    
Capt. Tom Haynes
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 3:29 am: | |
Subject: Fish Report For April
Just before the cold front at the beginning of April, fishing was just short of spectacular. Had several parties out with results daily in the 20's for the snook. As the reds go, several each on those trips. Was surprised and pleased with those results. As all good thing's, that ended abruptly. With that cold front, the fish sought warmth and solitude. Had to bust my, you know, just to get bait. When the bait god's smiled on me, took same into the back country and did well. Those fish in the back country don't see too much live bait, and when they do, they will not leave it alone. We were back just about as far as my Action Craft 2020 would allow, and fished a run-off. Had several small mullet aboard. Threw those little guys into the main portion of the run off and without hesitation on the part of the fish, hooked and landed several red fish that went over 36 inches! OK you might say, but I'll tell you folks this. Have been fishing the back waters, Wheybac, of the Everglades for many years now. Without a doubt, these were the BIGGEST red fish that this writer has ever caught that deep in the glades. PERIOD. A new and exciting lesson for this old dog to learn. Admitted it also to the guy's on board. I was probably more excited than they were. Some that don't have "my experience" think that is the way it is! Many picture's of those bulls, then released. Those reds, should be goldies, were a very deep gold color indicating that they have been in the back country for some time. Hope I get the chance to see them again. Great fight when they run above 10 pounds. And speaking of fight, no doubt that reds will fight longer and harder than snook, pound for pound, when they get over 6 or 7 pounds.
Trout, when I fish for them during the "slack" time fishing for snook, have been large. They are biting the hard bait, and the bigger ones are taken on medium size white bait. Seems the never fail bait has been the motor oil color scrimp tail fished near the bottom. I have had good results with red head Yo-Zuri crystal minnows. Killer bait in any color. Dark days, darker lures, lighter days, lighter lures.
Outlook..........IF, being a big one, the weather holds, fishing will turn on full force. Bait is another variable that must be contented with. It seems it is around, but it may take a couple of hours, and patience, to chum, chum, and chum some more to get the live well full. They have been running large, scaled sardines, that the pup's (small snook) can't eat readily. I like the busy fishing for snook. But some of the big girls have yet to make it to the mouths of the river's. The spawn is not far away. When the mullet make their appearance, so will the big snook. Redfish will also begin to make an appearance around hard bottom as the summer season approaches. Trout are not as abundant this year as last year. Can't truly explain why. Very few on the flats that are above the slot.
Tip of the week........
With the large white bait as mentioned in the article, I have found that a 5/0 J hook has inproved the hook up's. Usually use a 3/0 Diiachi but with the large bait going to the larger hook is in order. Smaller bait, smaller hooks.
Tight lines and be safe......
Capt. Tom Haynes
813-340-1276 |
