[616739]

Hey guys, just wanted to give you an update on my fishing trip to Fla.Me and some buddies trailered my 23ft C-Hawk down to Islamorada Fla.The first thing I noticed was that all the guys that sailfish-wahoo-kingfish use these huge battlewagons or huge center consoles to take on the fish,you can imagine their astonishment when they saw a Jersey "Googan" fishing in their waters.At one point a fla guy was on the radio talking to his buddy why I was out there in 20 something foot boat fishing with the big guys in 3-5 foot seas,also at Bud and Mary's dock I could see the guys checking out my rig once they saw I had a jersey reg#,I even heard one guy mumble he must be a tuna fisherman.Well little did they know that we in the northeast don't need pretty go fast boats or huge sportfisherman to get on the meat,fortunately once I picked up some great tricks from Capt Curt Slonim we ended up with a respectable catch,2 for 5 on sails,kings,jacks, sharks,snappers,triggers,and spooled line probably wahoo.If any of you guys need any info on trailering your rig down to the keys,lodging,slips,obtaining live bait,fishing hotspots,and reataurants that hook and cook give me a shout.

 

[Capthookem]

Congratulations,
Sound like you had a pretty good trip !

Capt. H

 

[613458]

I was on one of those battlewagons!!h

 

[613458]

I was on one of those battlewagons!!h

 

[makos]

You rule dude, way to go, i have fished down in Islemorada and have seen those Rigs, the captains and mates think they are the only ones who know how to fish. I fish the flats for bones and tarpon, never had the itch to deal with those bozo's

 

[Striper77]

Catching the Sails and Kings is easy, it's catching the bait that takes the skill !

 

[GradySailfish]

I guess you showed them florida boys whose boss. I'd like to see some of them get on a long range wreck fishing boat and run 90 miles offshore in January!

 

[616739]

My sentiments exactly,these guys refer to noreast fishermen as"Googans",which is a major direspect to our ability to catch fish.The bait catching was easy, anchoring on the patch reefs with chum we had all the ballyhoo needed,we used hairhook with small pieces of shrimp and when they were real thick I threw a 12ft cast net on them,albeit that technique really beat up the bait.For speedos,cigar minnows,and pinfish anchoring in 40ft depths with chum and hairhooks did the trick.

 

[GradySailfish]

What exactly are "googans"?

 

[616739]

Hey Grady, your not going to like this response,when ever i hear this term it's usually directed to northern fisherman on party and charter boats, usually in a derogatory way.The few fishing friends I do have down there say it usually means "clueless fisherman"

 

[Tunatoys]

Islamorada

In defense of the Islamorada guys; I have to say guys like Alex Adler (Kalex)
and Butch Green(saay Lady)have always been helpful.Not to mention wintering Montauk Captains like Mike Brumm(Daybreaker)and Art Cortez(Halfback).
A-holes will be A-holes everywhere but my experiance has been positive in Islamorada.