My good buddy Joe is putting the finishing touches on one of his fine custom rods – this one a pink, gold and black beauty. The proceeds will go to support a cure for breast cancer, so if you know of a special lady angler (or any angler who likes hot pink) who would relish a hand-crafted, unique gift, now’s your chance. This is a 6′ 6″, fast-action rod well-suited to a wide variety of light-tackle, shallow-water applications, from narrow creeks to shorelines to open water. Proven on a wide variety of coastal saltwater gamefish, it is intended for line in the 6-12 lb. range. Has enough flex to cast 1/4–5/8 oz. lures with distance and accuracy, yet plenty of backbone to turn large fish with authority. Crafted with an attention to detail unmatched in mass-produced rods. Features only the finest components, including: black, 1-piece St Croix SC2 graphite blank; Fuji Hardloy single-foot guides with matching Fuji Hardloy tip-top guide; custom painted reel seat; select-grade cork rear and fore-grips; and clear Flex-coat finish along entire length of rod for optimal durability and a deep, true luster. Makes a fantastic gift for a friend, family member, business associate, etc. Bidding starts at $175.

Interested in landing a great rod and supporting a wonderful cause? Contact us today.

Oh my toothyness.

A week or so ago I saw a report that wildlife officers had found a 14-foot long African Rock python in the Everglades National Park. Now, I know more and more large, exotic pythons are being found in the Park as the result of brain-dead imbeciles people releasing them into the wild, but this version is apparently capable of growing to 20 feet, and it’s a notoriously vicious breed that eats everything from goats to crocodiles to wild hogs. Oh, and the occasional human. One scientist quipped “It’s mean right out of the egg…” I see. Intrigued, I did a quick image search and found the above image of a diamond-patterned demon rock python biting a wire fence, displaying a world-class set of chompers in the process. Four layers of them, to be precise – in case the first two rows of paring knives don’t close the deal, I presume.  Now, I realize the media loves to overhype this stuff and I doubt they’re the savage threat to humans that a host of hyperbolic articles imply, but when I venture into the Glades later this week to scare up some bass I’ll likely be a bit more timid when retrieving a snagged lure. In fact, I may be downright prissy.

The photo above, sent to me by an anonymous source, was recently taken at the boat ramp in Flamingo, Florida. In a single frame it confirms what many Florida-based anglers have feared: many snook did not survive the unseasonably bitter series of fronts. There are now scores of reports from around the state confirming what may be the worst fish kill of this generation and possibly the one that came before, with snook the hardest-hit species of them all. I’m planning a trip deep into the Glades next week, and my heart is heavy.

Reports from around Florida confirm that snook are dying by the thousands due to a series of record-breaking cold fronts. Snook are notoriously intolerant of chilly weather, and prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 60 degrees usually proves lethal. Though snook are the most vulnerable species, water has claimed many other types of fish, including mullet, catfish, tarpon, mojarra, snapper and gag grouper, as well as countless smaller species that are an important forage food for Florida’s game fish, including ladyfish and pinfish. To those of us who catch and release snook and carefully monitor their status, this is a big blow. Alas. There’s a wistful irony in Mother Nature ultimately being the biggest threat to snook populations since commercial fishing for them was banned in the late 1980s. For more info, visit this site.

To report a fish kill, visit FWC here or the Snook Foundation here. Please record pertinent fact such as date, time, GPS coordinates (if possible), number and size of dead or near-dead fish, and conditions observed. If you see someone illegally harvesting dead or dying snook, dial #DEP on a cell phone, or call (877) 2-SAVE-FL (1.877.272.8335).

Little did these custom rods know what fate had in store for them.

My wife and I got hitched more than a year ago now, and to commemorate the death of my bachelorhood the blissful pairing, my good buddies Joe and Pete proffered up the best wedding gift I could imagine: two high end reels and two soon-to-be-delivered custom-made rods. Finding those shiny reels among the dinnerware and salad forks was one of the gleaming moments of my adult life, if only because they provided such a welcome respite from tuxedoes and flower arrangements. And knowing that Joe, a guy known locally for producing top-shelf custom rods, would soon deliver a pair of his coveted creations? I was a blissed-out groom. (more…)

That’s how a poster described our modest line of fishing tees today on this popular Jacksonville-based kayaking forum. He went on to describe our shirts thusly:

“They’re subtle, not too ostentatious, and comfortable – worth checking out as a Christmas present for the special angler in your life…”

Why, thankya kindly. We appreciate any input, positive or negative. And so you know, we’re working on an entirely new bundle of unique designs that we hope to have up by Christmas, if not before. Stay tuned.

‘Nuff said.

Quick pic of a gorgeous Everglades sunrise.

The good folks at The Snook Foundation recently asked if I’d be willing to represent them in next week’s 16th Annual RedSnook Fishing Tournament. Hell yes, sez I. My buddy Joe will join me and we’ll be fishing in the unguided spin/plug division out of Chokoloskee. All proceeds from the tournament support the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s initiatives to protect our local waters. We’ll keep you posted on the results. If you can spare some time or a few bucks, I’d strongly suggest that you contribute to the Conservancy. Click here for info on membership.

Shallowfish.com will soon offer this practical guide for novice anglers – or experienced anglers fishing Florida’s shallows for the first time. Learn how to catch these two challenging game fish through detailed facts and advice on tides, weather, time of year, live bait, lures, tackle, knots and much more! Written by a lifelong Florida angler, “The Redfish and Snook Book” is the only resource of its kind. It will be available for immediate download from Shallowfish.com in November.

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