Spotted Seatrout

In 2007, Spotted seatrout was the most popular catch among marine recreational anglers . The species is caught in the Gulf of Mexico and the south Atlantic regions, which have the highest combined concentration of saltwater anglers in the nation.  6.8 million fish were caught in 2006. One encouraging statistic is that 75 percent of spotted seatrout caught by recreational anglers are released to grow. In Florida speckled trout are often the most sought after gamefish.

Redfish

Redfish are common in the southern USA. Redfish inhabit shallow bays and esturaries, targeting crustaceans and baitfish. They are highly prized as a recreational fish. Some redfish anglers compete in national tournaments that are similar to freshwater bass fishing events. These beautiful fish are also known as red drum.

Red Snapper

Red snapper is one of the most sought after and highly prized Gulf Coast fish. Red snapper is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein. In 2006, Over 4.5 million pounds of red snapper, valued at over $13 million, were caught commercially in the USA.

Spot

Spot are named and identified by the distinctive dark spot above the pectoral fin It is also known as lafayette, goody, or Norfolk spot. Spot are common from Cape Cod to Florida and through the Gulf of Mexico. The species is considered both a valuable commercial and recreational species throughout its range.  Spot rarely exceed 10 inches in length. The fish are highly sought after as a food fish by both commercial and recreational fishermen. These panfish are abundant in near-shore oceanic areas, coastal bays, and estuaries.

Pinfish

Pinfish, also known as sailor’s choice, or pin perch is one of the most common inshore fish. It ranges from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico. Pinfish known to coastal anglers as a “bait stealer,” but are sought after as a bait for other larger fish. Pinfish are abundant from Virginia south. They occur over a wide variety of bottom types but prefer vegetated bottoms. Pinfish can tolerate wide variations in temperature and salinity conditions. Pinfish reach lengths of about 15 inches, although most pinfish are 4-8 inches in length and are usually considered as baitfish.

Pigfish

Pigfish are colorful members of the grunt family. They are marked with a bluish upper and a silver lower body. Each scale has a blue center and bronze edge, which forms a series of yellow-brown stripes on the sides and sometimes exhibits orange bands on the snout and head. The full range of pigfish extends from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico, although they are rare north of Virginia. Pigfish are caught by recreational anglers and considered to be a good quality food fish.  Pigfish have limited commercial importance, and most commercial landings come as pigfish are mixed with other grunt species. Pigfish are also used as live bait especially in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Pigfish reach lengths of about 18 inches, with a maximum weight of about 2 pounds. Pigfish are short lived and rarely exceed 3 years of age.

Florida Pompano

Florida Pompano range from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico as well as in parts of South America. Florida Pompano are schooling fish that are often found in the surf. They average 1-2 lbs, are are highly regarded as a food fish. Florida pompano are said to bring the highest price per pound of any fish in the United States.

Blueline Tilefish

Blueline or gray tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) are another species of tilefish. They also burrow and sometimes live in communities along the bottom. Adults weigh an average of 10-25 pounds. Blueline Tilefish have firm, white meat with a mild flavor.

Amberjacks

Amberjacks are large saltwater fish that love structure such as reefs, shipwrecks and rocky outcrops. These hard fighting fish are caught live lining baits around oil rigs, wrecks, reefs and other hotspots.

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin tuna are a favorite among anglers in many parts of the USA and worldwide. These fish are found where ever there is warm water and pods of baitfish. Yellowfin travel in groups and their aggressive feeding habits sometimes get them in trouble as anglers.

Mahi Mahi

Mahi Mahi, also known as dorado or dolphin fish are fast growing, pelagic fish. They are among the most beautiful of all fish. Younger fish school in large numbers, orienting to sargasso weed or floating debri. Larger fish are loners or travel in small groups, but still orient to floating structure. The males develop a blunt forehead and grow larger than the females, sometimes reaching lengths of 5 feet and weighing 30-50 lbs.

Wahoo

Wahoo live in the open ocean and are common along much of the USA and Caribbean. The beautiful fish are caught in a variety of ways including trolling, jigging, fly fishing, kite fishing, live baiting and others. Their razor sharp teeth and incredible speed make wahoo a very difficult fish to land.

Author: John C. Banks

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Think you have what it takes to do battle with a ferocious king salmon, that is, a Chinook, the biggest battling fish in Lake Michigan? How about a giant brown trout? Or a steelhead, one of those silver torpedo or silver bullets with fins?

Consider a Great Lakes Charter fishing trip. You can find licensed, charter boats at most major ports. Some of the more popular ports on Lake Michigan’s west coast are South Haven, Grand Haven, Muskegon’ Ludington and Grand Traverse Bay.

When you hire a professional charter boat and captain, you latterly have noting to worry about and do not even have to have experience or tackle; however a State of Michigan all species license is requires.

After a short journey, depending on the time of year, because in the spring and fall, the salmon and steelhead can be found close to shore. In the late summer months, you must run out into cooler, deeper water.

You will hear terms such as downrigger, planner boards, Dipsy Diver, cannon balls, Northport Nailer, J-Plug, Dream Weaver, Clown, Kevorkian, Bumble Bee, Hit man, Jaw breaker and even Monkey Puke.

You shouldn’t be concerned with these funny and dangerous sounding names as they are simply fishing terms, for fishing equipment and color combination for many popular salmon fishing lures.

Another popular term you may hear is Spin Doctor, and this is not the famous rock band. Spin Doctors have proven to be the most productive rotator or flash attractant on the market today, use in combination with an action fly.

An Action fly, Strong Fly, spoon or cut bait combination behind this rotator is the rig of choice for anglers throughout the Great Lakes and ocean. It has proven itself so effective; Kings and Coho’s swim in fear of being lured into its hypnotic action.

But before you walk down to the local Municipal Marina to meet up with your charter boat, pack your suntan lotion, a sweatshirt, sun glasses, hat or visor and a windbreaker; it can get chilly out on the big water, even at summer’s height. (Tip: save money with a one-day fishing license.)

You will need some fightin’ fuel—food and drinks—if you plan to spend a couple of hours playing tug-of-war with 20- to 30-pound fishes.

Mid-June to July on Lake Michigan is a fine time for lake trout and Chinook salmon, found from 10 to 25 miles offshore. End of July the fish are right offshore. August through September, it’s all about the mighty Chinook.

Author: Brent Vanderstelt

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Together the Great Lakes contain the biggest mass amount of freshwater in the world.  These lakes lie between the United States and Canada.  They are home to many different fish species.  Some of the most common inhabitants of the Great Lakes are the various species of Trout, Salmon, Perch, and Bass.  However, each lake is known for its own popular fish species.

For over 100 years these lakes have housed the world’s largest freshwater fisheries, containing both native and introduced species.  Commercial fishing has declined in the past 100 years, but still relies heavily of the fish of the Great Lakes.  On each lake there are fishing charters that go out of the many ports each day.

Lake Michigan:

The waters of Lake Michigan vary according to the area.  The northern part of the lake is colder and less developed than the other lakes.  Around Chicago and Milwaukee, the lake temperatures are warmer and the area is heavily developed.  Lake Michigan offers nearly 100 different species of fish, the most popular being Salmon and Steelhead.  Other fish located here are Alewife, Bowfin, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bloater, White Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Chinook Salmon, Lake Herring, Coho Salmon, Northern Pike, and White and Yellow Perch.  Some of the ports and marinas of Lake Michigan are; Port Sheldon, Benton Harbor, Chicago, Winthrop Harbor, Frankfurt, Aradia, and Grand Haven.

Lake Huron:

The second largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron is located on the US-Canada border.  A popular port on Lake Huron is Port Austin, where the Trout fishing is said to be the best in the world.  There are also many other freshwater fish such as; Bass, Whitefish, Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, Perch and Brown Trout.  Lake Huron also has underwater ledges and deep water reefs that are bursting with fish.  Ports and marinas located on Lake Huron are; Port Elgin, Port Huron, Port Austin, Port Franks, Grand Bend, and Saginaw Bay.

Lake Superior:

Lake Superior is the largest of all of the Great Lakes, and has the most surface area of any lake in the world.  This lake holds enough water to submerge both North and South America under 1 foot of water.  It is the coldest and deepest, reaching over 1,300 ft in depth.  With most of the land surrounding still left as forest, it is not heavily populated.  There are more than 60 different fish species located in Lake Superior.  Some of these species include; Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bloater, Carp, Chinook Salmon, Lake Herring, Coho Salmon, Lake Sturgeon, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Rainbow Smelt, Ruffe, Round Whitefish, Smallmouth Bass, and White and Yellow Perch.  Some of the marinas and ports located on Lake Superior are; Port Wing, Duluth Seaway Port, Twin Ports, St. Louis Bay, and Presque Isle Marina.

Lake Erie:

Lake Erie produces the most fish of all of the Great Lakes, and is the second smallest.  The most prized game fish of this lake is the Chinook Salmon, also known as the “King Salmon”, recording up to 47” and 44lbs.  Lake Erie also houses Yellow Perch, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout, Carp, Lake Herring, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Walleye, and Yellow and White Perch.  It is said that there are Jumbo Perch now in Lake Ontario.  Some of the popular marinas and ports of Lake Erie are; Port Clinton, Port Stanley, Port of Monroe, and Port of Erie.

Lake Ontario:

Lake Ontario, best known for its salmon and trout fishing, is located between Upstate New York and Canada.  There are several different species located in this lake; Atlantic Salmon, Carp, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Lake Herring, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, and White and Yellow Perch.  This lake holds many species that are unique to the area and not found in the other Great Lakes.  These species include; Atlantic Salmon, American Eel, Bullheads, and Sunfish.   The actual fishing season starts as soon as the ice melts.  Most of the fishing in the spring takes place near the shore where the waters are warmer.  The best trout fishing is in April, May and June.  Once July hits, it is time to fish for Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and steelhead.  These are located farther into the lake.  There are numerous fishing charters at the local Lake Ontario ports.  Kingston, Little Sodus Bay, Niagara River, Oswego, Sackets Harbor and Port Dalhousie and a few of the ports surrounding Lake Ontario.

For the competitive angler; there are many fishing tournaments scheduled year round on the Great Lakes.  Most occur during the spring, summer and fall months because of the ice on the lakes and the frigid temperatures in the winter.    Once you have reeled in your prize winning fish, SellUrBoat.com offers helpful tips to clean and preserve your catch.

Author: Kristy Bateman

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Fishing in Lake Michigan: Seasons of Fun.

EARLY FISHING SEASON -  Fishing the upper bay offers many different types of fishing. Early in the season, (starting May 15th) walleyes can be caught around the mouths of the rivers emptying into Little Bay de Noc. These rivers are the Whitefish River, the Tacoosh River, the Escanaba River, and the Days River. The waters off the Ford River also present excellent fishing excitement early in the season.  This early season offers the fisherman casting opportunities. Some of the best fishing takes place in very shallow water, 5 feet or less.

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The early season usually lasts about a month or until the alewives enter the bay. Northern pike can also be caught in these same areas. If you are crappie anglers, large fish can be caught around the shallow water around the Rapid River site.  In the past few years, night time hours serve as a time for outstanding fishing. One thing to remember is MAKE SURE YOUR LIGHTS WORK before you go out. By law, you must have working navigational lights on your boat and use them after dusk.

If you fish the Escanaba River, a small launch ramp is located about a half mile up river from the mouth. Great care should be taken if you launch here. Logs and pilings lie just under the surface of the water. Ask someone where the channel is.

SUMMER FISHING -  During the summer months and into the fall, trolling can be extremely productive. You’ll have to see the depth the fish are holding and fish down to them. If your lures will not go down deep enough, try using lead core line, snap weights, bottom bouncers, or downriggers. At any rate, fish at the depth the fish are located.

For those of you who have downriggers,  set your lines up just as you would if you were fishing for salmon and use small salmon spoons about 30 feet behind your downrigger weight. A good speed is about 1.5 miles an hour. This has proven to be an excellent pattern over the years.  Some of the best spoons have included North Port Nailers®, Silver Streaks®, and Laker Takers®. The Laker Takers® are made by the Swedish Pimple® Company located right in Gladstone, Michigan.  Some of the best crawler harnesses are made by the Walleye Choice® Company which is also located in this area. These companies specialize in baits that work well in this area for walleye and pike. These baits can be purchased at any bait shop in this area. Colors vary throughout the year so ask bait store operators what’s hot and what’s not.

FALL FISHING -  Salmon fishing is also quite good in the waters south of Escanaba. Approximately six miles south of Escanaba is a navigational buoy known as the Ford River Can. This buoy marks the west side of the shipping channel. Trolling along this bank with spoons offers some exciting times. This fishery usually takes off during the middle of July and will last for about 6-8 weeks. Salmon can also be caught from the bank along the Escanaba Harbor entrance in late September and October.

WINTER FISHING -  Ice fishing on Little Bay de Noc also poses some great North Shore times. First ice is usually the best for walleye, but be sure to check out ice conditions before venturing out. Both the upper and lower bays are excellent during this time of the year. Try fishing close to the bottom. Fish tend to travel very close to the bottom.

Another great sport fish is the Splake ( a cross between a lake and brook trout, planted in the bay by the DNR) Splake fishing is excellent during the winter months. Fish these the same way as you would a walleye, jigging is best. Generally, splake can be found across from Escanaba on the Stonington side of the Bay. Water depth varies from 28 to 45 feet. Having a depth sounder really helps a great deal when trying to locate these fish.

Exotic Species -  A number of exotic species have been found in waters surrounding Michigan which compete with native species and disrupt the balance of nature. Please take precautions to prevent the transport and introduction of these from one lake or stream to another by draining water from live wells, bilge, and transom BEFORE leaving any water body. Empty your bail bucket as well. Before going to another water body let your boat and trailer dry at least 5 days. If you can’t wait, wash everything down with hot (at least 140 degrees) water thoroughly before entering new waters.

Whether you have your own boat or you would like to book a charter on a charter boat, Delta County and Little Bay de Noc have much to offer. It is a fisherman’s paradise, but remember just take what you can use. Help us maintain our fishery for future generations. Practice catch and release and consult the Michigan Fishing Guide published by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for rules and regulations concerning fishing limits and sizes.

Author: Michael Rock

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Walleye fish are downright mysterious if not downright spooky. One day the Walleye are fishing and fighting like no tomorrow, and then tomorrow comes and it’s deader than a doornail. What gives? Is this the Walleye’s means of payback to avid, if not sometimes successful anglers and fisherman?

It can be said that much of the seemingly mysterious behavior of walleyes can be explained by their acute even exotic high powered “night vision”. Walleyes can almost see in the dark. As well, and in addition Walleye fish have finely tuned “lateral “sense and ultra sharp hearing. Lastly Walleye fish have a good sense of smell, even though this does not seem to play the most dominant role in their lives and activities. Thus all in all, avid fishermen were not imaging it in any way. The Walleye fish is one ultra sharp competitor to outsmart and land successfully on the line.

How is that Walleye fish having this unbelievable power of finely tuned sight and vision? What is called the “tapetum lucidum”, a layer of reflective pigment in the retinas of this species of fish, give the Walleye fish a built in advantage: they can see well in dim light. However the Walleye fish’s prey cannot. Thus, this highly developed night vision explains why Walleyes do most of their feeding in dim light – be it at dusk, early morning or on dismal grey overcast days or even during heavy rainstorms.

On the other hand, because of their light sensitive eyes, walleyes can not tolerate sunlight or bright light levels well. If the water is clear , and there is no shade in the shallows, Walleye fish may go as deep as forty feet down in the water to escape the penetrating , even harmful , rays of light from the sun. However in dark or choppy waters, Walleye fish can remain in the shallows all day.

Walleyes can see color, but they cannot see as many hues as fish like largemouth bass or northern pike. Any animal with good color vision has two general types of color discriminating cells: red-green cells and blue-yellow cells. But a Walleye fish lacks the blue-yellow cells, so that its color vision is similar to that of the rare human beings with blue-yellow color blindness. In other words, Walleye fish to see all colors as some shade of red or green.

Aggressive and successful fisherman familiar with Walleye fish and fishing will tell you that it’s an art to guess which lure colors work best with these fish. It must be remembered and noted that water color itself and depth can change the way a lure actually appears to the same fish or group of Walleyes. In addition, what may well be considered the “best” lure colors and personal choices for lures may differ from one body of water to the next, because the Walleye fish themselves are feasting on different foods – even in the same season and weather conditions. You might have heard if electronic color selectors being developed and tests conducted on largemouth bass. However this data and experience are all of naught when it comes to your chances of application of this information to your Walleye fishing results. Walleyes see color and colorations extremely differently than those largemouth bass. What works for bass in terms of lure color choices – seems not to carry over to success with Walleye fishing and anglers.

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In the end it’s no accident that the Walleye fish is such an avid competitor when it comes to landing them on hook and line. You may have caught scores of Walleye one fishing weekend up in Canada , and then go back the very next day and get spooked. Just remember always even if you come back empty handed after a day of Walleye fishing , its always better than the best day back at the office in the city.
Author: Harold Stofman