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!
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Contact Info: Capt. Craig KorczynskiPhlats Inshore Fishing Charters(p) 561 644-4371(w) Phlatsinshorefishing.com
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” KraynikThe Coastal Sportsmen(p) 321 863-9182(w) coastalsportsmen.com(e) captjeff@cfl.rr.com(Facebook) captjeffkraynik
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
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.
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.
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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
What a strange summer it has been along the Space and Treasure Coasts. For two months anglers have been boating flounder in the 4- to 5-pound class every trip out. These doormats have been found in the grassy shallows and around the spoil islands from Port Canaveral south to Fort Pierce. They were quite a treat at dinnertime after a long day out on the water.
Trout/Redfish/Snook: The flats will continue to heat up as the weather begins to cool. Topwater fishing will account for the majority of the hook-ups until the sun breaks over the mangroves. By then, it will be time to switch to your weedless soft plastics or suspending lures like Yo-Zuri’s Crystal Minnows. With the grass being in full bloom, I recommend two presentations with the soft plastics.
First, place a small, lead, crimp weight about a foot up from the lure. This will help drag the soft plastic through the grass where the fish are and still let the bait suspend over the top of it when you stop your retrieves. Next, try the crimp weight on the bottom side of the hook. This presentation will keep the bait in the grass, down where the fish are bunkered down.
Sebastian Inlet: Large, live pinfish, pigfish and sailors choice will account for a majority of the hook-ups during the fall months. Many anglers will anchor up at the edge of the north jetty pitching the live baits toward the rocks or dropping them over the edge into the Monster Hole. Hang on and step up on your tackle because none of the monsters that you haul to the boat will be inside the slot limits. Watch for construction barges on the south side of the park. A new fishing pier is being constructed and their barges are moving around Monday through Friday.
Offshore: The doldrums should be over and large weedlines should be forming up and down the entire east coast. Look for the northbound manta rays - the cobia will be right underneath.
Dive Report: Diving prior to the lobster season opener left most divers drooling. Large bugs have been common out on the reef lines between the 70- to 100-foot ledges. If the storms don’t send them deeper, the first picks of the season will be nothing less than grand! I’ll keep you updated next issue on the results.
The season opened August 6th and will run through March 31st, 2012. Spiny lobster must have a minimum carapace length of 3 inches and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding any soft tissue, and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace.
Waterfowl: The five-day early teal and wood duck season will run from Saturday, September 17th through Wednesday, September 20th. Fishermen should remember that they will be sharing their favorite flat or mosquito impoundment with the waterfowlers during this time. A 300-yard self-imposed buffer will neither spook the fish nor flare the birds.
Band the Slam: I would like to thank all our sponsors and anglers that fished this year’s 8th annual South Brevard Ducks Unlimited tournament. Over 50 live fish were brought to the scales by 114 anglers. Our chapter raised $7,500 to help purchase, preserve and conserve our nations disappearing wetlands. Without the help of our sponsors, this could not have occurred. I’d like to thank McKinney Construction who underwrote this year’s tournament buffs. Donating prizes were Deep Flats, Steve Whitlock Chart Art, Pelagic Gear and Strike Zone of Melbourne. I would also like to give a big shout out to Capt. Mike Ortega of Tackle Webs for underwriting a $100 bounty for the biggest fish. See you all next year.
“See you on the Boat or in the Blind”
Don't look now, but fall is here. This means one thing for fishermen: the fall migration of the mullet run.
Snook season opens on the east coast of Florida on September 1st - perfect timing with the mullet run for those who like to take snook home to eat. Along the beaches, following the mullet will be tarpon, snook, sharks, big jacks, and bluefish.
Inshore, the water temperatures start to drop just a little. The snook, trout, and redfish bite will remain strong. Look for schools of mullet on the flats and throw topwater lures first thing in the morning, followed by a sub-surface presentation as the sun moves overhead.
I often see big reds and trout mixed in with the larger mullet. It's hard to beat a DOA glow shrimp this time of year. Simply toss the shrimp amongst the mullet and work the lure very slowly. The relatively new, soft Sebile Magic Swimmer should also produce tons of fish while fishing in the mullet schools.
Offshore, the kingfish should still be around and sailfish season is getting ready to kick off, although sailfish may be caught year round. The dolphin bite should still be consistent. Whatever you do, stop and net some mullet before heading offshore. You never know when you'll get covered up in schoolies, and finger mullet are hardy baits that dolphin seldom turn down. Mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, and grouper fishing is excellent this time of year. I usually drift, fishing with dead sardines or live finger mullet for bottom fish.
Tight Lines
Capt. Ken
A native Floridian, Capt. Ken Hudson was born in Jacksonville and moved to Jupiter, Florida in 1968. He grew up fishing on the Loxahatchee, St. Lucie and Indian River. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, he returned to his old stomping grounds of Jupiter, where he began running charters. Capt. Ken specializes in light tackle, live bait and artificials. He fishes the Stuart, Jupiter, Ft. Pierce and Palm Beach areas of the Treasure Coast for such prizes as snook, tarpon, goliath grouper, redfish and trout. He offers both inshore and offshore charters. With more than 26 years of experience, Capt. Ken has appeared on several fishing shows airing on The Sportsman’s Channel, Sunshine Network and The Outdoor Channel. Contact Info: Capt. Ken Hudson(p) 561 723-5654(e) capt.kenhudson@hotmail.com(w) snookcitycharters.com
The inshore waters along the Space and Treasure Coast inched up to the 70-degree mark around the second week of March and the bite turned on. Many species began to move out of the deeper holes and channels and began to feed at the edge of the flats. By the time this issue hits mailboxes, the water temperatures should be closer to 75 degrees, barring any more late-season winter fronts. This will put all species up and on the flats during rising water periods.Tournament season is underway. The Back Country Circuit sponsored by the Florida Flats Fishing Association headed up by my good friend, Capt. Jeff Brauer, had 49 teams sign this season. Part of the attraction is the updated “Paddlers” division, which allows the fishermen who wish to participate a “Catch, Photo & Release” option. As in the past, there will be eight sanctioned tournaments and two junior angler events. Don’t let the tournament anglers scare you away from fishing one of the events; you need not be a member to participate. Please check out www.myflfa.com for further details.Here’s the skinny:Inshore: I just love this time of year. The springtime fronts have passed, the winds have become fairly predictable and the afternoon, summertime showers have yet to start. You can spend all day on the flats and boating 100 fish per trip is commonplace. Everything seems to move out of their deep wintering holes and spend their days amongst the eelgrass and sand potholes. Don’t be afraid of throwing your favorite topwater plug at high noon on the partly cloudy days. If the fish become finicky, just remember the old saying: It’s like having an afternoon BBQ of hamburgers and hotdogs. When someone shows up with a pizza, it can be a game changer. Dig into the bottom of that tackle bag and break out some of those older topwaters, suspending lures and soft plastics at anytime. You never know whether it’s hotdog or pizza time!The smaller tarpon will begin to show up in the creeks, inlets and turning basins in the area. When targeting them, don’t forget your DNA sampling kit (free of charge) which can be found at www.myfwc.com. Just follow the link to apply.Offshore: The cobia bite started around the first week of March with the springtime migration of the larger manta rays. When the winds were blowing out of the west, it seems like every type of boat, including one surfer with his spinning rod, was hooking up on these monsters. During this time of the year, the pods have broken up and the cobes have moved to the deeper reefs and wrecks.The month of May on our coast means the start of the dolphin run. First to show up will be the smaller “schoolies” with their larger cousins arriving later in the summer. Free swimmers can always be found, but look for the sargassum weed lines or other flotsam that will offer baitfish both cover and concealment.For you bottom and spear fishermen, please make yourself familiar with the ever changing possession rules on snapper and grouper that include both state and federal waters. Band the Slam: This year’s eighth annual South Brevard Ducks Unlimited “Band the Slam” Inshore Classic will be held on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th, 2011. Squid Lips will again be hosting the event on the docks of the restaurant. There will be 18 payouts this season totaling $6,000 in cash and merchandise to include a “Catch–Photo-Release” category for the paddlers. Raffles, silent and live auctions will take place on both days and you do not need to fish to participate. Cost is $60 for adults and children 15 and under fish free with a paying adult. Ducks Unlimited, the largest conservation organization in North America, averages 86 percent of its yearly funds going directly back to purchasing, preserving and conserving our disappearing wetlands. Please contact my cell phone at 321-863-9182 for additional information.See you on the boat or in the blind.
Well, it’s finally here. I wait all year for this time of year. Huge schools of baitfish invade the Treasure Coast and tarpon fishing heats up as big schools start heading up the coast. Pick just about any bait you come across and put it in front of these schools of tarpon and hang on. This time of year our tarpon average 60 to 150 pounds. Crabs, threadfin herring and pilchards are the most productive baits, although a DOA shrimp or DOA Bait Buster thrown at rolling fish will always produce. The flats fishing is in full swing as water temperatures start to heat up. I like to put on the wading boots and bail out of the boat for some fantastic fishing this time of year. Big snook, trout, and redfish will be on the prowl. Look for fish feeding heavily on small pilchards and glass minnows. I say it every issue, but the DOA shrimp fished slow is my go-to bait when wading the flats. The snook will start their push toward the inlet for the summertime spawn. Catching 20 to 40 fish in one day is not uncommon this time of year, with most fish pushing the upper slot and even over slot. Remember, this is catch-and-release fishing only, so use heavier tackle so you don’t exhaust the fish and you give it a better chance of survival. The cobia are in full swing in nearshore waters. These fish are opportunistic feeders and are an extremely curious fish. Typically, cobia can be found following the big manta rays, sea turtles, or even big sharks. We often will chum the sharks with bonita. When the big bulls come to the surface, usually the cobia are in tow. Offshore, it’s all about big kingfish and dolphin. I like to load the well with live bait and head offshore to the Juno Ledge. I do a lot of live bait drifting this time of year. With the full moon in May, the mutton snapper go on the spawn. The fish usually move in closer to shore for the spawn. Look for the muttons to spawn in anywhere from 60 to 150 feet of water. We also see our share of yellowtail snapper. Anchor and chum. Let the fish find you. Send back small tidbits on 15- to 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Make sure your bait is drifting at the same speed as the chum, because the big yellowtails can be extremely spooky. Until nest issue, Tight Lines.
This time of year it’s all about Spanish mackerel on the beach. Just pick any spot along the beach, from right up to the surf, to depths of 15 to 20 feet of water, and the mackerel will be there. The area known as Pecks Lake is famous for the Spanish mackerel run. The spot is located approximately 3 to 5 miles south of the St Lucie inlet. It’s also known as the Kingfish Hole. Just look for the parade of boats and start fishing. I like using small white or yellow jigs. Typically we don’t use wire. Mono leader will get you more bites, but you tend to lose a few jigs so be sure to bring plenty. When the Spanish macks get picky, you can entice them with chum. Glass minnows or small pilchards work well. If you plan on chumming, do it from an anchored boat. Before you know it, the whole school will be feeding heavily in your chum slick. The mackerel range anywhere from 2 to 6 pounds. Fly rodders, it’s easy fishing as the mackerel are willing participants and you don’t need a 100-foot cast. Light tackle is the norm. I use 7-foot light action rods with 3000-size reels spooled with 10-pound test braid. If you have children, bring them along because the action is usually non-stop. Inshore, it’s pompano time. There’re two ways to fish for the pompano in my area. The beach goers usually use sand fleas, which can either be purchased from your local bait and tackle shop or you can catch your own at the beach with a sand flea rake. I like using artificials, and for me, it’s a Doc’s goofy jig with a yellow body and pink feather. Productive areas are the Sailfish Flats around the crossroads area and the Hell’s Gate area in the St Lucie River. How do you find the pompano? We usually idle around those two areas until we skip the pompano. Once we’ve caused them to skip (or jump), we start fishing. Pompano are excellent tablefare. Trout and redfish can still be caught during this time of year. We usually find these fish in a little deeper water due to the drop in water temperature. The key to catching fish during this time of year is to downsize your offering and slow down your presentation. Two baits I swear by are the DOA shrimp and the DOA TerrorEyz in rootbeer color.Offshore, it’s sailfish, sailfish, and more sailfish. Wintertime is the best time for sailfishing. Although sailfish can be caught all year long, we see greater numbers of fish released during the winter months. The preferred method is to dangle live goggle-eyes, large threadfins, or even large blue runners. In my area, the fish will be just off the reef in anywhere from 90 to 300 feet of water. Blackfin tuna have made a comeback in my area. Typically, our blackfin average 2 to 5 pounds and can be caught trolling small baitfish patterns. There will be some dolphin caught this time of year, as well. Typically, those livebaiting for sailfish catch their share of dolphin. The bottom bite is consistent with mutton snapper and yellowtail snapper being the most plentiful. We do see some respectable grouper brought in during the winter months, as well. For bottom fishing, it’s as simple as getting a box or two of frozen sardines and sending them down on fish finder rigs. If mutton snapper are your main target, 25- to 50-foot leaders are the norm.Until the next issue, tight lines!
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With no storm events on the Space and Treasure Coasts, Brevard County is 13 inches below normal rainfall for 2010. The mosquito impoundments lining the ICW that provide safe harbor to a plethora of fish and wildlife are bone dry. The main river run of the St Johns River Marsh has sandbars forming sandbars in the channel, making nighttime navigation treacherous. On a more positive note, you know what I like about this time of year in regards to fishing? Sleeping in! With the cooler temps coming several months early this year, we seem to have been getting a lot of extra sleep as of late, but that doesn’t mean the fishing has slowed down at all. The cooler temps only kicked the winter fishing into “high gear” earlier with the arrival of doormat flounders, spawning reef dwellers inshore and huge ocean-going bluefish around the inlets.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 wintertime’s bluebird days, these species can be found sunning themselves in sandy potholes and atop the oyster bars of the shallows. Slow your presentation way down along the edge of the holes with a Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow or your other favorite suspending lure. When fishing the deeper holes and drop-offs, utilize popping cork rigs 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: Acre-size schools of black drum can be found swimming, feeding and lounging north of the Pineda Causeway and in the Banana River No Motor Zone. Live shrimp or dead shrimp and cut clams will account for many of the monster catches. I recommend not using anything lighter than 20-pound test spinning rigs on these giants. Between grinding their heads into the bottom 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 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. Keep the bridge gaffs in the cars!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.Dive Report: Due to the fast-moving fronts and high seas, local lobster divers report both spiny and shovelnose catches have been spotty at best on the 90- to 120-foot ledges. As usual, the 40- to 60-foot ledges have been picked clean early in the season. Grouper and snapper will be lining up for the spear fishermen on the reefs, getting ready to breed in the shallower, inshore waters. Due to the cold water and deeper dives, Nitrox is recommended for those divers doing multiple dives during the winter months. Again, check for closures in your area.Waterfowl: Flats fishermen and waterfowl hunters will be sharing the grassflats through Sunday, January 30, 2011. Flats fishermen are reminded that these outdoorsmen only get to enjoy their sport for 60 days this season. A 300-yard buffer will let hunter and flats fishermen enjoy their passions.See you on the boat or in the blind! -----Capt. Jeff Kraynik is the owner/operator of The Coastal Sportsmen and for the past 20 years has fished the Palm Bay/Sebastian/Vero Beach areas of the Indian River Lagoon. “Capt. Jeff & The Crew” specialize in personalized light-tackle saltwater flats fishing for trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, shark and flounder. Capt. Jeff is an IGFA Certified Captain and a guide in good standing with the Florida CCA. He is a Pro-Staff Fisherman for Riptide Lures, Hurricane “Redbone” Rods, PowerPro Lines and Albackore Tackle Systems. When not fishing the grassflats, “The Crew” can be found on the mudflats of the St. Johns River Marsh guiding clients on trophy alligator and waterfowl hunts. “From the Mudflats to the Grassflats and Everywhere in Between.”Contact Info: Capt. Jeff “The Commodore” KraynikThe Coastal Sportsmen(p) 321 863-9182(w) coastalsportsmen.com(e) captjeff@cfl.rr.com
We are coming off the backside of the mullet run and all the gamefish that were following the bait. Inside, trout and redfish remain the primary targets for many anglers.The flats in the Indian River should be teaming with small baitfish. Find the baitfish, and you should find the fish. I look for areas in 2 to 5 feet of water that look like rain. Small glass minnows or small schools of pilchards create this illusion of rain. The trout, reds, and even snook should be close by.Don’t overlook schools of larger mullet muddying up the water. A lot of predators will follow these mud clouds as the larger mullet spook shrimp and small crabs from the bottom. I’m partial to the DOA line of products. I work the 3-inch glow or silver holographic shrimp around the bait schools. If you think you’re working the shrimp too slow, slow it down even more.Another DOA product that I like to throw this time of year is the DOA CAL lures or even the DOA TerrorEyz in root beer color. Pompano fishing in the Indian and St Lucie rivers is good. Throw a yellow and pink Doc’s Goofy Jig and you should bring home some tasty fillets for the table. Snook are in their winter haunts back deep in the rivers; the snook bite slows with the cooling water temperatures this time of year.Along the beaches, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing glass minnows. A small, light rod with a white or yellow bucktail is all that’s needed for the mackerel. Bring a fly rod along since you don’t need to cast 100 feet and the mackerel are willing participants. My area of coastline is known as Sailfish Alley. November and December are primetime sailfish season offshore. The blistery cold days with a NE wind will have many anglers releasing multiple fish. Goggle-eyes are the best bait, but don’t overlook pilchards or blue runners. Typically, the fish will be in anywhere from 90 to 220 feet of water. Don’t be surprised while fishing offshore for the sailfish if dolphin, kingfish or even wahoo crash the party. Again, the theory is the same for offshore as it is for inshore fishing. Find the bait, and the fish won’t be far behind.Until next issue, tight lines.
And finally, the rains came! Up until the arrival of Tropical Storm 16, our area of the state was experiencing an unprecedented drought. Both the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns River Marsh were low and sometimes hazardous to run before sunrise.The fall mullet run began about three weeks early this year. Right on their tails were the migrating cobia, the return of ocean-going snook, and our favorite, the over-sized redfish.I had an unexpected package show up at my door this fall: a set of the new Tsunami Air Wave heavy-duty inshore rods. I immediately attached a pair of Stradic 5000s on them and headed for the inlet. I must say, for as stout as these rods appear, they cast flawlessly and put the plugs right where I wanted them every time. I’ve also placed them into the hands of my clients, who enjoyed the feel of the rod while casting and fighting a fish as well. For the price (under $100.00 each), these new rods will become very popular with anglers in a very short amount of time. Give them a try!Here’s the Skinny:Sea trout: Deep water canals and troughs are always a good wintertime bet. Start out your morning with a popping cork type rig and as the flats warm up, switch over to a rattling type plug or soft plastic. If all else fails, try dangling a live shrimp under a cork bobber. Pop open your favorite beverage, light up your favorite cigar and wait. You’ll at least catch a catfish.Snook: Sebastian Inlet, Sebastian Inlet, Sebastian Inlet! Wind Cheaters and Silver Spoons should be in everyone arsenal. Live bait will account for a majority of the catches if you hit the tides right. Keep your eyes on what the “locals” are throwing.Redfish: The key to fishing for reds in our area is to be where the fish are. That means spending several mornings on the flats and determining what “routes” they are using over and through the flats. There are some places that you can set your watch by them. Utilize gold spoons, soft plastics and live baits. Bluefish: The bluefish runs through the inlet and along the beaches are known to all that are willing to brave the cold, frigid winds of a wintertime Nor’easter. Some of our best bluefishing days have been on an out-going tide, in the middle of the night, throwing silver spoons into the darkness. Don’t forget your long johns and a winter coat. I’ve never been so cold in Florida than one windy, rainy, miserable night out on the end of the jetty. The only thing that kept us from leaving was that was when the fish were biting!Flounder: It only takes a day or two for the word to get out that the annual flounder run has started at the inlet. There are some nights that the channel has so many boats in it that tangled lines, cut anchor ropes, and boats bouncing off each other like bumper cars are inevitable. That’s why I spend my flounder fishing days along the sandy spoil island edges and mangrove shorelines. Our bait of choice is Riptide’s Mud Minnow with a matching jig head. Lobster: As the inshore reefs become picked over, the hardcore wintertime lobster divers will be switching to “Nitrox” and heading deep. No matter how small, leave no ledge or rock formation unchecked. There are many times that I will take a compass heading of the reef and just swim out 20-30 yards. I’ve found rock formations no bigger than a garbage can holding a limit of bugs, both spinys and shovelnose. Your next “honey hole” may be just out of arm’s (or visibility’s) reach.Waterfowl: Florida will again enjoy a 60-day waterfowl season. First phase will run from November 20th – November 28th, 2010. Phase two will begin December 11th – January 30th, 2011. Fishermen and waterfowl hunters will be sharing the flats during the months of November through January all up and down Florida’s east and west coasts. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Fishermen are asked to keep a minimum distance of 300 yards from an occupied duck blind or decoy set. This distance will insure that the ducks won’t flare off the hunters and falling pellets won’t rain down on your head. Just remember, waterfowl hunters only get 60 days a year to enjoy their sport. See you on the boat or in the blind!
Capt. Jeff Kraynik is the owner/operator of The Coastal Sportsmen and for the past 20 years has fished the Palm Bay/Sebastian/Vero Beach areas of the Indian River Lagoon. “Capt. Jeff & The Crew” specialize in personalized light-tackle saltwater flats fishing for trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, shark and flounder. Capt. Jeff is an IGFA Certified Captain and a guide in good standing with the Florida CCA. He is a Pro-Staff Fisherman for Riptide Lures, Hurricane “Redbone” Rods, PowerPro Lines and Albackore Tackle Systems. When not fishing the grassflats, “The Crew” can be found on the mudflats of the St. Johns River Marsh guiding clients on trophy alligator and waterfowl hunts. “From the Mudflats to the Grassflats and Everywhere in Between.”Contact Info: Capt. Jeff “The Commodore” KraynikThe Coastal Sportsmen(p) 321 863-9182(w) coastalsportsmen.com(e) captjeff@cfl.rr.com
The blistering heat of summer is subsiding, giving way to the easterly prevailing breezes along Florida's Indian River Lagoon Coast. Yes, the season of the mullet is upon us, and once again we will experience some of the best fishing one could ever imagine in their sweetest dream. In the back of your mind you are wondering, how could mullet engender this much excitement? Well, it's not the catching of the mullet I'm referring to, it's the catching of the many marauders shadowing migrating bait pods as they travel south along our beaches and through our lagoons. Shorter days and cooler water temperatures signal the mass exodus of sliver mullet, a tropical species, from their summer nurseries along the eastern US coast, south through the Central Florida coastal region in search of warmer waters.
As they pass along the beaches and through the lagoons and inlets, dark clouds of frantic baitfish move in waves as hungry predators devour them. From the sky, pelicans, terns and gals stock their quarry, and from below, jacks, bluefish, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, sharks, snook, redfish and many others gorge themselves in an attempt to fatten for the winter ahead. In the inlet passes, spawning aggregations of snook and redfish stage and wait for slack tide, knowing all along that schools of finger mullet will have to cross the inlet in order to continue their march south, which provides the protein that's essential for a healthy spawn.
On the Indian River, Mosquito, and Banana River Lagoons, redfish and sea trout will be shadowing schools of finger mullet working south through the estuaries. The larger redfish and sea trout will be staging in the deeper ambush locations like causeways, bridges, and points, were schooling baitfish are forced to leave the safety of the shallow flats. My preferred lures during the mullet run are Rapala Skitterwalks and the D.O.A. Bait Buster for the deep-water situation, and the D.O.A. shrimp around schools of large mullet. Mullet are vegetarians, but as they move and feel, they are often shadowed by redfish and sea trout feeding on small shrimp and crabs flushed out by their foraging.
In the near-shore waters, good numbers of kingfish will continue to work the beaches, Port Canaveral buoy line, and the inshore reefs and wrecks in 70 to 120 feet of water. When targeting kingfish, slow trolling live pogies (Atlantic menhaden) on stainless-steel stinger rigs is my preferred method. Also, as the water temperatures cool, look for the large rays to move into shallower water bringing cobia with them.
Happy mullet run,
Some shy away from technology. When it works, life is good. When it doesn't, life may seem to fall apart. Well today, technology is working in my favor. I'm sitting here in the Florida Keys under a palm tree, in a hammock, smoking a cigar, drinking a cold cerveza and writing my forecast.
We just spent the last two days with our heads and hands checking under every nook and cranny in search of our quarry. Yes, it's the 2010 mini-lobster season in the Keys. And lobstering was good! Just look at the picture of Florida Keys artist, Stacey Krupa, and her party. Yes, mini-season in the Keys was good for many!
Around the Sebastian Inlet area, divers reported "hit or miss" conditions due to limited visibility and thermoclines. Those that found clearer waters tickled out a plethora of tasty bugs. Those on the deeper reefs reported more shovelnose lobster than seen in recent years. Others checked by FWC coming through the inlet reported "skunks" and were not returning for the second day of the season.
Due to the extreme daytime heat and lack of rain (driest July since record keeping began), the flats were barely tolerable - only in the very early morning and late evening hours. During the first two weeks of August, temperatures of 92 degrees were recorded during consecutive days on top of many sand flats during the mid-day hours.
September and especially October are months of change on the Space and Treasure Coasts. As the air temperature falls, so does the boiling waters atop the flats. During a rising tide, multiple "Indian River Slams" can be caught each morning by anglers poling the skinny waters.
For the bluewater anglers, the annual fall bait run has begun with giant tarpon and kingfish patrolling the inshore waters while migrating dolphin can be intercepted on their way back to the Keys.
Here's the skinny:
Trout/Redfish/Snook: Topwater will account for the majority of the hook-ups until the sun breaks over the mangroves. Then, switch to soft plastics like a Riptide or a suspending Yo-Zuri 3D minnow. If fishing during mid-day, find the holes and drop-offs where the water is much cooler.
For those targeting reds and black drum, the western flats north of the Pineda Causeway along the Banana and Indian Rivers will be holding slot fish until mid November.
Sebastian Inlet: Live baits will account for many of the hook-ups during the fall months. Anglers can be found anchored up at the edge of the north jetty pitching baits towards the rocks or moving south and dropping them over the edge into the Monster Hole. Hang on and step up your tackle to a minimum of 20-pound class, because none of the behemoths that you haul to the boat will be inside the slots.
Offshore: Be patient, the "doldrums" should be breaking soon, is muttered by many offshore anglers during this time of year. With the westerly winds we experienced throughout the summer months, it wasn't unusual to see a Jon boat trolling offshore for dolphin, kings or cobia. With no hurricanes or tropical storms as of this report and very little rain, the fall bait run should be nothing short of spectacular for us small boaters.
Dive Report: As of mini-season, divers along the Space and Treasure Coasts reported good numbers of keeper-size bugs even while sorting through the egg-bearing females. As stated earlier, divers reported top-to-bottom or no-vis conditions along the beach and well offshore.
Regular spiny lobster season runs through March 31, 2010. The bag limit is 6 per person per day, which is enforced both on and off the water. Spiny lobster must have a minimum carapace length of greater than three inches and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding the soft tissue, and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace.
Waterfowl: For those fishing around the mosquito impoundments up and down the coast, Early Teal and Wood Duck season will take place from Saturday September 25th through Wednesday, September 29th. Plan on sharing these spots with our fellow outdoorsmen during those early morning and late evening hours.
"See you on the Boat or in the Blind"Capt. Jeff Kraynik
As the east coast sea breezes blow onshore and the afternoon summertime storms begin to rumble over the western horizon, it can only mean summertime in Florida is right around the corner. Though not yet as hot as recent years, the waters both inshore and offshore have warmed gradually which has kept the fishing consistent throughout the day. As of this report, the media hype of oiled covered beaches on the east coast has subsided. It's time to get out and fish!
Trout: There's nothing more exciting that seeing a huge seatrout smash a topwater plug and send it hurling into the air. Take full advantage of the summertime trout bite by being out there while the "gators" are feeding. Staked out and fishing an hour or so before sunrise should insure having your favorite flat or sand hole all to yourself.
Snook: Even though snook remains closed due to last winter's killing freeze, anglers are reporting good numbers of mature "sideliners" on the flats, in the inlet and in the surf. Please go barbless on your hooks if targeting these fish.
Tarpon: The Sebastian River is always the hotspot for feeding, summertime tarpon. Check out the deeper edges of residential canals and creek outlets. Freelining a live mullet with a circle hook or a CW Crab will ensure a solid hook-up and safe release.
Redfish: Look for the schools of bull reds pushing bait up on the flats during the mid-morning hours. If you are strictly looking for reds this time of year, I wouldn't even hit the water until 8:00am.
Shark: The blacktips and large bonnetheads have been cruising the flats in search of prey since late spring. Keep those early morning ladyfish until you're ready to switch over to your heavier tackle. Circle hooks and wire leader are a must!
Offshore/Nearshore: Get out there before the start of those dreaded "summer doldrums." Southeast winds will bring in large mats of floating saragassum all the way up to the beach. Large bait pods will be lingering just outside the inlet until late fall. Capt. Billy Stewart on the Rouge Wave stated they'll be targeting the smoker kingfish and cobia on the deeper reefs and wrecks.
Lobster: Mini Season will take place on July 28-29, or the last Wednesday and Thursday of the month. Regular lobster season runs from August 06 - March 31, 2011. Beach diving is the most popular way of harvesting bugs on the Space and Treasure Coasts. For those heading for the Keys, pick up a bully net and spotlight and hit the channel edges after dark. It's the most fun you can have with your close on!
See you on the Boat or in the Blind!
Capt. Jeff Kraynik
Early summer fishing was a little tough for both inshore and offshore anglers along the southern Space and northern Treasure Coasts. As of the end of March, nighttime temps were still bottoming out in the mid 50s. Water temps were still dropping to the upper 50s at night and only climbed to the low to mid 60s by afternoon. Then, like a light switch, seasonal norms and tight lines returned on every trip out. Here's the skinny:Trout: Take full advantage of the early morning and late evening summertime trout bite. Topwater plugs and popping lures will account for a majority of skyrocketing hook-ups. Get out an hour or so before sunrise to insure a limit of keeper trout. If you're planning on making a long morning or full day of your trip, start pitching a weedless-rigged bait up underneath docks or around the pilings. Snook: Even though snook fishing remains closed, many anglers will still target the "sideliners" to fill their summertime slams. Morning snook can be found pushing bait pods up against the flat's edge or up and over sand flat points. During this time of year, it's not unusual for a half a dozen keeper snook to be working together on a bait ball as they take turns slashing through in a mad feeding frenzy. Try throwing a white Yo-Zuri 3D Fingerling near the pod and slowly retrieving it back to the boat, then hang on! If you're targeting snook, please contact the SNOOK FOUNDATION for reporting or possibly helping with a tagging program.Tarpon: The Sebastian River, Turkey Creek and Crane Creek are always the area's hotspot for feeding summertime tarpon. Also, check out the deeper edges of residential canals and creek outlets. Freelining a live mullet with a circle hook will ensure a solid hook-up and safe release. If you're not carrying any live bait onboard and you run up on a pod of megalops, toss a suspending CW Crab and hold on! I never leave the dock without them anymore. Redfish: Look for schools of bull reds pushing bait up on the flats during the mid-morning hours. If you're strictly looking for reds this time of year, I wouldn't even hit the water till mid-morning. Half crabs are always best and any of the soft plastic baits on a wide gap hook will also do the trick. In cloudy or tannin water, try adding a Woody's Rattle to the inside of the bait. Shark: The blacktips and large bonnetheads have been cruising the flats in search of prey since mid spring. Keep those early morning ladyfish until you're ready to switch over to your heavier tackle. Circle hooks and wire leaders are a must! Nearshore: Large bait pods the size of house pads will be found moving up and down the beaches till late fall. Underneath these pods lurk kingfish, ocean-size jacks, Spanish mackerel and sharks. Due to the thousands of fish in the water, I would recommend using no less than a pliable 60-pound leader. If not, you'll end up losing more fish to break offs from other fish scraping their sides over the leader, than the fish actually throwing the hook. Lobster: As always, Sport Season will fall on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July or the 27th and 28th for 2010. The bag limits are 6 per person per day for Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, and 12 per person per day for the rest of Florida. The possession limit on the water is equal to the daily bag limit, and off the water is equal to the daily bag limit on the first day, and double the daily bag limit on the second day. Possession limits are enforced on and off the water. Spiny lobster has a minimum size limit that must be larger than 3" carapace, measured in the water. A reminder that possession and use of a measuring device is required at all times, and night diving is prohibited in Monroe County (during the sport season). A recreational saltwater license and a crawfish permit are needed for harvest. Regular spiny lobster season is August 6th through March 31st. The bag limit is 6 per person per day. Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season. Harvest is also prohibited during both the 2-day sport season and regular season in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Beach diving is the most popular way of harvesting bugs on the Space and Treasure Coasts. If the treasure fleet hasn't been blowing too many holes in the sand, visibility can be top to bottom in 20 feet of water, at times. For you offshore deep divers, watch your bottom times."See you on the boat or in the blind!" Capt. Jeff Kraynickwww.coastalsportsmen.com
As the cold fronts continue with the winds coming from all directions, even sometimes in the same day, I find myself waiting for the right times to take my anglers out to fish. Of course, some are here on vacation and are restricted as to when they can go, but my local anglers are on stand-by for some of the best fishing they have ever seen. Watch the weather patterns develop, and you will see a cold front diminish to a two- or three-day warming trend until the next front approaches. These are the golden days for the flats fisherman. The warming days just before a new cold front moves in will be the most active days for the fish. As the barometer drops the bite will be on, all you have to do is be there. I have had the chance to fish out in the backcountry during this type of scenario and some of the days we have been having are astounding. How about 28 redfish and 18 snook? All but 10 fish were sighted and cast to, with the result being a fish to the boat. Over and over that day we were amazed to see the flaring of a redfish’s gills and snook pounding surface baits as they inhaled our baits. We fished the northern creek mouths and points and never once went more than 15 minutes without seeing fish. But, beware of the shallow water in these areas; my Maverick Mirage HPX-V was dragging butt for most of the day in six inches of water with myself and one angler aboard. There have been lots of fish on the outside wrecks as well. Making the trip out ten to fifteen miles from the Shark River or Sandy Key has been a gamble. The choice must be made on the right day to make the trip or the ride back can be very uncomfortable even in a twenty-plus-foot hull, but the trip is worth it. Large snapper, grouper, black drum, tripletail, cobia and a host of other species await you. Just use your best judgment and of course, the weather reports, and you will have plenty of work to do at the cleaning table upon your return. Gear CheckI have just started using the Odyssey Batteries on both my Maverick and the Bluewater 25 and what a relief. No longer am I worrying about the bait wells, Hummingbird GPS and the VHF Radio being on all day and hoping the E-Tec’s will start. No longer am I uneasy about drifting for hours for swordfish with deck lights and the Hydro glow Fish Light on along with everything else. Fishing on wrecks and being at anchor for three or four hours without starting the engine used to worry me, but not any longer. Check out the very best battery on the market at: www.odysseybatteries.com ---Captain Dave Sutton is sponsored by Evinrude, Bluewater Boats, Sea-Power, Costa Eyewear, Power-Pro lines, Odyssey Batteries, SOL Sunscreen, Calusa Nets, Hydro-Glow Fishing Lights, Rapala, Frogg-Toggs, High Rollers, Lipper Tool, Pro-Fish, Hummingbird Electronics, LOOP Fly Reels, Fetha-Styx Fly Rods and is the Florida Ambassador to Lewmar Ltd. He fishes Biscayne Bay, the Upper Keys and the Everglades National Park. Captain Dave fishes a Maverick Mirage HPX-V, and a new 2009 Bluewater. He is on the Quantum Pro-Team, and on the Pro-Staff of, Power-Pole, Stiffy Push Poles and many others. The skipper would like to hear your fishing stories and reports for inclusion on his website and print, or to book a trip, call him at 305-248-6126 or e-mail him at djsutton@bellsouth.net. On the web … www.ontheflatschearters.com
The stench of rotting fish has finally faded as the Indian River Lagoon licks its wounds and begins to recover. After Florida’s most devastating freeze since 1989, fish stocks may take years to recover. But, as soon as the temperatures warmed and the winds switched and came in from the south, the redfish and trout bite turned right back on.Both inshore and offshore tournament fishermen will have a plethora of events to chose from this season with an extra surprise in one of the series. Capt Jeff Brauer of the Florida Flats Fishing Association has announced that the series can now be fished as a “Team Event” or as a “Single” angler as in the past. Capt Brauer stated, “The series participants asked for it and we were able to provide it to them.” For more information, go to: www.myflfa.com Here’s the skinny!!! Trout/Redfish: Many anglers have reported large schools of slot-sized reds all up and down the Space and Treasure Coasts. Since the freeze and the loss of so many baitfish, these species have been ravenous for any live or artificial baits thrown at them.Snook: Slot-size snook will begin to move back into Port Canaveral, Sebastian Inlet and the Fort Pierce Turning Basin. LEAVE THEM ALONE! The moratorium will continue until Sept 01, 2010 and there’s no reason to even target this species until the state can determine just what damage has been done.Surf: Can you say “Surf Grand Slams”? Whiting, pompano, Spanish mackerel and bluefish will move up and down the beaches all day. Offshore: Those black fins seen moving up and down the coast are not sharks but manta rays heading for the Keys. Under those rays are schools of cobia migrating right along with them. Prior to breaking up and hitting the deeper ledges and wrecks, the “cobes” will inhale any large topwater popping plug or jig tipped with a live eel. Bottom fishing for many species of grouper and snapper will remain closed until the foreseeable future. Dive Report: Spiny lobster season will end on March 31, 2010. Divers who want to get their last dives in before the season ends should plan of diving deep for the keepers. Don’t forget the spear guns! The reefs will be covered up with breeder grouper and snapper. And don’t forget your safety stops.Tournaments: I again will have the honor to chair for the 7th annual South Brevard Ducks Unlimited “Band the Slam” Inshore Flats Classic on Friday, April 30 – Saturday, May 01, 2010. Squid Lips Overwater Grill in Sebastian, Florida, will again host this year’s tournament. The mandatory captain’s meeting will take place out on the docks starting at 6:30 PM on Friday night.On Saturday morning, there will be a “gentlemen’s start” on the water with lines overboard one hour before sunrise. Scales will open from Noon to 3:00 PM. Awards ceremony at 4:00 PM. Prizes include: cash, firearms, fishing equipment, limited edition prints and sculptures. Door prizes, raffles and auctions will also be conducted at both the captain’s meeting and the awards ceremony. Both parties are open to the public and you do not need to fish the tournament to participate in the auctions and raffles.“See you on the boat or in the blind!”
Capt Jeff “The Commodore” Kraynik
Here we go folks; the winter fishing is in full swing. The recent cold fronts have done the trick in bringing the winter bite to a full term. Flamingo's gulf edges are full of macs, cobia, tripletail and snapper and the flats around the inside are teaming with large trout, redfish and snook. December will bring the backcountry of the Everglades alive.
The "PRES" Chris Dolne came down again and the score was 7 bones, two permits and over a hundred cuda's...for the 5 day trip.
Whitewater Bay will soon be seeing the winter tarpon run and fishing the creek mouths on the northeastern shores are already producing redfish and snook, as well as a great snapper bite. The DOA plastic baits are responsible for many of the redfish and snapper we caught in the backcountry. The ½-ounce shrimp pattern in clear does the trick.
A water temp of 76 to 84 degrees is the optimum range for the bonefish, but he will feed in much cooler water. As the water in Biscayne Bay cools down you will see the bonefish begin to congregate in larger and larger schools. This is a great advantage to an angler due to the competition factor. When presenting bait or a fly to a school of feeding fish you have a much greater chance of a hook-up. The fish are not as spooky in a school of a dozen or more and will move across a flat in a formation like combat aircraft leaving a very noticeable head wake.
Our flats here have bonefish constantly moving on and off of them throughout the tide flows as they feed. This is why an experienced guide will fish a flat that someone has just moved off of, but only if he moves off slowly. Poling to the edge of the flat and idling till you have at least two feet of water or more is the best way to ensure that the fish have not been spooked. Taking the time to move off a flat will also ensure that you will not dig a wheel ditch when you jump on plane. We all have seen these holes on our flats as well as the long wheel ditches going all the way across-these scars will take years to recover. This is also the ammo the "powers that be" will use to close our waters.
The wily permit is still around with the majority of them on the smaller side and in definite schooling patterns. Look for them around the western banks of Biscayne Bay due to the warmer water temperatures that are found there. The darker grass flats will hold the heat from the sun longer. Watch your surface water temperatures very closely during these winter months. If you can find a flat that has a two- to three-degree temperature rise you will find bonefish and permit on it for sure.
Until next time - Tight lines and quick releases, and I will see you "On The Flats."
GEAR CHECK:
My Maverick Mirage HPX-V is again being E-Tec Powered by Jack Rupp and Sea-Power Inc. I have the new 2010 90-HP. Running my Terrapin about as much as the Maverick and doing a bunch of days offshore has contributed to low hours on all of my engines. Jack is located conveniently at 13610 SW 142 Ave right here in Miami near the Tamiami Airport. Contact him at: or call 305-238-1386 for all of your re-power and maintenance needs. They are the best I have found by far...
The skipper would like to hear your fishing stories and reports for inclusion on the Chevy Florida Fishing Reports, his website and print, or to book a trip, call him at 305-248-6126 or e-mail him at djsutton@bellsouth.net.
His new websites are:
www.OnTheFlatsCharters.com
www.JulieSuttonMarineArt.com
We're now paying the price here on the Space and Treasure Coasts. With no hurricanes or major rain events this past year, water levels are treacherously low and salinity levels are on the rise. October was one of the warmest and driest months on record. To top it off, it seems the wind blew for a month straight. Isn't October supposed to be a month of change?
The record highs finally subsided around the first week of November and things began to get back to normal. I, along with others, will be glad to see 2009 as a memory.
Average winter temperatures 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. Sleep in! But, each passing cold front means an eventual warm up of the grassflats and offshore waters. Then it will be the time to get out and wet your lines!
Trout/Redfish: 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 sunning themselves in sandy "potholes" and atop the oyster bars of the shallows. A slow presentation along the edge of the holes with your favorite crank or soft bait should send the sunning predator into a feeding frenzy. When fishing the deeper holes and drop-offs, utilize popping cork rigs 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 and lounging north of the Pineda Causeway and in the Banana River "No Motor Zone." Live shrimp, dead shrimp and cut clams... well, just about anything will account for many of the monster catches. I recommend not using anything lighter than a 20-pound rig with 60-pound leader on these giants. Between grinding their heads into the bottom and running back into the school, the 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 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 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. Within the next month, the National Marine Fisheries Service will be voting on the new bottom fishing regulations concerning these species. If you're an offshore bottom fishermen, it's now that the Coastal Conservation Association/Florida can use your support.
Dive Report: Lobster divers report that both spiny and shovelnose catches have been consistent on the 90- to 120-foot ledges. As usual, the 40- to 60-foot ledges have been picked clean early in the season. Grouper and snapper will be lining up for the spear fishermen on the reefs getting ready to breed in the shallower, inshore waters. 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 Sunday, January 31, 2010. Flats fishermen are reminded that these outdoorsmen only get to enjoy their sport for 60 days a season. A 300-yard buffer will let hunters and flats fishermen enjoy their traditions.
"See you on the boat or in the blind!"
Late fall will bring us a strong cold front or two and this will begin to jump start the fishing from Biscayne Bay all the way to the Everglades. As the water cools off from the summer's heat, the bait runs start in late September and all of the Flamingo species revitalize as well as Biscayne Bay's bonefish population. At 80 to 82 degrees, the fish are feeding during the cooler times of the day. Not until the water temperatures reach from 76 to 78 degrees will we see the fish relax and feed all day long. This is the time we see the largest numbers of the BIG fish on our flats like the ones pictured.
Flamingo's gulf edges are full of Mac's, cobia, tripletail and snapper, and the flats around the inside are teaming with large trout, redfish and snook. December will bring the backcountry of the Everglades to life. Whitewater Bay will soon be seeing the winter tarpon run and fishing the creek mouths on the northeastern shores is already producing redfish and snook, as well as a great snapper bite. The Rapala X-Raps and Twitchin-Rap baits are responsible for many snook and snapper we've caught in the backcountry, along with throwing a High-Roller Rip-Roller on the surface.
There have been lots of fish on the outside wrecks off Flamingo as well. But, making the trip out 10 to 15 miles, or even more, from the Shark River or Sandy Key has been a gamble. The choice must be made on the right day to make the trip, or the ride back can be very uncomfortable, even in a 20-plus foot hull--but the trip is worth it. Large snapper, grouper, black drum, tripletail, cobia and a host of other species await you. Just use your best judgment and of course, the weather reports, and you will have plenty of work to do at the cleaning table upon your return.
The "Bear Bones" fly has done it again. This is my own pattern tied in polar bear fur and it has been responsible for a nine bonefish day--on fly. This polar bear fur is really working, not only the bones, but with the redfish and snook as well. I have tied a few whistlers and deceivers using the polar and Flamingo just isn't the same. I can't tell you where to get the fur from because it is illegal to sell commercially, but it can be sold as a tourist trinket by the Alaskan people, which is where I found it on my last trip to Kodiak Island. Orvis has something very similar to the polar bear fur in their Sparkle Fur.
The permit are still around with the majority of them on the smaller side and in definite schooling patterns. Look for them around the western banks of Biscayne Bay due to the warmer water temperatures that are found there. The darker grass flats will hold the heat from the sun longer, which in turn will hold and keep the water temps higher. Watch your surface water temperatures very closely during these winter months. If you can find a flat that has a 2- to 3-degree temperature rise, you will find bonefish and permit on it for sure. Until next time, I'll see you "On the Flats."
NEW BIO
Captain Dave Sutton is sponsored by Evinrude, Sea-Power, Costa Del Mar Eyewear, Odyssey Batteries, SOL Sunscreen, Calusa Nets, Hydro-Glow Fishing Lights, Spike-it, Frogg-Toggs, High Rollers, Lipper Tool, Pro-Fish, Humminbird Electronics, LOOP Fly Reels, Fetha Styx Fly Rods and is the Florida Ambassador to Lewmar Ltd. He fishes Biscayne Bay, The Upper Keys and the Everglades National Park. Captain Dave fishes a Maverick Mirage HPX-V, and Terrapin Skiff. He is on the Quantum Pro-Team and on the Pro-Staff of Power-Pole, Stiffy Push Poles and many others. The skipper would like to hear your fishing stories and reports for his website and print, or to book a trip, call him at 786-564-6347 or e-mail him at djsutton@bellsouth.net.
His website: www.OnTheFlatsCharters.com
Capt Jeff KraynikNov-Dec 2009 4castPalm Bay - Sebastian - Vero Beach
What does silver mullet mean? Here on the Space and Treasure Coasts, it means southern-bound giant tarpon weighing over 100 pounds. Even though it will be over by the time you read this forecast, as long as the seas remain calm and the ocean clear, it's going to mean a fantastic time!
The summertime temperatures are beginning to cool and many early morning runs, both inshore and offshore, are requiring a light jacket. It's time to slow your retrieve down a bit and break out your winter lure colors of blacks, browns and reds.
You know the snowbirds have arrived when all you see is congested roadways and full ramp parking lots with out-of-state tags. Yes my friends, wintertime in the Sunshine State has arrived.
Here's the Skinny:
Seatrout: Troughs, deepwater edges and canals are the staple for wintertime trout fishermen. Popping corks dangling a live shrimp is sure to make a seastrout rise from the warmer depths. If the live bait becomes spotty to find, as it did throughout this past summer, try an Owner circle hook and a Riptide Realistic Shrimp on the end of your line.
Snook: Snook will be holding inside the Sebastian Inlet throughout the winter months. Windcheaters and silver spoons should be in everyone's arsenal. Live bait will account for a majority of the catches if you hit the tides right. Remember the "new slot limit" and throw that second fish back.
Redfish: The key to fishing for reds in our area is to be where the fish are. That means spending several mornings on the flats and determining what "routes" they are using over and through the flats. There are some places where you can set your watch by them. Utilize gold spoons, soft plastics or a Yo-Zuri 3D Fingerling.
Bluefish: The bluefish runs in the inlet and along the beaches are known to all that are willing to the brave the cold, frigid winds of a wintertime Nor'easter. Some of our best bluefishing days have been on an out-going tide, in the middle of the night throwing silver spoons into the vast darkness of the inlet.
Flounder: The annual southern flounder run has begun at the inlet. The inlet will get a little too crowded for some on the weekends. Instead of fighting the crowds, try finding a secluded sandy spoil island. My bait of choice, when live mud minnows are unavailable, is a Riptide Goby with a weighted jig head. For you nocturnal giggers, any of the sand flats around these spoil islands will be holding garbage can size fish.
Lobster: As usual, the inshore reefs have been picked clean since the mini-season. The large bugs between six and 10 pounds will be found on the deep ledges at 90 and 120 feet. Watch your bottom times!!!
Waterfowl: Waterfowl hunters will again enjoy a 60-day season running from November 21 through November 29, then a 12-day closure will occur. The season re-opens again from December 12 through January 31, 2010.
Fishermen and waterfowl hunters will be sharing the same mangrove shorelines and vast open water bays during this time. The flock of birds that you are about to run through may actually be a big water diver spread with several hunters within. This occurs most often around the impoundments of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the adjoining impoundments up and down the IRL.
All boaters should take a wide berth. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Safety dictates a minimum distance of 300 yards from an occupied duck blind or decoy set. Just remember our fellow outdoorsmen only get 60 days to enjoy their sport.
Note: Enforcement of the "No Motor Zones" and "Pole/Troll Only Zones" have been stepped up by local, state and federal officers due to the blatant violations being observed. There are new rules pending that if caught and convicted of multiple violations of these zones, a suspension may take place where you won't be able to access the refuges.
Know where the zones and the running channels are when hunting these areas. If you're not sure, "SLOW DOWN!"
"See you on the Boat or in the Blind"
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Who is Capt. Jeff Kraynik?
Capt. Jeff "The Commodore" Kraynik is the owner/operator of The Coastal Sportsmen. For the past 24 years he has fished and hunted the areas between Merritt Island and Vero Beach. Capt. Jeff specializes in light-tackle saltwater flats fishing for trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, shark and flounder. Capt. Jeff holds the rating as a Master Near/Coastal captain to 50 tons and is a guide in good standing with CCA/Florida. Capt. Jeff's weekly fishing reports can be heard on the Reel Animals Fishing Show, BooDreuaux's Boondocks and The South Florida Fishing Report with Happy Henry. When not fishing, he and his crew can be found in the St. Johns River Marsh hunting trophy alligators and waterfowl.
"From the grassflats to the mudflats and everywhere in between"
Contact Info:
Capt. Jeff "The Commodore" Kraynik
(Cell) 321-863-9182
www.coastalsportsmen.comcaptjeff@cfl.rr.com