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.

Quick pic of a gorgeous Everglades sunrise.

When fishing shallows in a skiff, it pays to keep your anchor—tied to a cleat with a short length of free line—on the casting deck. When you hook up, simply drop the anchor over the side to stop your drift, preventing you from floating across potentially productive water as you fight and land the fish. The downside of this approach is that an anchor can make a lot of noise as it clunks around on the deck. A simple solution: put an old towel underneath it. This approach not only deadens sound, it also serves to keep the deck dry.

Had a chance to sneak in a quick solo trip to a favorite bay this morning. A seriously low tide exposed many areas that are normally under water, forcing fish into narrow channels. I found two nice snook, scores of chunky speckled trout and a lone bluefish along channel edges, all of which were released in good shape. By mid-morning it was dead still and hot, and boat traffic had tripled…my cue to head for home. Alas, the quiet little bay I’ve fished for so long now sustains a crush of people at this time of year. Despite the mounting pressure, it still yields healthy fish…and moments of fragile beauty.