• 2 tb Thyme
• 1/4 c Green onion; sliced thin
• 2 Jalapenos; seeded and diced
• 1 ts Allspice
• 1 ts Cinnamon
• 1 ts Nutmeg
• 1 ts Cracked black pepper
• 2 tb Jamaican Jerk Spice
• 2 Swordfish; (6-ounce) steaks
• Oil for grilling
• 3 Oranges; juiced
• 2 Ripe mangos; diced
• 1/4 c Cilantro; chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 bn Arugula; cleaned
• 1/4 onion finely diced

Instructions

Combine first 8 ingredients in a bowl or in a food processor. Season the Swordfish with jerk spice and drizzle with oil. Place on the grill for 3 minutes. Spoon 1/4 of the rub on each fish and flip to the other side. Spoon the rest of the rub on each fish and cook for 1 minute. Remove and serve over salsa. For the salsa, heat orange juice in a pan over the grill until it is warm. Add mangoes, cilantro and salt and pepper and let it cook for 3 minutes without boiling. Spoon onto plate over arugula then top it off with the Swordfish.

Start with a Fresh Swordfish!

 

 

 

 

 

Great Tips for the Novice Deer Hunter

Tips for the beginner deer hunter

We may see someone walking into the woods with visions of a 10 point bucks dancing through a hunter’s head on the first day of deer season, only to see that same person walk out of the woods wondering where all the deer went, or what happened to make them miss an easy shot. Well, even a even a broken clock is right twice a day and even someone new to deer hunting can also just be in the right place at the right time, but it is still preferable to take the time to learn deer hunting tips, and basic woodsmanship in order to prepare for deer hunting season.

The basics or deer hunting 101 should begin by finding areas that not only have game activity but that you also have permission to hunt. If you are scouting public land, make sure that hunting is permissible on that land, and if there are any special conditions or quota restrictions that must be considered to deer hunt. I was very lucky to have two friends who spent the time to teach me what to look for when pre-season scouting and teach me where to place my tree stands for deer hunting. Being from Miami, Florida this took quite a few trips up to Wisconsin and many hours in the woods.

Notice the outline is broken up by the background

It’s not enough just to know that there are deer in the area merely by seeing tracks on game trails, you will want to know where they are going and why. Pay attention to any nearby fields that have been harvested or have crops of corn or soy bean or some other food source that deer will be attracted to. You will want to know about nearby water sources as well. Once you have figured out all these possibilities, it then narrows down to a situation of not so much where a deer will come by, but when. Aerial maps are great for finding natural funnels to certain areas. A much overlooked component to deer hunting but incredibly important is knowing the prevailing winds for the time of the year and that area. Setting up with the wind at your back is like sending a telegram to the deer telling them exactly where you are. There are products on the market that can help mask your scent and scent blocking clothing that can assist in minimizing the scent dispersal, but these should be used in conjunction with proper tree stand and blind placement to give the deer hunter the best possible chance of success.

The Outdoorsguy with his trusty Hoyt Bow

Now that you have decided on several prime pieces of real estate that you feel will give the best chance of harvesting a deer you will need to decide whether you will be hunting from a ground blind or a tree stand. There are several options for each. Bow hunters tend to prefer tree stands as they give a much better view of any animals coming in and they assist in scattering your scent above and away from any nearby deer allowing them to come very close to the stand without detecting your presence. You will also be above the animal’s line of sight, so if you don’t twitch around too much it will be much harder for a deer to realize you are there. If you are planning on a tree stand, take into consideration your physical abilities in order to determine what type of stand best suits you, and the method of climbing into that stand as well. Before climbing into the stand it is good practice to mark off some yardage to assist in properly gauging distance for a shot. Remember, you may be 20’ above the ground so take all recommended safety precautions seriously. If you are hunting from a ground blind it is important to position the blind so that you have a good field of view and clear shooting lanes, and don’t forget enough brush behind you to breakup the outline of the blind. If you are not using a portable climbing stand, you may consider placing several stands (on private land) depending on conditions and wind directions and use the one that seems most optimal for that day.

The Outdoorsguy hard at work

The clothing that will be worn on this deer hunting adventure depends upon where and the time of year your will be hunting. Boots can not only be a lifesaver by being comfortable and waterproof, but depending on what kind you are wearing they may assist in keeping your scent as you walk into the woods down to a minimum. I take my stealth ability very seriously and shower with unscented soap and shampoo as well as doing laundry with unscented detergent. I then immediately place my clothing in a sealed bag and do most of my dressing once I park my car and prepare to move out. This was very awkward on afternoon when I was stopped for blown brake light. Some of my friends tend to think less of their scent in favor of properly utilizing wind direction. Weather can change significantly during the hunting hours and it pays to dress in layers as it’s much easier to remove layers in a tree stand or blind then to put more on. Be prepared for most possibilities including rain. Gloves, boots and layers of scent blocking clothing should work nicely and be given considerable thought. You may also want to spray yourself down with one of the many scent blocking products available before heading into the woods.

View from the edge of a field

Finally, if you are new to deer hunting, I will give you this word of advice from personal experience, if the gods are with you and you do harvest a deer, it might pay to have a plan with your buddies to come and assist in the tracking and field dressing of the animal. This is especially true if you have never done this before. My first deer with a bow is a source of amusement to my friends whom not only had to calm me down (yes, I called them from my cell phone!) but before they could help track and teach me to field dress the animal, they had to help get me down from the tree stand as I was having a mild panic attack! All in all, I put in the time and did my homework which put me in a position to succeed. If you take the time and prepare properly, you may not be guaranteed a big buck, but you will be guaranteed your best chance and have a heck of a great time in the process.

** We encourage all accomplished hunters to add to this article with comments so that your experiences may help others enjoy the great outdoors!

Calico bass

10 lb Calico Bass

A very rare 10 pounder.  Calico bass are very rare caught over 10 lbs, but here’s one displayed by Bob Selvin caught on a 7″ green Mondo swimbait at the Sacramento Reef in Northern Baja.

BLUEFIN TUNA

151 LB Bluefin Tuna

A Beginners Guide to Dolphin Fishing off South Florida

For those of you that are not familiar with the southern waters, when someone says they went dolphin fishing, they may also refer to it as fishing for Mahi Mahi (which is how you see it referred to most often on a menu), or dorado fishing. Now that I have cleared that up and know that I won’t have Green Peace sending me hate mail, I can pass along what I think is good information for anyone new to South Florida sport fishing, while also telling the tale of a great day out on the boat.

We were heading out for a great day of Dolphin fishing off the coast of South Florida; more precisely, Boynton Beach. It was a relatively late start for us, and the sun was already heating up this fine summer morning as we finally pulled away from the gas dock around 8am. Normally, we would have been fishing by first light but a string of strange events caused a slight delay in our departure. On a good note, it allowed me to throw the cast net on a passing school of Pilchard which gave us enough live bait to use both as chum and as bait if needed. I enjoy trolling for Dolphin. It is the first type of offshore angling I had done as a boy with my little 20’ Aquasport. When Dolphin Fishing, we always like to have a wide assortment of both live and artificial baits, but I have also had just as much success trolling store bought ballyhoo rigged with a skirt.

Our gear was all set as we made our way through the Boynton Beach inlet for this offshore Dolphin fishing experience. Ordinarily I fish a bit further South out of Haulover Cut in the North Miami Beach area, which is a much wider inlet and makes me feel a lot better when it’s a bit choppy! The plan was to get to the edge of the blue water and head southeast in hopes of finding some good patches of weeds or floating debris that hold Dolphin and other fish. It’s essential when Dolphin fishing to find clean blue water, although I have caught them in as little as 60 feet of water when targeting King Mackerel, but that is a unusual. This usually occurs when a strong east wind blows the weed patches closer to shore and the fish chase in bait such as flying fish. We are lucky in South Florida that the gulf stream comes very close to shore, (as little as a few miles in some spots), which makes it a short trip to the blue water when compared to those fishing further north.

Some great Dolphin Lures

We use very common tackle for Dolphin Fishing; trolling rods in the 30 lb. class should do fine, equipped with reels spooled using 25 – 30 lb test monofilament. I have been very happy using my Shimano TLD 20’s for this purpose. Bass Pro Shops, as well as Cabelas, sell a very nice combo that will serve this purpose well. The easiest way for a novice to begin dolphin fishing is to set up a rigged ballyhoo with a skirt. When Dolphin Fishing I have always like the Green with Yellow colors, but try other combinations such as black and purple as you never know what the fish are preferring, or what other species are lurking in the deep gulfstream waters. You should also bring along some spinning tackle of the same or lighter class, as you may have the opportunity to pitch some baits to a number of dolphin that occasionally follow their hooked school mates right up to the boat. By keeping a hooked fish in the water and tossing in some chunked pieces or live bait, you may keep them around the boat for some time. For rigging my trolling bait I will use between a 6/0 and 7/0 hook and pretty much the same but in a shorter shank, or a circle hook for pitching bait. Many people will use a wire leader when instead of a 50-70 lb. test leader as it is not uncommon to hook a Wahoo or large Barracuda when trolling for Dolphin.

A properly rigged Ballyhoo

Trolling speeds can vary with sea condition and the types of baits used, but usually average about 4 to 7 knots. Make sure your baits are working properly and swimming naturally. Above all, keep checking them to ensure that they do not pick up any floating weeds along the way. The baits should be swimming (not spinning) just under the surface or can be seen skipping on the surface. Just because you are Dolphin fishing doesn’t mean you can’t try for other species or use other methods to catch fish. On many occasions we have taken big Dolphin and Wahoo by using a down rigger to fish a bait deep. A rigged ballyhoo on a skirt with a wire leader is a great choice for this.

This was a very hot day and due to our late start we were concerned that it was going to be a long one. The weed patches were scattered and we were on constant look out for any flotsam. We passed a large crate that held a few Tripletail and tried pitching a few live Pilchard in hopes that something may be lurking a bit further down the water column, but to no avail. A bit later we spotted a log floating in the water and made several passes and were lucky enough to pick up one Dolphin in the 8 lb range. Far from being a monster, but when you are fishing this far offshore, we knew he was coming home for dinner!

Look for weed patches

If the weed patches and floating debris are not present it’s also a great idea to keep your eyes peeled for birds working the surface. We had just about given up for the day and the strong Gulf Stream currents had pushed us far north despite our Southerly initial course. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the folks at Delorme, as my handheld PN-90 GPS helped me to win a bet with my buddy on the correct heading back to Boynton Beach inlet.
We were within sight of land but still fairly far offshore when I saw about 10 birds working a small piece of ocean. There was nothing floating but I could see flying fish taking off in all directions. We began trolling the edges of where the birds were and in no time all the rods were bent over with fish on! Dolphin fishing at its finest! Now that the majority of our day’s catch were brought to the boat within 10 minutes, we could head home triumphantly, so we rinsed the boat down and headed for home; another successful day for The Outdoors Guy and friends.

Dolphin Under boat

If you have the urge on a calm summer morning or afternoon to learn and enjoy offshore fishing, Dolphin fishing in South Florida is perhaps the easiest way to begin. The tackle is not significantly heavy or overly expensive and you may already have most of it from your inshore adventures. Just head out to where the waters turn a clear blue and begin trolling some baits. If there are fish in the area they are usually eager to take a properly trolled bait. Remember to be prepared for all eventualities when Dolphin fishing, keep an eye on the weather and you will be sure to have some great tales to tell when you get home. Fishing for Dolphin is definitely a great way to begin your offshore angling experience.

The Outdoors Guy with a small Dolphin and a King Mackerel

Tips on Fishing Florida’s Inshore Patch Reefs

My best friend and fishing buddy always responds to my request to go offshore fishing or deep dropping off our South Florida waters with the same line…”when the seas are a bit flatter we can get out there”. Having been on the water for the better part of my life I realize that summer storms can make heading offshore to fish the Gulf Stream off South Florida a bit tricky at times, and that the flat waters can turn to 4-6 foot seas in a heartbeat. I started thinking about the things that truly make me happy while fishing and then realized that most were in my own backyard. The inshore waters and reefs along Fort Lauderdale, Miami and all points south are great areas to enjoy inshore fishing for Snapper, Mackerel, Grouper and many other species.

One of the best parts about fishing the inshore waters of South Florida is the incredible system of patch reefs which hold an amazing array of species, and the best part is that you rarely have any competition for these areas. These small patch reefs are a refuge for small fish, which in turn bring larger and heftier fish to that area. These South Florida patch reefs are usually found in less than 20 feet of water and on a good day you can see them without the aid of any depth finders. Of course, we resourceful anglers mark the reefs that bring in the best catches with our GPS’s so we can return to them easily.

Patch Reefs in the Florida Keys

While most of my buddies have large offshore fishing machines I am perfectly content with my 20’ Aquasport center console, I can get offshore on calm days yet can still enjoy the bays and back country when the feeling strikes me. For fishing the patch reefs off my home in Miami, I find this boat to be ideal for the methods I use and fish I target. The patch reefs found in south Florida waters hold mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper Various Mackerel and Grouper as well as many other species that pass through, including a variety of sharks and Jacks.

The best way to find the most productive Patch Reefs is to troll in and around the areas with small lures; Yozuri’s and Rapalas have always served me well. Once I have a an idea of which patch reef is producing not only the most fish, but if I’m lucky, also the species I am craving for dinner, I will usually anchor up-current from the reef. Something not everyone may realize is that inconsiderate anglers and divers damage the reefs by dropping on top of them. It is much more environmentally friendly and better for your fishing if you drop anchor in the sand just up-current. You will also lose much less tackle by not snagging it on the coral, sea fans and any other life at the bottom.

Typical South Florida Patch Reef

Once you have found an area that you want to fish and have anchored, it is a good idea to put a block of chum in a chum bag and hang it over the side. This is like ringing the dinner bell as everything from small baitfish to sharks will find their way to the chum. Since the water is relatively shallow, tying it off to a stern cleat along with the rocking of the boat should produce a good chum slick provided there is some current; either current is usually fine as long as it is a moving tide.

I prefer to use live bait such as pilchard that I can easily catch by casting a net in the bay or by using sabiki rigs just outside the inlet, usually on the incoming tide. If no pilchard are to be found, cut ballyhoo or live shrimp work well too. Keep a sharp eye open for live Ballyhoo swimming in your chum slick, as these can be easily caught with small hooks or a cast net and can often bring in amazing results such as Grouper, etc.

The tackle I prefer to use while fishing in the shallow waters of the patch reef is light spinning tackle in the 10 to 20 pound class. Although I like the lighter tackle, the variety of species and sizes fishing the patch reefs makes me lean to the heavier side. Baitcasting gear in

Average snapper, but oh so tasty!

this range would be suitable as well. Pretty much anything you use will get results; I prefer small jigs tip with a piece of shrimp or strip of ballyhoo while my brother uses a fish finder rig with an egg sinker anywhere from 1/8 ounce to an ounce depending upon the current. Place this above a swivel then a few feet of leader of about 30 lb test and you are ready to go. I prefer to go to the light side on leaders and sinkers as well as I feel I get more action that way and I don’t lose as many fish as you may think.

Fishing the Patch reefs of Miami, the Keys, and most of South Florida is not rocket science; you learn much as you go. You will soon understand what species seem to hit what rigs or baits more than others and you may then begin to target certain species. Don’t forget to try using various plugs and other lures, as I have on more than one occasion hooked into Bonito, Tarpon, Snook and even a King Mackerel on these shallow reefs.

Always a chance at a nice Grouper!

The bottom line is; the patch reefs are easily accessible, they hold a great many species and are easy to fish with limited competition. If that’s not enough, think about the Snapper, Grouper or other fine table fare that could be served up courtesy of the patch reefs of South Florida!

Tips on Catching South Florida Swordfish

The Outdoors Guy with a 265 lb Swordfish

Visualize this, we leave the dock about 2 hours before dark and run due south from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami.  We then head out with the aid of satellite navigation and radar into the Gulf Stream and to depths over 1000 feet of water.  We then set lines and drift our way back home.  We fish live bait, squid with light sticks (as seen in the perfect storm), really whatever it takes to get them going.  When the reel goes off, there is nothing more exciting than being out on the ocean at night battling it out with such a powerful yet delicious fish. 

There has been quite a bit written about sword fishing lately and for good reason, North Atlantic swordfish populations, which had been severely depleted by the 1990s as a result of over fishing, have staged a stunning recovery, as reported by the international regulatory group (ICCAT) charged with overseeing their protection.  Sport fishermen from South Florida are now able to catch this mighty adversary, if properly prepared.

A bit small, but time to fill the freezer!

On the dock preparation is very important to a successful trip and outfitting the proper equipment from the proper bait, to the fighting harness and attitude of the crew is essential for a safe and successful Swordfish trip.

Larger boats are preferable, as you will be fishing at night about 10 miles off the coast, with the weather and rough seas always being a concern.  Creature comforts such wet bars, and DVD entertainment centers are always wonderful as is air conditioning systems that are for comfort. However on my many trips aboard my vessel a cool breeze and a bottle of Pepsi were a welcomed addition.

Rods and Reels must be sufficient to do battle with fish averaging between 80 and 400 lbs, and perhaps even larger. Anglers must be strapped into harnesses to avoid being pulled overboard by these mighty fish. All Rods and reels must be checked for any potential problems before leaving the dock.

With our gear checked we can now leave the dock, but we are not on our way to the fishing grounds just yet, you will still need a supply of live bait.  Catching live bait can be fun yet difficult.  Stopping by the sea buoys or shallow reefs to catch a small fish known as blue runners can make the difference between a successful trip and just a waste of a lot of fuel. I have turned back more than a few times due to lack of live bait. Keep them lively. Many people Claim that rigged dead squid are just as good, but I know what has worked consistently for me and like to dance with the girl that brought me!

We can now head to the fishing grounds.  With the help of sophisticated navigational systems and radar, including GPS and depth finders, we can now head south towards Miami and the sword fishing grounds.  Once offshore of Miami Beach we head into the Gulf Stream and about 1400 feet of water, where we make final preparations and begin fishing while slowly drifting north, back towards Ft. Lauderdale, under a moonlit night sky. Listen closely to the radio as you might pick up some useful information such as the depth that the fish are being caught in.

A Sea anchor maybe deployed to slow the drift and rods are readied to begin fishing.  Four rods are readied with special rigs that include a cylume stick (glow stick, as seen in Movie perfect storm). A live bait is carefully rigged on a circle hook designed to catch on the edge of the swordfish’s bony jaw. The Cylume stick attracts small baitfish, which in turn attract the swords.  Each rod is now carefully lowered to designated depth, usually at100, 200, 300 and 400 feet. A balloon with a glow stick is then tied to the line and let drift away from the boat at different intervals to avoid tangles.

The wait begins as we begin drifting slowly through the night listening to the sounds of the ocean.  Friends engaging in lively talk, eating junk food that would bring down the wrath of our cardiologist and watching creatures swim in and out of the lights of the boat.  The occasional sound of a passing whale ensures that all is well in the universe, at least for tonight.

Listening for the tell tale sounds of line running off the reel with a fish on. Suddenly the reel begins to scream, and the angler prepares to do battle.  The designated angler is strapped into a harness to prevent him or her from being pulled overboard while others clear the way.  The angler sets the hook and the battle begins, it may take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to bring in the beast of the deep. 

As the angler fights the fish by raising and lowering his rod while reeling in an effort to gain line back on the reel, the others on board yell encouragement to him.  All eyes are peeled to the water waiting for a first glimpse of the fish.  Despite a valiant battle the great fish is now tiring and nearing the boat, the battle is about to end.  As the tired fish nears the boat, someone with a flying gaff, which is a long pole with a hook attached to rope, is readied to pull the fish alongside.  After being gaffed the fish is then brought into the boat or if too large tied alongside.  At this point the weary angler can finally relax and take a good look at his efforts. It is extremely important to only harvest fish that are of sufficient size to ensure that this fishery continues to thrive. We usually will keep one fish of over 125 lbs or larger every few trips and release all others. After all there is quite a lot of meat for all on a fish this size or larger for all to enjoy.

Finally with the fish secured, a very happy crew prepares for the ride back to the dock. The ride home is very peaceful.  All aboard are very silent, reflecting on the events of the evening.  The lights of the coast are getting brighter as we near shore. All the preparation that went into making this trip successful seems very worth it now. For those who do not have access to a boat worthy of such a trip, the local guides are now offering swordfish trips on a regular basis and can be found anywhere from the phone book to the internet. If you are an angler and an adventurer, this is one fishing trip that can’t be beat.

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