Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing intended as a technique of conservation. After capture, the fish are unhooked and returned to the water. Often, a fast measurement and weighing of the fish, followed by photography of the catch is worthwhile
From Anglers Unlimited, Upon releasing a fish, most anglers figure that if it swims away, it’s just fine and will survive. Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily true. In studies on hooking mortality, biologists hold fish for observation, usually for a number of days. What they’ve found is that a fish which appears all right at the time of release may have suffered trauma, injury from the hook or damage from handling, which leads to death later on. That the fish swims away under its own power doesn’t assure its survival.
Central Minnesota is home to Millie Lacs Lake where angler Benjamin Knuston caught and released 2 monster-sized Muskies with in an hour.
The Muskie is one of the longest and fattest measuring at 56.5"
The lake is located 80 miles north of Minneapolis and and is about 40' deep. it is the second largest inland lake in the state.
What makes for a great sports fisherman is that catch and release!
Sailfish Season is Around the Corner
It’s officially fall in the northern hemisphere which means the cold fronts should begin making their way south across the eastern seaboard. This drop in temperature means many things for different fisheries but it’s more than welcomed in South Florida as it usually kick starts sailfish season.
Fall brings northeast winds and a drop in temperatures that pushes bait and predators south along our coast. Our earliest sailfish tournaments don’t start until November but October is usually spent prepping for tournaments, catching bait, and pre-fishing. Local fishing charters usually start kite fishing any moment now and as soon as they have a few good days, the weekenders hit the water.
Time to Break out the Kites
With the summer doldrums behind us, fall brings more wind to which we respond with more kite fishing. Now is a great time to start rigging your kite lines, respooling your reels, and taking inventory of your tackle. Be sure to check your kite plugs for corrosion (they sometimes rust out over summer) and make sure you have a healthy inventory of kite leaders, bridle bands, kite lines, clips, and more.
Fall is a great time of year to rep your favorite hoodie or fleece jacket so you’re ready for more wind, spray, and a decline in temperatures. October is still a great time of year further up the coast all the way to the Outer Banks but tournament teams will soon be moving south with many of them making South Florida home for the winter.
Kite Fishing for Sailfish
Kite fishing for sailfish can be the ultimate test as these finicky billfish are the target species for plenty of large tournaments during the next 6 months. These acrobatic billfish are a lot of fun on light tackle with numbers being the goal rather than size. We sometimes see double digit days fishing for sailfish from Islamorada-Stuart as early as December so it’s important to start getting ready soon.
In addition to sails, big kingfish, cobia, wahoo, and more will be making their way south. You never really know what to expect while kite fishing so be ready!
Thank you to our friends at FishMiamiCharters.com
If you have thoughts about picking up a rod and trying your hand at fishing, you're definitely not alone.
More people are taking up fishing as a way to get outdoors and be active.
Fishing it a great way to get outside and still maintain social distancing.
Gearing up for fishing, from the right rod, reel to the most important gear,sun protection fishing shirt, shorts and gaiter.
Fishing is a great way to relieve stress.
