Hi Capt. Mel:

I was wondering about the sharks we been catching at Anclote on the flats they are brownish in color on top and white on the belly also a short second dorsal fin. They are not black tips, bull or lemon sharks would you happen to know what they are?. Last year we seen mostly black tips and shovelheads, but not this year yet.

Thanks

John Botta
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Dear John:

I posed your question to shark expert Dr. Bob Hueter and here was his response:

Dear Mel:

They are most likely blacknose sharks (Carcharhinus acronotus), very common in our area in the warm months. The pregnant mommas are giving birth right now off the beaches. Soon the adults (only up to about four feet maximum size) will be coming into lower Tampa Bay to feed. They are a brownish/yellowish/coppery color on top, white on the belly, and with a dusky black "moustache" right on the tip of the snout, which is hard to see unless you look at the shark head-on. They're found in groups often
feeding on schools of bait.

Cheers,

Bob

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Hey Capt. Mel,

I primarily fish the flat with artificial baits and I am considering switching from mono to Power Pro Line. I have heard that you need to close the bail of your reel before the bait hits the water or pull the on the line between the reel and the first eye of the rod to get the sack out of the spool to avoid tangles with braided lines. Is this true? And is this small inconvenience worth the benefits of Braided line?

Enjoy your show!

Thanks,

F.J. in Bradenton
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Dear F.J.:

I have been using PowerPro for more than two years now and would not use anything else. I can cast further, use much thinner diameter line, and have the added advantage of almost feeling it when a fish swims by – it’s that sensitive. In all that time I can honestly say that my problems with it have been few and far between.

There are simply two things I do when using PowerPro on a spinning reel. First, I always close the bail manually (instead of clunking it shut with the handle.) Then I take up the small bit of line slack that occurs once the bail is closed. If you do those two things on every cast, your problems with PowerPro – or any other kind of line for that matter – will me minimized. And after a while, you should begin to close the bail and pull out the slack automatically – without even thinking about it.

Mel

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What knots do you use on PowerPro line with mono to PowerPro or PowerPC to a swivel or sinker?
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Most of the time I use a standard surgeon’s knot to tie mono to PowerPro. (See our knots pages at http://capmel.com/knots.htm )

Others prefer using a Double Uni-Knot. Whichever you use, it’s a good idea to add an extras turn or two with the PowerPro.

Mel

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Hi Captain Mel,

I live in Arcadia FL. I don't have a boat. I have been mainly fishing places like the boat ramp at Ponce De Leon Park in Punta Gorda, or the pier at Sharky's in Venice. Yesterday I read the article on your Website about Wadefishing, and was wondering where is a good place for a beginner wadefisher to access good fishing water, without driving half a day???

Have A Good One

Robert A. Thurman
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Dear Robert:

If I were you, I’d head straight for any of the fine beached directly to the west of Arcadia. When those Gulf waters warm, there should be snook, trout and other popular species running up and down the beaches.

In preparation, you might want to click these links and read Beach fishing -1 and Beach fishing -2 on our web site.

Mel

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Dear Captain Mel

This coming weekend my Son and I are invited to go out on a boat named the
Placida Queen.... Never heard of it . Having ended up on our share of scows where we had to pull up the anchor by hand and worse I thought I might ask to see if you might know about this boat.

The whole scout troop will be going and being used to the Queen fleet and the Double Eagle we hope this boat will be worth the trip from Winter Haven.
Anything you could tell me would be a great help.

Gary Ward
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Dear Gary:

I spoke with a couple of guides I know in the Placida area, and they say the Placida Queen is definitely not an "old scow." However, you might want to see if the trip can be rescheduled, because there has been a significant outbreak of red tide in that area, and there is no telling what this strong cold front will do to fishing there.

Mel

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