April 2009

Sping is here 4-1-09 I fished the Marco Island area with friend Kenny Carman, we had S to SW winds at 25 mph so we went into the river system and put a hurting on some Snook. I was getting ready for the Backwater Series Tournament on Saturday, Kenny was going to fish with me but had to cancel. I asked him to pre fish with me since he has a place over there. I figured out a good pattern but the tides weren't going to be right for Saturday. we caught 30 Snook or so and Kenny had a nice 30 inch Redfish. We caught everything on artificial's, Twitch N Raps, X Raps, Gulp Jerk Shads. 040309 I am back in the Marco area for another day of pre fishing, the weather is almost identical to Wednesdays but the winds are up over 30 mph. I am with my partner Paul we have been fishing tournamentstogether for the last year. I wanted to try an area I used to fish a lot when I was on vacations here. On my first cast I had a monster Snook come out from a dock and smash the Twitch n Rap but hit it short. we caught some big Jacks and had the same thing happen a couple more time with the Snook. The wind was cranking into the spot and it was tough to fish it right so I decided to go to another area. Our 3rd angler arrived and we picked him up, Capt Jim Chambers from Titusville is a great angler/captain and one of the funniest guys I've ever been around. He was a last minute replacement so we showed him around the area since he had never been there. 040409 We got an early start today only to find our bait had died, the winds were gone it seemed like we could have a nice day. We check out and were let go, we made a run down south to our first spot. This spot has been good to me but the fish weren't here today, we worked the area and finally caught a few Snook, Jacks, and big Mangroves. We saw a big Snook blow up a school of Mullet and the Tarpon were doing the same. We decided to go to Spot # 2, on Paul's first cast he got a decent snook. The I got a couple Snook and Jim caught a 19 inch Redfish. We had a few decent follow ups and some big blow ups on top water and spoons. We worked that spot really hard for 3 hours and caught a lot of short Snook. We netted some mullet and went looking for a big Snook only to hook a big Goliath on one point and then had a big Snook run me up into the trees and cut me off (60 lb flour leader). With 30 minutes left I hooked what looked to be the perfect Redfish, there was $1800 in the calcutta for big Redfish. We were excited, we measued it and it was a quarter inch over. We debated whether to try to weigh it in or not, we decided not to. The $1800 calcutta was on our minds and the fish was close. The fish could shrink on the ride back but it was over and your not supposed to keep it. The fishing was good and we caught a ton of fish and missed some fish that would of made us some money but we had a good time! 040609 Today I am Flamingo fishing with Mark and Cody from Ohio. The winds are supposed to pick up as a front pushes thru so I decide to go into Whitewater Bay. On the way out of Buttonwood Canal the small Tarpon were rolling and no one coming thru I let them cast at them, Mark hooked a 36" Tarpon. The morning was beautiful and the fish responded our first stop. Mark started it off with a big Snapper and a couple big Trout, then Cody found where the Snook <about:blank#> were lying and put a few in the boat. This went on for an hour and then the bite just stopped, on to spot # 2. Mark was casting a live Shrimp with a popping cork and Cody was using a chartreuse paddle tail. The bite was on but it was only Trout, after catching a bunch we netted some Mullet and were off to a good Snook <about:blank#> spot. We arrived and I power poled down and rigged up a Mullet. I told them were to cast as I put out the live bait and it was fast and furious! Snook <about:blank#> and Jacks on almost every cast and Mark hooked a 25 inch Trout, meanwhile a monster Snook <about:blank#> hit our Mullet behind the boat. I sat and watched it hit it knock it out of the water and miss it the bait came back completely scaled. I pitched another bait out to the same spot but it never got hit. The bite slowed and I knew Cody wanted a Tarpon so we went looking, but now the winds were up. I covered a bunch of water and just didn't find them thick or cooperative. I stopped at a Gag Grouper spot and they both caught 3 lb Goliath Groupers. We finally got on some Tarpon in a couple different creeks but they showed no interest. I watched one blow up on a bait but still did not eat our mullet. I took them to a Goliath Grouper spot where they get big and we use 1-2 lb Jacks for bait. I pitched a bait into the hole and told him hold on , this isn't a Bass and he going to pull you in! He couldn't believe that his fish almost pulled him in and said "I want to do that again". This time he lasted a little bit longer, Its like riding the mechanical bull! He was ready, I cast the next bait into the hole and the Goliath chased the Jack out of the hole and smashed hit on the surface! Cody put the heat on him keeping him from getting back into the trees. He brought him boat side and we snapped a few photos of the 20 lb Goliath and let it go. It was Marks turn, the bait hit the water the fish ate it and he cranked it in. that's just not the way it works normally. There is supposed to be some frustration! We had 10 baits and hooked 10 fish. These guys were beat so we headed to the ramp. ... 040709 I am with Mark and Cody again today, I stayed out front in Florida Bay because the winds were west to N.W. 20-25 mph. A late season major cold front is coming thru today and will make it interesting. I have enough spots to hide all day from the wind at least I thought I did. We started out and things looked promising but there was no bite, we watched baits get busted but not on our lures. I saw a pod of mullet and netted some it never hurts to have them. We worked hard all day on high percentage spots and it just didn't happen. We did have a couple Mullet get hit by Snook <about:blank#> but they just didn't stay hooked up. Today Mark fished alone because Cody slept all day like he was sea sick. I was really confused by this but still worked hard for Mark. We got into Tarpon that were actively busting mullet but again would not eat ours. I had Mark throwing a top water on a shallow flat and it got smashed but no hook up. . I put baits out for Sharks and they wouldn't eat. This cold front really had things messed up and by now the winds were around 30-35 mph. we stuck it out but only managed some Trout, Jacks,and Ladyfish on a difficult day. 041009 I am fishing Flamingo today with Brian and his dad Jerry, I decided to fish Whitewater Bay because we had a straight south wind which was blowing into Florida Bay and I could find plenty of protection back there. The first couple spots we stopped at we slow, we are on a full moon with a extremely high tides. I told them we would have to run north to catch the tide falling and we did. I pulled up to a spot with the wind and tide going in the same direction this is what we need for a good bite. I had netted some mullet and put them to work while Brian cast a X Rap. Brian had a big follow up and I told him to cast right back in top the same spot. The lure got blasted and the Snook <about:blank#> was in the air and up set pulling and running all over the place. I knew the Snook <about:blank#> was big but she was so black it was hard to tell from a distance. Brian finally got her close enough to see and we were excited about the size. Brian brought the Snook <about:blank#> boat side and I lipped her with the Boga <about:blank#> grip, this fish was much bigger than I thought. I lifted the big female up and checked the weight, almost 20 lb. I said. We took some photos, then Brian spent 7 or 8 minutes reviving her. I told him we really have to make sure she's ready to go, so just hang on to her for a while. He didn't mind looking at his prize catch while making sure she would be fine. It was now Jerry's turn, he caught several Snook <about:blank#> although not as big as Brians. Jerry found the Trout mixed in with the Snook and must of caught 10 or so. There were some big Snappers along with a 10 lb Goliath Grouperin there as well. The winds were really starting to blow so we moved around from spot to spot. The bite slowed and the mullet weren't even getting hit. It was late so I said let's go play with the Golaiths. We had caught some 2 lb. Jacks that make great bait and they didn't last long. Brian couldn't believe the power of the Goliaths, we went thru a couple Jacks and the bite just stopped. I hooked up a Mullet and the big goliath came out and just inhaled it, Brian battled the fish back and forth and it finally got into a tree and cut him off. We did this 10 more times and they Goliaths won today even though Brian was close a couple times. It was late and we headed in but Brian and Jerry were definitely satisfied. 041309 I am with Craig Mcginnis and his wife Vanessa today. I suggested Whitewater Bay because the wind was well over 20 mph. He said he wanted to fish Florida Bay for Tarpon so that's what we did. I netted some mullet and went to work, it didn't take long to bend a rod with a Lemon shark. The Shark cut us off right at the boat, I re rigged and put out another bait. This time it was a explosive bite on the surface, I thought it was a Tarpon at first but it ended up being a big Bull Shark. We managed a couple of bites which we missed mostly because of the wind. The line had a big bow in it and we didn't get the hook ups. Overall this was a tough day by the end the wind was steady at 30. I thought about it at the trip and told Craig we would of been better in the back country. He said he enjoyed the trip and don't worry about it! 041509 I am fishing with my son James his friends Albert and Jimmy in Government Cut. We had perfect calm conditions which had the Tarpon playing. They all wanted a Tarpon and enjoyed the show the Tarpon put on all day, by rolling and free jumping. We had Shrimp, Crabs and finger mullet and they all were eaten at some point in the day. James and Albert both had hook ups but we didn't land either fish. They just enjoyed catching fish and they caught plenty of Barracudas, Snappers, and Groupers in the cut. I asked if they wanted to go try something else and they were up for it. I went out to 50 feet, rigged up gulp 4 inch Shrimp and jigged some rocky spot I like. The Grouper bite was incredible every drop for an hour produced a Grouper, they were only 1-3 lbs but they had a blast. Jimmy had something peel off line and fought it for about 10 minutes before we saw it it ended up being a 4 foot Black Tip Shark. The wind started to blow, the sky was getting black so I took them back to the dock. 041509 (afternoon) I picked up Etiemne at his dock and headed down to Government Cut.The conditions we opposite of the morning the winds were at 20 mph but out of the W-SW. I started on the south side of of the cut and we got slammed as the first bait was let out, Etiemne grabbed the rod and started to reel, he was inexperienced and struggled with the conventional rod. I explained hoe to fight the fish and he finally landed a nice 22' Gag Grouper. On our he next drift he got a 100 lb.Shark and on the third drift we got slammed and missed a Tarpon. I wish the night would of stayed like that but it slowed down. We got a bunch of small stuff and missed another Tarpon before calling it a night. 041709 I am with Mark and Bill today fishing Whitewater Bay, the first couple spots didn't have much action but eventually we got into some big Trout, Jacks, and Goliaths. Bill had a big Snook on but missed it and both guys hooked up some 4 plus pound Trout, the two biggest at 26 and 28 inches. Mark caught a really nice Gag which was just short of legal and we hooked into some giant Goliaths that couldn't be stopped, we were feeding them 2 lb. Jacks. They really enjoyed getting beat up by the Goliaths. 041809 I am with Bill and Mark again today, the winds blowing 25 mph and the tide are extremely low. I took them to Tarpon Bay because they wanted something different. The tide was low but the water was really dirty, We found some cleaner water and managed a couple redfish an a bite from a big Snook. We left Tarpon Bay and found some Pilchards which we then turned into Snook. the winds were blowing around 25 and we started live chumming with all the pilchards. It worked and Mark and Bill hooked Snook on every cast for the last hour. It was late and we headed back. 042209 I am with Doug Smith tonight in Government Cut looking for Tarpon. We got out early netted some Mullet and I had some good size Shrimp and Crabs that should do the job. We fished in the cut trying to jig one up early on with an incoming tide. The Tarpon never really came up I was marking them deep but they did not show themselves. We caught 15-20 Red Groupers plus a Scamp Grouper which is not common inshore. We fished until PM but Doug had a meeting early in the morning so we called it a night. 042409 Today I am doing a 2 boat trip with Captain Rich Smith down at Flamingo. I have Joel, Chris and Steve on my boat and they buddy's Tim and Jeremy are with Rich. We started out on a bank working Top water plugs and spoons and it didn't take long. Steve hooked a big 23" Trout not to be outdone, Joel hooked one on a Skitter walk. It was a lot bigger at 26 1/2 inches and weighed 5 1/2 lbs, a great Trout for Flamingo. We continued fishing and caught a bunch more Trout up to 4 lbs. and Chris who was casting a spoon hook a monster Snook which was on a Sting Ray. The Snook broke the surface and shook her head that's when I started to coach him on how to fight it. Chris did a good job and land ed it, we took a couple nice pic's and made sure she was healthy enough to release. We worked around the coast but there wasn't much going on. We hooked some Goliaths and laughed as they doubled the rod and then would run into a tree and cut them off. We laughed all the way back! 042609 I am with Jeff today and we are fishing Florida Bay, the wind is up and constantly blowing 25 with higher gust. Jeff is from New Jersey and Jersey guys don't care if it windy, they all seem to be not bothered by it. We fished hard and only managed 2 Jacks, 2 Trout and a 30 plus inch Snook, We had a couple missed opportunities but it was slim pickens. The wind was steady at 30 plus at the end of the day. We are fishing again tomorrow and I told Jeff we would catch more fish and do it on his fly rod. Jeff can cast pretty good so he was excited about the morning, I promised him a shot at Tarpon. 042709 The wind is down when we arrive at the dock, I told Jeff to set up his fly rod. We took off and once we got into the back country I trolling motored to some rolling Tarpon. Jeff was casting a small minnow pattern and it got hit couple times but either one of us liked it. We changed to one of Jeff flies, it hit the water he popped it and was hooked up. We landed the small Tarpon and went on to catch 5 of 13. I said lets go catch some Snook, he caught a few on flies and several on the Twitch n Raps. I told Jeff we need a Trout so you can get your SLAM he agreed and we went a caught one. We had thrown some small Jacks into the live well in case and by now the wind had picked up to 30 mph again. We went to a Goliath Grouper hole and put out a bait, when it got hit Jeff was shocked at how hard the fish it. He got broke off and we rigged over and over. We saw a couple of them but we could not land one. It was late and time to head back, Jeff caught a lot of fish today and we were both tired 042809 I am fishing with Doug and Evan in Whitewater Bay we started out on the Tarpon again today only to jump 4. The wind is howling again today around 20 mph and we moved around a lot with not to many bites. We got into some Trout and Jacks and then went looking for bait. On one spot he had 3 shots at big Tarpon laid up on the banks, Evan was casting a paddle tail and the 100 lb Tarpon followed it right to the boat before turning off. We had another head on shot and then Doug cast at a point and a had on swirl on his bait, no hook ups but plenty of adrenaline. I made it up to a bait spot I saw them cast on them and could hardly get the net in the boat. I had big Pilchards and some finger Mullet mixed in. It was off to start live baiting, we worked some really good spots but no Snook. Doug wanted to fight a Grouper and didn't care what kind, I stopped on a point and had them pitch out live Jacks. The first couple got them into the trees but the next 10 or so got beat and Doug and Evan were loving it, they caught them up to 20 lbs. On our last stop I was going for broke, I was throwing net fulls of pilchards out trying to turn the fish on. Doug hooked up and landed a really nice Redfish as the Jacks were busting the pilchards around the boat. We took a couple photos and released it. I threw out about 500 pilchards and just watched them as we headed back to the dock. Select another page || Go to Home Page

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