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Most Recent Entries
- Small King Conchs
- Fishing In The Everglades
- Mullet Shortage
- Tilapia Vs. Nile Perch
- Trolling Some Area Lakes
- Google Earth
- Juvenile Tarpon
- Snook Moving Out
- Beware Of Coyotes
- Jet-Ski Rental Safety
- Cut-Offs More Myth Than Fact
- The Places To Wade
- Try Gandy For Sharks
- Fort DeSoto Advice
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Monthly Archives
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Q:Who is a good artificial guide in the Cockroach area? I know there are a lot of live bait guides around there, but I enjoy the artificial approach. Thanks. Rod Lineberger
A: I don’t know anyone who specifically guides Cockroach with artificials, but Capt. Ray Markham fishes the whole south shore and he is excellent, uses only artificials; (941) 723-2655. FS
Q: Hello Frank: Thanks for your last article on “Visitors Get a Little Fishing Refresher.” We live here for six months (winter). We are located just north of the Columbus bridge on the east side of the river with a long dock to fish from. I also have a little 18’ C.C. to run around downtown and the port. I have seen huge snook swim right by on several occasions. I have tried to throw out in front of them (during the day) and they won’t hit at anything. Rubber shads, rattle traps and bombers I have thrown. It’s very exciting to see them. How do you hook up with one? Thanks, Dave Zeien
A: One good bet is a large, live shrimp, hooked on a 1/0 short shank hook, no weight, and cast it in front of them. Another would be a freshwater shiner,which you can get at baitshops on the Hillsborough River like the one on Fowler. Use a 3/0 hook and swim them around the areas where you see the snook. They sometimes will take a DOA plastic shrimp, too. Good luck. FS
Dear Frank,
I have read your articles since I was a little kid and all your books and I use most of the tips on fishing that you give out and have always found it to work out great. My dad has been living on the water in Punta Gorda for about 2 years now and I try to get down there as much as I can to fish I and I do quite well in the fall spring and summer but I have yet to do very good in the winter time there. If you know the area called Hobs Point or the old ice house that burned down, that is the area I do most of my fishing. This is also close to Burnt Store Marina. Do you have any winter tips for fishing this area, what to use and how to fish it? And I would really like to know how to fish the cobia at this time. Thanks for your time, any tips from you on this would be great. Joel Belcher
Joel: I think cobia will be a tough nut to crack right now, unless a few might make their way into the powerplant outflow at Tice.
However, I’d bet there are plenty of snook in the Burnt Store canals this winter, and other canals on that side, and down around Matlacha, too. Just fish a large live shrimp, unweighted, around the docks. Cast it right in next to the pilings and let it drift. You may catch some nice snapper this way, too, and also some reds and trout. FS
Q: Dear Frank, I’ve enjoyed reading your columns for many years, and feel disappointed when it is missing on Fridays or Sunday. My question is about outboard motor tests. I’m looking for a new bay boat and motor and I cannot find any information to compare the same boat with different motors, either hp size or manufacturer. I’ve searched many web sites, but haven’t found the right info. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Bill
A: Bill - Several of the motor companies have tests on their websites of the same boat with different motors. Yamaha, in particular, has a good site, yamahamarine.com, or you can get there by going yamaha.com and then choosing outboard motors and looking for the test results. I personally like Yamaha a lot, both HPDI and four-stroke, but hear nothing but good things about Honda as well. Merc’s super-charged Verado is also a great motor, though heavier than most. Little advertised but less expensive and very dependable is Suzuki. The jury is still out on Evinrude/Bombardier; they have been thru numerous owners and design changes, and word is they are now making dependable motors at moderate cost, but I have limited personal experience with them. Re bay boats, I shopped around a lot for mine a few years back and finally settled on the SeaPro 2100; solidly built, all the stuff in the right place, and the price is $5000 less than a Pathfinder of the same length. Hope this helps. FS
What impact has red tide had on the fishery in your area? Many anglers reported devastation from Anclote Key to Naples throughout the summer, but this winter thus far most anglers tell me they’re seeing rapid improvement in the fishery. Has your experience been the same? Let us know where and when you have made observations.
If you’ve never experienced the excitement of a national championship fishoff, there’s a rare opportunity coming close by as the CITGO BassMasters Classic, the granddaddy of tournament fishing, comes to Lake Toho Feb. 24-26. (Like most major sports events these days, B.A.S.S. has sold title sponsorship, thus it’s now the “CITGO’’ BassMasters Classic.) The feel of these tournaments is much like a NASCAR event, with factory teams, flashy tow vehicles and standing room only at the weigh-ins as the pros compete for enough money to allow them a year-long vacation afterward. Visit www.bassmaster.com for details—and watch this site as the Classic draws closer.
Welcome to the new Frank’s Tacklebox online. In this space, I’ll try to answer your emails, provide some insights into all things outdoors, and even offer up some tips on hot-spots you should be checking out. We’ll also present a chance to vent on topics of fishery management, game laws and boating regulations, and provide quick links to tide information, weather, and state and federal fishery regulations. Come on aboard and be a part of your new outdoors web site.
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