Turning the Corner and Catching Fish!!!
1/31/2010
Hello friends. How is 2010 treating you? It has been a roller coaster ride for weather in Florida so far. As many of you know, we had a pretty substantial fish kill a few weeks ago with sustained temperatures in the 20's. That drops the water temps so low that Snook, Mullet and other shallow water species die. We have since turned the corner and have had a warming trend. Fish are starting to respond and it seems all is well out here again. Redfish have grouped up along the oyster bars and the big Trout have moved into the St. Joseph Sound area. Although some Snook died, many found warmer water to survive through the cold.
So, here is what we can expect out here for the next few weeks...
Those beautiful Trout are inhabiting the spoil islands around Dunedin. I tend to use live shrimp mostly, but they will definitely eat jerkworms and even the Gulp shrimp worked slowly along the bottom. I like to find a few Trout using the trolling motor, then circle around and set up on them. Larger shrimp either under a cork or freelined on the bottom can be very effective. Try not to handle these creatures too much if you are not going to keep them. De-hooking tools can help with releaing them unharmed. You may even hook some Sheepshead trying to nibble your shrimp right to the hook. They are very timid, but will get tricked occasionally. If you downsize your hooks to a #2 or #3 and bury it in part of a shrimp, you will have a blast catching these black and white convicts.
Redfish have started to move in and group up along many shorelines from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs. They are warming in the morning sun atop oyster bars and over the darker bottoms around the residential canals and docks. They are also in some of the normal spring and summer pattern areas too. Looks like we are going to have a great season on the Reds. Again, I like to use the shrimp, laid out in the low tide potholes in front of some of these bars and docks. Gold spoons, jerkworms and the shrimp imitations all work well also, when presented correctly. As the tide rises, I will move in and work directly under the docks and right on the edge of the oyster bars. The fish are nice size, in the 4 to 7 lb range. Not typical for the winter months, where we will usually see smaller undersized fish more often.
I have been focusing my efforts mostly inshore, but there are still some opportunities on the nicer days to scoot out a couple miles for some Grouper and Snapper action. It won't be 'til late March into April before the Spanish and King Mackerel are out there too! Until then, we catch what is biting now!
If you didn't get to go Tarpon fishing last season, be sure to reserve your trip today. I have clients, who have already experienced the incredible power of these animals, filling dates quickly. Don't hesitate to call to book your trip! Let's get out there and have great day on the water!
Capt. Brian
Capt. Brian Caudill
727-365-7560
braincandle2@yahoo.com
http://www.captbrian.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment