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Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 173
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 - 12:36 pm: | |
Hernando Beach Gulf Grouper Report
Warm weather equates to great fishing West of Hernando Beach. This time of the year our area reefs, and ledges are teaming with bait fish. Schools of scaled sardines, Threadfin Herring, Cigar minnows, and Ballyhoo are slowly moving north in all depths of water. In 15 feet of water near the cave schools of baitfish are under attack by Spanish Mackerel, and Gag Grouper. It is quite a sight to behold, when you observe Grouper swimming to the surface and pushing bait out of the water with explosive force. All the while Spanish Mackerel are shooting out of the water in all directions chasing their next meal. Definitely exciting fishing in close and easy to catch. Some techniques that work well to catch live bait are small bait rigs that have multiple hooks in a line and a small weight at the end (Sabiki Rig). Catching the same bait that the fish around you are eating will always ensure successful hook ups.
Once you have caught some bait try to use spinning tackle that will enable you to present the bait to the fish away from your boat, ( 15 to 20 pound line) works best. Allow your bait to swim by opening the bail and providing line so it can swim naturally. Do not try to feel a fish bite; the line will move fast off the reel when the bait has been eaten. After you notice the bait has been ate set the hook and fight your fish. This technique is very good in deeper water also. Kingfish, Snapper, Grouper, and Amberjack love a free swimming bait.
See you on the water,
Capt Rick
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 169
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 7:07 pm: | |
Spanish Mackerel, Grunt, Mangrove Snapper, Sharks and Kingfish are abundant and fun to catch on light line . Large schools of bait are still moving north though our area, fishing continues to be very good. |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 167
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 7:19 pm: | |
Hernando Beach Gulf Grouper Report
Summer time grouper fishing tactics are required to consistently catch fish. We know how, and are ready to show you the tricks of the trade. Plenty of Gag and Red grouper in the area. Dead Threadfin Herring and live Pinfish are both working well with great results.
Spanish Mackerel, Grunts & Mangrove Snapper are abundant and fun to catch on light line . Since large schools of bait are still moving north though our area it is likely fishing will continue to be very good.
See you on the water,
Capt Rick
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 164
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 4:30 pm: | |
American Red Snapper are one of the most delicious fish available to anglers in the Gulf of Mexico west of Hernando Beach. To the surprise of many anglers these fish are not hard to catch once you find them. Most of the time Red Snapper are found in depths greater than forty feet and relate to most bottom structure. Snapper tend to congregate around and above Reefs, ledges, wrecks, and hard bottom areas. To catch Red Snapper, an angler simply has to get a bait close to the structure and wait for the fish to bite. One terminal tackle method that has proven to be effective is the standard bottom rig, that consists of a sinker, a swivel, 4 feet of leader material, and a circle hook. Another method is the “knocker rig”, that consists of a circle hook and a lead sinker that slides freely on the line to the eye of the hook. Dead bait, Live bait, Squid, Mullet, Pinfish, Cigar Minnows, Northern Mackerel, and Threadfin Herring; are all acceptable for catching Snapper. Most of the time when you discover Snapper, they are in schools and compete for the bait presented to them. Lastly, be prepared for Gag, and Red Grouper they usually inhabit the same areas. Fishing for the American Red Snapper is exciting and well worth the expense and time to run off-shore. Keep in mind, the daily bag limit for Red Snapper is two fish per person.
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 160
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 9:14 am: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Location: Hernando Beach Florida, near Orlando, Disney, and Tampa
On land it may be raining. However off-shore in the Gulf of Mexico the weather and the fishing could not be better. Limits of grouper is an everyday occurrence with many Cobia, Kingfish, Mangrove Snapper, Sharks, and Grunts. All anglers on the Gulf Grouper are having a blast catching fish all-day. Check out the photos page on www.gulfgrouper.com to verify the results. Summer is on its way and the fishing forecast looks great. Plenty of fish under the boat all the time all year long. The secret to catching fish is to fish where the fish are.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 158
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009 - 2:40 pm: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Location: Hernando Beach Florida, near Orlando, Disney, and Tampa
The weather has been ideal for Grouper and any other type of fishing lately. Unbelievable fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico. We have been catching surprises daily; sometimes big sharks, Cobias, Dolphin, and big Kingfish. Luckily we are prepared for surprises, and close the deal on these great fish. Grouper fishing is still nonstop and you will get tired of reeling in fish. Watching people have to take a break is a sign of great fishing. We look forward to more action every day we get out.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 154
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 4:18 pm: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Location: Hernando Beach Florida, near Orlando, Disney, and Tampa
Year round Grouper fishing is always good somewhere off-shore from Hernando Beach. So when the Kingfish show up like they have lately it is a welcome treat. Fishing for Kingfish requires different techniques to ensure a productive outing on the water. Most anglers prefer chumming while using live scaled Sardines, Threadfin Herring, Blue Runners, and Shad. Live bait is an outstanding method to catch Kingfish and is very effective. Other methods are productive and enable an angler to go fishing without spending hours pursuing live bait. Lures like 3.5 spoons, inline jigs, stick baits trolled with a planner work well and can be used with little preparation first thing in the morning. Usually the most active big Kingfish bite is night and early morning hours. There are a multitude of methods that work well for Kingfish so come out to Hernando Beach and get your Kingfish with your Grouper.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 150
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 2:29 pm: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Location: Hernando Beach Fla, Grouper Country
Gag Groupers and Kingfish are making our trips allot of fun. Thanks to the abundance of Gag Grouper in the area we are experiencing non-stop fishing fun. The Kingfish are moving north and are west of Hernando Beach right now. We are having a ball catching Kingfish on dead bait and lures. The nice thing about catching Kingfish is once you find them they will eat a variety of lures and bait. Most of the time they are not picky!
Sharks are moving through also, we are catching them every day we go out. Some are bigger than others, all are tough fighters. Real exciting fishing this time of the year. Give me call and book a trip of a life time.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 147
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 12:20 pm: | |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Location: Hernando Beach Fla, Grouper Country
Grouper, Grunts, Sea-bass, Mangrove Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, and Kingfish are what is happening in the Gulf waters west of Hernando Beach. Still nonstop action all-day with dead and live bait. We have been catching keeper size Gag Grouper every day we go out. Trolling has produced allot of Spanish, Kings, and Grouper throughout the day. Have fun catching fish all day; consider calling me for a great fishing trip aboard the Gulf Grouper. Hernando Beach's Full time 6 passenger or less Charter boat.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 142
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 3:41 pm: | |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Location: Hernando Beach Fla, Grouper Country
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
24 March 09
Grouper, Grunts, Mangrove Snapper, and Spanish Mackerel are what is happening in the Gulf water west of Hernando Beach. Nonstop action all-day with dead and live bait. Still catching plenty of Gag Grouper every day we go out.
Forecast: Looking for Kingfish to show up any day. Lately, Sharks, Bonita's and small Cobia are around.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 139
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 2:30 pm: | |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Location: Hernando Beach Fla, Grouper Country
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
6 March 09
Grouper, Grunts, Sea-bass, Mangrove Snapper, and the occasional Spanish Mackerel are what is happening in the Gulf water west of Hernando Beach. Nonstop action all-day with dead and live bait. We have been catching upwards of 10 keeper size Gag Grouper most every day we go out. Each angler has been averaging 30 short Grouper and a multitude of other reef fish. Sounds like fun doesn't it? Well, it is! So if you want to have fun catching fish all day; consider calling me for a trip of a lifetime aboard the Gulf Grouper. Hernando Beach's Full time Private Charter boat.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 137
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 10:53 am: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
18 Feb 2009
Grouper fishing has been unbelievable. Yesterday we caught 13 keeper size Gag Groupers and a cooler full of Grunts; 6 of the Gags were way over 10 pounds. Steady action all day long everyday this week and weekend, over a hundred short Gag and Red Groupers released safely on dead bait. There is absolutely no shortage of Gag Grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. If you are ready to catch fish call me; I always know where the Grouper are. Check out my website and see photos from yesterday and previous 4 days fishing.
Tip of the week: Down size line, Hooks, and weights to get more bites!
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 132
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 5:47 am: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
2 Feb 2009
Hernando Beach Fishing Forecast: Grouper fishing has been great. Yesterday we caught a dozen keeper size Gag Groupers and a cooler full of Grunts. Steady action all day long, over a hundred short Gag and Red Groupers released safely on dead bait. Live bait for whatever reason has not been working for us. Maybe when the water warms up a bit the Grouper will be more aggressive and chase down the live bait. If you are ready to catch fish call me; I always know where the Grouper are.
Tip of the week: Down size line, Hooks, and weights to get more bites!
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 128
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 - 1:04 pm: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
20 Jan 2009
Hernando Beach Fishing Forecast: Larger Gag Grouper will continue to hang around with the stable water temperatures. Maybe a little deeper than normal but not a problem for an allday trip. The rest of January looks good for weather and great fishing. Look forward to big fish days as we move into February. If you are ready to catch fish call me; I know where the Grouper are.
Tip of the week: Fish slower and chum a little to get the Grouper bite going. Look for the Grouper around the larger reef areas.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 124
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 5:32 pm: | |
Still catching Grouper. Today was windy but productive. Nice Gags, monster redfish, and Mangrove Snapper. Come out and fish with the Gulf Grouper who is always ready to. On the water catching grouper and providing you a honest fishing report. Call me for more details |
Capt. Keith Tomlinson (Bulldogfishin)
New member
Username: Bulldogfishin
Post Number: 12
Registered: 5-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 10:04 am: | |
The inshore bite in Hernando Beach is heating up! Redfish, trout, and sheephead are being caught throughout the area. Centipede, Bayport, Aripeka, and Fillman's Bayou served up good size reds this past month. They are inside and at the points of creeks and rivers. Our best bite is early morning or late afternoon. Cut mullet or ladyfish freelined near the mangroves has been the best bait. Trout seem to be in water 3 - 6 ft. Try freelining shrimp or put them under a popping cork . pieces of shrimp on a #2 hook(with a splitshot) tossed to the deeper inshore holes will likely get a sheephead to bend a rod.
When the water cools from a passing front we hit our many springs and spring fed rivers of the area which pump thousands gallons of water a day of 72 degree water into the gulf. Trout, snook, redfish, ladyfish, sheephead, jacks among others all retreat to these areas to warmer water.
Tight lines!! Capt. Keith Tomlinson
Bulldog Fishin Charters
www.bulldogfishin.com
(352)238-3581 |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 118
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 20, 2008 - 9:21 am: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
20 Dec 2008
Awesome Grouper fishing here in the waters west of Hernando Beach. Plenty of good size Gag Grouper in all depths of water. 10 to 15 keeper size Grouper each trip has been the norm for a few months now. We hope this will continue in the weeks to come. Water temperatures have stabilized around 67 degrees and fishing has been very consistent. Additionally, we have caught plenty of large Grunts, Sea bass, and Mangrove Snapper along with the Grouper.
Hernando Beach Fishing Forecast: Larger Gag Grouper will continue to hang around with the stable water temperature.
Tip of the week: Fish slower and chum a little to get the Grouper bite going. Look for the Grouper around the larger reef areas.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 112
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 05, 2008 - 2:56 pm: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
05 December 2008
In between cold fronts the water temperature has gone up to 67 degrees and the Grouper fishing is outstanding. With perfect water conditions come spectacular fishing trips. Many anglers this week enjoyed limits of Gag Grouper. Some fish were in excess of 15 pounds. A slow approach has been the trick to make the Grouper bite. Just leave the bait on the bottom and do not move it. Unbelievable, but true this really works. Best baits are still Northern Mackerel , Grunt heads, and chunks of Mullet.
Hernando Beach Fishing Forecast: Grouper season is at its peak. There is great fishing now!
Sea ya on the water
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Capt. Keith Tomlinson (Bulldogfishin)
New member
Username: Bulldogfishin
Post Number: 8
Registered: 5-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 12:55 pm: | |
Captain Keith Tomlinson /Bulldog Fishin Charters http://www.bulldogfishin.com
The redfish have been hot north of bayport op to chasshowitzka. Thes big red “fire trucks” are always a blast on light tackle and they really will put your angling skills to the test. The trout bite has slowed a little with this cold weather but the mackerel are still in good numbers.
On calm days we have been going offshore a little to 8 -12 feet of water and have been catching the famous shallow water grouper famous for this area of the nature coast. Gulf Grouper with captain rick rodriguez and thunder party boat with captain mike senker have been catching grouper at all depths of water but in the spring and fall even us inshore guys get to enjoy the grouper action in the shallows.
Come enjoy the nature coast with me!!! call for a reservation. #(352)238-3581
We supply:
tackle
fishing liscense
coolers/ice
clean your fish
a good safe day on the water
 |
Capt Rick Rodriguez (Gulfgrouper)
New member
Username: Gulfgrouper
Post Number: 95
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 - 5:43 am: | |
Charter Boat Gulf Grouper Fishing Report
Hernando Beach
24 October 2008
Grouper fishing is still very good, we have been catching allot of small Red and Gag Groupers. Nonstop action each day, we consistently catch over a hundred fish that are released. At the end of the day we have enough keeper size Grouper to make any angler happy. Many Mangrove Snapper, and Grunts are caught each trip and are a welcome addition to any fish fry. The best baits are Threadfin Herring and live Pinfish. Water temperature is down to the mid 70's now, and the Grouper are much more active. We expect some outstanding Grouper action for the near future.
Hernando Beach Fishing Forecast: More King fish will be in the area after the next cold front passes. Larger Gag Grouper will be pushed down also as the water temperature continues to drop. Fish slower and chum a little to get the Grouper bite going.
Sea ya on the water,
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
www.gulfgrouper.com |
Captain Ed Lewis
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2001 - 1:06 pm: | |
Subject: Catchin' Report-Homosassa/Crystal River, Fl
With the recent northeast winds, the flats fishing has been very interesting in our area. The cooler weather has helped bring many of our targeted species closer to shore. The trout, which have been scattered, have moved closer in and are easier to find. Most are being caught over rocky bottom or grass flats in 2 to 6 feet of water. The best method is using a Cajun Thunder cork with a jig and grub or good 'ol live shrimp or pinfish fished the same way. You have to move around to find them. If you drift an area and don't locate any, try another spot until you do. Then, drift fish back and forth through the area. Captain Charlie Harris, seem to have a nose for or sixth sense for locating trout. He catches his limit almost every trip. When you ask him where he is catching them, he says….in the mouth….
Or, "out there" as he points to the Gulf. Yep, spoken like a true fisherman.
The redfish are plentiful. Most are being caught using live bait, gold spoons, or top water plugs early. The most popular method is using the Cajun Thunder cork with live shrimp or pinfish, fished just off the bottom.
Rocky points and grass shoreline are the areas you find them this time of year. As it gets colder, the reds will move back into the holes in the creeks and rivers. Once located, you can sit in one spot and catch 20 to 30 reds.
Spanish Mackerel, Cobia and King mackerel are showing up as the water cools north of us. They are migrating south and pass along our fishery this time of year. It's possible to fish this time of year and come back to the dock with a mixed bag of fish and fish tales.
The Grouper have been cooperating lately. If only the offshore winds would do the same. Those brave souls who do make it out to depths of 30 to 50 feet are catching their share of the tasty denizens of the deep. If you want to catch some closer to shore, this time of year the grouper move inshore onto the rocky ledges and rock piles found in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Trolling plugs or casting to structure works this time of year as well as, live pinfish, pigfish, and sardines. Be sure you have a stout rig with good line,
Because these rascals can test your tackle.
Yep, it's good catchin' along the Nature Coast of Crystal River and Homosassa, Fl. And like I say, "The best time to go fishin' ……..is
when you can" So, get out and experience the outdoors. It's the best medicine for what ails ya.
Until next time…….
Captain Ed Lewis
www.Redfishhunter.com
CaptEd@Redfishhunter.com
(352) 629-9684
|
Capt. Jim Roberts
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 11:21 pm: | |
Subject: Sarasota ,Fl June 2001
Kingfish, kingfish, kingfish. All trips have been out to the reef. The seas have been calm and the bait it thick from the beaches on out. This is the time of year for big fish. Reeldreams anglers have been slamming the kingfish all month. It's a sure bet when live baiting with large baitfish such as sardines and cigar minnows.Nick Self hooked into a 200lb jewfish that he had on for a while before the hook straightened .Barracuda action has picked up along with little tunny. The tarpon are here although I haven't been working them.We've had some great fly trips at night for snook. Outgoing seems to be the best with shrimp still flowing out to the gulf. Look for increased action from blacktip sharks and permit out on the reef.
Capt. Jim |
Capt. John Sackett
Unregistered guest
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 08, 2000 - 9:44 am: | |
Subject: The latest from AnglingAdventure.com
Wow, it is getting cold down here or what?
The difference one year can make in terms of the weather here is just incredible! Last year we didn’t see water temps below 70 until December, and we never saw mid sixties until the second half of January. Well this year we were in the sixties by mid November, and the low sixties a couple of times before the first of December!
Needless to say, fish your favorite winter patterns and locations right now to insure any level of success. Whether it’s my neighbor Walter Powers fishing way up in some of our area rivers in his 18 foot Flats & Bay, or my partner Capt. Chris Seger sightcasting to Snook with live Shrimp, a successful outing can certainly still be had. Just bundle up in the warmest clothes you’ve got handy and get out there.
My trips…
Since my last report, the weather has limited my on-water time pretty significantly, but I’ve still managed a couple of memorable outings nonetheless. Let’s see, we had one flats trip with a dozen and half Snook in less than 2 hours of fishing time, one offshore 4 hour trip that resulted in Kingfish, Tripletail and a 20 pound Gag Grouper, and one nearshore outing that resulted in a whole bunch of memorable light-tackle battles with our jumbo Bonito.
The Bonito Blitz is still on (sometimes)…
These are awesome fish for light, or fly tackle anglers, but they can be hit and miss like any other fishery. Evidence of their mysterious ability to disappear had to be the day I went after them late last week. Sure I found a few of them busting here and there, but I couldn’t find a concentration of them that day to save my soul. Now not finding fish isn’t all that surprising, the fact that I couldn’t find them just two days after fishing with a pair of newly-weds from North Carolina was shocking. I worked the same phase of the tide as I had with Nash and Jessica, but I couldn’t get on a decent concentration of fish for anything. What a departure from two days before. I picked up Nash and Jessica on Anna Maria Island just down from the Bungalow Beach Resort where they were honeymooning, we ran through the pass at the north end of Longboat Key, and were immediately met by dozens of birds feverishly working over panic stricken baitfish. We pulled upwind of the melee and as soon as the fish were busting within range, we tossed ¼ once jigs to them. It didn’t take long for the slender little jigs to be mistaken for the glass minnows that the fish were pounding. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz went the drag on my 4000 size Shimano reels! As the first fish of the day was towing Nash’s line off toward the horizon, I could tell that he was somehow surprised by the fish’s strength. I reassured him that this fish was a little different than the ones I had read about in his home waters of North Carolina. These fish are bruisers. While flyfishing Bonito (false albacore, little tunny or anything else they are called) in the 4-8 pound range has gotten extremely popular in more northern climes, the fish we have here are steadily in the 7-15 pound bracket and are capable of dumping a spool of ten pound test, or cooking the drag on your favorite 8wt fly reel. These fish are a blast! Well after a dozen or so battles were fought, lots of laughs were shared and Nash had done the dance around my Hydra-Sport with the agility of a halfback, we headed in to see what was happening on the flats. As it turned out, in the chill of the evening before, most of the fish on one of my favorite flats had decided that feeding wasn’t a high priority. Trout were all we had to show after about a ¼ mile of my poling, but it was a beautiful way to spend an hour or so and I think Jessica really enjoyed seeing some of the sealife as it glided beneath us. Sadly, before I had the chance to get Nash on his first Snook, he and Jessica had to depart for home earlier than they had planned due to a death in their family. Nash and Jessica, I am very sorry about your loss. Don’t worry the Snook will be there waiting the next time you make it down!
Offshore action is waiting…
The only opportunity that I had last week to work in our offshore waters was a little tough in the sense that it was only to be a 4 hour outing. This would of course, limit us as to how far out we could work. Luckily, as you’ve read here before the Gag Grouper have been moving ever closer to our nearshore waters, and trolling large lipped plugs like the Mann’s Stretch 30’s can be a highly effective way of locating them. We started our troll over some hard bottom in about 45 feet of water on that trips and quickly hooked our first fish of the day. Surprisingly, this fish wasn’t fighting like the Grouper I was expecting, but instead turned out to be a nice Kingfish. A pleasant surprise considering that the waters are so darned cold right now. I thought for sure that Kingfish would have either moved off to the south, or were holding in a hundred feet of water where you can still find surface temperatures in the 70’s. Goes to show you, you just never know! Anyhow, the bite wasn’t a hot one and we covered water at trolling speed for a half hour or more before the next rod went off. This time though the fish on the end of the line was unmistakable as it pulled line off against the drag and the clicker on that Penn reel screamed, but only for a few seconds. Sure enough a big Grouper had come 15 or so feet straight up off the bottom, clocked that big plug, and proceeded to dive straight back down to the safety of his rocky lair! Once there, the odds of us pulling him out were slim at best. I brought the boat back around, we maneuvered uptide from the rock he was under and we waited patiently enough for him to start swimming clear of the rock, as soon as he did, the reel was cranked, the rod was bent and the fight was on. We got him headed toward the surface, but he turned back down and managed to rock us again! We followed the same pattern once again, but the time with different results! Finally, on that third try we got him far enough up away from the safety of that rock, and he was ours. A 20 plus pound Gag on a 25 pound trolling outfit was quite an accomplishment. Thank God for a few feet of hundred pound test leader just above that plug. Without it, that rock would have done us in on the very first pass! From there back to the dock, we did some more trolling (although no more 20 pounders came over the rail), and we did some sightcasting with light spinning tackle to the Tripletail that are so numerous right now beneath the thousands of crabtrap floats out there. In the end we added two of those tasty armor plated fish to our totals of the day by utilizing D.O.A.’s imitation Shrimp.
Capt. Chris Seger…
Down at Tightlines Charters in Sarasota, Capt. Chris Seger has been limited of late to working inshore trips almost exclusively, but he has been an extremely busy guy doing so. Highlights from the last week or so aboard Chris’ Evinrude powered Talon F-16 have included everything from some jumbo sized Snook, to some of the aforementioned Bonito on fly tackle. Despite the extremely cold weather we’ve had, it’s been a great week to be fishing inshore with Capt. Chris.
More Bonito…
The Bonito blitz I mentioned earlier has been a tremendous asset to Chris’ clients seeking one of the ultimate battles on light and fly tackle equipment. Highlights of his trips though had to be the fish that were taken of fly tackle. What can I tell you? When the fish are blitzing through Glass Minnows like mad, there is nothing you can cast that will imitate them better than a fly will. Well, in the last week Chris had among others, Graphic Artist (he does awesome marine and fish related art) Stacy Capps, and Kevin, a flyfishing enthusiast that traveled all the way from Scotland out after the big Bonito. I guess Kevin was best at describing the battles offered by these fish. All he had to say was, “smashing”. Needless to say Kevin, we were glad to get you on them. Now let’s make plans for Tarpon on fly tackle this spring! At the risk of being repetitious, if you want a drag screaming kind of experience, call us and set up a trip to target these incredible fish!
Dozens of Snook too?
Yeah, I’ve been telling you for weeks now that the winter is still a great time to be on the water since the clarity allows us better sightcasting than it does at other times of the year. I’ve also said, that you just can’t expect catch totals in the dozens due to the dramatic cold we’ve experienced. Well, in conversation with Capt. Chris, I kept hearing all week about his anglers doing a dozen or more Snook in their half-day outings, or a dozen or more Snook before they went out to hunt those Bonito, needless to say I was a little skeptical. Well, I learned a long time ago that Chris tells it like it is, and I never should have had any doubt. Just yesterday, his calendar and mine combined to allow for a busman’s holiday of sorts. Neither of us was booked, so Chris invited me to do a little Snookin’ with him. His plan as he laid it out, was to fish from 8:30 to 10:30 (catching at least a dozen Snook!) and then have a little breakfast at one of the local Sarasota diners. Well, we varied from the plans just a bit. We didn’t start to fish ‘til 9:00. What we did do though was quit fishing by 10:30 after having caught 17 Snook of up to 28 inches! Unbelievable. This was sightcasting, this was flipping our bait right up into the mangrove roots, this was like Bass fishing on steroids, this was absolutely awesome!! Before I moved here, I was like so many others that vacationed here. I always seemed to travel down in the dead of winter while the weather up north was at it’s worst, and the fishing here was at it’s toughest. Or so I thought. According to Chris, this is his wintertime pattern now, and action like we had should be available with alarming regularity. Needless to say, if your Bonito date ends up be too windy to work off the beaches, just ask Chris if you can do a little sightcasting for Snook. He’ll be happy to get you on them.
Even though this winter has been exceptionally cold, I guess there’s really never a bad time to plan a trip down our way. If you are looking for more information on all the opportunities we’ve got going on, or are interested in booking a trip with one of the finest guides in the area, be sure and visit their individual webpages within our website www.AnglingAdventure.com , or give me a call at (941) 920-4891. Either way, we’ll be out there to let you now what’s going on.
Like our friend Capt. Mark Rankin always said,
“Catch ‘em up”
Capt. John Sackett
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