Your Source for Fishing Information, Tips, and Entertainment. Entertainment. *Premiere Issue*
REEL OUTDOORS Black Drum Invasion Pg. 5 Kayak Fishing Pg. 7 Fishing Docks, Bridges, and Piers Pg. 15 Live Bait vs. Artificials Pg. 17 Plus Much More.....
The Hunt for
Tampa Bay Redfish Pg. 9
Fishing Tips and Tricks Pg. 12
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A Note From the Editor
F
ishing can be an amazing activity and play a huge role in our lives. This magazine is designed for fishing enthusiasts by fishing enthusiasts. We want to provide a publication that promotes the love and the art of fishing.
The Reel Outdoors family encourages people to not only fish, but to enjoy fishing with loved ones. Catching fish is always a great bonus, but enjoying the time with loved ones is the most important thing. We hope you enjoy our publication as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Tight Lines,
Josh Massaro Editor-in-Chief
Tom Massaro Jr. Managing/Consulting Editor/Staff Writer Tom Massaro Sr. Historical Consultant Find us online at: www.betweendreamsmag.com/reeloutdoors
Questions or Comments jmfisher10@msn.com 10104 Kenlake Drive, Riverview, FL 33578
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{Contents} Black Drum Invasion - Page 5
pg.5
pg. 7
Fishing From a Kayaker’s Perspective - Page 7 The Hunt for Tampa Bay Redfish - Page 9
Pg. 9
How To/Tips and Tricks - Page 12
Pg. 15
Docks, Bridges, and Piers - Page 15 Pg. 18
Live Bait vs. Artificials - Page 17 Catch of a Lifetime - Page 18 A Family That Fishes Together - Page 19
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Got Fish?
Mirrodine XL By
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Black Drum
Invasion! By: Capt. Tom Massaro
T
he invasion of black drum in Tampa Bay is an awesome thing for an angler to experience. I was driving over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on my way to the Fort Desoto boat ramp and I looked to my right. I couldn’t believe what I saw. There were dozens of boats stacked up like one would see in Boca Grande Pass during the annual tarpon run.
off other boats with their feet. As an inshore angler that mostly fishes flats, I was surprised by the proximity of these boats.
“I was driving over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on my way to the Fort Desoto boat ramp and I looked to my right. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
I launched my boat that day anticipating catching some nice redfish. After about 30 or 45 minutes of not catching anything I couldn’t stand the temptation any longer. I had to go see what was going on with that huge group of boats. When my fishing partner and I arrived to the area with all the boats grouped up the scene was chaotic. The boats were so close together that anglers were pushing
When we arrived several anglers were already fighting fish. All the boats had their motors running and this was different to me as well. I thought that this would spook the fish and in some ways it -Tom Massaro did. The fish were on the run and the boats with towers were spotting them and the rest of the boats followed. The fish were running in a school that was over 200 strong. When the school spooked from the boat motors they split into a number of smaller schools. This might have been to our advantage because as the school of fish broke up, so did the boats. Now that the boats split up it wasn’t so congested. Finally we caught up with the fish and they were Reel Outdoors| 5
everywhere around our boat. My fishing partner said, “There they are!” He casted his bait to them the fish and instantly hooked up with a nice fish. His fight with the huge fish lasted about 15 minutes. When we boated the fish we were amazed to see that it was a 40 pound black drum. I couldn’t wait to get my turn to reel in one of these monsters. Only one of us could fish at a time because the boats were close to one another. One person had to drive and the other could fish. We came up to the fish again and I tossed my shrimp into the school…nothing happened. I did this for about 20 minutes and still I didn’t get any bites. I finally figured out that I need to put some weight on my line to get the shrimp down. I put a heavier slip weight on and threw my shrimp into the water. I immediately had a fish on my line. After another 15 minute fight I landed another behemoth drum that weighed 50 pounds.
middle of their spawning season. The reason why all of these fish are in a huge group in the middle of Tampa Bay was because it was their spawning season. After they finish, they will head to different bridges and deep water areas in the bay. The same elderly man that we spoke to before said, “These fish come here every year between February and May, but every year differs on how long they will stay.” These big black drum schools have been doing the same thing for years, but it only has been recently that it has been highly publicized. With the huge number of anglers fishing for these fish everyday for such a long time, I can only wonder what it is doing to their spawning cycle.
After catching some more fish we went to talk to some other anglers. We found out from an elderly man in a small boat who said, “When the first boats arrive the fish are in two to four foot of water.” We were catching our fish in about 15 feet of water. A lot of anglers were using jig heads with shrimp. Others were throwing jig heads with Gulp Shrimp on them. Either one of these baits were working to catch the black drum. There is no need to keep these fish because they are full of worms at this size and they are also in the
Overall, catching these big black drum was one of the most memorable fishing moments of my life. I won’t forget seeing these huge fish in the water, casting to them, and holding on for dear life. This is definitely a fishing experience that I would recommend to an angler that wants to have fun and make a lasting memory. If you are an angler and you are in Tampa Bay around February through March; keep an eye out for a large school of black drum between Pinellas Point and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. If you try fishing during the black drum invasion I promise you will not regret the decision. Most likely you will catch a huge fish and have a fun time too.
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Fishing From a Kayaker’s Perspective By Josh Massaro also one of the many reasons to start kayak fishing. I have heard from some anglers that catching fish out of a kayak is one of the best things an angler can do. “I think there’s something special about being on the same level as the fish. It’s more rewarding when you catch a nice one,” said expert kayak angler Bryan Lafumee.
Due to the rise of gas prices and bad economy a new type of fishing has become more popular in the last few years. Kayak fishing is becoming one of the favorite ways that inshore anglers are going after fish. I have seen more and more kayaks fishing the inshore saltwater areas that I fish with my flats boat. I would like to discuss some of the positives of kayak fishing and how this interesting form of fishing is becoming one of the most popular avenues to catch fish.
I used to think that fishing out of a kayak would limit my fishing and not let me reach my full potential as an angler. After doing my research on kayak fishing I learned that my theory was far from the truth. In certain aspects, kayak fishing helps anglers go more places and catch more fish. Kayaks can take you to secret fishing spots that the normal boater would not be able to reach. Kayaks can float in very shallow water and can be dragged over mud. This gives the opportunity
One of the biggest reasons why kayak fishing is becoming more popular is its low cost. Anglers can purchase a kayak and customize it to their fishing preferences for under $1,000. Considering both boat and gas prices these days that is a very good deal. All you need to power the kayak is energy. The last time I checked paddling is a lot cheaper than gas. Paddling will also keep you in shape as well as get you to the fish. Being in shape is Reel Outdoors| 7
for kayak anglers to cross shallow areas at low tide to reach fish that are pinned up in deep holes. This is a great benefit for kayak anglers which helps them catch many different inshore species.
to fish don’t mind at all. They see fishing from a kayak as a challenge and most of the time you see them fishing with artificials. I have come to the conclusion that most kayakers are risk takers and aren’t afraid of a challenge.
Another positive of fishing from a kayak is the art of stealth. In a kayak, anglers can be very quiet and low to the water. These tactics help anglers approach fish in shallow water and give the opportunity for anglers to present their bait to an unknowing fish. This advantage that the kayaks have is something that other anglers are jealous of (even if they don’t want to admit it).
There also is a new type of kayak angling that is so extreme that I could hardly believe it was true until I saw it with my own eyes. There are now anglers that head several miles offshore in their large boats to find large billfish. When then get to the area they think the fish are they throw a kayak in the water that was stored in the boat for the long trip. Once the angler is in the water they try to hook these mammoth fish. When the angler hooks up with the fish all the chaos starts. It was one of the most intense fights with a fish I ever seen. This type of fishing is definitely for the adrenaline junkie angler.
I always thought kayak anglers were limited to fishing near the bank and could not reach most fishing areas, but in the past few years I have seen the opposite. I have witnessed anglers fishing far enough off the beaches to catch tarpon and even King mackerel. I just recently saw a kayaker fishing around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. If you are familiar with this area you can see why that is quite a challenge. Anglers are limited in some areas when fishing out of kayaks, but it seems like most anglers that choose this way
Extreme fishing is not the only type of fishing kayakers can enjoy. The calmer and relaxing inshore variety is more of favorite with anglers. I have hear that there is some peaceful about kayaking and an angler can enjoy oneself on a day that doesn’t even produce fish. If you like everything from stalking fish on a calm flat or chasing Tarpon on the beach; kayak fishing could be your next endeavor. I know that as a long time boat angler I was reluctant to try this kind of fishing, but I have found it to be quite entertaining. I was surprised that I enjoyed this different art of fishing. I think you will enjoy it too. Reel Outdoors| 8
the hunt for the tampa bay redfish By: Capt. Josh Massaro
When saltwater anglers think of places to catch redfish they think about Mosquito Lagoon and Venice, Louisiana. I would like to talk about one redfish fishery that can be sometimes overlooked, but can produce anglers with some great redfish. Tampa Bay is Florida’s biggest estuary and is over 400 square miles. There are over 200 species of fish that swim the waters of this bay and one of the most coveted is the red drum, better known as the redfish. I will share where to catch redfish in Tampa Bay, what to use to catch them, and everything else an angler needs to know about Tampa Bay redfish. Anglers in Tampa Bay can find a variety of sized redfish to catch. Redfish can be caught from under 12 inches all the way up to over 40 inches. Many redfish are born in Tampa Bay and live most of their life there until they reach sexual maturity at 3 to 6 years of age. At this point most redfish go offshore, but they do return for spawning in August and October. There
are some places in Tampa bay where the fish live their whole lives. These fish are residential and stay there year round. These schools of breeders are a sight to see for anglers that are looking for large redfish to tug on a line. Some anglers think that catching these fish is a difficult task, but the redfish in Tampa Bay are accessible to everyone. Kayaks anglers, anglers from boats, waders, and every other kind of anglers can reach these fish. WHERE TO FIND THEM: To quote my longtime fishing father, “The redfish aren’t too hard to find, but the hard part is getting them to bite.” If anglers know where to look then finding redfish is not too difficult. Not knowing what to look for is sometimes the biggest problem people have when they are not finding redfish. Anglers have to think like redfish to know where they are at on a regular basis. Redfish love to eat and they spend a lot of time doing this activity. Anglers need to look for areas that redfish like
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to feed. Oyster bars, mangroves, grass flats, and mudflats are all favorite areas for redfish to live. These are the areas that anglers need to focus on in fishing in Tampa Bay and anywhere else redfish live.
“honey hole.”
“The redfish aren’t too hard to find, but the hard part is getting them to bite.”
WHAT TO USE TO CATCH THEM:
Redfish will eat almost anything. Anglers can catch redfish on both artificial baits, live bait, and dead cut - Tom Massaro bait. I prefer to use the light tackle when targeting redfish in Tampa Bay. I have found that an 8’ light-medium action rod works well for catching these “bronze Another thing to look bombers”. I for are areas that have use a medium the bait that redfish eat. Redfish feed on small to light reel bait fish and every type with 10 of small crustaceans. pound test braided line People looking for and 30 pound redfish should focus fluorocarbon their fishing in areas leader. that these baits are Anglers can abundant to ensure that the fish will be in get away with using a lighter the area. Good areas fluorocarbon to fish for redfish are leader, but I use 30 pound because I deal grass flats, mangroves, and other shallow with oyster bars, mangrove roots, and water locations. Look for depth change in water like potholes, drop-offs, and edges docks. of channels. All of these areas tend to hold Artificial Bait more redfish than other places. Some specific areas in Tampa Bay that redfish hold are: Tarpon Key, Weedon Island, Tierra Verde, Tierra Ceia, Bishop Harbor, Cockroach Bay, to name a few. Start with these places to find redfish, but look for your own secret spots too. There is nothing more rewarding than finding your own redfish
Redfish anglers can use multiple types of artificials, but there are a few that work more consistently then others. When using artificial baits the most important thing is confidence. If an angler knows they are imitating the right bait and are confident in what
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they are using; then most likely the artificial bait will be successful for them. MirrOlure’s MirrOdine, MirrOmullet, and MirrOMinnow are all good hard plastic baits to use. Exude jerk baits, DOA shrimp, and Berkley’s GULP! are great artificial baits for redfish.
should be used according to how the fish are biting in certain areas. Fishing for redfish can be very exciting. The most exciting way to fish for them is sight fishing. Nothing gets the heart pumping and palms sweating like seeing a 30 inch redfish tailing in a foot and a half of water.
Cut Bait Cut bait can be an effective way to catch redfish especially went they aren’t aggressively feeding. Redfish will feed on most dead fish, but one of the most effective is cut ladyfish. The key when cut bait fishing is scent. Cut up any bait fish or any legal fish to use as bait. This tactic of fishing helps anglers with long casts and with finicky feeding redfish. Live Bait In my opinion, live shrimp is the best bait to catch redfish in not only Tampa Bay, but all over the redfish range. There are many other live types of bait that work well with catching redfish as well. Live sardines, pinfish, and chubs work well for catching hungry redfish. Live crabs are also great baits if an angler can find them. Anglers can free line, bottom fish, or fish under a cork with all of these baits. The way you present these baits is personal preference and
These fish “tail” when they are feeding in shallow water. Redfish mostly forage the bottom for whatever they can find so when they are feeding their bodies are almost at a 45 degree angle. In shallow water there tail sticks out of the water and that is what redfish anglers call “tailing”. In Tampa Bay, anglers are fortunate enough to sight fish for redfishon a regular basis. When sight fishing for redfish in clear, shallow water anglers must be very stealthy in their approach. A trolling motor or push pole work the best in these situations. Redfish can be very spooky, especially in Tampa Bay. Fishing pressure makes these fish aware of any noise that anglers make. Just remember to be stealthy and in most cases if you aren’t too loud and clumsy you will get a chance to present bait to a redfish. Redfish can be one of the best inshore Reel Outdoors| 11
How to: Tips and Tricks for Fishing By: Capt. Tom Massaro
S
altwater fishing can be the most fun activity in the world, but also it can be oone ne of the most frustrating! This pastime of fishing can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. Using the right tackle and bait, finding the right time to fish, and being in the right spot can be difficult for some beginning anglers as well as the seasoned anglers. Every issue I will present some tips and tricks to make your fishing experience a little more successful. This Month: Bait and Boat Position. Live bait can be one of the best advantages in fishing, but it can also be a tedious and sometimes difficult task. Catching bait can be a struggle to some anglers and buying bait can get very expensive. FINDING AND CATCHING BAIT When finding bait (whitebait or sardines) you should look for two key things. Birds can be one of the first signs that bait is in the area. They tend to love to feed on the same tasty baits as the fish you want to catch. Their tell tale dipping on the water’s surface will give away bait school’s location. You should also look for deep grass flats because whitebait love this kind of habitat. The thick grass gives the bait a place to hide and it seems like the bigger bait actually spend most of their time in the grass. When you arrive at your desired “bait spot” you should anchor up and let the area settle. This is just one tactic, but I have found that this has worked the best for me. Now you can start to throw some chum out to attract your bait into a tighter formation to consolidate your throws. In doing this, you will obtain a bigger yield on your throw and limit the number of time you throw
your net. I would recommend an 8-10 ft. net with a ¼in-3/8in. mesh. My recipe for chum is easy and can be made by anyone. I just mix white corn meal and jack mackerel to make this stinky concoction. You can also use Purina fish food, but I find that the jack mackerel and corn meal more effective. They are also both easily obtainable at your local supermarket. After you chum, be patient and wait about 10 minutes to let the chum settle and the fish to gather. When throwing your net make sure to open it as wide as you can. I recommend practicing in your yard before your trip to help you technique. When you throw your net make sure to let your net settle all the way to the bottom and then retrieve it quickly. It is important to get your bait into your live well as fast as you can so to insure that you keep your bait alive. Once you get your desired bait it is now time to GO FISHING! It is important to not get a hook too big or too small for your bait. One problem with live bait is that sometimes your bait turns around on itself and the hook penetrates the baitfish. This mishap will not allow you to properly hook fish. A tip to fix this problem is to cut a small piece of rubber band and slide it on the hook in front of the bait. As the day goes on during the warmer months the bait Reel Outdoors| 12
The May Issue in the live well tend to overheat and this can cause death to the bait. One way to cool the water is to freeze water bottles and drop them into the live well. If you directly put ice cubes in it will kill the bait because of the fresh water. The frozen water bottles cool the water temperature and prolong the life of the bait you worked so hard to catch. USING YOUR BAIT TO CATCH FISH Now that you have your bait you are ready to catch fish. One trick to turn on the fish bite is to chum with a small portion of the bait you just caught. There are many ways to do this, but the easiest way is to start with a plastic wiffle ball bat with a fat barrel. That’s right, a PLASTIC BAT. Cut the fat end of the bat at a 45 degree angle, grab a handfull of bait and kind of stun them in your hand, pour the bait into that bat and give it a fling. If done correctly, the bait will spread out evenly in the area you want the fish to bite. The tactic of chumming is somewhat easy but takes some practice. Now you are at your fishing spot ready to catch fish. Whether you are at a mangrove line, grass flat, oyster bat, bridge, dock or pass; remember that good casts are the key to catching fish. Make sure you have the lightest line that the type of fishing you are doing can withstand. On the grass flats you can use lighter line than when you are bridge fishing because of the obvious structure.
Using a nice dehooker is the ideal way to unhook your fish. If you can’t use a dehooker then make sure to unhook the fish as soon as possible. While you are holding larger fish make sure to support the fish’s mid-section because if you don’t support the mid section of the fish it might do some future damage. It is important to insure the safe release of over slot fish. This will help out fishery thrive in the future. ANCHORING AND POSITIONING THE BOAT It is important to have a good anchoring system. I use a three to four foot chain at the end of my anchor rope. This tactic help hold the boat in deep water and strong current. In shallow water stick anchors work the best. Stick anchors are things like the Powerpole, Stick-It, and Wang anchors are some examples. Remember it is always better to troll or pole into a flat so that you won’t spook the fish. This will help you catch a lot more fish. I hope this article will help you in your fishing adventures. These are just my opinions and hopefully they will work for you. Keep reading for more Tips and Tricks.
LANDING YOUR CATCH It is always best not handle your fish that you catch. Reel Outdoors| 13
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Docks, Bridges and Piers...Oh My! By: Josh Massaro
To me fishing is fishing. I
to maybe enhance your fishing hold heat. These are the two like to experiment and try all experience. reasons why I think I have different types of tactics to done better in the cooler catch as many fish as possible. DOCKS months around docks. Anglers should approach I have found that docks different types of fishing can have a very active bite My tip for an angler that according to the areas they year, but I have always had wants to try dock fishing is will be fishing. luck with them in the cooler to target a deep canal with months. I think this has many large docks. Try this I would like to talk about a happened because of two type of fishing when the certain type reasons. weather cools and you lose of fishing First, in confidence in you other “go that can the warmer to” spots. You never know be very months when the next dock will effective I tend to become your new “go to” if done focus my spot. Use a live shrimp with correctly. fishing on weight or no weight for best Fishing grass flats, results. Typically the closer docks, mangroves to the dock you cast the better bridges, islands, chance you have to catch a and piers beaches, nice fish. are one of my favorite ways etc. So since I spend more to target a variety of species. time around docks in the Fish to look for: Redfish, Most fish love structure and cooler months I get more sheepshead, black drum, these are the best places action. Another reason I snook, etc. for structure while inshore might do well in the cooler saltwater fishing. Anglers months is because a lot of BRIDGES can catch everything from the docks are located in canals. My home fishing area of mighty Tarpon to the finicky Some of these residential Tampa Bay has many bridges sheepshead around this type canals have been dredged to fish throughout its waters. of fishing terrain. out; therefore most of them Almost every area that there are deeper than normal. This is water there are also bridges During this article I would helps in finding fish in the to fish. These structures are like to share some experiences cooler months because of capable of holding many fish I have had fishing docks, warmer waters. Some of at certain times. Bridges bridges, and piers. Also, I these docks in canals also are known to hold fish would like to share some tips have muddy bottoms which like: tarpon, snapper, cobia, Reel Outdoors| 15
pompano. An easy way to catch the bait the fish might be feeding on is to use a sabiki lure to catch bait. Using this lure will help you catch bait. I can almost guarantee you will get some bait if they are in the area. grouper, snook, sheepshead, pompano and much more. The first thing an angler needs to fish bridges is decent boating equipment. I have seen kayak fish the bridges that are close to the shore, but most bridges require you to have a boat that can handle some stronger condition due to strong currents and chop from water bouncing of pylons. It is important to have an anchor you trust because in most situations anchoring is the best method to stay in one place. There are also times that driving works too, but not when the area is crowded with boats. Every type of bait works around bridges, but I would like to share some type about bait tactics. Anglers can bring a small shovel and scrap barnacles off the pylons to try to get the fish feeding. This trick works best with sheepshead and
Bridge fishing is one of my favorite types of
fishing. Go out and try it and hopefully you will feel the same. PIERS Pier fishing is a different type of fishing than the two previous ways to fish. You use a lot of the same techniques as other types of fishing, but in my opinion it has a different feel. Pier fishing is an experience in itself. You can come and go as you please unlike being out on the water and driving your boat home. You can bring people that normally don’t like to fish as
long. This is a great place to bring kids because if they get bored fishing then they can play (as long as they are supervised and the pier is large enough.) The good thing about bridge fishing is that you can use any type of bait and tackle and have the possibility of catching almost every species of inshore fish. Some piers have a fee to get on but most of the fees are nominal and worth the price. Fishing off a pier is nice, especially when you have a friend and your favorite snack and beverage. Fishing of a pier can be more social as well. It’s simply to talk to other anglers and see how they are doing. Most anglers on the pier are respectful and will share their tactics of catching fish as long as you are respectful and share with them. Overall, pier fishing can be a great time and create longlasting memories. I hope this article inspired you as the angler to try these types of fishing if you haven’t already. If you have done this type of fishing before then I think you will agree how awesome this fishing can be. Go out an enjoy our waters! Reel Outdoors| 16
Live Bait vs. Artificials Which one will you pick? Live Bait Li
-Natural food for -Sometimes hard fish to find on your own -Natural smell and action -If purchased can get expensive -Can be used as chum to attract -Doesn’t cast as fish well as artificials -Opportunity for -Risk of being to anglers to catch reliant on it and their own for free then lost when not available -Sometimes will work when noth- -Sometimes hard ing else does to keep alive
Artificials Arti
-Able to use one bait for an extended time -Can cast long distances to reach fish -Works well with reaction bites with fish
-Sometimes lacks natural smell. -Can get expensive if bought on a regular basis -When line breaks sometimes anglers lose a lot of money on one lure.
-Good for covering a lot of area
-Are only imitators of live bait and sometimes can not take place of live
-Realistic action
bait
The Catch of a Lifetime By: Josh Massaro
Ihavehave been fishing almost my whole life and I caught many fish. Anglers remember most catches and forget some too. I know most anglers have the one catch that sticks out in their minds. The one experience you will never forget and it feels like it happened yesterday. Everything about the catch was memorable and meaningful. The memories are in your mind of where you were, who you were with, and how you felt when you think about “the catch of your lifetime.” I know I will never forget my “catch of a lifetime.” I was with my dad in the lake is located behind my house. I was fortunate to grow up with my back yard butting up to a 40 acre lake. Needless to say I fished this lake quite a bit and it was a rare day if I wasn’t on the water. I had caught many bass out of the lake, but I had never caught a bass over 10 pounds. It was my goal to catch a lunker this size. One Sunday afternoon, after church, my dad and I headed out on the lake in our green Gheenoe just like any other day. We went straight to one of my favorite spots in the lake and wasted no time getting out baits in the water. After a couple of casts towards some submerged tree branches; I tossed my watermelon red Zoom salty super fluke next to a patch of cattails.
I felt a bite and my line started running to the left. I set the hook as hard as I could and when I did I knew I had a big fish on the other end. I never had a bass fight this hard. I wasn’t sure how big the fish really was until it jumped out of the water. “There is your trophy bass! That’s a double-digit for sure!” said my dad. After an excited fight with many jumps and strong runs; my dad netted the biggest bass of my life. We had no camera or scale on the boat because we weren’t expecting anything special to happen. We put the big fish into the live well and headed for out house. We arrived within minutes and after taking some pictures I weighed the beast. The fish weighed 11.3 pounds. It was bigger than I had expected. I was so happy and I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I had caught the fish I was dreaming of my whole life and caught the fish of a lifetime. For an 18 year old this was one of the coolest things that had ever happened. I had been fishing that lake for as long as I could remember and at that moment it had all been worth it. I was just glad that I got to share this awesome moment with my best fishing partner…my dad. I hope that every angler is blessed enough to get the opportunity of catching a fish of a lifetime. It is truly something that they will never forget. Reel Outdoors| 18
A Family That Fishes Together A note to families from the Massaros
O
ur family has been fishing Central Florida waters for over 50 years and during that time we have created countless memories that will last forever. Some of these memories are good ones like: catching trophy fish, having 100 fish days, catching fresh food for dinner, and many more. On the other hand, some of the memories aren’t so good, like being hooked past the barb (all three of us), being stranded on the water with a failed motor, being attacked by bees, and many other things we like to forget. Fishing in itself is a fun activity and a hobby that stands the test of time. Fishing is a hobby that can bring families together unlike many things in the world. There is something special about spending time with a loved one on the water regardless of what you catch. I know fishing has brought three generations of the Massaro family together for quite a long time. We as a family encourage you to enjoy you hobby with your family and friends. We know that many things can help you bond with your family, but we are a little biased towards fishing. Parents and grandparents, take your children fishing. The time on the water will not only be
an enjoyable time, but it will also give you an opportunity to talk to them about things in their life. Obviously you can do this anywhere, but there is something about being out on the water and enjoying nature that opens people up to discuss different topics. Teach your children evrythin you know about fish and nature. Answer their questions (even the silly ones) because this will help them gain an appreciation for wildlife and nature. You don’t have to go out and catch a lot of big fish. Children don’t care if they are catching ladyfish or snook ; as long as they are having fun it is a successful day. Tell your children stories about the old days and stories about your life. These stories will spark up conversations that will last past the fishing day. Fishing has helped our family grow closer together and we hope that you give it a try and it works for you as well. A family that fishes together will most likely grow closer and teach each other lessons that will last a lifetime. Reel Outdoors| 19
Happy Fishing and Tight Lines From: Reel Outdoors