    
Capt Doug Blanton (Captdoug)
New member
Username: Captdoug
Post Number: 44
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 - 7:29 pm: | |
Summary
The Bulls are still Charging! I know the news has done nothing but tell everyone how every storm we have had in the Atlantic is going to come here but that's not true. We had a lot of rain one week. We haven't been blown away or washed off the map. The best part is the fishing has been great. We have nice schools of reds pushing 40 pounds and snook and tarpon working the early morning docks. And if that doesn't sound like a good reason to get out we also have the fall bait run on the way.
If you don't know what the fall bait run is you are missing some of the best fishing this area has to offer. Every fall huge schools of bait start to migrate south. when they pass through the fish all gorge themselves. The thing this time is known for more than anything is the top water tarpon and snook bite. Most days we catch 5 to 6 tarpon and a few reds and snook in a 8 hour trip. So if you haven't called to set up your trip you better do so fast because I usually am booked up but with all the bad press we have had this year I still have a few days open.
Redfish
As I said, The Bulls are charging! If you have fished with me in the past you know what I'm talking about. If not your never going to if you don't get out and give it a shot. We have a good number of 40+ pound reds working our flats. They are a little spookier this year than most but they have still been willing to take top water lures and flies. We have been having our best luck on spinning with the 4.25 Florida Special High Roller. On fly we have had better luck with the Bubble Head Popper than most other flies.
The key to fishing the big bull reds is to let them come to you. Never chase them! These fish are too smart and do not tolerate it. If I have a school blow past I wait until they are a hundred yards away before I try to start up and get ahead of them. If they are tailing and you spook them off, get out of their area and stake out and wait. 99% of the time they will come back if you don't try to chase them or stick around where they found something they liked.
All Of the big reds we have found have been on the deeper edge of the flats in 2 to 4 feet in areas where there is a lot of bait. One flat we fished last week had some big blue crabs in this deeper water along with the mullet and glass minnows. One little trick I use is watch for flats with a lot of Osprey working the flats. Pelicans and gulls mean lady fish. Osprey are a good sign that reds are in the same area.
Trout
The trout bite has been pretty slow over the past few weeks. We have picked up a few fish in the one to two pound range but this has been rare. Most of these fish have been caught in areas with a lot of glass minnows and mullet nearby. The drop-offs have held a lot of fish but most are real small.
Tarpon and Snook
The snook and tarpon bite has been has been pretty good after all the rain. Our best luck has been in areas with a little current or a good drop off near a shoreline. There are a lot of great fish being taken in the port in the early mornings but the rules in there will drive you nuts. In the river we have been fishing the deep water canals and docks. As always, it's all about the bait. We have been starting to catch some nice fish on top water but our best luck has still been Yozuri's 3D Minnow. On fly we have been having our best luck on EP Glass Minnows and the Bubble Head.
Most of our snook have been around 5 pounds and most of the tarpon are in the 20 to 40 pound range.
We only have a few more weeks until the tarpon and snook fish goes nuts so get out and do it often. The bait run will show up almost over night. One day will be okay than the next will be the best day of the year.
I tell the story every year about the trip we boated 30 tarpon and jumped 90 in an afternoon. It was during the bait run.
Other stuff
For those of you wanting to put together a trip to this area my wife is now booking hotel rooms for my clients. She can get you a rate as good as any of the online sites and knows what places are nice and the ones you want to stay away from. There is no charge for this service and she can book any hotel you want. She also does airline tickets, car rentals and cruises
Many of you have asked me over the years about the Fishing Lanyard I wear. I have started making them for the Fly Fisherman and they now have them in both stores. These make a great gift for the fisherman that has everything else. I now also have them on my website at this link Fishing Lanyards.
until next time.....
Get out there and catch a memory.
Capt. Doug Blanton
www.SightFishing.com
To book a trip with Capt Doug click here or call 321-432-9470
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