Captain Olthor: 2011

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Monster carp worth the preparation

By Mike Winter Friday, February 4, 2011
2:58 PM

An extract from my angling diaries: In September 2005, my pal Peter arranged a guest permit for me to fish with him at a private carp lake where they grew big.

Peter trotted off to the far bank, asking me to join him at “some nice places to fish from” he said.

“Sorry,” I replied “I’m off to creep around to find some carp before I start fishing”.

It was 10am. I’d bought some stewed hempseed and some hard carp pellets. I got my Kelly kettle going, put half the hard pellets into a bait box, just covered them with boiling water, then made a coffee.

I put some hard pellets in with the hemp and set off on a slow tour of the lake. I spotted the odd big carp in the margins of the more overgrown banks and put in some of my hemp/pellet groundbait.

Peter was fishing from an open area of bank perched up on his fishing chair. Eventually I came to several willows growing half submerged in the water.

There were several large carp in this snaggy area and I knew that was where I should fish. So I put in most of my groundbait.

Next I set up some strong tackle – a stepped up split cane MK IV rod with a 3lb test curve, an Ambidex Mk 9 reel loaded with 18lb line (these reels built by Youngs in the 1960s are a joy to fish with, due to their silky smooth gearing and free running line roller).

I slipped a small rubber float stop up the line followed by a small quill float free to slide by its bottom ring, then another float stop slid up six feet from the end of the line to which I ‘palomar’ knotted a strong size 4 hook.

Lastly I rolled four small sausages of tungsten putty to lightly pin the last four feet of line to the bottom.

I went on another tour of the lake looking for signs of fish feeding on my groundbait, but it wasn’t until I got back to the willows that I saw those signs – bubbles, clouded water and small whorls in the surface film.

The bottom there shelved down to seven feet. I adjusted my float stops accordingly. Then I baited my hook with a walnut sized lump of paste moulded from the soaked pellets.

Opening the reel pick up I threw my baited hook out by hand, then slowly drew it back into the base of the shelf.

I sat quietly on my cushion on a groundsheet hidden behind a willow bush using my bait box as a rod rest.

Within 20 minutes my float stole slowly away and I hooked the first of 14 carp I was to land during the next eight hours, including four 20 pounders, three 18 pounders, four 15 pounders and three 14 pounders.

Twice I got smashed up in the willows by fish more powerful than my biggest of 26lbs.

Peter? He had one five pounder!

View the original article here

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Browning to win off the Trophy event

Friday, 4 February 2011
9: 29 AM

EXMOUTH Sea rather than members of the Association is fished out of the Cup in the last weekend, writes Tim Clotworthy.

The event is fished at Slapton Sands with fro 2 pm, the rising tide through until 7 pm to close some of the species in daylight before the onset of darkness with the members of the hope.

Seventeen members who has fished most of the fish on the beach in the middle of the pioneers and the wonderful sunny in the afternoon, but the weather was welcoming, which has changed soon picked up to be unpleasant for brisk winds of fishing.

Are most of the members of the fish caught mackerel, DAB, dogfish, codling, pouting, whiting and sole recorded weigh.

First place went to Gary Bowden 176 with test and he also won the best model with the sole 2 lb 4 oz.

Secondly, went to Adrian Jones and thirdly, the two go hand in hand with the 148 claimed Paul Rowe 117 with the test.

View the original article here

No salmon caught yet on river Eden

By Chris Bowman

Last updated at 15:17, Friday, 04 February 2011

Although plenty of kelts have been caught including one of around 20lb on the Carlisle Angling Association water no fresh-run salmon have been reported from the Eden as yet.

But John Kitchen thought he had hooked into one whilst fishing the Coops Stream at Warwick Hall last Thursday.

Using a 2½ inch Willie Gunn fly, John connected with a heavy powerful fish that did not reveal its true identity until landed.

John’s fish proved to be a large unspawned cock fish or rawner measuring some 40 inches in length and estimated at 24lb.

With salmon reported spawning on the main River Eden on Tuesday of this week it could be that we may see more baggots and rawners caught along with kelts, before we see our first Eden Springer landed this season.

For the non-angler or new comer to salmon fishing all of this must sound a bit confusing, to simplify things a baggot is the term generally given to a hen salmon that has not spawned or completed spawning.

Rawner is the term generally given to the male equivalent of the baggot and kelt is the term given to a salmon, male or female that has spawned.

The important thing to remember is that all of these fish have to be returned to the water as soon as possible after capture, they are termed as “unclean” which for the purposes of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 in relation to any fish means that the fish is about to spawn, or has recently spawned and has not recovered from spawning.

All salmon rivers in this country have to have a statutory close season during which time it is illegal to fish for salmon with rod and line.

The backlog of Carlisle and District Coarse Angling Club fixtures caused by the exceptional winter weather grew bigger last Sunday when the rescheduled CADCAC Winter League match due to take place at Crofton had to be called off due to the lake freezing over again.

This match will now take place at Crofton Lake this coming Sunday February 6.

The draw takes place at 08.45 with fishing from 10am to 3pm.

During the last week Longtown West Pond has produced pike to 8¾lb and on the 27th of this month the West Pond is host to the last British Pike Championship Qualifying match to fished at the venue this winter. Phone 01228 674519 or 07714168939 for further information or to book your place.

First published at 14:25, Friday, 04 February 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk

View the original article here

Coarse Angling: Blowing hot and cold fish

Last weekend saw the return of a cold Snap and put a stop the stillwater fisheries, much had occurred in the interim recovery or disposal.

Crofton CADCAC Winter League-match was to be called is frozen solid Lake due to this it should now go ahead Sunday instead — although the week before Steve Dixon won the Winter League match with two skimmer sea bream 2 lb 12 oz for the same place.

The weather is not, however, because of the improvement and the still waters is once again became a fishable. Aldin Grange is on at the Park, Roach are currently caught, even though Paul Renny-Lemington lasted for six of the carp, and Dave Barrett caught two season tench.

With the exception of the New York area rivers are still ran out of wine suitable for yielding table wine sorts only a small number of chub, even though the main Tyne is still very weak MIT only bites come from minnows or sea trout wear.

Tidal power units with Tyne Newburn anglers Alliance contract with Newcastle and Gateshead water councils, is still a decent catch "featuring some of the enigma of the days, but the total empty with young males dace.

Wednesday saw the Open, all-the Angel of the CARP catch has risen in the heart of 35 lb 13 oz Skirry win Alan. Graham was the largest 18 McGuire lb 15 oz and Ricky Bennett was the third of 12 lb 9 oz.

Sunday, even if it were frozen, Bowes and fishery open anglers had break ice first, but still went ahead of the competition. Neil Brown won the topic feasts stationing themselves at places 18 lb 5 oz, Richard Wildman, 11 lb and Steve McCourt, with 8 lb 5 oz

Lookout Sunday's Big match was different in the waters of the AC, where the participants were to break ice before the entry into force of the fisheries, but don't Stop Nigel Beardsley putting 13 lb 4 oz scales will increase your chances of winning the Lee Richardson, 10 lb, 4 oz, and Andy Bell with a 7 lb 10 oz.

Northallerton AC equivalence is Scruton on the banks of the River Swale had won, even on top of the Dinsdalesta, the New York North Yorkshire South Durham-contest saw the Mick Gibson, Chelmsford win with 9 lb 5 oz, Steve Beckwith reported that best matches each week to catch the 42 lb 6 oz chub.

Ant was second with Smith in Thornaby 8 lb 3 oz and Harry Growcock Shildon angler in third with 6 lb 12 oz.

Plans are afoot in the world is never match saw the richest event. North Yorkshire Oaks fishery is a design complex three-day Festival with £ 10,000 top prize.

DIARY DATES

Tomorrow: open will take place on the Lake, fishing, Angel Bowes at 10. 14: 30 until 3.30 pm, and challenge their Watson Middlesbrough AC Trophy, Swale, Gatenby Ainderby. TEL 01642 899288.

Sunday: WACAC fish Pike match Liverpool, QE2, Yarm (AA) to challenge the Adams Cup Tees and Ripon & District AC hold an open meeting of the attractive Navigation Inn, Ure Canal Road, Ripon at 9 in the morning. Langley Park, Langley Park, AC meet Workingmen Club (room back) at 10 am and the open Lookout Lake, the drawing will take place from 9 a.m. in the morning. Swale Richmond AC contests in their February Trophy. Meet the 8. 45 am Great Langton Bridge.

Tuesday: Pike Anglers Club Tyneside jako meet Cannock, Cannock Bank collective investment Club where all Pike anglers are welcome.

Wednesday: open takes place at the Woodlands and Angel, even though the population program at the meeting of the Club Lakeside Robin Hood Inn, Jarrow.

Thursday: two Clubs to keep meetings – four single AC Bay Horse pub, Buckingham and the London Club and District AC Catholic, Dean Street, London. Open midweek schedule also Oaks.

View the original article here

Monday, February 14, 2011

For hunters, anglers During warming up

Saturday marked the beginning of the decline of the hunters a lot.

The calendar may show Sept 21-day period. officially becomes a black bear, but the Adirondack Mountains, the first Saturday of the season's opener is really outdoorsmen and women to calculate many of the region.

Black bear season is the first large period, open, and over the coming weeks will see keksimisestä period can openers, the bow, and black powder rifle during for Deer.

Paul Jensen, wildlife biologist with the State Department of Environmental conservation, Warrensburg, said many of the bear, DEC received complaints this summer.That appears to indicate that there are plenty of food in the Woods, which are difficult to predict the bear season, he said.

When the forest is a natural food, lens, if any, do not have to visit a lot of you want to eat, making them more stringent with a view to seeking a hunters.

Mast plants look pretty good in the Woods this year was a large measure of Acorns. at an early stage in the woods nearby Queensbury, although they look has slowed down markedly in recent weeks, such as dry conditions persisted. Jensen said Beech nut crop in the protection of species of wild fauna, food tends to seemed decent.

"Cherry crop wild was very good," Jensen said.

My backyard BlackBerry crop appeared to stunted the heat and the lack of rain, but I have seen wild Apple has been brought forth much fruit.

However, difficult to freeze that devastated some orchards in the region is likely to affect some of Apple and wild at the part-session in May.

Cool nights and shorter days sent many Deer hunters Scouting in recent weeks, tree stands on the putting up and preparing for the possibility of wing whitetail.

The accounts of the region whitetail populations appear to be quite healthy.

Deer characters. 2009-10, Mild winter had little winter mortality Jensen said.

Deer kick off the first season of the invoice on Monday, Sept 27, with the northern Zone of heavy oils falling within heading no työterveyshaasteisiin bowhunters.The South region bowhunters can hit forests October 16, North zone of the rifle period starts a week later.

Fishing regulations

Many diehard anglers know that radiator, shorter days late summer and early fall are the prime time to fish.

Bass and lake trout from lakes to beat heat deeper waters.

Some of my best bass tours was in September of the year, in particular the smallmouths that display becomes active in the case of water cooler.

Also played a big range of trout streams some dates, in September and October, but it is not there a lot of power trip this fall unless the weather pattern changes. most of the trout streams here are few and clear this year I can remember too low fish. Thursday night rain helped a little, but not much.

Has been the number of fish kill on the trout streams in the region this summer and the fish are likely to be stressed to take condenser deeper holes is bunched in the summer most.

Trout season closes October 15 of the most deprived persons in the local waters, but some streams (Schroon River, Kayaderosseras Creek, does not kill the part of the Batten Kill) are open all year round. is it not bother fishing now, but if we get some rain they could be the value of the shot.

Many of the lakes offer continuous trout population, including among them is Lake remains. George, Schroon Lake and Brant Lake. Thirteenth Lake Trout-underrated Johnsburg and Palmer Lake, Pond, Chester are open through November 30.

Don Lehman can be reached at dlehman@poststar.com.

View the original article here

3 pack headphone with microphone for iphone 2g 3g 3gs 4g- (Generic, WHITE Color)

Noise Canceling feature

Conveniently Pause/Play your music by pressing the in-line Send/End button

With one press you can answer your call immediately

Double click the Send/End button to forward to the next song

These units also work with the latest MacBook/MacBook Pro's & Skype!

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Anglers and Stanford researchers track the Marlins unusual migration

20 September 2010, Lois Bergeron Anglers and Stanford scientists track marlin's unusual migration routes

Maximize

Pacific Blue Marlin is just around the hook from the mouth as it slipped the packing slip to the sea, the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.Courtesy of Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, in collaboration with Stanford researchers each year and sport anglers, Hawaii is revealing Pacific Blue Marlin with large, great fish spear-shaped from the tip of the long migration paths. electronic tags Marlins on surprising activities, including the three fish that floating Hawaii-Marquesas Islands to Mile 3 000 trips throughout the South Equator. Such trans-Equatorial migrations is unusual, i.e. researchers expect the information that I look forward to this summer, the marking of.

Pacific Blue Marlin, one of the biggest billfish to swim in the open sea are beginning to give some information about the options in this mysterious secrets. The new data is whether "and release the" anglers Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament involved in underwater journeys thanks to Marlins. they were committed to help Stanford researchers with the marking of large fish catching and releasing.

Anglers and researchers marked 10 Marlins electronic tags in August on the coast of Hawaii Big Island Hawaii this year during the tournament set Great Marlin Race off. 120 days when the Marlins will be stored in the tags, how to travel to dive deep into the water temperatures and what they encounter.

You must view this ideoThe anglers Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament reel installed Flash Marlin "identifier and version.", when tags to float on the surface of a pop, they and their data back to the laboratory, the results of the previous year. If are indications about should be interesting.The winner is, as the case may be, the farthest to the fish swims.

Marine biologist Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station Randy Kochevar "in 2009, we received some of the longest tracks which never have been found to be using electronic tags, Marlin" said. "Three of these Marlins swam as Hawaii the entire Equator-Marquesas Islands, which was something that we really did. "This is a journey of about 3 000 km (more than 1,850 miles).

Kochevar said is very unusual aquatic animals through the territory of the Equatorial move is due to a combination of high temperature surface water and oxygen poor water only below. "Equatorial region is an important limit for so many species was really surprising to see that three long songs went right for all, "he said.

"Great Marlin Race is unique in that it combines the thrill of excitement in the State-of-the-art competitive angling conservation with the investigation," said Kochevar. "By calling the charter boat captains and crews and the tournament anglers as such investigation we can learn a lot more and get a lot more people excited about the work we do. "

Two already this year, the tags have become fish, off sooner than the researchers wanted to but it is a part of transoceanic labelling and monitoring of the game.

"This is part of the challenge for tag fish," says Barbara block, Professor Charles and Elizabeth Prothro, Marine Sciences, leading research group."You have a large number of tags to return enough data."

Block, which adopted the electronic tags are in the mid-1980s on the use of competition, has made extensive studies after the tag, and is completing the 10-year mark, Pacific Predators (TOPP) program, which more than 4,300 electronic tags introduced 23 species open ocean animals in the North Pacific.

Early days of electronic encoding technology is not very developed, which could make it difficult for an unusual interpretation of results: .1980 one Tags from Marlin Found floating near the Galapagos Islands, Kochevar said.

"No one believed it comes out Marlin, which had swum fully down there," he said."They thought extension has just come and free trumpetinsoittaja."

Kochevar said last year But on the basis of the results of swimming, far Marlin idea looks much more plausible.

Anglers and Stanford scientists track marlin's unusual migration routes
Maximize

Four Pacific sail-competition 2009 will be the thousands of kilometers along the routes below tags. three of them swam Equator, unusual migratory route through the Courtesy of Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford UniversityThe at Great Marlin Race idea started when the Hawaiian International Billfish tournament organisers approached Block with the idea of the 50th anniversary celebrations with their tags, a special program. Anglers were given the opportunity to finance the electronic tags to enable Marlins caught and released during the tournament.

Billfish Tournament organizers offered to provide free team competition in the year following the entry into force of the tag from the farthest to the surfaces, where it was originally introduced.

Although a large Marlin Race is associated with the sponsors of the competition between the Marlins, additional information is the primary focus.

"We really do not know a lot of Marlins patterns and their operation," said Kochevar.

"It appears that instead of traveling to spawn a specific location, and then feeding, bluefin tuna, such as end-of-year expenditure it seems like they are constantly spawning and their sorting, come and go from one place to another," he said.

"What we hope to learn from this work," said Stanford marine biologist George Shillinger, "is the basic information about the history of the life of these animals, we would like to know. when they go to the feed and when they go to paritella. we want to understand how they use the ocean, the type of area and in the end, how can we manage their populations to ensure that they remain in light."

Updates will be posted regularly to the Great Marlin Race-on a site that presents the results of the 2009 race.

"Our hope," said Kochevar, "is that we can consider any other sport fishing tournaments you can create your own Great Race programs."

Submitted by Stanford University (news: web)

Rate this story-5/5 (1 vote)

View the original article here

Free fishing event for children this Saturday

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a free youth fishing event Saturday at St. Louis Ponds near Woodburn.

The ODFW news release continues:

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and ODFW staff and volunteer instructors will be available to assist youngsters who want to learn how to fish. The department will also provide equipment including rods, reels and bait to any youngster who does not have his or her own gear.

"This is a great opportunity for kids to get out and enjoy a day at one of the Willamette Valley's premier trout fishing sites," said Todd Alsbury, fish biologist for ODFW's North Willamette Watershed District.

St. Louis Ponds is a 54-acre complex of seven ponds owned and managed by ODFW. The complex was designed specifically as a recreational fishing venue. The department will stock the ponds with more than 1,500 rainbow trout, including 500 larger fish in the half- to one-pound range.

"These larger fish should provide plenty of excitement for any youngster lucky enough to catch one," said Alsbury.

In addition to stocked trout, the ponds contain several species of warm-water fish, including largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie and sunfish.

"The diversity of species available at St. Louis Ponds is part of what makes it such a fun place to fish," said Alsbury, who noted that in the past several huge catfish have been pulled from its waters.

Although St. Louis Ponds is open to anglers of all ages, ODFW asks that adults leave the fishing to the kids for a few days leading to and including this event.

Under Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, anglers ages 13 and under can fish for free, and those 14 to 17 will need to have a juvenile angling license, which are available for $9 at ODFW field offices and license outlets.

The ponds are located 13 miles north of Salem and west of Interstate 5. To get to there from I-5, take the Woodburn exit. Then go east to Highway 99E. At Highway 99E, head south to Gervais Road. Go west on Gervais Road through the town of Gervais. The road eventually changes to St Louis Road. Continue west on St Louis Road as it crosses over I-5 to Tesch Road, at the railroad crossing. Go left on Tesch Road and follow the signs to the ponds.

-- The Oregonian

View the original article here

Working group formed to stop seal killing at salmon farms

SALMON farmers, retailers and animal welfare groups are joining forces to bring to an end the killing of problem seals at salmon farms as quickly as possible.

In what is believed to be a world first, Marine Harvest, the world’s largest salmon farmer will work with the Seal Protection Action Group as part of the newly formed “Salmon, Aquaculture and Seals Working Group”, alongside Sainsbury’s, Freedom Food, the RSPCA, the Sea Mammal Research Unit and International Animal Rescue.

Seals have posed a number of problems for the salmon farming industry since its inception in the 1960s, including damaging salmon farm nets and contributing to the release of thousands of salmon into the wild which may threaten wild salmon populations, as well as impacting the welfare of the fish when a site is attacked. Although it remains legal for salmon farmers to shoot problem seals, the new forum aims to find entirely non-lethal ways of deterring seals while protecting fish farm stocks.

As Alan Sutherland of Marine Harvest Scotland explained: “We appreciate that this has always been a difficult issue for us. Animal welfare and conservation groups are keen to see an end to the shooting of problem seals and we are keen to find alternative ways to stop problem seals taking fish, damaging nets and releasing farmed salmon into the wild. We believe the best solution is to focus on our common aim, rather than arguing about our differences.”

Ally Dingwall, Aquaculture and Fisheries Manager at Sainsbury’s said: “We welcome the formation of the group and the opportunity to support it through our Responsibly Sourced Salmon initiative. Ground breaking projects such as this are what our Responsibly Sourced Salmon is all about”.

Andy Ottaway of the Seal Protection Action Group said “We are determined to end the killing of seals and we are delighted that the world’s biggest producer of farmed fish and the UK’s leading retailer of Scottish salmon; the RSPCA and the Sea Mammal Research Unit have all committed to work together with us to achieve our goal. We hope the solutions we find will not just save seals in Scottish waters every year, but countless more worldwide, wherever they are in conflict with aquaculture and other fisheries.”

The Scottish salmon industry has reported that 489 seals were shot on Scottish salmon farms in 2008 whereas some welfare groups believe the number of seals shot in Scottish waters by all fisheries interests including wild netsmen and angling interests to be in the thousands. The group will bring together leading experts on this issue, who will work with the industry to identify best practice methods and equipment to deter seals without harming them or other wildlife. It will look at the current range of seal deterrents such as noise and strengthened and tensioned net systems as well as novel deterrents and examine other methods used in salmon farming countries across the world. Other areas of work will include benign research to identify things that seals will avoid such as particular noises, smells or movement.

View the original article here

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Penny Stock Tips That Pay To Trade - Sponsored Link

As a security measure to ensure our customers receive the highest quality traffic, we ask that you please type in the characters that you see on this picture in to the box below.

View the original article here

Pelican 1040 Micro-Case (Yellow)

Aqua Case with clear lid, allows you to see what's inside without opening it.

Price: $22.50

Click here to buy from Amazon

Silver Carp Taken By Archery Establishes New Record

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

View the original article here

Anglers to set up a new world record

It was a bad day is Marsascala bay fish today.

Anglers hundreds lined Bay and successfully for more than 4 hours in combination with the number of anglers fishing for a new Guinness world record.

Action was held in the blue Sea Sport fishing rather than Club and Marsascala Council aid Puttinu forward-forward young cancer patients.

More than 800 anglers lined with Bay event, there shall be a President George Abela, representing the first row of the starting signal.

The old record was established in Sweden with 679 participants took part in the similar case, 11 years ago. of the participants in today's Transaction each donated 5 € love.

President of Abela congratulated the organisers on the basis of the saying that instead of world record event was important because it was still human generosity of another expression.

The fish which are caught weighed and then thrown into the sea.

View the original article here

Whale Shark seen at Aliwal

Divers got to snorkel with a whale shark! So it looks like we are in for some interesting dives ahead of the weekend with recent tiger shark sightings and a far amount of raggies around... fingers crossed the viz improves.

Today is the last day to enter the Enseleni River fishing Competition at Hippo Hollow on the 24th and 25th of September. R 10 000 is up for grabs for the heaviest fish and it is going to be an awesome event so please contact Ian ASAP on 082 312 9790.

The Kingfisher crew’s angling update said that: it seems that the sardine run is officially over as there has been no reported activity of these fish for the past few days. Seasonal winds have also started and anglers will have to put up with adverse conditions for a few more weeks.

However, this time of the year can be very productive when a window of fair weather presents itself. Garrick, kob and shad are making up the main target species but those anglers who target brusher and bronze bream can also expect some good results.

These fish can be fished for in almost any condition as they feed in turbulent white water mainly from rocky ledges and outcrops. With less than a week left until the annual shad ban comes into effect anglers are out in full force. Visit www.kingfisher.co.za for details and stay tuned for Nikao Fishing Adventures report tomorrow.

The sea conditions this morning are gorgeous, calm and glassy but the swell has dropped, we also have another strong NE predicted later so try to get in for surf sooner rather than later. It looks as though the SW may strike again tonight and tomorrow.

Cera-jane Catton from Ocean Safaris will be giving a presentation at Hirsch Ballito's Networking Breakfast this morning at 9am on Shark nets - the reality. So if you’re in the Ballito area, pop in to the breakfast at Hirsch’s. Cera Jane points out that “while it is clear the nets must go, the sharksboard is not the enemy – it’s really the media and their use of shock tactics to keep people fearful of sharks. However, for the public it means ‘shark terrorism’ and for the sharks it means zero conservation. So we end up with very few people caring to protect sharks, which are deeply in need of conservation efforts.

In addition, while the nets are just a drop in the ocean of shark deaths – why should we have 1000 or 2000 sharks killed every year just to appease an ignorant public which believes

1. The nets are a cage

2. Sharks are bad and

3. Have no idea that 90% of the catch is in the form of harmless sharks, dolphins, turtles, whale calves, fish, rays, even birds!” she says.

For more info please call Glenda on 032 946 7400

Richard and Debbie Smith had a fantastic at the recent KZNSA Surfing awards. KZNSA awarded Richard for a lifetime service award to surfing.

Photographer: Paul Godwin/ Nerve Events

KZN JUNIOR SURFING TEAM 2010

Back Row: Daniel de Sousa, Haydn MacNicol, Teal Hogg, Shawn Dennis, Kyle Beach (coach), Mikey Venter, Josh Smit, Sarah Baum

Middle: Chris Frolich, Kyle Emde, Davey Van Zyl, Beyrick de Vries, Shane Sykes and Wade Simkiss

Front: JJ Harris, Keagen Wallace, Bevan Willis, Nathan Wallace, Jess Wilson, Cana Foster and Kat Steffen

Photographer: Julie de Vries

Beautiful Durban sunrise

Photographer: Donald Coxen

if (theForm['attribute_960'].value == '' || theForm['attribute_960'].value == '0') { ccs.ugc.capture924210.addValidationError(924210,'Share your views',960, 'is mandatory') };

The Supreme Court of Appeal ’s Deputy Judge President, Louis Harmse, has upheld the State’s appeal against a high court ruling from last year that dea...

Durban's controversial city manager has been roped in to take part in the city's air show - which is being held at Virginia Airport tomorrow and on Su...

Striking construction workers should temper their demands in view of the current economic climate, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) sai...

Government is still committed to halving unemployment and poverty by 2014, despite the global economic downturn, Presidency Planning Commission Minist...

The SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) in KwaZulu-Natal says it's happy with government's latest occupation specific dispensation (OSD) offer.

A lot of folk, including my mum, have asked if we could put up all 4 of the Bob Skinstad thingy majiggies. Click through…

Check out the video of an unusual friendship between a dog and a duck.

So the Aussies are dumped out of the ICC World T20, after Sri Lanka took them apart at Trent bridge on Monday night.

West Bromwich Albion have been relegated to Championship football next season.

try { document.getElementById('detail_contextual_panels').innerHTML=document.getElementById('template_contextual_panels').innerHTML} catch (err) {}

View the original article here

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Learn saltwater fly fishing this month

Fly-fishing guides Bob Hines of Fly Fish R.I. and Dave Porreca of River & Riptide Anglers will offer a day-long saltwater fly-fishing school at River & Riptide Anglers,2435 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Coventry, Oct. 24.

"The one-day class will focus on saltwater angling in the northeast and how to target species common to New England waters," Dave says. "Class topics will include knots and rigging, bait habitat, reading water, rips, currents, shallows, breach ways, and so forth. We'll also cover equipment, presentations, fly casting techniques, fly selection and more."

The Oct. 24 school will start at 7:30 a.m. with a light breakfast, and the first lecture begins at 8. Lunch will also be provided with beverages throughout the day.

Class tuition is $125 per student, and the school is limited to 25 people.

Dave says, "Please register early to guarantee a spot in this highly informative and educational day. Learn some secrets from the pros to target the fall run."

For more information, or to register, contact Dave Porreca at 392-1919 or Bob Hines at 949-5021.

View the original article here

Kids angling for success with fishy business

Sep 28 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

YOUNGSTERS in east Perthshire have said they are ‘hooked’ on a successful fishing course.

The area’s popular Angling for Youth Development (AFYD) project, which was re-launched earlier this month after a short summer break, allows primary and secondary school-aged children to learn fly-fishing and other key outdoor skills.

Blairgowrie High School pupil Greg Sinclair (15) was already a keen fisherman before he became involved in the volunteer-led project.

But the New Alyth resident said yesterday his technique had come on leaps and bounds as a result of the scheme.

“There’s about 12 people on the course at the moment, I was probably the only one who could actually fish when we started two or three years ago,” he told the PA yesterday.

“I fish with my dad on the River Isla. You can catch salmon and trout in it – the biggest one I’ve caught so far weighed 10lbs!

“There were a lot of beginners at first, but everyone’s doing really well and we’re all quite good.

“I didn’t know anyone on the course when I first got involved, but we’re all mates now. I’ve picked up a lot more things than I would’ve if I’d just fished on my own, or with my dad.

“That’s why the course is good, it teaches you skills and gives you something to do in your spare time.

“I want to work outdoors when I leave school, so hopefully this will help me.”

Course administrator, Blairgowrie resident Fiona Bain, explained the group meets “every two Wednesdays and Saturdays” at Greg’s Beeches Road school.

Participants learn the theory behind the sport in the midweek sessions – such as casting, knot-tying, water safety and how to be environmentally friendly when honing their craft on local waterways.

One popular haunt for the weekend practical lessons is Ledcrieff Loch, on the outskirts of Alyth. The fledgling anglers, the youngest of whom are 10 years old, are mentored by experienced coaches who know east Perthshire’s many lochs and rivers like the back of their hands.

“It’s very community-spirited,” explained Fiona yesterday. “There’s seven or eight coaches who all give up their time and expertise for free, we couldn’t do it without them.

“AFYD courses are springing-up all over the country now, they’re proving to be really popular.

“I think parents like it because it gets their kids outside in the fresh air and keeps them occupied.

“If they want, they can take the skills they learn here and use them to gain other qualifications which will help them in later life.

“Youngsters enjoy it because it gives them something constructive to do and teaches them things they can then go out and do by themselves afterwards, outwith the classroom.”

The group’s next meeting is tomorrow at Blairgowrie High School, from 6.45pm.

AFYD are on the look-out for volunteers, and sponsorship, to help run the club. Anyone interested should email Fiona Bain on fnbai@aol.com

View the original article here

Stormy times

Updated: September 29, 2010, 9:14 AM ETBy David A. Brown
Bassmaster.com
Archive

Seigo SaitoElite Series pro Greg Hackney advises using caution — but bad weather can often mean great fishing.They're awesomely powerful, magnificent to watch and straight up deadly. No doubt, storms on the water can be rightfully intimidating, but understanding how they influence fishing can deliver delightful results.

Without getting too deeply into a meteorology lesson, it's worth noting that storm development and life cycle varies with geography. For example, the wide, sweeping storms that push across the plains states have different characteristics than the tempestuous "blow-up" storms that pummel Southern waters. Common variables include sufficient moisture, atmospheric instability and a lifting mechanism such as surface heating or a coastal land breeze or sea breeze. In all scenarios, anglers can expect a powerful potion of productivity and potential danger.

Focusing on the blow-up storms, we spoke with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Greg Hackney, who's no stranger to rough weather. Living in Louisiana, Hackney has seen his share of towering thunderheads, and he's leveraged many of these meteorological monsters for rod-bending success. Hack describes this as a get-while-the-gettin's-good scenario.

"What'll happen is you'll go from hot, bluebird weather to 30-miles-per-hour winds," he said. "Those storms won't last long. It'll be sunny and 100 degrees in an hour. It's good while it lasts, but you have to jump on it when it happens."

Darkening skies, cooler air and barometric fluctuation all have positive impacts on bass fishing, but Hackney points to wind as the single most important factor in storm benevolence.

"Those fish have been inactive all day, and they'll turn on when the wind picks up," he said. "It's been dead calm and then suddenly you get that cool-off and then the rain cools the surface, but the wind creates current that froths the water and stirs up the bait."

BASS Insiders can get more how-to tips from the pros in the BASS Insider Video Vault. Check it out!

In this scenario, Hackney seeks spots exposed to a storm. Main lake points and grass beds rank high on his list. "I'm looking for places I know that the wind will blow through, stir up the water and get those baitfish moving. When the wind blows, it stirs up the particles that baitfish feed on. When the baitfish become active, the bass become active."

Likening wind current to his home state's tidal bass fisheries, Hackney said a storm's wind funnel is particularly influential in lakes lacking any form of regular current.

"Fish will set up in these (wind-swept) places just as in a tidal situation," he said. "They're sitting there looking for an easy place to get a meal."

Given the speed at which blow-up storms accelerate and expire, Hackney advises an aggressive angling approach. Decreased visibility and increased fish aggression means he can get away with bigger baits, but he's more concerned with time management. Therefore, he likes crankbaits and spinnerbaits for pre-storm power fishing.

"You can go from fishing really slow to really fast (when a storm's approaching)," Hackney said. "I want to make a lot of casts and cover a lot of water. You may only have 15 to 20 minutes of opportunity, so I want to get it done while they're biting."

Fish will bite on the backside of a storm, but the spike in activity declines with a storm's passing. However, a storm's influence doesn't end with clearing skies.

"I've seen storms where it rained on parts of a lake but not on others," Hackney said. "The next day, I'll go to places where I know it's been raining. I may be on one end of a lake one day and the other end the next day because there will be a lot of dirty water runoff, and the bass will really fire up."

Timing is crucial, and Hackney knows there's a point at which even a raging bite isn't worth the risk of glowing. "I'm an opportunist, so I watch for those storms. It's good on the fish, but it's bad on the fishermen. If I could stand the lightning, the fish bite all through the storm, but I don't care for that lightning."

Running to a sheltered location is optimal, but for those times when anglers push too far and allow a storm to overtake them, Hackney advises minimizing one's profile by lying on the deck. Boats equipped with Power-Poles can avoid being washed ashore and swamped by dropping the stakes.

In Tulsa, Okla., weatherman Dick Faurot forecasts storms for CBS affiliate KOTV 6. He's also an avid bass angler, so he likes to warn fellow fishermen of potential perils. Underestimating the reach of lightning, he said, can have tragic consequences.

"Just because it's not raining where you are doesn't mean you're safe," he said. "That's what gets people killed. Lightning can strike five miles or more from where rain is falling."

Faurot advises anglers to mind the 30-30 rule: "If it's less than 30 seconds from the time you saw the lightning to the time you hear the thunder, you're in trouble. If it's 30 minutes since you've heard thunder, you're safe."

View the original article here

Big bass, big event Saturday

Columbia-based Pure Fishing Inc. has been putting on well-received tournaments for years in places such as California and Texas.

The company now is running an event locally, with the inaugural Berkeley Big Bass Challenge set for Saturday at Dreher Island State Park on Lake Murray.

“We’ve had our corporate world headquarters in Columbia for more than a year now, and we feel like it’s time to see how a tournament like this is received,” said Andrew Marks, director of Grass Roots Marketing. “We know Lake Murray is a great body of water and that there are many avid anglers that might like to give our competition a try.”

Marks said the Midlands event has a number of rules that make it different from the majority of tournaments his company puts on.

“For one thing, there will be no professionals allowed and though our employees are going to be fishing, they are not eligible to win prizes. This is going to be an interesting competition for a number of reasons,” he said

More than $18,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. The grand prize is $5,000.

“The thing I think is more unique is that there is an element of strategy involved that you don’t see at most bass tournaments,” Marks said.

The strategy is dubbed bass fishing’s version of Texas Hold ‘Em, which matches angling skill with weight-in strategy.

The competition consists of six one-hour periods where anglers can weigh their single largest fish. Each hour, an angler brings one fish to the scales to try and stay in the running for a chance to receive one of five hourly cash awards.

The event is a marketing tool for Pure Fishing, Inc., which hopes to introduce as many area anglers as possible to fishing products from its various subsidiaries.

“The tournament is a fun format to expose anglers to the full spectrum of Berkley baits,” Marks said. “It is challenging to not only adjust to some of the new baits that are being used, but also the added strategy of when to weigh in your fish that lends a unique twist.”

The Berkley Experience trailer, a 60-foot event center, will be on site from 2 p.m. Friday until the final weigh-in and awards on Saturday. The trailer features interactive presentation screens, seminars on line selection, reel maintenance, rod selection and selecting the right bait, a knot tying station and competition, and bait demonstration tanks.

For registration and information, go to berkley-

fishing.com/myberkley/

events.

View the original article here

Friday, February 11, 2011

Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife

From the renowned company that created the Swiss Army Knife a century ago comes the Champion Plus, a complete set of tools for campers, hikers, hunters, fishers, picnic enthusiasts, and people all trades--all neatly contained in a single implement. Measuring just 3-1/2 inches long, the Champion Plus is stylishly cased in the famous red Swiss Army body that's recognized around the world. More importantly, the pocket knife contains 30 stainless-steel tools appropriate for just about any occasion. The standard camping tools include a large blade, a small blade, a corkscrew, a can opener, a bottle opener, a small screwdriver, a large screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, scissors, tweezers, and a toothpick. And that's just the beginning, as the Champion Plus also offers a punch reamer, multipurpose hook, wood saw, fish scaler, and hook disgorger. In short, there's no better accessory for camping, hunting, and fishing trips.

Should the basic tools not cut it, the Champion Plus steps up with a host of extras, including a metal file, metal saw, fine screwdriver, mini screwdriver, and chisel scraper. Add in such tools as a ruler, nail file, nail cleaner, magnifying glass, pressurized ball point pen, straight pen, sewing eye, and key ring and you're well equipped for everything from repairing holes in tents to reading the fine print on instructions.

As with all Victorinox items, the Champion Plus is made to exacting standards, with 60-plus individual parts and 450 steps going into its construction. Victorinox attends to every detail, from selecting the finest materials to performing the final inspection. In addition, each individual tool has been hardened in a different way to stand up to its designated use. Such care is unmatched, and is why the Champ series is recognized by such international experts as the New York Museum of Modern Art and the State Museum of Applied Art in Munich, both of which have selected it for their "excellence in design" collections. Outfitted with a nylon handle and an aluminum housing, the Champion Plus carries a lifetime warranty.

The Champion Plus measures just 3-1/2 inches long and contains 30 useful tools.

Champion Plus Features:

Large blade, small blade
Corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener
Small screwdriver, large screwdriver
Reamer, punch
Key ring, tweezers, toothpick
Scissors, multi-purpose hook
Wood saw, fish scaler
Hook disgorger, ruler
Nail file, nail cleaner
Metal file, metal saw
Fine screwdriver, chisel/scraper
Phillips screwdriver
Magnifying glass, straight pen
Pressurized ball point pen
Mini screwdriver, sewing eye

About Swiss Army Knives
In 1884, Swiss cutler Karl Elsener set up shop in Ibach-Schwyz, installing a waterwheel in Tobelbach Brook to run his grinding and polishing machines. Thus began what would become the international brand name Victorinox, a combination of Victoria, for Elsener's mother, and "inox," or stainless steel. Today, Victorinox produces watches, luggage, clothing, and, famously, Swiss Army Knives. The original product dates to 1897, when Elsener patented the Swiss Officer's and Sports Knife he supplied to the Swiss Army. Following World War II, American servicemen and women shopping in PX stores shortened the name to Swiss Army Knife, which lives on in English-speaking countries around the world and has become a metaphor for versatility.

Price: $78.00

Click here to buy from Amazon

Big Trouble

Hawaii seems like an afterthought in Elvis's second island outing. Half the musical numbers take place on boats (including the seasick-making title tune) and half in a Trader Vic's-style nightclub, so there's little good use of the exotic locale. There's little use of that lovable dish Stella Stevens, either, who's relegated to "other woman" duty as Elvis courts bland Laurel Goodwin. Goodwin's a rich girl going incognito, while E.P. is a penniless fisherman who dreams of owning his own boat. You finish the plot. The King is in good voice here, although the songs are fairly weak, with some curious flings at calypso and flamenco mixed in. He comes to shoulder-shaking life for "Return to Sender," a sizzling number that shows how his entire being could be possessed by a musical moment. This movie doesn't have enough of those to boost it into the upper tier of Elvis pictures. --Robert Horton

Price: $16.98

Click here to buy from Amazon

Angling Trust Stands up for Anglers with Fisheries Minister

Written By: Mark Llyod
On Date: 19/9/2010

At its first meeting since the election with the new Environment & Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP this week, the Angling Trust set out its strategic agenda for the future of marine and freshwater fisheries and fishing. Marine
The Trust?s representatives emphasised the correlation between the health of fish stocks and economic benefits from tourism. As a result, the Minister offered to involve recreational sea anglers, through the Angling Trust, in the development of a co-ordinated policy on sea angling and tourism.

The Trust successfully pressed the Minister to confirm that recreational sea anglers are a direct user and stakeholder in fisheries, with ultimate responsibility for fisheries management lying with UK Government.

There was also clear agreement to the Trust?s request to appoint a senior Defra official to act as a point of contact for the Angling Trust on marine fisheries issues.

The Minister was less clear about the common ownership of marine fisheries. The Angling Trust, with the support of its legal arm Fish Legal, will be investigating this important but complex legal issue over the coming weeks.

Freshwater
The Trust?s representatives stressed that anglers and fishery owners, who pay ?26 million in rod licence funds and own billions of pounds of fishing property rights in the UK, must have greater influence over decisions about fisheries which directly affect their interests. Anglers also spend millions each year improving and maintaining rivers, lakes and canals; the Trust stressed the need for more local and regional partnerships with its members to help deliver the Big Society agenda.

To this end, the Trust put forward draft proposals for a fundamental reform of the way in which fisheries funding should be spent and accounted for, along with suggestions for greater involvement of its members in decision-making. These proposals will now be developed further in conjunction with partner organisations in the fisheries and environmental sectors.

The Angling Trust?s joint Judicial Review with WWF-UK of Defra for the failure of the Environment Agency?s River Basin Management Plans to implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD) properly was also discussed and negotiations between the lawyers will continue.

Angling Summit
The Minister, who is a keen angler himself, was very receptive to the proposals put forward. He agreed to host an Angling Summit later in the year with officials from the Environment Agency and Natural England, the Angling Trust and other fisheries organisations to discuss more detailed issues relating to marine and freshwater angling. He promised to continue discussions with the Angling Trust about the future of fisheries funding and delivery.

Quotes
Mike Heylin, Angling Trust Chairman said ?The new Minister showed a good grasp of the issues and a willingness to listen to the many ideas we put forward. We are delighted that he is keen for the Trust to play a leading role in representing anglers of all disciplines.?

Mark Lloyd, Angling Trust Chief Executive said ?This first meeting was important in setting the framework for future engagement between angling?s representative body and the new coalition Government on a wide range of specific issues in the future. We will be following up on the commitments made, and presenting our angling agenda at the political party conferences in the coming weeks.?

Contact:

For all media enquiries, please contact mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.net or 07973 468198

Please forward this media release to a colleague CLICK HERE

To join the Angling Trust individuals, angling clubs or fishery owners should phone 01568 620447 during office hours, write to the address below, download a subscription form from our website or register online at: www.anglingtrust.net
Individual membership costs just 39p a week - Join NOW.

The Angling Trust - Our Mission:
? Promote angling
? Campaign for anglers' rights and the environment
? Lobby governments and agencies
? Protect our waterways and marine environment
? Develop angling as a sport for young and old
? Support angling interests

Finance & Competitions Office
Angling Trust,
Strelley Hall,
Nottingham
NG8 6PE
Tel: 0115 906 1302

Membership Office and Fish Legal
Eastwood House,
6 Rainbow Street,
Leominster,
Herefordshire
HR6 8DQ
Tel: 0844 77 00 616
admin@anglingtrust.net

View the original article here

Shep on Fishing: Hurricane Igor puts damper on surfcasting

Another hurricane way offshore has constricted local fishing again.

Margaret O'Brien at Jingle's Bait and Tackle in North Beach Haven said the surf on the southern end of Long Beach Island was pounding from Hurriance Igor so hard Monday morning that anglers who were out on the beach scouting around said they could actually feel the vibration from the waves.

O'Brien said surfcasters caught kingfish in the gullies Sunday at LBI with 2- to 3-ounce weights and bloodworms, but Monday was a whole different thing. She said the weather was great but she had not heard of anything happening by mid-morning from the "scouts."

Tony Eaton went to work at Captain Andy's Marina in Margate by going over the Dolores C. Cooper Bridge and said all he saw in Great Egg Harbor Inlet from there was solid white water Monday morning.

Eaton reported that despite the fact it was opening day of the Atlantic County/Atlantic City Surf Fishing Derby, Don Brown, a Derby organizer, opted not to try Monday A.M. because of rough surf. Tony said one angler reported he tried to drive his four-wheel drive down the Margate beach Monday morning but could not get on because of high water.

As it was described by George Ingram in his report about the 43rd Ocean City Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday: "The long reach of Igor agitated the surf."

The tournament had 25 six-member teams and 49 individuals compete. A 17-inch bluefish caught by Geoff Cummings, of Medford Lakes, a member of Surf N Land Sportsman Association, took the largest-fish trophy. Surf N Land A was first with 41 points in the team competition, Fish N Fuzz was second with 33 points, and Surf N Land B was third with 28½ pounds.

By contrast, according to the dispatch from Ingram, last year's winning total points were 239. Quite a difference.

Tom Bell, a 9-year old from Pleasantville, was the winner of the youth division largest-fish title. Michele D'Auria, of Toms River, won the women's most-fish and largest-fish honors. She is a member of the Women's Surf Angling Club and her top fish was an 11¼-inch kingfish.

The tournament is sponsored by the Ocean City Fishing Club and the O.C. Department of Recreation. Bill Daley was chairman.

Sea bass fishing is described as near-limits and lots of shorts, according to a report from Carolyn Ann III partyboat out of Barnegat Light.

Despite weather forecasts of high seas, Carolyn Ann III did not have enough wind Sunday to keep the boat anchored over a wreck, so Capt. Will Hammarstrom ran the engines to swing the boat. Sea bass season continues to Oct. 12. Pool winners last week were 4.6- and 4-pound sea bass and a 3.2 triggerfish.

Bob Cope, captain of the Cape May charterboat Full Ahead, had sea bass on wrecks in the 20-mile range. And he came across a school of black drumfish 14 miles out and boated two in the 65-pound class, according to a report from Jim's Bait and Tackle in Cape May.

Monday was more a day for surfers than surfcasters, said Andy Grossman at Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine. He said fishing in the surf was steady through Sunday with kingfish, spot and bluefish, some up to 5 pounds.

White perch are dominating around Maurice River. Pat Harris at Longreach Marina reported Mike and Michael Semple, of Pennsville, picked 60 "nice-size" perch. Joe and Debbie Peirce of Millville had a mixed bag of two weakfish, one croaker, one puppy drum, spot and sharks. Joe Joe Angerman of Berlin had a 23-inch bluefish.

The Long Beach Island Fishing Club holds its 64th World Series of Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday at Harvey Cedars. The entry fee is $60 for six-person teams and $15 for individuals. There is a fly-fishing category for individuals. Registration is 5:30-6:30 a.m. at the clubhour, 6 E. Cape May Ave., Harvey Cedars.

* * *

Become a fan of Shep's on Facebook and he'll let you know when he files a daily update. Go to Facebook.com/PressofAC and look under favorite pages, or simply search for Mike Shepherd's Shep on Fishing in the Facebook search field.

* * *

Mike Shepherd is the retired sports editor of The Press. His Shep on Fishing column and Shep's Hot Spot appear Tuesdays and Saturdays in the sports section. Call 609-350-0388 or email: sheponfishing@yahoo.com.

View the original article here

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Early fall is great time for Red Drum

William Boone from Garner, N.C. lifts a hefty red drum from the waters of the Pamlico Sound. The fish was unhooked and released to fight again another day.slideshow We’re beginning to experience some cooler evenings and days as the early fall weather begins to make its presence known. It will not be long before the waters of the coastal sounds and rivers begin to cool off and the fish that called this part of North Carolina home for the past few months begin to entertain thoughts of migrating back into the ocean to spend the winter months. For fishermen from this area, it can be the most productive few weeks of the angling year.

The Pamlico Sound where the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers join has long been known as perhaps the most productive spawning ground for our North Carolina state Fish. In the next few weeks these large redfish will be ending their active spawning activities and beginning to “pig-out” on smaller baitfish to bulk-up for the long winter months ahead. It’s this heavy feeding time that will make these great game fish relatively easy for anglers to experience some truly world class angling.

This wonderful fishery was not this good a few years ago. Over fishing by both commercial and sport anglers had decimated the stocks of the big spawning drum and even the smaller puppy drum (up to 10 pounds each) were becoming hard to find. All this began to change about 25 years ago when fishermen (commercial and sport) started to realize that something had to be done if we were to have these fish around for the future.

The efforts of various conservation groups such as the North Carolina Coastal Conservation Association and the North Carolina Fisheries Association began to put pressure on the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to implement management practices that would enable the stocks of red drum to recover to acceptable levels.

As all this environmental awareness of our coastal resources began to percolate the sport fishing communities began to grow to levels most of us never thought that we’d ever see. Guide services, and a blooming economy enabled saltwater anglers from up-state areas around Charlotte, Ashville and even other states to learn about the fabulous fishery we had for redfish in the Pamlico Sound. In short, the sport fishing communities began to flex a good deal of political muscle and put pressure on the North Carolina Legislature to enhance and conserve the salt water fishing industry.

This Political muscle on the part of the sport fishermen was the deciding factor in the N.C. Legislature’s bringing in the new Salt Water Fishing License (to be politically correct it’s called a Coastal Recreational Fishing License). To help finance the badly needed conservation measures to help preserve our salt water fishing resources for future generations.

The management of the resources is beginning to show as the fishing for redfish and speckled trout has been as good during the past few years as many of us old timers have ever seen in our lives.

For the fishermen in the Pamlico Sound area that were lucky enough to have access to some GPS coordinates for oyster rocks and “Honey Holes” in the Pamlico, the fishing was nothing short of spectacular.

Reports form both sides of the Pamlico Sound last week were that sport fishermen were catching big red drum in good numbers. This was particularly true for the fishermen who launched their boats late in the afternoon and spent the night dunking cut bait of mullet, spot or croakers over their secret oyster rocks or reefs. Fishermen from the eastern villages of Davis and Atlantic reported boats catching as many as 28 big red drum in an evening. Fishermen from the western side of the sound like Paradise Shores, Mesic or Oriental were having similar luck. Without exception, all of these spectacular catches were released to fight again another day.

Even sport fishermen from the famed Texas and Louisiana coasts of the Gulf of Mexico turn green with envy when they hear about us Tar Heels catching redfish of these numbers and quality.

Better management of the red drum fishery in North Carolina seems to have had a very beneficial effect. This fishery is now having a good economic impact on several ordinarily small communities down east. There is a lot of work yet to be done on bringing the stocks of speckled and gray trout back up to the levels that we’d like to see. These improvements apparently need to be extended to the summer flounder fishery too.

Dick Hamilton of the North Carolina Como Coalition is asking outdoorsmen in North Carolina to help in getting new regulations enacted on our summer flounder. Hamilton states that

“The Marine Fisheries Commission has opened the record for public comment through October 8, 2010 on a proposed amendment to update the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission in 2005. The 2005 plan was developed after a 2004 southern flounder stock assessment found the stock was over fished and over fishing was occurring.

“The Fishery Reform Act as amended in 2010 requires the Marine Fisheries Commission to end over fishing within two years of adopting a fishery management plan for an over fished species and to rebuild over fished fish stocks to sustainable levels within 10 years of adoption of a plan.

“The 2004 stock assessment called for a 30 percent overall harvest reduction to rebuild the southern flounder stock, but the commission adopted measures in 2005 that were projected to achieve only a 17.2 percent reduction, with the intent of reassessing the stock after three years. The new 2009 stock assessment found that while the southern flounder stock had improved since 2005, it is still over fished, and further harvest reductions of 20.5 percent are needed to end over fishing and achieve sustainable harvests within the legally required timeframes.

“Both a Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries are recommending harvest restrictions to the Marine Fisheries Commission to achieve the 20.5 percent harvest reduction called for in the stock assessment.

“No changes to existing commercial fishing regulations on southern flounder are proposed at this time because recently implemented management measures to protect sea turtles are projected to result in an overall commercial southern flounder harvest reduction of 22.2 percent. Large gill net seasons have been restricted to four days a week and nets may only be set at night. Other gear restrictions have been imposed on large mesh gill net fishing in settlement of a lawsuit over entanglement of endangered sea turtles. These changes have reduced the southern flounder commercial harvest as well as protect sea turtles.

“For the recreational fishery, both the advisory committee and the Division of Marine Fisheries are recommending an increase in the minimum size limit to 15 inches and a decrease in the creel limit to 6 fish per day, which will result in an overall recreational harvest reduction of 20.2 percent. The current size limit for flounder is 14 inches or 15 inches depending on the waters and the creel limit is 8 fish per day.

“The proposed amendment to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan to maintain the current restrictions on commercial fishing and to moderately increase size and creel limits on recreational fishermen seems balanced and likely to meet the objective to eliminate over fishing within two years and return the fishery to sustainability within ten years as set forth by law. “

“NC Camo Coalition recommends that you support this amendment by sending the message included with this alert before October 8, 2010 to the Marine Fisheries Commission with the click of your mouse.”

View the original article here

River's Edge Optical Mouse Firetiger

Great for any fishing computer geek! Also comes in Crawdad (oranges and browns) and Daredevil (red and white). Lure in the bigs ones with this . . .

Sorry, no returns on opened plastic packages.

Price: $22.50

Click here to buy from Amazon

Riddock tops the lot

Published on Wed Sep 29 13:41:53 BST 2010

Luton AC Angling

The top fish this week was a new club record common caught by Charlie Riddock from North House Lake at an impressive 37lb 4oz on Saturday.

At the South Lagoon, Richard Cinato landed a mid-double common and 20lb 4oz mirror.

For the full story, see this weeks Luton News/Dunstable Gazette

View the original article here

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Silly Bandz Zoo Animals - 24 Pack

Silly Bandz are awesome! They come in a variety of colors and styles and kids of all ages, 3 to 103, absolutely love them. Each pack of Zoo Animal Silly Bandz include 24 pieces - 4 each of the Hippo, Giraffe, Ostrich, Kangaroo, Rhino & Elephant. Silly Bandz are die-molded with non-toxic silicone and you will absolutely love how these silly bands return to their original shape after being worn as a bracelet, necklace or maybe even a pony-tail holder. That's right Silly Bandz can even be worn as a fashion accessory. These are just a few of the ways people are using Silly Bandz.

Price: $5.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Perfect dive conditions over the weekend

Please note that bathing is only permitted at beaches where lifeguards are on duty and you are only allowed venturing out between the flagged beacons. Please try to encourage others to adhere to this to avoid any potential tragedies over the holiday season.

Russ Andraos’s Wavescape surf report for the week ahead is as follows: Monday sees a howling south-westerly wind with all of the point breaks blown out at 3 – 4 ft. Tuesday morning sees a small window period from 07h00 to around 11h00 when the surf should be 6ft solid with offshore winds; the only negative is that high tide is in the morning. After Tuesday all is lost as we get battered by a few days of grotty NE winds! A SW may come through on Saturday to clean things up for Sunday but other than that surfers will need to look for some left-breaking waves in amongst the NE swell.

Blue Wilderness reported beautiful dive conditions over the weekend with gorgeous 20 metre visibility and blue water on both Saturday and Sunday. The reef has been teeming with all of the usual fish including potato bass, trumpet fish, white tip reef sharks, black tips, duskies, raggies and turtles. The boat rides out to Aliwal Shoal have been as much fun as the dives with reports of humpback whales, whale sharks, dolphins and flying fish. Booking a dive is essential in these good conditions!

Protea Banks has also had decent viz of about 15m over the weekend with a few ragged-tooth sharks around. The water inshore has cleaned up nicely and a lot of spearos were out in force over the weekend.

The Kingfisher guys sent in the following angling report: shad seem to be a little scarce as anglers are not getting the numbers that were being taken a few weeks ago. There are however a few outsize fish being caught at night. Please note that the shad season closes at the end of this month and authorities will be out in force monitoring the situation. The annual garrick run is also starting to taper off on the South coast as reports suggest that fewer of these fish are being taken here, but anglers on the North and Zululand coasts are still getting their fair share of fish.

The 24th Annual South African Bodyboarding Championships 2010 is taking place at SunCoast Beach in Durban from the 26th of September to the 1st of October between 08h00 and 16h00 daily. Good luck to all bodyboarders taking part.

DUC International Coastal Day Clean Up

Photographer: Tracey - Lee Featherstone

if (theForm['attribute_960'].value == '' || theForm['attribute_960'].value == '0') { ccs.ugc.capture927677.addValidationError(927677,'Share your views',960, 'is mandatory') };