Tarpon Springs Fishing Report 12/09

Welcoming Winter
Capt. Brian's Fishing Report 12/11/2009



Hey Friends! Ready for the holiday season yet? Why not buy your loved one a Gift Certificate from Capt. Brian? I've been sending them out for a couple weeks now and we still have time! They make a great stocking stuffer. If you are up North, I hope you are staying warm. Come on down and have some fun fishing with me, just leave that cold weather behind. Here is what is happening on the water...
This time of year always brings us some cold fronts. Not all bad as they push in the bigger Trout and also bring in larger Grouper closer to shore. Presentations must be slowed down as the fish tend to be a little lethargic, especially in the morning hours. The spoil islands around my area are starting to hold those big Trout. Select sized Shrimp, Sardines (if you can find them) and jigs are all working for the Trout. Your favorite plastic jerkworm on a 1/8 ounce jighead is perfect. The Shrimp can be floated a few feet under a cork and produce great results on the big Trout. Tidal flow is the key to catching a bunch so plan around the tides. Also, the warmer afternoons can be good if the early part of the day is real cold. Trout will be the focus of many anglers, especially in a couple of weeks when the season opens for keeping them on January 1st.
Redfish are staging up around a few docks but have been pretty scarce for the most part. They will settle in soon. We always seem to have them through the winter so I am sure they will move back in and eat the Shrimp pitched around the oyster bars and docks along the seawalls. Gulp Shrimp are a great artificial bait to use in the winter. The Reds love them and the Pinfish can't tear them up too badly.
Grouper are moving into the 20 foot range. Certain rock piles are holding good numbers of fish. Cut Pinfish and Grunts are a great bait but the Shrimp and Sardines will get a hit too. The Mangrove Snapper are also on most of these rocks so dropping a rig with smaller tackle is always a good idea. I like to use light mainline, 15 - 20 lb test with 30 lb leader and a 1/0 hook for the Snapper.
We will certainly hook a variety of inshore fish while targeting Trout and Reds. Ladyfish Bluefish and Mackerel are the usual suspects. Great fun for the kids or anyone looking to fight some fish! I am ready to go so call now or e-mail me and let's get you down for a fun filled day during the Holiday hustle and bustle! 727-365-7560 or brian@captbrian.com. Don't forget those Gift Certificates! Let's go fishing!

Capt. Brian

Capt. Brian Caudill
727-365-7560
braincandle2@yahoo.com
http://www.captbrian.com/

Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report 12-09

Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing
December 18, 2009
By Captain Tom Van Horn



Up Coming Seminars and Events
On December 22, 2009 Captain Ron Presley author of "Secrets of Florida's Master Anglers" will be available to autograph books from 10 am - 5 pm at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida. The Secrets of Florida's Master Anglers is an excellent book for anglers of all skill levels, and it would make a great holiday girt for those anglers close to your heart. For more details and directions to Mosquito Creek Outdoors, visit their website at www.mosquitocreek.com/fishing.

Holiday Gift Certificates Special;
Book a fishing charter in advance by purchasing a holiday gift certificate at the special rate of 375.00 for a full day of fishing for two anglers. The certificate is good for one year from the date of purchase and makes a great Christmas present for those close to your heart. There's no better time than time spent on the water together stretching line. Call me at 407-416-1187 or send me an e-mail at mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com to purchase one today.

First and foremost, let me wish each and every one of you a happy and joyful holiday season, with a special thanks to all of you who fished with me over the years. Although this year has been a tough for the fishing charter business, I'm truly blessed to have a job that provides me the opportunity to spend time out on the water doing what I truly love to do, fish. It is also extremely rewarding to see and meet past clients at events and on the water who are willing to share their passion for the resources and the sport.

This last week on the 12th of December we conducted our first Conservation Angler Certification class at Mosquito Creek Outdoors. The class was endorsed by Angler's for Conservation, and although it was the holiday season, we still had good attendance and a quality program and we certified our first 27 anglers who signed a pledge to practice both conservation and good ethics while enjoying the sport of recreational angling.

As always the case in Florida, December can be a challenging time of year to fish our coastal waters. For a good part of the week, windy and cloudy conditions made angling difficult, but for a short window of three days, the winds settled down and the fog rolled in. For those who fished during those calm conditions, fishing was great. One guide friend I fished with on Wensday made the statement that his only wish was fishing was always that good on the Mosquito Lagoon. I heard similar reports from anglers on both the Indian River Lagoon and the Banana River No-Motor Zone. Anglers reported tailing redfish and black drum from all areas, so you know the fish are there. The best results came from casting unweighted jerk baits like the DOA CAL in the darker shades.

Again, the weather has turned for the worst with the arrival of out latest cold front, so I would suggest finishing your Holiday shopping tomorrow and look for your better weather days around Monday or Tuesday.


As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.

Good luck and good fishing and happy holidays,


Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 land line

Visit

Panhandle Fishing Report 12-14-09

Report for 12/14/2009

Salt Water


MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
If you pick your days carefully and the weather gods allow, reports still have the grouper hitting at the 120’ mark. Big cuts of Bonita and butter flied whole northern mackerel were working well on 80lb fluorocarbon with 10/0 size circle hooks on a Carolina rig. Jigging will also bring in the fish, using either Shimano butterfly jigs or the braid slammer jig.



ST JOSEPH BAY
No change here, the best spots for trout is increasingly the intercoastal canal. Anglers are using live shrimp on a 3/8 oz jig head and having good success. The late afternoon in the PSJ Marina is a great second choice if you are bound to the shore. St Joseph Bay is still producing trout in good numbers, but the big news is the larger redfish are biting well in nearly all of the deeper holes and channels. The whiting continue to be the fish you can count on in the surf with the best numbers being caught off Crooked Island and Mexico Beach.

PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
The Flounder numbers remain good over the inshore wrecks. Use live bull minnows, shrimp or pilchards on a Carolina rig and target the edges of the wrecks. Redfish are starting to move offshore, some are being caught along the beach and in the pass. Amberjack are closed in Federal waters Oct. 24 through the end of the year, state waters are still open, and remember the new 30 inch length limit. Grouper are being found well offshore from 20 plus miles out, best bet is to use large live baits.

ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
The White Trout bite is still very good. They can be found in deep water under the Hathaway and Tyndall Bridges. Use live shrimp on a Carolina rig for best results. The Redfish action is heating up on the flats in East and West Bays. Slowly and quietly drift the flats in 3 feet or less water using a ½ ounce Gold Spoon or your favorite Top-water Plug. The Bull Reds are still being caught with live shrimp and pinfish around the jetties. Speckled Trout are starting to move into the Intracoastal Waterway, creeks and bayous. Use live shrimp fished on the bottom for best results.





NAVARRE

SURF
The Pompano are still in the surf. There have been some reports of a few good fish being caught. Best baits remain live or frozen sand fleas and live and frozen shrimp. Pompano jigs will catch them too. The Bonito are in the surf as well. Any bright colored lure worked fast will catch them. As the water continues to cool the Spanish Mackerel and Skipjack will start to move south. There are still a fair amount of Bluefish to be caught. Bright spoons, Gotcha plugs, Straw Rigs, Top Water and regular plugs will catch them. Live and frozen Shrimp is always a good bait choice. Redfish have showed up on the beach. Some will be slot size fish but for the most part they will be over the slot. Live, frozen and cut baits, especially cut mullet will catch them. There have been reports of the occasional Flounder being caught, some will be some nice fish over five pounds. Best baits are Tiger, Bull minnows and live finger Mullet. Don’t forget about the Whiting. The bull Whiting can get up to two pounds and make great table fare. Try peeling your shrimp when fishing for the Whiting. There have been some reports of some Sheepshead being caught; most have been caught on sand fleas, fiddler crabs and shrimp.

SOUND AND BAYS
Trout have started to migrate up the rivers and into the bayous, but there are some still on the grass flats. You can catch your biggest Trout early and late in the day on top water baits and on live baits in the bayous and bayou channels. Live Shrimp and Mullet are the best baits to use this time of year to catch these Trout. Try fishing the deeper holes and bends in the rivers as the water gets colder. Redfish will remain in the sound and bays a little longer. Redfish can be caught on the same live baits and artificial lures will take their share of fish. Work all visible and underwater structure to increase your chances at hooking up with a red. Flounder and Sheepshead can all be caught in the bay this time of year. Finger Mullet, Bull Minnows and Tiger Minnows are hard to beat for the Flounder and Sheepshead can’t resist a small fiddler crab or live shrimp. Tie on a 12” piece of 12# to 20# fluorocarbon leader, a #1 hook, ¼ to ½oz sinker and a live shrimp or live Fiddler crab. This rig is a Sheepshead killer, always use as light as weight as possible with this rig. The upper part of east Bay has been good for Redfish and Trout. Try fishing around the power lines and the surrounding oyster bars.

NEAR SHORE – GULF
There have been some reports of the Flounder on the near shore wrecks within one or two miles of the beach. Live finger Mullet, Tiger Minnows and Bull Minnows are great baits to use. The big Redfish are in the pass. Jigs, cut bait and live bait all take these fish. You may encounter a slot Red while fishing, but be sure to put the big ones back. This is a good time of year to look for the big schools of Redfish to be on top in the pass, just outside the pass and within one or two miles of the beach. Try looking for birds working the schools. Throw top water baits for some great action or a large spoon or jig. For the fly rod enthusiasts this is prime time. Any pattern that imitates a large baitfish will serve you well. Live baits will catch them to.

OFFSHORE – GULF
The bottom fishing for Amberjack and Grouper remains very good. Live bait and frozen bait will work on the Grouper. Jigging with a Butterfly jig or fishing with live Hardtails remains a good tactic to catch the Amberjack. I have had some good reports of Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna being caught around the offshore oil platforms. Jigging, chumming and trolling are all effective in taking these fish

Fresh Water
The stripers and hybrid bass are active in the intercoastal, and can be caught using silver grubs on a ¼ ox jig head, live shrimp on a jig head, or a rattletrap. Look for these fish on an incoming tide behind structure. A strong current is best for these fighters. Note: Striper and hybrid have not been very active in the recent past. It is my understanding that officials no longer stock these fish. However, this is the report as I received it.

Half Hitch Tackle
850-234-2621
2206 Thomas Dr
Panama City, FL 32408
www.halfhitch.com


Fishing Report prepared by Half Hitch Tackle Staff.

The Captains Corner Fishing Report is provided by local charter captains and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Half Hitch Tackle.

This report is dedicated to the memory of Al Hubbard.
Al Hubbard was a field editor for Florida Sportsman magazine, an outdoor writer for the News Herald and a board member of the Florida Outdoor Writer's Association.
Mr. Hubbard was also the owner of Al's Outdoors Outfitting Services.

Red Hot Nature Coast Fishing

Red Hot Fishing Report!!!!
Report Date: December 6, 2009



Pat was all smiles after he was able to put his hands on this 27

Winter finally has settled in here along the Nature Coast of Crystal River and Homosassa. With temperatures hovering around a bone chilling 69 degrees life is tough here in the sunshine state. Please don’t let me sarcasm fool you, our winter months are refreshing after a fairly warm summer and we always look forward to the cool down each year. So what exactly does the cooler weather mean for the fishing?

Inshore anglers can expect shorter runs, bigger schools of fish, and extremely hungry fish. Huge schools of Redfish, Black Drum, Speckled Trout, Jack Crevalle, and LadyFish will all be extremely prevalent on the flats, in the backcountry holes and in most of our local rivers. All of these species are being targeted right now and it’s not uncommon to catch all of these species while fishing a particular area. Most of these fish are feeding heavily in anticipation for the winter so they tend to be quite large and in charge for the time of year. We are targeting these fish with spin gear using both live and artificial baits but if you’re interested in a challenge bring along a fly rod and target some of these fish in the extremely clear and shallow waters, which our area is “World Famous” for.



Jay and Nancy Allen are showing off a Redfish Doubel Header with Red Hot Fishing Charters.

During a few of my most recent charters we have been targeting ladyfish within 2 minutes from the dock. Known as the “Poor Mans Tarpon” the lady fish is one of the most fun fish to catch because of its hard runs and acrobatic jumps. If it was edible it would definitely be the most sought after game fish in Florida but it is sought after on my charters because it’s a great fish for kids to catch and it’s some of the best bait our area has. (Just a note the boat record on lady fish is over 150 during a ½ day charter).

We use cut Ladyfish on my charters when targeting huge schools of Giant Redfish and now is the time we’re targeting some of the biggest Reds of the year. During the last few weeks I have spotted over 10 schools of Reds pushing 20+ fish to a school I know had to have well over 100+ fish in it. When targeting schools this large with fish ranging from 3-20lbs a stealthy approach is key and the anticipation of their feeding patterns is even more important. Normally, I prefer live shrimp when targeting Redfish, but if you have a school of 40 fish coming down a shoreline and you pitch a shrimp in front of them, chances are the pinfish are going to eat your entire shrimp before the Reds ever knew it was there. Cut Ladyfish acts as one big piece of chum and it will definitely last longer and get the attention of some of the hungrier Reds in a large school.

So as I sit hear on my back porch watching the rain and the leaves fall I finally have a chance to reflect on what a great couple of months it has been and what an AWESOME year 2009 was. Awesome catches of Redfish, Black Drum, Spanish Mackerel, Sheephead, Tripletail, Cobia and Tarpon Inshore and Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish and Bonita Offshore all combined to make 2009 one of the best fishing years in past memories. If you’re interested in creating a few memories of your own for the 2010 fishing season feel free to call or email for availability.



Clear water and Great Redfishing!!!!

REMEMBER! RED HOT FISHING CHARTER GIFT CERTIFICATES MAKE GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!!!!!

Capt. Kyle Messier
(352) 634-4002
kylemessier@yahoo.com
WWW.REDHOTFISHINGCHARTERS.COM

Florida Keys Double-Digit Sailfish

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Capt. Easy does it again!!
Another day, another double-digit sailfish catch for the Capt. Easy crew! thanks John :-)



The Stark party from Connecticut, Chuck, Matt and Tony, had a Sailfish fishing session they won't soon forget, aboard the Capt. Easy with Capt. Bruce Anderson and first mate John. The CT crew caught and released a grand total of 10 Sailfish! I believe this is the daily record for the season so far at the Holiday Isle dock. (Yabba had 9 a couple of weeks ago.)






So if you think you have the angling "chops" to better the record, just call me Ernie or Nicki at 305 664 2321 x642 to book an exciting offshore fishing trip with the best in biz, the experienced captains of Holiday Isle Resort and Marina. Tight lines!!

Nikki Holiday Isle Offshore 800-327-7070 Etc 642

Holiday Isle Resort and Marina
84001 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
305-664-2321 ext. 642
Direct: 305-433-9942
www.holidayisle.com
kharper@holidayisle.com


Posted by Let's Fish at 7:40 AM