Jacksonville

Yesterday I spoke with Capt. Scott Guthrie at Atlantic Coast Marine in Jacksonville. He was telling me that the redfish are schooling in deeper water on low tides. These Fish spook easily and are hard to catch. There are a lot of small speckled trout being caught. Bigger trout can be caught in deeper water. Trout season opens tomorrow in the N.E. and N.W. areas of the state. There are also a lot of sheepshead being caught at the jetty. Offshore, seabass and wahoo are biting well, 10-12 miles out, in 100ft. of water. Cigar minnows and squid are the best baits. Capt. Guthrie was telling me that he is also catching a lot of fish on the new " Fish Bites " bait. I had to search the web to find information on this product. There web site says that the launch date for " Fish Bites " is March 1. Go to www.fishbites.com for more information. To hear more great fishing reports from Capt. Scott Guthrie and other top guides from around Florida, check out the " Chevy Florida Fishing Report " on Sun Sports/FSN Florida. Go to www.sunsportstv.com/news.jhtml?method=view&news.id=386 for viewing times.
Atlantic Coast Marine
904-221-0793
13748 Atlantic Blvd.
Jacksonville, Fl 32225

Key Largo

I was just talking with Ron at Yellow Bait House in Key Largo. He tells me that fishing in the Upper Keys is fairly strong. His customers are telling him that sea trout are everywhere, and the redfish bite is good. They are catching a lot of under sized snook, with a few in the slot limit( 27"-34" ).One snook was reported at 42". Offshore, the dolphin are few and far between, but sailfish, wahoo and grouper fishing is strong. One note, waters west of the keys is considered the Gulf of Mexico and grouper fishing is closed in the gulf through March 15th. For more information contact;
Yellow Bait House
305-451-0921
101741 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo, FL 33037

Nokomis

I spoke with Stacy at Big Bite Tackle Outfitters in Nokomis today. She tells me that the fishing is good. Look for redfish on the flats, along the shoreline, and around the drop-offs N.W. of the Tom Adams Bridge. Snook are in the backwaters and creeks, including Shaket Creek, and around "Snook Ally". Speckled trout can be found in Lemon Bay and there are a lot of large pompano around. Offshore, king mackerel are being caught 8 miles out, and there are lots of snapper being caught 10-15 miles into the Gulf. For more information contact;
Big Bite Tackle Outfitters
941-486-1988
900 Tamiami Trail S.
Nokomis, FL 34275

North Skyway Fishing Pier

I was talking with "Big" Mike at the North Skyway State Fishing Pier in St. Petersburg today. He tells me that the fishing is very good. His customers are catching lots of bluefish and spanish mackerel on gotcha jigs and spoons. "The mackerel are a nice size!", he told me. "Some people thought they may be kingfish!". People are also catching sheepshead, silver trout, and some grouper. Pinfish work well for the grouper, shrimp and squid work well for the sheepshead and silver trout. For more information contact;
Skyway State Fishing Pier
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Redington Long Pier

I spoke with Mike at Redington Long Pier at Redington Shores this afternoon. He was telling me that the fishing is O.K., but not spectacular. His customers are catching speckled trout and whiting on shrimp. With the warmer weather and rising water temperatures, we should see better fishing soon. For more information contact;
Redington Long Pier
727-391-9398
17490 Gulf Blvd.
Redington Shores, FL 33708