Key West Fishing Reports 1-09

Key West Fishing Report and Forecast January 07 2009

General Fishing Report
January fishing in Key West is fantastic. We have so many things happening for both the inshore and offshore anglers all will be delighted to get out there and have some fun. Book your Key West Fishing Charters by Calling 1-888-362-3474. 9-6 Mon - Sat. Or email us at flakeys2@bellsouth.net.

Deep Sea Fishing Report
Coming Alive is the best way I can describe our deep sea fishing off of Key West in January. Kingfish are on the reef close by and so are the Sailfish. The Dolphin are still around on those warmer days, nice thing is they are all good size. Our deep sea fishing guides are awesome in knowing exactly where to go day in and day out to get the bite for their people. Trolling and live baiting are the best methods to make it happen for anglers on the big boats that head out there.

Deep sea fishing Key West on board one of Key West's finest charter boats is easy to get reservations. We offer private charters and split charters to get you out there having fun. Call our reservations office at 1-888-362-3474 to reserve your Key West deep sea fishing charter.

This month the YCOA Kingfish tournament is here. This is touted as the largest fishing tournament in the entire Florida Keys.

Flats And Backcountry Fishing Report
Flats fishing in Key West and backcountry fishing can be held in high regard during January. With fluctuating Water temps and the occasional cold front moving through things will be red hot in he Key West Backcountry.

Sight Fishing for Permit is always one of my favorites in January as the fish come right up and tail for you, even if it is a bit breezy these fish can be a great hunt on the flats on light tackle and fly fishing gear. Along with the Permit I always keep an eye out for the Cobia and large Jack Crevales that will be cruising with the Sting Rays and Sharks. Another great opportunity in January is the Barracuda fishing on the flats, these guys come right up in the shallows and make themselves a very sporting target on fly fishing or light tackle fishing gear. I can pole all day long without even breaking a sweat in January as the temps are the best of the year.

Key West Backcountry fishing lends itself to everyone's fun and enjoyment in January. With an explosion in our Trout populations, and the numbers of Pompano that have shown up January is a great month for the customer who likes to bend rods catching quality fish all day long. Our backcountry fishing charters have become our most popular trip with people coming back year after year to spend quality time catching fish one right after another.

Flats and Backcountry Report by Capt. Steven Lamp of Dream Catcher Charters. You can read more about Capt. Steven at www.fishingkeywest.com. captstevenlamp@bellsouth.net

Wreck and Reef Fishing
The wrecks and reefs are ALIVE!!! Come to Key West this month for some killer wreck and reef fishing. Live baiting, Kite fishing, slow trolling live baits, or bottom fishing.It's all good from November right on through the rest of winter and into the spring.

The bottom fishing in January offers our anglers fantastic Yellowtail Snapper fishing, along with black and red groupers on the shallow reefs. The surprise of the occasional African Pompano can be a fun treat too. In the deeper reefs the American Red Snapper Bite has been crazy with a small shark problem, fortunately the American reds have been to large for the sharks to get a bite on. These fish make incredible table fare .A bit farther out We have been landing some very nice sized Black Grouper and Yellow Eyed Snappers making a variety for species.

On the surface the palagics are going ballistic. Sailfish continue to keep showing slowing a bit with the lack of consistent cold fronts. Wahoo have been around but a bit scarce after the big push in December. The month of January is the heat of Kingfish season here in Key West. Last but not the least.. The Tunas have slowed a bit and spread out.

On the Gulf Wrecks be ready for some Cobia Action. Drop baits back and fight fish that weigh in excess of 60 lbs and have a ball. Also on the Gulf wrecks the grouper fishing can be great if the anglers are on their game, Goliath groupers prevail on most wrecks and try to make a snack out of your grouper dinner.

Report by Capt. Steven Lamp of Dream Catcher Charters. You can read more about Capt. Steven at www.fishingkeywest.com.

Tarpon Fishing Report and Forecast Key West
With the occasional warming tend the Key West Tarpon Fishing starts to come back on line a bit. January has been a good month for us here at Dream Catcher Charters traditionally for Big winter tarpon during the warming trends.

Outlook - February - July is Tarpon Time... Book your fishing guides early to get the very best. Fish the Key West harbor, the backcountry and the flats for these mighty fish. Call 1-888-362-3474 today to reserve or visit www.keywestfishingteam.com web site to see about Key West tarpon fishing.

Book a Key West Fishing Charter
Call our office and see what's available when you will be here in Key West. Speak to Gennifer at 1-888-362-3474

Capt. Steven Lamp
Dream Catcher Charters - The Key West Fishing Team
www.fishingkeywest.com
www.chartersofkeywest.com
5555 College Road
Key West, FL 33040
http://www.fishingkeywest.com
888-362-3474

Barnacle Covered Pilings Hold Fish

Fishing Report 01/12/2009 – Capt. Terry Frankford


Angler's aboard the Reelin and Chillin enjoyed action from several species despite the windy conditions on Sarasota Bay. On the grass flats pompano, trout, and bluefish made for some great light tackle action. Around docks sheepshead, mangrove snapper, and redfish were cruising the barnacle covered pilings for dinner - a live shrimp was hard to resist.

A couple fish tails enjoyed aboard the Reelin & Chillin:

Doc Folickman and Cindy Lee set out to catch a little dinner and enjoy a day on the Bay. Cindy Lee started out catching a nice pompano, then several mangrove snapper, and a sheepshead made it to the live well. With dinner in the box and a light breezy day both angler's headed back to Lido Key to enjoy a fish dinner on the grill.


Dave Carruthers, wife Penny, son Ian, and two year on grandson Jack tore up the mangrove snapper. First we headed to the grass flats on Stevens Point picking up ladyfish, small trout, and Penny's one nice pompano - lot's of fun, but not quite enough for dinner. We then headed to a dock that had been holding redfish. Dave had a great battle with a thirty inch red, however being over the slot limit of twenty-seven inches - still no dinner. We then went to a dock that I had been picking up a few snapper and boy did we hit pay dirt. We caught over sixteen snapper in the slot keeping enough for a great fish fry. All angler's enjoyed catching on this trip, not to mention Jack and Grandpa who enjoyed watching the pelicans while I cleaned fish.


Captain's Tip - Keep it Moving
My clients and I head out to what I believe is going to be the best spot for fast action, after all that's my job. Unfortunately the fish don't always understand this, my technique is "keep moving". I have heard that ten percent of the fisherman catch ninety percent of the fish - maybe so. However, I also believe that ninety percent of the fish are in ten percent of the water. This is why I believe in moving if the bite isn't on in the spot I'm fishing. My rule of thumb is: Around structure, if it's been hot recently maybe give it twenty minutes. If it's a spot that hasn't been so hot in the recent past, only ten/fifteen minutes - if no bite is on move. If it's a grass flat I'm drifting, one or two passes across the grass - no bite move. Often it seems like nothing is going to happen, a small fish here and there - then the worst thing for me to hear from a customer "it's just nice being out here on the water" Ahhhh! I want to hear "my wrist hurts". More times than often if you keep moving around sooner or later you will hit feeding fish. A grass flat holding pompano or trout. A dock or rocky edge holding redfish, sheephead, or snapper ends up darkening the live well and wrists are hurting.

Tight Lines & Good Times,

Capt. Terry Frankford
Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc.
941-228-7802
terry.frankford@verizon.net
www.charterfishingsarasota.com

American Shad On Fly

Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report

By Captain Tom Van Horn

I have to admit, there is something to be said for an early January morning spent sipping coffee and watching the sunrise over the St. Johns River marsh, while casting to American shad. We are truly blessed to live in Central Florida, where year round fishing opportunities exist. Although my show schedule limited my prospects for fishing this week, I did manage to catch my first American shad on fly for the 2009 season.

Sunrise over the St. Johns River Marsh

After contemplating the shad run in my dreams last night, there was no doubt where I would spend my Sunday morning enjoying this gorgeous weather. Yes the shad run has commenced, and I could not resist the likelihood of catching a few on fly. The water levels on the upper river are extremely low, so I took my time slowly working my way upstream until I spotted what appeared to be shad working over baitfish on the surface. As a good number of fish boiled on the surface, I staked out Three Quarter Time and began casting. The bite was somewhat slow at first, but after I figured out the pattern they were working, I managed to catch a few. Most of the fish were feeding on pilchards on the surface, so I started stripping faster and it paid off with three shad brought to the boat.

First American shad on fly for the 2009 season caught on a pink Crazy Charlie with gold bar eyes.

Seminar and event schedule.
January 13th, Free Kayak Fishing class from 7 to 9pm in the Outback at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida. Seminar will be held in conjunction with the Orlando Kayak Fishing Club meeting.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline

Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

Fire Truck Sized Red Grouper

Capt Jay Schroeder of CJ Flats Saltwater Charters reports Cheaper fuel prices make long runs chasing bigger fish easier on the wallet. Nearshore Captain Jay has consistently produced fire truck sized Red Grouper on frozen sardines dropped down off the backsides of a natural ledges.

Once the bite was worked into a frenzy, Capt Jay has been switching over to live Pinfish and working large Gag Groupers to the surface. In December Capt Jay reported having to sort through several smaller Grouper to land the keepers, but so far in January the number of short Grouper has been significantly lower.

On one recent trip, Capt Jay was forced to take a 45 minute intermission from bottom fishing as large King Mackerel paid homage to the Pinfish free-lined off the backside in the current. Although not a target species this time of year, the occasional Smoker makes nice runs and provides all aboard with some entertainment.

And if you are a true glutton for punishment, just say the word and Capt Jay will target bruiser (literally) Amber Jack on any one of several shipwrecks off the Sun Coast… For more information or to book your next saltwater adventure in the Tampa area, contact Capt Jay Schroeder at 1-877-463-4520 or visit www.cjflats.com.

Capt Jay Schroeder
CJ Flats Saltwater Charters
www.cjflats.com
1-877-463-5420

Flats Fishing The Indian River

Fishing Report

Fort Pierce - Port St Lucie - Vero Beach - Jensen Beach

January 9, 2009

INSHORE:
Well, here we go beginning another new year and looking forward to exciting adventures on the water. We have already had some great days out there in spite of windy conditions a lot of the time. The fish are feeding on the flats and you can find an assortment of species around the Indian River this month. We have had lots of fun out there recently.

I had several friends return to fish the Indian River. Robert Strang and Denise were down and Denise topped off her day with a 26" snook. Keith Mullins and Kai were down to enjoy the nice weather again. Adrian and Phil Lusardi were out again with me and we had some wonderful fishing on one of those very windy days. Mark Platt, Bill Massan & John Wayman were some of the new clients that I had the privilege to have on the boat.

The bite for redfish, snook and trout has continued to improve around the river, with some big gator trout being taken in the shallow grass flats. Our best day was with Adrian and Phil Lusardi as they caught six reds and a number of snook and trout. Almost all of our fish continue to be caught on artificials. DOA CAL jerk baits and grub tails are my favorites out there on the flats. Rootbeer is always a sure fire color to use during the winter months. These fish are all feeding in the same areas, so you can find yourself with an inshore slam on any given day. Fish slowly and keep a stealthy approach in the shallows to improve your success rate.

Bridges continue to produce sheephead, black drum, sand perch and snapper on live or dead shrimp. Lots of mackerel, jacks and bluefish are around the inlets, while whiting and pompano are the best catches along the surf. You can usually find jacks and bluefish also feeding along the beaches. Channel edges along the river has held a good grouper bite as well as mackerel and snapper. And the usual ladyfish and jacks are wreaking havoc all over the river!

Tip of the Week:
Wind is the norm around the Treasure Coast during winter and spring. You can expect lots of it and plan your adventures around each front. It's also a good time to use the wind to get some much needed things accomplished that is hard to do most of the year. Here are just a few little chores that can be done when the winds are blowing and you have that itch to go fishing!

1. Cleaning out that tackle bag or box. You just never know what might be down in the bottom of it!

2. Changing that old line on your reels and making sure all your reels and rods are in good working order.

3. Checking safety equipment on the boat. Flares and fire extinguishers all have expirations that need to be checked at least once a year to comply with Coast Guard regs.

There are many little things that you can just take a few minutes and check out so that your next trip on the water will be safe, fun and exciting. Checking lights on the boat and trailer change spark plugs or water separators, inspect battery connections, tighten the screws around the deck of the boat and many more small chores that take little time. Have a fun and safe 2009!

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Captain Charlie Conner
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, Stuart 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.}