Saturday, March 6. 2010
This past week has been anything but fishy! High winds, rain and cold temps lead to very poor fishing conditions although some die hards are claiming to have done fairly well at the power plant out flows. Cobia, Black tip sharks, Lady fish and Trout were caught by those crazy enough to go. For those of us who chose to get our chores done it looks like relief is on the way. There is a warm up in the forecast and just in time. They are calling for an entire week of weather in the 70’s which could really turn things loose. The big Trout will get very active 3 to 4 feet of water. They have eaten the minimum for survival for months now and should really come alive with a warm up. The Redfish schools that poured in on this past moon phase should also start to get acclimated to the shallows and start more of a normal feeding pattern.
There is also some great opportunities to catch some big Sheepshead as they also seemed to pour onto the flats with this past moon. Again some slightly warmer water temps will get these guys to fire off as well. A shrimp on a #1 hook with a small split shot about 15 inches up the leader will work great for these fish.
A warming trend should also drive some of our bait back to the bridges and piers and out of deep water. With more bait moving around the bay things will get right and we can put this crazy winter behind us for good!
Catch Capt. Michael Anderson and Capt. Billy Nobles every Saturday morning on News CH8 at 6:30am and on AM970 for Reel Animals Saturday from 6:00am to 9:00am and Sunday mornings on AM620 for the TA Mahoney Co. Reel Animals Radio Show from 7am to 9am or to book a trip call 1-866-Gamefish.
Sunday, February 28. 2010
The first of the week started out with promises of a good week. Highs in the low 80’s upper 70’s you know the way life is supposed to be here in Florida. I had some people scheduled for a trip on Monday but  thunderstorms were in the forecast so we moved our trip to Tuesday. The plan was to meet at 7am grab some bait and head out offshore. The bait was a little tough to say the least but we finally got enough and headed out offshore around 10am. The winds were supposed to be out of the east coming NW by late afternoon. Don’t you know it as soon as we rounded the lighthouse, NW winds.
I remember back a long time ago an old commercial fisherman told me, “Son when ever you are in the gulf in winter and the wind switches NW, head home it’s gonna get bad.” We’ll we ran out a little anyway and it did get a little snotty to say the least. We hooked a few big fish and were unable to turn them. With conditions worsening we changed gears headed in our destination was O’Niell’s Marina to grab some shrimp. After gearing up for some light inshore action we looked for the large schools of drum that invaded the bay about 2 months ago but couldn’t find them, next let’s hit some trout. I had purchased 8 dozen shrimp and had two anglers using the Berkley Gulp Shrimp and two using live shrimp. In about an hour and a half we burnt through all our bait and had a limit of trout, speckled that is. The trout I had been catching were small on Tuesday we caught two small ones around 10-12 inches the rest were anywhere between 16 and 22 inches, and the action was non stop.
Talking with other Captains, the off shore is on fire when you can get there. The trout, black drum, and redfish are in the bay in abundance, just as we have another week of cold scheduled. The key is to pick your day. When conditions are right, the bite has never been stronger.
Be sure to catch us on TV Saturday mornings for The Reel Animals Fishing Show @ 6:30am on Channel 8 and listen to Captain Mike on 970 AM from 6-9am on Reel Animals Saturday’s with Captain Mike and Sunday’s 620 AM from 7-9AM for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and call in and give us your reports to win some cool fish gear. To book your trip visit www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com and until next week, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’.”
Friday, February 19. 2010
The Low tides of last week and the negative low tides of next week will offer some great opportunities for those who like to wade fish. Redfish and Trout will be bunched up in the deeper troughs inside the bars of Cockroach Bay, Joe Bay, Terra Ceia, Miguel Bay and around the Fort DeSoto and Weedon Island areas. The 4th street area will also be worth a look. The areas of dark mud bottom usually will hold the most fish as these areas will heat up the fastest. I recommend a good pair of neoprene waders as water temps are still well below normal. I find the best bite on 5 inch Berkley Gulp Jerk Shad rigged weedless on a 5/0 Gamakatsu worm hook. This will help you deal with the seagrass on the low water. New Penny and white are the 2 colors I can’t live with out. Topwater plugs will also work well as small mullet are often there food of choice this time of year. This could be the best technique for catching your Trout of a lifetime. Most of the big Trout have been held up in this skinny water. If getting out of the boat is not your idea of a good time, there will be plenty of fish on edges as well. Trout and Ladyfish have been plentiful with 50 to 100 fish days the norm. Again, the bigger Trout have been held up skinny so as the tide rises, follow it up onto the flat and work the deeper pot holes. This could also produce some nice Flounder as the bite for them picks up this time of year as well. Catch Capt. Michael Anderson and Capt. Billy Nobles every Saturday morning on News CH8 at 6:30am and on AM970 for Reel Animals Saturday from 6:00am to 9:00am and Sunday mornings on AM620 for the TA Mahoney Co. Reel Animals Radio Show from 7am to 9am or to book a trip call 1-866-Gamefis
Saturday, February 13. 2010
You are not going to believe it. The fishing this week has been absolutely on fire, record setting, world class, catchin’. I have never landed so many walleye and salmon in Tampa Bay its unreal. Had ya going didn’t I? To be honest I haven’t been on the water all week. We were supposed to run but with the fronts, wind and rain we cancelled. It’s better to live to fight another day. Mike and I did make it to south Florida and went to the Miami International Boat Show to see some old friends and meet some new ones. Any one who has never made the trek to that show, if you love boating, fishing, or just the water lifestyle you gotta go.
As I stated earlier I haven’t been on the water so let’s talk about what’s on the horizon for us. Spring, what a wonderful time and word, is just around the corner. As the water temps will rise look for snook to come out from the deep holes and springs in our river systems to their regular haunts. Schools of redfish are already moving in but take your time. It seems that once the reds are here it takes them a few weeks to settle down if you will and get comfortable with their new home.
Tarpon, Tarpon, Tarpon, my favorite time of year. Look for schools of Silver Kings to start migrating to their traditional breeding grounds and just before the tarpon get here. PERMIT, did I mention we love permit. A lot of people don’t realize how many permit we have and what a great game fish they are. Capable of making screaming runs to 300 yards on light tackle. All I can say is WOW! I you like what I have described just hang in there. It’s right around the corner, it won’t be long, I promise.
On a different note, Dennis O’Hern, is leading the charge for our rights to fish. They are heading to Washington, D.C. to fight the grouper and snapper closures. Please go to their site all you have to do is go to www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com and on the right hand side of the page you will see a tab (Join FRA) Click on that and check it out for yourself. Folks this is the pit-bull in your fight for your right to fish and for your kids to fish. Please support them as we do.
Check us out on Saturday mornings @ 6:30 on WFLA News Channel 8 and call in Sunday’s from 7-9 to WDAE 620 for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and your chance to win some cool stuff. Call us at 1-866-GAMEFISH to book your trip of a lifetime and until next week, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’.”
Sunday, January 31. 2010
Earlier in the week Capt Mike and myself went out to shoot and episode of The Reel Animals Fishing Show. We ran out of O’Neal’s Marina in Saint Pete. Just a short boat ride and we were catching trout on artificials. The fish weren’t very large but plenty with a few keepers in the mix.
On Thursday, I carried our underwater camera guy, Scuba Steve, (Ben Bateman) his best friend Scott and his dad, Mike along with the son/brother in-law, Brian, offshore. We looked for white bait around the bay to no avail and headed for the skyway. In just three throws of the cast net we had plenty of pinfish, pigfish, and one sardine and off we went. We hit some spots in the 40-60 foot range and had a few small grouper and I believe on gag that just made the slot. The wind looked like it was lying down so we ran 40 miles to 120’ of water. Let me tell ya it was a good call. Upon reaching our spot we immediately began chumming the water with a chum bag and cut bait. We started on cut bait with a little success but nothing to write home about. Then we switched to the live pinners and pigs and it was game on. We only made the one stop and limited out on Gag Grouper, Red Grouper, Scamp Grouper, and Mangrove Snapper. We caught several Amberjacks with the big one around 45 pounds. I was surprised we did that good with the full moon on us. I guess the lesson is in winter you go when you can especially this winter with the strong fronts we’ve had. I mean earlier in the week the gulf seas were at 8’ and we ran home in 1-2 footers. So you just gotta go.
Be sure to check us out on WFLA News Channel 8 for The Reel Animals Fishing Show Saturday mornings at 6:30 and Sunday mornings at 11. Also call in Sunday to WDAE 620 AM The Sports Animal to give us your reports and questions and who knows, you just my win something.
|
