When choosing the type of fishing line to purchase, you’ll need to take into consideration the type of rod and reel you use, along with the type of fish you usually fish for. Also, when shopping for your line, try to buy from a store that does a relatively high volume of sales in fishing line. This way, you will have a better chance of buying ‘fresh’ line, and not older and possibly weaker line. Fishing line can get old very quickly when exposed to light and heat.

Most fishing line is made from Monofilament, which is made from mixed polymers, comes in a variety of thicknesses and is relatively inexpensive. The type of chemicals added to the mixture controls the line’s strength, limpness and color. There are varying grades of Monofilament Line which of course will change the price accordingly. For example, premium grade Nylon Monofilament line, uses more additives, receives more processing attention than the normal line to make it abrasion resistant, therefore more expensive.

Co-filament line adds and inner and outer wrap of nylon to help the lines resist wear and tear.

Fused Lines are made up of many layers of gel spun polyethylene fibers, thermally fused together to form one thin line that is super strong, sensitive, abrasion resistant, and has just a little stretch (Monofilament line has the most stretch).

Braided lines are made up of intertwined nylon material which forms a super strong, low stretch fishing line.

Fluorocarbon line is made from polymer of fluorine bonded to carbon and has several advantages over the others. This line becomes invisible under water - even in the clearest waters. It has very low stretch and it does not float, which means your bait will go down faster. Fluorocarbon line comes in a variety of colors to make it easier for you to see your line better above the surface. Florescent blue or green for example, make your line easier to see when it is bright and sunny.

Fly lines are made up of a tough braided or monofilament core, surrounded by a thick waterproof plastic sheath. In order to make sure that there is enough line, fly lines are usually attached to a secondary line at the butt section. This is called backing, and this backing line is usually composed of gel-spun monofilament. All fly lines include a leader of monofilament or fluorocarbon, which is usually tapered in diameter, and referred to by the 'X-size' of its final tip section.

Note:  Monofilament lines present a serious danger to fish, birds and other marine life, as they cannot easily see it when submerged in water and can easily become entangled. Please discard your waste fishing line properly. When re-spooling your line, take the old line to your nearest tackle shop – most shops have a bin for recycling fishing line.

Most anglers have accumulated all sorts of hooks, lures, weights, rods, reels and other assorted tackle over the years. We know which equipment works best in certain conditions, so the variety of equipment for any and all conditons can end up as an ‘organized mess’ when it comes to tackle storage. Being prepared with the right equipment is one of the keys to a successful fishing trip. One way to prepare yourself is by having an organized tackle system.

You have probably collected more fishing gear than you would ever need to use in one fishing trip, so why not separate your tackle in to separate tackle boxes (or the newer style tackle fishing bags) to make your fishing life a little easier? Take all of those baggies stuffed in bins and in pockets on your boat, and where ever the rest of your mess is, lay it all out, and start organizing.

Fishing tackle bags and boxes come in every size and shape you could ever need. What type of tackle storage system you choose is basically dependent on the quantity of certain types of fishing equipment you have, so it is really a matter of personal choice. Following are a few suggestions for storing your fishing tackle that you may be able to fit into your situation.
 
There are basically two types of tackle storage – a hard tackle box, or a soft tackle bag. We all know about the hard tackle boxes – they come in a variety of sizes, are made of hard plastic, so they are very tough when it comes to wear and tear.  Tackle boxes have many different organizational features, such as drawers, fold out trays and top loading bins. The only down side to tackle boxes is their weight – especially the larger sizes, when filled.
 
Your other option is the soft tackle bags, which have become very popular in recent years. Fishing tackle bags are lightweight, with waterproof outer shells containing many storage pockets, and an interior that holds a number of plastic utility boxes to hold your lures. The number of boxes it can hold depends on the size of the bag, of course. This is the best feature about these tackle bags, because you have the option to load only the boxes you need for a particular outing, while leaving the others behind.

If you are only taking your trolling rods out, just take your trolling gear; if you are planning to just fish the reef, then take your reef gear and leave the heavy trolling boxes behind!  Buying extra utility boxes is an inexpensive way to separate your tackle and have it ready to load and go on your next trip.
 
Tackle binders help to organize your lures and fit in to your tackle box or bag for easy access. We have also used individual plastic baggies for each lure and put them in one of our utility boxes. This way, they are in one place and not a tangled mess when one is needed in a hurry.
 
Tackle boxes and bags both have their positives and negatives, check them both out before deciding which is best for you.  Look for something that is durable, with strong handles or straps than can handle the weight when filled. Also check to see if it is waterproof, or watertight. Can water still get inside? If so, you would not want to use it to store expensive equipment. Some boxes come equipped with this in mind, and have removable parts that allow it to be aired out.
 
Take the time some rainy or non-fishing day, to organize your fishing gear and you will be sure to have the right equipment every time you fish.

A wide variety of fish live in the Florida Keys and there is just as wide a variety of tackle to choose from when planning your fishing trip. The species of fish you will be after on any given day will determine which of your fishing reels will be used and what fishing rod and fishing line will give you the best results.
 
Fishing tackle bags make traveling with your fishing gear very convenient - they come in all shapes, sizes and water resistant materials. Portable electronics such as handheld GPSs, Fish Finders, Satellite Phones and EPIRBs have come such a long way technologically speaking, that purchasing or renting equipment is almost a necessity. Some of the electronics have become so advanced, that you really do not have to be a gadget guru, or even read the instructions in order to use them right out of the box!

Following are a few easy tips for catching Yellowtail Snapper in the Keys. It is not too complicated to catch this abundant species of snapper. You may have to make minor adjustments in technique depending on the weather, or time of day, but they are one of the easiest fish to catch and great to eat.  

One of the most important things for catching yellowtail snapper is the chumming. One chum bag is good, two are even better for keeping a steady flow. Many yellowtail anglers like to use rolled oats mixed with sand in addition to the ground chum, which helps to cloud up the water (when it is clear). The rolled oats are usually soaked in water for one to two days before using. The mixture is either ladled into the water at regular intervals in addition to the chum, or formed into a ball and sent out with the line, by wrapping some line around the ball a couple of times. Using the oats is not a must, but sometimes it helps. Very often, you can be just as successful by keeping enough chum flowing.

To help hide the fishing line from these keen eyed snapper, 12-20 lb. test clear monofilament line with 10-15′ of fluorocarbon leader of the same test will work well.  Attach the fluorocarbon leader directly to the main line using the blood knot or the uni-knot – don’t use swivels. Various types of bait work, from live (or dead) shrimp, to strips of ballyhoo. You may need to vary the amount of weight used, depending on weather and current conditions - sometimes just using a lightweight jig is all you need. Yellowtails seem to be attracted to the little fluorescent yellow or green jigheads. On a good day though, a no. 4 hook and shrimp may be all you need!

When fishing, try to remember to keep slack in the line, letting it out without any resistance and with about the same speed as the current, keeping your bait in the middle of the chum slick. When the yellowtail bites, the line will come off quickly - just let the fish run a few seconds, before closing the bail and reeling.

More fishing tips to be added - bookmark this site and check back soon!