How to Catch More Fish: The Art of Fishing

Few fish are tastier that the Caribbean's Yellowtail Snapper. The Florida Keys offers some of the best 'tailing there is. There is a little art to 'tailing.

The coral reef of the Florida Keys is home to the tasty 'tails. Good size fish can be located in anywhere from 20 feet of water to over one hundred feet. The technique for catching Yellowtails is a different that some fishermen are used to using.

This technique is called chum fishing. Fresh ground bait fish frozen in a block is the chum. Placed in a mesh bag and hung over the side of the boat, the chum gradually melts. The trail of bits and pieces of chum attract the fish to the boat.

To properly fish the chum slick one should watch the chum. The small pieces are drifting away from the boat and slowly sinking. Your bait should act just like the chum, drifting away and sinking at the same rate. This fishing method is called free lining because the line is intended to freely come off the reel.

In order for the bait on our hook to sink at the right speed, the size of the hook has to be properly sized. Too big of a hook will weight down the bait. Too small of a hook and the bait may sink too slowly. Depending on the speed of the current you may be using a size 6 to a size 2/0 hook. In stronger currents, a small lead split-shot or swivel may be added.

The typical rig for 'tailing is very complicated so pay close attention. Tie the hook on the line and place a small piece of fresh bait on the hook. Okay did you get all that? The cast used in 'tailing is also complicated; Step 1 - Shake the Chum-bag. Step 2 - Drop your bait in the chum as it drifts away. Step 3 - Open your reel bail and let the bait drift freely with the chum.

In very clear water with a slow current, lighter clear monofilament or fluorocarbon leader can be a big help. While most recreation anglers will swear by fluorocarbon. I have found that an 8 pound test clear mono leader works effectively. That is if you have the technique down pat. When you have the right rig and have practiced the casting technique you are ready for the art of 'tailing.

The drift rate is everything! You may have to vary the speed for the bait to hit the strike zone. Start by stripping off 10 to 15 feet of line quickly then slow down. Watch the line, monofilament line will loose coils until there is pressure. That pressure should by the line straightening means you bait will be rising. Feed the line out so that you see the coils and you have a good drift. Experiment until you get the feel for the perfect drift. Be one with the bait. Visualizing the drift slowly towards the mouth of a hungry snapper

When you are free lining correctly, you normally won't feel the bite you will see the bite. When you see the line start to haul-ass, (this is a technical 'tailing term) close the bail on the reel and wind your fish in. I did not mention using a big hook set. You are using small hooks so a hook set is not really needed.

If you are an avid fresh water Bass fisherman, this will be the largest hurdle you will have to overcome. That huge Rollin Martin hook-set is automatic for Bass anglers. To be a success Yellowtail angler you will have to break yourself of that Bass habit.

These are the basics of Yellowtail Snapper fishing. In the next installment we will delve into proper 'tailing conditions, likely locations and subtle technique variations.