Treasure Coast Tackle's New Year's Contest

We would like to start by wishing each and every one of you a Happy New Year from all of us at Treasure Coast Tackle!

Be sure to visit our Facebook page and Twitter tweets January 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2013 to see our biggest Redfish, Trout and Snook caught in 2012 and to enter for a chance to win our New Year's contest!  We will be giving away a spool of WonderBraid (you pick the size, 12lb, 20lb, 30lb or 50lb) each day!  Spool up your favorite reel with this high quality braid; which is only available in pink (light red for the insecure angler).  The daily photo will be posted/tweeted at 8:00 a.m. EST and the contest will close each day at 7:00 p.m. EST. The winners will be chosen randomly and announced at 8:00 p.m. EST on January 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2013.  When we announce the winners, we will also announce how long the fish was.

If you know someone that loves to fish, share this contest and Treasure Coast Tackle's Facebook and Twitter page with them!

This contest is open to all of our fans on Facebook and Twitter; (if you are on both, you can double your chances of winning).

*Facebook Rules*

Maximum of 1 share per person per day.  Participants must share the daily Treasure Coast Tackle Facebook photo  AND comment "shared" in the comments section of that photo in order to be eligible.  In addition to commenting "shared", comment with your guess on how long the fish pictured is and everyone that gets it correct will get an additional entry!  Participants are numbered according to the order/time in which they comment "shared" on the daily photo.  The daily photo will be posted at 8:00 a.m. EST and can be shared until 7:00 p.m. EST that day.  (There will be three different posts/photos to share; one on January 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2013).

*Twitter Rules*

Maximum of 1 re-tweet per person per day.  Participants must re-tweet the daily TCoastTackle Twitter tweet in order to be eligible.  In addition to re-tweeting, comment with your guess on how long the fish pictured is and everyone that gets it correct will get an additional entry!  Participants are numbered according to the order/time in which they-re-tweeted the daily photo.  The daily photo will be tweeted at 8:00 a.m. EST and can be re-tweeted until 7:00 p.m. EST that day.  (There will be three different posts/photos to re-tweet - one on January 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2013).

A number will be selected randomly after 7:00 p.m. EST on January 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2013 and posted/tweeted at 8:00 p.m. EST each evening.  When we announce the winners, we will also announce how long the fish was.

Happy New Year everyone and GOOD LUCK!

David and Erica
Treasure Coast Tackle

Know Your Tides to Catch More Fish

Did you know that tides play a huge role in determining when and where you should fish? Often times when you don't catch anything, it may not have been because the fish weren't there, they just weren't feeding.  Fish usually feed when the water (or tide) is moving.  If high tide is at 12:00 p.m. and low tide is at 6:00 p.m., you would want to start your trip about an hour after high tide and fish the outgoing until "slack" tide.  Slack tide is the period of time when the water (or tide) is not moving.

You'll find some spots where the fish bite better on a particular tide, either incoming or outgoing.  Remember that fish typically face into the current so if at all possible, make a presentation that brings your lure with the current.

A moving tide is crucial when fishing.  The tide moves the bait fish around and all of the predator fish will be much more active.  Just by simply using a tide chart, you can catch more fish each trip.  One that we like that is very reliable is www.tides4fishing.com.

David and Erica
Treasure Coast Tackle

What's the Hype About Unfair Lures?

Hello everyone!  Since the addition of Unfair Lures to our store, the questions about them have been flooding in.  In this article I’ll point out the features that in our opinion set these lures apart from the competition.

The first and most obvious feature you will see on Unfair Lures are the bleeding gills. They come alive in the water and really say “I’m injured…come get me!”.  The fibers are glued in place and the adhesive is waterproof so nothing is pulling them out.

Unfair Lures - Mullet (Pearl Olive)

Next are the hooks.  How many times have you spent top dollar for a lure then changed the hooks because the manufacturer got cheap where it counts the most?  It is probably my biggest gripe with most lure manufacturers.  I guess that’s why I was so impressed with the fact that the Unfair Lures come with top of the line Eagle Claw “triple grip” style hooks. I have used these for years on my lipless crankbaits with great success. If you’re not familiar with this type of treble hook, it is basically a wide gap style hook, so once they dig in they almost always stay hooked up.  Like to use single hooks on your hard baits? No problem, the Unfair Lures hook eyes are rotated so your hooks will hang properly without the use of extra split rings.

This happened to us twice and cost us two really nice fish!

The third and most important feature is one you won’t see.  Unfair Lures are ultrasonically welded together. What does this mean?  It means that once they are assembled, they’re not coming apart!  We have had lures actually pull apart after catching a lot of fish on them; not Unfair Lures!  The Rip-N-Slash pictured has caught over 150 fish in the past three weeks!

Torture tested and still going strong!

Combine all this with a fantastic, flashy, durable finish and you have an unbeatable combination.  You can read more about Unfair Lures and their inventor, Paul van Reenen, at http://www.unfairlures.com/.

If you have any questions regarding Unfair Lures or any of the products carried at http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/, please don't hesitate to contact us!

David and Erica
Treasure Coast Tackle

Treasure Coast Tackle's "12 Days of Christmas" Grand Prize Giveaway

Be sure to visit our Facebook page and Twitter tweets daily, to enter for a chance to win our end of the year "12 Days of Christmas" Grand Prize Giveaway.  This will be our best giveaway yet and will include:  (1) Unfair Lures Mullet, (1) Unfair Lures Rip-N-Slash, (1) Unfair Lures Floating Shrimp, (1) pack of Stinky Fingers Twitchin Shads, (1) pack of Charlie's Worms Viper Minnows, (1) pack of Scorpion Jigheads and (1) pack of 3/0 Mustad Wide Gap Screw-Lock Hooks.

*NOTE* MIDWAY THROUGH THE CONTEST, THE OWNER AND INVENTOR OF UNFAIR LURES HAS GENEROUSLY DONATED (5) ADDITIONAL UNFAIR LURES FOR US TO ADD TO THE PRIZE PACK, BRINGING THE RETAIL VALUE OF THIS PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY TO $87.66!!!

* NOTE* Due to the overwhelming amount of entries into our contest so far and the generosity of Unfair Lures owner/inventor, Paul van Reenen, we have decided that in addition to the grand prize giveaway, we will have a 2nd and 3rd place drawing as well!  The 2nd and 3rd place will each win 3 Unfair Lures!  Our contest, our rules...so here is what else you need to know:

- the 2nd and 3rd place drawing will run simultaneously with the grand prize drawing and the names will randomly be chosen the same way as the grand prize drawing.

- all 3 winners will be chosen after 10:00 p.m. EST on December 25th.  The 3rd place winner will be announced at 8:00 a.m. EST on December 26th, 2nd place winner will be announced at 11:00 a.m. EST on December 26th and the grand prize winner will be announced at 2:00 p.m. EST on December 26th. 

If you know someone that loves to fish, share this contest and Treasure Coast Tackle's Facebook and Twitter page with them!

This contest is open to all of our fans on Facebook and Twitter; (if you are on both, you can double your chances of winning).

* Facebook Rules*

Maximum of 1 share per person per day.  Participants must share the daily Treasure Coast Tackle Facebook photo in order to be eligible.  Due to some people's privacy settings on Facebook, it may not show me your name after you share it; therefore after sharing please comment "shared" on the daily photo to make sure your name is entered.  Participants are numbered according to the order/time in which they shared the daily photo.  The daily photo will be posted between 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. EST and can be shared until 10:00 p.m. EST that day.  (There will be a different post/photo each day to share).

* Twitter Rules *

Maximum of 1 re-tweet per person per day.  Participants must re-tweet the daily @TCoastTackle Twitter tweet in order to be eligible.  Participants are numbered according to the order/time in which they re-tweeted  the daily photo.  The daily photo will be tweeted between 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. EST and can be re-tweeted until 10:00 p.m. EST that day.  (There will be a different tweet/photo each day to re-tweet).

A number will be selected randomly after 10:00 p.m. EST on December 25th, 2012 and posted/tweeted sometime on December 26th, 2012.

Happy Holidays to everyone and GOOD LUCK!!

David and Erica
Treasure Coast Tackle

Do You Know Your Snook?

Did you know there are 4 different kinds of snook that live in Florida? There is the common snook, fat snook, tarpon snook and swordspine snook.

Common Snook

The snook that makes up most of the population is the “common snook”. The snook has a distinct lateral line down the side and it is what defines a snook.  Common snook can grow up to 40 pounds, but 10-20 pound snook are most common.

Fat Snook

This is a fat snook. This type of snook has a much shorter body than the common snook and a much smaller mouth.  You’ll notice the body is more filled out or “fat”.  These snook are also much smaller, with the world record only being 8 pounds.

Tarpon Snook

These are tarpon snook.  The jaw on a tarpon snook swoops upward much like that of a tarpon. It also has much bigger eyes than a common snook.  This species only grows to be about 3 pounds.

Swordspine Snook

This is a swordspine snook. The smallest member of the snook family and they only grow to about 15 inches long. The swordspine also has much bigger eyes than that of a common snook.  What really distinguishes a swordspine is the long anal fin. The anal fin will actually be able to touch the tip of its tail, unlike the other 3 species of snook. The swordspine snook is also the rarest of the 4 species of snook.

David and Erica
Treasure Coast Tackle

November Jensen Beach / Stuart Fishing Report

We started off this month with a bang.  Our first trip of the month resulted in a 31 inch, 11 pound trout and a respectable 25 inch redfish on the west side of the Indian River.

31 inch, 11 pound monster

25" redfish

The cold fronts are slowly rolling in over Southeast Florida and the trout bite is starting to turn on.  The redfish are starting to make a strong showing on the flats as well.  We also stumbled upon a few flounder here and there.

Nice redfish

Nice flounder on the Viper Minnow

Night time has been snook, snook and more snook.  We have been hitting the dock lights in our kayaks and each night we were rewarded with 7 or more snook.  Of course, we couldn't land all of them, being towed into the docks by some well over slot fish.

Night time snook

The freshwater bite has been surprisingly good.  We found a pond this past week that holds freshwater snook!  We took advantage of it and caught 3 snook from it, all ranging from 26 to 29 inches.  As if that wasn't enough, we also landed a 6 pound bass on fly rod! We are also excited to announce that we now have our line of hard baits, Unfair Lures; these lures are designed to the gills!  We have been field testing them the past week and they have produced 25 snook!  This past month we also became a dealer for Stinky Fingers Bait Company.  Stinky Fingers Bait Company has created a revolutionary design like nothing else on the market - SPONGE BAIT.  They are the only soft plastic to make the cover of Bassmaster Must-Haves for 2013 with a sponge in every bait.
 

Freshwater snook

Beast on the fly

Bass on the Stinky Fingers

David and Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

December Photo Contest

Thank you to everyone for your interest in our "December Photo Contest"!  If you win, you will have your prize in time for Christmas!

HOW TO ENTER:  Email a photo to us at david@treasurecoasttackle.com of yourself (or your child) with one of your favorite catches.  Please include one sentence telling us your first name, the species of fish, what bait you caught it on and where you caught it.

We will then place your photo in the "December Photo Contest" album on our Facebook page.

HOW TO WIN:  After your photo is placed in the "December Photo Contest" album by us, you can then start having your friends vote for your photo by "liking" the photo.  Whoever's photo has the most "likes" by the end of the contest wins.

CONTEST ENDS:  Monday, December 17th, 2012 at 6:00 a.m. EST.

NUMBER OF WINNERS:  1

PRIZE:  The winner has their choice of (1) Unfair Lures hard bait OR (2) packages of Stinky Fingers soft plastic sponge bait, along with (1) five pack of 3/0 Mustad Wide Gap Hooks with Screw-Lock from our website at http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/.

That's all there is to it!  Email those pictures and let the contest begin!

Here's just a few of the awesome baits you can choose from if you win.

UNFAIR LURES - Paul's Dinkum Shrimp (Floating) Pale Yellow

UNFAIR LURES - Paul's Rip-N-Slash (Suspending) Liveglow White

STINKY FINGERS - Craw - River Bug

STINKY FINGERS - Twitchin Stick - Baby Bass

David and Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

Soft Plastic Weightless Rig

In this YouTube video, we will show you the best way to rig a soft plastic.  



A Mustad wide gap hook with the screw-lock post is designed to provide outstanding hook up ratio and provide a longer life for your soft plastics by not tearing the nose every time you catch a fish!  This is the PERFECT hook to use when rigging any soft plastic weightless! 

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

Thanksgiving Giveaway

We decided to call this giveaway "Thanksgiving Giveaway" because we are so thankful for all of our fans on Facebook and Twitter!

We would like to take this opportunity to announce that we will be a dealer for Stinky Fingers Bait Co.!  If you've never heard of them, you are missing out and if you have heard of them you know just how great they are!  Here's an excerpt from their About Us page on their website: "Stinky Fingers Bait Company has created a revolutionary design like nothing else on the market - SPONGE BAIT.  With our patent pending technology, soft plastics will never be the same!  Our sponge bait is just that - a sponge encapsulated inside the plastic bait.  Specially designed chambers dispense potent attractant giving you cast after cast of alluring scent that fish can't resist!  Fish smell our scent, lock on, hit hard and won't let go!  Fish it and you'll be hooked - literally!  SPONGE BAIT - HANG ON!  Recharge by putting sponge bait back in bag (hook and all), give a squeeze and you're instantly reloaded for more non-stop action!"  We will have these amazing baits on our website later this week!

THANKSGIVING GIVEAWAY CONTAINS:  One pack of Stinky Fingers bait, one pack of Mustad wide gap spring lock hooks (not pictured but will definitely be included), one SnookAttak t-shirt and one gold colored TAC Ace LED flashlight.

Gold colored TAC Ace LED flashlight

Stinky Fingers baits are sure to excite all!

SnookAttak t-shirt - snook not included!

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

1. Comment on Treasure Coast Tackle's Facebook status "Thanksgiving Giveaway" with "My favorite place to fish is ____________" (and tell us where your favorite place to fish is).  You can click the link here or it's the top status on the page. 
2. Retweet Treasure Coast Tackle's Twitter Update "Thanksgiving Giveaway" (the easiest way to find it is by clicking the link here).
3. Leave us a comment under the Contact Us / Discounts on our website with "My favorite place to fish is ______________" (and tell us where your favorite place to fish is).  Please put your name in the "Details" section also.  (You can click the link here or click on "Contact Us / Discounts" near the top of the website.

GIVEAWAY ENDS:  When Thanksgiving ends....Thursday, November 22nd, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

NUMBER OF TIMES YOU CAN ENTER:  3 (once by commenting on the status on Facebook, 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.

Thanks again to everyone for your support and your business, we truly appreciate it!  Happy Thanksgiving week to everyone and let the "Thanksgiving Giveaway" begin!

David and Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/

Attention to Detail

With the fall season upon us we begin to usher in a steady parade of cold fronts.  Finding the fish can be a challenge and convincing picky fish to bite in post-front conditions will challenge even the most seasoned angler.  

Sometimes all it takes is a slight modification to your favorite lure.  It's no secret I'm a huge fan of the Charlie's Viper Minnow and on a recent trip, the trout were snubbing their nose at my pearl color viper minnow. The conditions and water clarity had me confident in my color selection.  
Instead of changing colors completely, I decided to color the tail with a "Spike-It" chartreuse dye pen.  

"Spike-It Garlic Dip-N-Glo Marker"

Bingo!  I fished through the same area again and picked up five trout, still a tough day but going from zero to five fish was a real confidence booster.  On tough days sometimes it's the attention to detail that can save the day!

You can see the contrast the chartreuse tail offers in this underwater shot!

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

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/