The redfishing has continued to be exceptionally good over this past week. With huge schools of fish pushing around the flats and good clear water it has been a sight fishing bonanza! The other day we ran into a school of reds that I would estimate to have been 1000 plus fish… in fact there were so many that at first I thought it was an oyster bar. Well one thing that I can guarantee you is that oyster bars don’t move. We have had some luck with the fly rod, but have put most of our focus in light spin. With a fair amount of mullet still around we have been throwing jerk baits in white or or gold and black. Hopefully the bite will stay hot throughout the rest of the winter. Until next time, Catch em Up! Captain Charlie

Over this past week we have been seeing a lot of nice schools of redfish on the flats. With crystal clear water and sunny skies we have been able to sight fish for most everything. Though the spinning gear is fun we have really been able to take advantage of the conditions and break out the long rods! Small clousers and deceivers in white and brown have been the ticket. These fish don’t seem to want to move very far to chase down a bait, but a small fly pattern zipping by their nose is something that they can’t resist. The only issue that I have run into recently is that the fish are still moving off pretty quick once spooked and we have had to  keep relocating them, but they have been very cooperative on the bite. Until next time, catch em up. Captain Charlie

January: A Day to Remember

There are quite a few days that stand out in my mind as days to remember, but none quite as much as one cool January day off of the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. At the time I was working as a mate on a 40 foot Liberty named the Fantasy which was skippered by a well known sail fisherman named Chris White. One of our favorite trips was to leave the dock before day break and get out for an early morning sailfish bite. On this day the crew consisted of only the captain, me and one other angler. The nice thing about getting out early is that “you don’t miss anything” Chris told me as we as we left the bait patch that morning. We started out fair as we went one for a double within the first ten minuets of putting lines out, but we improved our average by 11 am after releasing 14 sails and going through all of our live bait. With fishing like this there was no question among us as to weather we would go back to the bait patch and get more bait. After a short while we were back at it with full wells. Fishing started a bit slow when we got back out as we sat for almost two hours without a bite, but as with all offshore fishing the action can change in an instant. We hooked into a quad (4 sails at once) and between the three of us we managed to keep them under control and released three and were able to focus on the last of the four. The only problem was that the nut under the spool had come loose on the reel thus allowing the rotor to lock the spool tight when not being centered by hand. There were a few times when the fish came close to breaking us off, but with some fine boat handling and good communication we managed to get the release. Over the next few hours we picked at a few more fish including one that sounded and we had to fight for over an hour. Now up to twenty releases and the sun setting we all knew that one more fish would make or break us because the Ocean Reef Club record for single day sail fish releases was 20…one more and it would be ours! As the light dwindled we set out our last two baits out waited…excited, Chris cries out “there he is on the right long” as the fish bills the bait and sucks it down. As fast as he ate he was gone and our hearts sank into the bilge of the boat. But as the day would have it that fish swam over to our last bait and this time we hooked him solid. I don’t think that the Fantasy had ever been run so hard in reverse as the water poured over the transom. “Releases” I yelled as I grabbed the leader to release the fish. What a day indeed, we ended up going 21 for 26 and pinning those flags up and down both riggers never felt so good. To hear more tails of whoppers and mishaps give me a call and let’s put together a fishing trip and until then “catch em up”!

Though the fishing through most of December was spotty… good one day and poor the next, this cold weather that we have seen over the past week seems to have really pushed the redfish into their winter patterns. I fished each of the past 5 days and have seen a noticeable difference in the movements of the fish. Schools that had been broken have gotten together into really nice sized schools. The best part is that they are eating well. Yesterday we started out with the spinning rods using spoons and jerk baits and they were eating them well so we switched over to the fly rod and picked up another 5 reds over about a half hour. To sum it up the winter bite is on. Until next time, Catch em up! Captain Charlie

January Fishing Forecast

Cooler temperatures and clear water generally push most of our inshore fish into deeper water and our offshore fish into a feeding frenzy. This time of the year we look for calm clear days to sight fish the flats or to bottom fish the near and offshore wrecks.

This month’s feature is Trolling for Trout

For most of the month we will enjoy cool northerly winds and crystal clear waters. This can be a great time to target specs in deeper off of oyster bars and more specifically by slow trolling small rapalas and jigs. Just put her in gear, sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Inshore Fishing

Short days and cooler air drive the water temperature into the low 60s this time of year. Not only does the water become cooler but also crystal clear. As the water cools most fish move into deeper water with the exception of schooling redfish which will huddle together on low tide flats in large numbers. This creates a good opportunity for shallow water sight fishing. Given good conditions don’t be surprised to get shots at large schools of fish (sometimes 100 plus fish per school) with light tackle and fly fishing gear.

Offshore Wreck and Bottom Fishing

Some of the best winter time fishing can be done on the wrecks which are located six to twenty miles offshore. On an average day look to catch a variety of fish to include: sheepshead, weakfish, bull redfish, flounder and sea bass. Not only are these fish a lot of fun to catch but also great to eat. Due to the fact that these wrecks are located in open water we generally look for light winds and calm seas to go offshore. We have some of the best bottom fishing in the world and it all comes together in the winter time. It is not uncommon for everybody on the boat to be bowed up on fish all day long…the only question will be “how big is it?”. On our live bottom spots look to catch vermillion and red snapper, grouper, sea bass, cobia, jacks and kingfish.