GAFF Life - Coastal Lifestyle, Saltwater Angling & Destinations

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Okeechobee Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:03:16 GMT

January and February are two of the better months to fish on Lake Okeechobee, and 2013 is looking like an even better year than last. That’s saying a lot with the numbers of big bass caught last year.

The water has cooled off and the bass are moving into the shallower areas with clear water to spawn. This all adds up to a lot of bass and for sure, the best chance to catch a really big trophy. During this time of the year you can catch bass using a variety of different tactics, including live bait fishing, topwater, bed fishing, flipping, and pitching. With the water level on Lake Okeechobee being higher than normal this year there is a much larger area to fish, and this also means the bass will be more spread out in most areas. The only thing that will really dictate where you fish this time of the year is the wind, and it will be mostly out of the north or northeast all winter and spring. There are areas like the Monkey Box and the North Shore area that have a lot of hydrilla that hold a lot of bass, and they’re capable of helping anglers win tournaments through the winter and early spring.

Big heavy-action rods and braided line, up to 80-pound test, is the norm for catching bass here on Okeechobee. Our bass are not line shy and you won’t need a leader, just straight braided line. The area from Clewiston south to Pelican Bay will hold a lot spawning bass that can be caught by bed fishing or on wild shiners, which is the preferred live bait here on the big lake. I like to find clear water and start looking for areas that have bass beds. They are pretty easy to spot in the clear water and look like a small clearing on the bottom in the vegetation.

To locate areas that have higher concentrations of bass I like to throw a Gambler Big EZ swimbait to cover a lot of water. I fish this bait across the top of the grass like a topwater bait except it’s rigged weedless. When I do find beds with bass on them, I like to fish a crawfish-style lure like a Gambler Mega Daddy Craw. I just pitch it into the middle of the bed and let it sit or maybe hop it a little. You’ll usually catch the smaller male first but you can catch the bigger female after you catch the male. To fish with wild shiners I like to find an open pocket in the grass in areas where I know there are bass. A good hole will provide excitement all day without even moving the boat.

If you’ve ever dreamed of catching a lot of bass, including some really big ones, then January through April is the best time to fish Lake Okeechobee. Now is also a great time to bring the wife and kids fishing because they’ll catch fish all day long.

Good luck, tight lines, and I hope to see everyone on the water soon.

--------

Contact Info: Capt. Mark King
Reel Dreams Guide Servie
(p) 863 677-0983
(w) markkingfishing.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Keys Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:01:20 GMT

Hello once again. This is your fishing forecast from the father-and-son team of Skins and Fins Charters, Capt. Ted and Capt. Donnie Benbow. We fish the waters of the Florida Keys, Key Largo and the gin-clear waters of Islamorada. Our three boats are docked at the newly revamped Holiday Isle Marina at the Post Card Inn.

Offshore/Deep Sea: During the winter months, sailfish are the most popular game fish to target. This is when anglers take advantage of the bigger charter boats. Talking with Capt. Don Chittick of the charter boat Kay K IV out of the Whale Harbor Marina in downtown Islamorada revealed that he likes to troll slowly in depths of 100 to 150 feet of water, bumping in and out of gear just enough to keep his lines tight. He prefers live baits such as ballyhoo, pilchards and cigar minnows. Don also likes to fly the kite using blue runners and goggle eyes to attract fish up from the deep. On the calmer days, swordfish will still be popular targets in the deeper waters. Out in the patch reefs, keeper-size grouper, yellowtail, mangrove snapper, porgies, mackerel and mutton snapper should keep anglers entertained.

Gulf: While fishing on the edge of the Gulf in 10 to 15 feet of water, we are in search of large Spanish mackerel, which can reach up to 40 inches in length. Some of the more popular fishing grounds, like west of Sprigger Bank, hold large numbers of these speedy macks. We rig light rods with a wire leader and use sparkly bucktail jigs tipped with shrimp. Don’t forget to bring at least two blocks of chum to get the bite going. Other common fish found on the edge of the Gulf are pompano, sea trout and sharks. There is always plenty of rod-bending action!

Flats: Redfishing continues to be the best option for the shallow-water hunter. Capt. Donnie has been spending most of his early afternoons up in just a few inches of water site casting to large redfish up to 36 inches. Throwing plastics like DOA CAL swim baits rigged weedless, or buck tails tipped with shrimp has proved to be the most productive. Bonefishing has started picking up on the mid-day higher tides and should continue through the spring.

Backcountry: With the cooler temperatures, the smaller redfish and trout are pushing through the creeks and channels. Fish near the trees using live pinfish on a weightless hook. Pompano, sharks, snapper and sea trout are also found in the channels and deep holes. The snook fishing is slowly getting better as they continue making their recovery from the hard freeze of three years ago. On the windy days when it’s blowing out of the north, we take our larger flats skiffs out on the patch reefs for hogfish, snapper, porgies, mackerel, grouper and more.

Well, that’s what’s going on the way we see it. If you want to give it a try, please give us a call. ‘Till then, this is Captains Ted and Donnie Benbow asking you to “Keep it in the shallow grass.”

--------

Contact Info: Capt. Ted and Donnie Benbow
Skins and Fins Charters
(p) 305 393-0363
(w) skinsandfinscharters.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- St. Augustine Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:59:02 GMT

My favorite time of the year to catch redfish is here! Cold water temps mean clear water for northeast Florida and that means it’s time to sight fish for reds. When the water gets below about 60 degrees the brown algae will die off, resulting in clearer water and some exciting fishing opportunities. Cold water also means that redfish will be schooled up both on the flats and in the deeper creek holes. Black drum, trout, and sheepshead will also be schooled up in the same areas. If you can get out on a nice sunny day over the next couple of months, you better go, because the fishing will be on fire!

We’ll have some really good negative low tides coming up, which means easy pickings for schooled-up fish of all kinds. These extra-low, low tides will concentrate fish down to the deeper parts of the creeks and flats. Fish the last hour or so of the outgoing tide with a ¼-ounce Slayer Inc. jig and just about anything live or artificial pegged to it, and you’re sure to get hooked up. Hard bends in the creeks will have the deepest holes. Some creeks may have a shallow mouth but don’t be afraid to do some exploring, as some of the best creek holes are pretty far back in there. If you’re unsure of the depth or afraid of getting stuck, just wait until the tide goes slack and then starts pushing in. That way you’ll know if you can make it in, you can definitely make it back out as long as the tide is still coming in. Then next time you’ll have a better idea of where your boat can and can’t go.

On days when the sun is shining, locating large schools of redfish on the flats can be a sure thing this time of year. The sun allows you to see in the water so make sure you keep it at your back if at all possible. Redfish will tend to hang out on flats that hold bait, have easy access to deeper water, and have areas that warm up quickly. Flats with an abundance of oysters are a good place to start, as they tend to cover most of the above-mentioned criteria. Once you locate the school, approach as stealthily as possible. Drifting and/or poling the boat is best, but using the trolling motor can catch our fish as well. Just keep it slow and at a constant speed. This is also a good time of year to downsize your baits a bit as clear water tends to mean spookier redfish. My favorite sight-fishing bait for redfish is a ¼- or 1/8-ounce Slayer Inc. jighead with a Slayer Inc. SST paddle tail. The size and action seem to be just right for our wintertime reds.

Sheepshead fishing will be in full swing by now. Just about any bridge piling or jetty rock with barnacles on it will be holding some sheepies. The go-to bait is a fiddler crab on a small j-hook or jighead. Fish the pilings and rocks vertically with enough weight to hold the bait close to the structure. Just remember they’re quick, so you’ll need to be on your hook-setting game. The old saying goes, “You have to set the hook before they bite!” Tight lines!

--------

Contact Info: Capt. Tommy Derringer
Inshore Adventures
(p) 904 377-3734
(w) inshoreadventures.net

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Port Canaveral Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:25:57 GMT

Blessed are we who live, breath and fish on the Indian River Lagoon coast of Florida. As we usher in the New Year, I can’t begin to fathom the many blessing bestowed upon me in 2012 as I ecstatically embrace the many opportunities before me in 2013. Blessed by 156 miles of inshore saltwater estuaries, rich Atlantic and Gulfstream waters just offshore and an abundance of freshwater lakes and the St Johns River. One need not travel far to enjoy a memorable day on the water enjoying life with friends and family. We are also blessed in the Central Florida community with an abundance of like-minded folks who share our ethics, our waters and truly understand the value of our fishery and our resources. Together as the Central Florida brotherhood of fishing, we strive to enlighten others and share our experiences on the water.

As most anglers know, winter on the Space Coast is not defined by specific dates, but rather by temperature shifts brought on by passing winter fronts. During the months of January and February, average daytime temperatures usually range from the 50s in the morning to around the 70s by afternoon. Likewise, water temperatures average in the upper 60s, but they can drop as low as the 50s during extended periods of cold weather. On warm, sunny days, water temperatures can increase as much as 4 degrees on the shallow flats and sandbars by afternoon. All of these factors greatly affect species targeted and tactics used.

On colder days, an early start is not necessary as the metabolisms of fish in general slowdown and they burn less energy. Both redfish and sea trout on the inshore flats will seek the warmest water they can find and love to warm themselves in the shallow water sand pockets “potholes” in the morning before the sun grows high. So, on colder days, focus your attention on the deeper holes using a very slow presentation. When targeting redfish and trout in these deeper holes, I prefer using shrimp imitation baits like the DOA Shrimp in the clear or nightglow colors and fish extremely slow. Other species encountered during the winter are black drum, flounder, sheepshead, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish. Also, January is one of the best months to target tailing black drum on the flats, especially in the Banana River No Motor Zone. Both live shrimp and clams are the preferred bait for black drum, but they will eat both artificial and fly when presented properly.

Inlet fishing is also very good, weather permitting, with Sebastian Inlet proving to be the most productive. There are still some reports of flounder moving through the inlet. On the inside of the inlet, look for good numbers of pompano, ladyfish, and jacks to be present on the flats both north and south of the cut and in the area of the monument. Also, January is the month when the jumbo reds move in and feed in the mouth of the inlet during the last part of the falling tide. These monsters are brood stock, so please handle and release them with care.

Near-shore, January and February are the months when tripletail become consistent on the Port Canaveral buoy line, and their numbers will increase as the months progress. Also, look for king mackerel along the 70- to 90-foot reefs of North Pelican and 8A. Weather permitting; bottom fishing on deep structure should remain consistent. Look for snapper, cobia and sea bass in depths of 80 to 140 feet, and grouper and amberjack along the 22-fathom ridge and deeper.

Last but not least, the American shad run is in full swing on the upper St Johns River in the area of Geneva, Florida, and if this year’s run is half as good as last year, it will be a great season. The American shad run is as close as us Floridians get to the salmon runs experienced in our northern streams, and it’s in January and February when they are all fishing through ice holes, we’re fly and light-tackle fishing in our winter shorts.

In closing, I would like to wish you all a happy and fishy New Year, and come visit Central Florida for some memorable fishing.

--------

Capt. Tom Van Horn is a Florida native with over 30 years experience fishing on the estuaries of east Central Florida. Capt. Tom specializes in light tackle saltwater fishing on the Mosquito, Banana, and Indian River Lagoons. Species targeted include redfish, sea trout, snook, tarpon, cobia, tripletail, and kingfish. Capt. Tom is sponsored by RipTide Lures, Evolution Rods, Lipper Tools, Maui Jim Sun Glasses, Woodies Rattles, Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Frog Toggs, and Team Daiwa. He writes weekly fishing reports, fishing forecast, and articles about his outdoor adventures.

Contact Info:
Capt. Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
540 Lake Lenelle Drive
Chuluota, FL 32766
(p) 407 366-8085
(p) 866 790-8081 Toll Free
(p) 407 416-1187 Boat
(e) captain@irl-fishing.com
(w) irl-fishing.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Palm Beach Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:22:52 GMT

Happy New Year! May this year bring you the best fishing possible. Anglers should have all of their new tackle and gadgets ready to put to good use. Successful fishermen learn new techniques and keep logs of past outings; this will help you in the long run.

Cooler water temperatures should not hold you back, as snook and tarpon action can be red hot in rivers and lagoons. Snook love to bask in the sun at high noon making for spectacular sight-fishing action. Sea walls, docks and mangrove shorelines are perfect areas to target these linesiders. Flies, jigs, twitch baits and live bait will entice snook to hit like a freight train. Smaller snook like to school up, offering anglers consistent action. Big snook lurk near channel edges, drop offs, deep holes and bridges, but bring your A game, ‘cause these snook will put a whooping on you if you’re not prepared. Night fishing for snook is a blast, and every dock with a light will put a bend in your rod! Fly anglers, this is your time to shine. Small deceivers and Clousers will get the job done.

Tarpon fishing offers action day and night, providing spectacular explosions and acrobatics. Tarpon school in deep holes and near channels. Live shrimp free lined with the tide so that it looks natural is the best method. Jigs bounced near the bottom will also get your drag screaming. DOA CALs and Edge Hybrids are my choice of baits and the colors I prefer are green, red and dark blue. Jig head size depends on depth, but typically a ¼ ounce will get the job done.

Look for rolling fish on the surface and cast in the vicinity. Fly fisherman can try chumming the waters to create a feeding frenzy, and then use Clousers and deceivers with 25- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader, 6 to 9 feet long. Tarpon can be shy, so stealth is key, but chum will entice tarpon to feed and brings them close to the boat.

Grass flats and open bays offer the best pompano fishing. Offering jigs, sand fleas, or shrimp is like ringing the dinner bell. Once you see pompano skipping in boat wakes you should work the area thoroughly. Jigs in pink, yellow, or chartreuse are excellent choices, and chicken rigs are another great way for anglers to produce strikes. The outgoing tide produces the best bite as crustaceans are flushed off flats, as the pompano are there to pick up the free meal. Another great trick is to look for manatee on the flats. Pompano trail the manatee as they stir up the bottom with their massive tails.

Trout, drum, sheepshead, and ladyfish are some of the other species anglers can target on the flats with family and friends. Lures and live bait work great, but novice anglers should try using a popping cork and a shrimp. The popping cork is deadly and when left to drift with the tide, big fish seem to track it down. Fish potholes and drop offs in the grass beds, and your next trophy might be closer than you think. Trout and redfish will pounce on jigs, and I like to use the baby bass color or red and gold DOA CALs with a 1/8-ounce jig head in natural color. The trout will be schooled up near drop offs and in potholes, with the average sizes ranging from 1 to 8 pounds.

Well, that’s your area’s forecast—hope you all enjoyed. Remember, you can’t catch them from the couch, so get out there and get hooked up. Tight lines!

--------

Contact Info: Capt. Craig Korczynski
Phlats Inshore Fishing Charters
(p) 561 644-4371
(w) Phlatsinshorefishing.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Palm Bay, Sebastian, Vero Beach

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:15:17 GMT

Now that was one cold November! In all my years in Florida, I don’t think I’ve ever shivered so much. I knew it was cold when my clients said they’d had enough and were ready to call it a morning. It wasn’t all bad, though. The early cold snap along with a backside cold front from Hurricane Sandy triggered a phenomenal flounder bite at Sebastian Inlet and brought down waterfowl in record numbers. Nothing lasts forever and after about a week, temps returned to normal and the fish moved out of the potholes and back near or onto the flats.

Here’s the skinny:

Trout/Redfish: During this time trout and reds will spend a majority of their time seeking warmer waters in the deeper troughs and holes along the ICW. During bluebird conditions, these species can be found sunning themselves in the sandy potholes and atop the oyster bars of the shallows. A slow presentation along the edge of the holes with a dark colored Slayer bait will ensure a solid hook-up. When fishing the deeper holes and drop-offs, utilize popping-cork rigs with live, dead, or plastic shrimp. The popping action will normally bring the fish up and out of the deeper water.

Black Drum: Acre-size schools of black drum can be found swimming, feeding and lounging north of the Pineda Causeway and in the Banana River’s No Motor Zone. Shrimp and cut clams will account for many of the monster catches. I recommend not using anything lighter than a 20-pound spinning outfit on these giants. Between grinding their heads into the bottom and running back into the school, lighter rigs just won’t hold up during a long battle with these brutes.

Inshore Trolling: Wintertime means trolling deepwater plugs along the deeper edges and troughs of the ICW for post-spawn snapper and grouper. A good bottom finder will result in consistent catches of these prized offshore fish. If the winds will let you, try “slow trolling” with your trolling motor instead of your main engine.

Sebastian Inlet: Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead and drum will account for much of the wintertime catch west of the jetties. Silver spoons, jigs and windcheaters are the inlet angler’s weapon of choice. For those brave enough to weather the wintertime blows, huge schools of breeder redfish can be found along the outside edges of both jetties. Please be very gentle when landing these giants. These huge brood fish are our future’s future and should be handled with care.

Offshore: Bottom fishing for grouper and snapper is always consistent this time of year on the deeper ledges, reports Capt. Billie Stewart of Rouge Wave Fishing Charters. Drop fishing with jigs and live bait will account for much of the bottom catch. The kingfish bite will be dependant on the cycle of winter storms and water clarity. Check for closures in your area.

Waterfowl: Waterfowl hunters are reminded to keep track of the St Johns River WMD website for the announcement of an upcoming meeting concerning possible closures along the Upper SJR. This meeting stems from a group of waterfowl hunters that requested limited access from (7) seven days down to (3) three days a week on the Moccasin Island Tract. The initial request was denied, but SJR staff would now like to look at the entire upper basin for possible limited access/closures to waterfowlers. Please keep checking the site for the date and attend this meeting!

See you on the boat or in the blind!

--------

Capt. Jeff Kraynik is the owner/operator of The Coastal Sportsmen and for the past 26 years has fished and hunted the Palm Bay/Sebastian/Vero Beach areas of the Indian River Lagoon. The Coastal Sportsmen and crew specialize in personalized light-tackle saltwater flats fishing, waterfowl and alligator hunts. Capt. Jeff is an IGFA certified guide and a guide in good standing with CCA/Florida. Capt. Jeff is a pro-staff fisherman for Hurricane “Redbone” Rods, PowerPro Lines, Riptide Lures and Albakore Tackle Systems. “From the grassflats to the mudflats and everywhere in between.”

Contact Info: Capt. Jeff “The Commodore” Kraynik
The Coastal Sportsmen
(p) 321 863-9182
(w) coastalsportsmen.com
(e) captjeff@cfl.rr.com
(Facebook) captjeffkraynik

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Miami Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:13:30 GMT

I love fishing in January and February. My favorite fish is the tarpon, and the tarpon swarm into Government Cut at the south end of Miami Beach and Haulover Cut at the north end to gobble up the masses of shrimp migrating offshore at this time. Tarpon get lots of help with this shrimp attack from gray snapper, snook, red grouper, a few permit and big jack crevalle.

To cash in on this action you’ll want to fish mostly nights and early mornings. The best rigs are of 20-pound tackle topped off with about 10 feet of 50-pound mono wind-on leader. The terminal tackle will often be just a 7/0 VMC circle hook baited with a live shrimp. This setup will work along the edges of the channel and just off the beach for a half-mile either north or south of the inlets.

If you’re targeting the fish in the depths of the main ship channel of Government Cut, then you’ll want to double over the top of your leader and push the folded end through the eye of a 2- or 3-ounce egg sinker. Then pass a section of #64 rubber band through the loop sticking out of the sinker. Now just pull on the main part of the leader until the rubber band is just starting to pull into the eye of the sinker and you’re ready to fish. You want your sinker about 10 feet away from your hook and your shrimp to run about 10 feet above the channel’s bottom. Tarpon, snapper, grouper or jack; it’s your guess what will bite next.

As the surviving shrimp get clear of the inlets, then Spanish mackerel, kingfish and an assortment of jacks take up the gauntlet all the way to the edge of the Gulf Steam. Bait a circle hook with a shrimp and rig with a ½-ounce sinker above the swivel between your line and a 4-foot, 30- to 50-pound leader. Then, just drop the rig over the side and let it slowly down into the depths. What will eat your next bait?

My second favorite fish is the sailfish—another great aerial battler. In January and February the sailfish action will range from incredible to a little slow, depending on the wind and current. But you can plan on your best day of the year occurring during these two months. The slow days will feature southwest to west winds and slow currents. The best days will feature strong north to east winds and strong current running to the north. In our area everybody will be flying at least one kite baited with two or three lines featuring live herring, big pilchards, goggle eyes and sardines.

On the best days with a north wind and northbound current, we will be fishing a couple of flatline baits north of the boat to catch sailfish surfing south on the waves. A lot of big “tower” boats will do nothing but search the surface for these surfing sailfish, referred to as “tailers.” When they spot them they cast their bait right in the fish’s face and hang on. With this method, they often hook six or more off one wave.

Don’t forget to keep a lookout for cobia cruising with rays or hanging around buoys during both months.

See you at the Dusky booth at the Miami International Boat Show in mid-February!

--------

Contact Info: Capt. Bouncer Smith
(p) 305 439-2475
(w) captbouncer.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Sarasota Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:08:28 GMT

It is the end of another year and holiday season. I hope everybody had a wonderful 2012 and your holidays were filled with good days on the water and happy times with friends and family.

As winter cold fronts come down the state, the fishing conditions will change in a big way. Strong winds, cold water and extreme low tides will make the fishing tough, and some days will push your patience to the limit. One key to a successful fishing trip is to slow down and gear down. Cold water is a lot clearer than the warmer water of the summer months. Fishing in the winter months can be very rewarding with light line and small jigs or live shrimp.

Targeting large trout and redfish will be a great choice for shallow water fishermen. Look for the fish to cruise the flats and sit in the potholes in north Sarasota Bay around Longbar, Bishops Point and the flats inside Longboat Pass. Snook will be moving into their winter residences like creeks and canals. The snook will already be super stressed from the cold water, so I like to stay away from them and catch other fish in the bay.

This past year flounder have made a big comeback on the flats and deeper holes. CAL jigs and Gulp shrimp fished over a broken bottom flat with sand and grass produced big doormat fish. Look for
this pattern to continue throughout the winter along with some nice pompano coming in both Big Pass and New Pass. Small jigs and ball jigs in yellow or pink tipped with a piece of shrimp or a cut piece of Gulp works really well and can put a nice meal on the table. Watch for some mackerel to come into the passes when fishing for pompano. Spoons and plastics fished fast and erratic will get a mackerel’s attention. A short piece of wire will keep you from losing a lot of those lures from their sharp teeth.

Black drum and sheepshead can make a great trip for the family and the kids. Around oyster bars you’ll see them hanging out in the gin-clear water, but they are very hard to catch in that situation. Bridge pilings and under docks are a perfect spot to catch these fish. Small chunks of shrimp on a 1/0 circle hook works well on sheepies. Give the kids something exciting to see by dropping your baited line down by the pilings and let them watch the fish strike your bait. A sure trick to get their attention and get them involved. If you’re going fishing and the kids are begging to go, too, take them with you.

It’s a great thing watching your child catch their first fish, or even their hundredth! Start the kids off with fish they can catch a lot of in a short amount of time. If you get a kid interested in the sport you’ll have a buddy for life and it’s a great family activity. Remember to make sure the kids are outfitted with lifejackets that are age and weight appropriate for safety.

I hope 2013 brings you many happy days on the water and lots of wonderful family memories.

My Mission is Good Fishin’!

--------

Contact Info: Capt. Bruce Burkhart
Casual Lies Fishing Charters
(p) 941 922-3675
(w) casualliescharters.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Chokoloskee

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:03:42 GMT

January and February bring us our two coolest months of the year. Typically we receive several cold fronts accompanied by high wind. We just hope the cold fronts don’t bring any frost. It’s this time of the year that we spend a lot of time in the backcountry where we’re able to duck away from the elements.

Each January and February it’s necessary to keep an eye on your tide charts, because we have some extremely low tides around both the full and new moon during both months. If you get caught in a -.5 low tide that you did not anticipate, it could surely ruin your day! Be extra careful with the morning low tides January 8th - 14th and 25th - 28th and on February the 7th - 12th and the 21st - 25th! Wind direction also affects the tides dramatically. A north or east wind will make the tide lower and longer than expected as it blows the water out and delays its return.

Days when the fronts are absent, the sun is shining, and the thermometer gets up into the mid 70s can mean awesome fishing! Daytime air temperatures average 77 degrees in January and 76 degrees in February. Water temperatures average 66 degrees both months.

The shallow grass flats are alive with trout, bluefish, ladyfish, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and pompano. You can use many different types of artificials on the flats for all of these guys. Among my favorites are DOA jerkbaits and shrimp, both in rootbeer color. You can also use 3/8-ounce bucktail-type jigs tipped with a very small piece of shrimp.

The oyster bars hold sheepshead and redfish. If presenting natural bait, they both like to eat crustaceans like shrimp and fiddler crabs. Fish for the reds on the oyster bars on the beginning of the incoming tide, and fish for the sheepshead on the second half of the incoming tide.

The backwater bays and rivers hold trout, snook, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and other enjoyable species. When fishing for snook, it’s hard to beat live baits like pilchards and threadfin herring. Snapper will gladly accept pieces of shrimp, and the ladyfish will eat just about anything you throw in the water.

I have developed a Species Availability Chart relative to the backwater and nearshore areas I fish in the Everglades National Park. You can see it at www.CaptainRapps.com

--------

CaptainRapps@Gmail.com
239-571-1756

Hailing out of Chokoloskee Island Park Marina, Chokoloskee, FL

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near-shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, and children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his professional guides are extremely patient and love to teach. You can book a charter online 24/7. See

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Boca Grande Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:52:25 GMT

Well, it’s a new year and if the fishing is as good as it was in 2012, we’re all in for a big treat.

For many anglers, fishing colder weather makes the decision to get out of bed and hit the water challenging. However, in many cases the fishing can be very productive with a few key points to focus on.

The months of January and February are great months to literally pick your species to target. Whether you’re a nearshore/offshore angler, or you’d rather stalk the flats for redfish, snook and trout, these two months offer many opportunities.

There are a few things to keep in mind regarding both offshore and inshore. For the offshore angler, it becomes easier to get on a good bite without having to run 20 to 30 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. During the cooler months the Gulf’s surface temperature typically stays in the mid 60s and provides excellent fishing near wrecks, artificial reefs and ledges. The cooler water temps tend to drive the fish in closer to shore with strong numbers of grouper, snapper and pelagics. I like to run to my favorite gathering spot for a couple cast nets full of pinfish and go and drop them down on a knocker rig to pull on some hefty grouper. And on the way out, drive by every crab trap float I see to check for tasty tripletail. Make sure to check your regulations for the seemingly ever-changing grouper limits. That will add some peace of mind when you’re bowed over the side of the boat with another giant gag grouper.

Now, many times the weather won’t allow for much of a run into the Gulf and you need to concentrate on inshore species. Some of my favorites are redfish and pompano during these months. With most winds blowing from the north or northeast, it’s a good idea to find an area that’s a little leeward from the wind. Just keep in mind that with winter low tides and a strong north or east wind, the tides will be much lower than normal. However, you can use this to your advantage. Areas to focus on are sand holes surrounded by grass flats. During these winter low tides the fish tend to get concentrated in those sand holes and with the right presentation, the fishing can be exceptional.

I prefer to use light tackle, such as my Shimano Crucial rod and Shimano Stratic CI 4 reel. A light braided line like 10-pound PowerPro works very well when casting long distances with small artificials or shrimp. I will typically start out using a Slayer Inc. paddle tail on a ¼-ounce jig head and slowly retrieve it through the edges of the sand holes. One clear advantage I’ve found with the Slayer Inc. paddle tail is the range of speed in which it can be retrieved. A slow presentation is key during the cooler months and the paddle tail makes for a good all round wintertime bait.

As for the pompano, the Bomber Nylure jig works great. I choose the ½-ounce model for casting distance and my retrieve consist of sharp snaps of the rod tip to cause the jig to hop erratically. Look for areas with hard bottom, especially areas that have crushed shell. Now, as you might imagine, these key areas will have other inshore species to target as well, such as trout, snook and flounder.

As I wrap up this forecast, I can’t help but think of all the opportunities that await. I encourage you to try different things and different areas. That is how you’ll learn and become even more efficient on your next trip.

Live in the Zone!

--------

Contact Info: Capt. Jay Withers
Silver Lining Charters
(p) 941 204-2559
(w) captainjay.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Tampa Bay Area

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:47:52 GMT

The New Year is here and we’re looking at another great winter. Fishing in the west-central region has been especially productive. Trout have taken the forefront as they invade just about every grass flat, and redfish continue to run in great numbers. Sheepshead are starting to move around residential docks, bridges and artificial reefs, and don’t forget about those huge schools of black drum milling around on the flats. Fishing in the New Year will be awesome!

In Tampa Bay we have a great winter fishery. One of my favorite species to target is sheepshead. This is one of the best fighting and eating fish there is and they are plentiful this time of year. They love structure, so you’ll find schools around every other piling and dock. Just look for heavy barnacle growth. One method is to scrape the barnacles with a shovel (this will act as chum), then simply drop your line as close to the piling as possible and hold on. I like to use a 1/8- or ¼-ounce jig head matched with 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. This, tied to your Fins 4-pound PRT main line will be the perfect rig. Artificial reefs are great areas to target, too, and there are plenty throughout the bay.

Trout is another species that’s plentiful in Tampa Bay. Trout like the colder water temperatures and they don’t spook off from artificial baits. Fishing for trout is very simple. Find a flat with healthy grass and good tidal flow, start up tide and just drift. As you drift, make casts with your favorite plug or soft plastic. My favorite rig for trout is a 1/8-ounce Texas-rigged weedless hook and a Z-Man pearl white PaddlerZ. Work your bait according to the depth. Another great set up is a Cajun Thunder with a Z-Man 3-inch ShrimpZ. Just pop the cork and trout can’t resist this technique. One last tool that will help slow your drift on windy days is a drift anchor or sock. Remember to handle trout with extreme care, as they are a delicate fish.

Redfish are also plentiful in the winter. Most of the big, over-slot fish have pushed off to deeper water, but there are plenty of slot fish that hang around throughout the winter. I like to target residential canals and docks. They make great winter homes for redfish and many other species. A tail-hooked live shrimp is a great bait to use. I like to down size my leader to 20-pounds, due to the gin-clear water, and use a #1 Daiichi Bleeding circle hook. A slow approach works best and this is why my bait of choice is shrimp. Artificial baits also work well and you can cover more area in less time. Soft plastics are a favorite of mine and you can’t go wrong using Z-Man JerkZ baits soaked with Pro-Cure bait scents.

Cobia are another favorite of mine in the wintertime. They’re great fighters and can get up to 50 pounds. I like to use live pinfish on a 4/0 Daiichi circle hook with 40-pound leader. Your rod and reel size will depend on the size of the fish you are catching. There are plenty of areas to target cobia, but my favorites are the warm water outflow areas from power plants. Their outflow water holds at a steady 75 degrees all winter, which attracts manatees and rays, and cobia are usually right behind them. Sight casting is a common method or you can anchor up and create a chum slick.

Whatever species you decide to target, with a little planning and patience, you should be in for a great time and good fishing in Tampa Bay. Tight lines!

----------

Contact Info: Capt. Jason Prieto
Steady Action Fishing Charters
(p) 813 727-9890
(w) steadyactionfishingcharters.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Mobile Bay & Pensacola

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:38:39 GMT

January and February are always two of my favorite months of the year to fsih along the Alabama coast. February brings signs that spring is just around the corner. With that, it means redfish flooding the tidal ponds and bass jumping on beds. Redfish, specs, flounder and black drum can all be caught on the same day and in the same fishing hole. That’s just a few reasons why anglers love fishing this time of the year. They don’t just catch fish; they catch multiple species of sport fish.

Fishing: Cold water temperatures have kept the specs and reds in the interior bay and inside our rivers. Catches have been really good along the Gulf Coast, and it seems that the early spring is going to be one for the record books. I consider these months to be some of the most productive for redfish on the flats. This style of fishing works so well during these times because redfish and trout are following the mullet, hard. The best place to find mullet are on flats where photo plankton and algae begin for the year. As they feed, the redfish and trout will scan the flats in search of a nice mullet meal. As the reds mill around on the flats, they normally will “tail” showing their location. Also, reds will hang in gangs numbering 4 to 8 fish, trolling the shorelines and looking for anything good to eat.

As an angler, flats fishing can be some of the most exciting fishing you can do. First, you have the opportunity to see the fish before they even know you’re there. Second, the fish up on the flats are hunting; that means that if you get your bait within a few feet of the fish, they are going to bite! I find that during these months reds are so aggressive and moving that you can pattern them each day. What I mean by this is every day during January and February the fish tend to move a lot due to water temperature fluctuations and salinity levels. However, as temps tend to settle into a springtime pattern, these fish become predictable. If the fish are up on the flats and ganged up, then almost every flat will have these gangs of fish.

Baits: Because the fish tend to be more aggressive, you want to use bait that will draw an aggressive strike. I tend to use baits that displace water this time of the year, instead of baits that are visual. Baits that displace water attract fish from further distances due to the vibrations and movement of water they produce. Water clarity will typically be off-colored, and visual baits just don’t do the job when it comes to strike ratios. You need a bait that will push water, rattle, and/or vibrate in shallow water. I use the Rapala Skitter Walk to cover the top, and the Rapala Twitchin’ Rap to cover the middle of the water column. Both baits are hard sided and can cast a mile covering plenty of water. Also, they are both perfect mullet imitations.

I encourage everyone to get out there and enjoy our great fishery.

--------------

Contact Info: Capt. Dietrick Trehern
Fishing Fanatics Charters
(p) 251 232-0909
(w) dtrehern77@gmail.com

January/ February 2013 Fishing Forecast- Crystal River & Homosassa

johnt — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:21:20 GMT

Another year is just beginning and I want to start by wishing my fellow anglers many great days on the water.

With the winter season in full swing, one of the most dependable species, sheepshead, is taking up residence on a variety of structures. These fish will be a chief target for the next couple of months and are a good fighting fish with the benefit of being fantastic table fair to get us through the winter. Rock piles, wrecks, channel markers and ledges are ideal structures to concentrate your efforts. Also, for the offshore anglers, give some of your deeper grouper locations a try. You may be surprised by the abundance of sheepshead on those offshore structures. A live shrimp is a great bait choice and a simple knocker rig with a #2 hook will keep the rods bent.

Water temperature plays a big role when the inshore species feed this time of year. The spring-fed rivers are a safe haven for a variety of species. Trout, redfish, black drum, snook, tarpon and mangrove snapper can be found in easy reaches from the spring’s headwaters. Have an assortment of jigs, slow-suspending plugs and live shrimp to cover any situation.

While there’s plenty of action in the rivers, the backcountry creeks, oyster bars and shallow rock flats will be holding good concentrations of fish, as well. For the shallow-water enthusiast, keep in mind the dark, hard bottom holds the heat and trout in particular key in on these conditions. Trout can be seen schooling on many occasions and a glow colored DOA jerk bait, Yo-zuri 3D Minnow or MirrOlure Mirrodine can be deadly. Use a subtle twitch-twitch-pause retrieve, and you should have quite a rewarding time fishing the schools.

Reaching the redfish in the backcountry creeks can be tough this time of year due to the extreme low tide conditions. If you have a tunnel hull or shallow-running skiff, take advantage of the tides to plan your trip. Leave a little later in the day and allow the sun to warm the water a degree or two. This can make all the difference between a successful or unsuccessful trip. Also, if possible, try to target the leeward side of islands. Many times redfish can be seen sunning themselves over the rocks in the calm water, and a properly presented live shrimp will usually result in a hook up.

I always like to remind people that if the winter weather is just too lousy to fish, do a little maintenance. Service your engine and boat trailer, and re-spool those reels with fresh line. Check rod guides, organize your tackle and replace the rusty hooks on your favorite plugs. By doing so, you’ll have an early jump on everything when spring arrives.

As always, if you have any additional question about the area, feel free to contact me. Good fishing!

Captain Dan Clymer

-----------

Capt. Dan Clymer was born and raised on the Crystal River and has been fishing Citrus County’s waters his entire life. Dan is a full-time guide, chartering the Crystal and Homosassa rivers and a proud member of the Homosassa Guides Association. He has had his captain’s license since the age of 18 and specializes in shallow water grouper, flats and back country fishing. Dan has been featured in numerous magazines, on serveral television shows and is endorsed by Orvis.

Contact Info:
Capt. Dan Clymer
(p) 352 418–2160
(w) crystalriver-fishing.com

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Panama City & Pensacola

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:12:21 GMT

Fishing along the Panhandle in January and February can be very good, but also very cold. Along with being cold, the water levels are on average a couple feet lower than in the summer with the low tides typically in the mornings. This combination of cold weather and lower-than-normal water level can be intimidating to most bay anglers who are hoping to fish the same shallow areas that they had fished in warmer months. Though it would seem that all the specks and reds would move off the flats in search of deeper water, there are still plenty of fish to be caught in the extreme shallows. But this requires a few key changes in the approach and technique.

For starters, the boat needs to be a shallow drafting boat unless you are willing to do a little wade fishing. On days when the water level is very low, I usually leave my bay boat at the house and take out the 14-foot jon boat. Another key is to know the area you are fishing very well. The water is almost always crystal clear, another factor in making the fish very spooky. Knowing the area where you think fish will be hanging out is very important. If you wait until you are close enough to see them, chances are you will spook them before a chance to cast presents itself.

As far as lures go, a weedless Gulp is hard to beat. A slow presentation is effective, with periods of dead-sticking mixed in. Again, knowing the area well enough to stay confident that the fish are there is important. Otherwise, you will lose patience, move forward and see all the fish that you could have caught as they scatter in all directions.

There is an easier approach to fishing for trout and reds in slightly deeper water. Muddy inlets, creek mouths, and the river system provide plenty of action in the colder months. Instead of fishing in inches of water, these areas usually hold anywhere from 3 to 10 feet of water and can sometimes be stacked with fish. The only downside is that the majority of the fish are smaller than those fish on the flats. But the action they provide can make up for the lack of size, and occasionally there will be areas such as these that hold nothing but keepers. My lure of choice for these areas is a 1/8-ounce jighead with any Gulp bait. Again, a slower than normal retrieve is very effective.

Another option for the beginning of the year is to stock the freezer with flounder. As they spawn offshore, these very tasty fish can be caught with relative ease. Around nearshore wrecks, bridge rubble, and even natural bottom, flounder will spawn and feed until they make their spring migration back into the bay. One of the easiest ways to catch them is with a Carolina rig hooked up with a small cigar minnow, bull minnow, or finger mullet. For an artificial approach, use a ½- to 1-ounce jighead with any Gulp bait and vertical jig off the bottom, letting it hit the bottom each time.

So whether you’re looking for a shallow water challenge or an easy time stocking the freezer, the colder months along the Panhandle have exactly what you are looking for. So either way make an effort to get out on the water. Chances are you will have any spot you want all to yourself!

-----

Capt. Blake Nelson has spent his entire life on the Panhandle fishing the back bays from Panama City to Pensacola. He is currently an inshore guide in Destin, Florida, targeting redfish, speckled trout, and flounder year-round. He also fishes in many redfish tournaments with his brother, Captain Wes, both locally and nationally.

Contact Info: Capt. Blake Nelson
Last Cast Charters
(p) 850 499-3811
(w) captainblake.com

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Palm Bay, Sebastian, Vero Beach

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:07:24 GMT

Wind, wind, go away, come again another day! Well, seven weeks later it was still blowing. Things finally started to settle down a week after Thanksgiving and the fishing has gotten back to normal for this time of year.

Average winter temperatures along the Space and Treasure coasts will range from the low 50s in the mornings to the mid-70s by the middle of the afternoon. Water temps will range from the middle to high 60s to as low as the mid-50s during extended cold periods. During these cold fronts, the morning bite can be little to non-exsistent for many anglers so do what I do: Stay in bed till the sun breaks the horizon!

But each passing cold front means an eventual warm-up on the grassflats and offshore waters. Then it will be that time to get out and wet your lines.

Here’s the skinny:

Trout/Redfish: During this time trout and reds will spend a majority of their time seeking warmer waters in the deeper troughs and holes along the ICW. During Florida’s winter bluebird days, these species can be found warming themselves in the sand potholes and atop the oyster bars of the shallows. A slow presentation along the edge of the holes with your favorite soft bait should send the sunning predator into a feeding frenzy. When fishing the deeper holes and drop-offs, utilize a popping-cork rig with either a live, dead or plastic shrimp. The popping action of the rig will normally bring the fish up and out of the deeper waters.

Black Drum: Large migrating schools of black drum can be found swimming, feeding lounging north of the Pineda Causeway and in the Banana River “no motor zone.” Live shrimp, dead shrimp and cut clams will account for many of the monster catches. I recommend not using anything lighter than a 20-pound rig with 60-pound test leader on these giants. Between grinding their heads into the sand and running back into the school, the lighter rigs will just not hold up during a long battle with these brutes.

Inshore Trolling: Wintertime means trolling deepwater plugs along the deeper edges and troughs of the ICW for keeper snapper and grouper. It will take a good bottom finder for consistent catches of these prized offshore fish. If the winds will let you, try “slow trolling” with your trolling motor instead of your main engine.

Sebastian Inlet: Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead and drum will account for much of the wintertime catch west of the jetties. Silver spoons, jigs and windcheaters are the inlet angler’s weapon of choice. For those brave enough to weather the wintertime blows, try fishing at night on an incoming tide.

Offshore: Bottom fishing for grouper and snapper is always consistent this time of year on the deeper ledges, reports Capt. Billie Stewart of the Rouge Wave Fishing Charters. Drop fishing with jigs and live bait will account for much of the bottom catch. The kingfish bite will be dependant on the cycle of winter storms and water clarity.

Dive Report: Lobster divers report that both spiny and shovelnose catches have been consistent on the 90- to 120-foot ledges, when the wind’s not blowing. As usual, the 40- to 60-foot ledges have been picked clean early in the season. Due to the cold water and deeper dive, Nitrox is recommended for those divers doing multiple drops during the winter months. Get your spear fishing in now; it may be your last for many years!

Waterfowl: Flats fishermen and waterfowl hunters will be sharing the grassflats through January 29, 2012. Flats fishermen are reminded that these outdoorsmen only get to enjoy their sport for 60 days a season. A 300-yard buffer will let hunter and flats fishermen enjoy their traditions.

See you on the boat or in the blind!

-----

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Crystal River & Homosassa

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:01:00 GMT

Here we go, another great fishing year is just beginning and even though it may be cold outside, there’s plenty of great fishing action to get it going. The weather can play a huge role in what species we can target this time of year and some days it’s just too windy and cold to leave the safety of the rivers. When these conditions arise, we’re very fortunate to have the spring-fed rivers keeping our inshore species warm for the winter season.

Starting at the headwaters of the Crystal and Homosassa rivers, anglers can encounter a multitude of species including mangrove snapper, jack crevalle, trout, redfish, ladyfish, tarpon, snook and even largemouth bass. The fish are in the rivers for one reason: warmth. So small jigs like the DOA CAL shad tail and MirrOLure Lil’ Johns in the darker colors are ideal choices. Slowly working the baits in the deeper pockets, jigging the rocky points along the river bends, or simply anchoring up tide from the deeper holes and sending down some live shrimp are three excellent methods for hook-ups. If there are mangrove snapper and redfish around, the shrimp technique is going to be your best bet. Both of these species seldom refuse a live shrimp and a simple knocker rig with a 1/0 hook and 1/8-ounce egg sinker is all that’s necessary for success. Also, bring plenty of tackle; the rocky bottom terrain can claim several hooks throughout the day.

On days when it’s favorable to run offshore, the sheepshead will be waiting on just about every piece of structure that can grow a barnacle. It seems the colder the water, the better for sheepshead. Rock piles, ledges, channel markers, wrecks and artificial reefs are havens for them. They congregate around these structures for their spawning season during the colder months. To catch a couple sheepies, anchor up tide from the structure and be as close to the structure as possible while using a 1/8-ounce Hank Brown jig head rigged with a live shrimp. Remember, these fish are spawning and it’s best to just take a few home for a meal and release the others to breed for our future stock.

For our final winter species, the large, breeder-size black drums have taken over the flats from Mangrove Point to St. Martin’s Keys. These large fish don’t make big, long runs, but on light tackle, they put up one long tug of war. Sight-fish them just like tailing redfish and present a piece of a quartered blue crab for a one-on-one battle.

Also, if the weather has you down, take the time and do a little maintenance. Check rod guides for cracks, service your reels and re-spool with fresh line for the upcoming spring. Inspect your boat trailer hardware, check bearings and have your motor serviced, so when March comes around, you’re ready to hit the water.

As always, if you have any additional questions about the area, feel free to contact me. Good fishing!

-----

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Boca Grande

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:51:00 GMT

Outstanding angling opportunities await you in the pristine waters of Southwest Florida. Cooler water temperatures afford boaters in the “bay boat” class and above to target quality offshore pelagics that have moved much closer to the beaches to spend the winter months in warmer nearshore waters. Many of my charters this time of year are within sight of land in the calm Gulf waters, which allows for maximum fishing time and far less boat riding. Dinner fish are abundant, with amazingly tasty table fare like flounder, mangrove snapper, gag and red grouper, tripletail and many others in the nearshore range of 30 to 60 feet of water. Most offshore anglers keep it simple and troll for grouper this time of year. When trolling, my go-to bait when working any of our published reef structure is Bomber Saltwater Grade’s CD 30 in various colors from red/white to their new toxic mullet pattern. For those who prefer bottom digging, it’s tough to beat a conventional knocker rig armed with cut sardines/mullet/ladyfish, squid or live pinfish.

Nearshore angling is also exceptional during the winter months. Most days are mild and very pleasant while chasing Florida game fish. Expect lower than usual bay/backcountry tides with this edition of GAFF, due to the winter north/northeast wind patterns, so a good GPS/chart combination is a great idea if you are new to the area or visiting.

Targeting grass flats with scattered sand holes is the primary method of success for locating a myriad of species like trout, redfish, flounder, and others. I like to work the perimeter of each sand hole with Bomber’s Paradise Popper popping cork, with a live shrimp or scented soft plastic. Also, on those windy days, don’t forget about the “old faithful” sheepshead. They taste great and are likely to feed on any old dock or structure using a simple jig head with shrimp combination. The water will be much clearer and cooler than usual and slowing down your presentation of artificials will do the trick to entice a strike. Trout and cruising redfish are the primary wintertime inshore species, and it’s not uncommon to catch 100-plus fish onboard the Tail Chaser Charter Boat. Fishing is great – come on down.

Tail Chaser Tip: New technologies in the rod/reel industry should make you consider upgrading your equipment this year. My clients are thrilled that I recently outfitted my boat with PENN’s Battle series reels (4000-6000 models), mounted on their new graphite Legion rods. They are raving about the increased castability, flawless drag system and crushing backbone strength of the new rods. 2012 is going to be a great year. FISH ON.

----

Capt. Chris O’Neill owns and operates Tail Chaser Charter Services in Englewood, Florida (The Tarpon Capital of the World). Capt. Chris specializes in shallow-water adventures that put his clients within “tail chasing” distance of tarpon, goliath grouper, sharks, redfish, snook, etc. From April through August, it is not uncommon to hook a Boca Grande Pass tarpon in the morning, a 400+ pound goliath grouper before lunch, then end your day with a 500-pound bull shark. August through March offers world-class, shallow-water, backcountry fishing for snook, tarpon, tailing redfish, and plenty more. Capt. Chris is the founder and co-host of SW Florida’s No. 1-rated “live from the water and in-studio” syndicated radio show (Reel Saltwater Outdoors), broadcasting six days a week. The show has become a big hit for SW Florida anglers that want to get a real-time snapshot of what’s biting and how to catch them. His sponsors include: Bomber Saltwater Grade Lures, Pure Fishing, PENN, Ingman Marine, Gasparilla Marina, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Buchans Landing Resort, Freedom Hawk Kayaks, Sampan Screenprint and WENG/WSRQ Talk Radio.

Contact info:
Capt. Chris O’Neill
(p) 941 270-7867
(w) tailchasercharters.com
(e) chris@tailchasercharters.com
(w) youtube.com/tailchaserfishing
(streaming radio) wengradio.com

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Chokoloskee

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:42:41 GMT

It’s a winter fishery here in Southwest Florida, and January and February bring our two coolest months of the year. We normally receive several cold fronts accompanied with high wind. We are now spending a lot of time in the backcountry where we can duck away from the elements.

Do yourself a big favor and keep an eye on your tide chart because we have some extremely low tides around both the full and new moons during both months. If you get caught in a -.5 low tide that you did not anticipate, it could ruin your day! Be extra careful with the morning low tides Jan. 7-12 and 19-25, as well as Feb. 4-10 and 17-22. Wind direction affects the tides dramatically. A north or east wind will make the tide lower and longer than expected as it blows the water out and delays its return.

The days when the fronts are absent, the sun is shining, and the thermometer gets up into the mid-70s can be awesome fishing! Daytime air temperatures average in the mid- to upper-70s in January and February, while water temps average about 66 degrees.

The shallow grass flats are alive with trout, bluefish, ladyfish, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and pompano. You can use many different types of artificials on the flats for all of these guys. Among my favorites are DOA jerk baits and shrimp, both in root beer color. You can also use 3/8-ounce bucktail type jigs tipped with a very small piece of shrimp.

The oyster bars hold sheepshead and redfish. If presenting natural bait, they both like to eat crustaceans like shrimp or fiddler crabs. Fish for the reds on the oyster bars on the beginning of the incoming tide, and fish for the sheepshead on the second half of the incoming tide.

The backwater bays and rivers hold trout, snook, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and other fun-to-catch species. When fishing for snook, it’s hard to beat live baits like pilchards and thread herring. Snapper will gladly accept pieces of shrimp, and the ladyfish will eat just about anything you throw into the water.

I have developed a species availability chart relative to the backwater and near-shore areas that I fish in the Everglades National Park. You can see it at www.CaptainRapps.com

CaptainRapps@Gmail.com
239-571-1756

Hailing out of Chokoloskee Island Park Marina, Chokoloskee, FL

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Tampa Bay Area

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:37:37 GMT

Well, the holidays have come and gone and we start yet another year that will bring us great fulfillment with spectacular fishing opportunities. Starting off the year in the west central part of the state you can expect cooler water temperatures along with more frequent and harsh cold fronts that will make some tough fishing—but if you do a little planning and fishing around a changing barometer, you can have some very productive days.

Trout has to be the most targeted fish during the cooler months of January and February. This is a great time to dust off the artificial tackle bag and start tying up your favorite trout rig. Trout fishing is fun and fairly easy. You just need to find a flat that has healthy grass and good tidal flow. Drifting a flat is a very productive method when fishing trout. (A drift sock will help slow your drift on windy days.) I really like to use soft plastics when fishing for trout and my favorite rig is a Z-Man paddle Z pearl white bait matched with a 1/8-ounce jig head. You can also have good success with a 5-inch Z-Man Jerk-Z with a weedless rig.

Sheepshead are also a highly targeted species and also make for great table fair. Sheepshead can be a tricky fish to catch as they have very hard and small mouths. I’ve found that using No. 1 Daiichi circle hook matched with the adequate amount of weight and tipped with a small shrimp works great. Fishing sheepshead is pretty easy; just find structure. Sheepshead are on just about every dock, bridge, marker or artificial reef in Tampa Bay. You can also find them on the flats around creeks and troughs but they do seem a bit pickier. A sheepshead bite is very subtle, so using a light rod with a sensitive tip matched with some 4-pound Fins Windtamer braided line will help you feel the soft bite.

This time of year will also bring big black drum on the flats that school up in the hundreds. These big beasts will show up roaming the outer flats and bars feeding on shrimp among other crustaceans. Finding the big schools is the hard part, but a stealthy approach will keep the school in place and make for a great day of catching. Shrimp is great bait for black drum, but I prefer artificial baits. I like the root beer color Z-Man Paddle-Z matched with a heavy 3/8- to ½-ounce jig head. Black drum on the flats can be fun and they reach sizes up to 50 pounds.

Cobia and bonnethead sharks are also plentiful in the area around Tampa Bay’s warmer water power plants. This is a great area to go when you’re fishing on the coldest days of the year, as water around that area will stay in the 70s, which draws the fish. I like to use a pinfish or a shrimp suspended under a popping cork and hang a small chum bag over the side to create a scent to draw in the sharks. Both bonnethead sharks and cobia will make for a great fight on those really cold days. Tight lines!

-----

Capt. Jason Prieto is owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters, Inc. He is a full-time charter captain in Tampa Bay and its surrounding areas. He operates his charters out of a custom rigged Canyon Bay 2470 bay boat rigged with the finest accessories to put you on the fish. He is an outdoor writer for various magazines in the area and is co-host to Outdoor Fishing Adventures on ESPN radio 1040 AM Saturday mornings from 8 AM to 10 AM. Some of his sponsors are Canyon Bay Boats, Power Pro, Daiichi Hooks, Calusa Nets, Ace Trailers, American Premier Rods, and Daiwa.

Contact Info:
Capt. Jason Prieto
Steady Action Fishing Charters
(p) 813 727-9890
(e) captjasonp@aol.com
(w) steadyactionfishingcharters.com

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Port Canaveral Area

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:27:23 GMT

As anglers on the Florida’s Space Coast, we are truly blessed by the many opportunities winter brings.

Offshore, kingfish will still be consistent along the inshore reefs and wrecks, and they will remain there as long as the water temperature stays above 68 degrees. When targeting kings, focus on bottom structure in the areas of 8A reef, Pelican Flats, and Bethel Shoals to the south. Also look for cobia and amberjack to be present on the inshore wrecks like the Carol Lee, Dutch, and Sub Wreck out of Port Canaveral. Additionally, live bait is sometimes tough to find this time of year, so always carry a box of frozen Spanish sardines with you as backup.

Near-shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structure, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper 60s. If we experience an extended period of warm weather, look for a mid-winter cobia run to arrive.

Now is also the time for shore anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting in the surf and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets and jetties. As the water temperatures cool, the pompano will move out of the lagoon and gather in the troughs along the beach in search of mole crabs and sand fleas, their favorite winter food source.

As water levels and temperatures drop inshore, clear and shallow conditions on the Mosquito, Indian River, and Banana River Lagoon flats facilitate some of the best sight-fishing experiences all year. On clear, sunny days, successful anglers focus on quietly polling the flats is search of redfish and sea trout holding in the sandy potholes soaking up the sun’s warmth. An early start is not necessary, so read the paper and have an extra cup of coffee before heading to the lagoon.

Additionally, mullet and other finfish have migrated out of the area for the winter, so as the predators feeding habits switch to smaller shrimp and crabs, anglers should switch to a smaller bait and slower presentation. When targeting redfish, black drum, and sea trout during the colder months, I like to downsize my bait and fish with a shrimp or crab imitation baits like the DOA Shrimp and Crab on a Woodie’s Rattle Hook. January and February are also key months for targeting tailing black drum on the exclusive Banana River No-Motor Zone. The zone is one of the only locations I know of where a well-presented black Clouser fly can land you a 25-pound drum on the flats.

Catch-um-up, and reward yourself by taking a kid fishing.

Captain Tom Van Horn

January/ February 2012 Fishing Forecast- Ft. Myers

James Goding — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:21:55 GMT

It is sad seeing 'ol 2011 leave...such a phenomenal year of great charters, amazing weather, and so much good luck last year I wouldn't know were to start! The big snook, tarpon, and everything in between chewing like crazy is going to be dearly missed. Unless we roll into 2012 and it rocks even harder!

Locally, we've had a plethora of baitfish and juvenile game fish and it is not too far-fetched to think we may be in for a banner year. Inshore fishing has seen its ups and downs in our area, as the circle of life underwater goes on. Our snook population, which was brought to its knees two winters ago, is now on its strongest rebound I have ever witnessed in my 30 years of being in Southwest Florida. Lots of juveniles in the nursery grounds are showing that our snook are spawning a year.

Wintertime catch and release style will be excellent during the cooler days in January when the sun comes out and warms that black mud bottom of the Caloosahatchee River just enough to wake them suckers up! You can catch these by downsizing your tackle and fishing much slower than normal. Fishing lighter leader like 20-pound Yozuri pink fluorocarbon will help present that light bait perfect in that 30-inchers eyes. I love fishing light bucktails tipped with shrimp, which allows me not only to target snook but nearly every other species of carnivorous fish in saltwater. It's such a good all-around bait for the cooler months so don't be afraid to hop that jig so slow that it may rest motionless on the bottom for a couple of seconds before hopping it again!

With seatrout coming back into season I'm sure a lot of y’all will be targeting them for the broiler, and there’s no better time than on our cool mornings. Big trout love cool, calm mornings to go out and feed on top. Fishing soft plastic jerkbaits in pearl white on the surface or a Rapala Skitter Walk is all you'll need. Just know that only one of your keeper trout in the box can be over 20 inches, because this time of year you'll be catching plenty of oversized ones!

Our inshore redfishing will continue to be sweet on our better tides with evening negative low tides being best for tailing fish. Texas rigged shrimp fished on 15- to 20-pound leaders will knock out these spooky shallow water fish in any conditions. Fishing from Chino Island to Pineland Marina with these northeast winds we will be experiencing for a couple of months will help you find shelter from the wind and plenty of fish.

If you find those super-slick calm days and want to shoot offshore, don't think about it, just do it. Fishing in our Gulf for all of our bottom fish is continuing to be red hot. Big grouper, cobia, and sizeable amberjack can be found on nearly all of our nearshore wrecks and ledges. Keep an eye on our ever-changing ridiculous grouper regs so you aren’t boarded by our friendly FWC officers and find yourself with a hefty fine. It's still pretty awesome to catch a 30-inch gag even if you have to let it go.

With plenty of big mangrove snapper and cobia around it's no problem to bring home dinner. Fishing live pinfish on 50-pound braid is my "go-to" for wreck fishing. This combination works great for working over a big cobia when fishing structure. Whenever fishing wrecks, try to fish in the areas adjacent to the structure rather than trying to drop down right on top of it. If you can get those big predators to pull of the wreck a few feet before hooking them, you have a much better shot at getting them to the boat. With our insane springtime fishing around the corner, it’s time to get out there and warm up the tackle and go fishing – because in South Florida fishing is always good! Tight lines and good times!

-----

Capt. Chris was raised in Fort Myers and is the son of Scott Rush, owner of San Carlos Marine. He grew up in South Florida and the Florida Keys. Experienced in all of SW Florida’s waters as a backbay and offshore guide, Chris runs his business simply by word of mouth. Word spreads quickly when your customers are boating 20lb+ snook and landing 100lb+ tarpon on fly. Chris has the patience to provide advice and coaching for everyone from children to CEO’s. Chris spends more than 280 days guiding and fishes 20+ tournaments annually.

Born and raised in SW Florida, Capt. Lacey is a 4th-generation native. She learned how to swim before she could walk and could shoot a spear gun before she could read. Lacey is an experienced diver and spearfisher with hundreds of hours spent underwater. She has spent her life operating boats up to 35’ in some of the toughest conditions. Her hard-working spirit, good ‘ol southern hospitality and values are what you’ll love about fishing with Capt. Lacey! Rush Charters can accomodate up to 6 anglers on their offshore boat, 1-4 on their Ranger bay boat, and as few as 1-3 anglers on their Ranger flats boat. With both captains, they can accomodate parties of up to 8 customers. Come experience the RUSH of a lifetime with Rush Charters!

Contact Info: Capt. Chris & Capt. Lacey Rush
Rush Charters
(p) 239 482-0193 Office
(p) 239 980-1436 Lacey
(p) 239 229-5388 Chris
(w) rushcharters.com

September/ October 2011 Fishing Forecast- Port Canaveral Area

Megan — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:39:00 GMT

As hurricane season begins to wane and our prevailing winds shift to the northeast, fall marks the transition period setting the stage for our fall mullet run on Florida’s Space Coast.

Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks, jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden (pogies), thread fin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve, as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. In and around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structure.

Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target them utilizing smaller topwater plugs. Once the sun starts to grow hot, the topwater bite will shut down, and bait becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish in close to docks and other structure adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds, terns and cormorants, joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these speedsters. Last but not least, look for pompano schools holding in the shadows of the causeway bridges. Fish jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along the deeper edges and drop-offs. Lagoon water levels are extremely low, so please use caution when accessing skinny water.

The shorter days in August also set the stage for the beginning of our fall mullet migration as the silver mullet begin to form up for their journey south for the winter. Along with this transition, breeder redfish form up for their spawn in the north Indian River Lagoon and inlet passes, as well as the snook in the surf.

In closing, I would like to thank all of you who enjoy angling on Florida’s east central coast for your courteous and respectful treatment of the resource, other anglers, and the sport, and encourage all recreational anglers to become part of the solution by signing up and participating in the Angler Action Program, make your fish count.

As always, if you need information or have questions, please contact me.
Good luck and good fishing, Captain Tom Van Horn

-----

September/October 2011 Fishing Forecast- Jacksonville

Megan — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:34:00 GMT

SEPTEMBER

INSHORE

With September comes extreme high tides. In the backcountry along the ICW and the St. Johns River, these tides will open up the shallowest Spartina marshes and mud flats bringing redfish and sheepshead looking for fiddlers and mud crabs, along with snails in areas that normally have no water. If you listen closely you not only can see them tailing or with their backs out of the water, you can also hear them. Redfish will slurp the snails right off the grass or have their head down digging for crabs. It is time to break out the fly rods and the weedless jerk baits to pitch to the slots in the grass where you see tails and tips. A gold spoon will also work. This is a good time to get out of your boat and wade fish and be as quiet as you possibly can. Not only can you catch these big fish, you can also get some great photos.

With this time of year brings great surf fishing, which will trigger good bluefish bites, also whiting and black drum along with the fall mullet run. If you are looking for bigger fish, tarpon will be hanging near the inlets feeding on baits, both early in the morning and late in the evening.

This is also the start of the flounder run, with flounder being all over the river. The big ones will be around rock piles and docks. Flounder will hit artificial and live baits at this time of the year.

Spanish mackerel will be making their inlet runs in the river and ICW. They will take a silver spoon trolling deep in the river.

Trout will be gathering at creek mouths and areas were the water is moving. They will hit a jig, diving plugs, and live shrimp.

OFFSHORE

Fish the wrecks northeast of Mayport for snapper and grouper. South of Mayport, anglers will do well with beeliners (vermilion snapper), cobia, triggerfish, and amberjack.

Run off shore of St. Augustine and troll ballyhoo combos for sailfish.  

OCTOBER FORECAST

INSHORE

The doormats are here! This time of year the big flounder are stacked up in the inlets, along the jetties, docks, or any place there is structure under the water. You want to soak a mud minnow or mullet on a fish-finder rig and wait for the thump. Also you can use a jig head with a soft plastic, working it slow while waiting for the flounder to stop the bait.

Looking around oyster beds and grassy areas you will find redfish and trout. Bluefish, yellowmouth trout, and black drum are also in the inlets and ICW. Live bait, like mullet and shrimp, will work for all. You can also use artificials, jigs with soft plastics, early morning topwater plugs, and suspending diving baits. The cooler water will bring a great trout topwater bite with low light, either early in the morning or on cloudy days.

Beach fishermen will still find whiting along the shore along with pompano before the fall temperatures send them south. There will be some tarpon around feeding on live mullet at the mouths of inlets.

OFFSHORE

South of St. Augustine to Daytona Beach, look for sailfish. They will be circling up bait in the blue water. You will want to get close to see this. This is truly a sight to see. And you will want to toss your baits into the schools, no doubt.

Wrecks close to shore will still be holding grouper and snapper. African pompano and cobia will be at the deeper structures. You will want to use live bait. This is also the time of year to troll the ledge for dolphin and wahoo. At the roll down you may even catch a blue marlin.

-----

Capt. Kyle Erickson grew up fishing and scouting the near shore and backwaters of The Big Bend. Through his years of experience, Capt. Erickson is able to offers expert guide services throughout The Big Bend and Forgotten Coast. He specializes in trout, redfish, tarpon and tripletail fishing, but is more than capable of putting you on some hardheaded cobia action. Both personable and friendly, Capt. Kyle will deliver a fun-filled day on the water full of drag-screaming action.

Contact Info:
Capt. Kyle Erickson
(p) 850 229–2710
(e) kyleerickson85@gmail.com

September/October 2011 Fishing Forecast- Ft. Myers

Megan — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:20:00 GMT

Just today, as I was sitting down to write this forecast, the phone rang and a potential customer called to ask for information on fishing in September and whether or not it was a good time of year to bring his son down to fish. Then he asked if anything was in season… I just had to think to myself, what's not in season?

It isn't just a good time of year to be fishing - it is freaking spectacular! Over the years I’ve found myself enjoying fishing in the fall almost more than any other time of year. Our numbers of just about every fish species we catch are high in September and October.

Our inshore fishing will be rocking, especially for the big, knarly, spawning redfish. When our reds are schooling up to spawn, their hunger level will be at its peak of the year. Catching these fish on artificals, especially topwater, is your best bang. Reds can be pretty rad this time of year, because "most" of the time they are really eager to eat. You'll find these fish on the edges of flats during falling water and up on top of the oyster bars on high tide in southwest Florida.

Snook fishing will continue to be boiling hot up until we get those northernly fronts pushing there nasty selves down upon us warm-weather-lovin’ folks. If you want to yank one out of the mangroves, pitch a live pilchard. This time of year we like to load up on lots of bait so we have the ability to really lay the chum on hard. Before it cools off those bruisers will be easy to spot as they start smashing chum on the surface.

Mixed bags of trout and pompano can be caught on the flats along with Spanish macks. Look for the balls of glass minnows along the beaches that we get this time of year, and in those pods you'll find the silver kings still happy to put on a show for our customers. These big girls are still around throughout the fall and can be targeted with much success.

Offshore fishing will be on like crazy with grouper season poppin' open in September, so we can start thinning out these overpopulated tastey little critters. I hate to guarantee anything in the fishing world, but a limit of gags is as good of a guarantee as we can give anyone on a charter. We are just seeing so many of them around while fishing and spearfishing that we feel super confident on an amazing year for them. Fishing for these pit bulls on 50-pound PowerPro and a hand-sized pinfish will do the trick everytime.

Along with grouper, cobia and permit will still be found in great numbers on some of the sweet offshore numbers we have out there. With such a variety of extremely good fishing to be had, southwest Florida is the place to be as the high-pressure systems start to stir up north. Come book a trip with us and get ready to fall in love with early fall!

Tight lines and good times,

Capt. Chris & Capt. Lacey Rush

----

Born and raised in SW Florida, Capt. Lacey is a 4th-generation native. She learned how to swim before she could walk and could shoot a spear gun before she could read. Lacey is an experienced diver and spearfisher with hundreds of hours spent underwater. She has spent her life operating boats up to 35’ in some of the toughest conditions. Her hard-working spirit, good ‘ol southern hospitality and values are what you’ll love about fishing with Capt. Lacey! Rush Charters can accomodate up to 6 anglers on their offshore boat, 1-4 on their Ranger bay boat, and as few as 1-3 anglers on their Ranger flats boat. With both captains, they can accomodate parties of up to 8 customers. Come experience the RUSH of a lifetime with Rush Charters!

Contact Info: Capt. Chris & Capt. Lacey Rush
Rush Charters
(p) 239 482-0193 Office
(p) 239 980-1436 Lacey
(p) 239 229-5388 Chris
(w) rushcharters.com

September/October 2011 Fishing Forecast - Chokoloskee

Megan — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:10:00 GMT

September and October are two great months to fish the Everglades National Park. In September, daytime air temperatures will average around 91 with water temps hovering around 86. In October, daytime air temperatures will average around 87 with water temperatures around 81. Typical to our summer months, your best opportunities will be early in the morning until the sun really heats things up. I, for sure, will be wearing my signature Coolibar hat to shade the hot sun! By lunch time the bite will drop off drastically. We still get early day storms, which will cool things off a little and produce a late-afternoon/early-evening bite. October will bring a much welcomed cooling trend, which will help prolong the bite throughout the day.

We are seeing some fantastic schools of large live bait pour into the area. The influx of bait is nature’s way of telling the fish that it’s time to fatten up because believe it or not, fall is on its way.
If live bait is your thing, the large thread herring and big pilchards are here and they are following the tides. They will be close to the shorelines at high tide, and will be out just a little deeper during the low tides. Look for them around the Indian Key and Picnic Key areas. In a lower tide, go off shore just a little to find the tide line. Look for the birds and you will be rewarded with the best bait around. If you cannot get on the bait in a reasonable amount of time, look for some nice 4- to 6-inch finger mullet near shore for some fantastic snook candy.

Snook are around in good numbers. The big mommas are feeding on a good-moving, out-going tide around the outside barrier islands. They will begin their annual move to the inside this time of year, and can also be targeted around the “close in” back waters, before heading way back in the late fall. Try those live baits for your best numbers. Artificials are always fun and Gulp shrimp, DOA Baitbusters, and a good topwater plug will produce. Snook season will open again, but remember how many fish were killed in the big freeze last winter. I personally saw entire bays of dead, belly-up snook in January. We hope everyone will be releasing even the slot-size snook to help build up our stock over the next few seasons. There are plenty of other good-eating fish out there!

The trout are around the shallow grass flats in good numbers. The key to catching them is to hit your favorite spots the last hour or two of the incoming tide. Most of your bites will happen in the 3- to 5-foot depth range. They will hit artificial baits just as well, if not better than some live bait. I prefer a 3/8-ounce bucktail jig that has a little flash in the hair. If you have some shrimp, put a real small piece on the jig hook and the smell will drive the trout insane. Also, try a popping cork with a live shrimp or a DOA shrimp, or in calm waters, nothing beats the explosion of a topwater strike.

The fall is one of our best times of year for consistent reds. To some, there is no better sight than a school of tailing reds on an oyster bar. I prefer to fish for them with live pilchards or thread herring, either naturally on a circle hook, or under a popping cork. Live shrimp work well under a popping cork, too. Of course, many artificials are equally as good. I really like a Gulp new penny shrimp on a 3/8-inch red jig head, or a gold Johnson spoon. Shark are around the shallow flats and river mouths in big numbers. We are catching a good amount of bull, black tip, lemon, nurse, bonnethead, sharpnose, and spinner sharks. Any cut bait or larger live bait will work great. I especially like to use mullet or ladyfish. Hook your bait up to an 8/0 circle hook, tied to about 4 to 6 feet of 80-pound wire leader, let your line out and hang on. When they are around, it won’t be long until you have a customer! Other fun targets are around feeding on all of the live bait in the area. For some drag-screaming action, you can usually get into some nice schools of mackerel, bluefish, larger jacks, and ladyfish on jigs or live bait.

-----

Hailing out of Chokoloskee Island Park Marina, Chokoloskee, FL, Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, and children of all ages, experienced or not, or those with special needs. Pete is extremely patient and loves to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See his online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first-class website at www.CaptainRapps.com

Contact Info: Capt. Pete Rapps
Backwater Fishing Charters
(p) 239 571-1756
(w) captainrapps.com
(e) pete@captainrapps.com