So you think that E-10 fuel creates problems for your marine engine now? Well just wait until E-15 fuel is in place at gas stations. On Friday, August 17th 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit dismissed the recreational boating industry’s challenge of the EPA’s decision to allow E-15 into the U.S. fuel supply. This decision puts the potentially dangerous E-15 at gas pumps across the country, a troubling scenario for American boaters and the recreational boating industry. E-15 will not only affect marine engines but all small engines such as lawn mowers and the list goes on. You better be prepared to spend money on those costly repairs that ethanol causes. Thanks EPA!!!


Whenever I find a good App for my iphone I like to pass it along to people. One such App is Radar US. It has a onetime charge of $1.99 to down load it to your phone. It’s no nonsense radar that gives up to the minute weather conditions. With the weather we’ve been having lately I find this App to be very useful before I leave my house, on my way to the boat ramp and while I’m out on the water.

Snook season opens on the east coast of Florida on Sept. 1st. If you happen to catch a big snook remember that it must measure between 28” and 32” to keep it and that the tail must be pinched when measuring it. There is a bag limit of one fish per day per person. Your best shot at landing a keeper size snook would be in the Tamoka River. I continue to catch small snook on a white fly or live shrimp but I haven’t been able to connect with one of the monster size ones yet but I’ll keep trying.

With this hot weather the best fishing has been from dusk, all night long and then until about 9 or 10 AM in the morning. Once the sun gets up there the fishing just seems to shut down. Day break and up until the sun creeps over the horizon have been good for top water plug fishing. There have been some big trout at this time. One of my clients missed a monster fish on a top water plug this past week. It wasn’t until he noticed a few casts later that the rear set of treble hooks were missing. How they came off is still a mystery to me.

The fishing in the surf and from the pier has slowed down due to the drop in water temperature. When we get periods of west wind it pushes the warm water out and it is replaced by colder water. This occurrence is known as an “upwelling”.

Most of us that fish around Flagler County know that the big freeze a couple of winters ago severely effected the snook population, not only here but across the entire state. Well I’m here to tell you that they are on the rebound.


Back in February I was catching small 6” to 8” snook on a fly, then they just seemed to disappear. Guess what, they’re back and they’re bigger. This class of fish is now in the 10” to 15” range and I’ve been steadily catching them. Why they have suddenly shown up again is a good question. I think a lot of it has to due with the run of shrimp that we’ve been experiencing in our waters lately. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years is that snook can’t pass up a live shrimp offering.

Although shrimp is, in my opinion, the best bait for snook they can also be caught by other means. I have also found that they love the color white or a combination of white and chartreuse. Last year I came up with a fly pattern that is all white except for a shrimp color nose and the snook just love it. I’ve caught numerous snook on it in the past 2 weeks. When I’m not fly fishing I’ll use a white 3” Yo-Zuri 3D crystal minnow. Another lure that I like is the 17MR MirrOlure in either white or chartreuse.

Whenever you are fishing for snook you should always tie on a piece of fluorocarbon leader to the end of your fishing line (30 to 40 lb test). It will keep you from losing tackle. Snook have very abrasive mouths that will rub through a standard fishing line in a heartbeat. If I’m attaching monofilament fishing line to fluorocarbon I’ll use a double surgeons knot to attach the 2 lines. If I’m using braided fishing line I’ll use a triple surgeons knot to attach the fluorocarbon leader. The surgeons knot is easy to tie and very strong. If you Google it you’ll find out how to tie it.

When I attach a fly or a lure to the end of my flourocarbon I like to use a loop knot. The loop knot allows the bait to work more freely and gives it a more natural appearance when being retrieved. If a lure has a split ring I’ll remove it to use the loop knot. Again Google it and you’ll find how to tie a loop knot. www.animatedknots .com is a real good sight to learn to tie knots.

Now that I’ve told you some of my secrets go out and try putting them to use.