Find The Warmer Water, Find The Fish

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

January 16, 2009

INSHORE:
Looks like the latest c-c-c-cold f-f-f-front has invaded the T-t-t-treasure C-c-c-coast and brought some cold nights and cool days for a few days. Staying warm is part of preparing for your trip on the water. I broke out the ol' long handles this week in order to make fishing a little more comfortable. I called the Fishing Center in Fort Pierce to see if they stocked ice augers!!

Fishing will change as the water temperatures drop rapidly over the next several days. Looking for fish in deeper water will help improve your catch. Try fishing areas that might help keep the water warmer. Concrete seawalls can retain heat from the sun and keep water a little warmer than the surrounding water. Look to the shallows later in the day as the sun warms up the water. Fishing your lures or bait very slowly will also give you a better advantage.

Bob Baker was back this year to visit with his dad, Tom. We ventured out on a nice day and found the trout in the mood to eat as well as the usual ladyfish and jacks. Both caught their share of nice trout up to 20" and filled in the day with the ladies, jacks and bluefish on the flats. Tom Hull was down from Melbourne and we launched from Round Island on a windy day on the Indian River. It was just as this cold front had made it into the area. I didn't expect the fish to cooperate as much, but I needed to run the boat and do some scouting around the area. Harbor Branch has steadily been producing trout. We found them on the flats with DOA CAL jerk baits. I have been using the silver mullet and Arkansas glow colors a lot lately and having good success with them. Ladyfish and jacks kept us busy on some of the trout flats as well. We stealthily made our way onto some of the better redfish flats and found a couple of hungry reds along the mangroves and shallow flats to end up with a good day of fishing in less than desirable conditions.

Trout fishing will change this next week to deeper water. Try channel edges for some good action and deeper tidal cuts around the islands. Docks and the bridges will be great areas as well to find fish hanging around to keep warm and wait for an easy meal to drift by with the tides. Bridges will produce sheephead, sand perch and snapper. You can't beat a slow worked DOA shrimp around the docks. Redfish will be a little more tolerant of the cold water, but getting them to bite might be a challenge for a few days. I generally like to move out the three to five feet of water when the sun is high to find fish trying to feed and keep warm. The jetties will continue to hold jacks, mackerel and bluefish, while the surf should have plenty of whiting and pompano cruising along the beach.

Tip of the Week:
Remember to slow down your retrieve and approach around the flats. Fish are lethargic in cold water and will be slower to react to bait or lures as well as your boat moving along the flats. Trout will hang in the deep sand holes and will be more likely to hit a slow moving lure. If you are drifting too fast, you will see lots more fish than you will catch. Slow it down and improve your catching in cold water.

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

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.}

Fish Potholes On Negative Tides

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report for 1/4 through 1/18/2009

Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with trout, bluefish, pompano and reds during the past couple of weeks. The best action continues to be on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay with trout, blues and pompano. Anglers fishing Charlotte Harbor with me also had good action with reds, snook and trout.

Fly angler Nick Reding, a Sarasota winter resident, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Jan. 5th. We had fast action at Stephens Point with trout, pompano and blues on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. We also waded a sand bar on the west side of the bay near Bishops Point and caught and released 7 or 8 nice trout to more than 20” on Grassett’s Flats Minnow flies. Later in the week, Keith McClintock and his son-in-law, Rick Anderson, from Lake Forest, IL and Victor Feldman from Champagne, IL, fished the same areas with me. They had fast action with pompano, blues and trout on CAL jigs and DOA Deadly Combos. On Friday, Mac Arnold and Paul Moore, both from Henderson, KY, fished Sarasota Bay with me. They had good action on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay with trout and blues.

Fly angler, Bob Harness from St. Louis, MO, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, Jan. 12. Since it was overcast, we stuck to deeper water where Bob had steady action with trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. The best action was at Stephens Point on the east side of Sarasota Bay. Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, and Victor Feldman, from Champagne, IL, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Tuesday. They had fast action with trout to more than 20”, 5 reds to 32” and a pair of snook on CAL jigs with shad tails. A front pushed through late in the day, dropping temperatures into the 40’s at night.

Pete Makowski, from Sarasota, FL, and Frank Vener, from Westport, CT, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. They had steady action with trout to more than 20” and a pair of pompano on DOA Deadly combos and CAL jigs with shad tails. I gave a presentation on “Winter Fishing with Lures and Flies” at the Florida Fishing College in Manatee County on Friday and Saturday. Bad fishing weather is great for fishing shows and I was pleasantly surprised when there were more than 200 people at my presentation at 1 PM on Friday afternoon.

It has been cool for the last several days, dropping water temperatures in shallow water into the 50’s. Deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay should continue to produce trout and blues. However, pompano are questionable with the water this cool. Trout and reds in potholes of Sarasota Bay and in Gasparilla Sound should also be good options. Next week’s tides will improve towards the end of the week as we head towards a new moon on Jan. 26th. Negative low tides will concentrate reds and trout in potholes and reds may tail on shallow grass flats of Gasparilla Sound. Deep grass flats should hold trout, blues and possibly pompano depending on water temperature.

If you are interested in learning to fly fish in saltwater. I will be the instructor at a CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Saturday, Jan. 24th. Cost is $150 for the course, which runs from 9 AM to 4 PM, and will cover basic casting, shooting line, roll casting, leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Students will be provided with a text book, an instructional DVD, lunch and the use of premium Orvis fly tackle. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to sign up.

Tight Lines,

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


Frank Vener, from Westport, CT, caught and released this nice trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Victor Feldman, from Champagne, IL, with a nice Charlotte Harbor red caught on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Panhandle Fishing Report 1-16-09

Report for 01/16/2009

Salt Water

MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Reports last week had the bigger grouper still hanging out in the deeper water at the 120’-150’ range. Be prepared to catch and release many red snapper. This phenomenon should end as soon as Snapper season re-opens. Live bait is the ticket for grouper and little searching will be in order to catch them. Have Cigar minnows and cut bait as back up and a selection of jigs. The amberjack were still around the deeper wrecks hitting jigs such as the AJ glow jig or cigar minnows.

ST JOSEPH BAY
The bite has been better on the incoming tide late in the afternoon. The canal is continues producing nice fish. Use live shrimp directly on your jig heads. Some big Sheepshead are now being caught around the seawall and out around the marker buoys. Use a small shank Mustad live bait hook and fluorocarbon leader with just enough weight to keep your rig under control. Still some redfish being caught in side St Joseph bay between pompano point and the tip of the peninsula along the beaches from Indian Pass to Cape San Blas. Throwing gold spoons is working well, but they are not fussy and will hit almost any soft plastic and topwater thrown their way. Even frozen shrimp has been producing.

PANAMA CITY OFFSHORE AND BAYS
Grouper are being caught more consistently closer to shore. Try areas out to 10 miles. Amberjack are still plentiful over the bridge trusses and large artificial reefs from 8 – 14 miles offshore.

Effective January 1st 2009, the total aggregate Grouper limit will remain at 5 fish. But, Black/Gag Grouper will be reduced to 2; while Red Grouper will remain at 1. The remaining portion of the limit can be made up with other Grouper species including Warsaw and Scamp. Also, Amberjack and Trigger Fish size limits will change in State waters to 30” for AJs and 14” for Triggers.

Below is Tony with his first Pompano of the Year. Tony quoted, "I just wanted to say thank you for your kindness and help every time we come in the store. I wanted to send you a picture of my first fish I caught with my surf rigs I got last week. It is also my very first Pompano, it was 15 inches. thanks again, Tony."



ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
Mangrove Snappers are very plentiful at the jetties right now. Live Shrimp with just a split shot is all you need. Bull Reds are being caught with live shrimp and pin fish around the jetties. Trout have moved into the creeks and bayous with the cooler temperatures. The Steam Plant is producing a lot of fish. Live shrimp will produce the most fish.

DESTIN
Fishing from the jetties is good for Reds, Sheepshead and a few grouper. In the surf there are some Reds and a few Pompano. They did get the first Pompano of the new year from the Okaloosa Island Pier, the fish was caught by Jim Mills. Other things being caught at the pier include Bonito and Sheepshead.

In the bay, the Reds are very good near the pass and the bridges. Good numbers of nice sized Trout east of the 331 bridge near where the rivers and creeks feed the bay and bayous.

In the gulf, some good Flounder action is going on and there are a fair amount of grouper and triggers fishing natural or live bottom. The jacks are offshore on large rocks and a few wrecks.

NAVARRE

SURF
The Pompano are still in the surf. There have been some reports of a few good fish being caught. Best baits remain live or frozen sand fleas and live and frozen shrimp. Most fish have come from the other side of the sand bar here lately. Pompano jigs will catch them too. The Bonito and Bluefish are in the surf as well. Any bright colored lure worked fast will catch them. Bright spoons, Gotcha plugs, Straw Rigs, Top Water and regular plugs will catch them. Live and frozen Shrimp is always a good bait choice. Redfish have showed up on the beach. Some will be slot size fish but for the most part they will be over the slot. Live, frozen and cut baits, especially cut mullet will catch them. There have been reports of Flounder being caught, some will be some nice fish over five pounds. Best baits are Tiger, Bull minnows and live finger Mullet. Don’t forget about the Whiting. The bull Whiting can get up to two pounds and make great table fare. Try peeling your shrimp when fishing for the Whiting.

SOUND AND BAYS
Trout have started to migrate up the rivers, canals and into the bayous. You can still catch your biggest Trout early and late in the day on top water baits and on live baits in the bayous and bayou channels. Live Shrimp and Mullet are the best baits to use this time of year to catch these Trout. Try fishing the deeper holes and bends in the rivers as the water gets colder. A jig tipped with a shrimp tail or a GULP shrimp or standard curly tail will catch these fish. As the water gets colder don’t forget to work you jig very slowly. Redfish will remain in the sound and bays a little longer. Don’t overlook the shallow flats either. Redfish can be caught on the same live baits. Artificial lures will take their share of fish too. Work all visible and underwater structure to increase your chances at hooking up with a red. Flounder and Sheepshead can all be caught in the bay this time of year. Finger Mullet, Bull Minnows and Tiger Minnows are hard to beat for the Flounder and Sheepshead can’t resist a small fiddler crab or live shrimp. Tie on a 12” piece of 12# to 20# fluorocarbon leader, a #1 hook, ¼ to ½oz sinker and a live shrimp or live Fiddler crab. This rig is a Sheepshead killer. The upper part of east Bay has been good for Redfish and Trout. Try fishing around the power lines and the surrounding oyster bars.

NEAR SHORE – GULF
There have been some reports of the Flounder showing up over the near shore wrecks within one or two miles of the beach. Live finger Mullet, Tiger Minnows and Bull Minnows are great baits to use. The big Redfish are in the pass. Jigs, cut bait and live bait all take these fish. You may encounter a slot Red while fishing, but be sure to put the big ones back. This is a good time of year to look for the big schools of Redfish to be on top in the pass, just outside the pass and within one or two miles of the beach. Try looking for birds working the schools. Throw top water baits for some great action or a large spoon or jig. For the fly rod enthusiasts this is prime time. Any pattern that imitates a large baitfish will serve you well. Live baits will catch them to.

OFFSHORE – GULF
The bottom fishing for Amberjack and Grouper remains very good. Live Hard tails, Mullet and Pinfish will work on both. However a large Boston Mackerel is hard for a Grouper to resist. Jigging with a Butterfly jig remains a good tactic to catch the Amberjack. I have had some good reports of Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna being caught around the offshore oil platforms. Jigging, chumming and trolling are all effective in taking these fish

Fresh Water
No Report for Freshwater This Week.

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.

Mosquito Lagoon Winter Fishing Tactics

Winter Time On The Lagoon
Fishing the back country of Mosquito Lagoon will remain on fire with cold fronts sliding through the state on a more regular basis. Redfish will bunch up in sand sloughs throughout the northern end's maze of twisting creeks, cuts and shallow bays. Be very careful with low water levels running this area or you could very well beach your boat on a sand bar or even worse, an oyster bar. I highly recommend hiring a guide for a trip or two if you are new to the area to get some understanding of Mosquito Lagoon. Target these sandy areas for schooled up reds eating a variety of live baits and most artificials. The number one goal for any angler this time of year is to SLOW down your presentation. Fishing soft plastics bounced along the bottom should produce great results. As for live baits, nothing will work better than a tail bitten' off live shrimp. Take off the fan part to give the shrimp more scent and prevent him from spinning in circles while being reeled in. In the shallows even tossing a "topwater" shrimp will get fish chasing your bait to the boat. If you have a red or trout bee-lining towards your shrimp while reeling it in simply drop it and chances are you'll hook up.

Black drum are in excellent numbers on the flats along with deeper sections of the ICW. Cut blue crabs, shrimp or clams will get the attention of these fighters of a fish. Most in the flats are averaging 5-10 pounds but there is a few schools of the big boys roaming in the 20 pound and up class.

Trout fishing is also on the most fishermans minds with our famous gator trout showing up in great numbers. These spooky trophy fish will be laying all over the Lagoon, but handle these big females with care for a quick photo and release. They are the future to our fishery and conservation is key. Try the areas where the water drops off quickly along grass flats or target deeper sand holes with tall grass around them. Smaller slot size trout are a givin in deeper water all over the place. A good ole' popping cork and a live shrimp will get you a mess of em'. 50 plus days are not uncommon.

Give me a shout for a trip of a lifetime and see why we are world famous!!

- Captain Jeff

Posted on 05 Jan 2009 by Captain Jeff

Reel Shallow Charters
Capt. Jeff Dorobiala
Mobile: 386-478-9555
3110 Travelers Palm Dr
Edgewater, Fl 32141
http://www.reelshallowcharters.net/

Tarpon Springs Trout And Grouper

Capt. Brian says Happy New Year!!!
1/11/2009

Happy New Year folks! It's been a great one so far. I've been a busy boy. Still building my Dorado 23, should be done in a couple days. Just waiting on a few last minute parts. This will be a great boat for Tarpon Season. I am already booking trips for Boca Grande Pass May through June. I will soon have the new pictures up on the website of the finished vessel.
For those that follow my music career, I have also released my debut CD 'Pocketful of Change'. You can check it out at www.cdbaby.com/briancaudill. It has been very well received and I greatly appreciate those who have purchased a copy. Let me know what you think.



Now, onto the fishing report...
As usual the name of the game has been Trout, Trout Trout. Those beautiful spotted creatures that we all focus on this time of year. They are very plentiful around my area. However, many areas in the Tampa Bay area hurt by the Red Tide outbreak a few years ago, are reporting very strong numbers of Trout this year. I have even heard of the flats in many areas holding unusual numbers of Reds and Snook on the right days. The Trout are holding on the spoil islands and on some of the flats in Dunedin up to Tarpon Springs. Live shrimp and plastic jerkbaits each have had great success. Silver Trout are showing up on the beaches too. Slowly moved Gulp Shrimp are getting hit on all tides

The Redfish bite has been pretty tough around here lately. I sure have been covering a lot of ground just to see few here and there. When I do find a good number of them, they have been finicky, mostly eating large shrimp laying on the bottom. I expect that to change in the next month or so.

For an offshore report, my colleague Capt. Dean Parks reports a good bite on the grouper. He says 5 - 6 are the average for keepers caught, 20 - 30 feet seems to be the depth for most legal fish. remember, the new rgualtions only allow for 2 keeper gag grouper per person per day. There are plenty of short grouper biting, which makes for an awesome day of heaving. Anywhere from 40 - 100 shorts is possible. The Mangrove Snapper bite is decent as well.
Super Bowl is in my backyard this year. I hope to see some of you coming to town for the biggest game in the world. You might as well get some fishing in while your here. Don't wait too long to book a trip, I'd hate for you to miss out. Call anytime at 727-365-7560. See ya soon!!!

Capt. Brian

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