Fishing For The Right Shades

Selecting Proper Eyewear

When sight fishing the saltwater flats, the second biggest challenge my clients face (right behind casting accurately) is being able to see the fish. Most times, when I have an angler on board who is not spotting the fish, I discover it is improper or sub par eyewear that is making them have such difficulty. All sunglasses are not the same. I have seen schools of hundreds of redfish swim within feet of people's boats and they never notice they are there. If you are not wearing the right kind of glasses, you are missing tons of fish you might otherwise catch.

First and foremost, the glasses must be polarized. If they are not, you have no chance of seeing in the water. The second most important factor is the color of the lens. The anglers I come in contact with that experience the most problems are almost always wearing gray lenses. A quick look through their glasses and I can tell why they are having problems spotting fish that are only 20-30 feet away from the boat. Gray dulls all the colors. When sight fishing for redfish, we want to see a "red" fish against a dark background. Sometimes you will spot the blue strip and the end of their tail. Vivid colors are important. Use a lens that is copper, vermillion, or a shade of brown or dark amber.
Fishing Sunglasses

Lens type and quality are important but rank far behind color. A $15 pair of glasses that are polarized and the correct color will out perform a $200 pair that are the wrong kind for flats fishing. For the best and clearest optics, you are going to pay over $100. Wear them only in the boat and keep them in a case between trips and you will get years of use from them. My glasses never leave the boat and do not have one scratch on them after hundreds of trips. I use Guideline Elite Bimini glasses with the green mirror lens.




Whichever brand you buy, make sure you are choosing the right color lens. Wraparound style frames or those with side lenses, will provide additional visibility enhancement.

Capt. Chris Myers
Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters
http://www.floridafishinglessons.com/
321-229-2848

Marine VHF Radio

I found this post on the Fla-Guide blog that gives good information about the basics of marine VHF radios. Read it and enjoy!

Marine Radio Basics

The most essential and one of the most inexpensive pieces of safety equipment you can have on any boat is a VHF marine radio. VHF marine radios are designed with safety in mind. In case of an emergency you have direct communication with the Coast Guard and other vessels in your area. You also have instant access to storm warnings and other urgent marine warnings. Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is a safety feature available on newer marine radios. When a special button on the radio is pressed, the radio broadcasts an automatic distress signal to the Coast Guard and other vessels in the area. The DSC radio identifies the vessel and also, when connected to a GPS, can send the vessels location. A DSC radio will continue sending the emergency signal even if you are disabled or have to abandon ship.

Transmission power of marine radios range between 1 and 25 watts, giving a maximum range of up to 5 nautical miles (9 km) between aerials mounted on boats at sea-level. Marine VHF radios combine transmitter and receiver together and operate on standard, international frequencies, between 156 to 174 MHz, known as channels. They use simplex transmission allowing communication to take place in only one direction at a time. A microphone mounted button switches the radio between broadcasting and receiving modes.

Marine radios can be fixed or portable. Fixed sets have many advantages over portable units and are a good choice for most boat owners. Fixed units are wired directly to your boats electrical system letting you use your boats battery for power. They also give you more transmitting power and use a larger fixed antenna giving you greater range. Portable marine radios are basically waterproof walkie-talkies. They have a battery as there power supply, limited power and a small on board antenna. Portable marine radios are best used as emergency radio systems on kayaks and life boats.

Underwater LED Dock Lights attract fish to your dock while beautifying your waterfront.

Garmin GPSMAP 525

Garmin GPSMAP 525 Marine Navigator

Physical Charicteristics

• Slim, 2.9" Design
• 5" VGA Display
  
• Bright, Sharp, Colorful Graphics
• Resolution-480 X 640 Pixels
• Internal Antenna
• Waterproof *IPX7
• NMEA 0183 Input/Output **
  

* GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes

** Defines how data is transmitted between marine electronic devices

Maps & Memory

• Basemap With Realistic Satellite Imegery
• SD Card Slot- Add Additional Maps Without Connecting To A Computer
• Saved Waypoints And Favorite Locations- 1,500
  
• Saved Routs- 20
  
• Track Log- 10,000 Points, 20 Saved Tracks
  

Features

• Garmin Sonar Compatible
• CANet® Compatible
• Supports AIS (tracks target ships' position)
• Supports DSC (displays position data from DSC capable VHF radio)
• Audible Alarms
• Tide Tables
• Sun And Moon Information

Optional Features With BlueChart g2 Vision Card

• 3-D Map View
• Auto Guidance

Iland Lures

Iland Lures
Summer is here and the offshore trolling season is in high gear. From the Panhandle to the Keys and all the way up the Atlantic coast dolphin, wahoo, sailfish, king mackerel, tuna, and other hard hitting big game fish are within a few miles of shore . With fuel prices at record highs, it is more important then ever to optimize your time on the water. The right lure presented under the right conditions can put fish in the cooler and have you back at the dock with less wasted fuel.
Iland Lures are the first choice of seasoned big game anglers around the state, and around the world. They come in a wide variety of head styles and skirt colors that can be matched to fit any fishing conditions you may encounter. The lustrous nylon skirts have earned a reputation for being both productive and durable. They create a natural swimming motion and stabilize the lure. They stand up to repeated strikes from toothy predators such as wahoo and mackerel, and the brilliant colors are visible to game fish even at great distances. The Flasher Series skirts feature a prism mylar outer shell that increases visibility and realism. There are 11 base skirt colors and 5 ' E Series' colors that come in a nice variety of 'Favorite Colors' combinations. They can also be combined into custom patterns of up to three colors at your request. Iland Lures come in a wide variety of revolutionary head designs that let you match your lure to the fishing conditions, and the fish. Many feature optional head colors, and all feature the unique gold eyes that were designed to provoke predatory fish into striking. The chart below can be used as a quick reference guide to help you pick the Iland Lure that best meets your fishing needs.
When you find the Iland Lure that meets your needs, click on the image and order yours today!

ILAND TRACKER
The bullet nose eliminates spin. This lure is deadly when used with natural bait.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Sailfish, Tuna
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	5-12kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	Yes	No

ILAND OUT-RIDER
Out-Rider Chrome Head The concave head creates spray and surface commotion that trigers explosive strikes!
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Sailfish, Tuna
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	Up To 8kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	No	No

ILAND SAILURE
Designed for Sailfish, but is irresistible to all fish. Works great with natural or artificial ballyhoo and strip bait.
	Best For Catching
	Sailfish, Dolphin, Kingfish, Tuna, Wahoo, White Marlin
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	5-8kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	Yes	Yes

ILAND MISTRESS
Four ventilation holes funnel air through the head and disburse smoke around the skirt.
	Best For Catching
	Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	5-8kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	No	No

THE ILANDER
Weighted bullet head allows this lure to be trolled at higher speeds. Rig with a large or horse ballyhoo.
	Best or Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	6-8.5kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	Yes	Yes

JR ILANDER
Smaller then the Ilander, this lure is perfect for calm seas or fish interested in smaller baits.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	6-8.5kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	Yes	Yes

ILAND SEA STAR
Water and air channel through the lures head and disperse around the skirt resulting in outstanding performance and stability.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	6-10kts	No
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	Yes	No

THE BLACK HOLE
Unique design allows water to pass through the head and out the gills creating exceptional spray and smoke.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	6-10kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	No	Yes

ILAND EXPRESS
Jet action and ultra light head construction create an exceptional bubble stream.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	8-10kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	No	Yes

SEA SEARCHER
Sea Searcher Chrome Head The exceptional wake of this high speed head design will double the visual range of your pattern.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	6-16kts	No
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	No	No

ILAND CRUISER
The red concave mouth resembles the gills of a bait fish and creates a large disturbance in the water.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	6-8kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	Yes	Yes

HEAVY WEIGHT
The heavier weight of this Ilander cousin allows it to be trolled deeper, and stay stable in heavy seas.
	Best For Catching
	Dolphin, Kingfish, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
	Trolling Speed	Use With Natural Baits
	6-16kts	Yes
	Flasher Series	Optional Head Colors
	Yes	No