Jacksonville

Yesterday I spoke with Capt. Scott Guthrie at Atlantic Coast Marine in Jacksonville. He was telling me that the redfish are schooling in deeper water on low tides. These Fish spook easily and are hard to catch. There are a lot of small speckled trout being caught. Bigger trout can be caught in deeper water. Trout season opens tomorrow in the N.E. and N.W. areas of the state. There are also a lot of sheepshead being caught at the jetty. Offshore, seabass and wahoo are biting well, 10-12 miles out, in 100ft. of water. Cigar minnows and squid are the best baits. Capt. Guthrie was telling me that he is also catching a lot of fish on the new " Fish Bites " bait. I had to search the web to find information on this product. There web site says that the launch date for " Fish Bites " is March 1. Go to www.fishbites.com for more information. To hear more great fishing reports from Capt. Scott Guthrie and other top guides from around Florida, check out the " Chevy Florida Fishing Report " on Sun Sports/FSN Florida. Go to www.sunsportstv.com/news.jhtml?method=view&news.id=386 for viewing times.
Atlantic Coast Marine
904-221-0793
13748 Atlantic Blvd.
Jacksonville, Fl 32225

Key Largo

I was just talking with Ron at Yellow Bait House in Key Largo. He tells me that fishing in the Upper Keys is fairly strong. His customers are telling him that sea trout are everywhere, and the redfish bite is good. They are catching a lot of under sized snook, with a few in the slot limit( 27"-34" ).One snook was reported at 42". Offshore, the dolphin are few and far between, but sailfish, wahoo and grouper fishing is strong. One note, waters west of the keys is considered the Gulf of Mexico and grouper fishing is closed in the gulf through March 15th. For more information contact;
Yellow Bait House
305-451-0921
101741 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo, FL 33037

Nokomis

I spoke with Stacy at Big Bite Tackle Outfitters in Nokomis today. She tells me that the fishing is good. Look for redfish on the flats, along the shoreline, and around the drop-offs N.W. of the Tom Adams Bridge. Snook are in the backwaters and creeks, including Shaket Creek, and around "Snook Ally". Speckled trout can be found in Lemon Bay and there are a lot of large pompano around. Offshore, king mackerel are being caught 8 miles out, and there are lots of snapper being caught 10-15 miles into the Gulf. For more information contact;
Big Bite Tackle Outfitters
941-486-1988
900 Tamiami Trail S.
Nokomis, FL 34275

North Skyway Fishing Pier

I was talking with "Big" Mike at the North Skyway State Fishing Pier in St. Petersburg today. He tells me that the fishing is very good. His customers are catching lots of bluefish and spanish mackerel on gotcha jigs and spoons. "The mackerel are a nice size!", he told me. "Some people thought they may be kingfish!". People are also catching sheepshead, silver trout, and some grouper. Pinfish work well for the grouper, shrimp and squid work well for the sheepshead and silver trout. For more information contact;
Skyway State Fishing Pier
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Redington Long Pier

I spoke with Mike at Redington Long Pier at Redington Shores this afternoon. He was telling me that the fishing is O.K., but not spectacular. His customers are catching speckled trout and whiting on shrimp. With the warmer weather and rising water temperatures, we should see better fishing soon. For more information contact;
Redington Long Pier
727-391-9398
17490 Gulf Blvd.
Redington Shores, FL 33708

March Tournaments

The month of March brings three things to the state of Florida; better weather, better fishing, and the busiest part of the spring fishing tournament season! I spent part of the weekend putting together a list of the saltwater tournaments being held in Florida in March. If I missed your tournament, please e-mail me and I will ad it to the list. Also, there are many freshwater tournaments being held in March, but time does not permit me to list them.
World Billfish Series
3/3-4, Miami
www.worldbillfishseries.com/

Flatmasters Grand Slam Plug Series
3/3-4, Punta Gorda
http://www.flatmasters.com/

Destin Cobia Tournament
3/9, Destin
www.cobiatournament.com/info.asp

Redfish Survivor Series
3/10-11, Punta Gorda
http://www.redfishsurvivor.com/

IFA Redfish Tour
3/10, Jacksonville
www.redfishtour.com/

Old Salt/ T.V. John All Artifical Open
3/15&17, Maderia Beach
www.oldsaltfishingclub.com/

Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup
3/16-18, Titusville
www.redfishcup.com/tournaments/

FLW Redfish Series
3/22-24, Titusville
http://redfish.flwoutdores.com/schedule.cfm?cid=9


Miami Billfish Tournament
3/29-4/1, Miami
http://www.miamibillfish.com/


The Ocean Kayak Paddle Fishing Tournament
3/31, Clearwater
www.ospreybay.com/Ocean_Kayak_Tournament.htm


SKA Tournaments
3/16-18, Marco Island
3/23-25, Miami
3/30-4/1, Naples
www.fishska.com/index.asp


Florida Keys
Five tournaments in March.
www.flakeys.com/fishing/news/news.cfm?sid=1115

ISAA Shrimping Tournaments
Every Saturday in March.
www.isaa.cc

Sarasota

Today I spoke with Sut at New Pass Grill & Bait Shop in Sarasota. Sut was telling me that the fishing is on an up swing and that "There is plenty of action if you just want to catch fish!". There are lots of bluefish around and his customers are reporting good numbers of redfish. Trout fishing is very slow, but there are lots of big pompano around, the whiting are starting to show, and there are even some small tarpon in the back waters. Live shrimp is your best bait but pinfish also work well. Offshore, Sut's customers are reporting a few spanish mackerel. With grouper fishing closed in the federal waters of the Gulf, where the keeper fish are, your best bet are snapper. For more information contact;
New Pass Grill & Bait Shop
941-388-3050
1505 Ken Thompson Pkwy
Sarasota, FL 34236

Naples

I spoke with Phil at Captain Pete's Bait & Tackle in Naples today. Phil took a trip into the Gulf of Mexico yesterday along with a friend form up north. "We killed them!", he told me. Fishing in 70ft of water, there party landed dozens of grouper and around 30 lane snapper each. The grouper were undersized. Also, grouper fishing is still closed in federal waters of the Gulf, so they released all that they caught. The snapper were mostly between 15" -17", but Phil's friend caught four larger fish just before the winds picked up and chased them off of the water. For more information contact:
Captain Pete's Bait & Tackle
239-643-4466
550 Port O Call Way
Naples, FL 34102

Mosquito Lagoon

I spoke with Tom at Doc's Bait & Tackle in Titusville this afternoon. He was telling me that the reds are schooling in the southern part of the Mosquito Lagoon. There are lots of trout around but it is hard to get them to bite. Live bait fish, such as mullet and mud minnows, are the key to getting them to strike. Surf fishing is good. Toms customers are catching lots of pompano and good sized whiting. Offshore, the cobia fishing is starting to slow, but grouper and snapper are biting well. Pinfish work well, but flying fish are the best offshore bait. Tom was also telling me that the crappie fishing is really picking up in area lakes. Just in time for the March 3rd crappie tournament! For more information contact;
Doc's Bait & Tackle
321-264-0330
20 N Washington Ave.
Titusville, FL 32796

Sebastian Inlet

I spoke with Whitey's Bait & Tackle near Sebastian Inlet today. Fishing around the inlet is still slow. There customers are catching some reds inside the pass and a few snook at night. There are a good number of flounder being caught, but most are undersized. A few of the flounder are are in the 5-6lb range and there was one weighed in at 7.25lb. For more information contact;
Whitey's Bait & Tackle
321-724-1440
9030 S Hwy A1A
Melbourn Beach, FL 32951
www.whiteysonline.com

Eastern Panhandle

I spoke with Fishermans Choice Bait & Tackle & Seafood in Eastpoint ( East of Panama City ). She was telling me that the redfish are kind of slow in the bay there also, but black drum and sheepshead fishing is good. Shrimp and fiddler crabs are the best baits for sheepshead, but the fiddlers are hard to come by right now. The whiting are biting well in the surf with shrimp being the best bait. For more information contact;
Fishermans Choice Bait & Tackle & Seafood
850-670-8808
330 US Highway 98
Eastpoint, FL 32328
www.fishermanschoice.net

Panhandle

This morning I talked with William at Outcast Bait & Tackle in Pensacola. He tells me that, in the bay, the redfish are a little slow right now but flounder and sheepshead fishing is picking up. Look for the sheepshead around bridge pilings. Live or frozen shrimp is the bait of choice for flounder and sheepshead. Offshore, the grouper are hitting menhaden and chub mackerel. William says that he is expecting cobia to start showing any day now. For more information contact;
Outcast Bait & Tackle
850-457-1450
3520 Barrancas Av.
Pensacola, Fl 32507
www.outcastbaitandtackle.com

Jacksonville/St. Augustine Piers

Today I spoke with Fay at Jacksonville Beach Pier. She says that her customers are catching bluefish, whiting, and on Saturday there were a few black drum taken. The best bait is shrimp. I also spoke with St. Johns Co. Ocean Pier. They tell me that the fishing is slow with only a few small whiting being caught. For more information contact;
Jacksonville Beach Pier St. Johns Co. Ocean Pier
904-241-1515 OR 904-461-0119
503 1st St. N. 350A1a Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville Beach, Fl 32250 St. Augustine, FL 32080
www.jacksonvillebeachpier.com

Marathon

I spoke with Capt. Dave at the Tackle Box in Marathon today. He was telling me that even though the wind was howling yesterday and the temperatures are down, the fishing is good. In Florida Bay, his customers are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel. The king mackerel are also biting with a 40lb king being taken on Saturday. A pin fish on a float or balloon works well for kings. Kings are also being caught in the Atlantic. Grouper are being taken by trolling pinfish in 30ft. of water and wahoo are hitting ballyhoo. Snapper fishing is very good now with lots of yellowtail and mutton being taken on glass minnows. For more information contact;
Tackle Box
305-289-0540
1901 Overseas Hwy
Marathon, FL 33050
www.thetacklebox.com

Good advice from Redfish Tournament Pros!

I came across this article in the News & Events section of Berkley's web site. I thought it was really good advice for days like today when the water is a little chilly.

02.12.2007 —
Berkley Pros and veteran redfish captains Greg and Bryan Watts captured their first tournament victory since 2003 by winning the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup All-Star Ice-Breaker in Clearwater, Fla., over the weekend with a final-day weight of 13.26 pounds.
The Watts brothers credited patience with their victory. A cold front made the fish picky and the brothers had to their bait slowly into holes in the flats and wait for the fish to strike. During the tournament, the Watts brothers focused their efforts on areas within 1-2 miles of the boat launch. Fishing in 2-3 feet of water of the bars, they used Berkley Gulp! 4-inch Sinking Minnows (watermelon red glitter) and Saltwater Gulp! 3-inch Shrimp (new penny), keeping the bait close to the bottom with technique called “tickling the bottom.” This slow, methodical presentation that allows the Gulp! scent to fill the areas was countered by “dead sticking,” where the Watts brother would let the bait sit on the bottom in the shallow water.

“You can’t pressure them,” Greg Watts said. “You just have to wait until they’re happy, and then they do their thing.”

Waters around our state have cooled even more since this tournament, just five days ago. This doesn't mean that you can't catch fish! Two things will increase your chances of hooking something this weekend. Find warmer water at power plant outflows or on the sunny side of canals, like Larry Mastry told us yesterday, and slow down your presentation, like the Watts brothers are saying in this article. So lets get out and fish!!

St. Petersburg

This afternoon I talked with Larry at Mastry's Bait & Tackle in St. Petersburg. He was telling me that the fishing was really good before the cold front blew through yesterday. His customers have been catching lots of redfish, silver trout, speckled trout, some good sized snook, and sheepshead from the canals and flats stretching from St. Pete Pier to Fort DeSoto Park. The best natural baits to use are shrimp and cut bait for the reds, shrimp for the trout and snook, especially during the day, and shrimp or fiddler crabs for the sheepshead. The best artificials are jerk baits and soft plastics, hard plastics, and spoons. With some of the coldest temperatures of the year for casted for this weekend, I asked Larry for some of his best cold water tips. He was telling me that for sheepshead, he looks for any rock pile that soaks up a lot of sun. Your best bet though, is to fish the sunny sides of the canals. Fish dead end canals if the water gets really cold but mostly the fish will hold to docks and other structure on the side of the canal that gets the most sun. For more information contact;
Mastry's Bait & Tackle
727-896-8889
1700 4th St. S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Jensen Beach

I spoke with Fred at Snook-Nook Discount Bait in Jensen Beach this afternoon. He tells me that overall, the fishing has been good. In the river his customers are catching lots of trout, redfish, and some small snook. Shrimp work best if you want to use live bait, but most of the fish are being caught on split tail jerk baits or plastic shrimp. Beach fishing has also been very good. Fred's customers are reporting lots of bluefish, jacks, spanish mackerel,and whiting. Pompano are a little slow right now, but some larger fish are still being taken from the beach. Sand flees are the best live bait from the beach. Spoons and jigs are the preferred artificials. For more information contact;
Snook-Nook Discount Bait
772-334-2145
3595 NE Indian River Dr.
Jensen Beach, FL 34957
www.snooknook.net

Ft. Lauderdale

This morning I spoke with Jeff at T&R Tackle Shop in Lauderdl by Sea. He was telling me that his customers are catching lots of large swordfish, up to 250lb, in there offshore waters. There are also a lot of sailfish offshore of Boca Raton. Trolling natural ballyhoo and googleye will get the sails to bite. For more information contact;
T&R Tackle Shop
954-776-1055
229 Commercial Blvd.
Lauderdl by Sea, FL 33308

Grouper Closed Season

Recreational Grouper Fishing Closed Season. February 15th-March 15th in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Federal waters begin nine nautical miles offshore in the gulf. Seasonal closure on red grouper, black grouper, and gag grouper.

Matlacha

D&D Bait & Tackle
239-282-9122
3922 Pine Island Rd. NW
Matlacha, FL 33993
Fish for mangrove snapper in canals.

Bonita Springs

I talked with Ken at Master Bait & Tackle in Bonita Springs today. Ken was telling me that the fishing there is good. His customers have been catching redfish, trout, pompano, and some snook. Sheapshead are your best bet right now. Sand flees and shrimp are the best baits for sheepshead. Shrimp and pinfish are the best live baits for reds, trout, snook, and pompano. Yozuri plugs, soft plastics and gold spoons are the best artificial baits. Out in the Gulf, the king fish have moved on but cobia and tripletail fishing is good right now. Grouper fishing is also good, but only in deeper water. Ken reminded me of the recreational grouper fishing closed season in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico starting tomorrow (February 15th) and running through March 15th. Federal waters begin nine nautical miles offshore in the gulf. All of the keeper grouper are coming from more then nine nautical miles offshore. For more information contact;
Master Bait & Tackle
239-992-2553
4465 Bonita Beach Rd.
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
www.masterbait.com

Key Largo

I spoke with Ron at Yellow Bait House on Key Largo this afternoon. He tells me that the sailfish bite is a little slow right now due to some cooler waters offshore. Other then that, the offshore fishing has been good. Dolphin, grouper, kingfish, mutton snapper, and wahoo are all biting well. The inshore fishing is also good. Redfish, snook, and speckled trout are all bitting well. The best live baits for inshore are shrimp and pinfish. Berkleys Gulp bait is the top artificial. I forgot to ask , but Ron usually holds a fishing seminar on Thursday nights at 7pm. For more information on this weeks subject, call him at;
Yellow Bait House
305-451-0921
101741 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo, FL 33037

Dunedin

Today's report comes from Jimmy at Dunedin Fishing Center and covers the waters around the Dunedin Causeway and Honeymoon Island. Fishing has been sporadic, but those willing to wade are reporting nice catches of trout, redfish, snook, and at least one pompano. Live shrimp, dead shrimp, or pinfish are the best natural baits. The best artificial baits are the Berkley Gulp Shrimp in the 3" or 4" size, new penny color, or the DOA Shrimp in gold glitter or rootbeer/gold glitter colors. These are producing well when dragged on the bottom in 3-5ft of water. In the Gulf, frozen sardines and live pinfish are catching grouper in 50ft of water. For more information contact;
Dunedin Fishing Center
727-738-5628
2436 Bayshore Blvd.
Dunedin FL 34698

St. Petersburg

The action is picking up at the North Skyway Fishing Pier! I talked to them at 5:00 this afternoon and they were telling me that the bluefish started biting after the tide started moving out. There was a 3:42 high tide. Shrimp is the best bait for the blues. Grouper fishing at the North Pier is also good right now. Live bait fish are best for grouper. For more information contact;
North Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
727-865-0668
Skyway Bridge
St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Jupiter

This morning I talked with Captain George at Jupiter Bait & Tackle. He says that the fishing is good offshore with nice catches of kingfish, sailfish, and snapper. For more information contact;
Jupiter Bait & Tackle
561-746-2116
141 Center St. #1
Jupiter, FL 33458

Daytona Beach

I just got off the phone with Kelly at Sunglow Fishing Pier in Daytona Beach. She was telling me that her customers were catching black drum and sheepshead last week, but right at the moment they are only catching whiting. For more information contact;
Sunglow Fishing Pier
386-756-4219
3701 S. Atlantic Av.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118

Bonita Springs

Today I was talking with Gary at Master Bait & Tackle in Bonita Springs. Gary was telling me that redfish, snook, trout and whiting fishing is hot in Estero Bay. The recent high winds have pushed a lot of floating grass into the bay, so finding clean water is a must. The clean water can be found around the rivers and mangroves of the back bay. Captain Mike Gold Spoons is the bait of choice for reds. Gary had only one report from offshore. Captain Chick Burke, also of Master Bait & Tackle, went out today and caught 5 grouper. "If you want to catch grouper, Captain Burke has really got it down!", Gary tells me. For more information contact;
Master Bait & Tackle
239-992-2553
4465 Bonita Beach Rd.
Bonita Springs, FL 34134

Fernandina Beach

This afternoon I spoke with Chris at Atlantic Seafood Bait & Tackle in Fernandina Beach. He was telling me that fishing is a little slow because of the chilly water temperatures and high winds. A few of his customers have caught redfish and sheepshead from the Amelia River and St. Marys River. There are also some whiting coming from the beach. For more information contact;
Atlantic Seafood Bait & Tackle
904-261-4302
10 Ash St.
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

Titusville

Today I was talking with Tom from Doc's Bait & Tackle in Titusville. He was telling me that the fishing in the Mosquito Lagoon has been excellent in spite of the bad weather. His customers are catching 10-12 reds a day along with up to 10 trout, and some small flounder to the south. The reds and trout are hitting shrimp and Berkley Gulp baits. Black Drum are being caught on blue crabs at the rail road bridge and Haullover Canal. Beach fishing has been slow due to the high winds. Tom was telling me that if he had to pick one thing to go after right now it would be shrimp. You can use a dip net or box net to catch them from the Titusville Bridge or the rail road bridge. " It's a fun way to get some cheep shrimp! " he says. For more information contact;
Doc's Bait & Tackle
321-264-0330
20 N. Washington Av.
Titusville, FL 32796

St. Petersburg

I spoke with Mastry's Bait & Tackle Inc. today. They were telling me that the high winds and rough seas of the last couple of weeks, have kept most of there customers from getting out into the gulf. For those that have gotten out, it has been tough going with few fish caught. Inshore fishing has been good though. They usually work the flats and canals from Pinellas Point to Ft. DeSoto Park. Trout, redfish, snook, and sheepshead have all been biting well. Fish jerk baits on the flats and in the canals for some great action with the trout, reds and snook. Fiddler crabs and mussels will catch sheepshead around docks and bridges. For more information call;
Mastry's Bait & Tackle Inc.
727-896-8889
1700 4th Street S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Pompano

This morning I spoke with Jeff at T&R Tackle Shop in Lauderdl By Sea, which lies between Ft. Ladurdale and Pompano. Jeff was telling me that the weather has turned pretty snotty over the last couple of days. Before that, boats that were kite fishing offshore of Pompano were hooking 20+ sailfish, and 10+ swordfish a day. Inshore there are still some resident tarpon around, but the only other inshore fish that are biting has been bonefish. He has been getting reports of decent numbers of bones coming from the beach, and from Anglin's pier. For more information contact Jeff at;
R&R Tackle Shop
954-776-1055
229 Commercial Blvd.
Lauderdl By Sea, FL 33308

What's open? What's closed?

February 1st marks the opening of snook season state wide. That's the good news! The bad news is that it also marks the beginning of a one month closure of speckle trout fishing in the North East and North West regions. The North East region is is defined as state waters lying north of the Flagler-Volusia County line to the Florida/Georgia border. The North West region is state waters north and west of a line running due west from the western most point of Fred Howard Park Causeway, approximately 1.17 miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas County line, to the Florida/Alabama border. Red snapper fishing is also closed in the Gulf of Mexico through April 14th.

Port St. Joe

Today I talked with Greg from Half Hitch Tackle in Port St. Joe near Panima City. He reminded me that trout fishing is closed in there part of the state as of today, Feb. 1. Before that, his customers had been reporting excellent catches of specs in the marina and the bay. "Where there are trout there are reds!" he told me when I asked if the redfish had been biting. He was also telling me that the high winds from the recent cold fronts has kept most people from traveling to far into the gulf, but those who have gotten out have been rewarded with good catches of grouper at the near shore wrecks. To find out more contact Greg at;
Half Hitch Tackle
850-227-7100
212 W Highway 98#A
Port St. Joe, FL 32456