I just completed a six-day, five-night, single lure, fishing extravaganza.

My partner for this fishing experience was my best friend from high school, Mike Stoenica.

Mike owns a machine shop that specializes in custom machining and billet accessories for motorcycles. Our mission, as always, was to spend every waking moment fishing for snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, Spanish mackerel and anything that breathes through a set of gills.  We were definitely successful according to these criteria.

Mike came down because he needed a break and was really hurtin’ to do some good saltwater fishing. Mike set his schedule so that he would be arriving in Tampa on Wednesday, June 24 at 3 p.m. and leaving the following Monday at 6:30 p.m. That gave us about 115 total hours that Mike would be visiting us.

After totaling up the number of hours fished I was proud to find out that we fished for more hours than we slept, with a total of 44 logged fishing hours that produced 14 snook, 3 redfish, one 12 lb. grouper, 30 plus Spanish mackerel, 9 sail catfish and 14 ladyfish.

For the past five years, the overall schedule was the same and went something to the effect of a quick and clean, drive-by, curbside pickup of Mike at the airport, speed home, change clothes, pack the flats fishing boat with some snacks and our gear, fish hard, catch fish, fish hard, quick nap, fish hard. Mike and I would fish straight through the night if we could get away with it.

This year we were presented with a new parameter that we had not planned for. The weather was dialed in with no regard for the sportsman at heart. As a matter of fact, there were several times that we had to go in early because of safety issues. I am proud to say that our team did extremely well this year with a score that put us in the top standings.

I have to say that the foul weather forced me to think differently about how I fish. Specifically, I now understand the value in planning a fishing trip before you get on the boat. The amount of education online is the one key advantage that put us ahead this time. Local weather information and tide charts allowed me to make good decisions about where and when to fish.

A few Web sites that I looked to for education and help are located at:

1. www.flatsclass.com

2. www.tampabayfishing.com

3. www.floridasaltwater.com

4. www.cyberangler.com

5. www.fishin.com

6. www.worldwidefishing.com

7. www.fishandgame.com

8. www.outdoorcentral.com

The one site that I will continue to use for both information and ease of use was located at www.captmel.com and is the Web site for Capt. Mel Berman, a radio talk show host for 970 WFLA. On this site you will have access to current fishing reports and conditions, tides and fish predictions, charter information, numerous interesting articles from some of Florida’s most gifted outdoor writers, complete photo albums of fishing pictures, and even message boards. Capt. Mel’s site was very useful for many reasons. I was particularly fond of the "How-to" section where you can learn something new and helpful to improve your fishing skills.

If you have any questions comments or suggestions please feel free to e-mail me at WebServerColumn@yahoo.com.

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