Pensacola Fishing Forum / General Discussion / Boating and Fishing Tricks and Tips

Cutting the tails off live or dead bait for Kings

Backlash — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:27:26 GMT

I have been seeing some people cutting the tails off the hardtails there useing for bait , I would
assume that it is to make it look like the "slash" has already happend, does this make a king go ahead and take the bait??? Or is there another reason

Home made Gotchas. Fishing tip # ???

captken — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:29:42 GMT

I have no idea what the tip # is for this one and haven't got time to look for it. The photos were close at hand, though.

I would imagine you can figure out how to do this from these photos but if you can't, I'll look up the tip and post it.

I'm showing this with brass cases but Nickel plated cases look better. The hose can be colored with magic markers or worm dip. You can use PVC pipe or the bottom section of ball point pens. I sometimes use Poly ski rope if I want a wild color. I'm showing this with 00 buckshot but a split shot will work fine too.

[IMG]http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff281/davysnavytoo/fortyfive.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff281/davysnavytoo/fortyfive2.jpg[/IMG]

I hate braided line!

grouper1963 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:10:06 GMT

I can't understand it - I have tried three types of braided lines, and they simply do not perform. I've tried Spiderwire, Power-Pro, and Berkley Gorilla and they all fail. The Spiderwire outer liner cracks then the line weakens; Power-Pro abrades and breaks easily; Gorilla simply breaks. I tried braids for trolling (20lb dia), cast fishing (12lb dia), bottom fishing (80lb), and AJ jigging (50lb) - no joy. Considering how many people praise braided lines, I'm obviously doing something wrong. I tie the recommened knots, use mono backing, and rinse after every use. I've never had this level of issue from mono, and I consider myself successful at fishing. :banghead

The last straw was yesterday (Jul 3) jigging at the timberholes. 50lb Gorilla on Penn 550ssg with 6' floro leader - hooked a nice AJ well up in the column. After a good run - bam - the line breaks and an AJ has his lip decoration. I turned the air blue with disparaging comments about braid...:hoppingmad

So am I alone? Is this a love it or hate it product? Any better reccs about brand of braids? Should the drag be set lighter than I would with mono?

BTW - Happy 4th to all and God Bless America :usaflag

Tips on catching keeper Pompano?

-- Saints Domination -- — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:01:25 GMT

Been surf fishing with a pompano rig and dead shrimp for about a week now and i'm only hooking pretty small pomps (and a gazillion lady fish). You guys have any advice on how to target the larger ones? BTW im casting my bait out in between first and second

Thanks!

Trolling Saturday afternoon....

Red Fly — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:46:22 GMT

My wife and I went out late yesterday, didn't have much luck finding bait fish but we did caught a few non-keepers with the bait we did catch while fighting a strong outgoing tide in the pass.

We decided to move over to Ft. Picken and lay out some trolling lines and work our way up to Quietwater and grab a bite to eat. We had two rods running lures, pretty well bent so you would recognize that they had lures on them. Within 5 minutes we had a boat cross our wake and clip a line, there goes a lure. It can happen I understand that, we re-rigged and put out another line.

Once again out of no where another boat cut our wake, there went another lure. The question is; should I be running some kind "Hey stupid, I'm trolling" flag? Am I missing something? Or do people just not pay attention?

I notice yesterday while fishing the pass, there were several of us around each other other boats approached with no regard to the amount of wake they were creating. Sorry to sound like I'm venting but I needed it.

What is your favorite food or snacks to take with you on the water?

Garbo — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:16:42 GMT

When we go it chips and drinks. But I have talked to people that have a real deal of a meal. What do you take?

What are you most anal about on your boat?

Garbo — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:45:38 GMT

You know it is there..... what is it?

I can't stand loose trash. Coke Cans, loose mono, lures laying around, it don't matter. Put it where it belongs. I can't stand stuff laying around. Most boat owners are anal about something while on the water, what is your vise?

NOT REALLY A FISHING TIP. 4/0 Circle Hook through the ear lobe.

captken — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:41:55 GMT

My grand daughter Allee marches to the tune of a different drum and she often talks me into marching with her. First she "Decided" that I needed to curl my moustache so I'd look like a pirate. I said, ok. No problem. I can grow hair on my lip and in my ears but not so well on my head anymore.

Next she decided I needed to shave my head. Her arguement made sense; a haircut is 8 bucks and another 5 bucks to get to town and back. Sooo, I now shave my head every other day. No problem! Honestly, I don't know why I didn't start this 10 years ago.

A week or so ago, she decided I needed an ear ring to go with the "Pirate look." I didn't want a ring or a stud so I decided to go with a 4/0 SS Circle Hook. She polished one up, sterilized it and tried to get that big sucker through my ear lobe with a Hemostat. It hurt, and bled like heck but didn't go through because the Hemostat was too darn wimpy.

I went to the shop and got 8" Vise Grips. She didn't get the hook clamped securely and managed to botch the hole a bunch when the hook slipped. I clamped the hook securely and this time, it got to bleeding so bad she got sick. Dammmmmmmmmnnnnn, that hurt baaaaaaaddd but the hook wouldn't go through.

About that time, my wife came in and saw the carnage and took over. She drove a large pin through and put something on the back after cutting the pin off with my fishing pliers. She said she wanted it to heal before stretching the hole big enough for the hook.

No, I wasn't drunk and I wasn't high either. I'll admit to being stupid.

The girls who have their XXXX pierced and their YYYYYYY pierced are either tougher than I am or totally wasted when it was done. Don't come near my ZZZZ with anything sharp.

I might go ahead with the circle hook if the hole stretches enough but I'll have a snort or two first.

I took Allee to the airport this morning for a month long visit with her Mom. When I left her at the gate she said, "I expect to see the hook in your ear when I get home."

We'll see.

bilge pump

gcrbama — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:22:42 GMT

i have a 1974 20' mako. the pump went out last weekend. it is a 1100 gph rule. that was a chore trying to use a hand pump. my question is- what is the best thing out there. $$$ academy only had 750 gph. if 1100 is a little over kill im ok with that. thanks.

Does anybody have any live bait?

TWINKIE6816 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:30:13 GMT

I can't believe that we are 1 day from the fourth of July and nobody has any live shrimp or anything! Does anybody know where to get some live bait in the area? Thanks for any help!

Useing a leader with a gotcha ?

Backlash — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:23:34 GMT

I have always been told that i dont need a leader on a gotcha, but Sunday i lost another one because something bit threw my line again ?? Dont know what it was but this is getting costly replaceing gotcha's . Anybody else haveing the same trouble ?? If so how can you fix it ?

Keeping a King Hooked

Backlash — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:58:17 GMT

Any tips on keeping a king hooked up ?? or is it just luck ??

Rigging for my Baitrunner..

Danno — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:27:14 GMT

First, please excuse my art work. Never pretended to be talented in that area.

I have gotten a number of short strikes King fishing lately so I changed my rigging up by using a stinger set up.

My favorite set up for Kings is my Shimano Baitrunners both the 4500 and the 6500. I started rigging with the treble as the stinger, the lead line coming off the circle. Since I fish a Carolina type rig, (with the line sliding through the egg weight) I switched and used the circle as the stinger. It seems to work well.

My intentions is King fishing, however on our last outing we landed a couple of groupers. I'm not inclined to toss back a couple of legal size groupers. Just because they didn't understand they should only be hitting single circles and should stay clear of the trebles.

I understand the new reef fish regs, however I am not reef fishing but have caught reef fish.

Your opinion, is this going to be a problem.

How to prevent line slippage

Ajerv — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:11:57 GMT

On spinning reels, there is usually no hole in the shaft of the spool to securely anchor the line. In my experience, braid will shrink and if you hook a monster and get to the end 1/4 of the line, the line peels off the spool like a donut while the spool does not move. You loose the fish because once that happens, you cannot gain line back by reeling in! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

LEAD-FREE FISHING SINKERS TO MAKE AT HOME

Perkons — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:02:52 GMT

Please pass this on to anyone who might find it useful.

http://members.aol.com/Ciekurs3/sandsinkers.html

It's great for kids who fish (and for keeping their moms happy and preventing family arguments about lead).

Also saves money and stops worry about sinkers that get stuck on jetty rocks.

Perkons

anyone know if the navarre beach pier is open?

pcola fisherman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:56:04 GMT

Fishin for fun

:letsdrink

Useing live bait for Kings

Backlash — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:12:43 GMT

Free spool or work it back to you , what works best for you ?

Any tips on both ways off a pier ? Would like your input on

this , Thanks

Haveing trouble tieing a haywire knot

Backlash — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:22:03 GMT

Any tips on tieing a haywire knot ???

garmin bluecharts disk

pez321 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:04:49 GMT

anyone have bluecharts disk for our area? I have a garmin and would like to borrow or rent someone's disk.

Pensacola Gulf Pier

Backlash — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:25:45 GMT

Going to the pier Sunday morning, if your out there would like

to say Hi and meet you, let me know, or PM

How far out would you go in my boat?

Shiner — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:59:19 GMT

I have a 21 foot Hydra-sport center console with a 200 HP Johnson. It is setup with dual batteries but a single engine. What is the farthest anyone would take this boat? I will be buying the Sea Tow membership just in case. Just curious how far out some members would be willing to go in this size of a boat.

Plotted a 9 mile line off shore.

Tuna Man — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:49:08 GMT

I have had a few members looking for map sites to determine the 9 mile boundary. I went to Google Earth and plotted (to start with) 10 points and their nine mile coordinates off shore. These are very close, as I had the map exploded at each point. All shoreline points are in the surf. Plotted in KM

A-1a 30° 7'36.17"N 87°30'43.21"W

A-2a 30° 9'20.68"N 87°23'49.13"W

A-3a 30°10'47.28"N 87°16'46.72"W

A-4a 30°10'46.71"N 87°17'13.32"W

A-5a 30°10'12.12"N 87°11'3.65"W

A-6a 30°11'18.40"N 87° 4'18.30"W

A-7a 30°12'45.18"N 86°56'36.01"W

A-8a 30°13'11.30"N 86°53'55.11"W

A-9a 30°13'50.26"N 86°49'59.69"W

A-10a 30°14'36.35"N 86°42'3.68"W

Looking for free jon boat

Kodiak_Man — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:25:19 GMT

I am looking for a jon boat 10-14' that someone may have given up on and wants to give away. I don't mind if it leaks or not, as long as it is repairable with a little work. you can email me at Cpennington57@hotmail.com and if possible attach a pic. Thank you!

Whom do you recommend?

redlegs — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:46:34 GMT

If you have to use a mail order company for tackle, terminal, lures, misc: whom would you use. Am just curious of what the fishing community here uses, and why.

No disrespect meant towards our local folks, sometimes it's alot easier to sit behind the workstation and place an order is all.

Lake videos

Tuna Man — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:25:11 GMT

Ran across this on Craigs List and thought some might want to check out this site. Be nice to see the lakes from the air.

http://www.bassvideos.com/

http://bham.craigslist.org/boa/730209119.html

Best knot to tie a steel leader to your line ??

Backlash — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:25:59 GMT

The only knot i really know how to tie is a albright, what should i be tieing and how,

i look at pics of knots but it does not look the same when i am done?

any tips on how to ?

:usaflag

snapper fishing

floater — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:07:46 GMT

i was wathching a fishing show called the spanish fly and they were in south florida catching cubera snapper using live spiney lobsters hooking them in the tail with a #10 circle hook and they were hitting it like crazy not knowing for sure how long they had been there filming but i have a question,if cubera like spiney lobsters is it possible to use live crawfish snapper fishing, i ask this because i caught a 22 pound snapper saturday at the edge and in its belly it had what appeared to be a crab claw if so where can u find live crawfish/mudbugs

2003 Trophy 20’ Center Console for sale

Joe Pace — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:54:37 GMT

I have the following boat for sale. The boys have grown and gone, and have other interests now.

I purchased the boat new and its been flawless in it's performance. I invite you to check out the Photos and features listed. Contact numbers are listed below. The price is 17,900. Please call with any questions.

2003 Trophy 20’ Center Console w/150 HP Mercury

Features:

Custom Color-Keyed T-Top with Rocket Launcher

Full Electronics Package including Furuno & Garmin Units

Deluxe Cushion Package

Extra Large Circular Live Well

Raw Water Wash Down

Double Battery with Switch

Insulated Fish Box with Drain

Lots of Dry Storage

Non Slip Deck with Wide Gunnel

Full U.S. Coast Guard Safety Package

Anchor with Chain & 300’ Rope (Includes Anchor Ball)

Integrated Rod Holders

Deluxe Captain’s Helm Seat with Foot Rest

Full Instrumentation

12V DC Power Source

*PLEASE COMPARE AT $17,900*

W: 932-8880 Cell: 712-2712

FISHING TIP # 265. HOW TO CATCH CIGARS INSTEAD OF SARDINES

captken — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:45:11 GMT

FISHING TIP # 265

CATCH CIGAR MINNOWS INSTEAD OF SARDINES

When you are bait fishing with a Sabiki or Gold hook rig, you will catch more Cigar Minnows by dropping deep below the Sardines. Cigar Minnows usually stay deeper.

There is great temptation to start jigging as soon as your rig hits the water when the surface is absolutely churning with bait.

You will catch bait faster with a light sinker but most of them will be Sardines if uou fish topside.

Spanish Sardines are great bait but they do not stay alive in your well as long as Cigar Minnows.

If I need Cigar Minnows for trolling baits, I use gold hooks rather than Sabiki flies and use a much heavier sinker. Sabiki Flies are eaten by the Sardines even though they are sinking very fast. The gold hooks aren't eaten by the Sardines quite as fast so, when you slow them down to begin jigging down deep, you have a better shot at Cigar Minnows.

No, I cannot prove this but it is based on many years experience catching bait.

Bought a new rod and reel to fish for kings

Backlash — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:40:12 GMT

After all the diffrent tips and kinds everybody here said i should get, (and thanks for all the

info everyone) some stuff i knew of, some i did not , but for the price and name i went

with what i knew, ended up with a Penn 850ss and a 7"Penn Slamer rod ($148.00 at

wallyworld for the combo) i hope i made the right choise ??? What do yall think??

Thanks , Backlash....:usaflag

Where to find true tide info for where i want to fish

Backlash — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:30:50 GMT

I find offen that after checking the news or paper for tide info and get there at that time that

i have missed it or am way early ?? Why is this ?? When i read a time for the tides, when is

the right time to get there, like if its coming in at 7:30 am , i need to be there at 6:30am right ??

Theb right rod to match Penn 950 reel

SirSea — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:37:14 GMT

Typically always bottom fish, but times are calling for a change and I need some advice to match the reel for a little casting with top water or maybe somne jigging to match the reel.

Putting Asprin in the Baitwell??????

Gone Fishin' Too — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:38:14 GMT

I was talking to a guy in the West Marine store the other day, and we were talking about livewells and keeping bait alive a long time when we fish the Pensacola Int. Billfish Tour. in a few weeks. He told me to put a couple asprin tablets in the baitwell with the bait and it helps sedate them and keep them less stressed. Has anyone ever tried this before, and does it work? I don't want to be the fool that dumps asprin in the livewell and kills all the bait before we are ready to fish with it.

Fishing for Kings

Backlash — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:11:44 GMT

No matter what I did nothing worked, was at p'cola pier yesterday,

use live hardtails , cig. minnows , i watched the other

guys and tryed to do as they did, nothing, can someone

give me some tips??

Looking into some fishing gear

Pierce07 — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:01:55 GMT

I'm looking into getting a few good rods for inshore/offshore fishing. Mostly stuff like snapper, cobbia, etc. Never been a big fisher always liked to spearfish. I'm just looking for recommendations on Rod/Reel, tackle, and any other gear yall can recommend.

Thanks

FISHING TIP # 647 Add a small snap.

captken — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:16:48 GMT

FISHING TIP # 647

A SMALL SNAP IS MIGHTY HANDY

Now that I am using Stren Dura Tuff, I don't have to worry about cutting back my leader nearly as often. Fishing out of a yak makes any unnecessary rigging something to be avoided at all costs. I've started using a 20# Cross-lock snap on my leader.

I can change rigs in seconds and, with the super abrasion resistance of 20# test Stren DT, I don't worry even a little bit. I even use the tiny snap with Jerk baits. I've been using these snaps for the last 2 months and have not had a single line breakage nor has a snap come open.

Last week I fought a 20# Jack for at least 15 minutes on my bait caster. I was using a pretty tight drag because I was tossing a Jerk Shad under dock lights expecting Snook. No problem at all!

Some lures might be negatively affected by a small snap but I haven't noticed it yet.

Cutting back your leader several times per trip sometimes requires tying on a new leader. I much prefer to change leaders at home or at the dock where I can assure a perfect line to leader connection.

converting a sailboat to a flatsboat???

wetaline — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:46:48 GMT

I have been wondering if it would be possible and even usable to convert a small 13ft sailboat to a flats boat. With the mast and boom and all of the rigging removed the hull looks a lot like a small bass or flats skiff. I just don't know how stable a sailboat is, like a similar sized john boat? The hull looks pretty sleek and should be pretty low drag, so I would think that it would move pretty quick with an outboard. Do any of you think it would be stable enough to make it feasible? Below is a pic of the type boat I have been thinking about.

when to use a leader with a plug ??

Backlash — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:05:59 GMT

ok , i got the plugs yall said i should get, now when or if i need

to use a steel leader with them ???

Are there any fly fishermen here? Tip 349.

captken — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:49:54 GMT

Capt Ken's FISHING TIP # 348

YET ANOTHER WATERNOODLE USE

FLIP FLOPS TOO

Water noodles are easy to cut and shape into fly bodies. If you keep the size small, they cast easily and float high where they are visible in chop. Limit the diameter to about 3/8" and you should be ok as far as casting goes. Very light and bulky flies are a booger to cast.

To make a very effective popper or slider for Trout or Bass, I use a cutter made out of a .357 cartridge case. This forms a nice blank that can easily be tapered, flattened, cupped or pointed.
For a tail, I usually use buck tail or hackle feathers but the stranded rubber in small bungee cords works great and be colored easily with a Magic Marker.
I bend humps in the shank of Mustad 34007 or 34011 hooks then wrap the shanks with unwaxed dental floss.
Split the head with a razor---coat the wrapped hook with Epoxy and insert the hook.
After the glue sets, wrap a small amount of the tail material to a tooth pick and cover the wrappings with epoxy.
Next, poke the end of the toothpick into the bug body until the epoxy covered wrappings are completely inside the bug head. Clip off excess toothpick and trim tail to the desired length.

Using the same .357 cutter you can make fine and cheap fishing floats.

Cut the plugs (bodies)

Bend the hooks (Mustad 3407 #2)

Glue hook into bodies

Tie tails onto toothpicks

Insert toothpicks into holes in the back of bodies.

I’ll clip the toothpicks off in the morning.

I've described how to make the hole cutter in previous tips. Check out "Flip Flop Popper" or Flipflopfly

Any tips on keeping live shrimp alive longer ??

Backlash — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:46:45 GMT

How to keep shrimp alive longer ??