Florida

[Capt. Craig Korczynski (Phlats)]

Inshore Fishing Report April 11, 2007 Palm Beach / Jupiter


Well spring has arrived, bringing great inshore action with it. The Snook bite has been spectacular in both the Palm Beach and the Jupiter areas. The Snook have been hanging under docks, near seas walls and up under mangrove shorelines. The big Snook have been migrating out of the back rivers making there way towards the inlets. The average size Snook we have been catching is from 16” to 38”. The best baits for the Snook have been live sand perch and live finger mullet. Artificial lures work also but they have to be presented right. The outgoing tide has been the best tide to fish but as long as the water is moving there are Snook to be caught.

The Palm Beach area has been on fire lately holding huge Jacks in the 25-pound class and also producing some nice trout also. The Snapper have also been really thick around the sea walls and dock pilings. There have been a couple surprise catches of some small Gag grouper and Jewfish lately also.

The freshwater bite should pick up rapidly do to our low water levels and water temps on the rise. The Peacock bass bite has been ok but should start to get really hot as summer approaches. The largemouth bass bite has been steady and has produced some decent fish lately in the 5 to 6 pound class. Live shiners and storm baits produce the best bite.

Well that is the report for the past few weeks. If you would like to test your luck against a hard pulling Snook or any of the above mentioned species. Give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call 561-644-4371 or visit WWW.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com (http://WWW.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com). Or email me at phlats1519@yahoo.com Remember The Snook Spawn is just a month away call now to make your reservations to hook into the Snook of a lifetime.

[Capt Charlie Conner (Fishtales)]

April 12, 2007

Inshore:

Springtime weather has invaded the Treasure Coast, bringing warm temperatures, much needed rain and a few windy days this week. It was a great time to be fishing the area. A cool front went through over the weekend and cooled the water a little, but it warmed back up quick enough to keep the trout happy most days. We should continue to see nicer weather each week.


I had some very good anglers on board this week and we found trout most days. I had Adrian from Jensen Beach and his brother. They caught trout up to 24" this week. John and his dad, Bill were out with me and caught a good number of nice trout up to 28". We found most in two to four feet of water. Using live shrimp, jerk baits and twitch baits mostly this week, we fished most days north of the bridges in Fort Pierce. The east shore is still pretty clean on most of the river. We fished from the Moorings south. Look for grassy flats with sandy areas scattered around.


We found a number of redfish around the river and Mark Amorello boated a nice 22" redfish. They have been skittish of late, but the way Mark's redfish hit....they are getting more active. Look on the shallow flats during the heat of the day for them to be sunning and feeding themselves. We have found lots of bait on the flats. I have several reports of redfish caught on the east side from Bear Point south to the Power Plant.

Snook fishing has been mostly at night, but we are finding lots of them on the edges of the flats chasing bait. Weather and winds permitting, look around the docks early in the mornings also. Live baits have been working best and some of the night anglers are catching shorts, slots and a few oversized ones.

Bridges have been holding sheephead, sand perch and black drum. There have been catches of croakers, but I haven't had many reports of them as yet. Pompano turned on for some anglers along the beaches this week. I received a number of reports of nice pompano catches by those using shrimp or sand fleas in the surf. Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jacks have been hanging around the inlet and surf. Grouper have been hitting around the turning basin for us a couple of days this week. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere!

Tip of the Week: Size and bag limits on fish in our area have been set over the years to help keep our fish population healthy and increasing each year. Slot sizes on snook, trout and redfish are in place to keep the larger female fish out there to breed for the future generations of anglers. I had the misfortune of watching a family catch and kill a 40" snook and pretend to revive it until everyone had left. As I left, I watched them scurry to get it loaded and out of there before any law enforcement could have arrived. It was sad to see a beautiful specimen taken out of the spawning population.

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com (http://www.fishtalescharter.com)

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Capt Charlie Conner (Fishtales)]

April 20, 2007

May Fishing Forecast for the Treasure Coast

Inshore:

Finally, the windy months of March and April are almost behind us and we can look forward to the great fishing weather that May has to offer us on the Treasure Coast. Other than the usual windy days, it has been a pretty mild winter and spring has arrived. Look for warmer temperatures and a little less blustery days. As the water temperatures climb, the fishing will steadily improve on the river. It will provide fantastic mornings for top water and lazy afternoons to drift the flats. May is one of my favorite month on the water!

Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during May…..twitch baits, top water and soft shrimp baits. Gold spoons will also be a great addition to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well. Bob from Jensen Beach caught a monster 36" redfish this week!

Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water will always be one of the best choices in the shallows, with twitch baits being a close second. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is hard to beat around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities! Don’t forget that snook season will close on May 31st and will re-open again on September 1st,

Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still in the river in the early parts of May. I have had great success with jerk baits this year in place of live shrimp. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action.

Bridges will hold the usual sheephead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and into the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast……plan on a trip out on the river soon!

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com (http://www.fishtalescharter.com)

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

Monday, 4/9, seas were predicted at two to three feet offshore, but fishing even close-in at the reefs, it was much rougher than that, especially as the winds increased mid-morning. I fished with Carl and Susan baker, and daughter Anna. We caught a few keeper snapper and sheepshead, and released lots of smaller snapper, sheepshead, triggerfish and grouper. We also released lots of blue runners, and we were broken off twice by a couple of king mackerel.

I fished in 40 feet out of New Pass on Tuesday with Dick Timbers, John, Chris and Dan King, and Shane Gannon. We caught keeper lane snapper, whitebone porgies, and Spanish mackerel. We released a seven pound cravalle jack, along with gag and red grouper shorts and triggerfish.

Wednesday, I fished an inshore trip with Leeds Hutchinson, son John, and grandsons Tommy and Brandon. Fishing in the New Pass area of Estero Bay with live shrimp, we caught a 20 inch redfish, two snook to 20 inches, two sheepshead to 15 inches, and a 2 ½ pound cravalle jack. We released all but the redfish.

Thursday, I awoke to thunderstorms. Radar indicated a good amount of rain offshore. I advised my anglers to wait for a bit so I could better see how conditions would shape up. There was some clearing by about 9AM, and it might have given us a chance to get out to the reefs, but I surely couldn’t guarantee a rain-free trip in smooth waters. With 4 youngsters included in their party, they thought it best to scrap our fishing plans. Because of a long-weekend family event, I remained off the water for the next three days also.

I was hoping to fish offshore on Monday, 4/16. But the winds that blew before I left were only worse on my return. With gusts to 40 mph and seas offshore at 10-12 feet, I had no choice but to cancel Monday’s fishing trip.

Tuesday, my anglers said they wanted to give near-shore a try, despite predictions for increasing winds and seas. We headed out toward the reefs, and within thirty minutes we had taken a wave over the bow. Seas were 3-5 feet. We reversed course and headed back to shore. The winds have been relentless so far this month.

It finally calmed enough on Wednesday to get offshore. I fished out about 36 miles on a 250 heading from New Pass with Ron Musick and friend, Dick. We caught and released a five foot black-tip shark, and had what would have been three keeper red grouper, had the sharks not gotten all but the heads. We did manage some eatin' fish, though, including a 16 inch mangrove snapper, keeper lane and yellowtail snapper, and Spanish mackerel. We released red grouper shorts to 19 inches--the sharks didn't mess with those, but took all our keeper reds.

Thursday, predictions were for two to four foot seas, but the winds blew over twenty knots all morning and seas ranged from three to nearly six feet. I fished in 28-30 feet off Bonita Beach with Dr. Bob James, Bob James Jr., and Doug James. Fishing was tough in those seas, and we released a 21 inch gag grouper, a few grunts and porgies.

My Friday anglers were driving in from Sarasota, a couple of hours away, and with seas predicted to persist into Friday and winds still strong Thursday evening, I couldn’t guarantee good conditions, and we scrapped the trip.

Repetitious as it may be, the winds were blowing hard Saturday morning. My anglers took my suggestion to fish Estero Bay. Peter Richards and his three young children, Marc, Danielle and Isabelle, fished with live shrimp in the area of Wiggins Pass. The kids had plenty of action and counted sixteen hooked fish. Among those were four keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper sheepshead and a whiting. We released the rest of the catches, which included smaller sheepshead and a 13 inch trout.

The photo shown is of six-year-old angler Alex Goodall with a 15 inch sheepshead, caught on a recent inshore trip in Estero Bay.
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[Jerry LaBella (Admin)]

All I have to say is that we have LOTS of Redfish right now and Chris, Jason, Nathan & David all have some days open next week to take you sight fishing for them. Artie & Kim Turner caught (and released unharmed) 26 on light tackle with Tommy on Monday - this photo was taken Tuesday by Charlie Walter from Sheridan Wyoming of his daughter Liz while they were flyfishing with Capt. Jason.

Call me if you want to go fishing!

Kathy Robinson
Robinson Brothers Guide Service
118 Commerce St.
Apalachicola, Florida 32320
850-653-8896 850-653-7196 (cell)
www.FloridaRedfish.com (http://www.FloridaRedfish.com) Robinson@Flaredfish.com

REALTOR - Robinson Real Estate Company
www.RobinsonRealEstateCompany.com (http://www.RobinsonRealEstateCompany.com)
850-653-1653

Member:
Apalachicola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce www.apalachicolabay.org (http://www.apalachicolabay.org)
Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce www.carrabelle.org (http://www.carrabelle.org)
Gulf County Chamber of Commerce www.gulfchamber.org (http://www.gulfchamber.org)
Florida Guides Assn. www.Florida-Guides.com (http://www.Florida-Guides.com)
Florida Realtors Assn.
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[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

Monday, 4/23, the seas were still rough, but a little calmer, and I fished with Sandy Hook, son Rusty, Rusty's young son Charlie, and a friend, Sam. Fishing in 33 feet out of New Pass with shrimp, we caught ten keeper lane snapper, grunts and porgies, and released gag grouper shorts and blue runners.
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Tuesday, I headed out on a 260 degree heading from New Pass with Ron Musick, Dick Arnell, Justin Baker and friend Jim. We started a chum line and were bottom fishing with live shrimp in three to four foot seas. We started to catch some pretty nice yellowtail and mangrove snapper to 16 inches, along with a lot of porgies. Suddenly, one of the rods took off running, and we thought it was a bonito, a king mackerel or a shark. It spooled down to the bottom of the spool, and after three more long runs, we worked it back up to the boat to finally get a glimpse. When we saw its 3 foot length we figured it wasn't a bonito. Then we saw the black on its back and knew it was a blackfin tuna. I grabbed a hunk of squid to put on another pole, and tossed it out. We were still rejoicing over the first one when a second one the same size hit. So we got two of those, which are the first two I have caught in all my years of fishing. It was a very good morning (see photo.)

Wednesday morning I fished Estero Bay, in the area of Wiggins Pass, with Ron Constantini and Rick Staubach. We caught a keeper redfish and a nice 16 inch sheepshead, and released smaller sheepshead and cravalle jacks.

Thursday it was still kind of sloppy even close-in at the reefs off Bonita Beach. I fished with Frank Vayda, and friends. We caught fourteen Spanish mackerel to 24 inches—a barracuda in the area ate a couple of them. We also caught a keeper sheepshead and mangrove snapper. We released short grouper and a 40 inch lemon shark.

Harvey Cleland and friends Ed and Tim fished Estero Bay with me, in the Wiggins Pass area, on Friday morning. We fished with live shrimp until the tide quit moving, and caught four keeper sheepshead and keeper mangrove snapper. We released cravalle jacks.

I fished Estero Bay again Saturday morning with Terry Major and her friends, Carol, Cheryl and Rhonda. We caught a keeper sheepshead and mangrove snapper, and released a 20 inch snook.

[Merijo Attong (Merijo_attong)]

If you like snook fishing on the flats now is the time to go, every day we have been catching fish, as some days are better than others. A great day has been catching 15 -20 fish sight fishing in less than a foot of water and bad days has been only 3-5 fish per day depending on the angler’s skill and weather. The size are averaging 26 to 28 inches and between 5-7 lbs but we are getting fish that go over slot size of 34 inches and around 12-16 lbs and have had some snook over 20 lbs. This has also been a fly fisherman’s dream with at least 10 shots at fish by 11 a.m. and generally 4-5 snook hooked up, again depending on angler’s skill and weather conditions.

Roger Lynn from Cheyenne Wyoming fished for snook on fly and got a Florida bay inshore flats slam with a 9 lb, 31 inch snook, a 7 lb redfish and a 21 inch trout by noon the first morning and multiple hookups on larger snook in the afternoon. Redfish on the other hand are a little slow to show up this time or year, normally they are all over the place, but never the less they are still around and should make a strong showing any day. The ones that have been showing have been good size. David Torbert and Mathew St. Germain both 13 years old fished the Lucerne- Gossman tournament with me, David catching a 27 inch Red and Mathew sight fished a 31.5 inch snook with other great catches in between and both very good anglers.

Tarpon are some days all over the place on the Ocean side of Elliot key down to Key Largo and some days when the weather has been a little eh… snotty, completely gone! Pods of tarpon 30-120 lbs are cruising the edges of the flats. These fish are responding well to fly’s, dark with low light and lighter color in clear conditions with good sun. A 10-12 weight rod 20 lb leader with a 60-80 fluorocarbon shock will do the trick. In Florida bay tarpon have been around the island motes. They are in between 5-30 lbs and are a sucker for a live hand-picked shrimp or a D.O.A. shrimp. I have also been seeing tarpon slowly showing up on the edges of the flats in Florida bay which means it is only a matter of time when they pour into the finger channels and ponds in the bay rolling and free jumping at first light.

This month I had the pleasure of Bill’s Boyce’s show IGFA Angler’s Digetst film there show to be aired in July. I had a wonderful time and would like to thank Jason Schratweiser and Mike Myatt of the I.GF.A., Bill Boyce host of the show the I.G.F.A. Anglers Digest, Dee Peralta and Richard Chudy both on the camera. That day we jumped 3 tarpon brought 1 to the boat caught numerous snook some on fly and Mike’s 2 nice sight fished reds on the flats. If you would like to see a sneak preview of the show please go to www.IGFAnglersdigest.com (http://www.IGFAnglersdigest.com) Behind the show and all of it’s organization was Merijo Attong and Jennifer Barber of Sportsman’s Addiction, thanks for all the help you two, you made it great!!!!

Biscayne bones are big and bad now that the schools are getting bigger as the water warms up. We are catching fish regularly in the 9-12 lb class on live shrimp #1 Owner hooks and 12 lb fluorocarbon leader this is also a great time for fly fisherman.

Permit is sometimes easy to find this time of year depending on the wind…. They are now pushing their way on the flats these guys are generally 20 lbs but we have caught them as large as 41 lbs last year on live crab! Till next time, when I have time to write.. Tight lines.


Capt. Jim Hale
www.Canepolincharters.com (http://www.Canepolincharters.com)
786-255-1788

[Sandra Allen (The_captains_wife)]

The waters are warmer and the fishing is hotter!

Sandra Allen
Book Me A Charter


Aprils cool beginning should have us fishing a longer spring season for inshore species of fish. Expect our Apalachicola area waters to slowly warm. As May temperatures start to heat up the bays and estuarial area waters expect the fishing in general to be good, some days excellent with the right conditions.

popjpeg{7084,Apalachicola Bay Redfish
popjpeg{7085,Apalachicola Speckled Trout

Inshore… The inshore fishing was on fire during the month of April. We expect the “catching” trend to continue into May. Our target fish this month are Spanish Mackeral, Speckled trout, Redfish, Black Drum and Flounder just to name a few of the many species that we catch this time of year. If you’ve ever been out triple tail fishing and were able to snag one of those fighting rascals you know you have to go out and do it again. I’ve got great news for all you tripletail enthusiast- The tripletail are here! Expect May fishing to be good through out the month.

Speckled Trout, Tripletail, Redfish and Spanish Mackeral are the hot ticket for the inshore angler this month…

Don’t limit yourself to one species of fish guys, go for the slam!


We do offer FLOUNDER GIGGING charters for the Apalachicola area waters.

popjpeg{7086,Offshore Red Snapper
popjpeg{7087,offshore Red Snapper Limit}

Offshore.... May and June is typically a calm month for offshore fishing. Aprils offshore fishing was good, we expect it the fishing to only get better in May and June as the gulf waters warm with our beautiful spring weather. Expect to catch Grouper, Snapper, Triggerfish, King Mackeral and Cobia for a mixed bag of reef dwellers while bottom fishing or flat lining our area reefs and wrecks.

We have been fishing a lot lately, feel free to browse around our website and look at our huge photo album with over 30 pages of fantastic fishing pictures (bragging rights) of our wonderful clients with their prize catch. We are located online at www.BookMeACharter.com (http://www.BookMeACharter.com).


We Know/Go fishing!

The weather predictions for this week are wonderful for both inshore and offshore fishing with offshore seas predicted at 1-2 ft wave heights the entire week. The great news for you is we do have boats open and captains ready to go fishing. If you are close by and are feeling sick (with fishing fever)call us and we can make arrangements.


Let’s go fishing while the weather predictions are calm.

If you’re looking for experienced, family friendly, native guides give us a call 850-653-2622.

We’d love to take you fishing in our backyard!

Sandra Allen
Book Me A Charter
Apalachicola, FL
850-653-2622

www.BookMeACharter.com (http://www.BookMeACharter.com)
email: info@BookMeACharter.com
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[Capt. Craig Korczynski (Phlats)]

Inshore Fishing Report May 3, 2007 Jupiter/Palm Beach


Warm weather is among us, which has triggered an awesome Snook bite. The Snook have been going ballistic the past few weeks do to the warmer water temps and beautiful weather. The Palm Beach bite has been great around the sea walls and docks. Both low and high tides produce double digit numbers of Snook from 18 to 36”. Many of the Snook are being caught on soft plastic baits with a jig head, along with top water lures. Live bait also produces, but the bait has been scarce lately so live sand perch has been the bait of choice. The night fishing for Snook has also been hot with live shrimp and sand perch being used. Most of the bigger fish have been on the outside shadows of the dock lights. The smaller juveniles are stacked directly under the dock lights making for great sight fishing.

The Snook spawn is almost here and the bigger fish are already stacking up in the mouth of both Jupiter and Palm beach inlet. The best months are to come and the spawn usually peeks July and August. This is the perfect time to target those trophy Snook.

Palm beach has also produced huge Jacks along the sea walls. These fish are strong and make for great action on light tackle, with the average fish weighing 10 pounds and up to 25 pounds. The Sea trout bite has also been steady around the dock s were there is grass.

Jupiter has been great for a mixed bag of both common and Fat Snook. These fish are willing to take any bait near them. Low tide has been great for sight fishing, but the out going tide produces the best numbers of fish. The Jacks have also been plentifully up in the river near any sea wall, top water baits make for great explosive action along with live baits.

The Peacock bass bite has picked up tremendously do to warmer water temps. These fish are holding in 1 to 2 feet of water on pot holes in the grass and near water drains. The average fish caught weighs around 1 to 3 pounds. There are some bigger fish in the 5 to 7 pond range around. I recently broke a record for Peacock bass last week throwing the fly rod. I was using a 9 weight fly rod with a twelve pound tippet, and caught a six pounder that beat the current record by 2 pounds. The Largemouth bass have been taking top water lures and small crank baits. The Largemouth are holding from 2 to 6 feet of water. Anytime you see schools of shad the bass are there.

Well that is the report for the past few weeks if you would like to experience inshore fishing for any of the above mentioned species give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call 561-644-4371 or visit www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com (http://www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com). Or email me at phlats1519@yahoo.com. Remember the Snook spawn is near book your trip now to catch your trophy Snook of a life time.

(Message edited by phlats on May 03, 2007)

[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

I was in port on Monday, but I fished Tuesday in 80 feet on a 265 heading out of New Pass with anglers Jim McCarthy and friend, Dan. We had one great day fishing. Baited with live shrimp, we began catching some nice yellowtail snapper to 16 inches, landed about eight of those along with keeper lane snapper to 12 inches. We kept four of the latter and released the rest. We also released ten nice-sized banded rudder fish, two king mackerel at 26 inches and 40 inches, and short grouper to 20 inches. Our best catch was a 25 pound blackfin tuna, which we caught, believe it or not, on half a shrimp (see photo.) We got that big boy boated, and I put a hunk of squid on the pole while I was getting the tuna on ice. Suddenly, the rod screamed--I thought it was another tuna. It spooled 200 plus yards of Power-Pro line. For 35 minutes with one angler on the reel and one on the top of the rod, we fought that fish. At the end of a long run, with no line left, I lifted the rod-tip ever so slightly. There was a big thrust on the end, and a 7 foot bull shark snapped the rod in half just under the big guide. With both pieces of the pole held fast, we fought that big boy to the end, thanked him for the fight, and released him. The thrill was well worth the damages!

Wednesday morning, my old friends Chris and Lissa Dillon from Indiana were in town for business, and they managed to reserve some pleasure time, along with friend Ed Bosch, to fish offshore with me. We headed out about 15 miles on a 260 heading from New Pass with some shrimp and pinfish in the bait well. We caught twenty keeper-sized lane snapper, Spanish mackerel to 20 inches, a 28 inch kingfish, porkfish, whitebone porgies, a 25 inch goliath and grouper shorts to 19 inches. We caught one keeper gag grouper at 23 inches on a pinfish. We released all but the keeper gag and a few lanes.

I fished with Jim McCarthy and Dan Gilbert again on Thursday, about 37 miles out of new Pass on a 260 heading. No tuna this time, but our shrimp and squid served up five mangrove snapper to 17 inches and ten keeper yellowtail snapper. We released gags just short of legal to 21 inches and red grouper to 18 inches, along with porgies. We had two big sharks cut lines a couple times, but never close enough to see what kind.

Saturday, I headed back out to the same area with Jim Ozark and two of his friends. We used shrimp and squid to catch a dozen keeper yellowtail snapper, a half dozen lane snapper, grunts porgies and triggerfish. We released a variety of grouper shorts—reds, gags and scamps.
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[Capt Charlie Conner (Fishtales)]

May 3, 2007

Inshore:

Lots of sunshine and great fishing weather arrived here on the Treasure Coast this week. The winds eased up to let anglers enjoy themselves both inshore and offshore. It was nice not to hide out among the islands for a change. Lots of baitfish have invaded the area and the fish are out there chasing them. May is always one of my favorite months on the water.

Trout fishing was spotty some days, but we managed to catch some each day on the water. I had David Brashear and R J Swinford on the boat Sunday and each caught a nice trout in the Teen Anglers Tournament. Tom Hull was down from Melbourne and we caught a nice number of trout. Tom boated a huge 26" gator trout along with several others in the slot range. I managed a 23" fat trout also. Bob Whitbold reported another big gator trout catch this week. The usual flats were holding trout and we used jerk baits and gold spoons.

Redfish were hanging on the flats again this week. After scattering several small schools we found a few in the mood to eat. Tom Hull battled a fat 26" redfish that he caught on a twitch bait. Spoons and soft baits are also good choices when seeking a spot tail on the flats. Some are hanging very shallow, so keeping a stealthy approach is a necessity. I have found redfish on most flats lately so they are out there cruising around.

We caught a few snook this week, but they weren't our target most days. Most of the snook anglers are fishing at night along the bridges and seawalls around the inlet. I did talk to several who caught legal size snook this week. Live pinfish or large shrimp (when available) are the ticket for fishing these areas. Now that the winds have given us a break....try around the docks in the early mornings. Tom Hull completed his slam this week after catching a snook hanging around the flats.

Bridge fishing was slower this week. While sheephead and some snapper are being caught, many anglers took a break in the action. Lots of Spanish mackerel are still around the inlet. Some big jacks have been around the jetties along with bluefish. The surf has continued to hold whiting, bluefish and some pompano for those beach anglers. I keep seeing more and more sharks around the flats. As the bait continues to show up on the flats, they will seek the shallows in search of an easy meal.

Tip of the Week:
Wade fishing is lots of fun and many people around this area take the opportunity to get out fishing on the shallows. We continue to see many large stingrays and sharks coming up on the flats in very shallow waters. Just a note of caution to be careful when wading around the river. I had a number of reports of sharks attacking fish as anglers were reeling them in and experienced it myself. Sound, smell and sight of a fish can bring a reaction from these creatures.

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com (http://www.fishtalescharter.com)

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Capt Charlie Conner (Fishtales)]

May 10, 2007

Inshore:

Weather played a factor in this weeks fishing with fronts and storms in the area playing havoc with the barometer. Fish are still being caught, but some days have been spotty at best on the river. We are still wondering how the looming depression will affect our area. Already pushing water on the ocean, we have experienced higher than normal tides. Surprisingly, I am amazed that the river has remained fairly clean in spite of winds and weather.

Trout fishing occupied most of the weeks fishing. It has been an on and off week for the sea trout. We have managed some decent trout in spite of the odds. Tyler Serio caught a nice trout on the Teen Anglers Tournament on Sunday and Glenn from Canada boated a nice trout also. Tom Hull reported a sweet 28" gator trout landed this Thursday. Round Island and Queen's Cove have consistently been holding trout.

Most of the snook fishing activity has been around the inlet area. Night anglers have caught some nice slot sized snook on live bait around the sea walls and bridges. Day anglers are using mostly live pinfish or mullet in the same areas. Once the weather returns to a more normal state, look for snook to be actively chasing bait around the flats. David Brashear fought a large snook this week, until it broke him off on the flats. Bob Wittbold also landed a fat 24" snook on a top water lure this past week.

Redfish have remained around the flats most days. Glen Akselrod boated a nice 22" redfish on a soft bait while fishing along the flats. We have seen many out there of late and they should become more active as the water warms up. Spoons, soft baits and top water will be great choices on the flats. Most areas I have fished have been holding redfish.

Catches of sheephead, snapper and black drum are being taken around bridges and docks in the river. Live shrimp has been the best baits for these fish. Tarpon have been filtering their way into the river and should be showing up at the deeper creeks and channels of the river. The catwalks have been pretty sparse lately of anglers.

Tip of the Week: Weather can change rapidly here on the Treasure Coast of Florida. Keep an eye on what is happening around you in the sky while fishing or enjoying the water. Know what you will do if a thunderstorm suddenly closes in on you. What will you do? The ocean can provide a challenge to some boats, while others can steer around bad weather. The river can offer many places to run for cover. Don't get caught in a bad situation this summer. Plan what you will do if severe weather approaches unannounced!

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com (http://www.fishtalescharter.com)

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

The calm winds and seas of last week didn’t hold too long. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday brought strong gusty winds and high seas, which caused me to reschedule my offshore anglers for later in the week. I finally headed out Thursday on a catch-and-release trip with Harry Oleferak. NOAA had predicted two to four foot seas, but I knew they would be at the higher end of that range, with the winds still blowing hard. We stayed close in at the reefs off Bonita Beach, and even there we had three to four foot seas and a steady wind of 15 knots. We used small cravalle jack and blue runners for bait. We caught and released Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, and an eight pound goliath grouper. We also had a bigger goliath cut our line, and a 3 ½ foot barracuda eat one of our blue runners.

Anglers Eric Harper and Dave Enayert had been waiting since Monday for a day calm enough to go after goliath grouper. The two wanted the thrill of the big catches, and I knew trying to catch those in the rough seas we had earlier this week would be next to impossible. Friday we finally had two foot seas at the reefs, so we seized the opportunity to load up the heavy tackle. We released six goliaths boat-side that ranged from 75 pounds to over 200 pounds. The biggest one was 5 ½ feet long. We caught them all on blue runners and small Spanish mackerel.

Chris and Yvette Worthington and young sons Hunter and Peyton fished with me Saturday. We started out about 16 miles out of New Pass where we caught some snapper, but before long, the porpoise moved in, so we headed further out to about 37 miles. We caught a bunch of keeper yellowtail and lane snapper for food value, but my anglers also wanted some big fish for sport value. We caught two sharpnose sharks, each about three foot, then hooked a seven foot bull shark that gave us a good fight. We were broken off by something big and fast that I am guessing was a tuna.

The photo shown is of angler Ed Bosch with a 28 inch kingfish, caught on shrimp last week on offshore trip.
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[Capt Charlie Conner (Fishtales)]

May 17, 2007

Inshore:

Luckily, the fish don't realize a windy day from a calm day. If you could get out fishing this week...the fish were there. Looks like these conditions will remain for a little while longer. We did manage a few much needed rain showers this week and the grass is sure relieved for now. Water conditions are cloudy in a lot of areas and remained relatively clean in others. You will have to look around to find some clean water for a few days.

Redfish were again roaming the flats for us this week. Glen was down and boated a nice redfish this week. Dave was down from New York and boated two nice slot sized reds. We had a few get off on us, but enjoyed the hookups anyway. Look in shallow water to find some redfish cruising. Soft plastics and gold spoons worked best for us. All our redfish this week were slot size fish.

Trout are feeding early and will move to deeper water as the sun rises in the sky. Top water or live bait usually works well for early morning trout. Clean grass flats are the areas to look for to find some trout hanging around. You can't beat shrimp on popping corks this time of year.

Snook anglers are catching a few slot sizes lately around the inlet and bridges. Live bait is always the best choice. Most of the fishing has been at night or early mornings for snook. Larger shrimp has been scarce, so pinfish or mullet is a good choice for baits.

Mike hooked up on a nice flounder on the flats this week. We have found a few scattered around the river lately. Ladyfish and jacks continue to patrol the flats for an easy meal. The jetties have continued to hold bluefish and mackerel along with the usual jacks. Not a lot of action lately on the catwalks. A few reports of snapper and sheephead around the bridges and structure of the river.

Tip of the Week:

Memorial Day is almost here and lots of boaters will be heading off on the water. Many don't get out often and this is an excellent time to check out the ol' boat and make sure it is seaworthy. It's never good for a boat to sit and there are too many things that can go wrong. Batteries go bad.....electrical problems can occur.....fuel.....trailer issues.....and many more. Don't wait until you have launched you boat at the ramp and find out you have a problem. The ramps will be super busy and it is better to find out now if you have a problem and get it fixed.....rather than tying up the boat ramp trying to find out why you can't get the boat started. Prepare now and make your holiday on the water an enjoyable one!!

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com (http://www.fishtalescharter.com)

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

Monday, 5/14, the winds were blowing once again. I advised my anglers, Patrick and Natalie Smith, to fish the bay instead of heading offshore for fear of rough seas out there. We used live shrimp in central Estero Bay to catch keeper mangrove snapper and sheepshead. We had a couple of break-offs that were probably nice reds, but fishing treelines is tough for novice anglers--way too easy to get broken off.

My Tuesday anglers wanted a full-day well offshore, and with 3-5 foot seas building to 4-6 out there, we decided it would be best to defer that trip until we have better conditions.

Wednesday, I headed out to 38 miles on a 260 heading from New Pass with anglers, Dr. Paul Martz and friend Christian. We used live shrimp, sardines and cut bait to catch a dozen yellowtail to 16 inches and a few mangrove snapper to 15 inches. We released a 40 inch kingfish, grouper shorts, with the largest gag just 1/2 inch short of keeper-size, triggerfish, jolthead and whitebone porgies, amberjacks to 22 inches, and three bonito to seven pounds (the bonito were caught on spoons.) We saw two mahi-mahi, each about 3 foot long, jump about 50 feet from the boat.

Thursday, I headed back out again about 37 miles from New Pass, this time with Mike Cole and friend Jason. We caught some nice yellowtail and lane snapper again and kept a few of those for the guy’s dinner, then went catch and release for the rest of the day. We released more snapper, porgies, grunts, triggerfish, bonito to eight pounds, a 26 inch king mackerel, and a 3 foot sharpnose shark. We used shrimp, sardines and squid for bait. The guys had a couple of big kingfish hooked, but had their lines broken before they were boated.

Dr. Paul Martz and friend Christian LeClerc, who fished offshore with me Wednesday, fished the backwaters on Friday. We had good tide conditions in Estero Bay and plenty of live shrimp in the bait well. We caught three keeper redfish, one 21 inches and two at 20 inches each, and a fifteen inch sheepshead. We fished until the tide started coming in too fast and the water got cloudy, but we had already caught our limit of redfish (see photo.)

Saturday morning I returned to Estero Bay, this time with Dr. Roland Rivera, his dad Raphael Rivera, and friend Dr. John Jay. We caught two keeper redfish, 20” and 21”, a 13” sheepshead, and some keeper mangrove snapper, all on shrimp. We released a small snook, and jumped a small tarpon about 20 inches long.
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[Capt. Craig Korczynski (Phlats)]

Inshore Fishing Report May 21, 2007 Palm Beach / Jupiter






Warm weather leads to hot fishing. The Snook fishing has been awesome the past few weeks in both Palm Beach and Jupiter. The docks and bridges have been the best spots for the Snook. The inlets are holding the bigger spawning Snook, but the weather has not been great. We have had huge swells and terrible winds making conditions unfishable near the inlets. The Snook have been taking live sand perch, live mullet, and artificial baits will work also. Top water lures work great in the early morning and late afternoon, and soft plastics with a jig head will produce bites during the day. The Snook have been averaging 18 to 38 inches. The Tarpon bite has picked up the past week with many of the bites coming on live sand perch near drop offs. These fish are in small pods and have been ranging in size from 10 to 50 pounds. The Jacks have also been plentiful around the sea walls crushing live mullet. The Jacks will take just about any live bait or lure thrown in their direction. The sizes of the Jacks have been 1 to 15 pounds.



The Freshwater fishing has been awesome especially the Peacock Bass fishing. The Peacocks are thick and are ranging from 2 to 5 pounds. Live shiners work best but artificial baits will work also. The largemouth bass bite has been solid also with many of these fish averaging 3 pounds and up to 7lbs. Many of the fish we have been catching can be sight fished which makes for great fly-fishing. The water has been crystal clear and the fish have been lying up near the banks.



I had the privilege to take out Florence for a Snook fishing trip and a Peacock bass trip last week. Florence was 99 years old when I first met her now she is 100 years old and is still active. Last Thursday I took Florence out in search of Snook up in Jupiter. Florence managed to catch 4 Snook, 1 Fat Snook and 3 Common Snook. The biggest Snook was 24 inches and the smallest 17 inches. Florence also caught mangrove snapper, Lane snapper and one puffer fish. On Friday I took Florence out freshwater fishing for Peacock Bass, which she has never seen or caught before. We started off in a cove were the Peacocks have been bedding, we tossed out some shiners and it was on. Florence caught 5 Peacock bass and had a double header with two nice Peacocks that weighed 3 and 4 pounds. The smallest Peacock of the day was 2lbs and the largest 4 lbs. Florence also managed to catch some nice Largemouth bass making for a great day, with a total of 5 Peacocks and 6 Largemouth Bass.



Well that is the report for the past few weeks if you would like to experience awesome inshore fishing for any of the above-mentioned species. Give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call to book your trip. Remember the Snook spawn is here call now to reserve your dates to hook a trophy Snook. Visit www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com (http://www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com), or call 561-644-4371. Email phlats1519@yahoo.com
http://jerrylabella.com/discus/messages/6/7252.jpg

[Capt. Ron Presley (Capt_ron)]

Wind Doesn’t Matter When You Fish the Pit!

I managed one day on the water with a charter this week and even it was a little windy. The Trout were cooperating on both live shrimp and Rip Tide 3 inch Mullet. The most productive colors of the day were the “nite glow” – “electric chicken” – and “silver mullet.”

My guests were Bill and Corey from Minnesota and N. Dakota. Both were experience fresh water anglers but wanted to try the saltwater variety. The bite was slow early on, but Bill did manage to hook up with a nice trout early and then a nice snook which came right up to the side of the boat before pulling lose and escaping before we got a chance to take the picture. Turns out it was the biggest fish of the day and the one that got away.

Both early fish came on the 3 inch Rip Tide Mullet in the nite glow color. If you haven’t tried these super lures you need to. The paddle tail on this lure gives a natural swimming action with a good vibration. Rig it carefully to make it run straight and you have a killer bait. In fact, notice the little fin on the top of the bait and use it for an exit point for the hook when you rig it on a Rip Tide Pro Jig Head. If you bring the hook out right at the fin the bait will be rigged perfectly straight and give you the natural action you are looking for.

When the bite slowed we went to live shrimp for a while and final found some schoolie trout willing to play. Once we found them Bill went right back to the Rip Tide Mullet and caught just as many as Corey did on the shrimp.

Fishing the Pit

The Pit I alluded to in the opening is an operation Southeast of Orlando where you can go fish for Barramundi (an Australian Cousin of the Snook). I had heard how great the fishing was in the ponds and wanted to take my grandson to experience some no-stop catching. It turned out to be a great way to give a little instruction to an amateur angler in the fine art of landing fish on light tackle. All the fishing is from the bank, you simply walk around the pond looking for your own honey hole.

The ponds are part of a commercial fish farm with a couple of different ponds where they conduct hook and line fishing. My grandson was the first to the water with a rod and reel and he made a cast to the waiting Barramundi. Bam! He was hooked up before the rest of us even had our hands on a rod and reel.



And so it continued for four hours of non-stop “catching.” The fish weighed in at between 6 and 8 pounds and I guarantee you they are a blast on light tackle. At one point I switched to my Shimano Stradic 2500 but after a couple of fish I decided to go back to the 4000 for a little more control and less fear of smoke coming from the drag.

I caught most of my fish on my old standby Rip Tide Mullet but also caught them on the Mud Minnow and the Rig Tide Flats Chub as well. I even switched over to a fly rod and caught several more. These Barramundi would hammer about anything you put out there.

If you want a different experience of catch and release fishing you can get more information by calling Capt. Byron Hennecy at 407-908-3216 or by emailing him at bkhennecy@aol.com. His operation is called Osceola Outback Adventures and you can visit the website at www.OsceolaOutback.com (http://www.OsceolaOutback.com).

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com (http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com) to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

Capt. Ron Presley
Phone 321-454-7285
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

Ben Sampson and girlfriend Jill just wanted to catch fish Monday morning, 5/21, so we headed out in some fairly rough seas to the 5 mile reef. We caught triggerfish and keeper mangrove snapper there, but it was pretty sloppy, and for everyone’s comfort, we moved in closer to MAY reef. We got into a lot of Spanish there, and kept seven of those, along with some lane snapper.

Tuesday, I fished Estero Bay in the area of New Pass with George Peterman and friends Donna, Richard and Mike. We caught a couple keeper mangrove snapper and a couple of keeper sheepshead, and we released a 19 inch snook and a cravalle jack.

My offshore trips for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday never materialized, with winds howling once again. Wind has been the main theme around here since early April, with just a few calm days during the past six or seven weeks.

Saturday morning, my anglers who had scheduled an offshore trip were willing to try the bay instead, with winds and seas still rough offshore. Paul and Joyce Cherubino and nephew Bob Leeks fished the tree lines on the east side of New Pass and Big Hickory Pass, with live shrimp. Bob landed two 21 inch redfish. Paul followed up with a 20 inch red, and Joyce caught a 15 inch sheepshead. We released smaller sheepshead.

The photo shown is of Cap’t. Dave with a 23 inch gag grouper, caught on an offshore trip earlier this month on a less windy week.
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[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

I fished the tree lines in Estero Bay around Hickory Bay with Homer Jack Moore and wife Lorraine on Tuesday. We caught and released lots of mangrove snapper and a 14 inch sheepshead. We lost a nice redfish boatside when I turned to get the landing net and Homer’s line caught on a mangrove root.

Wednesday’s planned bay trip cancelled at the last minute, so I didn’t get out fishing again until Thursday, when I fished Estero Bay with father and son Will and Justin Berry. We fished with live shrimp around Big Hickory Bay and caught a couple of keeper mangrove snapper and sand bream. We released short sheepshead.

Looks like some rain and rough weather coming our way for the next several days, with what is looking like a tropical depression right now.

The photo shown is of anglers Kurt and Brett Dargis with a 16 inch sheepshead and an 18 ½ inch redfish, caught on live shrimp in Estero Bay on a recent inshore trip.
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[Capt Charlie Conner (Fishtales)]

May 31, 2007

Inshore:

Well, June has arrived here on the Treasure Coast and we are still battling with the windy weather out there. Offshore has really been tough to get out for those anglers and the river hasn't been a piece of cake either. The fishing has improved in spite of the conditions out on the flats. Most anglers have been hugging the eastern shorelines or drifting across the flats in search of fish. It's gonna stay that way most of this week and into next week, so adjust your plans out there and catch some fish!

Redfish was our fish this week. Robert Strang and Laura Colon boated four redfish in the 24-28" range, with a double hookup on two of them. Nick Palladino took out Tim Keck for his birthday and each of them caught two redfish that were in the 22-28" size. Tim lost a larger redfish that would have topped the 28" one. Chris was out with me and boated three reds in the 26-28" range. All were caught on soft baits or spoons this week on the flats. The water has been churned up somewhat, but the fish are still out there. We fished the areas from Bear Point to Round Island this week.

Trout came in number two on our catch this week. The bite has held steady and there are some nice sized trout on the flats. Nick caught some really nice trout while drifting the flats. The usual areas have been holding trout along the east side of the river. Soft baits, live shrimp or twitch baits have worked for us most days.

Snook season closed at midnight on Thursday, May 31st. The fish will still be there after that, but bring a camera for a good photo. Handle the fish and release them carefully to keep them healthy. Most action has been around the bridges and turning basin. Nick Palladino caught his snook on the flats to end up his day with a slam.

Bridges has been slower and less anglers lately. Look for sheephead and black drum around the catwalks. Snapper have been hanging around the channels edges. Look for some bluefish and mackerel around the jetties and if you dare fish the surf, look for some whiting and a few pompano around the beach areas.

June will bring more action out of the redfish on the flats and trout will continue to hit early mornings. Keep an eye peeled for schooling redfish around the favorite flats. As the winds die off, look to top water early and soft baits as the sun rises. Docks will hold some a nice assortment of fish both early and throughout the day. May bought us all a challenge and I think everyone is looking forward to a great June fishing experience!!

Tip of the Week:

If you regularly fish the flats, here is a little tip I use myself. I keep a small mushroom anchor on the boat to hold position if I drift into an area I want to fish more thoroughly. It doesn't take up much space and is easy to use. If you are fishing an area and start catch fish, drop the anchor and take the time to fish it before going on across the flats. You can weigh it easily and start your drift again. It's a simple tool that I use often out on the 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 (http://www.fishtalescharter.com)

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Capt Charlie Conner (Fishtales)]

June 8, 2007

Inshore:

With the exception of a few days of less than desirable weather, conditions have been great to get out fishing this week! Winds have died off and visions of summertime have entered into the latest fishing dreams. Look for nicer weather to continue with scattered rains. It's a great time of year. The fish have been feeding and lots of catching going on around the river. The water has come alive, so plan a trip out soon and enjoy some fishing adventures....

Redfish have continued to reward us with some nice catches around the river. Tom Clancy boated two nice redfish in spite of a rough weather day. Ed Killer was my guest this week and in a couple hours of fishing, he boated four nice reds up to 27". Greg Schroeder landed five redfish in the 26-30" range later in the week. Soft baits, suspending baits and gold spoons gave us our success this week on the flats. Bob Bergen reported catching several nice reds including one on his fly rod.

Snook fishing has tapered off with the closing of the season, but anglers are still out there catching them on the flats. Tom Hull reported catching several nice snook along the mangroves north of Fort Pierce. Top water lures will be great choices now that you can fish them early. Look around the mangroves in deeper cuts as the sun warms things up out there.

Trout have also been hitting early most days. Capt. Pat Wells fished with me on Sunday and we boated several nice upper slot trout. Tom Hull also reported nice catches of trout around the 20" size. Soft baits and suspending baits have worked the best of late. Grass flats with sand holes are good areas to target trout.

The jacks are invading the river and we found some bigger 8-10 pound jacks crashing bait this week. Lots of excitement on light tackle and they love slashing top water lures! Sand perch and some bigger snapper are around the river and the bridge and jetty anglers have reported some nice catches this week. Frozen shrimp has been the bait of choice. Along the beach, look for tarpon to be feeding along with whiting and some snook in the troughs. Watch for tarpon along the river channels and in deeper areas of the river.

Tip of the Week:

If you are targeting redfish this season, remember to fish your baits along the bottom. Redfish are bottom feeders and usually have their heads buried in the sand trying to stir up a snack. For soft baits, I use a light jig head when rigging. I hold the rod tip up and slowly pop it along the bottom slowly. By holding the rod tip high, it will bring the lure up out of the grass as you pop it. Let it settle back down into the grass before you give another pop. Most of us will start off fishing slow, but end up working it faster in anticipation of that next cast. Slow it down for more catching opportunities. Hope you are successful in catching a redfish this season!

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com (http://www.fishtalescharter.com)

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Capt. Ron Presley (Capt_ron)]

Back to the Gym!

Finally, a chance to get on the beach. Low winds, light seas and plenty of bait was the recipe for some beach side action this week. This is the time of the year we expect to see some big tarpon come by for a visit. The rough seas and mighty winds of late have kept the small boats in the river or in the driveway so it was a welcome adventure to go check out the beach.

Good friends John and Scott joined me on the “Finding Equilibrium” to see what we might hook up. In the back of everyone’s mind was the silver king. We were fortunate to spot some pogies before we left the confines of the Port. John took out his castnet and after a few throws we had plenty of bait for the day.

As we traveled south we saw bait pods from time to time and stopped to check out one area where the pelicans were diving repeatedly. The water in this area was a little discolored and was a likely spot to find some predators. With no action from this spot we motored a little further south.

John spotted some fish busting bait on the surface and we moved into the vicinity and Scott started casting a metal lure, the kind often used on Spanish Mackerel. It wasn’t long until he was hooked up with a hard pulling fish. As Scott brought the fish to the boat we could see it was a nice fat bonito. John had cast out a live pogie in the same general area and he too was soon hooked up with another hard fighting bonito. The bite slowed and we moved, again, further south.

We final found an area where we spotted some rolling tarpon. We set a couple of rigs in the pole holders with live pogies pinned to a stinger rig and slowly trolled through the area. At the same time we had tarpon rigs baited with live pogies in case a rolling tarpon was close enough to cast to.

We continued to see tarpon but always at a distance, too far to cast to. The slow trolling produced a couple of sharks and a couple of break offs that we did not identify. Then a silver king struck my trolling rig, made a lazy roll and went deep. The drag was screaming and the line was ripping off the spool as the big fish headed for the eastern horizon. It was quickly obvious we would have to chase him to retrieve some line so Scott fired up the engine and started the pursuit. When I had gained enough line to feel comfortable I yelled “ok” and Scott slipped the Yamaha into neutral and we settled into a game of tug-of-war. We repeated this process a couple of times as the drag screamed and the spool emptied.

John grabbed his camera and climbed up in the tower in hope of some photos. Forty minutes later and the big fish had never made the characteristic jump that we all expected. John reminded me that when they jump it helps wear them down but this big guy just never did jump and never seemed to wear down. Finally, in what looked like a half-hearted attempt to become air born the fish stuck his head out of the water, made more of spiraling motion and went back down. I thought at the time the line seemed to wrap around the fish when it made the spinning move. It disappeared beneath the surface and seconds later the hook pulled loose. It was over, no breakage, just something in the roll must have changed the angle of the hook and out it came.

After that we hooked up a couple more sharks but no more silver kings. We headed back to port with the knowledge that summer, the tarpon, the bait, the calm summer seas, were finally here. By the way, that’s why I have got to get back to the gym. You need to be in shape when you hook in to a big silver king!

WIN A BOAT!

That’s right, you can win a boat. Boaters Exchange at 2145 U.S. 1 in Rockledge (Next to Rockledge Gardens) is going to give a boat to a lucky person this weekend. The boat is a 13 footer with motor and trailer. They have moved to a larger location to serve you better and they want to show off their new facilities.

There are all kinds of fun and excitement planned for their Grand Opening at the new location. Factory reps from Edgewater, World Cat, Triumph, Catalina, Yamaha & Hondo will be on site to answer all your boating questions. There will be clinics on everything from fishing to how to care for your boat. Tour their new 3 Acre facility and try some award winning clam chowder from Chowders Restaurant, or attend one of several boating related seminars by Bethel Marine Electronics, Viking Canvas, Coastal Angler Magazine, and more.

On Saturday they are having a free family BBQ all day long. Don’t miss the boat, come by and check out the great new facility. These guys take care of the maintenance on my Yamaha and I can’t say enough about their dedication to the job and the quality of their work.

I plan to be there on Friday and Saturday so come by and say high. I will also have some free Rip Tide plastics available. Hope to see you there at the Grand Opening of Boaters Exchange in their new location. Its June 14-17, 2007 at 2145 S US1 Rockledge, FL.

For more information you can call (321) 638-0090 or email BoatSales@BoatersExchange.com

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com (http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com) to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

Capt. Ron Presley
Phone 321-454-7285
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[Capt. Craig Korczynski (Phlats)]

Inshore Fishing Report June 14, 2007 Palm Beach/Jupiter


“The Bite is on” Warm weather has triggered an awesome bite both inside and outside on the beaches. The beaches are holding pods of Tarpon that are ranging in size from 50 up to 100 pounds. These fish are really spooky the trick is to get out there early and get in front of them and present live baits. The Spanish mackerel have also been thick on the beaches. These fish make for great top water action and for those who like to throw fly, the mackerel are willing to take flies also. The Snook are starting to gather in the inlets now and are going to begin spawning soon. These fish will take just about any live bait presented to them.

The Inshore bite has been spectacular for just about every species. The Snook bite has been hot and shows no signs of letting up. The Snook have been hanging near drop offs, docks, sea walls, and mangrove shorelines. Top water baits have produced awesome results and live bait has also done the trick. The Snook have been averaging in size from 2 to 25 pounds. The morning and evenings produce the best numbers of fish. Mixed in with the Snook are the Tarpon. The Tarpon bite has picked up inside and the fish are getting bigger with every passing week. The average size of the Tarpon is 10 to 40 pounds. These fish are hanging in pods, live bait produces the best results. The trick has been to drift with the tide and free line the live baits behind the boat. Outgoing tide has been the best for targeting these fish. The jacks and bluefish have also been really thick lately. These fish are scavengers and will take any bait you offer to them. The blue fish have been averaging 2 to 5pounds and the jacks have been around 2 pounds up to 20 pounds.

The docks in Palm beach have also been great for sea trout and black drum. The bait of choice has been small jigs tipped with small plastics in pearl white and watermelon color. The drum have caught are averaging 2 to 5 pounds and the sea trout have been from 12 to 18 inches in length.

The fresh water fishing has been great and the peacock bass bite is on fire. The peacocks are holding up on shoreline banks and will attack any fast moving lure brought near them. Shiners are the best bait and produce the best results . The Largemouth bass bite is good ,producing great numbers of fish on worms and top water jerk baits. The Largemouth have been holding near the drop offs in depths of 2 to 5 feet deep.

Well that is the fishing report for the past few weeks if you would like to catch any of the above mentioned species give Capt. Craig Korczynksi a call 561-644-4371 to book you next light tackle adventure. Or visit the web site for more information. www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com (http://www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com). Email phlats1519@yahoo.com

[Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)]

After a couple weeks off local waters, I fished Monday, 6/18 with brothers Mark and Robert Duhlberg and their children. We fished about 12 miles out of New Pass with live shrimp, and we caught Spanish mackerel to 23 inches, keeper mangrove snapper, whitebone porgies, triggerfish and porkfish. We released gag grouper shorts to 18 inches and a 3 ½ foot sand shark.

Tuesday, Gary Jones, his brother and seven-year-old nephew fished with me in 36 feet off New Pass. We caught Spanish mackerel to 26 inches, keeper lane snapper, porgies, grunts and triggerfish. Our little angler caught four nice Spanish and a load of porgies.

Uli and Uta Scheider and friends Bill and Joe fished in 32 feet out of New Pass with me on Wednesday. Their favorite is Spanish mackerel, and we did well with those to 26 inches free-lining shrimp in a chum slick. We also caught some porgies.

Dr. Leon Mead and son, Spencer, fished with me Thursday at the reefs off Bonita Beach, where we caught and released 30 Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We also caught keeper mangrove and lane snapper to 12 inches and a 14 inch flounder, all on live shrimp.

It was a tough morning of fishing for the Bill Kaufman party on Friday. We started off the morning later than planned, due to no shrimp available at the bait shops. After delaying our trip 40 minutes for the promise of bait, we finally gave up and I brought a small reserve of live shrimp from my bait tank, along with some sardines. We headed out to about 30 feet out of New Pass, and we fished from 30 to 45 feet, having to move around a bit due to a slow bite and the interference from porpoise. I even turned my sonar off to deter the porpoise, but they found us no matter where we anchored. Although no bad weather was expected, we encountered three thunderstorms and four water spouts. One of the latter was pretty close by, and appeared to be about a quarter mile in size. Bill took some photos of that one. We ended up with keeper Spanish mackerel, porgies, and grunts—enough to keep the young angler onboard excited and happy, but short of the ideal we had hoped for. We released red and gag grouper shorts.

The photo shown is of angler Dick Arnell with a 16 inch mangrove snapper caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.
http://jerrylabella.com/discus/messages/6/7673.jpg

[Capt. Ron Presley (Capt_ron)]

Tarpon Time Continues

Summer is here and the Tarpon are too. We headed out of Cape Canaveral last Saturday with a crew of three young men ranging in age from 10 to 13. A quick stop along the beach for some pogies and then out to 40 feet where the kingfish had been biting. The hope was to get each of the boys on a nice King. Their fishing is usually in the river for smaller prey.

After 30 to 40 minutes of nothing hitting you could see the boys were bored with the routine of trolling. I don’t blame them; it is boring when the fish are not biting. Enough of this I thought and we headed further south toward Patrick Air Force Base. It turned out to be a really good move.

We set up our lines with one long, one medium and one short bait only about 40 feet back and started the slow troll again. Another 20 minutes went by and the boys were beginning to lose enthusiasm again. They were not so sure about this kind of fishing. Then, the first knock down brought them all to life, only to be disappointed. The fish was not hooked. We had asked the boys ahead of time to determine who got the first fish. It was Robert up first, so Micah was next and he put the fighting belt on to be ready.

It wasn’t long until the next knock down and the sweet sound of a drag screaming bite. Micah picked up the rod and for only a few seconds felt the pull of a hefty fish. Well, we were 0 for 2 as Caleb fastened on a fighting belt for his chance at a fish. These two bites had brought the boys around and their attention was turned to the rods more than before.

Bam! A huge hit, a spiraling fish and the fight was on. Caleb hung on tight and used every ounce of his weight and the strength of his arms to hold on to a huge Tarpon. I reminded him that when he got tired he could hand off to a buddy and let him fight the fish for a while. “I’m ok,” he said. A few minutes later he said “ok Robert, you take it for a while.” We had two fighting belts on board so we had Robert already suited up and ready to go. He took over for a while before passing it on to Micah. Micah fought for a while and handed it back to his brother Caleb. And on it went …

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The boys traded the rod a total of 13 times each before landing the big fish about two hours later. All of a sudden this kind of fishing was not so bad. We got everything shipshape and headed for the ramp with a bunch of boys who got a lesson in fishing as well as a lesson in teamwork. Man, that’s what it’s all about!

The kingfish bite has been hot outside the Port. Head out the Port and take a right down the beach looking for diving birds. They will show you were to stop and pick up a few pogies. Prepare each rod, starting with a bimini twist to make a double line. Tie the doubled line to a 60 pound mono leader about 4 to 5 feet long and add a stinger rig.

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Capt. Keith Kalbflesich showed me his method for rigging a 4/0 and a 6/0 octopus hook on a short piece of wire cable of about 40 pound test. He uses a wire snell knot to secure the hooks. Visit his website at www.capt-keith.com (http://www.capt-keith.com) and look on his articles page to see how it is done.

The distance between the hooks is determined by the size of the bait you use. I like to make them up ahead of time in several sizes. Pin a pogie through the nose with the forward most hook and pin him in the back with the other. Leave enough slack between the hooks to allow the pogie to swim freely. Lately the bite has been in about 30 to 40 feet of water, so head on out, put down some baits and catch a kingfish.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com (http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com) to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

[Capt. Ron Presley (Capt_ron)]

Kings Love Pogies


Yes, there is no doubt about it. Kingfish love pogies. And Tarpon do too. On a recent trip out of Port Canaveral we made a stop near some other boats cast netting for pogies (Atlantic Menhaden) near the Cocoa Beach Pier. As we pulled in for a cast I saw a fellow angler named Fred drop his net over the side. He motioned to cast in his direction. I made the cast but the net came up empty. By this time Fred pulled his net to the boat loaded with pogies. It was if he had caught every bait in the pod before we got to cast. . He motioned to come on over and he handed us a bucket of pogies and we never had to make another cast.

We thanked Fred and headed south to do some slow trolling for kingfish. We had three rigs ready with wire stinger rigs. We would run one long, one medium, and one short in the prop wash. By the end of the day we had caught fish at all three distances.

The first knockdown came on the medium rig and turned out to be a huge tarpon. The fish would easily be over 100 pounds. We were not really surprised because the last two trips to this area had also produced tarpon. The first angler up was Tracie so she strapped on a fighting belt as Jim held the tarpon at bay. Tracie took the rod and placed it in the belt to begin her adventure with the tarpon. After about 15 minutes she actually had the huge fish within about 25 feet of the boat and I praised her for her effort. Then the big tarpon decided that was a little to close and began taking line again. During the fight which lasted about 20 to 25 minutes the fish jumped 5 times to add to the excitement. However, as is often the case the big fish pulled loose and the game was over. Tracie took off the belt and returned to her reading on the front deck. Jim mentioned how hard it was to hand that fish over to Tracie – he wanted one for himself.


We continued our slow trolling through the next few hours experiencing several knockdowns and landing four nice kings. We release one alive and threw three in the fish bag. As we headed for port the afternoon thunder storms were building and we made it back just before they hit. This time of year you need to keep an eye on the sky, because those storms come up quick and it’s a lot better to have the boat on the trailer when they hit.


No Pogies, No Fish

Well, just as things were looking good in the nearshore waters the next trip out was a disappointment. There were no pogies to be found. We trolled frozen mullet and had two knock downs without a hookup. We also tried some artificials without success. One cuda followed the short line for a while but never struck. As we headed for port, one of my guests said, “Well it was a nice day for a boat ride.” Doesn’t that just about say it all?

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com (http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com) to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

Capt. Ron Presley
Phone 321-454-7285
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

July 20, 2007

Inshore:

Imagine being out there on the river and suddenly finding yourself surrounded by over a hundred redfish. Well, that's just what Mike Mixon and Mike DeRosa experienced this week. We were fishing along the flats and they had already boated three nice reds. I knew the reds were still sitting ahead of us, but once they had turned and moved towards us.....we froze as more than a hundred redfish swam around us and headed south. We had been fortunate that some pesky dolphin had came onto the flats and happened to stir up the sunning reds. Lisa Weston and Johnny also witnessed the many redfish that have populated the Treasure Coast this year. I love fishing this time of year!

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Mike Mixon holding up a 27" redfish caught on the flats....

I guess you have figured out that redfish was out target fish this past week. Mike and Mike teamed up for three reds from 22 - 27" this week. The water has become very clear and the fish are easily scared now. Stealth is a must to approach any redfish that you might find on the river. Soft baits have worked best for us. Fish them slowly to have a chance at a hookup.

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Lisa Weston with two nice trout for dinner....

Trout have been biting in the deeper water both early and during the day as the tide moves. Lisa Weston caught a couple nice trout in the 18-20" range on live pinfish. Look for grass flats that run 3-5 feet deep and use some live baits to get some trout action. Harbor Branch and Round Island have been productive recently.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1293Small.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1293Small.jpg)

Mike DeRosa caught this nice snook fishing the trout flats....

Snook fishing around the spillways and bridges has continued to be good. I don't target snook this time of year as they are out of season. Mike DeRosa did catch a nice 24" snook though while we were fishing on the trout flats. There are many large fish in the shallow flats this time of year. Live bait has worked best for us.

Snapper are still being caught on the channel edges and around the bridges. Bonita, spanish mackerel and jacks have been around the inlet feeding on the glass minnows. Shiny spoons or something similar can get you hooked up with a good fight. Tarpon, snook and jacks have been along the beaches chasing bait. Early morning fishing can give you a good chance at a hookup in the surf.

Tip of the Week.
Temperatures have been in the 90's lately and it can get mighty hot out there. Make sure you are using good sunscreen to keep from getting a bad sunburn. Find one that is waterproof and use it several times throughout the day. There are many brands and types. Use an SPF that will keep you safe from the sun's rays. Make sure your fishing adventure doesn't end up bright red!

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

Good Fishing,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

[capt_ron]

Summer Time Fishing

The hot summer weather has dictated and early start for summer sea trout. They are still hitting both live baits and artificials but the bite is over early. Recent trips on the Banana and Indian River have produced spotted sea trout up to about 22 inches. They have hit live shrimp and Rip Tide 3 inch Mullet. Fishing the live shrimp under a popping cork like the DOA Clacker is always a great tactic to keep your bait above the sea grass beds. With the warmer weather you can find the trout in deeper water, up to five feet in areas with good grass and sandy pot holes.

17With a lot of cloudy days I have had some good success with the Rip Tide Mullet in the Shad Flash color. It is dark enough to give a good silhouette even with cloudy skies. A family of four, Dana, Lana, Troy, and Cara caught a variety of fish on the Banana River. Lana, the mom, won the day with a really nice 22 inch sea trout along with other smaller ones. Everyone caught fish, including sea trout and lady fish. Troy caught the surprise of the day with a nice sheepshead. With an eye to the sky with the summer thunderstorms building we got in our half-day trip without any problem, However, on the way home the clouds opened up and the rain came as it has almost everyday this week. Be careful on these hot summer days and try to be back at the dock before the thunderstorms hit.

18
The Indian River has also produced some fish this week. A family from California came over for a day of relaxation after hitting the Disney parks earlier in the week. Mom and Dad and the two young boys were ready to relax. The morning started off pretty quick with the boys Zach and Nick both picking up a couple of trout in our first fishing hole. Karen added two really nice trout on live shrimp on a popping cork. Mark added a few trout of his own and a lady fish that would go about 4 pounds. It was one of those lady fish that usually tangle someone else’s line with their speedy runs. Our next spot produced numerous lady fish and Mark scored with the Rip Tide Mullet again. He tossed out a 3 inch Rip Tide Mullet in the Shad Flash color and brought back a nice 28 inch snook. This family was all catch and release so all the fish went back to be caught another day.

The pogies are still hit and miss on the beach and the king fishing has slowed down. On a recent two boat trip no pogies were found so we had to rely on artificials. The grand total was only 3 fish for both boats – a disappointing day. Hopefully this will change once this stationary weather front moves on off of us.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com (http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/) to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

Capt. Ron Presley
Phone 321-454-7285
presleyr@bellsouth.net (presleyr@bellsouth.net)

[phlats]

The Snook spawn is on fire and the *** fish are thick. All the inlets are full of spawning snook right now the best tides have been the outgoing tide. Live baits work the best but artificial will also produce great numbers of fish. The beaches also are holding snook early in the morning; the first trough is where the snook can be spotted either by boat or by land. When targeting these snook take extra care when handling these fish they are the producers for generations to come. I like to use heaver tackle when targeting spawning snook so you don’t wear them down and kill them. I like to use 30-pound Power Pro with a 3-foot leader of 40-pound fluorocarbon on a 5000 series reel, and a medium heavy action rod. The average size snook being caught is around 10 to 15 pounds but there are many fish that tip the scales at 20 plus pounds and an occasional 30 pounder.

The inside lagoons have been great for Snook and Tarpon action. The snook have been hanging near drop offs and dock pilings. Live bait produces the most fish but artificial jigs produce as well. As long as the water is moving the snook will eat. As for the tarpon these fish are grouped up in pods and will take live greenies and live sand perch free lined. The outgoing tide produces the most fish and the ***gest fish. The average size of the tarpon range from 5 to 30 pounds. The jacks have also been in great numbers the past few weeks these hard pulling fish never give up and make for a great catch on light tackle. The jacks will take any live bait thrown at them, along with any top water lure that makes noise. The jacks have been ranging in size from 2 to 20 pounds. Mixed in with the jacks are the ladyfish. These acrobatic fish put on a show like a tarpon, that’s why they received the nickname a.k.a (poor mans tarpon). The ladyfish love any live bait and small jigs. They range in size from 1 to 3 pounds. We have also been catching some flounder and mutton snappers lately near the drop offs using artificial jigs. One exciting catch we had near a dock a few weeks ago was an 8-pound Jewfish that took a live greenie. It was a pleasant surprise.

The freshwater bite has been great with all the rain and the scorching heat we have had. The Peacock bass bite is awesome and these fish are everywhere. The best bait for the peacocks are live shiners, jigs, and if you like to fly fish small clouser minnows will lead you to many hook ups. The peacocks have been ranging in size form 2 to 5 pounds with a few fish reaching the 7-pound mark. The large mouth bass bite is solid with many of these fish being caught near the grass edges and deep drop offs. The bait of choice has been finesse worms, crank baits and shiners. The largemouth have been ranging in size from 2 to 8 pounds.

Well that is the report for the past few weeks if you would like to test your luck against a giant snook or tango with a tarpon give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call to book your next light tackle inshore fishing adventure. 561-644-4371 or visit www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com. Email phlats1519@yahoo.com. Hope to here from you soon. Catch um up.

[fishtales]

July 25, 2007

Inshore:

The Treasure Coast has come alive this past week as the bait moves into the river. Acres of glass minnows have invaded the area bringing lots of fantastic fishing with them. The Fort Pierce inlet has been frothing with ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, bonito, tarpon, snook, sharks and many other species lurking for an easy meal. You can find them around the beaches, jetties and filtering into the inlet as the tide rolls in. Tie on something shiny and hold on!

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Sarah DeHart caught this nice trout while fishing this week.

All the charters this week enjoyed some fast, exciting action to end the day. I had Dave and Alex with me and we thought we were watching Jaws as an 8' bull shark kept chasing Dave's fish. Finally it took a huge ladyfish at the other end of Dave's line and we broke him off as he was stripping line off the reel. Bob Bergen was with me and the 8-10 pound bonito wore us out around the jetties, so we came inside and toned down on some Spanish mackerel. Jerry from Melbourne was also with me when the *** ladyfish were boiling the water. It's a great time of year to enjoy fishing!

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Jerry caught this snook while searching for redfish....

Trout were off one day and on the next. We caught a few nice **** trout in spite of the hot weather. Live pinfish, pigfish or shrimp can get you a nice trout on the line this time of year. Top water can work early mornings. Move to deeper flats as the sun heats things up.

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Capt Pat Wells showing off one of the many bonito that have invaded the inlets....

We found redfish on the flats a few mornings. The super low tides kept the area to a minimum during the days. I did get a few reports of redfish catches south towards the Power Plant. The water has remained very clear recently and that give the fish a chance to see you well beyond casting range. Stealth is a must this month. Soft baits are working well on the flats.

Snook are being caught around the inlet with the baitfish feast. Some large snook have been caught from the jetties to the bridges. Live bait or plugs have worked best of late. Remember to handle them with care and give them a safe, quick release.

Lots of snapper have continued to be caught along the channel edges and structure. The surf has been holding whiting and the tarpon have been off the beaches. It's time to gather up the kids and show them some of the fishing fun we have around the area. Take some time to enjoy the great fishing out there! Look for August to continue to be HOT and lots of afternoon thunderboomers. Get out early or late and drink plenty of fluids.

Tip of the Week:

It was a pleasure to watch all the boats around the inlet fishing beside each other with courtesy and friendship. People waving and getting excited with each catch. Everyone was having fun together and enjoying the great fishing. There have been lots of boats around the inlet lately and it was nice to watch all the boaters sharing the spoils together. It's times like these that make you proud to live in the area. Hats off to everyone on the Treasure Coast!

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

[Fishbuster]

Greg and Terry Carns and their sons Mike, twelve, and Danny, nine, were scheduled to fish with me on Monday, but Monday morning brought thunderstorms and severe weather. Fortunately, we were able to reschedule for Tuesday. We fished in 18-26 feet at the Bonita reefs with live shrimp. Seas were pretty calm, at one to two feet, but it was a bit sloppy due to the storms we have been having. Mike’s stomach wasn’t feeling too good, and finally persuaded him to allow himself to be sick. Once he did so, he said he “never knew throwing up could make you feel so good”! I told him he actually helped chum the fish to the boat, so from then on, his nickname was “Chum-bucket”, and he had a good time for the rest of the morning. We kept ten mangrove snapper to 12 inches and released a whole bunch more that were keeper size. We also released Spanish mackerel, cravalle jacks, and three spotted trout.

Mark Gallardo and young sons Jordon and Mark, Jr. fished with me on Thursday in 26 feet at the reefs off Bonita with live shrimp. We caught three Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, a dozen keeper mangrove and lane snapper, and a fourteen inch flounder.

Saturday, Mike Lee and son, Nick, headed out to about 32 feet with me with a bait well full of shrimp. We had a nice snapper bite, and caught three limits of mangs to 12 inches. We kept three of about twenty keeper-sized Spanish mackerel that we caught free-lining shrimp behind the boat. We released small goliath grouper to 20 pounds and cravalle jacks to 3 pounds.

The photo shown is of anglers Paul Cherubino and Bob Leeks with a trio of redfish, 20-21 inches, caught on shrimp on a recent inshore trip Estero Bay.

[fishtales]

August 2, 2007

Inshore:

Summertime weather patterns have continued here on the Treasure Coast, bringing afternoon thunderstorms through the area on most days. It's a great time to get out early and get your fishing done before noon. We have had our best luck at first light this week. Once the sun comes up....lather up with sunscreen and head for deeper water around the flats to find the fish. Thursday it was so foggy that you almost needed the compass to find out what direction you were facing.

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Steve Krac caught this 22" trout along the Indian River flats...

Trout was our mainstay this week. Some nice sized ones have been feeding on the bait around the river. We have found most bites in two to four feet of water. Top water worked well for us most days. Capt Pat Wells found some nice trout hitting in the shallow waters with me this past week. Steve Krac and his friend, Warren found a few trout up to 22" with a top water lure early. Live bait on popping corks will work once the sun rises high. Harbor Branch up north and most of the flats to the south of Fort Pierce has been producing trout.

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First light and top water results for Capt Pat Wells.....

We found some nice snook hanging around the docks this week. Steve lost one nice one that headed under the docks and broke us off. Warren boated a smaller snook with a live shrimp also. We did see several large snook lurking around the docks to the south. Live bait has been our best option for the dock areas.

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Warren with another top water trout....

Some redfish up on the flats this week. They have scattered for now. Emmett and his wife found some tailing but didn't to cast at them as another boat cut in front of us within twenty feet of the boat. Of course, the fish headed out off the flats. Jerk baits and gold spoons have been our choice of lures for reds. There are still some nice snapper along the channel edges also for those anglers.

The inlet and turning basin has still been loaded with glass minnows and all the critters that chase them. Huge schools of mackerel, jacks, ladyfish and bonito have continued to follow the bait into the inlet area with the rising tides. Steve and Warren hooked up on several 10 pound bonito and boated one of them with much effort. Two were cut off by sharks.....we watch one *** bull shark slash beside the boat and inhale a bonito that Warren had fought boatside. It's tiring fun!

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Warren and Steve shared the results of a battle with this bonito....

Tip of the Week:
Top water lures can bring much fun and excitement at first light on the river. I can't think of much that can get your blood pumped up, when a *** trout crashes the surface in the quiet of the morning. With the full moon recently, I tend to go to a dark color lure to stand out under the moonlight. I will go to lighter colors as the sky darkens with the moon phases. Vary the way you work the lure, if you aren't getting a strike. Sometimes you have to work if very slowly with short pops, while other times you might need to work if frantically across the water. Have some fun soon with a top water lure!!

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

[Fishbuster]

Tuesday morning, 7/31, brought some threatening skies, but the rain looked like it was fairly light on radar and was making its way south from Cape Coral. Lou Dellorco and family decided to give it a go at the near-shore reefs. We did pretty well before we were run in by rain. By 10:30 AM, winds picked up, seas got rough, and the rain was upon us. But by that time we had boated a dozen mangrove snapper to 12 inches, Spanish mackerel to 20 inches and triggerfish to 15 inches, so it was a pretty productive morning.

The rain cancelled my planned full-day fishing excursion on Wednesday, but Thursday was a better day. I fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay around New Pass on an outgoing tide with Andy Alvarez and his ten-year-old daughter, Danielle. We released three redfish at 26 inches (see photo), 23 inches and 22 inches, along with three snook to 18 inches and mangrove snapper to 12 inches, all on shrimp.

Fishing was slow at the reefs on Friday when I fished with Graham Connor. We caught some keeper mangrove snapper and released two small goliath grouper and some ladyfish. Pinfish were all over the place out there. We were broken off in the rocks twice by something we never got to see.

[capt_ron]

The Beach is Hot – For Fishing that is!

You have heard it before, find the bait and you find the fish. The pogies have returned to the beach from where ever they went and the fishing has heated up. Mike and Max joined me this week for a little nearshore action and we got more than a little action. We boated south along the beach until we found some pogies and filled the well with one well placed cast. We turned east toward the sunrise and the adventure was on. Max hooked up first with a nice king.


We were using a standard stinger rig with Daiichi Octopus Hooks. We used a Bleeding Bait 4/0 for the nose hook and a 6/0 as the trailer. About 12 to 14 inches of 40 lb braided wire made up the stinger and it was fastened to about 5 feet of 60 pound Triple Fish Saltwater Leader using an Albright knot. We had Power Pro 40 lb as the mainline. This set up worked every time but once when we pulled back a stub. The leader had been severed completely by a toothy critter.


We were in double figures for the day on kings so most of them were given their freedom. Dad, Mike and son Max, put three nice kings on ice for a family fish fry they planned for the evening of their trip. With three in the bag we still had plenty more action Max was tussling with a near twenty pound king when Mike yells, “What’s that?” I replied quickly with, “Cobia, drop a bait in the water.” The big cobe had moseyed up to see what was going on with the kingfish at the side of the boat so Mike made an offering while Max left the king in the water to keep the cobia’s attention. The whole scheme worked perfectly and the fish ate the pogie. Mike gave him an open bail for a while to let him eat it and then set the hook. This big guy just kind of swam around the boat as if nothing had happened.

I told Mike he was going to have to wear him down a little before we hauled him in. The last thing anyone wants in the boat is a green cobia. Mike started to pressure him and let him know he was hooked up and the big guy finally began to realize everything was not normal. Anyway, a few minutes later after some hard pullin’ and a lot of sweatin’ we pulled a 30 pound cobia aboard and the evening menu had changed. Mike’s guests were going to enjoy some fresh cobia instead of kings.


As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

Capt. Ron Presley
Phone 321-454-7285
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 8/6, I fished the reefs off New Pass in 28 feet with Roger Meier and his children, Phillip, Vanessa and Melanie. We caught nine keeper mangrove snapper to 12 inches, kept four of a dozen Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, and released snapper and small gag grouper.

I fished with Marty and Dana Williams, who drove down from Siesta Key to fish with me. We headed out to about 70 feet out of New Pass and fished a couple of wrecks. On live shrimp, we caught a limit of yellowtail to 15 inches, two limits of mangrove snapper to 14 inches, and about 50 lane snapper to 12 inches, of which we kept a dozen. We released short gag and red grouper. When we had all the eatin' fish on ice, we decided to play with the goliaths, baited with cravalle jacks. We released two goliaths, one estimated at about 250 pounds and one that must have been close to 400 pounds, with a length of 6 1/2 feet and a 70 inch girth. Marty and Dana had a ball, but they will be hurtin' tomorrow!

Thursday morning, I fished in 30-45 feet out of New Pass with Shelley Gottlieb, son Kevin, daughter Jessica, and teenaged friends Lucas Peters, Amanda Peters and Brennen Yahl. We caught six yellowtail snapper to 15 inches, ten mangrove snapper to 14 inches, seven l keeper lane snapper, Spanish mackerels to 25 inches, grunts and porgies—All were caught on live shrimp.

Kevin Port and son Jake, along with friend Dave Defibaugh and son Joey, fished with me Friday. We started out in about 45 feet out of New Pass, and had some decent action on shrimp there until the porpoise showed up. We pulled anchor and headed south a bit and re-anchored in about 35 feet, which put us right on a hot snapper bite. We caught twenty keeper mangrove snapper, seven lane snapper, and one 15 inch hogfish. We released lots of smaller snapper and eight red grouper that were all 18 to 19 inches, just short of keeper size.

Saturday morning, I fished in 37 feet out of New Pass with Jim Madson, son Nick, daughter Stacy and Nick’s friend, Isaac. We fished over live bottom with shrimp and caught six hogfish, three of which were keepers, fifteen keeper mangrove snapper, lots of whitebone porgies all around 14 inches, and two Spanish mackerel at 24 inches and 25 inches. We released a twenty pound goliath grouper.

The photo shown is of angler Jerri Consolo with a pair of hogfish caught on live shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

August 10, 2007

Inshore:

It has been a wonderful week of warm weather and light winds. Watching the sun slowly rise over the mangrove islands truly a sight to behold. It's a fantastic time of year to get out on the water. Drink plenty of fluids and head out to your favorite fishing spot! Fishing slowed down the first part of the week, but picked back up the latter part. It looks like a great weekend ahead of us here on the Treasure Coast!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing003-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing003-1.jpg)

Rick Monterosso with his 23" trout caught along the flats....

Trout fishing picked back up by the last of this week and we had some really nice catches on both top water and live bait. Geoff Kahler topped off this weeks trout with a huge 29" gator trout on a top water lure. Rick Monterosso added a big 23" and Joe Vennarini added his share to the catch, too. Get out early for the best bite. Look to the usual trout spots like Round Island, Harbor Branch and the east shore to the south of Fort Pierce.

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Eric Turgeon with a nice 27" redfish caught on the flats....

With the heat and water temps much higher, the redfishing slowed down for us this week. Look the deeper water off the flats to find some hanging around. I believe once the water cools off some next month, we will find them back in their old haunts again. Eric Turgeon boated a very nice 27" redfish on a soft bait in three feet of water around the flats.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing001.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing001.jpg)

Joe Vennarini with a fat 26" snook caught before sunrise....

Snook fishing has been an early bite and not many reports this month as they are still out of season. Joe Vennarini boated two snook this week with the largest at 26" on an early morning top water. They will continue patrolling the shallow flats before the sun rises for an early morning meal. The bridges and docks will also hold snook during the daytime. Live bait will be the best choice once the sun comes up.

We had two huge fish lost around the docks this week. Todd Dziak and Rick Monterosso both had large fish hit a live pinfish and take off to parts unknown. From the way they fought, it was most likely a big grouper or black drum. Lots of snapper are still around the river along the channel edges and docks. We have still found some ladyfish and jacks around the river and some bluefish have continued to cut lines off. Get out there early!

Tip of the Week:

Keep cool out there on the water! Easier said than done I guess. Drinking lots of fluids, wearing a hat and getting out on a plane once in a while can all help. A lot of boats, like mine, don't offer shade or cover and keeping cool in 90 degree weather is very important. Wetting a towel in cool water and putting it around your neck can help keep you cooler. Getting on the water early and off the water before the worst of the days heat arrives can also help. The fishing is great this time of year, so keep your cool out there while you are fishing!!

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

[fishtales]

August 16, 2007

Inshore:

I have always believed that the most rewarding part of fishing is taking kids out on their first adventure. Watching their faces light up when they catch a fish really makes your day. I had the pleasure of having a young man on the boat this week that did just that! Eleven year old, Sam Van Ornam, was on the boat this week with his dad, Tom Van Ornam and Pam Hargrove. You could see the excitement in Sam on the way to the first fishing spot of the day.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpic001.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpic001.jpg)

Sam with his first fish....

We were fishing with live shrimp and Sam caught his first fish in a matter of minutes when we arrived. While it was only a large pinfish, he was so excited at that first catch and I could see the determination that he wasn't done for the day. He was rewarded a short time later with another fish on and I told him it was a large fish this time. Sam fought and battled the fish all the way to the boat. He was astonished when he saw a 29" spotted seatrout that weighed 9-10 pounds. Sam became a veteran angler after that and caught a number of fish the rest of the day, even giving dad some pointers before the day was finished. Congratulations Sam!!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpic002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpic002.jpg)

Sam holding his 29" gator trout he caught this week!!

Trout and snapper were our targets this week. The heat and water temperatures have kept the shallow flats on the quiet side, so we have fished the edges and drop offs recently with some good results. Live shrimp on corks have produced some nice trout for us in the 20" range. Pigfish or pinfish can also bring you some good catches. I fished both north and south of Fort Pierce with good luck. We caught fish during the mornings into the heat of the day. Pam Hargrove managed to get a 20" trout to the boat while a four foot shark chased it and almost had it for lunch. Jerry and his sons also had some good luck with trout this week.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpic004.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpic004.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpic003.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpic003.jpg)

Sam also caught a nice jack crevalle and Pam Hargrove with one of her trout...

Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges. Jerry Lyman and his two sons, Joe and John, caught dinner in a short time along the channel. Most have been 1 to 1 1/2 pounds this week. Black drum were also biting, but were just short of slot size. Live shrimp, again, was the best choice of baits.

I fished the flats a few hours at first light this week and found snook and trout chasing bait until the sun came up. A five pound pompano hit a jerk bait early one morning this week along the edges of the flats. Top water is always productive in the early hours. Once the sun rises, head to the edges in deeper water for the best results.

Tip of the Week:

Kids! They are our future and the future of fishing in the area. They're eager to learn and the rewards far exceed the effort you put into teaching them fishing skills. Young Sam made my week and I still smile with pride at his success. This sunday will be the first Teen Anglers Tournament of the new school year and I am anxious to begin the new season with them. If you want to see what it's all about and have a boat, contact Capt. Joe Ward at 772-201-5770 if you would be interested in volunteering to help take the kids fishing. It's a great time and you can help nurture the future of fishing on the Treasure Coast!

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday morning, 8/13, I fished Estero Bay, down toward Wiggins Pass, with Kevin Deacy and George Romita. George had a big redfish hooked, but it started to run, and he tried to keep it from running too far and broke the line. We got a keeper mangrove snapper and a keeper sheepshead and we released smaller snapper and sheepshead, along with two bluefish that were 18 and 19 inches, all caught on live shrimp.

Thursday, I fished a catch-and-release trip with Barry Fitzgerald and friends Jim and Barry (yes, another “Barry”) in 37 feet out of New Pass. Live shrimp did well with fifteen mangrove snapper, a 15 inch hogfish, gag grouper shorts, porgies and grunts. We also got to play with an 80 pound goliath grouper.

Kevin Ackerman and Jeff Senna fished with me Saturday morning. We started out in about 45 feet out of New Pass and caught a few snapper, but we caught most of our fish closer in at a spot in 35 feet, using live shrimp. We caught six keeper lane snapper to 13 inches, six keeper mangrove snapper, porkfish, porgies, and a 14 inch hogfish. We used blue runners to hook and release three goliath grouper to 60 pounds. We also released lots of ladyfish and a five foot nurse shark.

The photo shown is of young angler Kendall Sturgil with a 25 inch Spanish mackerel, caught on shrimp on a recent near-shore trip.

[shermana]

Summer is just about over and the kids will be heading back to school. My kids will be heading for college next week and I will resume my full time guiding service. My family and I have just returned from 2 weeks of vacations. One week on the west coast and one week in the lower Keys. I have always tried to keep family first in my life and I apologize to some of my clients for not being able to fish them on the days that they wanted to fish. If I referred you to other guides I hope you had a pleasurable trip.

We returned from Cudjoe Key yesterday where we stayed in a house on the water. Can’t say enough how nice and convenient it is to have your boat tied to a dock in your back yard. Just load it up and you’re on your way. Got to try out my new Costa Del Mar C-Mates and WOW what a difference they make seeing through the water. These glasses have a bifocal so youy don't need to keep changing glasses. While in the Keys we lobstered and caught enough for a couple of meals. The lobsters were picked over by the time we got on the water and most were under sized. We did a little backcountry fishing where we had shots at tarpon and caught a few barracudas on plugs but did not see any permit, sharks or bonefish. It was very hot and water temperatures were in the low 90’s. Since it was our vacation time we slept late and mostly fished in the late afternoons and into the night. Ocean fishing was Ok and we caught some nice yellowjacks on artificials like the Rapala Skitter Walks and Hook Up lures with Gulp jerk baits. Fishing wrecks with pinfish we had a few good fish on but did not land them. Anchoring on the reef with currents going into the wind produced lots of small yellowtails plus a keeper grouper, mutton and a few lane snappers with one being close to 3 pounds. All in all we had some great dinners in the Keys saw lots of Key deer in No Name Key and hung out with the tourists in Key West.

Before going to Cudjoe Key we spent a week in a little town called Pine Island on the West Coast of Florida near Ft. Myers. We stayed at a hotel called Two Fish Inn www.TwoFishInn.com that is run by Jenny and his wife Charlie. Right on the water with a great dock, pool and accommodations that for the price can’t be beat and less than 10 minutes to open water. We have a small dog and they allow small pets as well. We have visited Sanibel and Captiva many times but never Pine Island and it was great. The accommodations were better then we had ever expected, restaurants were very good and the people very friendly. Weather was just like Miami’s weather in Pine Island. High’s in the mid 90’s and water temperatures in the low 90’s. Because we were on vacation we only hit the water before 9 AM once. On our first late afternoon we headed over to the Sanibel bridge area we caught sea trout, jacks and ladyfish. We tried for snook but no takers. Bait was everywhere and a few small mackerel could be seen free jumping at times. The next day we fished near Redfish Pass and caught a couple of small snook for catch and release before anchoring in Captiva Pass where we caught ladyfish to 4.5 pounds on every cast. We had a few cut offs and had a shark eat two ladyfish on us but could not get the shark to eat a bait intended for the shark. Talk about hot so we headed to a nice sand bar and swam and shelled to give everyone a chance to cool off. A few hours before the sun set we anchored in a little cut near Ding Darling and had non stop action on jacks to 6 pounds, ladyfish to 4.5 pounds a 4 pound bluefish that ate a Gulp shrimp on a Hook Up lure when my wife Dana had a nice strike on a Cajun Thunder and a live pinfish. Dana struck hard and an 80 pound tarpon shot out of the water. Wouldn’t you know the fish would eat the lightest 8 pound outfit we had! Dana fought the tarpon for a little over an hour with the fish jumping clear of the water 4 times. We had the fish almost within leader distance a half a dozen times when the sun set and the line parted. All in all we had a ball with that fish. In the next two days we would catch many snook, redfish, sea trout and snappers on light tackle and live baits, Hook Up lures and Gulp shrimp and Skitter Walks and Twitchin Raps. We had lunch on Cabbage Key had a manatee rub its nose on our prop while we were fishing for over an hour saw a snake swim right by the boat and enjoyed the dolphins as they fed and jumped around us. Can’t wait till our next visit to Pine Island and the friendly people on Pine Island and Two Fish Inn. Before we left for Pine Island I had Jerry Chaves and his grandson’s Spencer and 6 year old Jake in North Biscayne Bay. After catching lots of bait we anchored and caught a few jacks, mangrove snappers and a nice Spanish mackerel before heading offshore where we wore the boys arms off with bonitos to 15 pounds.

Now its back to work again! Well that’s what I call it. Fishing in North Biscayne Bay will be good early in the mornings and then again in the late afternoons for sea trout, jacks, snook, ladyfish, snappers, a few Spanish mackerel and small kingfish, barracudas and tarpon and then offshore when the weather allows bonitos, kingfish, blackfin tuna, barracudas, dolphins and an occasional sailfish will be available. In South Biscayne Bay bonefish and permit are available with best action early and late in the day and in Flamingo all day action on snook, redfish a few tarpon, sea trout, goliath groupers, jacks, ladyfish, snapper and tripletail.

Do your self a favor before the summer is over and book yourself a trip so you too can get in on some of the great summer fishing. Don’t procrastinate or before you know it the fall and then the winter will be here. Great fishing will hold through early October when water temperatures start to drop and South Florida fishing makes a change and we start targeting migratory species.

Get Em on the “Get Em”! Capt. Alan Sherman Check out my report in the Miami Herald’s Sports section under Fishing Updates each Thursday, the Florida Sportsman magazines South Florida internet fishing report, my monthly South Florida fishing report in the Florida Sportsman Magazine or tune into the Florida Sportsman Magazines Live radio Show on WKAT 1360 on the AM dial every Saturday morning from 7 to 8 AM. Check out my new web site and see the monthly catches! Check out my weekly South Florida Fishing Report at www.floridasportsman.com and my monthly South Florida Fishing Report in The Florida Sportsman Magazine each month. We continue to broadcast the Florida Sportsman Magazine Live on WKAT 1360 AM every Sat. morning from 7 to 8 AM where we get up to the minute fishing forecasts from some of the top Capt.’s in South Florida like Capt. Jimbo Thomas on the Thomas Flyer, Capt. Bouncer Smith on Bouncers Dusky, Capt Skip Bradeen on the Blue Chips Too out of Whale Harbor Marina, Capt. Wayne Conn on The Reward Fleet, the Newport Fishing Pier and more.
Get Em on The "GET EM" C
apt. Alan Sherman
“Get Em” Sportfising Charters Inc.
786-436-2064
www.getemsportfishing.com

Sponsors: Yamaha, Bob Hewes Boats, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Daiwa, General Motors & Chevrolet, Rapala, Mustad, Ande Lines, Precision Tackle, Capt. Hank Brown’s Hook Up Lures, Hydro Glow Lights,Saltwater Assassins, Fishbites, Key Largo Rods, Lee Fisher Cast Nets, Smartshield, Master Repair in Stuart Florida, Berkley Gulp, Costa Del Mars

“Tight Lines & Great Fishing”
Capt. Alan Sherman

[capt_ron]

Roller Coaster Fishing!

I am beginning to feel like I’m on a roller coaster with the fishing. Good one day not the next. The ups and downs are most closely related to finding bait and the weather. The nearshore scene has gone from gobs of tarpon to none and from gobs of Kingfish to none. That’s the way it seems to be going.

The river bite has also been up and down but almost always with a few fish including one slam of a snook, redfish, and a spotted sea trout.

About a week ago my good friend Capt. Chris Myers gave me a clinic on tarpon. He jumped 11 and got one to the boat for a photo op. I jumped one but got him to the boat so the only thing I could really brag on was my percentage of 100 %. The bait of the day was the DOA Baitbuster. The photo below is 1 second after I pulled my tarpon from the water for a quick picture and he decide to give one more wiggle and jumped free from my hands.

<img src="http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Canaveral%20Bight%2011rs.jpg" />

The kingfish depended on the bait. Those who found pogies found kings and many anglers where limiting out. On the day I took my grandson looking for his first kingfish the pogies were not to be found. The previous day they were as easy as pie. With no live bait we trolled frozen Spanish sardines and still managed to catch him his first king. When you are trolling dead bait you can pick up the speed a little and they can be productive too.

<img src="http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Robert's%20first%20King%203%20fixrs.jpg" />

One trip in the river produced a slam of snook, redfish, and sea trout. Carol and Lloyd were visiting the Space Coast from Kansas and took a little time out for a fishing excursion. As sometimes happens with the lucky ladies, Carol caught the slam while Lloyd was left only with a mangrove snapper. The slam came on live shrimp suspended below a popping cork.

Another trip to the Banana River found Ann and her seventeen year old son Matt on the Pathfinder. Matt is an avid fisherman and was already talking about doing some surf fishing as soon as our trip was over. Ann was actually the first to hook up with a jumping ladyfish and then a slot-sized trout. Matt wasn’t too far behind with a 20 inch trout and later he caught the biggest fish of the day in a 5 pound sail cat. By the end of the day the Ann and Matt from New Jersey had boated over 30 fish that include seven different species.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

Capt. Ron Presley
Phone 321-454-7285
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[Fishbuster]

I fished 17 miles out of New Pass on Thursday, 8/23, with Paul Fenwick, Pamela Harden, Chris Dicon, John Priddy and Jackie Myers. We caught seven keeper mangrove snapper, a few Spanish mackerel and porgies, and released two goliath grouper each about 20 pounds before we hit the jackpot with a 24 pound cobia. We had hooked a small remora on a shrimp, and the cobia was hanging around trying to eat the shrimp protruding from the remora’s mouth (cobia tend to swim with remora.) With a little coaxing, the cobia swam boat-side. I grabbed my gaff, and hitting it lucky, got the fish dead-on. A green cobia is notorious for its power and ability to tear up everything in the boat, and I was prepared for the worst, but I was lucky--the way the gaff caught him, he didn’t even wiggle. (see photo)

Friday, fishing in 35-42 feet out of New Pass with Joe Lester, Paul Schaffer, and brothers Joe and John Berra, we released most of what we caught, except a few nice snapper for the group’s dinner. We caught lane snapper, mangrove snapper, a small hogfish, red grouper shorts to 18 ½ inches, triggerfish, porkfish, whitebone porgies and lots of ladyfish. A couple anglers had a couple of nice Spanish mackerel hooked, but they got their lines wrapped around each other and broke those off. We had a goliath try to eat one of our snappers on the way up, so we tossed the snapper back out for bait and released a 25 pound goliath. We were broken off by a larger goliath a while later. The water temperature was hot—91.1 degrees.

["Phlats" Capt. Craig]

“The Spawn is on”. The Snook spawn in Jupiter and Palm Beach has been full force the past few weeks. The bite has been excellent on both side of the tides. The Snook are taking both live baits and artificial baits. Live bait produces more bites, with croakers and live greenies being the bait of choice. The Snook have been averaging 10 to 25 pounds. The beaches have also produced great action for Snook. The Snook have been very active early and late in the evening hanging near the shore break. Small jigs and crank baits will produce many fish along with live bait if that’s your choice. Mixed in along the beaches with the snook have been pods of tarpon. These fish are ranging in the 40 to 90 pound class. The best way to catch these monsters is to get in front of them pitch a live bait out, stay quit, and hang on. Remember when targeting these fish take care of the fish when handling and please do not use the lightest tackle possible. I like to use a Spherous 5000 reel with a medium heavy rod lined with 30 pound Power Pro with 40 pound leader and a 4/0 circle hook. Power Pro works great when fishing the inlets do to it abrasion resistance towards the rocks and barnacles, these big Snook like to try and break you off on. The braid is also very sensitive and helps you feel everything the bait is doing.

The bite inside has been steady but water temperatures are very warm. Fishing early in the morning and late in the afternoon has been the ticket do to the water temps being cooler producing Snook, Tarpon, Jacks and Snapper. The last of the out going and first of the incoming is the best times for the tarpon. Live bait produces the most bites using greenies and sand perch. Small jigs and storm baits will also produce fish .

The fresh water bite has been excellent for peacock bass, these fish are schooling up and will destroy a live shiner put in front of them. Small flies and small jigs will also produce numerous catches. These fish are averaging 2 to 5 pounds. The largemouth bass have been active also. Early morning and late afternoon produces the most strikes do to the cooler temps. Small crank baits and small jigs work best for these fish along with live shiners.

Well that is the report for the past few weeks. If you would like to experience light tackle fishing at its best for any of the above mentioned species, give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call 561-644-4371. Or visit me at www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com. Phlats1519@yahoo.com. I would like to thank Power Pro and www.AtonSolutions.com for there support.

[fishtales]

August 23, 2007

Inshore:

Dog Days of summer are upon us still and it's been hot around the Treasure Coast this week. Getting out early or late in the day offers the best opportunities to fish and a little comfort to go along, too. Fishing has continued to be productive for those early birds on the water.

Trout and snapper has been the best bite along the river this week. I had Tyler Serio, Chad Merrill and Jason Horn on the boat Sunday for the first Teen Anglers Tournament. While the big fish evaded us, they caught a number of trout, snapper, look-downs and a variety of fish for the day. It was a great day of fishing for the guys. I always look forward to the tournaments and taking the guys out. All three of them were awarded trophies for their catch.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1307.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1307.jpg)
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Jason Horn weighing in his trout and Tyler Serio with a Lookdown he caught...

The not hard to find the secret to fishing in the heat of summer. Look for the bait schools and you should find fish hanging around them. Snook, redfish and trout have been chasing the bait in the wee hours of the mornings and a good top water lure can get you a strike. Vary the way you work your lures until you get that hit and keep working it around the bait. Once the sun rises, switch to a suspending lure or live bait on a popping cork. The trout have been hitting mostly in the mornings, but you can still get a few to bite around the bait schools. There has been a good bite down towards the Power Plant and up north from Queen's Cove to Round Island.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1309.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1309.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing002.jpg)

First light in Fort Pierce and trout fishing at dawn....

Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges with live or dead shrimp. Fishing around structure on the bottom can get you a good mess for dinner. There have also been sheephead and black drum hanging in the same areas. Use small hooks to have the best chance for them. We have had success on both tides. I heard from several anglers who have had some good luck this past week catching some nice snapper.

Snook have been on the flats in the early hours chasing bait. Also look for snook and redfish to be lurking along the docks south of Fort Pierce. Lots of other fish around the river this time of year. We have been catching jacks, ladyfish, look-downs, barracuda and variety of other species that have invaded the river in search of a meal.

Tip of the Week:

Snook season open September 1st and is almost here already. It's a good time to check things and make sure you are ready for it. With the new regulations in effect, make sure you have something to measure your fish. Have you checked your snook stamp? Might just be time to do that, too. A lot of snook fishing gear isn't used as much during the off season, so it's time to check your rods, reels and line. It's usually pretty busy around the bait shops, ramps and inlets that first week. Make your plans and include alternate fishing spots if your favorite haunt is taken when you head out. It can get crowded, so a little patience, friendliness and awareness can help make for a fun experience.....hopefully a successful one, too!

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

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, September 2007

Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida

Season of the Mullet

As the tropical storm season wanes along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida, we welcome the arrival of September with hot and humid days, and than say good by to the summer as September exits on the shoulders of a prevailing northeast wind. Shorter days, longer nights and the prevailing shift is the winds and swells signal the end of summer, and the beginning of the season of the mullet.

I’m often asked the question, “When is the best time to fish on the east coast of Florida?” and the answer has arrived with the season of the mullet. Like many of the 700 plus species of fish that frequent the IRL throughout the year, silver mullet gradually return to our estuary in the spring, and then form up for a mass exodus once the water begins to cool. As the bait schools begin to form up, larger predators know it is once again time to fatten up for winter’s arrival.

As schools of bait move out of the inlets and south down the beach, they move in pulses rather than a continuous flow, so as always, locating bait is the key to success. Bait pods are easily located by watching for diving birds and fish working them on the surface just inside the breakers. Look for snook, tarpon, redfish, bluefish, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and large kingfish crushing and shadowing bait pods all along the beach. Once you’ve located the bait concentration, simply determine its direction of movement, usually south, and set up in front of it and let them come to you. This is also my preferred time of year to target tarpon and snook in the surf.

The beach snook run has already started with a few fish being reported, and it will pick up substantially, just in time for the opening of snook season on September 1st. When fishing from the beach, I prefer using live finger mullet as bait, matching the run. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait drift along in the direction of tidal flow. My rig consist of a #3 Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook, a one ounce barrel sinker, and a 24” section of 40-pound test fluorocarbon leader. I also prefer to use 20-pound test braided high-vis Courtland line to improve sensitivity and avoid line twist. First, slide the barrel sinker onto the terminal end of your braided line, and then splice in the leader, the knot will allow the sinker to slide freely up the braided line, keeping it off of the leader and the hook. This technique will allow bait to cover more ground and help keep your bait in the strike zone longer. Make sure your reel has the strength and line capacity to handle a large fish, so you don’t get spooled.

Outside in the deeper water, good numbers of kingfish will continue to work the beaches, Port Canaveral buoy line, and the inshore reefs and wrecks in 70 to 120 feet of water. When targeting kingfish my preferred method is slow trolling live pogies (Atlantic menhaden) on stainless steel stinger rigs. Also as the water temperatures cool, look for the large manta rays to move into shallower water bringing cobia with them. In Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet look for flounder, mangrove snapper, large redfish and snook around the jetties and other structures, and tripletail, barracuda, and cobia under the Canaveral buoy cans.

Inshore, the sea trout bite on top water plugs will increase along the deeper edges of the grass flats, with the best bite happening at first light and sunset. Also look for ladyfish, tarpon, and jacks to be mixed in. When targeting these fish, work top water plugs for explosive action, or try working ¼ ounce jigs with a white or rootbeer colored RipTide Realistic Shrimp combined with a Woodies Rattle capsule inserted. Near the end of the month, start looking for the pompano and flounder to begin moving out of the lagoon through the inlets into the near shore waters along the beach. Also watch for the larger redfish to begin forming up just outside Sebastian and Ponce De Leon Inlets to spawn, and feeding on small baitfish, mullet, and small blue crabs washing out with the tide.

Seminars and Events:

September 2nd 8am –12pm Rodney Smith’s Surf Fishing Tour
Port Canaveral to Satellite Beach
www.coastalanglermagazine.com

September 8th 10am – 4pm Coleman Tailgate Event
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Information and directions 407-464-2000

September 22nd 2pm to 6pm Rodney Smith’s Fishing Land Tour
Longpoint to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
www.coastalanglermagazine.com

September 29th 10am – 3pm Ladies Social Angler Seminar
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Registration and Information 407-464-2000 or
www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free


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

If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.

[fishtales]

August 31, 2007

Inshore:

SNOOK SEASON OPENS TONIGHT! There are a lot of eager anglers waiting for the stroke of midnight to get out in search of a slot size snook tonight. The inlets have been holding lots of linesiders and tonight will give many the opportunity of a keeper snook. You can expect this weekend to be a very busy time on the water. Tournaments happening, snook season opening, Labor Day Weekend....etc....etc.....will make the ramps and channels overly busy with boat traffic. Be prepared for a wait at the ramp and take extra caution to watch for potential boat hazards all over the area. Have a safe and successful Labor Day Weekend!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpic001-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpic001-1.jpg)

Trout fishing continues to be productive on the river....

Trout have continued to be the fish to target on the river these days. Early mornings on top water and switching to live bait once the sun rises over the shoreline can give you the best chance at a hookup. Lots of reports of smaller trout this week, but there are still some slobs out there. Largest I managed over the weekend was 23" on a jerk bait. The Power Plant has continued to bring good catches to those heading south of Fort Pierce and from Queen's Cove to Round Island to the north.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_c5dd9e0b.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/c5dd9e0b.jpg)

Slot size snook will be the target for September....

Snapper have been biting along the channel edges and also on the flats. I caught several keepers in the shallow water, but most have come from the channels. There are some nice size snapper in the river and live or dead shrimp have worked well out there. Most reports I have had are to the north of Fort Pierce.

Redfish have been scattered with the hotter water on the flats this month. I did manage to scare a school that was in shallow water at first light, but they hustled off the flats in a hurry. I would suggest trying the docks along the west shoreline to try for a redfish this time of year. As the water begins to cool off, look for them to get more active on the flats.

Bridge and jetty anglers have been catching snapper, sheephead and a few flounder. The river continues to be loaded with ladyfish and jacks out looking for a meal. It's a great time with the kids this time of year. The fall mullet run is just around the corner and look for lots of action as the bait schools begin their parade along the Treasure Coast. The river and beach will be alive with mullet and all the things that love to eat them!

Tip of the Week:

Holiday weekends can be frustrating and trying times if you don't plan your trip on the water. Make sure your boat is running prior to heading off to the water. Get your boat prepped before you back into the ramp. Ramp time should always be minimized to allow other boats to get launched in short time. If you launch early, like I do, turn your headlights off when backing down the ramp. It allows the boater on the ramp next to you to launch without headlights glaring in his mirrors. Be prepared to a long line of anxious boaters and patience, wisdom and a little preparation will help make your holiday weekend a fun and safe experience! Happy Labor Day!

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

[Fishbuster]

Friday, 8/31, I fished an outgoing tide in Estero Bay around Wiggins Pass with Tom and Marsha Lynch. We caught a few keeper mangrove snapper to 12 inches and released a 19 inch snook, cravalle jacks and ladyfish.

Saturday, 9/1, I fished with a husband-and-wife team who were actually both named Terry--Terry & Terry Lunsford and their friends Mel and Linda Vaughn. We headed out to about 32 feet out of New Pass, where we did pretty well with live shrimp. We caught a 23 inch keeper gag grouper, the first one of those in a good while this close in. We also caught 14 keeper mangrove snapper to 13 inches and some porgies. We released a small hogfish and a 14 inch mutton snapper. Then, for some sport and excitement, we targeted goliath grouper with blue runners and cravalle jacks as bait. We released three goliaths, one that appeared to be over 15o pounds, one about 70 pounds and one about 50 pounds. All in all it was a hot, but good morning of fishing for fun and food.

The photo shown is of angler Stacy Madson with a trio of hogfish, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, September 6, 2007

Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

Let the Feeding Frenzy Commence

Yesterday as the sun settled in the west, I found myself at the ocean’s edge. My quest was not to catch fish for I carried no tackle, but to simply observe conditions in anticipation of the arrival of the mullet. With a low-pressure system building in the Atlantic northeast of Florida and the northeasterly breezes and seas building, conditions are right for the commencement of the mullet run.

As I sat there scanning the water with my toes burred in the sand, I caught a glimpse of a large splash out of the corner of my eye. Was it a large tarpon or maybe a spinner shark? My anticipation grew. Soon I spotted what I was hoping to see as another large tarpon exploded on a school of silver mullet pushing south about 100 yards offshore. As the darkness grew more and more bait pods pushed to the surface hounded by hungry tarpon and spinner sharks. Further out I watch as terns feverishly worked schools of glass minnows pushed to the surface by Spanish mackerel. Clearly the bait run has started, and soon the beach and inlets will be teaming with bait and hungry fish. Currently, heavy ocean conditions will make fishing from a boat challenging, but once the seas begin to settle the bite should be on fire.

On the inside today I spent the better part of the afternoon poling my Old Town canoe along the western shoreline of the Banana River No-Motor Zone looking for signs of the fall bait run. Gusty winds and recent rainfall have muddied the water making sight fishing difficult.

As I poled along the flat I would run over the fish before I’d see them, so I adjusted my strategy with a decision to try a new soft plastic bait. In the distance I could see redfish pushing and moving about, so I decided to try retrieving the new Exude 2 ½ inch Fan Tailed Shrimp in the Golden Bream color across the surface of the water. I would make a long cast well past my target, and with my rod tip raised high, I would reel the bait at a steady speed just fast enough to keep it fluttering on top. The fan Tail Shrimp comes with a glass rattle, which inserts into a pocket in the tail of the bait, but the rattle was gone after the first fish. I have done well using this tactic before, and once again it rewarded me with 8 redfish and about a dozen missed fish. After my pack of Exudes were gone, I switched to my trusted RipTide frog, and again received explosive results from I believe to be snook at the very edge of the matted widgeon grass. If you try this tactic, keep your rod tip high, and at the moment of the strike, through your rod tip forward giving the fish some slack and a chance to take the bait. The hook I was using was a #3 Daiichi Copper Head with the barb smashed.

Tip of the Week

A recent study showed a thirty percent mortality for catch and release sea trout. These fish expire after release from injuries and miss handling. With this thought in mind, it is extremely important keep you fish in the water as much as possible, touch them as little as possible, and mash the barbs on your hooks, especially gang hooks, Mashed barbs will facilitate an easy release with less injury. Barbs on hook do not catch fish; tight lines catch fish.

Seminars and Events:

September 8th 10am – 4pm Coleman Tailgate Event
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Information and directions 407-464-2000


September 29th 10am – 3pm Ladies Social Angler Seminar
Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida
Registration is limited call 407-464-2000 or go to
www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free


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

If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.

[fishtales]

September 6, 2007

Inshore:

A little cooler weather has eased up some of the heat on the Treasure Coast this week. Along with some afternoon showers, it has helped cool off the water temperatures on the flats. You can see the first signs of the mullet invading the river to begin the fall mullet run along the eastern Florida. It's a great time of year to fish the Indian River!

Most weeks, lately, it has been a trout and snapper report. I was on the water today fishing the shallow waters of the north of Fort Pierce. As I saw a flash in front of the boat, I looked out on a nice sized school of healthy redfish working their way across the flats. All were in the upper slot range and with one cast, I had on a 27" bundle of angry fish. The whole school lingered around while I fought the red and there were even several that continued to swim next to the hooked fish as it neared the boat. The redfish are back on the flats!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingpicSmall.jpg

Redfish action on the flats this week....

Trout fishing has continued to be most productive in the early mornings on top water or live bait on a float. Look for them to stay on the deeper edges of the flats for now, but they will begin to head up in the shallows once the mullet are in the river. As the water temps lower a bit, the trout will spend more time on the flats.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1278Small.jpg

The end of a battle, released to fight another day....

Snook fishing has been good for the night anglers around the bridges, jetties and docks. Most have been shorts and some nice over-slots have been taken. It's been a challenge to get in the slot so far this season for a lot of anglers. Early mornings on the flats will find snook feeding at first light and a top water lure can get a strike. Large shrimp or live bait works well around the bridges and jetties.

There are still snapper, jacks and ladyfish being caught around the river. Hit the channel edges for snapper. Jacks and ladyfish are all around the river this time of year. Look for things to heat up as the mullet continue to filter their way into the river. It's time to get out the cast net and be ready for some great fishing action!

Tip of the Week:

I fish a lot of soft baits on the flats. One thing that I do to keep my baits hopping along the grass is to hold the rod tip high while popping my baits up over the grass. Use short twitches to work the bait slowly along the bottom. I like to use CAL jigs on my soft baits and if you use short, sharp pops with your rod tip high, it will keep the bait jumping up before settling back on the bottom. If you practice, you will seldom pick up grass as you fish the flats. You can use weedless set ups also and use the same technique to work your lure.

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

[capt_ron]

1st Palce Prize Winning Report
The Fall Mullet Run

It looks to me like the fall mullet run has been underway for about a week now. When the finger mullet show up in the surf and in the rivers you can be sure the fishing action is about to improve. In my last report I described the fishing like a roller coaster, up one day and down the next. With the mullet showing up we should be up most of the time for a while now. It’s the time of the year anglers wait for because the predators will be following closely behind and the fishing should get great.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Christians%20Red.jpg

The Port and the Nearshore Ocean should produce some good redfish and snook action along with all the other predators that will be following the mullet. Some reports of tarpon to the north, suggests that these bruisers will be down our way soon. Use your cast net to fill the well with mullet and you are on your way. Rig up with a Diiachi Bleeding Bait circle hook and free line those mullet in the surf along the beach and also around the jetties. Beef up that rod to at least a 20 pound class and use a 40 pound leader. If you get into the tarpon take that leader on up to at least 60 pounds and bigger than that if the fish go over 100. With the 20 pound rods and the appropriate leader you will be able to shorten the fight and improve the chances of a strong live release.

On my last two trips on the Banana River we were greeted with high winds from the get go. The first trip resulted in only one fish after a lot of looking and casting. The one red we picked up came on a 5 inch Rip Tide Flats Grub in the glow color. The grub was rigged on a 1/4 oz. Pro Jig head from Rip Tide. The nice 23 inch red was lying up close to the mangroves on a small spoil island. Anytime you can find this situation with some deeper water nearby chances are good there are some fish around.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Rip%20Tide%20Red,%20rs.jpg

The next trip was also a windy day. I was joined by John from Chicago for the days fishing. John started the morning casting topwater lures hoping for a snook. After fishing a couple different points without success we changed over to a small subsurface lure in a white color. It wasn’t long until a small juvenile tarpon took the bait. Unfortunately, one jump and he was gone. At least it got us pumped a little because we had fished an hour without success. Soon we had a pole bending jack for a little more action.

The bite was slow on artificial so we decide to try some live shrimp. The shrimp produced more jacks, some nice mangrove snapper, and several small reds. The largest red was 21 inches. The wind continued to blow hard and by the time we called it a day we ran though large waves and a couple of rain showers getting back to the ramp.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That’s what it’s all about. Good fishin’.

["Phlats" Capt. Craig]

Inshore Fishing Report September 11, 2007 Palm Beach / Jupiter


Let me start off by saying summer has flown by pretty fast. The fall is upon us and that means “Mullet Run Time”. We have already gotten pods of mullet passing through the past few weeks. This has turned the fishing up inside. The Tarpon Snook, and Jacks have been going nuts all through the Lake Worth lagoon. The best times have been morning, evening, and nighttime do to the water temperatures dropping as the sunsets.

Snook season is back open, September first was opening day and I have only managed one slot sized Snook with the new regulations. Most of the Snook caught are over the slot or just under the twenty-eight inch mark. Most of the Snook have been following bait pods near docks and sea walls. Live bait is the key but during the early morning and evening hours jigs and top water baits will produce many hook ups.

The Tarpon action has been hot the past week and these fish are everywhere. Many off the Tarpon are in small pods both incoming and outgoing produce fish. Free lining live bait will get there attention but for those who like to throw lures, small top dogs and spooks will work along with storm baits. The average size of the Tarpon is 5 to 20 lbs. The Jacks have also been around in full force exploding on any bait that moves near there vicinity. The Jacks are ranging form 2 to 15 lbs. The snapper bite and sheepshead bite has been good also with many of these fish taken near the docks and sea walls

The freshwater bite has slowed do the water clarity. The water has been chocolate brown the past week because off all the rain and the back pumping form the engineers thanks.
There are fish around the key has been to find cleaner water and fish early in the morning or late in the evening. The largemouth bass have been taking finesse worms and small crank baits, The peacock bas bite has slowed tremendously and I don’t expect it to pick back up until the water clarity cleans up which could be a while.

Well that is the fishing report for the past few weeks if you would like to experience light tackle inshore fishing for any of the above-mentioned species give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call at 561-644-4371. Or visit www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com,or email me at phlats1519@yahoo.com. I would like to thank PowerPro.com and www.AtonSolutions.com for there support

[the_captains_wife]

September Inshore & Offshore fishing PredictionsBy: Sandra Allen
Book Me A Charter

September’s cooler weather is on the way and finally a little break from the blistering summer heat wave. When the nights starts cooling- the inshore fishing starts heating up for the fall fishing season.

Some of our homeowner friends from St. George Island and Cape San Blas have beautiful 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units open and ready for our fishing buddies. If you are looking to get away for a weekend or spend a nice relaxing week of fishing and lounging on our secluded beaches- this is the time of year to do it. Rental rates are lower and the weather is normally cooler this time of year. Give us a call if you see that you may be able to sneak away for a couple of days or a week or two and enjoy our beautiful fall season mixed with wonderful fall fishing.

Now, to the Fishing Report……

Inshore… We have been catching some really nice inshore species of fish and expect it to only get better as the season progresses. September, October and November are prime fall fishing months for schooling Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder and Drum. Fall fishing is always some of the best fishing in the year. Our nights are getting longer and cooler thus the water temperatures are dropping. Anyone who knows fishing, knows that this combination is what triggers fish to do their thing.

Cooling waters create hungry fish!
We do offer flounder gigging charters on the Apalachicola Bay. We will be targeting flounder on their fall run starting mid September through October depending on the weather and water temperatures. Look for some fantastic fall flounder gigging charters!


Offshore... We have been catching some really big Red Snapper, Red Grouper, King Mackerel and Cobia. Our captains are reporting good offshore fishing in water 45-100 ft. in depth, from 6-20 miles offshore. We expect good offshore fishing to continue through the fall season. Remember Recreational Snapper season closes October 31…

Of course many of you have already called and reserved your boats for the upcoming season. We really appreciate the fact that you took heed in our earlier fishing reports and reserved early. At this time we do have days open, but we don’t expect our guides to be open long. Call or email us for availability or to reserve one of our native guides.

136 137

If you’re looking for experienced, family friendly, native guides give us a call 850-653-2622 or drop us an email info@BookMeACharter.com

We’d love to take you fishing in our back yard!

Sandra Allen
Book Me A Charter
Tour and Fishing Guide Services
Apalachicola, FL
850-653-2622
www.BookMeACharter.com
info@BookMeACharter.com

[fishtales]

Favorable Mention Report
September 13, 2007

Inshore:

Another beautiful week of nice weather on the Treasure Coast has provided some great fishing opportunities on the Indian River. Tides have been running higher than normal this week, allowing anglers to fish areas that are usually too shallow for most boats. The water has remained fairly clean to the north of Fort Pierce, even with the showers we have received this week. South of Fort Pierce has been clear and the mullet have invaded the river. Fish the bait and you will find the action!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingpicturesSmall.jpg

Terry with a nice 22" trout caught on the flats....

Trout has continued to be very productive in the early mornings on soft baits, top water or live shrimp. Get out early for the best action. Fish the shallow grass flats first and move to the deeper edges once the sun rises. Mike Smith and his friend, Terry, were out with me over the weekend and we got into some nice trout action in the early morning. They caught two over slot trout, but Terry had a huge gator trout explode on his top water, only to miss. I was out scouting a couple days this week and landed a 27" to top off the day. Harbor Branch and Bear Point have been good to us most days out there.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures006Small.jpg

A 27" gator trout caught on soft baits this week....

Snook fishing has been good at night along the inlet, docks and bridges. Not many slot size reported, but many shorts and some over-size snook were reported. Live bait is the first choice. Large shrimp, when available, or live mullet will do the trick. Don't forget to give the surf a try this time of year. Lots of snook will be patrolling the beaches while chasing the mullet.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures004Small.jpg

Early morning on the water - 9/11/2007....a double rainbow!

Not a lot of redfish reports this week. They were on the flats the week prior, but evaded us this week. I will be after them again next week! With all the mullet filtering into the river, look for the action on the flats to continue to heat up next week!

Hoards of ladyfish and jacks are chasing bait all over the river. Some nice size jacks are out there to keep your rod bent. It's a great time of year to fish the Indian River. Still lots of snapper on the channel edges to keep you busy. Plan a trip on the water soon.....

Tip of the Week:

With all the bait in the river, it's a great time to drift the flats in the early mornings. It's always a good idea to use the tides and winds to your advantage when fishing the flats. Set yourself up to drift across your favorite fishing area to let the winds and tide move you silently across it. I always carry a small bell anchor along to drop over the side if I want to stop in any area to fish it, before drifting along again. You can use a zigzag pattern to fish flats by drifting and moving back for another drift along a different path. It works well for early mornings on the flats.

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

[capt_ron]

Road Trip

You can probably tell from the title, this report is not about fishing Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island but about a recent road trip to Homosassa for the Florida Outdoor Writers Annual Convention. If you are like me you like to get away from home once in a while and fish some other areas. Homosassa provides the perfect spot to do so.

It is a beautiful area for fishing and sightseeing as well. Homosassa is home to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, a wonder in itself. A 1.1 mile trail of paving and boardwalks puts you in touch with Hippo’s, Alligators, Bobcats, Cougar, Manatees, and more. The underwater observatory gives you excellent views of snook, redfish, sheepshead, snappers, and other fishes in their natural environment. With all the educational programs they offer you could spend a day in the park learning about nature and wildlife. You can even dine at the Wildlife Café located in the park.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Chancey%20Red%201rs.jpg

There are plenty of other things to do in the area but we better get to the fishing. I went a day before the conference so I could do a little extra fishing. I hooked up with Capt. Don Chancey for some redfish action. Don operates Grouper Hunter/ Flats Chance Charters and specializes in Grouper, Trout, Redfish, and Cobia. You can reach him at 352-303-9399. I called him and ask about a morning charter. He said fine, lets start about noon. You guessed it, the tides are all important in that area and since we were going after redfish he wanted to fish the incoming tide and a 12:00 noon departure would give us the needed conditions.

We ran out towards the Gulf of Mexico in the little Homosassa River. Capt. Don mentioned what many others had told me in the past. When running these waters be very careful to stay in the marked channels. There are lots of rocks and many lower units have been damaged by unsuspecting boaters. It wasn’t long until the characteristics of the river faded and the environment turned into rocky mangrove islands all of which looked fishy to me.

Capt. Don explained that as the tide comes up over the rocks and fills the voids under the mangroves the redfish follow the rising water to feed. We fished rocky points and edges of mangroves using shrimp and cut mullet. Light tackle spinning rods were rigged with about 18 inches of leader and a 3/0 circle hook. A small split shot was added just above the hook for added casting distance.

By the end of the day we had wrestled about 8 feisty redfish to the boat, the largest measured in at 26.5 inches. The color of the redfish were something to behold. The last red I caught in the Banana River was nearly silver but these Homosassa reds were a bright beautiful bronze, as if they had been working on their tan all summer.

Well, I gotta’ go for now but my next report will be about the fishing tournament held at the writers conference. The tournament was scheduled in the morning and the tides would not be the ones the guides wanted. Tune in next time to read about the results.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

[fishtales]

September 20, 2007

Inshore:

Other than some daily thunderstorms that have loomed over the Treasure Coast, the fishing has been good out on the river. Some breaks in the daily routine of rain, have provided a mixed bag of fish for anglers braving the conditions. Mullet are all over the river now and the predators are all out there giving chase. It's not hard to find fish....just watch for nervous or excited bait schools and you can find fish hanging around them.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures002.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures001.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures001.jpg)

Eva with trout and bluefish to begin a morning on the water....

I managed a couple days on the water in between the weather this week. My wife, Eva, accompanied me on Saturday for some great fishing action on the Indian River. Fishing around bait rewarded us with catches of snook, trout, redfish,ladyfish, bluefish, jacks, snapper and grouper in our morning excursion. Eva finally got tired of reeling in fish, so we called it a day.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures003.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures003.jpg)

Topping of the day with snook.....

With all the bait available, there will be a nice assortment of fish to be sought in this time of plenty. Early morning will find snook, trout, ladyfish and jacks up on the flats seeking an easy breakfast. A good top water lure will give you plenty of action in the wee hours of morning. Switch to soft plastics or sinking lures once the sun rises and start moving to the deeper edges of the flats. Washed out sand holes on the flats are a favorite hiding spot for large trout during the morning also. Live shrimp is always a great way to catch dinner around the river. The entire river is alive right now!

Snook fishing has provided some nice slot size fish to the night anglers around the bridges and inlet area. Live shrimp is usually the bait of choice, but finger mullet is another good bait for snook fishing. Docks around the river have held snook, redfish and snapper. We fished several this week with good success. Live shrimp or soft baits will let you know if something is lurking under a dock.

Redfish are still hanging on the flats. I was slammed by a couple nice reds while fishing the bait schools. Soft baits have always worked great for me and I use them on the flats most of the time. All the rain has raised the water level in the river for a few days and allows you to fish areas normally pretty shallow.

Tip of the Week:

Take the time to watch the bait. Nervous bait means fish, lazy bait might be a sign to move on. Birds are cruising the skies looking for bait being chased. Learning to read the water can give you a good insight on where to fish or when to move to another spot. Take a little time and watch what is going on around you. The river is an exciting place to fish. Letting the fish, bait and birds tell you what is happening can help make your trips more successful!

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

[Fishbuster]

This week was a good one for snapper of all varieties. Terry Mooney, Mike Franklin, Bob Myers and Jim Schultz fished with me Monday in 45 feet straight out of New Pass. We did well with snapper. We caught two 14 inch yellowtails and twenty mangrove snapper to 15 inches. We also caught triggerfish and porkfish and released three short hogfish and gag grouper shorts. As we were reeling in one of the mangrove snapper, with a light spinning rod and no steel leader, a 4 foot barracuda bit the snapper and ended up hooking himself in the lip. We managed to get the cuda to the boat without breaking the line, photographed and released it.

Mike and Sandy Chandler fished with me Tuesday morning when seas were predicted to be two foot. In actuality, we had 3-4 foot seas and sloppy conditions in 45 feet out of New Pass, with a steady fifteen knot wind. But, the fishing was good, which compensated us for the rough seas. We caught a dozen nice mangrove snapper to 16 inches, a keeper mutton snapper at 17 inches (see photo), a 13 inch hogfish and some whitebone porgies. We released smaller yellowtail and muttons, triggerfish, and a 15 pound goliath grouper. All were caught on shrimp, except for the goliath who ate a grunt as we were reeling it in.

The tropical weather system off our coast kicked up seas to 4-6 feet by Thursday, and I had to cancel my final trip for this week.

[fishtales]

September 28, 2007

Inshore:

Rainy days and rainy nights took over the weather forecast this week on the Treasure Coast. Fishing has been good if you braved the conditions to get out. We were stopped short for the Teen Anglers on Sunday due to thunder and lightning around the area. I managed a few hours later in the week before the storms moved in again. Looks like the pattern will continue next week as well. Break out the ol' rain gear if you try to get out. The water levels are high in the river and the quality has diminished and made it pretty cloudy for now. Lots and lots of bait out there and the fish continue to feed on it. The full moon slowed down the day fishing somewhat later in the week.

Look for bait being chased to find the fish this week. Snook, trout, ladyfish, jacks and bluefish have all been out there giving the bait fits. You might have to try several spots to find where the bait is being crashed. Fish around the bait for the action. Top water, suspending lures and soft baits will be good choices to fish with. Live shrimp or mullet will also be great baits. Trout has continued to be productive this week. Try a few docks with some live bait in the early morning hours. Snook will hang around those docks waiting for breakfast to swim by. Most of the docks, due to the higher water conditions, will be a good option to try this weekend.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1266.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1266.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fish003-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fish003-1.jpg)

Lots of action awaits anglers this month on the Indian River....

Bear Point has been holding a lot of bait and we have been successful with trout there. Harbor Branch is another good area that continually produces fish for us. The bridges and channel edges have been yielding snapper and black drum with a few sand perch mixed in. I had one report of a large trout and 30" redfish caught up north of Fort Pierce. I had a few reports of flounder this week also. The night snook anglers that I spoke to reported mostly short snook being taken this week. A few slots and larger for the more successful ones. Live bait has been the best choice. Tarpon are feeding along the beach and inlets. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere. Large ladyfish have invaded the flats and jumping on anything that moves. Great action for the young ones!

So much for a soggy fishing report this week!

Tip of the Week:

It's that time of year to get out the cast net and use some live finger mullet for bait. It's all over the river and the food of choice for the predators cruising the waters. If it has been a while since you used your cast net. Get out in the back yard and practice some before heading off on the water. There are several good sites on the net that gives instructions on using a cast net if you are new to the art. It isn't hard to do, just learn a technique that works for you and practice it. Enjoy the fishing this time of year!

http://www.calusa.com/howtothrow.cfm

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

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, October 2007

Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

As the fall bait run continues, hordes of black and silver mullet, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), and bay anchovies (glass minnows) flee for their live as they move south in search of a warmer climate. This migration signals the end of summer, and the beginning of some of the best fishing experienced on the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida.

Weather permitting, near-shore opportunities are the best you will see all year. Along the beaches, target areas of concentrated bait schools for a mixed bag of snook, tarpon, kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, oversized redfish, and sharks. Additionally, snook fishing in the surf will continue to improve as the baitfish move south along the beach. Also look for schools of glass minnows to increase bringing larger Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and tarpon with them.

In and around the inlets of Ponce, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian look for flounder, snook, jack crevalle, and oversized redfish feeding on migrating baitfish along the jetties and just outside the inlets. My preferred method of targeting the inlet redfish is to drift the inlet bouncing live mullet or pinfish on the bottom on a falling tide. Easterly swells, falling tides, and aggressive anglers can make conditions dangerous, so please pay attention, be patient, and catch-um-up.

Inshore, look for slot redfish in close to the grassy edges along the shoreline shadowing pods of finger mullet, and for the larger redfish staged in deeper water ambush sites where migrating mullet are forced to venture out from the safety of the shallow flats. Also watch for snook to be tucked in close to the shoreline, ambushing pods of finger mullet as they pass by.

In deeper water areas, look for ladyfish, spotted sea trout, jacks, and tarpon feeding on schools of glass minnows. These schools of fish are easily located by watching for bird and fish activity. Once located, these schools will produce explosive action on small top water plugs, or popping bug flies. Also, if you locate a school of the larger black mullet, try fishing spoons or soft plastic baits deep under the school. Even though, mullet are vegetarians, redfish and sea trout will often mingle in feeding on shrimp and crabs kicked up from the bottom by larger mullet.

Seminars and Events

October 13th, Braided Line Applications, Andy Thornal Company Fly Fishing Expo located under the Water Tower in Winter Haven, Florida. Call 863-299-9999 for more details.

October 23rd, Orlando Kayak Club meets at 7pm Gander Mountain in Lake Mary, and Captain Rodney Smith is the guest speaker.

November 16th, 17th, and 18th, Coastal Angler Magazines Boating and Fishing Expo at the Volusia County Fairgrounds with a full program of speakers and seminars.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free


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

If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.

[capt_ron]

Road Trip II

This is the second report on a recent road trip to Homosassa for the Florida Outdoor Writers Annual Convention. It was a great chance to get away from home and experience some great fishing in another part of the state. Homosassa provides the perfect spot to fish, sightsee, and just relax. The meeting was based out of the Riverside Resort which sets right on the Homosassa River. The resort offers great rooms, some with a river view and a great restaurant and bar area.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Gull%20on%20Post%20rs.jpg

One morning of the conference is always devoted to a “just for fun” fishing tournament. This year the Homosassa Guides Association put together about 20 boats for the 40 anglers that would participate in the tournament. Everyone was assigned a fishing partner the night before and told to meet at the boat ramp at 6:30 am. The rules were simple; the winner would be determined by the total length of all fish, measured in inches, rounded off to the nearest half inch. Score cards were provided and it was the duty of the captain to measure and record the catches.

There were a few other rules to be observed. Rule number 5 stated, Kindly refrain from loudly exclaiming, “Purty Fish” or “It don’t get any better than this.” At the end of the days fishing everyone would meet at Tarpon Key Lodge by 11:15 am for a shore lunch provided by CCA Florida and awarding of the prizes. At the awards presentation all participants agreed to shout in unison to the winner, “You are the greatest angler of all time.”

So, with the rules in place let the competition begin. My guide for the day was Captain Dan Clymer (Racin’ Mullet Charters -353-418-2160). Recognizing that the tides were not in our favor for redfish around the mangrove islands he chose to head on out into the Gulf of Mexico to target trout and grouper. It turned out to be a great decision as both trout and grouper were plentiful. It was really great being on the other end of the stick, so to speak. I let Captain Dan take care of everything and he was great at doing it all. I highly recommend him if you want to fish the Homosassa area.

It was about six or seven miles out where we stopped in 6 foot water over grassy flats with numerous rock piles to attract the fish. A gentle wind provided the propulsion to quietly drift over the flats and work plastic baits over the bottom. It was one of those days when the fish hit a variety of baits. I was fishing Rip Tide Flats Chub jerk baits, 3 inch mullet, 3 inch shrimp and 4” mud minnows.

All these baits were rigged and fished the same way. Power Pro mainline, 20 pound Triple Fish Fluorocarbon leader, and a 1/4 ounce Rip Tide Pro Jig head. All the various plastic baits were pinned to the jig head and fished slowly along and just above the bottom. Making long casts and slow retrieves produced spotted sea trout, grouper, sea bass, snapper, and ladyfish. The key to the bite seemed to be the slow retrieve. I would lift the rod tip and let the lure fall back to the bottom. The strike often occurred on the drop.

The grouper seem to especially like the Rip Tide mud minnow and I use every one that I had brought along that day. The colors I always keep in my tackle box include the Rootbeer, Golden Glow and the Killifish. The sea trout were also hitting the mud minnow.

I also used up all my Nite Glow 3 inch mullet while the Silver Mullet produced well too. After drifting the 6 foot water for awhile Capt. Dan decided to move to an area that was about 4 feet deep with beautiful sandy pot holes. The same tactics that worked in the 6 foot water worked here as well. We continued to catch numerous fish until it was time to make the run for the Tarpon Key Lodge and a shore lunch hosted by CCA Florida.

As I sat under a shade tree at the lodge, accessible only by boat, I heard my name called as they began the awards ceremony. Captain Dan had dutifully measured and recorded the mornings catch and turned it in to the score table. I never even knew the total but after the tally it was the highest total inches and I had won the tournament. It turned out to be over 300 inches of fish. The largest fish in the total was probably no longer than 22 inches - there was just a lot of them. Of course the next question is what about the prize. If you know what a Heddon Tiny Torpedo looks like then you can blow it up to be three feet long and that was my trophy for the win. I plan on giving it to my 11 year old grandson – hopefully he will hang it from his ceiling and go to sleep each night thinking about fishing.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Robert%2011-TTorped02rs.jpg

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

["Phlats" Capt. Craig]

Inshore Fishing Report October 3, 2007 Jupiter / Palm Beach



“The mullet run has begun”. Everywhere in my region the mullet are thick and the Snook are going ballistic, along with every other species that swims. The snook are on every seawall ambushing baits acting like missiles. The snook are going air born, snatching baits as they crash pods of mullet. Both tides are producing fish and it doesn’t matter if its high noon they keep on feeding. The Snook have been ranging from 20” to 43”. The docks and drop offs have also been producing nice snook. With all the bait around the key has been to make your bait look different from the others. Also with all the structure around and razor sharp barnacles Power pro is a must. I have been using 15 and 20 pound test Power Pro with 20 to 30” inches of 30 pound Ande fluorocarbon leader. The Tarpon have also been in the mix off all the madness. The Tarpon bite has been great on an incoming tide and outgoing tide early or late in the afternoon. The middle of the day the tarpon go deep do to the boat traffic. Both greenies and live mullet produce fish. For those who like to use artificials, jigs will also work. The tarpon have been ranging from 5 to 20 pounds with a few that are 30. The Jacks have been plentiful also, thrashing around near the sea walls as they devour the mullet pods that swim in their path.

While fishing the sea walls and drop offs we have been catching some nice Jewfish and Gag Groupers. Live mullet has been the key. The bait must be on the bottom and be prepared for a tug a war, especially using the light tackle these fish put up a great battle.

The night fishing has been an eventful show in the past few weeks. The dock lights have been thick with snook and tarpon. When first approaching the light it looks like bombs going off, do to the snook gulping down baits that swim into the shadow lines of the lights. The tarpon have been hanging on the outside off the light and docks, most off these fish cannot be seen. So pitching bait out into the darkness could produce a nice surprise.

The freshwater fishing has been ok but do to the rain and all the run off the water has become murky. The Peacock bass bite has been slow, but they are around live bait has been the only tactic I have used. The largemouth bass can be found near any moving water and drop off as they ambush baits. Once the water clears up the bite will pick up.

Well that is the fishing report for the Jupiter, Palm Beach area. If you would like to experience light tackle fishing at its best, for any of the species mentioned above give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call 561-644-4371 or visit www. PhlatsInshoreFishing.com. Email phlats1519@yahoo.com. I would like to thank Atonsolutions.com and PowerPro.com.

[Fishbuster]

With peak slow-season upon us in southwest Florida, fishing trips have been scarcer this month. I was looking forward to two days of fishing this weekend, but with a last minute cancellation for one of them, I ended up offshore only on Saturday morning. I fished with Ron Lyrek, Pete Fredrickson, Will Williams, Bob Tofison, Craig Sneed and Tom Cartier. We headed out to about 38 feet west of New Pass in calm conditions, but with rough seas predicted to arrive later this afternoon and extend into at least the middle of next week, we already began to see rougher conditions on our way back in at mid-day. Using live shrimp, Craig caught a 14 inch hogfish, and the group caught seven keeper mangrove snapper that were all around 13 inches, keeper Spanish mackerel and whitebone porgies. We released triggerfish and short red grouper.

I fished Friday morning, 10/5, with Herb & Renee Gueracio and their son James, friend Steven Macenas, and Steven’s mother, Peggy Macenas. We headed out to about 35 feet out of New Pass with live shrimp and caught a good variety of fish including a 22 inch Spanish mackerel, three keeper lane snapper, some keeper mangs and triggerfish. We released about 25 gag grouper shorts to 18 inches and a bunch of smaller snapper. We also released three goliath grouper that ranged 15-25 pounds, which we caught on blue runners, and a 4-foot bull shark.

The photo shown is of angler Andy Alvarez with a 23 inch redfish caught on live shrimp on a recent inshore trip in Estero Bay.

[fishtales]

October 5, 2007

Inshore:

Windy...wavy...wet....weather held the Treasure Coast hostage most of this week. Finally it cleared the past few days allowing many anglers the opportunity to get out on the water. Even with all the rain and wind, the water clarity wasn't quite as dirty as expected. The bait was all over the river and the fish were out there feeding. I managed to get out today to do some scouting around the area. It was a beautiful day on the water!

I fished mostly south for a nice change and found snook, trout, snapper and some big jacks on the flats. Using CAL jerk baits and suspending lures today, I found the fish hanging around the bait schools and docks to the south of Fort Pierce. The west shore held trout along the route down to the power plant. The water to the north was still pretty churned up, but south held up fairly well. It will still take a few days of calm weather to clean it up again. It was nice to get back out on the water again!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpic001-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpic001-1.jpg)

Trout cooperated again today as the weather cleared for a few days.

Live shrimp fished in two to four feet of water on the grass flats should find you some trout next week. Top water, suspending lures, DOA shrimp and live bait can help locate snook, jacks, ladyfish and redfish on the flats. Fishing along the channel edges with live shrimp can get you a limit of snapper. Hopefully, the next front goes through quickly and we can get back to some great fishing action out there.

Find the bait and you should find the fish. Look for agitated or nervous bait schools and fish around them. I found some big schools of big jacks cruising along the flats in search of an easy meal. Cloudy skies will help keep the fish on the flats longer chasing bait. Watch the weather for this weekend, another front is heading this way to stir up things again for several more days. Keep safe out there.

Tip of the Week:

Pre-planning your day on the water is a great way to be ready for that day of fishing. Checking weather forecasts and tides can help determine where you want to start fishing that morning. Rod prep will have the right rod with the right lure ready to make that first cast as soon as you get to your favorite spot. It gives you a chance to make sure equipment is in good working order prior to getting to the ramp. Check drags, line and leader condition, rod guides and tips to insure you won't find a problem when you make that first cast. It's a good idea to have a few second choices for fishing areas in case that first spot is already taken by another angler. It just makes good sense to take the time to prepare for that trip in advance.

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

[fishtales]

October 11, 2007

Inshore:

After another week of wild, windy weather, it finally calmed down a few days this week. We managed to fish in spite of the conditions and caught fish each time we were out there. The water is still dirty and will take a while to clean back up again. It's time to change tactics and fish the bait rather than fish the usual spots. The bait schools are still all over the river and we have found fish chasing it around the area. I found a number of glass minnows around the river and fish were hanging around them. Docks have been productive when the wind lets you fish them. Bridges have been very active in the early mornings and on the outgoing tides.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures01005.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures01005.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures01002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures01002.jpg)

Jon and Jerry with a couple of snook caught in Fort Pierce this week....

Snook fishing has remained fairly productive. We managed a number of shorts around the bridges and missed a few bites from larger fish. Live shrimp worked best for us. Lots of bait schools have been hanging around there and the fish have been having a feast on them. Expect the grouper, bluefish, ladyfish and jacks to keep you busy also. The jetties have also been holding their share of snook for those anglers. Jon and Jerry had some fun around the bridge with snook, grouper and ladyfish this week.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures01001.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures01001.jpg)

Alan with his 23" trout caught along the flats...

Trout fishing has been on and off. If you can find some cleaner water, you will probable find some trout there. North of Fort Pierce has been pretty dirty the past several weeks. South of Fort Pierce should clean up quicker and you can look to find trout from Bear Point south to the power plant as the water quality improves. Try top water early and switch to live bait in two to five feet of water. Alan and Tom were out with me this week. Alan caught a nice 23" trout on the flats.

Redfish have been on the flats, but scattered and we spent more time fishing for trout and snook this week. We will be looking for them over the weekend again. There have been some caught around the docks and jetties in Fort Pierce with the bait schools moving around the inlet. Live shrimp fished under the docks will increase your chances at catching that redfish this week.

Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges and the bridges. Jacks, ladyfish and bluefish have been all over the river chasing the bait schools. It's a great time to take the kids out and have some fun with them. There were a few reports of flounder prior to the weather churning up the river, but none this week.

Tip of the Week:

It's very easy this time of year to get sunburned out there on the water. Not only the sun, but wind can make it worse. Always use a good sunscreen when on the water. Once you realize that you should have put some on....it's usually too late by then. Make sunscreen part of your morning prep before you hit the water and use it throughout the day to keep those harmful rays from damaging your skin. It's much more fun telling fish tales that evening without a beet red face to go with it!

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

[capt_ron]

On the Road Again,

Yes, on the road again. This road trip ended up in the Everglades for a little snook fishing. With the Miami Florida Sportsman Fishing show on October 13 and 14 I decided to join a couple of friends for some everglades fishing. Snook was the targeted fish but sharks, reds and big sharks were also on the menu. The plan on this trip was to live bait fish for snook. One of the first things you have to do is catch bait and both my pals were up to the task. This is hard work, but work that pays off in the end. My friend Pat is pictured below throwing to a gulf marker to pick up some threadfins. Other parts of the day were aimed at getting big 12 inch mullet.

http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/Castnet,%20Pat,%20marker%20rs.jpg

The next step in the strategy is to find some moving water and get the baits back into the cover where the fish are likely to be. Time on the water is the teacher and lots of time on the water gives you the knowledge you need to be at the right place at the right time. Deep holes with overhanging mangroves and small creek mounts are prime locations. The “glades” are so huge it takes lots of running to fish the various locations at the proper time in the tides. In three days of fishing we put 285 miles on Kevin’s 18 ft. Egret.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Everglades%20Back%20Country%204%20rs.jpg

One particular spot was so small we fished it one angler at a time. The strategy was to hookup while standing on the back deck, get the snook away from the brush and cover and work him around the back of the boat and up the opposite side so another angler could step up and fish. That angler tried to repeat the process. There were 4 or five bites in a row from that tiny area. We managed to get a couple of the snook to the boat while others were missed or broke off on the cover. This is intense fishing!

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Snook,%20Kevin%203%20rs.jpg

We caught sharks every day and jumped several tarpon in areas where we saw them crashing mullet. On the last day I had the surprise of catching my first goliath grouper. These things pull like a freight train. The two I got to the boat weighed only 19 and 30 pounds, small in relation to how big they get, but I was amazed at the fight they put on. I simply wasn’t ready for the first one that hit. He whipped my butt and broke me off almost before I knew what happened. I was ready after that though and brought a couple to the boat. Everyone boated at least one Goliath out of an area no bigger than 10 by 10.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Goliath%20Grouper%203%20rs.jpg

If you ever get the chance, fish the Everglades. But, don’t try to do it alone the first few times you do it. Get a guide, it will pay big dividends. This place is huge, and when you get in the back country it all starts looking alike.

The next Florida Sportsman Fishing Show is in Orlando on November 10 and 11 at the Fair Grounds. Stop by the Florida Guides Association Booth and say hi if you get a chance.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

October 18, 2007

Inshore:

Early morning fishing remained good this week on the Treasure Coast. First light bought us some nice action around the bridges in Fort Pierce as the snook continued to gorge themselves on the bait schools. Getting out early for that first light bite or fishing the tides around the inlet can help your chances on hooking up. Looks like the weather will cooperate this coming weekend, so plan on getting out on the water soon!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures02002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures02002.jpg)

Mark Amorello caught this slot snook in the Fort Pierce inlet....

We had some good action on snook in the early part of the days while fishing around the inlet in Fort Pierce. Lots of shorts out there to give you some action and we also missed a couple of good hits. Mark Amorello ended up with a slot size after a number of shorts at first light. The bite has been good on both tides as long as the water has been moving. Warren and Jerry also got in on some of the action around the bridges. Live bait has worked best with either live shrimp or mullet. We fished around some bait schools on the flats and found some shorts hanging around there also.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures02004.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures02004.jpg)

Mark also caught this four pound snapper under the bridges....

We found a few trout out there, but the bite was off most of the week with all the dirty water around the river. Look around the usual trout areas to find some clean water. We did catch a few around Bear Point and north of Fort Pierce. Live shrimp on floats will give you the best opportunity. Try some top water at first light. The water should start clearing up a bit by the weekend with the wind laying up some.

We found a few redfish, but they were just short of slot size. Try along the mangroves or around the docks and you might just catch a keeper redfish. Karl missed a couple good hits around one of the docks this week. Live bait or a DOA shrimp can give you the edge on getting a bite. We did find some glass minnows out on the flats and found fish feeding on them. I had a few reports of reds around the jetties this week. With the dirty water, it's a good time to break out the gold spoon on the flats.

Snapper around the bridges and channel edges are still a mainstay for anglers out there. Mark Amorello nailed a nice 4 pound snapper at the north bridge. Most are in the pound range, but great table fare! Ladyfish and jacks are just about anywhere you look. We found some big ladies around the bridges this week along with a few grouper.

Tip of the Week:

It's always a good idea to clean out the ol' boat a few times a year. Dampness, especially like we have had lately, can creep into compartments and end up with mildew in and on things. Life preservers can mildew quickly when damp. Flares, if not protected, and draw dampness and not work properly. You might find that favorite lure buried somewhere with rusty ol' hooks. Boats are made for water.....but water isn't always good for boats.

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

[Fishbuster]

I fished with Shalom and Mendel New, Avroham, Mendel and Aryeh Wvensch and Mendel Pinson on Friday, 10/11. We headed out of New Pass to 37 feet where we caught a mess of mangrove snapper to 13 inches, grunts and porgies. We released lot of grouper and snapper shorts, blue runners and one 20 pound goliath grouper.

Wednesday, 10/17, I fished Estero Bay, from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot Beach, with Rick Szymanski, Joe Donisi and Al Orpenzo. We used shrimp and shiners to catch and release ten snook to 20 inches, several redfish to 16 ½ inches, cravalle jacks and small snapper. We also caught a keeper mangrove snapper and four keeper sheepshead, all around 13 inches.

Thursday, I got well offshore for the first time in awhile, fishing with brothers Matt and Mike Malinak and friend, Kevin Collen. We fished in 68 feet about 28 miles out of New Pass. We had great conditions, but I noticed a large amount of red tide on top of the water from about 8 miles offshore to about 21 miles. There weren’t a lot of dead fish around, but the southwest wind was pushing the red tide right into shore. We got out past it, where the water was pristine, but there wasn’t an abundance of fish. We did well, though, on shrimp with a keeper red grouper at 21 inches (see photo), a pair of 24 inch Spanish mackerel, a 14 inch triggerfish and five yellowtail snapper all about 13 inches. We also had fun with a 150 pound goliath grouper that bit a grunt and blue runner that were hooked together. We released the goliath, along with a 3 foot sharp-nose shark, lots of short red grouper to 16 inches and short yellowtail.

[Fishbuster]

Saturday morning, 10/20, with the radar looking not too favorable, I warned the Kinsel family that it could be a wet morning in Estero Bay. But with two boys eleven and seven years old wanting to go fishing, we decided to brave it and headed out, Mark & Ellen and Sammy and Jack, with rain ponchos on. Most of the rain we encountered was just drizzle-strength and our efforts were rewarded with three keeper redfish, one at 18 ½ inches and two at 23 inches and a keeper mangrove snapper. We released one short redfish, several mangrove snapper shorts, small sheepshead and a baby goliath grouper. The boys got to catch plenty of fish and had a good time fishing with shrimp along the channel from Barefoot beach to Wiggins Pass.

Sunday, winds picked up and kicked seas up to about 3 feet. I fished in 36 feet off New Pass with Tom Connolly and friend, Jim. We caught and released keeper-sized Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, five nearly-keeper mutton snapper that were an inch or so short of the 16 inch legal limit, a 3 pound cravalle jack, gag grouper shorts to 18 inches, red grouper shorts to 15 inches, three 25 inch goliath grouper, blue runners and small yellowtail snapper. We also caught a few keeper mangrove snapper, whitebone porgies and a 13 inch triggerfish. One of the gag grouper we released ate a small yellowtail as we were reeling it in, and the guys got a good photo of the gag with the yellowtail hanging out of its mouth. Tom thought he had a big goliath on the line at one point, and he fought it for about 20 minutes in 3 foot seas only to find that his bait had gotten snagged on a 25 pound rock—Jim teased him for the rest of the morning about the killer “rockfish” he’d landed!

My long-time fishing clients and friends Chester Yanik and Jim Basara fished with me Monday and Tuesday. Monday, we headed out about 28 miles from New Pass to fish with live shrimp in 63 feet. We had a great day—got into some king mackerel and caught four of those to twenty pounds (see photo), which we released since the guys didn’t want to eat them. For table-fare, they preferred snapper, and we caught four nice yellowtail snapper about 16 inches each, and released lots of smaller ones. We also got three nice mangrove snapper to 19 inches and released lots of smaller mangs, along with triggerfish and grunts. After the nice kings, we were a little tired but we got ready to fight some more and caught and released three bonito, all about ten pounds and two goliath grouper (they bit blue runners) that were approximately 40 pounds each.

On Tuesday we dealt with rougher conditions. When we headed out in what was predicted to be two to four foot seas, it was fairly calm but by 11AM the winds picked up and the clouds that marked an approaching frontal system rained on us by noon. Seas got progressively rougher with some five and six foot waves. But the fishing was good, 38 miles out of New Pass where we caught a 21 ½ inch red grouper, a 16 inch mutton snapper, nine yellowtail snapper to 14 inches and big grunts and whitebone porgies. We released lots of short red grouper, triggerfish and a 3 foot sharpnose shark.

["Phlats" Capt. Craig]

The fall season has arrived and with it brings weather changes and different species of fish to my area. The past few weeks have been very eventful while fishing. There is still a ton of mullet around but with those mullet and seasonal changes we have been catching redfish in the Palm Beach area. That’s right I said REDFISH. We usually catch the redfish during the winter months up in Jupiter and very seldom in the Palm Beach area, but these fish are in pods and are very hungry. Live finger Mullet work the best either free lined or put on a jig head. Artificial baits will work also bait of choice has been small grubs. The red fish have been averaging 20 to 26 ½”. The areas best for targeting them have been seawalls, mangrove shorelines and channels.

The Snook bite is still red hot and should stay steady as the snook begin their journey to the backwaters will they will remain for the winter months. The best ways to target the snook has been to work the bridges, docks and sea walls. Live bait for the snook has been the best choice using live finger mullet and live greenies. The morning and evening bites on both outgoing and incoming tides has been the best times. Night Fishing will also produce snook but with all the pressure lately it has been tough, I prefer to target the snook during the day. The average size of the snook has been 20 to 37”. While targeting snook we have also encountered schools of jacks, which are ferocious when it comes to feeding. These fish pull hard and put up a great fight on light tackle. The average size of these fish have been from 1 to 10lbs. The next couple of months the jacks will be thick in the backcountry and a lot bigger also. The tarpon bite has slowed a little but there are some around. The tarpon we have been catching have been ranging from 5 to 15lbs taking live finger mullet or small top water plugs.

I have not been fishing too much freshwater lately but the large mouth bass bite should be great the next few months. The key is to fish the deeper holes and work the bait slow I like to use jigs and small crank baits.

Well that is the fishing report for the Jupiter/ Palm Beach area, if you would like to experience light tackle inshore fishing or catch any of the above-mentioned species. Give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call 561-644-4371 to book your next fishing adventure. Or visit www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com, or email me at phlats1519@yahoo.com. Thanks to PowerPro.com, Atonsolutions.com, and Ande fishing products.

[mosquitocoast]

Florida’s East Coast Fishing Outlook for November 2007



Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida



November on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida



With the exception of a few more gray hairs that haven’t fallen out yet, I welcome the arrival of fall and the changing seasons brought forth by falling temperatures on the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. The cool crisp morning air in my lungs and on my cheeks is a refreshing change from our hot dry summer and our rainy humid October.



As the sun rises and sets further to the south, both anglers and game fish celebrate the tail end of the bait run; gathering in the inlet passes on the falling tides to fulfill their natural gratifications, one of indulgence, the other contentment. As the steady migration of mullet, pilchards, threadfin herring, and other baitfish pack into the IRL’s inlets, an overabundance of hungry gamefish lay in waiting. When tide is right, the inlets explode in a flurry of feeding gamefish, fleeing baitfish, and aggressive anglers.



Although November is notorious for greeting us with howling easterly winds as our first significant cold fronts pass, fishing in and around the inlets will remain outstanding until water temperature drop below 70 degrees. In the inlets of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral and Sebastian, snook fishing will remain excellent during low light periods and at night as the remaining baitfish traveling down the beach are forced in close to the jetties and other structure with the best action occurring during slack tidal periods, especially the end of high tide. During these periods hungry gamefish take advantage of slow currents and feed heavily. As the tide begins to fall, gamefish move into their ambush locations to finish off their frenzy. Breeder Redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and tarpon all share in the fury, so step up your tackle size and hold on.



My favored technique is to cast net live mullet, and drift them through the passes on a sliding sinker rig. Look for areas of feeding activity, birds diving and fish busting, and adjust the size of your weight based of current. The rig I use starts out with a Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook proportionate to your bait size to allow a natural swimming appearance. In simple terms, small bait small hook, large bait large hook. Next, I attach a 30-inch section of 30 to 40 pound test fluorocarbon leader to a 20-pound test braided mainline. If large tarpon are your target, step your leader size up to 60-pound test. Before I tie on my hook, I slide my slip sinker on to the leader, then attach the hook, and finish the rig off by using a split shot located between the barrel sinker and the hook adjusted to keep the weight off of the hook. As I drift through the passes, I like to cast parallel to my drift with just enough weight to keep the bait in the feeding zone, and increase the barrel sinker size as the current picks up. Additionally, as we near the end of November and finger mullet diminish, switch to pinfish on pigfish as bait. Finally and most important, pass fishing in November can be dangerous, so as I drift through the inlet, I keep the helm manned with my engine running, keeping a close eye on boat traffic and sea conditions, and always be prepared for evasive action if needed.



As the first significant cold front passes and surf temperatures reach the 68-degree mark, flounder slide into the inlets on their annual spawning migration out to sea. The exodus usually begins with the arrival of the smaller 1 to 3-poung gulf flounder (three spot), which are later joined by the doormat size 2 to 14-pound southern flounder. Many anglers prefer to anchor up and fish live finfish on the bottom, but I favor drifting the lagoon side of the passes bouncing a RipTide Mud Minnow Jig on the bottom. I’ve also learned adding the element of sound to my jig by inserting a Woodie’s Rattle Capsule improves my catch. This vertical jigging technique allows me to cover more area and catch a wider assortment of species. Likewise, as lagoon temperatures cool, pompano are another likely target as they congregate on the lagoon side of the passes before moving out to their winter haunts along the beaches to feed on sand fleas (mole crabs) their favorite winter food.



Cobia and tripletail fishing can be very good this time of year depending on ocean temperatures (71 to 74 degrees is best) and winter weather conditions. To target them, head east out of Port Canaveral or Sebastian Inlet looking for rips, sargassum and flotsam pushed in by the easterly fetch. Once you have located the floating structure, work the rip with the sun to your back looking for fish suspended underneath, and catch then on spinning tackle or fly, and a live jumbo shrimp on a jig works best.



Inside the lagoons, falling water levels and cleaner conditions will facilitate increased sight fishing prospects for both redfish and sea trout. Also remember spotted sea trout are out of season in our region of the state for both November and December, so please handle and release them with extreme care.

Seminars and Events

November 17th 9am – 11am, Anglers for Conservation presents the Hook Kids on Fishing program at the Volusia County Fair Grounds, Coastal Angler Magazine's Boat Show & Fishing Expo. The first 100 kids will receive a new fishing rod, reel and tackle box on completion of the program.

November 16th, 17th, and 18th, Coastal Angler Magazines Boating and Fishing Expo at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, the event features a full program of speakers and seminars. Hands on Angler Improvement Clinic presented by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, learn to rig soft plastic baits and utilized braided fishing line, knots, and leaders for inshore applications, and participants will receive free samples from RipTide, D.O.A, Woodies Rattles, and coupons redeemable at Mosquito Creek Outdoors while supplies last.



Call now to purchase your holiday charter gift certificate for the 2008 fishing season.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn


Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free


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

[mosquitocoast]

Florida’s East Coast Fishing Outlook for November 2007



Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida



November on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida



With the exception of a few more gray hairs that haven’t fallen out yet, I welcome the arrival of fall and the changing seasons brought forth by falling temperatures on the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. The cool crisp morning air in my lungs and on my cheeks is a refreshing change from our hot dry summer and our rainy humid October.



As the sun rises and sets further to the south, both anglers and game fish celebrate the tail end of the bait run; gathering in the inlet passes on the falling tides to fulfill their natural gratifications, one of indulgence, the other contentment. As the steady migration of mullet, pilchards, threadfin herring, and other baitfish pack into the IRL’s inlets, an overabundance of hungry gamefish lay in waiting. When tide is right, the inlets explode in a flurry of feeding gamefish, fleeing baitfish, and aggressive anglers.



Although November is notorious for greeting us with howling easterly winds as our first significant cold fronts pass, fishing in and around the inlets will remain outstanding until water temperature drop below 70 degrees. In the inlets of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral and Sebastian, snook fishing will remain excellent during low light periods and at night as the remaining baitfish traveling down the beach are forced in close to the jetties and other structure with the best action occurring during slack tidal periods, especially the end of high tide. During these periods hungry gamefish take advantage of slow currents and feed heavily. As the tide begins to fall, gamefish move into their ambush locations to finish off their frenzy. Breeder Redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and tarpon all share in the fury, so step up your tackle size and hold on.



My favored technique is to cast net live mullet, and drift them through the passes on a sliding sinker rig. Look for areas of feeding activity, birds diving and fish busting, and adjust the size of your weight based of current. The rig I use starts out with a Daiichi Bleeding Bait circle hook proportionate to your bait size to allow a natural swimming appearance. In simple terms, small bait small hook, large bait large hook. Next, I attach a 30-inch section of 30 to 40 pound test fluorocarbon leader to a 20-pound test braided mainline. If large tarpon are your target, step your leader size up to 60-pound test. Before I tie on my hook, I slide my slip sinker on to the leader, then attach the hook, and finish the rig off by using a split shot located between the barrel sinker and the hook adjusted to keep the weight off of the hook. As I drift through the passes, I like to cast parallel to my drift with just enough weight to keep the bait in the feeding zone, and increase the barrel sinker size as the current picks up. Additionally, as we near the end of November and finger mullet diminish, switch to pinfish on pigfish as bait. Finally and most important, pass fishing in November can be dangerous, so as I drift through the inlet, I keep the helm manned with my engine running, keeping a close eye on boat traffic and sea conditions, and always be prepared for evasive action if needed.



As the first significant cold front passes and surf temperatures reach the 68-degree mark, flounder slide into the inlets on their annual spawning migration out to sea. The exodus usually begins with the arrival of the smaller 1 to 3-poung gulf flounder (three spot), which are later joined by the doormat size 2 to 14-pound southern flounder. Many anglers prefer to anchor up and fish live finfish on the bottom, but I favor drifting the lagoon side of the passes bouncing a RipTide Mud Minnow Jig on the bottom. I’ve also learned adding the element of sound to my jig by inserting a Woodie’s Rattle Capsule improves my catch. This vertical jigging technique allows me to cover more area and catch a wider assortment of species. Likewise, as lagoon temperatures cool, pompano are another likely target as they congregate on the lagoon side of the passes before moving out to their winter haunts along the beaches to feed on sand fleas (mole crabs) their favorite winter food.



Cobia and tripletail fishing can be very good this time of year depending on ocean temperatures (71 to 74 degrees is best) and winter weather conditions. To target them, head east out of Port Canaveral or Sebastian Inlet looking for rips, sargassum and flotsam pushed in by the easterly fetch. Once you have located the floating structure, work the rip with the sun to your back looking for fish suspended underneath, and catch then on spinning tackle or fly, and a live jumbo shrimp on a jig works best.



Inside the lagoons, falling water levels and cleaner conditions will facilitate increased sight fishing prospects for both redfish and sea trout. Also remember spotted sea trout are out of season in our region of the state for both November and December, so please handle and release them with extreme care.

Seminars and Events

November 17th 9am – 11am, Anglers for Conservation presents the Hook Kids on Fishing program at the Volusia County Fair Grounds, Coastal Angler Magazine's Boat Show & Fishing Expo. The first 100 kids will receive a new fishing rod, reel and tackle box on completion of the program.

November 16th, 17th, and 18th, Coastal Angler Magazines Boating and Fishing Expo at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, the event features a full program of speakers and seminars. Hands on Angler Improvement Clinic presented by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, learn to rig soft plastic baits and utilized braided fishing line, knots, and leaders for inshore applications, and participants will receive free samples from RipTide, D.O.A, Woodies Rattles, and coupons redeemable at Mosquito Creek Outdoors while supplies last.



Call now to purchase your holiday charter gift certificate for the 2008 fishing season.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn


Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free


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

[capt_ron]

The Last Resort

Mother Nature did not smile on us during a recent trip to Homosassa for some shallow water grouper fishing. So, as a Last Resort (pun intended, see below) we went trout fishing and caught numerous trout on Rip Tide Flats Chubs and Rip Tide Shrimp. Both were pinned on a ¼ oz. Rip Tide Pro Jig Head and suspended under a popping cork. The weather was just too severe to venture out to the deeper water, which in this part of the country is 20 to 30 feet deep out 20 or 30 miles. That’s why they call it shallow water grouper fishing. Stay tuned however, because I plan to reschedule the grouper trip for a later more favorable date. I will report on it when I do. This is the time of the year to get to the Homosassa area if you want to catch some shallow water grouper. Just do it.

Now about the pun I mentioned in the opening paragraph. As it turned out I stayed at a facility called The Last Resort. What a great place to stay while fishing or doing anything else in Homosassa. It features second story lodging with a great view of the river and parking underneath each unit for easy access. A boat ramp and boat dock are part of the property, so if you bring your own boat you leave from your back door and if you hire a guide they can pick you up at your back door. It doesn’t get any better than that.

http://www.thelastresortonline.com/images/600/unit-600.jpg

As far as the rooms are concerned they were immaculately clean. The resort is well equipped with a kitchen and all utensils. You would never have to leave the place if you didn’t want to. If you bring the spouse along they will be perfectly content to enjoy the extreme relaxation offered by The Last Resort while you are out fishing. When you return from fishing a quick shower will prepare you to spend the evening on the deck with the sun setting slowly behind you as the river traffic slows and daylight turns into night.

http://www.thelastresortonline.com/images/600/balcony-600.jpg

In between sleeping in the roomy comfortable bedrooms and spending the evenings on the deck you can be fishing for redfish, sea trout, cobia, shallow water grouper, or a variety of other saltwater fish. It just depends on what time of year you are there. When you get back to The Last Resort there is a convenient fish cleaning station right there on the dock. The last day I was there I woke up to the sunrise pictured below and I just didn’t really want to pack and go home. I know I will go back and if you get a chance check them out. You can visit their website at www.thelastresortonline.com.

If you want to go up to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park you can be there in about 10 minutes. There is also plenty of other stuff to do at Homosassa and the surrounding county too. For more information just go to www.VisitCitrus.com to see what’s in store for you!

http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/The%20Last%20Resort%20Sunrise%20rs.jpg

Earlier in the week I fished with good friend Capt. Terry Lamielle in the Indian River near Sebastian. We started off early and caught a nice topwater trout on a Zara Spook. Terry later added a redfish on a Gulp Shrimp and I completed a boat slam by hooking up a big momma snook on a gold spoon. There were still plenty of mullet in the river but the bite was slow. We worked hard for the fish that we got.

http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/Terry%20Snook%204%20rs.jpg

The Indian River near Cocoa was also slow last week but there were plenty of mullet and lots of schoolie trout between Hwy 520 and Hwy 528. The trout were eager to hit the Rip Tide 3 inch mullet on a ¼ ounce jig head. I netted a few of the mullet and set one out on a favorite location only to have about a 50 pound tarpon hit just after I had placed it in the rod holder and turned around to the cooler for a soda. I heard the commotion, turned around and there it was, airborne and shaking that head. I quickly picked up the rod but it was too late. He had snapped the line at the leader. Timing is everything.

The next Florida Sportsman Fishing Show is in Orlando on November 10 and 11 at the Fair Grounds. Stop by the Florida Guides Association Booth and say hi if you get a chance. The following weekend, November 15, 16, and 17 we will be in Deland at the Coastal Angler Magazine Boat Show and Fishing Expo. The event will be held at the Expo Center, just off SR 44 at exit 118 on I-4, the first exit west of I-95. The address is 3150 E. New York Ave, Deland Fl.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

October 29, 2007

Inshore:

I spent the most part of this past week visiting my family way up in
West Virginia. With all the nasty weather lately, it was much better
than trying to fish! As some of you remember, my dad passed away
back in June. I spent this last weekend with my mom and family to
remember his birthday. We went to visit the National D-Day Memorial
in Bedford, Virginia. My dad was in the first waves on Omaha Beach
on D-Day and was only one of three survivors on his landing craft of
thirty soldiers. It was a great trip and nice to spend some time
with my mom and family.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_wva014.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/wva014.jpg)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_wva013.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/wva013.jpg)

National D-Day Memorial

Looks like the weather held a pretty good grip on the Treasure Coast
with windy, wet conditions most days. In talking with some of the
local anglers, snook was probably the most exciting action. Those
fishing around the docks and bridges managed some slot size along
with a good number of shorts for their efforts. Live shrimp or
mullet has worked best for snook. I had a few reports of redfish
around the river. Most came from along the docks or bridges with a
few reports from the flats. Trout was again slow due to the poor
water conditions. Bridge anglers have been rewarded with black drum,
redfish and some sand perch for their efforts. Live shrimp has been
the best choice of bait.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictures002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures002.jpg)

Trout action will improve as the water clears....

I managed to get out today to check out the river and found that the
water clarity had already improved and you could see the bottom on
the flats that I fished. It will take a few more days of good
weather to help clean it up again. I found plenty of bait on the
flats and that's where I caught my fish. Snook, trout, jacks and
ladyfish was that catch today. A couple of nice trout up to 23" and
the snook were shorts, but put up a good battle. I found some fish
hanging around some glass minnow pods also. Top water and suspending
lures gave me some good action today. Of course to stay in sync
with the recent weather.....it rained all morning!

If the water conditions continue to improve, look for the action to
get better on the river. The fish are out there and some clean water
goes a long way to getting them in the mood to feed. You will have
to search out the better water. The grassy flats like Bear Point and
other areas to the south generally clean up quicker. Hard bottom
flats will also clean up better. Have a good week out there!

Tip of the Week:

Rain gear can make the worst rainy day a little less miserable.....
Make sure you have your rain gear with you out on the water. Showers
like this week can sneak up on you quickly. It's a good idea to keep
a few Ziploc bags on board to keep cell phones, keys, wallets,
cameras....etc from getting wet. Water can find it's way into most
places, so always be prepared for foul weather. Keep dry out there!

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

[fishtales]

November 2, 2007

Inshore:

Just when you think things are going to improve......here comes the wind, waves and wetness in force to keep most anglers inside rather than on the water. Strong winds have prevailed this week along the Treasure Coast bringing rain along with it. The only fishing I did was walking along the mosquito ditches in search of water that wasn't white capping! Oh, the fish are out there, but it's been hard to find a day where you can fish out of the weather. Looks like things might soften up over the weekend and we might get some days next week to check out the water.

There hasn't been much to report on this week. A few snook and trout catches on the river. There have been a lot of jacks and ladyfish around. As I was walking the mosquito ditches, I spotted a huge school of jacks out in the river wreaking havoc on the bait schools. Looks like the action should be there when the weather is suitable to get out safely. Some of the hard core bridges anglers have been catching black drum, snapper and a few scattered redfish on the catwalks and jetties. Anywhere you can find to get out of the wind has been a good place to fish!

It's gonna take several days for the water to start clearing up again. It looked pretty good late last week, but with the blowing winds and rain, it will remain dirty for a while longer. The culverts around the mosquito impoundments are flowing strong and should be a good place to fish for snook in the early mornings. Early mornings around those areas are good for top water lures and can keep you out of the wind until it settles down again. The water has cooled off quite a bit, so expect the trout bite to improve along with the flats fishing in general. See you out on the water!

Tip of the Week:

With the weather conditions, I spent some time cleaning out the boat. It's always a good idea to do that several times a year. You find things you thought you had lost.....find things you forgot you owned.....find things you thought you had got rid of.....and have a chance to make sure everything is in working order and ready for the next trip. Check out your favorite lures and change the hooks when they get corroded. Make sure things are dry and not mildewed. Locate safety equipment and have it easily accessible if needed. Foul weather allows you to take a few minutes and do some much needed housecleaning....er.....I mean boatcleaning!

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

[Fishbuster]

Friday morning, 10/26, I fished Estero Bay along the channel between Lely Barefoot Beach and Wiggins Pass with John Keener, teenaged son, Chris, and Chris’ friend, Mark. The tide was pretty low so I wasn’t sure how productive the trip would be but we had steady action and caught a few keepers for the guys’ dinner too. We caught four keeper sheepshead and released two smaller ones, four keeper mangrove snapper and released ten smaller ones, a keeper sand bream and we released an 18 inch snook.

Although Darryl Metzger and his dad, Paul, had planned to fish offshore with me Monday, we traded those plans for some inshore fishing because of six to eight foot seas offshore. Even in Estero Bay it was very windy and very dry by the time we came in at the half-day mark. We caught some dinner, though, with a half dozen keeper mangrove snapper to 12 inches. One of the guys lost a nice redfish when it got snagged on the edge of an oyster bar. We released an 18 inch snook, lots of mang shorts, sheepshead and cravalle jack, all caught on shrimp from Barefoot Beach to Wiggins Pass.

Wednesday, the winds were howling but the tide was pretty good in the bay, where I fished with Marshall Swain, Ron Baldwin and Jim Chisholm. Marshall caught two nice redfish on shrimp—one a little too nice, since it was an inch too big to keep at 28 inches. We released that one but Marshall soon followed up with a 23 inch keeper-sized red. We also caught two keeper sheepshead and a keeper mangrove snapper, and we released lots of smaller mangs and sheepshead.

Friday’s winds decreased a little, but not enough to get offshore, with seas stirred up from the gusty week still ranging 3-6 feet. I fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay with Peder and Linda Engebretson. We casted shrimp along mangrove shoreline and oyster bars from Barefoot Beach to Wiggins Pass and released a 24 inch redfish, a 22 inch red and two rat-reds about 17 inches. We also released a 14 inch sheepshead and a 16 inch sheepshead and a cravalle jack.

The photo shown is of angler Mark Kinsel and young sons Sammy and Jack with a 23 inch redfish caught on shrimp on a recent inshore Fishbuster Charter.

[fishtales]

November 9, 2007

Inshore:

Hooray for sunny weather! After what seems like an eternity, the sun came out and the winds died off to let local anglers venture out on the Indian River for some much needed fishing and boating. Offshore still hangs tough for most boaters and many enjoyed the river starting on Sunday. Oh, there is still a breeze out there, but very fishable conditions. Water quality is still down, but the fish have to eat and they did that most days for us this week.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_fishphoto004.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/fishphoto004.jpg)

Dale caught this 34" gag grouper around the Fort Pierce docks....

Snook turned out to be our target even though the slots avoided the hook. Dale Oosting, Alan Miller and Kathleen Hall all caught some nice snook from around the bridges and docks this week. Live bait worked best for us. The outgoing tides favored the most bites, though incoming kept us busy as well. Lots of different species are hanging around the docks and bridges and we caught our share of them. The better snook bite has continued to be at night around the inlet. Live mullet or shrimp has been the first choice of bait along with feather jigs and bomber lures.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007november063.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007november063.jpg)

Kathleen Hall with her first snook.....

We found trout hitting early on live bait. Most were up to 22" and hungry. Alan caught all of his around the bridges. Also try deeper water with a popping cork and live shrimp. Try to find some clean water for the best opportunity. Later in the day, Alan, from Scotland, pulled a nice redfish from under the docks to finish off his inshore slam. A reminder that trout season is closed November and December, so catch and release is in effect now. Handle your fish carefully and release them unharmed.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007november064.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007november064.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007november062.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007november062.jpg)

Alan with a trout and redfish this week....

Speaking of dock fishing, Dale was down from Michigan and finally caught one of those fish that continually break you off around the docks. He topped off the day with a 34" Gag grouper that he horsed away from the structure with quite a lot of effort. Alan and Kathleen had a lot of fun catching a wide variety of fish around the docks. The catwalks have been yielding some sand perch and lots of anglers are also fishing around the seawalls around the library in Fort Pierce for them. The black drum have also filtered into the inlet and are holding the same areas. Live or frozen shrimp have worked best.

Surf:

Wind has left the beaches pretty dirty for now. Those anglers who are fishing the surf have found some whiting and pompano scattered along the Treasure Coast. Shrimp or sand fleas has been the best bait for now. Watch for bait schools that run along the beach and fish live mullet or cast a top water for a chance at snook, jacks or maybe a tarpon. I heard of a few pompano north of Fort Pierce, but it can change quickly. We should start seeing some Spanish mackerel soon.

Tip of the Week:

It's hard enough to remember fish, limits, slots, etc....etc... It is important to be able to identify the fish you catch and have some way to measure and know the sizes and limits if you plan on keeping any fish. One of the hardest for many anglers to identify is the difference between lane and mutton snappers. There are distinct differences in each, but still hard for many to distinguish. The legal size for each is enough to make it important to know your fish. Lane snapper has an 8 inch minimum, while mutton snapper must be at least 16 inches. Stop by your local tackle shop and check out some pictures of them so you can correctly identify your fish.

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 11/5, was predicted to be calm offshore. I headed out with Mike & Lea Connealy, Mike’s dad, and friend, Karen, but as we got a way offshore conditions got pretty sloppy and a little tough on the ladies’ stomachs. We decided to head in closer top shore and fish MAY reef. There, we caught a couple of keeper Spanish mackerel, large triggerfish, and released grunts, ladyfish and grouper shorts, fishing with live shrimp.

Jim VanAuken and Joe Ricci fished Estero Bay with me on Tuesday morning, along the mangrove shoreline from Barefoot Beach to Wiggins Pass. The redfish liked our live shrimp and we caught four of them, two keepers at 21 inches and 26 inches and two around 18 inches that we released. We also released snook to 17 inches.

Another cold front approached on Wednesday with winds and seas predicted to pick up about mid-morning. I advised my anglers that the bay might be a better choice than the gulf, with the potential for rough seas offshore. Sure enough, the winds picked up about 10:30 AM but we were safely and calmly fishing Estero Bay, which turned out to be pretty productive. Bill & Christine Henry and Tom and Liz Morris ended up with a 22 inch redfish, a keeper flounder, one keeper-sized mangrove snapper out of about a dozen we caught, and a half dozen keeper sheepshead.

Thursday’s backwater anglers Albert & Joan Tr0utmann, son Patrick and his girlfriend, Elvira Ruetimann, enjoyed Estero Bay with me on Thursday. Elvira caught all the keeper-sized fish, her biggest brag being a 25 inch redfish, and her three other keepers were all sheepshead. We released three additional redfish, all 17 inches, and a half dozen smaller sheepshead, all caught on shrimp.

Hank Sherowski and friends decided to fish offshore with me on Friday. In 44 feet out of New Pass, seas were still a little sloppy until later in the day when they got calmer, especially closer in to shore. We fished with shrimp and expected to catch snapper but we only caught one keeper snapper. We caught a half dozen mutton snapper but they were all just about an inch short of keeper size so we released those along with lots of grouper shorts. We made up the difference in whitebone porgies—the group caught 40 good sized ones. The guys also fought a couple of goliath grouper until they broke the lines.

The Troutmann family, who fished in Estero Bay with me Thursday, fished offshore with me on Saturday. This time another son, Phillip, joined the family, and the five of them had a good time catching a variety of fish, using live shrimp in 35 feet out of New Pass. Phillip landed a nice 23 ½ inch gag grouper, Pat caught and released a 30 inch cobia (those must be 33 inches to the fork of the tail to be keepers), and Elvira caught a 15 inch hogfish. The group also kept one 13 inch mangrove snapper, two 15 inch Spanish mackerel and four of many whitebone porgies caught. They also released lots of grouper shorts to 21 inches and porkfish.

The photo shown is of angler Marshall Swain with a 28 inch redfish caught on shrimp and released on a recent inshore trip.

[shermana]

Finally we have moved from our summer weather patterns to our fall weather patterns and the fishing and weather conditions magnify that. Tropical storm Noel set us back a bit and in the process chased a school of pilchards out of the bay that I had not seen in quite a few years. I wasn’t sure if the schools of finger mullet would still be in the area when the water conditions cleared and calmed down but they are. Fishing started off slow after the storm and then a cold front that lowered the air and water temperatures throughout South Florida got that things going again. North Biscayne Bay has rebounded well and schools of finger mullet have regrouped and have been joined with scattered schools of pilchards and threadfin herring. On my last trip in North Bay we had ac tion on lots of small jacks and Spanish and small king mackerel. Since that trip I have spent all of my time in Flamingo except to net some live finger mullet the afternoon before one of my last Flamingo trips. On that bait searching trip in North Bay I found huge schools of mullet that were being harassed by tarpon, snook, jacks and sea trout and easily filled my well with all the finger mullet we needed with my new Lee Fisher cast net. With all of the bait and mackerel around I look forward to my next local trip. Offshore of Miami Spanish mackerel have been in good numbers and size just outside the beaches. Further offshore kingfish, dolphin and sailfish have been available. Fishing in Flamingo has been outstanding with lots of action on small snook. Nice redfish, black drum, snappers, jacks, ladyfish and sharks. This fishing will continue as long as the weather does not get to cold. When wate r temperatures dip below the mid 60’s our residential fish will feed less but the migratory fish will pick up their slack and reward us with some great action right into the spring.

Recent Catches:

Fishing in North Biscayne Bay with Alex Nizet and his buddies the guys had constant action on jack crevalles, barracudas, snappers and missed a nice tarpon after a couple of jumps on a ¾ trip.

Mark Block and his 6 year old son Will fished North Biscayne Bay when Will hooked a huge fish that almost took all the line off his spinning reel. The drag was set loose so that the fish would not pull the rod from the boys hand and during the fight as the fish turned toward the boat the hook came free from the fish. The guys caught and lost some Spanish mackerel, jacks, snapper, barracudas and sea trout.

Brian and Fran Wechsler fished North Biscayne Bay and caught Spanish and king mackerel and jack crevalles. Water conditions in the bay were very dirty. Their fish were caught on Rapala Twitchin Raps, and live threadfin herring and finger mullet under a Cajun Thunder. The next day fishing in Flamingo Fran and Brian caught 4 redfish and 6 snook plus a bunch of ladyfish, jacks and a few snappers and trout. The fish were caught on Hook Up lures tipped with Gulp shrimp and live shrimp and shrimp and finger mullet under a Cajun Thunder. Two days later with better conditions fishing in Flamingo they landed at least 12 redfish, 12 snook, 12 jack crevalles plus a bunch of ladyfish and a few sea trout. Many of the redfish were in the slot and one snook measured out at 30 inches. The fish were caught on Hook Up lures tipped with Gulp shrimp and live shrimp and shrimp under a Cajun Thunder.

Ken Mayland and his brother Bob fished Flamingo and caught 12 snook to 7 pounds plus 3 redfish, sea trout, black drum, snappers, ladyfish and over 12 jack crevalles between 3 and 5 pounds. The fish were caught on Hook Up lures tipped with Gulp shrimp and live shrimp and shrimp under a Cajun Thunder.



For the next few weeks we will be giving away a free fishing rod provided by Rapala. The fishing rod is a $100 value. To win a fishing rod all you have to do is call the Florida Sportsman Live Radio Show at 305-503-1360 and share with the audience a short fishing story. The story rated as the best by the hosts of the show will win a fishing rod each week. Florida Sportsman Live can be heard every Saturday from 7 to 8 AM on WKAT 1080 on the AM dial a 50,000 watt radio station.



Check out my report in the Miami Herald’s Sports section under Fishing Updates each Thursday, the Florida Sportsman magazines South Florida Internet Fishing Report, my monthly South Florida Fishing Report in the Florida Sportsman Magazine or tune into the Florida Sportsman Magazines Live Radio Show on WKAT 1080 on the AM dial every Saturday morning from 7 to 8 AM. Check out my new web site and see the monthly catches! Check out my weekly South Florida Fishing Report at www.floridasportsman.com and my monthly South Florida Fishing Report in The Florida Sportsman Magazine each month. We continue to broadcast the Florida Sportsman Magazine Live on WKAT 1360 AM every Sat. morning from 7 to 8 AM wher e we get up to the minute fishing forecasts from some of the top Capt.’s in South Florida like Capt. Jimbo Thomas on the Thomas Flyer, Capt. Bouncer Smith on Bouncers Dusky, Capt Skip Bradeen on the Blue Chips Too out of Whale Harbor Marina, Capt. Mark Schmidt on the Sundancer out of Murray’s marina in Key West and Capt. Wayne Conn on The Reward Fleet, Captain jay Cohen on the Spellbound out of Haulover Marina and more.

Sponsors: Yamaha, Bob Hewes Boats, Maverick, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Daiwa, General Motors & Chevrolet, Rapala, Mustad, Ande Lines, Pure Fishing, Precision Tackle, Capt. Hank Brown’s Hook Up Lures, Hydro Glow Lights, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Saltwater Assassins, Fishbites, Key Largo Rods, Lee Fisher Cast Nets, Smartshield, Master Repair in Stuart Florida.
“Tight Lines & Great Fishing” Get Em on The "GET EM" Capt. Alan Sherman “Get Em” Sportfising Charters Inc. Cell 786-436-2064 Home 305-757-5503 www.getemsportfishing.com

[fishtales]

November 15, 2007

Inshore:

In spite of some windy and rainy days, this week has given us a few days to enjoy the fishing along the Treasure Coast. Looks like the weather should continue to be nice for us over the coming weekend. Expect the breezy days though the winter and plan your day based on what the weather has to offer. Today on the water, the wind died off and provided fishing opportunities throughout the river. It was a beautiful day out there and the fish were biting, too!

Early mornings have found trout, ladyfish, jacks and snook giving chase to the bait around the flats. I found plenty of bait schools. If you fished the pods that were getting bashed, you could catch a variety of species. Remember that trout are still catch and release the rest of the year. Snook season will close on December 15th. Try a top water lure at first light and you should find some nice hits out there. I found a few nice redfish up on the flats. There were hitting DOA shrimp on CAL jig heads.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007november1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007november1.jpg)

This 30" snook was hiding under the Fort Pierce docks....

The inlet and bridges have been holding plenty of sand perch, snapper and black drum. Live or dead shrimp can help you catch dinner. There have been some nice sizes to some of the fish around the bridges. The Spanish mackerel have invaded the inlet. I found lots of them crashing bait around the turning basin. Shiny spoons or jigs should get you hooked up.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1267.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1267.jpg)

Redfish have been hanging on the flats around the mangroves....

Snook fishing has been mostly at night around the bridges and seawalls. I found a number of shorts feeding on the flats, but there are larger fish out there. too. Don't forget the docks around the river. I caught a 30" snook hiding under one this week. Live shrimp or mullet, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are great to use around the docks. You might also find redfish, trout and many other fish lurking underneath. Docks are a great place to target when the sun is high on the water. A number of anglers have caught snook and redfish out on the jetties and inlet docks lately.

Surf:

Most beach anglers have been targeting pompano, bluefish and whiting. With the winds letting up a bit, it's a good chance to hit the surf. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas have been the baits of choice. Silver spoons can find bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel along the beach or along the jetties. There are a lot of surf anglers who have been using the big fish sabiki rigs along the beach for whiting. Tipped with shrimp, you have a greater chance at a hookup with several hooks in the water. It might be worth a try!

Tip of the Week:

This week reminded me that winter is fast approaching the Treasure Coast. Memories of cool mornings and hot afternoons in the coming months will bring out the warmer clothing for the water. On these cool mornings, dress in layers so you can be comfortable both early and later in the day. It will allow you to take off those layers as the day heats up and enjoy the weather. The water can sure bring a chill at first light and being dressed properly will let you enjoy it along with the great fishing out there.

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

[Fishbuster]

On a third outing within a week with the Troutmann clan on Tuesday, 11/13/07, the family decided that just the guys would go offshore. Albert Troutmann and sons Patrick and Phillip fished with me in 40 feet south of Sanibel. We used live shrimp to catch a pair of 14 inch keeper hogfish two keeper mangrove snapper, and a 15 inch triggerfish. Baited with a live grunt on heavy tackle (80 pound line) we also landed a 28 inch gag grouper. We released lots of red grouper shorts to 19 inches, gag shorts to 21 inches, blue runners and whitebone porgies.

Thursday, 11/15, things looked calm from shore but with a cold-front approaching, the offshore waters were to become rougher as the day progressed. Anglers Peder Engebretson and Dan Fazendin traded their offshore plans for some catch-and-release fishing in the backwaters instead. We did well with live shrimp in potholes in central Estero Bay, where we released four trout ranging from 16 inches to 18 inches, four redfish to 17 inches, four sheepshead to 15 inches, one sand bream and a couple of mangrove snapper.

Friday the winds blew fiercely most of the day and seas were rough as a cold front moved through, Saturday wasn’t quite as windy but I stayed inshore, fishing with Matt Westall and friend, Chad, in Estero Bay from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot Beach. We caught five keeper sheepshead to 15 inches and two keeper mangrove snapper and released smaller snapper and sheepshead, along with a 16 inch redfish, all on live shrimp.

The photo shown is of angler Chester Yanik with a 10 pound bonito caught on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

Inshore:

Fantastic weekend weather found many anglers hitting the water to enjoy both the sun and fishing. Monday bought some rainy and windier days to the Treasure Coast. It's still great to live and fish in Florida! Looks like some nice weather for the holiday weekend ahead of us. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We found ourselves in some great weather this week. Sunday I had Vincent Serio and David Brasher on the boat for the Teen Anglers Tournament. They both caught a good number of fish, but David ended up with the better day. Two nice slot redfish, flounder and a number of other fish that day. Vincent caught trout, snook and snapper. We had a great time out there. David ended up taking first place in the high school division and biggest fish with his 24" redfish. The flats have continued to hold redfish. They are scattered about this time of year, but try around the mangroves in two to three feet of water. Fish slowly........with soft plastics or live bait. We have also caught reds under some of the docks of late. Live bait or soft plastics there as well. All have been slot size that we have boated.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007november002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007november002.jpg)

David Brasher caught this 22" redfish along the mangroves....

Snook have continued to bite around the inlet. Night fishing has been the most productive. While most are shorts, a number of slots have been taken and some over size fish as well. Live bait has been the choice. Either large shrimp or finger mullet can get you some hits. The outgoing tide has been the best bite. Don't forget to hit a few docks for another chance at a hookup. A lot of shorts have been feeding on the flats. We have found most in two to three feet of water. Watch for nervous bait schools and fish around them. Soft plastics or Mirrolures have worked well for us. Snook season will close on December 15th.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007november001.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007november001.jpg)

Vincent Serio boated his snook from under a Fort Pierce dock....

Trout are still out of season and we haven't targeted them, but have caught them on the flats hanging in the same areas as the snook. Remember to handle them carefully and release them quickly and unharmed. January 1st will bring the opening of trout season again.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007november003.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007november003.jpg)

A winner with his 24" redfish! David Brasher

Bridges have been holding sheephead, black drum, snapper, sand perch and a few flounder. Live or dead shrimp is always the best choice for baits along the catwalks. Still waiting on the pompano and flounder bite to pick around the area. So far, just spotty reports of catches. Lots of jacks and ladyfish in the river to pull out some drag, especially for the youngsters.

Surf:

Whiting has been the best catch on the beach. Many anglers are fishing for pompano out there with mixed results. Live or dead shrimp or sandfleas are the best choices of baits. Just keep trying and they should turn on anytime out there. Sand fleas have been a little scarce in a lot of areas recently. Keep digging!

Tip of the Week:

Keeping your vessel organized is as important as tying on that favorite lure. Keep decks and walkways open. When battling with a fish, you don't always have the time to look around and make sure you have room to move about the vessel. Have equipment, whether fishing or emergency related, stored where everyone knows it's location. Reduce your risks and increase your fun out there on the 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

[capt_ron]

High Winds, Cool Temps, and Big Smiles

High winds cool temperatures and 2 fishing shows have kept my fishing to a minimum. The cool front that came through made fishing tough and the high north and northeast winds only compounded the issue. On three different days I fished the Indian river with limited success. We found plenty of lady fish willing to bite on Rip Tide 3 inch mullet and on one day found plenty of small seat trout willing to do the same.

The best day out of the three turned out to be the one when my eleven year old grandson accompanied me on the river. I really believe God just smiles down on kids when they are fishing. Robert warmed up on lady fish and then later hooked into a 30 inch redfish while fishing just south of Titusville.

He was using a small red and white curly tail jig and I was using my usual Rip Tide Mullet. I had tried several colors that morning without a lot of success. At this particular time I had pinned a silver mullet on a ¼ ounce Rip Tide Pro jig head. Robert turned to me and said he wanted to trade rigs. Being a dutiful grandpa I agreed and he took my rig while I took his.

You guessed it, first cast and the rod bent down. It was obvious he had on a good fish so I went into the front hatch to pull out the dip net while he skillfully fought the oversized red. He has caught plenty of redfish, but this was to be his biggest. After a few minutes he brought it alongside the boat and guided it into the landing net. A quick high five with lots of smiles, a speedy photo session and the big red was back in the water swimming off to fight again some day.

http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/Robert's%20Oct.%20Red%202xrs.jpg

We kept fishing a while before the wind drove us to the ramp. He added a huge gaff top sail cat to the days catch before we left. It was big smiles and high fives all the way back to the dock.

http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/Robert's%20Sail%20Cat%201xrs.jpg

This week the wind has subsided a lot and fishing conditions are much better. Problem is I am laid up with what the doctors call Plantar Fasciitis. To me it just feels like I have the mother of all tooth aches in my heel. At any rate it is keeping me off the water and I am getting cabin fever big time.

I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.


As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net

["Phlats" Capt. Craig]

Happy Holliday’s to all, hope everybody had a great turkey day. The fall season has brought windy conditions to our area the past few weeks, but the fishing continuous to stay hot. The back bays are starting to load up with Snook as the cooler water temps prevail. Mangrove shorelines and bridges have been the best ambush points to target the snook. Even though I love to fish light tackle line I use heavier line around the heavier structure. Power Pro in the 20 to 30 pound class works just fine with a 40-pound section of fluorocarbon. The Snook have been active all day long as long as the tide is moving. Morning and evening are the best for top water action. The average size of the Snook has been 20 to 35”. Mixed in with the Snook has been a few Redfish, these fish pull like a bulldog. The reds have been ranging from 18 to 23”. Hopefully we get more and more of the reds in our area they are an exciting fish to catch on light tackle. The Tarpon have also been around with many of them hanging in the deep channels and drop offs. Live bait works great but jigs will also do the trick. The Tarpon are not huge, ranging from 5 to 25 pounds but they are fun. As the temperature drops and winter approaches the tarpon will become more prevalent near the inlets and backcountry bays.

The big Jacks are starting to show up in the backwater also. These fish are a blast they pull hard and make you body feel the pain. The Jacks have been in pods busting live mullet or any top water lure thrown in their vicinity. The Snapper bite has been steady around the docks; live shrimp on a number 1 hook will produce the most. I have also been catching Sheepshead around dock pilings and underwater structure.

The grass flats have been holding fish but the pompano are still outside on the beach. They should start coming in once we get a nice cold front to push them. The ladyfish have been steady also but not as thick as last year. The Sea Trout bite is getting better up on the grass flats many of the fish are under the slot. The depth range for them has been from 3 to 5 feet. White bucktail jigs tipped with shrimp work best.

Well that is the fishing report for the past few weeks in the Jupiter / Palm Beach area. If you would like to experience light tackle fishing, or catch any of the above-mentioned species give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call 561-644-4371 or visit www. PhlatsInshoreFishing.com. Email me at phlats1519@yahoo.com. Thanks to PowerPro.com, AtonSolutions.com, and Ande Fishing Line.

[merijo_attong]

A little different air temperatures this November as it’s down 10 degrees from last year. However, the 10 degrees has brought in the Mutton snapper a little earlier 4-15 lb Mutton bite is on in 15-30 foot of water. Last year the flats were on fire with warm weather all the way up to Thanksgiving. This year the patch reefs in the upper keys are the ticket so far, this week one day alone we caught 14 Muttons up to 15 lbs most are around 7lbs with a couple fish in the double digits and an occasional fish on the upper side. Mutton moves in from the deep wrecks and reefs to the shallow patches when water temperatures drop below 74 degrees. As the last temperature taken was 72 degrees, I think these fish will remain here until early spring unless we get a major warming trend like we did last January which screws everything up! The Muttons are being caught on ballyhoo plugs and live bait fished with 4/0 Owner hooks, 50 lb fluorocarbon leader on 30 lb braided line. Also on the patches we are catching Mangrove snapper up to 6 lbs, Mackerel, Red and Gag grouper, sharks, yellowtail. Cobia are in deeper water right now and will be moving into the chum slick anytime! Dirty water with a north wind is a key to finding the bite.

On Biscayne Bay the bonefish are still around in big numbers. With the cold fronts moving in one after another it can push the fish to the outside flats and into deeper water. Bones are generally known as a warmer month fish but this time of year you cannot rule out a strong showing of fish. A couple days of warm weather will make bones show up all day long. Follow the tides to different areas with low water and you will find fish. Last week we caught 6 bones in 2 days with plenty of shots on mudding fish and some permit when the water temps were over 73 degrees.

In Florida Bay the fishing has been great. Redfish can still be found on the flats but I have been finding them in deeper dirty water. We caught 8 fish in one spot over 30 inches and over 25 in the slot size. Snook are around in big numbers as well, though most fish are a little smaller than most would like. We are catching them on live baits fished around moving deeper water to the west of Flamingo or around Shark River to the north.

The colder months will bring some fine fishing with Spanish mackerel, Cobia, snapper, reds, snook and Goliath Grouper on the gulf side, Mutton Grouper, Cobia and Sails on the Atlantic.

Catch ‘em up!!
Capt. Jim Hale
786-255-1788
www.floridasportfishingcharters.com

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, December 2007

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida

It is hard to fathom the thought of how quickly the holiday season has arrived. Life on the lagoon coast of Florida definitely has its advantages in regards to the outdoors and fishing, warmer weather, year round angling, quality fish, and oh yes, quality times on the water enjoying life. It is once again time to reflect back on our many blessings, and to look forward to what December has to offer.

Like November, December is a great month for fishing, but the impact of passing cold fronts on water temperatures and sea conditions can be the difference between going fishing, and raking the yard. The influence and intensity of winter fronts is unpredictable, so break out your winter shorts in preparation of cooler days to come, and keep you boat and tackle in top shape ready to take advantage of the nice days between fronts.

Around and in the inlet passes of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral, and Sebastian, concentrations of breeder redfish will remain, steady feeding during periods of slack and falling tide. At both Sebastian and Ponce inlets, target these fish outside the inlet passes on the falling tide in areas of bird and bait activity. In Port Canaveral, work the edges of the buoy line bouncing bait off the bottom. These over sized redfish will hit on artificial baits, but I find live pinfish, pigfish or finger mullet to be a more productive. Remember, these oversized reds are exciting to catch, but they are breeders, so please step up your tackle size and handle and release them with care.

Snook fishing will also remain steady as long as the water temperatures stay warm, with Sebastian Inlet proving to be the prime location. It is best to target inlet linesiders during periods of slack tide drift fishing live pigfish, pinfish, or croakers at night in the channel under the A1A Bridge. This style of angling can be quite rewarding when the bite is on, but it can also be very challenging due to the number of anglers competing for the same action. Snook season ends December 15th, so if you enjoy those tasty filets, your time is limited.

Flounder is another notable species worth mentioning when speaking of inlet fishing. Depending on surf and lagoon temperatures, the flounder migration can stretch into December, with stragglers filtering through the passes all month.

Along the beaches, look for pompano to begin moving off the inshore flats to the deeper troughs along the beach is search of sand fleas (mole crabs) their favorite winter food. Also look for schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel shadowing pods of glass minnows and other bait is the surf. To target both blues and Spanish, watch for birds working bait pods, and through small jigs like the RipTide Swimming Mullet and spoons with a fast retrieval to avoid cutoffs.

When the seas permit it, look for solid concentrations of kings holding on the shallow reefs and wrecks in 60 to 100 feet of water. Several prime locations to target kings in December are the north end of Pelican Flats and 8A reef. The kingfish bite should remain steady as long as the water temperature stays above 74 degrees. To target these fish, slow troll live bait if you can find it, or troll dead Spanish sardines or cigar minnows. When near-shore water temperatures approach the 70-degree mark, look for tripletail and cobia to begin to show up on the Port Canaveral buoy line and the near-shore water off the beaches and the bight of the Cape. These fish normally hold to structure such as floating weeds and other debris, but they also have a tendency to free swim on the surface once the sun warms the water.

Offshore, December is one of the best times to catch grouper, snapper, and amberjacks, targeting bottom structure in the 21 to 27 fathom range. Additionally, dolphin, wahoo, and an occasional sailfish are quality targets in areas of color changes, rips, and weed lines.

Inshore, both redfish and sea trout will remain in the skinny water as long as the water temperatures stay in the 70-degree range. Inshore fishing is best once the sun warms the water a bit, so sleep in and enjoy a good cup of coffee before heading to the ramp. Fish in protected areas and sunny spots, and look for fish to be holding in sand pockets until the sun gets overhead. Now is also the time of year to target tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone. If you have never seen black drum tailing on the shallow flats before, it is worth the long hard paddle into the No-Motor Zone.

Last but not lease, look for the American and hickory shad runs to commence on the upper Saint Johns River near the end of the month, and intensifying in January and February. Shad fishing is one of the most overlooked fisheries in Florida, and a fun fish to catch on both fly and light tackle gear.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who fished and worked with me in 2007 for your business and friendship, and I am looking forward to spending more time on the water with you in 2008. Also, now is the time to purchase your 2008 gift certificates at and receive 50.00 dollars off of the standard rate by either replying to this news letter or calling my toll free number at 866-790-8081, so purchase a charter in advance for yourself or that certain someone close to your heart, and go fishing with them.

Man I love this job!

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

Happy Holidays, and good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 office
866-790-8081 toll free

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

If you would like to be added to this Internet fishing report mailing list, just reply to this message or contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.

[fishtales]

November 30, 2007

INSHORE:

Another beautiful week of fishing weather allowed holiday anglers to embark on adventures along the Treasure Coast. The seas calmed down enough for boats to venture out on the ocean in search of fishing action. It looks like we can expect good fishing weather throughout the week. December brings the close of snook season on the 15th and trout season will continue to be closed during the month. There are lots of other species out there to keep you occupied. Plan a trip on the water soon!

Snook fishing on the flats has produced shorts mostly, but some larger fish are patrolling also. The inlets have continued to hold bigger fish around the bridges, docks and seawalls. Mostly night anglers have been seeking those fish with live bait or feather jigs. We found snook on the flats early in the day and some hanging under the docks in the shade during the middle of the day. There is still a couple weeks to try and get that slot fish. Randy Jagielo caught his first snook this week, even though it was short of the slot.

We found a few redfish on the flats, but spooked them as we were poling across the area. I have found them hanging near the drop offs and around the mangroves. We did have one hooked up for a while until it tossed the hook on us. Live bait, gold spoons or soft plastics, like DOA jerk baits fished slowly can give you a chance at a hookup. There have been several reports of reds being caught around the jetties this week.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec051.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec051.jpg)

Randy took home a nice pompano for dinner...

Trout action has been spotty, but we haven't been targeting them since the season has been closed. We did manage to skip some pompano in the river to the south of Fort Pierce. The pompano bite has picked up the week and should continue to improve. Randy boated a nice pomp this week for dinner. He also battled a nice size tripletail next to the boat before losing the fight as the fish got off. There are still some tripletail around the river down towards the power plant and Jensen Beach. Some reports of flounder around the mouth of the inlet and I expect to hear of a better bite soon.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_0981.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0981.jpg)

Pompano provide great table fare during the cooler months....

Jacks, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel have been all over the inlet. We found schools of them harassing bait and hooked up numerous times with fish. It's great action and plan on losing some lures while you fish. Great fun for the kids to keep the smiles on their faces! Bridges have held some snapper, sheephead, black drum and sand perch. Live or dead shrimp is the favorite table fare for these fish.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec050.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec050.jpg)

Still a little short of slot size...Randy did catch his first snook.....

SURF:

The pompano bite has been improving for those using shrimp or sand fleas. Whiting are still hanging along the beach. A silver spoon could net you jacks, bluefish or Spanish mackerel. Sand fleas have been spotty to find so you might have to take some with you as a backup. Lighter winds have made it much more enjoyable to fish the surf.

Tip of the Week: With a number of different species available both in the river and on the ocean. Most anglers keep rods rigged to be ready for encounters with these fish. Many fish require using specialized rigs or lures if you want a chance at a hookup. With a chance at pompano, flounder, redfish, etc....etc....it's important to be ready for any opportunity. If you happen to skip some pompano while heading to your fishing spot, will you have a rig ready to cast at them and fish the school? Most offshore boats keep a rod handy for cobia should they happen to run across one. Sometimes you only have seconds to make that cast to a fish. It pays to be prepared!

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 11/26, I fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay in potholes between Wiggins Pass and Barefoot Beach with Dan Nimmer and his teenaged son, John. We released four keeper-sized sheepshead to 15 inches, a 17 inch redfish, and keeper-sized mangrove snapper, all caught with shrimp.

My next scheduled trip was for Wednesday, but with one angler coming from California, that one got scrapped due to the wildfires out there. Fortunately, the only problem for our client was a delay in travel plans. Others were not as fortunate, and our hearts to out to those who have dealt with this recent disaster.

Thursday’s client was dealt a problem of lesser intensity when he injured a foot in an accident but it still caused him to cancel his fishing plans. So it was Friday before I was out on the water again. It turned out to be a day worth waiting for. I fished with Dr. Leon Mead and his sons, Spencer and Alexander, about 38 miles west of New Pass. Leon caught two keeper red grouper, one 21 inches and the other a real beauty at 29 inches and 14 pounds--That one was tons of fun to reel in on 12 pound test! Alexander caught a nice keeper gag grouper at 24 inches, Spencer caught a keeper mangrove snapper and the group also caught three keeper yellowtail snapper. We released porgies, triggerfish and lots of red grouper shorts to 18 inches.

Saturday, fishing in 38 feet out of New Pass with Leon Dargis and Bob Rose, we caught four pretty nice lane snapper all around 13 inches, two 12 inch mangrove snapper, porgies and triggerfish. We released red and gag grouper shorts and small yellowtail snapper.

The photo shown is of a 28 inch gag grouper, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

December 7, 2007

INSHORE:

Isn't it great to live on the Treasure Coast in December??? Wonderful weather......great fishing.....it's a fantastic place to live! Hope you had an opportunity to enjoy this week and have plans to get out over the weekend. I spent last weekend on my annual voyage to Dolphin Stadium with my buddy, Pat. Not quite the same this year, but we had a fun weekend in spite of it. The fishing this week has been good for most species out there.

Snook fishing around the inlet in Fort Pierce has produced an assortment of sizes. Some slots taken while most were shorts along with some oversize. Most fish are being caught on live bait or feather jigs at night. The outgoing tide has been the best time to fish. We found some shorts along the flats this week. Don't forget you only have till December 15th to catch that keeper fish.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec002.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec002.jpg)

Bob Bergen caught this 30" gator trout on the flats at first light....

Trout season is still closed this month, but has been good this week for the catch and release anglers. Bob Bergen was aboard this week and boated a sweet 30" trout on the flats and released it to fight another day. Soft plastics has been good for trout along with suspending lures and live bait. January 1st, you can keep your slot trout.

We ran up on a small school of redfish today and missed our chance at a hookup. Look for them to hang in the shallow flats during the day to soak up the warmth of the sun. Move along slowly and quietly for your opportunity. Soft plastics, like DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are good choices when fishing for reds this time of year.

The pompano bite has picked up down towards the south of Fort Pierce. Live shrimp or sand fleas are great to use if you happen on a school. The flounder bite has started along the jetties and docks of the inlet. Look for them to be hanging around the docks and sandy flats of the river. Live shrimp is the usual bait of choice, but they will hit a soft bait, too. Spanish mackerel have been all over the river, especially the inlet area. We have found large numbers of them in the turning basin and along the channel edges. Live shrimp or shiny spoons will usually do the trick. Some are running in the five pound range this week. And, of course, the jacks and ladyfish are everywhere and anywhere. We found them up on the flats rolling like tarpon and hitting anything in sight. Great fun for the family!

Surf:

It has continued to be pompano and whiting along the beaches. Some bluefish have been caught along with jacks. Get some shrimp or sand fleas and head down to the surf for some great fishing weather! The surf near the jetties can also hold some flounder. Early mornings with a silver spoon can provide some exciting action and sometimes a snook or redfish cruising the beach.

Tip of the Week:

As winter creeps into the Treasure Coast, the water temperatures will vary day to day. As water temps fall, look for fish to be in deeper water in the early part of the day and head to the shallower areas as the sun warms. Trout will usually move to deeper water as it cools down. Vary your patterns to find where the fish are comfortable. Redfish will sit on the flats to warm up most of the day. Winter days can affect where and how you want to fish. Don't always keep the same routine and change things up if you aren't finding fish.

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 12/3, I fished in 45 feet out of New Pass with Dan Ayd, son Dan Jr., and friend, Steve. We caught four keeper mangrove snapper, all around 13 inches, along with some good-sized whitebone porgies, triggerfish and a tripletail. We had a 45 inch king mackerel on the line but he circled the boat three or four times like kings do and ran us around trying to keep him off the anchor line. Just before we had an opportunity to gaff him and get him boated, he broke free. We released red grouper shorts to 18 inches and two 40 inch bull sharks.

Jim Butcher and friends, Bob and Richard, fished Estero Bay with me from Barefoot Beach to Wiggins Pass on Thursday. We caught five keeper sheepshead to 16 ½ inches, two keeper mangrove snapper and a sand bream. We released lots of smaller snapper and sheepshead, all on live shrimp.

Friday, Reiner Neumann and friends, Vince, Gino and Joe, fished in 38 feet out of New Pass with me. We caught keeper mangrove snapper that were all about 13 inches, a 14 inch hogfish, whitebone porgies to 15 inches and a couple of big triggerfish to 17 inches.

Leon Dargis, son Brett, and ten-year-old grandson, Blake, fished with me Saturday about 21 miles out of New Pass. We hit a hot snapper bite and caught over thirty keeper-sized mangs, and kept nine of them all close to 14 inches for the family’s dinner. We caught a 15 inch hogfish too. We also caught five nice triggerfish about 15 inches each and kept three of those. We released a half dozen large whitebone porgies about 16 inches and we had our lines broken three times while fishing just over a small ledge—we never got to see the brutes that broke us off.

The photo shown is of angler Elvira Ruetimann with a 15 inch hogfish, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[capt_ron]

Gags, Black Drum and Peacock Bass

Well, I am still laid up with what the doctors call Plantar Fasciitis. It is like a toothache in your heel. Although the ailment has kept me from piloting my own boat, a couple of friends have made it possible to get a couple of fishing trips in. One was to Homosassa with Captain Rick Burns and another was to Mosquito Lagoon with Captain Chris Myers. They both dutifully put up with my handicap and put me on some fish. I might just have to keep the boot (cast) on and play sick. That way I can just ride around and fish.

With respect to the gag grouper, Capt. Rick ( www.reelburns.com ) ask me over to Homosassa to do some shallow water grouper fishing with him and his friend Captain Bill Lotz ( 352-860-2310 ). We took Bill’s boat which is rigged with a tower for easy spotting of the rock piles we would fish. Rick manned the tower and ran the trolling motor with a remote from high above the water. Another friend of Rick’s came along to help in the catching. Jeff and I were doing the fishing while Captain Rick and Captain Bill treated us like royalty, catering to our every need.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Tower,%20Rick%20rs.jpg

The strategy was for Rick to use the visibility provided by the tower to move Jeff and I along the rock piles just within casting distance. We use 5500 reels loaded with 50 pound braid and finished off with diving crank baits on a 60 pound leader. These heavy rigs are needed in case you hook up with the big guys. We didn’t that day, but we did get 14 gags, a couple of trout and several real nice Spanish mackerel.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Grouper%20Double%20rs.jpg

This is an interesting fishery where you can cast plugs in 6 to 7 feet of water toward underwater rock piles and catch these hard hitting grouper. If you have never done it you need to give it a try.

Mosquito Lagoon

My second trip was with Captain Chris Myers ( www.floridafishinglessons.com ). Captain Chris specializes in poling the flats of legendary Mosquito Lagoon. On our way out Captain Chris told me of some black drum, redfish, and redfish he had been seeing in the “goon” so hopes were high.

Not long after approaching our first location we started spotting redfish but they were a little spooky and showed no interest in our offerings. We poled through one area that held a bunch of large trout but they too were showing no interest in being caught. As we continued along the same flat we started seeing wider ranging ripples that turned out to be 100’s of black drum.

I managed a hook-up on a Rip Tide Realistic Crab, sprayed with Rip Tide Blast Shrimp Scent. I had pinned the crab on a ¼ inch jig head by hooking it sideways across the bottom of the lure and then rotating the jig head 180 degrees to make the crab settle upright on the bottom with the hook up. I sprayed on a little scent and pulled the crab very slowly through the huge school of black drum. One finally showed some interest and I caught my only fish of the day.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Black%20Drum,%20Rip%20Tide%20rs.jpg

We continued to work the school and Captain Chris pulled 3 more out of the bunch before we called it a day.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Black%20Drum,%20Chris%201%20rs.jpg

Captain Chris is a master on the flats using artificial baits. He likes to say that if you are not comfortable and confident in using plastic baits you need to go out with no natural bait so your only opportunity at catching a fish will be on the artificials. This will force you to use them and your confidence will rise. Another point about sightfishing that became abundantly clear to me was the need for accurate casting. I feel like I would have caught more fish if I had made better casts. Don’t wait until you are fishing to cast, practice in your backyard on days you are not fishing. It will pay dividends when you get on the water.

Peacock Bass

Don’t get excited, I am not going to talk about catching any peacock bass while I was in Mosquito Lagoon but I do know where you can catch some. This is one of those trips of a lifetime deals. It’s not inexpensive but what a trip. It’s a 10 day trip that includes at least 6 days of fishing. A trip like this is a bargain at $3,550 plus airfare and tips. If you would like more information send me an email at presleyr@bellsouth.net. The trip is to the Amazon for some of the best Peacock Bass fishing in the world.


I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.


As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[merijo_attong]

Snook fishing has been the ticket in Florida bay with redfish in the mix and a couple of smaller tarpon here and there. Catches the last two weeks include a 35lb tarpon and a slew of small snook caught in the smaller backcountry creeks and ponds and we jumped a bunch of tarpon in the 50 lb range in larger creeks on top water lures, Tim Slawson with his two sons’ Jeff and Chris combined to catch over 20 redfish the largest at 12 lbs on live pilchards fished around structure in moving water. Snook fishing has been good as always this time of year but most of the snook are a little smaller than normal, on less windy days however we are finding a lot of small schools of large snook 8 to 15 fish in a pod swimming on the flats most of these fish are over 10 lbs, this weekend we landed a 24 lb linesider on the flats with 8 more over 10 lbs all of these fish were caught sight fishing on artifical lures. And you have no idea how many snook we saw like that!!! I have had a couple days when the fishing wasn’t that great like a cold front passing over first thing in the morning and shutting everything down but for the most part the fish has been very good and I expect the same for the time being, if the weather remains warm the fishing will get better.

Until next week!
Capt. Jim Hale
www.hurricanesportfishingcharters.com
786-255-1788

[fishtales]

December 14, 2007

INSHORE:

Today is the last opportunity to catch that slot size snook until next year. The season closes today and won't open again until February 1st. A lot of anglers have been fishing around the jetties with live bait and having success in catching....not necessarily a slot size though. Bridges have continued to hold snook for night anglers with live bait or feather jigs. Early mornings can find them cruising along the flats. Joe Novak emailed me and caught a nice snook around the Jensen Beach Causeway that was just a little short of slot size. After today.....catch and release them with care.

Trout fishing picked up this week, even though they are still out of season. The have been hungry for live shrimp or soft baits along the flats. Most have been in the slot size with a few above the 20" size. Fish the edges of the flats where the water drops off to 3 to 4 feet of water. It will be a couple more weeks until the season opens on January 1st, so again catch and release for now. Harbor Branch and Round Island has been good for trout lately.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec001.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec001.jpg)

Michael Lafashia, Jr with his first spotted seatrout....

Redfish action continues to be good on the flats. They have been hanging around the shallows in the warmth of the sun and you can find a few hungry ones if you use soft plastics and fish them slowly along the shallows. Bobby found his nice redfish on a soft baits and boated it after being chased around the boat a few times. Again, fish your lures slowly and then slow it down some more. Redfish can be lazy this time of year and slow to move around. Cooler water slows the metabolism and reaction time is like.....do I want to get off the couch and get myself a snack or wait here for my wife to come through the kitchen????

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec002-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec002-1.jpg)

Bobby Mazzoni fooled this nice redfish with a soft plastic on the flats....

Other action around the river has been around the inlet with Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jacks cavorting most days on the bait schools. Shiny spoons or diamond jigs can help you find them. You might consider a short wire leader if you want to keep that lure very long. Jacks and ladyfish are everywhere again. Ten year old Michael wore himself out on ladyfish this week. He lost count, but kept on fishing for them. He sure kept me busy! Sand perch and flounder have been reported around the bridges along with black drum and sheephead. Docks have held many species for those wading or drifting along them. It's been a great week on the water!

Surf:

Whiting and pompano are again the fish being most sought after on the beach. Shrimp or sand fleas are the bait of choice. Silver spoons and pompano jigs are good artificials to be working along the surf. I have heard of bluefish and a few mackerel also being caught by the beach anglers. The nice weather has made it great along the Treasure Coast surf.

Tip of the Week:

Cooler water temperatures in winter brings clean water on the flats. As the water clears, it's more important than ever to move quietly and slowly across the flats. Fish usually more skittish in clean water. Start on the edges of the flats. I watch many boats motor up on the flats and start fishing. Most of the fish around them have already moved off that area. Redfish will lie in very shallow water to soak up the sun's rays. Noises will send them off the flats in a hurry. Drifting across the area will allow you to keep the noise down and have time to fish your lures slowly. I keep a mushroom anchor in the boat to allow me to stop on any given spot to fish it more thoroughly. Slow down and you should have better success this winter.

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

["Phlats" Capt. Craig]

Happy Holidays. Well the winter season is upon us and with it brings cooler weather and water temps.
The snook fishing has been great up in the river and back bays in both Palm Beach and Jupiter. The snook are holding near sea walls, docks, mangrove shorelines, and bridges. The morning bight is great for top water action and as the sun the rises the snook begin to sun them selves in the shallows. The snook have been averaging 18 to 32 inches. The best baits have been small plastics with jig heads, jerk baits, and Top water plugs. The best live baits have been live shrimp, small finger mullet, and greenies. Remember snook season closed December 15th so keeping them is off limits. The fat snook have also been plentiful lately in the back country with many of the fish averaging 20 inches.

The Tarpon bite in palm beach has been excellent on both sides of the tide, drifting live baits is the key. The tarpon are in pods near deep channels feeding on live free lined shrimp and small finger mullet. The size of the tarpon have ranged from 10 to 30 pounds. Fluorocarbon is a must for these fish, the smaller the diameter the better also small hooks, these fish can be picky. The Jacks have also been thick lately as they are mixed in with the tarpon. The Jacks will take any live bait presented to them. These fish are a blast on light tackle and will put a beating on you. The size of the jacks have ranged from 2 to 20 pounds.

The sheepshead have also been feeding heavily near the sea walls and docks. These fish will take any live shrimp presented to them. The mangrove snapper bite has also been great as they are mixed in with the sheepshead . I have also been catching a few tripletail of legal size in the back bays. These fish look like a leaf floating in the water but once they take the bait, they fight with a vengeance. The Pompano are still out on the beaches, I am still waiting on a good cold front to push them up on the flats. The Spanish mackerel are also on the beaches these fish are great for fly fishing and great for the youngsters.

Well that is the fishing report for the past few weeks, if you would like to catch any of the species mentioned above or experience Light tackle fishing at its best. Call Capt. Craig Korczynski 561-644-4371 or visit www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com. Or e mail me at phlats1519@yahoo.com. Thanks to www.PowerPro.com, www.Atonsolutions.com, and Ande fishing Line.

[fishtales]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
from Captain Charlie


December 20, 2007

INSHORE:

With the Holidays already here, I want to take a few minutes and wish everyone a wonderful Holiday Season from myself and my wife, Eva. We thank all of you for making this a year full of great fishing adventures and memories. We made a lot of new friends and were visited by many old friends. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I wish you the best for 2008 and hope your fishing adventures are fantastic. Be safe and happy!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec006.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec006.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec004.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec004.jpg)

First light can bring great fishing action on the flats....

The latest cold front has passed by and warm, mild weather has prevailed most of the week. Sunshine and light winds along the Treasure Coast enticed a lot of anglers to venture out on the water and enjoy some great fishing. The water temperatures have continued to cool off, but the fish have been hanging on the flats a good part of the day. Looks like the coming weekend should continue with the mild weather patterns.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec008.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec008.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec007.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec007.jpg)

Redfish and trout action was great on the flats this week!

I found fish on most flats this week. Redfish, snook and trout were patrolling the flats in two to three feet of water as the sun came up over the water. Top water will get you some early morning hits and soft baits on the flats will give you a chance as the day wears on. I found redfish both north and south of Fort Pierce. Jerk baits worked well for the reds and trout as well. Snook will also be in the same areas looking for an easy meal. I found quite a few schools of glass minnows in the river and this should help find good areas to fish. Fish around the bait schools for a good chance at hooking up. Work your lures slow.......you will have better results.

Still good reports of pompano down south of Fort Pierce. Shrimp, sand fleas or small jigs are good baits. Flounder along the edges of the inlet have continued to bite. Try a live shrimp on a jig and fish it slowly along the bottom. Sheephead, snapper and black drum have been biting around the bridges and catwalks. The jetties have produced a lot of large jacks and Spanish mackerel. Hope you get a chance to fish soon!

Surf:

Whiting and pompano continue to feed along the beaches. Shrimp and sand fleas are hard to beat for them. You can also find some jacks, mackerel and bluefish also if you use a silver spoon or anything shiny. It should be a nice weekend to hit the beach.

Tip of the Week:

Looking for redfish on the flats is always fun and exciting. In winter, I like to fish along the edges of the flats early and move onto the shallow areas once it warms up a bit. Cool water temperatures don't seem to affect the reds as much as other fish. They will lie in very shallow water to keep warm in the sun's rays. Moving slowly and quietly is essential this time of year. Work across the flats too fast and you will find yourself spooking the fish. If you are fishing lures as slow as possible, it give you more time to fish the shallow areas and have a better success rate. Slow 'er down!

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

Happy Holidays,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[Supplyplc]

Company Details - TELCOM LIMITED.
Registered No.01994195
Address: 11C KINGSWOOD ROAD
Incorporation Date: 1986

Telcom Limited is a specialized supplier of Mobile phones (GSM and
CDMA), Video Games , Apple Ipods , Iphone , Laptops / Notebook Digital
Cameras and Plasma Tvs.

With high quality products, best service and good reputation, we have won a
great support from customers, and become stronger and more powerful.
Therefore, the scale has been expanded, and we now have our own Trading
Branch Offices.

Specifically, we can supply Mobile phones (GSM and CDMA), Video Games ,
Apple Ipods , Iphone , HTC, Laptops / Notebook , Digital Cameras and Plasma
Tvs.. Moreover, we also offer all kinds of international brand OEM/ODM
service. At present we export so many goods to the America, Canada Europe,
Africa, Southeast Asia and United Arab Emirates. We have established long
term, stable and good business relationships with many manufacturers and
wholesalers around the world.

Presently, we are looking forward to even greater cooperation with overseas
customers based on mutual benefits. Please feel free to contact us for more
details.


We ship and deliver to you within 2days of purchase through Fedex courier
sevices.

Intrested buyers can contact me direct via:
cst_inc51@yahoo.com
cst_inc@ameinfo.com
Christina Lords +44 70457 66009

we deliver goods in peace of mind



WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING IN STOCK FOR SALE

QTEK:

Qtek s200 =$100
Qtek 9000 =$130
Qtek 8310 =$200
Qtek 8300 =$210
Qtek 9100 =$240
Qtek 8100 =$250
Qtek s110 =$210
Qtek s100 =$200
Qtek 9090 =$210
Qtek 8020 =$200
Qtek 8010 =$180
Qtek 2020i=$240
Qtek 2020 =$250
Qtek 8080 =$130
Qtek 8060 =$160
Qtek 1010 =$150
Qtek 7070 =$250

NOKIA:

NOKIA 6230 for........$130usd
NOKIA 6230i for........$140usd
NOKIA 6260 For........$130usd
NOKIA 9300 For........$130usd
NOKIA 9500 For........$140usd
NOKIA 6230 for........$130usd
NOKIA 8800 For........$180usd
NOKIA 6680 For........$110usd
NOKIA 6682 For........$120usd
NOKIA 7650 For........$130usd
NOKIA E61 for.........$155usd
NOKIA E60 for.........$150usd
NOKIA E70 for.........$160usd
NOKIA N70 For.........$160usd
NOKIA N80 For.........$170usd
NOKIA N90 For.........$180usd
NOKIA N91 For.........$190usd
NOKIA N92 For.........$200usd
NOKIA N93 FOR.........$220usd
NOKIA N95 FOR.........$350usd
NOKIA N97 FOR.........$450usd
Apple iphone 8gb .....$300usd
Apple iphone 4gb .....$250usd



HTC price list

HTC P5500 (HTC Nike)-----550usd
HTC P6500 (HTC Sirius)---540usd
HTC S730 (HTC Wings)-----530usd
HTC P4550 (HTC Kaiser)---520usd
HTC P3450 (HTC Elf)------510usd
HTC Advantage X7501------500usd
HTC S420 (HTC Erato)-----480usd
HTC P6300 (HTC Panda)----460usd
HTC S630 (HTC Cavalier 100)--450usd
HTC P3400 (HTC Gene)-----440usd
HTC P3350 (HTC Love)-----430usd
HTC Advantage X7500 (HTC Athena) --- 500usd
HTC S320 (HTC Monet) ------------------- 350usd
HTC P4350 (HTC Herald 100) ------------- 400usd
HTC P3300 (HTC Artemis 160) ----------- 320usd
HTC S620 (HTC Excalibur 100) ----------- 520usd
HTC P3600 (HTC Trinity 100) -------------- 420usd
HTC S310 (HTC Oxygen) -------------------- 300usd
HTC MTeoR (HTC Breeze 160) ------------ 380usd
HTC TyTN P4500 (HTC Hermes 200) --- 420usd


MOTOROLA RAZOR V3 for........$130usd
MOTOROLA RAZOR V6 FOR........$140usd
MOTOROLA SLVR L7 For........$140usd
MOTOROLA SLVR V8 For........$140usd
MOTOROLA A1000 For...........$150usd
MOTOROLA MPX 220 For........ $120usd
MOTOROLA MPX 300 For........ $140usd

SONY ERICSSON:

SONY ERICSSON K700i For......$130usd
SONY ERICSSON k750i For......$140usd
SONY ERICSSON W800i For......$150usd
SONY ERICSSON W900i For......$160usd
SONY ERICSSON S700i For.......$140usd
SONY ERICSSON P900 For......$140usd
SONY ERICSSON P910i For.......$150usd
SONY ERICSSON Z1010 For.....$160usd

NEXTEL:

NEXTEL i870 AT JUST.....$120usd
NEXTEL i860 AT JUST.....$100usd
NEXTEL i930 AT JUST.....$140usd

TREO:

TREO 650 AT JUST .......$140usd
TREO 700W AT JUST ......$160usd

SIDEKICK:

SIDEKICK II AT JUST.....$100usd
SIDEKICK III AT JUST....$150usd


APPLE IPOD:

Apple iPod nano 2GB Black MP3 Player......$40usd
Apple iPod Video 30GB Black MP3 Player...$60usd
Apple iPod Video 60GB Black MP3 Player...$120usd
Apple iPod Mini 4GB 18hour battery - Pink MP3 Player..$80usd
Apple iPod nano 4GB Black MP3 Player.........$100USD



GAME
W/xbox 360 hard drive
Xbox 360 wireless controller
Xbox 360 faceplate
Xbox 360 headset,
Xbox 360 component hd-av cable,
Xbox live silver membership
(#xbox360pla) $260 per-unit buy 3 and take one free


Nintendo Game boy advanced === 30usd
xbox 360 (platinum) ========== 200
xbox 360 (premium) ========== 230usd
xbox 360 (core) ==============180usd
sony psp =================== 100usd
ps2 ======================= 120usd
ps3 ======================= 400usd
Nintendo wii ================ 200usd
Nintendo DS Lite =============110USD
Nintendo game cube ========== 40usd

TomTom GO 500-----180usd
TomTom GO 510-----210usd
TomTom GO 700-----230usd
TomTom GO 910-----240usd
TomTom RIDER-----.-250usd


We ship and deliver to you within 2days of purchase through Fedex courier
sevices.

Intrested buyers can contact me direct via:
cst_inc51@yahoo.com
cst_inc@ameinfo.com
Christina Lords +44 70457 66009

we deliver goods in peace of mind

[Supplyplc]

Company Details - TELCOM LIMITED.
Registered No.01994195
Address: 11C KINGSWOOD ROAD
Incorporation Date: 1986

Telcom Limited is a specialized supplier of Mobile phones (GSM and
CDMA), Video Games , Apple Ipods , Iphone , Laptops / Notebook Digital
Cameras and Plasma Tvs.

With high quality products, best service and good reputation, we have won a
great support from customers, and become stronger and more powerful.
Therefore, the scale has been expanded, and we now have our own Trading
Branch Offices.

Specifically, we can supply Mobile phones (GSM and CDMA), Video Games ,
Apple Ipods , Iphone , HTC, Laptops / Notebook , Digital Cameras and Plasma
Tvs.. Moreover, we also offer all kinds of international brand OEM/ODM
service. At present we export so many goods to the America, Canada Europe,
Africa, Southeast Asia and United Arab Emirates. We have established long
term, stable and good business relationships with many manufacturers and
wholesalers around the world.

Presently, we are looking forward to even greater cooperation with overseas
customers based on mutual benefits. Please feel free to contact us for more
details.


We ship and deliver to you within 2days of purchase through Fedex courier
sevices.

Intrested buyers can contact me direct via:
cst_inc51@yahoo.com
cst_inc@ameinfo.com
Christina Lords +44 70457 66009

we deliver goods in peace of mind



WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING IN STOCK FOR SALE

QTEK:

Qtek s200 =$100
Qtek 9000 =$130
Qtek 8310 =$200
Qtek 8300 =$210
Qtek 9100 =$240
Qtek 8100 =$250
Qtek s110 =$210
Qtek s100 =$200
Qtek 9090 =$210
Qtek 8020 =$200
Qtek 8010 =$180
Qtek 2020i=$240
Qtek 2020 =$250
Qtek 8080 =$130
Qtek 8060 =$160
Qtek 1010 =$150
Qtek 7070 =$250

NOKIA:

NOKIA 6230 for........$130usd
NOKIA 6230i for........$140usd
NOKIA 6260 For........$130usd
NOKIA 9300 For........$130usd
NOKIA 9500 For........$140usd
NOKIA 6230 for........$130usd
NOKIA 8800 For........$180usd
NOKIA 6680 For........$110usd
NOKIA 6682 For........$120usd
NOKIA 7650 For........$130usd
NOKIA E61 for.........$155usd
NOKIA E60 for.........$150usd
NOKIA E70 for.........$160usd
NOKIA N70 For.........$160usd
NOKIA N80 For.........$170usd
NOKIA N90 For.........$180usd
NOKIA N91 For.........$190usd
NOKIA N92 For.........$200usd
NOKIA N93 FOR.........$220usd
NOKIA N95 FOR.........$350usd
NOKIA N97 FOR.........$450usd
Apple iphone 8gb .....$300usd
Apple iphone 4gb .....$250usd



HTC price list

HTC P5500 (HTC Nike)-----550usd
HTC P6500 (HTC Sirius)---540usd
HTC S730 (HTC Wings)-----530usd
HTC P4550 (HTC Kaiser)---520usd
HTC P3450 (HTC Elf)------510usd
HTC Advantage X7501------500usd
HTC S420 (HTC Erato)-----480usd
HTC P6300 (HTC Panda)----460usd
HTC S630 (HTC Cavalier 100)--450usd
HTC P3400 (HTC Gene)-----440usd
HTC P3350 (HTC Love)-----430usd
HTC Advantage X7500 (HTC Athena) --- 500usd
HTC S320 (HTC Monet) ------------------- 350usd
HTC P4350 (HTC Herald 100) ------------- 400usd
HTC P3300 (HTC Artemis 160) ----------- 320usd
HTC S620 (HTC Excalibur 100) ----------- 520usd
HTC P3600 (HTC Trinity 100) -------------- 420usd
HTC S310 (HTC Oxygen) -------------------- 300usd
HTC MTeoR (HTC Breeze 160) ------------ 380usd
HTC TyTN P4500 (HTC Hermes 200) --- 420usd


MOTOROLA RAZOR V3 for........$130usd
MOTOROLA RAZOR V6 FOR........$140usd
MOTOROLA SLVR L7 For........$140usd
MOTOROLA SLVR V8 For........$140usd
MOTOROLA A1000 For...........$150usd
MOTOROLA MPX 220 For........ $120usd
MOTOROLA MPX 300 For........ $140usd

SONY ERICSSON:

SONY ERICSSON K700i For......$130usd
SONY ERICSSON k750i For......$140usd
SONY ERICSSON W800i For......$150usd
SONY ERICSSON W900i For......$160usd
SONY ERICSSON S700i For.......$140usd
SONY ERICSSON P900 For......$140usd
SONY ERICSSON P910i For.......$150usd
SONY ERICSSON Z1010 For.....$160usd

NEXTEL:

NEXTEL i870 AT JUST.....$120usd
NEXTEL i860 AT JUST.....$100usd
NEXTEL i930 AT JUST.....$140usd

TREO:

TREO 650 AT JUST .......$140usd
TREO 700W AT JUST ......$160usd

SIDEKICK:

SIDEKICK II AT JUST.....$100usd
SIDEKICK III AT JUST....$150usd


APPLE IPOD:

Apple iPod nano 2GB Black MP3 Player......$40usd
Apple iPod Video 30GB Black MP3 Player...$60usd
Apple iPod Video 60GB Black MP3 Player...$120usd
Apple iPod Mini 4GB 18hour battery - Pink MP3 Player..$80usd
Apple iPod nano 4GB Black MP3 Player.........$100USD



GAME
W/xbox 360 hard drive
Xbox 360 wireless controller
Xbox 360 faceplate
Xbox 360 headset,
Xbox 360 component hd-av cable,
Xbox live silver membership
(#xbox360pla) $260 per-unit buy 3 and take one free


Nintendo Game boy advanced === 30usd
xbox 360 (platinum) ========== 200
xbox 360 (premium) ========== 230usd
xbox 360 (core) ==============180usd
sony psp =================== 100usd
ps2 ======================= 120usd
ps3 ======================= 400usd
Nintendo wii ================ 200usd
Nintendo DS Lite =============110USD
Nintendo game cube ========== 40usd

TomTom GO 500-----180usd
TomTom GO 510-----210usd
TomTom GO 700-----230usd
TomTom GO 910-----240usd
TomTom RIDER-----.-250usd


We ship and deliver to you within 2days of purchase through Fedex courier
sevices.

Intrested buyers can contact me direct via:
cst_inc51@yahoo.com
cst_inc@ameinfo.com
Christina Lords +44 70457 66009

we deliver goods in peace of mind

[Fishbuster]

Henry Froese and son, Bradley, from Ontario had planned to fish with me on Monday, but the weather front that passed through at the beginning of the week put a stop on those plans, due to seas of 7-12 feet offshore. We rescheduled for Friday. Friday morning, it rained early but passed through quickly, and once it did we headed out. We had hoped to play with a few goliaths to give Bradley the thrill of feeling a big fish on the line, but we never got the chance. After releasing some triggerfish, gag grouper shorts, grunts and Spanish mackerel, the sloppy seas started to get to my anglers’ stomachs, and we decided to head for shore a little sooner than planned.

Saturday morning, I headed offshore to areas around the reefs in 35 feet out of New Pass with Kevin Dineen and seventeen-year-old son, Troy. Kevin caught a nice 27 inch gag grouper and we were broken off by three more, fishing with light tackle. They weren’t biting heavy tackle at all. We had a live grunt on heavy tackle just a few feet away from where Kevin caught the 27 inch gag, but nothing hit it and we had 4 bites on the light rig. We released lots of gag shorts to 20 inches, along with Spanish mackerel to 28 inches, triggerfish and grunts. We also caught and kept nine mangrove snapper all around 13 inches. We had a goliath grouper that was about 300 pounds eat one of our gag grouper right at the water’s surface boat-side, which was a pretty exciting sight. After that, the goliaths surrounded us and attempted to eat everything we pulled in, so we picked up anchor.

The photo shown is of ten-year-old-angler, Blake Dargis, with a pair of 16 inch triggerfish caught on a recent offshore trip.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, December 22, 2007

Compliments on Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida

The holiday season has arrived, and more than ever families and friends are gathering to celebrate life and living. It is again time to count our many blessings and thank those who sacrifice their time and lives to defend our freedom. It is also time to relax and enjoy life with those within our circle and there is no better place than the outdoors to do this very thing. The weather this weekend shows improvement, so plan some time on the water and enjoy.

Currently, the sea state offshore is expected to reach 5 to 7 feet, so I don’t think anyone will be venturing out until the seas settle around the middle of the week. Once conditions wane, look for snapper, grouper, and amberjack to be concentrated on the deeper reefs and wrecks from 120 to 240-feet. Also look for cobia holding on the near-shore wrecks from 90 to 160 feet of water. If trolling is your preference, there are still some dolphin and wahoo possible outside the 120-foot mark with an occasional sailfish mixed in, and plenty of kingfish on near-shore structure.

Along the beaches the red tide is letting up, so consider pompano, whiting, sheepshead, bluefish and Spanish mackerel off the beach, ocean piers, and in the inlets, with sand fleas, cut clams, and fresh shrimp serving as choice baits. As the temperatures on the flats warm up, look for slot redfish and sea trout to return to the shallows, and small dark colored soft plastics and cut mullet and ladyfish should produce best for them. Also, remember sea trout season is closed until January first, so please handle and release them with extreme care.

This past week, I ventured out on the freshwater side, and spent some time on the St. John’s River, and although I didn’t catch any, I heard of several hickory and American shad being caught. Also, as the moon grows full, look for speckle perch spawning activity to increase, and schooling bass to be feeding on small surface minnows in the confluences of small sloughs and creeks flowing off of the pastures.

Remember, fishing and boating activity will be at an elevated level this week, so please be kind and courteous to each other and the environment.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity thank all of you who fished and worked with me in 2007, you are all truly a blessing, and I’m looking forward to a glorious 2008.

Seminar and Event Schedule:

January 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, Central Florida Boat Show Orlando Convention Center.

January 22nd, Orlando Kayak Club Meeting, Gander Mountain in Lake Mary 7 PM, Rigging Soft Plastic Baits for Redfish and Sea Trout.

March 1st, 2nd, and 8th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida

April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.

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

Good luck, good fishing, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter today, and let’s go fishing.


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

[fishtales]

Happy New Year!

December 27, 2007

INSHORE:

It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone so fast. Lots of great fishing memories from 2007 and hopes for a fantastic fishing 2008. I appreciate everyone that I had the privilege to have on the boat this past year. Thank you! It looks like we will have some nice weather bring in the new year. Have a safe and happy New Year!

Fishing had slowed down some over the past weekend with the winds and rain that filtered into the area. As this week progressed, the weather cleared and it was like summertime out there. The fishing picked up as the winds died off opened up the river to anglers. I hope you had a chance to get out this week. Lots of boats in the water this week, so be careful and aware of your surroundings.

Snook, trout and redfish have been hanging around the flats. The windy weather kept many areas hard to fish, but the fish have been there. I fished north of Fort Pierce over the weekend and found trout hitting soft plastics in the usual areas. Mike Lazorik and his dad were on the boat this week. Mike managed a nice snook in spite of the windy weather. I had Alex West and Kalib Guettler out from Teen Anglers. The guys caught a lot of fish and had a great time, even though they caught none from the fishing list. The weather wasn't the greatest, but the guys had a good day fishing.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec001-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec001-1.jpg)

Alex West caught this trout on his special diving lure!

I found a lot of trout later this week to the south of Fort Pierce. Even though they are catch and release, there have been some big trout cruising in two to five feet of water. Soft baits, like DOA CAL rootbeer jerk baits have worked well out there. Fish them slow along the bottom and you could also find some redfish in the same area. Today produced four redfish, over a dozen trout, a few small snook and more ladyfish and jacks than you care to count. It was a soft plastic day out there!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec002-2.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec002-2.jpg)

Mike found this snook hiding along the mangroves....

Bridges have yielded black drum, sheephead and flounder. Spanish mackerel have continued to be around the inlet and hitting small Clark Spoons. I did find a few flounder around some of the local docks. Bluefish are around the river as well. It's been a wonderful Holiday Season and many anglers have been enjoying a day or two fishing around the river or ocean.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec009.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec009.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec006-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec006-1.jpg)

Gator trout are out on the flats.....January outlook is great!

Surf: Most beach anglers have been targeting whiting and pompano. Shrimp and sand fleas should get you some bites out there. You can still find some bluefish, jacks and mackerel along the beaches. I like a silver spoon for these guys. Make sure you use some sunscreen out there on the beach!

Tip of the Week: Holiday weekends traditionally bring out lots and lots of boaters. Plan on the ramps being filled beyond capacity and wait times to be longer. Take along a survival bag that includes: A large bottle of patience, a six pack of awareness, a bucket full of safety, a couple of caution tablets and a cooler full of smiles! Have a safe and happy New Year!

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

Happy Holidays,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

[capt_ron]

Lookdown and See the Reds

Put your thinking caps on to make the connection between the title and the report. I had the pleasure of fishing this past week with my grandson Robert and also with Chris Kwek, a soldier on leave from a 15 month tour in Iraq. It was indeed an honor to take Chris and his dad Dean out for a little fishing.

Operation Open Arms

This trip with Sgt. Kwek was set up because of a program developed by a fellow guide, Capt. John “GiddyUp Bunch. Capt. Bunch guides on the West Coast and is a former marine, and probably the only fishing guide ever to be featured on NBC’s The Today Show. The interview was about fishing, as you would expect, but it was really more than that. The reason for the appearance is best told by this short story.

It was April 19, 2005. SPC, Travis Downes, a U.S. Army forward scout was home for a two-week leave from his duty station in Iraq. Travis was fortunate enough to meet up with Captain “GiddyUp” on Pine Island, Florida. Travis had a wish, and he shared it with the captain. “I just want to go fishing while I’m home. I would love to go fishing before I return to Iraq.” Well, Captain “GiddyUp” took Travis fishing and, as they say, the rest is history.

The result of this chance encounter is Operation Open Arms. Their stated mission is to provide every possible benefit through a variety of sponsors before our service men and women have to return to Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba, or other foreign duty stations.

Operation Open Arms is open to active duty military on temporary leave from a foreign duty station, returning home to Southwest Florida with orders to return to their foreign duty station after their brief R&R.

You may visit their website at www.operationopenarms.com to learn more.

Fishing With Kids

The first trip I to report on was with my grandson Robert on the Banana River. It was a nice but windy day with the water temp at about 72. We were fishing Rip Tide 3 inch mullet and did some prospecting around docks and flats that had been successful in past winters. The only takers at first were small trout. The morning low was in the 50’s so we didn’t go too early but still the action was slow. Finally, after we had taken a lunch break we got into some jacks and got to bend the rods for a while until they finally disappeared or quit biting. Jacks are a great fish to catch. Pound for pound they give about as much fight as anything in the river.

A little later we saw some fish busting bait and went over to check it out. It turns out a bunch of glass minnows had been trapped up against a sea wall. Robert tossed in a Rip Tide Mullet in the dark Shad Flash color. His pole quickly bent over and a short fight ensued before he brought a lookdown to the boat. We don’t catch a lot of these unusual critters around here. They are said to get their name from the way they appear to look down their nose as they swim. They are a member of the Jack family and give a similar fight except they don’t have the same bulk as a Jack Crevalle. If you have never seen one you will be surprised at how thin they actually are.


http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Lookdown,%20Robert%201rs.jpg

God Bless Our Troops

The next trip was with Sergeant Kwek and his dad. Mother Nature stepped up to the plate and served us a cold front that almost shut the fishing down. The lows had been in the 40’s for two days in a row and the water temp was 59 when we started out at about 10:00 am. Wind conditions were forecast at 10 to 15 and it felt like it had already been achieved.

Both Chris and Dean were excellent anglers and made cast after cast without much success. Dean was the first to score with a small trout. That one trout was the only fish that came to the boat during the first couple of hours. Dean caught the trout on a Rip Tide 3 inch mullet in the chartreuse with red tail color. Chris added another trout later on the same bait in new penny.

Later in the day the water temp warmed up to about 62, the wind continued to blow. It was one of those tough fishing days. We moved to a different part of the river and changed over to live shrimp on a popping cork. We rigged the corks by first tying about 12 inches of 20 pound mono on the 10 pound braid. I like to tie the mono directly to the popping cork instead of the braid. Tie on a 15 to 20 inch mono or fluorocarbon leader, depending on the water depth, and add a circle hook. Don’t forget, with the circle hook you don’t need to set the hook, just start reeling.

Well, it wasn’t long until Chris did just that but missed the first strike. Baited up again and sure enough hooked the first redfish of the day. The circle hook had done its job and hooked the red directly in the corner of the mouth. We released it and baited up again. The next thing we knew we had a double. Chris and Dean were each hooked up to a red fish. Dean’s was the largest fish of the day, a nice 22 inch red. Just when we thought it was really going to happen it slowed down again. Chris added 2 more reds and Dean added a Jack and that was to be it for the day. Chris is in the background of the photo of the double hookup.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Redfish,%20Chris%20and%20Dean1%20rs.jpg

Chris told me a little of what it was like to patrol the streets in Iraq, “looking for the bad guys,” as he described it. Chris's is an E-7 which is a Sergeant First Class . He is currently stationed at Ft Bragg, NC in the 82nd Airborne Div. in an Airborne Infantry unit. He was lucky enough to be on a Christmas leave from a 15 month Iraq deployment.
He says he is proud to help the people of Iraq but will be glad to be home for good. He plans to put in 20 years serving our country and he has eight years left. It was certainly my pleasure to be a small part of this family’s Christmas celebration.

Peacock Bass

Don’t get excited, I am not going to talk about catching any peacock bass while I was in the Banana River but I do know where you can catch some. This is one of those trips of a lifetime deals. It’s not inexpensive but what a trip. It’s a 10 day trip that includes at least 6 days of fishing. A trip like this is a bargain at $3,550 plus airfare and tips. If you would like more information send me an email at presleyr@bellsouth.net. The trip is to the Amazon for some of the best Peacock Bass fishing in the world.


I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.


As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[mosquitocoast]

East Central Florida Fishing Outlook for January 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

First, both myself and the good folks at Mosquito Creek Outdoors would like to wish all of you a safe and happy New Year in 2008.

With the exception of a few additional gray hairs, I eagerly embrace the arrival of the New Year to Florida’s Space Coast along with the many exceptional angling opportunities winter brings to the Indian River Lagoon coast.

Last year my resolution was to enlighten new anglers on the many attributes angling and the outdoors provide, and during the summer of 2007 I was elected president of the board of directors of Anglers For Conservation. The AFC is a new nonprofit organization with a mission to create a new generation of coastal stewards using community-based angling education, habitat restoration, and applied conservation science. Our primary educational tool is a program called Hook Kids on Fishing, where kids and parents alike learn basic fishing skills, safety, and conservation, encouraging them to use not abuse our priceless resources by putting conservation first. With eleven events scheduled in 2008, we hope to reach about 1200 kids this year, and to begin developing regional chapters throughout the state. The AFC is only in its incipient stage so stay
tuned for more details.

As always, angling opportunities in the winter are influenced by strength of passing cold fronts as they cycle through Florida, typically highlighted by a few days of strong easterly breezes followed by several really nice days. It’s just a matter of keeping in touch with the weather, and being prepared to take advantage of the nice days, no
excuses.

As water levels and temperatures drop, clear and shallow conditions on the Mosquito, Indian River Lagoon, and Banana River Lagoon flats facilitate some of the best sight fishing experienced all year. On clear sunny days, successful anglers’ focus on quietly polling the flats is search of redfish and sea trout holding in the sandy potholes soaking up the suns warmth. An early start is not necessary, so read the paper and have an extra cup of coffee before heading to the lagoon. Additionally, mullet and other finfish have migrated out of the area for the winter, so as the predators feeding habits switch to smaller shrimp and crabs, and anglers should switch to smaller baits and a slower presentation. When targeting redfish, black drum, and sea trout during the colder months, I like to downsize my bait and fish with a shrimp or crab imitation baits like the Rip/Tide Realistic Shrimp and Realistic Crab on a Woodie’s Rattle Hook. January and February are also key months for targeting tailing black drum on the exclusive Banana River No-Motor Zone. The zone is one of the only locations I know of where a well-presented black Clouser fly can land you a 25-pound drum on the flats.

Offshore, kingfish will still be consistent along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kings, focus on bottom structure in the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south. Also look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral. Additionally, live bait is sometimes tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.

Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structure, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties. If we expedience an extended period of warm weather, mid-winter thaw, look for a mid-winter cobia run to commence.

Now is also the time for shore anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties. As the water temperatures cool, the pompano will move out of the lagoon and gather in the troughs along the beach in search of mole crabs, sand fleas, and their favorite winter food source.

In addition to the saltwater bite, the American shad run will be improving on the St Johns River as we progress into the New Year. These aerobatic fish are great fun on fly rod or light tackle spinning gear, and they are easily targeted on blustery days when coastal fishing is tough.

Seminar and Event Schedule:

January 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, Central Florida Boat Show Orlando Convention Center.

January 22nd, Orlando Kayak Club Meeting, Gander Mountain in Lake Mary 7 PM, Rigging Soft Plastic Baits for Redfish and Sea Trout.

March 1st, 2nd, and 8th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida

April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.

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

Good luck, good fishing, and Happy New Year,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.


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

[fishtales]

January 4, 2008

INSHORE:

The new year was welcomed by Ol' Man Winter this week on the Treasure Coast! Cool temperatures and lots of windy weather has reduced the options of fishing around the area and left most anglers wishing for a chance to get out on the water. The winds will be around for a while, so plan your adventures carefully and safely if you intend on venturing out to fish. Depending on the direction of the wind, you can find places in the river. Offshore will be another challenge for a while.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec003-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec003-1.jpg)

Mike Mirando caught a released a limit of trout this week....

I did get out prior to the front moving into the area and the fishing has been good on the river. Trout has been the most prevalent bite. Now that they are back in season, many anglers will be targeting them for table fare this month. Some big trout have been on the flats, but look for them to move into deeper water as the area cools down now. Live shrimp on popping corks, DOA CAL jerk baits, top water and suspending lures can all get you some trout in the boat. Most grass flats have held trout, if you can get around the ladyfish and jacks to find them.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec014.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec014.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec010.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec010.jpg)

The redfish bite was on prior to the cold front moving into the area....

Redfish have continued to bite along the flats. Lots of reports of redfish from the Power Plant to the Moorings from anglers. Live shrimp, Gulp shrimp, DOA shrimp or jerk baits have all been working out there. The water is getting churned up this week and will take several days to clear back up once the weather clears up. Look for grassy flats with sand holes scattered through it for some opportunities for a redfish.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec001-2.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec001-2.jpg)

Early morning on the Indian River flats.....

Snook fishing has slowed for now. Since the season closed, anglers have mostly been targeting fish that they can keep. Make sure you practice a safe catch and release on any snook you catch this time of year. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere again. They will attack just about anything moving and are great to keep the kids occupied. Still lots of mackerel around the inlet and channels of the river. Croakers have been biting around the bridges and catwalks lately, along with some black drum. Still some flounder around the inlet and docks. Most of the reports are prior to the cold front moving in, so things could change as the weather clears. Hopefully, the pompano bite will improve with the cooler weather.

Surf: Some anglers are venturing out on the beach in spite of the windy weather. Look for pompano, whiting, mackerel, bluefish and jacks along the surf if it is fishable. Shrimp, sand fleas, small bucktail jigs and silver spoons are good choices along the beach. Good luck and keep warm!

Tip of the Week: As winter settles in on the Treasure Coast, windy conditions will be the norm on most days for the next several months. Small boats that cruise the river in search of a good fishing spot can be especially vulnerable to water blown around in the boat from choppy waves and blustery winds. Make sure cell phones or any things that could be damaged by salt water are stowed secure and dry from the conditions. Dry boxes or zip lock bags can save a cell phone or car keys from sure disaster from the effects of saltwater. Keep them safe and dry before you leave the dock!

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 12/31/07, I headed back out to federal waters, where two days earlier I had encountered a hot kingfish bite. On Monday, though, we didn’t get any kings. But I still had a good morning of fishing with Dan Brady, Peter Strazz, Andrew and Jim Bramlett and Tom Giordano. We released a 10 pound bonito, Spanish mackerel, red and gag grouper shorts, and some mangrove snapper that would have been keepers in state waters, but were a bit too short for federal waters. We also caught a 13 inch hogfish, whitebone porgies and grunts, fishing with shrimp in 39 feet out of New Pass.

New Years’ Day brought rain preceding a cold-front, which in turn brought high, gusty winds and very rough seas. As often happens during this time of year in cold-front conditions, the tides in Estero Bay were so low that it prevented any expectation of decent fishing bayside. I cancelled my trip for Wednesday. Those conditions persisted through Friday, so I ended up canceling my Thursday and Friday trips also.

By Saturday, the winds had calmed quite a bit, NOAA predicted seas of two to three feet and there was enough water back in the river and bay to float the boat. I headed offshore with Bill and Wendy Baumgartner, daughters Jenn and Melissa, and Melissa’s boyfriend, Brendon. We fished the reefs with live shrimp and caught 5 nice sheepshead ranging 16 to 20 inches, the largest caught by Melissa. We released a few bluefish to 15 inches, gag grouper shorts to 18 inches and red grouper to 14 inches, along with some small mangrove snapper. We had a goliath try to eat one of the short gags as we reeled in.

The photo shown is of angler Leon Mead with a 29 inch, 14 pound red grouper caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, January 5, 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

With the holiday season behind us, it is time to greet the New Year with some serious fishing. We are fortunate to live in the sunshine state where angling is a year round sport, and although we received some of the coldest weather experienced in years this past week, conditions are all ready showing improvement.

Even though angling conditions over the holidays were excellent, the catching for the most part was slow under the full moon and continued to improve as the moon waned. During the first part of the week water levels on the Mosquito Lagoon increased to a point where the redfish dispersed and then regrouped into small nervous schools spread out across the flats. At one point we counted 8 different schools of redfish, and our best success came when we change our tactics from chasing the schools to wait for them to come to us. But, as I check the most recent water levels are falling again, so look for the schools to bunch up in the deeper troughs of the flats.

My first three trips last week on the Mosquito Lagoon involving more chasing then catching. As the moon waned, the bite slowly improved to the point where the fish were more receptive and we even managed to catch a few nice redfish.

On Saturday the 29th, I exchanged the kicker for a paddle venturing up into the Banana River No-Motor Zone with my good friends Larry Carter and JT Thompson, and we ended up locating and catching some bigger redfish. The weather was as good as it gets, and the flat calm and sunny conditions providing excellent sight fishing. As we work our way up the flat, we soon located a sizable school of large redfish tailing in three feet of water. JT was the first to score catching a handsome redfish in the 20-pound range on half a blue crab. After landing, photographing, and releasing his fish, the tails soon popped up again and both JT and I were hooked up with a double, and my fish exceeded the 30-pound mark. After landing the last two redfish the school spooked out into deeper water, and we elected to move on in search of some black drum which never materialized in good numbers.

On the 1st, I elected to ring in the New Year fishing with my good friend Mike Murray, and we opted to check the St. Johns River for American shad. We launched at the east State Road 46 ramp, and we covered the river from Lake Harney to Puzzle Lake. Our plan was for a quick reconnaissance mission and then to be home for football, and although we did not catch any shad, we did see shad caught by other anglers. Combined we caught 7 speckled perch, and Mike managed to catch a hefty 7-pound large mouth bass on chartreuse ¼ ounce Road Runner. The speck bite was on and the shad are here, so hopefully this cold weather will kick the run into full swing.

In closing, I think I will distribute this message and then go fishing.

Seminar and Event Schedule:

January 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, Central Florida Boat Show Orlando Convention Center.

January 22nd, Orlando Kayak Club Meeting, Gander Mountain in Lake Mary 7 PM, Rigging Soft Plastic Baits for Redfish and Sea Trout.

March 1st, 2nd, and 8th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida

April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.

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

Good luck, good fishing, and Happy New Year,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.


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

[frank piku]

Captain Franks fishing report from Key West Florida. Fished the 30th of December as the last trip of the 2007 year. winds were out of the South East 15 mph. This indicated that we fish the gulf Side of the Marquesa Islands. Once we passed in the lee of the islands the seas were pretty flat. My first stop was just north of Ellis rock bouy, I've had good luck here and caught some nice groupers. After everyone had lines in the water, all baited up I took out my fly rod and after 15 minutes not a bite???? This told me this was not the right location. After everyone's lines came out we flew about 5 more miles west. On the first drop we had on a big grouper and from then on for the next 2 hours we couldn't even get the bait to the bottom when we were getting hooked up. The fly rod had many catches with artificial lures on . Especially the B-17 pilchard copies etc. These have to be great for tuna too. Go on line and look up B17 swimsuit.com for over 135 pages of hot lures. all hand made the groupers,they think there candy. call me for any info CAPTAIN FRANK 305 509 1547 or visit my web site captainfranksfishingcharters.com get my free dvd's videos visit my web site

We came home with our limit of RED GROUPERS ONE NICE BLACK OF 28" SEVERAL MUTTON SNAPPERS AND A FEW LANE SNAPPERS TOO. also one big King fish as a bonus.

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 1/7, I fished with Ed and Margie Bock in 30 feet out of New Pass with live shrimp. We caught a mess of nice sheepshead to 17 inches and kept a half dozen of those. We also caught two keeper mangrove snapper, a pair of 14 inch triggerfish and grunts. We released a 15 inch bluefish, small Spanish mackerel and grouper shorts.

Tuesday, I headed out 31 miles west of New Pass on a 270 degree heading, where I fished with live shrimp in 63 feet with Ron Musick and his friends, Dick and Mike. We caught keeper mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel and porgies, brought home fifteen fish, and released lots of gag shorts to 20 inches and red grouper shorts to 18 inches.

Andy DiCarlo and son Andy, Jr. fished with me Wednesday morning over hard bottom, off the beaches in 30 feet. Using shrimp, we caught another nice mess of sheepshead to 20 inches. We kept ten of those in the 16 inch to 20 inch range and released the rest. We also caught keeper-sized triggerfish and grunts and released lots of small grouper.

Five business associates, Ray Malayter, Steve Casey, Jeff Robillard, Kelly Packard and Larry Brockhaus had a good morning of fishing on Thursday. We headed out of New Pass and fished in 27-36 feet. Ray caught a nice gag grouper at 26 inches (see photo) and, although Larry had to release his 20 inch fish, it was a true black grouper, more unusual than a gag. We also had lots of catch-and-release-grouper action with red grouper to 19 ¾ inches, a quarter inch shy of keeper-size, and lots of short gags. We also caught a keeper mangrove snapper and released smaller mangs, whitebone porgies and grunts.

Friday, Scott Danielak and Margaret Danielak fished with me for the day in several spots on the way out to 60 feet, west of New Pass. We started catching lots of gag grouper on shrimp and light tackle, mostly shorts, but then we were broken off three times by bigger ones so I readied some heavier tackle and baited with sand perch. We caught three keeper gags on those rigs, two at 22 inches and one at 24 inches. We also caught four keeper yellowtail snapper, a few keeper mangrove snapper and whitebone porgies. All but the gags were caught on shrimp.

[capt_ron]

Another Cold Front is Approaching Florida

Here we go again, after a week or so of decent weather another cold front is likely to slow down the fishing. With low temperatures predicted in the low 40’s the water temp is going to fall too. With that in mind, this report is going to touch on some cold water fishing tactics you can use.

First of all, think s-l-o-w. Fish are cold blooded animals and their body temperature takes on the water temperature around them. When the water temperatures are falling the fish are seeking areas where they can be comfortable. For this reason cold weather often moves the fish to deep water holes, canals, or to areas characterized by warm water discharges such as occur at power plants.

You will have to take a big dose of patience with you when the water temps fall. The fish become very lethargic and limit their movement considerably. They are not likely to chase a bait at hot-rod speeds through the water column. If you do catch a fish in an area work it thoroughly because they do tend to concentrate in areas that provide them comfort.

I have two favorite lures for working deep water during cold weather periods. The first is my old standby the Rip Tide Mullet. Rigged on a ¼ ounce jig head the mullet can be worked slowly along the bottom using a reeling retrieve. In other words, just cast the jig out and reel very slowly to drag the lure across the bottom stirring it up as it goes. I like to use a contrasting body and tail such as the chartreuse with red tail.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/RipTide%20Mullet%201.jpg

What I am talking about here is water temperatures that have fallen into the 50’s with a passing cold front. You must make presentations that will be easy for them to eat. You almost can’t go to slow, but you have to make lots of casts and cover lots of territory.

Remember, the fish’s metabolism has slowed and they eat very little anyway so you have to get the bait in front of their nose. Deep water canals or dredge holes where the bottom is soft and mucky are good places to start your fishing day. Fish like to settle down in the mucky bottoms for warmth. Later in the day after the sun has warmed the water you can change your tactics and visit other areas starting on east facing shorelines which are first to catch the sun’s warming rays.

My second favorite bait for this type of fishing is the Rip Tide Mud Minnow. This versatile bait closely imitates a live mud minnow in shape and color. I like the darker colored green or Killifish versions. Work them the same way as described above with a presentation that stirs up the bottom. Don’t forget to keep it slow. If the reeling retrieve does not produce, try imparting a little jump to the presentation by lifting the rod tip gently. Just a couple of inches are usually enough. Visualize the mud minnow coming up off the bottom and landing right in front of a lethargic fish. This just might be the action required to trigger the strike.
http://inshorefishingadventures.com/RipTide%20Mud%20Minnow%201.jpg

Peacock Bass

Talking about this cold weather may make you dream of a tropical climate like Brazil to do some fishing. This is one of those trips of a lifetime deals. It’s not inexpensive but what a trip. It’s a 10 day trip that includes at least 6 days of fishing. A trip like this is a bargain at $3,550 plus airfare and tips. If you would like more information send me an email at presleyr@bellsouth.net. The trip is to the Amazon for some of the best Peacock Bass fishing in the world.

I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.

As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

January 12, 2008

INSHORE:

The Treasure Coast was rewarded this week with fantastic weather for fishing! Light winds and warm sunny days beckoned anglers to venture out on the water. It looked like summertime out there. Hope you enjoyed the nice days and had a chance to get out fishing. Fishing was great over the weekend and the first part of the week. Later, the fish were out there, but the bite was a little slower.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec008.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec008.jpg)

Look for redfish along the edges of the flats.....

Trout was the main catch most of the week. Fishing the flats in two to four feet of water will give you the best opportunity of boating some spotted sea trout. Live shrimp on popping corks or soft plastics like DOA CAL jerk baits can help get you hooked up. From south around the power plant to north towards Round Island, you can find some trout hanging out feeding on the many schools of glass minnows. Don and Dave managed a few trout this week among the many jacks and ladyfish that are cruising around for a quick snack.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec002-3.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec002-3.jpg)

Trout can be found in deeper water along the flats.....

Redfish were hitting earlier in the week on soft baits along the edges of the flats. Darker colors of jerk baits seemed to work best for them. Most are slot size and full of fight. Brennan from the Fishing Center reported catching four nice reds up to 30" while fishing south of Fort Pierce on the flats.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec001-3.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec001-3.jpg)

Some larger bluefish have been cruising along the flats this week....

Not a lot of reports of snook fishing lately, but I did managed some shorts around some of the docks this week. Some big boys are also hanging around so move up slowly when approaching docks to fish. You can find some fish hanging along the front sides of the docks. Soft baits also worked for the snook this week. The weather has provided great fishing along both sides of the river and almost felt like summer out there.

Ladyfish, jacks and bluefish have been all over the river as usual. Some nice size ladyfish and bluefish can give a good fight on light tackle. Look along the edges of the flats in 3 - 5 feet of water for some exciting action. Bridges have been holding croakers, black drum and sheephead this week. Live or dead shrimp are the bait of choice along the catwalks and docks. There are still Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish around the inlet and jetties. There are plenty of fish out there, even if not what you would like to target. Look for the action to continue if the mild weather continues.

Surf:

Whiting has been the fish to catch lately. Live or dead shrimp can get you in on the action. Some pompano and bluefish are also out there. Take a silver spoon out early in the mornings and you will usually find something out there hungry for something shiny.

Tip of the Week:

Watch for the birds and bait. There are plenty of glass minnows in the river now and fish love feeding on them. Keep an eye open and fish the bait schools. Many species follow the bait and you can find some great fishing around the schools. Birds can give you a clue on where to find the bait. If there isn't any action around where you are fishing.....move on to another area.

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

["Phlats" Capt. Craig]

Inshore Fishing Report January 17, 2008 Jupiter / Palm Beach

Happy New Year to all hope 2008 is a year of happiness and lots of catching. The past few weeks have been exciting do to such a wide variety of species being caught. The snook bite is awesome in the backcountry while the tarpon bite has been drag screaming in the early morning and late afternoon. The Grass flats have been filled with a wide range of species like Ladyfish, Jacks, Black Drum, Trout, and Pompano just to name a few.

The Backcountry has been the best spot for snook action do to the warmer water temps. The best baits have been small jigs and live baits like greenies and shrimp. Docks and sea walls have been the structure to target the snook. The bigger snook are holding in the deep holes and around bridges. During the day the snook can be targeted on the shallow shorelines as they sun them selves trying to stay warm. Mixed in with the snook in the same areas are the large Jacks. These Jacks have been ranging from 2 to 20 pounds. Any live bait or top water thrown near structure will entice the jacks to feed.

The Tarpon bite has been steady with the outgoing tide producing the most fish. Live bait is a must for these fish as they can be picky feeders at times. Live shrimp and live baitfish produce the best results. The average size of the fish has been 10 to 30 pounds; this makes for a great fight on light tackle equipment.

The grass flats have been a blast with many different species being caught. The red fish and sea trout have been on the edges of the flats taking small jigs and jerk baits worked slowly. Trout season is back open but please practice catch and release. While fishing for trout and redfish there have been black drum and flounder caught in the mix. The blue fish and ladyfish have also been really thick. The best baits for these fish have been small ¼ ounce chartreuse jigs tipped with shrimp. Pompano have also been crashing the party lately hitting jigs tipped with shrimp and also doc’s goofy jigs

The fresh water fishing has been great for largemouth bass using live shiners and a mix of artificial lures like storm swim baits and small crank baits. The largemouth have been hanging near drop offs and when the sun is fully up a few can be spotted on the shoreline. The peacock bass bite has slowed do to the cooler water temps.

Well that is the inshore fishing report for the past few weeks. If you would like to experience light tackle inshore fishing or catch any of the above-mentioned species give Capt. Craig Korczynski a call 561-644-4371. Or visit www.PhlatsInshoreFishing.com, E mail phlats1519@yaho.com. Thanks to www.Powerpro.com, www.Atonsoulutions.com, and Ande Fishing Line.

[fishtales]

January 17, 2008

February Forecast

INSHORE:

As another front has come whisking through the Treasure Coast, it's the first week in a long time that I haven't been on the water. Catching up on a few things around the house and anxiously waiting for my Mother and Brother to arrive from West Virginia.....yep, I'm a hillbilly from long ago! Let's take a few minutes and look ahead at what will be happening around the Indian River for February.

Snook season will once again open on the Atlantic Coast and anglers will be out there seeking the slot size fish around the river. It might just be a good time to check the dates on your snook permit. Fishing around the bridges in both Fort Pierce and Stuart will be a good bet on a hookup. The turning basin around the Fort Pierce inlet will also be holding snook along the seawalls. Don't forget to fish some of the deeper docks around the area. Live bait, feather jigs and DOA Terroreyz are good choices to entice a snook to bite.

Redfish have been a bit scattered as the water turns cooler. They will be hanging on the edges of the flats and moving up into the shallows on sunny days to keep warm. Try some darker color jerk baits like the DOA CAL rootbeer 6" on a CAL jighead. Fish around the deeper mangroves for a chance at a slot size redfish in February. Work your lures slow....slow....slow... Try cut bait or live pinfish on the deeper areas of the flats. You can catch a red during the middle of the day on the flats during winter. Patience and persistence sometimes pays off out there.

Trout should be the most prevalent bite in February. Find some good grass flats in 2 - 5 feet of water and use live shrimp on popping corks. Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove are good areas north of Fort Pierce and the Power Plant to the south also can provide some good action. Jerk baits are good artificials along with shallow running MirroLures.

If you plan on fishing the jetties or bridges, look for croakers, sheephead and black drum to be hanging around the catwalks. Bluefish, mackerel and jacks will usually be crashing bait around the jetties. Winter conditions can be challenging some days so plan your day around the weather. It can be gusty most days, but there are many places to fish depending on the direction of the wind.

The SURF will continue to hold whiting and some pompano. The pomp bite has been better this year, Use shrimp or sand fleas along the beach for these fish. Silver spoons or shiny lures can coax a bluefish, mackerel or jack to bite. It can get tough to fish on the easterly blow in winter, so watch the weather before heading out.

Tip of the Week: Water temperature varies throughout the river and can affect the fishing. The warmer the water in winter, the more chance you have at catching fish. Deeper water will be the best bet in early mornings and on sunny days the flats can come alive as those temperatures begin to rise. Watch for bait.... Fish will follow the bait and you will have an even better chance at hooking up. There are a lot of variables out there this time of year. Be aware of conditions and use them to your advantage in winter.

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

[Fishbuster]

Sunday morning, 1/13, I fished Estero Bay from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot Beach with Kip & Lisa Price and their two sons, Aden, eight, and Cooper, four. We were a little worried about the rain that was predicted for Sunday, but as it turned out, we stayed dry all morning. Our mission was to let the boys catch some saltwater fish, which is something they don’t get to do in their hone-town of Denver. Using live shrimp, both boys had fun catching and releasing a variety of species, including sheepshead to 15 inches, mangrove snapper, pompano, whiting and puffer-fish. They were intrigued with the teeth on the various species and Cooper was most excited about “the fish with the bat-teeth” (sheepshead.) All-in-all they had a great time and topped off their trip with some fresh Florida grapefruit, also quite a novelty!

With seas of 3-5 feet on Monday accompanying a cold front and continuing into mid-week, I stayed in port. Thursday was even worse, with both rain and wind, so it was Friday before I headed out again. I fished with Eric & Tricia Walters and Mike and Bobbie Paquette, Tricia’s parents. We headed out in a dense fog and stayed that way for a good part of the day. It took some extra time to get to our destination, get our bearings and anchor up. But we had good success about 17 miles west of New Pass. We caught four keeper gag grouper, the 22 inch one on shrimp, and then a 25 inch, 26 inch and 27 inch on squirrelfish and blue runners. We lost a huge gag, probably about 25 pounds, when he twisted, rolled over the leader, and jerked the hook. We also caught thirteen keeper mangrove snapper, all about 13 inches and a keeper lane snapper on shrimp. We released porkfish and whitebone porgies and dozens of 15 and 16 inch bluefish.

Fishing with me in Estero Bay Saturday, from Barefoot Beach to Wiggins Pass, Tom Einson, Chris Scutt and Dave Baines used live shrimp to catch a good variety of fish. We caught a keeper trout, two keeper sheepshead, a keeper mangrove snapper and a keeper whiting. We released smaller trout and ladyfish.

The photo shown is of angler Phillip Troutmann with a 23.5 inch gag grouper, both caught on shrimp on recent offshore trips.

[Fishbuster]

On Wednesday, 1/23, after several days of cancelled trips, due to weather conditions, I finally got back out with Bob Carter and friend, Harvey. Using shrimp in 32 feet of water out of New Pass, we caught three hogfish, two of which were keeper size. We also kept two (out of a dozen) keeper-sized sheepshead and released the rest, along with keeper-sized mangrove snapper, an 18 inch bluefish, and gag grouper shorts to 20 inches. Bob and Harvey had three bigger gags hooked over the course of the morning, but they buried in the rocks and broke off.

Thursday morning, I headed out in heavy fog, thankful for radar, with Ron Musick and friend Dick. We fished about 17 miles west of New Pass. We caught four hogfish but only one was a keeper at 15 inches so we released the other three along with lots of gag grouper shorts to 20 inches and red grouper to 19 inches. We also caught fourteen keeper mangrove snapper and a mess of whitebone porgies.

The photo shown is of angler Terry Hopkins with a hogfish, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

January 27, 2008

INSHORE:

While the winds picked up....the fishing slowed down this week along the Treasure Coast. It has been a pretty windy week and hard to find areas that are fishable. The water quality isn't too bad in spite of the rough conditions. It's been hard to spot bait or action lately with the water rough all over the river. Not many anglers have braved it out there. Hopefully, a reprieve is in short order!

Most of the action consisted of ladyfish, jacks, black drum, sheephead and a few trout. Most of the river has been hard to fish so we have concentrated on areas that have been somewhat protected. Each day will be different on those areas, so watch the winds and plan your day.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt.jpg)

John did catch this nice trout on the flats....

John Musial was down this week and we fought winds all day, but did manage a number of jacks and other fish, including one nice trout on the flats. Most of the fish have come from 2 - 5 feet of water. Live shrimp has been our best bait for now. Once this weather relaxes, it should get back to some good winter fishing opportunities.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_000_0063.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/000_0063.jpg)

A few scattered redfish can be found around the mangroves.....

Bridges have been holding sheephead, black drum and croakers, while the inlet and jetties have Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks. The anglers, who have been braving the beaches, are catching whiting and some pompano on shrimp or sand fleas. It's been a tough week and we all are looking forward to some nice weather again.

Tip of the Week:

Rain gear is essential not only in the rain, but can sure come in handy on those windy days on the water. Water spray and wave action can bring a lot of water into the boat. Those cold days can make it even worse. Break out the rain suit and it can keep you dry and warm on the tough days of fishing. Keep dry out there!

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

[fishtales]

January 31, 2008

INSHORE:

Winter weather patterns have continued around the Treasure Coast this past week. Windy days and a few cool nights have made it the usual challenge to get out fishing. We were rewarded with a couple of days that reminded me of summertime fishing. Tuesday was one of those few calm days out there and it was a fantastic day to be on the water!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt004.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt004.jpg)

Summer-like morning on the Treasure Coast this week!

Once again, Snook Season opens along the Atlantic and the Treasure Coast of Florida on February 1st. Many anglers will be out at midnight tonight in an attempt to catch that elusive slot size fish. Most of the bridges around the area have been holding lots of snook. Live shrimp or pinfish is the popular bait of choice, but feather jigs, DOA Terroreyz, or Bomber lures are also local favorites. Fish the outgoing tides around the bridges or seawalls for a chance at your snook. Local docks are another area that snook tend to inhabit. I was able to pull a slot size from under a dock this week south of Fort Pierce.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt008.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt008.jpg)

A DOA shrimp fooled this slot snook....

I saw more redfish on Tuesday than I have seen since summer. With the water so flat out there, you could see the action too good. The water was clear and the fish could see the boat too well. I managed two hookups and saw easily over fifty reds along the mangroves in less than two feet of water. Most were in small packs of three to six fish. With the water so clear and too quiet out there, they are easily scared. Move silently and slowly to get your chance. If you drift to quickly, you will usually drift on top of them. DOA rootbeer shrimp are a great choice, along with cut bait or dark jerk baits.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt007.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt007.jpg)

This 20" gag grouper was a sucker for a DOA!

Trout were scattered, but with an early morning top water or suspending lure, you can coax one into striking. I found trout in two to five feet of water. Later in the mornings, switch to jerk baits or live shrimp. Harbor Branch or Queen's Cove are good places to start. I saw a number of small schools of nice size bluefish up to five pounds. They are agressive and put up quite a good fight on light tackle.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt009.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt009.jpg)

Another snook that was patrolling the flats....

Bridges have held lots of sheephead. I saw many schools of them on the flats this week that held from a half dozen to at least fifty fish. Black drum have also been biting around the catwalks. I had a few reports of sand perch, snapper and croakers around the bridges. Live or dead shrimp have been the best baits on a number four or six long shanked hook. Jetties have yielded mackerel, bluefish and jacks. Ladyfish and jacks continue to rule the water just off the edges of the flats.

Surf:
Whiting and pompano are what the beachgoers have been targeting. Shrimp or sand fleas can provide dinner for you along the surf. Those that want some other action can fish a shiny lure, like a silver spoon, and have a chance at jacks, bluefish or mackerel. The weather has given us some nice opportunities along the beach this week.

Tip of the Week:
I spoke to a man this week, who said he hadn't been fishing in a while. He told me that he had guessed at sizes and limits of fish recently and ended up keeping both undersized fish and over the limit. After having been checked by an officer, he received a ticket for his wrong guessing. I don't know what it cost him, but I am sure it was more than he wanted to pay for his guesswork. Know your sizes and limits when you go fishing. It's not worth the cost of a fine to take the chance at keeping illegal fish!

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

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, February 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors Apopka, Florida

Well those Anglers not familiar to Florida may believe fishing opportunities in February are few but far between, but that thought could not be further from the truth. In reality, angling during the winter on the Indian River Lagoon Coast produces outstanding catches if the right tactics and strategies are employed.

As always, understanding the cycle of passing cold fronts is essential selecting the proper weather day and having the flexibility to get out on the water while the getting is good will add to one’s success. Passing cold fronts are notorious for delivering several days nasty windy conditions followed by a short window of gorgeous weather, and a prudent angler will focus there attention on boat and tackle maintenance and honey dos during periods on ugly weather and call in sick when conditions are right.

With sea trout, black drum, and redfish serving as the primary targets on the inshore flats, water temperature serves as the most critical element in locating and catching fish. On colder days, sea trout will search out and congregate in the warmest water they can find, so focus your attention in deeper holes and pockets adjacent to shallow flats. Another critical element is the fact fish are cold blooded, so during colder periods their metabolic rate slows way down and they eat less, so concentrate your efforts on dredge holes, troughs, depressions, and canals located next to expansive flats, and slow down your presentation to a crawl. My preferred lure in this situation is a Nite Glow Riptide realistic Shrimp rigged on a 1/16 ounce Screw Lock Jig. My tactic is to locate a deeper canal adjacent to an expanse of shallow flats and then cast to the edges and let the jig sink all the way to the bottom before retrieving it very slowly. After the cold snap passes and the weather starts warming up, focus your attention on sandy potholes where both sea trout and redfish like basking in the warming sun. Also, let us not forget the tailing black drum and redfish on the Banana River Lagoon No Motor Zone. There are very few thing in life that get the heart pumping better than the sight of a huge black tail raising slowly out of the water within casting range, and one of those is the first long run of a big black drum in shallow water. Remember, an early start is not necessary if the weather gets cold, so sleep in and hit the water when sun has warmed the flats a bit.

Moving offshore, kingfish will still be consistent along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kings, focus on bottom structure in the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south. Live bait is often tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.

Also look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral, and let us not forget the excellent grouper and snapper experienced in February as these fish have a tendency to move in on shallow bottom structure and wrecks. Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structure, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties.

February is also a great time for shore anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties. As the water temperatures cool, the pompano should move out of the lagoon and gather in the troughs along the beach in search of mole crabs (sand fleas) their favorite winter food source.

Last but not least, February is a great time to check out those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River, and inshore lakes. Currently some good catches of American shad, speckled perch, and largemouth bass are being reported.

February 9th Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, Woman in the Outdoors presents the Ladies Social Angler Seminar and Wine Tasting, from 9am-2pm. Cost to attend is $40 per person and includes one-year membership and subscription to The Woman in the Outdoors. To register, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors (407) 464-2000.

March 1st, 2nd, and 8th 9th Bass Pro Shop Spring Fling, Orlando Florida

March 8th Woman in the Outdoors presents a Kids Fishing Day. Event includes a full day of activities and lunch, and the cost is $25 per child. To register, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors at (407) 464-2000.

April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida.

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

Good luck, good fishing, and Happy New Year,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.


Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 1/28, the seas calmed enough to get offshore, although we stayed fairly close in 30 feet out of New Pass. I fished with Leonard White, Butch White, Bill Banish and Ted Ressler. Butch caught a nice gag grouper—30 inches—using a small sheepshead as bait on a heavy pole. Bill followed up with a 23 inch gag, caught on shrimp. The group also caught a half dozen keeper mangrove snapper, all 13 and 14 inches, two keeper sheepshead at 14 inches and 15 inches, grunts and porgies. We also released a small hogfish. It was pretty chilly on the water in the early morning, but the fish sure didn’t seem to mind!

Earl Meturfman, Joey Kennedy, Pete Watrous and Tony Grasso fished with me on Tuesday in 33 feet out of New Pass. The wind shifted direction and picked up a bit, causing seas to be a little higher than they were on Monday. We did well with live shrimp and caught a 15 inch hogfish, a mess of sheepshead to 16 inches, of which we kept eight, and 8 keeper mangrove snapper, along with grunts, porkfish and triggerfish. We released gag shorts to 21 inches and red grouper to 16 inches.

Wednesday, conditions changed and fishing was tougher offshore in 37 feet out of New Pass. The winds were S-SE and increased throughout the morning. The winds and waves were going in opposite directions and the current was slow. The water was crystal clear, but the bite wasn’t as strong as it had been the earlier part of the week. Lee Wampler, Chris Corrie, his son, Jason, and six-year-old granddaughter, Celestra, still fared pretty well, though, landing two 14 inch hogfish and a half dozen keeper mangrove snapper and some porgies, all on shrimp.

Seas were a little sloppy on Thursday when I headed out to 42 feet from New Pass with John Bileau. We caught eight keeper mangrove snapper and a mess of 12-15 inch porgies, and released lots of gag and red groper shorts, several gags just an inch or so shy of keepers.

Friday, with strong winds out of the south-southwest, seas continued to build offshore. I stayed close in at the reefs with Peder Engebretson, Mike Higgins, Sr. and Mike Higgins, Jr. we used shrimp to catch mostly sheepshead and caught about thirty of those ranging from 12 ½ to 19 inches. The guys kept four of those and released the rest, along with grunts and gag shorts to 21 ½ inches.

Saturday morning I fished the reefs with Jim Madsen, Brian Distesano, Frank Troy, Carl McDonald and Matt Keenan. We caught 15 nice sheepshead to 19 ½ inches and released seven of those, along with lots of gag grouper shorts. We also hooked a monster goliath grouper that was 6 ½ feet long—he bit an 18 inch sheepshead on 150 lb. test and gave us a fun fight before release.

The photo shown is of angler Blake Dargis with a 15 inch hogfish caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

February 8, 2008

INSHORE:

What a great week on the water. Not only did we have some fantastic summer-like days to fish, I saw a number of friends again and met some new ones on the boat. Fishing was great most days and we did catch a variety of species. Dolphin were all over the river to put on their show and lots of wildlife to enjoy out along the Treasure Coast. What a wonderful area we live in!

Keith, Bob, Turner and Frank were visiting again and we had a wonderful time watching the boys, Turner and Frank, have fun with the ladyfish and jacks. Dave was back in town again and we had a good time catching up on a years worth of news and catching fish in between. I met Bob and Haley and enjoyed the weather and fishing on a bright Sunday morning. Scott and his son, Jeremy, were out with me and I believe that Scott won the battle with the fish that day. Ray, Danny and Mike were having a great battle on who would catch the most fish. Emmet was down on Thursday and we tried our best on a fly rod, but only got a number of rolls on it. It turned out to be fabulous weather and great fun fishing out on the Indian River.

Snook fishing has been pretty good around most of the docks. We caught several nice ones and lost a few others when we could reach the docks. Dave did catch one nice linesider that was a couple inches short of slot. DOA shrimp have been very productive around the docks. Night anglers have continued to catch some nice snook around the bridges, turning basin and Taylor Creek area. Live bait or feather jigs have worked best.

Trout fishing was good some days and slower another day. It picked up on Wednesday, but slowed down again Thursday for us. We did manage trout on several days out there. Live shrimp on popping corks or soft baits have worked best. As the water clears back up from the latest winds, look for the bite to improve again. Redfish were quiet this week, but Keith did manage to pull one out from under the mangroves.

Pompano have been cruising around the river and we caught several nice slab sides for dinner. Dave caught the largest, with Ray coming in a close second for the week. Live shrimp or small jigs tipped with shrimp have worked the best in the river. Still a lot of sheephead out there around the area. Bob boated three that would go 2 - 3 pounds each. A lot of schools of them around the flats, docks and bridges are keeping anglers, who are targeting them, busy. Croakers and black drum have been around the catwalks and along channel edges. Spanish mackerel are still around the inlet and a few in the channels. Ladyfish, jacks and bluefish have continued to be everywhere. They provide lots of fun, especially for the young anglers!

Surf:

Whiting, pompano, bluefish and mackerel have been patrolling the beaches. The pompano bite has been good again this week and many anglers have had some nice catches. Shrimp or sand fleas for the whiting and pomps, and shiny lures for the toothy guys. The lighter winds have given us some good days to enjoy the beach.

Tip of the Week:

You hear me talk a lot about kids and fishing. Those days when I see parents like Keith and Bob who share a day fishing with their children make it all worth while. I watched as Bob with his daughter, Hailey, and Keith with sons, Turner and Frank, took the time to make sure that the kids have a time to remember for a long time. It's parents like them that keep the fishing spirit alive in all of us and are creating the future for the generations to come. I am proud that Bob and Keith were on my boat!

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

CATCHES THIS WEEK:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt004-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt004-1.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt003-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt003-1.jpg)

Dave with a nice pompano and snook....

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt005-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt005-1.jpg)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt002-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt002-1.jpg)

Ray with a nice pompano and Bob with one of several nice sheephead...

[Fishbuster]

Mother and son anglers Carole and Kenny Mathis fished Estero Bay with me Monday morning, 2/4, from Barefoot Beach to Wiggins Pass. We used live shrimp to catch three keeper mangrove snapper and a pair of 16 inch whitings. We released small sheepshead and a 22 inch snook.

Tuesday, fishing in 45 feet out of New Pass with Ron Musick, Dick Arnett, Jim Novak and Bob Mayer, we caught two 16 inch hogfish, eight mangrove snapper to 16 inches, a mess of whitebone porgies, all 14 and 15 inches, and three nice sheepshead to 20 inches. We were literally swarmed by bluefish, which we had fun catching and releasing, along with a red grouper just an inch shy of keeper size at 19 inches, all on live shrimp and light tackle.

Wednesday, although seas were predicted to be two to three feet, they were mostly three to four, and it was rougher in close to the beach than out a little further. I fished in about 40 feet out of New Pass with Tom Batcheller, Lee Larsen, Steve Sidlik and Bud Glanzer. We caught five keeper mangrove snapper to 16 inches and whitebone porgies on shrimp, and we released gag grouper shorts and red grouper to 19 inches.

Thursday seas were a little calmer when I fished with Bob Lozier and friends 17 miles west of New Pass. We caught eight mangrove snapper to 15 inches, a 15 inch hogfish, triggerfish and grunts, using live shrimp. We lost a big grouper when it broke a line.

Friday morning I fished in Estero Bay with Mike and Nora Cole, from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot Beach. We caught seven nice sheepshead to 18 inches and released all but two of those. We also released two 17 inch redfish, mangrove snapper and a 20 inch cravalle jack, all on shrimp.

Fishing in 47 feet out of New Pass Saturday with Tom & Noreen Petracelli, Hank & Judy Norman, and John & JoAnne Hoogenden, we caught eight keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, whitebone porgies, grunts, triggerfish and porkfish on live shrimp. We released gag and red grouper shorts, a 25 inch goliath grouper and a small hogfish.

The photo shown is of anglers Eric & Tricia Walters and Mike & Bobbie Paquette with a quartet of gag grouper ranging 22-27 inches, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[administrator]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROTARY CLUB of CLEARWATER ANNOUNCES 16TH ANNUAL KINGFISH TOURNAMENT CLEARWATER, Florida (February 14, 2008) – The Rotary Club of Clearwater will once again host its Annual Kingfish Tournament on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Clearwater Yacht Club. There will be a mandatory Captain’s Meeting at 7:00 P.M. on Friday, April 11 at Coachman’s Park in downtown Clearwater. The Captain’s Party will also feature music, food, attractions, and a silent auction. This year’s Tournament will feature $8,000 in cash prizes to the top anglers. For specific details on prize structure, entry forms, and Tournament schedule please refer to the official Rules & Regulations, available at www.clearwaterrotary.org. The Annual Kingfish Tournament is the Rotary Club of Clearwater’s primary fundraising activity each year. Since the tournament’s inception in 1993, the Rotary Club of Clearwater has generated over $750,000 that has been distributed to local charities. In 2008, the selected charity beneficiaries are: Big Brothers Big Sisters; Clearwater Free Clinic; The Kimberly Home, Inc.; Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. (HEP); Pinellas County Sheriff’s Police Athletic League, Inc.; Clearwater Marine Aquarium; Clearwater Police Department’s Good Act Program; Upper Pinellas Association of Retarded Citizens (UPARC) Foundation, Inc.; La Clinica Guadalupaña, Inc.; Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf; Skycrest Christian School; Clearwater Rotary Endowment Trust Fund of Charities, Inc; Rotary International Foundation; and Clearwater Rotary International Project.
CONTACT:
Brent Adams
Voice: 813-282-1965 x528
Fax: 888-883-8680
brenta@lassiter-ware.com
www.clearwaterrotary.org
- END -

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 2/11, the winds were blowing in the early morning but without the strength they gathered late on in the day. Predictions were for 2-3 foot seas close-in, so I headed to the artificial reefs with Ed and Margie Bock. We were only five miles offshore and we had 4 foot seas most of the morning. The wind was howling and it was tough to even stay anchored up. We caught two nice sheepshead, each 18 inches, along with a 15 inch triggerfish. We released gag and red grouper shorts and small Spanish mackerel.

Tuesday, winds looked just slightly calmer on land but I knew what it would be like offshore with a weather front approaching from the gulf. Estero Bay’s water level was dead-low so that left few options for a day of successful fishing. I advised my anglers to cancel their trip. Sure enough, the rain moved in from offshore by late morning and winds gusted on and off. A small craft advisory was issued through late Wednesday, causing me to cancel my trip for Wednesday also.

Thursday, with seas offshore still trying to calm down, Herb Guaracio and friends decided to try their luck in Estero Bay. The tide was very low and it was a slow ride back to shore in shallow water. We caught a couple of trout on shrimp, but nothing else seemed to be biting.

Our luck was better in Estero Bay on Friday, where I fished with Leeds Hutchinson and Pete Solden, along the mangroves toward Wiggins Pass. We caught a dozen whitings and a keeper trout, lost another trout and released lady fish and small sheepshead.

Saturday, I headed to 43 feet out of New Pass with Gary Jacobson, son Chuck Jacobson, grandson Grayson and family friend, Tom Batcheller. We could have had a few nice gag grouper if the season for those in federal waters had not just closed. Sadly, we had to release three or four that would have been keepers to 23 inches. We also released some shorter gags and red grouper to 19 ¾ inches, along with porkfish, triggerfish, whitebone porgies and Spanish mackerel. Though it was disappointing to have to release the grouper, the snapper bite was also hot and pretty much made up for the grouper. We kept our limit of mangs, releasing thirty of fifty caught. Of those fifty, about half were keeper-size to 17 inches. We used shrimp for everything.

The photo shown is of sister-anglers, Erin and Emily Bowden, with a Spanish mackerel, a flounder and a mangrove snapper all caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[capt_ron]

An Underrated Fish

This wind is beginning to bother me. The last two outings have been plagued by 15 to 20 mph winds and difficult fishing conditions. Each of these two days was made bearable by what most consider to be an unworthy target. The jack crevalle is considered by many to just be a junk fish, but pound for pound they are one of the toughest fighters around.

Both of my last two fishing trips included kids, and they don’t care so much about what kind of fish they catch as they do about how hard they pull. Just look at Robert in the picture below. Does he look like he’s having fun - sure he does, and that’s a jack on the other end of the line.

http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/Robert's%20%20Feb.%20Jack,%202rs.jpg

He caught 10 or 12 that day and made what could have been a horrible wind blown day turn in to an exciting day for this young fisherman. Better yet, the jacks give an excellent opportunity to coach kids in how to land a fish on light tackle. The practice alone made it all worthwhile.

My next trip was also greeted by high winds, starting early and getting worse as the day went on. The first hour was unproductive as we tried some various spots that were hidden from the wind. My anglers were from New York. Tom was the dad and his two sons were Nick and Will. They were 11 and 12 years old. Then, we found some jacks again, just like the day before. We proceeded to catch a few and then move on to look for some more glamorous fish.

After a couple more hours of not finding a redfish or even a trout, the boys were ask if they wanted to go back where we caught the jacks. It was a unanimous YES! We did return to the previous location and the boys caught many more fish, doubling up on several occasions. On both days the jacks were eager to hit either a Rip Tide Mullet or a Rip Tide Flats Chub (see picture) rigged on a red Pro Jig Head. The favorite colors included glow and gold apricot.

http://www.inshorefishingadventures.com/Robert's%20Feb.%20Jack%203rs.jpg

Just having fun fishing was a lot more important for these kids and catching a lowly jack did not detract from their excitement and enjoyment of the fishing trip. As a matter of fact, it didn’t detract from mine either. I had a blast watching those kids pull on those hard fighting jacks.

Peacock Bass

Talking about this cold weather may make you dream of a tropical climate like Brazil to do some fishing. This is one of those trips of a lifetime deals. It’s not inexpensive but what a trip. It’s a 10 day trip that includes at least 6 days of fishing. A trip like this is a bargain at $3,550 plus airfare and tips. If you would like more information send me an email at presleyr@bellsouth.net. The trip is to the Amazon for some of the best Peacock Bass fishing in the world.

Kids Fishing Clinic

If you have kids and live in the Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island area you can take them out for a great day of fun and fishing this coming Saturday, Feb. 23 at Kiwanis Park on Merritt Island. The event is part of the Brevard Parks and Recreation’s Sykes Creek Adventures. Coastal Angler Magazine, supported by the Florida Guides Association and numerous volunteers and supporters, are offering a kids fishing clinic. Hook Kids on Fishing will be held from 10:30 to 1:00 with the first 100 kids receiving a free rod and reel. Safety, Conservation, Rigging and Tackle, Knot Tying, and Casting will all be covered and the last hour will be spent fishing.

I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.


That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

[fishtales]

February 21, 2008

INSHORE:

Well, this week, we must first get to the CATCH OF THE WEEK! We welcomed our newest grandson, Brody, into the world last Friday and couldn't be more excited. I already gave him his first fishing rod and reel, but I guess he will just have to grow into it. Congratulations to Dena and Rick for such a wonderful grandson!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Brody02750.jpg

Grandma and Pop with grandson, Brody!

We had some very nice weather most of the past week and some good fishing adventures out on the Indian River. I had Kyle Collins and his five year old son, Kameron, along with Grandfather Bernie earlier in the week. It was such a joy watching Kameron's excitement while he battled numerous fish to the boat. It was a great day out there. Todd and Rhonda Monzeglio joined me this week and they caught 40 plus trout on the flats. Louie and Louis Natale along with Dave Backer also had some great action with 40 plus trout around the Indian River flats. It was a fantastic week to be on the water!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Kameron_ladyfish50.jpg

Five year old Kameron won his battle with this ladyfish!

Trout action really heated up this week. Warmer water around some areas of the river helped get the trout active. Most were caught on DOA CAL shad tails or jerk baits in lighter colors on the grass flats. Remember........fish them slowly! Dave topped the catch with a nice 24", while most were in the 14 - 16" range. It was a fast and furious bit of action. Live shrimp on popping corks and jerk baits were our best producers out there. We fished both north and south of Fort Pierce on grass flats that were 3 - 4 feet deep.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Bernie_with_pompano_28dinner2950.jpg

Bernie took home a nice 3 pound pompano for dinner...

Snook action has been mostly a nighttime affair with the turning basin, bridges and jetties the best place to fish. Pinfish, live shrimp or feather jigs have been the hottest options. Charles Galley reported catching five nice snook up to 41". He is still trying to get that magic slot size landed! As the water warms up, look for action to continue.

Redfish are still on the flats, but need the temps to warm up a little to become more active. It won't be long and they will be out there hungry and chasing your lures again. Look for them up on the shallows as the sun warms up. Flounder have been around the river this week. Louie boated a nice 4 pounder for dinner and we landed another 12" one that day. Pompano are still out there also. Bernie boated a 3 pounder for dinner also. It's been a good week and provided lots of fun.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt0021.jpg

Kameron also caught this trout on the flats....

Bridges have held black drum, sheephead and snapper. Live or dead shrimp will get you some of that action. The SURF has been mostly whiting and pompano. The pomp bite has been much better this year and lots of anglers have been enjoying the tasty table fare. Shrimp and sand fleas are the best baits out there.

Tip of the Week:

Water temperatures have a noted affect on fish during winter and early spring. Look for the warmer water out there. It can change due to weather, tides and temperatures, so be prepared to look for other places. Cooler water can make fish lethargic and less likely to feed. The trout bite was hot where the water had warmed up to the mid 70's. It's hard to say where to fish as it changes often each day. A simple pool thermometer can give you enough information on where to fish or when to move on. Have fun out there!

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

[Fishbuster]

I fished on a windy morning in Estero Bay Monday, 2/18, with Chuck and Steve Nebes. We worked our live shrimp along the channel from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot Beach on a catch-and-release trip that yielded two snook 20 and 22 inches, six keeper-sized mangrove snapper and sixteen sheepshead, ten of which were keeper-sized.

Tuesday there was a small craft advisory in effect until 9AM and seas were predicted to be choppy. My anglers included a few prone to seasickness, so they decided to cancel their plans to fish.

Wednesday I fished close in at the reefs off Bonita Beach, where it was still very sloppy for the first two hours of the morning, with seas of 3-4 feet. It calmed some by mid-morning and we ended up with five nice sheepshead, three Spanish mackerel a keeper mangrove snapper and grunts. We lost a couple of big sheepshead to the goliath grouper and actually saw a goliath eat one of those right under the boat.

Andy Unger, son David Unger, Tony Pastori, Jim Sistek and Bob Wilson headed out with me Thursday to fish in 39 to 45 feet of water out of New Pass. We had a good day of fishing, with a final tally of fourteen nice mangrove snapper to 17 inches, sheepshead to 18 inches, five hogfish including two keepers at 15 inches, Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, triggerfish and whitebone porgies. We caught and released a pair of 24 inch gag grouper and one 20 ½ inch red grouper, all of which are out of season in federal waters currently. I missed out on photos because of a dead camera battery, but I am hoping one of my anglers will send a few.

In 35 feet out of New Pass Friday, Emily Bowden, Bill Koscher, son Gary Koscher and Gary’s children, Katie and Kevin, caught a nice variety of fish on shrimp, that is, when we weren’t running from the dolphin. Every time we started getting lots of bites the dolphin showed up to spoil the fishing, but the kids enjoyed seeing the dolphin anyway. We ended up with a 15 inch hogfish, a few keeper mangrove snapper, a few keeper lane snapper, a 13 ½ inch triggerfish, porkfish and grunts. We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts.

Saturday morning I headed out to about 25 feet, staying a little closer to shore because of the winds and higher seas offshore. I fished with Brad Clemons, Amanda McCrackin, Amanda’s parents John and Debbie McCrackin, and friends Kevin and Carrie Kelly. We released accumulative total of nearly 700 pounds of goliath grouper—one weighed close to 400 pounds and the other about 275 pounds, according to my estimates. Both bit large blue runners. For table-fare, we caught seven nice sheepshead, all 15 and 16 inches, on live shrimp. We released gag grouper shorts.

The photo shown is of angler Bob Carter with a pair of hogfish caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[administrator]

8th Annual elCheapo Sheepshead Tournament

Below are the final standings, the prize structure, and a link to all the photos. We had 305 boats fish the tnmt. (new record) and 64 Junior Anglers in the first year featuring a junior angler division. Please contact me for any additional information.

Please note that the photos are not protected, use them as you need to. Thanks for all of your support.



http://www.jaxfish.com/sections/home/elcheapo08.cfm



2008 JUNIOR ANGLER RESULTS

PLACE
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
WEIGHT

1
Samual
Manking
7.4

2
Logan
Finch
5.6

3
Michael
Murhee
5.4

4
Hunter
Mullen
5.0

5
Dustin
Leitch
4.0

6
A.J.
Proescher
3.6

7
Josh
Mitchell
3.5

8
Brandon
Meyer
2.1

9
Caleb
Carroll
1.9

10
Zachary
Meyer
1.6


2008 GENERAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS


FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
WEIGHT

1
Paul
Traylor
10.7

2
Alton
Robey
10.0

3
Tom
Wheeler
9.8

4
Brett
Cannon
9.4

5
Chuck
Degrove
9.1

6
Eric
Leitch
8.8

7
Larry
Finch
8.3

8
Casey
Riley
8.1

9
George
Scott
7.9

10
Casey
Wilson
7.8

11
Jeffery
Kress
7.7

12
Chuck
Lee
7.3

13
Sammy
Fulford
7.3

14
Jim
Hammond
7.1

15
Richard
Dean
7.1


2008 General Prize Structure


PLACE
PRIZE


1
1648 Lowe John-Boat, 25 HP 4 Stroke Merc., Loadmaster Trailer, Replica Taxidermy Mount

2
1236 G-3 John-Boat, 9.9 H.P. 4 stroke Merc., Magic Tilt Trailer



3
$750.00 CASH


4
$600.00 CASH


5
$550.00 Gift Cards


6
$500.00 CASH


7
$500.00 Gift cert & Merchandise

8
$450.00 CASH


9
$400.00 CASH


10
$350.00 CASH


11
$300.00 CASH


12
$275.00 CASH


13
$250.00 CASH


14
$150.00 CASH


15
$100.00 CASH



Frank Joura

904.465.4552

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, March 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

In angling terms, March on the east central coast of Florida means, cobia, cobia, and more cobia. Yes, the brown clowns are the jesters of the sea on the Space Coast, and their court consist of the monster jacks (jack carvalle), smoker kings (large kingfish), and the silver kings (tarpon) to name just a few.

As spring progresses and the ocean begins its gradual warming phase, 67 to 68 degrees, the migration of baits schools bring, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), bay anchovies (glass minnows) and black and silver mullet into the near-shore waters bringing the cobia and other predators with them. Warmer waters will also draw manta rays into the shallows as they migrate north shadowed by pods of cobia. Other distinguished species are tripletail around the buoys and under flotsam, and large redfish and blacktip sharks following bait schools along the beach. Currently, both the cobia and the manta rays have been showing up in our near-shore waters ahead of schedule. When targeting cobia out of Port Canaveral, my strategy is to concentrate on filling my bait well with live pogies in the morning, and then run south to a point off of Melbourne beach. Then I return slowly using a zigzag pattern (shallow to deep and back shallow) with the afternoon sun to my back until I locate fish, and then I mark and maintain the same depth and water temperature. Also, if I locate bait schools pushed to the surface, I stop and drop a live bait through the school targeting the predators below.

Moving out into deeper water, the spring kingfish run should begin with the smaller kings showing up around the middle of March, followed by the smokers, 30 to 50 pounds near the beginning of April on the near-shore reefs and wrecks like Pelican Flats and 8A reef, 60 to 90 feet of water. If the bait moves in close to the beach, look for the larger kingfish to follow them. Also, the beginning of April marks the start of the fishing season for many of the blue water anglers with the start of the April/May northern migration of dolphin in 120 feet of water and beyond, and the first part of the run usually includes some of the largest bulls taken all year. Again, good reports of dolphin have been coming in, also ahead of schedule.

Fishing in and around the inlets and along the beaches will produce, whiting, pompano, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel, with sheepshead and black drum holding on jetties and rock piles. As we move into April, watch for the snook and tarpon action to heat up in Sebastian Inlet, and then move north to Port Canaveral and Ponce De Leon Inlet following the bait progression.

On the lagoon, rising water levels will draw the slot size redfish schools up onto the shallow flats, with the larger breeder schools forming up and holding along the deeper edges and sandy shoals. On the cooler days, focus your attention on sand pockets or potholes, and once the afternoon sun warms the water, look for tailing fish on the shallow flats. Also, mid March signals the return of finger mullet into the estuary, and the beginning early morning and late evening top water sea trout and redfish action. Remember, spring is the season when sea trout become egg laden for the spawn, happening just before the full and new moons, so it is very important to handle and release the large females with extreme care; fore their survival is essential for the proliferation of the species.

Seminars and Events

Anyone who is interested in volunteering to assist in the March 8th Kids Fishing Day at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, please contact me. Thank You

March 8th, 9am-3pm, Woman in the Outdoors presents a Kids Fishing Day. Event includes a full day of activities and lunch, and the cost is $25 per child. To register, contact Mosquito Creek Outdoors at (407) 464-2000.

April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida, Angler’s Improvement Clinics Sponsored by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, RipTide Soft Plastics, Woodie’s Rattles, TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group, and D.O.A. Lures

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.

Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

[fishtales]

February 28, 2008

INSHORE:

In spite of the latest cold front that cruised through the Treasure Coast, it's really been a mild winter. I think I only had to dig out the ol' long johns once this season. The coming weekend should bring some mild temperatures and great fishing weather. Let's go fishing!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos005Small.jpg

Bob Alton caught this 24" trout at first light...

Trout was our best fish to target again this week. We totaled over a hundred trout in three outings over the past week. Bob Alton topped off the trout catch with one around 24" at first light. The majority were caught on DOA CAL jerk baits and shad glow and root beer colors. As long as the water temps stay up above 70 degrees, look for the action to continue in 2 - 5 feet of water.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos006Small.jpg

Bob also caught two pompano on the flats....

Bob also boated two pompano that went over three pounds each. They were in the same water as the trout and hit the same baits. We had picked up a couple of flounder on the same flat a few days before. Louie took home a nice flounder for dinner.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos004Small.jpg

Louie took home this flounder for dinner...

We managed a few short snook from around the mangroves. Most of the snook fishing has been at night with live bait or jigs. Action around the bridges and jetties has been good during February and should continue into March. The redfish are still in shallow water during the warmth of the day, but not biting like they will next month. We will see more action as the spring temperatures warm things up.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos002Small.jpg

Dave found this mackerel cruising the flats....

There are still black drum, sheephead, snapper and sand perch to catch around structure, docks and off the bridges. Live or dead shrimp will work best. The beaches will continue to provide whiting and pompano along the surf. Mackerel are still holding around the inlet and channels. And once again, the ladyfish and jacks are just about anywhere you can toss a lure.

Tip of the Week:

Popping corks are a wintertime staple for fishing. Whether you use live shrimp or soft baits, you can usually stir up some action when those corks start popping! A quick, short jerk on the line will make the popping action and the noise will make a nearby fish look to see what is going on. That's when they see the shrimp or soft baits hanging there looking like an easy meal. As always in the river, you just never know what might decide to strike at it. You will find a great many anglers out there using them, so join in on the fun!

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 2/25, I fished with Mike and Lee Conneally, son Clint and Clint’s girlfriend, Anna. We fished the reefs off Bonita beach in calm seas, which was a pleasant change from the rough waters of last week. Using live shrimp, we caught five large sheepshead, but lost one to a seven-foot sandbar shark that Clint reeled in and lost another to a big goliath grouper that ate it boat-side. We also caught porkfish to add to the sheepshead so the Conneallys ended up with plenty of fish for dinner, even after feeding the shark-burglar.

Tuesday, with seas building offshore all day in advance of a strong cold front, Andy Ungar and Tony Pastore traded their gulf fishing plans for a morning of fishing in Estero Bay. We caught two fifteen inch sheepshead, an eighteen inch whiting, and released two cravalle jacks to three pounds and a 23 inch snook.

I cancelled my planned fishing trips Wednesday and Thursday, due to high seas offshore and low-tide, dry conditions in Estero Bay.

Friday morning, seas were predicted to be two to three feet offshore, but when I headed out with Larry Dahlburg and five of his friends, we had rough seas right out of the pass. We started out fishing with live shrimp at the reefs, where we caught nine nice sheepshead to 17 inches. When seas started calming down, we headed south and out a little further, where we caught three keeper mangrove snapper and released a dozen small snapper. We also caught a half dozen lane snapper to 11 inches and three Spanish mackerel to 24 inches before the blue runners moved in. we released lots of blue runners, along with triggerfish and gag grouper to 19 inches.


Saturday morning I returned to the reefs off Bonita Beach, this time with Carl Graham and Paul Long. We caught a 24 inch Spanish mackerel and a mess of sheepshead, kept three of the largest, and released the rest along with gag grouper shorts, smaller Spanish mackerel and blue runners. We had another encounter with a goliath that ate one of the big sheepshead as we were reeling in.

The photo shown is of anglers Margaret and Scott Danielak with a porgie and a trio of gag grouper caught on shrimp before grouper season closed, on an offshore trip.

[Fishbuster]

NOAA has spoken and there will be no more fishing this weekend, so I might as well post the report for this week. Monday, 3/3, the winds were starting to kick up the seas again ahead of the next cold front so I fished near-shore with Rellan Monson, his wife and a friend. We caught seven nice sheepshead to 20 inches and had another one of those now frequent encounters with a monster-sized goliath grouper that ate one of the big sheepshead we had hooked. We also caught four Spanish mackerel to 23 inches and released lots of gag grouper shorts.

Tuesday, there were small craft advisories issued, with gusty winds and seas building to six to eight feet. I cancelled my fishing trip.

Wednesday, I fished with Roy Kelley and friends in Estero Bay, along the mangrove tree lines from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot Beach. We caught three keeper sheepshead all 15 to 18 inches and a 16 inch trout on shrimp. We released smaller sheepshead and trout, a 17 inch redfish, cravalle jacks and ladyfish. We lost a big red when it bit just after the small one did and broke off in the trees.

Thursday, skeptical about the calmer seas predicted offshore, Ed & Margie Bock and I decided to fish bayside. If seas were at all calmer it was to be temporary at best, just recovering from a rough weather front with a worse one on its approach. We fished with shrimp along tree lines and caught five keeper sheepshead to 18 inches along with three keeper mangrove snapper. We released cravalle jacks.

The big blow arrived overnight Thursday and with wind gusts of 35 mph and seas of 7-10 feet in the forecast, it wasn’t a good day for fishing anywhere. I cancelled my trips and will be spending the weekend on land.

The photo shown is of a goliath grouper, over six foot, released by angler Brian Distefano, caught when it bit a large sheepshead Brian was reeling in on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

March 7, 2008

INSHORE:

Ahhhh.....it must be March here on the Treasure Coast. Windy weather one day....calm waters the next. There has been plenty of fish out there, but some days test your nerve on trying to find them. We had gusty conditions early in the week that turned to calm water by mid-week and blown out by Friday. It's still great to live and fish here on the Indian River!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotosSmall.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos002Small-1.jpg

Peter Gerken with a jack crevalle and 26" redfish from the flats...

Most of our catch this week consisted of trout, snook, ladyfish and jacks. It was hard to find areas to fish out of the wind, but everyone caught fish, in spite of it. I had Gary and Kim out earlier in the week and they caught fish in spite of the wind blowing. Peter Gerken was out with me on Thursday and it was one of those rare calm days of spring. We had a great time sight casting to redfish and Peter ended up with a nice 26" red that day. Joe Venarini and Tom Lohr were out today and we found fish in spite of a very gusty day on the water.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos005Small-1.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos003Small.jpg

Joe Venarini with a snook and with Tom Lohr enjoying a windy day on the water....

The trout bite should pick up as the water clears up and the temperatures begin rising again. We have seen a number of redfish in the shallow flats. Look for that action also to improve with water temperature. We caught some short snook on the flats, but most of the activity has been at night on live bait or jigs. Brennan and Patrick from the Fishing Center have hooked up on a number of tarpon and snook on the jetties at night this week. Give the wind a chance to settle back a little and things should be great out there again next week.

Jacks and ladyfish are again everywhere. Sand perch, some croakers, sheephead and black drum have been around the bridges. Live or dead shrimp are being used on the catwalks. The Surf has held whiting and pompano. Spring is almost here.

Tip of the Week:

March is a month that can challenge most anglers. Blustery days can test both your stamina and will out there. I try to use the wind to any advantage that might provide better fishing opportunities. Whether it's hiding back in the islands or drifting with the wind, you can still find areas to fish. I guess that's one reason I enjoy fishing this area so much. We have a wide variety of options to enjoy the waters here. Enjoy and use it to your advantage. Let's go fishing!

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

[fishtales]

March 12, 2008

INSHORE:

March is living up to its reputation as a wind month. The river has remained fishable most days in spite of the blustery weather. Plenty of places along the channel to get out of the worst of it and enjoy a day fishing. It's almost springtime and the fishing will just keep getting better along the Treasure Coast!

Trout fishing turned back on this week. Tom Kemp and his friend Anton were fishing this week and boated around 20 trout up to 22". We also found plenty of ladyfish and jacks to bend some rods. Capt. Pat Wells and his son, Dalton, were down and we fished on Sunday. Dalton stole the show with more trout than we could keep track of and a pompano for his dinner that night. Windy or not, it has been a fun week out there.

Look for trout on most flats both north and south of Fort Pierce. Up towards Vero Beach, try Round Island or the Moorings and try Bear Point or the Power Plant to the south. We have had our best luck on DOA CAL jerk baits in glow colors. Live shrimp on popping corks will also get you some great action. Two to four feet has been a good depth to target the trout.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos002Small-2.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos003Small-1.jpg

Dalton Wells with dad, Capt. Pat, holding a pompano and one of many trout he caught this week....

Redfish action should start picking up this week. I've seen lots of them on the flats and will be targeting them this week. Water temps have begun rising and the fish will be getting hungry now. The east shore to the south of Fort Pierce should start providing redfish action and Queen's Cove up north is also a well known redfish hangout. I like using DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits in new penny colors this time of year. Good luck and let me know how you do out there.

Snook fishing has continued to be mostly a nighttime adventure. The bridges, seawalls and jetties have been the most active with live bait or feather jigs being the choice ways to fish. Try the first part of the outgoing tides. Mackerel have been along the channel edges and around the inlets. The jetties have had their share along with bluefish, jacks and tarpon. The Surf has the usual whiting, pompano and bluefish cruising along the beaches. Bridges have held sand perch, sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp.

Tip of the Week:

It's time to gear up for some great spring fishing action. Check out rod tips and guides, replace that old fishing line and stock up on those favorite lures. Reels should be cleaned, oiled and greased. Make sure that your equipment is ready. It's all you have between you and that fish on the other end. If you keep you gear in good working order, you will have better success landing that finned creature pulling your line. Good luck and good fishing!

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 3/10, seas were predicted to be calmer after a weekend of high winds and choppy conditions. With predictions for two to four foot seas offshore, we hoped for fairly calm seas close in at the three-mile and five-mile reefs off Bonita Beach, where I fished with Peter Kenney, Mark & Sue Auguster and their children, Mitchell, Alana and Regan. We weren’t so lucky—seas were three to four feet and building with a steady 15-20 knot wind. We hung tough and fished the reefs all morning, using live shrimp. We caught three keeper sheepshead to 16 inches and an 18 inch flounder. We released a 14 7/8 inch trout, just short of legal size, as well as small lane snapper.

Dan Howey and son, Chris, fished a shallow Estero Bay with me on Tuesday. We released sheepshead, cravalle jacks, ladyfish and whitings, fishing with shrimp along tree lines and potholes.

Wednesday, there were still some pretty good waves offshore, but it was a little calmer and allowed me to get out to about 27 feet with Tom Coleman, brother, Russ, and parents, Jim and Donna. We caught seven sheepshead to 15 inches, eight keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, two keeper lane snapper and seven Spanish mackerel in the 22 to 24 inch range. We released smaller lanes and mangs and we lost a gag grouper to a line break.

Thursday’s anglers, Ken Goretski, Paul Caruso, and friend, Tom, had originally planned to fish all day in Estero Bay but the tide was so slow it barely came in at all and the bay was shallow. We decided to come in at the half-day mark, after releasing two whiting, two cravalle jacks, five small mangrove snapper and a ladyfish.

Friday, seas were fairly calm until about mid-day. I fished at the near-shore reefs and out to 7½ miles with Ben Grigsby and his uncle, Ken O’Brian. We caught two keeper gag grouper at 22 inches and 23 inches, lost a bigger one when it came off the hook, and released lots of gag shorts and a 19 ½ inch red grouper. We also caught a 13 inch hogfish, and some porgies. We also released lots of blue runners.

Saturday the winds were back once again and with seas of three to five feet offshore, I cancelled my fishing trip and called it a week.

The photo shown is of a 17 inch mangrove snapper caught on shrimp by thirteen-year-old angler, Grayson Jacobson on a recent offshore trip.

[merijo_attong]

For all you sight and fly fisherman the past six weeks has been very good for stalking bone fish. On warm days in between cold fronts they have been pushing up on the flats to play. Most of the fish I am finding are small schools of mudders and tailing fish pouring in an outgoing tide and are not spooky, in fact, in one area that we have been fishing, most of the fish are swimming around the boat waiting for us to feed them. I have been fishing this school for several weeks with good outcomes. Eric Johnson from Long Island, New York fished with me and found this out by bringing 2 bones to the boat on fly, one at 8 lbs and another at 12 lbs with plenty of shots at more fish. Also Mathew St. Germain and David Torbert from here in Homestead fished this week and Mathew caught his first 2 bones sight fishing on the flats with spinning gear. Great job guys!

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BONE FISH IN BISCAYNE BAY for February on SOME days I am seeing well over 100 bones! With all the hot temps lately and warm water there are also mega permit around they are acting like it is April. That should change back soon when we will get a cold blast this week and put the crazy fishing to rest or until this weird so called winter goes away again! I don’t like the colder months and the past 2 months have made me grin and I am actually enjoying this winter!!

I’ve been tying my own fly patterns and they have been working well. One of which is a small shrimp pattern in olive fur with pearl chenille gold with gold flash, and tan craft fur with pink flash and silver body with pearl chenille brown on a Mustad 34007 #4 hook.


North of Flamingo in the back bays the big Tarpon are here to play with warm water and calm days , the largest tarpon to the boat so far is an estimated 110 lbs taken on a X-RAP with plenty more around the 80 + in lb range. On fly the large everglades flies are working well for big fish, this week James Dillard of Miami jumped 6 and boated a fish at 100 lbs. A cold front this week will push them out for a little while but they should return when it warms up.
Windy and cloudy days can push fish down and out and weekends can be tough for Tarpon too with a lot of boat traffic around, this can push these weary fish around so if you are fishing for Tarpon and you see a line of boats please give them room and find other fish… there are a lot around, the slightest motor noise can ruin a anglers day and mine!

In Florida bay the sight fishing has been a little tougher than last year. Last year reds and snook were plentiful. Lately I am finding good fishing early in the day on outgoing clean water. Larger redfish are starting to show up in small schools with singles and doubles too tailing on the flats.( These fish are kinda skinny, I know they spawn in low light months so maybe they are just starting to munch!) For anglers learning to salt water fly fish this can be a blast. The last week large snook are in pot holes to the east!
When it has been windy and making Florida bay look like chocolate milk we have been tossing artificials around the mangroves in moving water, with results of snook to 10 lbs and plenty of redfish.
Good luck
Capt. Jim Hale
www.hurricanesportfishingcharters.com
786-255-1788

[fishtales]

March 20, 2008

INSHORE:

Well, another windy week along the Treasure Coast to test your skills at fishing. Offshore has been difficult for most boaters to venture out. The river has been fishable on most days if you could find areas to stay out of the worst of the wind. I was fortunate to meet some really great people this week and we had some fun in spite of the blustery conditions!

Friday had Ralph and Cynthia Stinnler looking for snook. Cynthia lost one big fish under the boat and later caught a big jack around the jetties. We drifted into a number of big snook on the flats later in the morning. Harry Beaber took John and Peter out that afternoon and we found trout, jacks and a nice black drum on the flats. Joni and Paul Warner were out Sunday and found trout up to 21". Joni caught her first snook on the flats along with ladyfish and jacks. Jeff Olson and Elise were out on a windy monday. We found trout, ladyfish and jacks again. Elise caught two nice trout in the 18 - 20" size. Bob Alteri was back with friends, Tony and Mark. With a day that was too windy to stay on the water, Mark Roth managed to battle a fat 33" snook (on a DOA CAL Morning Glory shad tail) to the boat for photo and safe release. It has been a good week, in spite of challenging conditions!

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Mark Roth admiring his 33" snook caught on the Indian River flats....

Trout have continued to bite well as long as you can fish the grass flats. Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch have been the best producing areas on DOA CAL jerk baits in both light and dark colors. Work your soft baits slowly along the bottom for your best chance at a trout. We tried several days for redfish and found them on the flats, but just not willing to bite those days. Most we have seen are in less than two feet of water. Snook fishing around the jetties has been good with live pinfish for those brave enough to tackle the conditions. It will be nice to have a break in the wind until the next front arrives!

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Joni Warner caught her first snook this week along the mangroves....

Bridges were quiet most of the week. Still sheephead and black drum around them, but hard to fish in this weather. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the inlet area and chasing bait. The surf has also been quiet for now. Look for whiting and some pompano around when you can fish the beach. March has proven to live up to it's reputation of being a lion of months. Let's wait and see what surprises April will bring!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos002Small-3.jpg

Paul Warner caught this trout on the grass flats north of Fort Pierce...

Tip of the Week:

We were drifting along the flats this week and witnessed yet another boater run aground in six inches of water on the flats at a high rate of speed. Standing in ankle deep water, they tried to figure out how they were going to get off. It's bad enough to take a chance at damaging your boat or harming yourself or a passenger out there. You are also damaging a very fragile eco-system that is having enough trouble surviving without us harming it more. Once you leave a channel, know the area that you are entering. Tides vary greatly with many conditions that affect it. On this particular day, the tides were lower than normal. I have certain tide marks on flats that I frequent to let me know what the tides are doing on any day I might be out there. It might be an oyster bar, mangrove tree or shallow sandbar. Protect yourself, your property and our environment and be aware of your surroundings.

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

[Fishbuster]

High winds were the theme on Monday, 3/17 so I stayed close in at the artificial reefs with Jay and Ellen Andreoletti. Still, we had three to four foot seas and it was choppy for the duration of our trip. We had a good morning of fishing, though, with live shrimp. We got into some cobia and released two of those at 30 inches and 31 inches. We lost one larger one too, after it ran the line out and broke off on bottom. We also caught four keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper sheepshead and a porkfish. We released gag grouper shorts. Overall, we had a productive and fun morning of fishing, despite the rough conditions.

Tuesday, winds blew even harder, seas got even rougher, and the bay remained bone-dry. I cancelled my fishing plans and hoped the wind might die down by Wednesday, but the wind howled all week long and Thursday morning also brought some rain along with the winds.

By Friday, the winds were still strong but at least they had shifted direction and the water level in the bay was better. Lee Larsen, son Kyle and friends Steve and Bud traded their gulf fishing plans for the backwaters. Lee caught a keeper redfish at 19 inches and we also got a pair of 13 inch sheepshead on shrimp. We released smaller sheepshead, snapper and cravalle jacks.

Saturday morning was the calmest we’d seen for a couple of weeks but there was a lot of rain out over the water. My anglers that day included a few young children and they didn’t want to risk wet weather so we ended up calling that trip, making the total week’s tally two out of six. This is not an unfamiliar story for the month of March but is nonetheless frustrating. There’s always next week…

The photo shown is of a pretty 15 inch hogfish, caught by young angler Katie Koscher on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[Fishbuster]

Another windy week began on Monday, 3/24. I fished in Estero Bay with Joe Goodall and seven-year-old son, Alex, Dave Bixby and Fred Irish. Alex has fished with me every year since he was about three years old, and he has turned out to be a full-fledged fishing enthusiast. We fished with live shrimp along the channel toward Wiggins Pass. Alex caught the biggest of four keeper sheepshead at 18 inches. He also released a 17 inch snook. Dave released a 25 inch cravalle jack. We also caught a 15 ½ inch trout and a keeper mangrove snapper, and released smaller sheepshead, jacks, ladyfish and a three-foot bonnethead shark.

Ross Christenson had been trying to get several sets of vacationing grandchildren out fishing for two weeks. Two dates had already cancelled due to weather and our final shot at a trip was Tuesday. With seas still kicked up and unsafe offshore, we opted for a catch-and-release backwater fishing trip with four of the Christenson grandchildren. Temperatures were in the forties when we headed out and a cold wind blew hard all morning. The tide was outgoing until it started coming in at the pass about 11:30 AM. The bay was extremely shallow. We saw several boats on the other side of the bridge waiting for the tide so they could head in. The water level was only about one foot behind Lely Barefoot Beach. Given those conditions, we were happy to have caught and released seven sheepshead (four of which were keeper-sized) and a ladyfish. We were thankful the kids were able to catch that many and also thankful that we were able to navigate back in without hitting bottom!

The Timbers family fished the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach with me on Wednesday, when seas were still pretty choppy in the morning. It calmed down some later in the morning. The group caught seven nice sheepshead, about 15 inches, as well as two keeper Spanish mackerel and two keeper mangrove snapper. They released blue runners and cravalle jacks.

Thursday morning seas were calmer than they have been in a while. I got out about 12 miles from New Pass with Stuart Norris and friend, Mike. We caught a 14 inch hogfish, a 15 inch sheepshead, Spanish mackerel to 20 inches, porgies, grunts and triggerfish, all on shrimp. We released gag and red grouper shorts.

Friday morning, Tim & Angela Cavanaugh wanted to play it safe in the backwaters with their eight-year-old daughter, Leah, onboard. They fished, along with a family friend, using shrimp along the channel by Wiggins Pass. The water was clear as could be and we saw lots of sheepshead, but they were reluctant to bite. We ended up with three keepers to 16 inches and we released smaller sheepshead, snapper and a cravalle jack.

Saturday, I fished a catch-and-release trip with Wayne & Nanon Foote, Dave & Dora Bush, Georgia Hulac and Diane Albright. We fished out to 35 feet, from New Pass, and used live shrimp. We caught seven yellowtail snapper, all around 15 inches, one 12 inch mangrove snapper, a 17 inch scamp grouper, large whitebone porgies, a small amberjack, blue runners and gag and red grouper to 19 inches. It was a beautiful day on the water without those gusty winds we have had lately.

The photo shown is of a 30 inch gag grouper, caught by angler Butch White on shrimp on an offshore trip before the windy fronts started to arrive.

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, April 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida


Reflecting back on past fishing adventures, April stand out as one of the finest months to experience the true diversity of the fishery existing along the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. April serves as a transitional period where the winds of March give way to the heat and humidity of summer. As spring progresses and water temperatures rise, fishing opportunities abound with the influx of bait moving north within the lagoon and closer to the shoreline along the beaches.

April marks the beginning of the fishing season for many blue water anglers, representing the start of the northern migration of dolphin in deeper water, 120’ and beyond. This first wave of dolphin is usually credited with some of the largest bulls taken all year. It also marks the beginning of the spring kingfish run on the near-shore reefs and wrecks off of Port Canaveral. Traditionally, April is the time of year when the larger kingfish, 30 to 50 pounds, are caught off of 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats.

As we move into the near-shore waters, we can only hope the cobia are still around. The cobia run was going on last month with some great catches reported in between passing fronts. On flotsam and along the Canaveral buoy line, tripletail should become more dependable throughout the month. Along the beaches, pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies) have been showing up south of the Cocoa Beach Pier, and the arrival of these bait pods is a sure sign of predators lurking in their shadows. Look for tarpon, jumbo redfish and jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, blacktip sharks, cobia, and smoker kingfish to begin showing up in the vicinity of these bait pods.

Inside Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet, look for a good number of sheepshead and black drum to be holding around structure such as jetties and docks and look for Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and jack crevalle in deeper water areas. Also look for nighttime snook and tarpon action to begin heating up in both the Port and in Sebastian Inlet as we move deeper into the month.

On the Lagoon flats, it’s time to start fishing the early morning and late evening bite with your favorite top water plugs for extreme sea trout and redfish action. During midday periods, work the deeper areas, 2 to 3 feet, with your favorite soft plastics, jerk baits, or jigs. Remember, April is one of the months where the larger sea trout (all females) become egg laden for the spawn, so it’s very important to handle and release these larger fish with extreme care. Sea trout have one of the highest mortality rates of catch and release game fish on the Lagoon.

Last but not least, look for the large mouth bass action to heat up on the St. Johns River. Look for schooling bass at first light feeding on menhaden from the Osteen Bridge to the Econ Creek. Some of my favorite places to look are the river bends between Lemmon Bluff and Lake Harney, and the south end of Lake Harney where the river dumps in. To locate the areas of schooling fish, I simply look for congregations of white pelicans and other wading birds lined up along the riverbanks waiting for an easy meal when the hungry bass push the bait to the surface along the shore. When in the feeding mood, these fish will eat just about anything, but the heavy bite usually only last from first light to the point where the sun crosses the eastern horizon, so an early start is essential.

Seminars and Events

April 18th, 19th, 20th, Coastal Angler Magazine Boating and Fishing Expo, Melbourne, Florida, Angler’s Improvement Clinics Sponsored by Mosquito Creek Outdoors, RipTide Soft Plastics, Woodie’s Rattles, TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group, and D.O.A. Lures

Future Hook Kids on Fishing! Program Dates

April 19 - Melbourne: To register contact the Melbourne Leisure Services 321-255-4608.


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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.

Visit http://www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for all of your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

If you would like to be added to my mailing list, contact me at captain@irl-fishing.com.

[fishtales]

April 3, 2008

INSHORE:

March went out with all the gusto is could muster and April has kept in step with the winds blowing so far this month. It has been a hard week to fish on both the river and ocean along the Treasure Coast. The fish have been biting if you can get to them out there. The dolphin bite has been good offshore and trout have been feeding along the river. As the winds die off, look for fishing action to really heat up this month!

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Andrew caught this shark on the flats and with Matthew they show off a couple of pompano caught along the channel.

We found some trout out there earlier in the week. Use live shrimp on corks, soft plastics (like DOA CAL jerk baits) or top water in the early mornings. Queen's Cove, Bear Point and Harbor Branch have been the best areas around Fort Pierce with the Power Plant and docks to the south good places towards Jensen Beach.

Snook fishing has been mostly done around the bridges, inlets and jetties. At least you had a chance at beating some of the windy conditions. Live pinfish or large shrimp has worked best lately. Nighttime fishing has produced the best bites on the outgoing tide. We have been seeing some big snook on the shallow flats recently and the top water action will start improving as the water continues to warm up.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Chloe2008130Small.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Chloe2008135Small.jpg

Some quality time with Gramps....Chloe with one of her snapper and my new mate on the boat!

I was out with Mark Amorello on Saturday and we found a nice school of redfish on the shallow flats. The only problem was that we couldn't get within casting distance of them before they moved off to deeper water. This is the time of year to spend some time watching and reading the water. Patience and moving slowly along the flats will pay off in April. We had two other boats out there that didn't realize that there were redfish around the area. I like to use soft plastics when sight casting to redfish. DOA CAL jerk baits or DOA shrimp are two great choices out there. Fish them very slowly when sight casting.

Bridges have been pretty much left out of the picture of late. There are still black drum and sheephead if you can stand it out there. Beaches have been pretty much blown out as well. Look for whiting and a few pompano once you can get back out there. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas are baits of choice. There are still snapper, ladyfish, jacks and mackerel along the channel edges to create some fun. I had a wonderful adventure with my wife, Eva, and our granddaughter, Chloe, recently. Three year olds are easy to please when fishing so we anchored up on a spot that held more small snapper than you could catch and let Chloe have fun with the fish and even playing with the shrimp. Always a joy to watch a child around the water!

Tip of the Week:

Time to check out the contents of the boat and make sure you have your rain gear stowed and ready. Showers will become more likely now and you can keep drier if you have your gear aboard and not back in the garage! We have had a good chance at rain every day of late and it will most likely continue this month. Be careful to watch for lightening! It's never a good idea to be on the water in a thunderstorm. Have a safe and bountiful April!

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday morning, 3/31, the old familiar wind was back after a relatively calm weekend. With easterly winds it was still calm enough to fish near-shore at the artificial reefs. I did that with Brian and Marcia Wilson, daughters Nicole, ten, and Allison, 13, and Marcia’s dad, Bob. Brian caught a 15 inch hogfish, which is kind of unusual at the reefs. The group also caught five Spanish mackerel three of which were keepers, a keeper mangrove snapper and a couple of large grunts, all on shrimp. We released grouper shorts and blue runners and attracted a shark and a goliath with those blue runners as we reeled them in. We were broken off once by something large, most likely a goliath grouper.

Tuesday, my anglers, Jerry, Jill & Denise DeMars, Yvette-Gaff-Kleven, nine-year-old Jake Arnett, and sixteen-year-old Sarah Hobbe had planned to fish all day, but about noon, the light winds turned to 15-20 knot winds and the 2-3 foot seas turned into 3-4 footers out in 43 feet west of New Pass. We didn’t mind much because by that time we had caught plenty of nice fish and seen plenty of good action. As it turned out, the skies broke loose about an hour after we got in so missing the rain was another good reason for our early dockage. We caught two nice king mackerel, each between twenty and twenty-five pounds, using blue runners for bait. We weren’t fishing for kings initially, but when I released a blue runner behind the boat a big king skyrocketed out of the water to eat it, so I quickly rigged up some king poles and we caught the two nice ones. We also released a big king but he didn’t end up getting much of a reprieve because a ten-foot hammerhead shark got him as soon as we let him go—that was quite a sight to see! Young Jake also caught a keeper red grouper at 21 ½ inches and six pounds, and Sarah caught a nice 16 inch hogfish. The group also released lots of grouper shorts, small snapper, grunts, triggerfish, and porkfish. They kept a few large jolthead porgies, silver porgies and whitebone porgies. All but the kings were caught on live shrimp.

I headed back out to about 40 feet on Wednesday with Herb Guarascio and family. The action was a lot slower than it was the day before, but we did get one more kingfish about twenty pounds, caught on a blue runner. That fish tried to get back at me by flipping just the right way as I tried to remove the hook and hitting me in the chin...not sure who bled more, me or him! We also released gag and red grouper shorts and blue runners.

Thirty-five miles out of New Pass Thursday I had a pretty exciting and productive day of fishing with Bob Ericson and friends, Eric and Kent. We released a nine-foot bull shark and a seven-foot sandbar shark. We had sharks attack our catches numerous times and also were bitten off several times by big king mackerel. We also caught a couple of kingfish that were about 30 inches and released those. As for table-fare, we kept eight mangrove snapper to 16 inches, six yellowtail snapper to 17 inches and four large whitebone porgies to four pounds. We released lots more porgies. We caught everything on shrimp except for the kings and shark, which bit blue runners…well, the sharks bit whatever they wanted to!

Friday, that old familiar wind was back in our forecast and, though seas were forecast to be two to three feet near-shore, we had three to four foot seas at the close-in Bonita reefs, where I fished with Brookes Fishing Club friends, Jim Reed, Jack Kelly, Rich Cowen and Bill. Jim caught and released two goliath grouper, one about 15 pounds and one about 25 pounds. We also caught a 14 inch hogfish and a 14 inch flounder on shrimp. We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts, small snapper and Spanish mackerel. We were also bitten off by a big barracuda.

Unfortunately, I had a last-minute cancellation from my Saturday anglers so I was unable to take advantage of the relatively calm winds we had Saturday morning.

The photo shown is of a 25 pound king mackerel, caught on a porgie on an offshore trip this past Tuesday.

[capt_ron]

Red, White, and Blue Day on Banana River near Cocoa Beach

Spring has sprung, a few mullet are showing up and the fish are beginning to bite. This past week was a red (redfish), white (snook) and blue (bluefish) day for one angler and the trout are picking up too.

Dennis, an angler from Canada, and his son Lawrence really did have a red, white, and blue day on the Banana River. I counted the snook in the white category although it could have been trout as well. Dennis actually completed and East Coast Slam by boating Redfish, Snook, and Trout in the same outing.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Redfish,%20Dennis%20rs.jpg

All fish were taken on Rip Tide plastics. The majority of the fish came on the Rip Tide 3 inch mullet. Favorite colors of the day were nite glow, silver mullet, and electric chicken. These versatile plastics caught trout, snook, and jacks although the day. The big redfish couldn’t refuse a Rip Tide nite glow Flats Chub rigged on a Pro Jig Head. The space guppy color was also effective during the day for other species.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Snook,%20Dennis%20rs.jpg

Both Dennis and Lawrence were accomplished anglers and willing to toss artificials until their arms wore off. Their commitment paid off with numerous fish coming to the boat. As proven by these two anglers, casting is the most important skill you need in angling. They made good casts and caught lots of fish. If you don’t get to fish every week you can at least take some time to practice casting in the backyard before you go fishing. The extra time will pay dividends when you do get on the water.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Redfish,%20Lawrence%20and%20Dennis%20rs.jpg

Safety Note

The world we live in today requires we take certain safety precautions to protect our property. This week a boat trailer was stolen a ramp I frequently use. It was a vivid reminder of the need to protect our property. If you don’t have a lock for your trailer, get one - then use it regularly so you do not become a victim of a similar crime. This theft took place in broad daylight after a fellow guide had hit the water with his clients. He came back to the dock to find he had no trailer to tow the boat home. It could be you next, so take the necessary precautions.

Peacock Bass

If you want to do something different consider this trip in search of Peacock Bass. This is one of those trips of a lifetime deals. It’s not inexpensive but what a trip. It’s a 10 day trip that includes at least 6 days of fishing. A trip like this is a bargain at $3,550 plus airfare and tips. If you would like more information send me an email at presleyr@bellsouth.net. The trip is to the Amazon for some of the best Peacock Bass fishing in the world.

Kids Fishing Clinic

Coastal Angler Magazine, supported by the Florida Guides Association and numerous volunteers and supporters offer kids fishing clinics in various areas of the state. The next clinic will be held at the Melbourne Auditorium Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 8:45-11am. The Melbourne Auditorium is located at 625 Hibiscus Blvd. You can find Hibiscus Blvd. by going a 1/2 mile north of Hwy. 192 on Highway U.S. 1. Go west 1/2 mile to reach the auditorium. This event is part of the CAM Fishing and Boating Expo that runs all weekend, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday.

I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.


That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.com
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

April 11, 2008

INSHORE:

Spring has arrived along the Treasure Coast. Even though we still have some windy days, the weather has been super for fishing the Indian River. Look for warmer water temperatures and hungry fish as the sun continues to shine down on us. I love April and May fishing!

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Arthur Cary with a big jack crevalle caught in the Fort Pierce Inlet...

The trout bite was good one day and slow the next, but the trout we have caught have been healthy and nice sized ones. Soft baits have worked the best with DOA CAL jerk baits working great out there. We have been using some of this years new colors lately and they work! Queen's Cove and Bear Point have been the best spots for us recently. Anthony Penny took home a few for dinner this week.

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Sean Conway also caught this jack crevalle in Fort Pierce...

Snook and redfish continue to haunt the flats. The bite has still been on the slow side, but look for it to turn loose any day as the water warms up. Most of the snook action has still been around the inlets and bridges with night anglers doing most of the fishing. I did get a good lesson from a snook this week around the docks of Fort Pierce. After making a 360 degree run around the dock, I was left with nothing but a leader. Fish the docks with soft baits like a DOA Shrimp and work it slow for your best chance at hooking up with a snook. Once hooked.......hang on and you are on your own!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing2008002-1.jpg (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002-1.jpg)

April sunrise across the Indian River....

There has been some good grouper action around the river, especially around docks. We have been busted, bruised and battered by some of the big ones, but have boated several gags that were just an inch below the 24" mark. There have also been some big jacks around the inlets. Ian, Arthur and Sean were out on saturday and after being hit several times, Ian and Arthur boated some nice sized jacks for their efforts. Live pinfish has been the best bait to use. Bridges have been slow lately. The beach was like fishing in a sand blaster and the jetties were rough. But that's Florida in April, so you look for it to improve soon.

Tip of the Week: It's time for me to clean out the boat. Spring is here and spring cleaning is in the mind of many as they wait for winds to die down and wanting to get out on the water. You will be surprised at what you will find buried in the boat. Lures that you had given up on finding or that jacket you thought you had lost. And while you are going through organizing and cleaning.....check dates on flares and condition of fire extinguishers and life preservers. Safety equipment is important so make sure you have everything required and that it is in good working condition.

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 4/7, after a stormy night, seas were unsettled and it was pretty rough fishing with Tom Conrad, teenaged grandson Phil Conrad and Phil's friend, Peter Walspra. It was tough finding anything worthwhile to catch, with blue runners dominating the first three spots we fished. Finally, we managed to catch and release Spanish mackerel, a porgie, a 15 inch red grouper and a small goliath grouper. I was pretty disappointed with that, after the great fishing last week had delivered, but the boys had a great time catching the blue runners and I was glad we at least managed to catch a few other species, even if small. We saw a big kingfish at one point but he just wasn’t hungry, I guess, since he snubbed or bait.

Tuesday, Ron Musick, Hank Sherowski, Justin Baker and Bill Hoover fished with me in 45 feet out of New Pass. The wind was howling in the morning and we fished in three to four foot seas a good part of the day. We used shrimp and cut-bait and had a lot of kingfish action. We kept one of three kingfish we caught to 40 inches and lost about five more of them, including one that was over five foot long. Hank had that one boat-side when it rolled and pulled the hook, but we would have released him anyway so we at least had the thrill of the catch, though we’d have liked the courtesy of a photograph! We also caught a 32 inch Spanish mackerel and large whitebone porgies. We released triggerfish and lots of grouper shorts, along with blue runners.

Wednesday, seas were rough again and conditions were sloppy. All week long forecasts have called for two foot seas but nothing could be further from the truth. I fished with Marty Gmeiner, Bill Murphy and Dick Poterax. We had to stay fairly close-in, due to conditions, and fishing was tough. We caught some nice whitebone porgies, two keeper mangrove snapper, triggerfish and porkfish. We were bitten off once by a kingfish and we released red and gag grouper shorts to 20 inches, smaller snapper, grunts and lots of blue runners.

Peter Burtis and family fished with me on Thursday. Once again, it was a little too sloppy to get out too far, especially with small children on board. We fished a catch-and-release trip with shrimp in 33 feet at the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach, where the blue runners were once again thick. We also released a 20 inch bluefish, porgies, grunts and red grouper shorts.

Friday, fishing in 40 feet about 18 miles west of New Pass with Lyn Harned and friends Bob, Davis and Bob, we released another zillion blue runners, along with about fifty red grouper shorts, some gag shorts and grunts. We caught about two dozen porgies, two keeper mangrove snapper and a keeper yellowtail snapper, all on shrimp.

The kings were back when I fished with brothers Grant and Harry Kurtz and friend, Joe Tompkins on Saturday morning. Nineteen miles west of New Pass, we caught seven kingfish ranging 28 to 35 inches, kept four of those, and got broken off by a few more. We also caught a 28 inch Spanish mackerel, a keeper mangrove snapper and porgie, and we released grunts and blue runners. The kings seemed to like shrimp better than the blue runners this day.

The photo shown is of a pair of gag grouper, 22inches and 23 inches, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

April 17, 2008

INSHORE:

We enjoyed some great fishing weather this week. A few cool and windy days to keep you home, but overall spring has arrived here on the Treasure Coast. Look for nicer weather as May nears and fishing to continue to improve for trout and redfish on the flats. We had some great fun out there and look forward to much more in the coming weeks!

We fished for a variety of fish this week from grouper to trout. While we got busted by some nice grouper, finally Lawson Taylor muscled in a 27" gag grouper from around the seawalls in Fort Pierce. Both 14 year old Megan Lundy and 10 year old Rachel Taylor had big grouper bites only to lose the battle with them. We used live pinfish for our action this week.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001Small.jpg

Lawson Taylor muscled in this 27" gag grouper from the seawalls...

Trout was the other species we went out in search of. Rachel and Patrick Taylor both landed some trout off the flats that were all in slot size. Patrick even boated a good size bluefish around the docks this week. Live pinfish or shrimp along with DOA CAL jerk baits are the best options for trout lately. The winds allowed us to drift the flats at a leisurely pace and fish them thoroughly. Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch has been good producing sites and when Bear Point is fishable....give it a try also.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008004Small.jpg

10 year old, Rachel Taylor caught several trout from the flats...

Redfish have been pretty quiet this week. It's been hard to fish with the windy weather, but we have seen a number of them in the shallows and it should turn on at any time out there. Snook has been mostly a nighttime adventure. I talked to several returning anglers in the early morning that have caught some slot size along with some oversize and a good number of shorts. Live bait or jigs have worked best.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002Small.jpg

Patrick Taylor found this bluefish hiding under a Fort Pierce dock...

Catwalks and jetties have been pretty quiet with all the winds to keep anglers from venturing out. Lots of jacks around the river and some bigger ones in the inlets. Young Megan battled several 20 to 25 pound jacks, but they got the best of her in the end. It was fun to fight those bruisers though! The surf has produced whiting when the beachers could get out there. A lot of days was more like fishing in sandpaper. It has been a good week and this weekend should be great weather to venture out on the river and even the ocean.

Tip of the Week:

Lots of smaller pinfish and pigfish have been around the flats. It's time to get out the ol' fish traps and use some of these plentiful fish for some great trout action. Floating a pigfish on a popping cork will keep some of the daredevil bait snatchers from bothering you like they do on live shrimp. Lots of fish around the flats will take the opportunity for an easy meal. Have some fun soon, especially with the young anglers.

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 4/14, I fished Estero Bay in the area of Wiggins Pass, with Court Newman, Joe Desiata and John Curtis. Joe caught a keeper redfish at 19 inches. John caught a 13 inch sheepshead and the trio also caught a couple of keeper mangrove snapper, all on shrimp. We were glad to be fishing the backwater instead of the Gulf, with strong winds all morning that were forecast to kick offshore seas up to about 4 feet.

The seas worsened overnight with the cold front upon us and the forecast for gusty winds and 3-5 foot seas prevented any thought of fishing on Tuesday. Wednesday, other than sunnier skies and gradually warming temperatures, the marine forecast was no better than it had been last Tuesday, so my anglers rescheduled their trip for the following week.

Thursday, the party fishing with me wanted to fish inshore, with two small children aboard, ages six and three. Seas offshore were still predicted to be two to four feet, so with children that age, I agreed that the bay was a much better choice. I fished Estero Bay from Wiggins pass to Barefoot Beach with Kansans Travis and Amber Stebbins and two of the cutest little girls ever, Lakly, age six, and Chloe, age three. We caught a 16 inch trout, a thirteen inch sheepshead and two eleven-inch keeper mangrove snapper. We released smaller sheepshead and snapper.

Bill Newland, Chris Borger, Dave Kobachs and I had a good day of fishing Friday out to 36 miles from New Pass. We started fishing at the Spring about ten miles out, then changed spots a few times, moving further and further offshore on the first day this week that allowed me to do so. We caught fourteen nice yellowtail snapper to 17 inches, an 18 inch mangrove snapper and a half dozen mangs around 14 inches, a couple keeper lane snapper and some large grunts. We released lots of gag grouper to 21 ½ inches (just short of keeper-size) and red grouper to 18 inches. We had a couple of unusual and exciting moments too. One was when Dave caught an 8 foot nurse shark on a 30 lb. spinner and a butterfly-jig that he’d been using for grouper. Then, I hooked a 7 foot sandbar shark on my 360 Penn spinner—He ate a shrimp and, with 17 lb. test and 30 lb. leader, I expected him to break me off pretty quickly but instead I reeled him all the way to the boat—I released him there and will remember him for a few days with every ache in my back!

The first photo shown is of a 31 inch cobia, caught on shrimp and released on a recent offshore trip.
The second photo shown is of a 23 inch snook, caught on shrimp and released on a recent inshore trip.

[capt_ron]

Trout Bite Heats Up As Temperature Heats Up

The wind continues to be an adversary on the water. Most days lately have included high winds that make fishing a little harder. The good news is the water level in the rivers has increased making more places available to everyone.

Recent trips have included a variety of fish but the most common catch has been Spotted Sea Trout. Rip Tide plastics have led the way in putting fish in the boat. My favorite, the three inch mullet in glow, electric chicken, and silver mullet have been the most productive.

Omaha resident Keith and his wife Rita joined me one day on the Banana River with high hopes for some redfish action. Unfortunately that didn’t happen but the trout bite did light up later in the day. The couple was joined by their daughter Audrey and her friend Mike for the days outing.

Water temperatures in the low 70’s in the morning were replaced by the high 70’s after about 11:00 and it seemed to trigger a much improved bite by the trout. Up to that point we had only a couple of trout but the last two hours of the trip resulted in numerous trout for all the anglers.

Although the majority of the trout came on the three inch Rip Tide Mullet and some came on the flats chub in golden glow, the larger trout came on the new Rip Tide Curtailer in the glow color. Rigged on a Rip Tide Pro Jig Head the Curtailer, with its ultra kick tail just seemed to get the attention of the larger trout and for some reason was not as susceptible to the puffers. After Keith caught a couple of trout in the 15 inch range everyone else wanted one too.

Keith and Mike had both indicated they enjoyed live bait fishing but with not much happening they both willingly switched to artificials. Then, for several hours they contently and successfully tossed plastics to bring a good number of fish to the boat. The days catch included numerous trout, lady fish, and the biggest fish of the day, a six pound Gaff Top Sail Cat that Mike caught on a Rip Tide Mullet.

Don’t forget the ladies. They were doing their share of the catching along the way as well. Both Rita and Audrey put their share of fish in the boat. When the time came to end the trip and head for the ramp Audrey said she had to make one more cast. The result, pictured below, was the largest trout of the day. A Banana River beauty going about 17 inches. The fish came on a Rip Tide 3 inch Silver Mullet. You never know what that last cast will bring. Nice job Audrey, I love those anglers who never really want to quit!

Just before time to call it a day, Rita reached into the cooler and brought out a banana. I had to explain to her that our fishing would have most likely been more productive if she had left the bananas at home. Always do everything you can to make your day more productive, and that includes leaving the bananas at home. Oh well, in this case it looked too good and I had one too!

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Seatrout,%20Audrey%202rs.jpg

Safety Note

The world we live in today requires we take certain safety precautions to protect our property. This week a boat trailer was stolen a ramp I frequently use. It was a vivid reminder of the need to protect our property. If you don’t have a lock for your trailer, get one - then use it regularly so you do not become a victim of a similar crime. This theft took place in broad daylight after a fellow guide had hit the water with his clients. He came back to the dock to find he had no trailer to tow the boat home. It could be you next, so take the necessary precautions.

Peacock Bass

If you want to do something different consider this trip in search of Peacock Bass. This is one of those trips of a lifetime deals. It’s not inexpensive but what a trip. It’s a 10 day trip that includes at least 6 days of fishing. A trip like this is a bargain at $3,550 plus airfare and tips. If you would like more information send me an email at presleyr@bellsouth.net. The trip is to the Amazon for some of the best Peacock Bass fishing in the world.

I hope to talk to you real soon with great fishing reports from Florida’s Space Coast.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.com
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

April 24, 2008

INSHORE:

The past week presented a variety of conditions to anglers fishing the waters of the Treasure Coast. Most days found good fishing for us, but you had to fish according to which way the wind blew. Spring has definitely arrived and the fishing has been improving as the water has warmed up. I love fishing this time of year!

Redfish have been on the flats and they got hungry this week for us! Adrian and Phil Lucanis were back fishing this year. We were poling along the flats and found a school of redfish feeding in a foot of water. Adrian and Phil hooked up on four 25" - 26" reds and boated three of them. We were using darker color soft baits like DOA CAL rootbeer grub tails. All were released unharmed.

Trout fishing continued to be productive. Steve Dickman was down and while he caught a good number of trout up to 19", we couldn't break the 20" barrier that day. Adrian boated a 20" and 26" in the midst of quite a few blowups on their top water lures. The trout this week were in one to three feet of water and lurking in the sand holes along the flats. Top water has been very productive on enticing a sea trout into biting this week. Harbor Branch is one good area to try.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008006Small.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001Small-1.jpg

Adrian Lucanis caught this 26" trout and 26" redfish while fishing the Indian River flats....

Snook fishing slowed down right after the full moon, but was hectic for night anglers for a few nights around the bridges and jetties. Sizes from many shorts to slots and some slob over size were taken. You can also find snook on the flats in the early part of the day. Top water or suspending lures are great choices.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008003Small.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002Small-1.jpg

Phil Lucanis caught and released this 26" redfish this week on a DOA CAL grub....

Bridges have been slow this week, but sheephead and snapper are out there to be had. The Surf has produced whiting, bluefish, jacks and mackerel to those beach anglers. I had Dillon Roberts-Louria on board for the Teen Anglers Tournament on Sunday. He fished hard all morning and ended up with a mackerel, snapper and sheephead to weigh in that day. He won first place in High School and biggest fish. Congrats Dillon! Jules Knapp and his wife were out also that day and we had a short but fun trip on the water.

Tip of the Week:

Fishing will always be a challenge to anglers. You can use any lures or bait, but presentation continues to be the biggest factor to the success rate of catching fish. Colors, types and sizes might have some effect, but how you present it will determine if you can be successful or not. Give two anglers the same lure and one might catch fish while the other goes nil. Top water lures are a great example. I work them different ways until I get a strike to see what might work that day. Fast, slow, erratic or barely moving can result in catching or missing the fish out there. Vary how you work your lures and find what works that day. Fishing is lots of fun and challenging!

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

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, April 24, 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida

First, let me apologize for the tardiness of this report. This past weekend I was off of the water attending the Coastal Angler Magazine Fishing and Boating Expo in Melbourne, Florida. Although the weather was nice, we still had great turnout, great speakers, and a great show. Yes, nice weather on the same weekend of a fishing show typically draws attendees away, but in this case, our attendance was good. We also conducted another Hook Kids on Fishing event on Saturday, which was a ton of fun and a tremendous success.

My adventures last week started out with the pleasure of sharing a three-day charter with father and son team Rico Panilo and Rico Jr. from New Jersey. Our plan was to mix it up a bit by targeting a different style of fishing each day.

On our first day we launched out of Kennedy Point in Titusville for some sight fishing for redfish and sea trout, and the catching was tough. We had some shots at tailing redfish early out, but after a hard day of fishing we ended up with a good number of ladyfish and small sea trout. The schools of ladyfish have moved into the north IRL and they are working schools of glass minnows under terns and seagulls.

On our next day we opted to fish near-shore out of Port Canaveral in search of tripletail and cobia, and again we had a tough day managing only one tripletail, a spadefish, one flounder, and a sheepshead.

On day three we ventured into the freshwater arena targeting schooling bass on the St Johns River near Lake Harney and again the fish weren’t jumping into the boat, but Rico Jr. did manage some decent size largemouth bass and a 5 pound southern flounder of all things caught on a live menhaden. Oh by the way, we ended up taking the flounder to lunch at the Jolly Gator Fish Camp, where the nice folks whipped up some tasty blackened flounder sandwiches, yum.

On Monday I guided a group of three into the Banana River No-Motor Zone where we caught a good number of sea trout and ladyfish on top water plugs. The bite was fast and furious at first light with our best results coming from Storm Chug Bugs and Rapala Skitterwalks fished in 2 to 3 feet of water. As the day grew longer and the wind picked up, we decided to chunk out a few ladyfish, and managed a 36-inch and a 47-inch redfish. The larger redfish was 47-inches long with a girth of 28-inches, and using the standard fish weight calculator measured out to be 46.06 pounds

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.

If you would like to be added to my mailing list, reply to captain@irl-fishing.com.

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 4/21, I headed out from New Pass to 43 feet with Bill Story and friends. We caught a keeper hogfish, released a smaller one of those, and caught grunts, porgies and porkfish. A couple of the guys had good-sized gags hooked, but lost them in the rocks.

Tuesday, Ron Musick, Ron Allison, Justin Baker, Eddie Alfonso and Ray Vincent and I headed out to 26 miles out of New Pass to start, and ended up about 35 miles off Naples, fishing with live shrimp. We ended up with ten keeper yellowtail snapper and fifteen large whitebone porgies all around two pounds. We released more porgies, triggerfish and lots of gag and scamp grouper shorts.

Wednesday, in 43 feet out of New Pass, the winds picked up and made it a little sloppy, but it was an otherwise nice day on the water, with comfortable temperatures and low humidity. Anglers Tom Firth, his sister Wendy Borgman, and friends Brad Heckes and Fernando Morias caught three keeper mangrove snapper to 17 inches, grunts and large whitebone porgies on shrimp. We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts to 19 inches, blue runners and triggerfish. We used a couple of blue runners on balloons to hook a couple nice kingfish, but both of them cut the line and broke off.

David & Janice Russell and their two young children fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay with me on Thursday. The bite was slow but we released four snapper, five sheepshead and a spadefish during a morning of fishing with live shrimp.

Friday, Mike & Lea Connealy and daughter, Mandy, fished with me in 43 feet out of New Pass, where we caught mangrove snapper to 14 inches and whitebone porgies to 14 inches. We kept a few of those and released the rest, along with lots of gag shorts to 20 inches and red grouper shorts to 19 inches, grunts and porkfish.

Saturday morning I headed back out to 43 feet, this time with long-time customers Sandy and Rusty Hook, Rusty’s young son, Charlie, and family friend, Sam. We caught lots of porgies and grunts again and we lost a bonito when it wrapped around a crab-trap buoy after running out 165 yards of line. But young Charlie has the best fish story to tell: He had dropped a live shrimp over on a spinning rod with 17 pound test line. A small blue runner bit the shrimp and Charlie started to reel in. Just as he did that, along came Mr. 29-inch gag grouper to bite the blue runner, and Charlie ended up with a much bigger prize than he expected! With a little help from the captain, he landed that gag and was more than happy to be photographed with it!

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2008

Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

As the days grow longer, angling enthusiasts along Florida’s Space Coast take pleasure in spending their afternoons after work relaxing on the water. Warming coastal waters draw streams of baitfish north followed by warm water predators, as our prevailing easterly winds give way to summers genially shifting sea breezes.

Offshore, dolphin fishing will be the focus of blue water anglers this month. April and May are the time of year when the larger bulls are taken off the Florida Space Coast. The early season dolphin bite has already yielded fish in excess of 60 pounds. Also, as a bonus, the potential of taking a blue marlin or sailfish are good. Near-shore, the kingfish bite has heated up on the near-shore reefs and wrecks and some cobia are around. As the seas settle down and the bait schools move in close to the beach, look for the kingfish action to move in also.

Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum are just some of the species available in the Lagoon inlets and beaches this month. As the baitfish migration moves north, this type of fishing will only get better.

Inshore, the bait pods, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), have shown up along the beach, and now is the best time to target the ocean predator shadowing these schools. It’s not uncommon to catch large redfish, large jack crevalle, blacktip sharks, cobia, and tarpon from within these pods of bait. To locate bait pods, simply look for feeding birds, flipping and jumping bait, muddy water along the beach, and busting fish.

On the Lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of action for light tackle and fly anglers. The water has warmed up to the point where jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon are showing up in good numbers. I like to target redfish and sea trout at first light or at dusk, with top water plugs like the High Roller Florida Special, Rapala Skitterwalk, or Storm Chug Bug. As the day heats up, change your focus to the deeper edges of the flats (2 to 3 feet deep) jigging with a RipTide 4” mullet on a ¼ ounce RipTide Screw Jig.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, May 2008

Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka Florida

As the days grow longer, angling enthusiasts along Florida’s Space Coast take pleasure in spending their afternoons after work relaxing on the water. Warming coastal waters draw streams of baitfish north followed by warm water predators, as our prevailing easterly winds give way to summers genially shifting sea breezes.

Offshore, dolphin fishing will be the focus of blue water anglers this month. April and May are the time of year when the larger bulls are taken off the Florida Space Coast. The early season dolphin bite has already yielded fish in excess of 60 pounds. Also, as a bonus, the potential of taking a blue marlin or sailfish are good. Near-shore, the kingfish bite has heated up on the near-shore reefs and wrecks and some cobia are around. As the seas settle down and the bait schools move in close to the beach, look for the kingfish action to move in also.

Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, jack crevalle, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum are just some of the species available in the Lagoon inlets and beaches this month. As the baitfish migration moves north, this type of fishing will only get better.

Inshore, the bait pods, Atlantic menhaden (pogies), have shown up along the beach, and now is the best time to target the ocean predator shadowing these schools. It’s not uncommon to catch large redfish, large jack crevalle, blacktip sharks, cobia, and tarpon from within these pods of bait. To locate bait pods, simply look for feeding birds, flipping and jumping bait, muddy water along the beach, and busting fish.

On the Lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of action for light tackle and fly anglers. The water has warmed up to the point where jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon are showing up in good numbers. I like to target redfish and sea trout at first light or at dusk, with top water plugs like the High Roller Florida Special, Rapala Skitterwalk, or Storm Chug Bug. As the day heats up, change your focus to the deeper edges of the flats (2 to 3 feet deep) jigging with a RipTide 4” mullet on a ¼ ounce RipTide Screw Jig.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
http://www.irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085 landline
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

Book a charter, and let’s go fishing.
Visit www.mosquitocreekoutdoors.com for your outdoor adventure needs, its Where the Adventure Begins!

[capt_ron]

Get Out Your Plastics for Spring Trout

Three days on the water and three windy days. The wind has continued to blow like it was still March; nevertheless there were some trout to be caught.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Slot%20Trout%20rs.jpg

All week long the Rip Tide Mullet, Rip Tide Curtailer, and Rip Tide Flats Chub have worked well on Banana River Sea Trout. All were fished on ¼ ounce jig heads. Brothers Greg and Tom are shown in the picture below holding trout caught on the Rip Tide Curtailer. Andy in the background had just lost a trout which would have made a triple catch for the visiting brothers had it not gotten off at the boat.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Trout%20Triple%20rs.jpg

The most productive colors were the Fire Tiger for the Curtailer, Electric Chicken and Silver Mullet for the 3 inch mullet, and Gold ’n Glow for the Flats Chub.

A slow retrieve while lifting the rod tip and then letting it fall was used to tempt the many trout bites of the week. The trout would almost always strike on the fall.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Three%20Rip%20Tide%20Trout%20rs.jpg

The mullet have not yet showed up in large numbers, when they do the fishing should get even better.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.com
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[Fishbuster]

Ron Musick and Eddie Alfonso fished with me Monday, 4/28, when we were hoping to beat the weather front predicted to arrive late Monday night. We had originally planned to fish on Tuesday but we rescheduled once we heard the forecast. Seas were predicted to be two-to-three feet offshore Monday but that wasn’t the case. About the only place that was true was in the bay! We only went out about 15 miles from New Pass and we came in short of a full-day, due to conditions. We managed two keeper mangrove snapper and eight whitebone porgies on shrimp, so at least there was stock for Ron’s freezer.

Tuesday, the winds were predicted to howl and the seas predicted to churn offshore. There was also a good chance of rain predicted and I remained in port.

Although NOAA predicted seas calmed to two to three feet, out to 20 miles for Wednesday, I was a little dubious, knowing it usually takes the Gulf longer to calm down after a couple days of rough seas. I checked with my scheduled anglers to see if they might prefer inshore fishing but they decided to try for near-shore, so I headed out with Louis Wolfe and friends to about 30 feet out of New Pass, where we encountered seas of three to five feet. We knew we could expect only worse if we headed further out. Later in the morning the seas did calm a little. We did the best we could, which was two keeper lane snapper, two keeper mangrove snapper, a 24 inch Spanish mackerel, a 14 inch pompano, and a half dozen whitebone porgies. We released grunts and grouper shorts.

Thursday, seas were 3-5 feet again and I didn’t venture out. By Friday, the forecast was for 2-3 foot seas within 20 miles again but I knew better. My two anglers, father and son team Terry and Mike Hopkins, wanted to give it a shot anyway so we headed out to 43 feet from New Pass, where we had three-to-fives all morning. When we headed in about 1:00, there were two to threes once we got to within 10 miles of shore. We fished with live shrimp and caught about 20 whitebone porgies to 15 inches. We kept seven of those, along with a 14 inch hogfish. We released the rest of the porgies, gag and red grouper shorts, triggerfish, blue runners and a three-foot sharpnose shark.

Saturday morning, brothers Steve and Howard Potash fished central Estero Bay with me on a decent tide. Baited with live shrimp, we caught three keeper redfish, two at 18 ¾ inches and one at 19 ½ inches, and a keeper mangrove snapper. We released small snapper, a ray and a 22 inch snook.

The photo shown is of a king mackerel, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

May 2, 2008

INSHORE:

May continues to be a transition month here on the Treasure Coast. Weekly weather fronts moving across the state and water temperatures working their way towards the mid to high 70's signal that spring has arrived and summer is just around a short corner. You can see more baitfish entering the river and the activity on the flats will increase during May. Fishing this week was up and down and the windy conditions dictated on where you might fish on any given day.

I fished with some great people this week and we sure enjoyed the Indian River. Tom Hull (the Lazy Spirits Fishing Team) was down to visit and enjoy some fishing and relaxing on the river. Jay Smith and his girlfriend, Melissa, was also down and enjoyed a sunny outing on the river. The latest front slowed down the fishing mid-week, but the bite had started to pick back up by Thursday.

Trout have been hitting soft plastics, like DOA CAL jerk baits in pearl and rootbeer colors. Live shrimp and pinfish will also entice some trout into biting, like Melissa proved this week. Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove have been the best spots to target lately. The snook bite has begun to move to the flats. Brennan Smith reported catching a number of snook south of Fort Pierce along the mangroves and Bob Bergen reported similar results to the north of Fort Pierce the latter part of the week. Live bait, top water and soft plastics were the best choices of baits. Redfish were biting earlier in the week and should pick back up by this weekend. We have seen some big reds this year and look forward to some great catches in May. Soft plastics in a new penny color are hard to resist. Both the flats and docks around the area should hold slot or larger redfish all this month.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002Small-2.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001Small-2.jpg

Jay Smith with Melissa show off a couple trout while fishing the Indian River this week....

May will provide some fantastic fishing opportunities around the river and even better weather for Treasure Coast anglers. It's a wonderful time of year to be out on the water. Plan on heading out one day soon!

Tip of the Week:

It is the responsibility of each of us to do our part to help preserve the fishing environment that we all get out and enjoy. Each week, I see new and deeper prop scars across what used to be pristine grass flats on the river. Prop scars take years to heal and replenish. More scars mean many more years to try and recover. Too many people in too much of a hurry have already taken a toll on our grass flats. This wonderful eco-system that we are fortunate to have around us is already under pressure from pollution and mother nature along. Help keep our fishing preserved for our children, grandchildren and beyond. It is all of our responsibility!

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

[fishtales]

May 9, 2008

INSHORE:

We have enjoyed some great weather lately here along the Treasure Coast. The windy days are beginning to lighten up and early mornings can find some great conditions for top water lures on the flats. Lots of baitfish have been filtering into the river and you can look forward to the predator fish chasing them around the waters. Redfish, snook and trout are in the shallows and I love fishing the Indian River in May!

I was able to get out and cast a rod myself this week and found the fish feeding in the shallows in less than two feet of water. Two snook at 26" and 27" were fooled by a DOA CAL shad tail around the mangroves of the flats. Look for snook and trout to continue to chase the bait this month. Don't forget that snook season will close the end of May, so there are just a couple more weeks to try and get that slot snook for dinner.

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http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001Small-3.jpg

These two snook were caught along the mangroves on a DOA CAL shad tail....

Trout fishing slowed some during the week, but with the warmer water the action will pickup. Bob Bergen and Bob Whitbold were out fishing on Thursday and reported several nice size trout had hit their soft baits that day. Gail and Ralph Rounds were out with me that day and also caught several trout on both live bait and soft plastics. Queen's Cove, Harbor Branch and the west shore to the south have all been holding trout on the grass flats.

Redfish have been traveling in schools around the river. We missed our chance with Ralph and Gail as the wind and sun gave the fish the advantage and we couldn't get a good cast to them. They have been feeding very shallow around high tide. Soft plastics like a DOA CAL grub tail has worked well so far this month. Look for the fish to continue to school and travel the flats this month.

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Ralph Rounds found this bluefish cruising on the trout flats....

Bridges have held some sheephead with fewer anglers out there fishing this week. The inlet has continued to hold Spanish mackerel, bluefish and loads of Jacks. Jacks are all over the river! The beaches have started to produce snook, bluefish and jacks with the bait moving along the coast. It's a great time of year to fish the Treasure Coast!

Tip of the Week:

It's time to head up on the flats in search of snook, trout and redfish. A quiet and stealthy approach will give you many more opportunities at catching these fish in May. The predators will travel in shallow water to feed on the many baitfish that have infiltrated into the river. These fish are never comfortable in shallow water and will seek shelter at the slightest sound or movement that isn't normal. I look forward to poling the boat across the flats during this time of year. It can give you fantastic views and a very quiet approach to the flats. Get out there and chase some tail this month!

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

[fishtales]

May 15, 2008

INSHORE:

May has brought us some great fishing around the river and the usual conditions to test your fishing skills, too. I had to get out today in spite of what the weather predicted for winds. It was a mostly a scouting trip for redfish. Mornings aren't too bad to fish around the river and top water works well this time of year. Look to the islands to give you plenty of areas to fish and use the wind to your advantage. May will continue to give us warmer water and great fishing action on the Treasure Coast.

Redfish was my target this week and I found several small schools feeding around on the flats. Look in the shallow water this time of year. They will most likely not show themselves and slip off unseen, but whenever the opportunity for sight casting come up.....it's a very exciting way to fish! I lost one upper slot redfish near the boat and watched three lazily swim in front of the boat and boated one 28" redfish while sight casting to them. I only stayed a couple hours, but did find my target to try this weekend. I like to use smaller soft baits, like the DOA CAL grub tails when fishing shallow. The fish are rooting around on the bottom and these lures can entice them into a strike. May and June have traditionally been very good for redfish on the river. Stealth and patience can provide some good rewards!

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This 28" redfish was suckered by a DOA CAL grub tail on the shallow flats south of Fort Pierce this week.

Snook feeding on the many baitfish around the river. Watch for bait being chased and it will more than likely be a snook, trout or jack creating the havoc on the flats. Only a short time left this month to catch that slot snook! There have been some snook taken around the bridges and inlet at night, but with the weather it has been a little quieter this week out there. Live pinfish or mullet has been a good choice for bait.

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Another recent redfish that was fooled by a DOA CAL shad tail around the Fort Pierce docks...

Trout have been caught up around Queen's Cove and Round Island. I spoke to an angler at the ramp who had caught several nice trout on top water at first light. Watch for nervous baitfish on the flats. There is usually something lurking around them! Top water early and jerk baits as the sun rises will give you a good chance at a hookup.

Bridges have been slow this week. Some sheephead and snapper, but a quiet week for fishing those areas. Jetties have held mackerel, bluefish and jacks. The Surf has produced whiting ,bluefish and a few scattered pompano when fishable. As the winds finally die off for the summer, look for fishing to continue to improve around the river. I love this time of year on the river!

Tip of the Week:

I plan each trip around weather, tides and winds. I set up the equipment for my first two stops on the water. Always a top water, soft bait and suspending lure ready for any opportunity that presents itself. You already know where you plan to start fishing and being ready for that first cast can save you valuable fishing time. When I am done fishing an area, I have the gear set up for the next place I plan on fishing. Certain colors or lures for redfish flats and different set ups for trout flats. A little preparation ahead of time can give you more fishing time on the water. Have a great May out there!

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

[Fishbuster]

Tuesday morning, 5/6, I fished Estero Bay with Paul and Rebecca Miller. The tide was slow coming in. We fished the tree lines, which is challenging, especially for novice anglers, and we lost one nice redfish that got tangled in the trees and broke the line. Rebecca caught a nice 14 inch sheepshead and we also caught a keeper mangrove snapper. We released smaller snapper and sheepshead.

Gary McDermott and friends fished the Gulf with me on Wednesday, in 38-46 feet out of New Pass, with live shrimp. We caught five hogfish, one of which was a beauty at about 18 inches but, unfortunately, a hungry barracuda bit that one off right at the head as we were reeling it in. We had one other keeper hog and released the other three. We also caught a keeper mangrove snapper and released nine others that were small, along with short red grouper. We caught a keeper triggerfish and eight pretty nice whitebone porgies, all in the two-to-three pound range.

Greg & Helen Bauer and Tara Barnes fished at the reefs with me on Thursday morning. It was too rough to get our much further than that, but we did okay reef-fishing, with a 12 inch flounder and some grunts for filleting. The rest of our catches were pure sport and included two goliath grouper at twenty pounds and thirty-five pounds and a forty-pound barracuda (see photo below). We released those, along with small snapper and gag grouper shorts. We caught the big guys on blue runners and the rest on shrimp.

John Keener and son, Chris, fished Estero Bay with me on a windy Monday morning, 5/12. We released two snook about 18 inches, sand bream, small snapper and a big redfish about 32 inches (see photo below). We were broken off by another bull red along the mangrove tree line.

Thursday, I fished a catch-and-release trip in Estero Bay with Ron Constantini and Rich Staubauch. We used live shrimp to catch three slot reds and lost two bull reds in the mangroves. We also released keeper-sized mangrove snapper, two undersized (and out-of-season) snook and a cravalle jack.

[capt_ron]

Banana River Trout Bite Going Strong

The wind has not stopped blowing, but it hasn’t hurt the early morning trout bite. Top water lures have produced spotted seatrout consistently, up to about 9:00. After that, switch over to your favorite plastics to continue the fun. The bigger fish are more likely from first light until 7:30 or 8:00 but the smaller ones have been willing to bite most of the day.

A pink colored X-Rap, a color I don’t use that often, seemed to out produce other colors on a recent trip. Once we changed to Rip Tide Mullet and Curtailers, the color didn’t seem to matter as much as the retrieve.

Rig either a Rip Tide Mullet or a Curtailer on ¼ ounce Pro Jig Head and vary the retrieve until you find what works and stick with it until the bite stops. Then, vary the retrieve again until you find another pattern.

Good friends Lari and Tim were visiting from Minnesota last week with an eye toward catching some redfish. Both were excellent casters and never gave up, throwing artificial baits all day long. Although the redfish avoided us, many trout were caught and released by the pair of anglers. Lari added a snook, a huge ladyfish, and a jack crevalle for a little variety in bending the rod.

We pushed hard for that single red that would have made an East Coast Slam, but it continued to elude us.

There are more mullet in the river this week than last and that should only mean better fishing ahead.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.com
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

May 23, 2008

INSHORE:

Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it was May and not March! We continue to see windy days and finally got some rain to help the area a little. We ended up braving some challenging conditions on some days and ended up getting wet one of those days. This weather will continue for now and at least we will have a chance at rain showers most afternoons to try and green up the grass a little. The river has remained clean in spite of the winds.

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Sandy Langler holding a 26" gator trout he caught on the grass flats with brother, Todd admiring his catch...

Mike McCann and his son, simply known as "L", were down and we fought some windy weather to get a chance at some fish. Mike's son ended up with a big ladyfish and lost a slot redfish to end a blustery day. He is gonna be a great fisherman! Nick Palladino and Mick Howells were up to fish this week, and we found a few places that were fishable. Mick found a 25" snook under one of the Fort Pierce docks and Nick boated a nice trout later in the day. Our day was cut a little short after some thunderclouds surrounded us. Sandy and Todd Langler stopped by the area this week to fish. We missed a number of good hits before Sandy boated a 26" gator trout. They also boated several mangrove snapper before the day was done. It was a tough week to try and beat the wind, but we did have some great fun out there trying!

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LJ holding a ladyfish he caught while fishing the Indian River this week...

Live pinfish and pigfish have done well this week. Shrimp bought out the cats, jacks and pins around the flats. The river is loaded down with baitfish just about everywhere we have fished. The predators have been on the flats giving chase. It has been hard to spot redfish lately, but they are out there. As we finally get to summer conditions, look for sight fishing to greatly improve. We fished from Round Island to south of Bear Point this week. Try around the docks and grass flats to the south and Queen's Cove to the north.

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Nick Palladino found this seatrout along the flats of the Indian River....

The inlet was boiling with Spanish mackerel this week and that means bluefish and jacks as well. Remember that snook fishing is almost over.....May 31st is the last day. The bridges have been on the slow side of late. We should see a surge in fishing this last weekend of snook season. The beaches have held some pompano, bluefish, mackerel and whiting for those anglers. Just off the beaches have held some kings, permit and bonita. The jetties have been producing jacks and bluefish mostly. Looking forward to next weeks fishing adventures!

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Mick Howells found this 25" snook hiding under a Fort Pierce dock....

Tip of the Week: Take a few minutes one day and check out your First Aid Kit. At some point during the year it will be used for cuts, scrapes and assorted mishaps aboard the boat. Check out the contents and replenish any items that are missing, old or low in quantities. If you don't have one......it is a good idea to get one. Accidents can happen anytime and it pays to have the equipment to handle most situations that might occur.

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

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report, May 22, 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, Florida

Well it looks like May has finally arrived on the Indian River Lagoon Coast. Today was my first day on the Lagoon where the winds laid down, and yes we even had a rumble of thunder and some well-needed rain although brief, thank you Lord.

I started out my week fishing on Sunday, where I was privileged and honored to spend the day on the water with Paul and Diana Faircloth and their nephew Clay. You see, it was Clay’s 11th birthday, and it was our mission to break in Clay’s new fishing rod. Our day started out slow with a few small sea trout in the morning, but as the day grew longer the bite improved, and we ended the day with a good number of sea trout caught on Riptide Jigs and top-water Rapala Skitterwalks, and yes Clay was successful in breaking in his new birthday rod.

Several other trips were planned during the week, but they were either scrubbed or postponed for future dates due to windy conditions.

For the past two months, I have been diligently trying to fish in the No-Motor Zone with local angler Jim Rawnsley from the Oak Hill/Edgewater area, but windy conditions kept us off of the water until today. Jim was the winner of the ISAA Raffle for the Captain Shawn Williams Family Charity charter I donated last spring, and I’m glad we waited.

The wind was light from the southwest as we polled out onto the flat, and we didn’t see any significant fish for the first few hours. After covering a lot of ground and messing with small trout on top-water plugs, we located a nice school of redfish. At first Jim made several nice top-water presentations, but the school lifted and began moving off. At that point, we opted to leave them rest and catch us some bait and then return later.

As the day grew longer, the wind laid down even more, and on our return the redfish school was spread out across the flat happily tailing in every direction. In addition to the redfish, there was also a good number of tailing black drum mixed in, which was an unexpected surprise. For the next several hours we chunked cut bait, and Jim successfully land three over slot redfish with the larges being 43-inches. The tails continued to pop-up everywhere, but a distant rumble of thunder sent us hightailing it back to the launch site as the rain set in. Hopefully, this trip was a prelude to the summer and the wind has finally begun to subside, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline
886-790-8081 toll free

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday morning, 5/19, I fished with Casey Serumba and friends in Estero Bay. We caught a couple of keeper snapper and released smaller snapper, a sheepshead and a snook. Casey had one nice red hooked but his drag was too loose, and once the red ran under the trees he was gone.

Tuesday, I fished with Marc Miller and Dave Ihle at the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach. We had a good morning of fishing, despite rough seas, with a 24 inch gag grouper (photo below) Dave landed after it bit a live blue runner, seven keeper mangrove snapper, and two flounder 16 inches and 12 inches that Mark landed on shrimp. We released blue runners and gag shorts and a 25 inch goliath grouper.

Brothers Greg and Dave Bauer and their wives, Helen and Kathy, fished Estero Bay with me on Wednesday, along the channel from Barefoot Beach to Wiggins Pass. We had originally planned to fish offshore, but after seeing the conditions Tuesday and noting the winds to be even worse Wednesday, we decided to stay inshore. Greg caught a keeper 20 inch redfish and we also got a keeper snapper and released small sheepshead.

The backwater was where I fished again on Thursday, this time with Tom Tomasheski and seven-year-old son, Tom, Jr. They had already been offshore on a head-boat and wanted to experience some quieter, more personal fishing so we fished Estero Bay with live shrimp and caught and released mangrove snapper, cravalle jack and ladyfish.

Roy Bumstead and Jimmy Egan headed offshore with me to 53 feet out of New Pass on Friday. We caught ten nice yellowtail snapper to 17 inches, whitebone porgies to 16 inches—we kept six of those and threw back a bunch more—and a few keeper lane snapper. We released six sharpnose sharks, all about three feet long. We also released some gag grouper shorts and at least 150 red grouper shorts to 19 ¾ inches.

Mark Miller and ten-year-old son, Jake, along with Mark’s mother, Jackie, fished Estero Bay with me Saturday morning. Using shrimp along the tree lines from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot beach, we limited on slot reds, with three of those all around 20 inches. We also caught ten keeper-sized mangrove snapper, of which we kept five. The tide was incoming and the bite pretty steady.

Sunday morning, a family group in town for a weekend wedding fished a catch-and-release trip with me about 17 miles west of New Pass. Jim Christ, son Bill, Bill’s uncle, John, and father-and-son team Brent and Chad Robinson collectively released about 80 fish with good variety including mangrove snapper, gag grouper, red grouper, grunts and whitebone porgies, all caught on live shrimp.

The other photo shown is of a slot–red caught on shrimp on a recent inshore trip.

[fishtales]

May 29, 2008

INSHORE:

Summer has surely arrived here on the Treasure Coast. Temperatures in the nineties and afternoon rains this past week are good signs of that! We had some fun out on the water this week. Seen lots of fish and caught a few trophies to show off. It was some great weather and the winds have finally slowed down to allow fishing areas that have been hard to reach lately. The fish are out there and it's a great time of year to fish the Indian River.

I had the pleasure to meet some great people this week and renew friendships with a few also. Chad and Jessica Wenger were visiting from Pennsylvania this week and we had some fun on the water. Lillian and Wayne Foisey were down from Long Island to enjoy a scenic tour of the area. Wayne and I fished the next day. Jessica ended up being the angler of the week though!

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Jessica Wenger showing off her 28" gator trout caught on a Rapala Skitterwalk as the sun was rising over the Indian River in Fort Pierce.

Trout fishing has continued flourish on the flats from one to four feet of water. We had a number of hits on top water, but Jessica landed a fat 28" gator trout on a Skitterwalk just after sunrise. Top water is always exciting, but this one totally inhaled her chartreuse lure. Even though it put up a good fight...it wasn't enough to win the battle with Jessica. Early morning try Queen's Cove, Round Island and down anywhere south to the Power Plant. Look for the sand holes to find them lurking.

We saw a good many redfish in a foot of water this week. Wayne had one follow his bait to the boat, only to change its mind at the last second. We drifted up on several reds with Chad and Jessica. Jessica was first to put a pinfish near one of them. After a couple long runs, she landed a 27" redfish to add to her catch. We were cut short when another boat decided they had to fish that area after they saw our results. Live or cut bait along with DOA CAL grubs or jerk baits (rootbeer or new penny colors) are the best choices for a chance at an upper slot redfish.

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Jessica later caught this 27" redfish on the shallow flats on a live pinfish.

Snook fishing has entered its last weekend for keepers. After Saturday night, it will be only catch and release. We have found many large snook feeding on the flats. Wayne found one large snook swim up to his bait, but again, change its mind. Live bait, top water or DOA CAL jerk baits are great choices on the flats. Look for the deeper holes for the big boys to be holding up and waiting for a quick meal to drift by.

The inlet has been boiling with Spanish mackerel. Shiny lures worked very fast can give you some quick action. The catwalks have been pretty quiet this week. The surf can hold whiting, mackerel, bluefish and even some snook. Jetties have jacks, bluefish and mackerel feeding on the tides there. Lots of bait around the river, so fish the bait pods....especially if they are nervous or being crashed.

Tip of the Week: Probably the most exciting fishing that I enjoy is sight fishing. We are entering the time of year that you can really have some fun out on the river. Keeping quietly across the flats can give you the opportunity to get some great sight casting opportunities. Jessica was a wonderful example as she cast to several redfish that were just a yards in front of the boat. Wayne watched a redfish swim within a few feet of the boat while giving chase to his bait. It's great fun and can be very rewarding!

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

[mosquitocoast]

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, June 2008

Compliments of Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka, Florida

Summer has arrived on the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida, and yes it’s once again time to crank it up. With the rising heat and humidity of summer you might think I’m referring to cranking up the air condition, but ah contraire, I’m referring to cranking up the fishing prospects on every front, inshore, near-shore, and offshore. Although the heat is rising, the winds of June are subsiding, and calming seas allow for smooth sailing, especially for those who fish from shallow water boats.

Calm conditions across the water will allow for those with smaller boats to venture further out into the deep blue in search for ocean predators, and facilitate a smoother and faster ride for those with larger vessels.

Offshore, look for the dolphin bite to slow as the schools begin to spread out and the kingfish concentration will remain good along the inshore reefs and wrecks of 8A Reef and Pelican Flats, so slow trolling with live pogies will produce the best action. Additionally, bottom fishing will remain good for snapper and grouper until the first summer squall (hurricane) blows in and muddies up the water. As the summer doldrums set in, the seas flatten out and the ocean cleans up, and near-shore opportunities are typically the best you’ll see all year along the reefs and wrecks and the beach. June is also the time of year when the kingfish move in close along the beach shadowing schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), as well as along the Port Canaveral buoy line.

In the early morning on the flats look for trout and redfish up in the skinny water around concentration of bait, and toss them your favorite top water plug. Focus your efforts between 5am and 9am, and in the late afternoon after the thunderstorms dissipate. Also look for schools of bay anchovies (glass minnows) in deeper waters. These schools can be located by watching for small terns and other sea birds working, and they usually are shadowed by concentrations of small trout and ladyfish. These fast moving schools produce fast and furious action for fly anglers casting small top-water popping bugs.

Night fishing will also produce decent catches of redfish, snook, and trout. When fishing the flats at night, I prefer fishing real slow with glow in the dark shrimp imitation baits like the RipTide Realistic Shrimp with a Woodie’s Rattle Capsule inserted or simply use the Woodie’s Rattle hook. If you can only fish during the heat of the day, target the docks with deepwater access.

Remember as the days heat up, long battles will kill the fish, so if you plan on targeting large fish, you may want to step up your tackle to shorten the battle. Also, dissolved oxygen levels are low, so leave them in the water as much as possible, and revive them completely before releasing them. Also, snook season is closed on Florida’s east central coast in June, July, and August, so if you catch one, please be respectfull and handle and release it with extreme care.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 landline
886-790-8081 toll free

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

[Fishbuster]

On a catch-and-release trip to the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach on Tuesday, 5/27, long-time customers Pat Fitzgerald and sons, Jimmy, Tommy and Peter, along with friend, Brendon, caught a smorgasbord of fish on live shrimp. We had steady action all morning, and released two keeper-sized pompano, lots of whitings, lots of gag grouper shorts to 19 ½ inches, seven keeper-sized flounder and lots of grunts and keeper-sized mangrove snapper. I don’t know how many fish we caught in all, but a couple of Pat’s young sons were keeping count of their catches and each had between 30 and 40.

Friday morning, fishing with Bill and Debby Wright in central Estero Bay, we caught two keeper redfish just under 20 inches and released a nice 26 inch snook (see photo) along with mangrove snapper, cravalle jack and a stingray. The snook ran the length of the boat and was a good fight on 8 pound test.

The other photo shown is of a 16 inch flounder caught on shrimp on a recent reef trip.

I am fishing the Dry Tortugas this week and hope to have some "Tortuga Tales" by my next post.

[capt_ron]

Hot Trout Bite Keeps Anglers Busy

The trout bite on the Banana River continues to be the game of choice. Bigger trout are available early on topwater baits and the schoolies up to 14 7/8 can be caught in double digit numbers.

Two excellent anglers from the Orlando area spent one day on the “Finding Equilibrium” with trout catches up to 17 inches. Ted put the biggest trout in the boat in the early morning using a topwater chugger. Later Ted and his son Brian started catching one trout after another. By the time the bite subsided they had caught and released about 80 of the hungry trout.

The majority of the trout came on Rip Tide 3 Inch Mullet in the Nite Glow color. Rigged on a ¼ ounce Rip Tide Pro jig head, the mullet were cast out far from the boat and retrieved in a lifting and then falling routine. The trout would often take the mullet on the fall. Other colors worked too, but Brian and Ted continued to prefer the Nite Glow. Once you develop confidence in a color it makes sense to stay with it. A couple of ladyfish were mixed in with the trout.

Later we moved to a mangrove lined shoreline where Ted and Brian peppered the shadows with the same Rip Tide Mullet. Both anglers were excellent casters and it finally paid off. Brian hooked and boated a nice 24 inch, Banana River Snook, to end the day. All in all, it was a day full of action, but still no real bragging rights. The trip was a birthday gift from Brian to his dad.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Linebacker%20Snook%201rs.jpg

Redfish are still a favorite target on the river. They will also jump on a well placed Rip Tide Mullet. The one pictured below measured in at 23 inches. This fish came right off the bottom in front of the mangroves in about 9 feet of water.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Red,%20Rip%20Tide%20Mullet%20rs.jpg

Mullet are all over the flats right now and should continue to attract predator fish. It will only get warmer (I should say hotter) from here on out, so start early and take advantage of the early morning temps. The winds also seem to be improving are likely to be calmer early in the day.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.com
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

June 5, 2008

INSHORE:

What a fantastic weekend to fish the Indian River. Mild winds and warm temperatures found us on the flats in search of my favorite fish......Redfish! I love to sight fish when the weather allows and the fish sure cooperated this weekend for us. Looks like we are in for the same conditions going into the weekend with mild winds and hot temperatures. Hope you get a chance to get out there soon.

I had the pleasure to have Sid and Jenny Ramchandran on the boat this past week. Shane Barber was out with me on saturday to celebrate his birthday on the water. Jenny hadn't fished in a while and was taking a break from taking care of their children. It didn't take her very long to get back her fishing skills. Before the day was done, she had boated three upper slot redfish and a 26" trout to make for a great day on the water. Sid was all smiles for her, even though she did out fish him a little. We found a large school of redfish feeding on the flats and they stayed long enough for us that day.

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Jenny with her three redfish that ranged from 26" to 28".

Shane Barber was on the boat when we again found a large school of redfish working their way across the flats towards us. He was on as soon as the school reached us. We ended up the day with Shane catching five redfish from 26" to 29 1/2". We had several others hooked up before they got off. It was another great day of fishing on the Indian River! All our redfish were caught on either live bait or DOA CAL jerk baits this week. The fish are shallow, so keeping quiet and moving slowly is extremely important to your success. We had some even swim under the boat with Sid and Jenny. Round Island and Queen's Cove have had some reds feeding on the flats this past week.

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Shane with three of his five redfish to celebrate his birthday!

Snook fishing has slowed down mostly due to the season closing. There are some huge over slots on the flats that are hiding very shallow. Live bait will most likely be the best way to have a chance at hooking up with Mr. Snook. Remember to handle them carefully and get them back into the water quickly. It's catch, photo and release time again.

Trout fishing has continued to produce some big gators around the river. Top water in the morning can give you a good chance at one this time of year. Live pigfish or pinfish are the top choices of bait for trout during the summer months. Look for some around Queen's Cove, Bear Point and Harbor Branch. DOA CAL jerk baits in lighter colors have also worked this week on the trout.

Snapper around the bridges and channels have been providing anglers with some good keepers. Spanish mackerel are all over the inlet and turning basin. We saw some good sized ones chasing bait this week. They move quickly so plan on moving around the inlet often to catch them. There are still bluefish around the river and beaches. Whiting in the surf along with jacks, macks and blues to keep you busy. It's a great time of year to fish the Treasure Coast.

Tip of the Week:
Hot temperatures are here! Keep plenty of water on the boat to keep yourself hydrated this summer. Heat stroke can happen at any time and a good way to help prevent overheating yourself is with plenty of fluids. Stay safe and healthy on the water this summer!

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

[Fishbuster]

I left Sunday morning, 6/1, for Key West, where six of us spent the night before taking off for the Tortugas on a boat we chartered. For once, I was the charter’s customer rather than the captain. Fishing that area has always been on my list of things to do but, in all these years, I had never managed to do it.

We all had visions of 25 pound groupers and huge mutton snapper like we had heard about from others who had fished the Tortugas, But when we hooked up with our captain, he informed us that bottom fishing hadn’t been so good lately and that our best bet was going to be trolling for dolphin (mahi). So we trolled by day and bottom fished at night. We left Key West about 12:30 in the afternoon on Monday, June 2nd. We began trolling about an hour later, and 45 minutes after that, we put lines out. Suddenly, a sailfish appeared on a flat line—I looked up and saw the bill of the sail fish—It had hit the wire in front of the lure, then kinked it and was gone. Fifteen minutes later, we had four take-downs with dolphin on all four lines. We continued to catch 30 inch-plus schoolies for about two hours, then we headed out to 2600 feet in search of granders. We trolled and picked up a few more smaller dolphin until about 8:30 PM, and ended up on the “Pill Box,” where we anchored in 70 feet about fifteen miles from the Marquesas. There, we caught some nice, twenty-inch yellowtail snapper and a few mangrove snapper and released a few short grouper.

At first light, after watching the sun rise over the Atlantic, we free-lined bait and fished for yellowtail, but we ended up with three cero mackerel instead, to 35 inches. We ate a quick breakfast and headed out deeper to troll in 35o feet. Fifteen minutes later, three lines went down, all with skipjack tunas. We trolled a couple more hours with little action. All of a sudden, a rigger knocked down on the port side of the boat—A 350 pound blue marlin was greyhounding toward the boat, screaming the line off the reel! Unfortunately, the fish was about six times faster than the boat we were in. Its bill wrapped the 80 lb. leader and snapped it (of course, it had hit one of the smaller reels.) Still, the sight of that marlin was a heart-pounding, once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us. That fish was just 30 yards off the side of the boat. It covered 200 feet in two leaps, completely out of the water, just like I have always seen on T.V.

We trolled along and ended up with a 25 pound bull dolphin as our biggest catch, but limits of quality dolphin from five to fifteen pounds were caught by all (photo below.) We elected to anchor up early, about 35 miles west of the Marquesas to indulge in a fresh fish dinner in calmer water where we could cook. Then we anchored up for another night of yellowtailing. We caught fifteen nice yellowtail and a few more mangroves and released lots of smaller keepers before the sharks closed in on us.

We were up Wednesday morning at first light again ready to troll but we awoke to squall-lines and rough conditions so we decided to start the five hour journey back to Key West, where about three hours of fish-cleaning awaited us. All in all, it was a great time with good friends, great fishing and an adventure to remember always.

With my feet planted on terra firma for a day, I was ready by Friday to resume my regular, local fishing. I fished the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach Friday morning with William Smith, son Walker, daughter Audrey and friend, Aaron Peets. We used shrimp at first to catch our table-fare—nine Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, and we released blue runners and cravalle jacks. Next, we baited with blue runners for some sport-fishing for goliath grouper. We released two of those, a 60-pounder caught by Walker and a 100-pounder caught by Aaron.

[Fishbuster]

In celebration of Harry’s birthday, brothers Grant and Harry Kurtz, along with friends Joe and Thais Allen, fished with me Monday morning, 6/9,seventeen miles west of New Pass. The Spanish mackerel bite was strong and we free-lined shrimp for those, kept nine to 27 inches, and released lots more, along with gag shorts and blue runners. We also caught whitebone porgies and two hogfish, one of which was a keeper at 14 ½ inches.

Wednesday, Van & Amy McQueen, daughter Danielle, son Peyton, Peyton’s friend Hayden Beach, and family friend Dan Neal fished with me about 17 miles out of New Pass. Amy caught a nice mutton snapper 16 inches long and the group caught a mess of Spanish mackerel to 27 inches and whitebone porgies. We released an undersized hogfish, gag and red grouper shorts, grunts and porgies, with plenty of action all morning.

Friday, fishing 26 miles west of New Pass with Dave and Carol Young, we used live shrimp to catch over a dozen keeper yellowtail snapper and we released about a half dozen smaller ones. I kept moving further offshore because we were competing with porpoise at most of my spots. We also caught some good sized whitebone porgies. We released small mangrove snapper and lots of red grouper shorts to 18 ½ inches. We also had quite a shark-fest, releasing at least fifteen sharpnose sharks, all around the three foot length.

I fished inshore Saturday morning in central Estero Bay with Jim Hammer, sons Cameron and Collin and friend, Erica Bensik. Thirty seconds after we anchored and dropped a few lines over, Jim hooked a big redfish but it ran under the trees, wrapped his line and got away. We caught another redfish keeper at twenty inches along with seven keeper mangrove snapper, all on shrimp.

The photo shown is of an 18 inch mangrove snapper caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[fishtales]

June 18, 2008

INSHORE:

Summer weather patterns have sure arrived here on the Treasure Coast. Afternoon thunderstorms loom off in the west each day. We had some really good days fishing part of the week and things slowed down to a crawl on some days out there. Get out early during this time of year and work those top water lures around the bait schools for a good chance at hooking up as the sun rises off in the east.

Trout fishing has had its up and down days lately. Live pinfish or pigfish are their favorite food this time of year, but a DOA Deadly Combo is also hard to beat. Bear Point has continued to hold lots of baitfish around the point. Queen's Cove has also held its share of the bait. I like to drift or pole the flats during June to fish a larger area.

Redfish are out there and we had a couple good follows with Mark Murch, but they turned just before we could get a pickup. Look on flats that are one to three feet of water and are a softer bottom for them to be rooting around in. DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits have worked well for redfish all year. Keep a stealthy approach to the flats or you might as well move on to another area. They be quick to leave if you make much noise at all.

We have still found snook around the flats and docks. James Hall of Bassmaster Magazine found a couple shorts with a DOA Bait Buster. Mark Murch also found a nice snook with the same Bait Buster. Remember to release them quickly and safely as they are out of season. Docks around the river will continue to hold snook. The inlet area will be have lots of them hanging around the bridges, docks and jetties this time of year.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishingSmall.jpg

Mark Murch proved the DOA Bait Buster works great as a top water lure....

Spanish mackerel, bonito, jacks and ladyfish are following the glass minnows into the inlet on the incoming tide. Mangrove and mutton snapper are around the channel edges and bridges. We found schools of snapper crashing glass minnows on the flats recently. Mackerel, bluefish and whiting have been around the surf and you might find tarpon, jacks or snook in close to the beach if the bait schools are nearby.

Tip of the Week:
Drifting the flats can prove to be very effective. Let the wind or tide move you across your favorite flat. You will cover a greater area and create much less noise. Watch for the bait schools and drift along to fish them thoroughly. It's a fun and exciting way to fish. Have some fun out there soon!

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

Scott Allgood with some of the fish he caught on the Indian River....

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Spencer Hobby with a few of his fish caught on the Indian River....

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[capt_ron]

Kids Are More Than Happy With Sharks

Last week I had a chance for a little family getaway to the Florida Keys. The trip included my grandson Robert and his visiting friend Jessie from Georgia. On these types of outings it is important that the kids catch fish - any fish. They just need to bend their poles to keep their interest high.

I had to give up some of my own fishing desires in favor of making it a memorable trip for the kids but it was well worth it. Sometimes adults press to hard on their style of fishing at the expense of a good day for the kids. Once in awhile, we need to just focus on the kids and let them have their day. As it turned out on this trip, sharks were the key to our success. If you can keep their rods bent over a lot of the time, they may just become your best fishing buddy as the years go by. However, as I said above, it is very important that they catch something.

To keep the activity level high we kept them supplied with plenty of shrimp and instructed them on how to use the 2500 Shimanos we brought for them to fish with. It was up to them to bait the hooks and take off what seemed like hundreds of snappers, grunts, and pinfish. In the meantime we set out two larger rods and baited up with frozen mullet.

When fishing for sharks it is a good practice to add a piece of wire leader to the terminal connection if you want to fight the fish all the way into the boat. Add a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook, depending on the size of the sharks you expect to catch. Personally, I always use circle hooks when fishing with cut bait to reduce or eliminate gut hooked fish. Either pin on a whole mullet or if they are large you can cut them into chunks to entice the sharks.

Place the rod in a rod holder, leaving the bail open so the shark can run off with the bait. Once the line starts coming off the spool, count to 10 to let it eat and then start reeling. Remember, no hook set when using circle hooks. If the circle hook does its job the fish will be hooked in the corner of the mouth, making for an easy hook removal with a de-hooker.

It didn’t take long until the line started leaving the spool. The boys had already determined who would get the first fish on the “big pole” so Robert started the fight. It turned out to be a big nurse shark with plenty of pull. The boys actually traded off fighting the fish. When one got tired the other took over.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Jessie%20and%20Shark%20rs.jpg

The boys also enjoyed catching the bonnet head sharks which were smaller but more plentiful. You never know what will bite so you have to be prepared for anything. There is something mysterious and scary about the sharks and most kids will have a blast catching and releasing them.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Ron-Jessie%20rs.jpg

Be sure you take along your de-hooker and make every effort to remove the hook without harming the fish. If a fish happens to get gut hooked, scientists tell us that it is probably better to cut the line as close to the hook as possible, instead of trying to remove it. The fish will have a better chance of surviving.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 6/16, I fished central Estero Bay with Scott Heiss, his brother, Steve Heiss, their dad, Jerry Heiss, and Scott’s ten-year-old son, Nicholas. We had a good morning of fishing with live shrimp along the tree lines. Nicholas caught the biggest redfish at 22 inches (see photo) and we caught two other keepers at 19 ½ inches and 20 inches. The group also caught seven keeper mangrove snapper and we released a 26 inch snook.

Paul Duguay and friends fished with me on Wednesday morning, seventeen miles southwest of New Pass. We kept about twenty-five porgies around 16 inches and released a good many more. We also caught about ten yellowtail snapper, but only one of those was a keeper, and a keeper mangrove snapper. We released gag grouper shorts to 19 inches and red grouper short to 18 inches.

Brian Rodgers and Rodney Poole fished the mangrove shoreline of Estero Bay with me on a mostly rainy Thursday morning. Brian got a 20 inch redfish on shrimp and the guys lost two larger ones that ran under the mangrove roots and broke off. They also caught six nice mangrove snapper, good-sized for the bay at 11 to 14 inches, along with two sheepshead 13 and 14 inches long.

The photo shown is of young angler, Nicholas, with a 22 inch redfish caught on shrimp on a recent inshore trip.

[Fishbuster]

Fishing Saturday morning, 6/21, about 17 miles out of New Pass with Dan Slavenburg and friend, Ryan, we cast live shrimp to catch eight keeper mangrove snapper and a dozen whitebone porgies to 15 inches. We released lots of smaller mangs, short red grouper, yellowtail and an almaco jack.

Tuesday morning, I fished 14 miles west of New Pass with Mike and Norine Weber and Bill and Gail Carlson. We had lots of action and variety all morning, using live shrimp. Catches included three keeper hogfish, two at 13 inches and one at 14 inches, Spanish mackerel to 24 inches (we kept two and released three), ten whitebone porgies, of which we kept three, fifteen keeper mangrove snapper, and grunts. We released gag grouper shorts to 18 inches, red grouper to 19 inches, triggerfish, and a 15 inch mutton snapper.

Thursday, Greg Sommeski, sons Greg, Jr. and Louis, and friend Joe Morono fished with me about 17 miles offshore. We caught a mess of mangrove snapper, kept ten of those to 14 inches and released lots more, along with whitebone porgies to 15 inches. We released Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, along with gag and red grouper to 19 ½ inches, a 17 inch true black grouper and a 15 inch mutton snapper. We used live shrimp for all.

The photo shown is of angler Sarah Hobbe with a 16 inch hogfish caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

[capt_ron]

Banana River Producing a Variety of Fish

It’s been nice to have a few mornings without the wind blowing so hard. All spring has been characterized by high winds that tend to make the fishing tough. Well, this week was much better and made for enjoyable days on the water.

Rip Tide plastic baits have produce well this week on a variety of fish. Trout, jacks, and bluefish all ate them well. My overall favorite remains the 3 inch Rip Tide Mullet, but the Flats Chub and the Curtailer have also produced fish.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Rip%20Tide%20Trio.jpg

One thing I like about these three lures is the fact that you can rig them all on the same ¼ ounce Rip Tide Pro Jig Head. This allows you to change your bait profile by simply switching tails.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Rip%20Tide%20Trio,%20Pro%20Jig%20Head%20rs.jpg

Of course, if you don’t want or need the weight you can rig them all on a Daiichi Fat Gap Offset or on a Daiichi Copper Head. Rigged in this manner, these baits will skip under the mangroves or docks very well and also make a great weedless presentation in shallow water.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Rip%20Tide,%20Copper%20Head%20and%20Flats%20Chub.j pg

The most productive colors this week were Gold’n Glow in the Rip Tide Flats Chub and Silver Mullet for the 3 inch Rip Tide Mullet. For the Curtailer, both the Black Shad and the Green Back/Silver Belly were good producers.

Special Note: Summer time always brings the big jacks and tarpon nearshore off Cocoa Beach. The jacks have been crusin’ in big packs and can be taken on both artificial and live baits. The 34 inch jack pictured below hit a 6 inch live pogie on Wednesday this week. One thing for sure, if you go targeting these big ocean jacks you better step up your tackle a notch because they will tear you up if you catch them on too light an outfit.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Big%20Jack.jpg

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.com
presleyr@bellsouth.net

[fishtales]

July Fishing Forecast


July brings hot weather, afternoon rains and Fourth of July parties. Oh....and lots of great fishing out there,too! Mornings on the river will bring action at first light on top water lures for snook or trout on the flats. They will seek deeper water as the sun rises. I will be fishing along the mangroves for snook with jigs, twitch baits and spoons where the water will be 2-3 feet deep. Trout will move to deeper flats in 2-6 feet of water and will most likely hit pinfish, pigfish or live shrimp. Redfish will continue to hold up on the flats, but more scattered. As the water heats up, move to deeper cuts on the flats for them. Gold spoons, soft baits, like DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baitsor cut bait will work best for them. Search along the docks during the day for snook or redfish hanging around there.

Bridges will be producing snapper, drum and sheephead during July. Live or dead shrimp will be hard for them to resist. Watch the tides and fish the slower sides of them for best results. Whiting will continue to be in the surf with the occasional bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Sharks will be patrolling along the beach also.

Areas to fish in the river for July: Bear Point, Queen's Cove and Round Island. South of Harbor Branch will be a great area to work for trout in the mornings before the sun heats up things. The flats in front of the power plant taper off to 3-5 feet and will be holding trout during the day. Live pigfish are the favorite food for trout this time of year. Try a DOA Deadly Combo during the day also for trout. The west shore down there will be good areas to search out redfish. Channel edges will be yielding snapper on structure. Tripletail will be around channel markers and pilings to the south towards Jensen Beach.

Tip of the Month:
With the heat of summer upon us, make sure you have a plan for an emergency. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion is always a possibility when out on the water.

SIGNS:
Heat exhaustion:
Cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.

Heat stroke:
Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high-- as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry.

TREATMENT:
Heat exhaustion:
Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.

Heat stroke:
Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

Check out the Red Cross web site for more information: http://www.redcross.org

As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good fishing and be safe,
Capt. Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

Call me at: 772-284-3852

[fishtales]

July 4, 2008

INSHORE:

Happy Fourth of July! Wonderful weather, lots of sunshine and some great fishing opportunities await anglers on the Indian River along the Treasure Coast. Afternoon thunderstorms have been the norm lately and it will continue to threaten the area each afternoon. It's best to plan an early trip so you can be off the water before the skies turn dark and stormy.

Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlet and flats areas. We have found some under the mangroves and chasing bait along the flats. Just remember to release them quickly and safely. Top water lures, like a Skitterwalk or DOA Bait Buster, will work at first light on the flats. Paul Reiss found several along the mangroves this week. Redfish are still on the shallow flats. Move across quietly so you don't scare them off ahead of you. Soft plastics, like a DOA shrimp or CAL jerk bait, are great choices out there. Trout action has been in a little deeper water. Top water early, followed by jerk baits or live bait will be a good choice of lures. Queen's Cove, Harbor Branch and Little Mud areas will be holding fish this month.

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Tom Hull in the battle of the bonito at the Fort Pierce Inlet!

Tarpon have been feeding around Big Mud and the North Fork of the St Lucie River. A lot of tarpon are in the area and an early morning trip will give you the best chance at hooking up. It's usually a short bite and the earlier, the better. The Fort Pierce inlet has held glass minnows that are being chased by Spanish macks, bonito and jacks. For some great fun, give it a try. Shiny lures, spoons and jigs are good choices, but don't be afraid to change around if you aren't getting a bite. Try to match the glass minnows with your lures and you should have success. Tom Hull got spooled by one bonito and fought both fish and sharks to land the next one. I fought another for quite a while until the 8' bull shark decided it was a nice lunch. Bridges and docks have continued to hold snapper, sheephead and black drum. It's a great time of year to be fishing!

Tip of the Week: Courtesy, Patience and Common Sense are essential to enjoying a safe and fun-filled holiday. Whether it be Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day, you can have a much more enjoyable weekend if you practice these three simple concepts. These weekends are crowded holidays on the water. It all starts when you leave home and continues to the bait shops, ramps and waterways. Ramps are busy, so don't get upset or angry before you get on the water. PATIENCE! Waterways are swarmed with boats of all sizes and types. Use safe boating habits and follow the Rules of the Road. COMMON SENSE! When returning back to the ramp, expect many others to have the same idea and don't try to crowd or get ahead of others. COURTESY! Let's all have safe, friendly and especially FUN holiday weekends this year!

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

[Fishbuster]

Estero Bay offered a pretty good variety of fish for us on Monday morning, 6/30, when I fished with Jason and Callie Eubanks, Don Cruz and Paul Odele. We used live shrimp to catch a keeper sheepshead, a 21 inch keeper redfish and a bunch of keeper-sized mangrove snapper. We released all the mangs but four, and we were broken off by another slot red and by a big cravalle jack.

I was back in the bay Tuesday morning, with Tom Wolfe and young son, Jordan. We caught a nice redfish at 22 ½ inches (see photo) and lost another keeper-sized red when it snagged on some trees. We also caught a keeper mangrove snapper, which was big for a bay snapper at 14 inches. We released a couple dozen smaller snapper, along with three trout that were all around 14 inches, four snook to 16 inches, and a cravalle jack.

Jim & Lisa Roe, son Brendon, and friend Jerry Garland fished the reefs with me in 33 feet Wednesday morning and we managed to get half-day of fishing done before the rains came. We caught twenty nice- sized whitebone porgies and fifteen keeper mangrove snapper. We also got a 25 inch Spanish mackerel and two hogfish, one of which was keeper-sized at 14 inches. We released small yellowtail snapper and red grouper shorts to 19 inches. We had a cobia that was about fifty pounds hooked at one point, after he bit a fish we were reeling in—that fight lasted about fifteen minutes until the cobia finally spit the fish and took off.

Bill Brown and son, Greg, fished with me Friday morning until we got run in a little bit early by storms. Fishing with live shrimp about fourteen miles west of Big Carlos, we caught ten keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, porgies to 14 inches and Spanish mackerel to 25 inches. We released red grouper shorts and grunts.

Ethan & Kay Ware, along with children Malachai, Jack, Noah and Julia, celebrated the 4th of July with an offshore fishing excursion. We fished about 17 miles west of New Pass. Unlike the day before, there wasn’t much cloud cover and the water was crystal clear. We could see bottom in 38 feet. The bite was a little slower. We caught a keeper hogfish, whitebone porgies to 15 inches and grunts. We released triggerfish, a mangrove snapper that was just short of legal size for federal waters, a Spanish mackerel and red grouper shorts to 19 ½ inches.

Brian McGoldrick, Bill Justice and Todd Snapp fished central Estero Bay with me Saturday. Brian caught a nice 25 ½ inch redfish shortly after we anchored. He lost three more nice reds that came off their hooks. Bill caught a 24 ½ inch redfish and an 18 inch trout. Todd caught a keeper sheepshead at 15 inches and the group caught eight keeper mangrove snapper to 12 inches, all on shrimp.

[fishtales]

July 10, 2008

INSHORE:

Summer heat has sure taken over along the Treasure Coast. Hot temperatures has warmed up the water and it has been an early bite most of the week. Look to deeper water after the sun heats things up out there. Fishing has been up and down this week. Most of the action has been around the turning basin with many anglers out to challenge the hoards of Spanish macks and bonitos that are chasing the schools of baitfish around the inlet.

Trout and snook have been on the flats early and move off as the sun rises. Top water or live bait will be your best choice on the flats, while soft baits are good around the mangroves and docks of the river. With all the bait around the inlet, night fishing can produce snook, tarpon or bonitos if you venture out. All of our trout this week have come on DOA CAL jerk baits in various colors. Mike James even caught a nice bluefish while fishing the flats.

We continue to find redfish up on the flats in the mornings. They have been pretty picky about biting, but there are many different lures and baits to try and coax them into feeding. The schools have been smaller most days and they have been in some shallow water. DOA shrimp or jerk baits are good lures to use along with live pigfish.

The mangrove snapper have continued to hold along the channel edges and structure around the river. Beaches have held whiting and Spanish mackerel. The inlet has been boiling with all the action and many large bull sharks are cruising underneath the frenzy. Don't be surprised to find one chomping on your catch next to the boat. Lionel Lusardi was out with his brother, Adrian, and battled a bonito in the boat.

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Lionel Lusardi was on the winning end of this bonito battle....

Tip of the Week:
Summer brings HOT weather out on the water. Harmful rays from the sun are beating down on you. Take a few minutes and make sure you put on good sunscreen during the day. Hats and sunglasses are a given when on the water. Don't find yourself with one bad sunburn to end a good day of fishing. Apply sunscreen before you leave the ramp and at intervals during the day to help protect your skin from the sun.

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

[capt_ron]

Snookin’ in Stuart

I had a great opportunity to take my eleven year old grandson on a fishing getaway this past week. We packed our bags and headed south for the River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach. Only a little more than a two hour drive from Merritt Island, this quaint destination is a fisherman’s paradise. There are nearby boat ramps at the causeways and a dock on the Indian River to come home to each day.

The weather did not cooperate too well, as each morning the winds were blowing at about 10 miles per hour or more, from the southeast. The catching was slow, but the fishing and the experience with by grandson was the best.

Trying to ignore the winds, we fished a few rolling tarpon, lock-jawed trout and few willing snook. On one day a friend and fellow guide, Captain Duber Winters hopped aboard the “Finding Equilibrium” for a couple of hours of snook fishing. We headed south towards the inlet and a couple of Duber’s favorite fishing holes. He suggested we start early and work the early morning bite. The strategy paid off when I hooked the first snook as day was barely breaking.

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We were rigged with D. O. A. Holographic Shrimp on a 40 pound leader. As we cast up current the shrimp would drift toward the waiting fish. A fast action heavy rod is a good selection for this type of fishing. You definitely need some backbone to keep the fish from running back into the rocks, or the docks that you are fishing.

It didn’t take too much longer before grandson Robert was pulling on another nice snook that also fell for the D.O.A. Shrimp. If you would like to do some of this snook fishing with Capt. Duber you can contact him at Green Water Charters, 772-631-1023.

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This snook was definitely the fish that made the trip worthwhile. It is the kind of thing that makes kids into anglers. In fact, it is fish like this that keep most of us coming back for more.

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On another day Robert and I had the pleasure of fishing with Capt. Mark Nichols, originator of the D.O.A. line of fishing lures. Needless to say, we had a great selection of lures to choose from on this trip. From TerrorEyz and C.A.L. series shad tail and jerk baits to the ever popular and productive D.O.A. Shrimp. You can visit the website at http://www.doalures.com/ and view all the different lures they make.

It was another windy day and the fishing conditions were not that favorable, but Capt. Mark’s unending enthusiasm and persistence resulted in a nice variety of fish. First came a mutton snapper, then a mangrove snapper and several trout. We also spotted some rolling tarpon, but they just didn’t want to play.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

[fishtales]

July 20, 2008

INSHORE:

Summertime on the Indian River.....It's a wonderful time of year. Lots of afternoon thunderstorms have brought much needed rain to the area this year. You have to plan your trips carefully to get out and beat the odds of getting wet. The water has remained remarkably clear in spite of all the wet weather out there. Fishing picked up the latter part of the week and we enjoyed catching a variety of fish around the river.

Joe, Manolo and Pepe were out with me when the fishing was a challenge, but did catch dinner of snapper, mackerel and trout. It was a great day to be on the water. Joe Senneville and Crystal Mutchler went out to celebrate Joe's birthday. Of course, Crystal caught the most and biggest fish! She ended up with a 20" black drum, 21" redfish, several snapper and an assortment of other fish to end up the day. Joe caught his share of the variety, including a grouper and snook. Happy Birthday Joe!

We again found redfish on the shallow flats. A few large schools have been cruising the flats with the higher tides, but have been very hesitant in biting. We found a school of more than a hundred reds this week, but they were not in the mood to eat. Move slowly when fishing the shallows as you never know when you might happen on a school of reds. Gold spoons, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are good choices to use out there.

Trout was on the slower side for us this week. There is so much bait around, it's hard to get them to feed on anything else. We found lots of bait around Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island. Fish around the glass minnows whenever you happen on them. Snook fishing around the inlet has been mostly at night or on the moving tides. There are snook around the docks and mangroves of the river also. Fish early for a chance around these areas. Joe coaxed one to hit his top water lure in the shallows around some of the docks.

There are still some nice snapper around the channel edges and docks. Crystal caught two keeper mangroves and a couple of short muttons from under the docks this week. Around the bridges, the anglers have caught snapper, croakers and sheephead. The mackerel are still around the inlet, but not as frenzied as last week. We did see some bonito crashing bait out there today. The surf has been producing mostly whiting and some croakers and mackerel. We had a lot of fun out this week and will be out there again looking for the action around the river.

Tip of the Week:
Keep plenty of water on the boat during the summer months. Drink lots of liquids to begin the day and continue throughout your adventure. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated as the sun beats down on you and the water. Make sure all your passengers do the same! Have fun on the water this summer.

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Crystal with her black drum and redfish. Joe with a snook he caught on a top water lure and Manolo with a Spanish mackerel this week on the Indian River.

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

[fishtales]

July 24, 2008

INSHORE:

Some days I am truly amazed at the fantastic area we have to fish here on the Treasure Coast. Over the past twenty-six years that I have lived and fished along the Indian River, I am thankful for the abundant resources that we are so fortunate to enjoy. This past week, we have seen redfish schools that you could never find ten or fifteen years ago. Large and small schools of redfish have been roaming the flats this month. Watching a school of a hundred fish tailing and feeding in a foot or two of water bring the excitement level up rapidly. It's been a great week on the water!

We had found a few schools last week and when Frank Miller arrived at the ramp, we were in for some great fishing opportunities. After fishing a couple areas, we finally came up on a large school of reds. Keeping our distance so not to send them running, Frank hooked up on four reds and boated three of them. All upper slot or larger....he ended up with a 26" - 28" - 29" tally for the morning. Earlier in the week, found them once again feeding on the flats and a 27" beauty to the boat. Tom Hull joined me later in the week and we found them feeding in less than a foot of water with tails everywhere. While waiting for the tides to rise a few more inches to allow us to get close enough for a cast, Tom hooked up on a large jacks that was riding along with the school. We also boated a 29" redfish to make for a successful day. It was a wonderful week out there!

Snook fishing has continued to produce fish at night around the jetties, bridges and docks. We boated a few shorts around some of the docks to the south of Fort Pierce on DOA TerrorEyz and lost a couple nice hits under the docks. There are still tarpon around the inlet and down around Big and Little Mud Creeks. I had two nice tarpon hits on the DOA Big Fish lures this week. They look very realistic in the water. Bridges have continued to hold snapper, some croakers and sheephead. Bonito and Spanish mackerel still chase the bait around the inlet and turning basin of Fort Pierce. Beaches have been giving up whiting, mackerel and some bluefish. It's a great time of year to be fishing the Indian River!

Tip of the Week: Watch around you when you are fishing and see what is happening. Fish are feeding on the prevalent baits right now. If you watch, you see mullet, greenies and lots of pinfish. Change things up with your lures to match what they are feeding on. With all the pinfish and pigfish out there on the flats, try a DOA TerrorEyz. It has worked for us this week on snook and redfish when they wouldn't look at a shrimp. Don't be afraid to put down that favorite lure and try something different!

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

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Frank Miller caught these three redfish while fishing a large redfish school on the Indian River in Fort Pierce.

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Tom Hull found this big jack cruising along with the redfish this week.

[mosquitocoast]

Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast, August 2008

Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters

The summer heat is on, as fishing opportunities kick in along the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida. As long as the summer squalls stay away and the Labrador currents do not cool inshore waters too much, fishing along the beaches and in the inlets will remain equally as hot.

Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jumbo jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve, as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember snook are out of season, so if you target them, handle and release them with care. In and around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structure. If snook are of interest, Sebastian Inlet is the place to be.

The Labrador currents are pushing in right on cue, cooling down bottom temperatures and the bottom fishing in some areas along Florida’s east coast. With average bottom water temperatures in the mid sixties, finding warmer water is the key to locating fish. Look for the blue water bite to improve along the inshore reefs and wrecks of Chris Benson, 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish, dolphin, black fin tuna, and cobia serving as the primary species, along with an occasional wahoo or sailfish. This is also the time of year when cooler waters sometimes push the giant manta rays in close to the shoals off the Cape, bringing cobia with them. Further off shore, the Gulf Stream typically moves in closer making tuna a possibility for smaller boats working in the areas of anchored shrimp boats and thermals, and as long as the summer squalls stay away, running to the other side of the stream isn’t out of the question.

Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target them utilizing smaller top-water plugs and soft swimbaits like the D.O.A. Bait Buster. Once the sun starts to grow hot, the top-water bite will shut down, and bait becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish in close to docks and other structure adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds, terns and cormorants, joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these speedsters. Heavy rainfall has elevated water levels in the Lagoon, so work the areas of moving water like culverts and spillways an up close against the shoreline for snook feeding on small minnows, and redfish feeding on fiddler crabs. Last but not least, look for pompano schools holding in the shadows of the causeway bridges. Fish jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along the deeper edges and drop-offs.

In closing, I would like to thank all of you who enjoy angling on Florida’s east central coast for your courteous and respectful treatment of the resource, other anglers, and the sport, and as always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me.

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
captain@irl-fishing.com
407-366-8085
407-416-1187 on the water
866-790-8081 toll free

[Fishbuster]

After a little time away in the relatively cool N.C. mountains, I resumed fishing this Saturday, 7/26. I fished 14 to 17 miles west of New Pass with Marty Kimball and his three young daughters, Haley, Cheyeynne and Michaela. The girls had a lot of fun using live shrimp to catch and release a bunch of big ladyfish to 30 inches. We also caught a keeper lane snapper and released a few mutton snapper that were just short of keeper size, red grouper to 19 inches, gag grouper shorts, grunts and porgies.

Monday morning brought rain and I had to delay by about an hour and a half my fishing excursion with Deitnar and Andrea Binkowska, daughter Anna-Lena and young son, David. The Binkowskas were visiting from Germany and one thing David definitely wanted to do on his visit was to go fishing in the Gulf. We waited for the first round of storms to pass and there appeared to be a window for us to get some fishing done, but the weather was unsettled all morning and we couldn’t help but encounter a little more rain. Still, the group had fun at the reefs, about six miles offshore, fishing with live shrimp. We caught ten keeper mangrove snapper to 12 inches and released lots of red and gag grouper shorts. David also got to feel a few big fish on the line, but they broke off before he could reel them in.

Tuesday was another unsettled day so I stayed close-in again when I fished with Doug Grieble, his eight-year-old daughter, Cera, and Dennis Baker and his three children, Rhys, Logan and Seth. Cera managed, with a little help, to pull in a 27 inch gag grouper, definitely the catch of the day! (see photo) The group also caught ten nice mangrove snapper to 14 ½ inches, along with some grunts. We released four gag shorts, as well as three goliath grouper to about 35 pounds. We used shrimp for all except for the goliaths, which were caught on blue runners.

I had a good morning of inshore fishing Wednesday with Chris Columbo and son, Matt and Mark Tagano and son, Anthony. We fished with live shrimp in central Estero Bay. Chris caught a 24 inch redfish, then lost a larger one when it wrapped around the anchor line right by the boat. His young son, Matt, outdid him by half an inch with a 24 ½ inch red, and he also caught a 17 inch black drum. Anthony caught a big sheepshead at 19 inches, along with one smaller one, and Mark landed a half dozen keeper mangrove snapper.

Thursday, Jose Garcia and family and friends fished 17 miles west of New Pass with me. We did well with snapper and caught fourteen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, two keeper lane snapper and seven yellowtail snapper to 16 inches. We also caught two large grunts and released small snapper, gag grouper shorts and a twenty-pound goliath grouper.

[fishtales]

August 1, 2008

INSHORE:

Continued hot and muggy weather around the Treasure Coast this week has bought thunderstorms and rain around the area most afternoons. Fishing early or late in the day will give you the best opportunities out on the river. It's hot out there, so drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.

Redfish was our main target all week. Earlier in the week, the schools continued to feed on the shallow flats and we had some great success. The schools left the flats by the end of the week, but should appear any day again. Soft plastics, like DOA TerrorEyz or shrimp work best if fished along the bottoms slowly on the flats. Live pinfish work when nothing else will get them to eat. Gary Cruz was out with me earlier in the week with son, Devin, and nephew, Shane Murphy. They guys combined for a total of seven redfish in the 27" to 30" range. By midweek, the schools had left the shallows for deeper waters. Joe Vennarini and Debbie Stange each caught a snook this week. Debbie also caught a huge ladyfish that day. Joe broke in his new rod and reel with a big jack crevalle. Bob Bergen and Charlie Norburn joined me to seek out some redfish. It was a fun week on the river, even if the reds had moved out of the flats. We will get them next trip!

There are still lots of snook around the inlet, docks and bridges of the inlet. Night fishing and fishing the tides has been good with live baits. There are a few Spanish mackerel around the river and I have seen some bonito in the turning basin. Not the frenzy of a few weeks ago, but you can still find some out there feeding. Trout fishing was slower this week. Your best chance is at first light with top water lures. There are so many pinfish and pigfish out there, it's hard to tempt one with anything else right now. Some of the best action has been for snapper around the channel edges and structure. The sizes have been decent and make a great meal. Surf fishing has been mostly some whiting along the beaches.

Tip of the Week:
There are a number of things to remember with fishing this time of year. Fluids, sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are all important to keeping safe in the hot temperatures and high sunlight you face out there. Prepare before you get on the water and continue taking in fluids and using sunscreen throughout the day. It can make your day enjoyable and reduce the risks of too much sun.

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

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Gary, Devin and Shane with seven redfish that ranged from 27" - 30"

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Joe and Debbie with a couple Indian River catches this week.

[fishtales]

ugust 7, 2008

INSHORE:

We enjoyed fishing schools of redfish once again this week. It's a sight in itself to see anywhere from fifty to one-hundred redfish out in front of the boat. We had some great fun and won a few battles fishing the flats of the Treasure Coast! It might be hot and muggy, but it's a great time of year to fish the Indian River.

While fishing with Steve Rial and his buddy, we ran into Charlie Norburn and his wife on the flats. Both boats ended up fishing a nice school of reds and everyone came out a winner! Charlie's wife, Linda, caught her very first redfish and can't wait to get out fishing again. The fish have been moving so any flat around the river could be holding them on any given day. From the Moorings south to Bear Point, you could find a school out there feeding. Most times, they have been very shallow so watch and see what is going on around you. DOA TerrorEyz has been the go to bait recently for redfish. DOA shrimp or CAL grub tails will also give you an advantage when fishing for redfish.

Snook have been holding around the jetties, docks and bridges around the river. A good night bite on the moving tides continues to keep anglers busy with catch and release snook. The trout bite continued to be slow this past week. They are gorging themselves on pin and pigfish, so try the TerrorEyz around the grass flats this time of year. Lots of good size snapper reported along the channel edges this week. Greg Schroeder reported he is catching lots of nice snapper. The surf has held whiting, jacks, Spanish mackerel and snook along the beaches. Can't beat a good ol' silver spoon this time of year!

Tip of the Week: Patience when fishing the shallow flats can really pay off if you take the time to watch the water and learn to read what is going on around you. It's good time of year to get out and see what is happening around you. Calm mornings mean that you can see just about anything moving on the flats. Redfish can sit and feed quietly, but you can find them if you are patient and watch. Noting where fish are feeding can help you on future adventures. Redfish like to feed in the shallow, sandy flats and sometimes are in less than a foot of water. It's fun, exciting and rewarding fishing!

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

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Some of this weeks action on the Indian River. Note that DOA TerrorEyz paid of on several occasions!

[Capt. Charles Wright]

September 08’ Forecast - Snookin’ in the Everglades

The Dog Days of Summer were dog-gone good. The July/August period is one of my personal favorites. However, September and October offer up some of the best fishing of the year.

Through out the summer we have been playing with juvenile tarpon. The juvies are still plentiful, but by fall, they have grown up to become teenagers and young adults … full of fire and energy. Most importantly, unlike teenagers, they also become fairly predictable in their feeding patterns. Tarpon can be very finicky, so September and October can be a refreshing reprieve for tarpon angler. They actually eat regularly.

Deep in the back country shallows the water can seem almost stagnant. While it is not, the water is the warmest of the year. This is ideal conditions for our “poonettes“. The tarpon has a modified swim bladder that allows it to supplement its oxygen uptake. To do they must roll on the surface and “gulp” air. Warm water has a significantly lower oxygen concentration than cooler water and the tarpon roll regularly. This make it easy to pattern their movements and get a fly in front of them. The “Black Death” fly was the “ticket” in the August. Although, I would suspect that any dark pattern would work well. This fishing should hold strong into early October.

September brings in fall and fall brings in the greatest concentration of redfish of the year. Still readily taking top waters on the bars, your best bet, however, is something sub-service. The will be lots of bait around. So much so, sometimes, that is about all you can get them to eat on the outside.

The near shore structure will still be holding permit schools. While a live crab is the bait of choice, this time of year the will run down a fly or a jig readily.



The end of October means a bit of change. The water begins to cool; we may see a cool front or two. Cobia, Spanish mackerel, blue fish, speckled trout all begin to show up at their winter residence.

September and October in the Everglades National Park mean great fishing for all species. But nothing is better than the snookin’. The snook have all spawned by now and have lost their “rut” tendencies. Now is the time for them to start fattening up for the winter time. The fish that you catch in September and October will, in general, be pounds lighter than those in the summer. However, they are bad! A 15 lb snook in the fall, puts a 20+ fish in the summer to shame. They are aggressive, aerobatic and hungry.



September 1st marks the first of the fall harvest season, so there will be more boats on the water than we are used to. But after the hoorah of the first two weeks, things get back to normal. The kids are back in school, so mid-week we anglers have this wonderful National Park to ourselves until the weekend.

Top waters, twitch baits, jigs and flies; all are good in the fall. Sight fishing is excellent. Live bait is plentiful. However, the kayak fishing is outstanding. Most weekends I prefer the Yak Attack kayak fishing trips. We access fish that others simply can not get to and we are usually way out of the way of all “weekend warriors”.



I say that “tongue-in-cheek”. We are spoiled here in the Park as we can often make a 20 mile run down the coast and see but a few boats. In terms of fishing and boating pressure, the busiest days on the water here are like a Wednesday night in most other places in the State. I guess we are spoiled.

October also kicks off our camping season. Each weekend we venture deep into the Park for over-nighter’s. Outfitted with a 40,000 BTU four-burner stove, 140,000 BTU side burner, three supper coolers, excellent groceries and refreshments, individual tents, six-inch air mattresses, the Yak Attack and six outfitted fishing kayaks, we have a serious good time. You are welcome to fish as hard, as long and as often as you care to. Although, I do suggest that you not miss the mid-afternoon nap. The trips really are something special that the whole family can enjoy.

As side note, we are re-working www.ChokoloskeeCharters.com after 12 years. Look for the re-release of the site in October. As well, keep a eye out for the release of www.EvergladesFlyFishing.com

Tight Lines!!

Capt. Charles Wright
www.ChokoloskeeCharters.com
www.EvergladesKayakFishing.com
239-695-9107

[fishtales]

August 14, 2008

INSHORE:

It's great to live and fish along the Treasure Coast! Fishing was a little on the slow side this week, but we had fun out there on the water anyway. Early mornings continue to hold the best opportunities for fishing. The weather has been fantastic if you get out and back before the afternoon storms roll into the area. Continued summer patterns will give you the opportunity to have some great fishing weather.

Fishing was on the slow side out there this week. Redfish were on the flats one day and disappeared the next. Trout fishing has remained on the slow side. The summer doldrums have really kicked in! We did manage some short snook on several days around the mangroves and docks. Kimberly Kolz caught hers from under a dock in Fort Pierce, while Adrian Lusardi lost a couple nice hits at the same dock. There was a definite lack of bait around the flats. Most of the anglers fishing this week were after snapper along the channel edges. I had several good reports of nice sized snapper from under some of the docks and north along the channel at Harbor Branch. The southerly winds kept us from enjoying fishing south of Fort Pierce on some of the days we were out this week.

Bridges have had some snapper, sheephead and a few reports of flounder. The jetties at night have continued to hold snook, jacks and tarpon. I had a few good reports of pompano along some of the beach areas on shrimp or sand fleas. Brennan Smith was out one day and caught several nice kingfish right along the beach. Live bait is the best way to catch them right now.

Tip of the Week: Snook season is fast approaching! It's that time of year to break out the trusty ol' snook gear and make sure it is armed and ready for action. Checking line, rods and reels are essential to being prepared for that opening night. It pays to get things ready now so you won't be running around crazily trying to get prepared. Oh....and it's also a good idea to check that snook permit and make sure it's still good. Have fun this snook season!

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

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A few shots of fishing the flats this week.

[Fishbuster]

The first part of the week brought lots of rain, and not just the familiar afternoon thunderstorms; it rained early mornings, into late evenings. It was mid-week before I got out fishing. Wednesday, 8/13, I fished Estero Bay with Robert & Roberta Dulberg and their children, Daniel, ten, and Rebecca, six. Rebecca was a little leery of boats in general, but quickly adapted and had a great time--especially when she got to see a porpoise and a manatee close-up.

The group caught two keeper mangrove snapper and released smaller snapper, sheepshead, cravalle jack, trout and ladyfish. Robert caught two nice redfish--one, a bull at 28 1/2 inches, was released, and the other at 25 1/2 inches went home for dinner!

Robert and Daniel fished again with me Thursday, joined by Robert’s brother, Mark, and his children. This time we headed near-shore to the reefs and fished there as long as we could, but it was a little sloppy out there and more than Daniel could handle after a while. So we eventually moved in to fish off the channel. We ended up with a flounder and five keeper mangrove snapper and we released smaller snapper.

Kevin Port, son Jake, and friends Dave and John fished with me 18 miles west of New Pass, on Friday morning. Using live shrimp, we caught over a hundred mangrove snapper that were just short of keeper size for federal waters so we had to release those, along with some big ladyfish. But we did catch five keeper mangrove snapper, three keeper yellowtail snapper, three Spanish mackerel to 24 inches and porgies.

The photo shown is of mother-daughter anglers Kay and Julia Ware with a red grouper caught on shrimp and released on a recent near-shore trip to the artificial reefs.

[capt_ron]

Mother Nature’s Wrath

Fishing has not been the thing to do in the past few days. I started off several days ago preparing the boat for a little Tropical Storm called Fay. She was supposed to move through on Tuesday and throw her weight around a little. She came, but she didn’t leave - at least not quick enough. It is now Thursday and she’s still spinning and sending rain and wind our way.

The boat survived the winds just fine and I untied everything and got the Finding Equilibrium ready for her next fishing trip. Now, the weather won’t clear to make it possible and when it does, the whole fishing scene will be different.

I drove to Kelly Park on Merritt Island, where I normally ramp the boat, only to find the dock completely under water. (See picture of ramp, dock is right in the middle, but underwater.) Water in the Banana River is completely over the seawall and spilling into the park and near the pavilions. The river literally looks like the ocean with huge waves pounding against the land.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/TS%20Fay%20Kelly%20Park%201rs.jpg

What this means for the fishing is still unknown. The fish will definitely have a lot of new hang oust available to them and you will probably need to do some prospecting to find them. You will still look for the usual suspects like bait pods, drop offs, points, etc. The problem is they will all be in different places than before the storm. Just be patient and look for areas similar to where you found fish before and you should locate them again.

The picture below shows the entrance to Kelly Park basin getting pounded by high waves and wind. The water is spilling over the seawall and into the Park.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/TS%20Fay%20Kelly%20Park%202rs.jpg
I have seen both good and bad fishing following a storm, so I don’t really know what to predict. You just have to get out there and give it a try. Another thing I would mention is the safety factor. There will be lots of floating debris like logs, dock parts, etc. Keep your eye on the water and avoid such hazards. Some of them will be submerged and in areas you don’t expect so use utmost caution when on the water.

Kids Fishing Clinic

Right now I am just hoping everything clears up so we can proceed with a schedule Hook Kids on Fishing event this coming Saturday. We have over 200 kids preregistered for the event. Each participant will receive instruction in 6 different areas of boating and fishing. They include Safety and Rod and Reel Handling, Conservation, Knot Tying, Rigging and Tackle, Casting, and Boating Safety. All kids receive a free rod and reel and the last hour is devoted to hands on fishing. Plenty of volunteers will be watching and helping the kids around the water. If you are free on Saturday August 23, 2008, come on by Kelly Park on Merritt Island. The event runs from 9:00 to 11:00 with registration at 8:30. All this is assuming the water receded and Kelly Park becomes useable by Saturday.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

[fishtales]

August 28, 2008

INSHORE:

Don't expect that ground to dry up just yet.....looks like another storm is out there brewin' and could very well head this way again. The river is stained brown with all the runoff freshwater flooding all through the Treasure Coast. Finding clean water will be difficult for a while longer, but the fish have to eat and if you try different areas you can still be successful out on the river. In spite of water conditions, we enjoyed some great catching this week!

I had R J Swinford, Joe Senneville and Cory Sullivan on the boat this week and we went out in search of some fishing action in the Fort Pierce area. After trying several usually good areas, we finally found fish gathered along the mangroves in a deep cut of water. We never had to look for another spot that day. They guys caught twenty some short snook up to 24", four slot redfish up to 26" and a number of snapper to make for a great day of fishing. It was steady action once we found where the fish were lurking.

Cory caught three of the redfish himself, while R J boated the other one. They all shared in the snook and snapper action. Live pinfish and shrimp on popping corks helped locate our fishing spot and we finally called it a day when we used up all our bait and an afternoon storm was working towards us. Try around the islands and along the channel edges. Live shrimp and pinfish are working great for now. DOA TerrorEyz has also been good for artificials. Top water lures will be the choice lures at first light.

Snapper action continues to be good along the channel edges. Some up to 13 pounds have been reported this week north of Fort Pierce. Snook action around the spillways of Taylor Creek have been producing some good sized fish. The jetties have also been a good spot to fish for linesiders. Snook season will re-open on September 1st, so get prepared for a lot of anglers out at midnight Sunday night into Monday.

Tip of the Week:

Take a quick minute and check out your navigation light on the boat along with your trailer lights. A lot of anglers will be heading for the ramps Sunday night for the opening of snook season and the Labor Day Weekend. Make sure all your lights are in good working order to keep yourself and others safe with the additional boating traffic this weekend. Keep safe this weekend and good luck fishing!

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

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Cory Sullivan with two of his redfish and R J Swinford added his redfish to the days catch....

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 8/18, as Tropical Storm Fay approached and the meteorologists speculated as to her course and strength, the winds began to pick up and the seas churned in that angry way that they do just before a storm. It was time to batten down the hatches…literally. We secured the boats and turned our attention toward securing our property. Fay passed over us in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, with some pretty hefty wind-gusts of up to 65 mph. We were fortunate to maintain electrical power but thousands in our county and neighboring counties did not. Fay was a rainmaker too and flooding was reported in many areas. Lee County schools closed Tuesday, one day after beginning their new school-year, and Collier County, due to begin school Tuesday, deferred its opening. Needless to say, fishing was the last thing on anyone’s mind and Fay’s effects precluded fishing all of that week. Even the trip we had scheduled for Monday, 8/25, deferred until Tuesday, in order to allow the Gulf waters additional time to calm. Still, we feel blessed, fortunate to have dodged another potential bullet during this hurricane season.

On Tuesday, 8/26, first day offshore after the storm, I fished with Reiner and Lisa Neumann, their son, Steven, and uncle, Dennis Hill. We had a good morning of fishing with live shrimp in 35 feet out of New Pass, where we caught twenty keeper mangrove snapper (four limits) ranging in size from 12 to 15 inches, one keeper yellowtail snapper, a 14 inch keeper triggerfish, two Spanish mackerel keepers at 23 inches and 25 inches, and a keeper red grouper at 21 inches. We released two mutton snapper to 15 ¾ inches, just a quarter inch shy of keeper-size.

The photo shown is of angler, Robert Dulberg, with a 28 ½ inch bull red, caught on shrimp and released on a recent inshore trip.

[fishtales]

September 5, 2008

INSHORE:

Instead of rigging rods, backing down a ramp or drooling over new tackle.......here I am watching Hanna dump rain and wind on us, wondering where Ike might just decide to land and wishing an untimely death to Josephine out there in the far distance. That's a far cry from fishing, but welcome to September in Florida. We have more wind and rain coming this way and many are more concerned about Hurricane preparedness than fishing. Fishing will just have to wait for a few days......

Snook season quietly opened this year and there were some hardy anglers out this past week. Some did have success for their braving the windy weather. Live shrimp, pinfish or mullet was the bait of choice for most. The spillways, bridges and jetties were the best options to fish for snook this week. Feather jigs, DOA TerrorEyz and diving plugs will also be good artificials when fishing for snook. Try the DOA Big Fish Lure at night around the jetties. It looks like the real thing out there.

Flats fishing was tough due to the dirty water conditions and winds whipping across the shallows. Travis and Corrine fished with me on Saturday and while we caught fish, it was slow out there on the water. A few reports of trout and redfish around the spoil islands on live bait and some snapper around the channels, but not a week to brag about for a change. As these storms move away from us, the fishing will get back to normal again.

The fall mullet run has been going on during all this weather and the river is loaded with bait right now. Look for snook fishing to improve as water conditions get better and flats fishing should pick up also as the water clears up.........some day!

Tip of the Week:

If you are fishing this week or next, be aware of the weather around you and don't take unnecessary chances. Conditions can change rapidly and tropical storm winds or rain can move in quickly. Plan a safe fishing trip if you head out on the 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

Wishing to go fishing!

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[capt_ron]

The barramundi is a cousin of our beloved snook, and pound for pound I guarantee you the fight is as good or better. Why do I mention this, because last week I got to visit Osceola Outback Adventures near St. Cloud to experience some barramundi fishing on my own. Besides me the anglers were my grandson Robert, Capt. Tom Carver, Capt. Tom Van Horn, Charlie McCullough and Mark Blyth. We had not been out of the car a minute before Capt. Van Horn had hooked the first fish.

From then on it seemed like somebody had one on all the time. Before the day was over we had landed over 50 fish in the 9 to 12 pound range. If you ever get a chance to try it, don’t miss it!

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Capt. Byron Hennecy, operator of Osceola Outback Adventures explained that these fish will hit about anytime of the day. In fact he says, “When the water temperature heats up, they seemed to get more active.” We didn’t even start our adventure until around 2:00 in the afternoon - no need to get up before breakfast and start out early. When chasing these barramundi you can sleep in and start at your leisure.

The picture below was captured by Capt. Carver as a barramundi went airborne.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Aerial%20Shotrs.jpg

Another unique characteristic about the fish is their willingness to bite on almost anything. We caught them on topwater, jerk baits, paddle tail plastics, and more. Even the color doesn’t seem to matter, although our guide Joey said he has his best success on a yellow squiggly tail plastic rigged on a silver jig head. In my mind it didn’t seem to matter.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Ron's%20Barramundirs.jpg


If you would like to try your skills on these hard hitting, hard fighting and high jumping barramundi you can contact Capt. Hennecy at 407-908-3216 or email him at byron@osceolaoutback.com. In the meantime check out his website at www.osceolaoutback.com.

Kids Fishing Clinic

The next fishing clinic that I will be involved with is in Punta Gorda, Saturday September 13. It will be held at Fisherman’s Village, starting at 1:30. This event is part of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association annual meeting. If you are in the area come on by and say hi. Heck, we might even put you to work. We are expecting 150 to 200 kids - all of which will learn about fishing and conservation before they hit the water to fish with their new rods and reels which they will receive. Rods and Reels are furnished by Fish Florida Foundation. You can support them by buying a Fish Florida specialty license tag.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

[fishtales]

Take a minute today and remember all the loved ones who gave their lives on 9/11.



September 11, 2008

INSHORE:

As Ike decided to stay south of us, the weather was fantastic for outdoor activities over the past weekend and looks the one approaching will be just as nice. The fishing really on Saturday and Sunday, even though Ike decided to throw some winds at us the past several days to make it harder to get out there. If the forecast is correct, get out some top water lures and head out for a weekend of fishing!

I was delighted to get the opportunity to take out the grandkids this weekend. Grandma Eva and mom, Dena, met me at the ramp with 3 year old, Chloe, and 6 month old, Brody for an adventure on the water. Just remember that pinfish isn't always just for bait. Chloe excitedly reeled in pinfish after pinfish and even caught a catfish in the process. Of course, being a three year old, she was determined to reel every fish in herself and did it like a seasoned angler. There's nothing as rewarding than watching children enjoy a day on the water!

Snook fishing has remained good for those fishing around the inlets, bridges and docks. Some overslots were reported along with shorts and several elusive slots. Live mullet and pinfish has been the bait of choice, but diving plugs and jigs have also worked well around the jetties. Some big snook are out there in the shallows as well. DOA's Big Fish Lure has worked great this time of year. It looks and swims like a mullet and presents an easy target on the flats for many species. A 31" snook exploded on it in three feet of water. I was able to fish south of Fort Pierce and the water is showing good signs of clearing up soon.

Big schools of jacks have moved into the river to wreak havoc on the bait schools. They are easy to spot on calm days and are great fun to catch and release. Some are in the 15 - 20 pound range. The bluefish have also been crashing the bait. There are still some snapper along the channel edges. The trout bite has remained slow for now, but should pick up again soon. Redfish have begun showing back up on the flats as the water begins the slow process of clearing up. Most have been north of Fort Pierce on the flats from Queen's Cove to the Moorings. The surf report has been spotty with all the windy weather lately. Offshore has also been pretty quiet of late. It's a great time of year to be living and fishing around the Treasure Coast.

Tip of the Week:

Once in while, I manage to get one of those days to just get out and enjoy the weather and water. Not so much concentration on fishing as relaxing and watching everything around you. The many birds and fish provide a natural serenade of sights and sounds to help soothe your soul and mind. It brings back the memories of many fishing adventures on the water. There's a lot going on in this world we live in, so once in a while it's good to get out on the water to ease the tensions. It might not change a lot, but is gives you a break from the news, TV and routine. Plan on getting out soon!

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

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The DOA Big Fish Lure fooled this 31" snook on the Fort Pierce flats....

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Chloe's fishing adventure with the family!

[administrator]

News Editor: Below and attached is a news release from The Billfish Foundation regarding the recent seizures of tons -- in the double digits -- of illegally harvested dorado. TBF and its scientists have been working with citizens in the Baja Sur region since 2002 in conservation efforts to protect its fisheries.



My best, pete j. -- johnson communications



---------------------



For immediate release


Mexican “fishing mafia” tagged for three illegal catches

Conservation efforts of The Billfish Foundation in Baja region beginning to pay off



FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., USA ---- Community based enforcement efforts in Baja California Sur, Mexico, supported by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) through the Center for Marine Protection and funded by the recreational fishing license fees paid to FONMAR, have resulted in three recent seizures of vessels carrying multi-tons of illegally harvested dorado.

On August 13, a commercial vessel from Mazatlan was seized in waters north of Loreto with 1,300 kilos (nearly 1.5 tons) of dorado (also known as mahi mahi, dolphinfish or goldenmakrele), a species strictly relegated for sportfishing and not commercial long-lining or netting. Local FONMAR agents said the crew was filleting the illegal fish at sea.

Then over the weekend of Sept. 5, two boats owned by commercial longline king Henry Collard were seized and charged with illegally harvesting dorado while using a shark permit in Magdelena Bay. The two vessels were carrying 14 tons of dorado along with several tons of shark.

News reports in the local La Paz newspaper El Sudcaliforniano were critical of the illicit activities described as “the fishing mafia” and commercial “pirates” which are often funded by the Mexican federal government. The report said it’s been happening for years.

Collard, a prominent representative of commercial fishing interests, was reported to have threatened fisheries enforcement agents that he “is a personal friend of Ramon Corral and you can’t do this to me!”

TBF President Ellen Peel said this statement does not do much for Corral’s already tainted image by accusations of wrong doing by his own CONAPESCA personnel.

“Corral is the head of Mexico’s fisheries agency CONAPESCA and has been an unyielding supporter of the new regulation NOM-029 that attempted to allow the “incidental” harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico’s 24 year-old conservation zones.”

The news report also said the CONAPESCA boarding party, received a call from senior officials of Mexico City, and opted to withdraw from the arrest site, leaving the responsibility for the inspection staff of FONMAR. The news reporter said the FONMAR personnel were not intimidated by the threats of the crew of the seized boat.

Investigations are also underway by U.S. and Mexican officials regarding the transportation of hundreds of tons of the illegal dorado catches from the Port of Guaymas into Arizona through Nogales, and into California through Tijuana.

TBF President Ellen Peel said, “Apparently the recent interest of U.S. enforcement officials in the import of illegally caught dorado has persuaded CONAPESCA that they need to concede TBF’s position that there is no basis in Mexican law to allow bycatch in the conservation zones and enforce the federal fisheries law.”

Peel said the foundation was instrumental in getting FONMAR established locally in Baja Sur in 2005 so angler’s license fees go to directly assisting conservation and protection of the fish resources in the region. Small panga patrol boats have been purchased from the FONMAR money. As a result local fishermen are reporting illegal acts to the FONMAR officials.

Dr. Russell S. Nelson, TBF’s Chief Scientist, said the increased enforcement against illegal fishing activities in and around the Baja Conservation Triangle has been the first priority for funding FONMAR, the trust created in 2005 by TBF and its Mexican conservation partners.

Working with governments worldwide The Billfish Foundation advances the conservation of billfish and associated species to improve the health of oceans and economics. Since 2002, TBF has been working in the “triangle” an area bounded by Los Cabos, La Paz and Magdelena (Mag) Bay in the southern Baja peninsula.

“There are many loop-holes in the May 15 NOM-029 regulation also known as ‘Shark Norma,’ “said Nelson. “It dramatically and destructively affects the fishing resources in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) and the millions of tourist dollars that support sportfishing such as catch and release for striped marlin in the region.”

Full details of the story will follow in next month’s edition of the TBF’s Billfish Magazine and on the TBF web site at Billfish.org.

To contact Ms. Peel call her at 800-438-8247 ex. 108 or via e-mail at ellen_peel@billfish.org . For Dr. Nelson please e-mail him at DrRSNNC@aol.com or by phone at 561-449-9637. .

Founded over two decades ago, The Billfish Foundation with headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., USA, is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations around the world. TBF's comprehensive network of members and supporters includes anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs, and sportfishing and tourism businesses. By coordinating efforts and speaking with one voice, the organization works for solutions that are good for billfish, not punitive to recreational anglers and good for the local economy.

###



Editors: For the above newspaper references please see: http://www.oem.com.mx/elsudcaliforniano/notas/n842382.htm and http://www.oem.com.mx/elsudcaliforniano/notas/ns844540.htm



9/12/2008



TBF PR Counsel/contact: Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, Inc.

Scottsdale, Ariz., USA

480-951-3654 (ph) 480-951-0040 (fax)

JohnsonCom@aol.com (e-mail)








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Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.

[fishtales]

September 18, 2008

INSHORE:

Mother Nature sure dealt us a great week of fishing weather. Winds inshore were mild most days and we had some fantastic fun out on the water. Fish were in the mood to bite and the water clarity has continued to improve, especially south of Fort Pierce. Looks like this weekend the forecast calls for more of the same conditions, so plan on fishing and enjoying the sunshine!

I was out scouting a couple days and found snook, jacks and bluefish around both the river and along the surf. Large schools of jacks are roving the water and can provide some great fun out there. Snook have continued to hit around the jetties, bridges and docks of the area. The best bite has been the outgoing tides. DOA TerrorEyz, shallow running Baitbusters and the Big Fish Lure has been the best producing artificials along with top water lures. Live mullet or pinfish are the preferred live bait. Redfish have been hitting around the inlet and docks this week as well. The bait has flooded into the river and the hungry predators have followed it.

I also had the pleasure of having Will Whitehead and Ty Fisher on the boat this week. I could tell right off that it was gonna be one of those competitive days. We found jacks, snook, redfish, flounder and grouper as we fished the area. The guys caught a number of snook, a couple of nice slot reds and a host of other fish. We lost a couple big snook and had several big grouper break us off. It was a great day out there with wonderful weather and hungry fish.

Today, I ventured down to the beach to see what is happening out there in the surf. Anything that resembles a mullet will catch you some fish right now. The trough along the beach was loaded with snook, jacks and bluefish. I ended up with one slot snook (released) and lots of jacks and bluefish. I was using a DOA Big Fish Lure and the fish ended up tearing it up by the time I was finished. Lots of fun in the surf this week!

Tip of the Week:

With the fall mullet run in full force, look to find which of your lures will best imitate a wounded mullet. The fish are keying in on the bait schools and will attack anything that looks like an easy meal. Top water, Baitbusters, etc will get you the strikes. It wasn't long ago that the fish were gorging on pinfish, but now it's mullet time! Match your lures to the bait and you will have better success out on the 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

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Will Whitehead with a couple of his days catch this week. Even a barracuda couldn't resist the DOA Big Fish Lure.

[Fishbuster]

We no sooner got rid of Tropical Storm Fay’s effects when Hurricane Gustav threatened the Gulf coast. We were again fortunate, much more so than the folks in New Orleans were…although, they too are counting their blessings after a small, last minute change in course saved them from the worst case scenario. But our offshore waters felt the effects even here in SW FL, with lots of wind, some rain, heavy surf and high seas. Fishing was not an option for another week or so, into the Labor Day weekend. Monday, skies cleared, but seas remained rough, even into Tuesday, 9/2, so I fished the backwaters Tuesday with Bill & Terry Major, their daughter and son-in-law. Fishing was fair in the bay but with so much fresh water, probably not as good as it would usually be this time of year. We released a 22 inch snook and sheepshead, all caught on live shrimp. Even live shrimp were in short supply, due to the shrimp boats being unable to get out in rough seas. But we had a good time catching and releasing.

And, a few more words to say about local fishing recently: "Fay, Gustav, Hanna, Ike, and slow-season! Although we were very fortunate to have few serious effects of the storms, they did disrupt fishing with their fringe effects that included gusty winds, high seas, rain and fresh water influx. Add to that mix the slowest of all seasons in SW Florida and the result doesn't add up to a lot of time on the water.

On the bright side, with October’s page nearly ready to be showing on the calendar, many of our seasonal residents have been calling to arrange fishing trips. This week, I finally have a few trips to report. After waiting for the winds and seas to clam down from a breezy start to the week, I fished Thursday, 9/25, with Roger & Donna Briehqcek. It was still pretty rough way offshore, but we managed to fish in about 40 feet out of New Pass, where it was a bit sloppy but tolerable. We caught five keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper lane snapper and a 23 inch Spanish mackerel there, and we released lots of gag and red grouper shorts, along with a small mutton snapper. We moved to a spot closer to the beach later in the morning, where we caught and released three oversized redfish, two measuring 28 inches and one 30 inches ( see photo.) We used live shrimp for all.

The fishing was good again on Friday, when I fished with Jeffrey Frost and Brad Bernardy in selected spots from 5 to 18 miles west of New Pass. We caught a nice variety on live shrimp, including two redfish, one over-sized at 28 inches, which we released, and one keeper at 26 ¾ inches, nine Spanish mackerel to 26 inches, whitebone porgies, six keeper lane snapper to 12 inches, three keeper mangrove snapper and a keeper mutton snapper at 16 ½ inches. We released a four-foot sandbar shark, a ten-pound bonito, four undersized mutton snapper, some short yellowtail snapper and gag grouper shorts to 19 inches.

Seas were a little rougher Saturday, but Bill Newhard and Dave Kovach toughed it out for some excellent fishing. We headed out to about 36 miles west of New Pass with live shrimp and Spanish sardines. Dave caught a keeper 21 ½ inch red grouper and we released several more red grouper that were just short of keeper size. We also caught a 16 ½ inch keeper scamp grouper, eight keeper yellowtail snapper to 15 inches, a couple dozen keeper lane snapper, a half dozen keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, triggerfish and a mess of grunts. We released three sharpnose sharks, all about 3 ½ feet long, along with lots of smaller mangs, yellowtail and grouper. We also saw three schools of peanut-dolphin (also called chicken-dolphin and mahi-mahi). Those were about 18 inches long and they surrounded the boat. We’d have loved to locate their daddies, but with no light due to cloud cover, we were unable to spot any larger ones. All in all, it was a great day of fishing.

[fishtales]

October 2, 2008

INSHORE:

If you haven't been out fishing lately...you are missing some of the best action of the year. Acres of baitfish and lots of hungry fish eaters out there giving chase. It's a fantastic time to live and fish the Treasure Coast! Mild weather conditions have only contributed to the exciting times on the water. We had some great fun out there this week.

It's not too difficult to find areas to fish right now. Look for any of the cleaner water and baitfish and you should find your action waiting on you. We have fished south just about exclusively this week and had some nice catches out there. Sunday, as I was scouting for this weekend, the bite took off on the flats and the redfish, snook, trout and jacks all were in a cooperative mood to eat. All fish were caught in 3 to 4 feet of water.

Tom Hull was down to fish this week and we again headed south of Fort Pierce to try our luck. A few lost top water lures later we switched to jerk baits and found the fish ready and willing to eat again. Lots of trout up to 18" are out there and willing to choke down a soft bait to keep you busy. Jacks are everywhere along with some ladyfish. We also nailed some short snook.....that is until Tom got crushed by a snook on his CAL jerk bait. After a tense battle on light tackle, he coaxed a 31" slot snook boat side. I am sure he said it was his personal best. These fish are following the bait schools and hungry. Watch where the baitfish have gathered and fish the edges for your action.

DOA CAL jerk baits have produced just about all our catches this week. I have been using any colors that tend to resemble mullet or baitfish and having good success on a CAL jighead. Try Arkansas Glow or Silver Mullet colors. We have fished them slow or fast as the bite seems to warrant. We have caught a smorgasbord of different species this week on them. Don't miss out on some of this great fishing action out on the Indian River. Have some fun soon!

Bridges and jetties have produced black drum this week. The surf has yielded whiting and a few pompano with live or dead shrimp. Night anglers are still catching snook around the jetties and bridges on mostly live bait. Enjoy yourself out there!

Tip of the Week:

Check your leader often out there fishing. Fish or structure can fray leaders quickly and if you aren't re-tying as necessary, you might just lose that big fish. Tom was a perfect example this week. He retied his worn leader just prior to hooking up on his slot snook and that enabled him to fight that fish to the boat. Take those few seconds and make sure your gear is ready for action. Sometimes doing little things correctly can lead to bigger things ahead!

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

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Tom Hull in action this week on the Indian River!

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Thanks DOA!!

[ladypamela2]

September 27th, 2008

The Frequent Flyer II crew headed out Port Everglades bright and early this morning with a full day of deep sea fishing ahead of them. There was a local tournament going on and most Lauderdale charter boats were involved in it. We ran 3 miles offshore to fertile grounds with trolling gear set and ready to go. We came across a nice edge in about 700 feet of water and immidiately got a quadruple header of some real nice size mahi - mahi ranging anywhere from 18 - 25 lbs. With trolling gear back in the water the deep line went off. A samll wahoo really started pulling some line. The "wee-hoo" weighed in at 6 lbs.


Daytime swordfishing was next on the list. On the first drop the rod bent over. Captain Paul yelled down to Darin, the mate, "hit the button!" Electric reels are a beautiful thing when the bait is down 1800 feet. No swordfish for the FF II, it was a 14 foot Thresher shark. We still wanted to catch a sword so we made our second drop, waited about 20 minutes and the rod bent over. We couldn't believe our eyes, it was an 11 foot Thresher shark. Thresher sharks are a very rare catch and two back to back is even more unbelieveable. That's the beauty of deep sea sportfishing, you never know what your going to land offshore fishing in Fort Lauderdale.

Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide
LP II

[ladypamela2]

October 4th, 2008

Captain Paul and I loaded up our afternoon trip and headed out Shallow Harbor around 1:15. Right as we got out of Port Everglades, a few live bonitos were ours. Bonitos make great bait, so we dropped some bait hoping to get a bite. We hooked a barracuda right off the bat. Out angler Greg, from Ohio, had never caught a fish in his life. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the teeth on the cuda. Trolling gear was out with strips on the planners as we landed out first kingfish of the day, a solid 10 lb'der. We still had some bonito to spare for bait so we headed to a shipwreck. First few drops didn't do much for us, until our third drop when a monster amberjack ate the bait. We had quite the mixed bag of fish today. Awesome catch!


Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide

[ladypamela2]

October 4th, 2008

Captain Paul and I loaded up our afternoon trip and headed out Shallow Harbor around 1:15. Right as we got out of Port Everglades, a few live bonitos were ours. Bonitos make great bait, so we dropped some bait hoping to get a bite. We hooked a barracuda right off the bat. Out angler Greg, from Ohio, had never caught a fish in his life. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the teeth on the cuda. Trolling gear was out with strips on the planners as we landed out first kingfish of the day, a solid 10 lb'der. We still had some bonito to spare for bait so we headed to a shipwreck. First few drops didn't do much for us, until our third drop when a monster amberjack ate the bait. We had quite the mixed bag of fish today. Awesome catch!

Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide

[Fishbuster]

Jim Neswald and Kevin Mysliwiec fished with me in rough conditions Saturday morning, 10/4. Seas were much rougher than predicted but we headed out of New Pass to about 35 feet with a bait-well full of live shrimp. We caught nine keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, half a dozen whitebone porgies to 14 inches and a few Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We released lots of red and gag grouper shorts and three undersized mutton snapper.

Sunday morning, I fished central Estero Bay with John Kelley, Chris McClutthy and Jim Horak. It was windy and the tide was dead-low, outgoing all day, making the fishing a little tough. But we caught three keeper mangrove snapper and a nice whiting and we released cravalle jacks, a 17 inch redfish and smaller whiting.

The photo shown is of angler, Amy McQueen, with a 16 inch mutton snapper, caught on a live shrimp on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.

[capt_ron]

Clear Water Redfish

With all the rain in recent weeks clear water is not always easy to find. The Banana River has been mostly murky and fishing a little on the slow side. On the other hand, there are some clear water pockets in Mosquito Lagoon that are holding schools of redfish. I had the opportunity to fish with my friend and fellow captain Chris Myers in his own stomping grounds and he showed me a bunch of redfish. Parts of the lagoon are murky too, but other areas are clear.

When the water is clear and you can see a whole school of redfish within casting distance the adrenaline really gets to pumping. On this particular trip the reds were willing to eat CAL Shad Tails, Rip Tide 3 inch Mullet, the new Rip Tide Ultimate Minnow, and Captain Chris even tempted one on fly.

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When sight fishing reds you need to make your cast in front of the cruising and tailing fish for best results. In fact, Captain Chris says, “It’s all about accuracy in casting if you want to hook up a lot of fish.” The lesson here--don’t neglect your practice casting before you get on the water. When those feisty reds show up, you need to place a lure in the right place to guarantee a bite and hookup.

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Once hooked, land the fish as quickly as you can, take a photo if you want one, then get the fish back into the water as soon as possible. Cradle the fish with horizontal support at all times and be sure it is resuscitated before releasing.

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If you would like to get in to some spectacular fishing on Mosquito Lagoon give Captain Chris a call at 321-229-2848, email him at cmyers@floridafishinglessons.com, or visit his website at www.floridafishinglessons.com.

Florida Sportsman Fishing Shows

There are two more Florida Sportsman Fishing Shows left this Fall. I will be manning the booth for the Florida Guides Association at both the Jacksonville and Orlando shows. The Jacksonville show will be held on November 8th and 9th and the Orlando how will be the following weekend on November 15 and 16.

Come by the booth and say hi if you are in the area.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley

[ladypamela2]

October 7th, 2008

Captain Paul and Darin set sail aboard the Frequent Flyer II this morning for a full day of fishing. They nailed the kings, reached their limit, then hit up a few wrecks and caught 4 amberjacks. Captain Paul spotted a log floating a few miles offshore and only hoped what was hanging around it. As they came up to it, they ran into a school of mahi - mahi and landed 9 nice ones. Fishing only got better, too. The FF II landed a double header blackfin tuna and as the second one ate a 4 1/2 ft. silky shark ate it and put up a great fight. Lines went right back in the water and a barracuda ate along with an arctic bonito.

Today was non-stop action.

Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide

[fishtales]

October 9, 2008

INSHORE:

Weather this week along the Treasure Coast has been wet and windy on a few days, but great fishing conditions most of this week on the Indian River. A great weekend is ahead of us and with all the baitfish around the river, it should be a fantastic time on the water. We have spent most of the week between the Power Plant and the Fort Pierce bridges and found cleaner water in most areas and lots of activity on the east side of the river.

There have been lots of schoolie trout on the flats. Find the cleaner water and the bait schools and you should find your fish. Lots of other species have been feeding around the bait as well. Barracuda, snook, redfish, jacks, mackerel and bluefish have all been out there feasting. There are some tarpon around Big and Little Mud Creeks. It's a wonderful time to be fishing the Indian River. Try live bait, like mullet, pinfish or shrimp, and DOA CAL jerk baits for your best results. Top water in the early mornings can also give you some solid strikes. We have been targeting 3 - 5 feet of water around the edges of the bait fish.

Tom Tait and his fishing friend, Annette, were out fishing this week with me and we caught trout, snook and jacks along the bait schools. It was a fun day on the water. Adrian and Lionel Lusardi were back fishing with me again this week. We caught an assortment of fish including trout, snook and jacks and just missed a tarpon hookup at Little Mud. Lionel ended the day with a nice redfish on a CAL jerk bait.

I have had a few reports of the sand perch showing up around the Fort Pierce bridges this week. A few flounder, snapper and black drum also being caught around the Inlet. Some whiting, bluefish and mackerel along the beaches have kept surf anglers busy. Snook fishing around the area at night has been productive at the jetties, north bridge in Fort Pierce and the turning basin. It's a great time of year.

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Martin County Anglers Club in Stuart. Met a great bunch of avid anglers and had a wonderful time at their meeting. Thanks to everyone for having me and hope to see you all again.

Tip of the Week:

Fishing the Treasure Coast in the fall can provide fantastic opportunities at hooking up with your favorite species. So much baitfish have invaded the river that it's easier to decide where to fish and spend more time fishing. We look for areas that have nervous, agitated or bait being crashed. Fish the edges with live or artificial baits for the best results. Snook, trout, jacks and redfish will all be looking for that quick, easy meal. If the bait calms down and things get quiet, it might be time to move on to the next action. The more the activity, the more chance at finding the fish. Try fishing around the bait.....you just never know what might be lurking on the outskirts!

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

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This week on the Indian River.....

[ladypamela2]

October has been good to us so far. Loads of mahi-mahi are being caught along with the occasional daytime Swordfish. King Mackerel, Wahoo and Blackfin Tuna are showing up in good numbers here in Fort Lauderdale, too. A few Sailfish have been spotted. Our sailfish season this year was a little off, they didn't leave until way late and are starting to show up again. Hey, we're not complaining. September and October marks the start of Sailfish season because the baitfish pods are heading down from the North, and they tend to follow.

Tyler Stock and his gang from Indiana joined the Lady Pamela II crew for some South Florida Deep Sea fun. We headed out Port Everglades with rods in the water. Kings were hooked left and right. The Spanish Mackerels and Bonitos were around, too. After we reached out limit on those guys, we headed to a wreck and made a drop. We were succsessful, a small Amberjack ate the bait.

Kingfish are everywhere lately and we sure do catch our limit almost every trip. 8 - 10 lb'ers are common along with the occasional 15 - 20 lb'er. There are some nice ones being caught. Blackfin Tuna's have been small, little footballs, but every once and a while we catch some anywhere from 6 - 9 lb.

The Mahi - Mahi bite has been red hot offshore. Board's and different types of debris drifting is a good sign. Baitfish hang around debris. Baitfish = Bigger fish. Anywhere from 500 - 800 ft of water is where we've been catching a majority of our dolphin. Fresh strips along with a milar skirt is the trick. Mahi - Mahi aren't the only fish that hang around debris. Last week a buddy of mine, just fun fishing offshore, found a school of Wahoo underneath a board. He caught 10 nice ones all weighing in around 12 lbs.

Last week the Lady Pamela II went Daytime Swordfishing two days in a row. We fished 6-7 hours each time and not one bite. I got a few reports from friends of mine that went and it was fairly slow for them as well. There was one Sword caught during the day last week weighing in around 200 lbs.


Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide

[fishtales]

October 16, 2008

INSHORE:

A quiet week along the Treasure Coast.....rain blowing and wind howling most of the week kept all but the diehard angler off the water. Both inshore and offshore fishing was all but lost this week. It finally calmed a bit today to allow some fishing, but dirty water and higher than normal tides made it difficult to say the least. But....tomorrow is another day and we will be out on the water in search of our quarry once again! The coming weekend should provide us with fishable weather ahead.

Ian Moss and I finally got a day that we could get on the water after cancelling earlier in the week. The day provided us with trout and jacks on the flats. The bait was harder to find, but we were able to catch some fish. Tom Hull reported catching trout and jacks as well. He caught some up to 23" on the flats south of Fort Pierce. DOA CAL jerk baits continue to work well on the flats. They have even out fished live bait this week. Seek out the bait schools and clean water when you can for your best fishing opportunities.

Bridges have held some sand perch, snapper and black drum recently. Whiting has been the mainstay on the beaches for those who have dared venture on the sand. Snook around the inlets have been caught mostly at night or on the outgoing tides. Overall....a pretty quiet week around the river.

Tip of the Week:

Jig heads have always been a pet peeve of mine. Lots of types, brands, sizes, colors, etc....... I use lots of jigs on the flats and rely on them to work the way I want them to. Pay attention to how the head is made. Is it tapered to allow the jig to lift up over the grass or made so it will nose down when jigged. Below are two photos of a few types of jig heads. All are designed as jigs, but most will act differently on the flats. In shallow water, I like jigs that have a tapered head and the eye of the hook positioned so that it will pull up at an angle when used. It allows my lure to work through the grass effectively without picking up grass on the retrieve. Next time you are looking at jig heads.....notice how they are made. Choose yours based on your own fishing needs.

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These jig heads all work well, but do tend to nose down and can pick up grass on the flats.

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Notice the upward sweep of the head and the eye positioned to pull up on the head as it is worked across the flats.

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

[fishtales]

October 24, 2008

INSHORE:

In spite of a blustery week of windy weather, we managed a couple nice days to get out on the Indian River and find the fish in the mood to eat some baits. We had to cancel a few days due to the conditions. Looks like this next week will continue with strong winds and rainy days in the forecast, so plan your ventures wisely out there. Inshore has been fishable, but offshore still has been difficult most days to get out.

Todd Dziak and his dad, Fred, were out with me this past week and we encountered lots of trout and jacks on the flats on a near perfect day for fishing. Richie and JoAnn Adams also had some nice weather the day we fished the Indian River this week. Once again, the fish were feeding and we had a great day on the water. We caught a variety of fish this week on the Treasure Coast.

We fished some docks on the outgoing tides for snook this week. Richie and JoAnn caught a half dozen snook in the 22-25" range and lost one big snook under the docks. Fishing the outgoing tides has been the most productive around the inlets and bridges as well. Live baits have worked best for us, but some are still being taken on artificials, especially around the jetties.

Richie landed a nice 26" redfish from under a dock as well while snook fishing. He even caught a few gag grouper both at the docks and on the flats. We spent the rest of our trips on the flats catching lots of trout up to 22" and many jacks. Todd, Richie and JoAnn had a busy, but fun time catching and releasing a lot of fish on their adventures. We have still been fishing mostly south of Fort Pierce down towards the Power Plant on the eastern side of the river.

Bridges have continued to hold sand perch, black drum, snapper and some croakers on live or dead shrimp. The surf has been pretty quiet with the strong northeast winds coming onto shore. The jetties have held snook at night and jacks, bluefish and mackerel most of the time on active tides. It a good time of year to play around with a top water lure around the inlets.

Tip of the Week:

Now that fall is showing signs that winter isn't far off. It's a good time to check on your batteries and make sure they are in good working condition. Cold weather and batteries don't always make a good combination. As the temperatures cool off, if you are going to have battery problems, it will most likely happen on a cold morning when you least expect it. Clean terminals for good contact and replace any worn or corroded cables that can cause problems. If a battery is in question, most places that sell them will also check yours out to see what condition it is in and if replacement is necessary. Oh...and you might locate those long johns soon, too!

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

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A few of Todd Dziak's catches this week

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Richie and JoAnn with a few of their catches

[capt_ron]

Jacks Can Save the Day

Rain and wind have been common characteristics on recent fishing trips. Last Sunday was no exception. The rain cleared out early enough, but the day started with heavy NW winds that slowly shifted from the North. The chop on the Banana River made it less than comfortable anytime you were trying to move on the river. Fishing had been slow and I revealed this to my group of three anglers, Cliff, Ed, and Jeremy. Ed responded by saying “you probably always say that.” Actually, with the wind as high as it was and the water stirred up and murky I just didn’t want them to get their expectations to high.

The redfish were not willing to participate in our outing, but a few trout did. Still, the game saver was the Jack Crevalle. We got into a school of Jacks and immediately had a couple hookups. Ed was first, and then I think it was Jeremy, but his pulled off. Then Cliff’s pole was bent over and he was working his first Jack to the boat.

Ed is showing off the first Jack in the picture below. You can see how rough the water was, and we were glad to have found some rod bending action.

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We didn’t accomplish a triple hookup, but we did have a couple of doubles to add to the excitement. Cliff is shown with one of his fish in the picture below. If you are like me, and as it turns out, like Cliff, Ed, and Jeremy, if it pulls hard it is a good fish and these Jacks were pulling what seemed to be extra hard on this windy day.

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We were fishing live shrimp under popping corks when we first encountered the Jacks, but switched quickly to plastics to increase the fishing time by not having to re-bait after each fish fight. Color did not seem to matter. The Jacks were hungry and willing to eat almost anything we threw at them.

We lost track of how many Jacks we actually caught, but everyone had a chance to pull on several. There were also a few trout thrown into the mix as evidenced by the slot sized trout Jeremy is holding below.

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In my humble opinion, Jacks are one of the most fun-filled fish you can catch. Pound-for-pound they will give you a better fight than many other fish we target. And don’t forget, when summer rolls around again the big ones will be roaming just off the beach waiting to give some lucky angler the fight of his life. Just don’t forget to beef up your tackle if you go in search of the big summer Jacks.

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Florida Sportsman Fishing Shows

There are two more Florida Sportsman Fishing Shows left this Fall. I will be manning the booth for the Florida Guides Association at both the Jacksonville and Orlando shows. The Jacksonville show will be held on November 8th and 9th and the Orlando how will be the following weekend on November 15 and 16.

Come by the booth and say hi if you are in the area.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley

[administrator]

October 31, 2008 to November 1, 2008

Location: Battery Park Apalachicola, FL

The oldest seafood festival in the state. If you love great seafood, arts & crafts, fine folks and wonderful entertainment all wrapped into a magnificent family atmosphere, then join us in Apalachicola for the 45th Annual Florida Seafood Festival. The event will feature quality entertainment and maritime crafts paying tribute to the Apalachicola Bay's commercial fishermen. There is also an oyster shucking contest, oyster eating contest. Headliners this November 1st are Daryle Singletary @ 4:00 and Little Texas @ 8:00.

For more information go to www.floridaseafoodfestival.com

Just incase you were wondering, the fishing has been pretty good...

For those that aren't into the festivities or crowds, we do have captains available for fishing this weekend!

If you're looking for family friendly fishing guides, you found us!

Hope to see you this weekend!

Sandra Allen
Book Me A Charter Guide Service
Apalachicola, FL
850-653-2622
www.BookMeACharter.com
info@BookMeACharter.com

[fishtales]

October 30, 2008

INSHORE:

Some ghoulish weather has kept the winds howling around the Treasure Coast this week just in time for Halloween! The rain went away, but the breezy conditions remained this week to keep most anglers from venturing out. The approaching weekend should bring few milder days, but the winds will most likely be blowing into next week. Welcome to wintertime in Florida!

We did get one good day on the water prior to the latest weather front. Bill Schaefer and his son, Chris, and friend, Chris, met me for a day of fishing and dodging rain clouds. We fished south of Fort Pierce and found trout, jacks, snook and other species feeding on the flats and proceeded to have a lot of fun playing catch and release. We had a number of triple hookups that morning. We managed to skirt most of the rain and finished off the afternoon as the weather deteriorated quickly. By the next day, the winds picked up and made fishing difficult if not dangerous.

Trout, jacks, ladyfish and bluefish continue to feed on the flats in two to four feet of water. Live shrimp on popping corks along with DOA CAL jerk baits have provided lots of fun this month. Fish the outgoing tides to find snook around the inlet areas and docks along the river. Redfish have been hanging around docks as well. We should find pompano and flounder around the river now that the cold fronts have started their winter patterns.

Bridges anglers have been catching sand perch, black drum and snapper on live or dead shrimp. The jetties continue to hold big jacks, snook, bluefish and some flounder on the south side of the jetty. The north bridge in Fort Pierce and Taylor Creek have been good spots for snook fishing, especially the night anglers. The fish are out there if you can work with the windy conditions!

Tip of the Week:

Winter is fast approaching and weather fronts will be a weekly force around the Treasure Coast. Unfortunately, good weather seldom coincides with days off or weekends. Take a few minutes and check the weather for the days that you want to fish. There are many ramps around the area that can provide safe launching depending on what conditions you will be facing. It's easy to google local county boat ramps in the area. Some are great ramps and less used than normal. Some provide access to areas when the wind isn't your best friend. Make the most of your days on the 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

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A couple photos of this weeks fishing. Bill with one of many trout and Chris with a big jack from the flats.

[Fishbuster]

Wednesday, 10/23, I fished the Bonita reefs with David Koenigsmark and Hubert Wright. Seas were predicted to build and we knew heading much further out than the reefs wasn’t likely to be too comfortable. The guys had just this day to fish, so we decided on the reefs about six miles from shore. Conditions got rougher as the morning progressed but we managed to bring home ten keeper mangrove snapper and a 14 inch sheepshead. We released additional mangs, grouper shorts, two small flounders and a three-foot barracuda. We used live shrimp for all.

In advance of a strong cold front, winds and seas kicked up Sunday and into mid-week. Offshore fishing was not an option in four to six foot seas, so Tom and Karen Gartland and their son, Danny, opted for some backwater fishing with me on Monday morning, 10/27. We fished central Estero Bay with live shrimp and caught three nice sheepshead to 17 inches and a keeper mangrove snapper. We released smaller sheepshead, along with three big stingray, one about ten pounds and two that were each about 30 pounds.

Offshore seas were a little scary Halloween morning so I fished central Estero Bay instead, with Greg Kosch and son, Alex. Winds stayed brisk all morning but we did fairly well along the tree-lines with live shrimp. We caught a 24 inch keeper redfish, three keeper sheepshead to 14 inches and a 16 inch pompano. We released smaller sheepshead and cravalle jack.

Saturday morning brought conditions similar to Friday’s and I fished the channel in Estero Bay with brothers Steve and Howard Potash and friend, Dennis. Winds were high and the tide was low but we caught a good number of fish. We ended up with five keeper sheepshead, out of about twenty caught, one keeper mangrove snapper, out of a dozen caught and a 14 inch flounder. We released the sheepshead and snapper shorts, along with a 17 ½ inch redfish that missed legal size by a half-inch.

The photo shown is of angler, Brad Bernardy, with a ten-pound bonito, caught on a live shrimp and released on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.

[ladypamela2]

November 2008

Fort Lauderdale Fishing - The Start of Sailfish Season!

Mid October was when we started seeing the occasional sailfish run through Fort Lauderdale, but within the past week, the sailfish bite has been consistent. These billfish are migrating from the North, heading South (our way, Ft Lauderdale), eating their way down. Generally, the bite is red hot from October - November. A few cold fronts have moved through the Ft Lauderdale area, triggering the bite.

The most common way to fish for sailfish is with live goggleeyes dangling from kites (No, not the kites you fly at the beach). The Lady Pamela II started off November right, catching 3 sailfish in one day this past weekend and it's only looking to get better here in Fort Lauderdale.

Not only has the sailfish bite been going off, trolling for kingfish and slamming the mahi - mahi has been consistent, too. Wahoo, amberjacks and cobia are around offshore Ft Lauderdale as well. For the start of November, the mahi - mahi are still showing up in good numbers and the catches have been great. The dolphin are ranging anywhere from 6-9 lbs and we're still averaging 5-10 fish per trip which is amazing.

The kings have been hit or miss (when it rains it pours?). One day the LP II will slam 'em reaching their limit in no time, other days their isn't a single kingfish in Ft Lauderdale. Live bluerunners or planners with fresh strips in 90-140 ft of water is the trick.

The Wahoo have been biting around full moons with north current ripping in 150-450 ft of water, averaging anywhere from 10-15 lbs.

Ft Lauderdale houses several artifical reefs and ship wrecks. When dropping a fresh, bloody bonito, bluerunner or speedo, it tends to works the best for the rod to bend over. It's hard to say what your going to hook down there, maybe an amberjack, big grouper or the occasional bull shark?

Daytime Swordfishing is taking off here in Fort Lauderdale. Fishing in 1500-1800 ft of water with a variety of dead and live bait (Squid, Mackerel, Mullett and Tunas) on an electric reel, your likely to hook up with the Gladiator of the Sea. The swordfish is the toughest fighting fish in the ocean and with it's cruel runs and deep dives, you won't be dissapointed. The Lady Pamela II set sail last week during the day and hooked up with a 200 lb'er. With nighttime swordfishing picking up, you will find us out there frequently.

Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide
Lady Pamela II

[fishtales]

November 6, 2008

INSHORE:

Now that fall is in full swing around the Treasure Coast, you can find water temperatures dropping and windy conditions much of the time out on the water. We ended up canceling twice this week and I managed to get out one day that was not so blustery as the others. We can expect similar conditions as the cold fronts work their way through the area on an almost weekly basis now. It's a great time to fish, but can be challenging on some days.

Let's take this week to talk about changing conditions on the river and changing tactics as well. Water temps have begun to drop and that will drive most fish to deeper water, especially in the mornings. Deeper cuts around mangroves, docks and islands will be good places to start in the mornings as the water continues to cool off. As the sun rises and the water warms again, you can find the fish heading back up on the flats to feed and get warm again. Redfish, especially, can be found cruising the flats at high noon during the cooler months of the year. Pompano will be in the deeper areas from three feet and better. Small jigs or live shrimp will work well for them.

Slowing up your retrieve is essential to success this time of year. I like to take DOA shrimp or jerk baits and slowly work them across the flats or around the mangroves. The slower the better as the fishes metabolism slows down and they become lethargic as the water gets cooler. I like three to five feet of water this time of year. They will stay off the edges of the flats and move up onto them as the day wears on. Live or artificial shrimp on popping corks are wintertime fishing staples. I like to put one out the back of the boat while I fish artificials out the front. Gold spoons, suspending lures and jigs are all good lures when the water is cooler.

Fishing docks can be exciting where snook, reds and other species will be hanging to catch an easy meal drifting by. I especially like DOA shrimp for dock fishing. Fish it slow and let it settle on the bottom. When the water is cold, fish the drop offs, channels and docks. It's a great time of year. Changing tactics for the cooler months will help you be more successful. Have fun out there!

This week on the river: Sand perch (mojarra) have invaded the inlet and the catwalks have been full of anglers fishing for them. They are a popular staple this time of year in this area. Live or dead shrimp will get you a feast right now. On the flats, snook, jacks and trout have been in the deeper cuts of the mangroves and flats. There are lots of jacks out there to keep you busy! A few pompano have been caught, but still waiting on them to arrive in numbers.

Tip of the Week: As the cold fronts signal that winter isn't far off, it's important to dress in layers on those cool mornings. Florida is famous for cold nights and hot days and layering can keep you comfortable throughout your day on the water. It can get challenging with the wind and cold, so prepare prior to getting on the water. It's always cooler out there than at home.

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

[Fishbuster]

Wednesday, 11/5, I fished with live shrimp in 37 feet out of New Pass with Bill & Chris Henry and friends. Seas were pretty calm at 1-2 feet most of the morning, though it was a little sloppy about the time we headed in, with a brisk N, NE wind blowing. We caught a dozen large whitebone porgies, all 15-16 inches and a mess of mangrove snapper to 13 inches. We kept ten of the snapper and released the rest. We also caught seven mutton snapper, but only one of those was keeper-size. We released grunts, porkfish and red and gag grouper shorts, and we were broken off twice by kingfish.

Thursday morning, I fished with Duane McCoy and his father-in-law, Larry Connell, again 37 miles west of New Pass. We caught a king mackerel keeper at 29 inches, nine mangrove snapper keepers to 13 inches, a keeper mutton snapper and three large triggerfish about 14 inches each. We released mangrove snapper shorts and gag and red grouper shorts.

Mike and Lea Connealy, Leah’s dad, Dick, and friend, Rob, fished with me Friday morning in calm seas twenty miles west of New Pass in about 48 feet. We used live shrimp to land fifteen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, a 17 inch keeper mutton snapper, a keeper red grouper at 22 inches, triggerfish and porgies. We released a three-foot sandbar shark, lots of red and gag grouper short and had another couple cut-offs by king mackerel.

Saturday morning I fished inshore with the Dillane family, Michael and Vicki, eleven-year-old daughter, Rachel, and eight-year-old son, Malcolm. We used live shrimp along the mangrove shorelines of Estero Bay and caught four nice sheepshead to 17 inches. We released smaller sheepshead, small snapper and a 20 inch snook.

The photo shown is of angler, Jim Basara, with a 19 inch yellowtail snapper, caught on a live shrimp on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.

[fishtales]

November 14, 2008

INSHORE:

With winter fast approaching and water temperatures dropping, anglers along the catwalks of Fort Pierce are excitedly reaping the rewards of braving the windy weather of November. Sand perch, snapper, black drum and croakers have filled the area with eager anglers looking to catch up on the feast that awaits them. Live or dead shrimp has put many good meals on the table recently. There have been lots of fish and lots of catching.

On the flats, the much awaited return of the pompano has finally arrived. While the numbers have been increasing, you can find pompano around the river along drop offs and deeper flats. Great table fare and battle on the hook. We found some pomps along the flats in 4 - 5 feet of water and had one take a DOA CAL jerk bait while fishing the flats. Live shrimp or sand fleas are the preferred baits while fishing for pompano. Look for lots of them to be along the surf in the near future.

If a fun day of fishing is all you need, look to the many jacks, mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish around the inlet right now. Tom Hull was down and we had a few hours of furious catch and release of some of the lesser renowned battlers out there. You can find some non-stop fun, especially for the young ones, out there awaiting you. Tom caught one of the biggest ladyfish I have seen on light tackle this week on the flats.

With the full moon, most of the snook fishing has been at night recently. Look around the inlet and bridges for your best opportunities using live bait. Lots of shorter snook have been hanging around the mangroves and provide some fun while ducking out of the windy conditions out there. Redfish reports have been mostly to the north in the Moorings and Round Island area. Live or cut bait has found a few willing to eat. We are still waiting for the flounder to show up in numbers and that shouldn't be too far off.

Tip of the Week:

A reminder that the Fort Pierce channel from the north bridge to south of the southern bridge is due to return to a manatee zone very soon. Watch for the signs and slow down. We continue to see boaters ignoring slow speed zones. Whether you like them or not, they are the law and we must obey them. The fines aren't worth taking the risk of being caught out there. Have fun and be safe.

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

Tom Hull with a few catches this week on the Indian River.....

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[last mango charters]

"Will's 1st Sailfish"
:)


While visiting his parents Rock and Kathy Tonkel in Vero Beach last week; Jeff Tonkel and his son Will, both from Palm Harbor, Fla. chartered the Last Mango out of Ft. Pierce City Marina in hopes of catching a November sailfish. The weather and sea conditions were 'optimal' (not something you could claim for most of Oct or on into November!), and we struck out to the southeast where there had been a good sail bite the day before. Also on board was Larry White, a good friend of the Tonkel family.
The sail bite has been off and on of late but we had good "intel" from the day before and hoped to capitalize on it! We put our lines out just north of the '43190' line where the water cleared up in 200 feet and trolled southeast toward a fleet of boats off of St. Lucie Inlet that evidently had the same "intel" we did. (Can't win em all.!)
Minutes later we had one in the spread and a 'freejumper' sighting a hundred yards off the starboard bow. Although we worked the area for some time, this fish seemed only mildly interested in our 'elaborate double dredge" and squid chains and never took an offered bait.
But wait!...... As I straightened out our course and the Mango headed south toward the fleet, that same fish piled on our left teaser and with a perfect presentation by my trusty mate
T-Bone, the sail swerved off of our squid chain and ate a ballyhoo. "We got him on Cap" ...came up from the cockpit and the rod was quickly handed off to young Will , age 9. An avid angler himself (mostly river fish), Will handled this sail with skill and finesse beyond his years. In a minimal amount of time our 'bimini twist' passed thru the rod tip and we had our first official sail of the day and... "Will's first Sailfish" ever!. The sail, of course, was released and would go on to fight another day.
With lots of action all morning and another sail release going to friend Larry, an experienced angler with several fishing trips to Costa Rica under his belt, we worked our way back north (with the help of a 3 knot Gulf Stream current) . Several more sails in the spread and some freejumpers in the distance at times kept things lively throughout the afternoon and the sighting of a good sized 'Wright Whale' just off our bow was a spectacular opportunity for the naturalist in all of us to revel in the glory of our surroundings.
Mahi mahi (caught by Will's dad Jeff) made for an end to a perfect day, and fish for the dinner table that night.
Note: Although reports have it that this particular body of sails moved on down to the Palm Beach area the very next day, word of a good sail bite off of Sebastian on Sunday signals 'more action to come'! The winter migration of sails headed our way make Ft. Pierce, Fl. a veritable Sailfish Mecca and 'the' place to fish throughout the year. Our sailfish season peaks in January, so there will be many more sailfish accounts from the cockpit of the 'Last Mango' throughout the winter. Don't miss your chance to be onboard.
Tight Lines,
Capt Tris
Please check out oue website at www.lastmango-charters.com

Tris Colket
www.lastmango-charters.com
267 Marina Drive
Fort Pierce, FL.34949
Cell: 772.559.0594

[Fishbuster]

Monday morning, 11/10, I fished with Brad Hayes and his six-year-old son, Cameron in central Estero Bay, using live shrimp. We caught seven redfish, one of which was a keeper, and four sheepshead, including one keeper. We released the smaller reds and sheepshead, along with some small snapper and two snook to 24 inches.

Friday morning, I fished with Peder and Linda Engebretson and their friends, Dan and Lynn. We headed out of New Pass to about 40 feet, where we used live shrimp to catch two keeper yellowtail snapper at 14 inches each, two 14 inch keeper mangrove snapper, five large whitebone porgies and three large triggerfish, all about 14 inches. We released a half dozen small amber jacks to 18 inches, an 8 pound goliath grouper, two 23 inch kingfish and lots of red and gag grouper shorts.

The gulf was so flat Saturday morning it was hard to believe that seas were forecast to build to six to ten feet by Sunday, with the approach of a cold front. I fished in 40 feet out of New Pass with Thomas and Laura Sylvester. We used live shrimp to catch a 37 inch keeper king mackerel, one of three kings we caught, a 19 inch mutton snapper, keeper mangrove snapper and whitebone porgies. We released gag and red grouper shorts.

The photo shown is of angler Chester Yanik with a 17 inch mutton snapper and an 18 inch mangrove snapper, caught on a live shrimp on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.

[fishtales]

November 21, 2008

INSHORE:

Ol' Man Winter has left his mark this week along the Treasure Coast. Temperatures dipping into the 40's and windy conditions have awaited anglers all along the river. A few mornings have started with light winds, but by afternoon, it has been blowing most of the time. It has been a week of catching up around the house and building rod racks in my spare time. Water temperatures have dipped into the low sixties and you can bet the fish will be heading for deeper water.

Most of the recent action has been around the bridges for either snook anglers looking for that slot fish or the catwalks holding sand perch, black drum, sheephead, snapper and a few founder. A lot of people have been fishing the bridges this week! Using live or dead shrimp will get you some action. Around the inlet, bluefish, jacks, ladyfish and mackerel have been roaming in packs and chasing anything that moves. Anything shiny should coax them into striking. Pompano have been reported south of Fort Pierce on the drop-offs and deeper flats of the river. Live shrimp, Doc's Goofy jigs or sand fleas are good choices for pompano.

The jetties have held snook, jacks and bluefish lately. Snook fishing has been active mostly on the first part of the outgoing tides. Live baits have been the first choice of snook anglers. This time of year, it is good to fish the deeper cuts around island and mangroves and move up onto the shallower flats as the sun warms up the water. Redfish, especially, will sit on the flats to warm up in the sun. Being quiet and stealthy is essential now as the fish will scare easily and head to deeper water. Shrimp on popping corks is a great way to fish the deeper flats now. Remember that trout season is closed and releasing the fish quickly and safely is important now.

Tip of the Week: Using a de-hooker can help get the fish back into the water quickly and safely. It can eliminate handling of the fish and help it to survive and fight another day. There are many brands, sizes and types out on the market. Choose the one that will best suit your style of fishing. Snook season will close December 15th and that will leave them and sea trout out of season the last half of the month. They work wonderful on those dreaded catfish and puffers!

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

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Dress in layers this time of year, when fishing the cool mornings....

[Fishbuster]

Lynn Harned, Davis Jenkins, Bruce Welsh and Bob Wogtowicz had planned an offshore trip with me for Wednesday, 11/19, but a cold front that dropped temps to the lowest of the season that morning, accompanied by high winds and building seas, caused us to reschedule for Friday. We fished Friday morning, just ahead of the next cold-front’s arrival, in the calmer seas between fronts. We headed out of New Pass about 19 miles and used live shrimp to catch ten nice mangrove snapper to 15 inches, three mutton snappers to 17 inches mutton snapper, three king mackerel to 26 inches, a 22 inch Spanish mackerel, and keeper-sized triggerfish and whitebone porgies. The guys kept the mangs, one mutton and one king for table-fare and we released all the rest, along with lots of gag grouper shorts to 21 ½ inches.

I fished on a very windy Saturday morning in Estero Bay with Sue Esposito and her children, Joe, age ten, and Lisa, age twelve. We fished with live shrimp along the mangrove shoreline and oyster bars, staying as sheltered from the wind as possible, and had good success with sheepshead, catching five nice ones to 18 inches. We also caught nine keeper mangrove snapper and released lots of smaller snapper and sheepshead.

The photo shown is of angler Dave Kovach with a 21 1/2 inch red grouper and a triggerfish, caught on a live shrimp on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.

[capt_chris_m]

Last weekend, a strong cold front made its way through central Florida. Behind the front, the temperatures have struggled to make it in the 60's and lows have been as cold as 38. As a result, the temperatures on the flats have dropped nearly 20 degrees. Some of the fish are sluggish and seeking refuge in deep water. Others are shallow and feeding normally. The fish will soon acclimate to the cooler temperatures and return to their usual behavior.

Prior to the cold front arriving,I fished Michigan residents Joe and Jim. The fishing that day was excellent like it had been the past few weeks. These guys wanted to sight fish and the fish gave them plenty of shots throughout the day. The Arkansas Shiner 4" CAL was very effective. Both redfish and black drum were caught and released during a great day on the Lagoon.

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This Monday, I went to Mosquito Lagoon to try out the new color DOA shrimp I had picked up at the fishing show over the weekend. The cold front had dropped the temperature but the water was still in the 60's. I found plenty of active fish and they were more than willing to eat the new shrimp color called FiGi Chix.

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After five reds on the shrimp, I switched to a crab landing another red and several black drum.

Yesterday, I got to fish with my wife Julie. When we left the house the temperature was 38 degrees. We hit the water around 9 and had a chilly ride to our first spot. The water was now in the low 50's and many of the fish I had seen Monday were gone. In addition, the water level had dropped nearly a foot. Within five minutes, I cast a DOA crab to the first redfish we spotted and a 27" fish came aboard for a quick photo.

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Julie hooked a redfish and a drum on the crab and followed with another redfish on a CAL tail. A large trout and a couple more drum ate the crab before we moved on.

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Later on, Julie hooked up with a big drum which threw the hook after several minutes. She took over poling duties and I tied on the new DOA FiGi Chix shrimp which fooled two more redfish before we called it a day.

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The forecast for next week is for slightly warmer temperatures. Each day, you can expect more fish to return to the flats. Crabs and shrimp will be their primary source of food. Lures and flies that imitate crustaceans will provide the best results. With water levels much lower than they have been in months, watch out for sand bars that have been under water throughout the fall.

Saturday the 29th, I will be at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka along with Capt. John Kumiski. They will have 20% off everything in the fishing department. If you are in need of a new rod, reel, or tackle, this will be the time to get it. Capt. John will be tying flies and signing copies of his books. I will be helping with tackle and lure selection and be on hand to talk flats and fly fishing.

Capt. Chris Myers
Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters
http://www.floridafishinglessons.com

[capt_ron]

Fishing With Kids

Cold weather and wind have kept fishing trips to a minimum lately. Finally, however, we had a day with overnight lows only in the 50’s instead of the 40’s. I was fortunate to have a family from my hometown, Wichita, Kansas, visiting Disney and they took a day off to come over for some inshore fishing. The Stewart family included Scott and Becky and their two sons Luke, age 6 and Landon, age 12. All were avid freshwater anglers in their home waters back in Kansas.

Armed with live shrimp and popping corks we started our saltwater adventure. Departing the dock about 8:00 we encountered water temps in the high 50’s, cooler than we wanted, but you take what you get. The early fishing produced only a few pinfish so we decided to move on and try another spot. When we arrived on the west bank of the Banana River the water temps had risen to just above 60 as the warm Florida sun did its job. It wasn’t long until six year old Luke hooked up his first redfish, a nice slot sized red. He diligently fought the feisty red to the boat and then posed for a quick photo.

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Luke soon caught another red, Landon caught a trout, and Becky caught another red. Landon was still looking for his first red, but his accurate casting soon paid dividends as he pulled a nice 21 inch red from under some mangroves. He showed fishing skills beyond his 12 year age, as he pulled the redfish from under the mangrove limbs and into open water. I found out later he had pulled some hefty bass from heavy cover and he new exactly what to do.

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The reds were all caught on live shrimp suspended from popping corks. Success seemed to come when the shrimp were fished patiently giving the smell time to permeate the surrounding water and allow the reds time to find the tasty crustaceans. Everything you do in cold water fishing needs to be slower than normal, so patience is a virtue that will put more fish in the boat during the winter months.

We lost track of exactly how many reds we caught, because Luke was counting by twos, because he said they were bigger and deserved a better count. By the end of the day, Scott, Becky, Luke and Landon had listed redfish, trout, jacks, pinfish and a couple of really nice sheepshead to their catch-and-release list. We wouldn’t let Scott count his puffer. A couple of dolphin, manatees, osprey, and the annual migration of the white pelicans added to the day’s enjoyment.

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Other families could certainly take note of the way the Stewart family includes enjoyment of our great outdoors as a normal part of growing up for their two sons. When back in Kansas they include duck hunting, deer hunting as well as fishing in their family activities. We can never start too early in teaching our youth the importance of conservation and wise use of our great outdoor resources.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley

[fishtales]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!

December Fishing Forecast:

Here it is December already and the Holidays are almost upon us. Where has this year gone? I must say it has been a great year for fishing all along the Treasure Coast. Both inshore and offshore has provided anglers with many great fishing adventures. We were blessed with a mild winter last year and hopefully we can look forward to another great year for winter fishing!

December brings on the winter months and changes fishing tactics on the river. The water temperatures continue to fall and your fishing must adjust to the weather. We will get many days of breezy winds that will hinder getting to some favorite spots out there. That's one of the reasons I love fishing in this area....you can always find somewhere to fish! Not only does the cooler weather affect the fish, it also requires us to dig out the ol' winter fishing clothes. It can get pretty chilly some mornings!

Trout and snook will be targets throughout the winter. Although trout season will remain closed through December and snook season closes December 15th, lots of anglers will still play catch and release with them. Fishing around bridges, docks and inlets can bring great action with snook hanging around the deeper waters of the river. Using live bait, red tail hawks and bomber lures can help you catch one worth a photo opportunity. Trout will tend to hang around the deeper cuts of the river. Move off to three to six feet of water for trout. Live shrimp on popping corks will work the best for them. I love to work DOA CAL jerk baits this time of year on the flats. You can also find snook and redfish hanging around those areas, too.

Pompano will begin to show up in the river and beaches this month. Spanish mackerel will continue to hang out in their favorite haunts of the river. Jack Crevalle will be traveling around in packs chasing bait all over the river. Flounder should continue to hit in the inlets and sandy areas of the river. Ladyfish is a great way to spend a few hours with the kids on the water. The bridges will be holding sheephead, croakers and sand perch for those anglers. Live or dead shrimp is always the best bet from the catwalks.

Redfish were hanging around the flats all last winter and I don't see any reason why you won't find them there this year. The past two years, the redfish population has explodedin our area! Schools of reds have given many anglers a fantastic fishing experience on our saltwater flats. Look for them as the sun warms up the water. You will find small groups at times tailing along the flats. Gold spoons, twitch baits and live bait can entice one into striking. Work your baits slow and remain stealthy to keep from sending them to depths unknown.....

Snook season closes December 15th so you just have a short time to catch that slot fish.

Winter fishing is already here. Change your tactics with the weather and follow the water temperatures more closely to make your fishing more productive. The fishing on our Treasure Coast continues to improve each years. If we all do our share to protect our rivers, we can insure the future generations will enjoy the same experiences we have been blessed with.

Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing!

Captain Charlie Conner
Captain Charlie's Fish Tales Charters

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While catching a smorgasboard of fish this week, Rich fooled this sheephead with a DOA CAL grub tail.

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 11/24, I fished with Jerry and Barb Rudan, from Wisconsin. They have been fishing with me for years and were looking forward to some good eating-fish. We managed that with two keeper gag grouper at 23 inches and 24 inches, eleven keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, and one 25 inch Spanish mackerel. We released lots of short gags. We used shrimp and sardines, with both the groupers caught on shrimp, in 49 feet 22 miles out of New Pass.

Alene Haug, son Scott Kempfert, daughter Amy Akerberg and granddaughter Erica Akerberg fished central Estero Bay with me on Tuesday morning. The big sheepshead that have moved into the backwaters for winter were biting well, and we caught five nice-sized keepers to 18 inches, along with a half dozen keeper mangrove snapper, all on live shrimp. We released cravalle jacks.

Wayne and Sue Detling, son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Kelley, fished the reefs with me Wednesday morning. Despite weather forecasts calling for calm, two-foot seas, we fished in three-footers off the beach, with a swell rolling in from offshore. We came in a little early, in fact, due to rough conditions, after catching keeper mangrove snapper, grunts and sheepshead. We released gag grouper shorts to 19 inches and a couple of small flounder.

After a day off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Jim McCarthy, his daughter, Mead, and their friend, Dave, fished with me Friday in 48 feet about 20 miles west of New Pass. We used shrimp and sardines to catch twenty-two keeper mangrove snapper, a nice lane snapper and as few good-sized whitebone porgies. We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts, along with one 21 inch true black grouper that was an inch short of legal size.

Saturday morning, as winds picked up in advance of our next cold front, I fished central Estero Bay with Vince Tomlinson, his son, Mike, his daughter, Katie, and Katie’s boyfriend, Joe Kavanagh. Baited with shrimp, we caught six keeper mangrove snapper and seven sheepshead to 16 inches.

The photo shown is of angler Thomas Sylvester with a 37 inch king mackerel, caught on a live shrimp on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.

[administrator]

Dec. 3, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE w/head shot photo and TBF logo

John Brownlee named chairman of
The Billfish Foundation’s board of trustees
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA – Internationally respected marine journalist, editor and conservationist, John Brownlee has been named by The Billfish Foundation as chairman of its board of trustees.
A member of TBF for over a decade Brownlee was appointed to the board in the summer of 2002. For the past year he served as vice chairman before being appointed chairman succeeding Ms. Joan Vernon.
“It’s an honor to be named chairman of TBF,” said Brownlee. “No other organization has done more to protect worldwide billfish stocks, and the current board and I will strive to continue TBF’s groundbreaking conservation work in areas like Mexico, Latin America and South America, as well as continuing to attempt to persuade ICCAT to take a stronger stand on billfish conservation.”
TBF President Ellen Peel said, “Having John serve as TBF Board Chair will be exciting. He understands the fishery management systems having served on the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council for six years. His term included one year as chairman.” Peel added, “One difficult challenge for passionate anglers is to understand change to the fishery management regulations must be made through established parameters following very specific regulations. John understands those realities and he understands the sportfishing community and the link between good conservation and good economics to related businesses.”
As a committed conservationist Brownlee also served two years as the SAFMC council’s recreational representative to the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) advisory committee. Years earlier he served as the treasurer of Florida’s highly successful “Save Our Sealife” amendment campaign to ban commercial netting off Florida’s coasts and approved by its voters in 1994. He’s been Florida’s chairman of the Coastal Conservation Association and has served on the CCA’s national board. He’s also the upper Keys representative for the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).
Earlier this year the Bonnier Marine Group named John its editor-in-chief of Salt Water Sportsman Magazine, the country’s oldest and largest saltwater fishing magazine. For over a decade he had served as the magazine’s senior editor and later as a regional sales manager before joining Sport Fishing and Marlin magazines as a senior editor. Prior to rejoining Salt Water Sportsman, he launched Center Console Angler magazine in 2006.
An extensive traveler, John and his wife Poppy make their home in the Florida Keys in Islamorada, the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World."
Established in 1986 The Billfish Foundation is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations worldwide. With headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., USA, TBF’s comprehensive network of members and supporters includes anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs, sport fishing and tourism businesses. By coordinating efforts and speaking with one voice, the organization works for solutions that are good for billfish, not punitive to recreational anglers and good for the local economy.
TBF’s web site is www.billfish.org and its phone number is 800-438-8247.
###
12/3/2008
TBF PR Counsel/contact: Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, Inc.
Scottsdale, Ariz., USA
480-951-3654 (ph) 480-951-0040 (fax)
JohnsonCom@aol.com (e-mail)

[fishtales]

December 5, 2008

INSHORE:

Fantastic weather and great fishing awaited anglers this week. Mild temperatures and winds provided us with some excitement on the water. In spite of cool water, the fish are out there feeding and it's a great time of year to fish the Indian River.

Rich Dickerson was out with me this past week and we enjoyed lots of action early with ladyfish, trout and jacks and later in the day we chased redfish and Rich hooked a nice red until it got off. Josh Lukat, with brother, Kyle, and friend, Austin, came out to celebrate Josh's Birthday. Once again we began the day with hoards of ladyfish, jacks and trout and the guys ended up their day with some nice trout and Kyle losing a slot redfish. Clint from the Fishing Center and I went out for a fun day of fishing. We found big reds and trout in the shallow water and boated several big trout to end up the day. There are some big fish out there on the flats!

Trout season is still close, but catch and release trout action has been hot lately. Big trout are in the shallow water as the sun warms things up. Redfish are also coming onto the flats as well. You can find them in one to three feet of water once things warm up out there. We used soft baits and MirrOLures to find some nice trout this week and even hook up with a few redfish. Snook are also patrolling the edges of the flats. Harbor Branch up north and any of the flats south towards the Power Plant have been good areas this week. Night anglers are still catching some slots and a good number of shorts this week. Don't forget that snook season closes December 15th. You still have a few days to catch that slot!

If just fun is what you are looking for......there are large schools of ladyfish and jacks on the flats to keep your rod bending for hours. We have fished three to five feet of water when just wanting a little fun fishing this week. The inlet has held bluefish, mackerel and ladyfish in large numbers. Bridge anglers are still enjoying lots of sand perch, black drum, snapper and sheephead from the catwalks. Live or dead shrimp always get you some action around the bridges. Pompano have been along the surf and down by the power lines for those interested in some great table fare. Shrimp or sand fleas are the best baits for them. Not many reports of flounder yet, but everyone is anticipating their arrival. We had lots of exciting action out there!

Tip of the Week:

Jerk baits have been working great for us lately. Colors aren't as important as working them properly. We have been slowly popping them along the bottom and letting them sit for a few seconds in between pops. Most hits have been of the drop or when it lies motionless on the bottom. DOA CAL jerk baits in rootbeer, silver mullet or green back colors have been our best producers this week. I use 1/16 or 1/8 oz. jig heads so they will easily work over the very shallow flats. Have some fun this week on the Indian River!

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

Kyle, Josh and Austin enjoyed a good day fishing the waters of the Indian River......

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[Fishbuster]

A weather-front came through on Monday, 12/1, brought some rain, and left us with high winds and very rough seas. So Tuesday, Erwin and Millie Matusiak traded their offshore fishing plans for some backwater fishing in Estero Bay. We fished the shoreline with live shrimp and, while trying to stay sheltered from the cold north wind, we managed to catch seven keeper mangrove snapper and five nice sheepshead, the largest of which was 18 ½ inches. We also released a 16 inch redfish and a 20 inch snook.

Wednesday morning, I fished a catch-and-release trip, along the edges of Estero Bay with David Hellberg and son, Matt. We had steady action all morning and released twenty-five sheepshead to 15 inches and twenty-five mangrove snapper, ten of which were keeper-size. We also released two 20 inch snook.

Rick Szymanski and Al Ortenzo fished offshore with me Thursday in calm waters (finally!) west of New Pass in 46 feet. We limited out on big mangrove snapper, catching twenty of those to 18 ¼ inches. We released gag and red grouper just short of legal size and some triggerfish. These bigger snapper are great fun to catch and great eating too.

Friday morning brought calm seas of less than one foot so, once anglers George Flanders and Mark Lyda heard about the good snapper-bite offshore, they changed their original plans to fish the backwaters and headed out about twenty miles with me. We fished in 47 feet with live shrimp and caught seventeen mangrove snapper to 17 inches, one keeper mutton snapper at 16 ½ inches, five keeper lane snapper measuring 11 and 12 inches, and a few whitebone porgies. We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts.

Leon Dargis and Bob Rose picked a great morning to fish offshore—it was smooth as glass Saturday morning in 47 feet, about 22 miles west of New Pass. We fished with live shrimp and caught our federal limit of twenty nice mangrove snapper (ten per angler), all between 14 and 18 inches. We released about thirty additional mangs. The big prize of the day was a keeper 23 inch true black grouper that weighed eight pounds ( photo attached.) True blacks are a lot more unusual to catch around here than gag grouper are. We had one gag grouper on the line too but, as we reeled it up, an eight-foot bull-shark bit it, leaving us with 18 inches of mangled gag grouper—I think it was a decent sized gag until the shark helped himself to more than his share. We also caught four keeper lane snapper to 13 inches, whitebone porgies to 14 inches, and released triggerfish and four mutton snapper up to 15 7/8 inches (just 1/8 inch short of keeper-size.) It was an excellent morning for offshore fishing.

The photo shown below is of angler Scott Kempfert with an 18 inch sheepshead, caught on a live shrimp on a recent inshore Fishbuster Charter.

[ladypamela2]

Lady Pamela II Fishing Report - 1st week of December

John Mannino and his four children came down from Long Island, New York to head out on the Lady Pamela II with Captain Paul and I in search of "strictly swordfish and dolphin - NO sailfish!" Will do, John. We got a hold of live pilchards and headed offshore trolling for some mahi - mahi. We slipped a wahoo bait down there just for fun. All of a sudden a quadruple header was on. Nice size dolphin, 10 - 12 lb'ers. Captain Paul and I started throwing live pilchards everywhere, and it was working. We had 4 fish on at all times. We caught every fish in the school, 13 dolphin hit the deck, most of them up to 18 lbs. Trolling gear was back in and ready to go - 30 minutes went by of fishing and not catching. After all that mahi - mahi action, they were getting antsy. John and the kids wanted to switch it up a little and see what was up with the swordfish bite. As we were getting ready to make the run to fertile grounds, the wahoo bait started screamin'! John's son jumped in the fighting chair, Captain Paul was leadering him up, I grabbed the gaff and could've sworn it was at least a 100 lb wahoo! Captain Paul said "no way, a sailfish!" John's son fought his first sailfish ever, a nice one too, an 82 incher. Fishing was going great at this point, everybody was having a good time, but to put the icing on the cake, we needed a swordfish. When we got to our destination, we made our first daytime drop of the day with two squids, a 100 ft leader and a shiny, serrated 11/0 hook. We were ready. After 30 minutes of just waiting and wishing, John was hooked with his first daytime sword. John landed a 54" Swordfish offshore fishing in Fort Lauderdale. Awesome day, great catch!

Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide
Lady Pamela II Fishing Charters
954-761-8045

[capt_ron]

Schooling Black Drum and Sheepshead

Cool overnight temperatures continue to give anglers a good excuse to sleep in and start their fishing trip a little later. Air temperatures in the 40’s and early morning water temperatures in the low 60’s often make for a better afternoon bite. Fishing this week on the Banana River found both sheepshead and black drum schooling around the docks.

The sheepsheads were receptive to frozen shrimp pinned to a ¼ ounce Rip Tide Pro Jighead. Rigging is easy. Pinch the tail off the shrimp and simply thread the shrimp onto the hook through where the tail was pinched off. Even though the sheepies were schooling between the docks, best results came when the shrimp tipped jighead was thrown in close to the dock pilings.

Sightfishing the schools was a little different process. They were extremely spooky in the open water between the docks. Almost any presentation would cause them to bolt to deeper water. After switching over to a fly rod for a few casts I got a couple sheepies to follow, but they never would eat the fly.

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The black drums were willing to take frozen shrimp on a circle hook. In this case the shrimp was suspended below a popping cork and fished around the docks in the area where the schools were spotted. The drum were on the move up and down the shoreline. When they came back through the area they couldn’t resist the easy meal of the dangling shrimp. When attaching the popping cork use a leader (mono or fluorocarbon) appropriate to the water depth you are fishing and tie on a 3/0 circle hook with a uni-knot. Add another short piece of mono to your mainline if you are using braided line. Use a double uni-knot to add the leader. Now you can use a regular uni-knot again to attach the leader to the top side of the popping cork. When using braid the extra piece of mono makes a more secure connection on the wire of the cork.

Using braid is a good idea when fishing around docks and other structure because of its abrasion resistant qualities. The black drum picture here wrapped around two different pilings before coming out into the open water. If the mainline had been mono he could have easily broken off.

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That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley

[capt_chris_m]

Although we are currently under a tornado watch as a strong cold front approaches central Florida, we have had some great weather during the past week.

Last week, I fished three days with my friend and fellow guide Capt. John Kumiski. Capt. Tom Van Horn joined us on the third day. Wednesday, John and I piled on the layers and headed out to Mosquito Lagoon with morning temperatures in the 40's. I think the best position in the morning was on the poling platform where you can quickly warm up and John climbed up there first. I'm going to blame my errant casts on my frozen hands as I proceeded to spook several tailing redfish. We found some black drum which were more than willing to eat our small black flies.

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We took turns, each catching two drum before we moved on to look for something different. Redfish were spotted tailing here and there before we came upon numerous large trout basking in some shallow sand holes. Most of them spooked before we saw them but John got his black and purple bendback fly in front of one before it took off. The fish struck instantly and raced across the flat jumping and thrashing its head. The hook stayed put and we got a few pictures of the trophy sized trout before setting it free.

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I took my turn and cast my bendback to a sand hole containing three nice trout. An unseen redfish grabbed the fly before the trout saw it, not a bad problem to have. John landed a redfish to complete his slam. We finished the day catching a few more reds and seeing more big trout. A fun day on Mosquito Lagoon.

The following day, I joined Capt. John for a kayak trip to the Banana River Lagoon. We paddled several miles with little to show for our efforts. I saw a few tailing redfish and stopped to cast to them while John continued on. By the time I was finished, I saw John
about a mile ahead of me. I made my way up to him and immediately saw why he had stopped. There were tails in every direction. John told me he had released three redfish over twenty pounds and as I was climbing into the water, he hooked up again. As soon as I took out my
camera, the hook pulled. I immediately grabbed my flyrod and was faced with some difficult decisions; which tail should I cast toward. Most of the tails I saw were from black drum but there were plenty of redfish mixed in. The black redfish worm fly worked well for both of
us. We had a lot of bites and caught plenty. Perfect weather and great fishing. We were both so busy casting, neither of us too any photos.

Friday, I joined up with Capt. Tom Van Horn in his canoe for another trip to the Banana River. Not just a canoe, this fishing machine is complete with a poling platform, casting deck, stabilizers from Kay-Noe paddle products, and rod holders. Capt. John went with us in his kayak. We returned to the spot where John and I had such great action the previous day.

As soon as we arrived, I made two casts to a tailing redfish and was hooked up. My hopes of a record breaking day were quickly dashed as the tails from then on came few and far between. The highlight of the day was a big school of giant black drum and redfish finning near the surface. I made cast after cast with my fly with no takers.

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The problem was the fish were in deeper water and my fly was not getting to the bottom quickly enough. While I had heavier flies on board, they were not where I could get to them quickly. Not wanting to chance spooking the fish, I didn't change flies. Capt. John
patiently watched and took photos from his kayak. When he could stand it no more, he tied on a weighted brown crab pattern and cast in front of the school. A huge redfish ate the fly but broke the 12 pound tippet a minute later. He tied on another fly and this time it was a
monster black drum that bit. Now it was my turn to take pictures as the fish towed John off the flat.

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When he managed to get the over 30 pound fish under control, John realized he would be unable to lift it without tipping over.

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We decided to try and tow the fish back to the edge of the flat but the fish had other ideas. With a powerful surge of it's tail, it took off, straightening the #4 hook. The big school vanished and Tom and I went our own way finding a few tailing redfish here and there that were willing to play. Tom caught his fish with a DOA shrimp while I used flies and a DOA crab.

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Monday, I was back in Mosquito Lagoon. The water level had dropped significantly and I was curious to see where the fish had moved. The first few hours of the day revealed plenty of tailing redfish. Unfortunately, I could not convince them to eat any of three separate flies I tried. I picked up the DOA FiGi Chix shrimp and fired off a cast at the next tail I saw. The fish ate immediately. I checked various spots, seeing both redfish and big trout in all of them and catching a few more along the way.

Tuesday, I had Rich and Dean on board for a full day of sight fishing the flats. Within minutes of arriving at our first spot, we saw a tail. For the next two hours, we saw tails quite regularly as well as running over many fish we did not see. For a short while, we had clear skies and no wind. Using 4 inch DOA CAL tails, Rich landed the first redfish and then
Dean followed up with two in a row. Hoping to take advantage of the perfect conditions, I suggest we make a move to look for some bigger fish. On our way to the spot, the wind went from zero to fifteen in an instant. It never let up and brought with it numerous clouds which made sight fishing difficult. We hit several spots seeing fish at all but one. Unfortunately, many of the fish saw us before we saw them. Both guys caught a few redfish and trout and certainly had more fun than a day at the office.

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I will be off the water for the next ten days or so but I anticipate more great tailing fish action when I return.

Capt. Chris Myers
Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters
http://www.floridafishinglessons.com

[ladypamela2]

December 6th, 2008

On Saturday afternoon, Plaxico Burress (NY Giants Wide Reciever) and his buddies came fishing aboard the Lady Pamela II. They flew down from New York to get some South Florida sunshine right here in Fort Lauderdale. Live bait was a must this afternoon. We got a dozen goggle eyes and headed out front to pop the kites for the sailfish and mahi - mahi. The bite has been pretty consistent the past few days. However, fishing started off slow, not much was around. BUT Before we knew it, a sailfish ate the right short bait and started jumping. It put on a good fight and a great show....until he fell off. The bait went back out hoping for another bite. We didn't get a sailfish bite, but we did manage to catch a few blue runners and vermilion snappers for them to take home for dinner. We were losing daylight quickly and needed it for the type of fishing we wanted to do. They enjoyed themselves and went home with fresh fish.

Tight Lines!
Captain David Ide
Lady Pamela II Fishing Charters
954-761-8045

[fishtales]

December 12, 2008

INSHORE:

With all the cold and flu that goes around this time of year.....I finally got hit and it decked me out all week. No fishing....just bed and rest to try and shake this bug. And I am not one who enjoys just laying around! The fishing has been pretty good out there and anglers are catching a variety of fish. With the latest cold front upon us, the winds will be blowing most days this week.

Around the river, anglers are catching quite a few grouper while trolling along the channel edges north of Fort Pierce. Pompano fishing down around the power plant has remained consistent most days. The trout and redfish have continued to come in shallow as the sun warms up the water. We were finding them in one to three feet of water. Bridge anglers are still enjoying lots of sand perch, black drum and sheephead out on the catwalks. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere! Mackerel, jacks and bluefish are around the inlet. I had some reports of snook catches, but most have been shorts of late with a few slots being taken. Remember......snook season CLOSES on December 15th and trout season won't re-open until January 1st.

Tip of the Week: Windy Weather Fishing

We can expect some windy days so plan your trips around the direction of the wind and enjoy your adventure. Setting up your drifts by using the wind directions can give you more fishing time and less time worrying about keeping the boat positioned. Drifting a flat in a zigzag pattern can allow you to cover a larger area while letting mother nature assist you. Fish ahead of your drift or to either side of the boat. If using live bait, I like to use popping corks and fish them ahead and re-cast as you drift up on them. You can use a drift anchor to slow down or use a small mushroom anchor like I do. I drop the anchor and fish an area. After some casts, I lift the anchor and drift ahead a little and drop it again. When you start catching fish, just keep the anchor out and fish that area longer. Once you are finished with a drift, move back across the flat at an angle to give your next drift in waters that you have yet to fish. It's an easy way to fish in windy conditions. Let the wind be your friend!

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

Clint Walker and myself with a couple recent trout catches on the Indian River flats...

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[Fishbuster]

Another weather-front came through the area Sunday night, once again kicking up winds and seas. But, despite some choppy conditions, the fishing was good offshore Tuesday morning. I fished with Bill Story, Marvin Giescke and friends, Doc, Dave and Bernie, in 45 feet out of New Pass, using live shrimp. We caught twenty keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, five huge whitebone porgies to 18 inches, a 22 inch white margate and keeper triggerfish and porkfish. We released smaller triggerfish and lots of gags that were within ¼ inch of legal-size.

William Conklin, Dennis Baker and friends fished in 47 feet out of New Pass with me Wednesday. Winds were howling most of the day, but the worst of the next weather-front wasn’t on us yet. We had three to four foot seas most of the day. We did well with snapper again, catching nine keepers to 16 inches and releasing lots of smaller ones. We also caught a 20 inch pompano, a 14 inch hogfish, a couple keeper triggerfish, and also got into those big whitebone porgies again, catching eight of those to 17 inches. We used shrimp for all.

Thursday brought a new cold-front to the area, which was accompanied by steady rain and high winds. My planned inshore trip was rained out. The winds and rough seas persisted into Friday, and predictions for Saturday were somewhat better but still pretty rough offshore. I was concerned because I was scheduled to take a family fishing in the Gulf Saturday but, before the weather could officially cancel those plans, my clients called to say they were battling the flu and not coming down to visit this weekend. They were disappointed but I assured them that the weather would be far from ideal Saturday anyway—I hope that made them feel a little bit better. So, as it turns out, my four-trip week was reduced to two trips—I guess Mother Nature thought I needed a vacation.

The photo shown below is of angler Lynn Harned with a 17 inch mutton snapper, caught on a live shrimp on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.

[fishtales]

December 18, 2008

INSHORE:

Finally! After a couple weeks of battling the flu, I was able to get back on the water and do some scouting around the river. It turned out to be a wonderful weather day with light winds to make it a warm welcome back to the river. It looks like the weekend will be a fantastic opportunity to get out fishing. The fish are out there, so plan a trip out soon!

If you have children, it's one of the best times of year to take them fishing. The ladyfish and jacks are thick on the edges of the flats and you can treat them to an experience that they will remember for a long time. Tom Hull came down from Melbourne and we play with them for a while to get back into the fishing mode again. Try to get some kids out there soon and show them a good time!

There are still large trout, snook and redfish hanging just on the flat edges once the sun warms up the morning. We found some nice size trout to hit and did manage one redfish before the day ended. It sure was nice to get back on the water again. If you are out, try soft plastics like DOA CAL jerk baits or grub tails for the trout, snook and redfish. We caught trout on the jerk baits and the redfish on a grub tail. Suspending lures will also work along with top water in the early mornings. Harbor Branch, Round Island and Bear Point have all been good areas to fish.

The sand perch bite slowed down a little this week, but you can still find some along with black drum, snapper and sheephead. I have seen some big sheephead around the river on the flats as well. There are still mackerel, bluefish and jacks around the inlet and jetties to catch. The pompano bite has been mostly around the power plant area. The surf has found whiting and pompano for anglers along the beach.

Tip of the Week:

Most of the big fish we have caught or seen on the flats have been hanging in the sand holes. I love to fish any sandy areas on the grass flats. Most sand holes that you happen on will usually be a bit deeper than the grass around them. Big fish are typically lazy and will hang in these holes to wait for bait fish to drift over with the tides. I cast just beyond a sandy area and fish slowly along it. Once the sun comes up, it easy to spot these areas on the flats and might just help you be a little more successful.

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
A couple trout from this weeks fishing....

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[fishtales]

December 23, 2008

INSHORE:

This year has come and gone so fast and I would like to thank everyone for making 2008 full of great memories and fun adventures on the water. We hope that you and your family has the most wonder of Holiday Seasons and wish you the very best for 2009!

Some great fishing weather awaited anglers this past week on the Indian River. Mild temperatures and very little winds to allow boats to spread throughout the river and ocean in search of their favorite species of fish. It was unusual to have so many great fishing days without another cold front to stir things up again. Even the fish were enjoying the weather and we found them hungry as well.

Big sheephead are around the river now. Each day we caught lots of three to five pound sheephead around docks and structure along the Indian River. Kevin and Gordon had some non-stop action and the next day Jack, Bill and Steve enjoyed the same fun and even caught some snook and grouper as well. Dave and Cody Howard were next to wrestle some of these big sheephead from under the docks. Young Cody mastered it well and also found a variety of fish to keep his rod bending. We had lots of fun this week on the water!

Trout have been holding in three to five feet on the grass flats. We had a number of trout along with all the jacks and ladyfish you cared to tangle with. The youngsters were all smiles this week with the quick and seemingly unending action. There were some redfish caught around some of the docks this week. You can also find some hanging in the shallows under the warmth of the sun. All our fish this week were caught on DOA CAL jerk baits or live shrimp on a DOA jig head. There is some fast furious action awaiting you out there on the river!

Black drum, sand perch and sheephead topped the list on the catwalks and bridges this week. Live or dead shrimp works great for these areas. Pompano around the Power Plant and in the surf has been the catch for those anglers. The jetties continue to hold Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks for those with a silver spoon. It's been a fantastic week on the water!

Tip of the Week: It's almost the end of 2008 and many will soon be thinking of resolutions for the coming year. While my usual ones are always to lose weight and keep healthy, I will set a few as well for the water.....

1. Protect our grass flats. Idle speed in the shallows and use a trolling motor or push pole the majority of the time. Prop scars can take years to heal if at all.

2. Pick up some kind of trash from the water on each adventure. There is always something floating around in the river and picking up something can only help in keeping our river cleaner.

3. Teach as many of our youth the art of fishing. Etiquette, casting skills, safe boating and using artificials are only a few of the many things that we can teach our future anglers.

4. Practice catch and release. Safe handling and releasing of fish can help insure a population for generations to come.

5. It's all about having fun! Enjoy your time on the water and make it enjoyable for everyone around you.

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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852


Cody Howard was busy reeling in fish this week with his dad, Dave. Jack and his sister had big days while fishing with their family, the Murrays.

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[Fishbuster]

Monday, 12/15, on a cloudy morning in Estero Bay, I dodged a few rain sprinkles and fished with H.O. Brownback and Steve Aggunt. We did pretty well using live shrimp and caught five keeper-sheepshead to 16 inches and four keeper-mangrove snapper. We released smaller fish of both varieties.

The rest of the week was pretty slow, as is typical in the lull before the holiday rush. I fished Estero Bay again on Saturday, 12/20, with Robert Haller, his wife, and his parents. We used shrimp to catch two keeper sheepshead to 15 inches, six keeper mangrove snapper, a 15 inch keeper black drum and a 14 inch keeper pompano. We released a trout, which is currently out of season.

Monday, winds whipped in advance of a cold-front, but that didn’t bother us much fishing in lower Estero Bay. Bill Darkoch and his son, Justin, wanted to learn to fish the bay and scheduled a day of catch-and-release fishing. We used shrimp and released thirty sheepshead to 15 inches, twenty mangrove snapper, ladyfish and cravalle jack.

With a small craft advisory in effect through Tuesday morning, I called my Tuesday anglers Monday night to let them know it would be rough offshore. But this hardy group of six from IL weren’t about to give up on their fishing plans. So I suggested we try the near-shore reefs, where seas would at least be tolerable. Paul & Celeste Luctenberg, son John, daughter Lindsay, and Bobby & Janet Cordoba withstood three to four foot seas even at the reefs all morning. But we had a good time using live shrimp to catch eighteen keeper mangrove snapper, all eleven and twelve inches, three twelve-inch lane snapper, and keeper triggerfish. We released lots of gag grouper shorts to 19 inches.

Wednesday, Christmas Eve, I fished near-shore again, with winds still blowing pretty strong. Marshall and Connie Swain, their daughter Laura, and Laura’s fiancé, Ryan Shick, had a good time at the reefs catching snapper. We caught a dozen keeper lane snapper, eight keeper mangrove snapper to 12 inches, and a keeper triggerfish. We released gag grouper shorts to 21 inches (an inch less than legal-size) along with two goliath grouper estimated at 12 pounds and 17 pounds.

December 25th and 26th were reserved for family events and, when I got back to fishing on Saturday, 12/27, winds were feisty once again. The bay was very shallow and not a very good option, so Jerry Spetzler and son, Andy, fished with me at the near-shore reefs, where the bite was finicky all morning. We caught mostly throw-backs, which included gag grouper shorts to 21 inches and small sheepshead and triggerfish. We managed a couple of keeper mangrove snapper and a couple of grunts.

By the time I update this fishing report next weekend, I will be changing the dates to ’09 so happy New Year to all, in advance.

The photo shown below is of angler Marvin Griescke with a 22 inch white margate, caught on a live shrimp on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter

[capt_ron]

Foggy Morning on the Banana River

With all the holiday activities I had not been on the water for a week and was anxious to see what was cookin’. I took my time getting started because of the heavy fog I saw outside my window. As it began to lift a little I hooked up the Maverick and headed for the dock. I was greeted by a foggy morning as I unloaded a Kiwanis Park on Merritt Island and headed south on Newfound Harbor.

With the wind light out of the west I decide to return to the docks on the west banks of the Banana River. Before Christmas lots of sheepshead (I’m still trying to catch one on fly), black drum and scattered redfish were present under and between the docks.

My first stop was an area that includes an oyster bar and usually has sheepies all over it this time of year. Not today though, so I started south scanning the bank for signs of fish. I found an occasional sheepshead, or maybe two at a time. They were all spooky and did not hang around to play.

One area has a long distance between docks and is characterized by a very sandy and shallow shoreline. About half-way down this section of shore I spotted a couple really nice spotted sea trout. I made several casts with a black fly, but no one was interested. This area, which probably warmed up much quicker than some of the other areas, was populated with at least a dozen nice trout and the only mullet I had seen all morning.

I continued my search in a southerly direction. Along the way there were a few redfish singles, more trout, more sheepshead, one juvenile tarpon (I bet there were some more around somewhere), and two really nice snook. I set a way point in my head for the dock that held the snook with the idea of coming back at lunch time.

The rest of the morning was more of the same as I continued fishing with fly rod only. As lunch time approached I headed back to the dock where I saw the monster snook earlier. The wind had switched around to the southeast, so I positioned the boat where I could float a popping cork back under the dock while I ate my lunch. I had brought some frozen shrimp along just for such an occasion.

I cast out about a foot under the dock and fed out more line so the float would continue back under the dock. With the bail open I laid the rod down and began to eat my sandwich. I guess I was paying too much attention to eating and not enough to fishing. I heard a loud splash only to look up and see a fish and my bobber airborne on the opposite side of the dock.

I quickly laid down my sandwich and reached for the rod, but it was too late! Not much to do but bait up again the send the bobber back under the dock. This time I ate with one hand and held the rod with the other. Almost as suddenly as before the bobber was gone and I began to reel expecting the circle hook to do its job. The hook did its job, but the leader did not. I have to think it had a nick in it or something, because when the line came tight it snapped under the weight of the fish.
I was zero for two and that was the last chance I had that day. Some days you just have to be satisfied with enjoying the beauty of God’s great outdoors.

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That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley

[ladypamela2]

Ending The 2008 Fishing Season Offshore Fort Lauderdale - Bring it on 2009!


The Winter season is definitely making it's presence felt here in South Florida with cold fronts pushing through one after another. We do prefer our 80 degree afternoons, but these chilly spurts bring more than just the shivers to us Fort Lauderdale locals, it's the start of our red hot winter fishing season. In November, we had the best sailfish bite I've seen in years. Kite Fishing is key when it comes to catching a sailfish. Live goggleeyes dangling from the kites really seems to turn them on. With moderate winds coming from the North and the East, we were averaging 5 - 15 sailfish a day. It has slowed down a bit, but not much. Watching those sailfish jump 5 feet high, 5 times in a row is the ultimate adrenalin rush. They are one of the most sought after game fish in the world and one of my favorite fish to seek. Tournament fishing is now in full swing here in South Florida. November 11 - 12 was the Sailfish Cup, the first leg of the Sailfish Pro Series. My tournament fishing team and I (Advanced Roofing) caught 20 sailfish in two days, hopefully the bite stays consistent and every boat catches fish throughout the season.

Just a few miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, more and more kingfish are being caught on the troll. Several days this month you couldn't get away from the kings. Some mahi - mahi remain, but are thinning out and migrating to warmer waters. Fort Lauderdale is known for it's wreck fishing offshore. If you are looking for something to tug on this time of year, drop a live bait on their front door and your chances of catching a grouper or a nice size amberjack are likely. The game sharks have been seen here and there, but not many takers.

As we approach the end of December, the new year brings several different attractions to South Florida. There are so many things to see and do, but nothing compares to deep sea fishing offshore - take advantage of our backyard and bring home a memorable experience. Fort Lauderdale and Miami offer some of the worlds best sportfishing. Head down here a day early or extend your vacation a day late to go deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale and experience the thrill of a lifetime.


Tight Lines & Happy New Year!

Captain David Ide
www.ladypamela2.com
954-761-8045

[capt_chris_m]

The first day of the new year has brought with it some high winds and cool temperatures. My clients for today decided to cancel and try again tomorrow giving me a chance to catch up on some work at home.

Water levels in the Mosquito Lagoon are lower than they have been all of last year. The warm temperatures as of late have kept the water from the mid 60's to over 70 on most days. This spell of warmer weather has seemed to push many of the large trout off the shallow flats though we have still seen some each day. As soon as the cooler weather returns, look for the trophy trout to reappear.

Redfish are in their winter schooling mode which means there are not as many single fish roaming the flats. Casting at schools increase your chances at a hookup but if you cannot find the schools, you may cover a lot of water and see very few fish. Again, since the water
has warmed up, the redfish have not been tailing nearly as well as they were at the beginning of last month. Just because you do not see them tailing does not mean they will not eat a well placed bait or fly.

A couple weeks ago, my wife and I spent several days in the mountains of north Georgia. We took a trip with a guide on the Soquee River to do some fly fishing for rainbow trout, a first for both of us. We landed 8 nice fish and lost many more.

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On the 23rd, Dan, a local resident, wanted to show his guest from Louisiana the Mosquito Lagoon. Unfortunately, the winds blew over 20 the entire day and fishing was tough. We saw very few fish and only caught a couple trout.

On Christmas Eve, I was joined by a father and son team from Alabama. We had great weather throughout the morning. Our first spot produced tons of tailing redfish and a few black drum. They did not get a lure in front of the fish but had fun trying. Our next few spots all held schools of redfish and John was able to hook up with his first redfish.

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My wife and I made a trip to Mosquito Lagoon this Monday. I used a black crab fly to hook up with a black drum right after Julie landed one on a spinning rod. We checked several spots I had not visited in a while and only found scattered reds and trout. I got two reds on a DOA
shrimp and another on a bendback fly. After much searching, we found an area holding numerous large seatrout. While we saw some much bigger than we caught, I was able to complete the slam on fly and a couple more came on DOA CAL's.

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Tuesday, Jim and his wife Sandra enjoyed a beautiful Florida winter day on Mosquito Lagoon. We started the day fishing a school of black drum. Sandra brought the first fish of the day to the boat.

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Jim hooked up a few minutes later and followed with a second drum after that. The flat became crowded with boats so we moved on in search of other fish.We found an area holding multiple schools of redfish. Jim caught a couple reds but the schools were spooky and tough to keep up with. We made a move and Sandra landed two redfish of her own. Seeking to complete the slam, we went searching for trout. Sandra used a DOA Deadly Combo to catch a few trout before we called it a day.

Wednesday, it was significantly cooler as I headed out with the brother and sister team of Jim and Juanita. A few minutes after we started fishing, Jim landed a black drum. Juanita soon had one on but the hook pulled. We went in search of redfish and had a tough time
finding some as the wind began to increase. Both Jim and Juanita caught a redfish before the school vanished.

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With the high winds, we elected to try fishing some deeper water for trout. Using a Deadly Combo as well as 3 inch CAL tails, they caught and released about 15-20 trout.The holiday crowds will be gone in a few days and the fish should get a chance to settle down a bit. The
water will cool soon and the redfish and drum will happily tailing on the flats.



Capt. Chris Myers
Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters
Cocoa Beach Fishing Guide (http://www.floridafishinglessons.com)

[administrator]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

20th Over-the-Hill Sailfish Tournament is Fun for 50 & over
Historic “seniors” charity tournament for CF and MARC set for Jan. 19 & 20th
ISLAMORADA In-the-Florida Keys --- Fishing fun and feeling philanthropic in the Florida Keys at Flutie’s Fifty and over tournament.
Okay, please excuse the alliteration but its worth emphasizing that two decades ago the late Capt. Al Flutie and friends started a little local charity sailfishing tournament that today continues to embody the fun of the sport and the uniqueness of the Florida Keys community.
Flutie, a popular Islamorada guide and radio fishing show host along with Dick Sheppard, Socko Gorenflo and Rip Tosun began the originally named Al Flutie Over-the-Hill Rip-Off Sailfish Tournament, which 20 years later is still the only senior’s sailfish tournament in the world.
This year the historic seniors’ catch-and-release competition kicks off Monday afternoon, Jan. 19 at Gary Dunn’s Ocean View Inn (MM 84.5 bayside), with fishing, dinner and awards on Jan. 20.
The event has far-reaching appeal attracting not only locals but many anglers from northern states. Last year’s top place winners were from New Jersey and Minnesota. It’s also attracted the attention of the world’s largest advocacy organization for the 50+ community in an AARP newsletter.
Anyone can participate but only those 50 years and older are eligible for trophies and prizes.
Asked why the tournament has enjoyed such enormous popularity, veteran tournament official Capt. Bill Kelly laughed saying, “The tournament’s motto is ‘we give tacky a touch of class.’ We do it benefiting very worthy causes such as cystic fibrosis research through the Redbone celebrity tournaments here in Islamorada and MARC the Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens of the Keys. We keep the entry fee affordable, make certain the food is top-notch, provide outstanding trophies by well-known marine artist Pasta Pantaleo and have high quality items in both the live and silent auctions. We throw in lots of fun and camaraderie and just hope the fishing is up to par. Even if the fishing is slow we have all the ingredients for a highly successful event.”
Over the holidays the latest reports were the sailfish action was strong in the Atlantic waters.

Donating over $350.000 to local and national charities with zero administrative costs
Kelly said tournament originators are extremely proud of their event’s history of profits for charities. With zero administrative dollars paid out of the profits more than $350,000 has been donated to numerous charities
“Because it’s an all volunteer effort there’s no administrative fees taken from tournament proceeds. Other than covering operating expenses, every penny raised goes to the charities.
"It’s heart-warming knowing we’re helping to make a difference,” said Kelly. “The life span for those afflicted with CF has tripled and grows each and every day. Scientists are on the cusp to finding a cure for this disease and that's part of our mission. Also helping to preserve the valuable work of MARC of the Keys is fundamental to our community character. Keys residents have always stepped up to the plate when locals need help and support. That's what it's all about."
“Dunn, the former Pittsburgh Steeler great opens his O V Inn and Sports Pub and all of our volunteers treat our anglers like royalty. I think that's why our anglers dig deep in their pockets to help raise money for our selected charities. Besides, this tournament is just plain fun to fish in!
“It’s too bad Al, Dick and Socko are no longer with us to appreciate all of the goodness they helped generate for Keys infrastructure and such noble causes. Somehow I feel they know it and continue to shower their blessings on all of us.”
More tournament information and downloadable entry forms are on the MARC website at: www.marchouse.org. Or participants can call co-chairmen Michelle Snyder at 305-852-3282 or at 305-849-3042, or Gordon Ross at 305-294-9526 ext. 25 gordonkw1552@aim.com.
###

Jan 2, 2009 Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, Scottsdale, Ariz., USA
480-951-3654 (ph) -- JohnsonCom@aol.com

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 12/29, I fished in 44 feet off Naples with Tom Wolf and sons, Jordan and Patrick, and friend, Chris Coriddi. Using live shrimp, Tom caught a nice 23 inch keeper red grouper (see photo.) We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts, which provided steady action for us all morning. We also caught seven keeper snapper, including six mangs and one lane. We released lots of smaller mangs and a short mutton snapper. We also caught a nice whitebone porgie and a 25 inch king mackerel, which was the only keeper mackerel out of the three we landed.

Tuesday, I headed out New Pass to 47 feet with Sven and Corinna Petersen. We caught a keeper gag grouper at 24 inches and released about thirty more gag and red grouper that were just short of keeper-size. We also caught about 100 mangrove snapper but only two of those were keepers at 14 inches so we released the rest of them, along with grunts and a 30 pound goliath grouper. We also caught four 15 inch whitebone porgies, all on live shrimp.

Caitlin Froehlich, her dad, Toby, and her brother, Sam, fished with me Wednesday morning in 44 feet off Naples. We caught whitebone porgies to 15 inches and kept a half dozen of those, along with a 14 inch triggerfish, and a 16 inch yellowtail snapper. We released five king mackerel to 26 inches, gag grouper shorts, and a 30 pound goliath grouper.

New Year’s Day I was off the water for family happenings, but Friday, January 2nd found me fishing with Bob Sawyer, Don Stevenson and Katie Grote in 46 feet out of New Pass, where the winds and seas were kicked up once again but the fishing was good. We used shrimp to catch a mess of mangrove snapper and kept the largest eight of those, which were 15 and 16 inches. We also caught some large whitebone porgies and released lots of smaller snapper, grouper shorts, triggerfish and king mackerel.

I had planned to fish inshore in Estero Bay on Saturday with a nice couple but, unfortunately, the Mrs. came down with a stomach virus overnight Friday and they were forced to cancel at the last minute on Saturday morning. So I spent Saturday doing some maintenance. Weather-permitting, I will have a full week of fishing beginning Monday with lots to report next week.

The photo shown is of angler Tom Wolf with a 23 inch red grouper, caught on a live shrimp on an offshore Fishbuster Charter 12/29/08.

[fishtales]

INSHORE:

January will be full of sunny days and windy conditions for most of the month. We can expect a few days a week to enjoy and the rest can be a challenge to get out on the water. Offshore is usually choppy to rough seas, but will hold some great sailfishing for those who can get out on the ocean. We will be playing cat and mouse with the wind, but there is always somewhere on the river to enjoy a day of fishing.

Trout season re-opens and many anglers will be out with their popping corks on the grass flats. Pompano will also be cruising around the river & surf and you never know where or when you can pick up some of these great tasting fish. The grouper bite along the channel will still be good as will be the dock fishing for them. Jetties will hold lots of bluefish, mackerel and jacks, while the catwalks provide sheephead, black drum and croakers for eager anglers.

January is a great month to fish the Indian River along the Treasure Coast if you watch the weather and plan your trips around the weekly cold fronts that will invade the area. Have fun this year and have a fantastic 2009!

Tip of the Week:
As winter settles in on the Treasure Coast, windy conditions will be the norm on most days for the next several months. Small boats that cruise the river in search of a good fishing spot can be especially vulnerable to water blown around in the boat from choppy waves and blustery winds. Make sure cell phones, keys, cameras or any things that could be damaged by salt water are stowed secure and dry from the conditions. Dry boxes or zip lock bags can save a cell phone or car keys from sure disaster from the effects of saltwater. Keep them safe and dry before you leave the dock!

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

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 1/5/09, I fished offshore in 43 feet, to the north of New Pass with Alene Haug, Scott Kempfort, Loren Heintze and John Reardon. The snapper bite was hot all morning and we caught twenty-two of those to 19 inches, none of them smaller than 14 inches. We also caught a big whitebone porgie and a 14 inch hogfish. We were cut off twice by big king mackerel and we released some smaller mackerel, triggerfish, gag grouper to 21 inches and red grouper shorts.

Tuesday, seas began building mid-morning, in advance of a weather-front coming through, and we had 3-4 foot seas twenty miles out of New Pass, where I fished with Bill and Mike Evans. The somewhat rough seas were worth enduring, though—we were rewarded with a 28 inch gag grouper, caught on shrimp. That catch was a team effort, with Bill hooking it and Mike on the net. We also caught thirteen keeper mangrove snapper to 16 inches and a large whitebone porgie. We released lots of smaller snapper, red and gag grouper shorts, small king mackerel and triggerfish.

Wednesday was a blustery, rainy day and I had to cancel my fishing plans. I had hoped for good conditions Thursday but, even though the sun was shining and the seas decreased to about 2-3 feet, those seas happened to be on top of a four-foot swell left over from the high seas of the previous day and night. I did not think my anglers would appreciate those conditions so I also cancelled Thursday’s trip.

Friday, I fished is somewhat sloppy conditions, but better than they had been for a couple of days. Vince Tomlinson and friend, John, fished with me in 44 feet out of New Pass, where we caught ten keeper mangrove snapper to 16 inches and a keeper hogfish. We released lots of smaller mangs, porgies, triggerfish, bluefish and grouper shorts. We missed boating the biggest mangrove snapper when a shark bit it in half before we could reel it in—that one’s head measured about 8 inches so he was a pretty big fish.

Ron Musick, Dick Arnett and friends fished with me Saturday in 44 feet out of New Pass, where the snapper bite was still on pretty strong. We caught twenty nice mangs to 18 inches and a half dozen whitebone porgies, all about 14 inches, on live shrimp. We let smaller mangs and porgies go, along with grouper shorts, grunts, a small hogfish and a few small king mackerel.

The photo shown is of angler Sven Petersen with a 24 inch gag grouper, caught on a live shrimp on an offshore Fishbuster Charter 12/30/08.

[fishtales]

January 10, 2009

INSHORE:

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

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

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

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

Tip of the Week:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Fishing and be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
http://www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

Denise with a nice snook, Mark battling another fish, Adrian & Phil with a few of their catches this week on the Indian River....

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[administrator]

Online bidding ends Jan. 19 for
huge 25TH IGFA Auction & Banquet
In past years an estimated 20 – 25% of online bids were the final winners

DANIA BEACH, Fla., USA -- You don’t have to be there to win one of the great items up for bid in the International Game Fish Association’s annual auction. The online bidding for the 25th Anniversary IGFA Auction & Banquet is now underway on the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org.
But the online portion closes Monday, January 19th at 9 a.m. ET
The active global-wide online bidding, now in its sixth year, builds advance awareness for the IGFA’s “Silver Anniversary” event at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida on January 23, 2009. The gala evening is black tie optional and the funds raised are used for numerous conservation efforts by the IGFA across the globe.
Those bids from the online auction will be the starting bids at both the live and silent auctions on the 23rd. The night begins at 6 pm with cocktails and the silent auction. At 7:30 the silent auction closes and the IGFA Conservation Awards, dinner and live auction will begin.
“It’s worth checking the IGFA web site before it closes because there are always some great bargains,” said Lesley Arico, IGFA corporate relations manager. “Historically 20 – 25% of the online bids are the final winners.”
All online winners will be notified on Monday, January 26th

Long list of items up for bid
Two new fully-rigged boats from Hell’s Bay Boatworks and Mako Marine are the featured items this year.
The Hell’s Bay 18’ Marquesa flats skiff package was donated by Capt. Chris and Wendi Peterson. This shallow-water performance boat comes equipped with a 90 hp electric-start Mercury Outboard, solid aluminum custom trailer, Odyssey battery, fully carpeted sides and rod racks, anodized poling platform, Lenco electric trim tabs and many more features and attributes. The Mako 204 center console offshore fishing package was donated by Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shops and Mako Boats. Its long list of features includes a Mercury 200 OptiMax engine, an aluminum trailer with tandem axle and tandem axle brakes, T-top, 37-gal. frontseat baitwell, two above deck fishboxes with overboard drain and much more.
Among the other items featured in the live auction are:
An original by Guy Harvey, this year’s featured artist and his titled work “Blue Sky”
A sportfishing trip for four in San Salvador, Bahamas with Hadenuff Charters
one week at Tomato Paste in Abaco, Bahamas donated by Phil “Boot”LeBoutillier
the ultimate fishing vacation for four at the home of Don Tyson in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
“Fishing Legends” package with legendary Hall of Famer Stu Apte
South African safari for two with Sitatunga Safaris
Guatemala fishing with Pacific Fins Resort
An original swordfish mount from Ray Douglas of King Sailfish Mounts
A bass fishing/quail hunting trip for two on Lake Guerrero, Mexico with Hacienda Las Palmas
A team entry to the 50th Anniversary of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament
Ultimate week-long cruise for two in NW Australia aboard the Kimberly Quest II

The over 200 live and silent auction items also include a long list of fine paintings, exquisite sculptures, rods and reels, tackle, jewelry, international resorts and lodges, fishing charters and much more.*
* * Tickets are $175 per person or a corporate table for 10 people can be purchased for $5000 which includes preferred table placement, a full-page ad in the auction program, table signage and table favors.
“All guests will receive a signed and numbered limited edition print of Guy Harvey’s original piece, ‘Blue Sky,’” said Arico.
For reservations, for further information or if you would like to purchase Go for the Gold tickets where the winner receives $10,000 and the Junior Angler program receives the other $10,000, please contact Ms. Arico at 954-924-4222 or email larico@igfa.org
###

1/13/2009 IGFA PR counsel - Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications,
Scottsdale, Ariz., USA
480-951-3654 (ph) -- JohnsonCom@aol.com

[fishtales]

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

DOA CAL jerk baits work great on redfish!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/002-6.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/005-2.jpg

[ladypamela2]

What a wonderful few weeks we just had here in South Florida, beautiful weather and great fishing offshore Ft Lauderdale. With light winds coming from the Southeast, it's been consistent offshore. The Lady Pamela II has been non - stop, fishing long hours and coming home with unbelievable catches.

The weather has been a bit chilly for us Fort Lauderdale locals, but we aren't complaining, the sailfish love it. They started showing up again earlier this week when it dropped down to the low 60's. The conditions have been perfect for kite fishing, rippin' north current with 74 degree blue water. Kite fishing is the most productive way to land a sailfish. Daiwa Electric Reels and SFE fishing kites are the only way to go to suspend your bait where it's dancing on the surface. Using live bait such as cigar minnows, blue runners, goggle eyes and sardines, the LP II averaged 2 - 6 bites per day last week (not too shabby). With action packed days like this, you can expect hours of bent rods and screamin reels.

On January 10th & 11th, the crew of the Lady Pamela II fished the Palm Beach Shootout aboard the Advanced Roofing, a 39' center consol tournament fishing boat. Advanced Roofing came in 3rd place the first day catching a total of 6 fish. Day two was slow, there was barely any wind to even fly the kites. We got our first bite at 12:30 PM, a triple header, giving us a total of 9 fish. We didn't get another bite after that, pulling us in 5th place for the Palm Beach Shootout.

Trolling just a few miles offshore, there have been a few wahoos anywhere from 25 lb - 35 lb on a full moon. Let's not forget about the king mackerels. Trolling with strip baits and planters does the trick to land these 8 - 10 lb'ers.

Daytime swordfishing has been decent lately. Last week there were at least 20 boats 15 miles offshore daytime swordfishing and every boat caught a fish anywhere from 80 lb - 300 lb. On the other hand, nighttime swordfishing has been hit or miss. The Lady Pamela II headed offshore nighttime swordfishing last week for 9 hours and had two nice bites....both fell off. However, they did tug on an 8 1/2 ft Hammerhead shark.

Let's get out there and go fishing to give you and your buddies something to talk about.

Check out our daily Captain's Log to keep you caught up on what's biting offshore Fort Lauderdale

http://www.ladypamela2.com/...bin/forum/gforum.cgi

Tight Lines!

Captain David Ide

www.ladypamela2.com

954-761-8045

[merijo_attong]

Tailing bones and large Snook in winter 2009

I am a Florida native and do not like the cold…sometimes! This winter or what we consider winter here in paradise is normally windy cold gray skies and just plain out nasty or that’s how I see this time of year. This year it started a bit early back in October
It went through November with the first part of December warming up a bit. Now that we are in January and we are cooling off back to normal fishing has been real good from Cobia Bones Muttons and even large Snook the last week or so.
If you can find low water at mid day on a good clear day that is on a “warming” day you will find plenty of bones tailing and schooling on darker bottom, we did well the last couple of days catching 2 on fly over the weekend with plenty of more shots in South Bay.
On the outside we are catching a good amount of Mutton Snapper on the patch reefs, the largest was 10 lbs yesterday with a lot of action mixed in like sharks mackerel and grouper. We were fishing live ballyhoo we caught in our chum slick and pretty much had good action all day that kept us busy.
In Florida bay redfish are on the flats on incoming water on warm days but some days they are not eating very good and some days they are sitting in the mud not showing them selves however large Snook are numerous on the flats all you need to do is find clear water with nice potholes and thick grass you will find hungry fish, if you are fishing dirty water you will find Snook but most will be laid up under the grass and very spooky.
Steven Deutsch, Alli and Matthew Ammerman fished Flamingo with me on kind of a slow day but Matt connected with a nice 20lb 39 inch slob Snook fished on a popping cork with a “spaghetti” shrimp in a runoff near Snake Bite, nice job Matt! Also Allie and Steven boated some nice Sea Trout.
Out in the gulf there are plenty of Cobia and Triple Tail on the wrecks and crab pots, and I am expecting plenty of Tarpon to show back up on the next warming trend. They have been in White Water Bay in the usual spots for all you guys who fish it and know what I am talking about. These Tarpon have been waking on top on calm days and
If you find that you can bet they will eat a large colorful fly.

Stay warm and looking ahead to a good to great Tarpon season.
Capt. Jim Hale
www.hurricanesportfishingcharters.com
786-255-1788

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 1/12/09, I fished offshore in 43 feet with Ed & Margie Bock, who fish with me several times each winter. We departed in a dense morning fog, with visibility of about 200 feet (thank goodness for radar) and in very low tide conditions. We headed out of New Pass to 43 feet, where we used live shrimp to catch eight keeper mangrove snapper, all about 15 inches, and a 14 inch yellowtail snapper. We also kept six whitebone porgies that were all about 14 inches. We released smaller snapper, porgies, grunts, triggerfish and grouper shorts. We had one large grouper hooked, but not well enough—he got down in the rocks on bottom and came off.

Jerry Shaffran, wife Barb, and five and seven-year-old sons, Max and Jake, fished central Estero Bay with me on an overcast Tuesday morning that got progressively windier and chillier in advance of an approaching cold-front. The boys did very well catching sheepshead on shrimp, and we boated seven of those to 17 inches. We also caught two keeper mangrove snapper and a 16 inch trout. It was Max and Jake’s first introduction to fishing and I think they are now “hooked” for life!

The balance of the week consisted of nothing but cancelled trips. With two strong cold fronts kicking up winds and seas to not only unpleasant, but downright dangerous levels, offshore fishing was impossible. I had hoped to get Saturday’s party out in the bay but the high winds coming from the northeast literally sucked the water out of the bay. It was too shallow to even float the boat off the lift. So, I cancelled three trips and rescheduled one of them for Monday 1/19.

On Monday, 1/19, I thought I was going to have to cancel my rescheduled trip yet again, with three-to-five foot seas predicted near-shore and four-to-seven foot well offshore. But Dan Harper and Mott Wuttae are hardy anglers who decided they’d brave the conditions and see how far offshore we could get. We started out in three to fours but, in the big swells to come later, it was fives to sevens, in 45 feet out of New Pass. The snapper were biting our live shrimp, though, and we caught fourteen mangrove snapper to 19 inches, most of them in the 16 to 19 inch range. We also caught eight keeper lane snapper to 13 inches and three keeper sheepshead to 18 inches. We released grouper shorts and a small bluefish.

Tuesday’s forecast called for seas to 14 feet offshore, after yet another cold front moved through overnight Monday, with gale-force winds briefly and blustery winds to persist all day Tuesday. My scheduled anglers had their hearts set on fishing offshore, which was, of course, impossible, so they decided to cancel their trip, rather than fish the backwaters. It might have been tough even anchoring bayside in the winds we had Tuesday. Wednesday’s winds were predicted to be calmer but seas offshore remained treacherous and cold temperatures weren’t very appealing either. The temperature dropped even further on Thursday morning, which brought scattered frost to the area. So, even though seas had calmed to two-to-three feet by Thursday morning, the frost that was still on the boat by 9:30 that morning caused my anglers to re-think their fishing plans and cancel.

Friday, as a warming trend began, I fished in fairly calm seas with John Ballou in 43 feet out of New Pass, where we used live shrimp to catch six keeper lane snapper, three keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper hogfish and some whitebone porgies. We released a small bluefish, along with gag and red grouper shorts.

The photo shown is of angler John Reardon with a 19 inch mangrove snapper, caught on shrimp in 43 feet, on an offshore Fishbuster Charter the first week of January.

[capt_ron]

Blues and Jacks in Summer Pattern

My fishing has been limited lately for various reasons. However the weather has been nice and fish are biting like it was summer. Most pros will tell you to slow down you retrieve in the winter to increase your opportunity of a hookup. Lately, with Indian Summer settling in water temperatures have warmed nicely as the day goes by and the bite is more like summer time.

On a recent outing I found both jacks and bluefish willing to take a plastic bait. Usually in the Winter I am using smaller baits like the Rip Tide 3 inch Mullet. On this winter day the fish preferred a larger bait. I started getting hookups when I switched to the 5 inch Rip Tide Flats Chub. The best color seemed to be something on the light side. Both the Gold Apricot and the Gold n’ Glow worked well.

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The jacks were the more plentiful and would fight for the right to eat one of the chubs. The 5 inch bait was rigged on a ¼ ounce Rip Tide Pro jig head. Rigged this way allows for long casts that cover a lot of territory. If you got a hit and missed, another jack was right there to take you on. That’s what I mean by biting like it was summer. They were very aggressive.

http://inshorefishingadventures.com/Bluefish,%20lock,%20rs.jpg

I didn’t catch as many blues that day, but they were just as aggressive. They were biting on the same 5 inch plastics and they wanted them swimming fast. It is always a good idea to vary your presentation until you pattern the fish on any given day. On this day it was larger baits than normal and faster retrieves than normal. It was more like summer fishing, but in the winter.

That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.

Capt. Ron Presley

[capt_chris_m]

Last week finally brought some sunny and pleasant days to east central Florida. A few of the mornings were frosty but winds were light and skies were clear. That combination makes for some of the best sight fishing of the year. The redfish and drum have been forming some big schools and the large trout invaded the shallow flats. We have been seeing hundreds of fish on every recent trip. The water is very low and crystal clear offering oustanding sight fishing opportunities for both fly and spin anglers. The fish are feeding heavily on small crabs and shrimp. Lures and flies that mimic them will be very effective.

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Last Thursday, I made a solo trip to Mosquito Lagoon. It was a cold day by Florida standards and the water temperature was 47 degrees when I hooked my first fish. I used a variety of small crab and shrimp flies to fool six redfish and one nice trout. Some of the fish were lethargic and not feeding due to the cold water but there were plenty around that were. An accurate cast with a very slow presentation was most effective.

The following day, I was joined by Joel, a fly angler from Miami. Again, we found plenty of very shallow and spooky redfish, drum, and trout. He was able to get a holographic bendback fly in front of a redfish that followed it for quite some distance before attacking.

Saturday, Ben and Lou joined me for a half day trip. We went to one flat and never had to leave. Within five minutes of starting, Lou hooked up with his first redfish using a holographic DOA CAL. We switched over to a DOA shrimp and both guys hooked a few more redfish.

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As was the case during each recent trip, there were lots of schools of redfish, trout, and drum to cast at.

Sunday, Alex made his first trip targeting redfish with the fly. We had another beautiful winter day with light winds and plenty of finning redfish and drum. Alex had consistent shots at schools of fish throughout the day. Unfortunately, his fly fell a few feet short on most occasions and he did not hook up. We worked on a few tips and drills to add some distance to his cast. With a bit of time to practice, he should have better luck his next time out.

Tuesday, I fished with my long time friend Scott. We hit only two spots before the weather turned sour but found redfish at both of them. The three inch DOA CAL was the most productive accounting for redfish to 32 inches and several trout.

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Len joined me the following day for some Mosquito Lagoon sight fishing. The first half of the day had more clouds and wind than we had hoped for making spotting the fish challenging. We did, however, encounter numerous schools of both drum and redfish. By mid day the skies had cleared and the redfish began tailing aggressively. The tails could be seen from a long distance as they rooted in the mud and grass for small crabs and shrimp. Another great day of winter fishing in Florida.

Unfortunately, the weather can't be perfect every day and a front is currently passing through. The sunny and mild days after the fronts, however, will continue to offer some great fishing for both fly and spin anglers. Stealth, quickness, and accuracy are the key factors. The more you practice your casting, the more you will catch.

Capt. Chris Myers
Orlando Redfish Guide (http://www.floridafishinglessons.com)

[Fishbuster]

Monday, 1/26/09, I fished offshore in 45 feet with Barry Pfleuger and friends. We caught fifteen nice mangrove snapper in the 14 to 16 inch range, two keeper pompano and a keeper hogfish. We released gag and red grouper shorts, porgies, triggerfish and a bluefish, all on live shrimp.

The snapper bite was on in 70 feet Tuesday, when I fished with Ron Musick and Dick Arnett. We caught twenty-one nice mangs to 18 inches, using shrimp. We tried some cut bait, but shrimp was definitely the bait that worked so we stuck with that. We also caught six large whitebone porgies to 17 inches and two 30 inch king mackerel. We released the mackerel, along with grouper shorts and a couple of small yellowtail snapper.

Even in shallower depths on Wednesday, the snapper bite was hot and the mangs were good-sized. Fishing with Bob Wojtowicz, his brother Stosh, and friends Bob Bradley and Mel Stuart in 44 feet, we caught seventeen mangs to 19 inches, along with whitebone porgies, grunts and porkfish. We released lots of red and gag grouper shorts.

Thursday’s snapper fishing with Bill story, Jim and Mark Martin, and friends Steve, Dave and Marv, was decent but didn’t yield as many big mangs as the trips earlier this week. We kept five of them to 16 inches and released smaller ones, along with some grouper shorts. We also caught porgies, sheepshead, porkfish and grunts, all on shrimp in about 43 feet.

Weather predictions for Friday included a small craft advisory, with another strong cold front approaching. Sure enough, it was raining by 9AM. Once again, the Gulf was too rough to fish and the bay too dry for at least Friday and Saturday.

The photo shown is of angler Bill Evans with a 28 inch gag grouper, caught on shrimp in 45 feet, on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter in January. Gag grouper are in closed season February 1st through March 31st so there won’t be many pics like this one for a while.

[fishtales]

January 30, 2009

INSHORE:

A few nice days of weather in between windy and cool periods found a good bite this week on the Indian River. The water temperatures began rising and that got the fish in the mood to feed. With the next cold front already moving in the area, it looks like the nights will continue to be cooler and winds to blow most of the week. Welcome to winter in Florida!

We began our days by fishing deeper water for trout. Finding cuts and channels that were six feet and deeper gave us a good trout bite along with grouper and snapper. Once the sun rose in the sky, we moved into three to five feet of water to find trout, ladyfish and jacks in a feeding pattern. Redfish, snook and trout are coming onto the shallows later in the day to warm up under the sun's rays. As the water temperature continues to warm up, the fish will become more active on the flats.

To find trout, look for clean water. Most of the east shore south of Fort Pierce has remained clean and you can find some clean water to the north around Harbor Branch and Round Island. We caught all of our trout on DOA CAL jerk baits in several colors that were mostly dark in nature. Snook season opens at midnight on Saturday night and many anglers are preparing to head out to get the first chance at a slot fish. Remember to check your license and snook stamp prior to getting on the water. Redfish can be found in many areas in shallow water around the river. DOA CAL grub tails are my favorite this time of year for the reds. Rootbeer is a good ol' standby that can't be beat on the flats.

Bridges slowed down this week with some black drum, snapper and sheephead being caught. The mackerel, bluefish and jacks have been thick around the jetties and along the beaches this past week. Pompano have been around the channels and beaches, but the bite wasn't heavy lately. It should be picking back up this week. I took my wife, Eva, out for a spin on the St Lucie River this week. We had a nice cruise and it was good to get her back on the water again.

Tip of the Week:

Safety equipment in your boat is not only just a requirement, but an essential part of your boating experience. Having the right gear might not seem important until you have a situation where it is necessary for safety or survival. Check the U. S. Coast Guard requirements for your particular vessel. You should check flares for expired dates and that fire extinguishers are current. First Aid kits should be checked and stocked regularly to be ready for any emergency that might pop up on any given adventure on the water. Life vests should be inspected for mildew and broken straps. Instruct passengers on locations of emergency equipment on your boat. These are a few things that always seem to be at the bottom of the list and last to be thought of until an emergency happens and you need your safety equipment. Boat and fish in a safe manner to prevent accidents, but be prepared when the unexpected might happen on your vessel. Have a safe and fun 2009!

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

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0996.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/fish0054.jpg

[mosquitocoast]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mosquito Creek Outdoor’s Indian River Lagoon Fishing Forecast, February 2009

By Captain Tom Van Horn

As winter seasons go here in Central Florida, we certainly can’t complain about the cards dealt to us thus far. With the exception of a few really cold days, I mean really cold, gorgeous fishing condition has prevailed and we experienced so excellent fishing as well.

Inshore on the flats, water levels have fallen to levels lower than I have ever seen. These low water levels have forced the redfish, black drum, and sea trout into the deeper pockets on the flats where they have become trapped in some cases. These concentrations make for a good number of tight schools, but shallow conditions also make access both difficult and dangerous for those not familure to the area. Also on colder days, falling water temperatures force most fish to seek deeper locations in search the warmest water they can find and they become very sluggish. As the sun warms the water, all it takes is a degree or two of change, and the fish will begin to move and feed in the shallows. On the sunny mornings, it is not uncommon to find redfish and trout holding in the sand pockets or potholes within the shallow flats where water temperatures raise faster. Additionally, warming water temperatures combined with sunny spring days and crystal clear water make February one of the best months to site fish for redfish, large sea trout, and black drum on the lagoon flats. Also, now is the time to target tailing black drum in the Banana River Lagoon “No Motor Zone”. For larger sea trout, fish at first light, sunset, or at night with natural baits, and target areas where mangrove edges, docks, and other structure are adjacent to deep water dredge holes, sloughs, or canals. These same areas will also hold concentrations of small trout which can be caught throughout the day on small jigs and shrimp imitation baits like DOA Shrimp fished very slowly along the bottom. Also, when fishing in deeper darker water try using nightglow colors with Woodies Rattles inserted in them to add the element of sound.

Offshore, kingfish are still present along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kingfish this month focus your efforts on the areas of 8A Reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south for best results. Look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral. Additionally, live bait is tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.

Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structures, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper sixties. Now is also the time for shore fisherman to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties.

Last but not least, windy days in February are a great time to check out those freshwater fishing holes on the St Johns River. Currently good catches of American shad, speckled perch, warmouth perch, and largemouth bass are being reported. The shad run has been really kicking this year with more fish then we have seen in years. This past week, good reports of shad came from the Marina Isles to Mullet Lake section of the St. Johns River, as well as a good number shad being taken south of Lake Harney. As the run progresses the shad should be moving into the shallows flats south of Hwy 46, so fly anglers don’t hast.

Remember when planning a fishing trip in February, keep a close eye on the weather, and fish whenever you have a chance.

Also, be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando in print and online for free at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.

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

Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
www.irl-fishing.com
mosquitocoast@cfl.rr.com
407-366-8085 office
407-416-1187 on the water

For all you outdoor shopping needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors at www.mosquitocreek.com.

[fishtales]

February 5, 2009

INSHORE:

Alright, I have finally figured it out. Sitting here with the wind and freezing temperatures outside has gotten me to thinking and I have came up with the solution to beating these cold fronts. Everyone should show up at the beaches on both coasts on Sunday and bring a paddle. We can all just row Florida a few degrees south and end these freezes for this year. It shouldn't take more than a couple hours........

Wind has been the enemy most of the week. Daytime temperatures haven't been so bad, but windy conditions has kept many anglers off the water. This weekend should provide us with fishable weather and much milder temps. The water is cold, but the fish will have to eat. Start fishing deeper water until the sun rises high in the sky. I did manage a trip to check out the river. The water has remained fairly clear so far and the trout are coming onto the flats later in the day. I drifted the Harbor Branch flats and found fish looking for the warm rays of the sun.....

Anglers have had luck on snook at night around docks, bridges and the inlet area. Live pinfish or large shrimp are the best choices with feather jigs the favorite artificial. Some slot and a lot of shorts were reported this week. At least the inlet has given some protection from some of the winds. Snapper and a few flounder have been boated this week as well. Catwalks have been mostly quiet this week. The Northwest winds have allowed beach anglers to hit the surf and find whiting, bluefish and pompano along the beaches. The jetties have held bluefish, mackerel and jacks during the day and some snook caught at night along the rocks.

The ocean continues to be a challenge on getting offshore. On the river, pick your spots and fish deep cuts or the channel edges for now. Most of the fish will be holding there, especially in the mornings or late evenings. Hopefully, this is the end of the freezing temps and things will begin to get back to normal soon. Cold water can make it challenging to find the fish some days. It's still better than chopping a hole in the ice....

Tip of the Week:

This time of year usually provides plenty of days to get your gear checked out for the coming spring. When it's cold and windy, I take a little time to change out line, oil reels and check rods for damaged guides. Changing hooks on lures, looking in the bottom of the tackle bag..... and cleaning out the storage compartments on the boat are a few other things to do on a cold, windy winter day in Florida. The warm weather isn't far off......

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

Trout were hitting DOA TerrorEyz on a windy day this week....

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