Capt Steve

Hi Glenn. Thank you for the videos you create. I find them interesting and helpful.

Here’s my fishing buddy today. Uh oh. Thought I heard a splash

During the 23 years that I was a guide in the Gulf of Mexico, I’ve had five different customers pass out in the boat due to being overheated. All were women! They’re always so worried about having to use the bathroom that they don’t drink the night before or during the day. That’s a bad look on a human beings face when their eyes are rolled back in their head, and their skin turns gray. I got used to lifting their legs up high and putting wet compresses around their neck and under their armpits, and they usually come to within a few seconds. you are right Phil. People don’t realize how hot it is here during the middle of the summer. Especially if they’re used to working indoors.

Yes. Growing up in Florida usually meant to throwing melons or hay in the summer. We too called it getting “bear caught”. We joked a lot about Yogi being close by. when I was about 19 and farming I got sick / nauseated. After being sick for two days I went to the doc. He said heat exhaustion which can lead to heat stroke. They also warn that once you’ve had that it then it can occur more often. Im bad about not drinking enough water and usually my first sign is getting muscle cramps in my hands.

Especially during the spawning season. The Harris Chain has gotten so popular for tournaments the fish here get the crap beat out of them. There were 6 tournaments here two weekends ago. They used to tell us the caught fish will return to the lake they were caught from. They’ll never convince me of that totally. From Griffin thru 9 miles of Haines Crk. The lock. Then Lake Eustis. Dead river then across Harris. Then return? Not buying it. There’s gotta be a better way.

Welcome from Florida.

Welcome from Florida

Welcome from Florida

Thanks everyone. I guess I didn’t realize how far a gal of oil would go. I don’t remember exactly but my older Optis seemed to use more oil than what y’all are saying. I’ll do what I know is right for the engine. I’m just making sure I’m not paying unnecessarily. I’ve asked two marine dealer if I can bring my empty jug for a discount. Nope! DOMO online is over $50/gal. Now I know why I got a good deal on the boat. Haha. For the past 23 years I’ve been guiding in the gulf and using 4 strokes. I didn’t realize how much I was saving. Going back to a two stroke is eye opening. Thanks again.

Hello everyone. I recently purchased a 2018 225 hp Opti Pro xs. It only had 45 hours on it. It runs great. Ive had Optis before in the late 90s and in 2004. For those motors I used the performance plus oil by Quicksilver. These days I see they recommend using the OptiMaxx/DFI oil. I couldn’t believe my ears when they told me it cost $49 a gallon!!! I can buy Perf Plus for $22. Is this just a marketing ploy or can I use performance plus in this newer OptiMax? Obviously I don’t want to ruin a $15,000 engine but also I hate to pay $25 more per gallon of oil if I don’t have to. I see the Opti oil is brown while the PP oil is green. Any thoughts? I’m gonna also ask a couple of marine mechanics when I get a chance but thought I’d ask for opinions. Thanks.

It’s funny how we all call things by different names. Ive heard it called Maiden cane since I was a kid. Just because that’s what my dad called it. I never heard Kissimmee grass until a few years ago. Then I started thinking I was calling it the wrong name. Im sure it probably also has a fancy Latin name that I can’t pronounce. I guess it just how you first hear it that sticks.

I was finally able to get my bilge pump problem resolved. Johnson makes a float switch that clips onto the side of the pump. It has three wires going to it. I connected brown to brown (pump wire to switch wire) then black to black. The float switch also had a brown/red wire. I connected the brown/red wire directly to the battery positive post. This enabled me to not only have a manual pump function, but the automatic function works when my battery switch is turned off. But my original question did get answered. Nitro boats do not come standard with an automatic bilge. It’s an added option. Thanks to those who replied offering help.

Welcome from Central Florida

Welcome from central Florida

I do have to agree that the sudden noises definitely spook fish. But I have been curious if fish can feel the sonar pings. I’m sure they must be able to. If you’ve ever been swimming around your boat and get any part of your body underneath a transducer, you’ll know what I mean. you can feel a sort of shock every time it pings. It took me a few minutes to understand what I was feeling when it was hitting the top of my foot. I’m sure if I can feel it, fish surely can. But, I think fish are like people and other animals. “One size doesn’t fit all”. Some spook easier than others.

Thanks Airshot. Maybe this is what I have then but I can’t tell for sure til I pull it out. I’ve had fully automatic pumps before but they were the type that came on about every two minutes to check for water. You would hear them buzz for a couple seconds then if they felt no resistance they would turn off if they felt resistance, I would keep pumping. The pumps I’ve had with a built in float were more oblong shaped to give room for the float. This one is round. The type that’s in this boat is a Johnson 1600 GPH. When I look this pump up online, it doesn’t appear to be fully automatic. I’ll probably just have to wire in a float switch to this one. Thanks again for your reply

Thanks for the reply. From what I’ve seen it’s just the opposite. Any rigged boat I’ve had came with an auto bilge pump. But I’ve heard it’s not standard on Nitros. That’s why I’m asking. As for leaving the drain plug in, I see your point but you can’t do that when leaving a boat in the water. I’m hoping the wiring harness already included the “auto switch” wire. If I’m lucky Nitro ran the wire but just didn’t include the float or automatic pump

Hi Phil. Ive tried to message you but I keep getting a message saying “ I can only send one message per day. Try again later”. I’d like to meet you since we live close and fish the same waters.

I recently purchased a 2018 nitro Z 20. The previous owner took very good care of it and it’s in good shape. shortly after I got home with it, a rain storm passed through. Because the plug was still in the boat I ran out to turn on the bilge pump. That’s when I realize there’s no automatic bilge pump in the boat. It’s manual only from what I can tell. there’s no float switch and it doesn’t appear that the pump is fully automatic. It’s a Johnson 1600 GPH. When you turn on the automatic switch, the light comes on for about two seconds, then goes out. The manual pump works great though. I’m very surprised that a boat like this would not come with an automatic bilge pump. Does anyone know if this is the standard package or should it have come with an automatic bilge pump? I’m hoping that if I have to add a float switch that the wiring harness already has a wire coming from the dashboard auto switch. I think if I add a float switch to the current wiring on the pump, it will make it automatic only in the manual function will not work. There’s only two wires to the pump Thanks for any advice.

We’re just the opposite here in FL. It wont be long til it’s “almost” too hot to fish after about 11 am. 93 degrees on my truck thermometer yesterday. I must be getting old. But notice I said almost !!

Welcome from Central Florida.

Capt Don Heard (352-317-4100). specializes in summertime shark fishing out of Crystal River. He can fish up to six people out of his boat I think. Shoreline shark fishing may be tough on the gulf side due to how shallow it is. It can be done in places but not as effectively as on a boat. June is a great time for monsters as many sharks follow the tarpon schools migrating north. I hope this helps.

Welcome from another new member.

Thank you all for the welcome. Please forgive me if you see some dumb things going on with my posts. I’m trying to learn how to use this forum. It’s a little different than some of the other ones I’ve used. IE: messaging and backing to previous page. But, I’ll learn. I’m glad to hear some of you are close to my area. Maybe we can fish together someday. I am somewhat in the process of looking for another boat. I have no idea what I want to get. I’d love to have another bass boat, but that would mean I would never get to fish salt water with it. I had an action craft flats boats, but my son uses it now in Texas. At this point, I have no desire to go saltwater fishing but I don’t wanna invest in a bass boat if I’m not gonna use it enough. I think only time will answer my questions.

Hello everyone. Thank you for adding me to the group. I just retired from 23 years as a saltwater Gulf coast fishing guide. After that many years I no longer have any desire to sw fish. Except maybe tarpon which Ive always loved. I want to get back into bass fishing. I live about 2 casts from the Harris Chain of lakes. I’m finding that bass fishing has changed since I last fished for them almost 20 yrs ago. But it’ll be fun learning. I just found this site last week but I’ve already learned a lot and I’m looking forward to learning more.