Gray Taxidermy January 2013 Newsletter

January Region – The Bahamas and Caribbean

This is our First Winner for Regional Captain! Each month we will feature a specific region that is “Hot” in fishing. One order is randomly pulled from the previous months orders and the Captain will be awarded a prize specific to that region. The lucky Captain for January is Captain Charlton Strachan! This month’s sponsor is Dolphin Electreel. This company has long supported Gray Taxidermy in prizes and specials rates exclusively for our captains through-out the year. They have started this year off with a bang by awarding Captain Charlton Strachan an Electric Reel. Congratulations Captain Strachan! And huge thanks to Dolphin Electreel for making this happen!

Nassau and Paradise Island,
the hub for Sportfishing in the Bahamas
By Capt. Mike Russell Chubasco Charters Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas is located on the island of New Providence. The location of Nassau geographically places it at the center of some of the greatest fishing grounds in the world. If there was a perfect destination for deep sea sport fishing in the Western Hemisphere,
Nassau would top the list.

While a few destinations may claim as great of fishing as the Bahamas, Nassau and the Islands of the Bahamas definitely have the advantage when it comes to amenities and its accessibility from the U.S. Some of the best Marlin, Mahi-mahi, Tuna and Wahoo fishing can be had within an 80 mile radius of Nassau. Located off the western tip of Nassau is the world famous Tongue of the Ocean and 25 miles further to the west North West is Morgan’s Bluff and the legendary Pocket.

With a southeasterly wind, baitfish are pushed into the pocket at the edge of the Great Bahamas Bank creating ideal conditions for big-game fishing. Where there is food, big ocean predators are not far behind. Other well known and fished areas in the Northern Bahamas include Hole-in-the Wall off the southern tip of Abaco, the Dutch Bars and James Point off North Eleuthera. These three areas are
directly in the path of migrating fish heading north to pick-up the Gulf Stream.

During the winter months of November, December, January and February you can experience fantastic Wahoo fishing in the Bahamas. Most of the Wahoo caught will exceed 30lb, with many in the 100lb range. The deepwater shelf just off most of the islands yields the largest of these blue-water speedsters. The largest Wahoo caught on record in the Bahamas was in 1990 at 155lbs 8oz and was caught off San Salvador in the Southeast Bahamas. Trolling with skirted ballyhoo is the method used by most fishermen to catch Wahoo with red and black skirts being the popular color.

There is also some Sailfish and Mahi-mahi action along this shelf during the winter months. High speed trolling has become popular with the recreational angler in the past few years. The spring will bring the migrating Mahi-mahi found around the wee-line and debris followed by the Tuna and Marlin as the water warms.

The FIRST Captain of the Month for 2013...
Capt. Rudy Arguedas Soto from Costa Rica

Rudy Arguedas - REACTOR Watches, The official watch company of Gray Taxidermy, is the sponsor of the Captain of the Month program, returning for another year in 2013. Thank-you REACTOR! The winner of the prestigious Captain of the Month program is randomly pulled from all orders turned in during the previous month.

Congratulations from Gray Taxidermy and REACTOR Watches goes to Captain Rudy. Captain Rudy was born and raised in Costa Rica. He has been fishing for 10 years and has won the Michigan Boys Tournament 2 times. You can find Capt. Rudy on the “Sweet Dream” out of Los Suenos.

Captain Rudy believes it is important to be humble, and always be honest and truthful. He wanted to make sure and say “Thank-you” to his mate, Esteban Gallo. Way to go Captain Rudy!

Congratulations Rudy, and thank you REACTOR Watches (The official watch company of Gray Taxidermy) for sponsoring Gray Taxidermy Captains in this project!! Each month, REACTOR awards a GRAVITON 2 watch to the Captain of the Month, an outstanding watch for an outstanding Captain!

The determination of Captain of the month comes from a random drawing. Each month, every order placed with Gray Taxidermy is entered in a drawing. At the end of the month, one name is randomly pulled from all entries. Along with the new watch, the captain will also be awarded a Trophy plaque with an engraved plate from Gray Taxidermy. The more orders turned in, the better your chances.

Mate of Month, January 2013… Tyler Maltby of St. Thomas

Tyler - Costa Del Mar has once again signed on for another year! Not only are we keeping the Mate of the Month program going, but Costa Del Mar also gave us a ton of give-a-ways for our Christmas party this year and they are also sponsoring the Fish of the Month program honoring another mate each month as well. Thanks Costa Del Mar, you guys ROCK!

The lucky winner of Mate of the Month is Capt. Tyler Maltby. Capt. Tyler will be receiving a pair of Costa Del Mar Blue Mirror 580 Corbina sunglasses as well as a plaque from Gray Taxidermy! He was very excited to hear the news and gave us a little background into his fishing career. “I live in St. Thomas with my wife Jane and two daughters, Carter and Fairley. I grew up in Guilford, CT fishing Long Island Sound on my fathers 22 foot Mako. My grandparents retired in Nantucket where my grandfather made custom surf rods.

My parents and I would go twice a year to fish the beach Bluefish and Striped Bass tournaments in the spring and fall. My first job on a charter boat was in Watch Hill, RI aboard the “Bonita II” fishing Stripers and Blues as well as fishing the canyons for tuna. I moved to St. Thomas after graduating for Rollins College where I majored in English.

I was offered a job with Captain Bill McCauley aboard the “Prowler” where I worked for three years wiring and tagging more than two-hundred Blue Marlin. In 2004 I was offered a job running boats for Double Header Sportfishing and since then I have run over 300 trips a year under my 100-ton master license which I have held since 2002. In the rare time that I am not fishing I enjoy paddle-boarding, free diving, and spending time with my family on the beach.” Congrats Capt. Tyler!

The sponsor of this program, Costa Del Mar, is awarding Tyler a pair of Blue Mirror 580 Corbina sunglasses as well as a plaque from Gray Taxidermy! Once again, way to go Tyler!! Way to get those orders in! We truly appreciate everything you do!

The determination of Mate of the Month comes from a random drawing of all orders turned in during the previous month’s time.

Fish of the Month – January 2013…. SeaRobin

Thanks to Costa Del Mar for sponsoring this program and believing in Gray Taxidermy Captains and
Mates! Costa Del Mar is the official eyewear company of Gray Taxidermy; contact us for your
Sunglass needs.

YES – in a random pull of all fish types turned in last month, The Sea Robin was chosen, and yes, there was only one order for this fish type. Congratulations to Tom Martin out of South Carolina! Tom is the Mate on this order is awarded a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses! Way to go Tom! I was going to write about the fish species, but when this mount was chosen and we spoke to Tom, it was clear, this guy gets it!!! Many times the biggest mistake made when taking customers out charter fishing, is not learning the experience level of our customers…

We AssUMe… we only show excitement for what we believe is a giant trophy catch, not for the excitement level of the customer reeling in that once-in-a-lifetime catch! Tom took the time and mounted a 17” Sea Robin for his customer last month. This is not a Trophy catch to several well experienced fishermen, but was a first catch for his client. He was so excited, the customer was so excited, the mount is being custom made right now.

Take the time, engage your customer, you WILL mount more fish. Congratulations Tom Martin, mate aboard the “Safari IV” with Capt. Braxton Lewis out of Little River, South Carolina.

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