Miami, Florida - Offshore

Everywhere you read , you will see something written about fishing with live bait. Without a doubt, using livebait will definitely increase your chances of catching fish. One of the easiest methods of catching live bait is with the use of a cast net. However, many anglers are reluctant to purchase a net because they are afraid they may not be able to throw it. You don’t have to be built like Hercules to throw a net. Throwing a cast net is an art. Technique and timing are the two most important ingredients in throwing the net in a perfect circle. The next most important element is purchasing the proper net for the type of bait you may be catching. Cast nets come in many shapes and sizes. The best nets are made from monofilament. They are light, they sink fast, it’s difficult for the bait to see them, and they are quite durable. In my opinion an eight foot net is the minimum size net you would need for use in our area. Much of our bait catching is done in deeper water. When a net is thrown and it starts to sink, it will start to close. If you throw a small net in deep water, by the time it reaches the bottom, which is where many of the baitfish will be hiding, it will have already closed. I prefer a 12 foot cast net which is the largest net permitted by law. It is also the largest size you will see available by most net manufacturers. I use a 1 inch stretch. The stretch is the size of the opening in the mesh. It is usually measured from knot to knot. If you use too small a mesh size the net may not sink fast enough, and if you use too large a mesh size the bait may slip through the opening. Also, if the baitfish are small enough to stick their heads through the opening and not their entire body, you will end up with every baitfish “gilled” in the opening requiring you to pinch their heads off to remove them from the net. ( NOT a good idea if you want live bait). A common method used in catching live bait is to anchor near a marker and chum the bait behind the boat. You would then throw your net over the top of the school of fish. You must let the net sink to the bottom. This is a common mistake anglers make when trying to catch a school of fleeing baitfish. The bait will flee toward the bottom to escape the sinking net. You must “pin” them on the bottom before retrieving the net. The only time you would not let the net sink is when you are throwing over Ballyho. Ballyho tend to stay on the surface and will jump up into the net when it lands on top of them. And of course, never let your net sink and land on a known obstruction i.e. rocks, wrecks, etc. Buster McKenzie, Vice President of Calusa Nets, in Ft. Myers Fla.,explained that a net should be made with a least six panels. When a net is tied together in panels, it will lie flat on the ground, making it easier to cast. McKenzie also advised to look for a good weight to length ratio. You should have 1 1/2 pounds of lead for every foot of net. ( i.e. 15 pounds of lead for a 10 foot net) Calusa Nets make a wide range of nets and sizes. their nets can be found locally here in Miami at Crook and Crook Marine Discount Store, located at 2795 SW 27 Ave. 305-854-0005. Calusa Nets also offers a terrific video that teaches how to throw a net, and tips on proper care of nets. You can order a video from them for $19.95 plus S&H by calling 1-888-5-Calusa. Now, once you have your baitwell full of bait you can use them to catch Dolphin. During this recent blast of winds we have been having terrific Dolphin fishing. Dolphin have been all over the edge of the stream. Kitefishing along the edge has been very effective for Dolphin this past week. Many boats are bringing in two to three dozen fish per trip. They have been ranging from 4 to 20 pounds. Frigate birds have been following schools of Dolphin and are a sure indication as to where the fish are. Use your binoculars to search for them over a larger area. April 30th is the date for this years, David and Mary Alper Grand Dolphin Fishing Tournament. There will be $5500 in prize money. $ 300.00 entry fee per boat. Weigh-in will be at the Jewish Community Center on 11155 SW 112 Ave in south Dade. For more information call 305-271-9000 ext 241. Professional captains are welcome On Thursday nights, from 7pm to 8pm, at the Old Cutler Raw Bar, South Dixie Highway and SW 184 Street, come listen to “Fishing South Florida Style”. This is an hour long live radio show hosted by Mike Pace, Captain Rob Fordyce, Captain Marty Locke, and Captain Mark Houghtaling. Offshore and inshore fishing topics are covered during the live radio broadcast, and you can pick up a few tips from the radio hosts after the show. You can also catch the show on Thunder Country 100.3 FM. Captain Mark Houghtaling wants to hear from you. Send him your latest catches and pictures to15920 SW 85 Ave. Miami, Fla. 33157, or E-Mail him at [email protected]. Capt Mark also has a charter fishing service ,you can call him at 305-253-1151 or check out his web page at http://www.magicfin.com For free safe boating and personal watercraft classes call the Coast Guard Auxiliary at 305-820-8411, or the United States Power Squadron at 305-238-4807.