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Sports

Be in Awe: Time For Some Florida Fishing 101

Sometimes, anglers forget the basics of fishing, as well as the illusion that takes place when a fish is duped.

Hate to have to use the "F' word here. But there's no avoiding it.

Recently on Facebook, my brother Jeremiah, a Colorado Springs resident, posted a picture of himself with his catch — a modest rainbow trout. In the picture, his eyes peer down at the fish, mouth sarcastically agape.

“Obviously a record-breaking fish,” was the caption.

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No big feat. Happens every day. But behind the sweet sarcasm was a crust of truth. A reason to be in awe, perhaps. Fishing is so advanced, such an ancient practice, that we forget the illusion.

How in the world, Jeremiah, did you trick that fish into thinking that what was at the end of your line would not kill it?

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His reply: “I attached a note that said, 'Enjoy your day at school, honey. Enjoy your worm. Love, Mom.' "

A cold way to to slay a fish.

At its most fundamental level, fishing is the art of tricking the fish into thinking that your bait will not do it harm. That it is its sustenance, belonging among the turtle grass in a cut of water beside the mangrove island. Nature — not the angler — has brought the bait swimming with the tide, among like kind. And it does not want to be eaten.

Short of attaching a lunch box-style note from mom, there are many ways to give your bait its best opportunity at blending in.

Forgive the author if the Fishing 101 is too basic. But it is easy for some anglers to forget the essentials and focus on secondary concerns such as: Should I go with a pearl white or chartreuse-colored DOA shrimp?; How's my drag? (Are you smoking a cigarette?); Why is Sammy the only one not wearing Crocs? (Sammy has taste.)

Meanwhile, the anglers have not yet found the fish.

Fishing tip No. 1: Find the fish. Laugh away, but dozens of captains say they are constantly reminding common anglers to do just that. Look for birds diving on bait fish. Check your tides — in general, hit pot holes, swashes and edges of channels on low tides and fish tight to mangroves on high tides. Look for mullet jumping — redfish tend to be among them. Look for bait busting. Pole into a spot and, with polarized sunglasses, simply look for the fish.

No. 2: Use bait that is indigenous to its environment. Find out from local tackle shops or fishing reports about the natural bait in the areas you will fish. Is white bait around? Or is it the smaller fry bait? Are there threadfins in the passes and under bridges? (Right now there are reports of them in those areas, and they make great cobia and tarpon bait). Are the redfish gorging themselves on crabs (best way to find that out — clean one).

No. 3: Make a natural presentation. For example, snook are ambush feeders. They'll hover at an ambush point such as a piling, face the tide and wait for the tide to carry the bait to its mouth. This means the anglers should cast uptide, and as the tide carries the bait, leave enough slack in the line so that the bait appears as though there is no angler on the other end. It kicks and bobs freely. Find the fish, cast away from the school, and jig, reel or use the tide to carry your bait into the target area.

No. 4: Match your bait with hook size. A peewee shrimp overpowered by a large hook will not swim naturally. Same with any other baits.

No. 5: Shhh ... everyone knows this right? No slamming hatches, do not motor in on a spot, etc. This is perhaps the easiest, yet most important, rule to break. Because when you do it, you usually don't know it. Until the fish scatter.

After that, just learn some basic rigging, find some quality knot-tying classes and boating safety classes, and you're ready to take on the fishing capital of the world.

So remember the basics, and next time you catch a fish, give yourself some credit.

You just did a Houdini on nature.

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