Pelyma

I'm after a Beastmaster travel beachcaster for a multiplier reel, good condition essential.

I have Orvis waders, I picked up a pair from the CLAGame fair for £50 and had a pair of the cheaper Orvis ones already. I use Simms boots with Aqua stealth soles

I had that happen to me in Bahia Honda Florida, the hammerhead got the tarpon at the side of the boat it is a regular occurance, we were only 100 yards off the beach too. My tarpon was about 60lbs and was bitten in 2 in 1 bite. I'm not so sure the fish in that video was 100lb though. I've watched lions kill zebras and cheetahs kill gazelle, but the raw power of the shark was far greater.

Awesome story, that shouldn't be hidden away - it needs to be published for the word to read.

I've caught atlantic sails in Florida on kites, the bait skips on the surface, birds can be a problem though.

Is that the same guy who fished Maderia?

Thanks for the nod, great articles

Surely its value is what anyone is willing to pay for it?

Never heard of skinny water marlin before and a 2.5 metre baracuda must be touching record levels as the world record is aparently 6 feet long and 106lb

No point having more than a few hundred yards of light line as the water pressure alone will snap it if the fish is moving quickly. Most ultra light catches are down to very skillful boat handling as much as the angler. I guess if the shark in question was on for 5 minutes it didn't know it was hooked.

I live along the coast at Clymping, but sorry I flyfish and the rocks are a bit too far to wade! It always was a big bream area in years gone by, but what its like now I don't know. I'd also expect bass if that's any help.

I think Graeme Pullen has caught the odd shark. He wrote a book Go fishing for Shark, Published by The Oxford Illustrated Press that might be helpful. It was published in 1989 so I guess most the info will be relevant.

I don't have a problem per se, but what I do have a problem with is how you kill something that big humanely. If this can be done in most cases (there are always exceptions even in slaughtering cattle) and provided there is a harvestable surplus and a market (not dog meat) then I don't see a problem. A lot of ifs there though.

I'm only 5'4", but as your wife has clearly shown its technique not brute strength. There is an American lady, Marsha someone, who has caught 1000lbs Marlin on stand up tackle

150lb tarpon (estimated) on 20lb line, great fun in Key West harbour

The trouble is it doesn't matter what MPs think now, it will only take a few loud MPs, of the types Tony Banks was a big cash donation and angling will be in the sights. At present you have very disgruntled anti fox hunters who have seen their bill fail in practice and are becoming far more violent as a consequence. As night follows day they will spread their net. Shooting was supposed to be safe but is now beginning to suffer a full frontal attack, our fishing will be soon. They will try to divide and conquer. Pick on match fisherman, maybe stocked trout fisheries, light line fisherman perhaps? Every aspect of our sport can be attacked and portrayed in a bad light if you wish to bend the truth. The truth is any sport that envolves a fish or animal or bird has an element of cruelty and will be on their agendas to ban. There are plenty that think even pet ownership is wrong! We need to learn from the hunting debacle of how we need to defend our sport, or we may soon be fishing for plastic fishes or bags. My dogs despite having been bred for centuries to hunt hares are now relagated to hunting plastic bags on a line, don't let our fishing go the same way

Having shot hand guns from .22 up to .50 just before the ban came in I have to say they are the hardest weapon to master. I shoot shotguns and rifles, they are far more dangerous. A gun is a tool like any other, its problem is that certain sectors of society worship them. They have to own them at any cost and no legislation is going to stop them. IMO the right attitude would be to take youngsters from these communities and teach them about guns to take the mystique away. In the same way that kids who are never allowed a taste of alcohol go mad when they hit 18, whereas those that follow more the French view find that alcohol is no big deal. My lad is 6 years old and I feel strongly that he has to be educated about guns as they are a fact of life in my house. I would not want him to have a toy gun, but I am perfectly happy that each week he goes to an air rifle club where saftey and responsibility have been drilled into him. He would no more play about with any gun than he would take my car keys and go for a drive. The forbidden fruit has been removed. He also knows that guns are pointed only at things you are going to shoot, even if they are unloaded. He knows to check that barrels are broken and saftey catches are checked, even if an adult has passed the weapon. Contrast that with the attitude of an inner city kid who gets in with the wrong sort. The gun is an idol, it is power, it is the ultimate tough mate, it will get you what you want be that possesions or respect. This is the viscious circle that needs to be broken. BTW vets can still have handguns and hunt servants.

Cheers anyway and happy birthday

I'd be very interested too.

Are you sure it was a wahoo, looks like a kingfish to me, but I'm no expert!

What if the seal starts eating something rare say like otters, or water voles - what then do you let one seal out of its environment do what it thinks or do you remove it by what ever means? I'm afraid there is a lot of the Disney effect here, people happy to impale a live fish to catch a bass, but unhappy that someone wishes to kill a mammal, its all rather funny to me. You impale a pout for hours on end yet get angry that someone wants to kill a seal or any other mammal quickly. All sports that involve animals are cruel to an extent, but just because on has big sad eyes and the other is a nuisance we get all rielled up. IMHO I'm happy to use live bait and I don't feel I can criticise another for wanting to kill a seal. But then I realise that Bambi wasn't real

Bahia Honda crawls with big sharks, I had my first tarpon trip there and they were all over the place, mainly bulls and hammerheads. My second tarpon, about 60lbs was bitten in two by a hammerhead at the side of the boat, not a great place to wade!

Most the boats are taken into the mangroves and sunk Even the big offshore fishing boats, sounds rather drastic but apparently works!

Around Marathon lots of boats fish under the bridges with live mullet. Biggest problems are the sharks. I have fished that area with Rode Runner who offer a tarpon guarantee. They use fairly heavy tackle 30lb fixed spools (bait runners)But the fish do go some! I prefered fishing Key West Harbour. I have never had shark problems here and they use lighter gear. A small dead bait is used in a trail of by catch that is shovelled overboard. I have fished here with Cpt Al Saville, his boat was Reel N Steel (some time ago) but he was top notch and his guarantee was a fish over 80lbs or the day was on him. Most guarantees just offer another day which isn't always possible. We had 3 fish in the 120 -150lb bracket and a smaller one of about 70lb. Of course you can if you have the time go purist and fish the flats with a guide, but it is a difficult game. If you are into it, try both so you get a fish or 2 under your belt before you get specialised. I have to say it is the best fishing I've had, great if your not the best sailor. The keys has a huge choice of other fishing too and some of the best guides/captains in the world IMHO. But be prepared to get hooked and have great fun. PS remember it is seasonal so check before you book your holiday!

Never fish there, but I have read reports of huge snapper from the shore, I would take decent gear with a good multiplier as you are going to need one hell of a drag to stop them. I try and talk to members of something like the big game clubs, there is a UK one something like BSF :confused: or BCC Another source might be people fishing Gambia. They have good sharks, stingray, snapper, tarpon and more some of which will be available from the shore. I would be very very surprised if you are able to get any tackle out there.