MONSTER BULL REDFISH IN VENICE, LA

During June 24th to 26 a few friends including Cole Lundquist, Rob Nevin, and Vince Ippolito fished for monster bull redfish with Keith Kennedy out of Venice, LA.

Keith operates Born to Fish Charters out of Venice and offers World Class Light Tackle Sport Fishing for mostly redfish and sea trout.

For those in the know, Keith constantly produces monster redfish week in and out, far outproducing other guides in the area.

Keith will do everthing in his power to make your trip comfortable, from cooking his famous blackened redfish to peel and eat shrimp. Keith provides comfortable housing and even provides all tackle, rods, and reels to allow you to land these monster reds.

Having fished Worldwide, you odds of landing lots of monster fish are probably better than fishing the remote jungle fisheries while saving thousand of dollars and time travelling to these distant locations.

If you have second thoughts fishing the Gulf since the oil spill, worry not, as Keith says the fishery is in fantastic shape with some of the best fishing for big bull reds in recent years.

If you are on a limited budget or time restriction which will not allow you the luxury of travelling to exotic locations, look no further than Capt Keith in Venice for the fishing trip of your lifetime.

While Lundquist and friends fished with Keith, they landed more monster bull redfish over 20lbs than one can count with the largest landed being a trophy 37lbs bull red.

Capt Keith offers fantastic fishing year round with big monster reds being landed weekly. Get in on the action while the fishing is red hot. Keith has a few prime openings remaining this season or book early to get the best dates for 2012.

Venice, LA is about an hour drive out of New Orleans. Either fly into New Orleans and rent a car for the drive to Keith's or drive from your hometown.

Give Keith a call at (504) 908-3108

HOMER JACKPOT HALIBUT DERBY

Chad Aldridge landed the halibut of his dreams on Fathers Day. The monster weighed in at 350.5lbs putting Aldridge in the lead in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby. The Derby runs till September 30th and hands out prizes totalling approximately $190,000. It costs $10 for a daily derby ticket. On the same day as Aldrige's catch another angler landed a 300.6lbs halibut but did not buy a derby ticket.
Last year the largest halibut landed in the derby weighed in at 277.6lbs and paid out to the lucky angler $40,610. Therefore if heading to Alaska and fishing for halibut in Homer, make sure you spend $10 for a derby ticket and you could win thousands!!

TROPHY FISH REPRODUCTIONS

I recently had my trophy Tanzania Tigerfish reproduction created by Advanced Taxidermy out of Canada. The trophy came out fantastic and matches my photos to the closest detail. When getting a trophy fish reproduction they are done by artists, not taxidermists. The artist makes a replica mold of your trophy then paints it to the closest of details. Advanced Taxidermy is highly recommended to give you a lifetime of memories and conversation with your friends.

A fiberglass replica mount will last much longer than a natural skin mount. This is due to oils seeping out of the skin mount and discoloring the skin. Also with the reproduction the monster is released to again be landed by others. I have numerous skin mounts and reproductions on my wall, matter of fact 56 in total. Taking care of them is easy as a dusting every week will extend the lifetime and an occasional wipe down with a wet wipe.

To watch a video on the fiberglass reproduction process along with lots of fantastic photos of their mounts check out http://www.advancedtaxidermy.com/ or call them at 1-888-691-1216 to get more info on your trophy reproduction!

ARCTIC GRAYLING

Arctic Grayling are often called the sailfish of the north due to its large sail-like dorsal fin. In monster male Grayling the dorsal fin can often reach back to the small adipose fin.

Grayling are found in the Northern Waters of Alaska, Northern Canada, and Siberia. I have fished for huge Grayling on Great Bear Lake which is located in the Canadian Arctic with great luck.

Grayling often grown to over 20 inches and reach weights over 3 pounds. Their body is normally grayish with tints of purple blue. The body has numerous body spots.

Grayling will readily take small spinners and small flies. They are a blast to catch on ultra-lite equipment.

Grayling are a very good eating fish with firm white filets.

According to the IGFA, the world record Arctic Grayling is 5 lbs 15 oz landed by Jeanne Branson on the Katseyedie River, NWT Canada,on August 1967

June 11-13 Big Bull Redfish in Venice, LA

A few friends fished with Capt Keith Kennedy out of Venice, LA during June 11th to 13th for big bull redfish. For the dates, 55 big bulls averaging 22 lbs were landed with many more lost. The largest bull red was in the 30lbs range. The best lure of choice was the six inch bomber mud minnow in pearl and chartreuse tail. Water temperatures have really warmed up at 87 deg. The key for big bulls is the wind and they experienced calm waters with good clarity.

Capt Keith provides all tackle, housing, meals, and even down to the fishing license. A few good dates are still available to get into this great action for monster reds!

Contact Capt Keith of Born To Fish Charters at 504-908-3108

PEACOCK BASS

Peacock bass are not really a bass. They were named this to attract sportfishermen from around the world to battle these monsters. In reality, peacock bass are a member of the cichlid family.

Peacock bass are also known as pavon and tucunare. They are native to South America's Orinoco and Amazon River basins. They have recently been introduced into the Florida canals.

Peacock bass have blotches on side of its face and the speckled peacock has 3 distinct vertical bars on its body. The speckled peacocks are the largest of the peacocks attaining weights up to 30lbs. Most peacocks roam in gangs as they are somthing of a thug!

Peacocks have an "eye" on its tail to fool prey while attacking hence the name peacock similar to the bird!

Peacock Bass are known for top water explosions often tossing lures high into the air only to hit them again and again.

Peacock bass mouth brood their fry with the father attacking any enemy around the nest. The male peacock obtains a pronounced forehead of fatty tissue during sexual maturity.

They are very fast swimmers and can put a test to the best of fishermen with their rod breaking runs.

The IGFA recognizes 4 types of peacock bass, blackstrip peacocks or royal pavon which get up to 10lbs, the butterfly peacock which have 3 blotches on its body instead of bars. They are also found in Florida and reach weights up to 16lbs. The Orinoco peacock is easily confused with the butterfly peacock. The speckled peacock is the largest of the peacocks reaching weights to 30lbs.

Larry Larsen or http://www.peacockbassassociation.com/ has written 4 excellent books about peacock bass of which I highly recommend before heading to the jungle in search of giants.

I started my quest for peacocks on Lake Guri, Venezuela in 1990 and eventually found myself in the jungles of the Brazilian Amazon in a quest for these monsters! I highly recommend a trip into the jungle to battle these brutes.

WORLD'S TOP 10 TOUGHEST FRESHWATER FISH

Back in the early 1990's a well-known magazine listed their top 10 toughest freshwater fish based on a variety of factors such as toughness, accessibility, size, etc..

The results were as follows: 1 (tie)-Amazon Catfish and sturgeon, 3- The Masheer from India, 4- Nile Perch, 5 New Guniea Bass, 6-Taimen and Huchen, 7-Wels , 8-Pirarucu, 9- King Salmon, and 10- Alligator Gar.

I have battled a few of these monsters, but not all. So far here is my top 10 list

1- Rare Jullien's Prized Golden Carp, 2- Golden Dorado, 3- Siamese Carp 4- Amazon Catfish, 5- Tigerfish, 6- Mekong Catfish, 7- Chum Salmon, 8- Peacock Bass, 9- Giant Snakehead, and 10-Pacu

A few on the list I hope to do battle with someday soon are the New Guinea Bass, the Wolffish, and the Masheer.

What are your top 10?

ARAWANA

The Arawana swims in the rivers of Africa, South American, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
Often when fishing in the Amazon for peacock bass, arawanas are plentiful. They take surface lures and flies.
They are an elogated fish with silver coloration and has 2 barbels on the lower jaw of its upturned mouth.
When hooked, Arawana jump like a baby tarpon.
They feed on small animals, insects, fish, birds, and snakes and have been known to jump over 3 feet out of the water to catch prey in trees.
Arawana can reach a length of 4 ft.
The World Record Arawana according to the IGFA was landed by Gilberto Fernandes on July 2009 while fishing Aruman Lake in the Amazonas, Brazil. The record arawana weighed 13lbs 4oz.

SHEEFISH

Sheefish are often called the tarpon of the North because of their resemblance to saltwater tarpon. . They are members of the whitefish family and are often called Inconnu.

Biologists believe that Sheefish migrated from Siberia to Alaska and Northern Canada. They spawn in late September and early October.

Sheefish have very hard-boney mouths with a silvery coloration. It is known to leap high out of the water when hooked. Their flesh is extremely oily making it a good fish to smoke.

Sheefish are readily caught on silver spoons. According to IGFA, the World Record Sheefish was landed by Lawrence Hudnall weighing 53lbs on August 1986 while fishing the Pah River in Alaska.

REDFISH

Redfish, also known as red drum, are found in the western Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. They are distinguised from it's cousin, the black drum, by having a red overtone to it's body. It also has a large black spot about the size of an eye near it's tail. Many redfish have been known to have numerous black spots.

Redfish are excellent fighters when hooked. They are also very good eating.

One of the best places to catch trophy bull redfish is out of Venice, LA while fishing with Captain Keith Kennedy. Keith operates "Born To Fish" Charters and supplies everything including the fishing license.

Capt Keith has a few remaining openings for this season as the fishing is getting red hot with warm weather. Friend Gary Clark recently returned with his group landing over 75 redfish and 25 trout while fishing with Capt Keith.

To get into this fantastic redfish fishing, contact Capt Keith Kennedy at (504) 908-3108

SORUBIM

Sorubim are very large catfish which are found in the Amazon basin, the rivers of Argentina, and a few ponds in Thailand.
They are cool looking fish with black spots and black strips.
Unlike most catfish, they readily hit spoons and plugs. They are often caught while fishing for peacock bass or golden dorado.
Fishing with live or dead bait is highly productive especially at night. The Sorubim is a very strong fighter and will make long runs for cover.
In places such as Argentina, there are monster sorubim tournaments which last a few days. Friend Enzo Rico, La Zona guide for golden dorado, normallly participates in the Sorubim tournaments and has been Champion in the past.
Sorubim are some of the best catfish for the table.
The World Record Sorubim according to the IGFA is 117lb 15oz caught on the Panara River in Corrientes Argentina by Joao Neto while fishing on Feb 2000

Klures Jawbreaker for Giant Snakeheads

Kermett Adams of www.klures.com has recently constructed a smaller version of his famous dorado Jawbreaker lures for Giant Snakehead. The Snakehead Jawbreaker is made with bodies of 3 to 4 inches and a smaller sized propeller than on the dorado Jawbreaker.
Francois Helias of www.anglingthailand.com is going to field test these lures in an attempt to catch World Record Giant Snakehead in his homeland of Thailand.
Kermett also makes fantastic lures for monster peacock bass, huge golden dorado, and enormous tigerfish plus local species such as bass.
Make sure to check out his website, www.klures.com

GIANT TRAHIRA

The Giant Trahira is also known as a Wolffish, Amaira, plus other local names. It is a prehistoric looking fish which swims in the rivers of South America.
They nomally swim in slack shallow water waiting to ambush fish.
The Giant Trahira has a mouth full of sharp teeth so wire leaders are necessary.
Trahira have a black or brown body with gray spots.
They will attack minnow baits and poppers. They are not known as a table fish due to the large amount of bones they have.
The Giant Trahira reaches weights in excessive of 50lbs and once hooked jumps often to toss the lure.
A few secluded rivers in Surinam have been known to hold moster Giant Trahiras.