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 you want to catch a shark, and I mean a really big shark, now is the time to do it.  I took a four hour Shark Charter earlier this week and within minutes, we hooked into a 200 - 250lb Bull Shark.  45 minutes later she was released and we were done for the morning.  Heavy tackle and a fighting chair or belt & harness combo is required here.  If these Tarpon do not show up in large numbers tomorrow, then we'll be Shark Fishing.

Good fishing everyone.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida Report  - May 2003

I apologize for the gap in reports everybody.  Time has been an impossible commodity these days.  I finally have a morning off so here is the Skinny in the Skinny............Summer has finally arrived, and with such, have come the Tarpon. For the last month and a half, we have been catching Tarpon in many of the residential canals that line Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, as well as the bridges that line the Peace & Myakka Rivers. Most of these "Structure" fish are juveniles, which range from 10 - 40lbs.  A strong tide in conjunction with first or last light will insure you plenty of opportunities.  White Bait & Threadfins on 10 - 12lb spinning with a 2' trace of 40lb Fluro leader and a very sharp hook is all you need.  Cast up current and free line your baits down current through the bridge spans and through your favorite canals.  If you don't see any rollers, do not waste your time.  Look for the rollers and get ready. 

In addition to the babies, large "River" fish have begun to concentrate in the mouths of the Peace & Myakka Rivers as well around the reefs and depressions in Charlotte Harbor.  Look for bait pods around these areas and you'll probably find rollers.  These fish average 40 - 100+lbs.  This is large threadfin country.  Use 15 - 20lb spinning with a double leader.  4' of 50 fluro connected with a blood not to a 2' section of 60lb or 80 fluro will work just fine.  I prefer to sting my fish with a 6/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook.  The bigger the threadfin the better.  Look for the big rollers, idle well outside and up current or wind of the fish and drift just outside of the rollers with the live baits.  No weight or float is  necessary.  Keep your line tight, wait for your bait to get nervous and anticipate a noticeable "Thump" which is usually followed by a slow pull with lots of weight. Afterwards, reel in your slack and set that hook like you are swinging a base ball bat.  Once hooked, give it a few more quick wrist sets to make sure the job is done.  Make certain to ALWAYS bow to the king when your Poon is in the air.  For you braided guys, lose it and switch to mono for the bigger fish.  I can't count how many fish I've broken off, hooks I've pulled and hooks I've bent, while experimenting with braided lines on 80 - 100+lb Tarpon.  Stick with the clear mono.  The bright yellow, green and orange stuff will decrease your bites by several hundred percent, besides, you should be paying attention to your lines anyways.  While color full lines are pretty and do fill a niche, this is certainly not one of them.

For the biggest of the fish, hit the beaches and the passes.  Our migratory fish have been in now for two weeks and we have been working them every day.  Hit the beaches in the early A.M. and the Pan from 5PM till dark.  Use the same tactics as mentioned in the paragraph above.  Bring a dozen 3 - 4" Blue Crabs and three dozen very large threads and you are in business.  Boating etiquette here is of the utmost importance.  IDLE WELL OUTSIDE and in front of the fish and have them clear your bow or stern by no less then 50'.  Have them swim under your boat and you will split the school up.  If you see another boat working a pod, wait until he hooks up to work the same pod or find another one.  Please turn your outboards off and keep deck noise to a bare minimum when you are within casting range of these fish.  On the clearest and calmest of days, an electric trolling motor at high speeds will even spook fish.  Get ready for long fights and spectacular arial displays.  These fish are big with many well over 100lbs, and they have been feeding as of late. 

Yesterday's afternoon trip yielded 8 hooks ups with only one landed in just a few hours.  Proper hook sets and bowing to the fish will help increase your "Fish Landed" ratio.  At times however, the excitement of hooking in to a 100lb+ Poon on spinning tackle makes remembering basics very difficult as evident by yesterday's charter. 

When all else fails, go to the passes.  Boca Grande Pass, while nerve racking at times, is holding plenty of Big Fish.  Drifting Shad, Shrimp and Crab Tails just off the bottom has produced all week.  Chartreuse Fire Tiger, Gold Fire Tiger, Chartreuse, Pearl and Gold with Red and/or Chartreuse Break-a-way Jig Heads have all produced.  Stick with conventional or large bait casters on 30 - 40lb class rods for this type of work,  Towards the end of the day and at night, switch out the Jigs with live crabs and threads. 

Last but not least, if you don't like a work out, there are PLENTY of Big Snook everywhere.  From way up in the rivers all the way to the beaches and even on the near shore wrecks, reefs and ledges.  The brown water Snook will be mostly gone and to the beaches within the next few weeks.  Stick with the early A.M. and just before sunset.  Hit the right spots with moving water with white bait and you can release 20 - 30 Snook in just under a couple of hours.   It's strictly catch and release so please use very quick hook sets to avoid deep hooking and use heavier tackle to avoid unnecessarily long fights.  Take plenty of time to properly revive your fish.  Just because the Snook is clamping down on your thumb does not mean he is ready for release.  Ps. make sure he swim away.

Gotta keep this one quick.  At 2PM, it's Tarpon Time!

Good fishing everyone and happy Tarpon Hunting.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

Ed Koh poses with an estimated 190lb Tarpon caught & released fishing with FLTC Captain Terry Winters on 5/2/03

SW Florida Report (Charlotte Harbor, Gasparilla south to St. James City) - March 2003

Hello everyone.  Here is the report everybody has been waiting for.

Winter in is finally over.  With daily air temps of 75 - 82 degrees, and water temps now climbing above 70 degrees, spring fishing is finally here.

FLTC has recently introduced three new Captains to it's SW Florida Prostaff.  We are very pleased, and fortunate to introduce Capt. Robert Moore, Capt. Derrick Jacobsen and Capt. Dave Jackson to our team.  Their tenure adds tremendous value to our staff, not only to the quality of charters we provide to our clients, but to the quality we add to our periodic reports and forecasts.  From our combined trip logs, our recent report is as follows:

Backcountry:

The long awaited "White Bait" has arrived.  While still not in the numbers we will see later in the month, enough to bring with it an influx of migratory predators and certainly enough to jump start an  impressive Snook bite.  Pilchards, Threadfins and even Sardines have made a presence in many of the markers that border the deep areas of the Harbor and Pine Island Sound; Jug Creek & Bokeelia Shoals, Devilfish Key, The I-75 & US41 Peace River Bridges, BG Range Markes, Sanibel Causeway and a number of the deep grass adjacent to or near some of the major passes.

 With the bait, our captain's were able to entice many of the "Locakjawed" Snook we have been watching for several weeks.  Snook have begun their migration and are holding in very impressive numbers from the Peace, Myakka and Calossahatchee Rivers to even the docks that border Gasparillla, Cayo Costa, Captiva and Sanibel Islands, as well as the inner reaches of the Gasparilla, Myakka and Pine Island Backcountry.

Pay special attention to creek mouths and any kind of structure within a hundred yards.  The docks that line the canal systems of PGI, Charlotte Harbor, Burnt Store, Pirate Harbor and Gasparilla are all holding fish.  Most all mangrove islands bordering deep water in all of these areas are holding respectable concentrations of fish.  And as each weeks passes, more in more fish will come from their winter haunts to join their brothers and sisters in the pre-spawn ritual of feeding.

In the recent weeks, the Snook have responded well to soft plastic jerk baits, spoons, jig & shrimp combos and surface plugs.  While you'll take a few here and there on the metal, wood and plastic, their is no substitute for the live stuff. Like the Reds, work the deep water and potholes at the lowest point of the tides, and follow the water to the docks, mangroves and tops of oyster bars on the rising tide.  When working creeks and canals, follow the tide as far back as you can go, working every piece of structure on the way.  Take an extra few extra cast to the points with moving water.  For the live baiters, forgo the popping corks and split shots, this is free line country.  Use 8lb to 15lb tackle depending on the structure and work those baits just fast enough to  keep the slack out of the line.  If the Snook are a little slow to feed, try chumming a livie or two, as that usually turns one or two on.  Once one feeds, several others will follow.

Redfish are becoming more and more common.  While the rats of winter are still in large numbers, many Reds in the high slot size are making a presence all throughout our area.  Sight fishing on an incoming tide with soft plastic baits and select shrimp is the ticket.  Poling is best, however a soft approach with a trolly may also get you close enough to slam a few tailers.  When the tide is high, switch tactics to blind casting the mangrove shorelines.  When the tide is too low to hold fish on the flats, focus on potholes, feeder channels and the outside of the bars that separate your favorite redfish flat from deep water.  On low tide, I prefer to bump 1/4 jigs in potholes and the deep side of the bars.  While root beer and smoke are my favorite colors, most other natural colors will produce bites.

Trout can be caught on literally any grass flat with 2-4 foot of water and a moving tide.  Jigs, top waters, spoons and flies all work well.  You'll find the biggest of the gators in the shallowest water.  The big gators however, can at times be just as finicky and just as spooky as Snook, so a quiet approach helps.  These big fish can be sight casted to.  My best bet as been flipping live Pilchards and small soft plastics.  For the fly casters, a no slap cast and a natural presentation will usually result in a willing Gator Trout.

Tarpon:  The juveniles are still around and with this surge of bait, will begin to fee more aggressively as the month progresses.  Most of these fish are in the 10 - 20lb class and while tough to fool with plugs and jigs, we have gotten lucky with small glass minnow flies.

In addition to the top three, Lots and lots of Jacks and I mean nice Jacks have been terrorizing bait in most of the residential canals and near the bridges.  Jacks in the 8 - 12lb range are simply a blast on light tackle.  When seen, chuck anything you have and reel as erratically and as fast as you can.   Most of the canal mouths and mouths of the larger creeks are holding Jacks in  the early morning, as well certain Marina Basins and Fuel Docks.  Ladyfish, Mackerel and Bluefish can be found at first light in the harbor as well as just off the beaches.  Just look for the birds and get ready with a 1/4 oz silver Sprite or Krocodile Spoon.  A 6" trace of #4 wire will keep you from losing your metal, but a 6" trace of #50 fluro will get you more bites.

Last but not least, Capt. Ben who runs charters for us in the south side of the town is still catching them Groupers in the ICW.  Sorry but I can't tell you any more.  Let's just say that you need deep water, moving water and structure.  Take all three and throw in a big live bait, and you'll get a grouper.

On the gulf front:  Kings are back in town and the magic number is 45 feet.  Work the bait pods and the in and around the mackerel schools.  In addition to Kings and Mackerel, Little Tunny, Barracuda and Cobia are also being caught.  Down below, we are still catching some nice Grouper in the 65 - 75; range, as well as Mango to 4lbs on live white bait and select shrimp.  There are still plenty of big Sheephead on the Gulf Rockpiles and Wrecks, as well as the occasional school of Permit.

March is truly one of the most exciting months to fish our area.  I call March a "Transition" month.  Everything is in transition and everything has "Food" on their minds.

Before I sign off, you guys & gals may want to take a peek at our "Open Dates".  We have a few trips needing second anglers.  The link is as follows: 

http://floridalighttacklecharters.com/additionalinfo_specialpromotions.htm

Good fishing everyone and please remember;  "The fish you are catching today, are the fish conservation minded anglers released yesterday" 

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

SW Florida Fishing Report by Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

January 18th, 2003

Winter winter everywhere.  These past few weeks have bombarded us with weekly fronts, bringing, high winds, rain and cold - cold temps.  It's winter fishing in Florida, but hey at least we're still able to fish.  Our friends up north are sitting in front of the tube watching Florida fishing shows on ESPN, waiting for their spring thaw.

Anglers who are able to, pick your days.  It's best to fish in between the fronts.  Ideally two or three days into the warm period just before the pressure drops and the next front rolls through will usually jumpstart a short feeding frenzy.

Seatrout:  January 1st signaled the start of our 2003 Trout Season.  Trout are literally everywhere.  Find yourself 2-4 foot of water over thick grass, and you can have a field day with the Trout.  While the morning and late afternoon bite is usually best, the Trout seem to be on the grass for as long as their is 2-4 foot of moving water.  Trout school by size, so if you're into the 14 inchers, chances are all you'll catch are 14 inchers.  Motor up a few hundred yards and drift until you find the right size fish.

During the lower end of the tides, the Trout all move toward deeper water.  Try the edges of the flats or the many residential canals that border Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound and Gasparilla Sound, as they all hold Trout.  Concentrate on the points and deep holes.   

1/4 Jigs with chartreuse, white, pink, motor oil and smoke curly tails are great trout jigs.  You can cover a lot of water and cover the entire water column.  As for surface lures, nothing beat the trusty Chug Bug or even a Top Dog Jr. or Top Pup.  Then there is always the cork and jig combo.    My favorite?  A 6 or 8wt fly rod with a small white/chartreuse clouser.

Redfish fishing has been consistent.  While many of the fish are averaging small this time of the year, their numbers make up for their size.  I've been locating pods of fish in the dark stained waters of Charlotte Harbor.  Many of the feeder creeks that border the north east and north west end of the harbor are all holding fish.  Focus on the mouths during the 1st 1/4 of the incoming and follow the fish with the tide, and back out again with the outgoing tide.  Shrimp tipped jigs, live shrimp or shrimp on a jig head have produced the best results.  A few small pods of larger fish have been caught on the grass flats during warmest of the afternoons in between the fronts.  An afternoon incoming is your best bet.  Throw a live select shrimp in front of a stationary or tailing Red and you'll most likely bend a rod.

Snook have been few and far between.  While sightings were common, getting them to feed is a different story.  A few have been caught these past few weeks, but nothing home to write about, and certainly nothing resembling what Snook fishing is all about in our area.  The 20 - 50+ fish days will come soon in mid to late February.

Offshore:  On the days I've been able to hit the gulf wrecks and reefs, we've done very well.  Plenty of Mangrove Snapper and Big Sheephead are all over any good bottom, rock pile or wreck from 5-10 miles offshore.  Cut squid or sardines will get the Grunts and a few Snapper to bite, but the live shrimp takes the spotlight.  Each trip has produced countless limits of both species.  The Grouper bite thus far has also been exceptional.  Live Grunts on 60 - 80lb Tackle has produced plenty of Grouper to 20lbs.  The magic number.........45-65 feet! They are there, it's just a matter of having good numbers and picking a good day to head out.

Until next time, stay warm, stay safe and many tight lines.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

From Capt. Terry Pitz

Welcome to Capt. Terry's FISHING REPORT
Dec. 16th, 2002

Redfish, The weather the last couple of weeks has given us cold front after cold front. The water temperature has dropped into the low 60's. We have done very well on some of the more extreme low tides for tailing redfish with the flyrods. Baitfishing has been hit or miss, with all of the cold fronts they seem to have aquired a case of the dreaded disease, LOCK JAW. The weather forecast this week is calling for a high pressure to hold for awhile, which should take care of the lock jaw problem. They still have to feed! The trick is being there when they are feeding. Try working the edges of the sand bars and oyster reefs. Some people call it fishing for reds, I call it hunting. When poling the flats for reds, move very slowly and watch for wakes, tails and boils. When fishing the mangroves, fish the top end of the high tide and get your fly, bait or jig underneath the mangroves as far as you can. This technique will also produce a few snook. A great way to cover a lot of water and it can be very productive. Flies, artificials and bait all are working well for these beautiful strong fighters. Try bait fishing them with pinfish, shrimp or cut bait. Flyfish them against the mangroves and on the flats with a earth tone colored clouser and for some real excitement try top water on the overcasted days. Average size about 18" to 30" with some larger ones around. Watch for those TAILS!!!

Snook, The weather has hampered the bite for snook also. Stable weather conditions should put them back on the feed. The snook are now in their winter patterns and locations. The back country, rivers, creeks and canals are the areas you should be fishing for snook. I fish them where there is good current. Sometimes they lay at the top end of the hole and somtimes at the bottom end of the hole. So fish both ends of an area with good current. Tides become very important this time of year. Some real monsters out there and when hooked you have your job cut out for you. One mistake and they win! Large hand picked shrimp and live bait sometimes will get the larger ones to take in the cuts, sand holes and under the mangroves. Fishing them on the out going tide usually produces the best results. Brightly colored flies or plastics also are working on some of the deeper holes and against the mangroves. Keep your eyes open and fish them on the tides that create good current. Hungry Snook means Bait, though throwing a well placed fly will usually be rewarded with an aerial show.

Speckled Trout, winter time produces some large trout! Some very respectable Trout in the 20" to 25" range being caught with flies on or near the flats. Look for them in 3' to 5' of water near the edges of the grass flats. Watch where the birds are feeding and give it a try. A great top water feeder on overcasted days makes for some sure fun. Again flies, artificials and bait will bag a few of these hard hitting fish.

Tarpon, Unless your willing to fish the canals and maybe the Everglades, they pretty much have left this area. Occassionaly, I'll run into some juveniles deep in the back country. This last month produced a lot of small tarpon for me on the fly. I found them in the back country creeks and canals. Throwing a glass minnow fly on the out going tides produced several ten to twenty pounders on my eight and ten weight flyrod. A lot of fun and a real challenge in those tightly enclosed areas. Overall this tarpon season is over and nothing but time is left to lube, repair and replace the tools of your trade, so your ready to do battle when they return this spring. When the tarpon are here and conditions are ideal, an experience of a lifetime awaits you. Flies, artificials and bait can hook these sought after critters, but getting them to the boat is a whole other story. These beautiful fish will range from 30lbs. to 200lbs. Average being around 100lbs. They will test your skill and your equipment when hooked with the fly rod or light tackle.

Cobia, Tripletail & Jacks: These three species have been a part of my daily trip lately. Cooler weather has put some tripletail and cobia on some bouys and markers. Large jacks to 15 lbs. have been feeding on schooled up bait. All are fantastic fighters and can be caught on the flyrod or light tackle.

A day on the flats will always take you home with some memories and remember fishing is fun, so have fun out there! Don't take it so serious that you can't have a good time.
Till the next update take care and keep those lines TIGHT!

Southwest Florida Fishing Chronicles

By Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

December 14, 2002

This winter's weekly fronts, windy days and numerous rain storms have made fishing difficult.  Get out in between the fronts and fishing can be spectacular. 

The absence of white bait has made Snook Fishing very difficult.  A few here and a few there can be picked off using live shrimp, live pins and select artificials.  Find a warm spell in between fronts &  be lucky enough to fill the well with white bait, and you can easily have a 20 to 30 Snook day during the holidays.  Consistent Snook Fishing has been during the evenings (As long as it is not too cold). 

Slow trolling rattle traps in deep water close to Mangroves, Seawalls, Docks and Jetties have been the ticket for Snook in numbers, as well as size.  Watch your depth finder closely for concentrations of fish holding in deep holes and/or around structure.  Catch a fish and most likely there will be a hole or submerged structure where he had come from, as well as more of his buddies. The most aggressive fish will strike the rattle traps.  Quietly circle back around and drop or free line a JUMBO Shrimp or a small live pin, and you just may catch another out of the same area.

Reds have been an afternoon activity these past few weeks.  When the winds allow for water to fill the flats in the afternoon, Reds have been tailing.  Not so much in large numbers, but the fish have been averaging a respectful 6 - 10lbs.   Handpicked shrimp or small tube bait is hard to resist by a tailing Red. Stick to the bars and edges of flats on the low tides.

The most consistent of species have been the Trout.  Most all deep grass beds are holding loads of Trout up to a few pounds.  Jigs have produced the smaller fish and top waters accounted for the larger fish.  Put a flyrodder with a 6wt on the bow, and one can catch a Trout every five cast.  The biggest of the fish have been holding in very large numbers in deeper water where jigs vertically jigged and live shrimp were the ticket.  The mouths of many of the residential canals in PGI, Charlotte Beach, Pirate Harbor and Burnt Store have all produced awesome catches.

For the shrimpers; Traditionally, Late December & January have been the best months to target Sheephead in size and in numbers.  While one can catch a few here and there from 10 - 18" on the flats, the Big Boys & Girls come from deep water.  Do to the weather, I was only able to get "offshore" once this Sheepy season.  Stopped with my anglers over one of my favorite rock piles in 32 foot of water and chummed with bags of cut dead shrimp and crushed crab lowered to the bottom in a chum box.  4 hours and 15 dozen shrimp later resulted in over 30 Sheephead.  The smallest of which was  around 18 inches and three pounds.  Most were in the 24+ inch range and between 4 -6 lbs! In the mix were also Mangrove Snapper, Lane Snapper and Black Sea Bass.

In addition, I'm also starting to find some Gags in the Harbor.  Last December & January provided for very good inshore Gag fishing.  While you'll catch five shorts to each keeper, there are still plenty of keepers in the open bay & harbor so cruise a little slower and keep your depth finder turned on.  Dead Sardines & Live Pins on 20 - 40lb tackle are your best bet for these winter Gags. 

Until next time...stay warm and happy holiday season.

Capt.Derrick Jacobsen

www.floridalighttacklecharters.com

Southwest Florida Fishing Chronicles

Charlotte Harbor/Gasparilla/Pine Island

December 1, 2002

Chilly was the story this week.

This week was a full week with a mix bag of various fish and Hot and luke warm action.  We started the week off Monday fishing a Redfish show in the Harbor, Gasparilla and Lemon Bay area.  Lots of Tailing Reds were working flats on the outgoing tide in Lemon Bay with just a few flooding the flats on the incoming in the Gasparilla area.  In addition, many of the bars that border Whidden, Turtle & Bull Bay, Cayo Pelau and both the east and west walls held groups of 20 - 30" fish.  Monday's clear conditions made approaching the low tide fish very difficult.  Long and precise casts and a proper presentation with jigs or live shrimp is the ticket under these conditions.  Sight Casting is best, however, fish will also respond to chumming and waiting.

Tuesday resulted in targeting Trout in the early morning on the grass around Pirate Harbor and Burntstore.  Chug Bugs and DOA Shrimp are among my favorite artificials for Trout over grass beds.  In addition, the bars that border Turtle and Cayo Peleau also held Trout, but on the smaller side.  In the mix, were also ladyfish and flounder.  We finished off Tuesday working deep water in the upper reaches of the harbor with the hopes of tugging on something bigger.  Prayers were met with Snook and Grouper (Jewfish).

Wednesday was back to the Redfish Grind.  Again we focused on the grass flats with the morning outgoing tide,  the edges of the bars @ low, and back on the grass with the late afternoon incoming tide.  Sight fishing is only as good as your anglers ability to spot what you spot and cast where you need them to.  While we landed and released four Tailing Reds  to 28", we missed over a dozen, but on fly, that's damn good.  A chartreuse and white  deceiver, with a weed guard accounted for all of our fish, which were caught in 12 - 15 inches of water.

Friday's trip was also a fly-fishing trip.  We focused on Reds and Trout in the morning with little success.  Friday morning's high winds and cold temps made fishing difficult.  By noon, things began to change.  We spotted several Big Redfish and even Snook working the bars on the low stage of the tide, and many more in the potholes of the Gasparilla Preserve.  My anglers made repeat casts, but were unable to place the fly where it needed to be and/or had difficulty spotting fish.  As a result, we quickly switched our tactic and began blind casting to the potholes and looking for Tailers in the afternoon.   Unfortunately, the tide never did come back in on Friday, therefore no afternoon Tailers.  We did however manager Trout, Ladyfish, Sheephead and even a Flounder...all on fly.  

Saturday's live bait trip was a good change.  Due to the freezing morning conditions, we decided to start the day and hour later.  It was not late enough.  The morning bite was again slow, with some Trout, Flounder and Ladyfish on artificials.  By mid day, things began to heat up.  We worked dark bottom in certain areas of the Myakka River, as well as Creeks feeding into Alligator Creek.  The decision to fish brown water paid off, as we managed to land and release over twenty Redfish up to 26" in the span of just a couple hours.

Sunday was back to fly-fishing.  Not just fly-fishing, but fly-fishing for Tarpon, yes Tarpon.  Tarpon in December can be consistent if you know where to find them and the conditions are right.  Focus on the darkest, deepest "Slow" or "Idle" water you can find.  I ran north and fished my honey holes in the Myakka and Peace Rivers.  While the Myakka proved unsuccessful (Usually good) with just one fish spotted, we did finally find active fish in a certain area of the Peace River.  We anchored up on our pool, which provided for water between 8 - 15' deep, and Tarpon began rolling immediately, even on Sundays' cold, windy and cloudy conditions.  I've never met anyone who can make 250 back to back cast with a fly rod.  Tarpon up to 25lbs were rolling, all around our anchored boat.  249 cast later, and we finally had a taker.  Unfortunately, the hook never hit home.  Today we threw everything from Clousers to Deceivers to half/Half/Half/Halfs and even shrimp flies.  I can only imagine the success we would of had if we had a live well full of white bait or sardines!  Thank god we managed some Trout and Ladyfish.....all on fly.

Good fishing everyone and back to you next week with a full week of reports for our area.

Until then, tight lines.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

www.floridalighttacklecharters.com

1-866-4-TARPON

Southwest Florida Fishing Report

November 25, 2002

This week's up and down temps and strong tides have me looking deep to shallow and concentrating on the typical winter patterns. Times like this, white bait becomes tough to find, and I mostly rely on artificials, live shrimp and crabs. For those who want to run outside, the beaches are still holding plenty of White Bait and Sardines.

Trout: This past week's morning high tides resulted in oodles and oodles of Trout. Chug Bugs at first light, then switching to DOA's and Shrimp Tipped Jigs produced countless Trout. While most averaged between 14 - 17", we did manage some whoppers in the 24 - 26" class. The East Wall grass Flats between Alligator and Burnt Store was the ticket this week, as well as Grass just west of Jug Creek. While the grass beds held the numbers, the largest of the fish came off the mud in less than 2 foot of water.

Snook: All the Snook caught this week were caught as By catch. Without the White Bait, I've been focusing on Reds. Some nice Snook to 36" however, were caught working the troughs along the east wall during the mid day low tide, as well as along the docks bordering Little Gasparilla. Jigs produced the Snook along the docks, and Pearl Tube Jigs and DOA Shrimp intended for Reds, resulted in several sight casted Snook along the bars, troughs and potholes.

Reds: Reds were the ticket for me this week. The early AM dropping tide, yielded tails galore on the grass flats along Gasparilla Sound. Find one, and you will usually find several more working the area. I like to work flats with Mullet. If I don't find mullet, I move on to the next likely Redfish or past proven Redfish Flat. While many Reds were caught on 1/8 oz Johnson Spoons, Weedless Tube Jigs and DOA Shrimp, I like to throw "Handpicked" shrimp rigged weedless to tailing Reds. The trick is to remove some of the shell to enhance the scent. As you know, A Redfish's predominant sense, is the sense of smell. Have someone pole you within casting distance (Ideally up current), cast the shrimp well beyond the fish and drop it a few feet up current of the Red. Allow the shrimp to lie motionless on the bottom. If he does not pick up the scent (Which usually they do, provided you drop your bait up current), give it a slight Tug, and that will usually do the trick.

In addition to the Tailers, I've been catching large numbers of Reds working the troughs along both the east and west walls, as well as the edges of the bars that border Cape Haze, Cayo Peleu, and Bull & Turtle Bays. On dead low tide, that's where you'll find them.

Other: In addition to the Reds, this week has yielded some fantastic Pompano Catches along the west wall. Run, skip, chum and bait with shrimp or shrimp tipped jigs crawled along the bottom.

Today I had the pleasure of filming a Redfish show on the Harbor. This morning we stalked a good dozen Tailers on a secret flat in Lemon Bay. Most fish were in the upper slot and feeding aggressively with the dropping tide. Mid-Day resulted in "Running and Gunning" the bars looking for concentrations of fish. Today's crystal clear waters made approaching the "Bar Fish" a bit difficult. Finding them mid day was easy, getting them to bite was tough on artificials. Today's late flood resulted in very few Tailers.

We'll get on them again tomorrow.

Tight Lines everybody....By the way, check out our site in a few days for a recent report in the Flamingo Area by Capt. Mike Haines & Capt. Mike Hutchisson. Six back to back FLTC Charters resulted in Big Tarpon, Sharks, Snook, Reds, Drum, Jacks, Trout, 50lb Jewfish, more sharks and lots of Big Snook each day! In addition Capt. Eric Herstedt has been nailing the Permit and Bones with consistency in Key Largo. If you are planning a trip down south, this week will result in some good fishing. Everyone's got a full week of charters from The Keys to Tampa, to Charlotte Harbor and Jacksonville, so check back next week for some great reports.

Until then,

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

Southwest Florida Fishing Report 11/16/02

Hello SW Florida.  Sorry to have been out of the loop these past few weeks.  The Redfish Tour's Louisiana and Sarasota Events have kept me quite busy in between charters.

Before the report, I just want to add a quick note about Louisiana.  This has been my third time fishing Louisiana's waters, and again I say...."If they had Snook I'd pick up and move to Louisiana"

I fished the event with Redfish Tour partner Capt. Eric Taylor of Mosquito Lagoon.  Even through a cold front, dirty water and negative tides, we were able to catch double-digit fish each day.  If we really wanted to, we could have caught 40 -50 Redfish each pre-fishing day, with an average fish being a healthy 5 -7 lbs.  To put that in to perspective, a 5lb SW Florida fish is 24-25" and a 7 pounder is between 26-27"!

In between the Redfish, you've got giant Sea Trout, Drum, Sheephead and Flounder.  What an amazing fishery.  We weighed in an aggregate two fish weight of  16.98lbs on tourney day!  Unheard of in Florida tournaments, but in Louisiana, only good for 12th place.  But hey, out of 80+ boats, I guess we did not do so bad, after all, 12th place gave us a check and secured the number four spot in the team of the year race for 2002.

Now back to reality......

Kingfish/Tunny/Barracuda:  Late in October I was still hammering the Kings off the beaches.  It was as fast as you can put a bait in the water.  Most fish averaged 10 - 20lbs, with several in the 20 - 35lb range.  Last week's Kingfish charter proved unsuccessful.  Reports from my Tampa Captains is that Kings are still available up north.  This front will push these fish west and south.  If we are blessed with a week long warm spell, that will drive the bait balls back closer to shore along with the bait.  With such will be the Spanish Macks, Tunny and Kings.  With the Kings will be some Cobia and lots of Sharks.  Work the bait pods or anchor and put out a chum bag; or you can fast troll metal to locate the concentrations and follow up with the bait.

I prefer a reel loaded to the gills with 10 - 12lb line on a 7 or 7 1/2 foot medium action spinning rod for Kings to 30lbs and 15lb gear for the true Smokers.  Same tackle will handle the Cudas and Tunny. I prefer to use a short 8" trace of light wire attached to a single #6 treble tied direct to a 3' section of 30lb Fluro (No swivel).  Run & Gun the bait pods is my ticket.  Remember to drop back 2-3 foot on a strike or you'll miss the Kings due to short strikes 50% of the time.

On the inshore front....

Snook:  Will continue to bite in between the fronts.  While the Canals and upper reaches of the harbor have proved consistent, I am still catching fish along the docks behind Gasparilla and Little Gasparilla.  The preserve still has plenty of fish if you know where to find them.  Look for deep pot holes adjacent to mangrove islands. Find Moving water and bait and your success level increases.  During fronts, work deep water and slow your presentation.  A dead bait left to lie motionless on the bottom may be boring, but may draw the only strike on the coldest of days.  As the sun rises mid day, look for these same fish on the darkest shallowest flats you can find.  They will be there, just be sure to take a stealthy approach.  Best to drift quietly & anchor; or revert to the push pole.

Trout:  Trout are everywhere you can find healthy grass in 2-6' of water.  While many resort to live bait, you can catch just as many chucking artificials.  I like to drift across grass @ first light and throw Chug Bugs and Top Dogs.  As the day progresses, I'll switch to 1/4 oz. Jigs and Gold spoons.  Trout season is now closed so please avoid taking them out of the water.  It's best to release them in the water, and please take the time to properly revive all fish.

Redfish:  In preparation for an upcoming tourney, I've been doing some serious scouting these last few days.  Early November was downright awesome.  I've located several schools entering certain secret flats on the 1st quarter of the incoming.  It's tails galore if you are quiet.   

Any flat can hold Redfish at any time.  Pay attention to flats that border deep open bodies of water.  Ideally flats close to the Gulf if it's the schools you are after.  Locate a school one day, and chances are, they will be there again @ the same tide stage the very next day.  Study their pattern, and you can literally work a school for weeks.

I favor top waters in the early morning and switch to the trusty gold spoon after sun up.  Soft plastic Jerk Baits, Tube Baits and Spinner Baits will also catch their fair share of fish, as well as the trusty D.O.A. Shrimp.  For tailers, I prefer an unweighted White Jerk Bait or a Bayside Shrimp impaled on a worm hook.  Cast beyond the fish and drop it in his face.  Be sure to NOT run your line across his back, or you will spook him, and his 30 other buddies he is with.

Mid day, I like to skip my baits well under the groves at high tide, and bump jigs across pot holes at low.  Look for singles or pairs of tails on the last 1/4 of the outgoing tide as well as the first quarter of the incoming. 

Pompano:  The bite is on.  This is my favorite time of the year to run the outside edges of bars and "Skip" saucers as they say.  Once located, I'll motor back up wind, and either slowly bump yellow and chartreuse jigs tipped with shrimp along the bottom, or anchor and chum and free line shrimp with a split shot.

The best water has been in 3-6' feet with a mix of sand, shell and grass.  Pompano are great fighters on ultra light tackle.

This front will send the bait away and slow the bite down.  Can't wait till it's gone.

Until next time, god bless and tight lines.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

Florida Light Tackle Charters

Florida Light Tackle Charters.com

The end of the week found myself in the Gulf.  Saturday and Sunday proved hot with the Kingfish, Shark, Little Tunny, Big Barracuda and Spanish Macks.  We caught countless number of Schoolie Size Kings to 20lbs.  The Macks were running up to 5lbs, and we released several Barracuda to 35lbs.

I like to fill the well up with Big Threads or Big Spanish Sardines and “Run & Gun” each pod of baitfish or feeding frenzy until I find the right kind or size fish.  Approach each school quietly.  Cut your motor upwind or up current by 50+ yards and drift through them.  Pitch the live baits and hang on.  No weight or balloon, just free line.  I used Stradic 4000’s loaded to the gills with #14 Fire-line and an 8” trace of #4 wire tied to a #4 bronze treble hook.  Small hooks, no swivel and light line kept the bait lively.  If the kings were there, it did not take more than just a few minutes.  If all we found were Spanish, we moved on.  Once the Little Tunny were located, we switched to Chug Bugs.  If you think a 15lb Snook or a 10lb Jack is an awesome top water sight, try reeling & jerking a Chug Bug as fast as you can through a School of little Tunny.  There aint nothing like it!  A 10lb Bonito will strip 100 yards of line off of your reel before you can say “Fish-On”.  If you really want some excitement, throw a popper on an 8 wt.  Just be sure you are quick to clear your line. 

Until next week.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

Florida Light Tackle Charters.com

Good catching, and until next time…tight lines and many healthy releases.

Capt. Derrick Jacobsen

http://www.floridalighttacklecharters.com

1-866-4-TARPON (482-7766)

October 7, 2002

Florida Light Tackle Charters.com

Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor and surrounding areas

Captain Derrick Jacobsen

http://www.floridalighttacklecharters.com

1-866-4-TARPON (482-7766)

August 25, 2002 

The Back Country Report

With Labor Day just a few days away, summer is almost over, although with the 90 – 95 degree days, it is very hard to imagine.

TARPON: The hot Tarpon bite of late summer has temporarily tapered off in the harbor. There are still a few left, but targeting them could get boring pretty quickly. It’s either on or it’s not. These late summer fish have been averaging between 60 – 125lbs. The best approach is to get out early and fill your bait well with several dozen threadfin herring between 5 – 7 inches long. At first light, look for rolling Tarpon and establish a drift pattern. Drift one bait on a float, one free line and a third with an 1/8th ounce split shot. Drift your baits 30 to 50 feet behind the boat and live chum a threadfin every 30 seconds or so; or at least until you get the fish feeding. The hot spots have been holes 1 & 2 west of Burnt Store, just outside Matlacha Pass, The Cape Haze Hole, The artificial reefs in the northeast section of the harbor, and the mouths of the Peace and Myakka Rivers. If you do not spot rolling fish, concentrate on the boiling Threadfin pods. My favorite set up for these larger fish is a 7 ½ Star Nicklelite Rod with a Stradic 6000 spooled with 100 yards of 20lb mono, and 20lb Power-Pro backing. Use a 3’ section of #50 leader tied using a blood knot, to an 18” section of #60 Fluro Carbon leader. For a hook, I use a 7/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Wide Circle.

In addition to the adult Tarpon, schools of juvenile fish from 10 – 30lbs litter the upper reaches of the harbor. These fish are a morning proposition only, and will fall to the same tactics applied to the larger fish. Scale down your baits to 3 – 4” Threadfins and Pilchards. 8-12lb line with a 12” trace of 40lb Flurocarbon leader tied to a 2’ section of 20lb main leader will do the trick.

SNOOK: Our Snook has finished their summer spawn and are in feeding mode. There are still enough Snook along the beaches to make a day. Look for structure in or around moving water. The big concentrations of Snook have begun their inland migration. I am finding loads of Snook on all of the out islands bordering Gasparilla Sound, Bull & Turtle Bays and Pine Island. Work the larger potholes and edges of feeder channels at low tide, and follow the fish into the bushes during the high. Pot Holes or deep water next the groves are a plus. In addition, many of the Residential Canal mouths that border the harbor and the sound are also beginning to hold Snook. These mouths are best fished on the latter part of a strong outgoing tide. Gold Spoons, Soft Plastic Jerk Baits, Mirror-Lure Tops Dogs and Chug Bugs have been my favorites. Stick with the top waters during low light conditions and switch subsurface lures as the day progresses. As the day begins to heat up, work your lures or bait as far into the bushes (High tide) or at the deepest parts of the holes (Low Tide) as possible. The Snook bite will taper off at high noon, so work your lures a little slower. For best results, stick to artificials in the morning or late afternoon, and use live bait through the middle of the day. The August Snook bite has been better than average thus far, and will only get better as we enter fall.

REDFISH: This time of the year we have two concentrations of Redfish. We have your resident non-migrating bunch, which usually consist of pairs or pods of fish and we have your late summer early fall breeders, which will occupy a flat or a bar one week, and another the next. For years, I’ve been applying the same Snook Tactics to Redfish and have done extremely well. The only difference is, Redfish do not seem to mind the heat as much as the Snook. Where to fish for Redfish is very much tide influenced. I pay attention to the edges of the flats and the largest and deepest of potholes on dead low, and immediately pan the skinny water as the tide begins its flood mode. Like Snook, these fish will push well into the bushes at high tide. Unlike Snook, Redfish will attack a properly presented artificial just as well as a live bait. I prefer the artificial route, especially for sight casting. 1/8 or ¼ Johnson Gold Spoons are tough to beat, as are Shad & Mullet colored Jerk Baits and the famous Chug Bug.

Stealth is the key when stalking Redfish. Most use electric motors, however, poling is the ultimate tool. When looking for resident Redfish, keep an eye for schools. Once alerted they will push a distinctable wake, sometimes as high as a foot tall and will again settle down. Keep a tab on the direction and pole ahead of the school. When a school is in casting range, you can literally cast anything at them and such usually results in an instant hook up. These fish are all breeder fish, so please take the time to carefully revive them.

Another way to successfully target Redfish in numbers is to locate a bar or an edge of a flat during the lowest point of an afternoon low tide, anchor and chum. Be sure it is a flat known to hold Redfish. Chum with crushed crab, shrimp or even cut bait. Be sure to put a couple of lines in the rod holder with a piece of chum attached to a small 1/0 or 2/0 hook. Use just enough weight to hold bottom. These fish will be patrolling these areas in anticipation of the incoming tide. Once chummed up, they will usually stick around, and such tactics can easily result in a double-digit Redfish day. During the month of September we will have a Neap Tide on the 12th, 13th & 14th and again on the 28th, 29th and 30th, providing for an extreme mid afternoon low tide.

I’ve been doing very well with Redfish along the east and west walls of the harbor. Focusing on the bars and/or edges of at low tide, the bushes at high and the mouths of the many feeder creeks and channels on the last stage of the outgoing tide. Many of the flats that line Bull and Turtle Bays, east of Captiva Rocks, as well as the inside of Cayo Costa and Captiva Islands are also presently holding fish. In addition, pay the oyster bars a visit on high tide. While the oyster bars do attract fish, they also attract their fair share of anglers.

TROUT: The Trout bite has been fair at best. While numbers of just under or barely legal Trout can be easily achieved, we are still a couple of months away from a hot Trout bite. For now, the Trout have been mere incidental catches during my trips. The Deep Grass Flats and small passes will hold schools of smaller Trout. Best bet is to fish at first light or just before dark. A few larger Trout to 23” have been caught fishing the potholes at low tide.

OVERALL:  The fishing has been pretty good in August. Redfish fishing has gotten better, and the Snook are aggressively feeding. Bait has been thick, and getting a day’s supply should not take more than one or two casts with a 12’ net. With September will come slightly cooler water temps, and the fishing will just get better. A recent exciting trip was a short half-day trip (3 hours) with George Lochli of Charlotte Harbor. In just under 3 hours we managed to release 39 Snook to 28 inches. This occurred yesterday afternoon. We were heading out, when everybody was heading in! My brother Tony and his ten-year-old son came down from NJ for a days of fishing. He managed to land his biggest Snook to date. The fish measured 42 inches with an estimated weight of well over 20lbs. Not to bad for his 2nd Snook trip. This beast was caught on the beach on a small Threadfin and 8lb line.

Until next time, stay safe, tight lines and many healthy releases! 

 May 9. 2002 

 Mackerel, Bluefish, and Ladyfish can also be targeted, and are usually mixed in with the jacks working the bait pods early in the morning.  Don’t forget; every once in a while look behind you at your wake and look for flying saucers.  Last week I caught a glimpse of a skipping Pompano.  We motored back around and drifted the area with jigs until a hook up.  A little chum, and many casts resulted in over 20 Pompano in just under an hour. 

Until next time, stay safe, tight lines and many healthy releases!

March 22, 2002 

March is almost over and yes; I have been out of the fishing report loop for quite some time.  Running almost daily trips for the last several weeks has kept me on the water and off the computer.  Coast II Coast has recently brought aboard another captain, which should now bring things back to normal, hence provide for routine fishing reports. 

February and March for 2002 has been PHENOMENAL to say the least!  Our Mid-February Red Tide episode spoiled the hot bite in the waters of and/or around Gasparilla, Boca Grande and the preserve.  Prior to, the Snook and Redfish bite was awesome, with many 20 – 40 Snook days.  Early in the season, the average Snook ranged a very impressive 24 – 30”.  Live Pilchards were the ticket when available.  Early February had me running all the way south to Captiva Pass to find white bait. 

Tight Lines everyone, and please check back next week for my next report!

January 27, 2002 

I idled up to the edge of the flat and shut down.  The light wind prevailed over the tide and l slowly drifted across the flat in 18” of water.  Every now and then I would quietly steer the drift with my electric trolling motor (On the slowest setting).  By now, the fog had lightened up a bit, and I had approximately 150’ of visibility.  All was quiet.  While it was only 3:30pm, it seemed as if it was 5:30pm due to the low light and eerie sense of quietness.  Then it began.  A tail at 12 o’clock, two at 1 o’clock, a half a dozen at 3o’clock, a few more at 10 o’clock and so on.  Everywhere I looked and in every direction, tails were spotted, as far as I could see.  At any one moment there were AT LEAST 25 tails waving in at me.  Certainly too many for me to count and remain focused.  These fish were traveling in pairs, pods and small packs of up to a dozen fish.  When one in a group would tail, the remainder of the group would stop and all of them would begin to root.  I maneuvered my way to every tail within view, set the power pole, established direction, size and number of fish then fired a cast.  Again and again I repeated this process.  Twenty cast and twenty plus tails later, I still remained fishless.  When fish are feeding in low light and glass calm conditions, they are very, very spooky.  With low light, the fish were more keen on their sense of smell vs. their sense of sight.  I was able to get within 25 of every fish and threw DOA Shrimp, weightless Tube Jigs & Jerk Baits, Spoons and even a fly.  No takers.  They were not interested in anything they could not smell.  If they saw it and did not smell it, they headed for the horizon sending all of the fish in their pod or pack with them. 

Looking through my box of goodies, I could not find any scent spray.  I did however, remember I had a half a dozen blue crabs in my live well.  I quartered up a couple and impaled  a golf ball size chunk on a 2/0 owner hook and scanned the horizon for a tail.  Less than two or three minutes alter and a 26” Redfish was being released.  That was the smallest one caught and/or hooked.  I ended up releasing two Reds @ 26” and 28”, lost two at the boat, which were in the 27 – 28” range.

January 6, 2002 

Some notable catches this week included the Hobbs Party from Georgia; The Baker Family from Pennsylvania and the Dannemiller Family from Ohio.  All of whom landed and released at least one if not several Over slot Redfish, which under these conditions, is notable in any book. 

I can’t wait until springtime!  Tight Lines & Happy New Year

December 15, 2001 

 On the inshore front, I was out twice this week and focused my attention to the preserve.  Redfish were the prevailing fish this week.  The last couple of hours of the afternoon outgo provided for dozens of shots at cruising and tailing redfish on the flats back in the preserve, as well as areas bordering and within Turtle and Bull Bays.  1/8^th oz gold spoons and Tube Baits were the lures of choice, as were flies following a Pinfish and/or Sardine Pattern.  The waters are clear and clam, and it may help to downsize your line and leader to #8 main, and #20 fluorocarbon.  For the live baiters, pods of 3 – 4” threadfins are all over the northern reaches of the harbor between Ponce and the two bridges, as well as Bull Bay. 

The fish are chewing for the holidays.  Go and get on them!

December 9, 2001 

 Sorry for the having to consolidate several weeks in one report, but now that I’m back, expect a report of the Boca Grande area on a weekly basis!

October 28, 2001 

 The next several trips all resulted in identical days.  Redfish topped the scales at 27”, Several Trout to 24” and dozens & dozens of Snook from 20” dinks to fish well within the slots.  The consistently warm and clear weather combined with an abundance of forage kept the fish in a feeding mode for several days straight, regardless of the tides.  Tides simply dictated where we could and could not get the boat into to fish.     

Later in the week we found acre size schools of 1 – 2lb Bluefish just outside the markers of Boca Grande.  While live bait produced the larger of the small fish, Spoons and Top water Lures accounted for the numbers.  Spanish Macks, Ladyfish and Jack Crevalle added a little twist by taking a bait/lure every other 10 Bluefish.

October 21, 2001 

with responsible boating will help to improve the fishery for all.  Collectively we can all help to provide our kids, the very same enjoyment we experience today. 

Tight Lines and Safe Boating.

October 14, 2001

Reports indicate the majority of the heavy fish came from Gasparilla (Charlotte Harbor), while only a few came from Tampa Bay and the local waters.  Two boats that I know of, made it to the northern stretches of Tampa Bay, only to realize they could not make it back to weigh-in in time due to the nasty conditions.   

It was a tough event for us, and we hope to make up for it in the Tampa Tournament on 10/27.

September 30, 2001

This week’s poor weather and boat maintenance kept me off the water several days.  The days I was able to get on the water provided for some fast and furious action.

In between the rain, I fished the northeast section of Charlotte Harbor early in the week and Friday.  Redfish were spotty this far up in the harbor, however I did manage to locate a few feeding along the mangrove shorelines surrounding Alligator Creek.  Snook were certainly in a feeding mode.  Plenty were caught along the shorelines and around oyster bars. 

The Canals of PGI also proved productive for smaller Snook, a few slot size Reds, and plenty of Trout.  A Tarpon or two were also present.  The water for this part of the Harbor is still very stained due to the heavy rains and runoff.  Most of the action came from throwing Storm Chug Bugs and Soft Jerk baits. 

Closer toward the gulf, the Snook and Redfish Bite was on in full force.  Earlier today, we fished the outgoing tide, and located several 30+ fish pods of Redfish cruising the flats bordering Cape Haze Point , S.Southeast entrance(s) to Turtle Bay and the West Wall.  Stealth is the key here.  Use a trolley at the lowest setting or a push-pole to get within casting distance.  Make any noise, and you will send 30 redfish flying for the horizon pushing a 12” wake.  Once a school is located, they will eat almost anything.  Top water Chuggers, Gold Spoons, Twitch Baits, Spinner Baits and of course live bait will all work well.  Most of these fish are over 27”.  With so, take care in handling the fish and be sure to revive them properly.

In addition to the Reds, we caught Snook to 28” in some very Skinny Water on the outgo.  Snook were fining on the grass flats in or around mullet schools.  Soft Plastic Jerk Baits in Black/Gold and Silver claimed our Snook today.

Although we could have done without all of the rain and the winds, the sudden drop in temp did nothing but turn on the feeding light for the fish.  This week will bring clear sunny skies, strong tides, and cooler temps.  I expect the Reds and Snook to follow the same patterns as today.  Bait will be all over the harbor, as will Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish.  For those venturing outside; Look for Macks just off the beaches, mixed in with Jacks and a possible Cobia or King.  Nothing beats a Silver Krocodile Spoon for the Spanish Macks.  Match the spoon size with the prevailing forage (2”-3” Sardines.)  Bait is the key.  Find the bait, and you will find the fish.

As always, keep what you need for a fresh meal and release the rest.

September 23, 2002

The harbor was certainly on fire this week.   Bait was literally everywhere.  Most however, were small threadfins and tons of Sardines.  The Snook, Reds, Trout, Macks and Jacks didn’t seem to mind them a bit.  Acre size schools of Sardines littered the harbor.  Most bait pods held game fish below.  Mostly Macks and Ladyfish, however, some held Tarpon, Jacks and even Snook and Redfish.

I’d have to say the highlight of the week were Spanish Macks.  Trolling with small spoons or anchoring and live baiting with sardines will guarantee a hook up.  Look for the pods with Spanish feeding beneath them. 

We anchored up just outside Boca Pass, began chumming live sardines, and instantly began catching all the Macks one cares to tug on.  A heavy mono leader or light wire is necessary to prevent cutoffs.  The Macks were also eager to take spoons, plugs, top water Chuggers, and flies.  We managed a nice 5 ½ lb Mack on a “Chug-Bug”.  In addition to the Macks, we also caught several Jacks, including a few in the 15lb range, some Snook, and were even visited by a school of Breeder Size reds.  When working the beaches, it does not hurt to keep a small “Legal-size” mackerel or Blue Runner on a stinger rig while your mackerel fishing.  Reports of Cobia are starting to come in, as well as some rogue Kings.  Early and late in the season is when the majority of the Smokers make the presence.

In the harbor:  Business as usual.  There are plenty of Snook working most of the out islands bordering Bull and Turtle Bays, along the walls, and pretty much every other island in the harbor where you find concentrations of bait.  While one can fish the tides, early in the morning and late in the day is the most comfortable, and productive.  Redfish seem to follow the same path.  Look for concentrations of fish on the edges of the flats at low tide, in the middle of the flats on the incoming, and under the groves at high. 

Live Sardines and Pilchards will almost guarantee success, as well as a properly presented top water plug (Chug Bug) or Jerk Bait.  Gold spoons have also produced for Redfish this week.

Keep an eye out for Tarpon working bait early in the morning and just before dark.  Thursday, just before dark, I witnessed a school of 80 – 100lb Tarpon terrorizing an acre size school of Sardines for well over 30 minutes, literally gulping 100 at a time.  I witnessed several fish skyrocket out of the water feeding on the little 3” minnows.  Unfortunately, all I had was Redfish gear.  Aint it funny how things work out. 

As always, only keep what you need for a fresh meal, and release the rest for tomorrow.

September 16, 2001

Tuesday’s horrific tragedy, has kept many people off the water, and pasted to their television screens.  The weather has also played a role in keeping people off the water.  The winds and heavy rains began late Thursday, and rampaged through the harbor well into late Friday, causing havoc amongst many of the business owners, and coastal communities. 

In the midst of everything; the fishing started off as usual early in the week, and completely tapered off Thursday afternoon, only to pick back up again on Sunday.

The Snook were feeding aggressively through the Harbor.  Concentrating on bait schools on the edge of the flats, as well as the mangrove shorelines bordering Bull & Turtle Bays, and the East & West Walls proved effective for us.  Redfish were practicing their normal early fall drills, following the tides to the back bays with the fall tide, always in congregations of up to 20 fish or more.  We caught several fish through early Thursday.  Snook were aggressively chewing on Jerk baits and Top water Plugs, and Gold Spoons were the ticket for the Redfish.  Once a concentration has been found, nothing beats live greenbacks, with a few live-chummed to maintain their attention around the boat.

The Red/Snook tournament planned for Saturday was postponed to Sunday due to Tropical Storm Gabriella.  Sunday’s fleet bested 76 of the areas top Redfish and Snook Angling Teams.  Sunday was a transition day for most, and most teams, without the aid of quality live bait, only weighed in Redfish.  18 of the 76 teams were fortunate enough to weigh in both a Snook and a Red.  Consequently, they took the first 18 places.  Top Team was local Captain, Rhett Morris representing Team “Russ Morr”, who weighed in an impressive 11.32lb Snook and 6.96lb Redfish.  We were not so lucky, and settled for 16^th place.

Now that the front has past, next week should prove to be an active week for the Harbor.  Although the water will remain tannin due to the heavy rains and runoff, the bait will be heavily concentrated, and so will the fish.  Pay close attention to the outside passes, as they will, at the right tides, hold schools of Breeder size Reds, with plenty of Spanish Mackerel and a few rogue Kings just off the beaches. 

As always, only keep what you need for a fresh meal, and release the rest for tomorrow.