Angler profile: Ben Florentino.

[PHOTOG]

Angler profile.

Name: Benny C. Florentino



Age: 49

Hometown: Arroyo Grande, Ca.

Any family? Son Matthew, Daughter Allissa, and 4 year old Grand son Allan

Sponsors? Skeeter/Yamaha, Aim Marine, Big Hammer, Shimano, Bite Fishing Products (Kicker Jigs and Candyman), Power Pro, Chili’s Grill and Bar




BASS

Favorite place to fish: San Clemente Island

Any club affiliation ? None

Favorite species: Love to target Calico Bass, but, getting a new found interest in Largemouth Bass!





What’s your favorite bait for fishing saltwater bass : Surface Iron!



What’s your technique for that bait and in what environment : 9’ Shimano Cacutta 90H Jig Stick, TN16 filled with 40 pound Izorline Triple X, and a Candyman Surface Iron in the #32 color! Fishing lay down kelp in Pyramid Cove and fishing boilers inside China point. Chuck the jig near any structure, isolated kelp or submerged rocks.



Of the 3 Saltwater bass, what are your personal best fish of the 3 (Spotted, calico, sand)? Spottie: 3+ on a Crank on a jetty, Calico 9.8 on a surface iron in PV, Sand Bass 9+ on the HB Flats.


What about the boat? Or boats, what do you use to get on the water? My skiff is a Skeeter 22ZXV powered by a Yamaha 225 4 Stroke. Has all the bells and whistles! I have made it back from Clemente in under 1.5 hours on a good day! Dream skiff for inshore fresh and saltwater!




What about tackle? What are your go-to rods, reels and other goods? All Shimano gear! Fishing Calico Bass: 90H Calcutta Rod w/TN 16 for throwing the Iron, 76H Calcutta Rod w/Calcutta 300 TE Reel spooled with 65 pound Power Pro with no leader straight tie. With a 1.5 ounce Hammerhead matched up with 6.5” #20 Toast Big Hammer swim bait, 711 Crucial Rod w/300 Curado spooled with 65 pound Power Pro with no leader straight tie with a 1 ounce Hammerhead matched with a 5.5” Big Hammer swim bait. I will vary color depending if I am fishing the beach or at the island.

Tell us about a memorable trip, Any great, wide open day or just a super fun trip that sticks out in your mind?

There has been so many in my life time, I would hate to just pick one! I have been fortunate enough to fish with some great anglers that are all respected in the bass world and some memorable days with them! Wide open Calico Bass fishing on the front side of Clemente with Doug Kern from Fisherman’s Tackle, he called the best Calico fishing of his life! Fishing the iron the whole time! Wide open Yellowtail fishing on January 1st 2005 with my SWBA partner Eric Neiman at San Clemente Island all Iron fish! Santa Barbara Island with Jack Sowell and Roger Eckhardt of Sav On Tackle, we were fishing a tournament, we were releasing 7 pounders because we had 5 7 pounders in the well and culling! We all got broken off fish bigger fish in 1 spot where we saw one come to color that was well over 10 pounds! And there was . . .!

One does come to mind, fishing with Jack Sowell (He is about 70+ year’s old) About 10 year’s ago at San Clemente Island around the end of January. We fishing the west end inside west cove on the beach with an out going tide, we were into them! I mean just biting and all quality, 5-7, some 8’s full speed every cast! I kept going through baits and it was so good I went to the Iron! I hung one around 8+, a 6, a 7, etc! Jack switches to his iron rod, makes a cast and says he’s stuck?? He lifts rod tip and his rod is stuck alright, on a fatty!! He is just getting tore up he finally gets that thing to the boat, on the Boga bouncing some where between 11-12 pounds! Mind you we were on this so long, it’s getting dusk! We hang a few more and call it a day right at dark!



If you could give one piece of advice to help other guys out there what would it be : Go fishing because it’s fun! Find your own fish because that is the challenge! Pay attention and take care of our surroundings, don’t take them for granted! Share with a kid or kids, next time your on a sport boat and it’s wide or you have your limit or whatever, hook and hand! It is the greatest joy to see a smile on a kids face when they are on one! Remember your first time? It was great wasn’t it? That’s why we always come back, FUN!





Thanks for taking the time to fill out this profile, tight lines.

My pleasure Jesse!

[fishpainter]

sweet read..

[T BICKLE]

cool write up. i dig it

[SJSsmokey]

Tell Benny " hi " from the Sowers family. Kill the Big mouth bass at your new place. Bill, the old one.

[fishmaniacs]

Great profile read Ben!

Didn't know you were THAT hardcore of a bass'er!! When was that photo with Ike? Was it this past recent City Limits taping?

See you at south shores!

Kevin

[spike]

Nice write up

[Ben@swimbait]

Kevin,

That was during the interview portion of the show.

Ben

[SealBeachKid]

Thanks for sharing Bennie. I hope you get to do this for the rest of your life, I'm sure you plan on it. You are blessed to be able to share something you have such passion for with your son...see ya' around brah.

[Ben@swimbait]

Justin,
Justin,
Very impressed by your Profile! I stopped surfing back in 1990 hard core and went straight fishing since! I have always fished, but, went 100% since!I was struck by the Bass thing before there was all the equipment we now have! Have been blessed to have the opportunities I have had over the past 20 year's! Fishing with some icons and personalties that are just plain stoked to go fishing and having fun doing it! I am proud of my son who has come into his own as an angler. He has the same stoke as you when it comes to fishing!

See you on Saturday!

Ben

[PHOTOG]

Yeah, You and Matt are awesome Ben, I need to get up north again for some more freshwater education on the SKEETER! That is one of my all time favorite trips yet.

[Josh D]

An Icon of the sport!

[Fishaholic L.B.]

nice post !