Bite Goes Ballistic Before Front

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 29, 2007

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

After an agonizing week off of the water due to an illness, I was chomping at the bit to relax and stretch some line. The day was last Friday and a cold front was pushing through Central Florida. Although we have had a bit of cooler weather this fall, we have been experience warmer than normal condition and the situation was perfect for a pre frontal sea trout bite.

Over the years, I only managed to hit it right a handful of times, but when the barometer shifts on an approaching cold front the bite sometimes goes ballistic, and this was the case last week. We launched about 730 AM facing cloudy skies and a light northwest breeze of about 5 knots, with the anticipation of a northerly shift in direction and speed once the front past through. As I polled my modified Indian River Canoe into the Banana River No-Motor Zone, my long time fishing buddy Mike Murray blind cast a ¼ ounce gold Captain Mikes spoon from the casting seat in the bow. We started out throwing soft plastic jerk baits, but the puffers were relentless, so I switched Mike to the spoon. As we worked our way along the flat, Mike's first hookup was a lower slot redfish, and then he caught a puffer, but that was it for the first several hours.

As we worked our way deeper into the Zone, I spotted a concentrated area of nervous baitfish in about 18-inches of water, so I staked out the boat and began working a RipTide Morning Glory (dark color) Flats Chub on a #4 Woodies Rattle hook quickly across the top of the water twitching it in a walk-the-dog style to keep the puffers at bay. Within the first 10 feet of water covered, a huge sea trout exploded on the bait, and the fight was on. Mike was still throwing the spoon, but after my third large trout on consecutive cast, I switched Mike over to the same bait, and the game was on.


It didn't mater which direction we threw the lure we had a fish on almost every cast, and when it was all said and done we had 28 sea trout, 2 redfish, and 1 jack between us, with some sea trout reaching the six to seven pound range. After about an hour of catching fish on the Flats Chubs, Mike wadded up his line with a huge birds nest and instead of burning time messing with the knot, he switched rods and started casting a RipTide 3" red/white mullet on a 1/8 ounce screw jig which worked equally as well, only smaller fish. All total, the frenzy lasted a little over an hour, and once the front pushed through and the wind picked up, the bite turned off as quickly as it started.

Yesterday, I returned to the same flat, but on this occasion I had the great pleasure of fishing with Willie Howard, Staff Writer for the Palm Beach Post, and my good friend Captain Rodney smith. The wind and weather conditions were about the same as last week, so on Rodney's advice, we started fishing off of the beach. We started out throwing the RipTide 3" mullet (Red/White) on a ½ ounce RipTide Screw Jig with a Woodies Rattle Capsule inserted into the bait. The tide was low and incoming, and we commenced to catch fish one after another, losing count. After about two hours, we had managed a good number of jack crevalle, bluefish, spotted sea trout, and one 24" snook, and to also wipe out my stash of jig heads.


Next we launch on the east shore of the Zone and I polled the canoe north until Willie started catching fish. On this occasion the bite was a bit slower, and the most productive bait was top water plugs. It's hard to fathom trout readily striking top water plugs at the end of November, but warm weather has prevailed. The plugs of choice were red/white Skitter Walks and Spook Juniors (Lures for the Cure) and overall the trout were smaller than those caught last week.

As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com/
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free
Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com/
for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

Biscayne Bay Bonefish

NOVEMBER & DECEMBERHopefully the winds of November will fade to a manageable ten to fifteen knots for December. Bonefishing has been tough in the twenty plus winds we have had, but the fish are there. Time and time again in the Bay I have been lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time and have a three bonefish day. The water temperatures are just right for the feeding frenzies I have been able to pole into on Cutter Bank, the Rubicon’s and the outside flats of Elliot Key. I have also been finding a few permit on the outside flats. We went down to the old Carysfort Marina and if you go just southeast about two hundred yards there is a shallow flat about two feet during the low tide. I have been finding most of my permit there with a few tarpon passing by as well. If you check out your charts you will find quite a few spots like this one that will hold permit till the water temperatures drop to below 70 degrees. After that they will move out onto the wrecks in deep water which is there wintering grounds.Last month we spoke about water temperatures and the effect it has on the bonefish feeding patterns. Over this winter we will see water temps in the lower sixties and even down into the upper fifties. These temperatures make bonefishing very difficult, but not impossible. Have you ever heard of the term “deep water bonefishing”? When the surface water temperatures are in the upper fifties to the lower sixties bonefish will tend to stay in water three to six feet deep due to the more stable temperatures. Spotting fish at this depth is a real challenge. I concentrate on looking for mud’s put up by feeding fish, as well as ray muds. As a bonefish feeds he will have his head down in the grass routing out shrimp and small crabs creating small puff mud. These muds will appear as very little spot muds and will dissipate very fast in any current situation. As a fish moves into the current he will put up a few of these puffs and let you know his direction and how many fish by the amount of puffs. Here is where you just might be lucky enough to spot a “Mud House” This occurs when a large school of bones feel safe in this deeper water and begin to feed hard. Remembering that bones will always feed into or at right angles to the current flow, your best shot is to position your boat pushing into this current. This will give you the chance to see an old mud and work up on a school of feeding fish slowly and locate them by the ever increasing muds. This is your best shot at a double bonefish hook-up. A school of fifty to one hundred bonefish pushing up mud in a twenty foot circle is one of the most amazing events I have been lucky enough to put an angler on.Larger hull vessels should be aware of the flats anglers. Captains of the vessel, when you see a flats boat in the distance it is easy to see if there is a person poling up on the tower over the outboard. If there is someone poling?HE IS IN SHALLOW WATERDO NOT APPROACH.The flats boat is also fishing for the very wary bonefish. Please do not come within three hundred yards of these boats as not to spook the flat he is fishing on. When you see this type of boat you must check your GPS for a safe route around the flat he is fishing. If you come too close to this situation you are standing the chance of running aground and not only hurting the flat but also doing damage to your motors lower unit. The Park Rangers will only charge you $10 per foot for the damaged flats but at thirty knots you can run up a real bill. The watercolor change is your best indicator of shallow water. If there is a tan or brown color change this means that grass is showing in shallow water. The whole shore line of Biscayne Bay is full of such flats and small shallow channels that run through them, most of them are ok to navigate with a flats boats but not a 24-foot deep Vee hull with twin outboards. Please check out your charts or GPS system to find your safest course and help us protect our grassflats before the “powers that be” litter our Bay with “No Motor Zone” signs. Hoping all have Happy Holliday’s, and safe days on the water,
I’ll see you “On the Flats”


Capt. Dave Sutton
"South Regional Expert"
Chevy Florida Fishing Reports
305.248.6126 offices
786.564.6347 cell
Captain Dave Sutton is sponsored by Chevrolet, Evinrude, Palmas Puro Cigars, Costa Del Mar Eyewear, Power-Pro lines, Odyssey Batteries, SOL Sunscreen, Calusa Nets, Hydro-Glow Fishing Lights, Salt Water Assassin, Rapala, Frogg-Toggs, High Rollers, Lipper Tool, Sea-Power, Pro-Fish, Hummingbird Electronics, Van Staal Fly Reels, Fetha-Styx Fly Rods and is the Florida Ambassador to Lewmar Ltd. He fishes Biscayne Bay, the Upper Keys and the Everglades National Park. Captain Dave fishes a Maverick Mirage HPX-V, and a new 2007 SPEEDCRAFT from Caribbean Craft Boats and is one of the builders and owners of the brand new Terrapin Skiffs; he is on the Quantum Pro-Team, and on the Pro-Staff of, Power-Pole, Stiffy Push Poles and many others.

E-mail him @ ..... http://www.blogger.com/
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Saltwater Fishing Forcast December '07

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2007

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida

It is hard to fathom the thought of how quickly the holiday season has arrived. Life on the lagoon coast of Florida definitely has its advantages in regards to the outdoors and fishing, warmer weather, year round angling, quality fish, and oh yes, quality times on the water enjoying life. It is once again time to reflect back on our many blessings, and to look forward to what December has to offer.

Like November, December is a great month for fishing, but the impact of passing cold fronts on water temperatures and sea conditions can be the difference between going fishing, and raking the yard. The influence and intensity of winter fronts is unpredictable, so break out your winter shorts in preparation of cooler days to come, and keep you boat and tackle in top shape ready to take advantage of the nice days between fronts.

Around and in the inlet passes of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian, concentrations of breeder redfish will remain, steady feeding during periods of slack and falling tide. At both Sebastian and Ponce inlets, target these fish outside the inlet passes on the falling tide in areas of bird and bait activity. In Port Canaveral, work the edges of the buoy line bouncing bait off the bottom. These over sized redfish will hit on artificial baits, but I find live pinfish, pigfish or finger mullet to be a more productive. Remember, these oversized reds are exciting to catch, but they are breeders, so please step up your tackle size and handle and release them with care.

Harold's Hefty Lagoon Redfish



Snook fishing will also remain steady as long as the water temperatures stay warm, with Sebastian Inlet proving to be the prime location. It is best to target inlet linesiders during periods of slack tide drift fishing live pigfish, pinfish, or croakers at night in the channel under the A1A Bridge. This style of angling can be quite rewarding when the bite is on, but it can also be very challenging due to the number of anglers competing for the same action. Snook season ends December 15th, so if you enjoy those tasty filets, your time is limited.

Flounder is another notable species worth mentioning when speaking of inlet fishing. Depending on surf and lagoon temperatures, the flounder migration can stretch into December, with stragglers filtering through the passes all month.

Along the beaches, look for pompano to begin moving off the inshore flats to the deeper troughs along the beach is search of sand fleas (mole crabs) their favorite winter food. Also look for schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel shadowing pods of glass minnows and other bait is the surf. To target both blues and Spanish, watch for birds working bait pods, and through small jigs like the RipTide Swimming Mullet and spoons with a fast retrieval to avoid cutoffs.


Chris Murray Displays his Sebastian Inlet Pompano

When the seas permit it, look for solid concentrations of kings holding on the shallow reefs and wrecks in 60 to 100 feet of water. Several prime locations to target kings in December are the north end of Pelican Flats and 8A reef. The kingfish bite should remain steady as long as the water temperature stays above 74 degrees. To target these fish, slow troll live bait if you can find it, or troll dead Spanish sardines or cigar minnows. When near-shore water temperatures approach the 70-degree mark, look for tripletail and cobia to begin to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and the near-shore water off the beaches and the bight of the Cape. These fish normally hold to structure such as floating weeds and other debris, but they also have a tendency to free swim on the surface once the sun warms the water.


Bob Reed and Larry Peterson Proudly display Bob's Handsome Kingfish

Offshore, December is one of the best times to catch grouper, snapper, and amberjacks, targeting bottom structure in the 21 to 27 fathom range. Additionally, dolphin, wahoo, and an occasional sailfish are quality targets in areas of color changes, rips, and weed lines.

Inshore, both redfish and sea trout will remain in the skinny water as long as the water temperatures stay in the 70-degree range. Inshore fishing is best once the sun warms the water a bit, so sleep in and enjoy a good cup of coffee before heading to the ramp. Fish in protected areas and sunny spots, and look for fish to be holding in sand pockets until the sun gets overhead. Now is also the time of year to target tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone. If you have never seen black drum tailing on the shallow flats before, it is worth the long hard paddle into the No-Motor Zone.


Art Poses with his Banana River Lagoon No-Motor Zone Black Drum

Last but not lease, look for the American and hickory shad runs to commence on the upper Saint Johns River near the end of the month, and intensifying in January and February. Shad fishing is one of the most overlooked fisheries in Florida, and a fun fish to catch on both fly and light tackle gear.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who fished and worked with me in 2007 for your business and friendship, and I am looking forward to spending more time on the water with you in 2008. Also, now is the time to purchase your 2008 gift certificates at and receive 50.00 dollars off of the standard rate by either replying to this news letter or calling my toll free number at 866-790-8081, so purchase a charter in advance for yourself or that certain someone close to your heart, and go fishing with them.

Man I love this job!

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

Happy Holidays, and good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com/
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
866-790-8081 toll free

Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com/ for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!
If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.

Timing...Take Two

11-23-2007

I was fortunate enough to have John and his brother Bob on the boat again today in New Port Richey (they were with me this past Wednesday as well). Except for the cold, windy, weather, this trip almost played out exactly like the last one. The fish, for what ever reason, only wanted to eat for a brief period of time. When they did turn on though, we hit 'em pretty good. John and Bob even had two double hook-ups today on a few nice redfish.

Just like last trip, the reds wanted half dollar sized pinfish fished under a cork. This time however, they were not where they were on Wednesday. These fish were several miles North of Tarpon Springs. I'm not sure but I think this weak cold front we got for Thanksgiving has pushed the fish around a bit.

And, just like last trip, abundant life in the water was important. Look for schools of mullet, schools of pinfish, and birds diving. Greenbacks are thinning out on the flats right now and redfish are going to rely more on eating pinfish. If you aren't seeing pinfish in the area you're fishing, move.

Tampa Bay Fishing
Captain Clay Eavenson
813-300-2147
http://www.captainclay.com/
gofishing@captainclay.com

Reels Are Screaming On Near Shore Reefs

Fishing Report 11/28/2007

Capt. Terry Frankford

King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Lesser Amberjack, Barracuda, and Little Tunny have been on the near shore artificial reefs off of Sarasota. Scaled Sardines, Pinfish, and Finger Mullet have been the baits used aboard the Reelin & Chillin for near shore trips. Redfish, Ladyfish, Snook, and a few Sheepshead are around docks, mangroves, and grass flats in shore. Scaled Sardines, and hand-picked shrimp have been the baits of choice aboard the Reelin & Chillin. Just a quick review of a few trips aboard the Reelin & Chillin this week:David and Amy Stewart with Amy's brother John Duran mixed it up a little with near shore and in shore action. Starting at an artificial reef just off Lido Key Spanish Mackerel, and Bluefish showed up to provide some great light tackle action. Amy picked up the big one, an eighteen pound King Mackerel she caught using only fifteen pound test line. In shore David picked up a nice twenty inch Sea Trout, and John wrestled a four pound Sheepshead from a dock in Little Sarasota Bay.Dave Mathias, David DeFratus, and Alan Sutcliffe enjoyed a six hour near shore trip with slow but steady action. We were armed with Finger Mullet, Pinfish, and Scaled Sardines for live baits and the MG-CD11 Rapala's for lures. We headed to M5 first where Alan and Dave picked up a couple Little Tunny's trolling the Rapala's. Anchoring up for a short time didn't provide much action with the exception of Dave's Barracuda that went about thirty inches. We then headed to M7 where right off we ran into feeding Little Tunny. Dave hooked up on one and barley got it to the boat - a huge Barracuda swiped at it lacerating it's tail section. No sooner after anchoring up we saw a school of Lesser Amberjack that were hungry for our Scaled Sardines and Pinfish. We landed several, however only three made the slot - the rest were to big. David also picked up a Cuda just over thirty-six inches.Dan and Doug Cormier hit the Silvertooth reef with me for a morning trip and the action was great. Spanish Mackerel kept them busy in between the four Little Tunny and Doug's big King Mackerel. These fish were caught using fifteen pound test line making for great light tackle action. A few times we had to chase down the fish because the line was screaming off the reel so fast. Ben & Kellie Evans had none stop action on a near shore reef just off Big Pass in Sarasota. The Spanish Mackerel were reelly on, they couldn't resist the Scaled Sardines being chummed around our boat. Fifteen plus Spanish Mackerel were caught on the trip. Kellie then hooked into a screaming ten pound King Mackerel it almost stripped the line off her reel, however she did manage with great angling skill to get the fish to the boat. Then it was Ben's turn, he hooked into a seventeen pound King and we chased it all around the reef before Ben finally got it under control - Ben won the battle and it was King on the grill for a pre Thanksgiving dinner.

Tight Lines & Good Times,

Capt. Terry Frankford

Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc.

941-228-7802

http://www.blogger.com/

Fish Are On The Move

Saturday November 24th, 2007
On the move.

In the last couple of reports, I've mentioned that the bite has been a short but furious one, but, I've failed to mention that the fish haven't been in the same spot twice in the past week. Four charters in the last 8 days and the fish were in 4 different spots. We checked all the spots that had previously produced nice fish but they were gone. We had to keep spot jumping to stay on them. I'm not sure if it's the weather, the moon phases, or the tides, but something has these fish on the move.

I picked up Mark, his son Ryan, and Mark's friend John at 10am this morning. We started late because we had a negative low tide early in the day and I was planning on hitting some high water fish. We tried for some trout near Anclote in Tarpon Springs first thing this morning while we waited on the tide to come in but failed to get a fish to the boat. The big trout have frustrated me over there this week and I quickly tired of trying for them this morning. So after 15 minutes of that effort I told the boys we were headed to redfish country.

We ran about 15 minutes north of Tarpon Springs and began working our way on the trolling motor towards the back of a cove where I did pretty well yesterday. 400 yards before we reached the spot, young Ryan and I both saw fish milling around off of a point. We eased in and set up the boat so that we could cast our baits with the wind. It wasn't 3 minutes before Ryan had put on a professional style display of how to fight a big redfish. He knew when to let the fish take drag, when to horse him, as well as how to turn the fish. Mark must have spent some time teaching his kid how to fish. Nice! Ryan slid the 9.5lb redfish into the net I was holding like he'd been on the redfish tour for years. And with that, we broke the seal on a bite that lasted for about two hours. Everybody got into the game. I lost count in how many fish we boated but it was somewhere between 15 and 20. Every single one was a keeper or better.

The key again today was pinfish. However, John and I had a difference of opinion on whether they should be fished under a cork or freelined. I told him to go with his gut and he proved me wrong. He ended up landing the most fish of the day while freelining live pinfish. So, I would suggest you try both freelined pinfish as well as pinfish under a cork if you're hunting reds this week. John and I did both agree that the key was to keep them out of the grass.

Someone once told me that if the fish aren't where they're "supposed" to be, fish where their not "supposed" to be. They told me that they've got to be somewhere and if they aren't where you think they are then they're somewhere you think they're not. That's proven true this week and I've hit all my "go to" places but we're running into them either on the way there or by just checking places nearby. If you aren't on fish, get on the trolling motor and go check every area within sight. They've got to be there somewhere.

Tampa Bay Fishing

Captain Clay Eavenson

813-300-2147

http://www.captainclay.com/

gofishing@captainclay.com

Manatee Vote And Sheepshead On The Brain

Ahoy there Anglers,
Urge Governor Crist to allow months and years of study and research to prevail and support downlisting the manatee.
This important Final Downlisting Vote is Scheduled for the December 5th Meeting of the commission in Key Largo. Please Attend the meeting if you can or send an Online Letter to Governor Christ and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
YOU CAN HELP !With urging from the Save the Manatee Club Governor Charlie Crist stepped in last September and asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to postpone their vote to downlist the manatee from "Endangered" to "Threatened" status. This decision to downlist had been reached after years of study and research that shows the manatee to be fairing well. Governor Christ was placed under intense pressure from the Save the Manatee Club to postpone the downlisting and they were successful by sending hundreds of letters and emails asking the governor to ask FWC to postpone their vote.
Unable to celebrate the success and revival of the manatee population the Save the Manatee Club is once again circling the wagons and making a push to pressure the governor and FWC on the vote to downlist the manatee. They want the manatee to remain classified as endangered.
If you agree with the FWC's previous decision, based on years of research, tons of meetings, discussions, and common sense, you need to let them and the governor know. . Attend the meeting if you can. If not write or email the governor and the commission members to let them know your opinion and ask them to continue with the downlisting.
FWC Commission meeting on December 5th is in Key Largo, FL. Marriott Key Largo 103800 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, FL 33037, Phone: 305-453-0582, Date: December 5, 2007, Time: Please plan to arrive by 9:00 a.m.
If you can't attend the meeting, please take a few moments of your time to send an online letter to Governor Crist and FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto, asking them to continue with the downlisting of the Florida manatee.

Contact Information:
Governor Charlie Crist
PL-05 The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Phone: 850-488-7146Fax: 850-487-0801Email: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

Chairman Rodney Barreto
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian StreetTallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Phone: 850-487-3796Fax: (850) 921-5786E-mail: Commissioners@MyFWC.com
Ask your friends and family members to send a letter in support of the downlisting.

JETTIES:
Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are the main characters biting out at the rocks now. There are also some nice whiting catches being reported but you all know by now how I get during sheepshead season. I've got the sheepies on the brain. I love catching these guys and I also get a real satisfaction out of showing people on board my boat how to rig their lines and actually feel and catch these light-biting, great eating fish.
Black drum from 3 to 10 pounds are being caught finally out at the jetties. I've also been waiting on these guys to show up in better numbers also.
This has been the best fall flounder run in the past 4 to 5 years. Flounder averaging 3 to 6 pounds are being caught daily with a good 8 to 9 pounder showing up too.
Redfish, some over-sized and some slot-sized are being caught not only with the bottom bumpers with dead shrimp or cut crabs but also with Sure Catch Jigs and fiddler crabs and with Sure Catch Jigs and live shrimp. There's also nice ring-tails are also being caught, a few nice sea bass and a couple black margates here and there.

CREEKS:
The redfish bite has been getting better and better since the water tempertures have kinda stabilized after the fast cool down. Nice redfish to 30" are back in schools and when the wind is calm you can really spot these guys together. It's tough when the wind is blowing 15 to 25 knots and you just have to know where they seem to hang out but my favorite is casting out in front of them either in a school or one at a time. Flounder are doing good in the creeks and the river as well as at the jetties. Speckled trout are showing up better and better. I know it's been slow on these guys but it's continually looking up with the cooler water.

RIVERS:
Sheepshead are in the rivers on rocky banks, rock piles, oyster beds and the black drum have shown up around White Shell rocks, Blount Island and Dames Point.
Whiting and large yellow mouth trout are doing better in the rivers. Try Nassau Sound and Ft. George Inlet too. Specked trout are doing better and better in the rivers also. It's about time. There are still a lot of shorties but you can sure find good sized ones also. The Virginia croaker run is about over. This was a great run but they just didn't last as long as normal. It's just my opinion, but when we had a couple of real cold fronts come through and the water temperatures dropped 11 to 12 degrees in just a few days, that tipped them off to head to their winter grounds which is Chesapeake Bay, (that's why they're called Virginia croakers). There are still a few around so get out there and catch them when you can.

SURF:
Pompano and loads of whiting are now biting in the surf. More whiting than the pompano but just consider the pomps a bonus when you catch them. Dead shrimp and sand fleas are your best bet for use on catching these fish. A few redfish are still being caught surf fishing also.

Remember, please let 'your' voice be heard on important matters concerning "our" favorite sport. It's up to all of us to protect our favorite pastime, fishing. The Fish & Wildlife Commission really does want to hear from all of you who fish. I'm on the FWC's Redfish Work Group Board and we talk about that all the time. It'll help them to make better decisions for the anglers of the State of Florida. Please be heard!

You can say what you want about the South but, you never hear of anyone retiring and moving up North,,,,,

Capt. Vic Tison
VIC2FISH & ADVENTURES, INC.
Web site: http://vic2fish.com/
904-699-2285
P.O. Box 28208
Jax., Fl. 32226-8208

Neither Captain Vic nor Vic2Fish & Adventures, Inc. claims any responsibility for any injury or loss of property arising out of any party using these Fishing Reports.If you no longer wish to receive Capt. Vic's Fishing Reports, please e-mail me to unsubscribe and I'll remove your address from the lists.

High Winds, Cool Temps, And Big Smiles

High winds cool temperatures and 2 fishing shows have kept my fishing to a minimum. The cool front that came through made fishing tough and the high north and northeast winds only compounded the issue. On three different days I fished the Indian river with limited success. We found plenty of lady fish willing to bite on Rip Tide 3 inch mullet and on one day found plenty of small seat trout willing to do the same.
The best day out of the three turned out to be the one when my eleven year old grandson accompanied me on the river. I really believe God just smiles down on kids when they are fishing. Robert warmed up on lady fish and then later hooked into a 30 inch redfish while fishing just south of Titusville.
He was using a small red and white curly tail jig and I was using my usual Rip Tide Mullet. I had tried several colors that morning without a lot of success. At this particular time I had pinned a silver mullet on a ¼ ounce Rip Tide Pro jig head. Robert turned to me and said he wanted to trade rigs. Being a dutiful grandpa I agreed and he took my rig while I took his.
You guessed it, first cast and the rod bent down. It was obvious he had on a good fish so I went into the front hatch to pull out the dip net while he skillfully fought the oversized red. He has caught plenty of redfish, but this was to be his biggest. After a few minutes he brought it alongside the boat and guided it into the landing net. A quick high five with lots of smiles, a speedy photo session and the big red was back in the water swimming off to fight again some day.

We kept fishing a while before the wind drove us to the ramp. He added a huge gaff top sail cat to the days catch before we left. It was big smiles and high fives all the way back to the dock.

This week the wind has subsided a lot and fishing conditions are much better. Problem is I am laid up with what the doctors call Plantar Fasciitis. To me it just feels like I have the mother of all tooth aches in my heel. At any rate it is keeping me off the water and I am getting cabin fever big time.
I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley

321-454-7825
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net

Saltwater Fishing In South West Florida

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report for 11/11 through 11/24/2007

Anglers fishing with me on the Snook fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with a variety of fish during the past couple of weeks. Fly and spin anglers scored with reds, snook, trout, pompano, flounder and bluefish on the flats. Anglers using spinning tackle caught and released Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish in the coastal gulf off Lido Key.
Orvis Fishing Manager, Rich Merlino, of the Royal Oak, MI store, his brother-in-law, Steve and Steve’s dad, Wayne, joined me for a trip in Charlotte Harbor on Monday, November 12th. They caught and released snook, reds and trout on my Flats Minnow and Clouser flies and CAL jigs.
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters manager, Mason Tush from Sarasota, FL, and outdoor writer David Brown, from Tampa, FL, joined me for a Sarasota Bay trip the next day. The goal was to get a photo worthy snook and whatever else that came our way. It was a successful trip that included several reds to 26”, a 27 ½” snook, trout and bluefish. Most fish were caught and released with CAL jigs and shad tails or DOA Deadly Combos. The best action was along the east side of Sarasota Bay. A couple of other trips in Sarasota Bay later that week produced trout, bluefish, pompano and ladyfish on jigs and flies.
Fly anglers, Harry Davis from Dalton, GA, and Fen Sartorius, from NM, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Saturday, November 17th. They had a couple of takes by reds on my Flats Minnow fly. One fish ate a black Flats Minnow fly in Bull Bay and the other one, a tailer, ate a white one. They had shots at about a dozen tailing reds in Gasparilla Sound at the bottom of the tide. This is the time of the year when reds will tail on shallow grass flats of Gasparilla and Pine Island Sounds when conditions are right.
We had a few excellent trips in both Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor this week. Eric and Dave Buls, both from IN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday. We started off catching and releasing blues, Spanish mackerel and large ladyfish on the New Pass bar with MirrOlure Top Dog, Jr’s and Diamond jigs. We moved into Sarasota Bay later in the morning where they caught and released 4 reds to 26”, about 20 trout to 18”, a 4 ½ -pound pompano and an 18” flounder. All fish were caught on either CAL jigs with plastic tails or DOA Deadly Combos. Along the east side of Sarasota Bay and near Buttonwood Harbor.
Joe Larosa, from North Port, FL, fished Gasparilla Sound with me the next day. He started the day off with a pompano, almost as big as the one we caught the day before, and finished the day with 5 reds and an 18” trout. All fish were caught on CAL jigs with shad tails in Gasparilla Sound and Bull Bay.
Bill Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL, and his daughter, Noelle, joined me for a Sarasota Bay trip on Friday. We fished the east side of Sarasota Bay and had good action. They caught and released 3 reds to 26” (including a double), about 15 trout to 18” and a nice bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. It’s nice to see Sarasota Bay healthy again!
Next week’s negative low, two tide days will be perfect for tailing reds in Charlotte Harbor. I also look for flats and coastal gulf action in Sarasota to continue as we head away from today’s full moon.

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
http://www.flyfishingflorida.net/ and http://www.snookfin-addict.com/


Orvis, Royal Oak, MI store fishing manager, Rich Merlino, caught and released this snook on a white Grassett's Flats Minnow fly while fishing Charlotte Harbor with Capt. Rick Grassett.


Dave Buls, from IN, caught and released this nice flounder on a CAL jig with a rootbeer/gold grub while fishing a Sarasota Bay sand bar with Capt. Rick Grassett.


Joe Larosa, from North Port, FL, caught this nice pompano on a CAL jig with a gold/red shad tail while fishing Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Rick Grassett.


Bill Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL and his daughter, Noelle, caught and released this redfish double on CAL jigs with shad tails while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

The Incredible Edible Jig

The Incredible Edible Jig
by Capt. Jim Stoner
Jigs catch just about everything that swims in the 10,000 Islands. Snook, Redfish and Seas Trout love them and it's not unusual to catch Goliath Grouper on them. I have caught fish so small on jigs that they were almost the same size of the jig itself. I have also caught huge Tarpon on the same basic jig.
What kind of jig are we talking about? When I first started fishing the area over 40 years ago almost all of the jigs we fished were 3/8oz hair jigs. They had lima bean heads and were almost always yellow or white in color. We would tip the jig (sweeten the hook) with a small piece of fresh shrimp. This combination was utilized for many years and accounted for many Snook and Red Fish catches. Later on when plastic tails jigs became available, we started experimenting with them and had great results. Today we no longer utilize the old hair jig in yellow. I now fish almost exclusively with plastic tail jigs.
What are the best sizes and color combinations.
Well, if you ask several different experts you will get differing answers.Basically it's the combination of head and tail that you have confidence in. Here are my recommendations: For the head of the jig pick up two sizes; 1/4 oz. and 3/8oz. I like the head to be red in color and to have eyes Of course, it should have a quality hook. For the tail I like a 3" body in gold metal flake. Other colors work well also but gold is universally accepted as the color of choice.
Tipping the jig with a small piece of cut shrimp still draws more strikes so don't be afraid to add a little sweetness to the hook. Fish the jig slowly over hard bottom and you can catch almost anything that swims down there. Move the jig faster over the grass flats and you will catch Trout, Lady Fish and Jacks. Don't be surprised if that same jig gets eaten by a big Tarpon! Believe me, it happens frequently and usually when you least expect it.
Pictures are courtesy of Rip Tide Saltwater Lures
Everglades Pro Fishing Charters
Captain Jim Stoner
Captain Doug Stoner
954-444-9995
http://www.evergladespro.com/
snook4341@yahoo.com

Good Fishing This Past Week

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Good Fishing This Past Week
The fishing was good this past week. There were many opportunities and we landed some nice trout, redfish and a black drum. There were two days when the fish were real picky and tough to catch. Other than that it was fun and we landed some good fish. BOOK NOW FOR DECEMBER AND JANUARY! GIFT CERTIFICATES MAKE GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS!Catch the 'Hawgwild Fishing Show' every Saturday and Sunday on ESPN radio! Click on the home page and the stations logos.WIN A KARMA ROD AND QUANTUM REEL! $350 value! Go TO www.iwantmorefish.com and register!HAPPY THANKSGIVNG!Tight Lines and Good Fishing!
Captain David Rogers
AAA Hawgwild Saltwater Charters LLC
Host The 'Hawgwild Fishing Show'
ESPN WIXC 1060 /WAMT 1180 Satudays 6-8am
(407-273-1190) Live call-in
ESPN WHOO 1080 Sunday 6-8am/ replay - http://www.hawgwildradio.com/
407-405-0819 Book Charters
http://www.blogger.com/
22 Nov 2007 by Captain David Rogers

Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report 11-22

November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Inshore:
Fantastic weekend weather found many anglers hitting the water to enjoy both the sun and fishing. Monday brought some rainy and windier days to the Treasure Coast. It's still great to live and fish in Florida! Looks like some nice weather for the holiday weekend ahead of us. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We found ourselves in some great weather this week. Sunday I had Vincent Serio and David Brasher on the boat for the Teen Anglers Tournament. They both caught a good number of fish, but David ended up with the better day. Two nice slot redfish, flounder and a number of other fish that day. Vincent caught trout, snook and snapper. We had a great time out there. David ended up taking first place in the high school division and biggest fish with his 24" redfish. The flats have continued to hold redfish. They are scattered about this time of year, but try around the mangroves in two to three feet of water. Fish slowly........with soft plastics or live bait. We have also caught reds under some of the docks of late. Live bait or soft plastics there as well. All have been slot size that we have boated.
Snook have continued to bite around the inlet. Night fishing has been the most productive. While most are shorts, a number of slots have been taken and some over size fish as well. Live bait has been the choice. Either large shrimp or finger mullet can get you some hits. The outgoing tide has been the best bite. Don't forget to hit a few docks for another chance at a hookup. A lot of shorts have been feeding on the flats. We have found most in two to three feet of water. Watch for nervous bait schools and fish around them. Soft plastics or Mirrolures have worked well for us. Snook season will close on December 15th.
Trout are still out of season and we haven't targeted them, but have caught them on the flats hanging in the same areas as the snook. Remember to handle them carefully and release them quickly and unharmed. January 1st will bring the opening of trout season again.
Bridges have been holding sheephead, black drum, snapper, sand perch and a few flounder. Live or dead shrimp is always the best choice for baits along the catwalks. Still waiting on the pompano and flounder bite to pick around the area. So far, just spotty reports of catches. Lots of jacks and ladyfish in the river to pull out some drag, especially for the youngsters.
Surf:
Whiting has been the best catch on the beach. Many anglers are fishing for pompano out there with mixed results. Live or dead shrimp or sandfleas are the best choices of baits. Just keep trying and they should turn on anytime out there. Sand fleas have been a little scarce in a lot of areas recently. Keep digging!
Tip of the Week:
Keeping your vessel organized is as important as tying on that favorite lure. Keep decks and walkways open. When battling with a fish, you don't always have the time to look around and make sure you have room to move about the vessel. Have equipment, whether fishing or emergency related, stored where everyone knows it's location. Reduce your risks and increase your fun out there on the water!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!Good Fishing and Be Safe,

Captain Charlie Conner

http://www.fishtalescharter.com/

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

(Captain Charlie Conner has been fishing the Indian River Lagoon for over twenty-five years. Specializing in light tackle fishing in Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Jensen Beach and Port St Lucie, Florida. His weekly South Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report gives you the latest inshore fishing information for the Treasure Coast area on the Indian River Lagoon.}

Timing Is Everything...Lately

Wednesday November 21st, 2007

Have you ever told a joke that would have been funny two minutes ago, but at the moment you chose to blurt the joke out, it was too late to garner a chuckle? Well... I had bad timing today in one spot today. Luckily, I hit another spot at just the right time.

I picked up my charter today and I made the bone head decision to not catch bait prior to picking them up. The big trout bite had been on fire and all you needed was a 1/8th oz. jig head with any soft plastic on it to load up. My guys jumped in the boat and I made the fatal flaw of announcing that, "we might catch 100 keeper trout today." They were excited, and so was I, until we showed up at the spot and only got one bite in an hour. Granted it was a very nice 22" trout but I was about 99 fish short of meeting my prediction. Those fish will probably be in those holes again on a lower tide but I had scheduled this trip around high water. Bad timing on my part.

Well, now that I made the great decision to not catch bait before picking up my clients (I almost always catch bait prior to pick up) I had to get some pinfish in the well. Luckily it only took about 10 minutes to load up and off we headed towards the mainland in New Port Richey.

It took a little time on the trolling motor to find a nice sized school of mullet, but when we did, we put the Power Pole down and started slinging baits. It wasn't to long before we were getting slammed by mid-slot redfish. We boated 8 in 30 minutes and then we had to get off of the flat before we were high and dry.

We only got two more bites after that rush today, another redfish and another really nice trout. That's the second trip in a row where the bite lasted less than 30 minutes. Granted, we have done well in those short time periods but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if the bite lasted a little longer. All I can say is that if you know where fish are, stay on them. They are going to bite eventually and if you aren't there when that brief window is open, you may miss out. Again, look for milling mullet. Throw live or cut pinfish, 10" under a cork, into the mullet schools, and if your timing is right, you could be in for a fast and furious bite.

Tampa Bay Fishing
Captain Clay Eavenson
813-300-2147
http://www.captainclay.com/
gofishing@captainclay.com

Spanish Macks And Silver Trout In Gulf

I spoke with Pat at Dunedin Fishing Center in Dunedin this afternoon. He was telling me that there are lots of spanish mackerel being caught in the Gulf right now, but every thing else is slow. King mackerel are scattered and hard to find. If you are going to slow troll for spanish, keep your largest bait in the prop wash and rigged with a stinger rig just in case a big kingfish shows up. To save on fule costs, you can ancore outside any of the local passes and hang a block of chum over the side of your boat. Use a sabiki rig or cast net, to catch what ever bait fish are in the area, and free line your bait in the chum slick. Rig with 30lb-40lb fluorocarbon or mono leader and about 6" of wire leader. I also spoke with Tom at Big Pier 60, on Clearwater Beach. He tells me that his customers are catching there limit of spanish mackerel and lots of silver trout. The spanish can be caught on Kandlefish Lures, Clark Spoons, Got-Cha Plugs, and live bait. The Silver trout will hit cut bait, live shrimp, and Loves Lures. For more information contact;


Dunedin Fishing Center
727-738-5628
243 Bayshore Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698

Big Pier 60
727-462-6466
Clearwater Beach, FL

Thankfulness by Captain Tom Van Horn

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, November 20, 2007

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors

Although the weather has been beautiful this past week, I have little to report in regards to catching fish. I've been a bit under the water due a tough bout with a cold. So, instead of spending the weekend teaching at the CAM Boat Show and Fishing Expo, and the remainder of the week down in Sebastian chasing flounder as planned, I'm getting plenty of rest and catching up on my homework instead.

Seminars and Events:

Orlando Kayak Fishing Club Meeting - Tuesday, November 27th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Gander Mountain in Lake Mary. The guest speaker will be Darrin Riley with the FWC to speak about fishing regulations as well as the laws and regulations around kayaks and canoes. There are no dues associated with the club so all attendees are welcome.

With that said, here are a few words of thankfulness:

Like the river flowing towards the sea, thankfulness for life's blessings grows deeper and deeper as our life's rolls on. Thanksgiving is a time for all to cherish the past, relish the present, and pray for the future. Thankfulness adds zest to life, and each prayer is a steppingstone for joy. It's a time to display our gratitude for democracy and to those who defend it. Thankfulness and kindness nurtures life and cultivates peace.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.
Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Call now to purchase your discounted holiday charter gift certificate for the 2008-fishing season.Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

Tarpon Springs Redfish Are Everywhere

Quick trip, quick bite, quick report.
11-14-2007

Tom called me a while back about a fishing charter for he and some of his friend that were in town on a business trip. He said that they wouldn't have a lot of time to fish (a little over three hours) but that they would rather get out on the water instead of play golf like some of the other guys at his corporate get together. When they arrived we all made quick intros and rushed to the fishing grounds. We needed these fish to cooperate and we needed them to do it fast.

The first spot was a group of oyster bars that were beginning to get flooded by the incoming tide. Perfect timing for such a quick trip. Luckily we had a live well full of greenbacks that a fellow captain was generous enough to share with me (because my bait spot had run dry) and when we pulled up we started chumming. The first bite came on a really nice trout but we lost him at the boat. It took a little while to get another bite but when we did, everybody started hooking up. The bite only lasted 15 minutes but in that time we managed 7 or 8 redfish and three really nice trout.

Redfish are everywhere in the Tarpon Springs area right now. Just look for mullet and you'll find them. The last couple of days they have become more reluctant to take an artificial bait but if you have some pinfish or green backs they will bite.
Fishing Report Archive





They can hear you breathing.
11-12-2007

I'm on a real kick lately to just fish every square inch of water I can. I have just decided that I'm going to check out all the areas that I have always passed up on in the past. This morning I had a few ideas of where I wanted to go in the Tarpon Springs area and I waited for the last half of the incoming tide to go. When I say that I'm fishing areas I've never fished before, we're not talking about completely new zip codes. We're talking about places within a stones throw of all my usual haunts.

As I passed by one of my favorite spots I noticed there was a boat working the area. It didn't bother me, he can have the spot today. I shut down about 1/4 mile North of him and began working an area that I had never fished in my life. I've probably fished near this little bay 100+ times in the past without ever actually going into it.

It didn't take five minutes to push a school of about 12 fish. The cool thing is they were bigger fish than the ones I've been catching the past 2 weeks. These were all upper to over slot fish. The bad news is I swear they could hear me breathing. They were so spooky that the shadow from the flight path of the lure was spooking them. I had no trolling motor on, I wasn't knocking things around in the boat, and in fact I wasn't actually breathing. I know that sounds weird but when I find good fish I have to remind my self to breathe. So, I guess they couldn't hear me breathing after all. Maybe they could feel my pulse transferring through the boat to the water.

I set myself up where I could drift down the shoreline of this little bay and I saw tons of larger redfish. Not one would take my offering of a Gulp Shrimp. This is not to say I didn't catch any fish. The smaller ones were much less shy and actually wanted the bait to be worked really fast and erratic. I ended up landing 6 reds from 14"-24" but failed to hook up with one of the big boys, despite their abundance. I've got a charter on Wednesday in Tarpon Springs so check back after that and I'll let you know if they'll eat cut or live pinfish. I'm betting that they will.

By the way, the bay I found these fish in was very shallow. The entire bay averaged 1.5 feet deep on a +2.6 high tide. I never could figure out what the big boys wanted to eat but the little guys wanted a Gulp Shrimp on a weightless, weedless, hook, worked pretty fast with erratic twitching. Though there were a lot of fish, most were not bunched up tight. They were mostly milling around with the mullet. If you find a school of milling mullet (not cruising mullet), fish them. The reds are in every school of mullet I've seen lately.

Tampa Bay Fishing
Captain Clay Eavenson
813-300-2147
http://www.captainclay.com/
gofishing@captainclay.com

Cold Fronts Drive Guides Mad!

November 18, 2007 - Oh What a Difference
The phrases are frustrating, if not all too familiar this time of year; “Oh what a difference a day can make” or “Should have been here yesterday.” Don’t take it personally, the fickle weather has everything to do with it! The weather of late fall can play cruel tricks on fishing guides – fishing red hot one day and stone cold the next. We offer four examples to support our claim. The first occurred two weeks ago as three seasoned fishermen from South Carolina made their way to Sebastian, arriving with well-founded images of huge snook, redfish and tarpon filling their dreams. The action through the inlet and the adjoining flats had been red hot Thursday through Saturday. However, a slow moving, severe front settled in on Sunday afternoon and shut down the ‘bite’ by evening. Monday was not much better as the stout 35 mph winds and driving rain made fishing near impossible. In Saturday night pre-fishing, we had caught three breeder reds and one over-slot snook and Sunday we could not have dynamited a fish out of the inlet. Friday morning had featured 30 trout to 29 inches and a dozen reds to 27 while Monday barely darkened the fishbox. Example two came last Monday at the expense of Capt. Roland. Capt. Don and I had rocked Titusville the previous Saturday, catching a total of 26 redfish between the two boats in half-day charters. It was one of those golden days featuring multiple triple and double hook-ups. Naturally, Capt. Roland wanted his clients on Monday to join the fantastic action and brought them north to the same flats. However, a low pressure system settled over the river Sunday night and the fish flat refused to cooperate … how frustrating!Capt. Roland also gave us example three this past Thursday night after witnessing a solid ‘bounce-back’ action during the middle of the week Pre-fishing Sebastian Inlet on Wednesday night, the good captain caught three breeder reds and one large snook in four successive drifts and, once again, optimism ran high for the next night. However, our first cold front arrived Thursday evening sending air temperatures plunging 35 degrees, dropping the barometric pressure 20 points in an hour and kicking north winds to 30 mph. The results of the fishing trip sagged to one redfish, two bluefish and a couple of break-offs … from frustrating to infuriating! Finally, I was fooled on Friday giving us the fourth example. After Roland’s frustration in Titusville on Monday, pre-fishing was scheduled for Thursday in preparation for the charter on the following day. The flats were electric with a bazillion finger mullet and feeding fish everywhere. Seven redfish and one gator trout were caught quickly with the largest red measuring 50 inches. Expectations soared for the Friday charter. However, the same Siberian express that froze Roland Thursday night chilled the action for me on Friday. Despite having two veteran anglers onboard and covering nearly ten miles of flats, shorelines and deeper potholes, we found only one redfish. It was as if NASA had exploded a rocket over the river, driving all signs of life into outer space … enough to drive the sanest guide mad. (See below from a terrible pic of a terrific fish from the pre-fish – picture taken with an old disposable camera stored onboard for emergency purposes).The moral of this sorry saga is simple: “if the fishing is bad and your guide has gone mad, don’t take it personally. If you could’ve seen it yesterday, you’d know what a difference a day can make!”
Posted by Rocky Van Hoose on November 18, 2007 at 03:03:20 AM

Native Sons Fishing Guides
Captain Rocky Van Hoose
321-986-9588
rvanhoose@cfl.rr.com
Captain Brad Jones
321-626-5072
jonesmelb7@bellsouth.net

Cooler Water Brings Great Sight Fishing

It has been quite some time since my last fishing report mostly due to the poor weather we experienced during the end of October and first week of November. We went through a period of about seven days where the winds topped 20 knots and the sun never shined. Those who did fish had best results soaking cut baits or blind casting lures as cloudy skies and dirty water made sight fishing nearly impossible. This week, however, brought a welcome change to central Florida. The has not been a cloud in the sky, the winds were moderate, and the temperatures hovered in the mid seventies. The water levels have dropped and most flats were crystal clear allowing for some great sight fishing opportunities. I spent Friday and Saturday at the Florida Sportsman Fishing Show and I picked up a couple 4 inch DOA CAL's in a new color designed for the freshwater fisherman. The purple bait is called grape holographic flake as is not a color commonly used for catching redfish but I wanted to test my theory that presentation is usually more important that color. Monday morning, I hit the flats of Mosquito Lagoon with my friend Paul. We were pleased to find clean water and plenty of redfish. I was also pleased to discover the redfish will eat a purple worm.With the water temperature now in the 60's and seeing much less mullet on the flats, I tied on a DOA shrimp in morning glory, another new color which is mostly black with a chartreuse tail. I spotted a redfish and cast out the shrimp only to have an unseen trout of about 24" race over and grab it before the redfish could. Paul used a 4 inch CAL in gold flake to fool a redfish before we changed locations. We encountered some large black drum that had no desire to play tug of war with us even though we spent a significant amount of time trying. We ended up catching a few more redfish on various color CAL's before calling it a day.Tuesday, Jerry, from England, joined me in Mosquito Lagoon for another beautiful day. This was Jerry's first time sight fishing for redfish. Throughout the morning, we saw dozens of fish in both schools and singles cruising the shallow flats. Although he learned to sot the fish quickly, it took him a bit of time to get into the habit of leading the fish with the lure. We went to check out the black drum but, just as the previous day, they would show themselves briefly and then vanish into deeper water. At our third spot, Jerry caught a redfish and then followed up with a nice trout on a 5 inch DOA CAL in golden bream with a Woodies rattle.Jerry had several more bites from redfish that ran at the boat and spit the hook before he could get it set. In all, it was a successful day for his first attempt at sight fishing.Wednesday, local anglers Al and Sallie joined me in the Mosquito Lagoon. This husband and wife team wanted to learn more about sight fishing for redfish and we did just that the entire day. While they had fun casting to a steady supply of redfish, I was kept entertained by their friendly verbal judo over who was more proficient at precision casting and who caught the bigger fish. While we waited for the sun to climb high enough to allow us to see the fish, Al and Sallie cast to sand holes and grass edges with 5 inch CALs. Al stuck first with a trout and Sallie followed up a short time later with a bigger trout that shook free at boat side. When the sun got up, we started seeing redfish and the competition really heated up. After some adrenaline induced misses, they both managed to catch their first redfish while sight fishing. Al got his on a melonback CAL and Sallie's came on a greene back. As for who caught the bigger fish, I will leave that to them to tell. I suspect their stories will differ.In addition to plenty of redfish, the improved water quality and clear weather brought plenty of large trout to the shallow sand holes. Trout season is catch and release only through the end of the year in east central Florida. All the very large trout are females and should be handled with care.This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I will be at the Coastal Angler Magazine Fishing and Boating Expo at the Volusia County Fairgrounds on Hwy 44 just east of I-4. Capt Tom Van Horn and I will be at the Mosquito Creek Outdoors Angler Improvement Clinic Center. We will have coupons and lure samples for those who participate in the clinics. Friday, admission is free. A coupon for discount admission is available on the Coastal Angler Magazine Website http://www.camirl.com/docs/cam_boatshow_coupon.pdf

Captain Chris Myers
321-229-2848
http://www.floridafishinglessons.com/
cmyers@floridafishinglessons.com

Surf, Inlets, And River Hold Fish

November 15, 2007
Inshore:
In spite of some windy and rainy days, this week has given us a few days to enjoy the fishing along the Treasure Coast. Looks like the weather should continue to be nice for us over the coming weekend. Expect the breezy days though the winter and plan your day based on what the weather has to offer. Today on the water, the wind died off and provided fishing opportunities throughout the river. It was a beautiful day out there and the fish were biting, too!
Early mornings have found trout, ladyfish, jacks and snook giving chase to the bait around the flats. I found plenty of bait schools. If you fished the pods that were getting bashed, you could catch a variety of species. Remember that trout are still catch and release the rest of the year. Snook season will close on December 15th. Try a top water lure at first light and you should find some nice hits out there. I found a few nice redfish up on the flats. There were hitting DOA shrimp on CAL jig heads.
The inlet and bridges have been holding plenty of sand perch, snapper and black drum. Live or dead shrimp can help you catch dinner. There have been some nice sizes to some of the fish around the bridges. The Spanish mackerel have invaded the inlet. I found lots of them crashing bait around the turning basin. Shiny spoons or jigs should get you hooked up.
Snook fishing has been mostly at night around the bridges and seawalls. I found a number of shorts feeding on the flats, but there are larger fish out there. too. Don't forget the docks around the river. I caught a 30" snook hiding under one this week. Live shrimp or mullet, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are great to use around the docks. You might also find redfish, trout and many other fish lurking underneath. Docks are a great place to target when the sun is high on the water. A number of anglers have caught snook and redfish out on the jetties and inlet docks lately.
Surf:
Most beach anglers have been targeting pompano, bluefish and whiting. With the winds letting up a bit, it's a good chance to hit the surf. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas have been the baits of choice. Silver spoons can find bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel along the beach or along the jetties. There are a lot of surf anglers who have been using the big fish sabiki rigs along the beach for whiting. Tipped with shrimp, you have a greater chance at a hookup with several hooks in the water. It might be worth a try!
Tip of the Week:
This week reminded me that winter is fast approaching the Treasure Coast. Memories of cool mornings and hot afternoons in the coming months will bring out the warmer clothing for the water. On these cool mornings, dress in layers so you can be comfortable both early and later in the day. It will allow you to take off those layers as the day heats up and enjoy the weather. The water can sure bring a chill at first light and being dressed properly will let you enjoy it along with the great fishing out there.

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!Good Fishing and Be Safe,

Captain Charlie Conner

http://www.fishtalescharter.com/

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

(Captain Charlie Conner has been fishing the Indian River Lagoon for over twenty-five years. Specializing in light tackle fishing in Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Jensen Beach and Port St Lucie, Florida. His weekly South Indian River Lagoon Fishing Report gives you the latest inshore fishing information for the Treasure Coast area on the Indian River Lagoon.}

Cool Days And Hot Fishing!

11/15/2007
Hey anglers! I hope you are staying warm. It is dipping into the low 60's at night here in West Central Florida. Cool in the morning, but comfortable in the afternoon. Don't miss me on 970 WFLA on the radio or online Saturday Nov. 17th from 6 - 9 a.m. I will be the guest Captain on 'The Capt. Mel Show'. I have been quite busy on the water. Here is what's happening.The water temperature has dropped to the mid 60's bringing a change in fish behavior. Lately, we have had to look inshore along the eastern shorelines for Redfish and Snook. The Reds are starting to feed well on the outgoing water and are out on the flats more than in the mangroves. The outgoing tide pulls warm water out of the bayous stimulating the fish to eat. However, the clear skies will provide enough sun for them to eat in the morning if the conditions are right. I have been focusing on oyster bars and seawalls facing the sun. Sardines under a cork or soaking cut baits has worked well. Clear water means staying a good distance from the fish and using the winds to make a long cast to these bars. Also, the sandy potholes in front of the mangroves have held plenty of Reds as well as some bigger Trout.The Mackerel bite is pretty hot right now. They are all over the local piers and are schooling a mile offshore. On calmer days, I have been able to run out there and hook up to these aggressive fish. Kingfish are following the Spanish Mackerel as well. We have been able to land a few of them while freelining baits waiting for the Spanish to hit.Snook have been eating mostly on those outgoing tides but always be prepared for a hungry Snook to strike when you least expect it. They are responding most to the Greenbacks freelined or corked along the deeper edges near oyster bars and seawalls. Docks along the main shore are starting to hold good numbers of Snook. They are preparing to head east when the temps get even cooler. I don't fish for the Snook through winter, giving them a break while they try to survive in the cold waters. However, there is plenty of time to still get a few before the end of their season, November 30th.Trout are starting to gather well along the spoil islands and are still on the flats where the water pours in and out from the gulf. Small plastic tails and greenbacks alike have been getting eaten by these guys. Somedays it is possible to catch over 50 Trout in a short period. The bigger Gator Mouth Trout are starting to show but the majority are the usual 15 - 18 inchers. Smaller Sardines floated under a cork on the grass flats can often draw several Trout to strike at the same bait. Be careful releasing any Trout. they are very fragile, especially as the water temps drop. Handle only when necessary and always wet your hands first to prevent removing their protective slime. Well that is the report for now. Going into the cooler months we should see clear skies and even clearer water. Have no fear, the fishing is fun even on the cold days! Please book now for Thanksgiving week!
Capt. Brian

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

The Right Rod

The Right Rod

by Capt. Jim Stoner

One of the great aspects of in-shore fishing is that you don't need a lot of tackle to catch fish. I have narrowed my rod and reel choices down so that I can catch just about anything that swims in the back county with two different sizes of rods and reels. Before we get into my preferences we should look at the different types of tackle that can be utilized for back county fishing. First we have spinning tackle, which has several advantages. With spinning tackle you can cast lures and baits of varying sizes and shape. Most anglers feel comfortable utilizing this type of rod and reel combination. Next we have plug tackle, which is very popular with bass fishermen and was my rod and reel of choice for many years. Plug tackle is great for plugging a shoreline and casting accurately to a tree line. Finally we have fly rods and reels. Fly fishing has become very popular in recent years and is without a doubt the most challenging form of shallow water angling. Nothing beats catching a big Snook on fly; however, fly tackle requires skill and patience. By the way, I am an avid fly fisher. Let's talk about what works best for most anglers and the two rod and reel combinations I recommend for most fish. Without reservation I recommend spinning tackle. Spinning rods work best for almost any skill level and they can handle a wide variety of lures and natural baits. You can take on big fish even with light rods. -->So, what are the two choices? The first rod and reel combination I always carry is a 6'6" medium action spinning rod with an appropriately sized reel. This rod should be capable of casting lures from 1/4 to 1/2 oz. and should handle line from 8-17 lb. test. I recommend the SS66- M Wade Fisher by Falcon Rods equipped with a Shimano Stradic 2500FH reel. I spool the reel with 6 lb. diameter, 20 lb. test braid line. This is the rod I utilize for jigs, plugs and soft plastic baits. We have landed big Snook and Reds on this rod and reel combination. My second choice is a 7'6" medium action spinning rod with an appropriately sized reel. This rod should be capable of casting lures from 1/4 to 3/4 oz. and handle line from 10-20 lb. test. I recommend the SS76- M Medium Gulf Spin by Falcon Rods equipped with a Shimano Stradic 5000FH reel. I spool the reel with 8 lb. diameter, 30 lb. test braid line. This is my go-to rod and reel combination for live baiting and jigging on the shallow wrecks. I have successfully caught large Snook, Tarpon and Permit on this rod and reel combination. These two spinning combinations will handle everything but large Sharks, Tarpon and Permit and they won't break the bank doing it.

Everglades Pro Fishing Charters
Captain Jim Stoner
Captain Doug Stoner
954-444-9995
http://www.evergladespro.com/
snook4341@yahoo.com

Florida Panhandle Fishing Reports 11-15

Report for 11-15-2007

Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE

Not many reports from offshore this week. The last report we received had the Grouper moving in closer than in previous weeks around the hundred foot depths. Big cuts of Bonita and butter flied whole- Northern Mackerel were the baits used.
The Amberjack are still around the deeper wrecks hitting jigs such as the AJ glow jig or cigar minnows.
ST JOSEPH BAY

The Gulf canal fishing is turning on. Anglers report limits of Trout and Black Drum, along with Flounder and Croaker. The majority of anglers used live shrimp on a jig head or live shrimp rigged Carolina style.
In St. Joseph’s Bay, some Trout were caught at the Port St. Joe Marina using live shrimp. The bite at the marina is mainly early morning or late afternoon.
With the water temperature dropping, more reports of fish moving into the bayous are coming in.
NAVARRE

Fishing has been good with nice catches of Pompano, Redfish, Trout, and the occasional Flounder. The Pompano are being caught both in the surf at Navarre Beach and under the Navarre bridge. I do realize that Pompano in the intercostals is strange but too many are being caught to dismiss the idea.
Bull Reds are being caught in Pensacola Pass trolling Stretch 25's and Yo-Zuri Hydro series lures. Speckled trout seem to be spread out with catches being reported in both the intercostals and back bay areas. Live shrimp seem to be the ticket, but the Reds will always hit Gold Spoons so have them along when you plan your trip.
White Trout are around all the local bridges so fish live or fresh dead shrimp on the bottom around these structures and have some fun.
PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS

Snapper season is now closed. For catch and release of these fish, try to stay in 60 feet of water or less to help insure a better mortality rate.
King Mackerel can be caught on hard bottom areas well offshore. Troll Dusters and free-line live or dead bait for the most action. Try a Stretch 25 or large Drone Spoon with 4-6 oz’s of lead for bigger Kings.
Grouper are being caught in shallower water. Lots of Red Grouper can be caught within 10 miles over hard bottom areas. Live bait, whole Boston Mackerel and jigs(Shimano Butterfly or Williamson) are working well. Jigs with a glow color to them are a sure bet.
Amberjack are on many of the inshore wrecks and reefs in good numbers. Try the Bridge Spans for lots of action. The larger fish will be well offshore over hard bottom. Live Cigar Minnows or Pinfish will entice the larger fish, while jigs (Williamson Jig or AJ Jig) will trigger the most bites.
Ladyfish, Bluefish and Bonita are everywhere up and down the beaches right now. Throw Pompano Jigs, Gotcha’s and Spoons on light tackle for a lot of fun.
ST ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM

Schools of Bonita are moving through the pass in large numbers. They will hit Spoons, Gotchas, Bubble rigs and free-lined minnows.
Mangrove Snappers are all over the jetties right now. They are easy to catch and great to eat. Use live shrimp with light weight and small hooks for best results.
The Flounder bite is really picking up. Try the deep channel leading into the Spanish Shante in St. Andrews Bay and Deep Water Point in the state park. Use a Carolina rig with live Bull Minnows for the best results. For artificial bait fishermen, use a 3/8 oz. jig with Gulp Curl Tail Minnows in a variety of colors.
The Trout bite is very good as many have started to move into the creeks, marinas, and intercoastal waterway. The cooler water temperatures will push these fish into deep holes in these areas. Not much is better than live shrimp worked slowly on the bottom with a jighead or Carolina rig.
Bull Reds have moved into the pass in numbers. Gulp, Gold Spoons, Live Shrimp, LY’s, Bull Minnows, Pin Fish and Cut Bait are working well. There are a lot of reds still working the flats in both the West and East Bays.
Fresh Water
This week we received a single report of a striper/hybrid bass catch. Where there is one there are others, and this single report may be the indicator of stripers beginning their fall migration. Stripers can be caught using silver grubs or live shrimp on a jig head. These fish are best caught on an incoming tide and behind structure.

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.