Question
| Capt. Rickey |  |
| What is a tripletail and when is the best time of year to fish for them? | |
| Sonja | |
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Answer
| Dear Reader | |
Tripletail are most unique creatures. Most folks have never heard of them, or seen one. To the freshwater fisherman a tripletail looks like some kind of sun bream with a hormone problem. Yes, they grow quite large, and tripletail in the 20 to 30 pound range aren't uncommon. Tripletail not only look strange, but act strangely, too. The make their homes around crab trap boys and FAB's suspended near the surface. They will usually suspend within a few feet of the surface near the rope or chain that attaches the buoy to the bottom.
Because of where tripletail make their homes, the method of fishing for them is quite unique, also. The drill consists of running the boat along lines of crab trap buoy or FAB's, running within a few feet of the buoy, and actually looking into the water for the fish suspended near the buoy as you drive by. When a fish is spotted, the guide circles back and anchors upwind of the buoy within casting distance, and baits are presented as close to the buoy as possible.
Tripletail will eat a variety of baits including shiners, shrimp, jigs, and flies. The take is usually characterized by the fish rolling on it's side as it eats. When the angler sees the flash of the fish rolling, it's time to set the hook. When you set the hook, you'd better be hanging on to your gear, cause the tripletail is a fierce fighter. He essentially has three tails with which to fight you, plus he has tremendous side area given by his unique shape. The combination makes for one hell of a formidable foe. To add more excitement to this scenario, the tripletail will occasionally jump. There are even wild stories of them jumping right into the boat and tearing the hell out of things.
Tripletail fishing is probably not for the casual angler. This is serious fishing. The methodology is a bit different, too, and may not be for just anyone. Fishing tripletail typically involves lots of riding and looking. It's kind of like tarpon fishing. One day you might run for hours and not see a fish, and the next day you might catch 10. When it's going right and the fish are on the buoys, they are usually quite willing to eat a well placed bait.
I can remember catching tripletail of monstrous proportions as a kid growing up on the islands. Not only do they get big, take a bait readily, and fight like hell, but they are fantastic on the table. Also, this fishery doesn't receive a whole lot of pressure, as there just aren't that many folks that fish for them. Better yet, they are a year-round resource. Of course, this is sight fishing of a sort, so conditions have to be right, and there may be many days throughout the course of a year that you just can't fish them, either because of visibility or rough seas. | |
| Capt. Butch Rickey | |
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Question
| What is your ideal Tarpon rig for sightcasting to Tarpon? | |
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Answer
| Hi Don, | |
| My ideal Tarpon rig for sightcasting is a Shimano Stella STL4000FD reel spooled with 20# PowerPro line, and mated to a G Loomis Greenwater GWMR 843S rod with medium-heavy power and fast action. This combination offers the ultimate in casting distance, and still gives you plenty of power and line capacity to fight the fish. It's not cheap, though! | |
| Capt. Butch Rickey | |
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Question
| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey:, | |
Hey Butchie!!
Glad to see you are an expert on the BoatUS site! I was pleasantly surprised to get a BoatUS Membership eline email and saw your name in the "In This Issue" section.
I hope to get out with you some time this fall/winter/spring for some fishing and catching fun. Maybe I'll drag my dad along. He's 78 years old now. Not getting any younger. But, who is?
Cindy and I are heading down October 17th. A little bit earlier than usual. That's only because she sucked me into a proposal, which is coming back north for Thanksgiving, then staying until after Christmas!
I've got some awesome striper fishing stories to tell ya.
Take care,
Mike
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| Michale | |
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Answer
| Michale, | |
Hey Mike!
Great to hear from you. I am honored to have been chosen to be a BoatUS Expert, and I hope I can live up to their expectations.
It would be great to get out with you this fall, or whenever, so you can retrain me and share your monster striper stories. Oh, yeah. It would be great to see your Dad. 78?! Well, bless his heart, if he can still get out and go fishing, he's doing pretty well. I hope we can be as fortunate.
Now, Mike. Cindy didn't suck you into a proposal! You just mastered the art of compromise, as all wise me do!! ;^)
Best Fishes!
Butch | |
| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey: | |
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Question
| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey:, | |
| Butch: I live in DeLand, Fl. but keep my boat at my condo in Placida next to Gasparilla Marina. Where do you live/work out of? Pete Dunn | |
| Emory | |
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Answer
| Hi Emory, | |
Thanks for writing! I live in Iona (suburb of Ft. Myers), just before you get to the Sanibel Causeway. I launch from Punta Rassa Ramp adjacent to the Sanibel Causeway Toll Plaza. It's a pretty long run to where you are. I used to fish that area, especially Turtle and Bull Bays decades ago, but haven't in many moons. It got to busy for me. Of course, it's busy everywhere these days.
Tight Lines, | |
| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey: | |
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Question
| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey:, | |
Hi Butch:
I plan to be in Tampa from mid-October to mid-November. Do you know the kayak-fishing hotspots there and what type of fish I might hope to catch at them? I have launched at Picnic Island and Weedon Island in the past.
Thank you,
John Myers | |
| John | |
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Answer
| Hi John, | |
Thank you for your question. Although I think your question really requires someone with local knowledge, I will attempt to answer it. I haven't fished the area in years now, but I doubt things have changed much. I also have no experience up in the north end of Tampa Bay. Years ago I regularly fished the south end, and caught many, many redfish and snook with nothing more than gold and silver 1/2 oz. spoons. The areas I fished would be prime kayak fishing, as it's shallow water. I would recommend the flats around Joe Island, the oyster bars and holes around Two Brothers Island, the flats and bars around Horseshoe Key, the backside of Harbor Key (inside the creek), the flats southwest of Port Manatee, and the shoreline along Rattlesnake Key southwest of the Skyway. It's all prime redfish and snook country, and should be great from a yak!
I hope that helps you on your trip. Good luck! | |
| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey: | |
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Question
| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey:, | |
Hi Butch.
Which flats are the most productive in Pine Island Sound & Matlacha Pass? I've been fishing the flat north of the Sanibel Bridge "B" span, the flat between Mackeever Keys and Regla Island, and the Indian Fields area in Matlacha Pass...all unsuccessfully. I use shrimp under a popping cork and/or free-line live bait. I usually drift, not anchor. Any professional tips would be appreciated. Thank you.
Your web site is exceptional.
Frank | |
| Frank | |
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Answer
| Hi Frank, | |
Wow! That's a big question, as the Sound is a very large body of water. The flat north of ¿B¿ span is an area I rarely fish, except for bait. It just gets too much traffic, and is right near the ramp. The flat between Regla and McKeever Keys can be very good. You've no doubt noticed there is a long bar that connects the two keys, and it is much shallower on the inside (east). There can be good trout, jack, ladyfish, tarpon (in season) on the west side, and good redfishing on the low water and trout fishing in the potholes on the east side. That barrier bar is known locally as ¿the Hump¿. I also like the flats north of Regla Island, north of Flamingo Cut, at Fosters Bay, in Fosters Bayou, on the southeast side of Picnic Island, on the northwest side of Chino Island, and near Captiva.
Although shrimp can be good bait in the winter, I subscribe to the notion that shrimp is ¿people food¿. I just can bring myself to put a perfectly good, delectable shrimp on a hook and throw it away. During the winter I catch more fish on jigs, anyway. You might want to substitute your shrimp for jigs under a popping cork, or jigs alone. Often the type of jig, depth you fish it, and speed you retrieve it determine what you catch. I would also recommend you drop anchor as soon as you hit a good fish that interests you, as there are likely to be plenty more with him. In the shallows, once you've drifted over a school, you've ruined the school. I don't know what kind of live bait you're using, but am guessing it's pinfish. You should also try Johnson gold and silver Silver Minnow spoons in varying sizes in the shallows. There are many fish that will hit them. Also fish potholes on the lower water, and work them from one end to the other. If you catch a ladyfish while you're fishing. Cut it into ¾ inch steaks, and put a couple out far from the boat at 90 degrees from each other and let them sit. You might find yourself catching redfish, and during the winter big snook and trout as well.
Hope that helps. Thanks for the kind words.
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| Capt. Doug "Butch" Rickey: | |
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