This is one of those late March / early April typical weeks. Tough to trust the forecasts for winds. Forecast shows 5 knots to 20 knots and everything in-between. I don’t think it will affect inshore fishing very much, actually may make it pretty nice out with a breeze inshore especially since temps will be in the mid to upper 80’s all week. Offshore is where you will have to be cautious. If it is blowing close to 20 knots, definitely wait for a better day, however, it is looking like 2ft to 3ft all week. Looks like a possible front will move through on Tuesday 4/7 bringing higher winds.
Now that the spring fishing is heating up, and fish are showing up in big numbers, it’s time to talk about the right tools to clean your catch. First off, I am a big proponent of eating what we catch, however, I am not a fan of keeping as many fish as possible just to fill my freezer. There is nothing better than going out on the water, getting home, cleaning the fish and cooking it that night. It does not get any better than that. If there are a few filets left over, make sure you have a good vacuum sealer and then put those away for later. But to just have dozens and dozens of filets in your freezer that end up getting freezer burned just doesn’t make sense to me. But to each their own, that is just my opinion! Having said that, there are a few items necessary in the cutlery category to have a successful day on the water. First off, make sure you have a good, strong bait knife. When you have some frozen bait that needs cut in chunks, you want something that will not be flimsy and has the power to cut through the bones of the bait. I carry either the Danco bait knife or the Evolution bait knife. Both knives are affordable $9.99 and are very strong. They have a 4″ blade that is coated aluminum and do a great job chopping up fresh or frozen bait. I also find that these knives last quite a long time and hold their edge really well. Next item in the cutlery category is the proper vent tool. I know this isn’t a knife and it technically doesn’t cut anything, but for one thing, it is mandatory to have on your boat but it also does help the fish safely return to the water when bottom fishing near shore or offshore.
We carry the Vent for Life tool at the shop and it is affordable at $14.99. This tool comes with a sheath and folds up so the venting point is hidden when stored away. If you are not familiar with this tool or how to use it, please look up on YouTube “how to properly vent a fish.” This tool will eliminate a lot of unnecessary loss of fish you throw back. It is small, easy to use and we always have stock of them at the shop.
Finally, the filet knife! There are so many options to choose from when it comes to filet knives. You can spend anywhere from $10 to hundreds of dollars on filet knives. For me personally, I like a thin and flexible blade when I am fileting fish. Dexter makes a great knife called the Dexter Basics for $19.99 and this is a great option for an affordable good knife. Danco also makes some nice reasonably priced knives as well. I like their flex knife and the Eco series knife. The flex knife comes with a nice canvass material sheath and is packaged really well for a nice gift to that angler in your life and is $28.00. The Reco knife has a great blade for the price; it comes with a plastic sheath and 100% recycled material and starts at $10.99. I do recommend also having a serrated edge knife when cleaning fihs. This helps getting through any bones without destroying your filet. The goal is to get as much meat to the table as possible!
Stop by Palmetto Bait and Tackle to pick up your bait knife, vent tool, filet knife and serrated knife. We have many options and price ranges to choose from! Don’t forget to register for the Suncoast Saltwater Shootout fishing tournament held on April 17-19!
