Science Horizons

The magnificent leatherback turtle could be the most amazing animal on earth. Like the other remaining species of marine turtle, it left its four-footed land ancestors about 110 million years ago, developed flippers, and populated the Seven Seas—before there were Seven Seas.

The world was a very different place way back then. The Himalayas of Tibet did not exist that long ago. Indeed, the Himalayas were still 65,000,000 years away from even existing. Antarctica was joined to Australia when the earliest leatherbacks took to the sea and would not uncouple from it for about thirty million more generations of these sea animals. South America was not far from West Antarctica. Another eighty million years would pass before Antarctica would turn into the frigid continent we see. The South Atlantic Ocean was still forming. Indeed, not only were there no Seven Seas way back then, there were not seven continents, either.

They lived during the Age of Dinosaurs. Indeed, they were here millions of years before the first dinosaur evolved. They were swimming the oceans 400,000 centuries before the ferocious T Rex made its debut. Yes, you read it correctly, 400,000 centuries. This incredible species of animal outlived the dinosaurs and even survived the greatest mass extinction the world has ever suffered.

Perhaps you learned in science class that whales and dolphins were animals that once lived on land and moved to the water. But, porpoises and whales are mammals (whose closest relative is the hippo) that did not exist until millions of years after the last dinosaur died. Sea turtles had already made the transition from land to sea for fifty million years before these mighty mammalian leviathans first left land for the oceans.

Leatherbacks are the largest of all sea turtles, weighing as much as a ton, were here long before the first dinosaur, survived the greatest mass extinction the world has ever experienced, and flourished. But, that spectacular ability to adapt is not why they are so amazing.

Consider this: we all marveled, and deservedly so, at Michael Phelps’s 200 meter freestyle world swimming record. But, in the time it took him to go that distance, a huge leatherback, weighing about as much as the entire offensive line of a professional football team, would swim 1,000 meters. In fact, this magnificent relic is listed in the 1992 Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest reptile on earth!

Leatherbacks may also be the world’s greatest long-distance migrating creatures. Scientists tracked one of these giants 13,000 miles—one way.

In addition to being the world’s fastest reptile and maybe the world’s greatest long-distance migrator, it is the deepest diving marine turtle on the planet, regularly diving nearly 4,000 feet underwater. To put that depth into perspective, today’s nuclear attack submarines are estimated to have a maximum normal operating depth of 1,600 feet because sea pressure at 2,400 feet would crush them. The world’s most modern technology and strongest metal and composite materials are no match for the diving ability of hundred million year old species of turtle.

There is also another amazing fact. Except where Man has destroyed them, leatherbacks swim all tropical and subtropical waters on earth. But, and this is the really amazing thing, they have been seen as far north as waters off Alaska, Canada, and Norway and as far south as Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and even New Zealand where water temperatures can be only a few degrees above freezing. Yet, even though they are like all reptiles, cold blooded, they stay warm and comfortable because they can maintain a body temperature as much as 32 degrees higher than the surrounding water.

Disastrously, in literally the last three decades, this magnificent animal has been decimated in numbers and is in danger of extinction. In 1980, Mexico had two of every three leatherbacks on earth. Within 25 years, its leatherback population had collapsed 99%, a catastrophe by any measure. In far off Malaysia, on beaches that once had the world’s largest nesting population, about 10,000 nests, there were two nestings in 2008. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity, greed, and capacity for over exploitation. The Angels are surely weeping.

This reptile was witness to the separation of the continents and birth of the modern oceans, lived through the Age of Dinosaurs, survived the mass extinction caused by a meteorite. It swims faster, farther, deeper than almost anything on the planet and has been in our world for more than a hundred million years . Can it survive you and me?

Costa Rica is home to all but one of the world’s marine turtle species and has set aside important refuges on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. And, Costa Rica ecotourism is playing an increasingly important role in conserving sea turtles. On its Caribbean coast is Tortuguero, the world’s largest green sea turtle preserve. The Pacific coast has Ostional Refuge that has the planet’s largest arribadas—mass nestings of hundreds of thousands of olive ridley turtles. Either of these places are great for looking for leatherbacks, too.

Victor C. Krumm Fishing adventure, adventure travel, beaches, conservation, costa rica, Destinations, Family, Fishing, leisure, recreation, sea turtles, tourism, vacations

The seasoned angler knows how important the proper fly fishing tackle is to being successful on the water. Beginners to fly fishing may not understand how to spot a quality fly fishing rod though. As you gain experience and advance in the craft of fishing, the rod takes on a completely new level of importance. Then it is time to learn the difference between a plain rod and one that is serious about the business of catching fish.

It is good to become familiar with one fishing area so you understand the environment. Obviously that does not mean you should not fish in new rivers and streams, but when you fish the same spot on a regular basis, you can become a master of that location. You learn about the water and the type of fish that you are likely to catch. This information helps you determine the type of fly fishing rod you should buy.

The size of the fish you are after will determine the weight of the rod you need to use. Light fish require a lightweight rod while the big fish need a heavy rod. However, fly fishing rods are not rated like traditional rods according to pounds test. Instead, they are rated by the weight of the line in the range from 1 to 14. The higher numbers are for bigger fish. The heavier lines are more difficult to master too, so beginners should stick with a level 5 rod.

The length of the fly fishing rod is another consideration. The average rod length is about eight to nine feet. The environment you are fishing in may require a shorter rod. In fact, some people may have difficulty manipulating and casting a rod that is too long. Children especially do better when fly fishing with a shorter rod.

Another quality important to your purchase is the rod’s material. Rods are often constructed of graphite, with fiberglass and more traditional materials such as bamboo. For your first semi-serious rod, graphite is an excellent choice that makes the decision slightly less complicated.

Rods are often described in terms of their action. That is, a rod with a faster action bends more toward its tip, with the degree of the bend decreasing rapidly as it nears the handle. Slower action rods bend throughout their length, with the bend ending much nearer the handle. Each type of action has its relative advantages. As a beginner, and to make the decision less complicated, it is usually best to choose a rod with a moderate action. This tends to both help improve your cast, and to help you determine which type of action fits your style better.

Remember that your fly fishing skills will grow over time and your fly fishing tackle will grow with you. For that reason, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money when you are starting out. Once you have mastered one rod, you can move on to another. As your fishing style stabilizes or your preferences change, you will find yourself buying more fly fishing rods over the years.

If you buy expensive fly fishing tackle when you are a beginner, you may feel obligated to stick with it even if it has disadvantages and does not work well with your style of fly fishing. You may even develop bad habits that will be difficult to break simply because you are forcing yourself to use the wrong rod. Do not spend a lot of money on a rod if it will make you feel trapped into getting your money’s worth out of it. You can certainly learn fly fishing techniques with less expensive rods that are designed with beginners in mind.

The G.Loomis Xperience Fly Rod is an example of a great fly fishing rod for you to consider. This is a high-performance, high-value travel fly rods that is made with the same high-modulus graphite found in more expensive top shelf rods. This rod is prices at about $285.

Bill Keller Fishing buy fly fishing rod, Fishing, fishing rod, fly fishing rod, freshwater fishing rod

One of the most important aspects of fishing is getting the right fishing tackle. If you don’t have this right then everything else will be wrong as well. There are various kinds of tackle available on today’s market but you’ll need to do some research if you want to find the right options for your needs. Just make sure that you take your time and don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you need it.

Whatever you’re looking for, it shouldn’t be a problem to find items that are worthwhile. There is so much available on today’s market that you’ll be spoilt for choice. It can sometimes be hard to decide on what is right for your needs though. You’ll have to take your time while you’re browsing the web to ensure that you’re aware of everything on today’s market.

The forums on the web are probably where most of the information you learn will come from so use them wisely. Fishing tackle does come in a range of different sizes, shapes and styles and depending on where you’re fishing you’ll also need to consider what sort of tackle you need.

The first thing you should consider is the type of purchase you’re planning on. This will be an important aspect of your decisions so make sure you understand what you’re looking for before you buy or pay for anything. You will need to be aware of everything available on today’s market so take your time while you’re browsing the web.

You will then need to consider the type of fishing tackle available on today’s market and do some research to find out which options are best suited to your needs. It can be quite easy to find what you’re looking for if you hit the internet and have a good look around.

You will easily find fishing tackle on today’s market – you just have to know where to look. Have a browse on a few websites and see what you can find. If you perform some searches in Google you’ll more than likely be confronted with several offers and deals that are worthwhile.

Sebastian T Allen Fishing carp tackle, Fishing, fishing tackle

The first men to travel across the globe used only what they knew to navigate around. They traveled across land and sea with only the sun, moon and earth to provide a sense of direction. We even used to think the earth was flat. How times have changed.

The invention of the compass changed navigation and made it possible for explorers to always know which direction they were heading in. Maps of the early earth helped us to keep track of where we were and where we wanted to be.

In the 21st Century, we have come so far that all these things can be rendered obsolete. The reason is that information is all saved digitally. There is something called GPS (Global Positioning System) that allows us to connect to satellites to find the exact location of places, all from the palm of your hand.

GPS have been incorporated into the best automobiles as we look for ways to make travelling easier. With a GPS system located on the dashboard, drivers can find their way through street maps easier than ever before. Simply select your destination and be guided there visually and audibly.

Those who have been lucky enough to experience the joys of travelling in a vehicle with GPS will be able to testify as to how simple it makes navigation. When you have a digital map in front of you with the route already set out, you can’t go wrong. With voice commands, you’d have to be an idiot to get lost.

Advancements in important fields like science and technology means human beings are constantly discovering ways of making life easier and more functional. Upgrades of things like computer chips and mobile phones means more technology can be fitted into smaller gadgets. GPS handheld devices are the smallest versions of maps and compasses we can use today.

It’s not only when travelling that GPS can be very useful. GPS receivers can also pinpoint the location of other GPS receivers within a certain vicinity. So next time you go to a carnival with the kids, or to a public place where it could be possible to lose somebody, think about how easy it would be to find each other with GPS handheld devices.

So it would be worth getting GPS if you’re somebody who loves travelling, off-roading, mountaineering or any activity where you might need to know your whereabouts at all times. As a GPS handheld, it makes you geographically mobile. As a GPS system in a car, you’ll never get lost on the roads. GPS can make a lot of things easier to find in your life.

George Prince GPS Boating, Electronics, Fishing, GPS, hiking, Hobbies, Hunting, navigation, Outdoors, recreation, Security, Sports, Technology, tracking

It might not be physically demanding, but the modern corporate life can really drain one’s energy and frazzle the nerves to the point where we just loose the appetite to do anything at all. This is a dilemma for people like me who prefer to move forward and be on top of situations. Most of us just get stuck in the rut of our daily routine and we become less efficient. We wonder how we can get our mojo running again.

People who work really hard need to have a change of environment and routine once in a while to get recharged some motivational experts say. The thing to do the trick could just be a complete deviation from their normal surroundings and the things they normally do. The city life can really be testing and people need to get away from it all to re-oil their engines.

A lot of people have taken up fishing as a leisure interest. It provides them with the quiet time they need, and provides them with goals to give them a sense of fulfillment. It is also a perfect activity for bonding time with family and friends. A dinner of fish to follow thereafter is not such a bad idea as well.

Fishing can be a tricky business for beginners. If you are contemplating taking up fishing as a weekend endeavor, fishing for trout might be a good place to start. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Your gear will be the first thing to consider. This includes your rod, line, and reel. A lot of beginners make the mistake of using gears that are completely inappropriate. Where rod and reel are concerned, ultralight action is highly favored. It is better to start with a 5 – 6 foot rod. Ultralight rods are distinguishable by a UL mark on it and they are also thinner.

It is imperative to match the reel with the rod. Another common mistake is using a reel that is too heavy. Do know that trouts have excellent eyesight and they will be able to detect a reel that’s too heavy.

Baits should be presented in a natural manner. Fishes will be able to know if something’s amiss. Do not make the mistake of simply balling your bait and throwing it in the water. Make sure that the hooks you use will allow you to present your bait in it’s most natural state.

Lastly, look for an appropriate boat to use, It is wise for beginners to begin with a boat that are pre owned. Besides the advantage of a lower price, a used boat usually will have gears thrown in by previous owners like dock lines, life jackets, a radio, spare props, safety equipment and other practical additions. It will cost a lot if you buy all of these brand new.

Fishing can be an entirely new experience for those looking to start a relaxing weekend endeavor, but if you know where and how to start, it can be a very rewarding and worthwhile experience.

George Ross Fishing activity, bait, boat, Family, Fishing, Health, hook, leisure, sport, stress, trout, water, weekend, work

It isn’t every fisherman who will look back nostalgically on the Spring 2008 fishing season – but there are a few out there who will smile fondly. Despite that, most anglers are just glad it’s over. Spring 2008 was the windiest that has been seen in decades; there was just one baitfish which salvaged these horribly windy spring days for many middle coast guides and anglers.

We all know that summer is the time for tides and the shrimp migrate in the autumn; but spring is the season of the minnow – the glass minnow. These flashy little creatures show up in the shallows in schools of thousands. Drawn by this display, pelicans and other birds descend on the flats for weeks at a time. Speckled trout and redfish will be waiting for their chance to feed as well. If you can wait for them to get hungry enough, you can bring in quite a catch!

On the brink of one of the windiest days last spring, Capt. Ken Sabin and I guided a large group of fishermen from Dallas and Austin. Winds had just swapped from the south at 20 mph to the north at around 30. Mother Nature’s last minute decision to alter the wind’s direction did a fantastic job pulling out the tide and muddying up every inch of wadeable water.

When we were heading out of the water, Sabin and I were ambushed with recommendations by other guides to cancel instead of attempting to wade in the blown out waters. Instead of sending them home from a fishing trip that did not even involve a boat ride, we opted to give our customers a fighting chance at catching a fish.

We could see pelicans diving into the shallows of a cove along the south shore; it looked like the cove was packed with baitfish! We moved close enough to cast and got ready for what promised to be some pretty heavy mud by getting on our waders. Even though the waters were murky and the tide was starting to fall, I had an instinctive feeling that the big fish would make a move soon. We decided to mimic the glass minnows with some Brown Lures glow and chartreuse soft plastic lures – they’re ideal for these situations. I added a miniature chrome topwater and before long, we were starting to attract some attention from redfish. They started off biting slow, as they always do; but then they really started to rush in!

A patch of bait that was previously the size of a swimming pool quickly became tightly confined. Minnows flipped and bounced on the surface like popcorn. Trout were seen jolting clear out of the water in pursuit. The surface of the water boiled as piranha-like predators furiously attacked glass minnows like machines.

Usually, you’d reel in quickly keeping the lure over the surface of the water to get trout interested – but this cove was so full of them that we did better with a slow reel. To give you an idea of how well this trip went, we all caught our limits of redfish!

If spring 2009 awaits your casts, find bait and fish late. The bite often just begins at nightfall.

Captain Kyle Tomek Fishing Fishing, fishing gear, fishing lures, fishing tackle, Outdoors, recreation, salt water fishing, salt water fishing lures, saltwater fishing, saltwater fishing lures, Sports

If you haven’t experienced the advantages of an electronic fish finder, you really don’t know what you’re missing. With the new technology that is available today, tracking fish with a high resolution device can change your whole fishing experience.

Today’s fish finders can turn a bad fishing day into a real day of fishing. When the bay is too large and the fish are illusive, you can spend your entire day searching for just one good area to fish. Of course, you have the option of committing to one select spot and sticking it out no matter what the results are. You can even justify it by remembering that even a bad fishing day is a lot more fun than other alternatives.

With a clarity that will blow your mind, you can do everything from find the fish to find your way home. You can even find the depth that you are fishing at so that you know whether the fish you seek are even in the waters you are fishing. Preventing prop damage is another bonus. You can get a GPS chart plotter, depth sounder, knot meter, and a port for plugging into a DVD if you so desire.

The chart plotter is really advantageous for smaller fishing vessels. It gives you the ability to go farther than you thought possible while being quite positive that you will be able to get back to land with proficiency.

Having a GPS included gives you a much larger fishing range. As long as you can maintain your fuel supply, the GPS feature can help expand your fishing grounds without the fear (or the reality) of getting lost. With the depth sounding feature you know exactly how close you can get to a shoreline without smacking the prop against the bottom. The damage from that can be catastrophic for those of us with only one prop.

Fish finders used to be relatively ineffective at providing any more information than just whether a school was below you. Advancements of today mean that you can get just about any piece of relevant information from your electronics, including these electronics. It’s an amazing development that saves you time, money, and energy. Using a fish finder is as simple as typing or pushing basic buttons.

It’s a great day when you can go out, spend some time with friends or family, cast off and have a great day. Sure, there are days when it really doesn’t matter if you come home with a catch. For those days that it does matter, a fish finder can be the little tool to get you results.

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One of the most important aspects of fishing is getting the right fishing tackle. If you don’t have this right then everything else will be wrong as well. There are various kinds of tackle available on today’s market but you’ll need to do some research if you want to find the right options for your needs. Just make sure that you take your time and don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you need it.

There are a lot of fishing forums on the web these days and plenty of online communities that discuss everything related to fishing. If you are a beginner or if perhaps you are just looking to join a fishing community then you should consider joining a forum and asking questions and getting advice.

There are lots of options to choose from and you may find it difficult to make up your mind. Well, if that’s the case then you should read on to learn how to choose the right services for your needs. You will also need to set yourself a budget so that you don’t overspend and waste your money on a deal that’s not worth it.

The first thing you should consider is the type of purchase you’re planning on. This will be an important aspect of your decisions so make sure you understand what you’re looking for before you buy anything or agree to anything. It’s important that you’re made aware of everything available on today’s market so that you can make informed decisions.

Most of the time, fishing items are widely available so finding the right fishing tackle is simple. Once you’ve found the right tackle, you’ll then need to compare a few prices and get yourself a good deal. Remember that you’re doing this for fun and the minute you rush into a purchase, you’re risking that fun by maybe ending up with something you don’t want or need.

If you have a good look around on the internet you should find that there are plenty of options available. Have a browse and do some searches on Google to see what comes up. You’ll probably be surprised at the amount of choice for such a simple purchase.

Sebastian T Allen Fishing carp tackle, Fishing, fishing tackle

Let me begin by first saying that this is not the ONLY way to catch fish, but some tips that have worked for me. Spending time and practicing your skills and observation techniques is very important as well. Getting familiar with your usual fishing grounds so that you will be prepared and know what you are looking for can help no matter what the conditions are.

One of my favorite marks to key on are the grass lines, especially those found in the southern portion of Baffin Bay. What you are looking for here is where the grass goes from being very dense to not growing in very shallow water. The transition is usually quite visible as it becomes a sandy white bottom, something to look for on clear and sunny days.

Another type of grass line that is a little more subtle often occurs on a depth change. As an old Bass fisherman, it took me a while to realize that a depth change in the Laguna Madre was not necessarily a three to four foot drop into a channel. In fact, many of the ones I see that will change fish behavior are as little as two or three inches. The grass line I refer to here is a transition from the longer dense grass to a sparse short grass in the shallower water. This is redfish heaven as it seems to give small crabs and shrimp a false sense of security while leaving them virtually exposed to any predators swimming nearby.

There are all sorts of techniques you can use once you have picked out a target. I typically like to start with a steady and fast retrieve and try to get a quick strike from a predator fish. Sometimes incorporating a “waving” motion with this speed works for me as well. There usually isn’t one right way of doing this, and what works well in one situation may not work in another. This is why you should experiment and try out different motions, retrieval speeds and other variations until you discover what works.

In addition to the grass lines, be on the lookout for potholes that range from a few feet to yards across. The edges all around the sides of the potholes are very important as small fish will hang around looking for food here. Larger predator fish are usually nearby. Baffin Bay is home to many of these potholes, especially rocky ones with steep drop offs that plunge down 8-9 feet. I like bring out the old Bass fishing tactics here when working these structures and edges.

When working a slower technique I prefer to throw soft plastic lures like Brown Lures’ Devil Eyes. These saltwater lures work great in short, quick bouncing motions with intermittent pauses, especially when Texas rigged on a quarter ounce sinker weight. This has been one of my staples since I started saltwater fishing. I find that the technique works whether fishing potholes or those rocky edges because of the “fluttering” motion of the lure which draws aggressive strikes from fish. The large eye on the lure also provides a nice target for the fish to lock on to.

With the birds already moving around, and the weather being very cooperative I’m looking forward to a solid winter fishing season. If you are looking for an exciting outdoor adventure give us a call and we’ll hook you up.

Captain Aubrey Black Fishing Fishing, fishing guide, fishing guides, fishing help, fishing tips, Outdoors, saltwater inshore fishing, sportfishing, texas fishing, Texas saltwater fishing, winter fishing tips

As autumn’s chill starts to put a nip in the air and the days grow shorter, flounder are beginning their yearly spawning run, making their way to the gulf through every waterway in the region. The fall flounder season is here again and according to fishing reports, this is shaping up to be an excellent season for Texas fishing if flounder are a favorite of yours.

A self-described flounder fan, Captain Skip James does a lot of angling on Sabine Lake. He’s been carefully studying the movements of the flounder run for years with telemetry instruments. As James reports, “I follow what the large females are doing, since she’s always followed by a whole group of males waiting for her eggs to drop.”

As a long time flounder expert, Captain James is as good as any fishing reports we’ve seen as far as Texas fishing for flounder is concerned, so it carries serious weight when he tells us “The flounder run’s actually at about the halfway point right now and will peak very soon. It typically starts in mid September and ends in mid December.” While the flounder make their way to the gulf’s deep waters, things are pretty easy for the experienced angler. “I just use a 4″ bayside speck grub – it’s all I need and we’ve been landing flounder up to 6 pounds. If the rest of the run is this good, it’ll go down as one of the best years I’ve ever seen,” says James.

Phil Ortiz of Galveston tells us that despite the conventional wisdom, you don’t have to wait for the first cold snap to catch plenty of flounder. Ortiz tells us what the better fishing reports have been saying for some time – “Flounder know to migrate because the days grow shorter; it’s not just temperature. Of course, once the first cold snap hits, they’ll really start moving – but I’m catching plenty even now.”

As far as his lures go, Ortiz uses artificial lures for flounder, including of course his own invention the “Flounder Pounder”.

Jeff Boudreaux is a Galveston angler who is among the rare breed who pursue flounder all year. Boudreaux tends to do his autumn flounder angling using the pitching methods many use for stick beds when bass fishing. Reports Boudreaux, beaming widely “It’s just as good with flounder as it is with bass. I feel for that initial thump and I set the hook right away.”

Though many use live bait for flounder, Boudreaux prefers to use soft plastics. “I have had major success using the Brown’s Corky Devil.” The rat-tailed suspending bait, he says, assisted him in landing a seven-pounder just a week ago.

“If you’re talking Texas fishing, there’s no better time and place for flounder than autumn in the Sea World Park Flat or the Galveston Channel,” says Boudreaux. For live bait users, Boudreaux mentions the fishing reports stating that finger mullet with a Carolina rig or mud minnows are the way to go for flounder.

Lower coast angler, Cody Stripling exclusively targets flounder on the waters of the Lower Laguna Madre. Launching from Port Mansfield, Stripling works grassy structure and areas adjacent to deep water within his boat using a trolling motor.

Like other Texas fishing enthusiasts in the area, he tells us that things are slow in the Lower Laguna Madre right now, but he expects that things will take off quickly once the weather turns a little cooler.

“During the flounder run, I go for drop offs near deeper waters and grassy points. We’ve got very clear water here along the Lower Laguna Madre, so we can get a good look at those deep water adjacent areas where the flounder tend to hang out. All you need to do is pitch baits along the edge and you’ll be able to land all the flounder you could want,” says Stripling.

“All you need for flounder is a soft plastic lure and a quarter ounce lead head. It’s really pretty easy,” says Stripling. “I just work my bait with a basic bass retrieve. I bump them on the bottom, wait a few seconds and repeat – works like a charm.

Captain Kyle Tomek Fishing Fishing, fishing guide, fishing guides, fishing help, fishing tips, Outdoors, saltwater inshore fishing, sportfishing, texas fishing, texas gulf coast fishing, Texas saltwater fishing