Hey Folks….Welcome to the Zone…..First, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Peter Poletti (aka Mako).  I was born in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to the United States 20 years ago.  I have been fishing for more than 45 years; inshore, offshore, saltwater, freshwater, you name it.  Currently I am strictly a saltwater kayak angler (unless someone invites me to go fishing on their boat).

I earned a college degree in Environmental Science and Aquaculture from Florida Institute of Technology in Jensen Beach back in 1981.  It was my passion and love for the outdoors and the environment that led me in that direction.  Currently, I work as a full-time kayak fishing guide in West Central Florida (Tampa, Clearwater, St Petersburg and other surrounding areas).

I am a member of the Hardcore Kayak Anglers Club, Coastal Conservation Association of Florida, Tampa Bay Chapter, and the Bay Area Canoe and Kayak Club.  I also write kayak fishing reports for Kayak Fishing Magazine.net.

I would like to invite you to visit Mako’s Zone frequently where you will find all sorts of information about kayak fishing:  catch reports, tips to improve your results, great kayak fishing destinations, and much more.

Until next time…enjoy your day, kayak fishing!!!

Barometric Pressure / Weather / Fishing

 Updated February 2nd, 2010

So you think a day with nice, clear blue skies is the best day to go inshore fishing?  Well, think again.  Below, you’ll find general guidelines about how atmospheric pressure affects the behavior of inshore fish in Florida and the type of weather you should expect when the barometer varies. 

High pressure= clear blue skies = slow fishing

Low = rainy = slow fishing

Falling = cloudy, turning bad, prior to storms = best fishing

Steady = fair weather = normal

Raising = improving weather = good action

Disclaimer:  These are just general guidelines.  The best time to go fishing is whenever you can.

Enjoy your day, and have fun.

Mako’s Tip of the Week # 1

When approaching reds that are tailing, softly push pole yourself towards your target instead of paddling; and if you need to use the paddle, keep it at a low angle.  Fish can see movement from a distance and will get spooked easily before you can get a shot at them.

Mako’s Tip of the Week # 2

Learn to read the signs that will lead you to find game fish in the water.  When you see these signs, go ahead and check out the area.  Here’s a few:

• Birds diving.
• Nervous water:  Ripples in the water surface moving in different directions.
• Baitfish jumping out of the water, running away from predators.
• Schools of mullet.
• Swirls.

Mako’s Tip of the Week # 3

One of the most common and successful baits used for inshore fishing is the shrimp.  DOA Lures makes an outstanding shrimp imitation and they come in variety of colors to suit different situations.

I personally prefer the 3-inch size.  My favorite colors are Near Clear, Glow (for night fishing), and anything else that has Gold or Silver Glitter.

On the picture below we can see 3 different ways to rig a DOA shrimp.  Top shrimp is right out of the box.  In the middle, the shrimp is rigged weedless.  The original hook is removed and replaced by 3/0 Mustad Power Lock.  The bottom sample shows the “backward” rig, used for a presentation where the shrimp is escaping a predator.

Mako’s Tip of the Week #4 – Winter Tactics

• Take advantage of negative low tides to learn about an area while it is dry.
• Change your approach regarding lures when days are cold.  Use plastic lures and work them slower than usual. 
• Best time to fish the flats for reds and trout is around mid-day once the water has warmed up.
• Fish the edge of the flats and then moved up as the tide floods them.
• Look for potholes on the flats on negative low tides.  Once you find the ones holding fish, it’ll be like fishing in a bucket.
• Fish residential canals for fish laying close to sea walls. These concrete walls will absorb heat from the sun and keep the water around them warmer.  The walls facing east will be warmer in the morning, and the ones facing west will be warmer in the afternoon.
• Rivers and creeks with deep mud holes will also hold fish.

Mako’s Tip of the Week #5 – Top 10 Gift Ideas for Kayak Anglers

You may want to pass this list along to friends and family and get a nice gift for the holidays.

• Kayak Seat
• Carbon Fiber Paddle
• VHF Radio
• Stand and Fish System
• Kayak Cart
• Handheld Marine GPS
• Dry Bags
• Camera Case
• Waders
• Gift Certificates

Happy Holidays !!!

Mako’s Product Review:  GTS Expedition Kayak Seat

I took my own advice from the list of top 10 gift ideas for kayak anglers and recently bought the Surf to Summit GTS Expedition kayak seat. 

For many years I’ve been using another seat built by Surf to Summit, the Tall Back Classic Molded Foam Seat with Pack from the Performance Series which for the current price of $98 provided me with more comfort than the original seat that came with the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 that I currently paddle.  Unfortunately, I still had to resort to the use of additional gel and air cushions for better support of my back and buttocks during my many hours of fishing and paddling.

Well, enough about the old seat; let me tell you about my new GTS Expedition which I dubbed the La-Z-Boy of kayak seats.  I was afraid I would fall asleep the first time I used this seat because of the “extreme” comfort it provided. 

The contour molded, thick foamed, 18” tall backrest wraps around my back for outstanding support and the unique strapping system (6 points) allows me to adjust it to my specific needs, especially my lower back; this eliminated the need for the additional air cushion I used for low back stability.  I also confirmed a STS claim that with this strapping system, there’s no forward slippage of the seat.

The 2-inch thick seat bottom is so comfortable that I won’t have to carry an extra gel cushion any longer. It also has a couple of deep channels that prevent excess water from “puddling” on the seat keeping me pretty dry all day. 

Even though the price tag of $190 (I got the model with no pack) may seem high to those just getting started in kayak fishing, when you paddle/fish for an average of 8 miles a day for 5-6 days a week; a seat like the GTS Expedition is an investment well worth it.  I highly recommend this product.

For more information about this seat, visit the Surf to Summit website by clicking on the link.

• Kayak Seat