Sorry guy, I just had to write, having just read about the new tax on shore fisherman being enacted as of 8/1/09.

By the way, thanks for the fish of the week award a few weeks back.

I know you and many of your listeners/readers are big conservationists. However, I have to take issue with yet more TAXES being inflicted upon the general population in the name of conservation. I can remember many years ago, signing petitions at various boat shows, and fishing shows asking for our fearless government to PLEASE tax me some more. I have felt like a fool ever since. The sales pitch was to tax me for the benefit of the fishery. Research, conservation, etc. Can you really imagine the level of stupidity, to petition for more taxes from a bloated government that has never met a dollar it couldn't piss away as fast as it was collected. Since that simple beginning, we have seen a lobster tax, snook tax, tarpon tax, etc. This was for what? More gorgeous boats for the enforcement agencies to produce yet more revenue. Taxes never go away. More taxes always follow. And when you are stupid enough to ask for it, you can depend on MORE TAXES, FASTER. Sorry. I don't buy it.

And believe me when I say I WILL NEVER VOTE TO BE TAXED AGAIN, and haven't for all the years since my first mistake. By the way, I fish only offshore, from a boat, so this tax does not affect me one bit. It just seriously irritates me.

Jerry Carroll
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Dear Jerry:

First of all, let’s get our terminology correct. The new land based saltwater fishing license is not a tax. As the name implies, it’s a license permitting those who wish to fish from shore and take resource to do so for the minimal charge of only $7.50 -- for a full year.

This very small annual fee goes directly to fisheries management and resource protection. All funds collected will be matched with federal Wallop Breaux monies which will be used to help keep Florida fishing among the best anywhere.

Capt. Mel Berman

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Do you have any helpful hints on how to catch shark ?

I have a 21ft sea fox that i normally fish from and generally around that Skyway or in the bay

Schnepp

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Dear Schnepp::

It's been many years since I have targeted sharks. This is because they reproduce like mammals --and, unlike most fish species, which lay thousands of eggs, sharks only give birth to a few "pups" at a time. And since there has been increasing pressure on the world shark fisher, they're number have declined significantly. Thus, I might occasionally catch them, but all are released.

Having said that, there is available some good information on shark fishing on the web. Here are a couple of links that you might want to check:

http://www.fishingmontauk.com/tips/sharks.html

http://www.anglersaddiction.com/shark-fishing-tips.html

http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/shark-fishing.html

Thanks,

Capt. Mel Berman


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Can you explain the moons influence on fishing? what are the times to avoid? any best times to target fishing around the full moon.

thanks,

Mario
btw great show!

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Dear Mario:

The moon has a definite influence on fishing – especially in a saltwater environment where there are tidal changes. Certain moon phases increase tides, which plays a great role motivating most fish species to feed.

The strongest tides usually occur during the full and new moon phases. And those times before and after these periods can also be good fishing – although the tidal flow will not be quite a brisk as during the new and full moon phases.

Thanks formaking our CapMel.com site one of your Internet fishing destinations.

Capt. Mel Berman

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Capt Mel:

Do you have any advice on chumming up Tarpon along the beach? Is it effective? What is the best bait these days too?

Many thanks.

Bud Schade
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Dear Bud:

There are many ways and bats that you can use to chum tarpon. Many say that chumming for tarpon with shrimp boat by catch is the most effective way to catch tarpon. Created in Key West Harbor, this method had been unique to the Keys and Key West specifically. Key West has an entire fleet of boats that chum for tarpon every day of the season. However, just about any wholesale seafood dealer who works with commercial shrimpers would likely be a source of shrimp boat by catch.

This is not to say that you can’t use other kinds of chum, including cut mullet, ladyfish, shrimp, crabs, threadfins, pilchards, etc.

As with most species, the best way to chum for tarpon along the beaches would be to toss the chum into their line of travel. The advantage with tarpon is that they frequently surface for air as they move through an area – so they are easily spotted.

Thanks for listening to my 970-WFLA radio show and for making our CapMel.com site one of your Internet fishing destinations.

Capt. Mel Berman

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