Fishing

The waters off Chincoteague offer a variety of opportunities for offshore fishermen. Spring weather is usually very windy and boats don’t often get to fish outside the inlet in the early season. When a calm day presents itself, anglers can catch tautog or sea bass over local shipwrecks and artificial reefs.

By June, monster bluefish arrive and are often present in enormous numbers along the 20 fathom line. This fishing usually amounts to a 25-30 nautical mile trip from the inlet.

Days behind the bluefish are several species of sharks, the most sought after being the mako. Sandbar, tiger, thresher, blue, blacktip, bull, hammerhead and other sharks also begin to appear about this time. Local anglers attract sharks by chumming with ground fish, then using wire leaders baited with whatever bait can be attained. Fresh baits like bluefish, trout, mackerel, bonita, or false albacore are preferred.

By mid-June, tuna often appear off the coast. Bluefin tuna prefer cooler water and usually arrive first. In the early season, bluefin are caught among the vicious bluefish by trolling. By July, many anglers switch tactics and fish for tuna with cut butterfish. About the same time, yellowfin and dolphinfish begin to appear and many anglers troll for them as far out as Washington, Poorman’s and Norfolk Canyons. Some of these trips can exceed 70 nautical miles although good fishing is often just 25-30 nautical miles from home.

Late summer usually brings changes to offshore fishing. Better fishing is likely as tuna school up and develop a bigger appetite. Marlin, wahoo and large dolphinfish are also more likely. Another big factor is hurricane season. Some years we enjoy good late season weather and others we wait as systems work off the coast. Patient anglers usually get a few nice days and enjoy good offshore fishing into the fall.

By October, most ocean going anglers turn their attention back to sea bass, flounder and tautog. As the waters cool further, red drum and striped bass or “rockfish” migrate down the coast. By this time offshore fishing has ended and most anglers either retire, or begin fishing inshore for striped bass which goes on throughout the winter months.

For more on local fishing and outdoor recreation, visit Maryland and Virginia Saltwater Fishing.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/chincoteague-virginia-offshore-fishing-61530.html

Tags: Virginia, Chincoteague

Depending on where you live and fish, the time from mid-April to mid-June is a good time to fish for spring bass. At this time of year, there are many bass spending time on their spawning beds in breeding mode and other bass staged to begin breeding soon.

Bass that are on their beds for the spawn are not really feeding but are in aggressive defensive mode ready to attack anything that happens to get too close to the bed. These fish are in the shallows and are able to be fished by sight in many cases. The challenge is to entice them to attack your bait presentation by getting it close to their faces. These bass will defend the spawning beds!

Bass that are not quite ready to spawn yet are staged in a little deeper water but are feeding aggressively.

In order to catch as many bass as possible in the spring time, follow these seven guidelines to locate spawning and staged bass for some great bass fishing action!

Fish underwater ledges, ditches or troughs. Using a depthfinder, locate the contour changes that form these troughs or ledges. Staging bass will be there typically near cover or creek intersections. These bass can be fished for using a variety of baits. Perhaps your best chance at catching these bass however would be with soft artificial worms or lizards in pumpkinseed color.

Fish the deep grass. Staging bass often congregate along a grass bed’s deeper edge. Cast artificial baits parallel to the grass bed edge, but staying close to the edge itself. Your bait should be retrieved fast enough so not to snag on the weeds. Rattling crankbaits in crawdad color may work well here.

Fish the creek channel bend. Staging bass will locate on the deeper side of the bend. Try casting a black or pumpkinseed jig tipped with a trailer of some type to entice the bite.

Fish the points. Staging bass often congregate on the side of the point closer to the spawning area. If there happens to be any cover in the area, the spot should definitely produce well. Cast a white or chartreuse spinner bait retrieved just under the surface close to the shoreline cover. An up and down jigging retrieve with the spinner bait can also produce well here.

For spawning bass, fish the pads and the stumps. Sometimes bass will make their beds on the roots of pads or underwater stumps. These fish will be close to this structure and can be fished with a lizard or large worm in chartreuse, white or black with a white stripe. The tactic here is to cast past the bed itself, then move the bed ever so close to the bed to entice the byte.

Fish the rocks and the docks. Spawning bass naturally seek out rocky areas to spawn. Those areas are especially good for producing bass if there is overhead cover like a dock or overhanging tree limb. Try a tube bait with a jig head cast into the bed area and retrieved with a twitching motion to entice a strike.

Fish the shallow grass. Spawning bass will make their beds among patches in underwater grass beds. To catch the bass located here, try fishing with some type of swim bait as it is common for bass beds located here to be visited by other fish species like bluegill.

All in all, tailoring your strategies to catch spring bass that are spawning or that are in pre-spawn mode can produce some exciting bass fishing adventure. When you are out on the lake, pay attention to the topographical features of the lake to locate these exciting catchable fish.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/where-to-catch-spring-bass-23937.html

Tags: Striped Bass Fishing, Catch

Are you a fan of crappie fishing? If you want to learn as much as you can about crappie fishing- fishing records for your area, crappie fishing reports for other parts of the country or reports for where you may be traveling, then you need to know how to locate crappie fishing reports. With these, you can obtain valuable information that will help you know where to fish and also what methods are most productive in the body of water that you choose to fish in.

Crappie fishing reports will give you a great deal of valuable information about a particular fishing area. For example, you can find out details and information about the fishing zone itself as well as valuable information about the fish that have been caught there. You can find out the records for biggest or heaviest crappie caught and much more. You can also find out records for the most crappie caught in a particular area.

Here is what some example crappie fishing reports may tell you about a particular area, zone or body of water (From Texas Parks and Wildlife):

Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.87′ low. Black bass are fair on dark jigs suspended in timber and along rocky drop-offs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

Water lightly stained; 46 degrees; 73.50′ low. Black bass are fair on jigs and live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

Water turbid; 53 degrees; 1.99′ low. Crappie are fair near pavilion pilings. White bass and hybrid striped bass are fair on live shad in front of the dry spillway and dam. Channel catfish are fair drift fishing with shad and on trotlines. Boat launching is difficult due to low water conditions.

Water lightly stained; 74 degrees (80 degrees at discharge); 0.40′ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps in 10 – 12 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow.

These are great examples of fishing reports and the type of information you can obtain from them before you set out to fish in a particular area. Now the question remains of where do you find these reports?

Best Places to Get Crappie Fishing Reports

If you want to know more about crappie fishing in a particular area- such as where you live or where you will be traveling to fish- where are some of the best places for you to get crappie fishing reports? How can you find reports that you can trust in and rely on? Well, there are many organizations that are designed to helping you find updated reports. For example, if you live in Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is a great place to get your crappie fishing reports.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/crappie-fishing-reports-what-are-the-best-places-to-get-crappie-fishing-reports-for-a-local-area-398004.html

Tags: Reports, Striped Bass Fishing

The rich marine environment off the coast of Massachusetts provides an idea habitat for baitfish, which in turn feed larger species. The following list of species includes some of the inshore fish that thrive in Massachusetts waters.

 

Striped Bass

Striped bass have several regional names. Known as striped bass, stripers, linesides, rockfish and other names, this fish is highly sought after as a recreational fish, as a commercial species and is even grown in aquaculture operations. Striped bass are fished for extensively in New England and are caught along the shore, around structure and by fishing baits and lures along rips, shoals and other structure.

Weakfish

Weakfish are beautiful fish. Typically, fish have a dark olive back, iridescent blue and copper sides and a silvery white belly. Other identifying features are yellow fins, large canine teeth in the upper jaw and dark spots on the upper part of the body, sometimes forming diagonal lines. Most adult weakfish range from 12 to 18 inches but can grow up to to 3 feet long and weigh 4-18 pounds.

The name “weakfish” comes from the fish’s fragile mouth, which tears easily when hooked. Weakfish are members of the drum family, which includes spot, red drum, back drum and Atlantic croaker. This family of fish make a drumming or croaking sound by vibrating its swim bladder using special muscles.

Bluefish

Bluefish are exciting to catch and are highly sought after in New England. They are found all along the coast, sometimes in large schools.
The fish are voracious feeders and are known for their sharp teeth and ability to demolish even the strongest tackle.

Atlantic Cod

Atlantic cod are caught along the Northeast coast of North American and in many parts of the North Atlantic Ocean. Cod are cool water fish. They have a delicious mild white flesh and are well suited for a variety of cooking methods. Cod are highly prized by both recreational anglers and by the New England groundfishing fleet.

Atlantic Haddock

Haddock is mild white fish known for its excellent table quality. Haddock is a great source of low-fat protein and is high in magnesium and selenium.

Fresh haddock has a fine white flesh and can be cooked in the same ways as cod. Small fresh haddock and cod fillets are often sold as scrod in New England The term refers to the size of the fish which have a variety of sizes, i.e. scrod, markets, and cows.

Tautog

Tautog or blackfish are long lived fish that live along the New England coast. Tautog live in structure such as rocky bottoms, wreckages and reefs.

Tautog are a challenge to catch and thrilling to fish for. The fish live in and around structure such as rocky bottoms, sunken ships and artificial reefs. Tackle and techniques are simple and no prior experience is needed to catch these tasty fish. They vary in size from about 12 inches to perhaps 12 lbs or more. They are very tough fighters and excellent table fare.

Scup

Scup or porgy, ranges from the Mid Atlantic Bight from Cape Cod, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC. Scup, or “porgy,” known for its fine flavor and as an aggresive fish that anglers enjoy targeting. Scup are also an important commercial species in New England and to a lesser extent in the southern part of its range. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council jointly manage scup coastwide.

Fluke (Summer Flounder)

Fluke, also known as summer flounder are primarily found around inlets, jetties and dropoffs. They feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans. Fluke are an important commercial and recreational fish throughout New England.

Winter Flounder

Winter flounder are an important commercial and recreational fish throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Inshore habitat degradation and overfishing have contributed to serious stock declines throughout the species’ range, leaving both fisheries at a fraction of their historical numbers.

Yellowtail Flounder

Yellowtail flounder reach maximum sizes of roughly 22 inches total length and 2.2 pounds in weight. They are found along the Atlantic coast of North America from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador, and Newfoundland to the Chesapeake Bay. Yellowtail flounder prefer sandy bottoms in waters between 130 and 230 feet.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/saltwater-fish-of-massachusetts-631492.html

Tags: Striped Bass Fishing, Fish

The New England region of the USA has some of the nation’s best saltwater fishing. New England states that border the Atlantic Coast include Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. The rich marine environment provides and idea habitat for baitfish, which in turn feed larger species. The following list of species includes some of the inshore fish that thrive in the waters off New England.

Striped Bass

Striped bass have several regional names. Known as striped bass, stripers, linesides, rockfish and other names, this fish is highly sought after as a recreational fish, as a commercial species and is even grown in aquaculture operations. Striped bass are fished for extensively in New England and are caught along the shore, around structure and by fishing baits and lures along rips, shoals and other structure.

Weakfish

Weakfish are beautiful fish. Typically, fish have a dark olive back, iridescent blue and copper sides and a silvery white belly. Other identifying features are yellow fins, large canine teeth in the upper jaw and dark spots on the upper part of the body, sometimes forming diagonal lines. Most adult weakfish range from 12 to 18 inches but can grow up to to 3 feet long and weigh 4-18 pounds.

The name “weakfish” comes from the fish’s fragile mouth, which tears easily when hooked. Weakfish are members of the drum family, which includes spot, red drum, back drum and Atlantic croaker. This family of fish make a drumming or croaking sound by vibrating its swim bladder using special muscles.

Bluefish

Bluefish are exciting to catch and are highly sought after in New England. They are found all along the coast, sometimes in large schools.
The fish are voracious feeders and are known for their sharp teeth and ability to demolish even the strongest tackle.

Atlantic Cod

Atlantic cod are caught along the Northeast coast of North American and in many parts of the North Atlantic Ocean. Cod are cool water fish. They have a delicious mild white flesh and are well suited for a variety of cooking methods. Cod are highly prized by both recreational anglers and by the New England groundfishing fleet.

Atlantic Haddock

Haddock is mild white fish known for its excellent table quality. Haddock is a great source of low-fat protein and is high in magnesium and selenium.

Fresh haddock has a fine white flesh and can be cooked in the same ways as cod. Small fresh haddock and cod fillets are often sold as scrod in New England The term refers to the size of the fish which have a variety of sizes, i.e. scrod, markets, and cows.

Tautog

Tautog or blackfish are long lived fish that live along the New England coast. Tautog live in structure such as rocky bottoms, wreckages and reefs.

Tautog are a challenge to catch and thrilling to fish for. The fish live in and around structure such as rocky bottoms, sunken ships and artificial reefs. Tackle and techniques are simple and no prior experience is needed to catch these tasty fish. They vary in size from about 12 inches to perhaps 12 lbs or more. They are very tough fighters and excellent table fare.

Scup

Scup or porgy, ranges from the Mid Atlantic Bight from Cape Cod, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC. Scup, or “porgy,” known for its fine flavor and as an aggresive fish that anglers enjoy targeting. Scup are also an important commercial species in New England and to a lesser extent in the southern part of its range. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council jointly manage scup coastwide.

Fluke (Summer Flounder)

Fluke, also known as summer flounder are primarily found around inlets, jetties and dropoffs. They feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans. Fluke are an important commercial and recreational fish throughout New England.

Winter Flounder

Winter flounder are an important commercial and recreational fish throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Inshore habitat degradation and overfishing have contributed to serious stock declines throughout the species’ range, leaving both fisheries at a fraction of their historical numbers.

Yellowtail Flounder

Yellowtail flounder reach maximum sizes of roughly 22 inches total length and 2.2 pounds in weight. They are found along the Atlantic coast of North America from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador, and Newfoundland to the Chesapeake Bay. Yellowtail flounder prefer sandy bottoms in waters between 130 and 230 feet.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/new-england-saltwater-fish-638393.html

Tags: Fish, England

Lake Talquin holds good populations of black bass, Striped bass, white bass, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. Lake Talquin is one of the best black bass lakes during the winter, But if you want to catch specs, bream, and redear sunfish Lake Talquin is the place to be! The Florida Fish And Wildlife Commission Maintains the population of Stripers by stocking. The striper ave. catch size is between 10 and 15lbs but very few stripers over 20lbs are ever caught. The good months for Stripers are normally caught during February, March and April.

Lake Talquin has an abundance of natural bait fish that keep the predator fish population very active. You can find Golden shiner, seminole killfish, sunfish, crayfish, threadfin shad and gizzard shad are the most common forage. Minnows such as sailfin mollies, pot-guts and a variety of others. You can also find Insect larvae, clams, mussels, frogs, tadpoles, leeches, sirens and water dogs that keep the fish on the move.

Largemouth bass can be caught in drop-offs and channels. Anchor your boat in 6 to 8 ft of water and fish into the deeper channels using Texas- or Carolina rigged plastic worms. In the spring fish the grass flats in 4 to 7 feet of water. Make sure you search along the river and creek channels for spawning habitat. Minnow imitations and plastic worms are effective where the creeks empty into lake Talquin.

You can catch Stripers all year round on lake Talquin, but one of the funnest times for fishing is in the fall. The striper school in open water and feed on vigorously during the fall and winter. You can spot them by watching the birds. If the birds are diving on bait the open waters, chances are the there are strippers schooling and feeding on threadfin shad. Fish any artificial bait that imitates these shad. Some suggestions would be to fish Minnow imitations and chugger-style topwater lures. They seem to work well on stripers that are feeding on Shad.

The best live bait for shellcraker and bream is grass shrimp. Shellcraker and bream are very active during from april through may and you can get some great catches. Catch Black crappie in the winter months by drifting or slow trolling open water. spider rigging is most effective. Make sure you vary depths until you find the schools of crappie. They will be suspended.

Area #1 Talquin Fishing Lake Report Picnic Point is a sandbar in one of the widest sections of the Ochlockonee River. There is heavy cover on top of the bar and 5-foot depths along the edge that drop to about 22 feet at midchannel. A jig or crankbait like a Big N worked down the drop is most effective. .

Area #2 The Smokehouse area off the mouth of Hunter Creek is a flat about 4 feet deep with good spring bass fishing. Stumps and vegetation along the channel provide great cover for both forage and largemouth bass. When the water is running, use deep-diving crankbaits. Plastic worms are also good bets throughout the year. There is good spring fishing when rainfall allows access to the shallows.

Area #3 Lake Talquin Fishing Report The Iron Post, also known as the Talquin flats area, has a deep hole at the end of an old submerged channel. Work auger tail and paddle tail worms along the ledge of the adjacent flooded flats for big bass. Topwater stick baits such as the Bomber Long A take smaller, schooling bass during summer and early fall.

Area #4 A bend in the river channel directly across from Coe’s Landing is a prime largemouth spot during the winter months. The water drops from 5 feet to 18 feet in the channel. Cast plastic worms and deep-running crankbaits in the stumps and nearby flats. Be careful of stumps.

Area #5 This minor creek channel on the Coe’s Landing side is at the southern tip of what local anglers call the Iron Curtain. Bass hold on sandbar drop-offs along the tiny creek. Using plastic worms along the creek drop-offs, which runs almost to Williams Landing, is effective for winter bass. Target schooling bass here in the summer.

Area #6The deep channel at High Bluff provides excellent winter fishing for striper and largemouth on live shiners or deep-diving crankbaits. Fish the creek channel that runs from Double Creek to the old wooden pier. Fish the creek channel and pier pilings for big bass and striped bass. For stripers, cast small crank baits, vibration lures, plastic worms, and stick baits in pockets of open water surrounded by lily pads.

Area #7 A 20-foot drop-off near the small island holds winter largemouth that will take plastic worms dragged along bottom and down the drop. In the heat of summer, if bass are not schooling on the surface nearby, a jigging spoon can sometimes entice fish from the depths. A plastic worm, rigged Carolina style, is effective along the edge of the river channel. Bend the hook back into the worm to prevent snags, then drag it back, imparting no movement, through the stumpy drop-off. This is one of the most productive big bass spots on the lake.

Area #8Lake Talquin Fishing Report Fish this delta-shaped inlet with old docks for black bass. Work the shallow drop-off into the cove, a small spring-fed channel called Cootermill Creek, and the nearby Ochlockonee River channel, which averages about 22 feet deep. Fish plastic worms and jig spoons in the holes and drop-offs, and toss crankbaits along edges of the channel. A floating worm snaked through the lily pads in areas with cypress trees and stumps may draw a strike.

Area #9Plenty of shellcracker beds, sometimes more than an acre of them, are found just off the High Bluff area around mid-April. The sandy flats remain loaded with beds for about 3 months. Move in carefully over the stumpy-area. Fish the edges of the flats with spinnerbaits and floating worms for bass. In close, cast small Beetle Spin lures or switch to shellcracker rigs and use crickets or worms.

Area #10 Talquin Lake Fishing Report The mouth of Mews Creek is a good year-round area for schooling bass. Work plastic worms for largemouth where Mewes Creek and Ochlockonee River channels merge. Cast toward the bank then work the creek channel

Area #11The bends on Little River average about 12 feet deep and hold crappie during winter. One method is to use a rake or paddle to scoop a hole in the floating hyacinth, and then check for minnows. If bait is present, crappie are generally below. Drop a live minnow or small jig through the hole in the weed canopy. In the summer, bass and striper school are here, feeding on thick populations of shad. Near here an old boat house collapsed into the water, creating a good spot. This is also a spawning area, from February through May.

Area #12Pre-spawn bass provide excellent action in the back of Little River Arm. The depth varies from 12 feet in the river channel to 7 or 8 feet along the edge. Work shad-colored crankbaits along the channel during early spring. When there’s a flow, move up the creek and work likely areas with a plastic crayfish or 1/4-ounce, lipless crankbait.

Well I hope the 12 areas identified in this Florida lake Talquin Fishing Report will help on you plan your next freshwater fishing trip to Florida. Lets Go Fish’in!

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/florida-lake-talquin-fishing-report-503046.html

Tags: Striped Bass Fishing, Report

Wild Salmon

There are six species of Pacific salmon – chum, coho, king (chinook), pink, sockeye and steelhead – and all are wild. Wild West coast salmon are harvested commercially in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and much of Canada. Smoked wild salmon is a delicious seafood item. The delicacy is simple to prepare and lends itself to a wide variety of dishes.

Salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty acids which is well known as having health benefits. Studies have shown that smoked salmon has a very low level of mercury, unlike some other seafood.The Journal of American Medicine Association recently published a report stating that adding salmon at least once a week to your diet will cut the risk of sudden cardiac death in half.

Tuna

Tuna is consumed in a variety of ways. Tuna is the most well known and available fish in the USA and many other parts of the world due to it’s popularity as a canned product. Most of us grew up on tuna salad sandwiches and associate that experience with tuna as a meal.

Readers that have been lucky enough to enjoy fresh caught tuna know that there is quite a difference between a canned tuna salad sandwich and a fresh grilled tuna steak! Tuna is delicious grilled, blackened, or as sushi. Those of us that still love tuna salad can enjoy tuna from the can or use leftover grilled tuna to create a unique and delightful tuna salad with a unique flavor. Smoked fish lovers will be thrilled to know that tuna is excellent when smoked. The finished smoked product makes fish dips, salads or just eaten alone.

Wahoo

Wahoo are beautiful pelagic fish and are excellent table fare. Wahoo live in the open ocean and are common along much of the USA and Caribbean. Wahoo should be rinsed well and then the fillets can be removed from the body. The flanks can then be cut into steaks with the skin on or the entire sections can be skinned before cutting into steaks.Wahoo is delicious grilled, fried or smoked. Fresh wahoo are available in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Hawaii and other areas.

Mahi Mahi

Mahi Mahi, also known as dorado or dolphin fish are fast growing, pelagic fish. Mahi Mahi are among the most beautiful of all fish. The meat is mostly white with a high content of oil. Mahi Mahi is best grilled or smoked. Fresh Mahi Mahi is available in states such as Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Hawaii and others. Other areas of the country can enjoy this fish as a frozen product or fresh via overnight shipment.

Striped Bass

Cooks have a variety of favorites for cooking rockfish. Whole fillets of school sized fish or steaks of larger fish are delicious fried. Other choices for cooking striped bass include grilling, broiling, fish cakes and more.

For top quality striped bass or “rockfish” as table fare, it’s important to take care of the fish prior to cooking. The fish should be chilled on ice and laid out flat until cleaned. Once the fish is home, it can be rinsed thoroughly and filleted. Several cleaning methods exist and each angler learns their favorite style. The fish can be scaled and the skin left on, filleted and then skinned or the skin can be cut around the perimeter of the fish and pulled off with pliers. The skin-on version is nice when baking or grilling smaller fish. Skinning the fish before filleting has some advantages, the most important being speed. Filleting the fish and then cutting the skin off removes the most dark meat and leaves the highest quality portion, although some fish is lost in the process.

Black Sea Bass

Black Sea Bass are excellent table fare. The meat is firm, white and delicious. Sea Bass are superb fried, grilled, baked or broiled. Sea Bass are easily skinned and filleted. Black sea bass are common along the Atlantic coast from New York to North Carolina. They are best fresh. The fish do not freeze well.

Grouper

Grouper is among the most popular fish in the Southern USA. Grouper is a premium fish harvested from the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic Ocean. While individual species have unique identifiable characteristics, they are commonly described as lean, white flesh fish with a taste and texture which is popular and distinct from many other white fish.

Tilapia

Tilapia have gone from being an obscure fish to one of the most popular fish in many cultures. Tilapia are the second most important group of farm raised fish in the world. Tilapia has been introduced in over 100 countries. Tilapia farming and consumption are rapidly increasing in the US. Tilapia are a good source of protein and is now the fifth most popular seafood consumed in the United States.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/choices-for-buying-cooking-and-enjoying-fish-301170.html

Tags: Fish, Choices

       Light tackle fishing and fly fishing around Block Island, Rhode Island is always a unique experience.  Block Island has been called the Bermuda of the north because of it’s gin-clear coastal waters.  Some have even called it the Ireland of New England because of the rolling hills and long rock fences.  I am lucky enough to call it home from mid June through the month of September.  As a fishing guide, I spend every morning (weather permitting) on the water with clients perched on the bow of my boat waiting for instruction on when, where and how to cast to cruising striped bass, bluefish, and  tuna.  We are always waiting for a large swirl, tail slap or pod of baitfish fleeing for their lives as some large predator lurks below.

 

     Block Island poses some unique obstacles for the light tackle and fly fishing anglers that probe the rips, beaches, points, and impressive boulder fields that the island is known for.  I will talk about what I feel are the three most important things to realize and adapt to when light tackle fishing the Block.  These three things are proximity, water clarity, and forage.

 

     OK, I know you are saying “proximity” what the heck does he mean by that?  It means that Block Island is located twelve miles from Point Judith which happens to be the closest place to launch a small boat to make the run out to BI.  So lets back up for a moment and discuss “small boat”.  If you plan to fish the Block by small boat I would suggest no smaller than a twenty foot center console and no larger than twenty four.  A twenty footer is just big enough to make it back if the weather turns on you and a twenty four is just small enough to get into the swallow boulder fields that hold so many fish.  It’s 12 plus miles of serious open water no mater where you come from to fish BI.  It’s a huge advantage to be leaving from the island in the morning.  The runs are short and the pre-sunrise fishing is almost always far better than after sunrise.  It can be a daunting run in the dark with a small vessel, especially if the boat isn’t equipped with radar. Even if a vessel is equipped with radar, things such as huge logs or trees, lobster pots or anything else that might get pushed out of the many river systems along the mainland coast will most likely not be detected.  Fog is another issue.  The fishing is often very good in foggy conditions.  Remember; low light makes for better hunting. If you are not comfortable navigating in the fog (which most are not) don’t even attempt it.  Now when the weather turns grumpy no one is really making that run which is a huge disadvantage because the best fishing is usually better when it’s overcast with a 3-5 foot Southerly swell and about 15-20 knots of wind out of the south or west.  So again, being based on Block Island means that you are looking at short runs to the fishing grounds and the comfort of knowing that home is just around the corner.

 

      The second obstacle is water clarity.  How can water clarity be an obstacle?  Well for one, striped bass are nocturnal feeders, so with crystal clear conditions and a sunny sky it’s only a matter of time before the fish go deeper or just turn off, or maybe both.  This brings me back to the proximity thing about a good southerly swell.   The swell keeps the bass in shallow because of it’s churning of the water.  It’s like a bass’s security blanket when less light is able to penetrate and the water clarity goes from twenty five feet of visibility to three feet of visibility.  The fishing will often be good all day as long as there is a significant swell.  In other situations when the water is clear as it usually is on Bock, longer, lighter leaders should be considered.  Clear water usually equals spooky fish, so subtle, soft presentations and natural colors that blend in with the environment are key.  This is why fly fisherman will so often have the upper hand in such situations.  You can also use the super clear water of BI to your advantage as well.  The sight fishing on the island is very good.  Walking the east side swimming beaches and the shores and backwaters of the Great Salt Pond can be very rewarding.  It’s important to keep in mind that bass in less then two feet of water are as wary as bonefish.  A stealthy approach is a must.   

 

      The third unique aspect of fishing Block Island with light tackle is the forage or prey which striped bass in particular feed on.  Unlike mainland Rhode Island, Long Island, Cape Cod and even Martha’s Vineyard, there are no freshwater sources on BI.  Without the lifeblood of freshwater Block gets no menhaden, or bay anchovies.  The menhaden, pogie, bunker, or whatever you want to call them, make up almost 35% and the bay anchovy about 6% of the striped bass’s diet.   So what are the stripers of Block Island eating during the course of any given season?  Sand eels and squid make up a large portion of what BI stripers feed on.  Most of the other prey species are bottom dwellers.  Fluke, scup, lobster, black sea bass, blackfish and lots and lots of crabs are serious grub for Block Island stripers.  I can honestly say that at least 80% of all the bass I have ever harvested on Block have had crabs in their bellies.  I have seen huge bass with dozens of dime sized green or lady crabs in their gut.  This being said, it is important to focus on a bottom presentation whenever there are no signs of surface activity.  More often than not this is going to be the scenario you are faced with on BI.  This is why a finesse style jig is very effective.  A half ounce quality jig head with a slim bodied soft plastic, braided line and a four foot leader of 30pd mono can be absolutely deadly.  This is where the fly fisherman has a disadvantage.  With tide and swell to compete with, a fly, even on a full sink line has a hard time presenting correctly on bottom feeding stripers.  It can be done but with lots of experience and patience. 

 

      All this being said, the waters around Block Island are some of the most productive in southern New England.  If you plan to fish BI with fly or a light spinning outfit in hand then consider what I’ve mentioned here.  Pick your days.  Keep a very close eye on the weather and get out of Dodge at the first sign of trouble.  Be ready to change your game plan if the water is super clear.  Just because a section of fishy looking water has no sign of predators, fish the bottom.  You might be very surprised.  Most importantly, keep moving.  It should take more than twenty minutes to figure out if there are feeding fish in the area.  I’ll leave you with this.  If you don’t have extremely sharp hooks and well tied and TESTED knots then all of the above means squat….

 

Tight lines and ripping tides.  Capt Greg Snow

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/basics-for-fishing-block-island-799059.html

Tags: Fishing, Striped Bass Fishing

Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing opportunities in North Carolina Wow!. For example, if you are fishing for North Carolina’s native brook trout in a cold mountain stream, The State of North Carolina lunker largemouth bass, Trophy striped bass in a river, Flounder at At Federal Point/ New Hanover County ,or if you just want to take your family fishing, North Carolina freshwater or saltwater fishing waters offer diverse fishing opportunities for everyone.

The State of North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has created public fishing areas throughout the state to make fishing a reality for all anglers. These areas are Called PFA,s The North Carolina commission has done a great job to make all designated these areas free to fish. The commission has cleared the banks in these area’s of underbrush along the banks so that more shoreline is available. The have constructed universally accessible fishing piers, and created graveled parking areas. To make your North Carolina fishing experience fun and productive they have even went as far as installing fish attractors and baiting areas in these designated North Carolina free fishing PFA areas.

The North Carolina fishing Wildlife Commission regulates the Mountain, Piedmont and Costal regions. These area’s include rivers and streams, Lakes, and the sound and intracoastal waterway. These areas are diverse in their species of fish and include many of the known freshwater and saltwater sporting fish.

In the North Carolina fishing Mountain Region’s river and streams you can fish for the following species: Trout, Largemouth bass, Small Mouth bass, Striped bass,Catfish,Sunfish, Breasted sunfish. In the North Carolina Mountion Lakes Region : Trout, Black bass, Smallmouth bass, Spotted bass, Striped bass,Catfish,Sunfish, Breasted Sunfish. Yellow perch,Walleye,White bass,Crappie, and Rock bass.

In the North Carolina fishing Piedmont Region river and streams region you can fish for the following species Largemouth bass, Small Mouth bass, Spotted bass, Striped bass, Roanoke bass, Catfish, Redbreast sunfish, Sunfish, Yellow perch, White perch, Chain Pickerel ,White bass, Crappie, American shad , and rock bass. At Federal Point/ New Hanover County a North Carolina saltwater fishing area, you can catch Flounder, Spot, Croaker, and Red drum.

In the North Carolina fishing Piedmont Region Lakes region you can fish for the following species: species: Black bass, Smallmouth bass, Spotted bass, Striped bass, Hybrid striped bass, Catfish, Redbreast sunfish, Sunfish, White perch, Chain Pickerel , Walleye, White bass, and Crappie.

In the North Carolina Saltwater fishing Coastal Region Sound Intracoastal Waterway you can fish for the following species: Striped bass, Spotted Sea trout, Weakfish, Flounder, Red drum, Bluefish, Spot, Croaker, and Speckled trout.

In the North Carolina fishing Freshwater Coastal Region’s river and streams you can fish for the following species: Largemouth bass, Striped bass, Crappie, White perch, Yellow perch, Catfish, Sunfish, American shad, Spotted bass.

In the North Carolina fishing Freshwater Coastal Region’s Lakes you can fish for the following species: black bass, Striped bass, Crappie, White perch, Yellow perch, Catfish, Sunfish, Warmouth, American shad, Spotted bass, Pickerel, Blue crabs.

We hope that this North Carolina Fishing Report article has been helpful. Please enjoy your next visit to North Carolina’s Fantastic Saltwater and Freshwater fisheries.

In the North Carolina Saltwater fishing Coastal Region We hope that this North Carolina Fishing Report article has been helpful. Please enjoy your next visit to North Carolina’s Fantastic Saltwater and Freshwater fisheries.

For Information about North Carolina’s Fishing License and regulations Information you can visit the The State of North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission website.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/north-carolina-fishing-report-503045.html

Tags: Carolina, Fishing