This Holiday Season we would like to give thanks to all of our customers for their continued support throughout the year.  We are offering a $200.00 Gift Certificate for the Best 2009 Fishing Story with Photos or Video using Fisherman’s Outfitter Gear! All entries must be made before December 31, 2009. Winner will be chosen after January 1st.

Your story will be featured on our Blog as Fishing Story of the Year!

All entries are to be submitted by email to john@fishermansoutfitter.com

We recommend sending photos as attachments in your email. For videos, please upload your video to YouTube, and send us the link.

Good luck!

Note: By submitting your entry you assign to Fisherman’s Outfitter all copyright ownership of your story, photos, and video, and agree to allow Fisherman’s Outfitter to use the story, photos, and video on any and all electronic and print materials, including but not limited to the Fisherman’s Outfitter website, blog, email newsletter, etc.

The Fishing Tackle Industry changes just as much as fishing conditions, which is everyday! Fishing reels seem to be changing at a rapid pace and to help you with your next purchase visit our website to get all the answers you are looking for.

After extensive filed testing, Fisheraman’s Outfitter is proud to let our customers know that we are taking on Two New Brands this year. We will be carrying The Legendary Fin-Nor Reels and the One-of-a-Kind Van Staal Reels.

Check out some of the latest additions to Fin-Nor’s line-up like the Offshore Spinning Reels and Santiago Big-Game Reels as well as others.

Also New this year is Van Staal’s VSB Reels which feature a new Titanium Bail System!

Kite Fishing has been around for years now, yet not all fisherman are taking advantage to this exciting and new to some method of fishing.

The best way to picture how kite fishing works is to visualize how an outrigger works. You have a Separate Line with a Release Clip at the end, which takes you line away from the boat . When you get a bite from a fish the force gets transfered to the clip and your line is released.

The main items you will need to start kite fishing are:

1.) A Fishing Kite

2.) Kite Rod and Reel

3.) Release Clips

4.) Line to fly your kite

 Many different styles of fishing have originated in the hopes of catching sailfish, sharks, and other top water game fish.  Perhaps the most effective of these types of fishing is kite fishing.  Kite Fishing is a technique of fishing that involves flying kites, and using the kites to suspend live baits on the top of the water.  This type of fishing is highly effective for sport fishing off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale, where the Gulf Stream current and the natural reef running along the coastline, coincide.  Sportfishing charter boats have been using this technique for 20 years to hook into the wide array of big game species that swim through our waters.  This article is written in order to teach basic tactics on how to go about kite fishing.  �

For kite fishing, live bait is preferred.  Start off by catching or buying live baits. Only certain types of baitfish will work effectively in the kite.  These baitfish include Pogies, Mackerels, Bluefish and Herring.  There are some other types of baitfish that can be used in the kite, but these types survive the best and produce the best results. 

    Start out by selecting your spot to fish.  When kite fishing, you are mostly immobile.  You will drift whichever way the current is moving, but as far as covering ground with your engines, you can only make small corrections.  So first thing is to select a good area or depth of water to fish.  Off the shore of Fort Lauderdale, one of the best areas is the 90’-120’ natural reef that runs along its coast.  Other good areas are where there is a rip current, a temperature gradient, a color change or over the top of an artificial reef, such as a shipwreck.  These are all good areas to begin fishing, and bear in mind that winds and currents will push you around a bit, so plan ahead.

     Launch your kite from the highest point you can on your boat.  If you are going to fly 2 kites simultaneously, you will want to put a small lead on the lower corners of each kite, depending on which direction you want each kite to spread to.  The weight for this should be about 1/8 ounce for light kites and about ½ ounce for heavy kites.  If weighted properly, the kites should spread apart from each other enough so that when the baits are out, the baits cannot get tangled together.

    Your kites are flying now, and are about 50’-75’ off the back of your boat.  Along your kite line, you should have a small barrel swivel tied every 40’ or so feet along your kite line.  Use a snap swivel and attach your first kite clip to the kite line.  You can buy these kite clips all made up for you at a bait and tackle store.  Set the pressure of the clip release by tightening or loosening the setscrew on the clip.  You want the clip to release with slightly more pressure than the baitfish will likely be able to put on it himself. 

    While the captain is launching the kites, the mate should be setting up the rods and baiting up.  I like to sew my baits on with a wax line bridle.  This gives you the most possible hook exposure and increases your hookup chances.  Use a needle and sew the bait through the back of its neck, just behind the head of the fish.  Don’t go too deep.  About 1/4 of the baitfish’s body is as far as you want to stick that needle.  Catch the loop of the wax line bridal on both sides with the hook and twist it up.  Then stick the hook back underneath the entire bridal, making the hook tight to the body of the baitfish.  Basically, the fish will be angled with his head up when he is dangling, forcing the baitfish to struggle to keep his head below water so he can breath.  This will cause a lot of vibrations which is the desired effect when kite fishing.

    OK, the baitfish is all baited and ready to launch.  Hand the leader up to the captain to put through the pressure release clip.  The captain snaps the line in, and begins to let the kite out away from the boat.  The mate has to coordinate with the captain and let line out from the fishing rod at the same time.  Once the bait is the desired distance from the boat, the mate must make constant adjustments to keep the bait right on the top of the water, struggling.  The bait should be under the water, but the hook, leader and fishing line should all be out of the water.  A lot of captains put a colored ribbon on the snap swivel of the fishing line, which is about 8’ out of the water, just above the bait.  This helps visibility if there is a glare and the bait can’t be found at a quick glance. 

When the big game fish comes up to feed, he will have to stick part of his body out of the water to get the bait.  Indicators that you are about to get a bite are:�
• The bait fish is going nuts and splashing more vigorously than normal
• You see splashes and “boils” on the top of the water around the bait
• You see a sailfish or shark fin out of the water next to the bait
• An unidentified dark spot under the water in the vicinity of the bait
• The pressure release clip just snapped and you don’t see anything

    You will be alerted some way or another that you are about to, or just got a bite.  The best thing to do when you get a bite is to free spool the fishing pole and let the big fish eat the bait and swallow it down.  Wait till the big fish is taking line off quickly before you lock up and begin to wind to set the hook.  This means that either the game fish is trying to swallow and wash the bait down his throat, or he has felt you and knows that something is wrong.  In either case, lock up the rod into strike, tell the captain to “go ahead” with the boat, and start winding as fast as you can to get the slack out of the line.  When you come tight, the line will pop out of the pressure release clip and there will be even more slack to take up.  Keep winding until you come tight on the fish.  When you come tight, set the hook with a couple gentle but firm tugs with the rod.  This will hopefully set the hook into the fishes jaw. 

    Kite fishing is a very exciting way to hook into big game fish.  You get to see the whole bite sequence and the hook up ratio is usually very high.  It takes quite a bit of practice to become proficient with kite fishing technique.  Keep trying though, it will pay off!

The Airasian family annual fishing charter was a beauty this year.   Large stripers  prevailed, hitting chunks and live bait. These guys are seasoned anglers, which paid off angling fish up  48 inches to the boat on light tackle.  Fine catch!

Airasian Family – 48 inch Striped Bass, Fishing Charter on Tuna Hunter

Did we mention this was a half-day charter?  Half-day fishing charters are definitely productive and are a perfect way to spend a summer evening.  Call us at 978-407-1351 for our latest half-day openings, or email captain@tunahunter.com  

Bluefin tuna fishing on the banks is great! as the Nardone charter on Tuna Hunter Fishing Charters can attest.

Tuna were jumping as Tuna Hunter approached the banks.  The captain stopped, sent out some bait, raised the kite, and wham, the fight was on. Everyone got to fight the fish, finally getting him to the boat. An awesome battle for all.  Kite fishing is a Tuna Hunter specialty. The hit is incredible – you’ll be hooked once you do.

Tuna Hunter Fishing Charters are catching bluefin tuna small – 200 lbs and large .. all are a great angling challenge for everyone on your charter.  Bring strong arms, and a taste for sushi or grilled tuna steaks.

Let Tuna Hunter put you onto a some great bluefin tuna.  Fishing charters for bluefin are ON now and will be through October.  We have a few openings .. call for the latest dates, 978-407-1351.  See http://www.tunahunter.com  and email captain@tunahunter.com.   That next bluefin can be yours!

Hi Folks,

I wanted to share with everyone that the huge bite is on and that the “Kayman Too” and “Lisa & Jake” are on the Fish!!  The Bank is alive with sand eels & whales and big schools of fish are gorging on them!

Due to high demand for shared charters we have opened up Friday-July 17, 2009 and Friday-July 24, 2009.  The cost is $225.00 per person (not including mates tip).  The boat leaves at 6am and returns at 3pm. We are also opening select days for Shared TUNA charters.  Currently there are seats available on August 25, 2009. The cost is $315.00 per person (not including mates tip).  Time of departure will be determined as trip approaches but typically departs before day break.

If you are interested in going you must go to www.kaymancharters.com/charter-reservations.htm and pay for your spot. Simply select the day and secure however many seats you need.  This new feature will allow you to see all open dates for both boats and whether shared or full day trips are available.  Hope to see you soon and thank you, we truly appreciate your business.

More split days will be announced soon. If you have 3 or more people and would like to suggest a certain day please email your suggestion and we would be happy to see if we can help you out.

Thank you,

-Capt. Kevin Twombly

The Stellwagon Tuna bite is red hot!

The Bait on Northern Stellwagon is mainly Sandeels and Lures like our Custom Slug-Go Spreader Bars and Custom Rigged Single Slug-Gos  and Daisy Chains have been the ticket (troll these rigs slow!!) Our customers are also reporting many fish holding 50-75′ down and Butterfly Jigs and Braid Jigs are the weapon of chioce for these stubborn fish!

There are tons of Pogies down around the Southwest Corner of Stellwagon and on the Backside of the Cape towards Peaked Hill Bar. The best way to fish this bait is live. You should either slow troll them or fish them off a Kite.

If you can’t net some live bait, lures such as the Braid Lil Speedys are doing a great job mimicking this great bait. Also producing great numbers of fish is our Custom Black Magic Spreader Bar!

For more reports give us a call at the store at 978-281-0858

Good Luck and Tight Lines!

Fishing this week has been outstanding! Pick and choose your Cod because there are so many Cod only the larger ones need to go in the box. Limits are still being reached with no problem early in the day. All fish have been on jig set ups with many double headers caught! Even the novice anglers are filling the tubs.Large Pollock are becoming abundant as well. These Slammers will put you to the gunwale every time with the drag peeling. Combo Tuna/Cod trips are filling in fast. Don’t miss out..check availability and book your trip online at  www.kaymancharters.com

As we’ve said in previous posts, cod & haddock fishing on Stellwagen Bank is HOT. Large cod, to 30 pounds, just kept coming.  These fish hit hard on standard Norwegian jigs. There is a ton of life out there, besides the beauty of it all and the joy of being out there on the ocean.  Bluefin tuna are an awesome catch – you’ve got to experience it to believe it. Inshore,  striped bass fishing action is heating up, too.  Don’t let a bit of rain in the forecast you, fishing is great right now.

Contact us at 978-407-1351 or email captain@tunahunter.com for out latest openings. 

Single? Not a full charter? Let us know and we’ll hook you up with persons to make a full charter.

June 11, 2009

A lot of fish have swum under the bow since my last report.  We went from slamming the cod and haddock on Stellwagen to hitting the stripers so hard that, I hate to say, it got boring.  Ok, not really boring, but it wasn’t a challenge.  The good thing is that we have thrown away our wire-line combos.  When fishing for stripers, FISHING, takes precedence.  That is to say, “how do you want to catch fish”.  Casting at breaking fish or jigging to fish on the fish finder brings back memories of fresh-water fishing  styles—but for much bigger fish.  We’ve taken stripers to 46″ in the waters off of Provincetown on freshwater tackle.  Talk about a blast.  Cast sluggos at them when they’re in 40′ of water or less, or jig diamond jigs or butterfly jigs in deeper water.  It’s a blast.  Get out there before the blues chew up your lures!

TUNA!  Can you say “holy mackerel these are big fish”?  I haven’t heard of many fish less than 60 inches being caught.  I’ve seen them jumping out of the water, but the fish being caught are all 70+ inches long.  We landed a 73″ fish on our first trip of the year, and yes, it is the largest tuna I will ever fillet!  It was so close to 73″, if it wasn’t, that my customer’s drool got me filleting the fish!  Two days later, we lost a much bigger fish on a spinning rod.  If you think that last year’s tackle was strong enough for tuna, you may have to think again and upgrade your gear.  These are beasts.  Don’t let them run away from you!  Get their head turned and stay on top of them.

Be patient with the tuna; they’ll come around if you’re in the right place.  You can run all day or be patient (live bait or jig while you’re waiting for surface action).  You’re still fishing.  Get out there and don’t keep any stripers on Stellwagen–it’s illegal if you’re more than 3 miles from shore.  We threw back 6 stripers one day between 40 and 50 POUNDS!  Treat them well; they’ll be inshore soon.

With cod and haddock and Black Rose Fishing Charters, it’s supply and demand….there’s a great supply of fish right now; the bite is still one with fish getting larger, but my customer’s demand is for stripers and tuna.  I can’t say I blame them, but that’s the only reason you don’t see cod trips showing up on my fishing reports calendar on my website.  Check out some of the new videos that I have posted on my site.  It’ll get you excited!

See you on the water; keep smiling.

Capt. Rich Antonino

Black Rose Fishing Charters

http://www.blackrosefishing.com

Phone number 508-269-1882

Specializing in 1-4 person charters for cod, haddock, sharks, bluefin tuna (casting and trolling), and stripers.

Life is too short, so have fun out there while you can.