Fish Facts

Fish Facts
Blue Marlin Mikaira Nigricans Tackle Tip For the most productive results, trolling large whole fish baits or skirted lures at 4-8 MPH have proven effective for both the Atlantic and the Pacific blue marlin.	The blue marlin ranges worldwide in cool to warm, temperate and tropical waters preferring temperatures of 68-88° F. Sportfishermen worldwide spend thousands of dollars and many years in pursuit of sportfishing's most glamorous trophy. Every angler's first encounter with a blue marlin is an unforgettable experience. Whether the strike ends in a hook-up or a miss, the vivid electric blue of an excited marlin will be indelibly etched in the angler's mind forever. Any size blue marlin is a trophy, even though large females can reach 2,000 lbs. A surface water temperature gauge is a vital piece of equipment when fishing for a blue marlin. Once a positive hook-up is made, efficient crew team-work is essential to land the fish. Although delicious, the blue marlin is fabulous sportfish that is best released.


Sailfish Istiophorus Platypterus	When the winter cold fronts move into southeast Florida, the wind howls from the northeast and the edge of the northern flowing gulfstream turn feather-white, it's sailfish time! During this time the pods of baitfish are blown in closer to shore, huddled in paralyzed masses in fear of the feeding "spindle beak". Sailfish can achieve sizzling speeds with up to 50 knots being quoted, but tire quickly and are generally considered a great light tackle species. The sailfish is famous for spectacular aerial acrobatic displays.
Tackle Tip Sailfish thrive in the tro0pical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and the Indian Oceans near shore. They prefer temperatures of 72-85° F. The most successful techniques are trolling with artificials or rigged balao, mullet or flying fish and kite fishing with live bait.


White Marlin Tetrapturus Albidus	The white marlin is a small marlin found in concentrations off Venezuela, Gulf of Mexico, and from North Carolina to the southern New Jersey coasts of the U.S.A. The white marlin is a great light tackle gamester and a "finicky feeder" that will try the patience of the most ardent angler. Just when all the proven tricks and techniques of a tried and tested crew have failed, the white will seize the most unlikely bait and turn an organized cockpit into a Chinese fire drill. On the eastern seaboard the white marlin is most often the first marlin experience the offshore fisherman will have. Tackle of 20-30 lbs. is ideally suited for white marlin fishing where the angler can test his prowess with an evenly matched contender. The white marlin is easy to identify by the lack of the hump on the shoulder and the rounded dorsal fin.
Tackle Tip White marlin like the tropical and warm temperate waters of the western Atlantic with temperatures of 72-86° F. Trolling 4-8 MPH with rigged balao, mullet, or squid and artificial baits produce the best results. White marlin will often strike baits intended for sailfish.


Wahoo Anthocybium Solanderi	The WAHOO!! "The speedster of the Sea", has the reputation of being a loner and is rarely found in schools. Its range is worldwide in tropical, warm temperate waters where it prefers temperatures of 70-86° F. Capable of speeds approaching 50 MPH, the wahoo, once hooked can thrill any angler with runs of blistering speeds and high leaps with an almost splashless re-entry. Ernest Hemingway preferred the wahoo to all marine game fishes for its flavor , but like all sportfish, the wahoo is best released.
Tackle Tip Wahoo can be caught top water trolling with spoons, artificial lures, or rigged balao and mullet. Deep fishing with live bait can also be productive. Recommended bait is a rigged balao with a small skirted artificial, trolled from 6.5-8.5 MPH. One of the best live baits is pinfish.


Dolphin Coryphaena Hippurus	Mahimahi and dorado are common names for the brilliantly colored dolphin that is never disappointing and always fun. Vivid blues and greens shot with flashes of iridescent gold, a rainbow of colors displayed on the sides of an excited school of dolphin greyhounding across the wake to attack trolled surface baits can cause an over zealous angler to grab the rod before the fish ever strikes. Dolphin are most often the offshore beginner's first sportfishing experience and are fun for the whole family. Fishermen rarely tire of catching dolphin because of it's reputation as a tough, furious fighting aerialist when hooked. The dolphin is an excellent table fish.
Tackle Tip Dolphin prefer water temperatures of 72-88° F., and range worldwide in tropical, warm temperate seas. Trolling strip baits, rigged balao, and small yellow and green skirted baits are recommended as well as casting to the fish on the surface.


Grouper Epinephelus Morio	Alias "BOOT" to anyone who has ever pulled one up from the deep, for his uncanny ability to dive back into the hole you just pulled him out of and stay there. Although voracious bottom feeders many prized groupers are caught trolling the shallow waters of Florida Bay. the grouper is highly prized as a food fish and described by those who are not normally fish lovers, as not being a "fishy" tasting fish. Almost all groupers have high quality, very firm white flesh that lends itself to a variety of tasty recipes. Your search for grouper should take you to ledges, drop-offs, and wrecks. Groupers range worldwide in cool to warm temperate waters. In the western Atlantic grou0er are found from Virginia to Rio do Janeiro.
Tackle Tip Grouper can be caught on a variety of baits including anchored and drift fishing with cut bait, live bait, and feathered or skirted deep water jigs. Also deep trolling lures can be effective.


Cobia Rachycentron Canadum	To describe a cobia some may say it looks to be a cross between a shark and a catfish, but the succulent white meat soon makes you forget the appearance. Cobia can be found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate waters of 70-86° F. around wrecks, buoys, and accompanying giant manna rays. In many areas, dedicated cobia fisherman can be found casting yellow jigs around manna rays anticipating cobia darting from under the ray and "woofing" down the bait followed by a powerful, belligerent fight. Many old time cobia fishermen call the "line cod" and tell woeful tales of doing battle with a "green ling."
Tackle Tip Cobia can be tempted by trolling small skirted baits at 3-5 MPH and by fishing live pinfish or cut bait while anchored or drifting.


Redfish Sciaenops Ocellatus	From the backwaters of the Gulf of Mexico to the surf of the Virginia Capes, the redfish presents an exciting challenge to the back country angler with a fly rod looking for "tailing" reds or the hearty surf fisherman casting into the mist shrouded dawn. Also known as the red drum and channel bass, the redfish is easily identified by the dead give-away black spot near his tail. Redfish can be found from Mexico north along the gulf coast and along the Atlantic coast of the U.S.A. from Florida to New Jersey, preferring waters of 56-84° F.
Tackle Tip All types of tackle, from fly rods in the shallow estuaries to heavy spinning or conventional tackle for the bigger red fish encountered on the Virginia and Carolina coasts, are appropriate for redfish. Recommended baits are casting lures, shrimp, squid, and live pinfish.


Striped Bass Morone Saxatilis	The striped bass, also known as the "Squid Hound", striper, and rockfish, is a voracious feeder with a wide ranging diet. The striper likes a large variety of small fish and invertebrates. His coloration can vary from an olive green, dark blue, or black on his back fading to silver bands and white on his belly. His name comes from the 7-8 prominent dark stripes running horizontally along his flanks. The striped bass is found in almost all coastal areas of North America as well as fresh water lakes in over 30 states. Ins some states the striper is highly regulated because of declining numbers and although a high quality table fish, is best released to fight again.
Tackle Tip For the most productive results fishing for striped bass, try slow trolling against the current with a white bucktale or a "Smilin' Bill" from 1 to 2 ounces either near the surface on monofilament or deep on wire line. Also drifting live eels or live menhaden can be very successful. 20-3- lb. tackle is preferred.


Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus Albacares	Also known as the allison tuna, the yellowfin tuna is an excellent big game fish found worldwide in warm seas with temperatures ranging from 60-80° F. Yellowfin are on record of approximately 9 feet and 400 lbs., but are more common from 10-100 lbs. They are a strong fish, renowned hard fighters with enough speed and tenacity to test the mettle of both the angler and his tackle. Yellowfin tuna are excellent table fare and can be prepared in a variety of ways to suit your palate.
Tackle Tip The two favored methods for catching yellowfin tuna are drift fishing with cut bait in a chum line, commonly called "chunking", or top water trolling with artificial lures, rigged balao, or small strip baits. Recommended bait is a small skirted lure or rigged balao trolled at 4.5-9.0 MPH.


Tarpon Megalops Atlanticus	The "Silver King", many a fisherman's first tarpon materializes as a smoking spool and burning thumbs as the fish rips off line at incredible speeds and explodes the surface like an ICBM launched from a submarine wearing a rhinestone suit. It is at this time, the angler, with mouth open in awe, discovers the thrill of jumping a tarpon. If the angler has done his job and has firmly set the hook in the cinder block hard jaw of the prehistoric gamester, he is in for one of angling's greatest challenges. Every tarpon fisherman's responsibility is to release every tarpon brought to the boat to guarantee the future of the great "silver king", and offer future generations unforgettable thrills.
Tackle Tip Tarpon are found in the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic coastal areas and prefer water temperatures of 72-88° F. Tarpon can be caught casting or live bait fishing from boats or shore. Recommended baits are shrimp, live pinfish or mullet, crabs and artificials.


Spanish Mackerel Scomberomorous Maculatus	The Spanish mackerel ranges from Brazil in the south to Cape Hatteras in the its northern range during the months of April and June. Larger fish can reach up to 36" and 11 lbs. When you and your family want an afternoon of excitement, look for schools of feeding Spanish mackerel just off the beach. These silvery gamefish with lines of regularly spaced elliptical bronze spots are normally eager to take a shiny or flashy bait, and multiple hook-ups are common. Fish in the 3-5 lb. range are a real blast on spinning tackle and offer equal pleasure in the kitchen.
Tackle Tip Spqanish mackerel can be taken with cut bait, but seem to prefer either live shrimp or frozen shrimp in the natural bait category. For best results, slow troll small Hopkins lures, Diamond jigs, Johnson spoons, Reflecto spoons, or Tony Aceto spoons on the surface and also with No. 1 planners.


Snook Centropomus Undecimalis	The snook, known also as robalo and "Old Linesides". If ever a state has a fishing mystique, it would be that inspired by the snook in Florida. Snook fishermen are addicted to the allure of the snook and pursue the snook with missionary zeal, whether drifting live bait on the outgoing tide near a bridge abutment, jetty or trying to deceive your quarry by casting your favorite lure into the shallows of the overhanging mangroves. In the world of gamefish, the snook is always a gentleman and a prize that always ignites an adrenaline rush when a starting explosion at the surface followed by an aerobatic display announces hook-up. snook are found on both shores of the Americas with concentrations in Florida, Texas, and Southern California. Average size is from 5-50 lbs.
Tackle Tip Snook prefer the warm temperate waters of the Atlantic and Pacific coastal areas with temperatures of 70-86° F. Bait fishing with shrimp or live pinfish, trolling with artificials, and casting medium sinking or floating lures are recommended for best results.