Rodney’s Blog

Dolphin (Dorado) Madness

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 16:16:53 +0100

Hi all,

Sorry sorry yet again for the long time between blogs. No excuses, just a mad summer back in the UK for our hurricane break. Took Helen for her annual pilgrimage to see Andrea Bocelli in Tuscany and being registered disabled Helen gets to go free. Top marks, Mr Bocelli. I even managed a few hard fighting carp as I sneaked in a travel rod this year.

The rest of the summer has been taken up with fighting builders as we were having a new conservatory built. Now it is finished it was worth all the grief and we should have done it years ago. Also have been battling the NHS to get a minor op done during my summer stay in UK. Can't fault the NHS with the way they have dealt with my wife's MS, but trying to get my minor op done has been a different matter. But as I go in today – job done.

Back in the US, fantastic news about the new rod I have been developing with Snowbee for the professional kingfish guys. Snowbee now sponsor a top team which, using one of the new rods, won a major round of the championship – 50lb+ fish and $25000+! We now have replicas of this rod for sale in US and high hopes for successful sales.

Back to blog title, Dolphin Madness. It always brings a smile to us to see the look of horror on first timers to Florida at local restaurants to see diners tucking in to fillets of fresh local dolphin. Fear not, it's not slices of Flipper and his friends, but just the local name for dorado and jolly tasty it is too. Whilst we catch dorado all year long we always look forwards to the prime migration time in summer, as this is when numbers peak on their annual migration in the tropics. The lifecycle of the dorado is truly amazing with a short life span 2 to 3 years, only they reach 40lbs in just 12 months topping out at 70+ in 2 to 3 years, and breeding in just months. Normal fishing method is open water top trolling but fish are found on weed lines and any floating debris where all other methods can be used, such as fly, spinning, or bait live and cut.

The colours of dorado are out of this world; greens, yellows, blues, etc. and have to be seen. The fight is also amazing with lots of jumps and runs giving lots of oohs and ahhs. This year we had a good dorado day with Dave Harris. Dave and his wife Leslie are regulars at Fish the Dream and this year are coming out twice, and it was nice to take a local friend of Dave's out for a day's fishing. Last year Leslie had a dorado nearly as big as her but it chose the wrong rod if it wanted to get away, as not much gets past Leslie. Well done.

Lastly must say a huge thanks again to John Aplin for running Fish the Dream this summer. Praise from all his guests, told you so mate, the only down side being that he is now a marine mechanic, and very good at house work. Sorry.

Pics: winning kingmac, Dave's dorado day, skipper John dorado on fly.
Videos: Dolphin madness.

Cheers,

Rodney.

When a Dream Comes True part 2

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 00:10:54 +0100

Sorry yet again for the long delay between blogs – tarpon season just crazy. One party nearly killed me with just short of 90 hrs guiding for the week, and when you add on boat preparation, rods and bait, it's a long week.

John is doing a great job running Fish the Dream at the moment. Check his blogs out at www.riverworks.co.uk. It was surreal the other day... John is no mechanic, so when we had a small engine problem I talked him through the repair with the aid of Skype and a web cam. Well done, John!

Back to the title. Now that guests are on multiple trips we are starting to get wish lists and one such recent group were Roy and Bill. Roy has always wanted to catch a big king mackerel so on his last trip this was the mission, and despite going to all the right places and trying all the right methods, the big king was playing hard to get. You now the saying, the harder you try the harder it gets. Big kings often stay far back in the chum so with this in mind on our last trip a blue runner was placed way back and the rod just left in a rod holder. Fishing all day we forgot about the rod but then all hell broke lose, fish on. Roy has a lovely gentle approach to fighting fish and it works. After a long fight the fish was boated at over 40lb – a big king. Job done!

Now back to a more up to date note. It's nice after all my years in the Keys to find a new mark and this year we have found a pemit and tarpon mark well away from the dangers of the bridges. It was on this mark, after a tough week of windy weather, that regular Lee Jasper had a near 30 permit. Well done, Lee.

Footnote: oil, what oil? The oil is hundreds of miles away, look at the maps, and is very unlikely to ever reach the Keys despite media scaremongering. I am very sorry for the people in the northern gulf but luckily here in the Keys it shouldn't be a problem.

Pics this blog are Roy's mackerel and Lee's permit. The video is a cold front crossing Florida bay – spooky or what?

Cheers, Rodney.

Keys on Fire

Wed, 12 May 2010 23:03:56 +0100

Wow! What a week! Despite fishing here for nearly 12 years and running Fish the Dream for more than 6 years, some weeks blow me away.

Neil, a regular from Ireland, came with 3 newcomers and what a week they had, starting with a giant sawfish in the 700 to 800lb range and taken just yards from where we caught one last year. A once in a life time experience, twice in two years.

At last the water is back to normal temps and the tarpon are running big style. The biggest this week broke the boat PB fight record – 2hrs 35mins and took our boat 3.49 miles. It was too big to get in, probably near 200lb. So big you could have put a saddle on it. Grouper to over 300 on the gulf wrecks cobia to 25 and permit over 20. Also this week a fantastic tiger shark over 200lb, in my opinion the nicest looking shark in the sea. And to mark the reopening of grouper season a stunning 35lb black on a deep atlantic wreck. Also the start of the dorado trolling offshore.

What a week and despite the worry of ash clouds on the way home Neil and his friends headed home tired from big fish and a bit sunburnt, but with memories that will last a lifetime.

All the local guides reckon that the tarpon season will last well into July – a good opportunity to take advantage of our summer specials – JUST £55 PER PERSON PER DAY and only a few dates left.

Cheers, Rodney.

When a Dream Comes True

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:18:05 +0100

As I said in recent blogs, 2010 has been a strange year in Florida with the coldest start to the year for over 100 years. At Fish the Dream we have been lucky with a boat that's not restricted to the bay or flats and is just at home 30 miles offshore where we have found warm water and fantastic fishing. It was on one of these trips we were able to make one dream come true. Our regulars from Jersey were trashed last year deep wreck fishing when nearly all the amberjack were taken by shark, and Rob said at the start of this trip "I would just like to get one big one back to the boat". Well on one trip this year fishing a 200+ft wreck it was big fish on for Rob and despite many hard long runs we got it back to the boat. God knows what the Florida record went like at 142lbs – Rob's fish was probably round the 40lb mark.

If there is anywhere in the world with a heat problem my boys from Jersey will lower your average temps 15 to 20 degrees no problem. Please, not next year! Well done to Nigel who came with a PB 4lb, then 65 then a 100+lb hammerhead - check out video clip.

On a more up to date note, the big tarpon have arrived at last and the Summerells, newcomers to Fish the Dream, had a fantastic day on tarpon with 4 fish on and 2 long fights to the boat. Well done - true pros. Pic of Stuart getting slimed but smiling.

Cheers, Rodney.

Half Price Tarpon

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:46:57 +0100

Hi All,

Sorry yet again for late blog – just not enough hours in the day or days in the week.

Firstly, it's often said if a deal sounds to good to be true it often is, but what we at Fish the Dream are offering is the deal of the century and it is real – HALF PRICE TROPICAL GAME FISHING!!!!!!!!!! As I said in a previous blog, my friend John offered to run Fish The Dream in the summer when it's a bit too hot for my wife. So, to help him out and get some new people out to fish their dreams, we have decided to offer the holidays for half price, that's just £55 per person per day for accommodation, car and boat. The offer is from June 15th until July 14th and at this time there will still be 100lb+ tarpon and all the summer fish will be in full mode: dorado, tuna, bonefish and permit just to name a few. The base record is 55 species in 6 days. Please email me with any questions and, as they say, when it's gone it's gone.

Secondly, you will have read in my blog on global warming and seen in the press that Florida had its coldest start to a year for over 100 years, resulting in many fish deaths. You will be pleased to know that it is nearly back to normal and fishing well again.

When we set up Fish the Dream over six years ago, it was my intention to give anglers the complete Florida Keys experience, and choice of boat was important. We decided on a fast catamaran, giving us a very stable shallow water craft for the flats and bay, but also high freeboard and capable of working far offshore and coping with big seas in comfort.

This really came to the front this year, with cold and dirty waters in the bay and few fish we were able to head offshore to find warm and clean water. Some days to find gulf stream waters we had to go 15 miles plus but were rewarded with fantastic fishing. In fact, it became evident that many of the bay fish had done the same and just gone south into the deeper warmer water, resulting in the best grouper and snapper fishing ever.

Pics are of recent guests to Fish the Dream, sorry to be so long with updates. I promise to give myself a good talking too.

Cheers, Rodney.

Global Warming part 2

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:28:22 +0000

Global warming or is it global cooling after the coldest winter in the UK? We had lows to -10ºC and 5 days below 0ºC and snow cover for more than two weeks. We only just managed to get the flight back to Florida. Back here again, cold for Florida. I saw a low of 39ºF but what was strange – it was cold for 10 days, a 100 year record.

Unfortunately this coincided with the guys from Snowbee coming out here for some serious R&D on their tackle. As you know, Fish the Dream is now sponsored by Snowbee and I am helping them develop new rods for the US market. They have decided to target the Kingfish rods and as they are mainly for live bait, I think they will be stunning bass rods for live bait in the UK as well. With the bay and back country waters cold, we are lucky to be able to take our boat off shore and despite big seas (4ft plus) find warm 70+ water and fish. We had great results with Snowbee’s stinger rigs with Shout hooks (see pics) and another new product from Snowbee is the new Snakebite leadhead.

Frantic action good over here and I think will slay cod and pollock in the UK. Check out Snowbee’s range of deep blue rods – they cope with the fish out here so will cope with anything in the UK. I’ll keep you posted on the new live bait rods and during this global warming, stay warm.

Cheers,

Rodney.

New Skip Joins Fish the Dream

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 23:17:21 +0000

Hi all,

Firstly, a Happy New Year to all my readers once again. My resolution, as last year, is to blog more and keep the blogs more up to date.

As most of you know, Fish the Dream was set up to help my wife who suffers from MS. On a winter holiday in Florida it became obvious that the heat helped her a lot, and, finding a way to keep her in the climate, Fish the Dream was set up. Whilst the heat in winter is good for her, the high heat in early summer is now causing problems and we are having to rethink our summer operation.

When I approached John Aplin, a regular at Fish the Dream and a very experienced boatman, to see if he would consider running the operation for me in early summer, he jumped at the chance. During his last trip, with my oldest fishing buddy, he took charge of the boat and all I can say is that I was well impressed. Fishing on the boat, as he has done many times, is one thing but to fully take charge of the boat is a totally different thing and he passed with flying colours. I think anyone who fishes with John will have a top time. So anyone who wants an early summer trip for big tarpon, dorado and all the rest, get in touch with me, or John direct on 01305 257490 or john@riverworks.co.uk, and check his web site out: www.riverworks.co.uk .

Pics for this blog are John and Martin on John’s training trip. Once again, well done John and I am more than happy to leave you at the helm during my extended summer stay in the UK this year.

Cheers,

Rodney.

Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:02:58 +0000

Firstly, a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our past, present and future guests at Fish the Dream.

Quick postscript to last blog on global warming - the US recently had its first deep cold front of the winter and whilst we all moan about the cold I saw a low temp of -30° in a populated town in North Dakota and also a 24hr total of 5ft 6in of level snow. As one reporter was asked, “How do you drive in that?”, the local said “Drive, it’s hard enough to find your car.”

Back to the fishing. The next party of this session was regulars Alan and Tim Keating. They now come twice a year and have become firm friends as well as guests, with Helen and I looking forwards to each trip. Alan always seems to catch a special fish each trip - huge king mackerel, sailfish, etc. and this trip a mammoth goliath grouper well over 300lbs. Well done and what will it be next trip?

We had a fantastic day on a gulf wreck with jack crevalle. These fish have been called the junkyard dogs of the flats. Hard fighting, hard hitting and never knowing when to give up - fantastic sport.

We had to buy a new kite recently and it was with the Keating boys that we had a great day with the new kite, it being an SPF Professional and will fly steady in 5 to 25 mph winds.

For those of you who have not fished with a kite it is truly amazing, the fish only seeing the belly of the live bait and normally ending in an explosion on the surface and a screaming drag. Basically, a separate rod flies the kite and back 50ft a line clip is on the kite line. The fishing rod line goes up to the clip then down to the live bait. In sailfish competitions the kite is the preferred method and the pro teams will run two kites and three rods on each kite. The finely tuned team will even cope with multiple hook ups.

I have heard of UK anglers thinking about kite fishing to reach areas too dangerous to get the boat into, but the kite bait would be no problem. If anyone wants more info please get in touch. Hope the video blog explains the kite a bit more.

Cheers,

Rodney

Global Warming

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:53:58 +0000

Global warming - still not completely sure but it has been a bit crazy in the Florida Keys over the last year, from the air frost killing large amounts of fish not able to get to warm water quickly enough, to the nearly daily record temps this autumn. Time will tell.

However the fishing is still off the wall and in my opinion still the best tropical fishing in the world.

The first party of this session were newcomers to Fish the Dream: Steve, Martin, Harry and Peter from Hove. Weather a bit mixed, so most of the time we were in the bay and on a lot of Gulf wrecks. It still blows away UK anglers - the number and size of big fish in just 10ft of water. With grouper over 400lb and shark to 1000lb, it’s often hard to get anglers to go anywhere else. Big needle fish this trip and very close to the Florida record of 3lb 4oz. Fish of the week was Peter’s grouper, you can’t tell a big fish not to take a small bait and Peter did a fantastic job to boat a 250lb+ grouper on just 25lb line. Well done, one of the best fights I have seen - a true pro. Also, despite water temps over 85, the first mackerel of the season. Hope they don’t go north for colder water.

Anyway, a good time was had by all and thanks for a nice thank you email - it always goes down well with Helen and me and we look forward to seeing you all again, any time.

Rodney

Busman’s Holiday

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 22:15:05 +0000

Hi,

In a recent blog I mentioned that at long last I’ve found a proactive tackle company in Snowbee UK and when MD Russell Weston invited me down to see them, and if the weather was ok to go fishing, I jumped at the chance. A long drive for me, 8 hrs 24 mins - admittedly getting lost once, I arrived at Plymouth and there was a good forecast for the next day.

An earlyish start - picked up by Russell and friend Russ Symons, and we set off in Snowbee’s stunning Jeanneau boat, not at my normal speed but enough for them and superbly fitted out for UK fishing. First stop, a wreck and first fish a bass to Russ. It was amazing to watch them jig with just 20lb braid in the Keys, we have to use 50lb - just bigger fish and they hit harder. I managed a small pollack on a good old Redgill, just nice to have a bend in a rod again. Then on to the Skerries, my first time here. The plaice were a bit slow but we all caught and mine, see pic, very tasty. Then back to port with a few stops. A bit of a quiet day by their standards but a great relaxing day for me - thanks all.

Next day Russell showed me round Snowbees headquarters, very impressive. Keep a look out for some exciting new tackle from Snowbee. Video blog mayhem in the Keys all four anglers on fish and a very large barracuda taking one off.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Paul Devlin and all at the Glasgow Angling Centre, the last road show was a great success. It’s an amazing superstore and so busy for two day, tills solid all day. Great to meet Matt Hayes again and for the first time Paul Young, a true old school gent with time for everyone.

Cheers,

Rodney