Sochofishing

Photo credit Kristen Cili     You might be ready to visit a warm weather destination where you can easily wet a line from a local fishing pier. If this is the case, take note that there are some great  Miami fishing piers that offer angling opportunities for the whole family.  No matter your level of fishing experience, you can grab an inshore saltwater spinning combo and fish with live or artificial baits from these easily accessible pier fishing spots. Pier fishing in Miami can mean catching species like black drum, red drum, spotted seatrout, and mangrove snapper.  Picture sandy beaches, blue shimmering waves, and the fun of feeling those tugs at the end of your line. It's not hard to turn your fishing daydreams into reality. Consider making plans to visit one of these five Miami fishing piers this winter.  Where to go Pier Fishing in Miami  Fishing from one of these Miami-area piers can be a great outdoor vacation activity for the family, just be sure t

Nothing is more discouraging, especially for the beginner, than going on a trip and not catching a single fish. If you just want to feel the tug on your line and aren’t particular as to what type or how big, the basic earthworm and bobber rig is what you need. It’s inexpensive, easy to rig and use, and attracts most freshwater species of fish. The exciting part about it is that it produces like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates — you never know what you’re gonna get on it, from a 3-inch bluegill to an 80-pound catfish. To be successful with a worm and bobber, think small. Frequently, I see folks rigged with too much worm on great big hooks with huge bobbers. As a result, they end up with a lot of nibbles and lost bait, but few fish. A small hook fits in the mouth of smaller fish, yet will still catch big fish. A small part of a worm on the hook normally works better than threading an entire nightcrawler on the hook. With too much worm, the fish can easily grab a sect

Heading out to try fishing for the first time? Or maybe it has been awhile since you’ve gone. Here’s a basic list of items to get you going ROD AND REEL: Spincasting reels are the easiest for beginners to cast and can handle fish up to 20 pounds. Longer rods allow for longer casts and play fish better. 5-foot-6-inch rods are good for smaller guys, while a 6-foot-6-inch rod is a great all-around size for teenagers. FISHING LINE: Monofilament is very durable and easier to handle than other line types. Try 6- or 8-pound test for panfish, crappie or trout. For bigger fish like bass, catfish and walleye, 10- to 12-pound test works better. (“Test” is a measure of how strong a line is.) HOOKS: When using live bait, smaller hooks are easier to get started in a fish’s mouth than bigger ones. Try size 6 hooks for panfish and crappie. Size 1 hooks work well for bass or catfish. Circle hooks are the ideal hooks for beginners. They won’t end up in a fish’s stomach; i

The American shad is highly regarded as a game fish and its white, flaky flesh supports a considerable commercial fishery. How to identify an American Shad This is a silvery fish with a single dorsal fin in the middle of the back. There is a large black spot directly behind the top of the gill cover, followed by 4-27 spots, which are generally smaller than the first. Sometimes there may be a second row of spots below the first, and more rarely, a third row below the second.They closely resemble the hickory shad. The most important physical distinction is in the lower jaw. In the American shad this jaw fits easily into a deep notch under the upper jaw, whereas, in hickory shad the lower jaw protrudes noticeably beyond the upper jaw. Also, the American shad grows considerably larger. Both occur up and down the coasts, but the American shad is predominantly in southern climates. Where to catch American Shad The American shad occurs natively east of the Appalac

When to Set the Hook A good rule of thumb when learning how to set the hook, is to wait and feel the weight of the fish before setting it. If the fish is cautious and just tapping your fishing line and bait lightly, and not biting it, it's best to wait. Let the fish take the bait, and then set the hook after you feel its weight. How to Set the Hook in Two Steps     To help you better know how to set the hook, look for common signs a fish is biting such us: your bobber is pulled under water, you feel a “thump” on your fishing line or your fishing line starts moving.     Reel in slack and keep your line tight with the bait or lure. This helps increase sensitivity so you can feel the fish bite and be in a better position to set the hook. The motion of setting the hook is relatively simple. But it can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have a bite or if you're just feeling the current or a fish bumping into the bait. The more you know about the fish species you’re after, and t

When a fish feels the hook, it struggles to get free. This might involve jumping, making a long run, swimming back against the line or swimming around obstacles. Each species of fish reacts differently. Fish hooked in shallow water are more likely to jump and behave more frantically than those hooked in deep water. Deep-water fish often seek the bottom. Steps to Reel in Fish Properly Bigger fish pull harder, and can be more challenging to reel in. You will know it is a big fish if it starts to take line off of your fishing reel while you are holding it tightly. You’ll know this is happening by the sound the reel makes when it goes into reverse. An important part of learning how to play a fish is knowing not to reel while the fish is swimming away. Relax and let the drag and rod do the work. Just keep the fishing rod up at about a 45-degree angle to the water, aim it straight towards the fish, and be ready to reel when the drag stops moving and buzzing. When t

1. The Palomar Knot 2. The Blood Knot 3. The Improved Clinch Knot 4. The Surgeon’s Knot 5. The Spider Hitch Knot  

Fishing Knots Your fishing line is only as strong as the knot used to tie it. Over time all knots start to weaken in some degree. The ability to tie a correct knot will save you from losing lures, bait as well as a fish. Listed below are good choices to learn and a few tips: Always moisten the knot before snugging it up. This reduces the heat from friction that causes slight abrasions when you pull it tight. When tying a knot give it a smooth strong pull to complete it on your lure, hook or leader. Don’t be timid about testing it with a couple good pulls. Better to know your knot is tied correctly than losing a big fish. Always leave a little extra line before clipping the tag end after completing your knot some knots slip slightly. By leaving a little tag is good insurance that your knot is tied correctly. Always retie your knot before a new trip and check your knot frequently when fishing, all knots will weaken with use.

Every year, millions of anglers hit the suds all around the country.  Some catch redfish, snook, and jacks while others search for striped bass, bluefish or sea trout. Fishing equipment and techniques for surfing are different from those used inland, so let's have a look at some surf fishing equipment basics. Surf Fishing Equipment Essentials Plug and live bait rods should be between 10 and 12 feet long, in a medium-fast action, capable of throwing plugs and spoons between 1 and 3 ounces.  Spin and conventional reels should hold plenty of line.  150 to 200 yards of 15-20 pound test mono is good, but if you need more line or a line of a higher pound test then switch to a braided mono.  In cooler waters, waders or rubber knee boots are good on the beach but if it's warmer you can get away with sandals or wading boots.  You'll need polarized glasses, stainless steel pliers or forceps, hook hones, swivels, snaps, three-way rigs, and leader material.  Plugs

The young man had heart, and he wanted to fish in the worst way. But he brought a freshwater rod and reel to the beach and couldn't cast the heavy plugs he bought in the tackle shop. When the bluefish blitzed on shore I lent him my surf fishing rod. And now, 20 years later, he's fishing harder than ever. The Fishing Tackle You Need to Hit the Brine Surf Fishing and Fly Rods You’ll see a lot of different surf sticks on the beach, but most are between 8 - 11 feet in length. Most beach addicts like medium actions that handle at least 15-20 pound test line. Match them to the size of the plugs you'll throw, with 1-4 ounce lures representing the majority of your offerings. For saltwater fly fishing rods, action is a personal preference; medium to extra fast action rods for 8 - 10 weight lines cover most beach applications. While 9-foot fly rods are fine, serious beach addicts favor longer 10 to 10 ½ foot rods. Spin and Fly Reels Spinning re

Vise. A fly tying vice is a key piece of equipment since it is used to securely hold the hook of the fly to be tied. Fly tying vices are usually made from aluminum, high carbon steel or stainless steel. Bobbin. A bobbin is a spindle with flanges on which the fly tying thread is wound and helps the thread to be fed out under controlled tension while tying. Scissors. There are three different types of scissors that can be used to cut thread and fly tying materials. You can use all-purpose scissors for basic tying, arrow point scissors for tying larger flies, and razor scissors to cut difficult materials or to trim marabou. Hooks. Streamer hooks in sizes 6, 7 or 8 (depending on the size of the fish being targeted) are used for tying flies. Streamer hooks can be purchased from a specialty outdoor retailer or fly shop. Marabou Feathers. Marabou feathers are used for tying tails on many flies since the material creates life-like motion when under

Summer bass fishing can put your catching skills to the test, particularly if you live in the Southern States, but that's also part of the allure. Reeling in a respectable Micropterus salmoides during the spring months doesn't require you to have all that many tricks up your sleeve. Late summer bass fishing, on the other hand, may require you to use a few magical tips, along with the best summer bass fishing lures. 1.  Go early or go late If you're wondering when to fish for bass during late summer, the key is to get out on the water before sunrise to beat the heat. If you can't go early, plan to fish around dusk. The best times to fish for bass will be during the cooler periods of the day. This is one of the most important fundamentals of summer bass fishing for beginners. 2. Choose your summer fishing waters wisely Consider ponds, lakes or reservoirs that are either thick with vegetation, or that are relatively deep. Vegetation contribut

How to identify a Largemouth Bass The largemouth bass closely resembles the smallmouth bass and other species of the genus Micropterus (i.e., spotted bass, redeye bass, etc.) Together these fishes form a group that is referred to as the black basses. The largemouth can be distinguished from most similar species by the fact that its mouth extends at least to, and often beyond the rear edge of the eyes. Also, its first and second dorsal fins are almost separated by an obvious deep dip, and there are no scales on the soft-rayed second dorsal fin. These characteristics are equally true of the Florida largemouth bass and the northern largemouth bass. In all other species of Micropterus the mouth does not extend to the back of the eyes, the two dorsal fins are clearly connected, usually with a slight dip between them, and the scales overlap the base portion of the second dorsal fin. Where to catch Largemouth Bass Originally confined to the eastern United States of America and portions of

Temperatures are consistently dropping in the Northern tier, so it's time to think about getting together your ice fishing setup.   If you're like me your ice fishing gear has gathered dust since last season. 1.  Ice Fishing Essentials Clean and relubricate flags and reels on tip ups and reels on jigging rods so that they both spin freely.  Replace tattered flags and line if necessary.  Sharpen your auger blade and if you're using a power auger then give it a tune up with new plugs, and oil and air filter, and oil and fresh gas.  Don't forget your ladle... 2.  Ice Fishing Essentials Redux Warmth is the name of the game, so give your shanty, lean-to and clothing a careful inspection.  Tune up shanty generators so they throw off power and heat, patch up holes in lean-tos, check out your boots and cleats, and gather your gloves, masks and hats.  Don't forget a new pack or two of handwarmers.  Open one and place it in your t-shirt pocket;