The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Take advantage of this hot bite: There is nothing more satisfying to a fly-rodder than to see his backing. Little Tunny (bonito or false albacore) up to 15 pounds are plentiful and very accessible this year. Large schools of mixed baitfish near the shipping channel, or just off the beaches, attract these aggressive feeders and can be spotted by the diving action of terns and gulls. An explosive noise will turn your head as the bonito crash the surface chasing their dinner — sometimes in schools the size of a basketball court.
Eight- or 9-weight fly rods with clear, sinking tip lines get your small fly to the action. A good, smooth reel drag is necessary to keep steady pressure and prevent over travel of the spool. I like anti-reverse fly reels so that your knuckles won't get hammered as the spool spins. Use weighted, synthetic baitfish patterns that are the size of baitfish, about two inches. Bead butt baitfish, mushmouth, and clousers will all produce in chartreuse over white colors. A shock tippet of 20-pound mason monofilament prevents cutoffs, especially from Spanish mackerel that mix in with the bonito schools.
Bird watching: Watch the direction the birds are working and motor ahead of the school in a circle. Idle into position, kill your motor and wait for the action. You will outfish others that motor into the school and send everything to the bottom. Flies usually produce best because you are matching the hatch.
Pat Damico charters lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpat.com or (727) 504-8649.
[Last modified: Jul 11, 2008 08:02 PM]
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