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Pine Island Sound - January 1st, 2007
supplied by: BarHopp'R FISHING: Fair
I managed to run two trips this week. We had two days of wet weather at the beginning of the week, including Christmas Day. I knew Wednesday would be a tough day even if the weather cleared out, because the fronts always shut down the bite.
Finally, Thursday I was ready for my first trip with Rich Barsalou, and his sons Chris and Drew, of Jupiter, Florida. We had a really tough tide to fish, with only a little water movement first thing. It would move less than half a foot over the whole tide! And, I had forgotten how busy the water is during Christmas week. I usually take it off. But, trucks and trailers were coming through the ramp like ants building a mound, and I knew the waters would be crowded, to say the least.
I suggested to Rich and the boys that we try to just find some action out in front of Sanibel where there have been big schools of bluefish, ladyfish, and mackeral. I knew that once the tide quit moving, which it would do before we could get up into the Sound, bites would be hard to come by. The boys were agreeable, and off we went to try to find those schoolies.
We already had a pretty good breeze blowing, which made our drifts pretty fast. We didn't find any action on the first drift, so I moved out closer to the open water where we found fish laying up just inside the big bar in 6 to 8 ft. of water. The boys began catching a mix of blues and mackeral and an odd ladyfish. Rich lost a couple of rigs to bigger fish, probably macks. We stayed with it making repeated drifts, and the action would always subside as we got closer to the big barrier bar. We were eventually joined by several other boats all with the same idea. We worked the area for a couple of hours, until the bite finally slowed. It was time to move into the backcountry.
We headed up into the Sound looking for places that would magnify our very weak tide and cause some water movement. The first stop which is usually great on such a tide this time of year, was a bust. Not a strike. We moved on to another of my favorite dead tide spots where we found at least two redfish and a nice trout, all caught on jigs. I switched to shrimp hoping to get a bite going, but that was it. No more hits.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
Wanting action I decided to take them light tackle grouper fishing. We stayed with the jigs we were using, and managed to catch a few nice grouper before the boys' collective appetites got the best of them. So, it was off to the Waterfront Restaurant for the first time for the Barsalous, knowing we'd done about as good as we could have hoped for on such a poor tide, high traffic day. And, we'd had a great time!
WINTER FISHING FUN!
The tide was a bit better for my trip with Sonny Stelmak, and his son Scott, on Friday morning. At least the water would move until around 10:00 AM. After that it would be flat. We were supposed to have fished on Wednesday, but after talking to some of the guys who did, I knew we had done the right thing in delaying our trip. Sonny has fished all over the country and Alaska, and knows how fishing can be. We've fished several times before, and done well. In fact, Sonny got a 16 pound red May before last. That's a big red to find in the shallows.
We elected to go straight up into the Sound and try to put some meat into the boat before the tide quit moving. Meat this time of year means redfish, as snook and trout are closed to harvest. So, off we went to a spot where I've done well with reds as of late. But, upon arriving we found no fish, probably because the water was high enough to let them get out of the potholes. We moved on.
I headed to a flat that is rarely without redfish this time of year. They were there, and there were plenty of them. The were all over the place. We could see them push in singles, groups, and pods. The water was gin clear. Nice, but not good. The wind had flipped from east around to the north, and was working against us. I slowly and quietly tried to maneuver us upwind of all the fish so we could get the breeze at our backs. As we spotted fish we dropped shrimp under popping corks on them. Most of them spooked at the sound of the splash in the clear water.
Scott managed to catch a needlefish, and I figured that would be our ticket to some redfish. I staked them and we put them out far from the boat and let them lay. It's rare to have a redfish turn his nose up to such a smelly offering. But, as we sat anchored with our needlefish out, we had watched redfish swimming around us in all directions as if we didn't exist. I cast a spoon around as we sat, hoping to get lucky. Finally, Sonny got a hard yank on his rig. But, the fish didn't eat, and didn't come back. Finally, we got a second hit. Then nothing. The we could see the line bounce slightly once in a while. I suspected the red had actually picked the bait up and swam back at us. I picked up the rig and began quickly reeling. Sure enough, the line went whizzing by as it caught up to the fish which was way behind the boat. Fish on! Man, that was one hard earned redfish.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
I know we were all hoping that signaled the start of a bite, but we had just managed to catch the one dumb redfish out there. His schoolmates were seemingly much smarter. We never got another hit. The tide was now dead, and that as much as anything else, was responsible for no more bites.
We moved on, and settled on another spot that usually has redfish once there's water on the flat. Again, we saw redfish as well as quite a few snook. But, the only fish we could get to eat was a nice, fat specked trout on that same cut bait. We had a couple of other wiggles, but with the same lockjawed result. By now, it was nearing the noon hour and I asked Sonny if he'd like to make his first trip to the Waterfront Restaurant. We figured if the fish wouldn't eat....we would! We would beat the holiday crowd.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
After bragging about how good the calamari is, served on a bed of lettuce laced with garlic cloves, with a side of marinara, Sonny decided to follow my lead. Once the dish was served, Sonny was quick to say that it was the best calamari he'd ever had. The garlic and lettuce really set it off. A stop at the Waterfront is the perfect way to cap off a day of fishing. Especially a tough day. Sonny and Scott agreed it had been a good day in spite of the bite, and were happy to have a nice redfish waiting in the baitwell. And, it had been great to share a day on the water with them once again.
When we got back to the ramp I couldn't believe the cars and trailers that were packed into every available space. I was reminded of how crazy it would be at the ramp and on the water on the holiday weekend. I had a new customer, Rob Eisner, wanting to take his young son fishing. His son loves to fish, and loves to catch, and I knew that catching would be a tall order on this holiday weekend. I just couldn't in good faith take them out there full of expectations, knowing what it would be like. Yes, we all need to work in the worst way, but I have to put my customers' needs first. I called Rob that night and told him how I saw things, and recommended we wait until we could take his son fishing under better conditions.
And, that's how it went. A typical week of winter fishing, cold fronts interrupted by brief periods of good weather!
In closing this report and the year, I'm sure that most of the area fishing guides share my sentiments about the year. Good riddance! We're all ready to leave 2006 behind and start on a new, and hopefully better year. 2006 will likely live in infamy as the worst year for our business than any of us can remember.
Happy New Year, everyone. And, thanks to all of you, my friends and customers who have fished with me and made it possible to be in this wonderful, al beit often frustrating business, for so many years. May God bless you all in the new year.
Be sure to check out www.BestFishingBooks.com, Books and gifts for fishermen from my friend Jim Dicken!
Naples, Estero Bay, Marco Island, and the 10000 Islands - December 18th, 2006
supplied by: Tarpon Tails FISHING: Great
Weather is warm as we have had a mild winter so far. A cold front a few weeks ago slowed the fishing but it has become better. The trout bite is excellent with alot of fish to 24 inchs. They are best on outside flats. Redfish have been good and a few days we took as many as 20. Alot of fish south with some to 29 inhs. Jigs have bben the best and some sight fished with fly. Snook are fair with alot of big fish shallow sunning on flats. Small snook have been best in holes with jigs. We took 15 a few days ago up to 29 inchs. Alot of mangrove snapper in the back islands. Pompano are fair and should get better. Tarpon are slow and a few fish in the Islands. Makeral and bluefish on bait offshore and in passes for quick action. Look for bait balls and the fish will be around them. Get out and enjoy the great winter weather and fishing. Good Fishing... Capt Robert Walczak
Marquesas Keys - October 26th, 2006
supplied by: Key West Fly Fishing - Fly Fishing Paradise RECORDED:86 °FISHING: Excellent
Oct. 26, 2006. October fishing in the Keys is a mixed bag of Tailing Permit, Bonefish, rolling baby Tarpon, Barracuda, spawning Black Tip Sharks. Then comes that first serious cold front with 25 to 30 knot winds out of the North. Water temps drop from the mid 80's to the mid to upper 70's. Fish go deeper where the water is a consistent temperature and cleaner so they can see to feed and avoid predators. <br><br>The day before that cold front approached the Keys, Capt. Dexter decided to venture out to the Marquesas on a guide's holiday. Mooney Harbor Channel was bustling with rolling baby Tarpon at 7:30 a.m. On Capt. Dexter's 6th cast, the line came tight to a fish that struggled mightily but did not jump. After a few brisk runs, the fish was subdued and brought to the boat. Capt. Dexter was happy to find a ten pound Permit with the cockroach fly in the scissors of its mouth.<br><br><IMG SRC="http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/permitbabe2.jpg" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=224><br><br>Just after releasing the Permit unharmed, Capt. Dexter noticed a few baby Tarpon rolling up the channel toward his staked out skiff. Four casts later, Capt. Dexter's line came tight again and the fish was on. But what was it? No jump again. Was it another Permit?<br><br><IMG SRC="http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/jumpinbaby.jpg" WIDTH=248 HEIGHT=237><br><br>Then the baby Tarpon finally cleared the water in a surging jump, with gills rattling. Capt. Dexter was happy to see and feel the fish thrash. A couple more jumps, bowing to the Silver King baby each time, and Capt. Dexter brought the fish to the boat releasing it unharmed from Capt. Dexter's cockroach.<br><br>O.K. now what? There was a splash behind "FlatsMaster" Sounded like another baby Tarpon, so Capt. Dexter made a quick back-cast and started stripping right away. The line came tight again, but quickly went limp as the large Barracuda thrashed the surface gnawing through the thirty pound shock tippet. Lucky fly lost, Capt. Dexter took a break to soak it all in as a scattered shower sprinkled through "FlatsMaster" and the Marquesas. <br><Br>What a great morning! Just then, another splash 150 feet from the skiff to the east on the flat. The large sickle tail protruded from the water giving evidence of a tailing Permit. Capt. Dexter quietly scrambled to the rod rack for the SAGE TCR 990 with a Sandy Merkin ready to cast. Would the fish swim close enough for a shot? The answer came within minutes as Capt. Dexter maneuvered the skiff a bit closer trying not to make any noise so as to spook the fish. Restaking the skiff within 80 feet, Capt. Dexter waited to see if a shot was possible. Ten minutes later, the fish tailed nearly 200 feet further out on the flat. Capt. Dexter decided just to watch this one out, as the flat was too soft to wade and the fish was undoubtedly headed away from the skiff.<br><br><IMG SRC="http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/bonerod2.jpg" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=146><br><br> Bonefish were on the mind as Capt. Dexter poled the skiff onto another flat inside the Marquesas. Patchy clouds made sightfishing tough, but every now and then the sun would shine steadily and with any luck...there! Three Bonefish were cruising across a spit of sand at high tide. The skiff was drifting slowly and the fish were swimming toward the bow at the 2 o'clock position, about 90 feet out. Capt. Dexter made a back-cast with the Hartwell Gotcha fly that landed 6 feet in front of the approaching fish in 16 inches of water. The fly settled and after a few seconds Capt. Dexter twitched the fly with a few short strips, then paused. Another few short strips and the lead fish pounced on the fly. Capt. Dexter came tight to the Bonefish and the run was on. The SAGE TCR-890 bent over with the weight of the Bonefish power run. Two blistering runs later Capt. Dexter brought the fish to the skiff and released it unharmed.<br><br>Twelve o'clock, high noon at the Marquesas corral and a GRAND SLAM. The Marquesas are the very best place to pursue that lofty goal, and on that day Capt. Dexter was truly fortunate to have made it happen. <br><br>When you are ready to book a charter or just talk fishing, contact Capt. Dexter Simmons by casting your net line to http://www.keywestflyfishing.com or by TOLL FREE CHARTER HOTLINE: 877-FISH052 (877-3474052) ///// or at 305-745-3304 or by email at <A HREF="mailto:captdexter@prodigy.net">captdexter@prodigy.net </a> Happy Fishing! <br><Br><IMG SRC="http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/tarponhatch.jpg" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=225><br><br> Our Father (Mother) - Son (Daughter) Key West Flats Fishing Trips are now scheduled for throughout the summer, fall, winter, and spring. For more information about the Father and Son Flats Fishing Trips go to <A HREF="http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/fatherandson.htm">http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/fatherandson.htm<br><IMG SRC="http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/bentarpon2.jpg" WIDTH=189 HEIGHT=226></a> <br><br>Once again, you may contact Capt. Dexter Simmons for a future fishing charter on his TOLL FREE CHARTER HOTLINE: 877-FISH052 (877-3474052) ///// or at 305-745-3304 or by email at <A HREF="mailto:captdexter@prodigy.net">captdexter@prodigy.net</a>
Lake Tohopekaliga - September 22nd, 2006
supplied by: Florida Bass FISHING: Fair
East Lake Toho
Today I hit East Lake Toho for a few hours, My old tournament partner wanted, for some reason to tackle East Lake and get away for a few hours. Normally East Lake is pretty much a last resort fishing spot, as it has not really been producing that great as of late.
We started the day out searching the deep water brush piles in hopes of finding a good bite, managing 3 nice crappie on a drop shot, now this is an awesome lake for crappie.
Making the move to shallow water and working Gitem KO’s in baby bass color, and Shads in watermelon red we did manage to pick up a few here and there in and around the reeds and scattered grasses. Bit was very soft, so you really had to pay close attention to your line. We had one very solid, hard hitting bite, and I mumbled it was a mudfish, and after a few minutes of a good fight, it was a 5 pound mudfish!
From there we made a move to check out Boggy Cove, a few weeks back it was tough going to get in there, if at all, but with the rains, the lake is up atleast a foot, so we ventured back there and tried our luck. Using the same baits, we slammed a bunch of bass, a total of 28, but the sad thing is, of the 28, only 3 were of keeper size and just barely at that, as you can tell in the pictures. Lake levels are looking good, and the waters are very clean, have not seen the waters this clean in a long time. Water temps started out at 82.4 first thing this morning and when we pulled off they were right around 83.9, cooler temps have made the bite a little better, with more schooling activity going on around the offshore hydrilla beds.
We did manage to spot several good bass, in the 4 to 6 pound class cruising in and around the scattered reed, but as you know, generally if you see them, they have also spotted you. Other than the small size, it turned out to be a fairly good day. If we get the waters to cool down maybe another 10 degrees this lake should really turn on good.
Till my next report, tight lines and great fishing! Capt Tim Fey Bassfishingfl.com
Indian River - July 7th, 2006
supplied by: Fishing Frenzy Charter Service RECORDED:89 °FISHING: Greatmaps
The days have been beautiful early in the morning for fishing and the fish have been just great about biting when you find them. Sometimes you can catch your limit on the first stop, but most of the time you have to search for them. Just keep moving until you find a good bite. I give each stop about 15 minutes of fishing and if the fish are there you will know it by then. If not, just move to another spot.
I had a family out one morning this week. I am sorry to say it, but I couldn't find any redfish for them. They did catch 14 keeper trout and some were over 20 inches. It was a good day and the said they had a great time. I know I enjoyed watching them fish together with live bait for the first time.
Another trip this week with two men, we spent fishing in the rain. There have been a great many good fishing days lately. And you have to fish them when you can. Those two men caught 10 good trout with three over 20 inches and one 24 inch Redfish. They deserved everyone they caught because we were all soaking wet all day.
Just this past Saturday I took a friend of mine and his 7 year old son fishing. My friend used to be a fishing guide and is usually hard to beat. But on this trip I smoked him like a cheap cigar. The reason was, while I was fishing, he was taking care of his son. We went late in the day and we caught 10 nice keeper trout. Out of those fish, four were too big to keep. The 7 year old boy, Eric, caught and landed a 25 inch redfish. It was a hot day, but a great day of fishing. Oh, my friend caught one keeper trout. What a day!
Florida Keys - Upper - November 23rd, 2005
supplied by: Capt. Barry Hoffman - FlatsGuide.com FISHING: Good
The months of November thru March will have some of the largest bonefish of the year up on the flats. These bigger fish can tolerate cooler water temperatures. Though the morning after a cold front can be slow, they can feed aggressively on an afternoon, sun-warmed falling tide. Fishing flats with little current over them or in leeward areas can be very productive as water temps have a chance to moderate with a strong dose of sunshine upon them. Redfishing in Everglades National Park on a calm morning can be very productive. As the sun rises, so do the tails of the Redfish in the backcountry waters. Both species are readily caught on fly fishing gear and light spinning tackle. Seatrout will begin to invade the backwater channels for those looking for nearly non-stop action. With a few Jack Crevalle and Ladyfish mixed in for good measure. Speedy Mackerel cruise the outer edges of the Park in 10 to 15 foot of water. These fast, toothy critters can provide a great fight as well on lighter tackle. .... Practice your casting, you'll be a much luckier fisherman! Barry (www.flatsguide.com)
Biscayne Bay - November 21st, 2005
supplied by: Ghost Hunter Charters FISHING: Great
Well the past few weeks have been very busy for me and my Family we are still try to get back to normal from the last storm that hit our area. Wilma was storm that hit us the worst this season; however we will be back sooner rather then later. The fishing has been very good in Biscayne Bay. The Bonefish are moving more now that the flats are cooling down during the night time hours. My most resent trip found me fishing with Bruce and Glen who were trying to get away from working for the day. With some hard work and good eyes we were able to find the fish schooled up and working the edges of the flats rather than high up where I though they would be. Bruce and Glen we are to land a very nice 8 pound Bonefish and Glen would top off the day with great looking nine pound Bonefish. We were able to see the schools working several flats in the north end of the bay and a few flats in the south end. If you are looking to get out there and, I would start north and work your way south. Again the tides have a great deal to do with Bonefish but water Temp this time of year means the most to have a great day of Bone-fishing.
The waters of Flamingo are dirty and cloudy. But the fish are feeding. I would take the time to put a few live baits in the well if for nothing else but to chum with. For those of you that love to fly fish this time of year is a great time to chum up the fish you are looking for and than throw a big fly at them and have a great time fighting them? Before I let you know about the fishing let me start off with the conditions of Flamingo. The Markers are down and the waters are dirty. With the Park being closed for a few more weeks at least you are going to have to work your way across from Key Largo or points south. Please take the time to slow down and watch where you are going there has been a great deal of trees and other debris in the waters in and around Flamingo. Now back to fishing, the Snook fishing has been very good up around the Shoreline areas and on the edges of the flats. If redfish are what you are looking for than try working the flats that are in and around the Flamingo area. We have been finding the fish schooled up and feeding very hard. The Redfish have not bee everywhere but they are they so you will have to put your time in to find them but once you do you will be happy with the results. Well that all I have for know so stay tuned for more. Tight lines and be safe out there.
Palm Beach - September 6th, 2005
supplied by: Fly Fishing Extremes FISHING: Good
September? No way!! Holy crap!! Where did this summer go?!? Oh, yeah, I remember now. It went blazing by with an estimated 4500 albie releases. It got to the point I was soaking my hands in ice water every night, due to the line cuts and sores from grabbing too many fish. Twelve broken rods, nine lines lost and over a thousand flies tied by yours truly. Some of the best midsummer dolphin fishing in the past several summers with a lot of big dolphin around early and then late in the summer. We boated one just this past week that was close to thirty lbs. This bodes well for the fall fishing as it is generally a more typical time for dolphin to come through. Kingfish, assorted runners,(probably another 2500 blue, bar and rainbow runner releases) providing light tackle options when needing a break from the ablie onslaught. Blackfin tuna were a little scarce, and the few big ones we did manage to hook were all blasted by bull sharks. Oh, yeah, the bull sharks were relentless in June, packs of them coming to the boat before we even started chumming. I need to figure out a way to dissuade them from bothering me next year. We had great weather over all, didn't cancel a single trip and only had a couple days inside the ICW due to rough water on the ocean. Snook were good in August, tarpon are just getting back into the area on their southward migration. The normal tarpon fishing in June and early July was lackluster with bad water quality for sight casting and fewer than normal tarpon from what everyone was saying. There are some very good guides in the area that spend considerably more time on the silver kings than I do and when hearing how tough it was to get results, I opted for more reliable results with the reef chumming. There quite a few memorable events, an enormous cobia lost after an epic hour long fight, a weeks time where from horizon to horizon albies crashing flying fish, a seventy fish day on albies in only thirty feet of water, a six foot long barracuda ripping an albie out of my hands just as I was picking it up out of the water,(that one was a little scary, the cuda was going about fifty when he hit)) just too many stories to relate. And this brings me back to the start of the fall bait migration/mullet run kicking off.
The first schools of mullet, ladyfish, bluefish and jacks showed up this week, crashing in schools of bait so large as to be mind boggling. I threw the net on just such a school pilchards and sardines last week, and the net could not close, over a thousand pounds of bait in one shot. I hope the hurricane season finishes without us wearing one, I'm looking forward to a fall season of inshore and offshore fun with snook, tarpon, jacks, dolphin, skipjack tuna and what ever else we find. Spinner sharks should be along shortly
Lake Okeechobee - May 10th, 2005
supplied by: Fanntastic Fishing FISHING: Great Lake Okeechobee
The current lake level is 13.9 feet above sea level as of today. Water levels are falling slowly to accomodate the expected summer rainy season.
Bass fishing on the lake hass been good to excellent. Bass are holding in the Kissimmee and peppergrass beds in Pelican Bay and from Long Point on Kreamer Island down across the north side of Grassy Island. Windy conditions have made some places muddy, but good numbers of bass are consistently be caught. Gambler Flappin Shads and chartreuse/white spinnerbaits have been working early morning or low light conditions. Rattletraps have been working around the more isolated cover. We had several big bass in the 8-10 lb class this week on artificials.
The bluegill and shellcracker fishing has been very good this week during the full moon. 1/16oz. Blakemore Road Runners or Roostertail are good search baits for panfish in water that is too cloudy to fish for visible beds. Live crickets have produced the best numbers once the beds have been found.
Everglades
The canals of Sawgrass and Holiday Park are full of fish and Fishermen!!! Falling water has forced the bass, bluegill and other fish to seek the deeper water of the canals. Now is one of the best times to take a kid fishing. With the fast action available, most kids will have a great time catching a variety of fish, like bass, peacock bass, bluegill, shellcracker, gar, oscars and others. Small and medium shiners are the best bait for a quick bite. Number 11 floating Rapalas are a super choice. Gambler Aces in the watermelon gold color rigged wacky style are also working well.
Good fishing and tight lines Capt. Mark Fann Fann-Tastic Fishing
Tarpon Springs - August 27th, 2004
supplied by: Tarpon Tom's Bait and Tackle FISHING: Good
Capt. Lenny says the jetties at the south end of Honeymoon are holding some nice snook and good numbers of them. The beaches in the whole area are hot right now
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