THE LOCAL FISH FINDER BY BRIAN BIENKO BIENKOWSKI OWSKI
If you’re thinking about taking a fishing trip with the family, or if you have friends coming to visit and want to share the experience of fishing the beautiful waters off south Florida, then you’ve come to the right place for information. After all, the ocean can be daunting. It’s a vast expanse of water where fish such as dolphin (mahimahi), kingfish, wahoo, sailfish, amberjacks and other critters roam. It’s difficult trying to guess where to begin and what to look for – depth of water, type of bait to use, currents, wind direction, the proper equipment for live baiting or trolling and the list goes on. Luckily Tom Greene from Custom Rod and Reel is available to assist. He has garnered over 50 years of experience in the fishing business and freely gives advice to anyone who inquires about the teeming waters off the coast. “10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish,” remarked Tom. “That’s
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because they work hard at their craft and understand what to look for when trying to locate fish. They’ve gained local knowledge.” In the waters off south Florida during the summer, dolphin and kingfish can be caught on live bait
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or trolling ballyhoo. These fish are usually found between four and eight miles offshore. Tom suggests looking for weed lines, floating debris such as boards and to keep an eye out for diving birds. The fish tend to crowd these areas because smaller bait fish take cover in the weeds and actually congregate under floating material. “Fish where the bait is at,” said Tom. “If you see birds diving then that means baitfish are in the water, which generally means game fish will be there too, feeding on the bait.” Another great option is to fish the bottom of the ocean, especially where the wrecks are located. These wrecks are manmade; mostly fishing vessels sunk to attract different species of fish. In Pompano Beach, for example, an area called Tin Can Alley attracts a multitude of fish such as amberjacks, snapper and kingfish. This area is situated in depths of 100 to 300 feet of water. “You can pick up a fishing chart or GPS numbers online, which makes