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I tend to avoid politically charged topics—emphasis here is on fishing—but when something affects my beloved Everglades, it gets my attention. The bad news first: Lowe’s is quietly trying to infringe upon the Glades UBD (Urban Development Boundary) to build a new store, and further south a group of developers wants to use protected land for a commercial park and thousands of new homes. Sadly, the greed of corrupt county commissioners makes both a distinct possibility. Some good news? Looks like the Everglades was just awarded $100 million in state allocation fees after an 11th hour change of heart. Here’s some additional info on the funding efforts behind Everglades restoration.

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The love of my life…about to be released by the new missus.

I owe my loyal readers an enormous apology. Though I’ve been pretty damn consistent in terms of posting on a regular basis, I fell off the face of the earth for the last month or so. But I have splendid excuses lined up, including a bout of sickness, a pressing workload and - oh, yes - I up and got hitched. She’s a keeper, and, lucky for me, she’s far-sighted and I wooed her in low lighting. I’m back in the saddle again, and I’ll be resuming my normal posting schedule. In fact, plan is to ramp things up and provide even more useful and entertaining content to my angling brethren (and sist…er…thren). Thanks for your patience in my absence - I hope you’ve been racking fish in Biblical proportions.

John

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In many coastal areas, game fish congregate under lights after dark, capitalizing on the congregations of bait fish that gather there. Along the Gulf coast, spin and (especially) fly anglers target snook, sea trout, redfish and juvenile tarpon in this manner, and — given that fish can sometimes be found in great numbers under residential dock lights, especially in the cooler months — it can be a highly productive affair. Most of the bait fish and shrimp that are found under such lights are on the small side, though, so “match the hatch” with small flies (hook size 2 to 6 or so). Work the edges of the light, and use weighted versions to get down to fish that are reluctant to rise to your offerings.

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Each month I field a question from a reader and answer it as best I can, focusing on those inquiries and responses that I believe will be of general benefit or interest. I recently received this email from Pablo in Port Aransas, TX, who asks: “Who’s your favorite author of fishing-related books?”

I like this question. Most of the queries I field are related to fishing technique, equipment, etc. I always feel a bit self-conscious answering them, since it implies that I’m an authority of some sort…which is far from the truth. But a question like this one I can sink my teeth into, since it comes down to simple opinion. I’ve read a considerable amount of fishing-related books, and my short list of favorite authors is anchored by Thomas McGuane and John Gierach. McGuane has a staggering command of the English language, and his stories linger in memory. Gierach has a dry, witty, effortless style that elicits laugh-out-loud outbursts and knowing smiles in his readers. For a sampling of wonderful (fly)fishing articles, try the “Fly Fisher’s Reader: An Unabashedly Biased Sampling of Angling’s Finest Literature.” It features 27 stories taken from books written over the past century or so, including gems by heavyweights such as Ernest Hemingway, William Humphrey and Izaak Walton.

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At Shallowfish, we strive to provide fellow anglers with info they value. Whether you’re a return visitor or a new reader, please take a second to provide some feedback below. Thanks in advance for your help.

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The next time you find yourself in fishy shallows with a dead trolling motor, try this: sit on the front deck with your legs dangling and your feet on the bottom, then slowly “walk” the boat along, casting as you go. Though the low vantage point makes it tougher to spot fish, it also makes it easier to sneak up on them. (Ask any kayak angler). An alternative: tie a line to the front cleat and wade fish, pulling the boat silently behind you as you go. Note that the “drag the boat” method is most effective when you can find hard bottom, whereas the “walk the boat” method can be used on muddy bottoms that won’t bear your full weight. Both work best with lightweight, low-sided skiffs, of course, and both require patience and effort. Regardless, they’re an alternative for lone anglers who are faced with fishing skinny water without a trolling motor or push pole.

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