Flora and fauna can determine the best times and places to fish
Column by Dave Lear
DEMOCRAT WRITER
3
Spend enough time at marinas or tackle shops and inevitably you're going to hear some worn-out saws. I'm sure you know the type, like: "It doesn't matter if we didn't catch fish, it was just nice being out on the water." Or, "A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work."
But tenacity has its rewards. Stick around, filter out the clichŽs, hyperbole and garden fertilizer, and you'll actually glean some worthwhile information. Verified over time, many anecdotal observations do have merit, especially when it comes to predicting feeding activity and seasons.
For instance, in our home waters of the Gulf of Mexico savvy anglers know it's time to launch the boat once the azaleas start blooming in the spring - that's because cobia, pompano and Spanish mackerel have returned. By the time the dogwoods are showing red berries and the yard doesn't need mowing every week, be on the lookout for migrating butterflies. Those clues mean the shrimp are checking out of the estuaries and moving offshore.
Coincidentally, that's all happening right now. Fall is one of the prime seasons in the Big Bend as the fish stuff themselves on migrating bait in anticipation of leaner times and colder weather ahead.
Other regions of the country offer their share of natural fishing clues as well. The best indicator for Martha's Vineyard, for example, is the return of terns. They arrive, fin and feather, with the sand eels.
"The terns are the key," says Coop Gilkes of Coop's Bait and Tackle. "When they show up, everything else shows up, too. That's when the herring and squid appear, along with the stripers and blues. That's typically by the first part of May and the summer peak is the last week in June. The bonito show by the end of July, at the latest, then the albies (false albacore) swim in and stick around until late August. Once the laughing gulls are here, that triggers the start of the fall season. The blitzes are pretty steady again until everything heads south following the bait. The bass and blues are the last to leave around the end of November."
Although birds may be the harbinger for New England, they aren't the only critters that signal seasonal migrations. When the wild ponies gather on the north end of Delmarva's Assateague Island, veteran charter captains insist the yellowfin tuna will be snapping offshore. Many anglers believe that when squirrels are feeding, the fish are, too. And in California coastal waters, the return of flying fish means that bluefin tuna, albacore and striped marlin will be along within a week, according to John Doughty of JD's Big Game Tackle on Balboa Island. Doughty suggests keeping a sharp lookout for swordfish in the immediate area whenever elephant seals are found, and to savor the action once striped marlin start free-jumping by the dozens, he says. That's because they're getting ready to bolt south for the winter.
There's no question other factors impact fishing, like weather fronts, moon phase, tidal flow and water temperature. But it certainly doesn't hurt to take into account nature's plant and animal clues (along with the musings of grizzled anglers) when making the decision to go. Especially when you consider humorist Patrick McManus' maxim: "The two best times to fish is when it's rainin' and when it ain't."
Some clichŽs are universally true no matter what the circumstances.
Spring gobbler quotas
Area hunters are eagerly taking to the woods now for the fall season, but it's not too early to plan ahead for next year, particularly if a spring turkey hunt is on the agenda. That's because the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has moved up the application period from previous years.
Quota applications for spring turkey hunts on wildlife-management areas are available now at FWC offices and tax collectors' offices. Applications must be received by Nov.10 to be included in the random selection.
The FWC will accept regular spring turkey applications via a postal delivery service only. Permits will be issued by random selection from applications received Nov.1-10. If any permits remain after the random-selection period, they will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Regular spring turkey applications are not available online.
For more information, contact Eddie White at 488-8573 or visit MyFWC.com/hunting.
