http://captainsandguides.com/articles/ Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:00:50 -0400 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:00:50 -0400 <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-big-drum-grouper-plentiful-snapper/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/194930e92ccc0d3f8c2416db672d671c.jpg" alt="SW FL-Bonita Beach: Big Drum, Grouper, Plentiful Snapper"/></a><br/><p>Finally, a day with warmer temps, light winds and calm seas&mdash;That was just what frequent customers Ron Musick, Eddie Alfonso, and Dick Arnett were hoping for on Tuesday, 3/5, when we headed out to fish about twelve miles west of New Pass, with a bait-well full of live shrimp. And, what a glorious day it turned out to be. By about 2PM, the group had caught a 33-inch, 20-pound black drum, sixteen nice, keeper sheepshead to 17 inches, a dozen nice mangrove snapper keepers to 15 inches, and a keeper triggerfish at 14 inches. They also released a 28-inch, 10-pound gag grouper.</p> <p>What a difference a day makes&mdash;Wednesday brought a new cold front, with small craft advisories, 25 knot winds and morning rain. I cancelled my offshore trip and remained in port.</p> <p>Thursday, 3/7,was a no-go for offshore again, but it wasn't quite as windy as Wednesday had been, and there was no rain. Canadians, Jeff Perom and his two young sons, Charles and Ben, were well trained for tolerating the colder temperatures that began the morning, and they decided to fish inshore, since that sounded like more fun than cancelling the trip. The boys had fun using live shrimp to catch and release two crevalle jacks and six sheepshead to 13 inches.</p> <p>Friday, though it was a bit sloppy first thing in the morning, calm seas returned, as did our lovely moderate temperatures. I fished nineteen miles west of New Pass with frequent customers, Jim McGrath and Bill Crockett. The guys used live shrimp to catch twenty-five mangrove snapper, and kept a dozen of those that ranged in size from 13 1/2 to 17 inches. They caught several different kinds of porgies, and released all but two whitebone porgies that were 14 inches long. They also caught a half-dozen nice sheepshead to 17 inches, but chose to release those, as they already had enough fish. They released a few yellowtail snapper shorts to 11 inches, along with grunts and several gag and red grouper shorts to 18 inches.</p> <p>By Monday, rougher seas were here again and my offshore anglers were leery of the two-to-four footers predicted, but did not want to fish the backwaters. So that day was a no-go. Tuesday, 3/12, brought much worse conditions, with three-to-five foot seas, and my offshore trip for that day also cancelled.</p> <p>Wednesday morning, 3/13, Jim Jambor, Jim Burton and two friends of theirs fished the backwaters of Estero Bay with me, where we puddle-jumped a bit to stay as sheltered from the wind as possible. The guys used live shrimp to catch twenty-five fish in all, releasing seventeen sheepshead to 12 inches, a crevalle jack, and a 13 &frac12;-inch black drum. They caught and kept a 14-inch pompano and a 19 &frac12;-inch redfish.</p> <p>Thursday, winds howled and small craft advisories remained in effect. My offshore trip cancelled and, though I had several potential customers waiting for an opening to fish the bay, it looked like an exercise in frustration, with high winds and low tide, so I remained in port.</p> <p>Friday morning, 3/15, I fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay&rsquo;s backwaters with Garrett and Jill Zielinski. The couple used live shrimp to catch a two-foot long ladyfish, eight sheepshead to 14 inches, a brace of 13-inch black drum, and a crevalle jack.</p> <p>Saturday morning, seas were calm, at last, and I headed out nineteen miles from New Pass with Justin Rupert and his dad, Dennis Rupert. We had a great morning of fishing, using live shrimp to catch nine nice whitebone porgies, all 14 to 16 inches, a 23-inch Spanish mackerel, a 20-inch kingfish, five porkfish and four large sheepshead to 19 inches. Had grouper season been open, we would have scored big with gags&mdash;We released four would-be-keepers to 24 inches. We also released six red grouper to 19 7/8 inches.</p> <p>The photo shown is of angler, Richard Arnett with a 28-inch, 10-pound gag grouper, caught on shrimp and released on a recent offshore trip.</p> <p>You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:</p> <p>http://www.fishbustercharters.com/fishing videos.htm</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-big-drum-grouper-plentiful-snapper/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=tY--JLKXIwc:RwD3AqIPkc0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=tY--JLKXIwc:RwD3AqIPkc0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=tY--JLKXIwc:RwD3AqIPkc0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=tY--JLKXIwc:RwD3AqIPkc0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/tY--JLKXIwc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/tY--JLKXIwc/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-big-drum-grouper-plentiful-snapper/ Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:22:00 -0400 26.3628-81.823 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-big-drum-grouper-plentiful-snapper/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/florida-keys-backcountry-and-flats-report/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/eb73d0fcd4d0b4db0b52dc778f69ee90.JPG" alt="Florida Keys Backcountry and flats report"/></a><br/><p>2013 march<br />Florida Sport Fishing Charters<br />Capt. Jim Hale<br />March 13 2013<br />786-255-1788</p> <p>Today we fished a half day in Biscayne Bay just minutes from downtown Miami and catching large Sea Trout up to<br />23 inches, Mackerel, Bluefish and Jacks most all were caught on white Berkley Gulp soft plastics and 10 pound test spinning gear.<br />The conditions have been perfect until today! A strong and cool north west wind cranked today making the fishing a little slow<br />until mid day.<br />However last week and earlier this week has been excellent and I think it will continue as it warms up this weekend.<br />Scott Eney (Miami) and Josh Poncianno from Ohio fished Florida Bay and Flamingo this past week with me<br />on a overcast but calm day.<br />We started fishing shorelines that were loaded with Redfish using Berkley Gulps and<br />catching 3 nice Reds and 1 small Snook. A little later we headed west and found Snook cruising shorelines and plenty<br />tailing Reds. At one time a beautiful Snook estimated at 36 inch comes cruising down a shorline with Scott standing on the casting platformat and on the trigger...Scott makes a beautiful cast and places the bait in front of the Snook and twitches several times ....the Snook inhales the plastic but swimming at the angler, NO DICE!!!!<br />That just sucks there was no way for Scott to set the hook! By days end we landed 10 more 28 inch Redfish and several 23 inch Trout.</p> <p>Dan and Dave Lue Fished out of Flamingo on Wednesday with overcast conditions which makes sight fishing a little difficult, both did a great job<br />with Dan catching 5 Reds one at 30 inches and Dave catching his first Redfish and two huge Trout one at 26 inches.<br />Dave closed out he day by sight fishing a nice 27 inch Redfish just seconds from the marina.</p> <p>There are Plenty of fish here on the flats in South Florida, Some are a greater distance from others so the run times varies but with our new Merc optimax 115 it makes the run nicer faster and smoother and provides more time for fishing!</p> <p>I expect and hope the the winds to settle a bit and temps to increase which will be great for fishing the flats and fishing the Everglades.<br />Look for Permit to show up in big numbers when fishing Biscayne Bay and soon the Tarpon should start to move in. The flats will remain great for Reds and Snook.</p> <p>Good luck Capt. Jim Hale</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/florida-keys-backcountry-and-flats-report/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=sXqIEWhYNkk:sAhd_917VT4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=sXqIEWhYNkk:sAhd_917VT4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=sXqIEWhYNkk:sAhd_917VT4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=sXqIEWhYNkk:sAhd_917VT4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/sXqIEWhYNkk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/sXqIEWhYNkk/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/florida-keys-backcountry-and-flats-report/ Sun, 17 Mar 2013 09:57:38 -0400 25.6652-80.3011 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/florida-keys-backcountry-and-flats-report/ <p>Fine Fishing for Spring Break on Pinellas County Beaches</p> <p>While you're here for spring break check out our &ldquo;schools&rdquo;!</p> <p>by Capt. Ted Nesti of Florida Native Fishing Charters</p> <p>Spring is in high gear here on Florida's Sun Coast and the fishing is HOT! The last of the cold fronts has blown through, the weather is warming up and the Gulf water temperature is rising making the local inshore sport fish eager to feed.</p> <p>These ideal conditions mean a bounty of opportunities for fishing. On the bayous and grass flats we are catching some mighty redfish, snook and sea trout. Around area docks, rock piles and bridges we're pulling up lots of tasty sheepshead. And we're doing it with live shrimp from the local bait shop.</p> <p>A single throw of the cast net and we have all the live white bait we need and then some. This is the perfect bait for catching the feisty Spanish mackerel schooling around Blind Pass and John's Pass. Mild winds this time of year mean lots of opportunities for some near-shore fishing in the Gulf, too. Using the same live white bait, we fought quite a few very lively sharks and kingfish just a couple miles west of the beaches.</p> <p>As we travel from the bayous to the Pass to the Gulf, the area is teeming with local critters welcoming spring. In the calmer waters of the bayous and the grass flats, you might see the muzzle of a manatee as it makes its lazy way through its feeding grounds. Every mangrove island is alive with seabirds squawking and jostling for nest space. In the air the osprey are patiently teaching their young to fish. As we pick up speed in deeper water, it's always a thrill when the dolphins start racing the boat and jumping in the wake.</p> <p>Spring has definitely sprung on Pinellas County's Gulf coast, and the best party in town is on the water.</p> <p>I'm a Florida native, born and raised on St. Pete Beach. Let me show you a great day fishing and exploring the waters of the Gulf and Pinellas County's Boca Ciega Bay. All charters include license, ice, bait, and tackle. I will clean and fillet your &ldquo;keepers&rdquo; for you to take home, or I can recommend a few area restaurants that will cook your catch. Just bring a lunch, drinks, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and your enthusiasm for a great day on the water.</p> <p>Capt. Ted Nesti</p> <p>727-393-6129</p> <p><a href="http://www.floridanativefishingcharters.com">www.floridanativefishingcharters.com</a></p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/fine-fishing-for-spring-break-on-pinellas-county-beaches/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=MrJqS5LozHk:bLgWI8ssoIs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=MrJqS5LozHk:bLgWI8ssoIs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=MrJqS5LozHk:bLgWI8ssoIs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=MrJqS5LozHk:bLgWI8ssoIs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/MrJqS5LozHk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/MrJqS5LozHk/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/fine-fishing-for-spring-break-on-pinellas-county-beaches/ Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:17:51 -0500 27.8539-82.762 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/fine-fishing-for-spring-break-on-pinellas-county-beaches/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-near-shore-reefs-productive/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/dfbbfff92b8761e6d63163b1c65342c6.jpg" alt="SW FL-Bonita Beach: Near-shore Reefs Productive"/></a><br/><p>03/04/13- SW FL-Bonita Beach: Near-shore Reefs Productive</p> <p>After a cancelled trip on Monday, I got out fishing Tuesday, 2/19, as winds and seas finally began to calm down from their week-long highs of 30 knot gusts and 4-12 foot seas. It was still a little sloppy so I stayed near-shore, about 12 miles off Naples Beach, where I fished with frequent customers Ron Musick and Eddie Alfonso, joined by friend Kay Daugherty. The group used live shrimp to catch eleven nice, keeper mangrove snapper to 15 &frac12; inches and ten nice sheepshead keepers to 16 inches. They released five would-be-keeper gag grouper to 29 inches, but had to release them all, due to closed season.</p> <p>Larkin Hosmer, friend Eric, and Eric's son-in-law, Merrill, fished a catch and release trip with me in Estero Bay on Thursday, 2/21, where they used live shrimp to catch a dozen sheepshead and a 13 1/2 inch black drum.</p> <p>Friday morning, I fished near-shore, about 5 miles out of New Pass, with long-time customers Jim McGrath and Bill Crockett. The guys used live shrimp to catch thirty-five sheepshead, releasing all but fifteen of those, which were between 14 and 16 inches long. They also caught a keeper hogfish at 17 inches, and released lots of short mangrove snapper. Lines were broken off four times by something big, but we never got to see what it was.</p> <p>Saturday morning, seas kicked up somewhat, though not as much as they are predicted to do for much of the following week. I fished a catch-and-release trip at the Bonita Beach near-shore reefs with Greg Haas and Rick John. The guys used live shrimp to catch sixty sheepshead to 15 inches, mangrove snapper to 12 inches, red grouper and triggerfish shorts, and a 21-inch gag grouper.</p> <p>Monday, 2/25, I fished the near-shore reefs with frequent customer, Mike Connealy, his daughter, Mandy Ewig, and her husband, Brett Ewig. The sheepshead bite was on, and the group used live shrimp to catch twenty-four of those in all, keeping the nine largest ones in the 15-to-16-inch range. They also caught grunts, and released mangrove snapper shorts, puffer-fish, and two gag grouper at 25 1/2 inches and 23 inches.</p> <p>By Tuesday, a very windy weather pattern was here, with seas building to seven feet offshore, along with low tides and gusty winds in the bay, and I remained in port. The seas forecast was just as bad for Wednesday, though the winds had subsided quite a bit. John and Jane Vilkaitis traded their original offshore fishing plans for a morning of fishing the backwaters of Estero Bay. The couple used live shrimp to catch seventeen sheepshead in all, keeping two of those and releasing the rest.</p> <p>Thursday, 2/28, seas were calmer than they had been and calmer than they were predicted to be in a few days. So, I took that window of opportunity to fish about twelve miles west of New Pass, where we had about a three-foot swell, but tolerable seas, for most of the day. Ron Musick, Eddie Alfonso and friends, Bob and Jack, used live shrimp to box sixteen mangrove snapper to 14 inches and seven sheepshead to 15 inches.</p> <p>Friday, seas were rougher, but Dennis page, Arnie Sancaitier, Jack Scott, and Jack&rsquo;s son, Kevin Scott, were hardy enough to fish the near-shore reefs on a catch-and-release trip, using live shrimp for bait. They caught and released eleven sheepshead to 16 inches, two Spanish mackerel at 22 inches and 24 inches, and several gag and red grouper to 20 inches.</p> <p>Saturday brought hard winds and seven-foot seas. I cancelled my planned trip for that day, and remained in port through the chilly and blustery weekend. Monday&rsquo;s 43-degree temps weren&rsquo;t too enticing to many anglers, but I am happy to see warmer temps and calm seas predicted for Tuesday.</p> <p>The photo shown is of angler Brett Ewig with a 16-inch sheepshead, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip. These larger sheepshead are one of the best parts of winter fishing.</p> <p>You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:</p> <p>http://www.fishbustercharters.com/fishing videos.htm</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-near-shore-reefs-productive/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=l7aTCVUmM4Q:JuTiky8q8ts:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=l7aTCVUmM4Q:JuTiky8q8ts:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=l7aTCVUmM4Q:JuTiky8q8ts:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=l7aTCVUmM4Q:JuTiky8q8ts:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/l7aTCVUmM4Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/l7aTCVUmM4Q/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-near-shore-reefs-productive/ Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:47:51 -0500 26.3628-81.823 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-near-shore-reefs-productive/ <p>South Indian River Fishing Forecast - March</p> <p>Inshore:</p> <p>March has arrived on the Treasure Coast and, traditionally, we can expect windy conditions along with some rain clouds. It might dictate where and when you can get on the water, but at least we aren't cutting holes in the ice to fish! Water temperatures will continue to rise and the fish will be actively feeding on the flats. Winter has been kinder to us this year and the fishing has been very good so far. Take advantage of the good days and get out fishing.....</p> <p>As the sun warms up the water again, look for fish to travel into the shallows to feed. Trout will continue to be most prevalent in the deeper grass flats in two to four feet of water. Those anglers using live shrimp on popping corks, Deadly Combos, CAL jerk baits and top water will have the best chance at hooking up with a trout. I like to fish the edges of the shallows where the water drops off to these depths. You can find some trout on the flats early, but they tend to go deeper after sunup. Depending on weather conditions, there are many areas to fish. Round Island, Bear Point and Harbor Branch are always popular to fish in March.</p> <p>Redfish will get more active this month and you can find some tailing on the flats in early mornings. Top water, DOA shrimp, CAL grub tails or gold spoons are good choices for finding a spot tail on the flats. Don't forget to fish around the mangroves also. So far this winter, there has continued to be a good redfish population around the river and the fishing has been fantastic for them. I tend to like the east side of the river for redfish, but you can find them on the west side also. Work your baits slowly along the bottom for best results. This makes the second winter to allow us to enjoy a terrific redfish bite around the docks and mangroves with nice sized slot fish. Learn to read the water so you don&rsquo;t miss what is happening around you.</p> <p>Anglers will continue to target snook around the inlets, docks and bridges on the Treasure Coast. Live bait always works best, but feather jigs, TerrorEyz and BFL lures can also get you hooked up. Most of the action will be at night with best results on the high ends of the tides. As the water warms up around the area, the snook action will liven up also. Those fishing the flats can also find snook feeding early or late in the day. Fish the mangroves during the rest of the<br />day. There has been a very good juvenile snook population on the flats this year. Top water, twitch baits, TerrorEyz or CAL jerk baits can do the trick in March on the flats.</p> <p>The pompano bite started slower this year. They have moved in the river now around Fort Pierce through Stuart and they should be in this area for a while. Whiting, Bluefish and pompano will be hanging around the beaches this month. The inlet will be holding Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish. Jack Crevalle and ladyfish continue to haunt the river and provide fun catch for all. Bridges should give up catches of sand perch, Sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp.</p> <p>Spring is just around the corner on the Treasure Coast. It won't be long! Take some time to check all your equipment now and be ready as the weather improves to get out on the water. Make sure your reels are in good working order. Check your rods for broken or cracked tips and guides. How old in that line?? Get ready now on some of these windy days ahead, so you will be ready to head out to the water soon! Have a great March in 2013!</p> <p>As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!</p> <p>Good Fishing and Be Safe,<br />Captain Charlie Conner</p> <p>http://www.fishtalescharter.com<br />email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com<br />772-284-3852</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/south-indian-river-fishing-forecast-march/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=yUvYnYmcoYQ:Hu3WCeRoq18:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=yUvYnYmcoYQ:Hu3WCeRoq18:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=yUvYnYmcoYQ:Hu3WCeRoq18:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=yUvYnYmcoYQ:Hu3WCeRoq18:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/yUvYnYmcoYQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/yUvYnYmcoYQ/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/south-indian-river-fishing-forecast-march/ Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:41:39 -0500 27.4429-80.3434 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/south-indian-river-fishing-forecast-march/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/red-fish-madness/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/cbc2d4e190a2974b5e0ce769db9d58f8.jpg" alt="red fish madness"/></a><br/><p>fishing has been awesome before this front blowing by for the last 3 days. big bull redfish are everywhere in huge schools of fish numbers in the hundreds . adv. 28lbs to 35lbs, spanish mackerel were biting very well last week catching limits just about every trip and the sheephead and flounder are still around and should be here for at least a few more weeks.</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/red-fish-madness/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=TU6G1phvr6s:LAwDewQ5Cm8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=TU6G1phvr6s:LAwDewQ5Cm8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=TU6G1phvr6s:LAwDewQ5Cm8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=TU6G1phvr6s:LAwDewQ5Cm8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/TU6G1phvr6s" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/TU6G1phvr6s/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/red-fish-madness/ Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:42:42 -0500 30.5052-86.4543 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/red-fish-madness/ <p>Florida Keys Fishing Charters &amp;<br />South Florida Flats Fishing Report<br />By Capt. Jim Hale<br />786-255-1788<br />www.floridasportfishingcharters.com<br />Feb 25 2013</p> <p>Fishing remains excellent on Fly in Florida Bay out of Islamorada, Key Largo or Flamingo. Redfish and Trout mixed in with several Snook here and there.<br />If you like sight fishing fly or spin this is a blast!</p> <p>Wednesday we were breaking in my new Mercury Optimax 115 and doing a little fishing at the same time. Good friend Jim Dillard and myself both had a Backcountry Fla. Bay slam with 9 reds 3 Snook and at least 14 Trout up to 23 inches. Some were caught on Gulp soft plastics sight fishing the flats, others were on fly. The Snook were 28 to 32 inches cruising the shore edges very close to mangroves.</p> <p>Yesterday Les Juneau of Atlanta caught a Slam of 3 Reds a Snook and 6 Trout one at 23 inches. His largest Red was a 29 inch fishing working a mullet mud.</p> <p>There are large Trout are all over the place and in big numbers, they look like small slot size Reds cruising the flats. There are also<br />plenty of 10 pound Redfish tailing on certain flats in Florida Bay."</p> <p>We landed 3 large Reds that were cruising the edges of the flats and eating mullet in large mullet muds on Wednesday. We were using Chartreuse Clouser minnows on a 7 wt G loomis.<br />On tailing fish we are using a fly called "Ricky Red" its a beautiful shrimp imitation with plenty of bulk to grab the attention of the fish. The Reds will not refuse this fly....<br />We are getting at least 40 shots at tailing fish a day and another 50 shots on<br />structure for Reds Snook and Larger Trout in Florida Bay.</p> <p>We fished Miami in Biscayne Bay Friday and saw several Bones and had only a couple of good shots, the winds were heavy and oceanside flats were out of the question. So we headed north to fish downtown Miami and caught plenty of big Trout on Jerk baits the largest was at 22 inches. Also in the evenings Trout big Bluefish and tons of Ladyfish are around to bend rods and scream drags if your looking for fun.<br />Tarpon are here in Government Cut, we hooked 5 on live shrimp but did not land any on Friday night. The Tarpon were all large fish that just got away!.</p> <p>If you are staying in Key Largo Islamorada or Miami excellent fishing is a short drive away spin fishing or fly.</p> <p>Good Luck Capt. Jim Hale<br />786-255-1788</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/islamorada-key-largo-and-miami-flats-fishing-report/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=GSRONfecnNQ:-5OwDnMu290:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=GSRONfecnNQ:-5OwDnMu290:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=GSRONfecnNQ:-5OwDnMu290:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=GSRONfecnNQ:-5OwDnMu290:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/GSRONfecnNQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/GSRONfecnNQ/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/islamorada-key-largo-and-miami-flats-fishing-report/ Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:16:26 -0500 25.6652-80.3011 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/islamorada-key-largo-and-miami-flats-fishing-report/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-if-only-the-winds-would-stop/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/a8a3fb5d3f3d1258ceb06354d746545a.jpg" alt="SW FL-Bonita Beach: If only the winds would stop..."/></a><br/><p>Monday, 2/4, I headed offshore with Barry Pflueger and friends. I hadn&rsquo;t been offshore in nearly a week, due to rough conditions out there. Seas were still fairly choppy early on, but they calmed down by mid-morning. Fishing was kind of slow although, if it weren&rsquo;t for grouper season closing, we might have brought home a couple of nice ones. But we had to release six gags to 23 inches, and several red grouper too, with all grouper now out of season. We also released a few undersized triggerfish. Fortunately, we caught enough porgies and grunts and a 13-inch hogfish, so the guys had plenty of food-fish to take home.</p> <p>Tuesday, I fished offshore, 28 to 36 miles west of New Pass with Ron Musick and friends, where we used live shrimp to catch and release lots of gag grouper to 21 1/2 inches and twenty amberjack to 24 inches. As for food-fish, the guys caught five keeper mangrove snapper to 13 inches, twenty keeper lane snapper, and nine good-sized whitebone porgies to 17 inches. Sharks were a nuisance, but we managed to keep most of our catches.</p> <p>Rudy Dinnocenzo and son, Dave, fished with me on Thursday, about ten miles west of New Pass. Despite forecasts for calm seas, we had three-footers even that close to shore. The guys used live shrimp to catch three keeper sheepshead, all about 15 inches, a keeper porkfish, and a mess of grunts. They released eight smaller sheepshead, a few triggerfish shorts, and two red grouper, which are currently out of season.</p> <p>Rough seas and high winds persisted into Friday and Saturday, and I remained in port for the weekend. Monday morning, with 4 foot seas offshore, Marshal Swain and friends traded their offshore plans for some inshore fishing instead, in Estero Bay. The group used live shrimp to catch snapper and sheepshead, including an 11-inch keeper mangrove snapper, and four keeper sheepshead to 15 inches.</p> <p>Tuesday morning, I fished in Estero Bay again in very windy conditions and low tide. Brothers Mike and Joe Dumbrowski used live shrimp to catch fourteen sheepshead along with a few mangrove snapper, and took home two keeper sheepshead.</p> <p>Wednesday's winds and seas had me back in the backwaters, this time with Troy Buschard and friends, who used live shrimp on a catch-and release trip to catch thirteen sheepshead to 15 inches and a puffer-fish.</p> <p>Thursday and Friday brought two days of rain&mdash;weather not even fit for a duck&mdash;along with persisting high seas and wind, and I had no choice but to cancel trips for a few very disappointed anglers. Saturday, seas were building even more, predicted to reach 10-12 feet by Sunday, when temps will also plummet to the 40&rsquo;s. My customers for Saturday decided to give Estero Bay a try, since fishing offshore, as they&rsquo;d planned, was out of the question. So I headed out to the best spots I could find, with as much wind-shelter as possible, with long-time customer Stuart Norris, his son, Mike, and grandson, Nate. They used live shrimp to catch mostly sheepshead, three of which were keepers to 14 inches. They also released a crevalle jack. It was far from an optimal morning in the bay, but at least Nate got to catch a keeper sheepshead, and the family enjoyed being together on the water.</p> <p>Monday, 2/18, it remained too rough offshore for my planned deep-sea trip, and I cancelled that trip and remained in port.</p> <p>So that&rsquo;s a wrap for now&mdash;We did the best we could, given what Mother Nature handed us. And, I am sure hoping from some kinder weather for the rest of this month.</p> <p>The photo shown is of angler Jim Swanger with a 15-inch hogfish, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.</p> <p>You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:</p> <p>http://www.fishbustercharters.com/fishing videos.htm</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-if-only-the-winds-would-stop/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=_bjfnZyy34A:oHz_KxlcW18:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=_bjfnZyy34A:oHz_KxlcW18:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=_bjfnZyy34A:oHz_KxlcW18:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=_bjfnZyy34A:oHz_KxlcW18:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/_bjfnZyy34A" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/_bjfnZyy34A/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-if-only-the-winds-would-stop/ Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:51:49 -0500 26.3628-81.823 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-if-only-the-winds-would-stop/ <p>Biloxi Bay Fishing heats up!!! 2-5-2012</p> <p>The Biloxi, Ms. Whipasnapa Charter fishing season is getting well under way, an heating up nicely. Saturday a lovely couple from Chicago blessed the Whipasnapa with some great company, as we enjoyed a few hrs. on the Back Bay, they seemed to enjoy our mild weather as it was 9 degree back home in Chicago. We managed a pretty good day, kinda slow for the most part. They kept dropping and fishing hard an were rewarded. Several nice battles with some scrappy red fish, couple specks and sheepshead. The couple had flown in, so catch an release was the Game!! Well except for the couple flounder that hit the deck of ol' Whipasnapa an had the honor to get whooped up an bless the table of the Captain!! :)<br />We were dropping over some the old bridge structure by the new Biloxi Ocean Springs bridge with live shrimp. Just holding the boat over the structure with the motors running, so we could drop straight down. A sinker tied to the bottom an the hook about a foot above it, so as to not hang up, allows the sinker to barely lay on the bottom, that allows the live shrimp to flick around about a ft. above an WALLEYE botalabing!!! Make sure not to drag it or you will surely hang up on this structure.!<br />Mr. Baker, ol' dirt {peanut} farmer from Georgia, (an a marvelous guy to spend the day with) got it put on him pretty good. I wore him out. I love when he comes cause I can simply out fish him every time :) Naw, actually I told him to keep it a secret but he put it on me!!!! Mr. Baker likes keeping a lil heated competition going. We were tossing live shrimp with a very light split shot over some structure close to the power lines, by Imperial Palace. Couple of nice specks, black drum, and small reds pulled his string. And of course pulled out that smack talk he likes to dish out! But most seemed to miss my line. O well out of 15 trips guess he was do :) Thanks Mr. Baker always a pleasure.<br />The Whipasnapa was also blessed to have aboard a couple more return friends. Early Feb., the Pawelski family from Minnesota, fished good an hard as they enjoyed some good family time an fought a good variety of nice Back Bay winter species. Started off with the beginner getting all the luck at first, as Mrs. P. hooked up on couple very scrappy Sheepshead (9 to 10lb range) that tested the equipment, (smoked the drags), an got the ticker pumped up as well. The rest of the gang were hooking up on some bay specks most in the 12 to 14 in. range. After bout a hr. or so we ventured on to our next spot. Yet again the beginner, which by now is looking more like the guide, as she pulled out couple nice flat fish (flounder), an small reds. At the 3rd spot the rest of the gang heated up as several brute size reds pulled out the smiles, except one (the beginner) who seemed to have got stuck on the wrong side the boat. Around lunch time the group decided to fish for another couple hrs. so I had to run grab a few more live shrimp before Ms. Crabby closed. (Mondays are their half day off). We went on up the bay to the Ocean Springs bridge looking for some more of them drag ripping sheep's. There Mrs. Connie started heating up an kept the rod bent doubled on several nice sheepshead.. The crew kept a fish or 2 of each species,black drum, sheep head, flounder,specks an reds.. The smiling hungry gang took their variety catch over to the well known McElroy's family restrurant, to let them put their magic touch on it.. "Best FISH AND TRIP ever Capt." was the report I got back from the crew. So thinking it was a hit, thanks yall!!!!<br />January is always a lil slow, probably the slowest for charter fishing.Then February it starts to rock n roll!!!! Alot of the greatNortherners (SNOWBIRDS) decide that Feb. is the time to head South. An I can't say that I blame them. Reds, specks, flounder, sheeps heads and black drum are the steady fish, this time of the year. The weather has been very nice actually, the big rains a couple weeks ago, kinda messed up the water for a lil while but its getting back pretty good shape now. The live bait shops were missing on the shrimp during the flush but they back on them as well..So hey; fishing is a lil slower in the winter time but patience an determination will pay off for sure..On some the calmer days with some good sunshine we can run out to the surfs of Ship Island an get on some sight casting for the huge black an red drum that lurk out in the shallows.Talk about a Hooot!!!!! Every fish in the winter time is for the most part a good keeper fish. As the ol pesky croaker, pinfish an catfish are none existing this time of yr.! Anyway enough BS getya butt on the boat an lets keep the Rods bent an grease stanking!!</p> <p>Let's Go Fishing!!!!</p> <p>Many thanks to all and God Bless!!!!<br />Capt Robert "Earl" McDanielwww.whipasnapacharters.com</p> <p>228-229-6978</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/biloxi-bay-fishing-heats-up/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=-a5L0r5xeXs:zbFA3AlShW8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=-a5L0r5xeXs:zbFA3AlShW8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=-a5L0r5xeXs:zbFA3AlShW8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=-a5L0r5xeXs:zbFA3AlShW8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/-a5L0r5xeXs" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/-a5L0r5xeXs/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/biloxi-bay-fishing-heats-up/ Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:51:53 -0500 30.4612-88.9492 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/biloxi-bay-fishing-heats-up/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/south-indian-river-fishing-report-262013/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/65f20ad7ded82bc4222941e5f1eed1ba.JPG" alt="South Indian River Fishing Report 2/6/2013"/></a><br/><p>Inshore:</p> <p>Warm springlike weather continued to look down on the Treasure Coast for another week. It's been a little windy out there most days, but it is still very nice weather to get out fishing. The water temperatures warmed up to the high sixties and low seventies and the fish have been biting good most days. Look for similar weather in the near future with spring closing in on the area. Winds will be a part of the weather forecast each day this month. There are plenty of fishing spots to get out of the wind, so have fun and get out fishing!</p> <p>Redfish warmed back up to the water temperatures and we found a good bite most days this week. Our best day was with Ron, Mike and Timberly, when they boated six redfish and lost a few others. All are coming from both docks and mangroves. DOA shrimp or live bait has helped find some nice slot fish. We continue to catch the juvenile snook while fishing the mangroves. It great to see them come back from the freeze a few years ago. Nighttime anglers are landing some slot snook around the bridges and jetties on live bait, feather jigs and TerrorEyz. Trout have been on the flats in two to five feet of water. Kim Ann celebrated her birthday by boating the largest trout so far in 2013 at 30". DOA CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos are great this time of year for trout fishing.</p> <p>Howard and Jim found a good variety of fish to keep them busy on their trip. John, Kim Ann and Kid also found a nice variety of fish. Jay and JD had a good day in spite of windy conditions to make it challenging for us. Around the docks, channel edges and bridges, you can find sheepshead, black drum and some snapper. Bluefish and mackerel have been around the jetties and turning basin in Fort Pierce. Small shiny lures work best for the toothy critters. You can find pompano scattered around the river now. Doc's Goofy Jigs and Capt Joe's jigs are popular by the pompano fishermen. It's been a fun week on the river!</p> <p>I wanted to send a HELLO to the US Army Dust Off Medical Air Evacuation Unit stationed in Afghanistan, who are receiving the TCPalm You News papers to enjoy. We are proud of your service to our country and anxious to see you back home again. Thanks!</p> <p>Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!</p> <p>Thanks and Good Fishing!<br />Captain Charlie Conner</p> <p>www.fishtalescharter.com<br />captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com<br />772-284-3852</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/south-indian-river-fishing-report-262013/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=P116L7ZUfr0:z0QfJWVtaGw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=P116L7ZUfr0:z0QfJWVtaGw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=P116L7ZUfr0:z0QfJWVtaGw:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=P116L7ZUfr0:z0QfJWVtaGw:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/P116L7ZUfr0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/P116L7ZUfr0/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/south-indian-river-fishing-report-262013/ Sun, 10 Feb 2013 19:45:36 -0500 27.4429-80.3434 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/south-indian-river-fishing-report-262013/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-plenty-of-grouper-in-closed-season/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/41ab59b44bcb2d848e0e9d41be63ae07.jpg" alt="SW FL-Bonita Beach: Plenty of Grouper in Closed Season!"/></a><br/><p>After cancelling six consecutive fishing trips, due to weather conditions offshore and red tide in the bays, I finally got to fish again on Thursday, 1/24.I headed out about 18 miles from new Pass with Ron Musick, Eddie Alfonse and Jack Dee. Fishing was a little slow, perhaps due to the cold nights we experienced for a week, as well as some churning seas over the past week. But the guys used live shrimp to catch and release a bunch of red grouper and gag grouper shorts. They also got six keeper lane snapper to 12 inches and three nice mangrove snapper to 17 inches, along with five whitebone porgies to 15 inches. Sharks were a nuisance, and robbed us of a couple fish.</p> <p>Friday, I was happy to see a second consecutive day of calm seas, and I headed out 19 miles with Wes Bentrude and his grandson, Brandon Bentrude, on a catch-and-release trip. The guys used live shrimp to catch a brace of 18 &frac12;-inch sheepshead, eight mangrove snapper shorts, two 14-inch triggerfish, six red grouper shorts, and four gag grouper to 27 inches and eleven pounds. (see photo)</p> <p>I was back offshore again on Tuesday, hoping for more calm seas just ahead of yet another front, due to pass through on Wednesday and Thursday and predicted to bring high winds and seas. It wasn&rsquo;t quite as calm as I&rsquo;d hoped, even on Tuesday. But Leonard Tatum and four friends toughed it out and caught a good variety of fish on live shrimp. They released fifteen gag grouper, three of which would have been keepers to 25 inches, had they been in season. They also released twenty-five red grouper to 19 &frac34; inches, just short of keeper-size. They bagged six nice mangrove snapper, all about 16 inches and six yellowtail snapper, all 14-to-15 inches, along with fifteen assorted porgies (jolthead and whitebone.) They released twenty additional porgies, having no need for them, along with twenty-five small amberjacks to 20 inches.</p> <p>Wednesday and Thursday provided no fishing opportunities whatsoever, with high winds and seas, as well as a good bit of rain on Thursday. I cancelled both trips. Friday morning, 2/1, I fished inshore in a very windy Estero Bay with Robin Latham and friends, Rick, and Dave Ricardi. The guys used live shrimp, as we tried our best to fish spots with decent action that were somewhat sheltered from the wind. They caught a brace of 17-inch black drum, a 16-inch trout, a 14-inch sheepshead, and an 11-inch mangrove snapper. They released an 18-inch snook.</p> <p>Winds were a little calmer Saturday morning, which was still too rough to head offshore, but the lighter winds and warmer temps certainly made the inshore fishing more pleasant for Dick Hall and family. They used live shrimp to catch two nice trout, 16 inches and 18 inches, along with an 18-inch black drum, a 14-inch sheepshead, and an 11-inch mangrove snapper. They released lots of ladyfish and smaller sheepshead.</p> <p>You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:</p> <p>http://www.fishbustercharters.com/fishing videos.htm</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-plenty-of-grouper-in-closed-season/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=Zvjm3R6zOUw:tLsZ6nig1YA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=Zvjm3R6zOUw:tLsZ6nig1YA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=Zvjm3R6zOUw:tLsZ6nig1YA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=Zvjm3R6zOUw:tLsZ6nig1YA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/Zvjm3R6zOUw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/Zvjm3R6zOUw/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-plenty-of-grouper-in-closed-season/ Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:00:10 -0500 26.3628-81.823 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-plenty-of-grouper-in-closed-season/ <p>I use this loop knot to tie on almost all of my lures, flies, and hooks and have never had it fail</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2013/canoeman-loop-knot/ ">Watch the video for this post</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=YkFqzfdE4rU:XLqLJY9WHpo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=YkFqzfdE4rU:XLqLJY9WHpo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=YkFqzfdE4rU:XLqLJY9WHpo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=YkFqzfdE4rU:XLqLJY9WHpo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/YkFqzfdE4rU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/YkFqzfdE4rU/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2013/canoeman-loop-knot/ Sat, 02 Feb 2013 07:37:57 -0500 28.5723-80.8209 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2013/canoeman-loop-knot/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/mosquito-lagoon-fishing-report/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/7e0cdc80bd10562ca60f8cd46df7cda6.jpg" alt="Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report"/></a><br/><p>The sight fishing in Mosquito Lagoon has been about as good as it can get in recent weeks. The weather has been generally warmer than usual which has made for some comfortable fishing conditions. To go along with the excellent weather, huge schools of redfish have been the norm. This week, we encountered schools so large you could not cast from one side of them to the other. A wonderful problem to have for a fisherman. Even on the slowest of days, we still have had shots at over 1,000 redfish per day.</p> <p>We have been catching the fish on both fly and soft plastics. When the fish are tailing, a DOA shrimp rarely goes uneaten provided you get it to them before they see you coming. Once the school begins to take flight, the bite percentage drops dramatically. The faster they are swimming, the fewer bites you will get. A sure way to get the school to flee is to let them know you are coming by making noises on the deck. Stealth is an important factor of sight fishing.Casting speed and accuracy are a close second.</p> <p>Vern caught his first redfish using a 5.5 inch DOA CAL on a beautiful winter day on the flats.</p> <p>Marty made his inaugural trip to Mosquito Lagoon with the hope of catching redfish on fly. He accomplished his goal several times.</p> <p>One fly that has been working well for us recently is a variation of the redfish worm using copper chenille and an olive rabbit strip.Tied on a #4 hook with small lead eyes, this fly has accounted for numerous reds the past month.</p> <p>For the month ahead, I anticipate more excellent tailing redfish action. The redfish have been so plentiful that we have spent little time looking for other species on most days. Large trout are still around for those wanting to target them and lots of average sized trout can be caught in 2-5 feet of water.</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/mosquito-lagoon-fishing-report/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=cojf5JTMRT8:BN2Hrr8Nggo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=cojf5JTMRT8:BN2Hrr8Nggo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=cojf5JTMRT8:BN2Hrr8Nggo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=cojf5JTMRT8:BN2Hrr8Nggo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/cojf5JTMRT8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/cojf5JTMRT8/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/mosquito-lagoon-fishing-report/ Sat, 02 Feb 2013 07:36:27 -0500 28.5723-80.8209 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/mosquito-lagoon-fishing-report/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/first-trip-of-the-new-year-1213/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/bb0b84d83faddaba322b1dc01f11df11.JPG" alt="FIRST TRIP OF THE NEW YEAR - 1/2/13"/></a><br/><p>What a way to start the new year! I was met at the dock on this cold windy January morning by Ryan, Ricky and Justin. Three fisherman eager to catch some Steelhead. This was Justin's "dirty thirty" birthday trip. After a brief discussion about other people thinking we were crazy...we headed up river. Shortly into the first drift we were hooked up. For the next 6 hours the action never let up! We caught fish on every drift, singles,doubles and triples. Half way through our day the discussion of Landing 30 fish for Justin's thirtieth birthday came up. Drift after drift it started to become more of a reality...about 1 pm Justin hooked #30. The final total at the end of the day was 32-36 fish landed. Thanks guys for such a great day! LETS GET THE NET WET 716-550-0413</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/first-trip-of-the-new-year-1213/ ">Watch the video for this post</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=G0DGa6dwmkY:T6Ae_P3nP2o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=G0DGa6dwmkY:T6Ae_P3nP2o:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=G0DGa6dwmkY:T6Ae_P3nP2o:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=G0DGa6dwmkY:T6Ae_P3nP2o:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/G0DGa6dwmkY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/G0DGa6dwmkY/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/first-trip-of-the-new-year-1213/ Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:44:34 -0500 43.2492-79.026 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/first-trip-of-the-new-year-1213/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-lots-of-action-a-20-inch-hogfish/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/37710e7f5a7c67b2289efd7da4879320.jpg" alt="SW FL-Bonita Beach: Lots of Action & a 20-inch Hogfish!"/></a><br/><p>Tuesday, 1/8, I headed well offshore, 37 miles west of New Pass, with frequent customer Ron Musick and friends, Eddie Alfonso, Dick Arnett and Ralph Lussluer. We had a good day fishing with live shrimp, and the guys landed four keeper red grouper, 21 &frac12; inches, 22 &frac12; inches, 24 inches and the prize winner at 27 inches. They also kept seven whitebone porgies to 18 &frac12; inches, and released eighteen others, since they had no need for that many fish. Added to the fish-box were four keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches. The guys released a 16-inch amberjack and six gag grouper to 18 inches. A couple of big sharks were around and bit off a couple catches but we managed to reel in most of them!</p> <p>Wednesday morning I fished Estero Bay's backwaters with Vince Graham, Bernie Saltor, and Denny Mascioli. The guys used live shrimp to catch two keeper redfish at 19 inches and 21 inches, along with a 15-inch keeper sheepshead an 18-inch black drum keeper, and a 12-inch keeper mangrove snapper. They released ten smaller sheepshead.</p> <p>Thursday, with seas predicted to be two-to-three feet offshore, I headed out only about seven miles before we encountered three-to-five-foot seas. John Leahy and friends toughed it out, and caught and released a 28-inch gag grouper, which bit a grunt that was being reeled in. They also caught and released seven additional gag and red grouper shorts, a small triggerfish, and a bunch of blue runners. They took home some pan-fish too, with four porgies to 14 inches, a 22-inch Spanish mackerel, and seven good-sized grunts.</p> <p>Friday, seas were considerably calmer than they&rsquo;d been the day before, and I was able to get out nineteen miles, with frequent customer Mike Connealy and his friends, Rick Rosen and John Pound. The guys used live shrimp to catch a mess of lane snapper, ten of which were keepers to 12 inches. They also caught porgies to 14 inches, and released lots of gag and red grouper shorts to 18 inches.</p> <p>Saturday morning, seas were still calm enough to head offshore, where I fished, using live shrimp in 38 feet, with brothers Bill and Bob Latham, Bob graham, Dell Bowden, and Rich Meyer. The guys caught a keeper hogfish at 13 inches and released a 22 &frac12;-inch gag grouper, due to closed season. They also caught a mess of porgies, including half a dozen nice-sized keepers, some large grunts, a brace of 13-inch keeper mangrove snapper, and a 20-inch Spanish mackerel. In addition to the extra porgies, they released two smaller snapper, a dozen red-grouper shorts, fifteen gag grouper shorts, a 15-inch scamp grouper, triggerfish to 15 inches, and a small kingfish.</p> <p>Monday, 1/14, I headed out nineteen miles west of New Pass with Fred Matthews, Harry Rigsby, and Hal Bennett. The guys had good success fishing with live shrimp, and caught a keeper red grouper at 21 &frac12; inches, five nice whitebone porgies to 17 inches, a 13-inch keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper sheepshead at 13 inches, and a mess of grunts. They released lots of red grouper shorts, a gag grouper (due to closed season) and a short triggerfish.</p> <p>Tuesday morning brought calm seas, and I headed out 22 miles from New Pass with Mike and Barb Haacke and Bruce and Beth Garner. The couples planned to head back north the following morning, so they had no interest in keeping fish&mdash;just catching them! They did well with that mission, using live shrimp and small grunts to land three keeper-sized red grouper to 22 inches, as well as the largest hogfish I&rsquo;ve encountered in my many years of catching them: This beauty was a full 20 inches, and was gratefully accepted as a gift to the captain! The group also released a few gag grouper, a few short yellowtail snapper, porgies and grunts. There were signs of red tide out there, with lots of dead mullet around, but it sure didn&rsquo;t hurt our fishing one bit!</p> <p>Wednesday, I fished all day with John Rankin, Norm Grieve, Ferrell Fulkerson, Peter Tam and Gary Jackson, and Bob Fulertec, 37 miles west of New Pass, where the guys used live shrimp to catch a nice variety of fish. Red grouper were abundant, but we only got one that was a keeper, at 22 inches. We released lots of red grouper shorts, along with four scamp-grouper shorts. Added to the bag were a mess of nice whitebone porgies, all of which were about 17 inches, along with a dozen nice keeper mangrove snapper to 16 inches, three keeper 12-inch yellowtail snapper, a keeper porkfish at 12 inches, and a keeper triggerfish at 14 1/4 inches. We had several sharks try to terrorize our catches, along with sea turtles also out for a free meal. The turtles managed to eat a couple of our catches as they were being reeled in, and the turtles' powerful jaws actually crushed the heads of a few fish, leaving jaw imprints. But the guys came in with plenty of fish, despite the competition!</p> <p>Thursday, a weather-front came through the area, and small craft advisories were in effect by 10 AM, so I had to cancel my offshore trip for that day. Friday brought howling winds, cold temperatures, low tide, and a bit of drizzle, and I cancelled my bay trip, due to poor conditions. Add to that a little red tide, which has been plaguing our inland waterways for the past week or so, and conditions remained poor in the bay for Saturday's trip, which I also cancelled. So that's it for now, and I am hoping for some improved conditions soon.</p> <p>The photo shown is of angler Mike Haacke with a 20-inch hogfish (the largest I have seen around here), caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.</p> <p>You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:</p> <p>http://www.fishbustercharters.com/fishing videos.htm</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-lots-of-action-a-20-inch-hogfish/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=8SGUg20ErGM:RO7l8LTs0qA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=8SGUg20ErGM:RO7l8LTs0qA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=8SGUg20ErGM:RO7l8LTs0qA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=8SGUg20ErGM:RO7l8LTs0qA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/8SGUg20ErGM" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/8SGUg20ErGM/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-lots-of-action-a-20-inch-hogfish/ Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:50:52 -0500 26.3628-81.823 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-lots-of-action-a-20-inch-hogfish/ <p>Let's Make 2013 the Fishiest Ever!!!!!! 1-07-2013</p> <p>Happy New Year's fellow WhipaSnapa'ers, I hope everyone is getting their New Year off to a great start. The Biloxi Ms. Charter boat WhipaSnapa would like to thank everyone for all the great support in 2012. And would like to ask for your support to spread the word so 2013 will be even fishier!!!</p> <p>We ran 4 or 5 trips around Christmas time that produced some great light tackle action. Most of the guest were in town just visiting or passing through, and not keeping their fish, so catch and release. Team Missouri had a few hours of rock steady action Thursday. Just about as quick as a bait could get in the strike zone it was engulfed! An a brisk but strong game of tug o war pursued!~!! With angler winning most. Them fish did put up a pretty good match tho!!! Good strong hook set keep good bend in rod and PULL UP REEL DOWN!!!</p> <p>Friday's was also strong, with sheepshead, flounder, reds, couple of specks and puppy drum all participating in the great action. Then on Saturday, man the wind blowed in and it was COLD!! we just got whupped!! Fish just would not bite. At least not where we were. We tried to make them bite in some of the out of the wind spots, and even roughed it out in the brutal wind, but with very lil success! :(</p> <p>Monday's couple from Georgia fished hard and still for the most part a lil slow but did manage a pretty good variety of nice fish. Actually, the last hour of the 3 hour excursion was action packed with several nice reds and specks being brought boat side.</p> <p>The bait shops have been able to hold a steady supply of live shrimp that has produced most of the action. A few hit fresh dead but the frisky live did most of the damage. Beautiful clear water, just right temps, an wind have been very manageable for the most part!!! As always we keep a pretty steady bite on Flounder, Specks, Reds, Sheepshead an puppy drum throughout the winter..</p> <p>But anyway getting your string pulled hard and often is always good. Especially along the shores of South Mississippi in the beautiful Biloxi's Back Bay with the Whipasnapa (of course). So tell your friends to tell their friends and ya'll load up, come on down and lets keep the hooks in the water!!!</p> <p>Let's Go Fishing!!!!</p> <p>Many thanks to all and God Bless!!!!</p> <p>Capt Robert "Earl" McDaniel</p> <p>228-229-6978</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/lets-make-2013-the-fishiest-ever/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=D-hw-cACC68:804gB786lsw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=D-hw-cACC68:804gB786lsw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=D-hw-cACC68:804gB786lsw:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=D-hw-cACC68:804gB786lsw:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/D-hw-cACC68" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/D-hw-cACC68/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/lets-make-2013-the-fishiest-ever/ Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:44:22 -0500 30.4612-88.9492 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/lets-make-2013-the-fishiest-ever/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-fishing-lookin-good/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/6f8de0a35886f9cf9307609227b39390.jpg" alt="SW FL-Bonita Beach: Winter Fishing Lookin' Good!"/></a><br/><p>After Wednesday's trip on 12/19, our weather began deteriorating, with a very windy, cold front that arrived late Thursday into Friday and Saturday. I cancelled my offshore trip for Friday with the Graham family, but I was able to reschedule that for a bay trip with them the morning of Christmas Eve. Bob Graham, his daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Ryan Ness, and his young grandson, Graham Ness, used live shrimp to catch twenty-two sheepshead, eight of which were nice keepers that ranged from 15 to 18 1/2 inches. The family also caught six black drum, four of which were keepers at about 16 inches each. They also released a juvenile goliath grouper.</p> <p>Christmas Day and the day after were reserved for family events, so I wasn't back on the water until Thursday, 12/27, when I fished Estero Bay's backwaters. Seas offshore were four-to-six feet, with small craft advisories, so heading offshore was out of the question. Jim Madson and family used live shrimp to catch three keeper black-drum to 18 inches, fifteen sheepshead, including eight keepers to 16 inches, and a brace of 12-inch mangrove snapper. The group also released a couple of 16-inch crevalle jacks.</p> <p>Friday, 12/28, I fished Estero Bay with Brian Clark and Julie Meng. The couple used live shrimp to catch seven keeper sheepshead to 17 inches. They released smaller sheepshead, along with a couple of puffer-fish and stingray.</p> <p>Saturday morning, in advance of the next cold front predicted to come through the area, I fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay with Dave Carey, his two sons, Dan and Joel, and Joel&rsquo;s girlfriend, Debbie. The group used live shrimp to catch twenty sheepshead to 17 inches, an 18-inch crevalle jack, two black drum at 17 inches and 18 inches, a sand bream (also known as a striped mojara), and puffer-fish.</p> <p>Monday, the last day of 2012, I spent the morning fishing Estero Bay with Tony and Becky Struble and their three lovely daughters, Katie, Anna and Daisy. The family used live shrimp to catch seventeen sheepshead. They kept a couple of 13-inch sheepies and released the rest. They also caught a 17-inch black drum keeper and a brace of 18 &frac12; inch sea-trout. They released a 17-inch redfish and a puffer-fish.</p> <p>New Years&rsquo; Day was a day off the water for me, spent with family. On Wednesday, 1/2/13, I headed offshore, about 12 miles west of New Pass, with Bill and Linda Latham, their son and his wife, John and Shannon, and their two young children, Ian and Elle. The family used live shrimp to catch five keeper mangrove snapper, all around 14 inches, two whitebone porgies to 18 inches, a keeper porkfish and a half dozen nice-sized grunts. They released a hogfish short, gag grouper shorts to 19 inches, red grouper shorts to 18 inches, two under-sized triggerfish, and a puffer-fish.</p> <p>Kari Vilamaa and Jim Swanger fished offshore with me on Thursday, nineteen miles west of New Pass. The guys used live shrimp to catch a keeper hogfish at 15 inches, a keeper red grouper at 24 inches, seven porgies (all between 14 and 16 inches), and a 14-inch mangrove snapper keeper. They released seventeen smaller porgies, a bunch of short mangrove and yellowtail snapper, lots of grunts and a would-be-keeper porkfish.</p> <p>Friday morning, I headed out nineteen miles again, this time with long-time customer Ron Musick and friends, Eddie Alfonse, Dick Arnett, Tom Collins and Mark Mewhorter. Seas were calm enough but there was a pretty good swell out there. That didn&rsquo;t stop the guys from catching fish, though! They used live shrimp to catch two keeper hogfish at 15 inches and 17 inches, a dozen keeper mangrove snapper to 16 inches, a mess of whitebone porgies to 16 inches and a keeper porkfish at 11 inches. The guys released a bunch of additional porgies, twenty red grouper shorts to 18 &frac12; inches, and (sadly) three would-be-keeper gag grouper to 30 inches, which had to be let go, due to closed season.</p> <p>Another weather-front passed through the area, bringing higher winds and seas Saturday morning, so I stayed close in at the near-shore reefs off Bonita Beach when I fished with Scott Severaid and family. They weren&rsquo;t interested in keeping any fish&mdash;just showing the kids a good time&mdash;and we fulfilled that by using live shrimp to catch and release seven nice sheepshead to 16 inches, lots of mangrove snapper, and a Spanish mackerel.</p> <p>Monday morning, 1/7, we awoke to rain, but forecasts and radar indicated it would be light and of short duration: the forecasts were wrong. It continued raining into the morning, forcing me to cancel a scheduled inshore trip with a family that included young children.</p> <p>The photo shown is of angler Tom Collins with a 30-inch gag grouper, caught on shrimp and released (due to closed season) on a recent trip.</p> <p>You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:</p> <p>http://www.fishbustercharters.com/fishing videos.htm</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-fishing-lookin-good/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=xJSxexFG0G0:QIQPasYzJXI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=xJSxexFG0G0:QIQPasYzJXI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=xJSxexFG0G0:QIQPasYzJXI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=xJSxexFG0G0:QIQPasYzJXI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/xJSxexFG0G0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/xJSxexFG0G0/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-fishing-lookin-good/ Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:09:48 -0500 26.3628-81.823 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2013/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-fishing-lookin-good/ <p>One the most frequent questions I get is what knot to use when tying a flurocarbon or mono leader to braid.</p> <p>I have tried several and have found the Albright Knot to be the best. It is easy to tie. It comes through rod guides well. And, it is strong.</p> <p>The You Tube video I've attached will explain how to tie it.</p> <p>Good luck with your fishing .........</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2012/the-knot-to-tie-a-leader-to-a-braided-main-line/ ">Watch the video for this post</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=5gK4OLP0gO8:61AgDbGs2ss:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=5gK4OLP0gO8:61AgDbGs2ss:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=5gK4OLP0gO8:61AgDbGs2ss:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=5gK4OLP0gO8:61AgDbGs2ss:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/5gK4OLP0gO8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/5gK4OLP0gO8/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2012/the-knot-to-tie-a-leader-to-a-braided-main-line/ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:06:58 -0500 33.9684-81.2441 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2012/the-knot-to-tie-a-leader-to-a-braided-main-line/ <p>PUTTING THE PUZZLE TOGETHER ...</p> <p>As a bass fisherman, do you realize just how much detail is involved in every single bite you get? I have fished with so many folks that never consider all of the variables that may have been involved when you get bit or catch a bass. That information available to you on each strike provides you valuable pieces to the puzzle to unlock the prevailing pattern to poss...ibly load the boat. Overlooking t<br />hat information is what keeps many fishermen from maximizing their time on the water.<br />It is easy to catch bass when they are aggressive. They will chase a lure down from long distances during periods of high activity. However, the bass aren't in chase mode most of the time. Bass will seek out a comfortable ambush location and sit there until they want to actively feed.<br />Now, bass that are inactively occupying an area will still bite, but their "strike zone" will be much smaller meaning that they may only move a very short distance if at all for an opportunity to eat. You've heard the phrase, "I had to drop it right on his head.&rdquo; is not an exaggeration. This is when it is very important to recognize and process all of the information provided with each bite.<br />At what depth did the bite happen? Did the bite happen on the shallow or deeper side of the cover? How about the shady or sunny side? Consider the up current or down current side? Is there other cover available or a transition of bottom composition? Where is the cover in relation to the nearest deep water or channel? Did the bite occur on the bottom or on the fall? How many times did I cast to this piece of cover before getting the bite? Was my speed of retrieve or presentation different? What angle did I use to fish that piece of cover &hellip; shallow to deep, deep to shallow, parallel to a depth zone? Did I bump the cover or not? And the list goes on and on.<br />The message is to keep an open mind, think and process as much of the available information as possible, because sometimes the slightest little item will be the key to a very successful day on the water.<br />Good luck with your fishing &hellip;&hellip;&hellip;.<br />THAMES Bass Fishing</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2012/putting-the-puzzle-together-/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=sF3vyZ7PG3g:0lYl1ApCYZE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=sF3vyZ7PG3g:0lYl1ApCYZE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=sF3vyZ7PG3g:0lYl1ApCYZE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=sF3vyZ7PG3g:0lYl1ApCYZE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/sF3vyZ7PG3g" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/sF3vyZ7PG3g/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2012/putting-the-puzzle-together-/ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:57:53 -0500 33.9684-81.2441 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/how-to/2012/putting-the-puzzle-together-/ <a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2012/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-sheepshead-are-back...and-big/ "><img src="http://captainsandguides.com/uploads/pictures/article/thumbs/46ba5688cd891ed105a5f08919cefbe9.jpg" alt="SW FL-Bonita Beach: Winter Sheepshead are Back...and Big!"/></a><br/><p>The first week of December was kind of slow around here, which is typical for the few weeks between Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday rush. But I did get out fishing in Estero Bay, on a catch-and-release trip with Dave and Diane Carey on Friday, 12/7/12. The couple used live shrimp to catch twenty sheepshead to 14 inches, eight of which were would-be keepers, along with one keeper-sized mangrove snapper at 13 inches, two puffer-fish and two stingrays.</p> <p>My next trip wasn&rsquo;t until ten days later, the interim filled with lots of rainy, windy weather. On Monday, 12/17, I fished Estero Bay&rsquo;s backwaters with Greg Sturley, his son, Chris, and his father-in-law, Richard. Using live shrimp, the guys caught ten sheepshead, three of which were 14-inch keepers, along with three keeper mangrove snapper at 12 inches each. They released two 16-inch crevalle jacks, a couple of puffer-fish, and a couple of rays.</p> <p>Wednesday morning, 12/19, I again fished the backwaters, this time with Robert and Kim Rzepiela. The couple used live shrimp to catch three keeper sheepshead, all in the 13-14-inch range, a keeper mangrove snapper, and a 16-inch pompano. They released ten smaller sheepshead and three stingrays.</p> <p>Today, Friday, 12/21, I cancelled my offshore trip in the face of 25 knot winds and 5-foot seas. A cold front has made it all this way south, and is predicted to drop our usually tropical temperatures to a chilly 40 degrees tonight.</p> <p>Happy holidays to all!</p> <p>The photo shown is of angler Rich Honsa, with a 19 &frac12;-inch sheepshead, caught on shrimp on a recent trip.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2012/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-sheepshead-are-back...and-big/ ">Permalink</a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=I2p8QttF9ls:F2GVcUI4CcI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=I2p8QttF9ls:F2GVcUI4CcI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?a=I2p8QttF9ls:F2GVcUI4CcI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles?i=I2p8QttF9ls:F2GVcUI4CcI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~4/I2p8QttF9ls" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CaptainsAndGuidesArticles/~3/I2p8QttF9ls/ http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2012/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-sheepshead-are-back...and-big/ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:55:44 -0500 26.3628-81.823 http://captainsandguides.com/articles/fishing-reports/2012/sw-fl-bonita-beach-winter-sheepshead-are-back...and-big/