle, Allison & Kaitlin from Mound Minnesota with their parents pulling into the dock with lots of flags, announcing their catch aboard La Brisa

Yesterday we were thrilled to see boats come back with multiple flags flying, more than we have seen in awhile.  Top boat was Great Escape Jr, for seven marlin released at Punta Gorda on live bait for Robert Owen, Dan Line and Ben Canella from Zophyk Cove, Nevada. Tracy Ann was not left out, as they released four marlin in the same area for Mark Farber from Coral Gables, Florida. La Brisa followed up with three marlin and Andrea two released.

27/03/12 - Acorn - Paddock Lake

Weight – 68lb 14oz 

Catch – 25 Carp, 25 Skimmers
Weather – Cold start, but warm and sunny with a slight breeze.
Water Temp – 14.8c – 16.6c
Match – Open – 4th out of 19 overall
 

Yet another new venue for me, but at least it’s close to home this time. Doing some research on the venue, thanks to the their website, revealed most of the weights came from either corners or the bridges, so I was pleased to draw peg 34, which won last Saturdays match with 90lb (although I was told later that he didn’t have any anglers either side of him and in fact the angler who had drawn 33 on the other side of the bridge, decided to set up on 34), however it failed to weigh on Sunday.

Setting up on my peg, I had a bridge to my right and to my left I had a gap to the next island. Plumbing around I discovered the far bank was less than a foot deep due to the lake being about a foot below normal level, but there was a few fish moving around and I fancied it for fishing shallow. As for “down the track” the same rig (HB Shindig 0.3g) could be used for fishing under the bridge and 10m to my left in open water. I also plumbed up to the corner of the other island where it was 2ft deep.

On the all in I started firing 4mms at the far bank and went straight over to the corner of the island, immediately landing a 3lb carp on 6mm pellet, but I couldn’t get another and lifting and dropping was difficult due to the overhanging sedges. I did give it a go briefly later on without success.

My constant firing of pellet to the far bank was having the desired affect with tails waving at me, so I went over with hair rigged 6mm pellet. I then spent a very frustrating time trying to hook a fish. I did manage 4 over the next hour, but I couldn’t work why I didn’t hook more. I even tried a new rig, with expander or 3 maggots on the hook – a real head scratcher. In the meantime Mike Owens on p2 was catching well as was p4.

With my 2 down the track swims primed, I started to catch properly on 4mm expander. Mostly skimmers, with carp coming from under the bridge, I managed to keep both swims going rotating over the next 2 hours or so, changing to softer elastic to stop me bouncing the skimmers off the hook, before they both slowed down.

Back to the far bank again, I had kept the pellet going in, mostly 6mm’s this time and there was plenty of fish moving around. But still struggled to catch on 6mm hard pellet, maggot or expander. Then I decided to get some 8mm’s from my carryall and bingo (or doh!) I started to catch properly. Well, to start with it was land 1, lose 1, land 1 lose 1. But a few rig changes sorted that and over the last 90mins another 13 carp where landed.

Overall I was pleased, particularly since it was a first visit, but disappointed, because I spent too long in the 1^st 90mins dicking around trying to catch carp shallow, when I should have concentrated on fishing on the deck, but at least I know for next time. Another carp or 2 would have pushed into to 2^nd, but Mike Owens certainly used his venue knowledge to win comfortably with 92lb.

1^st 92- 3 – Mike Owens – p2
2^nd 73- 0 – Gary Bewdell – p38
3^rd 70- 5 – D Warren – p4
4^th 68-14 – Ken Rayner – p34
4^th 68-14 – Eddie Wynne – p40
6^th 56-14 – D Cole – p8

santa delivers a report from clinton lake

   03-25-12 Clinton Lake - North Fork

Fished for the first hour in the coves across from the takeoff. Fishing was very slow for first hour till I figured out the secret. Bass holding tight to cover, mostly in less than 1 fow. It all started on the NE Corner of the bridge and worked way up the bank North of that. Water temp was 70 degrees and a massive shad die off was evident by the foul smell all across the lake. Every fish caught was gorging on dying shad. Ended up using a Hank Parker twin Indiana Gold Bladed Spinnerbait with no trailer to get the fish. Had to put in a lot of pauses every time you went by a piece of cover to evoke the strikes. Multiple casts along the cover were also necessary. The fish were holding so tight that if you were not right on the logs or rocks you would not get bit. Just because you caught one in an area did not mean you caught them all. Multiple times I caught 2 or 3 fish off of a single log. The biggest was about 2-3 lb and I also caught lots of the 12" variety which is a nice change of pace for clinton lake. No keepers, but some good fish. Air temp - 70 degrees - mostly sunny fished from 4-6 pm Water Muddy to a Very Heavy Stain could not see bait more than 3" down.

  03-26-12 Clinton Lake - Houseboat Cove

Fished from 6-7:30 pm, Cove still closed off due to protected spawning areas. Caught 1 12" bass using the same spinnerbait as the day prior on shallow wood, had a few short strikes should have used a trialer hook. Water temp was 67 degrees, was overcast and getting dark fast. The fish were shallow and right against wood again. No spawning activity present that I could see anyway water heavily stained 6" visibility. After checking the little cove in Houseboat went up to the riprap bank at Mascoutin and fished the outside bank off of the finger working way back into the restaurant (suprisingly it was open closed before I could get there though). Couple more short strikes and then I caught the 4-5lb er. Was super close to the bank and I was not more than 5 ft myself hugging the rocks as I paralleled the bank all the down. Only fished the spinnerbait all night, should have used a trailer hook or a squarebill crankbait but I only had a limited amount of time to fish before I had to leave anyway. Pictures never do the fish justice.....................

Visiting The Vise

  Since the weekend was a bust for me, I figured I would share something a little more productive. The following images are a few flies I have recently tied up. I have been toying with all different size flies and patterns. These are not just trout flies. I am on a mission this year to try and catch a pike or musky on a fly. Hope you enjoy!

More fun on Dry Run

Sunday I took a young man named Will up to Dry Run Creek for his first ever fly fishing trip. The fishing was great. Will picked up some new advanced techniques pretty quick and was high sticking his way up the creek before we knew it. We landed several nice fish on dry's, midges, and soft hackles. Here are a couple of the trophy's from the day! ( Sorry Will, your dad cut your head off on this photo!)