October Jensen Beach / Stuart Fishing Report

The month of October has provided us with high winds but still decent fishing!  The west side of the Indian River has been holding good numbers of trout with the occasional redfish mixed in.  Jacks have been everywhere in the river, feeding heavily.  This past week, the mosquito ditches have been loaded with baby tarpon.  These are fun fish to target when you can't get out on the main river because of the winds. Anything small and flashy with get their attention.  Not too much action from the St. Lucie River due to all the freshwater that is being dumped in from Lake Okeechobee.  The fish are still there, but you have to work much harder to entice them into biting.

Another great option when the wind is just too much is to target bass in small ponds.  No matter where you live in Florida, if there's a pond, it has bass in it.  Just downsize your offering and hold on because these fish are more than willing to bite. 

Highlight of the month was a 26 inch trout caught by Ryan Jouppi during the 1st Annual Billy Bones Tournament.  With cooler temperatures on the way, expect the trout and redfish bite to really heat up!

David and Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

Skip it to Catch Those Stubborn Fish!

It's no secret docks hold a lot of fish.  Whether it's freshwater or saltwater, there is a way to catch the fish most anglers overlook.  

Put your favorite soft plastic on and skip it!  (My personal favorite is a 12 Fathom Fat Sam Mullet on a Scorpion Jighead).  It's actually much easier than you might think.  First of all, it's easier to do with spinning tackle.  A medium heavy rod will give you enough leverage to drag the big boys or girls out.  Just imagine you're skipping a rock, keep your rod tip low to the water and land your lure about halfway to the dock.  Once you have a feel for how your lure reacts once it hits the water you can gradually work it farther and farther under the dock.  

Most anglers will pick around the edges and never have a chance to catch the fish you are now able to target.  Here are just a few examples of the quality fish you can catch even on highly pressured docks:

You will get hung up here and there but stick with it and the fish you catch will be well worth it!  

David at Treasure Coast Tackle
http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

No Boat? No Problem!

Have you found yourself wishing you could catch big fish...if only you had a boat?  What if I told you it is a very "reel" possibility to catch the big ones without owning your own boat?

One way to catch fish without a boat is to find a public pier.  Pier fishing can be relaxing and rewarding at the same time!  One of the most enjoyable benefits of pier fishing is the numerous varieties of fish that can be caught.  You can fish cut bait or shrimp on the bottom to catch sheepshead, drum and other various bottom feeding fish.  You can also use live bait (mullet, pinfish or live shrimp) which will increase your chances of catching a large game fish such as snook, trout or redfish. Remember a long cast is not always necessary as most of the fish you will be targeting are living underneath the pier you are standing on. The picture below is an example of what you can catch when fishing from a pier.

40" 26 lb snook caught from a pier

No public pier?  Again, no problem!  Wading affords an angler the opportunity to get up close and personal with the fish they are pursuing.  Keeping things simple is the key here.  One rod and a few of your artificial lures (a few of my family's favorites are a Viper Minnow on a Scorpion Jighead or a Charlie's Shrimp) is all you need!  Anywhere there is a grassy flat or several docks would be a good place to start.  It is not uncommon to stand in one place with this sneaky approach and catch fish for hours!  Keep in mind that safety is paramount when wading.  Never wade alone and always wear some sort of protection on your feet.  The picture below is an example of what you can catch when wading.

Nice trout caught while wading

Not too keen on standing waist deep in the water while you fish?  Once again, no problem!  There are many great guides out there that will put you on some fantastic fishing!  If you're looking on Florida's west coast, check out Gasparilla Charters!  Captain Travis Thompson has been fishing the Florida Coast since 1985!  He is proud that he is able to offer his services to clients wanting to see and fish Florida through a native's eyes.  USCG licensed and insured, Travis will work as hard as anyone to ensure that you have the best experience the water has to offer.

As you can see, whether pier fishing, wading or spending the day on a charter it is a very "reel" possibility to catch trophy sized fish without owning a boat!

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle
http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

"A Mongo Giveaway"

Who's ready for another giveaway?  If you answered yes, you're in luck....we are having "A Mongo Giveaway"!!

Have you ever wished you had a flashlight that was compact yet big enough to pack some punch?  What I'm talking about when I say "pack some punch" is a light that is amazingly bright on the darkest of dark nights.  The Mongo is this kind of light; not only does it have an astonishing 3 watt CREE LED and 200 lumens but it also has a beam distance of 350 + yards and it has a 360 degree refraction focused beam.  The Mongo is extremely compact (9.5" L x 1.5" W), uses 3 C batteries (which are included) and it is also water resistant.

The Mongo by Outback flashlight is one of the most popular LED flashlights on the market today.  This light is a solid favorite among first responders, hunters, nighttime fishermen and anyone who is serious about their flashlights!  Trust me when I say, the Mongo is an extremely reliable flashlight that will NEVER let you down!  If you're lucky enough to win this amazing light, I am positive you won't be disappointed with it!

PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY CONTAINS:  One Mongo Flashlight by Outback (gun metal color) and to sweeten the deal a bit, we are throwing in one SnookAttak t-shirt.

HOW TO ENTER:  You can enter up to three times -

1. Comment on Treasure Coast Tackle's Facebook status "A Mongo Giveaway" with "My favorite lure to use is ________" (and tell us what your favorite lure to use is).  (You can click the link here or it's the top status on the page).
2. Retweet Treasure Coast Tackle's Twitter update ""A Mongo Giveaway"" (the easiest way to find it is by clicking the link here).
3. Leave us a comment under the Contact Us on our website with "My favorite lure to use is ________" (and tell us what your favorite lure to use is).  Please put your name in the "Details" section also. (You can click the link here or click on "Contact Us" near the top of the website.

GIVEAWAY ENDS:  Monday, October 22nd at 7:00 a.m. EST

NUMBER OF TIMES YOU CAN ENTER:  3 (once by commenting on the status on FB, once by retweeting the twitter update and once by leaving us a comment on our website).

NUMBER OF WINNERS:  1

* NOTE * The winner will be chosen by random using random.org.

So there you have it, let the "Mongo Giveaway" begin!

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

What Makes the Scorpion Jighead the Best

In this YouTube video, we will show you why the Scorpion Jighead is undeniably the best jighead around.



The Scorpion Jighead (made by First Light Tackle) is designed with a Mustad kahle hook, which has an ultra wide gap, allowing the fish to be hooked in the corner of the mouth.  No matter what species you're after; snook, redfish, trout, tarpon or even bass, the Scorpion Jigs' extremely sharp hook will keep your catch hooked all the way to the boat.

If you're tired of setting the hook on a fish, only to have the hook pull out halfway to the boat, you should definitely give the Scorpion Jighead a try!  You're sure to see an increase in the number of fish you land!

Red Scorpion Jighead

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

There's Something Under the Boat

On a night trip in May, while fishing under the Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, I hooked what felt like a good fish.  About halfway to the boat, it felt like my line got snagged on a freight train.  There was a ton of thrashing and drag screaming off the reel.  When we finally got the fish to the boat, I could see why!  From the size of the chunk missing out of this 30" snook, a bull shark roughly 6 feet long tried to get himself an easy meal!  Needless to say, we were very cautious while reviving the next few fish that we caught from that spot.  

David at Treasure Coast Tackle
http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

The Birth of Treasure Coast Tackle

It all began with a love for fishing.  My husband and oldest son have always been avid fishermen.  Their love for the sport only intensified when we moved a year and a half ago.  They went from freshwater lakes in central Florida to an abundance of prime saltwater fishing locations on the Treasure Coast.  Their love for fishing is what inspired them to start a Facebook like page, Jouppi Fishing, to share their adventures and fish pictures with others who enjoy the sport as much as they do.  They have caught A LOT of big fish and during that time, they have tried numerous lures and have figured out undeniably what works the best!

   

40" and 26 lb snook

9 lb bass

                        

Then we thought, how can we better share what they have learned with others?  We came up with the perfect solution, an online tackle store where we sell these products they have so much faith in!  Soon after that, Treasure Coast Tackle was born.  Then we had to figure out a way to make our online tackle store unique and more appealing than others so that people would want to order from us instead of our competitors.  We decided to set ourselves apart by being a store that sells a variety of lures that you can't find just anywhere. You won't find most of our products on the shelves of any Cabela's, Bass Pro or Walmart!  Treasure Coast Tackle is the home of lures and tackle made in and around the Treasure Coast!

What has Treasure Coast Tackle done for us?

• Allows us to share something we as a family are passionate about with others by offering products through Treasure Coast Tackle.
• Allows us to meet new people who also have a love for fishing through our social media pages: Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  You can also find us on YouTube and Instagram.
• Allows me to stay at home with our 2 1/2 year old son, Dylan who was born with several rare conditions.
• Allows me to spread awareness and organize fundraisers for his rare conditions (encephalocele, hydrocephalus, Dandy-Walker Syndrome and Klippel-Feil Syndrome).  You can read more about our story, Dylan and his diagnoses here:  All About Dylan.
• Relieves some of the financial burden of having a single primary income for a family of five and offsets a little bit of the medical costs associated with Dylan's constant care.

"Meet" Dylan!

If you ever have any questions, comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us.  We would love to hear from you!

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

All About Dylan

At our 20 week ultrasound, we had the infamous ultrasound where we would find out if we were having a boy or a girl. We were told we were expecting a baby boy! We were so excited! But a few hours after leaving the doctor's office, I received a phone call telling me something didn't look right with the baby's head and they suggested we see a high risk doctor. Another ultrasound was done and we were told our baby had a rare neural tube defect called an encephalocele. We were told this was a condition where the bones of the skull do not close completely, creating a gap through which cerebral spinal fluid and/or brain tissue can protrude into a sac-like formation. We were told a lot of babies don't make it to term and a large percentage of the ones that do are stillborn. We were also told that it looked like his heart MIGHT be hooked up backwards. They said when they see encephaloceles they're not usually isolated, a lot of times they see other conditions with it, which lessens the chances of a positive outcome. We were told if he survived, his quality of life was unknown at this point but it was quite possible that he could be a vegetable. We were offered termination. We were devastated, how could this happen to us?! We did EVERYTHING possible for a healthy pregnancy and baby. We saw a cardiologist who did a fetal echo and we were told his heart was hooked up normally! We took this as a positive sign. We chose to continue the pregnancy. We had a fetal MRI at 32 weeks, where it was suspected that Dylan also had Dandy-Walker Syndrome, a malformation that involves a part of the brain called the cerebellum (an area at the back of the brain that controls movement, behavior and awareness). The last 4 months were very stressful; Dylan was monitored closely, his encephalocele did get a little bigger as he grew but we were told that it appeared to contain only fluid (and not brain tissue also); we were told this usually has a better prognosis but doctors were still reserved.

Finally the big day arrived, Dylan was born by a planned c-section on March 16th, 2010. We only got a glimpse of him before he was whisked away to NICU. We were just happy that he was born alive and was able to breathe on his own. The next 15 days were the longest days of our lives; he spent the days in NICU having every possible test and scan run on him. The suspected diagnosis of Dandy-Walker Syndrome was confirmed at birth with an MRI. He was also diagnosed with mild hydrocephalus and had surgery, placing a VP shunt when he was only 8 days old. Hydrocephalus is a chronic, neurological condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, resulting in increased pressure on the brain. He had some feeding issues while in NICU and he was on a feeding tube for awhile. But FINALLY the day came that we got to take him home, no feeding tubes, no extra equipment! Ultimately we decided it was best that I leave my job where I had been employed for the last 11 years, to stay home with Dylan full time. It was definitely an adjustment, but it is the best decision I ever made.

Despite all of the tests and scans Dylan had while in the NICU and over the first two years of life, another rare condition he was born with was missed.  Klippel-Feil Syndrome, a congenital disorder of abnormal fusion of cervical vertebrae (neck area). This was new territory for us; all of Dylan's three main diagnoses at birth (encephalocele, Dandy-Walker Syndrome and hydrocephalus) are brain related and Klippel-Feil Syndrome is spine related. People with KFS can have varying degrees of it; some more extensive than others. According to his orthopedic surgeon, his KFS is more extensive than most. The first seven vertebrae in the spine are in the cervical (neck) area and are listed as C1-C7; Dylan's are fused from C2 through C7. How was this missed? We think mostly because his encephalocele made it difficult to get good images of his cervical vertebrae (neck area). There had always been a debate among his doctors and therapists regarding Dylan's neck tilting to the left since birth and if he had torticollis or not. Physical therapists continued doing neck stretches and exercises, as we did per their instruction, until I started hearing "popping" and "cracking" sounds when I was doing them. He didn't act as if it bothered or hurt him but it just didn't seem right to me. At our request, a full MRI of the spine was ordered (it had been over a year and a half since the last one was done). Dylan was 26 months old when we received the additional diagnosis of Klippel-Feil Syndrome.

Despite all of his diagnoses and the 10 surgeries (as of April 2013) he has already had, Dylan is the happiest little boy ever, we like to call him abnormally happy. Today, he is a happy, highly intelligent 3 year old who loves cars, balls, Elmo, Mickey Mouse and most recently, Special Agent Oso. He has defied so many odds and continues to amaze doctors, therapists and people every day! He was definitely a life worth saving; he is our little miracle baby and we are so lucky to be his parents!  We invite you to follow our blog on CaringBridge that we created to help keep friends and family updated about our amazing little boy.  If strangers come across our story, we hope it will provide inspiration.    

  

             

Statistics on how often these rare conditions occur:

Encephalocele - 1-4 per 10,000 live births

Dandy-Walker Syndrome - 1 in 2,500 births

Hydrocephalus - 1-2 per 1,000 births

Klippel-Feil Syndrome - 1 in 40,000-42,000 births

*Note* - In addition to the four rare conditions listed above, Dylan was also born with fused ribs, deafness in the right ear and two heart conditions (a narrow aortic arch and bicuspid valve).  Doctors were suspicious that he was growth hormone deficient for quite some time. It has been confirmed that he is in fact growth hormone deficient and will require growth hormone therapy in the near future. Dylan sees numerous specialists on a regular basis.

"The Dylan Jouppi Fund" was set up to alleviate the burden of ongoing medical costs. The fundraiser ends on June 1st, 2013.

Here's an updated photo from April 2013:

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

How to Tie a Loop Knot

For our first YouTube video, we chose a "How To" video where we are going to show you an easy way to tie a loop knot. Below are the benefits to using a loop knot verses a snap swivel or a fisherman's clip:

• one less piece of terminal tackle to fail
• provides a more natural look to your lure
• when tied properly, the loop knot we are going to show you is as strong, if not stronger, than any clip or swivel you would use

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

Best Jigheads Around

Are you tired of losing big fish halfway to or right at the boat and you don't know why?  Today I'm going to share with you what my husband and son have found.

They were using competitor jigheads when fishing but then a buddy recommended the Scorpion Jigs (made by First Light Tackle) to them.  They have a wide gap, so they figured they would give them a try after losing so many fish on the competitor jigs.  They were not disappointed.  To this day, they haven't pulled the hook on one single snook since changing jigs.  The majority of the time, the fish are hooked perfectly in the corner of the mouth.  

Are you wondering what makes the Scorpion Jig different compared to other jigs?  This jig is designed with a Mustad kahle hook which has an ultra wide gap, allowing the fish to be hooked in the corner of the mouth.  No matter what species you're after; snook, redfish, trout or even tarpon, the Scorpion Jigs' extremely sharp hook will keep your catch hooked all the way to the boat.  

If you're tired of setting the hook on a fish, only to have the hook pull out halfway to or right at the boat, you should definitely give the Scorpion Jig a try!  You're sure to see an increase in the number of fish you land!

Here are a few of the many fish my husband and kids would not have landed without the Scorpion Jigs, which are available at http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/scorpion-jighead/.

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

Prize Pack Giveaway

We are very excited to announce our first ever giveaway!  How would YOU like the chance to win an awesome prize pack that is valued over $30?  

1/8 oz Scorpion Jig: Chartreuse - 3 pack
by First Light Tackle in Fort Pierce

Snook caught with the Chartreuse Glow Viper Minnow
on the Scorpion jighead; she wasn't going anywhere!

Viper Minnow: Chartreuse Glow - 8 pack
by Charlie's Worms in Stuart

                                                             

Shrimp Rigged: Holographic Silver - 3 pack
by Charlie's Worms in Stuart

SnookAttak T-shirt (Snook not included)

Mozzie LED Flashlight: Blue
 by Outback

PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY CONTAINS: One three pack of 1/8 oz Scorpion Jigs:  Chartreuse, one eight pack of Viper Minnows: Chartreuse Glow, one three pack of Shrimp Rigged: Holographic Silver, one SnookAttak t-shirt and one Mozzie LED Flashlight: blue

HOW TO ENTER:  You can enter up to three times - 
1. Share Treasure Coast Tackle's Facebook status "Prize Pack Giveaway" (it's the top status on the page). 
2. Comment on that same Facebook status with "My favorite fish to catch is_________ (and tell us your favorite fish to catch)."  
3. Retweet Treasure Coast Tackle's Twitter update "Prize Pack Giveaway" (it's the first update on the page).

GIVEAWAY ENDS:  Monday, October 8th at 6:00 a.m. EST

NUMBER OF TIMES YOU CAN ENTER:  3 (once by sharing status on FB, once by commenting on status on FB and once by retweeting Twitter update).

NUMBER OF WINNERS: 1

*NOTE* Winner will be chosen by random using random.org.

That's all there is to it!  Let the sharing, commenting and tweeting begin!

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle
http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

Sharing a Picture

Today we are sharing a picture from wetaworm.com.

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle
http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

Top 5 Fishing Destinations and Most Sought After Fish in Florida

Good Monday morning everyone!  We have decided to blog on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The post on Mondays will be a general article about fishing or a "how to" article, Wednesdays we will be sharing a fishing related picture or quote and Fridays will be about a particular product we have or a cross promotion for another product or company.  

The first article I've chosen to share with you is one of the first ones I wrote for a previous blog.  It was a popular one and relevant so I figured why not?  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.  Since my husband and oldest son are avid fishermen, this was an easy topic for me.

Whether you are a serious pro angler or a recreational fisherman, I’m sure you will agree that the five following locations are premier fishing destinations in Florida.

Islamorada in the Keys is located in Monroe County; it is part of the chain of islands known as “the Upper Florida Keys”.  The most beautiful aqua blue water surrounds this “village of islands”.  Three of the most popular fish in this area are bonefish, tarpon and permit.  It is often referred to as the “Sportfishing Capital of the World” because world record fish have been caught more from here than any other area.  Islamorada is known for having the biggest bonefish in the world.  The bonefish is a saltwater game fish found primarily inshore and in shallow water less than one foot deep.  The bonefish has a skeleton composed of numerous small fine bones.  The average size of this unique fish is 3-5 pounds in Florida and it can live in excess of 19 years.  The state record bonefish is 16 lbs, 3 oz and it was caught near Islamorada!

Boca Grande Pass is located in Lee County; it is the mouth of the waterway at the southern tip of Gasparilla Island.  Tarpon is one of the most sought after fish in the world and Boca Grande Pass is world famous, known as the “Tarpon Capital of the World”.  This fish is nicknamed “silver king” and is a premier saltwater game fish often found inshore and in shallow waters; however it can enter fresh water and tolerate the change in salinity just fine. The tarpon is an extremely interesting fish; it is the only fish with an air bladder, which allows it to breathe air from the surface.  The “rolling” effect of the tarpon makes it quite easy to spot.  The tarpon can range in size from 40 pounds to 150 pounds and the average life span is 55 years.  The state record tarpon is 243 lbs and it was caught near Key West.  

Mosquito Lagoon is located in Brevard County, it is a shallow golden waterway, home to an abundant population of redfish and speckled sea trout.  

Mosquito Lagoon is referred to as the “Saltwater Shallow Water Fishing Capital of the World”.  The redfish, also known as the red drum, is a premier saltwater game fish often found near seagrass, muddy sandy bottoms or spring fed creeks.  During spawning season redfish use special muscles, rubbing against their air bladder to produce a “drumming” sound which is where the name red drum came from.  The redfish is bronze in color and it’s most distinctive feature is a single solid black spot on the tail, but it’s possible to have many spots at the base of the tail.  The average size of a redfish is 5-10 pounds; however catches over 20 pounds are common.  The redfish can live up to 40 years.  The state record redfish is 52 lbs, 5 oz and it was caught in Cocoa.  

Stuart is located in Martin County on the Treasure Coast between West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce.  Stuart is widely recognized as the “Sailfish Capital of the World”.  In addition to the sailfish, snook are an extremely popular inshore species in Stuart.  The sailfish is Florida’s state saltwater fish.  It is a large sportfish found exclusively offshore.  The sailfish is characterized by a very long dorsal fin which is sail shaped.  This amazing fish is quite possibly the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of 68 mph.  Sailfish can grow up to 10 feet long and the average weight is around 140 pounds.  There appears to be a controversy on how long a sailfish lives; it seems to be somewhere between 5 years and 16 years.  The state record sailfish is 126 pounds and it was caught near Big Pine Key. 

I think the snook warrants a few words because of its popularity.  The snook is a premier saltwater game fish, usually found inshore in coastal and brackish waters.  The snook is not able to tolerate water temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  The snook is a beautiful fish with a distinct lateral line.  The average size of a snook is anywhere between 3 to 15 pounds and is estimated to live approximately 20 years.  The state record snook is 44 lbs, 3 oz and was caught near Fort Myers.  

Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is located in Polk and Osceola Counties, spanning approximately 21,000 acres.  The lakes that make up the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are Lake Tohopekaliga (better known as Lake Toho), Lake Cypress, Lake Hatchineha, Lake Kissimmee and the canals that connect them.  Here is where you will find the best largemouth bass and crappie fishing anywhere in the world; it’s no wonder why it is such a popular location to hold fishing tournaments.  The world famous Bassmaster Classic has been held here.   Lake Toho is a frequent location for large and small bass tournaments.  The bass is Florida’s state freshwater fish and it is the most popular game fish in North America.  The average size of a bass is between 1 and 6 pounds with an average life span of 10 years.  If you catch a bass that is 24 inches or 8 pounds, it is considered a big catch.  The state record bass is 17.27 pounds and it is unknown where it was caught at.    

Not only are these some of the top fishing destinations in Florida, but they are also some of the most beautiful places to plan a vacation!

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/