SW Florida Report  - December 2005 "Englewood to Pine Island"

December has turned out to be a very superior month for fishing, despite fishing around our cool snaps from up north.  The enjoyable thing about fishing in Charlotte Harbor is our two rivers; the Myakka and Peace River is our dark riverbeds. This helps hold heat so; our water stays a little warmer then the Barrier Island and when you are dealing with tropical fish warm water is important.

Some of my latest trips in the last few weeks have produced a few respectable catches, many snook, several redfish, and an over of abundance of trout and ladyfish.  This can be wonderful if you are into fly-fishing.

January is upon us, and trout in season and Charlotte Harbor trout is great in the winter.

Cool Breezes & warm Sunshine

Capt. Scott Roe

Florida Light Tackle Charters

SW Florida Report  - October 2005 "Englewood to Pine Island"

October 12, 2005

We started out the week fishing the upper stretches of the harbor, and found a few early morning tarpon milling around just outside of the Peace River Bridge.

Large Schools of Jacks were literally everywhere. Jacks school by size. One minute we would find a school of half pounders, and the next, five pounders. On the shallow grass flats south of Alligator, we found a few pods of 10 – 15 pounders, which were eager to blast everything you threw at them. This was mostly an early morning or late afternoon proposition.

Small Snook were also found up along the Mangroves at high tide, and working the outside bars along the eastern wall at dead low. Most of the small creek mouths along the wall also held small Snook, as did the canal systems of PGI. Without surprise, we did find  many Redfish in the upper stretches of the harbor.

Working south toward the middle and latter part of the week, we fished the southern parts of the western wall, the outside islands and sand bar surrounding Turtle Bay, as well as a few of my Snook holes well into the interior of Bull Bay. We were literally greeted with willing Snook at almost every stop. Most were small, however, their numbers compensated for their lack of size.

We also found large schools of 15- 20lb Jacks crushing Mullet and Sardine Schools on the outside grass flats. While exciting, this proved to be too much work for an all day affair, and we quickly shifted our attention to the Redfish and Trout bite. Unfortunately, the Redfish bite tapered down a bit this week. Although we caught a few, the large schools of last week were nowhere to be found. Instead we picked up a 25” incher here and there, mixed in with a ton of pups in the 12 – 17” range.

Late in the day proved well for trout fishing. Any of the deeper grass flats on a rising or falling tide held fish. Pick any deep, bait holding grass flat just before sundown, and get ready for some fast & furious action. A strike on every cast is a possibility when a school is found. Most were between 15 – 20”, however, we did manage one hog that measured just under 29.”

As for bait/lures: We loaded up with small white bait and thready's, however, we mostly threw top water plugs (Storm Chug Bug, Zara Puppy & Yozuri Crystal Minnows) early & late, and spoons & jerk baits in the day. Locating quality size white bait had been difficult for us this week. Fortunately, the Snook, Trout and Jacks didn’t seem to mind everything else.

Once this minor front passes by midweek, fishing should again return to normal.

Until next time, remember;  "LIMIT YOUR KILL, DON'T KILL YOUR LIMIT"

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

FloridaLightTackleCharters.com

SW Florida Report  - September 2005 "Englewood to Pine Island"

I must start out by saying; "God Bless" everyone afflicted by the wrath of hurricane Katrina our hearts & prayers go out to them along with the donations we have contributed to the relief efforts for this devastating disaster!   

This week’s low salinity level and dirty water drove most of the bait to cleaner, more distant waters.  Toward the end of the week, and certainly through the weekend, bait was again located in the usually areas.  The Harbor held pods of threadfins in the 4-7 inch range.  The bars that line Bokeelia and Jug Creek, as well as Sandy Fly Key and the Trestles all held bait once again.

With bait, came the fish.  Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish, Bluefish and Jacks were terrorizing most threadfin pods in open water.  Silver Crocodile Spoons, Gold Johnson Sprite Minnows and Storm Chug Bugs all drew attention.  While the fish were not as glamorous as Tarpon & Snook, the feeding frenzy found within most bait pods proved to be fast, furious and very exciting.  Fish on every cast until your arms fell off were the case.   The Macks averaged 12 – 20”, the Jacks ran on the small side, and the Ladyfish were from 12” up to 24”.  When working the pods, keep an open eye for Cobia or Tarpon.  We saw one nice Cobia this weekend but could not make the connection.  With that said, ALWAYS keep a 12 or 15lb spinning rod with a #50 or #60 mono leader tied to a Jig or awaiting threadfin ready at all times. 

Moving into the shallows, Redfish schools were still working the bars.  In addition, we found quality Redfish working the points of Mangrove Islands adjacent to deeper water in Gasparilla Preserve, as well as inside the bar between Burnt Store and Two Pines.  The usual Gold Spoon made a connection every time.                                                                                                             

The Snook bite was on and off in the preserve, however, quality numbers were caught working the canal systems of Pirate Harbor, Matlacha bridge & the Boca Grande trestle.  Work the potholes and focus on the drop-offs during the low tide. ¼ Chartreuse jig head with your favorite 4 – 6” grub or jerk bait will do the trick, and of course, live bait will get them every time.

In between the Snook we also found plenty of Jack Crevalle and Juvenile tarpon to fill the Snook voids.  In addition, we found Pompano toward the south end of Bull Bay. 

Until next time, remember;  "LIMIT YOUR KILL, DON'T KILL YOUR LIMIT"

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

FloridaLightTackleCharters.com

SW Florida Report  - August 2005 "Englewood to Pine Island"

Tarpon: Like July, Tarpon are still in the thick of everything in Charlotte Harbor.  While a typical summer day provides for a good morning bite, which usually tapers off around 10AM, this past weeks cloudy conditions resulted in feeding tarpon through most of the day.  Look for diving birds in the harbor.  Birds usually signal Tarpon feeding on glass minnows, sardines and herring.  Idle within 100 yards of the activity and set up drifts or use your trolling motor to position the boat within casting range of the activity.    Work each area with your favorite Tarpon Plug or Live Bait for fifteen minutes.   If you do not get a strike or see any rolling or free-jumping Tarpon, move on to another set of birds.  In addition to birds, also look out for showering bait pods, feeding ladyfish, and of course.....rolling or free-jumping Tarpon.

Redfish:  This August has provided an "Above average" Redfish Bite in Charlotte Harbor, Gasparilla and of course...Pine Island Sound.  A few schools have made their presence in or around the Gasparilla, Burnt Store and Cayo Costa areas.  Look for schools of 50 to few hundred fish pushing wakes in 1-3' of water.  A trusty Johnson Gold Spoon in 1/4 oz is a good choice to cast to schooling fish.  Work the edges of the flat on low tide and focus on the crown towards the midway point of the incoming tide.  Work these fish quietly and slowly and one school can lead to a couple of hours of non-stop Redfish Action.  In addition to the school fish, be on the look out for singles, doubles and/or small groups in these very same areas.  Follow the same patterns......edges of the flats at low and work toward the crown and the mangroves as the tide pushes in.  Higher water combined with a high sun toward mid day means getting your lures well under the mangroves.  It's usually this time of the day when the Redfish become a bit sluggish, so work your baits slowly and don't be afraid to make multiple cast to "Fishy" looking spots.  With the exception of casting under the mangroves, sight casting to moving or stationary fish on the flats is the way to go.  1/8 oz. gold spoons, Berkley Gulp Shrimp and an assortment of soft plastic jerk baits will all work on hungry Redfish.  Remember to cast at least 10' behind and a few feet in front of your target. Gauge the fishes direction & rate of movement and reel your lure to the intersecting point and simply drop it.  Once your fish is in range, give your lure a slight twitch and hang on.  If you notice fish spooking, try scaling down in leader and/or line.  Under extremely clear conditions, try switching to monofilament vs. braid.  At times, walking on bare feet, whispering vs. talking and making sure your shadows do not cross your target is the only way to get within casting distance of "Cautious" Reds.

Snook:  While we have not targeted Snook this month, several have been caught as by catch while Red Fishing.  A number of smaller males still lurk near mangrove islands and can be found in many of the potholes on your favorite flats.  The majority and certainly the biggest of the fish are still calling the beaches and passes their home....at least until the latter part of the month, which is when they usually begin their migration back to the back country.  While live bait is the ticket for Snook, I prefer to use artificials during the closed season to minimize the risk of injuring or killing a fish.

Other:  Lots of Spanish Mackerel to 3 & 4lbs can be found along the beaches and in the harbor.  Look for diving birds and/or free jumping fish.  1/8 or 1/4 oz. silver spoons can quickly catch your limit while live herring will usually result in bigger fish.  Schools of ladyfish and catfish are almost always terrorizing bait pods every morning.  Like Tarpon, simply look for the birds and/or surface feeding fish.  While considered "Trash" fish, both will bend a rod, and on light tackle, can provide for consistent action using live bait and/or artificials.  If you find the ladyfish, be on the look out for Tarpon and Blacktip Sharks.  It does not hurt to trail a live ladyfish behind the boat on medium-heavy tackle.  While the kids are catching ladyfish and catfish on every cast, you can be waiting for Mr. 100lb Tarpon or a 6' Blacktip Shark to take your offering.

Until next time, tight lines and healthy releases.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen                                    

**Limit Your Kill, Don't Kill Your Limit**

SW Florida & Charlotte Harbor Fishing Report, April 2005 "Englewood to Pine Island"

Spring is finally here and so are the baitfish!  We all know what follows the baitfish, yep you guessed it, "Gamefish".  With the leaving of the dreaded Red Tide from the coastal waters of Charlotte Harbor, Gasparilla Sound, Pine Island and Boca Grande the area flats are swarming with pilchards, thread fins & pinfish again !Combine that with warming water temps and you have the right ingredients for a feeding frenzy!!!    With all good things there are a few not so good, and that would be the extra pressure our area bays & flats are feeling from out of town guides having to run there trips in our waters due to the Red Tide inhabiting their home waters.  Hopefully the massive murderer (Red Tide) will die out or whatever it does and our area pressure returns to a norm.

Let's talk trout for a moment, with water temps increasing the larger trout are falling off into deeper water earlier in the morning, topwater baits are the best possible ammo for trophy "Gators" from dawn till 8am!  You will find schoolies (10 to 16 inchers) piled up in pot holes and in short grass pods scattered around the flats.  Look for baitfish schools and target them with matching paddle tail grubs using a lift and drop technique, this usually produces the keeper size trout around the mid day sun.

Redfish are being slow to school lately with all the extra boating pressure the reds seem to be a little more scattered than usual.  Our guides are producing nice catches of redfish but they are definitely having to work for them.   The "Bull" redfish schools have not shown up just yet, we are catching a few here and there but we are keeping our eyes peeled for the large schools of 100+ to pop up at any time, that's usually how it happens every year,  zero to hero in the blink of an eye!! 

Snook on the other hand are chewing the gelcoat of the bottoms of our boats after the last cold front went by, by.  Proof is in the photo gallery of the sheer numbers my guides and I are producing for Florida Light Tackle Clients!  You can't beat the fun and excitement of battling "Linesiders"  during the transition period of the spring-time water warming and  snook gorgeing themselves after having lock-jaw for so long during the winter cold snaps.  All this combined with arial displays, drag screaming runs while fighting them on light tackle gear makes for; "hey I want to do this again"  Snook will be feeding like crazy for the next month or two getting ready for the reality version of the "Bachelor"!!

Remember: Limit Your Kill, Don't Kill Your Limit

Good Fishin!   Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida & Charlotte Harbor Fishing Report, March 2005 "Englewood to Pine Island"

March is a month of last minute cold fronts and Spring time warning fronts which usually mean  Charlotte Harbor and surrounding bodies of water will  start seeing large schools of baitfish moving in!  The baitfish schools are a variety of pilchards, threadfin, sardines and glass minnows.  Along with week to week fronts and blows the baitfish schools will be easy to find one day and impossible the next.  The norm of finding your best baitfish during March and April is targeting them in deeper water (3-10ft) than found on the flats during the summer months!

The on again off again attitude of "Big Linesders" (Snook) is going to be determine by the temps during daylight hours.  We had a few days of almost 80 degrees during the first few days of March and just like clockwork Snook started feeding again as fast as they stopped!  My clients landed a few nice size Snook in the 8 to 10 lb range during that warmer week.  We are almost half way through this month and the last couple of days have been chilly, especially in the morning which helped keep the snooks mouth from being sore!

Redfish on the other hand have been chewing the gel coat off the bottom of my boat:)  We have been catching redfish on artificial   with more success than even live bait!  The redfish are not playing their normal summer-time strategies , which put them way under the mangrove overhangs.  Our large schools of "Bull Reds" should be showing up any day now.  With these brutes weighing up to 25lbs, light tackle takes on a whole new meaning, and I guarantee you they will put drag washers to the test.

Trout are no brainers, find  3' to 5' of water depth, preferably with grass on the bottom and start reeling them in.  Trout have been  in the 1 to 4lb range with your occasional 5 to 6lb brutes.

Remember: Limit Your Kill, Don't Kill Your Limit

Until Next Time Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida & Charlotte Harbor Fishing Report, February 2005

It's been an interesting month to say the least, our front patterns have been a little unpredictable with one bringing a good morning frost and another bringing warm weather?  As we all know, fishing patterns revolve around these patterns as well.  When the sun shines steady for a couple of days water temps rise thus turning many species like; snook, reds, and trout into feeding maniacs!  Redfish are beginning to resume their normal patterns again and getting ready to congregate in large schools which you can expect to find for the next couple of months gorging themselves on whatever swims, crawls or falls in front of them!

Snook will turn on again off again through the continuing fronts, with your best bet being before and after, as long as after does not mean ice on your windshield!  The snook are biting quite nicely during the incoming tides around bridges and the Gasparilla trestle, stick baits are your best bet, preferably Yozuri bomber type lures.  Mid day sunny weather bring them into shallow sandy bottom areas, kind of like an alligator sunning themselves on a bank.  When they are doing such it's like pulling dinosaur teeth to get them to bite though!!!  Just be a little patient and you will prevail with your snook during this patterned time of year!

Bait is just now starting to show up almost right on schedule.  The harbor and flats are beginning to house schools of pilchards (white bait) thread fins and sardines with your typical pinfish in the mix!  They are not as thick as most would like to see them but they will get that way within the next few weeks as long as we do not have some type of strong coastal frontal system (hard N.E. or N.W. winds).  The shrimp are thinning out within the depths of Charlotte Harbor and pretty soon shrimp sales will decline a bit with the arrival of net-able bait fish for easy pickings.  Numbers of smaller slot reds are biting great around the oyster bars and sand bars around the harbor, as winter lower tides make sure of this by deleting habitat under the mangrove bushes.  Crabs seem be their main diet at present, as I pull the reds up in the boat they decide to share their crabby lunch all over my nice white deck, (not to hard to tell what's inside).  

Trout on the other hand are holding around the deeper drop offs with rock or grass for the bottom, as long as the tide is moving the trout are chewing.  Popping corks work nicely with a shrimp about 18 to 24 inches below but also remember to try fishing the bottom as well sometimes the biggest fish are holding tight to the bottom.  We have been catching plenty of numbers when it comes to trout, with the biggest coming early in the AM.  Sheepshead are still biting around the piers, jettys, rock piles & docks throughtout the harbor & Gasparilla / Boca Grande area 

Remember; " Limit Your Kill, Don't Kill Your Limit"

By; Captain Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida & Charlotte Harbor Fishing Report, December 2005

December is upon us and Christmas is just around the corner and my children let me know this daily!!  December brings us the usual weekly cold fronts which have an affect on our more picky eaters, like Snook.  When our water temps start dipping, the Snook metabolism also starts slowing down, they become less aggressive in their feeding habits.  When this starts happening I scale down on the lively baits and start slowing them down, putting a split shot #5 anywhere just above the hook to 24 inches away will help slow down your swimming baits, (pinfish, pilchards, mullet etc) this kind of goes hand in hand with their feeding habits.  I have been successful in tempting a good number of Snook into chewing on crippled looking baits recently, just check out the photo gallery!!   

Redfish have been scattered all over the flats ranging from under the slot of 18inches to over 30inches in length.  Our Winter low tides dip into the negatives and force numbers of Reds, Trout, & Sheepshead into the potholes throughout our beautiful grassflats in and around Gasparilla Sound & Pine Island Sound!  It takes a very shallow draft boat to gain access to these areas but the rewards are worth it, artificial baits are of course the ticket when targeting these areas!  Soon the Reds will start heading to their winter retreats in our rivers and canals in Charlotte Harbor, shrimp will be the bait of choice very soon and the best way to rig them will be with a light weight jig head.  It is important to remember; METABOLISM, when these Reds go into feeding its not like Spring or Summertime bites, everything slows down including the way the Reds feed.  Many of times my clients say they are just getting their baits pecked at, I tell them just wait till it starts moving then set the hook, zing, zing, zing goes the drag as our tropical fish show you why their conserving their energy!! 

Trout will be targeted during our Winter months as they will just get bigger the colder it gets!  Medium depth grassflats and potholes will be our target zone and while the pilchards are still readily available this will be my choice of baits as well as plenty of artificial grub type lures.

I will give you another December report about mid month to let you know how the bite is, don't forget we post our catches daily in our photo gallery ( http://www.floridalighttacklecharters.com/gallery.htm) and check it out for yourself, as a picture is worth a thousand smiles!!!!

Until Next Time, Get Out & Go Fishin While Ya Can!

Captain Derrick Jacobsen                                                                                                                                                                              Florida Light Tackle Charters!     

SW Florida Fishing Report, November 2004

 I have been hitting the snook lately as they are in the feeding mood.  As snook gear up for the winter they go into a feed that can be phenomenal.  With the first cold front that passed and the shorter days the water temps are climbing down and snook know to fatten up for the winter when during cold fronts they will lay up for days with out eating.  Snook are being taken in good numbers all across Charlotte Harbor with slot size fish being the normal and quite a few snook in the oversize class including a 40 inch snook we caught on Friday ahead of a the rain forcast.

Redfish seem to have scattered a bit and can be spotty. I covered a lot of redfish territory to bring three keeper reds for my customers last week. They should be on the move towards winter flats where on a sunny day after a cool morning you will be able to find them tailing for food and warming up in the sun.

Seatrout are gorging themselves as always as the waters are cooling, of course they are closed for harvesting until January 1st, 2005.  You can enjoy catching & releasing them in large numbers just about on any flat where there is tidal movement.  White bait are moving in now in the 3 to 4 inch size which make the perfect snack for your aggressive Seatrout and Snook!!

Our normal yearly cold fronts that seem to inhabit Florida at this time can make the fishing, an On again, Off again, cycle.  Fishing will usually increase before an approaching cold front, especially when we have a North Easterly wind, as usual during the fronts winds increase and can make fishing  very poor.  After a front passes and winds settle, the bite starts picking up again, this is the norm for our winter season and being on the water frequently makes the difference between a "catching" and a "Fishing" day!!!

Just remember;  Get Out & Go Fishin While Ya Can, Cause It's Goooooooood Fer Ya!  

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen                              
Florida Light Tackle Charters
 

SW Florida Report, October 2004

October is here and so are the Redfish and plenty of them.  All of our captains have reported incredible catches of Redfish this month.  Schools of Reds can be found working the bars and the flats that line both the east and west side of the harbor.  The Reds have been feeding along the outside edges of the bars and in the troughs at the lowest point of the tide, and slowly make their transition to the "flat" as the tide floods, eventually working the area adjacent to or right under the mangrove trees.  Pick an area known to concentrate bait or mullet, and you can be sure that Reds will feed on the food source at one time or another during the tide.

The sound is flooded with sardines, threadfin herring and whitebait.  While I still prefer to cast a 1/8 jig head and Pinfish Combo to the "Low tide" Reds that work the sand & shell bars, I match the hatch with either live pilchards or artificial lures resembling pilchards during the highest point in the tide, when most of the Reds are working the shadow line of mangrove islands.

While working the shorelines, expect to catch lots of Snook, Mangrove Snapper and an occasional Jewfish.

Speaking of Snook; large concentrations of fish are making their way to the rivers.  This month we have been concentrating on the creek mouths, oyster bars and canal mouths that line the entire harbor.  Docks, sea walls and moored boats in these general areas are Snook magnets.  These are fall and spring spots.  Work the edges on the high tide and work a few feet to as much as 50 feet off the structure or shoreline during the low point of the tide.  Focus on any deep potholes next to the structure as well.  Expect large numbers of Male Snook from 20 - 28 inches.  Be patient enough, and eventually you'll coax a large female (28 - 40"+) into accepting your bait/lure.  Live pilchards, threadfin herring and sardines are all choice baits.  Small gold spoons, jerkbaits, top water chuggers and plugs will attract the most aggressive fish from the bunch.

In addition, the trout bite has improved in the last several weeks.  While early and late is still the choice time frame, trout can also be consistently caught by focusing on the deeper grass flats, pot holes, and edges of the channels during the hot point of the day.  Look for deep water in concert with a food supply & tidal movement, and tout will almost always be nearby.

In the middle of the sound, you will also find schools of spanish macks, ladyfish, jack crevalle and catfish.  Look for the diving birds and start casting top water chuggers or silver spoons.  These concentrations of fish are great for the begginer and young angler, as such almost always produces a bite on every cast.

For the avid big game light tackle enthusiast, these same feeding frenzies, also attract the Silver King (Tarpon).  A live 12" ladyfish drifted through the activity is tough to beat and a live 8" Pilchard will almost always guarantee you a strike.  If not Tarpon, you may also find yourself in a tug a war with a Cobia or Blacktip Shark.

"Remember,  Limit Your Kill, Don't Kill Your Limit"

May 9, 2004

This week has been spent mostly targeting Tarpon.  While the beaches of Gasparilla & Cayo Costa has lacked all but a few small pods here and there, the interior has been on fire.  We have been catching Tarpon between 80 - 180lbs in the morning in the mouths of the Peace & Myakka Rivers and switch to open harbor in the afternoons.  The El Jo Bean & US 41 Bridges have also held Tarpon from 50 - 130lbs.  Most of the Tarpon have been concentrated around schools of threadfin herring and glass minnows being worked by ladyfish.  Fish have also been caught around the mouth of Turtle Bay and just inside the pass in an area known as the "Hill".  Most of these fish are resident "River" fish mixed with a few migratory fish the that seem to stay out of the pass this season.  Many speculate as a result of the overwhelming number of Bull Sharks in Boca Grande Pass.

Threadfin Herring, Sugar Trout and Silver Trout have been the bait of choice.  A few fish have also been caught on "Horse" size Pilchards and ladyfish.  Casting in front of rolling fish or drifting live baits behind the boat have been the ticket.

In addition to Tarpon, we have also been catching several Cobia to 25lbs and lots & lots of blacktip, spinner and lemon sharks.  The big Bull Sharks seem to always cut through our fluro carbon leaders within seconds.  For those targeting Sharks, add a 2' trace of single strand wire to your Tarpon Bait and hang on.  For those targeting "Big" sharks, use 15' of wire leader and 9/0 or bigger conventional reel loaded with 100lb line and drift a live 10lb Jack Crevalle.  It's highly unlikely you can drift across the lower reaches of the harbor without attracting a monster Bull Shark.

In the backcountry, the Redfish are still here.  If anything there are even more fish coming in from the gulf.  Snook have mostly left the rivers and are bunched up along the passes and out islands.  Trout can still be found in big numbers holding around deep water structure.  Mangrove Snapper have begun to swarm every piece of concrete & wood from the Rivers to the out islands.  But who wants to mess with these fish when one can catch a 100 or 150lb Tarpon?

That's all for now, time to get the boat ready for tomorrow.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

It's Time to Fish the Backcountry

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

Sight Fishing Tips & Techniques

January 25, 2004

By Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

Sight fishing is by far one of the most thrilling, challenging and rewarding methods of fishing.  There is just something about being able to see your prey, position yourself for a perfect cast, and presenting your lure just right, in order to coax a fish in to eating.

The general rules in sight fishing are; stealth, identifying a target, positioning your cast and presentation. 

Stealth:

First and foremost, you can’t catch a fish if he’s stays out of range, and you certainly can’t catch a fish if he is high tailing it for the next island over   A stealthy approach is key when fishing shallow water.   It pays to take all measure to minimize deck noise.    Remove all loose debris from your cockpit and store them in your storage compartments or holders.  Empty soda cans, pliers and shoes can wreak havoc on feeding or staging fish when dropped or stepped on.  Speaking of shoes; it’s not a bad idea to take shoes or sandals off.  One walks much quieter on bare feet then with supports.  In extremely clear windless conditions, shouting or even talking loudly can send a Redfish off the flat.  In addition, anglers should maintain a steady position when approaching a target.  Shifting your weight from one side of the boat to the other will send a wake across a flat causing any fish in the vicinity to focus their attention from feeding to wondering “What’s was that”.  Casting shadows from a rod tip, push pole or an angler will also spook a fish.  With that said, position your shadow away from your target.  Once you’ve incorporated these basics into your routine, then it’s time to approach your target. 

Push-pole is the most effective method.  Those running larger boats or boats without a poling platform can do so by trolling motor.  Just remember, even the slow hum of a trolling motor can be heard by a Redfish a hundred feet away, especially under clear and calm conditions.  This is where making long and precise cast will pay dividends.  For those using a trolling motor, approach your target from an upwind direction.  That will enable you to run your trolling motor at a slower speed, resulting in much less noise.  It will also allow you to use the power of wind to move your boat, relying on your trolling motor to simply control your boat.  Speaking of slow speed, if there is a fish in the distance, take your time and approach him as slowly as possible in order to minimize any boat wake.

Identify your Target:

On my charters, one of the biggest problems I have is with anglers making reaction casts.  It seems as if, whenever I say fish forty-feet at twelve O’clock, that mean cast.  And usually anglers cast before I finish my sentence.  Bad mistake.  Fish forty-feet at twelve O’clock means, look at forty feet directly in front of the bow of the boat and do not cast.

If you see a target, it is very important to identify your target before reacting.  Determine the species of fish, his or her direction and what the fish is doing before deciding upon your next step.

Positioning your Cast:

If you’ve made it past not spooking everything on the flat and identifying a target, now comes all of the fun.  Making that perfect cast is what you’ve been patiently waiting for.  Remember, sight fishing is like being a Sniper.  You will not take 10 casts to catch one fish.  You will not even take two casts to catch one fish.  Sight Fishing is a one cast to one fish proposition.  Not because it has to be, but because, if you have to take two casts, you probably made a bad initial cast, and your target has been spooked.  Therefore, take the time to study all of the variables before making a cast.

Ideally, you want to place a cast in front and past a fish. 

Tailing Redfish:  A Redfish Tailing is one of the easiest targets to catch, as the fish has one thing on it’s mind…. feeding.  You will see a redfish tail or tip when he has his nose in the mud or grass in an attempt to east a crustacean.  Therefore, his focus is on eating and not what’s around him.  First and foremost, determine where his head is.  If the conditions are clear and calm, you’ll have to make a conservative cast.  If there is a chop and it is cloudy, you can be a little more aggressive.  I usually like to start a bit conservative and make a cast 10’ past the fish, and run the path of my lure or bait 12” from its nose.  Lightly tighten up your line by applying pressure on your spool just before your bait or lure lands.  That will soften the impact of your cast.  Immediately after landing, reel your lure or bait just fast enough to prevent it from hanging up in the grass, and to surf it on top of the water until it is a foot and a half past the fish.  Allow your lure or bait to sink, and then begin your retrieve.  If the fish does not sense your offering, become a little more aggressive on your next cast.  10’ past your target and this time, run the path of your line 6” from its nose.  If the fish still does not take your offering, it is not because he does not want it, but instead because he does not see it, feel it or smell it!  If he did not want it, he would have spooked.  If you’re fortunate enough to have a third shot, run the path of the line an inch in front of it’s nose.  If it’s meant to be, he will eat.  If not, you’ll send him off the flat and it’s time to find another target.

Moving Redfish:  Moving Redfish are a little more difficult of a target, as the fish is not only moving but may have already seen you.  If the fish is moving any faster then a slow swim, disregard him and look for another target.  If he is swimming slowly, then take your shot, as there is a good chance he has not seen you yet.  Positioning your cast is very important with a moving target.  You may only have one shot, as your target is on high alert when he is on the move.  Unlike a tailing redfish whose attention is strictly focused on what he is rooting up in the grass or mud, a moving fish will sense everything around and on top of him.  Determine the fish’s rate of movement and make a cast, which will intercept his path.  A cast made anywhere from ten to fifteen feet past the fish, and ten to twenty feet in front of the fish will work.  The worst thing you can do, is to allow your lure to fall behind a fish or line a fish.  Line a fish means, to drag the path of your line directly on top of the fish.  This will almost always send your fish off the flat.  Lead your fish with plenty of room by placing your offering well in front of the fish and then reel your offering until it is approximately a foot or two past the path of your fish.  As the Redfish approaches, begin your retrieve.  Timing is crucial.  Ideally you want your lure  crawling in its direct path as he is between six inches to a foot away. 

Stationary Redfish:  Stationary Redfish are common targets during low tides when fish are holding in potholes and depressions, and on high tides when fish stage along shorelines, under mangrove trees and even next to docks & sea walls.  These fish are the most difficult to approach, as they are lying motionless like an Osprey on a branch, with all senses on overdrive, looking, feeling and smelling everything thing around, waiting for an easy meal and/or avoiding predators.  Approach a stationary fish as quiet as possible and start with a very conservative cast.  Cast twenty-feet past your target and run the path of your line a foot to a foot and a half in front on the fish.  If he ignores your offering, continue retrieving your bait or lure at least  ten feet past the fish, before accelerating your retrieve to make a follow up cast.  Do so too fast, and he may spook.  Your next cast should bring your lure or bait twelve inches from its nose, and the very next should be six inches from its nose.

Like a tailing Red, your stationary Red will either eat or spook.

Presentation:

By knowing how to approach a fish in conjunction with practicing precision casting, you should often find yourself at the “Presentation” level. 

The basics:  Unlike a Snook or Trout, a Redfish’s mouth is located on the bottom part of their head.  They are designed to feed on the bottom.  Their primary diet consist of shrimp, crabs and worms.  Not to say a Redfish will not pounce on a Pinfish, herring or Sardine, as they will with a vengeance, especially during the warmer months when the prevailing food source shifts from crustaceans to fish.  When sight fishing however, it is easier to achieve accuracy and distance with a live shrimp then a Pinfish or Whitebait.  Live Shrimp also enters the water much softer then a fish.  If you choose an artificial, a lure resembling a shrimp or a crab will afford you much more versatility then a lure resembling a fish.  A lure resembling a fish can only be retrieved at one speed (Swimming speed), whereas a lure resembling a crustacean, can be slow crawled and even stopped in order to position your offering right at the intersecting point.  A “fish” lure or even a jerk bait sitting on the bottom does not look natural.  A jig or a shrimp or crab imitating plastic on the other hand, looks very natural.

Since you never know if your target will be tailing in mud or grass, sitting stationary in a porthole, or lying on a sand bar, I prefer to use a utility lure or bait.  As mentioned in the above paragraph, a live shrimp rigged weedless on a 1/0 live bait hook is ideal.  For anglers choosing artificials, a plastic crawdad, shrimp or crab rigged weedless with a tiny crimp-on bullet weight will do the trick.

Remember that a Redfish’s prevailing sense is the sense of smell.  Therefore, choose a lure or bait that give off a natural scent.  Plastic baits manufactured by Exude or YUM are my favorites.  A fresh shrimp will give off all of the natural scent you need.   If possible, try to use the water current to your advantage when presenting your offering, especially with live shrimp.

Redfish on the Grass: 

Artificial Lures - I have found that crawling a lure is the most effective method of presenting an artificial.  When running the path of your line in front of the fish, allow your weedless lure to settle a foot or two past your target Redfish and let it sit.  Keep your eye on your target and watch its reaction.  If he has not spotted your offering, slightly twitch your offering, moving it an inch.  If he has still not seen your offering, become more aggressive and give it a couple light twitches, crawling it an inch or two at a time.  If your lure or bait is in stuck in the grass, DO NOT move it to erratically or try to free it, as it will spook your target.  If you’ve made a good cast, your stuck lure should be within a inches to foot in front of the Redfish.  Under this circumstance, leave it in one spot.  “Shake” your lure while keeping it stationary.  Your Redfish will eventually find your offering and make a decision.  When finessing a Redfish into eating, it is important you keep an eye on your line.  The entry point of your line into water should be as far away from the fish as possible to avoiding creating a mini wake, or directly vertical, to avoid your fish seeing your line.  If the fish passes your bait without spotting it, allow him to swim at least five if not ten feet past your offering before reeling it in for a follow up cast.  Do not reel your lure or bait through the grass. It is best to skate it on top of the water, or quietly jerk it out of the water back to you to avoid making any unnecessary wakes or bumping grass.  Live Bait (Shrimp) – The best presentation with a live shrimp is no presentation.  Make a good cast by leading your fish and allowing your shrimp to settle inches to several feet in front of your target Redfish (Inches if it is tailing or stationary, several feel if it is swimming).  Once settled, leave it motionless on a tight line.  From that point, Mr. Redfish and his extraordinary sense of smell will do your work for you.

Redfish on Sand or Mud: 

Artificial Lures - When casting to Redfish sitting on mud or sand, I prefer to “Bump” the bottom with my lures.  Similar to crawling a bait or lure through the grass, bumping your bait requires a little more energy in your twitches.  Mimic a crab or a shrimp fleeing away on the bottom.  Each time you bump your lure, you should create a tiny puff of mud of sand.  This occurs as you dig your lure into the bottom each time you twitch your rod.  This is best done by keeping your rod tip low vs. in a vertical position.  If your fish does not strike, become more aggressive with your follow up casts.  Live Bait (Shrimp) – Similar to fishing a shrimp on the grass, fish it motionless.  Make a good cast and allow it to settle in the path of your fish and leave it motionless.  In the case of a moving fish, if you sense the fish is swimming a little too fast and may not see your shrimp lying on the bottom, give it a light (Very light) twitch as the Redfish approaches your bait.

Sight Casting Tips:

a.                   A live shrimp is not necessary.  A fresh dead shrimp will work just as well.  Peel one or two pieces of the shell from the head section of the shrimp to add more scent to your offering.  Tail hook your shrimp.

b.                  Maintaining twelve to eighteen inches of distance between your rod tip and lure or bait will provide for a higher degree of accuracy when casting.  This works well for short cast to thirty or forty feet.

c.                   Three foot of distance between your rod tip and lure or bait will provide for a higher degree of distance.  This works well when having to make a fifty or even seventy-five foot cast.

d.                  While a Redfish has teeth, they generally do not fray or bite through line.  Therefore, put the 25lb, 30lb & 40lb leader away.  I use #15 fluro for my charters, and #10 or #12 when tournament fishing.  Fluro carbon leader is a must.  I use a minimum of a 2’ leader, and in extremely clear water, I’ll use as much as 4’ of fluro carbon leader.

e.                   Always keep a rod rigged with #6 or #8 clear monofilament, in case you find fish that shy from more visible braided lines.  This is especially true, when targeting concentrations (Herds & schools) of fish.

f.                    A Redfish will almost always eat a properly presented lure as aggressively as a live bait.

g.                   If possible, make certain the sun is at your back.  This will improve visibility by 100%

h.                   Give any boat poling or on a trolling motor at least a couple hundred yards of room.  If possible, give them even more then that.

I find pleasure in sharing some of the techniques I use on a daily basis and while fishing competitively on the Pro Circuit, and hope this information will help you become a better shallow water sight fisherman.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

www.floridalighttacklecharters.com

This January has been exceptionally warm.  The warm air temps have risen the harbor temps to as much as 74 degrees in certain areas, which has contributed to some very good Snook fishing, especially at night during and around our early month full moon.   I've been fishing the docks and bridges that line the Peace & Myakka Rivers as well as the canal systems of Port Charlotte & PGI and have done very well with mix bags of Snook, Redfish and Sea Trout.  The Reds and Trout have come off of live shrimp on 1/8 oz. jig heads and the Snook have readily eaten Live Sugar Trout, Shad, Pilchards and Minnow Imitating plugs.  While Snook have fed during the day, the night time bite has been better.  The key to working your lures at night is a very slow retrieve and work your lures or baits close to structure.  The larger fish have come from Live Baits.  I prefer larger slow moving baits such as Sugar Trout, as the bigger fish will not chase down a fast moving Pilchard or Threadfin Herring like they will during the warmer months.

On the flats, Trout are as thick as mosquitoes in the summer time.  Pick a moving tide and 3 - 4' of water over thick grass and you can catch all of the Trout you want.  Jigs, plugs, shrimp and small spoons have all produced.  The larger Trout have been feeding well in the early morning and last hour of sunlight.  Surprisingly, the biggest of the Trout have been suckers for shrimp imitation flies worked slowly in potholes that line these very same grass flats.

For those willing to work at it, there are some good size Reds working both the east & west shorelines.  The edges of the bars have produced well during our morning low tides.  A very stealthy approach is mandatory during low & clear water conditions.  Scale down your baits and/or lures and make very far casts.  Always keep your eye out for tailers, as there are plenty of them around, especially during the first 1/4 of the incoming tide.   Lastly, the canals, deep potholes and creeks are full of Rat Reds to 20".  Catching 20 or even 50 of these smaller fish on jigs and jig & shrimp combos is not uncommon.  If you are into smaller fish, please squeeze down your barbs to avoid injuring these fish, as these are the very same fish that will soon grow to be big fighters in a year or two.

On the offshore front, our boats are still catching good numbers of Grouper & Snapper in the 65 - 80 foot range.  The warmer water temps have also brought a few Kings back into the area.

Overall, January is shaping up very nicely.  Ps. check back in a couple of weeks for a late January fishing report for SW Florida.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

December 2003 (Part II)

12/20/03

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

December 2003

It's finally starting to get a little cold down here.  70 - 75 degree days, while comfortable for the snow birds, it's a bit chilly for us.  Regardless, the fish don't seem to mind.  The quick and to the point is:

Reds:  Very, very good, especially in the rivers.  Reds can also be found tailing on the grass flats  during the first part of the flood tide, staging in pot holes during the lowest point of the tide and up along the trees at the highest point.

Trout:  They are everywhere!

Snook:  While abundant, now is where the secret spots play a role.  yes, they are still around, and with good weather and the right lures or bait, catching double digit Snook is still a common occurrence during the winter time.

Tarpon can also be found way up the rivers and in many of the residential canal systems.  Like Snook, it's going to take the right spot, good weather and the proper bait or lure to get them to feed.

On the gulf front; there are still some Kings, Tunny and Cudas.  What's really generating some excitement are Grouper and lots of them!  Grouper as well as Big Mangos are in close to shore and can be caught in impressive numbers.  Speaking of numbers...you'll need some good Lat & Longs as well!

May the holidays be the very best for you and your families,

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida Report, September 2003

 September

October is here and so are the Redfish and plenty of them.  All of our captains have reported incredible catches of Redfish this month.  Schools of Reds can be found working the bars and the flats that line both the east and west side of the harbor.  The Reds have been feeding along the outside edges of the bars and in the troughs at the lowest point of the tide, and slowly make their transition to the "flat" as the tide floods, eventually working the area adjacent to or right under the mangrove trees.  Pick an area known to concentrate bait or mullet, and you can be sure that Reds will feed on the food source at one time or another during the tide.

The harbor and the sound is flooded with sardines, threadfin herring and whitebait.  While I still prefer to cast a 1/8 jig head and Pinfish Combo to the "Low tide" Reds that work the sand & shell bars, I match the hatch with either live pilchards or artificial lures resembling pilchards during the highest point in the tide, when most of the Reds are working the shadow line of mangrove islands.

While working the shorelines, expect to catch lots of Snook, Mangrove Snapper and an occasional Jewfish.

Speaking of Snook; large concentrations of fish are making their way to the rivers.  This month we have been concentrating on the creek mouths, oyster bars and canal mouths that line the entire harbor.  Docks, sea walls and moored boats in these general areas are Snook magnets.  These are fall and spring spots.  Work the edges on the high tide and work a few feet to as much as 50 feet off the structure or shoreline during the low point of the tide.  Focus on any deep potholes next to the structure as well.  Expect large numbers of Male Snook from 20 - 28 inches.  Be patient enough, and eventually you'll coax a large female (28 - 40"+) into accepting your bait/lure.  Live pilchards, threadfin herring and sardines are all choice baits.  Small gold spoons, jerkbaits, top water chuggers and plugs will attract the most aggressive fish from the bunch.

In addition, the trout bite has improved in the last several weeks.  While early and late is still the choice time frame, trout can also be consistently caught by focusing on the deeper grass flats, pot holes, and edges of the channels during the hot point of the day.  Look for deep water in concert with a food supply & tidal movement, and tout will almost always be nearby.

In the middle of the harbor & sound, you will also find schools of spanish macks, ladyfish, jack crevalle and catfish.  Look for the diving birds and start casting top water chuggers or silver spoons.  These concentrations of fish are great for the begginer and young angler, as such almost always produces a bite on every cast.

For the avid big game light tackle enthusiast, these same feeding frenzies, also attract the Silver King (Tarpon).  A live 12" ladyfish drifted through the activity is tough to beat and a live 8" Pilchard will almost always guarantee you a strike.  If not Tarpon, you may also find yourself in a tug a war with a Cobia or Blacktip Shark.

This month has produced a number of outstanding charters in the SW Florida region.  One of our most memorable was with Jason Canlas and Matthew File.  On a 6-hr Charter on September 24th, Jason and Matt landed well over 60+ Snook, several Bull Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Jewfish, and Snapper.  Close to a 100 fish day!!!!!

Until next time, good fishing and tight lines!

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida Report, August 25^th, 2003

Charlotte Harbor is on fire this month.  The Tarpon Bite has been strong since the beginning of summer.  These past few weeks have concentrated pods and pods of Tarpon in and/or around most bait pods in the upper as well as the lower reaches of the harbor.  From the mouths of both the Peace & Myakka Rivers, to Bokeelia and Cape Haze, Tarpon are literally everywhere.  Drifting or casting live Pilchards, Herring, Spanish Sardines, Ladyfish, Pinfish & Sugar Trout into the bait pods have produced staggering results.  Hooking 15+ fish in a few hours is very achievable this time of the year.   For the purists; large diving plugs, surface chuggers, and mullet imitating soft plastic & jig combos have had their moments during peak bites.  These Tarpon range from 60 to well over 100lbs and will test the best tackle on the market and the stamina of the most avid anglers.   

Until next time, good fishing and remember………the fish you are catching today, are the fish conservation minded anglers released yesterday!

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida Report  - July 11th, 2003

A typical summer day................

Again, Tarpon have been in the spot light.  The crowds of Boca Grande are long gone, and this years Charlotte Harbor Tarpon Bite has been better then ever for those willing to be patient while "Hunting" for fish.  Once you find the fish, it's almost as easy as fishing in a barrel.

There is no need to run to Boca Grande Pass, or cruise the beaches south to Captiva or north to Little Gasparilla, as the fish are in the Harbor (Charlotte Harbor).  While our summer "Harbor Tarpon" (40 - 120lbs) are smaller then your average "Boca Grande Beach or Pass Tarpon", these "Harbor" fish are almost always more active and willing to feed then your typical "Boca Grande" fish.

In the recent.....Tarpon have been found well into the harbor towards the mouths of the Peach and Myakka Rivers during the mid part of the morning incoming tide, and in the Burntstore to Bokeelia Section of the harbor during the first half of the afternoon outgoing tide.  You will not see the big schools of knotted up fish as you would during May in June in Boca Grande, nor will you see the 25 - 100 boats either.  This is true Tarpon Fishing.....this is where your patience and your eye sight will be put to the test.

Look for the obvious signs of fish.  Look for Tarpon rolling in ones, twos or threes.  Look for "Free Jumpers" (Where Tarpon skyrocket out of the water crashing bait).  Look for bait showering on the surface (Even if they are being fed on by lady fish and/or Spanish mackerel).  Once you find rolling fish or in a area likely to hold Tarpon, shut your outboard down and get on the electric trolling motor(s).  Using your outboard to get within range of these fish does not work here.  For anglers without trolling motors, shut down up wind or up current by no less then 100 yards and drift through the rolling fish or bait/feeding mackerel & ladyfish.

You can either cast live threadfin herring and/or horse pilchards to the fish or to the bait, or you can drift the same 3' - 5' under a cork.   We have been very successful using our trolling motors to stay within the activity, with one angler on the bow blind or sight casting and one or two lines dragged behind the boat with live baits.  One bait at 50', and the other at 75' behind the boat.  These very same fish have also eaten Pinfish, Sugar Trout, Ladyfish and dollar size blue crabs.  FLTC Staff Captain, Robert Moore has proved to me that Sugar Trout at times can out produce white bait, so if you can't find white bait or do not want to run offshore to the markers to sabiki white bait, castnet up Sugar Trout next to the markers that line Charlotte Harbor and Gasparilla Sound.

While drifting your baits, keep your bail open with one finger on your line.  Always keep an open eye on your floats.  When a bait gets really nervous, he has most certainly just spotted a Tarpon.  More often then not, a nervous bait is usually followed by an enormous surface strike or a Tarpon skyrocketing out of the water with your bait in it's mouth.  Once you get a hit, let the Tarpon pull your line from your finger, count to three, close the bail, crank up your slack and give it a good "speed set".  Once on, keep your rod extremely bent, and don't forget to bow.  DO NOT follow your hooked Tarpon with the outboard, otherwise you will shut your and everybody else's fish down.  Fight your fish from a dead boat or use your trolly to follow your fish if you run the risk of being spooled.  Make certain you are using adequate equipment with a properly set drag, and you won't have to worry about being "Spooled". 

Once I hook up, I immediately hit "Save Waypoint" on my GPS/Electronic Map Plotter, and drift through the very same spot once we've landed our fish.  Saving waypoints after every confirmed Tarpon strike allows me to "Plot" the Tarpon's movements on a daily basis  relative to the tides.  This has proved deadly for me, as their movement has been nearly identical every day!

I use 7 1/2 medium action Star Rods with Fin Nor 12A and 16A IGFA Series spinning reels with several hundred yards of 50lb Power Pro.  Using a double-uni knot, I attach a 4' section of 50lb mono leader.  Using a blood knot, I attach another 2' section of 60lb or 80lb fluro carbon leader to the 50lb mono.  On the business side of things, I use a 5/0 or a 6/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Hook.

Using these methods, we have been averaging two to fifteen hookups every day per day.  With good anglers who can convert most strikes to hook ups, your average should be in the ball park of six to fifteen hook ups per day!  While most fish will run between 40 - 120lbs, there are still some 120 - 150+ pound fish capable of smoking 150 yards of line off your spinner on the very first run.

As always, use adequate tackle, set your drags properly and keep your fights to a minimum.  Use every measure to make certain you release a healthy fish.  While "Stalking", do not cut in front of another boat and never - ever run your outboard in the vicinity of other boats stalking Tarpon. 

Follow the basics, and you should find yourself on the bent end of the rod fighting Charlotte Harbor Summer Time Tarpon.

On a quick note:  Reds are as thick as mosquitoes in the Gasparilla Preserve and Pine Island Area.  A few schools of up to several hundred fish have been spotted on the grass flats in these same areas.  If you can't find the schools, pitch your favorite artificial lure as far under the bushes as you can and work them slowly.  Redfish & Snook size white bait has been tough to find.  A good substitute for the bait chuckers are small live Pinfish and Cut ladyfish or Sardines.

All in all, July through September offers some of the best (If not the best all around) fishing in our area.  The Tarpon crowds are gone, and the spring & early summer traveling anglers have all gone back home.  The fish on the other hand are still here and our Tarpon are hungrier then ever.  Needless to say, Charlotte Harbor is untapped this time of the year........except by a select few who know fishing can be downright awesome during the heat of the summer.

A couple of notable trips: 

7/10/03 - Dr. Richard Brown and 10 y/o Willie Brown of Maryland. Both son and father hook a double within minutes of finding a pod of Tarpon and 10 y/o Willie lands his first ever Tarpon with Capt. Allan Beraquit.....130+lbs!  On 7/11 Both father & son team land & release 12+ Redfish with Capt. Derrick Jacobsen in Pine Island.

7/12/03 - Dan Perkins of Alabama hooks nine tarpon and lands six in just a few short hours, while fishing with Capt. Allan Beraquit.  Tarpon ranged between 45 - 100+lbs!  Between fighting and/or landing fish, our baits would not be in the water for more then a few minutes before another Tarpon would crash our bait.  What an awesome day!

Until next time, tight lines and many healthy releases.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

www.floridalighttacklecharters.com

SW Florida Report  - June 8th, 2003

Tarpon, Tarpon and more Tarpon....is the tune FLTC and it's SW Florida staff has been singing all week.  This past week's Boca Grande Tarpon bite has been phenomenal.  Up until Saturday we have been experiencing "All Day" Pass bites.  10, 15 to 20+ Hook ups per day has been common, with many fish well over the 140 - 150 lb range.  Jigging the pass has been the key to producing large fish and in numbers.

This past Saturday and Sunday produced a good morning bite, which significantly tapered off late morning and early afternoon.  All of the Tarpon left the pass for waters unknown early Sunday afternoon. I searched up to 7 miles offshore from 1pm until 8pm to find only one small pod headed west into the gulf of Mexico.  The Pass was completely empty of Tarpon as well as boats.  Hope fully they will be back in this evening or with tomorrow morning's strong incoming tide.

While the beach bite has been slow, working pods moving west every afternoon through early evening has produced significant numbers of fish for those not willing to join the crowds in the pass.  Live threadfin herring and small to medium size Blue Crabs have been the ticket.

The "Hill Tide Bite", which occurred during the last week of May was better then average.  Millions of crabs drifted through the Pass and into the gulf of Mexico.  Such was a feeding station for the hungry Tarpon that inhabit the Pass and the surrounding areas.  Sight casting with live crabs to surface feeding Tarpon produced 5 to 10+ hookups each trip.  Most notably was with Alan Carter who on his first Tarpon trip fought seven on spinning tackle and two on a flyrod.  Largest landed was in the 120 - 130lb range.  We are expecting another good "Hill Tide Bite" between Friday the 13th through Sunday the 15th.  Break out the medium heavy spinners, load up on crabs and get ready as for those who have never experienced it.....it is just simply amazing.

This past week has also brought significant numbers of Shark into the Pass and surrounding areas.  I have personally lost two fish to these toothy critters.  If yo