http://www.marconews.com/news/news/columnists/bill-walsh/?partner=RSSmarconews.com Stories: Bill Walshen-usnews/columnists/bill-walshhttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/17/hook-crucial-20/?partner=RSSFishing trips sometimes go for endless hours; but how about the catching? How much of the trip did you really have hot action? I'll submit that those times usually are but a slim portion of the total trip time. Here in the salt, and especially in backwater and coastal fishing, there are so many factors at play that affect the action level. A literal litany of nature's circumstances stand ready to make or break your trip every time –water temperature, water clarity, tidal reach, tidal speed, moon phase, wind direction, wind speed, just to enumerate the more obvious. On top of that add the controlled factors like fishing location, interruptive boat traffic, time of the day and, last but not least, angling skill and you're confronted with a complex algorithm for success. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 17 May 2012 20:38:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-309149-734640news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: The crucial 20marconews.comhook-crucial-20urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-309149-734640Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/03/hook-fishing-secrets-and-stealth/?partner=RSSIt’s a scene at a boat ramp anywhere. A guy is cleaning a nice catch and a interested bystander walks up and asks, “Nice fish ... where did you catch them?” The angler turns slowly, obviously annoyed at the intrusion, and responds, “In the mouth.” Fishing has an unwritten decorum or code of conduct that forbids you to divulge where and how you caught your fish. The closest you can come to spilling the beans might be something like “offshore.” I really think that’s the way it’s been since the days of Isaac Walton. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 03 May 2012 14:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-307998-734626news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Fishing secrets and stealthmarconews.comhook-fishing-secrets-and-stealthurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-307998-734626Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/mar/22/grouper-travesty/?partner=RSSFor New Englanders it’s like not having Tom Brady for the last two months of the season. For the Heartlanders it’s like having Arron Rodgers on injured reserve for the two months when then chips are down. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-304163-734584news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Grouper travestymarconews.comgrouper-travestyurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-304163-734584Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/10/braided-experience/?partner=RSSTo start, I just may be a member of just a few who see the new era of synthetic braided line as the “devil” when it comes to interfacing with the environment. Until a few years back most fishing lines were branded as monofilament, strung from nylon in a myriad of tints and strengths it satisfied generations of anglers and helped land untold lunkers. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:52:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300176-734543news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: The braided experiencemarconews.combraided-experienceurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300176-734543Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/28/72-quart-coller-charter-trip/?partner=RSSMany times, in the mid-morning warmth of the intoxicating sun, customers will relax from their fishing and make inquiry as to, “how is the fishing here now in comparison to when you started ... better or worse?” dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:24:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298860-734530news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLThe ‘72 quart coller’ charter tripmarconews.com72-quart-coller-charter-tripurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298860-734530Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/13/hook-trouble-uncle-henry/?partner=RSS On most charter trips, after introductions dockside, the question as to “What are you folks looking for today? Wanna do catch and release or maybe take some of your fish home for a meal.” Almost always, nowadays, the taking a couple home is the choice. Guess it’s the hunter instinct in all of us. No problem as I explain that there are various closed seasons on some species and almost all have size and bag limits, so “keepers” have to meet certain criteria. They nod. Usually not in agreement but in understanding the explanation. It’s a tough moment in sports to be standing there with a beautiful two foot gag grouper in your hands that you spent all morning chasing all over the Gulf and be informed that the season for that species is closed and your trophy will have to be released. Bummer. But most folks swallow hard and know these rules are there for a reason. They pick up their rod and their spirits and go back at it. They suppress disappointment. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:16:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297504-734515news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: The trouble with Uncle Henrymarconews.comhook-trouble-uncle-henryurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297504-734515Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/dec/08/hook-red-tide-fishing/?partner=RSSIt strikes abject terror in the hearts of the unfamiliar. “Red Tide ... do we have to evacuate?” The reaction comes close to that when the media lays the news on the uninitiated ala the evening news. The event takes on even more ominous proportions when those same folks see the dead fish being washed ashore. Immediate reaction to all that negativism to those here seasonally or on holiday is ... let’s go to the zoo and forget the trip on the water. Even with timid response to that reaction, it is sheer overkill. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:41:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-294472-734479news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Red Tide fishingmarconews.comhook-red-tide-fishingurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-294472-734479Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/nov/15/tales-walter-and-sons/?partner=RSSEven after surrendering an enormous amount of tackle and effort, we never got close to landing him. The very disappointed couple named the fish “Walter” after the denizen of the deep that eluded Henry Fonda and Billy in the classic movie “On Golden Pond.” They returned home fit to be tied and promised to make a return visit stateside to “look after” Walter again. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:25:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-292179-734456news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn the Hook: The tales of ‘Walter’ and sonsmarconews.comtales-walter-and-sonsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-292179-734456Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/oct/13/hook-redfish-raving/?partner=RSSIt’s been a fishing run like no other. Redfish, if not the most sought after fish in these parts, is a close second. Only challenger would be the legendary snook. The redfish have always showed here in late September and provided a show of shows all along the backwaters and even out on the nearshore reefs. It was a fun time and you’d thrill customers with their one or two catches on a typical charter. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:14:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-289264-734423news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Redfish ravingmarconews.comhook-redfish-ravingurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-289264-734423Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/sep/29/hook-shark-tales/?partner=RSSOn countless occasions, a charter inquiry will include a question that goes something like “ you guys ever catch any sharks down there”? Then, with even a glint that we do, the whole focus of the potential trip goes there. Folks are mesmerized by sharks. Know it sounds trite, but I think the craze for sharks was fostered by the wildly popular “Jaws” motion picture trilogy on those aforementioned inquiry calls we even get asked if the sharks are “Great Whites!” dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:15:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-287903-734409news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Shark Talesmarconews.comhook-shark-talesurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-287903-734409Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/sep/15/hook-fwak-fishing-acronym-king/?partner=RSSFor years I spent my working life in the corporate canyons of management. Aware of the customer and remotely sensitive to their needs but hardly ever hands on. You dealt with their products, their finances and their wants and needs through the self serving prisms of consultant reports and focus group feedback. Moving to the “back nine” almost 20 years ago and away from the starched corporate environment, I wanted something different; something hands on with the customer. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-286761-734395news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: FWAK – ‘Fishing With the Acronym King’marconews.comhook-fwak-fishing-acronym-kingurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-286761-734395Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/aug/18/you-just-cant-outrun-em/?partner=RSS“The storm front was turning the sky jet black as it approached the island screaming in from the southwest. The accompanying wind was not sneaking; it came racing in as a chilling blast turning wavelets in the river to devouring four foot rollers. It was all happening in a flash.” dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:21:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-284389-734367news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: You just can’t outrun ‘emmarconews.comyou-just-cant-outrun-emurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-284389-734367Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/aug/04/hook--you-go-charter-fishing/?partner=RSSThe economic world is changing right before our eyes. Prices for goods and services that once were apparent are now shrouded in extra costs that are added on the tab piecemeal. Want a good example; take a airline flight; on just about any carrier; going anywhere and you’ll see what I mean. It’s kind of like the old days when you went to buy your first car at the advertised price, only to be confronted by the salesman’s manger at the final purchase approval, asking if you’d like tires on the vehicle; of course, at an additional price. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:46:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-283278-734353news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: As-you-go charter fishingmarconews.comhook--you-go-charter-fishingurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-283278-734353Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jul/21/hook-say-no-snook/?partner=RSSThe concept proposed herein, probably will not meet with abandoned acclaim especially by anglers, but, hopefully, it will evoke a consideration. Let’s start at the beginning. The winter of 2009-2010 was brutally cold here in Southwest Florida. That’s right ... cold. Vacationers wrapped in eclectic swaddling clothes were everywhere; holidays were cut short on the premise of “just as cold as back home but $300 a day cheaper”; and, yes, we scraped light frost off the windshield a couple of times. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:15:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-282024-734339news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Say no to snookmarconews.comhook-say-no-snookurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-282024-734339Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jul/07/hook-lost-fishing/?partner=RSSSomeone once said, “They named these 10,000 Islands correctly. That’s how many chances you have to get lost back there.” Our sportfishing domain, that stretches over a hundred miles south, east and southeast is one of a kind. The labyrinth of mangrove roots and trees that dot this estuary create as one of most productive natural fish hatcheries in the world. Thus it is an absolute treasure for everyone who soaks a bait in South Florida and beyond. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-280831-734325news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Lost in fishingmarconews.comhook-lost-fishingurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-280831-734325Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jun/23/scorched-fishing-conditions/?partner=RSSAsk anyone who has spent at least a few years in these parts – this is a hot late spring. One that most will classify as a “scorcher.” For the dominant causal factors, we could easily look to the lack of those cooling afternoon rains as well as the dominant easterly winds. Those are the wind currents which deposit the repressive Everglades heat and humidity in our lap day after day. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:50:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-279668-734311news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Scorched fishing conditionsmarconews.comscorched-fishing-conditionsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-279668-734311Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/may/26/hook-shady-fishing/?partner=RSSYou think air temperature is cooking around here ? Take a look at the water! Those insufferable afternoons with the 90 degree heat and the lack of any appreciable rain has driven the Gulf water temperature to heights unknown for the middle of May. Even in the relative cool of the day’s first light, the water temperature gauges on the boat show low 80s right here in our backwaters. And you just know, the heat of the day will push that up a couple of more degrees or more. So, what’s that do to the fishing? dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 26 May 2011 17:35:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-277154-734283news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Shady fishingmarconews.comhook-shady-fishingurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-277154-734283Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/may/11/hook-moments-mayhem/?partner=RSSI’ll bet you’ve never been on a fishing trip where you got a strike and a landed a lunker on your very first cast and the action continued non-stop to the point of exhaustion, hours later. Me, neither. With rare exception, fishing trips are hours of effort punctuated with moments of unbridled action. But it’s extremely difficult to convince anyone of that, especially those who invested in a charter trip. But expectations run high anyhow, how high? dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Wed, 11 May 2011 18:01:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-275519-734268news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Moments of mayhem marconews.comhook-moments-mayhemurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-275519-734268Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/28/hook-second-chance/?partner=RSSThe two buddies had probably dreamed about fishing for sharks ever since they stole away one Saturday afternoon back in ‘75 and watched “Jaws” scaring the bejesus out of themselves. Thirty five years later and still buddies, they planned a joint family vacation down here in Southwest Florida; and you can guess what their secret get-away day would entail. They chucked the golf clubs and called for a charter. For sharks. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:56:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-274234-734255news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMARCO ISLANDOn The Hook: Second chancemarconews.comhook-second-chanceurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-274234-734255Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/mar/17/hook-fishing-point-counterpoint/?partner=RSS“So, how’s the fishin’ ?” has replaced the customary salutation of “hello” for almost anyone caught with a fishing rod in hand. It’s more than a knee jerk action; it’s something that is seriously on folk’s mind. Enmeshed there, over time, by the cascade of bad news and doomful predictions so casually disbursed by alleged experts from both the user group as well as controlling authority. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-270070-734213news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLOn The Hook: Fishing point, counterpointmarconews.comhook-fishing-point-counterpointurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-270070-734213Change0Usable