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Fishing Report
FISHING REPORT 4/7/07:
This weather this past week has really been a deciding factor in where and how I have been fishing. The weather on any given day has run the entire spectrum from perfect conditions to high winds. This has put me in the position of having to be versital in the areas I have been fishing to the techniques I have been using. This past week I have been concentrating my charters in the southern Tampa Bay area, from Bishop Harbor through Williams Bayou, and into Joe Bay. The redfish have been everywhere and good numbers of large redfish have been common. Snook as well have been abundant in certain areas and they too have been running large. Sea trout are returning to the shallow grass flats in great numbers and have been really hitting surface lures and live baits during low light conditions. In addition we jumped and landed our first large tarpon of the season as well as large schools of Jack Crevelle ranging to way over 20# in open water areas as well as big Spanish Mackerel.
Redfish have been traveling as singles or in small
schools throughout southern Tampa Bay and have been an exciting sight
fishing target. The key has been to paddle along close to the mangrove
shorelines and look for fish hanging out or pushing water. They have been
easy to spot in the crystal clear waters. Baits of choice have been small
pinfish, shrimp, and whitebait as well as rapala X-raps and berkley gulp
baits on light jig heads. The fish have run the spectrum from small rat reds
to an abundance of slot fish as well as a good number of large redfish too.
Snook have been abundant as well. Some amazing snook
sightings have been made. On one day over a dozen large snook - well over
the slot - were sighted along a deep drop off but refused every bait offered
to them. For the most part snook have been in the slot or just under with a
majority of the catch coming between 24 to 28". The key to finding snook has
been to target areas along mangrove lines with deep drop offs and a good
water flow. A large number of the snook we have encountered have been
visible and sight fishing has been possible. When no snook have been visible
we have steadily fishing likely areas looking for signs that snook are
holding in the area such as nervous baitfish on the surface or the tell tale
popping of snook feeding on the surface. The best bait by far has been large
whitebait and shrimp. Artificials have ranged from Rapala XRaps to YoZuri
Crystal and Pins Minnows.
Sea Trout have been easy targets during low light
conditions such as first light or under cloudy conditions. We have been
finding large numbers of these fish primarily in Joe Bay on the shallow
grass flts during high tide and along deep water sand holes during low water
conditions. The bait we have been using the most has been DOA shrimp under a
rattle float, Yo Zuri pins minnows and live shrimp have also been used with
great success.
The best surprise of the week was the jumping and
landing of our first large tarpon on a charter. We came across a small pod
of rolling tarpon well within southern Tampa Bay and pitched whitebait on
15# spin outfits and were rewarded with a double hook up. Both fish were in
the 50-80# range.
Large Jack Crevelle between 15-20+# have been taken
as well along deep drop offs and sand bars. Above average Spanish Mackerel
have also been a target early in the morning as they drive up baitfish to
the surface. Most have been running in the 2-3# range.
Here are some of the highlights of the week...
This week has seen 5 inshore slams ( snook, redfish, sea trout in the same day) and one inshore grand slam ( snook, redfish, sea trout, tarpon ). Three inshore slams occured on the same trip. Steve Richardson, Brian Richardson, and Tom Richardson out of California each earned an inshore slam. Bob Collins of Maine earned an inshore slam. Kevin Crawford of Alabama earned a inshore slam. Tyler McGovern of Massachusetts earned an amazing inshore grand slam. Jason Edmundson of Maine caught and released a 33# redfish on 8# monofiliment.
Tight Lines!
D.C. Bienvenue
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing Tours
Sarasota, Florida
Fishing Report 3/21/2007:
One of my favorite places to fish
this time of year is southern Tampa Bay. Over the past couple weeks Sun
Coast Kayak Fishing Tours has been
concentrating the majority of charters in this area from Bishop Harbor
to Miguel Bay. Large numbers of redfish,
spotted sea trout, snook, and spanish
mackerel have been the dominate
species encountered along with the occasional catches of
pompano, small sharks, and
cobia.
The redfish have been really
abundant, especially large redfish,
in the Joe Island and Joe Bay areas. What we have been doing is looking
for these reds along deep cuts and drops that run
parallel to mangrove lines. During
these low tide conditions the
redfish use these areas as a kind of
highway to move and feed freely. The fishing has been mostly sight
fishing and precision casting once
located. The baits of choice have been
primarily live shrimp and whitebait
either under a popping cork or free-lined.
Sea Trout have been very active in the afternoons on both incoming and
outgoing tides. The water is warmer later in the afternoon and the trout
have been coming up to feed along the edges of drop offs and sand holes
on baitfish. On the days with the
most sun the trout have even moved up onto the flats
in water from 2' to 4' deep. The plan for catching
these fish has been to locate areas with a heavy concentration of deeper
sand holes and easy access to deeper water. Multiple drifts over the
area are used to locate the heaviest concentration of fish in a short
amount of time. Once located controlled drifts over the area are used.
Baits of choice have been live shrimp and
whitebait as well as small in line
spinners, gold spoons, and yo-zuri
pins minnows.
Snook have been primarily located within Bishop Harbor along
mangrove lines with deep water drop
offs. The best time to fish has been during the last of an incoming tide
and the first of an outgoing tide. Look for small
baitfish congregating along the
mangrove. Once located look for signs
of snook moving around or feeding on the bait. When working in clearer
water areas it has been possible to sight fish for large snook moving in
the shallows. Whitebait have been the
best bet for bait. Shrimp have been a close second choice. For
artificials
Berkley Gulp in a variety of shapes,
colors, and sizes have produced well but still not as well as live bait.
Spanish Mackerel have been very plentiful throughout the bay. We have
especially done well trolling #1
spoons and Yo-zuri lures along
schools of baitfish that have been
located on the surface. What has been really great is the size of these
fish. The average size has been 3 to 5# with larger
fish to 8 or 9# quite frequent. When targeting the mackerel specifically
daily catches have numbered up to 50+ fish.
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing Tours also
has run two 5 day trips to Islamorada
over the past couple weeks and had great results. Catches included
grouper, snapper, tarpon, shark, permit, and
bonefish. During this time we fished both Florida Bay flats and
patch reefs in the Atlantic using both bottom fishing and sight fishing
tactics. This is the first of 4 trips to
Islamorada planned for the remainder of this year.
The next Multiple Day Kayak Fishing
Excursion is to The 10,000 Islands area on April 27-29 an there are 6
positions remaining for this trip. Lodging is included in the price and
as with all Sun Coast Kayak Fishing
Tours charters all equipment is provided. For more details visit the
website at:
www.fishwithdc.com
February 26, 2007
Fishing has been up and down lately with the passing cold fronts and
windy conditions at times but all in all we are finding fish on every
charter.
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing clients have
been taking in a mixed bag of fishing within Sarasota Bay and Little
Sarasota Bay over the past couple weeks. Good numbers of
redfish have been the staple as well
as a growing sheepshead bite. Mostly
we have been finding the redfish and
sheepshead along structure such as
docks and sea walls with moving water
and an easy drop off to deeper water. With this kind of fishing patience
is key. We aren't seeing the tailing reds but by carefully working an
area and concentrating on key areas as mentioned above we are finding
and taking a lot of fish. Most of the
redfish have been shy of the slot or slot fish with no real
monsters to speak of. But the action is good and the rods are bent. The
sheepshead are getting bigger and the bite is getting better. In
addition to structure we have been locating them in canal openings with
rocky bottom and lots of oysters nearby. For both species a simple 1/8
jig tipped with shrimp has been the key to success.
Snook have been very prevalent in the
river and creek systems that open into the bay as well as deep canals
with a mud bottom. The reason being that the mud bottom warms quicker in
the winter sun and the deep water provides a protective layer above them
during cold fronts and falling temperatures. During the day we have been
locating them feeding in the shallows along mangrove shorelines and at
night they have been found along dock lights feeding on small shrimp and
baitfish. These fish have been
lathargic but willing to bite with
persistence and patience. Small
shrimp have been the best bet but a slowly worked
DOA Shrimp will work as well.
The sea trout in the Sarasota area
have been spotty. Still rebounding after the decimation they took during
the red tide they are mainly a by catch
while fishing for other species. Though increasing frequency in sea
trout catches is a positive sign that the population is on the rebound
and will come back strong with continued conservation efforts by
anglers.
Recently Sun Coast Kayak Fishing has
run a number of kayak fishing
charters into the Everglades National Park / 10,000 Islands area and
posted amazing catches of a variety of different species including snook,
redfish, sea trout, pompano, permit,
cobia, mackerel, mangrove snapper,
lane snapper, gag grouper, goliath
grouper, flounder, tarpon, shark, sheepshead,
and black drum. This area is renowned for its fishing variety and
considered by many the one true destination for any avid fisherman. This
is a new charter destination being provided by Sun Coast
Kayak Fishing and includes
accommodations, guide, and all tackle
and equipment including kayaks. This
past weekend showed amazing catches
particularly of sea trout ( all 18 inches or larger), snappers
(both lane and mangrove), flounder, grouper, and redfish.
Off the beaches and out to 5 miles Sun Coast
Kayak Fishing clients are also getting in on great catches of
large sheepshead, snappers, grouper
while bottom fishing natural and man made ledges and reefs. While
surface fishing False Albacore and Spanish Mackerel have been a staple.
The most fun by far though has been sight fishing the influx of large
tripletail found between 2 1/2 and 3
miles off the beaches around crab trap markers. The best area for these
as well as the False Albacore and mackerel has been off of Casey Key.
Freshwater fishing is really heating up during the days after a cold
front. Large bass are moving and feeding regularly amongst the shallows
and make excellent sight fishing targets along
weedlines and structure. Bedding bass
have also been found and are a great shot at a true trophy
lunker - please be sure to release
bedding bass after capture, studies
show they will return to the bed and secure the future of this fishery.
In the rivers catfish can be found in the deeper holes and along drop
offs. Recent trips up the Myakka and
Manatee rivers produced 3 catfish over 20# while fishing
topwaters for bass.
No matter what your style of fishing is be sure to be safe and practice
conservation whenever possible to insure the longevity of our area
fisheries.
Tight Lines!!
D.C. Bienvenue
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing
Sarasota, Florida
941-809-2703
September 28, 2006
The cooler, overcast mornings and afternoon/evenings and all the fresh rain
really have the largemouth moving again. This week on three trips Sun Coast
Kayak Fishing Tours has taken nearly 100 bass with the average size being
between 2# and 5# with more than a handful of great lunkers. The key to
great success has been to 1) find out of the way areas that have seen little
pressure over the past months, especially areas with running fresh water
from recent rains 2) concentrate on the predominant cover in this area, 3)
using small crankbaits to pinpoint aggressively feeding bass within that
cover and then switching to slower texas rigged plastics to really work the
area. The baits that have been dynamite recently have been Rapala Shad Rap
SR-5 crankbaits in the natural shad color and texas rigged Culprit 7.5 inch
worms in Tequila Shad and Crawdad colors. We have been using 10# outfits to
get the crankbaits to reach maximum depth quicker and 15# outfits to slowly
work the plastics and horse large fish from heavy cover.
Highlights from this week include Chris of Sarasota with a great 9# bass
taken on Friday Sept. 22, John of Cleveland, Ohio with a 7# and 8# bass
consecutively, and the lunker of the week goes to Kyle of Welesly,
Massachusetts and a wicked 11# monster pulled from emergant vegitation on
the Braden River just yesterday afternoon.
Slatwater has been up and down depending on where you are fishing but recent
trips to Southern Tampa Bay especially the Joe and Miguel Bay areas have
produced wicked bull redfish and some nice snook as well. Fishing the
mangrove lines on the rising tide and sandholes on the falling tide have
produced the best with a simple gold spoon being the weapon of choice.
Shrimp have worked as well on light jig heads. Sea trout are also
co-operating well in these areas at first light along the grass flats with a
yo-zuri crystal minnow and DOA deadly combo doing most of the catching. The
bigg redfish of the week goes to John of St. Louis with a wicked 45" bull
from Joe Bay on a gold spoon and 10# mono.
Over the coming weeks look for serious action to pick up in both fresh and
saltwater as we head into fall patterns. Bass will be moving more
aggressively as the forage fish begin to move through the lakes and rivers
while saltwater flats species begin to move back into the shallow bays and
grass to forage while the weather becomes a bit more subdued.
Tight Lines and Bent Rods
D.C. Bienvenue
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing Tours
941-809-2703
It has
been so busy that it has been a while since I posted my last report. From
Largemouth Bass to Giant Tarpon and everything in between we have been doing it
all over the past two months here at Sun Coast kayak Fishing Tours and have
witnessed some remarkable catches. Here is brief rundown of where I have been
fishing and what we are catching the fish on and a brief list of a couple of the
top catches.
12-13-05
December 13, 2005
The past couple of weeks have shown a definate boom in freshwater fishing
throughout southwest Florida. Here in the Sarasota and Manatee County Areas
the bass fishing has been phenominal.
As the H2O temperature has dropped the bass have been much more active.
While there has been many a debate among some of us guides I am a firm
believer that the bass hae begun their pre-spawn habits and are feeding
heavy in preparation for the spawn. In the past week and a half I have run 6
charters for bass with an accumulated total of over 150 bass caught and
released on these trips. Of those 150+ fish 31 of them were 5# or better and
7 were 8# or better. On some recent "expoloratory trips to new waters in the
area" I personally landed an 8# and a 10#6oz bass this past weekend.
The bass aren't moving as shallow as before and the majority of the fish
caught lately have been along drop offs or other submegered structure or
open water. As the fish prepare for the spawn they are feeding heavy and
gorging themselves on schooling baitfish. The key to successful fishing has
been to locate schooling baitfish being hounded by hungry bass. Look for the
tell tale "nervous water" created by scared baitfish or simply find bass
breaking the water like maraoding mackerel, which has been the case lately.
Baits that have worked the best have been crankbaits, especially Rapala Shad
Raps and also large single blade Spinnerbaits. Cast these lures beyond the
surface commotion and retrieve them through using a stop and go retrieve.
Also work these baits along weedlines adjacent to steep drop offs in the
same stop and go pattern.
Live shinners have are also a great producer of big fish this time of year.
Work them either freelined or under a popping cork in the same areas.
Calico Bass, or Speckled Perch/Specks, are on the move as well. Small
minnows have been dynamite for the great tasting panfish. Fish them under a
cork either under low light or evening conditions. Specks make great fun for
children as well.
Saltwater fishing lately has seen the progression from fall to winter
feeding patterns with the passing of the last few cold fronts.
The secret of inshore fishing lately as far as snook and redfish are
concerned has been to locate schooling mullet. Locate the mullet and you
will surely find snook and redfish mixed in feeding on the tasty morsals
kicked up by the rummaging mullet schools. Baits that have bee very
successful include DOA shrimp, small Bucktail Jigs and live shrimp as well.
Fish brackish water areas and sheltered coves on a good outgoing tide for
the best action. Remember to fish your baits slow as well. Colder water
temperatures equals a slower metabolism in the fish and they are more
selective of which baits the will chase.
Over the past two weeks on 8 inshore trips we have taken over 90 snook and
50 redfish using this method. Other species that are great action right now
include Sheepshead, and Bluefish.
No matter what fish you are chasing remember to be careful and most of all
have fun.
Tight Lines!!
D.C. Bienvenue
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing Tours
941-400-8774
10-29-05
Redfish and Snook / Snook and Redfish
Don't listen to all the hype in the local media. The fishing is wicked
awesome here in Sarasota Bay and the surrounding waterways. The next one of
these so called experts who says the fishing is aweful and the red tide is
so bad is going to get my foot up their ass. Their doom and gloom forcasting
has been the only thing killing the fishing in this area by convincing
anglers that they should just stay home. The truth of the matter is though
if you were brave enough to go out and actually spend some time on the water
you would find the fish.
Redfish and snook are everywhere right now and as fall fishing patterns
begin to set in the fishing is getting better every day. Currently in
Sarasota Bay the redfish are schooling from Long Bar to the Ringling Flats
and then also in the north Siesta Key area. The last part of the falling
tide and the first part of the rising tide have been the key. Baits that
have been working include small pinfish and shrimp as well as assortment of
DOA soft plastics and shallow running crank baits. This week alone on three
charters I guided anglers from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia to 34
redfish ranging in size from 16 to a whopping 31 inches.
Snook are the other main player in Sarasota Bay right now. As the
weather begins to change and water temperatures begin to fall look for snook
feeding heavily around the flats especially those adjacent to creek and
canal mouths as they prepare to move into their winter haunts. As with the
redfish the best fishing has been along the falling and rising tides as
snook hang around any drop offs, sea walls, or structure looking to ambush
small baitfish and shrimp moving with the tides. The best baits so far this
week has been live shrimp freelined with the moving water. Bring your fly
rod as well and take advantage of the ravenous appetite of these snook.
Small minnow and shrimp immitation flies have been dynomite. This year to
date I have guided anglers to over 2400 snook including two over 25# in the
last month. This week alone has seen 37 snook ranging from below the slot
limit to 38 inches.
Other species in the bay right now include bluefish, pompano, and even
some small tarpon to 20# have been taken recently. As the water temperatures
continue to fall look for more action from spanish mackerel and kingfish
along the beaches. The one bad thing to report though is the lack of spotted
sea trout in Sarasota Bay since the outbreak of red tide. In fact they seem
to be the only species that was completely decimated by the outbreak.
If freshwater is your game or your just looking for a change of pace the
fishing for Largemouth Bass is amazing right now. I have been running a
number of Bass charters over the last two months and the fishing is only
getting better. This week on two bass charters I guided anglers from
Sarasota, and Ohio to over 40 bass ranging in size from 1# to 9# with the
average around 3#. As the weather continues to cool look for bass to be
schooling around natural points, river bends, and large structure as they
ambush migrating baitfish. The best baits have been plastic worms texas
rigged with a 1/8 ounce bullet weight with the hottest colors being the
tequila shad and pumpkin seed. Crank baits are also dynamite right now as
fish are holding in the mid-levels of the water column. For the biggest fish
live shinners (large ones) have been the best bet fished either freelined or
under a float early in the morning or late afternoons around structure.
Whatever your choice fresh or saltwater, the main point is get out there
and enjoy some of the best fishing of the year
Tight Lines!!!
D.C. Bienvenue
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing Tours
941-400-8774
5-26-05
It has been a great week here at Sun Coast Kayak Fishing Tours in Sarasota,
Florida. Tarpon are here, and though it is early in the season, we are taking
off of the beaches and out of the passes. This week Sun Coast Kayak Fishing
Tours helped it's charters hook 18 Tarpon and of those land and successfully
release 11. The Tarpon are running big this year and if the weather holds out
it looks to be a great season. The baits of choice have been live crabs and
threadfin herring.
Inshore fishing has also been phenomenal. Large trout are everywhere and this
week clients have caught and released many large trout including a couple that
have been in the 26" to 28" range with a great number being around
24". Look for trout on the deep grass flats early in the morning from
Anna Maria Island to Siesta Key. At night you can also find trout along the
many canals that line the bay as they forage for food under the dock and
bridge lights. Baits of choice have been live shrimp, D.O.A. Deadly Combo
rigs, and C.A.L. Jigs.
Snook have finally moved onto the beaches in some respectable numbers and Sun
Coast Kayak Fishing Tours has been having a lot of great catch and release
action for line-siders just outside the passes and along the beaches as we
search for Tarpon. Inside the bay as well the mangroves have been holding big
numbers of snook as they feed during the high tides. Though the numbers are
there the size of the snook has been on the smaller side than normal though
with only two fish this week near or over 15#. Night fishing has been great
for snook this week. On night fishing trips this week the dock light along the
passes have lead to a lot of great catch and release action. On a trip monday
night a client caught and released over 30 snook. The baits of choice have
been live shrimp and small pinfish.
Redfish are a different story all together though. Though we are still
catching a lot of big redfish in the bay they have been more difficult to
locate than in recent months. The biggest success has come from fishing docks
near a good drop off or deep cut and that have good tidal flow. There are a
lot of these docks along Longboat Key and Anna Maria. Southern Tampa Bay has
also been proving better and better along the mangrove islands and
shoreline. Here sight fishing is the way to go and a nice shrimp, pinfish, or
small crab has been stopping them in their tracks.
Outside the passes at night has been a great spot to hook up with some nice
shark fishing action. Bulls, Lemons, Blacktips and some small reef sharks have
been plentiful and will test the strength of any angler. This week Sun Coast
Kayak Fishing Tours caught and released over 20 sharks with the largest being
almost 8'. Fresh cut bait soaked on the bottom will usually cause a quick
strike. Be prepared with appropriate tackle and steel leader.
Tight Lines and Bent Rods to all!
D.C. Bienvenue
Sun Coast Kayak Fishing Tours
941-400-8774
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