fishing store
Soft Frog Baits

Soft Frog Baits

$ 3.99

Soft Frog bait 2.5 inches 5/8 ounce with double hook rigged.
3 1/2 inch 3/4 ounce Vib  Hard bait

3 1/2 inch 3/4 ounce Vib Hard bait

$ 4.49

85mm 21 Gram Vib holographic deep diving vibrating fishing lure
2 inch 1/8 ounce crankbait med diver

2 inch 1/8 ounce crankbait med diver

$ 2.49

Trolled or cast to your favorite target species these little guys work. 2 inch 1/8 oz crankbaits

fishing wanted

 Feb 22, 2018; 06:51AM
 Category:  Sportfishing Charters
 Name for Contacts:  Moonwalker - Queposcharters.com
 Phone:  1-855-346-3474
 City:  Quepos
 State:  Puntarenas
 Country:  Costa Rica
 Description:  The Moonwalker is one of the top
producing charter fishing boats in
Quepos. You can count on a day of
raw excitement as you catch some of
the largest game fish Costa Rica
has to offer aboard our custom 33-
foot Dawson and with her
experienced crew.

fishing photo contest

w i n n e r
w i n n e r
2011 fishing photo contest
A free tackle package to the photo with the most votes
Christina4 lb'sSmallmouth bass
Christina4 lb'sSmallmouth bass
Click the image for full story
Christina, 22
My cousin and I both landed 4lb smallmouths at the same time. It w...
720 vote(s)

fishing tips and tricks

 May 19, 2003; 09:01AM - Circle Hooks for Billfish
 Category:  Trolling techniques
 Author Name:  Carlos Morales
Tip&Trick Description 1: What are “circle hooks”? To a fisherman seeing one for the first time you kind of wonder why anyone would use them or took time to invent them. They are similar in size to the more common “J” shaped hook but the opening is smaller and the barb points toward the body of the hook forming a circular shape, hence their name. At first glance it would appear fish would seldom be caught with circle hooks because the barb points the wrong way and the smaller than usual opening would difficult hooking anything.

Surprise, surprise, first impressions are wrong. Depending which study an angler consults, circle hooks have been shown to be as effective or more effective than “J” hooks for catching all types of fish including billfish. Some studies say fishermen catch 60% more fish, others 100% more fish with circle hooks than with “J” hooks. Catching more fish is a bonus but the real advantage of circle hooks is that they are designed to hook a fish in the lip or corner of the mouth and this happens about 95% of the time, preventing “deep hooking” and “foul hooking”. Removing a circle hook is fast and easy, take a pair of pliers and rotate the hook out of the mouth.

A “J” hook works by attaching itself wherever soft tissue is available. Normally, as soon as a fish bites, the first thing an angler does is “set the hook” by swiftly pulling the rod up and reeling in some line. This violent maneuver guarantees (anglers wish) that the barb of the hook will penetrate some soft tissue inside the mouth thus hooking the fish. Some fish, like billfish, have bony mouths so when the “J” hook tries to find purchase it just slides along and it either pops out of the mouth with the bait or attaches to the the upper palate, throat, pharynx, oesophagus or in the stomach. Anglers who practice catch and release know deep hook injuries, caused by any type of hook, are often mortal due to bleeding and that the hook sometimes is left inside the fish since its so deep there is no way to remove it without killing the fish. This is not a problem for the angler fishing for tasty, sought after fish like Dorado (dolphin), flounder, mangrove snapper, redfish, grouper, etc., since the whole point of going fishing is catching fish to eat.

Here is where circle hooks come in. They have been around for years and were adopted in the late 1970’s for use by longline commercial fishing boats because not only did fish hook themselves but also studies showed they were 85% more effective than “J” hooks and the hooked fish were alive when the longline was retrieved. It is ironic that recreational anglers, to preserve fish, have recently adopted commercial fishing hooks known and used for their ability to catch large numbers of fish.

We did say fish hooked themselves and we are not joking. When fishing using circle hooks and a fish takes the bait, do not set the hook! Wait. Count out one Mississippi, two Mississippi, etc., meditate about why there are no pregnant ladybugs, speculate on the price of bananas on Mars, just don’t set the hook! As the fish swims away the line becomes taut allowing the hook to rotate inside the fish’s mouth and lodge itself in the corner of the mouth. When the rod is flexed and the line taut that means the fish is hooked. Patience is very important because if the angler tries to set a circle hook the same way as a “J” hook, more often than not it will just be pulled out of the mouth of the fish. After a bite a mate on our boats grabs the rod but doesn’t do anything until the billfish swims away pulling the line taut and bending the rod, then he counts to five and “tests” whether the hook has been set by reeling in some line. This technique usually works very well.

If a “self-hooking hook” was not good enough, circle hooks have other advantages. Once hooked, billfish tend to leap and violently shake their head side to side to try and loose the hook. It looks spectacular and anglers love it but “J” hooks are sometimes dislodged this way. The circle hooks round shape and the direction of the barb helps to prevent dislodgement so fish don’t de-hook as much when doing their aerial stunts. Another great advantage is that humans hook themselves less in the hand, ear and/or other body parts and clothes with circle hooks because the barb points toward the body of the hook.

Not all circle hooks are created equal though. Besides “normal circle hooks” there are “offset circle hooks” whose barb does not point to the body of the hook but opens up, similar to a “J” hook’s. Depending on the degree that the barb is offset, 4 to 15 degrees, they become about as effective as “J” hooks at deep hooking as in their ability to catch fish. Like “J” hooks, “offset circle hooks” also cause more foul hooking of fish. Foul hooking means hooking a fish by the eye, gills, etc. Billfish depend on their eyesight to hunt and catch their prey so an eye wound seriously diminishes a billfish’s ability to feed and damaging the gills hampers the billfish’s survivability. Some circle hooks are made out of stainless steel and will not degrade with time so if a fish is lost with a stainless steel hook in it, that hook will be in the fish forever.

In Guatemala “catch and release” for all billfish is the law. Since it’s beginning our company has adopted a circle hook only policy for bill fishing and releasing the fish unharmed is a very important goal. Guatemala has the best sailfishing in the world and we do our best to keep it that way.

Happy fishing and tight lines!!

fishing tips and tricks

 Dec 9, 2007; 09:35PM - Custom Fit Boat Cover
 Category:  [other]
 Price:  Varies
 Name for Contacts:  Elite Outdoors
 Phone:  
 City:  
 State:  MO
 Country:  USA
Custom Fit Boat Cover Description 1: When only the best will do! A perfect fit: measured, tucked, darted and approved by Hurricane's own pattern and design craftsman. Vulnerable wear and stress points are double reinforced with an extra tough material sewn to the underside of the cover. An unbreakable 1/4' poly draw rope sewn with the perimeter hem enables the cover to be cinched tight to the hull. 1' poly loops are sewn around the perimeter of the cover to accept a Hurricane strap/buckle tie down kit, bungee cords, or rope ties for positive securing to the boat. Built tough to take the exposure and abuse that boat covers are exposed to when trailering, storing, or mooring.



Westland has over 16,000 Exact Fit Custom Cover patterns for over 200 different boat manufacturers. You will have your choice of 3 fabrics and over 30 colors.



To check to see if we have a custom cover pattern for your boat please Email Us your year - make - model - any accessories like towers, swim platforms, bow rails, radar archs, etc.

Custom Fit Boat Cover Description 2: Sharkskin color chart...also, available in Sunbrella

fishing reports

 Feb 8, 2004; 11:27AM - The Sounds of an Early Spring
 Category:  Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
 Author Name:  Gary Graham



REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY:

PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR IN BAJA FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: bajafly@bajafly.com; USA toll-free (800) 919-2252; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373

Fri., Feb 6, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Thurs. (1/21 - 1/28)

EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND IZTAPA, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS

EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

IN GENERAL: Ladyfish, roosters (small), sierra (early morning) and jacks up to 20-pounds had our guide Tim Stelzer smiling as he got in some R&R time between the north winds. There were even a few dorado and marlin caught further offshore this week. But the winds . . . ah, the winds!

AIR & SEA -

Water temperature 66-73
Air temperature 60 - 66
Humidity about 52%
Wind North at 7 mph
Conditions Mostly Cloudy (BKN) : 4,000 ft
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:57 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:08 p.m. MST

Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter

o OFFSHORE: Shark buoys to the north near Punta Pescadero seemed to be one of the better places to start this week. Even if the north wind blows you still have a decent ride home.

o INSHORE: Began to pick up noticeably as the wind subsided.

o BEACH: Early morning sierra for the effort.

BILLFISH - A few stragglers or early arrivals, who knows?

YELLOWFIN TUNA - Charlie's missing.

DORADO - Not a barnburner, but a few here and there.

ROOSTERFISH - Smaller variety began to show this week.

JACK CREVALLE -Toro, toro, toro and big ones at that.

BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - A few bonito.

PARGO AND CABRILLA - Floating lines and poppers over the rocks can be
productive . . . and lots of fun.

SIERRA - Gray light just at dawn is best before the sun gets too high.

MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Puerto San Carlos:

IN GENERAL: The whale population continues to grow and everyone, it seems, is out looking for the giants. There are many calves to ooh and aah over.

Water Temperature 66-74
Air Temperature 59- 69
Humidity 36%
Wind North at 2 mph
Conditions Clear
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:07 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:14 p.m. MST
Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter

YELLOWTAIL - Several larger fish caught at the entrada this week.

CORVINA - Slowed down a tad this week.

SNOOK - Disappeared completely this week.

HALIBUT - Punta Belcher produced a few.

SIERRA - Look for the bird schools.

Puerto Lopez Mateos:

IN GENERAL: We've been fishing out of Lopez Mateos for the last 10 days and the fishing has been good. Our four trips to the Boca Santa Domingo produced 25-40 fish per day: corvina from 2.5- to 12.5-pounds as well as pargo up to 12-pounds and up to six
species of various grunts and small pargo (up to 3 pounds); also botete and midshipmen all on live bait or pieces of shrimp.

We would purchase the shrimp from fishermen as they were coming in from a night of fishing, usually $100 pesos per kilo. Many times all you need are the heads and bodies of the little ones, which leaves lots of big tails for supper. Captain Ruben Duran put us on to some excellent fishing areas and techniques.

We used small lead head jigs with scampi tails as well as live bait shrimp rigs. We also spent one day at Devil's Curve south of Lopez Mateos, fishing only jigs and crocs. We caught many small to medium cabrilla and leatherjackets, and we also hooked, but sadly lost, a trophy golden jack (palometta) on a 1.5 oz. chrome croc. My friend would have had this jack replica mounted if he had landed it.

One trip outside for giant black sea bass produced nothing, but this was not for lack of trying. Sea conditions were horrible and we are looking forward to next year and trying again.

Baja on the Fly’s Lopez Mateos report by Brad Murakami, bajasurbrad@hotmail.com

ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO

IN GENERAL: Early this last week a 74 cold water current moved in and pushed the blue water way out. The fishing was severely affected, and most notable, was the three day International Sailfish Tournament. Of 100 boats in the event, only about 150 sailfish were caught.

Later in the week, the blue water came back in to about 22 miles, and the next day it was at 8 miles. The fishing has definitely improved. Most boats are now averaging a couple of sailfish, with a few dorado showing up. Captain Calli, on the “Vamonos II” managed 4 sailfish and two dorado for his clients on his best day.

The cooler water has been beneficial for the yellowfin tuna fishing, however. Every day at least one 200-pound tuna is hitting the docks. The tuna are holding under the porpoise and anywhere from 3 miles off the beach to 30 miles.

Few roosterfish are being caught, however, Captain Seis, on the panga “Moramy,” managed a 35 pound fish, on a slow trolled live bait, at the entrance to Marina Ixtapa.

A couple of other pangas reported huge areas of large jack crevalle near the airport and White Rocks.

Water Temperature 73-86
Air Temperature 71 - 86
Humidity 70%
Wind West at 12 mph
Conditions Mostly Cloudy (BKN) : 25,000 ft
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:17 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:42 p.m. CST

Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter

Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze

IZTAPA, GUATEMALA

IN GENERAL: The action the last week has been steady. There were quite a few anglers out sampling the Guatemalan action on the fly, and they were able to average an excellent 6 releases on sails per day out of 14 shots in 8 trips out. On the conventional side, the average was somewhat better, 16 of 25 on sails. The high boat for the week had an exceptional hookup ratio, going 28 of 30. That is what we like to see. There were once again dorado and tuna present if you were looking for them. Inshore, we had no one out.

Gary Graham came down this week to start a 10 day hosted set of trips and on the first day out they had over 40 sails in the pattern behind the boat, so the bite, I am happy to report, is picking up again. Full stats on this week’s action will follow in next week’s report. Once again I would like to remind everyone that Gary is having a billfish clinic in early April, so if you want to hone your billfish skills or would like to try it for the first time, this would be a great opportunity for some intensive instruction . . . casting, hooking, playing and landing sailfish and potentially marlin on a fly.

Water Temperature 80-85
Air Temperature 80-84
Humidity 70 %
Wind Calm
Conditions Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:30 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:04 p.m. CST
Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter

Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.