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CaptainIDS (Captainids)
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Username: Captainids
Post Number: 36
Registered: 9-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 10:13 am: | |
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 27, 2002 - 1:01 am: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
Big Bend
Happy Turkey day! Well I have got some good news and I've got some bad news. The good news is that grouper fishing is about as good as it gets, and inshore anglers are finding outstanding numbers of trout and redfish in rivers and creeks. And as you might have guessed, the bad new is that the weather looks pretty poor from turkey day through Sunday.
Rivers and creeks containing deep holes and warmer water are attracting trout, redfish, and anglers. Homosassa, Crystal River, Wacassassa, Cedar Key, and Suwannee are all producing good to excellent catches. Several baits are working well; live shrimp, Tiny Trout series Mirrolures, Saltwater Assassin jigs in white and pink, root beer, and electric chicken. Shallower waters are not out of the question. The combination of an incoming tide and a sunny day can warm mud and oyster flats enough to lure trout and reds to the skinny water later into the day.
Other inshore species you might encounter are sheepshead, black drum, sand trout, or whiting. Sand trout and whiting have been holding on hard packed sand bottom in channels or cuts from Cedar Key and Suwannee. Crystal River, Homosassa and Cedar Key anglers have found a few black drum mixed in with redfish.
WOW! What a stretch of great weather and even better grouper digging. Why can't it always be this good? Grouper catches are great all over. The powerful bottom dwellers seem to be congregating on rock piles from 20- to 50-feet deep. Several 20 fish limits have been taken without ever pulling anchor! We were not lucky enough to find that may keepers in one spot, but were able to fill limits moving only a couple of times. Pinfish did the trick for us, but many boats are cleaning up using only frozen herring or sardines. Pinfish are still abundant, and you can put 100 in the live well in short order. You may want to up your leader material size, as many of these gags are big, and my usual 80-lb leader failed on more than one occasion. The pressure these large fish can exert is amazing, and while they rarely "cut" through a leader, oversize grouper can actually flatten out the leader to the point of failure. Offshore waters are pretty dingy right now so the 100- to 125- pound leader should not affect the willingness of fish to bite.
Oversize reds are keeping grouper company over select hard-bottom areas offshore resulting in some exciting catch-n-release fishing. The only problem is I don't know why the big reds pick the areas they do, and they don't stay in one place for long.
Hopefully this weather forecast is wrong and conditions will improve somewhat so we can go work off some of this turkey by putting the hurt on some big fish.
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Capt. Miie
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 27, 2002 - 1:00 am: | |
Big Bend
Happy Turkey day! Well I have got some good news and I've got some bad news. The good news is that grouper fishing is about as good as it gets, and inshore anglers are finding outstanding numbers of trout and redfish in rivers and creeks. And as you might have guessed, the bad new is that the weather looks pretty poor from turkey day through Sunday.
Rivers and creeks containing deep holes and warmer water are attracting trout, redfish, and anglers. Homosassa, Crystal River, Wacassassa, Cedar Key, and Suwannee are all producing good to excellent catches. Several baits are working well; live shrimp, Tiny Trout series Mirrolures, Saltwater Assassin jigs in white and pink, root beer, and electric chicken. Shallower waters are not out of the question. The combination of an incoming tide and a sunny day can warm mud and oyster flats enough to lure trout and reds to the skinny water later into the day.
Other inshore species you might encounter are sheepshead, black drum, sand trout, or whiting. Sand trout and whiting have been holding on hard packed sand bottom in channels or cuts from Cedar Key and Suwannee. Crystal River, Homosassa and Cedar Key anglers have found a few black drum mixed in with redfish.
WOW! What a stretch of great weather and even better grouper digging. Why can't it always be this good? Grouper catches are great all over. The powerful bottom dwellers seem to be congregating on rock piles from 20- to 50-feet deep. Several 20 fish limits have been taken without ever pulling anchor! We were not lucky enough to find that may keepers in one spot, but were able to fill limits moving only a couple of times. Pinfish did the trick for us, but many boats are cleaning up using only frozen herring or sardines. Pinfish are still abundant, and you can put 100 in the live well in short order. You may want to up your leader material size, as many of these gags are big, and my usual 80-lb leader failed on more than one occasion. The pressure these large fish can exert is amazing, and while they rarely "cut" through a leader, oversize grouper can actually flatten out the leader to the point of failure. Offshore waters are pretty dingy right now so the 100- to 125- pound leader should not affect the willingness of fish to bite.
Oversize reds are keeping grouper company over select hard-bottom areas offshore resulting in some exciting catch-n-release fishing. The only problem is I don't know why the big reds pick the areas they do, and they don't stay in one place for long.
Hopefully this weather forecast is wrong and conditions will improve somewhat so we can go work off some of this turkey by putting the hurt on some big fish.
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 24, 2002 - 2:42 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
Aside from a few isolated showers, it looks like we are in for a fine weekend with seas likely less than two feet and winds five- to ten- knots through Sunday. Did I forget to mention the fish are biting? Outstanding reports of one type or another are coming from all Big Bend waters.
Suwannee and Cedar Key anglers report good redfish catches on grass lines and around islands. One Cedar Key angler reports releasing 18 redfish before catching one small enough to keep. Don’t you hate it when that happens? Unfortunately, this report is not typical since most redfish of spawning size have already started their journey offshore.
Sea trout are a good bet on grass flats and coming soon in creek mouths if these cool temperatures persist. Suwannee anglers are finding most of their fish north of the river’s mouth in four to six feet of water. Clear Homosassa flats have produced consistent trout catches for anglers fishing water around four feet deep. Most anything will work, from live shrimp to jigs, flies and top water plugs. Cedar Key fishers have found plenty of fish stalking shrimp and pinfish on grass flats from three to six feet deep. Live pinfish, shrimp, and jigs are all taking their share of fish.
Sand trout are still being taken on hard sand bottom in 10 to 12 feet of water. Small grub jigs and dead shrimp are the most productive baits. Deep channels are a good place to start. Pick a place that looks very flat with no vegetation.
Grouper diggers are having a fine time, some catching limits of hefty gags barely ten miles out in some places. Homosassa gags are hitting cast and trolled diving plugs in water from 12 to 25 feet deep. While trolling can be the most productive method for the next few months, conditions will not always allow you to troll and I you should be prepared to bottom fish with live or frozen bait. Grouper anglers out of Suwannee had a banner weekend with many boats bringing in near limits and limits of big fish from water 30- to 40- feet deep.
Spanish to 30 inches have been voracious on deep offshore grass a few miles off Cedar Key and Suwannee. Of course I am talking about Seahorse Reef and Spotty Bottom respectively. Spanish are also available grass flats inshore out of all Big Bend ports. Kingfish are taking slow trolled live baits, dead minnow/duster rigs and bottom baits from Suwannee to Crystal River.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 11:11 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
A break in the weather last weekend allowed many anglers to take advantage of great fishing and flat seas, but Hurricane sure put a dent in the fishing this week. I hope I did not mislead too many of you with my weather forecast last week. Weather conditions change by the minute and by the time Saturday morning rolls around; my weather information is a day and a half old. I will continue to put in my two cents, but don’t take my word for it, ask NOAA before you decide to go, or not to go.
Thanks to Sunday’s new moon we are looking at some pretty high tides over the next several days. Prime time to hit the flooded bars with your gold spoons and top-water plugs ready. Redfishing is not quite as hot as weeks past, but still a good bet just about anywhere in Big Bend waters. A pinfish or live shrimp stuck to a jig-head and fished under a popping cork or Cajun Thunder will entice both redfish and trout.
Trout catches are less than impressive, but the situation is only temporary. Look for better catches through the next few weeks if the storms leave us alone. Cleaner grass flats are accounting for the best catches.
Cobia are still roaming inshore and offshore waters. Not a lot of catches being reported, but it only takes one to make your day. Live or cut bait will do the job.
Spanish mackerel have rewarded fishers who made their way through high wind and seas to Seahorse Reef at Cedar Key and Spotty Bottom out of Suwannee. Anglers trolling silver Clarke Squid spoons and Floreo jigs faired well. More than a few fish in the four- to seven- pound range were boated over the weekend off Cedar Key and Suwannee. Unless you just enjoy replacing wire leaders every few minutes, use an Albright knot to attach 25- to 30- pound mono leader to your mainline above the wire.
For anglers able to make their way a little further offshore, good numbers of grouper await. Bottom fishers and trollers working depths from 25- to 40- feet have met with the most success. The strong tides should grab bottom fishers’ attention, and once the current and the bite slows around slack tide, break out the diving plugs and give trolling a try. Trolling is a great way to find new grouper spots as well as putting gags and kingfish in the box. You may want to use a wire leader in front of you plug. On your way offshore stop of on a grass flat and catch a few dozen pinfish. When the gags stop eating your frozen baits, you’ll be glad you have them. Don’t forget to put out a flat-line while you are bottom fishing. Kingfish, cobia and Spanish mackerel can all be suckers for free-lined live or dead bait.
If we are to get a fall king run this year, it should start any day now. Try slow trolling live baits, or dragging dead baits with a pink sea witch skirt. When using dead baits and a skirt you should troll fast enough to keep the baits just below the surface and/or skipping every now and then. If you move too slowly, the wary kings will get too good of a look at your bait.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 4:51 pm: | |
Subject: Cedar Key Report
BIG BEND
Finally, water temperatures are starting to go down instead of up. This is not going unnoticed by inshore species. Trout are starting to come around and redfish catches have been outstanding despite heavy boat traffic over the long weekend. Look for decreasing water temps to give grouper a kick in the tail and start to move them to rock piles within sight of land. This weekend’s weather is still up in the air as far as I am concerned. Tropical depression Edouard may be Tropical Storm Edouard again by Saturday after spending Friday in gulf waters. The forecast is for southeast wind 10 to 15 knots and seas two to four feet, but I think we just have to wait and see what happens.
With the shorter days, and water temperatures slowly dropping, grouper are starting to chase trolled plugs over near rock piles in water less than 35 feet deep. Mann’s Stretch 25’s and 30’s are by far the fisherman’s favorite lures, but the fish sometimes seem to prefer a Rebel Jawbreaker, Magnum Rapala, or Cisco Kid. Try a variety of sizes and colors until you hit upon on that works best. Don’t be surprised if you pick up oversize Spanish, kings or cobia while trolling for gags. Black-and-gold, black-and-silver, and orange are all good colors to start out with. Use the darker colors during overcast conditions and the brighter lures on sunny days with clear water. If you are fishing water over 25-feet deep, you may want to use a two-to four-ounce trolling weight six- to seven-feet in front of your plug. Most planers cannot be used with lipped plugs. Red grouper, while not known for chasing plugs, have been responding well to live pinfish and cut bait in water from 40- to 60-feet deep. While most fish are under the 20-inch minimum, fat reds to 15-pounds have been boated this week. The best grouper catches are coming from water 40 to 50 feet deep.
With the arrival of cooler water temperatures nearing the low 80’s, comes improved fishing for Spanish, kingfish, and trout. While large Spanish macks in greater numbers are beginning to show inshore and offshore, two- to four-pound bluefish seem to outnumber mackerel. Trollers will want to work deep grass or bait pods with Clarke or Kingspoons and hair jigs. Don’t be afraid to troll too fast. Start out at around five-knots and work your way up to seven until you find a speed that works for you. I like to keep at least one bait fairly close to the boat, less than 50-feet. When on person hooks up, have someone reel in the other spoon or jig as fast as possible. This will often result in a double hookup. Of course trolling is out of the question if there is too much grass floating around. In this case try anchoring up with a chum bag or drifting as casting jigs or free lining live or cut bait. Spro bucktail jigs are tops right now. Try ¼ to ¾ ounce jigs in white, green/white, or blue mackerel.
Although trout fishing is on the mend, redfish are still the best bet inshore. Everyone has their favorite bait, but live pinfish are tops right now. Large schools of oversize are being found around islands from Homosassa to Suwannee and most places in between. The word is one-hour before high tide is producing the best catches.
Cobia are still around and willing to take a live pinfish or jig. If you don’t mind wrestling with a few sharks, and you are the patient type, you should be able to pull a keeper off channel markers or out of deep water with grass flats nearby.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 6:04 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
Well this is it. The long weekend devoted to the working folks, your reward for busting your butt all year. Although it has been very hot out there, you should be all right as long as you have a place to hide from the sun and bring plenty of water and Gatorade or other sports drink. Start drinking fluids in the morning and don’t stop. If you wait until you feel light-headed, it may be too late. This weekend’s tides won’t match the spring tides we saw last weekend, but hopefully we’ll see enough current for a repeat of last weekend’s great redfishing. Look for an east to southeast wind and seas two feet through Monday.
Inshore anglers from Suwannee to Homosassa are finding oversize redfish plentiful and hungry with legal size fish in slightly fewer numbers. Gold spoons and small pinfish floated on grassy points and shell bars around high tide are a top choice. Live shrimp, grub-tail jigs, and top-water plugs are also a good bet.
Water temperatures inshore are pushing 87-degrees, but despite this, some very impressive trout catches are coming to anglers working grass flats in as little as four feet of water. Fifteen to twenty fish limits are not uncommon. Live bait and artificials have been very effective. The Weekend Angler host Kevin Ray and friend boated 10 trout over 19 inches on top water plugs while drifting Cedar Key flats. The pair was using a fire tiger plug called a DJ Vamp produced by the Lureman, Capt. Dave Jefford. If you are not lucky enough to have any of Capt. Jefford’s plugs, try a floater/diver or something you can walk across the surface. Zara Spook, Mirrolure’s Top Dog, or a Yozuri Crystal Minnow should do the trick. Live shrimp and pinfish are taking plenty of fish also.
If you're looking for something bigger to stretch your line, sharks and cobia are still being hooked in inshore cuts and channels from Suwannee to Cedar Key. Get out there early if you are after cobia. Heavy boat traffic puts a stop to sight fishing in a hurry.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish are still chasing jigs, spoons, and flies at Seahorse Reef, Spotty bottom, and Hedemon Reef. An abundance of grass and jellyfish has made for difficult trolling. Casting jigs and flies to bait pods has proven more successful. Large schools of 10 to 15 inch mangrove snapper are cooperating for anglers chumming and free-lining small pinfish, pilchards or chunks of fresh cut bait. A few feet of fluorocarbon leader may be necessary to get these tackle-wary slabs to bite.
The grouper bite is fair, but in most cases you will need a lot of bait to put legal fish in the box. There are tons of just short red and gag grouper, so take care when de-hooking and releasing short fish. Short gags and triggerfish can wreak havoc on a well stocked live well or frozen bait. Make sure you bring some frozen herring and squid for variety. Fresh cut bait can sometimes prove more effective than anything else. Half of a blue runner or fillet grunt work well and are harder for the smaller fish to steal. Dead bait drew just as many hits as live, but the live bait is accounting for more legal fish.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 3:36 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
It looks like we can look forward to decent weather this weekend with an east wind ten knots and seas two feet. Your best bet will be to fish the late morning outgoing tide. Thunderstorms and lightning are still a major threat so use common sense when deciding to stay or go.
If you happen to be near a TV on Saturday at 12:30 pm, and you get the Outdoor Life Network, check out Csonka Outdoors. I took Larry and Smokey Joe out of Cedar Key in May. I have not seen the show yet, but at the very least you should get to see Larry pull in some Big Bend gags, red grouper and amberjack.
Redfish are still your best bet inshore with equal numbers coming from oyster bars and inshore grass lines. Anglers using grub-tail jigs, gold spoons, live shrimp and pinfish are producing the top catches. Clouser minnows and small poppers are producing for fly fishers working flooded bars at high tide. Many fish are within the 18- to 27-inch slot size. Crystal River and Homossassa anglers are finding many reds are over the slot size.
Fishers targeting temperature sensitive trout are working hard to find keeper-size fish in near shore waters. With the exception of a few closely guarded areas inshore, most larger fish are still coming from deep grass located further offshore. With pinfish being so numerous right now, grub-tail jigs, cut bait, or medium-size pinfish will produce the most strikes. Saltwater Assassin jig tails fished under a Cajun Thunder rattling float is a tough combination to beat for spotted sea trout. Free lined pinfish or pigfish are also producing some nice trout, Spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Spanish mackerel and a few kings are slashing through bait schools offshore. There is so much grass floating around offshore that trolling for mackerel is just about impossible. This goes for dragging diving plugs as well. Your best bet is free lining live or cut bait in a chum line, or drifting and casting jigs.
Grouper fishing is inconsistent at best. A good day of a near limit catch is followed by a dismal day with one or two keepers. There are lots of short red and gag grouper in 50-feet of water. Keeper gags, triggerfish, and grunts seem to be a bit more abundant in 40- to 45-feet of water. Homosassa and Suwannee anglers report better catches in 50- to 65-feet of water. Live pinfish or threadfin herring have accounted for most of our fish over 22 inches, but many anglers swear frozen baits work just as well.
Some impressive catches of sharks and cobia have been made over the last week. Tiger sharks from four to ten feet long have been caught, as well as countless acrobatic blacktip, sand and Atlantic sharpnose sharks. Cobia to 62 pounds have been boated inshore and offshore. Surprisingly, cut bait has accounted for the largest fish.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 10:40 am: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
How about this cold front? I think it hit 68 degrees this morning. The only problem is that higher wind and seas accompany this cooler weather. Look for an east wind 10 to 15 knots and gusty with seas two to four feet through Sunday.
Redfish catches remain pretty good throughout the Big Bend. Homosassa anglers are taking big reds off the many keys located at the river’s mouth. Live pinfish or cut bait fished under a popping cork or on the bottom account for the best catches. Suwannee anglers have also experienced good catches of reds on flooded bars and grassy points.
Trout fishing has been less spectacular. A few fish are being taken on deeper grass flats from 6- to 12-feet deep. Live pinfish or shrimp fished with or without a float, or jigs worked slow and tight to the bottom are the best ways to fish the deep grass. A slip float is preferable to a popping cork over the deeper grass.
Cedar Key and Suwannee anglers are finding decent numbers of Spanish mackerel and bluefish on deep grass offshore. Spanish are also scattered over hard bottom. Casting or trolling jigs or spoons will take a few fish, but free lining live or cut bait is working best. Live Pilchards or threadfin herring are taking the biggest fish with many in the four to six pound range. Free lining small pinfish or pigfish will give you a shot at some nice size trout as the baits make a run for the grass.
Grouper fishing has been downright slow. If you are putting four or five keepers in the box, you are doing better than most right now. Near shore grouper diggers working water 35 to 45 feet deep are doing just as good as those running much farther offshore. Frozen bait and live baits are taking fish, but those taking the time to catch live baits are doing a bit better. Trolling may be an option, if you can stay clear floating grass that can turn fishing into a chore.
Sharks, tarpon and cobia should be roaming inshore waters looking for a fight. I said SHOULD BE, because cobia and tarpon catches have never really materialized this year. If you are feeling lucky, fish live or dead baits in deep cuts or channels. If you sight rolling tarpon, cast live pinfish, menhaden, mullet, or plugs in their path. Circle hooks will greatly increase your hookup ratio for poons. Just leave the rod in the holder the first few seconds and the tarpon will hook itself.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 7:21 pm: | |
Subject: Cedar Key Report
BIG BEND
This week’s full moon means high tides and a very strong current for those of you fishing late into the day. Severe storms lasting into late morning have kept many anglers sitting home watching the radar. Hopefully these storms will be less of a factor for the coming weekend. Look for a south wind five to ten knots and seas less than two feet with scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
Inshore catches have been pretty slow, unless you count sharks and pinfish. While a few keeper trout are being caught in four to six feet of water, most are hanging on the grass 8 to 14 feet deep seeking cooler water than what’s available inshore. Slow fished jigs or free-lined pinfish or pigfish are the ticket. Live shrimp are still pretty hard to come by.
Redfish catches are still pretty good from Homosassa, Crystal River, Wacassassa, and Cedar Key. Oversize reds are starting to thrill Homosassa anglers with the best fishing still a month away. Most fish are being taken just inside the river’s mouth. Cedar Key and Wacassassa angers are finding fish around grassy points and shell bars on or around high tide. Topwater plugs and gold spoons are perfect for fishing flooded bars. Live pinfish are still hard to beat. Not too much happening inshore out of Suwannee.
Spanish mackerel are hanging tough despite water temps well above their preferred range. Keeping the speedy macks company are bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle and little tunny. While most fish are on deeper grass, a few stubborn mackerel are slashing baits on inshore flats as well. Bait schools are abundant, and just about anything that swims are chasing them.
Grouper catches are good but most fish are not big enough to make the trip home. Red grouper dominate the catch right now, and you might find one fish out of 25 that measures up. Your best bet is to get away from the reds and find some gag grouper. If you are having trouble finding them, trolling may be the way to go. Try working some of these bait schools offshore with diving plugs of large jigs on a downrigger. I think if I was a grouper, those big schools of bait might be hard to resist.
There is still not much happening in the way of tarpon of cobia, although a few tarpon are being hooked and caught in the Homosassa River.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 9:39 pm: | |
Subject: Cedar Key Florida Report
BIG BEND
If you don’t mind the heat, this weekend’s weather should put a smile on your face. We can expect a southwest wind from five to ten knots and seas two feet or less through Sunday. A welcome change from the windy conditions we had last weekend. You’ll still need to keep an eye out for water spouts, thunderheads and lightning, and keep in mind that lightning strikes can appear many miles from the nearest clouds. It’s scary stuff, so be careful.
Despite very warm water temperatures inshore and less than ideal water clarity, grass flats in as little as three feet of water are giving up some impressive trout. Why are the specks putting up with 86-degree water? Well I don’t know for sure, but I would guess that the abundance of bait inshore might have something to do with it. Live shrimp will work if you can get them. Otherwise jigs worked near the bottom or under a popping or rattling cork will do the job. Small pinfish or cut pinfish are a good option as well. OK just about anything will work if your in the right place at the right time.
Trout are keeping Spanish mackerel, bluefish, small sharks and jack crevalle company on deeper grass as well. All the same baits mentioned for trout will work. Try drifting areas like Seahorse Reef, Spotty Bottom, and Hedemon Reef for any and all of these species. Pinfish, threadfins, pilchards, blue runners and ballyhoo are abundant, and can become a nuisance once your livewell is full. Trolling and anchoring seem to be equally effective right now as long as you can stay away from floating grass.
Just sub-legal red grouper continue to ravage live and frozen baits all along the Big Bend. If you want to have any bait left when the gags get hungry, you better double up on livies or frozen herring or sardines or you may be sorry. We’ve got to be extra careful when catching so many shorts to make sure they are released in good shape. Maybe we’ll have a chance to catch them again after they grow up and before the commercial guys get their hooks into them. Anglers fishing 45 to 65 feet of water have made some fine gag grouper catches as of late. Frozen bait will catch them, but live bait will catch them quicker.
While trolling for gags is hot in winter and spring, it is not usually the most productive tactic for middle-of-summer grouper fishing. It can however weed out the smaller fish for anglers limited to fishing closer in. The largest grouper in a given area are usually the first to chase down a trolled plug. The odd king, oversize Spanish mackerel, or cobia might also be your reward when employing this method. Mann’s Stretch 30, Rebel Jawbreaker, Cisco Kid, and Magnum Rapala are all worth a try.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Philippe Tisseaux
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 9:58 pm: | |
Subject: FISHING and ADVENTURES in NICARAGUA
Fishing report # 35 of our trip with Frank from Houston Texas ( May 2002 ) A San Juan River GRAN SLAM for Frank:Tarpon, Snook, Rainbow bass.... Only missing a Gar for our Super Gran Slam....
About this trip Frank did Email me:
Philippe, Paul and Augusto,
I want to thank you guys for all your exceptional efforts in making my recent fishing trip with you to the remote regions of southern Nicaragua a truly exotic and wonderfully exciting and safe adventure. You took me to some of the most beautiful, unspoiled and incredibly fruitful fishing grounds I have ever seen. Your custom approach to making my fishing trip a unique and memorable experience was greatly appreciated. I especially enjoyed the delicious dinners we shared that always included our fresh caught fish then sitting around remembering the day and discussing where we would fish and stay the next day. What an adventure! You guys are really good fishermen and you love what you are doing and it shows. I want to thank you for everything especially putting me on to that big Snook that I so desperately wanted even though they were out of season. Your custom and flexible approach to making a fishing trip fun sure beets the heck out of some of those other guys “cookie cutter” fishing trips. I would like to advise anyone considering booking with you to be prepared for some simple basic lodging, but, everywhere we went the food was very good the people were honest and friendly and the fishing was absolutely incredible. I am pleased to say that I never got sick eating any of the food and, surprisingly, I never applied any bug spray the entire trip.
I do look forward to booking another fishing adventure with you again real soon.
Again, thanks for everything,
Frank Yerich Frank@yerich.com www.yerich.com
My report: I received Frank coming from Houston at Juan Santamaria International airport in San Jose costa Rica, ( For this first trip with us franck did choose my option via San Jose I hope next time ...in order to change he will come via Managua, so discover the so beautifull city of Granada ) . My friend Paul from Florida ,was also in Costa Rica he joined the party...( It is always a great pleasure to have such an experienced fisherman as Paul aboard... as Frank is also a real Aficionado we really had a good team..) .
We went by car to Los chiles via the mountains of Costa Rica Cordillera Central..( cofe, Sugar cane, Orange plantation and Arenal Volcano..) as Fishing is actually closed in Rio Frio and Cano Negro in Costa Rica we directly entered Nicaragua aboard our boat Julia Brava via the border located on the jungle River of Rio Frio., a real Adventure, no car for Five days , all transfert in our boat Julia Brava.....( Captain and Fishing guide the now famous Augusto, Mate Abraham..) Five day fishing in unique Jungle Scenery , going from spot to spot according to fish Frank wanted to catch..... We used several Hotel all offering reasonable accomodation for Anglers.....Good meals also..... On San Juan River we went down to El Castillo , On Nicaragua Lake to the Solentiname Archipelago where we enjoyed the Hospitality of the Community founded by Ernesto Cardenal Frank did bought some Paintings and hand wood carved Arts.
Fishing has been great, San Juan River is really full of tarpon...we also caught our usual snooks around Saballo and Rainbow bass in Solentiname so a Gran Slam for Franck...
My expeditions are made of all of that , World Class Fishing but also a lot of discovery: Rain forest, wild life, First class bird watching, History: San Juan River has been describe by Mark Twain , at the end of 19th century it was the Gold Rush road, more than 100 000 Pioners pass there Going from New York to California aboard the boats of Mr Vanderbilt “( so much to write about that..), The fortress of El Castillo with it’s museum is worth the trip for itself... . Art is also part of our trips with the Famous Painters and Wood carver in so peacefull Solentiname...
Really a lot of fun with Paul , Augusto and a new friend Frank....
If you are interested in a new fishing destination really “ off the beaten track “
please be in touch with me via E mail at sanjuan@racsa.co.cr It will also be my pleasure to comunicate the E mail adress of Frank or other recent guests so you can talk directly with them concerning the quality of my fishing, Our organisation, and PLEASE TALK about safety in Nicaragua
( This is the question 90% of people wishing to come ask me...as they worry ...I perfectly understand than due to history people worry about Nicaragua but bad days are over and my answer is: Definitely nothing to fear, Nicaragua is nowdays a very peacefull country , slowly it open to tourism, there are very few places in the world where people are so nice with tourists ...)
I sugest you talk about all of that with Guests who did share our Fishing Adventures they are our best reference...
Philippe Tisseaux.
Email sanjuan@racsa.co.cr
Web site in English: http://www.marine-electronics.net/tropicalfishing/
Fishing reports at: http://pub25.ezboard.com/btarpon
New Web site in French: http://solentiname1.tripod.com/ |
Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 5:56 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
Well it seems like summer is really here and fish, as well as fisherman are taking notice. Anglers should double up on the amount of water and ice they normally bring. There is no excuse for getting caught out there without plenty of water, and don’t just look at it, drink alot.
Higher water temperatures have most species seeking cooler deeper water trying to find their comfort zone. For trout that zone is not much over 80 degrees and redfish prefer water less than 85 degrees. Inshore fish take advantage of the cooler water temps from dawn until the sun gets up, and so should you. Early morning is prime time to break out your top water baits. Mirrolure’s Top Dog, Zara Spook, and floater/divers like Rapalas all work well for redfish, sea trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and most other inshore game fish.
King and Spanish mackerel are still roaming Big Bend waters. Both are hit-and-miss, but kingfish are more so. Seahorse Reef and Spotty Bottom are giving up decent numbers of Spanish, as well as bluefish, trout and plenty of bait. Try anchoring and free lining, or trolling spoons and jigs. Kings are scattered over live-bottom from 35 feet on out. Cobia and sharks are also prowling the deep grass and hard-bottom in search or an easy meal.
Tarpon, cobia and sharks are a likely inshore encounter, with sharks topping the list. By now cobia are pretty tired of being pelted in the head with jigs and such, and are more likely to be found using a chum bag and live pinfish or pilchards fished on the bottom. Find an area with healthy grass coming up to a drop off or cut and anchor just off the edge of the grass. Tarpon can also be found in these same areas. Circle hooks will greatly increase the length of time a tarpon stays hooked, but I have found cobia can be difficult to hook on anything but a J-hook.
Grouper action has been great, but the quality of the fish could be better with only about one in ten fish large enough to keep. With so much of our catch too short to keep it becomes crucial for us to be careful when releasing those short grouper. The shorts we throw back today are the keepers of tomorrow. Well maybe not tomorrow, but you know what I mean. Lets make sure they survive after we let them go. If you can’t safely remove the hook, don’t! Cut the leader as short as possible. Try to handle the fish as little as possible, with a wet glove or towel if you can. With a good de-hooker, you don’t even have to touch the hook or the fish.
Live bait, cut bait, or jigs are the top baits right now. Blue/white bucktail jigs tipped or not tipped are fooling gags in water over 40 feet deep. Amberjack are also suckers for jigs; just make sure you and your tackle are up to the task. The best grouper and amberjack catches are still in water over 50 feet deep. That does not mean they are not being caught closer in, I’m just not hearing about it. So if you have some recent hot bites or impressive catches you are willing to share, I would love to hear from you. Shoot me an email and let me know how you’re doing.
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 9:08 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
The predicted cold front never materialized this week so wind and seas have remained mild and conditions offshore near perfect. We have decent tides this weekend with about a two-foot difference between the morning low and midday high. Saturday, look for an east wind ten knots and seas two feet, and 10 to 15 knots Sunday with seas two to three feet.
Near-shore grass flats and shallows are holding good numbers of, redfish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and sharks. Trout reports are down for this time of year. The best trout catches are coming from Horseshoe, Suwannee, and Cedar Key. Seahorse Reef and Spotty Bottom are yielding decent trout catches. Yozuri minnows, Long A’s, gold spoons and Saltwater Assassin jigs are taking the most fish as artificial baits go. Live shrimp or pinfish under a Flats Equalizer is a hard bait to beat for any of the previously mentioned species. Redfish are taking live shrimp and gold spoons in near shore shallows. Keep a rod ready for tossing a live pinfish or jig to cruising cobia.
To increase your chances of hooking up with a cobia, check out your favorite channel markers for cobes hanging out at the surface around the pole. Don’t give up just because you don’t see a cobia lazing at the surface. He may be there, and if you are patient, you’ll get up close and personal. Anchor up current from the marker, put out a chum bag and put your baits on the bottom and under a float. If your bait is pretty clear of the marker, leave your drag loose for the cobia’s initial run to give him a chance to eat the bait. Of course if your fish is heading for the marker, put the brakes on as much as possible. It’s a good idea to rig your anchor with a buoy so you can get moving quickly and go back for it later since you may have to chase your cobia around the marker to keep from breaking off.
Cedar Key’s Seahorse Reef is still giving up plenty of Spanish mackerel, as well as some impressive trout, bluefish, cobia and sharks. Pompano have also made an appearance at the reef. Hernando Beach, Homosassa, and Crystal River anglers are also finding cooperative Spanish mackerel on deep grass and cuts. Most limits are coming to anglers at anchor casting jigs or free-lining live shrimp or cut bait in a chum slick. Don’t expect to catch fish immediately, but within 15- to 20- minutes you should begin to see baitfish behind the boat followed by bigger fish. If you don’t start to see bait after a few minutes, you should probably move to another area.
King mackerel have been surprisingly abundant off Suwannee and Cedar Key in water from 25 to 50 feet deep. Schools fairly numerous from 20 to 60 feet, and are easy to find when seas aren’t too rough. Lucky bottom fishers have scored as many kingfish catches as anglers actually targeting the toothy torpedoes. As with Spanish mackerel a chum or menhaden oil slick will improve your chances.
Gag and red grouper are bashing bottom baits on live bottom from 25 to 65 feet deep. The best catches however, are coming from water over 45 feet deep. Live bait is killing them, but frozen will work. Goliath grouper are making easy meals of prime grouper baits and other grouper. Only the heaviest tackle will do for this catch-and-release fishing. Amberjack are abundant on wrecks and reefs all along the Big Bend. The phrase “big baits catch big fish” was never truer. Go big.
Good fishing. See you next week!
Capt Mike Winn
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Capt. MIke Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 3:25 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
Big Bend
Well friends, I don’t know about you, but I have had just about enough of the wind and seas we’ve had the last couple of weeks. So far this month, I have only been able to fish five days, and the rest of the month doesn’t look much different. Again for this weekend we are looking at a northeast to east wind from 15 to 25 knots and seas four to seven feet through the Memorial Day weekend. I would guess that forecast will eliminate 99% of offshore trips including me. This steady northeast wind is playing havoc with the tides; so don’t count on water heights to match up with the tidal charts.
Despite all the rough weather there are still some clean waters around that are producing decent trout catches as well as a few Spanish mackerel. There are a lot of short fish, but it sure beats sitting at home. Jigs fished under a Cajun Thunder rattling cork are your best bet. Some of the more productive jigs include; Salt Water Assassin’s Electric Chicken and Fire Tiger, Hurricane Cedar Key Tournament Series Sandcrab, and Rip Tide New Penny Swim Fin. The old stand by pink and white did not make the list this time.
If you just can’t find any clean water, sharks are still out there ready to stretch you line and they don’t seem to care how dirty the water is. If you are able to anchor on the edge of some deep water and are persistent, you may find cobia in addition to sharks. A chum bag and live bait is your best bet. Put a pinfish or similar bait under a cork and one on the bottom.
If the wind will let up enough to let the tide run in, reds should be biting on bars and grassy points on a high tide. Live shrimp, pinfish and gold spoons are top baits. Some say the reds bite better when inshore waters are rough. Let me know how you do if you make it out.
Don’t know of anyone that made it offshore over the last week. I am hoping that this fall-like weather we have been having will extend the stay of our toothy friends, Spanish and king mackerel. Likewise the cooler water temps may delay the need to run very far offshore for grouper. Something good has to come from this weather.
Good fishing. See you next week!
Capt. Mike Winn
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 4:12 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
Big Bend
I hope some of you were able to go to the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council in Destin this week. On the agenda for the meeting was the proposed four-month closure for gag and red grouper as part of the red grouper rebuilding plan. I don’t know about you, but red grouper make up less that 5% of my catch (legal fish), and don’t feel like a recreational closure is warranted. I was unable to get away from town due to an illness in the family, but I plan on attending the July meeting in Sarasota, and I urge you to do the same. We cannot let these proposed closures go unchallenged.
Prime fishing time is here. Unfortunately, prime weather is not. The wind has been blowing steadily 10 to 18 knots through most of the last week, and if you can believe the weather forecast we will see continued high winds through the weekend accompanied by three to five foot seas. Yuck!!
Well as you might have guessed, there have not been many anglers making the trip offshore this week. When seas do subside, expect good grouper catches from 40 feet on out. Nearshore grouper spots normally see increased fishing pressure when seas are up, and mid-May is usually a good time to find gags in their shallow water haunts. So if you just have to grouper fish this weekend, you may want to try rock piles in 18 to 25 feet of water that have produced fish in the past.
King mackerel catches remain strong off Cedar Key and Suwannee. Slow trolled live baits are very effective if you are confident there are fish in the area, but you can’t cover much water when crawling along at one knot or less. Dusters are a better choice if you are searching for fish. Obviously you will cover a lot more water when trolling at five or six knots. Ballyhoo, mullet, sardines or cigar minnows are great duster baits. The more streamlined the bait the better. Herring are less desirable for fast trolling because of their shape. Find birds or bait before putting lines out.
Good Spanish mackerel catches are coming from inshore and on deep grass offshore. Catches of 50 fish or more are not uncommon for anglers anchored up using chum and free lined baits. Trolling may be the most popular method of targeting the speedy macks. Number one or 00 size Clarke Spoons or King Spoons are top baits as are small hair jigs. I usually troll five to six knots, but vary your speed until you find one that works. Sometimes putting a small trolling weight ahead of your spoon will make the difference. Many of the Spanish we have caught lately were scarred with cuts or chunks missing, signaling the presence of larger gamefish nearby.
Rough water and wind has inshore waters pretty stirred up. Cleaner water will yield better trout catches. If you start picking up catfish, its time to find better water. Homosassa and Crystal River anglers are finding big trout in water four to six feet deep. Live shrimp, jigs and twitch baits are all fooling big trout.
Homosassa and Crystal River is also giving up the best redfish catches. Large schools of fish are showing up around the St. Martins Keys, and around the spoil banks on the barge canal. Small live pinfish, jigs and gold spoons are the best baits.
Thank goodness for cobia, sharks and tarpon. All of these species are available to inshore anglers throughout the Big Bend. Tarpon are still making their way northward, but significant numbers of fish are being seen as far north as Cedar Key. Cobia and sharks are being caught from all ports.
Good fishing. See you next week!
Capt. Mike Winn
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 12:01 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
Big Bend
If you can believe the weather forecast for this weekend, we ought to be in great shape. The trouble is, actual wind and seas this week have not quite matched up with the NOAA forecast conditions. Five to ten knots and two feet have turned out to be 10 to 20 knots and three to four foot seas. So the “forecast” is for a southwest wind ten knots and seas two feet. Tides this weekend are less than impressive, with the morning incoming providing the best tidal flow.
For the most part, inshore fishing has been inconsistent and sometimes downright slow. From Homossassa to Suwannee, trout fishing has really dropped off. The fish are really scattered right now, so make sure you explore different areas and depths. The best catches are coming from water over six feet deep. Of course there are always exceptions to the norm, and a few outstanding trout catches have been reported from anglers fishing deeper flats off Cedar Key. Salt Water Assassin, Electric Chicken jig tails are tough to beat.
Redfish catches are a little better than trout. Reds are more resistant to the dirty water and choppy conditions predominant inshore right now. Live shrimp, live pinfish or cut bait fished under a cork or on the bottom is working best right now. Fish grass lines, shell bars and points on and around a high tide.
Areas like Spotty Bottom and Seahorse reef are well know for producing outstanding Spanish mackerel catches, and this year is no exception. Look for bait and/or birds, and mackerel, bluefish; ladyfish or jacks should be close by. You can troll spoons, jigs or small plugs, you can drift while casting lures or natural baits, or you can anchor up and chum the fish to you. Sometimes all methods work equally well, but usually one is better than the other. As the inshore waters begin to heat up, look for seatrout and sand trout to move out to these deep grass areas in search of cooler water
Kingfish are being caught from Homossassa to Suwannee, but Cedar Key is producing the most consistent catches. Kings are feeding from the Kingfish Hole on out to 70 feet of water, with free-lined or slow trolled live baits working best, but a dead bait and duster will fool the speedy kings as well. If you decide to slow troll baits, put one of your crew in the bow with a jig and strip combination. Have him/her cast in the direction the boat is moving, let the jig sink to the bottom, and work it to the surface until the boat is almost over the bait. With a little practice you’ll catch fish you might otherwise miss.
Nearshore grouper catches continue to improve. Although not as good as we would expect this time of year, decent fish are coming from water as shallow as 20 feet deep. Live bait or larger cut baits will increase your chances of putting keepers in the boat.
Cobia and sharks are stretching lines from Chassahowitzka to Horseshoe Beach. The great thing about cobia is you don’t need a big boat to catch a big fish. They are just as numerous inshore as offshore. Find a cut or channel with a healthy grass flat nearby and anchor on the edge of the flat. Put out a chum bag, and put live bait under a cork and one on the bottom. Keep an eye on that chum bag too because cobia have habit of sitting right behind chum bag. Keep another rod ready to cast to sighted fish.
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 4:38 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Big Bend waters are getting more interesting every day as new species arrive and resident species such as spotted sea trout, redfish, and grouper have caught on to the fact that spring is here. Cobia is the latest species to hit Big Bend waters, although I have not heard of any catches yet. Wind and seas are looking good through the weekend, and the tides should be top notch thanks to this week’s full moon. Look for a southeast wind 10 to 15 knots and seas two to three feet.
Grouper catches were pretty good last week, with some outstanding catches coming off Suwannee in water from 40 to 90 feet deep. Frozen bait and then trolling seemed to produce best. Cedar Key anglers have also had good success in water from 25 to 60 feet deep. While a lot of keepers have been boated on frozen bait, if you’re not careful you will end up just feeding them. The fish have been biting very light. Even while trolling, you can watch the line slowly tighten up, and even some times go slack, instead of the violent strikes we associate with grouper. Further south from Hernando Beach, Crystal River, and Homosassa fishing has been slower, with most successful anglers going at least 50 feet deep.
There is a lot more than trout roaming the grass flats right now. If you’re targeting trout, you are likely run into just about anything. In addition to fine trout catches, flats fishers are snagging Spanish mackerel, blacktip sharks and seeing at least a few cobia. Live shrimp and jigs should get you some action. You can fish the live shrimp under a popping cork or you can free-line it while casting and/or drifting. The jigs can also be fished under a popping or rattling cork, or cast with or without tipping. Homosassa anglers are catching larger trout over shallow rocks in about three feet of water, Cedar Key trout seem to prefer four to six feet, and Suwannee trout deeper still, with the best catches coming from eight to nine feet deep.
While trout are your best bet inshore right now, redfish catches are finally improving to the point that taking home more than one keeper red per boat is not out of the question. Surprisingly, Cedar Key bridges are giving up there share of keeper reds, but the majority are coming from outer islands and bars at or around high tide. Live shrimp and pinfish are tops right now for reds.
Spanish mackerel, along with a few kingfish are hitting trolled baits on Seahorse Reef. Anchoring or drifting can also be very effecting. Try different methods and baits until you hit upon a combination that works. Some days they all work. Free lined live baits, cast jigs and spoons, or trolled live bait, jigs or spoons and all worthwhile combinations.
Since everyone wants to catch a cobia, make sure you are prepared when you see one cruising by or hovering around a channel marker. Keep a 20-30 pound casting or spinning outfit rigged and ready to go for live bait or with a heavy (two ounce) jig/tail rig. I use about four feet of 80-pound mono leader.
Good fishing. See you next week!
Capt. Mike Winn
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 5:12 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
With the exception of Sunday and Wednesday, our weather has been darn nice this week, and I am proud to say that all looks well through Monday. Look for winds mainly out of the south at five to ten knots and seas two feet or less. Wednesday’s new moon will make for fairly strong tides through the weekend.
I know there was a pile of you out there at Cedar Key looking for grouper last weekend. In order to forgo the anticipated ramp madness, we left early, and had a livewell full of bait by 6:45. Unfortunately, most of those beautiful pinfish ended up in my freezer, as we couldn’t find many hungry grouper on the bottom. We were forced to troll for them and are glad we did. From the sounds of the radio traffic, we were not alone. Still can’t figure out why a hungry gag would pass up a frisky pinfish sitting on the bottom with one hook in it, for a big hunk of plastic full of hooks. Anyway, the Mann’s Stretch 30 in green/chartreuse fire tiger, and one in Spanish sardine/hologram worked equally well, with each taking four nice gags.
Large black sea bass and some oversize grunts dominated most of my bottom fishing spots from 40 to 60 feet deep where the water temperature was sitting stubbornly at 58 degrees all day long. As I already mentioned most Cedar Key managed to catch a few keepers by trolling, but all in all the grouper bite was slow. Further south off Homosassa and Crystal River it was a different story. Good grouper catches and several limits were taken in water from 20 to 35 feet deep with most fish running 8 to 12 pounds. Live and frozen bait fished on the bottom accounted for the best catches.
Based on outstanding catches last week, sheepshead should again demand angler’s attention this weekend. Sheepshead catches increased noticeably this week, with limits coming from Cedar Key and Suwannee. Despite the removal of Suwannee’s Offshore Channel Marker Number 14, sheepshead are plentiful at the long-time spawning grounds, with some fish pushing 11 pounds. Cedar Key’s steel towers on Seahorse Reef and nearby artificial reefs are holding plenty of sheepies if you can get them to bite. Small pieces of fresh shrimp, sand fleas, fiddlers or clams are favorite baits. Smashed up oysters make a great chum and can help get the sheepshead in a feeding mood.
Not quite sure what is going on with the redfish bite lately. A few are being caught from all areas of the Big Bend but no one area stands out. Anglers are having to work mighty hard to get them, and aren’t really sharing too much information. Perhaps the best bite I have heard of was in the Ozello area, but if you aren’t familiar with these waters, I can’t recommend it, unless you don’t mind knocking holes in your boat and replacing your lower unit and/or prop every other trip. Corrigan’s Reef between Cedar Key and Wacassassa has given up a few keepers this week to anglers tossing gold spoons, but again, nothing to brag about.
Trout catches are way up off Crystal River and Homosassa as fish continue to make their way to nearshore grass flats. The St. Martins Keys seem to be giving up the best catches with limits of two to three pound fish coming to anglers fishing live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder Rattling cork. Cedar Key and Suwannee anglers have not been as fortunate. Fishing has been tough, with trout yet to establish themselves on grass flats in decent numbers. Catches should improve dramatically over the next couple of weeks provided we don’t see another freeze. Sand trout and whiting, stacked up in deep cuts and channels, saved the day for many inshore anglers, by gobbling up shrimp or cut bait tight lined on the bottom.
Good fishing. See you next week!
Capt. Mike Winn
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 4:21 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Well, we have some good news and we have some bad news. The bad news is not many people have been fishing the last couple of weeks so reports are still running pretty thin, the good new is that not many people have been fishing the last couple of weeks so fishing pressure has been very light. The rest of the good news is that better weather, and better fishing is not far off. Saturday, look for wind out of the southeast at 10 knots and two-foot seas, and a north wind increasing to 20 knot and seas four to six feet for Sunday.
With only two, barely fishable days since March 1, very few anglers have been able to take advantage of the opening of speckled trout season. In those two days, trout were boated in good numbers from Suwannee to Homosassa. The best catches came from the mouth of the Suwannee River. Redfish activity has been spotty at best.
A bit further from shore, big spawning sheepshead are holding on man-made structures and natural structures. Live shrimp are the most readily available bait, but clams, fiddler crabs and barnacles are top baits. Use just enough lead to keep a tight line and a small, very sharp hook. Jig heads are also a popular alternative.
Anglers targeting grouper with bottom rigs are taking their share of gags and red grouper on threadfin herring and squid. Water from 45-to 70 feet deep is still producing the most fish. On a rare fishable day last week, an adventurous crew headed out to 90 feet of water off of Suwannee. They were amply rewarded with a 30 fish limit of beautiful gags from 15 to 25 pounds. All were caught on cut frozen bait.
Let’s take a look ahead at things to come as water temperatures rise. Very soon, trout return to the grass flats in force, and reds will be around the islands and nearshore bars and grass lines, both suckers for jigs, live shrimp, plugs and flies. Once water temps hit the upper sixties, Spanish mackerel will join the trout on grass flats and deeper grass and hard bottom a bit further offshore. Then with water in the 68 to 70 degree mark, king mackerel should be in good supply with cobia close behind. Now might be a good time to make up your wire leaders and dusters rigs, and stock up on Clarke spoons and jigs. You will want to be ready when they are.
Good fishing. See you next week!
Capt. Mike Winn
WinnJammerCharters.com
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2002 - 5:06 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
One cool front on top of another has made for windy, sloppy conditions on the water. As a result, most anglers have stayed home this week just wishing they were fishing. If there is a bright spot this weekend, it will be Sunday, as the forecast is calling for a northeast wind 5 to 10 knots and seas two feet or less. Saturday looks downright nasty with 20-knot winds and five to seven foot seas.
Fishing inshore has been downright slow for most anglers. Since trout season is closed for another week, most fishers have been focusing on redfish, black drum and sheepshead. Coastal creeks hold all of these species in varying degrees. Homosassa and Crystal River anglers are finding short trout on the flats, redfish and slightly larger trout just inside the river mouth.
Cedar Key, Suwannee and Horseshoe Beach trout continue to slowly trickle out to nearby grass flats, where some anglers have enjoyed fast catch and release fishing. Live shrimp or pink and white jig tails fished under a Cajun Thunder rattling cork or popping cork are taking the most fish.
Redfish have been most uncooperative the last couple of weeks. Sometimes it seems like they just aren’t hungry, and that’s all I have to say about that.
There is no lack of sheepshead on offshore artificial and natural reefs. The trouble has been finding fish willing to eat. I suppose it’s all about timing. If you show up at a time when spawning is more important than eating, you are just out of luck. If, on the other hand, you show up after a prolonged “love” session, then those amorous sheepies are probably pretty hungry and you are in luck. Fish small live shrimp or pieces of fresh shrimp on a bare jig head. Just vary the weight of the head depending on depth and current conditions.
You can be sure that once this weather subsides there will be a rush of grouper-hungry anglers to offshore waters in search of hungry grouper. During the last piece of decent offshore weather, fishers reported good catches from Homosassa to Suwannee in water from 30 feet deep on out, and in some cases keepers were coming from water only 10 feet deep. The best catches are still coming from deeper waters, but it sure is nice to know you can boat a few closer in. For the most part, trolling has been a bust, and bottom fishing is the way to go. Frozen herring or sardines are taking the most fish.
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 07, 2002 - 5:46 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
As you have probably noticed, fishing conditions have been less than ideal over the last several days. It looks like we might get a break Saturday, with things turning ugly again on Sunday. The AM incoming tide will be your best bet while fishing inshore or offshore.
Although trout season is closed for the remainder of February, some anglers are enjoying good catch-and-release fishing. If you choose to fish trout during the closed season, make sure you pinch down the barb on your hook, and stay away from multi-hook rigs or lures. Trout are fairly delicate compared to other species, and the less you handle them the better their chance of survival. Most fish are being caught off river mouths or nearby grass flats.
Redfish season remains open all year, and are receiving full attention from many would-be trout anglers. Unfortunately, many areas are short on keepers, or the fish are so shallow, you can’t get within casting range without spooking them. Large schools of fish have been sighted in water from six to ten inches deep off Chassahowitzka, Homosassa, Ozello, and Crystal River, but as I said good luck getting a shot at them. Cedar Key reds are moving in and out of North, Seahorse and Snake Keys. Further north, small reds are holding on nearshore bars. Live shrimp are best.
Sheepshead action has picked up on offshore artificial reefs or other structures. The hardest part is finding a spot where the fish can’t see you first. I suspect after this rough weather we have had this week that visibility won’t be nearly as good and the fishing should get better. Bring along a bucket of oysters with you to get them chummed up and ready to eat.
Grouper remain abundant in depths from 18 feet on out. However, the best catches are coming from anglers going at out at least 25 miles. Those shallow water fish should be easier to catch due to the freshly stirred up water. Sea bass continue to be a nuisance to grouper fishers. Remember, if you start catching sub-legal black sea bass, just move. Sometimes moving 200 yards is enough, sometimes a couple of miles is not enough, but you’ve got to get away from the little ones of you want to catch keeper grouper. Frozen baits are working pretty well, but cut grunts are accounting for the biggest fish. With water temperatures where they are, it probably would not hurt to spend a few minutes looking for live baits. Trollers are catching fish, but not more legal ones than bottom fishers.
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Philippe TISSEAUX
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 4:00 pm: | |
Subject: Ten Anglers from texas fishing in Nicaragua ,
San Carlos Sportfishing
Fishing report # 25,. 30 th of January 2002
MORE THAN A 1000 FISH ( 10 ANGLERS , 5 DAYS...)
Report From Philippe Tisseaux E mail: sanjuan@sol.racsa.co.cr
Web page: http://www.nicaraguafishing
Preceding fishing reports ( 24 of them ) at: http://pub25.ezboard.com/btarpon
After several sucessfull trips in January for tarpon , Snook, and Rainbow bass with guests from USA, ( Report #23 and # 24 )I spend two days relaxing and enjoying the so beautiful Granada and Hotel COLONIAL before the coming of this group...Granada is really a very very nice city , a lot of History, a lot of places to have fun and still a very few tourist...The hotel COLONIAL is a great place to stay...and also Guests do enjoy the great hospitality of Etienne its owner...
The Hal group of Anglers ( Ten expert fishermen from Texas ) did arive on the 19th Mid day at Managua Airport...with a lot of luggages..really a lot of Fishing equipment..no way to have everybody and luggages in the van of Hotel Colonial ..I had to hire an extra taxi... we went to Granada , and spend a part of the day at Massaia at the artisanal market... Dinner in a very nice restaurant in town in Granada, and discussion about Fishing..and equipment...
Early morning everybody had a nice breakfast in the patio of COLONIAL , a walk in town.. a transfert to the airport in the van ( this time I did had a big trailer for the luggage..) COSTENA Airline did give us an entire airplane for the 50mn fly over the Lake to reach San Carlos...A very interesting landing according to some of our guests...( 4 of the guests are expert pilots ). Augusto was waiting at the local Airport with an army of taxi ( Some old Russian made Jeeps ) and a part of our crew.. a quich lunch fixed by Dona Juanita and La doctora ...At night we had our traditional River scrimp dinner , each of the scimp is around 1lb..and have a unique flavour... Night has been at Cabinas Leyjos...,
Well fishing did start around 1 pm on that day, after Control of equipment.etc....Every body aboard the boat...5 boats, 2 angler per boat.2 guides in each boat.....I do not remember who caught the first Tarpon and how many we got this first half day...but many...
In the folowing days Fishing has been the same and very important for us “ all guest did have tarpon..” .How many Sincerely I do not know, probably around 30 release to the boat, 60 on line , 150 /200 hits....and all big around 150lb till 200lb...and released in a clean way...We also did break several lines...During these fishing days around San Carlos some lunch has been in Medio quesso, another very special place in the “ real Jungle “ where my groups are welcome... guests did specifically enjoy this place....
We then went to Solentiname Island to relax and change our style of fishing...We went for Mojarra, Machaca, and our now famous Rainbow bass ( 5lb/8lb in that trip..) we did brake many lines...Not so easy as it seem to get a 10lb rainbow bass even on 12lb ecen for an expert Bass fisherman....One of my guide made a “ scrupulous but unofficial counting “ in two days of fishing we had all together more than a Thousand fish..on light tackles....than we released with the exception of some Rainbow than we had for lunch or Dinner ..absolutely delicious according to our guests wether cooked in the French way ( I made the chief sometimes ) or in the expert local way done by Bertha..( a great person ) .I like to point out the great hospitality than we enjoy in Solentiname...the place , a comunity has been created by Ernesto Cardenal...a very famous priest in Nicaragua his fame come from his poems, he did Publish many books...internationaly known...Really the place is Unique with the paintings, the wood carver , the Thousands of birds...and NO TOURIST, NO CAR..., No doubts a Must see and so great fishing...
So many fish...to many fish... we decided for a last morning of Tarpon fishing in front San Carlos ...and at a time the five boats where with Tarpon on...The radios were screaming everywhere Fish on!!!
On the same day we did enter Costa Rica via Rio Frio a nice dinner, a night at Ecodirecta Lodge...Folowing day has been a relax day first an ecological tour ion Rio Frio and Cano negro then atransfer to the Arenal area.., the volcano...and a lunch in the so nice place of my friend Carlos with his 400 hundred big wild Iguanas...the day did end in another of my special places in the mountains with typical meals and a Birtday party with Candle Cake and Pinata..as it was the birthday of one of the guest...a lot of fun...Night has been in so beautiful bed and Breakfast of DON BETO in Sarcero...than I did hire for the group....
Folowing morning the group did left for USA from San Jose Airport.
I like to make some additional coments about this trip...It has been an event for us as it is the first time we had such a big group, usually we receive, two to six Anglers...It is not the same to have an expedition with 20 persons involved...it do need a lot of work
So First a big thanks to all my staff ( more than 20 persons ) who really did a great job with a special mention for Augusto...., Augusto Cesar you are a great Captain/fishing guide but also a great organisator...
Then a special thank to this so nice and sympatical group of Texas...really you are all great persons....and very very good Anglers...This was your first experience with tarpon you did it very well.. ( .next time I will try to fish with Popper for Rainbow bass with you )
Then when I read what i did wrote above ...I think many readers will think than this is exagerated..It is not and I will be glad to forward the e-mail adress of some person of the group to any Suspicious reader...
I took a few days break in my fishing ( I have a very nice family to take care of : Carmen and my two little boys ) I am now in San Jose Costa Rica ( 4th of February ) to check my mail and write my reports... Augusto is fishing in Nicaragua with a group...I called a few minutes ago ...they again had big tarpons, .to morow they will fish Solentiname..will release a lot of fish but will have one or two of them for dinner...Well .this will be the subject of a coming report.
I am going to morow night to fish with two groups....people coming from France and USA...I also will write reports when I get a chance...
Concerning my booking I am full till the 17th of February but do have open weeks after and during the folowing months.. Fishing and Hospitality will be the same....Please be in touch by Email at:
sanjuan@racsa.co.cr
or put a message on my cellular phone at 506 395 50 53 ( Costa Rica ) if you wish to come fishing with us... WE RECEIVE GROUPS FROM 1 TO 10 ANGLERS.
In January we also do received several other group, Domenico For Tarpon and Snook , Andy and Andrea for Fishing, Ecology, discovery..... Fishing has been good, for them also, the fishing reports are at: http://pub25.ezboard.com/btarpon
Philippe Tisseaux
Email cecnasa@racsa.co.cr
Web page: http://www.nicaraguafishing.com
http://www.marine-electronics.net/tropicalfishing/
Preceding fishing reports ( 24 of them ) at: http://pub25.ezboard.com/btarpon |
Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 2:43 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
What a stretch of great weather we’ve had this week. If there is one thing this weather teaches us is to remain flexible. It looks like things will cool down just a bit for the weekend, but not enough to alter the current fishing. Look for a north wind 15 knots and seas three to five feet Saturday, and northeast wind ten knots Sunday with seas two to three feet.
Just because the fish were somewhere yesterday does not mean they will be there today. Suwannee and Horseshoe anglers have proven this to be true. While normally found in the river seeking the warmth of deep holes, trout are now much more numerous on nearby grass flats and creek mouths. Sea trout all along the Big Bend are moving, as the water has warmed. Grass flats in Cedar Key are starting to hold small trout; with the larger fish sticking close to bars and cuts. The Homosassa and Crystal River waters have warmed enough to send many species into Gulf waters. Those in the know are filling limits of trout and several pompano, but most fishers are working hard just to find a few fish to take home.
Redfish are slowly abandoning their backwater haunts and moving to more accessible waters, although legal ones are still eluding many anglers. With the trout closure beginning February 1, a lot more people will be chasing reds than have the last several weeks, so you can expect better catches to be reported in the coming month. Miller’s Marina reports Suwannee and Horseshoe redfish are sitting tight on nearshore oyster bars, making easy targets for anglers armed with live shrimp, jigs and in some cases top-water plugs or casting spoons.
Grouper fishing has been outstanding for anglers in the right spot at the right time. Gags to 35 inches have been boated from Cedar Key and Homosassa, with even bigger fish left behind. I don’t know how big he was, but we broke an “unbreakable” grouper rod Saturday while trying to wrestle a big one off the bottom. The best catches are still coming from water 50 to 65 feet deep, but gag and red grouper are becoming more active closer in. A few limits of fish have come in water 40 feet deep off Cedar Key and as little as 26 to 30 feet deep off Homosassa. If you don’t mind the ride, you are still better off going deeper, because the sea bass are mighty thick on the shallower spots.
Amberjack, along with gags have been taking live and frozen baits at the White City Bridge. Yes you can catch grouper and amberjack from a north Florida bridge, but the bad news is you have to have a boat to get to it. White City Bridge is actually bridge rubble laid to rest 30-nautical miles 285 degrees west-northwest of Cedar Key and about 25-nautical miles west-southwest of Suwannee. Be prepared to lose plenty of rigs to the bridge (and jewfish) until you get used to the special challenges fishing this type of structure presents. Let me know when you figure it out. Although most amberjack caught don’t measure up to the 28” minimum, they put up a heck of a fight, and only get meaner once they see the boat. A jig tipped with squid or a strip should prove difficult for the hard-fighting jacks to resist. If you anchor, some extra roped will allow you to set you anchor a safe distance off the rubble. There is probably a small fortune in anchors and chain down there.
Sheepshead to six pounds have been caught this week at the steel tower on Cedar Key’s Seahorse Reef. Clams, fiddler crabs and smallish live shrimp are the top baits, but fresh dead shrimp will work. Try a ½ ounce jig head or a slip-sinker rig with the weight very close to a very sharp, stout 3/0 or 4/0 hook. Sheepshead fillets are hard to beat just about any way you cook them, but the bigger spawners should be released; to increase the herd so to speak.
Good fishing. See you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2002 - 5:19 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Well the story has not changed a whole lot this week. The best grouper catches are still coming from water over 45 feet deep. The best trout catches are coming in the deeper areas of the Suwannee, Wacassassa, Homosassa, and Crystal Rivers. Look for a 10 to 15 knot wind out of the southwest and two to four foot seas through Sunday.
If it’s trout you’re after, there is really no need to be on the water at sun up, unless you just want to be the first one out there. Trout are a little slow getting started in the morning when water temperatures are at their present levels. In fact, midday and afternoon may be the best bite, given the large swing between morning low and afternoon high temperatures. Homosassa anglers are finding trout in holes in the St. Martin’s River and Mason Creek. Fish an outgoing tide with live or dead shrimp. Natural bait seems to be out fishing artificials. Rat redfish and black drum are also likely catches.
Inshore anglers in Cedar Key report decent catches of sheepshead around dock and bridge pilings. Tight line shrimp, clam meat or fiddlers if you can get them. Trout and reds are ganging up in deep holes on low tide. All you have to do is find the right hole! Cedar Key trout and red fishing has been a little slow for the last couple of weeks.
The best grouper bite right now is on rock piles in deeper water 25-to 35- miles out. Trolling just does not seem to be producing very well for most anglers, and live bait is hard to come by. That pretty much leaves bottom fishing with frozen threadfins, sardines, squid, or fresh cut bait like black sea bass or white grunts.
If you would like to learn a little more about grouper and sheepshead fishing, I will be giving a short seminar at this month’s meeting of the Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club. The meeting will be Tuesday, January 22 at the Girl’s Club on NW 39th Ave, and starts at 7:00 PM. Guests are welcome. Hope to see you there.
Good Fishing. See you next week!
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Capt. Mike
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 3:28 pm: | |
BIG BEND
After several days of high wind and seas, it looks like things have settled down just in time for the weekend. As we all know this is an unusual phenomenon. Things usually settle down just in time for the workweek when most anglers are just wishing they were fishing. Sunday’s new moon will make for some very low morning tides, so keep this in mind when planning your departure time. Nobody likes sitting in the mud waiting for the tide to come in. Look for a southwest wind 10 knots Saturday with two foot seas, and a north wind Sunday with seas two to three feet.
Shallow-water grouper anglers are having a tough time of lately. A lucky few have found keepers inside of 30 feet, but most are coming up short. If fuel and weather permit, you would do better to run to water over 45 feet deep. There is very little bait around now, so grouper should be willing to eat just about anything. Frozen threadfin herring or sardines are the standard baits. Fillet black sea bass or white grunts can also be very effective. If you pull up to a spot and all you are catching is small black sea bass, small grunts, or small grouper, you should probably just pick up and move. Small fish don’t stick around for long if there are keeper gags around. If you can’t get the bottom bite going, try trolling diving plugs or a heavy jig/tail combination.
A few sheepshead are showing up on nearshore artificial reefs off of Cedar Key. They are a bit earlier than expected given our late winter, but I’m not complaining. Tight line shrimp, clams, or fiddler crabs on the bottom. A ¼ to ½ ounce jig head is the best rig to use if the current is not too strong. Remember these fish are offshore to spawn, so don’t keep more than a few.
Anglers fishing Suwannee’s East Pass and Dan May creek have been boating fine trout in addition to redfish and sheepshead. The best trout catches are being taken in deeper holes with grub jigs, sinking Mirrolures, and shrimp tight lined on the bottom. Reds are falling for the same baits as trout, and sheepshead right now are suckers for live or dead shrimp. You will probably have to settle for dead shrimp since know one is able to get live ones right know. All the shrimp are buried up in the mud trying to stay warm.
Cedar Key anglers are finding just a few trout and reds in inside creeks and holes. Homosassa anglers report plenty of fish in the river, but very few that are willing to bite. Canals just north and south of the river’s mouth are giving up nice limits of trout. Wacassassa fishers are finding good numbers of trout and reds in and over rocky holes in the river, but watch out for that low water in the morning.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2001 - 4:50 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
Unless I’m mistaken, conditions are going to take a turn for the worse in the coming days and probably into Christmas. Looks like you might have time to finish all that Christmas shopping after all! If you are planning to hit the water in the next few days, you will probably want to make it an inshore trip. It is down right nasty out there once you get a few miles offshore. Look for winds 15- to 20 - knots through the weekend, and seas four- to seven -feet.
This long-awaited cold front has not gone unnoticed by inshore species. Trout and redfish have started making their way into rivers and creeks in northern Big Bend areas. Suwannee anglers are already finding decent numbers of fish well into the river. Trout and reds residing further south are now more numerous very close to shore and into river mouths instead of several miles out. If the cold persists, most of these fish will be well into rivers, creeks, and backwater holes.
Pinfish and blue runners remain abundant offshore, but Spanish mackerel have been scarce since the cold arrived. The huge school that had been entertaining anglers off of Homossassa have high -tailed it south. Grouper anglers are still getting cut off by kings in water over 40 feet deep but this too will soon cease.
Red grouper are numerous in water over 30 feet deep. The only problem is that most are only 16 to 18 inches long. Along with the short reds are white grunts, triggerfish, small amberjack, and a few sea bass. Go out a bit deeper to about 45 to 50 feet and you will find gag grouper more numerous and larger. Live pinfish are still catching the best fish. Look for gags to start moving into shallower water where they will be more accessible for most anglers, especially on these cold windy days.
Apparently large sharks are still roaming the inshore waters around Cedar Key. A local angler brought a nine-foot tiger shark into Willis Marina Saturday. This is the same fisherman that boated an 11-½ foot tiger earlier this fall. Clam farmers report these tigers frequently prowl their clam beds in search of ----- I don’t know ---- clam farmers?
Merry Christmas!!!
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Capt. Mike Win
Unregistered guest
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 6:52 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
This time last year, our offshore water temperatures were dipping into the mid-50’s. Right now we are sitting about 15 degrees above normal. I can’t remember the last time we had water temperatures in the low 70’s this late into the year. While many anglers are enjoying the prolonged warm weather, trout fishers, hunters and blueberry farmers are ready for the cold weather to arrive. Doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, at least not in the next few days. Look for a southeast wind at 10 knots, and seas two to three feet through Sunday.
White grunts, black sea bass and triggerfish are just about everywhere from water 18- feet deep on out. Just about anything will work for sea bass and grunts, and live shrimp the ticket for triggers. Make sure you have a very sharp, stout hook for triggerfish.
The same areas holding sea grunts, blackfish, and triggers, may be home to gag and red grouper, as well as king or Spanish mackerel. The trick is knowing which spots only hold small fish, and which ones have larger specimens. You can burn through a lot of bait catching 18 to 21 inch grouper. Most of the best grouper are still coming from water over 40 feet deep. While not abundant, kingfish are still a good bet from Suwannee to Homosassa.
Homosassa and Crystal River anglers have been enjoying great Spanish mackerel fishing the last few days. About 10 miles off the river’s mouth, at approximately 20 50.00 degrees N and 82 50.00 degrees W, there has been such a feeding frenzy that you can see the mud in the water. Use a ¼ ounce jig head with a chartreuse tail and a wire leader at least six inches long. Fly fisherman are taking advantage on the situation, but make sure you bring plenty of cheap flies.
Trout fishing has been steady off of Cedar Key and Wacassassa. Grass flats in two to five feet of water are holding plenty of fish. A lot of shorts, but limits are coming in. Flats off Seahorse Key and North Key in Cedar Key and Turtle Bay off Wacassassa have produced good catches. A few trout and redfish coming from the Suwannee, but I have not had many reports. Homossassa and Crystal River anglers are finding plenty of trout in water from two to four feet deep. The hot jig seems to have switched from the white and pink tail to rootbeer color. Still fished under a Cajun Thunder cigar shaped rattling cork. Cut pinfish fished under the rattling cork are taking the bigger fish.
Suwannee and Cedar Key anglers have been loading coolers with whiting and sand trout. Hard sand in cuts and channels are holding loads of the tasty little critters. Work small jigs on the bottom for the sandies, tight line dead shrimp on the bottom for whiting.
Reds are biting well in Wacassassa and Cedar Key. Grass lines, grassy points, cuts and oyster bars are all holding fish. Gold spoons, jigs live shrimp and pinfish are all good baits. Just take your pick.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Philippe
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 07, 2001 - 9:19 pm: | |
Subject: sportfishing in Nicaragua
FISHING NICARAGUA
SAN CARLOS SPORTFISHING
World Class Fishing Adventures in Unique Jungle Scenery
Fishing Report #22 ----- 6 th of December 2001
We are getting more and more busy in our Rivers of South Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica.
We have many reservation for the first months of 2002. Guest from last year, also some of their friends, and new people who wish to experiment our “World Clas Fishing Adventures in Unique Jungle Scenery…”
We organized 4 fishing expedition in November , fishing has been on our grounds of San Juan River in Nicaragua., Solentiname Archipelago on Nicaragua Lake, and Down San Juan River to El Castillo, also a few fishing in Rio Frio and Cano Negro in Costa Rica
So several trips in the last weeks…
We fish Four days with Robert and Georges From Usa
Then 9 days with Gerard and Pascal from France then another 9 days with Emile and Louis also from France
I am coming back to day from a 6 day trip with Georges and Jean from USA
At the beginning of Month of November Huricane Michelle pass in the Caribean affecting Honduras and also the northern part of Nicaragua…
We are fishing the San Juan River witch is located far in the southern part of Nicaragua I never could imagine than this Huricane could affect so much our Fishing… last year in November fishing has been great,,, but it’s a fact than this year Hurricane did change the weather, so behaviour of fish
In our trip with Robert and Georges we had less tarpon hits than usual and a bad fishing ( for 2 days ) concerning Rainbow bass in the archipelago of Solentiname. When we arrived there we notice than the water of the lake was Colour White and the wind coming from opposite direction as usual . according to local advise “This is totally unusual but may happen once a year.” It was due to the Huricane . we even notice than the local FISHERMEN WHERE NOT FISHING. Well we try and definitely fishing has been poor, only a few fish, Wapote and no Rainbow…Meanwhile in that trip we had some Tarpon hits in San Juan River …a 150lb to the boat
In the Folowing trip with Gerard and Pascal, ( 8 days Fishing ) the situation return to normal for Rainbow bass, wapote Mojarra meaning we did catch many of these fish around Solentiname… but concerning Tarpon it did remain poor , only a few of them..100 to 150lb… we have been very far from our usual 10 to 20 hit per day…I also report the catch of several good size snook ( normal at this time of the year ) among them a very nice 30lb+ and a lost of another one even bigger…, we also had some Gar ,
Folowing trip with Emile and Louis ( 8 days Fishing ) we had almost the same situation , few tarpon but also very good fishing in Solentiname for Rainbow bass , also good fishing for gars and only a few Tarpon hits in Rio Frio in Costa Rica…
So globally for us an unusual situation Tarpon were around but not so many and they definitely where not feeding…
In our last trip with Georges and Jean The situation change totally and went back to normal meaning a lot of Tarpon hits, several to the boat, Georges wanted to catch Tarpon but also different fish so we stop fishing for Tarpon , went to Solentiname where we had Many Rainbow bass , Wapote, Mojara…etc..
But what did Happen to our fishing?? Possible Explanation
Concerning Rainbow bass in Solentiname ( Only 2 days with no Rainbow bass ) no doubt reason has been the passing of the Huricane, witch bring in Strange Winds…once the wind did turn again the situation came back to normal and we had very good fishing
.But for Tarpon? For three weeks Weather was strange , no sun a lot of Cloud but
almost no rain This may have been the reason,. Also in my inquiries with Local people , and well known professional Tarpon Fishermen in Central America all of them told me than “ it might have been the breeding time…and when this time come Fish do not feed for around three weeks the only attack will come from bad tempered tarpon than our lures do disturb…“ So far I sincerely do not know what happened but will go on with my investigation. If any readers Know about the breeding time of Tarpon please let me know…
Anyway we have been far from our usual 10 to 20 Tarpon hits per day…
Fortunately everything went back to normal in our last trip…With the new moon weather did change again now we have sun , a few rain then sun , the habitual weather we like… so I have no doubts than everything is going to be normal for the weeks coming…
Philippe Tisseaux SAN CARLOS SPORTFISHING
E mail cecnasa@racsa.co.cr
Web Page http://www.marine-electronics.net/tropicalfishing/
Photos Albums: http://communities.msn.com/tarponfishing&naventryid=100
Fishing Reports: http://pub25.ezboard.com/ftarponfrm1
Special page on Solentiname: http://solentiname1.tripod.com/solentiname/
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Capt Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 5:22 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
What a stretch of great weather we had over the long weekend. Unfortunately that great weather did not stretch far enough. Most of this weeks fishing came to a screeching halt when winds whipped up to 35 knots in places accompanied by eight-foot seas. This weekend’s forecast calls for northeast wind 15 knots and seas three to five feet.
Trout catches are way up in Wacassassa, Cedar Key and Suwannee. Anglers fishing grass flats in Wacassassa and Cedar Key are finding plenty of fish. There are a lot of small ones out there, but as long as you don’t mind catching a lot of fish, you’re sure to catch some big trout. Live shrimp or white and pink jigs fished under a rattling cork are the best baits. Suwannee anglers are finding plenty of keeper trout south of the main river’s mouth in Barnett creek and also in creek mouths north of the river. Live shrimp, floating Mirrolures and pink tail jigs are all producing fish. Trout catches out of Homosassa are decent from Chassahowitzka Point and the St. Martins Keys.
Redfish seem to be a bit scattered all up and down the Big Bend. Suwannee reds are still being taken off shell bars and some bigger fish are coming from offshore hard-bottom areas. Grassy points and bars are holding a few reds at high tide for Cedar Key and Wacassassa anglers. Homossassa and Crystal River reds are so scattered that most fishers are targeting other species.
Grouper catches have been good from Homossassa to Suwannee. Homossassa and Crystal River gags are hitting trolled plugs better than bottom baits. The green fire-tiger is still the hot color. Cedar Key anglers are finding gags and red grouper in water from 25 to 65 feet deep. My best trips last week were in 35 feet of water, with frozen Spanish sardines and live pinfish working best. We did not have much luck trolling with black sea bass and lizardfish outnumbering keeper gags. Sea bass, grunts and triggerfish are abundant just about everywhere west of the 18-foot depths. Miller’s Marina in Suwannee reports the Big Bends best catches with limits of gags to 30” coming in over the weekend. Trolling and bottom fishing is working equally well in Suwannee waters over 35 feet deep.
Kingfish and Spanish mackerel seem to be absent from Suwannee, Homosassa, and Crystal River waters. Despite the absence of bait, a few kings and Spanish are being taken off of Cedar Key in water from 18 to 50 feet deep.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 10:52 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Inshore and offshore, fishing has been great from Homosassa to Suwannee. That being said, you may have a heck of a time reaching your favorite grouper or trout spot for the next few days. Weather conditions this weekend look downright ugly. Look for a northeast wind 20 to 25 knots Saturday and 25 to 30 knots Sunday. Seas will be equally unpleasant, with swells from six to nine feet likely.
Grouper fishing remains excellent in depths from 20- to 45- feet. While anglers trolling large lipped plugs are taking some fish, bottom fishers are boating more legal gags. Live pinfish, frozen threadfins, and Spanish sardines are all producing good catches. Pinfish have been less of a factor than in previous weeks, but they usually account for the largest fish.
Large white grunts and HUGE triggerfish are an added bonus to bottom fishers. Triggers, usually caught with small pieces of shrimp or squid on very small hooks, are being taken with frozen herring on a 6/0 hook meant for grouper. Grunts and triggers are ganged up with grouper and the occasional amberjack in 40- to 45- feet of water.
As long as water temperatures stay above 68 degrees, we should still have a shot at kingfish before they head south. Trolling a diving plug, dead bait/skirt combination, or just drifting hard bottom areas are the most laid back methods for fishing kings, and can be just as productive as other techniques. More industrious anglers may try slow-trolling live bait on the surface, deep with a downrigger, or both. Don’t forget to drag a bag or two of chum and or toss out some live/stunned baitfish while trolling.
Spanish mackerel are plentiful on Seahorse Reef. Clarke Squid spoons, Floreo jigs and free lined live shrimp or cut-bait strips are all working well. Some fishers have has success floating live shrimp under a popping cork as you would for reds or trout. Casting jigs, floater-diver plugs, or top water plugs can be very productive once the baitfish, mackerel, blues, and ladyfish start working the chum line. Baitfish can become a problem when chumming, so this is an ideal time to use artificials.
Trout seem to have slowed their march to inside bars and creeks and instead remain on grass flats in good numbers all along the Big Bend coast. Live shrimp or grub-tail jigs fished under a popping cork or Cajun Thunder very effective right now. Fish grass flats from two to eight feet deep. Homosassa and Crystal River anglers are having good luck fishing shallow rocks for trout, and the occasional redfish or grouper.
Redfish are still a good bet on grass lines and grassy points. Gold spoons, jigs, live shrimp, and pinfish under a popping cork are all taking fish. Top water action should be good once surface conditions inshore waters calm down a bit.
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 19, 2001 - 1:27 am: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Well, I have some good news and I have some bad news. If you have been keeping an eye on the weather this week, you probably already know about the bad news. High wind and seas have kept most anglers very close to shore or on dry land for most of the last two weeks. The good news is that the few anglers who have made it on the water this week have more than bruised bodies and wind burned eyes to show for it.
Inshore and offshore, fish have been very cooperative. Wind and seas are subsiding somewhat, and I have a feeling a lot more people will be hitting the water over the next couple of days. I don’t know about you, but I need some time on the water to get away from CNN for a while. Look for a northeast wind 10 to 15 knots and seas two to four feet.
Cedar Key anglers beware: The annual seafood festival will be held this weekend, and parking will be at a premium. If you decide to brave the crowd, make sure you get there early. Take extra care driving your truck and trailer around the sure-to-be-crowded small town.
Redfish are plentiful on flooded bars and grass lines around high tide. This is not likely to change until we get a real blast of cold weather. Live or cut pinfish are responsible for many limits of reds, as is live shrimp under a popping cork.
While trout are still available on grass flats, look for them to start moving to inside bars and cuts en masse. A few lucky anglers are already taking limits of large trout from these inside areas. Live shrimp fished under a cork or cut bait will do the trick.
Sand trout and whiting are being taken on hard sand bottom in 8 to 12 feet of water. Small grub jigs will take sand trout and dead shrimp or cut bait will take sand trout and whiting.
Limits of fish from 22- to 32- inches have come from water 18- to 28- feet deep. While some anglers are boating plenty of fish on frozen thread herring alone, soaking live pinfish or trolling Mann’s Stretch 25’s should increase your chances of filling your limit.
I have written in the past to carry a variety of plugs and different colors of the same plug since gags can be picky at times. I know those diving plugs are expensive and not everyone wants to invest in 25 or 30 lures. If I was limited to taking only five grouper plugs with me this weekend, I would start with a Mann’s Stretch 25 in black/gold, one in black/silver, and one chartreuse fire tiger, followed by a black/silver Rebel Jawbreaker, and red/white CD18 or CD 22 Magnum Rapala. Of course once you figure out which lure and color works, you will wish you had more than one.
If you have a chance before your next trip, you may want to consider changing out the split rings and hooks on your trolling plugs. Over-excited grouper have been known to straighten out hooks and split rings this time of year. Heavy duty split rings and hooks are available from most mail order catalogs.
Kingfish, bonito and large Spanish mackerel have been caught over the same shallow rock piles where grouper can be found. All can be taken free lining live or dead bait while anchored, trolling plugs for grouper, or slow trolling live baits.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2001 - 4:30 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
After a week of persistent winds from 20 to 30 knots and six to ten foot seas, anglers are chomping at the bit to get out and enjoy some great fall fishing. You may have to keep chomping. Conditions will not improve dramatically for the weekend. Saturday will be sloppy at best with a 20-knot wind and seas four to six feet. Sunday things may improve slightly, but I am not going to hold my breath.
Inshore anglers have been finding redfish, sea trout, and black drum cooperative. Black drum are present in coastal creeks and since gulf temperatures have begun to drop, A few sea trout are edging their way into creek mouths. Good trout catches should continue once anglers are able to make their way back out to the flats. As long as water temperatures stay above about 68 to 70 degrees, Spanish mackerel will also be prowling the flats, looking to fatten up before heading south.
Sand trout and whiting are an easy catch for anglers fishing channels or cuts with a hard sand bottom. Grub-tail jigs are deadly on the trout while whiting prefer dead shrimp tight lined on the bottom. There is no size or bag limit of either of these species so it is up to you to show some restraint.
Before the weather arrived, kingfish to 30 pounds and Spanish mackerel to seven ponds were turning heads from Suwannee to Cedar Key. Anglers slow trolling live blue runners, menhaden and cigar minnows scored well on kings and oversize Spanish. Grouper fishers have also accounted for some nice kings. Flat lining dead baits while bottom fishing is a very easy and productive way to find a few king mackerel. Hard bottom areas in water 20 to 40 feet deep have been most productive for kings. Spanish mackerel are on deep grass as well as those same hard bottom where kingfish are present.
Improved grouper catches were coming from rock piles within sight of land, but the best catches were from the deeper water. Of course all of this may be changed by the time we’re able to get back after them. I have had to cancel all trips this week and probably into this weekend. I think that our next trip will find that grouper numbers have improved quite a bit inside 25 feet of water. If trolling with diving plugs is your plan next time you go out, don’t try it without a wire leader. Kingfish will be nailing those things and at 10 to 15 dollars a pop, you will be glad to have wire instead of mono next to your plug. White grunts and gray triggerfish are abundant in those same hard bottom areas you would target grouper and kings. Small pieces of cut bait are tops for grunts while triggers are easier to catch on small pieces of shrimp or squid pinned to a very sharp, small, stout hook.
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 1:29 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
Big Bend
What a great week of weather and fishing for Big Bend anglers. Impressive catches are coming in from most inshore and offshore waters. Trout catches are up, and redfish catches remain very strong inshore. Grouper numbers are way up inside 40 feet of water. Spanish mackerel continue to be a reliable catch and kingfish reports are starting to come in as well. Look for a north to northeast wind five to ten knots and seas two to four feet.
Trout catches continue to improve for anglers working grass flats from four to eight feet deep. Live and artificial baits are producing limits of fish for most that spend more than half a day on the water. Live pinfish, shrimp, or jigs fished under a popping or rattling cork are hard-to-beat combinations on the flats or over oyster bars for reds or trout. Plastic jigs fished slow over grass and top-water plugs fished early and late are also good bets. In addition to sea trout, be ready for bluefish, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish.
Redfish action is about as good as it gets off Wacasassa and Cedar Key. Some anglers report catching reds on “almost every cast, and on just about anything”. I know more than one Cedar Key angler who would like to dispute this finding, but without a doubt, now is the time to go. Flooded sand bars, oyster bars, grass lines and grassy points are all holding fish at some point during the day.
Grouper numbers are increasing, as is their size. Many fish over 30” are taking live baits in water 30 to 50 feet deep. Trolling is still made difficult by floating grass. Bottom fish during times of peak tidal flow and give trolling a try during slack tide if there is not too much grass. Try Mann’s Stretch 30 in Fire tiger, black/gold or Loud. A Magnum Rapala is effective when fished on a downrigger or in depths less that 25 feet. While your'e trolling for gags don't be surprised to hang a kingfish or oversize Spanish.
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Philippe Tisseaux
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 8:59 pm: | |
Subject: TARPON FISHING TOURNAMENT NICARAGUA
TARPON FISHING TOURNAMENT IN NICARAGUA.
San Carlos Sportfishing Fishing report # 20
On the 13th and 14th of September has been held the 41th edition of the annual Tarpon fishing turnament in San Carlos Nicaragua. The first one has been organized in 1955 with interuption during the bad days time in Nicaragua We compete aboard my boat ‘Julia Brava” In this trip were participating my friends Bob Church from Canada , and Larry Hustler from USA , also my guides Augusto ,Walter, and Juan. … a good team as Bob is a very experience fisherman, Larry is very known in our fishing world, he is one of the pioneer of Sportfishing in Costa Rica…where he live since 26 years…For so many year so many people have been fishing aboard his boats from Quepos…like me he do not like so much to run an operation in a place witch is getting too busy so now he own a jungle camp on a seclude beach in Drake Bay..
We compete and did win as the new champion of San Juan river for tarpon, is Mr Larry Hustler we could not make it from a few pounds for the biggest fish but did win for number of tarpon and accumulated weight…( We also did fish two hours the day before the Tournament and Lary released a 140lb ) unfortunately only small 80lb in boat during turnament days…Why??..
Well we also had several “No doubts tournament winners “ on line in these days lost during the fight…Especifically one than I did lost at the boat doing a major mistake as I made it to fast as a boat was coming on us etc etc ….well anyway sorry for the Team aboard…
The condition where very different from my usual fishing…Normally there is no other boat on the river than Julia Brava. On these two days there where around 30 boats competing some very small some very big , some with rustic outfit some with the ultimate available tackles. From 12 footer with 10 hp to the ultimate Boston whealer Bertram and Co style with 500hp..these big yachts where coming from Rivas and Granada crusing the entire lake.
Anyway we had a fantastic time, a unique experience competing with all these guys..
What’s fun is than on these day the entire town is dedicated to the tournament..I mean for example than our plan for first fishing day was to wake up at 5 am but at 4.30 there was already a band walking on everywhere in town in order to wake up every body…not only fishermen, all town a major mess ( Town is more than 10 000 people ) We wanted to rest a bit as the night before there was a major party for the election of the Tournament Queen it was suppose to start at 7pm but nobody there so we went dinner came back and around 10pm all did start in a crowded place during the two days around 1000 persons where waiting all day at the pier dancing, with bands, drinking …to see the fish weighted. As soon as a fish was weighted it was disappearing, the guy from the comity where asking us: “ do you want to give this one to Hospital, or poor people, or the Army, to the jail? , we turn back a minute and then fish gone……,at night on day one was a major Dance with 1000 persons…I could not get in.. and then a final Party for giving the trophy an over crowded place with a travesty show, Delirious.. a lot of dance etc.., I have been fishing many tournaments, I never experience such a thing a lot of activity, a lot of fun…
For the fun part all has been much more than what I could ever think off, concerning the competition in itself it is very strange,
The Fishing organization is very special as there where two different comities, as the balance where far from being exact, as we still wonder what were the exact rules…Well with Julia brava we always fish strictly according to IGFA …but it seems than here only a few people understanding what this mean…Also we always Catch and release..but on these days we obey the orders of the comity we did enter.So simple rules what count is the biggest fish and the guy who catch the more tarpon…so CONGRATULATION TO LARRY AND DON HENRY SANDINO and thanks to my staff.
I am very short in English to describe this so warm so friendly atmosphere I am going to ask Bob and Larry to describe what they saw because really this morning it is like if I have been dreaming for three days… it’s been so different from our usual experience…
What I know is than definitely I will do it next year , I will not miss next tournament even if from a fishing ethical point of view all this is far from my ideas…
There are so many persons who have been fishing with me this year than I would have love to be with us…to enjoy that…Sincerely I have been thinking, talking probably of all of you with Augusto ….and if Jeff had been here…and Terry , and Lars..and..Alan, and Dave, Sam. Doug , Gaele, Etienne , Niko, Haldvan, Joyce, Peter, Julie, Fabien, Andre… Sorry I stop but for sure a special thought for you Paul. ( Was not the day to use 10lb…)
I am back in San Jose , Augusto did already call me, everything is back to normal so in the coming weeks we are going to enjoy our usual world class fishing in unique Jungle Scenery…
A major events for the entire world community did happen three days before this Turnament,, there is no words to describe our feeling except Pain a lot of pain . What I wish to be known is than here , in our so far away Jungle. even with this giant party around a lot of these Nicaraguan people, some very rich some extremely poor where totally concern and condemning thisact.
Report From Philippe Tisseaux E mail: cecnasa@sol.racsa.co.cr
Web page: http://www.marine -electronics.net/tropicalfishing/
Preceding fishing reports ( 19 of them ) at: http://pub25.ezboard.com/btarpon
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Capt Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 2:06 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
Tuesday morning I was a few miles out of Cedar Key, drifting some productive grass flats with a young couple from Gainesville. We were having a pretty good morning, wondering what species would hit the deck next, when I got a call from my wife. She gave me the news of the morning’s attacks. We suddenly felt pretty stupid sitting out there fishing while so many are suffering so much. We spent the rest of our trip listening to details on the radio, not sure what to do next.
I feel equally ridiculous writing a fishing report this morning. Who cares what’s biting right now anyway? Soon, Americans will ease back into those things that give them enjoyment and spend quality time with their families outdoors. For many, fishing has provided an escape from pressures and worries of everyday life. It will continue to do so.
With the approach of tropical storm Gabrielle from the south, and high winds and seas predicted through the weekend, this might be a good time to work on your boat or just enjoy spending time at home with your family.
God Bless America. We’ll talk fishing next week.
Capt. Mike Winn
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Capt Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2001 - 2:54 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Well this is it. The long weekend devoted to the all working folks, your reward for busting your butt all year. Is any body else ready for fall temperatures in the mid- to upper- 70’s? Well I know I am. This heat is getting pretty old, especially on these days when the wind never gets up to five-knots. I know, in a few months I will be complaining about how cold it is but you’ve got to have something to complain about, right? Although it has been very hot out there, you should be all right as long as you have a place to hide from the sun and bring plenty of water and Gatorade or other sports drink. Start drinking fluids in the morning and don’t stop. If you wait until you feel light-headed, it may be too late. This weekend’s full moon means big three - to four- foot high tides. Look for a southwest wind at five- to ten-knots and seas one- to two-feet through Monday.
Inshore anglers from Suwannee to Homosassa are finding legal and oversize redfish plentiful and hungry. Gold spoons and small pinfish floated on grassy points and shell bars around high tide are a top choice. Live shrimp, grub-tail jigs, and top-water plugs are also a good bet.
Water temperatures inshore are pushing 88-degrees are keeping trout catches down. Most of the decent fish being caught are hitting cut-bait or live pinfish best.
Whiting and sand trout are taking small pieces of dead shrimp. Tight line your bait in a deep channel or cut with hard sand. Small hooks and light line can make for fast fishing once you locate fish.
If you're looking for something bigger to stretch your line, sharks and cobia are still being hooked in inshore cuts and channels from Suwannee to Cedar Key.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish are still chasing jigs, spoons, and flies at Seahorse Reef, Spotty bottom, and Hedemon Reef. An abundance of grass and jellyfish has made for difficult trolling. Casting jigs and flies to bait pods has proven more successful. A white, red and glitter green clouser minnow drew the most strikes.
Anglers fishing out of Crystal River report packs of Spanish macks working bait schools in 20-feet of water. If that's not enough to get you excited, king mackerel are out there too, chasing and eating their smaller, less fortunate cousins. A slow trolled Spanish is hard for a kingfish to pass up.
The grouper bite is fair, but in most cases you will need a lot of bait to put legal fish in the box. Short gags and triggerfish can wreak havoc on a well stocked live well or frozen bait. Make sure you bring some frozen herring and squid for variety. Fresh cut bait can sometimes prove more effective than anything else. Half of a blue runner or fillet grunt work well and are harder for the smaller fish to steal.
There will be more boats than usual on the water this weekend. With so much activity, safety has to be your number one concern. Take care of your own vessel and lend a hand (or a tow) to those who need help if you can. Have a fantastic and safe Labor Day weekend!
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2001 - 3:40 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Action has improved slightly this week in Big Bend waters. All the regulars are still being caught, but their numbers are slightly improved over weeks past. With inshore gulf waters pushing 88 degrees, most species are staying further offshore or seeking refuge in deep grass, channels or cuts. We have had very nice sea conditions the last week or so and we can look forward to more of the same this weekend. Look for seas two-feet or less and variable winds about five-knots.
Inshore anglers should focus their attention on an incoming tide to take advantage of cooler water hitting the flats and bars. Redfish have been the most dependable catch inshore, with sharks a close second. Anglers from Crystal River to Horseshoe have been scoring on oversize reds. Most anglers finding a slot size fish to take home for the grill. Trout catches remain slow for most anglers but deep flats two- miles southwest of Snake Key, between Snake and Seahorse, and at Seahorse reef have been productive for a few lucky anglers. Slow-fished grub-tail jigs have accounted for the most fish. No tarpon catches reported this week.
Cobia are still thrilling inshore anglers anchoring near channel markers or on the edge of grass flats. Finally some larger specimens are showing up. Fish to six-feet long have been hooked with a 50-pounder the largest boated cobia I have heard of this week. A bag of chum over this side and live or dead bait on the bottom and under a cork will do the job. If you have any left over frozen bait, try chopping it up and tossing some over every few minutes. Sometimes this seems to make a big difference.
A little further out, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish are eating up free lined cut bait or jigs worked about as fast as your reel will move them. On the way in from a grouper trip earlier this week, we decided to try for a few Spanish before heading in. After 20-minutes or so the chum started to work it’s magic. After bringing several two-to three-pound mackerel to the boat a lucky angler from Orlando latched on to a much bigger fish. After a few minutes of oohs and ahhs from the rest of the crew, I grabbed the giant Spanish by the tail and what a fish she was. After a quick picture, taping and weighing, we watched her rocket away no worse for the trip. She taped out at 42-inches long, 14-inch girth and weighed a whopping 9.9-pounds. Maybe by next year she will be a record fish. The anglers name is John Sloape and the big fish hit a Spro buck-tail 1-ounce blue mackerel jig.
These Spro jigs are great. I have had good success with the ½ ounce white, green mackerel or blue mackerel. The two-ounce sizes work equally well offshore for gags and red grouper. Trolling should produce similar results, but floating grass has prevented most anglers from trying. Chunky mangrove snapper are mingling with baitfish in the chum line and macks on the fringes.
The grouper bite has been good if you have live bait. We would have been in a world of hurt without live pinfish as were unable to get a single keeper on frozen bait. Unfortunately, seventy-five percent of the fish we boated were between 20- and 22- inches and didn’t make it to the box. The most dependable catches are coming from water 40- to 65-feet deep.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any outstanding catches or recent hot bites you are willing to share.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Philippe
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 5:40 pm: | |
Subject: TARPON FISHING
NICARAGUA FISHING
Fishing report #17 # 18 #19
Report From Philippe Tisseaux E mail: cecnasa@sol.racsa.co.cr
Web page: http://www.nicaraguafishing
Preceding fishing reports ( 16 of them ) at: http://pub25.ezboard.com/btarpon
Report #17 2 days fishing 21 and 22 of July 2001 Nicaragua
We received our guests Tom and Eugene Kennedy at 10 am at the local airport in San Carlos as they where coming from Managua Nicaragua. We drop the luggage at Hotel Leykos and fishing did start around 11 am .
Fishing as been for two full days as on the 23 we also fished for 3 additional hours. I could not be part of the trip this report is done with the information given to me By Augusto my guide and guest Tom Kennedy
In total we report 15 tarpons Hooked 7 or 8 to the boat the biggest around 150lb...also some gars, and a big turtle..!!!??? .Fishing has only been on trolling, Tom suggest us for the future to also fish drifting down Rio San Juan with live bait on a float...For sure we are going to try it again ...We did it successfully in the past using Circle hooks and a relatively Big Sardina or small mojara or Machaca hooked by the mouth... with a float or nothing...This technique is very efficient but only if the tarpon are active ( feeding ) ...If not the lures are better because their vibration do make the tarpon nervous so it will attack this intruder on it’s rest territory..
The only negative point in that trip is than we could not eat any River scrimps as their fishing by local people was a total disaster during these days...Nor a single one in town or in our usual stop in the jungle rivers...
NICARAGUA FISHING Report # 18
3 day fishing/exploring on San Juan River August 3 to 6
That time hour guests Julie and Fabien from France came by San Jose Costa Rica so we drove to Los Chiles ..their goal was a few fishing and a lot of discovery... Jungle scenery, exuberant vegetation, birds, Wild life .meanwhile Julie had her tarpon 150 lb after a 1 hour fight on 30lb and Fabien had a 200lb and a 130lb also some gars...Fabien did surprise us a lot because he has his two tarpon release in less than 15 mn... one of them was a 200lb??? He confess than he is far from being an experimented angler...he did not put a lot of pressure on the line but Still!! I Wonder? He was fishing on 40lb but??
I also took a small one 80lb on 30lb as I wanted to experiment a new tonic for the next fishing Tournament to be held on the 12/13/14 of September...result has been Ok as in three minutes tarpon was to the boat...and released.
The most pleasant part of the trip for these guest is than we went down river to El Castillo where we did stay for a night.... Hotel is very beautiful there overlooking the river from the balcony of the room you can see the tarpon jumping in the rapids...while having a nice breakfast on white tablecloth . The village is small 300 habitants, it is very clean , very typical there is a very good restaurant...The fortress above the hill is in perfect shape ,the view over san Juan river fantastic...Really a nice hide away.. and a good fishing spot...we will be back there regularly in the coming month specifically for Snook fishing as the season is from September till January/February ...We did not fish for tarpon but they are abundant...problem is than it will be difficult to go lighter than 40lb there due to the presence of the rapids down river...so Dangerous. we will find a solution probably by fishing a miles or two up river...
Also the good news is than River Scrimps are back in San Carlos we had them for dinner...Better than lobster said Julie and she is an expert has she lived long in the Caribbean Islands of St Martin and St Barth...
Julie and Fabien left from San Carlos for Granada using the line ferry a long trip but with stops in Solentiname and Omotepe... Airplane is only 50 mn...
NICARAGUA FISHING Report # 19
Fishing on the 7th 8th,9th of August.
Our guest came from Granada where they where staying at Hotel Colonial. We received them on the 7th at the airport of San Carlos.5 persons came Lars Andersen, his son Eugene of 14 year old , his wife Maria, Martin Taylor and Brandon Bush so we had to use two boats ..Obviously Julia Brava and a local covered boat more comfortable for the lady than my open sportfishing style boat but this boat did not offer the fishing comfort of Julia Brava…the top was a big problem.. Well we had a lot of tarpon on line , several has been released to the boat... size as usual 100/150lb also Eugene the son of Lars took a very big gar 70/80lb.
The main events of that trip is than Lars Andersen Fishing with Augusto my guide aboard Julia Brava had a monster on line .we figure around 300lb..on 30lb .( AUGUSTO HAD A LOT OF TARPON IN HIS LIFE HE IS 40 YEARS OLD , BORN ON THE RIVER BANKS HE PERFECTLY KNOWS HOW MUCH A TARPON CAN WEIGHT WE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL OVER 200LB....) ) Guests also saw the fish ...on line only 1 minutes one or two jumps and Line 30lb broke as the spool of the reels did turn to fast so a mess of line in the reels...the brake was on, Alarm was on but this fish was really to powerful that day on that rod…......Well next time but what a pity.....
Prediction for the coming weeks....THE GOOD NEW IS ALSO THAN WE CAUGHT OUR FIRST “CALVA” ...NOT BIG BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST SNOOK OF THE NEW SEASON....USELY SEASON START IN SEPTEMBER TILL JANUARY FEBRUARY... So I figure the snook season is going to be great as well down in El Castillo , in front of San Carlos ..or on the shore of the great lakes.. For the tarpon I do not worry they will be there.. Gar fishing will be as usual...Also no problem for Rainbow bass fishing around the Solentiname Archipelago...
I invite all reader interested to share our fishing expedition to be in touch with me rapidly as I wish to organize my planning from now till the end of February...
I have many weeks available but also already have several reservations so in the months coming I will mostly be fishing and it is going to be more difficult to set up additional trip or get in touch with me...
PS IS THERE ANYONE INTERESTED TO JOIN FOR THE LOCAL TARPON SNOOK FISHING TURNAMENT IN SAN CARLOS??? around 20 boats will compete on the 12/13/14/15 of September
Philippe Tisseaux
Email cecnasa@racsa.co.cr
Web page: http://www.marine-electronics.net/tropicalfishing/
Preceding fishing reports ( 16 of them ) at: http://pub25.ezboard.com/btarpon
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Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 2:47 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
This weekend’s new moon will make for big afternoon high and outgoing tides. Take this opportunity to fish flooded sand or shell bars and grass. Be ready for action once the tide turns and starts heading out. Look for a south west wind at five- to ten-knots and seas less than two-feet through Sunday.
Silver kings, cobia and sharks continue to rule the roost from Wacassassa to Suwannee. Redfish are still your best bet inshore with equal numbers coming from oyster bars and inshore grass lines. Anglers using grub-tail jigs, gold spoons, live shrimp and pinfish are producing the top catches. Clouser minnows and small poppers are producing for fly fishers working flooded bars at high tide. Many fish are within the 18- to 27-inch slot size. Crystal River anglers are finding most of their reds are over the slot size.
Fishers targeting temperature sensitive trout are working hard to find keeper-size fish in near shore waters. With the exception of a few closely guarded areas inshore, most larger fish are still coming from deep grass located further offshore. With pinfish being so numerous right now, grub-tail jigs, cut bait, or medium-size pinfish will produce the most strikes. Saltwater Assassin jig tails fished under a Cajun Thunder rattling float is a tough combination to beat for spotted sea trout.
Spanish mackerel and a few kings are slashing through bait schools offshore. There is so much grass floating around offshore that trolling for mackerel is just about impossible. This goes for dragging diving plugs as well. Your best bet is free lining live or cut bait in a chum line.
Depending on who you talk to, grouper fishing is either in the toilet or hitting a stride. My personal experience this week has been a combination of the two. Lots of short red and gag grouper in 50-feet of water. Keeper gags, triggerfish, and grunts seem to be more abundant in 40- to 45-feet of water. Homosassa and Suwannee anglers report better catches in 50- to 65-feet of water. Live pinfish or threadfin herring have accounted for most of our fish over 22- inches, but many anglers swear frozen baits work just as well.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 10, 2001 - 11:43 am: | |
Subject: Big Bend Fishing Report
BIG BEND
Although Barry lacked the punch of a serious tropical system, it has disrupted fishing from most Big Bend ports. Most anglers have stayed home this week, waiting for waters to clear a bit. Conditions this weekend look perfect for an offshore trip. Look for a variable wind 5- to 10-knots and seas less than two-feet through Sunday.
Redfish catches remain good despite poor water clarity. Homosassa anglers are taking big reds off the many keys located at the river’s mouth. Live pinfish or cut bait fished under a popping cork or on the bottom account for the best catches. Suwannee anglers have also experienced good catches of reds on flooded bars and grassy points.
Trout fishing has been less spectacular. A few fish are being taken on deeper grass flats from 6- to 12-feet deep. Live pinfish or shrimp fished with or without a float, or jigs worked slow and tight to the bottom are the best ways to fish the deep grass. A slip float is preferable to a popping cork over the deeper grass.
Cedar Key and Suwannee anglers should find decent numbers of Spanish mackerel and bluefish offshore once the water clears up. Deep grass or hard bottom is where you will find them. Try free lining live shrimp or cut bait in a chum line, or if there is not too much grass floating around, try trolling Clarke spoons and jigs.
Not many folks have been offshore since the storm. Catches were improving prior to Barry’s influence and should pick right back up where they left off. If you have a decent live well, make sure you bring a few dozen pinfish offshore with you. When the bottom bite slows down, pinfish will usually put a few more gags in the box. Frozen threadfin herring, Spanish sardines, and squid will produce also.
Sharks, tarpon and cobia should still be roaming inshore waters looking for a fight. Fish live or dead baits in deep cuts or channels. If you sight rolling tarpon, cast live pinfish, menhaden, mullet, or plugs in their path. Circle hooks will greatly increase your hookup ratio for poons. Just leave the rod in the holder the first few seconds and the tarpon will hook itself.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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Capt Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 3:00 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
Severe weather late this week is keeping most anglers off the water. Last weekend produced improved catches offshore and a mixed bag of decent catches inshore. Unfortunately, current conditions are sure to leave inshore waters a muddy mess through the weekend. Look for a southeast wind 10- to 15-knots and seas two- to five-feet offshore.
While redfish catches from Homosassa to Cedar Key are less than spectacular, water off of Suwannee and Horseshoe are producing outstanding catches of bull reds. Grass lines, grassy points and shell bars fished on a flood tide are productive spots to target reds. Live shrimp or pinfish under a popping cork or Cajun Thunder are taking plenty of redfish along with a few big black drum.
Trout catches are decent, but limit catches are rare these days. Most flats anglers report a mixed catch consisting of sea trout, sand trout, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, cobia and sharks. Live shrimp, pinfish or jigs will take any of the above species. Sharks, some very large sharks are making things interesting for inshore anglers. Blacktips are a common catch but hammerheads, bull and tiger sharks pushing 10-feet long are enough to make scallopers take pause.
Cobia and tarpon encounters are still common for chumming the edges of deep channels and cuts. Target deep water with healthy grass flats nearby. While live pinfish are the logical choice for cobes, lately they have favored live threadfin herring or menhaden. These are readily available on deep grass using sabiki rigs. Tarpon show a preference for live pinfish, ladyfish, or chunks of ladyfish. Circle hooks are the top choice for tarpon, but don’t work very well for cobia. I suspect the shape of there mouth makes J-hooks a better choice.
Grouper catches continue to improve all along the coast. Good catches are coming from water 18 - to 60-feet deep to anglers employing all the usual methods. Frozen baits and live baits fished just off the bottom are accounting for gags from 22- to 34-inches as well as a few red snapper and red grouper. Jewfish have established themselves as a nuisance to offshore anglers by taking grouper destined for the cooler. These Goliath grouper are leaving anglers shaken, bruised and thinking twice about dropping another bait. Hopefully they will continue to be a “nuisance” for years to come. Reports of occasional kingfish are still coming from waters off Cedar Key and Suwannee.
Spanish mackerel catches are less dependable than in recent weeks. The fish are still around but it is hit-and-miss. Sea trout and mangrove snapper are also a possibility on deep offshore grass beds.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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