Fishing with FishDug

 

For those of you who have been invited on a Fishing Expedition, the following information may be quite useful.

Bring:

  1. Lunch. Something like sandwiches, chips, etc.
  2. Your favorite soda. Unless you like the house drinks: Diet Coke or water.
  3. Sunscreen. If you don’t want to use the house supply.  I keep SPF 15, 30, and 45 on the boat.
  4. Sunglasses. Polarized lenses are a major bonus.
  5. A hat. Preferably one which shields your eyes from the sun.
  6. Shoes with white/light colored soles (ie, Tennis shoes, deck shoes, etc)

 Don’t Bring:

  1. A big old cooler full of stuff. Space is very much at a premium on the boat. Just pack stuff in a bag that we can stow inside the console.

 Optional to bring:

  1. Some bottled water/Gatorade type substance. I keep some on the boat, but you can’t drink too much (water) when you’re out in the heat and sun offshore.
  2. A Florida Saltwater fishing license. Very Very Highly recommended.  They cost around $15 per year and can be purchased at K-marts, Wal-marts, Sports Authority or any other Fishing tackle/bait store. If you fish without a valid saltwater license and are caught, you will be assessed a $50 dollar fine, the cost of the license, and you may have to swim back to port.

Safety Issues

  • 6 Inflatable (35lb bouyancy) life vests in the mesh storage container above the helm
  • Fire extinguisher(s) inside the center console
  • First-aid kit inside the center console
  • Flare gun kit inside the center console

Mounted on the inside door of the center console is a 406MHZ EPIRB. The EPIRB is used only in emergency situations. You activate it by pulling the red cord. When activated, the EPIRB sends a signal to satellites and provides marine rescue organizations (Coast Guard, etc) with the boat’s identification and location. The marine rescue guys then call my marina to confirm that my boat is out and then they send out the helicopters, planes and firetrucks and stuff to find us. The EPIRB activates automatically when it detects a submersion incident. Like if the boat was to sink or something. :o

If you need to use the VHF radio to transmit a (distress) message, switch the radio to channel 16, take the radio’s mic, squeeze the button on the side of the mic when you want to transmit a message. Release the mic transmit button when you’re done speaking because the radio cannot receive when the mic transmit button is depressed.

The Raytheon units can display the boat’s position (Latitude, Longitude). To get the boat’s position, press the "Display" key to select the "Chart" mode, and then press enter. This will bring up a display which shows the boat's current position in an easily read format.

If you need to anchor, lower it into the water. Let out enough line (a lot) hold the bottom and then tie off the anchor line on the bow cleat.

"Bathroom Facilities"

For those who prefer some privacy, there is a porta-potty inside the center console. Not much headroom, or ventilation, but more privacy than the other option.  :)

 

RULE NUMBER 1

Do not be late. Do not be late. Do not be late. 

Corrolary to Rule Number 1

Plan to arrive early.  There is nothing that puts a smile on the old Captain's face like having the whole crew ready to go 15-20 minutes before scheduled departure.

If there is no traffic and you drive like an absolute and total maniac (at least 15MPH over the speed limit, no stops, EPASS, etc) you can make it from the Veritas office building in Heathrow to the marina in just under 70 minutes.  It's much safer to assume that it will take at least 85 minutes from Heathrow.  I usually plan that it will take 90 minutes.

Typical Day's Fishing Agenda (Very Basic -- Trolling Version)

Leave marina as early as possible (See Rule Number 1).

Idle through 3 miles of Port Canaveral. Sometimes the air can be rather unpleasant smelling near the shrimp/fish processing plants.  This is a good time to lather up with thick coat of sunscreen.

Throttle up and head out to where we think the fish are.  This could be from 16 to 40 miles and take from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending upon sea conditions.  The single best way to have a productive day offshore is if _everyone_ is keeping a sharp eye out for:

  • flocks of birds diving into the water
  • frigate birds
  • floating objects (trees, lumber, pallets, buckets, etc)
  • weed lines
  • rips (where currents meet)
  • water color changes
  • large fish shaped objects jumping out of the water  :-)

Once we find some fishy looking water, lines go out.  The lines are always set out in the order: flat lines, 2 outrigger lines, deep center, teaser(s).

Once you get the basic trolling process down, try to be proactive in helping with the ongoing tasks.  For instance, if someone else is bringing in a weeded outrigger line, go ahead and pull the release clip down from the end of the outrigger so that it's ready to go back up as soon as the line is cleared.  Speed and efficiency are critical to successful fishing because if the baits not in the water, you're not going to catch anything.  It also helps if several people are keeping an eye out to make sure all the baits are running properly (not weeded, not spinning nor flopping).  I've had hungry billfish come up and look at a bait and take off.  Why?  A single 3" piece of eel grass wrapped on the hook.  Arrrrgh!

When a fish is hooked up, we let the boat continue to run for 15-30 seconds to see if any other fish in the area are hungry.  Depending upon the size/type of fish hooked up, some (or all) of the other lines may need to be brought in.  The angler (the one fighting the fish) should try to lead the fish to one side of the boat or the other. The other people on board should assist by getting the other lines out of the water on an "as needed" basis.  The driver will attempt to maneuver the boat in a manner to keep the fish coming to one side of the boat.  Once the fish is beside the boat, the fish box is opened, the fish is gaffed and dumped into the fish box in one motion, the fish box lid is closed, and the driver immediately throttles back up to trolling speed.

Depending upon the weather conditions, fishing productivity, and the crew's disposition, I try to have the boat back to the marina between 3:00 - 4:00 PM.  This gives us enough time to wash the boat (everyone helps), clean fish, and for me to get home by around 6:00 PM (when the hounds begin to revolt).

Rule Number 2

Try not to drop any of the fishing rod/reels overboard.  The spinning rigs cost between $150-$250 each. The light trolling rigs are around $200 each and the medium trolling rigs cost about $500-600 each.  The heavy trolling rigs are around $950 each.

 

 

Suggestions from experienced crew member for newbie crew members.

 

Directions to Scorpion's New Port Marina

 
  • From Orlando take SR 528 (Bee-Line Expressway) East. It’s a toll road. $Cha-ching Cha-ching$
  • Over the St Johns river (Time for your Dramamine II)
  • Stay on 528 -- Veer right towards Cocoa/Port Canaveral
  • Past I-95
  • Slow down. The deputies can be thick along this stretch of 528.
  • Past US-1
  • Over the Indian River
  • "Yowie" look at all those big ol’ honker Sea-Rays on the left.
  • Over the Banana River
  • Past the first (North Side) entrance to Port Canaveral.
  • Notice the very large BLUE warehouse like buildings on the left.  That's New Port Marina.
  • Take the exit (to the right) for the "South Side" Port Canaveral.
  • Take a left onto George King Blvd.
  • Take a left onto Dave Nisbet Dr.
  • Take a left (almost immediately) onto Mullet Rd.
  • Follow Mullet Rd all the way down to New Port Marina.  You will probably have to park on the outside parking lot next to the main blue warehouse.
  • If you’re real early, there’s a McDonald’s on 528/A1A about ½ mile past the Port Canaveral entrance. Mmmm, Sausage McMuffin with egg…. On the other hand, the Hot Cakes and Sausage makes better chum material.  :)

 

Home