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Happy Holidays 2006

Tour local waters in style

By DAVID A. BROWN
Published December 23, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Photo: David A. Brown] Most guides are staunch conservationists, as Capt. Mark Dillingham illustrates by sending a redfish on its way.

Looking for a last-minute gift that doesn't require wrapping or costly shipping? Well, if you have anyone left on your Christmas list, you might consider a guided fishing trip with a captain specializing in Nature Coast waters.

Truly a gift that keeps on giving, a guided fishing trip removes a lot of guesswork for anyone interested in bending a rod. In one such outing, most folks learn more than they could in a month of solo trips.

Everyone starts as a novice, but those who make a living on the water spend a lot of time watching local environments and the fish therein. From seasonal patterns to transient trends, remaining in touch with the local scene means less time looking and more time fishing.

Expect plenty of technical instruction on baiting hooks, casting and fighting fish. If you have a specific interest such as throwing a cast net or tying complex knots, by all means ask and you shall learn.

But let a guide know you're interested in the big picture and most will be happy to touch on a wide range of skills that go into the act of catching a fish.

Navigational lessons

From reading local charts to operating a GPS unit, one's ability to safely travel from Point A to Point B influences the outcome of a fishing trip. Your guide can explain these things.

Moreover, learning where you can and cannot run a boat plays a critical role in navigational safety. Nature Coast waters - especially the northern areas - are notoriously rocky, so pay attention to how a guide uses primary and local channels.

An experienced guide will warn about specific trouble spots such as Hell's Gate on the Homossassa River and the many random limestone outcroppings from Hernando Beach to Cedar Key. Wise is the angler who takes notes and marks a local chart for future reference.

Guides also will teach you to spot hazards on your own by recognizing that dark shadows and waves breaking over something hard means you need to steer right or left.

Likewise, discuss tidal patterns with your guide and note how daily ebb and flow affects shallow water access. You might get into a shallow bay or creek, but when the tide falls, you might not get out.

A few particulars

The list of guide trip lessons defies summation. But here are a few conversation starters to get things rolling:

- Some fish bite best and some bite back. Of the latter, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and mangrove snapper will leave you wincing.

- Catching fish on Tuesday only guarantees the rest of the fish will still be wet Wednesday. Their appetites remain subject to tide, temperature, barometric pressure and the amount of boat traffic your spot has seen. Professional guides can point out the key factors that will help decipher what's going on for any given day and plan your own trips accordingly.

- Heavy monofilament is not the same thing as leader material. There's a reason the latter costs more.

- The majority of lure colors are designed to catch fisherman moreso than fish. Nevertheless, certain patterns work better during certain conditions, and someone who has tested this theory hundreds of times can fill your ears with invaluable insight.

Selecting a guide

A lot of good guides advertise in various publications. Some less competent guides also advertise. The point: Do your homework and do not assume that visibility is the only measure of a guide's merit.

As with any business transaction, make sure you know what you're getting for what you're paying. Legitimate charter operators are well accustomed to answering questions, so make a list of the things that are important to you and ask.

Some points to consider:

TRIP TIMES: Most inshore guides offer half- and full-day trips, while offshore skippers are more likely to go with full day trips because you'll need more running time to reach the deep water fishing grounds.

PAPERWORK: Make sure your guide holds a valid license. That sounds obvious, but nothing burns a legitimate guide's grits like Capt. Wannabe running "buddy trips" without the proper Coast Guard license.

Insurance is another biggie. It only matters when you need it, but when you do, it matters a lot.

TIPPING: The subject remains a universally vague area that some folks handle better than others. Guides may not depend on tips as much as restaurant servers, but gratuities should match the level of service you receive, not the number of fish you catch.

You'll find contact information for area guides through your local Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Florida Guides Association (www.florida-guides.com). The Homosassa Guides Association (www.homosassaguidesassociation.com) lists captains working in Citrus County.

[Last modified December 22, 2006, 21:32:48]