Report Date: September 30, 2008
With temperatures finally beginning to cool here along the Nature Coast fall has appeared to start gaining the upper hand from the summer heat. With cooling air temperatures, falling water temperatures are not far behind. Early last week I was fishing in water that hovered around 84 degrees. After a few cold fronts passed over our area our water temperatures are now hovering in the mid to upper 70’s. When air and water temps start their downward trends the entire Gulf of Mexico comes to life. So much so that it is nearly impossible for a full-time guide to set up a game plan from day-to-day because of all of the unexpected action and excitement available on the local flats.
Checkout Nancy Allens 4 1/2 lb Speckled Trout. This is definetly a true Gator Trout!
On a recent charter targeting mostly Redfish with my clients Jay and Nancy Allen of Leesburg, we were spoiled when we came into contact with large schools of Jack Crevalle, Bluefish, Ladyfish and even Spanish Mackerel during the drive out. After playing with these large schools for over an hour we finally decided to make our way to the local flats to target large Redfish that have been roaming all of the local creeks in the area. However, while driving to our secret area I happen to run over a huge school of Speckled Trout in the crystal clear waters off of the flats. We spent the next hour pitching shrimp and Berkley Gulps! to hefty trout and we were rewarded when Nancy hooked into a 24 3/4” Trout. What a Catch!! We did finally get to the Redfishing but all day we couldn’t stop talking about all of the unexpected occurrences we had already saw during our short day. And to top it all off while we were Redfishing Jay Allen hooked and landed a 3lb Flounder. So if your keeping tabs at home in one day we caught: Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder, Mackerel, Jacks, Ladyfish, Bluefish and that’s not counting all of the other exotics we caught on the day.
My yellow Clouser did a number on this speedy Bonita.
Now that was an exciting day but as a Flyfishermen when you come into contact with large schools of feeding fish all you can think about is, “Boy, I wish I would have brought my Fly rod.” But I didn’t forget it the next day and boy was I glad. Only this time I took out my good friend Daryl Seaton owner of the “World Famous” Nature Coast Fly Shop here in Crystal River. With over 30 Clousers and Glass Minnows in hand we were definitely ready for what ever feeding fish we came into contact with on this day. On the way out to the fishing grounds the sweat smell of success was in the air. As we approached our destination there were tons of Pelicans, Turns, and Gulls working the surface just above hungry feeding fish. As we inched closer the fish that were working large bait schools appeared to be a little bigger than the Mackerel, Bluefish, and Ladyfish I had seen the previous day. With one quick throw of my G-Loomis Cross-Current rod and Billy Pate reel it was definitely obvious that these were not 4-5lb Blues and Macks that were feeding, THEY WERE 5-10lb BONITA. As soon as my Clouser hit the water, the sweat sound of drag peeling off of my fly reel was apparent. After a good 10 minute fight I landed my 6lb Bonita and I was ready for more, only this time it was Daryl’s turn. As we “Runned and Gunned” towards these fast feeding schools of fish Daryl placed his fly in the perfect spot over 10 times and he was rewarded with 10 Bonita. Most were caught using a 9wt, but after a catching a few we decided to get brave and we began targeting them with a new Sage 5wt. Talk about a rush! This fly rod and reel is normally made for stream trout but we definitely tested its limits with these speedy Bonita. WHAT A DAY!!
After a tough battle using a Sage 5wt Daryl Seaton gladly kissed this speedy Bonita Goodbye.
Whether it’s spin, plug, or fly fishing, THE FISHING IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW! So if long drag screaming runs is what gets your blood boiling give Red Hot Fishing Charters a call today we’re in the fishing memories business.
Capt. Kyle Messier
(352) 634-4002
kylemessier@yahoo.com
Red Hot Fishing Charters.Com
Crystal River and Homosassa, Florida
352-634-4002
kylemessier@yahoo.com
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