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Fishing Report
HERE'S SOME GOOD ADVICE FROM CAPT. THOM
SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR, Bradenton
941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net &
flatsladycharters@yahoo.com
JUNE 24, 2007
NO BOAT? TRY WADING.
Air & water temperatures are beginning
to heat up, and sometimes staying in the boat has a tendency to be
uncomfortable. Wading is a good way to stay a little cooler and
also be a little stealthier in your approach to the fish. Over the
years, I've been impressed by the quality and size of the fish that
wading can produce. Eventhough you may or may not have a boat, it
doesn't matter. Yes, it would be nice to have a boat and find a spot
that is away from everyone else, but for the "boatless angler", there
are plenty of places to wade around the county.
First of
all, the standard equipment for boater or wader should be a hat,
polorized sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. For a wader, a good pair
or shoes is a must. I suggest something with a high top on them.
Lowcut sneekers and those little beach shoes are OK, but being low cut,
they allow sand, shell and other things to get into your shoe and
eventually it starts to grind on your ankles and feet, making walking
difficult. I like the "Dive Booty's". They usually have a good tough
sole that can handle oysters and with the higher top, the grit has a
harder time getting into your shoe. What you wear is up to you, but I
prefer to wear shorts as long
pants tend to have more resistance in the water and rubber waders are
too cumbersome and hot in the summer time.
What you
carry with you is also up to you, but I would suggest a stringer and a
small container to carry extra leader line, hooks, jig heads and lures,
in case you have to re-rig. For waders, there are some items on the
market that are like towing a small boat around, but they can be handy.
There was one called the "Wade Caddy". It had a cooler, small tackle
box, bait bucket, rod holders and an anchor to secure it in a spot.
Just remember, this is something you'll have to drag around with you. A
pair of needle nose pliers and a pair of scissors or fingernail clippers
to cut braided line or trim your knots, rounds out what you need to
carry.
As I
mentioned, there are alot of areas here locally for waders and I'll
mention some that I feel are easily accessible to the water and your
vehicle will be reasonably safe while you're off fishing.
1.
Palma Sola Bay off of Palma Sola Blvd. You can fish the flat
out from the shoreline where it drops off into deeper water on a lower
tide. The fish hang out on the edge of the dropoff, waiting for the tide
to come back in. Also, in the southeastern corner, there are mangrove
islands and oyster bars, but it is a fairly
muddy bottom.
2. The flats to the south and north of the Manatee Bridge, going over
to Anna Maria. The flats to the south extend from the bridge
to the mouth of Palma Sola Bay. There are numerous sand holes. The
shoreline has oysters and you can fish
out to the edge of the Intercoastal Waterway.
3.
DeSoto Memorial and Emerson Point, are both parks that are good
areas, but close at dark. DeSoto is on the south side of the Manatee
River and it offers a great shoreline that can hold a variety of fish on
it's shoreline. Snook, redfish and trout being the most prevelant. On
the northside of the river is Emerson Point. You will need to drive
through Palmetto and Sneed Island to get there. Emerson gives you at
least three directions to fish. South faces the river, to the west
there is a large grass flat and what we call the "River Bar", where
snook roam during their spawning period. To the north and back to the
east is the pristine shoreline back into Terra Ceia Bay.
4. South Skyway Rest Area. On the northside you have Joe's
Bay and Joe's Island. This side has loads of oyster bars, sand holes
and a long mangrove shoreline. On the southside, Miguel Bay boarders
the Interstate, but you barely know it's there. This area has a sandbar
you can walk out to and work your way across to a string of islands that
have oyster bars and nice sand holes.
Wading can
offer alot of fishing opportunities, but remember when wading always do
the "Stingray shuffle" and you can wade as far as your legs can carry
you, but remember, you still have to wade back. The
areas above are some of the easier spots to wade, but there are many
more throughout the area that are also accessible.
GOOD FISHING AND STAY SAFE. ALWAYS WATCH THE WEATHER, ESPECIALLY THIS
TIME OF THE YEAR.
CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS AND ANGLER'S REPAIR. 941-776-1187
or cell 737-5672. YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT ME AT: e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
THERE ARE NOW OVER 5 "DROP-OFF" SPOTS FOR ROD & REEL REPAIR. CALL ME
FOR INFO.
HERE'S
THE LATEST FISHING NEWS FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS &
ANGLER'S REPAIR, Bradenton, Fl 941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net &
flatsladycharters@yahoo.com
JUNE 9,
2007
TARPON
MOVING IN & SHARKS GOOD FISHING
Usually around
this time of the year, I write something about the "Tarpon Fever" that
effects alot of local anglers. Well, this year, it's a little bit
different. The fever and the Tarpon are around, but windy conditions and
fluctuating water temperatures have so far made connecting with a tarpon a
little difficult. Anglers are reporting some decent size schools, both
inside and on the beach, so the opportunities are there for a hook up!
Water temperatures have been steadily rising over the past week or so, to
the mid 80's, so with the water heating up and a full moon coming at the end
of the month, the Tarpon action should pick up, before they
go offshore to spawn.
The rising
water temperatures and the rain from Barry and a few storms since, have
moved the snook closer to the passes and creek mouths to spawn. For the
longest time, this Spring, the snook stayed in the back country and for some
reason, they were slow to move out to the oyster bars and flats that in past
years were very productive. Up and down water temps and bait that was
constantly moving had the snook moving too. Redfish action has remained
fairly steady the past few weeks and a few big redfish have been caught in
Terra Ceia, Miguel and the Joes Bay areas. Most of the activity has been on
an outgoing tide around oyster bars and the deeper mangrove shorelines.
Spotted sea trout can be found over the deep grassflats and sizes vary from
undersized to some quality fish in the 20 inch range.
Some people
don't realize that Tampa Bay is a shark nursery. Adult sharks drop their
pups here and it's not unusual to catch alot of small blacktip sharks in the
2 ft. range or motor along the sand bar edge of the Bulkhead at the mouth of
the Manatee River and watch them scoot out of the way as you cruise by. For
years, I've netted bait on a grass flat in Tampa Bay and many times, the
"chum" to attract the bait will bring in a gang of small sharks looking to
pick up a free meal. So far, I've never netted one, but if I did, I 'm sure
it would punch a hole in the net. On hook and line, they are alot of fun
and in many ways, alot like a snook. A good strong run and sometimes they
will even jump like a snook. Sharks, especially blacktips are good to eat,
but I profer to catch and release them and release with care, because they
can inflict a pretty nasty bite! Use a "de-hooker" or clip the leader to
release and never hold onto their tail, because they still
turn their body and bit you!
Whitebait has
thinned out quite a bit and alot of the bait on the flats is on the small
side. Sometimes livebait is not available, and pinfish, crabs, creek chubs,
mullet and shrimp are all excellent choices and can produce a nice catch.
Spanish mackeral can be found on the flats and in the deeper water of Tampa
Bay and will hit just about anything that moves, especially if it shiny.
Mackeral are constantly on the move, looking for something to eat, so look
for bait schools or birds diving to find the mackeral.
Some mangrove
snapper have started to show up in Tampa Bay near the Skyway. Mangrove
snapper are structure orientated fish that like rocks or rubble to hang
around. Areas I've targeted in the past are the approach on the East side
to the Skyway Bridge, where they built a little harbor for the Tug Boats
that worked on the gas line a few years ago and the breakwater and the large
boulders that shore up the roadway on the West side. The disadvantage to
these places is alot of anglers fishing from the land may be there first.
As we move into
our hot Summer months, hours of fishing will change, trying to fish early or
later in the day to avoid the Mid-Day heat. Stay safe, and have fun.
Pictured is a nice "Catch & Release snook" caught recently by Clint from
Bradenton with Capt. Thom.
CAPT.
THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR, 941-776-1187 &
737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net CONTACT ME FOR
DROP OFF SPOTS FOR REPAIRS, OR FOR A CHARTER.
HERE'S
SOME NEWS FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLAT'S LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR,
Bradenton
941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
MAY 21,
2007
THE
MYSTERY OF FISHING, THE FUN OF COLLECTING
Over the past
few weeks, fishing has been uneventful to say the least. Water temperatures
keep fluctuating up and down, bait shows on the flats one day and disappears
the next, windy smokey conditions have added up to some frustrating fishing
trips. This past weekend The 24th Annual Crosthwait Fishing
Tournament was held at the Bradenton Yacht Club, and I
predicted that the better quality tournament fish for the inshore anglers
would be caught at night. We'll see. Pictured is a great trout caught
recently.
I've mentioned
occasionally that I collect Vintage fishing tackle and I've
had some request to write about that collecting. For the past few years,
I've belonged to the Florida Antique Tackle Collectors Club
and I consider myself an average collector. Being in the Rod & Reel Repair
business for many years, my main interest lies in Vintage Bait Casting
Reels. Although I have picked up some nice old fishing rods and some
fishing lures especially ones that were made on the West Coast and in
Central Florida. Old timers may remember that the entire area was once rich
in lure designers and manufacturers from St. Pete, Tampa, Lakeland, Bartow
and even Bradenton. Many manufacturers like Barracuda, Bender,
Flynn, EGER and Odon Bait Co. right here in
Bradenton. They say hindsight is 20/20 and if I would have saved some of the
old Florida Shiner lures from the Barracuda Co. that I used in my early
years, I would concider myself a genius today.
The lures are
not really worth alot of money, but the workmanship, especially the painting
of the lures was to me, like a Picasso. The blend of colors with detail to
every scale on the lure had to be time consuming. The were a carved wood
body lure with glass or bead eyes and the paint job that actually caught
fish
Most of the
reels I collect are ones that just caught my eye. They range from 120 years
old to about 30 years old. Alot of what we call "knuckle busters". Bait
casters that don't have an anti-reverse, so if you were to hook into a large
fish, you better keep your hand out of the way, because the handle would
spin backwards as the fish pulled out the line. Some had a little switch
that would apply pressure to the spool, others you would use your thumb with
a leather cover to act as the drag.
Many collectors
concentrate on a single manufacturer like Shakespeare, Pflueger,
Penn or Mitchell. I enjoy a variety of different reels,
because they are old, but still in great shape and not beat up. The thing
about an old reel is it may be as shiney as a new dime, but because they may
have made millions of them, it may not be worth alot to a collector. I'm
impressed by the engineering that's gone into the reel. Reels today are all
about the number of bearings that are in the reel. In the 30's, 40's and
50's, some companies used what they called "Jeweled End Caps" that took the
place of bearings. The jewel was usually agate and it added to the
appearance and performance of the reel. Some would spin like a top.
Early reels
were mainly manufactured up north in states like New York, Connecticut,
Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. Some by dentists, jewelers and watchmakers, I
guess for they're attention to detail and precision. Later on, Florida
became known for some quality reels, being made in both St. Petersburg and
Miami.
If you ever
have any questions or need any information about an old reel that you may
have, I would like to hear from you and help, if I can. I'm always ready to
talk about some of those "Oldies but Goodies" that may be around.
GOOD
COLLECTING AND FISHING, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S
REPAIR.
941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net. AND I'M ALWAYS READY TO
GO FISHING!!! IF YOU NEED REPAIR
"DROP-OFF" SPOTS, CALL ME.
HERE'S
THE LASTEST FISHING NEWS FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF ANGLER'S REPAIR & FLATS
LADY CHARTERS. 941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
MAY 5,
2007
TOURNAMENT MONTH and SNOOK SEASON CLOSED
The 1st of May,
Snook Season Closed until Sept. 1st, so right on cue, snook activity seemed
to pick up. Why this happens and how they seem to realize that anglers
can't legally keep them remains a mystery to all of us. The 1st part of May
is still a little early for them to be in full spawning mode, so I don't
feel too bad about targeting them, but towards the end of the month, I tend
to leave them alone to do their thing. I relly don't know if it effects
them too much by catching and releasing them, as long as it's done quickly
and carefully without alot of handling, but I choose to let them be.
By fishing the
areas that we do, you still are going to catch a few, even though you may be
targeting something else. Redfish have been fairly active, but not very
big, as least the ones that I've seen or caught. Spotted sea trout have
turned on and just about any patch of grass or grass edge in more than a few
feet of water should produce. Sizes vary so if you're on a school of
smaller fish, you might want to move on, because that's probably all you
will catch. With the lack of rain, Spanish mackeral feel comfortable enough
with the salenity to come up river as far as the Green Bridge and deep into
Terra Ceia Bay, looking for bait fish to feed on. In fact, the last time I
was getting bait, there were mackeral zipping into my chum slick and picking
pinfish and whitebait that I was trying to castnet.
Water
Temperature in Tampa Bay is up to 80 degrees and on the flats at midday,
it's warmer than that, so it's pretty much normal conditions for this time
of the year. News of Tarpon up river and on the beach are beginning to come
in and before long, we'll be getting daily reports as they fatten up for
their spawn around the full moon in June.
Next Saturday,
May 12th, the 21st Annual Green Bridge Kids Fishing Tournament,
sponsored by the Manatee Sarasota Fish and Game Assn., the Palmetto
Parks and Recreation and Palmetto and Bradenton Kiwanis Clubs will be at the
Green Bridge Fishing Pier in Palmetto. Kids from 7 to 14 are welcome. The
tournament is "catch & release", and Free
for the Kids. For more info, call 794-2806. The following weekend,
May 18th, 19th and 20th. is the 24th Annual Sam Crosthwait Memorial Fishing
Tournament for both inshore and offshore and will be held out of
the Bradenton Yacht Club. Check at Rivers Boaten & Stuff
on Hwy 64 E. and some of the local Tackle Shops for registration forms.
In the past,
the back waters in advance of the tournament get alot of pressure from
anglers "scouting" and looking for areas holding fish that might help them
on tournament weekend. Weekends are crowded enough, but on that particular
weekend, every mangrove point or shoreline has a boat or a group of waders
fishing it or so it seems. If you're looking for a nice relaxing day on the
water, pick another time, because from the boat ramp to the amount of
traffic on the water, it's going to be busy. Personally, my wife Marti and
I prefer to just drive to the Yacht Club, see some old friends and watch the
weigh in, especially when the big boats come in with the amberjack, grouper
and snappers. Some of the catches are truly amazing.
This time of
year tends to be very productive, water temperatures are still comfortable
enough for fish to move around and be very active and aggressive, looking
for something to eat, as we move into summer. Water temps warm up to
a point where some fish tend to be sluggish and don't want to exert much
energy.
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS AND ANGLER'S REPAIR.
Bradenton 941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net GIVE ME A CALL FOR "DROP
OFF" SPOTS FOR YOUR REELS, OR IF YOU WANT TO GO FISHING, OR JUST TALK
"FISHING".
HERE'S
THE LATEST FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR,
Bradenton
941-776-1187 or 941-737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
APRIL
15, 2007
FRONTS
CHANGE FISHING
As I write this
article, a strong front is pushing through the area, dumping some much
needed rain that should help some with our drought situation. The down side
is, with the storm moving so fast, we're not getting a good soaking that
would help to correct the problem. The Easter weekend storms that we
experienced were slower moving and I believe more benificial for the area
after a couple of days of rain. Although we certainly did need the rain,
the influx of all the fresh water from both runoff and the steady down pour
did change fishing conditions, at least for awhile.
I was supposed
to have two days of Charters after Easter weekend, with Dr. Scott Clulow of
Bradenton and his Dad Kent and nephew Anthony, both from New York, but the
steady rain made us cancel the first day and put the second day in doubt.
Luckly, or so it seemed, the second day turned out to be a really nice day.
I did have concerns about how the weather conditions might have changed the
fishing. The first thing I found out was the bait had moved from the
shallow flats where I had no problems a few days earlier to who knows
where. We were able to catch a few, but it was obvious they had moved into
deeper water, so "plan B" was to buy some shrimp and start fishing. The
next thing I discovered was not only had the bait moved, the fish we were
targeting, snook, redfish and trout had also moved, making for a long day.
Over the course of the day, we fished shallow and deepwater areas, oyster
bars, mangrove shoreline points, Islands, dropoffs into channels, boat docks
and pot holes on the flats, with not too much success!
After fishing
each spot, I would cruise over or around it to see if there was anything
there and saw very few fish. We were able to catch some small snook and
redfish, but by then, it was obvious that this was going to be one of those
days. As a Fishing Guide, you absolutly dread. I believe that a
combination of rain, a drop in water temperature and a long slow incoming
tide of over 15 hours, it turned a nice day on the water into a slow day of
fishing. Most fisherman will tell you about those great days of fishing and
all those wonderful fish that they caught, but I'll be the first to admit
that even Fishing Guides have slow days and feel bad for their customers!
The only thing you can do on a day like that is keep searching for a spot
that may produce because you never if the next cast will bring the fish of a
lifetime.
Unfortunately,
that didn't happen this trip but hopefully better days are ahead with the
front passing through today, it will cool down and probably be about mid
week before conditions should return to normal. The 1st of May,
Snook Season will close until Sept. 1st. Before the fronts,
kingfish were active in the Gulf and there were even some reports of big
kings were being caught off of the Skyway Pier. Spanish mackeral are still
abvailable in Tampa Bay and don't seem to be effected by the fresh water in
the deeper water of the Bay.
March and April
are transituation months and although we may still experience a few more
fronts, eventually the weather pattern will settle down and we will be back
to normal.
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR,
Bradenton
941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net CALL ME FOR ROD & REEL
REPAIR "DROP OFF" SPOTS AROUND TOWN.
HERE'S
THE LATEST FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR,
Bradenton
941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
MARCH
25, 2007
SPRING
FISHING
After enjoying
some Spring type weather and fishing. A cold front blew in over a week ago,
dropping water temperatures back into the low sixties, accompanied by high
winds out of the Northeast, it pretty much shut everything down, and it was
back to fishing for sheepshead to get a bite. A week has passed and
everything seems to have rebounded. Bait that had moved into deeper water
or just disappeared during the cold spell has since returned to the flats in
some areas. Snook, trout, redfish, Spanish mackeral and kingfish that were
actively feeding before the cold front, seem to be turning on again as we
warm up. Reports about kingfish and a few cobia were beginning to come in
before, but no word since the cool down.
Terra Ceia Bay
and the coastline North to Port Manatee are areas that I probably spend 85%
of my time should really start to produce. Usually
in these areas, water clarity is almost "soup like" and that's when things
really seem to click. The cloudy or soupy look is caused by algae and that
provides a food source for smaller baits and other critters, and that
creates a food chain. Right now, the water is crystal clear in some places,
making it difficult to get close to the fish without spooking them. Under
these conditions, a stelthy approach and a long cast may be needed to get
the fish to bite.
I've mentioned
before in my reports that the two times of the year that I enjoy the most
are Spring and Fall! Why, because that is when most of the fish are most
active and seem to be easier to catch. I've written about trees blooming
and the citrus blossoms, and that is exactly what happens on the water, when
the flats warm up, the water color changes and allot of the sand or potholes
take on a light green color that seems to guarantee a bite if you pitch a
live bait or artificial in there. I talk about structure alot and no matter
what time of the year it may be, that is what holds the fish. A month ago,
it was docks, pilings, rock piles and those type areas might still work, but
as we warm up, Mangrove shore lines, oyster bars and grass points and edges
will be where snook, redfish and trout will stage up.
The So. Skyway
Pier has reported that Tarpon has started to show this past weekend, and it
is alittle surprising to me, that it took them this long to show. Tarpon
are somewhat a mystery! No one seems to know for sure, exactly where they
come from. Some say the upper bay, around the Power Plants and the warm
water runoff areas, others say from offshore. It doesn't matter, but
traditionally they show up to take advantage of the vaste amount of
threadfin herring, whitebait, and glass minnows that thrive there.
Spanish
mackeral and some really big ones, have been around the pier and scattered
around Tampa Bay, feeding on the bait schools and fattening up. Pier
anglers are taking advantage of the mackeral bite for an easy catch, in
fact, Mike Williams, the son of very good friends of ours, Gayle and Glenn
Gibbons, from Ellenton, was in Orlando to attend some job related seminars
for the company he works for. Mike, born and raised in St. Pete, and
graduated from Palmetto High, now lives with his wife Shannon and their 2
sons, near Detroit MI. Mike had called me a few weeks ago to find out how
the fishing was and if I had any suggestions on where to go for a few
hours. I suggested the Green Bridge in Palmetto or the Skyway Pier. Mike
decided to try the Skyway Pier, and along with a couple co-workers from
Michigan were able to catch some Spanish Macks and spend some time on the
long span enjoying the sunshine. It just goes to show that if you are
willing to put in a few hours of time, you can have some fun and catch some
very nice fish.
Just a
reminder, we may still experience some fronts and cool downs for awhile, but
even after the last one, we were back to normal fairly quick. Better day
are ahead. Get out there and fish.
CAPT.
THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS AND ANGLER'S REPAIR, 776-1187 &
737-5672 or e-mail
tesmls@infionline,net ANGLER'S REPAIR NOW HAS
5 "DROP OFF" LOCATIONS FOR YOUR TACKLE REPAIRS.
HERE'S
THE FISHING UPDATE FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S
REPAIR. Bradenton 941-776-1187 &
737-5672 e-mail tesmls@infionline.net
MARCH 10,
2007
CHANGES
FOR EVERYONE
Over the past few
months, I haven't been getting on the water as much as I would like.
Late last year, I closed my shop, Angler's Repair,
on Cortez Rd in Bradenton to reduce my overhead costs. Since then
I've continued to run my business's, both Repair and Guiding out of my home,
while building a Shop that will provide cover for my boat and space for my Rod
& Reel and Vintage Tackle Repair. I didn't realize that it would
take so long, but working with permits for the County, scheduling
sub-contractors, and dealing with weather changes, it has been difficult to
focus only on my fishing. I can say that things are shaping up, and the
"Finish Line" is in sight for the new shop. (I do have 5
"drop-off" locations for repairs).
FISHING
NEWS:
Since my last
article, it does seem like we are over the hump as far as winter goes.
We've experienced a steady warm up and Spring seems to have sprung.
Everything seems to be blossoming and if you haven't observed it with your
eyes, maybe your alergies have clued you in with all the pollen that's blowing
around. Water temperatures continue to rise and Sea Grasses are
beginning to grow again. The whitebait that's actually been around all
winter is moving out to the grass flats in some areas and even though it's
still not the food source of choice for some of the "flats fish",
Spanish Mackeral have been taking advantage of them for an easy meal.
As I've mentioned
before, the Skyway area has been loaded with large baits. The grassflats
on the Bay side of Egmont Key are holding some nice sized baits. A friend
of mine noticed birds diving in the Inter-Coastal near the Bulkhead and
the Spanish mackeral were feeding heavily. Redfish
and seatrout action fluctuates from slow to hot and heavy and now
that the water temps are pushing 70 degrees, the snook activity should pick
up. The "bread & butter" catch for this time of the year
is still sheepshead and throughout this month and next, they
should get bigger and bigger, until they spawn out.
Silver or
grey trout action has been off or on and the majority of the
reports I've heard about the fish, seems to be concentrated in the Manatee
River, near marker #15. The Skyway Piers in addition to being the main
bait spot are still producing lots of Spanish mackeral, sheepshead and a
few pompano for anglers that fish the long span. Fishing should continue
to improve as the weather warms, but as we transition from winter to spring,
some days can be "hit or miss". If you have any questions, give
me a call. When you can get out, remember to "Take a
youngster fishing". You'll get a smile from them every
fish!
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S
REPAIR 941-776-1187 OR 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
CALL ME FOR REPAIR DROP-OFF SPOTS.
HERE'S THE LATEST REPORT FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY
CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR, Bradenton 941-776-1187 &
941-737-5672 or e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
FEBRUARY 24, 2007
IS IT SPRING OR WINTER??
OK, is
it Spring or is it Winter? Some oak and citrus trees have blossoms
and a new growth of leaves, others don't! In a few areas East of
I-75 some of the citrus blossoms were damaged by frost a week or so
ago, others closer to the coast were fine. Around our home in
Parrish, we have some oak trees popping brand new leaves, but I
haven't seen the first blossom on any of our citrus trees. The only
reason I mention all of this is because in years past, these subtle
changes usually mean Spring, and better fishing days are ahead.
It's been an odd Winter that really never seemed to be Winter,
especially with the type of fishing we've experienced.
Through
out the winter, the bait situation has remained steady, the South
Skyway Pier area has been the main bait spot even on the coldest
days. Spanish mackeral have been feeding on the food source and as
I mentioned a few weeks ago, it would not surprise me a bit if
tarpon started to show up soon. This past weekend, on a trip to the
beach, I noticed pelicans diving on small baits, probably glass
minnows, in the Inter Coastal Waterway. Maybe another sign that we
could be over the Winter hump. I've also heard rumors of some
schooling redfish in the Joes' Bay area and around lower Tampa Bay,
but I have only seen undersized or just barely legal size redfish
over the past few weeks.
If
there are some schools around, they are very difficult to get close
to, due to the crystal clear waters in most areas. Also, a large
school can be spooked by just one fish that gets startled and races
off. Spotted sea trout acitivity has been fairly decent with some
larger fish being available. With the water temperature still in
the mid to low 60's, the fish have been staging in deeper water or
over dark bottom areas for comfort. Snook prefer water temperatures
a little warmer and will get more active when things warm up.
Sheepshead have perked up some and larger ones are being caught.
They will continue to get bigger and spawn during the full moon of
March and probably April.
I
mentioned the bait around the Skyway area and if you really need to
chase the bait, it's there. I'm sure the bait will produce some
fish, but I find it difficult to convince myself that the boat ride
out there, getting wet cast netting the bait and the ride back is
worth it, when you can buy some shrimp or use artificials and catch
the same fish and save fuel now that gas prices are going up again.
Let's hope that the worst of Winter is over and the fishing
continues to get better.
We will
experience cool fronts over the next month or so, but hopefully ones
that are not severe. One other thing, if you can't get out fishing,
check out Mote Marine in Sarasota, like my wife and
I did this past weekend with our 2 littlest Grandkids, Hanna and
Billy. We had a great day, and they really enjoyed it. If you've
never seen a snook or some of the fish I talk about in my reports,
you can see them there, and up close.
GOOD FISHIN, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS &
ANGLER'S REPAIR, Bradenton 941-776-1187
737-5672 or e-mail
tesmls@infionline.ner
HERE'S
MORE FISHING OPTIONS & NEWS FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS &
ANGLER'S REPAIR, Bradenton 941-766-1187 or 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
FEBRUARY 3, 2007
MORE
FISHING OPTIONS
Over the past
week or so, we have been experiencing some "Winterlike" conditions and I
believe that the cool spell should settle the fish down and get us into a
normal winter fishing pattern. So far this winter, water and air
temperatures have been fluxuating up and down, confusing the fish about
where they should be, up on the flats or in deeper warmer protected areas.
Snook, especially are effected by the cold and they must find a safe spot to
spend the winter. Also, snook are back in season
since Feb. 1st and now are fare game. Some of the old stories about snook
would mention that during the winter months, snook would head for the rivers
and deeper creeks inland to be safe and in some cases, that's true, but
snook that spend the warmer months on or near the beach, don't necessarily
do that. Thousands of snook will find safety in the canals and marinas
right there on the Barrier Islands.
Now that snook
are back in season, I don't mind targeting them in canals, although it's not
my favorite way to persue them, it can be very rewarding. Trying to
determine whether a canal will produce or not takes nothing more than a
little common sense. First observe what size boats are docked there. Are
they all smaller shallow water boats? If so there may not be enough depth
in the canal for snook to feel comfortable. If you look down a canal and
there's a few big boats tied up, it's a good bet that there's plenty of deep
water providing a safe haven for the winter. Another thing about the
bigger boats, they do have a tendency to dig out the bottom below the boat
with the prop wash, making the water deeper yet.
You really
don't need to fish these places "crack of dawn early"! Personally, I like
to start when the sun is just high enough to warm up a sea wall or certain
part of the canal. Alot of times, snook will take advantage of that to warm
up some and maybe get something to eat. Another thing I've noticed is that
some homeowners have sprinkler systems on a timer to go off 1st thing in the
morning. The warmer water saturates the grass and eventully runs off of the
sea wall into the canal, attracting the fish. In both situations, I've
actually cast a Grub or lure up onto the grass or seawall and let it fall
into the water, resulting in a hookup.
Over the years
I really haven't written alot about the Manatee River, but
when my family moved to Manatee County from St. Pete in the late 70's, I
actuallty, at least for the first few years, fished the area between
Redfish Point, just East of the Interstate, to Ft. Hamer and got to
know it pretty good. Development changed the shoreline some, but I can
remember being impressed by the depth of some holes and the quality of fish
that we were able to catch along that stretch of the river. I wrongly
assumed that the river would be shallow all the way up to the Reservoir,
only to be surprised to find some 18 to 20ft. deep holes scattered along the
river. The tanin stained water made it difficult to determine how deep the
water was, but with the aid of a depth finder, it was interesting to look
for and find these deep spots.
The point I am
trying to make is during these cold snaps, we may find this is where you are
going to find the fish, hunkered down in the deeper, warmer water. If you
think you may want to fish the area, you still will need a shallow draft
boat to get across the skinny water to reach the deep spots. The area is a
little better marked than in years gone by and there are alot of "Idle
Zones", but if you're not in a hurry, it's a nice ride. Ft. Hamer is the
dividing line between fresh and saltwater, so anywhere East of Fort
Hamer, you will need a freshwater fishing license. The deep holes
I've mentioned can surprise you with a variety of snook, redfish, trout,
tarpon and even bass, depending on how much rain we've had and how far the
fresh water has pushed out of the river. Because of the colder water, the
retrieve of your lure needs to be slower to let the fish react to your
bait. The colder the water temperature, the slower the retrieve.
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR.
941-776-1187 OR 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net ANGLER'S REPAIR HAS
MANY DROP OFF-PICKUP SPOTS. NEED INFO OR WANT TO GO FISHING, CALL ME!!!
HERE'S
THE LATEST FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR,
Bradenton
941-776-1187 & 737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
JANUARY
20, 2007
WARM
WINTER CONFUSES FISH
Here we are,
three weeks into the new year, having one of the warmest January's that I
can remember in a long time. Even though we've had a few cold fronts and
some cool spells, water temperatures have remained in the upper 60's to the
low 70's and had a tendency to confuse the fish. Glass minnows and white
bait can still be found around the area and anglers that feel the need to
catch bait are having some success for their efforts.
A few snook are
being caught, even though they are still Out of Season until Feb.
1st. Some spotted seatrout, redfish, flounder, Spanish mackeral
and I've even heard about bonita being caught in Tampa Bay
around the So. Skyway Pier, and that's where the whitebait can be found at
least for now. With us having such a mild winter so far, I would not be
surprised to see Tarpon start to show around the big bridges and piers to
take advantage of the food source there. Normally, our "bread and butter"
fishing would be targeting sheepshead, if redfish and trout would be hard to
find, but with the water temperatures being warmer, sheepshead action has
been a little slow. There are some being caught, but not in the numbers or
sizes that are usually available this time of the year.
Sheepshead are
a very tough durable fish that seem to thrive under cold, windy or otherwise
nasty conditions. Over the years, I've mentioned many times that during the
winter months most of our inshore fish tend to seek out structure that will
provide protection and a good place to find something to eat. The
structure, whether it's a dock or pier, an oyster bar or rock ledge, will
have barnacles, crustaceans, crab or even green mussels attached that create
a feeding station that holds the fish there. All of the above, along with
shrimp can be used for bait to fish under or around the sturcture to produce
fish. Artificial lures can also be effective and it can be very satisfying
to catch a fish that you've tricked into biting an artificial shrimp or grub
on a jig head.
Over the years
I've had fun in looking for, finding and using with success, combinations of
jig heads and soft plastics that produce results. Although it's not all
that new, a Berkley "Gulp", 3" shrimp in the white
or glow color on a 1/16th oz Bass Assin jig head
has been my latest sucess story. The Berkley Gulp
series of shrimp, crab and other baits are not really plastic, they're made
from 100% natural ingredients or at least that's what the bag says. The
lure is very soft and that's where the design of the jig head helps to
secure it on the hook. Behind the lead head, there is a short piece of wire
wrapped around the shank of the hook that I call a "Keeper". The way the
shrimp or lure is rigged is first the lure is threaded on the hook the way
you normally do. Once the lure is on the hook, you wrap or screw the body
onto the wire keeper until it snugs up to the back of the jig head. The
body of the lure is very soft and probably without the "wire keeper", it
would more than likely be lost after one bite. You still are going to go
through the baits, but this way you can usually catch a few fish on the same
one before it's gone.
The lure rigged
this way is cast up under a dock or into the target area and just let it
sit. The scent that is imbedded into the body should get their attention,
and if not, move the lure a little or shake it, to put alittle more scent
into the water. If nothing hits it, move on, there's nothing there.
It's nice to
enjoy the warmer weather, but for an overall benefit in the long run, it
would be better to get into a more normal weather pattern. Enjoy your
fishing,
CAPT
THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS AND ANGLER'S REPAIR. 776-1187 &
737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net GOT QUESTIONS OR
WANT TO GO FISHING, CALL OR E-MAIL ME. REMEMBER, ANGLER'S REPAIR HAS "DROP
OFF" SPOTS JUST FOR YOU.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR. 941-776-1187 OR 941-737-5672 e-mail tesmls&infionline.net
JANUARY
1, 2007
Welcome to the New Year! I hope Santa dropped off lots of new
goodies for each and every angler, to try out for 2007. Spotted Sea Trout
are NOW BACK IN SEASON since Jan. 1st. Over the
past few weeks, we've experienced some cooler periods and some hot and humid
times that had water temperatures fluctuating up and down. During the warm
stretches, before the season opened, some very nice larger trout were
available on the flats for "catch & release".
Snook have
remained very close to protective cover even though the warmer water
temperatures tempted them to move out to open water. Normally, this time of
the year, fish become more structure orientated and usually stay in a
protected area that also has a food source of some kind nearby. During the
winter months, that means crustaceans and other little bottom critters are
what they're feeding on, but with the water temperature being a bit warmer,
there still are glass minnows and other bait fish around to supply a meal
for a snook, trout or redfish.
Now that trout
season is open, I'll start checking stomach contents, like I've been doing
with redfish that I've cleaned over the past month to see what they've been
eating and either try to match the bait or at least something resembling in
color and size of what they're eating. Alot of the times, anglers don't
think about what time of year it is, the water temperature or the baits they
may be using and try to fish the same way and the same places all year
round.
You can't fish
in January and February, the same way you would in July and August and
expect to catch fish or at least the same species of fish. During the
warmer months, a nice be shiner or whitebait will most likely do the trick,
but in the Winter, it's a shrimp or crab that may trigger a bite. A slow
moving artificial, like a DOA Shrimp, Berkley Gulp Shrimp
or a Mister Twister RT Slug will also get alot of
attention.
The weatherman
seems to believe we are going to have a mild winter and so far it seems to
be. As I look back over the past year, I remember a good year for snook,
redfish, mackeral and a few tarpon. Even trout, that took a major hit from
redtide seem to be making progress and coming back. Here's hoping 2007
brings more of the same.
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS AND ANGLER'S REPAIR:
941-776-1187 & 737-5672, OR E-MAIL ME AT:
tesmls@infionline.net
ANGLER'S REPAIR HAS A "DROP-OFF" SPOT LOCATED NEAR YOU. CALL: 776-1187 OR
737-5672 FOR LOCATIONS.
FROM:
CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR, Bradenton,
Fl 941-776-1187 &
776-1187 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE ANGLER
DEC.
16, 2006
With just a few
shopping days left until Christmas, I'd like to pass on a few gift ideas
that may be helpful for the angler or anglers in the family. Every year I
look for something that is brand new and different. Again this year, there
are alot of great gifts available on the market, but usually something
that's been around for while with some small change. One thing that I've
mentioned before is a Line Winding Station. This machine
will strip the old line off of your spools and wind new line on. It's a
smaller version of the commercial line winders that tackle shops use. It
makes replacing your line quick and easy without the line twist that alot of
people get when they do it by hand. Berkley has a nice little unit for
about $26.00. Berkley also has a nice Marker Bouy that
sits high in the water and also reels up the line for about $11.00.
Rods
and reels can come in two piece combos or individual rods and reels
costing from $40.00 on up, so if you have that in mind as a gift, be sure
what type fishing they intend to use it for, before buying. For someone
that wants a personalized fishing rod built, just for them, a Custom
Rod is the way to go. A custom rod builder can build a rod
with the length, action and thread color that suits your needs. Some rod
builders can do fancy artwork, weaving fish, maltese crosses and Eagles into
the wraps. Also, your name or boat name can make the rod even more
personal.
Over the years,
I've developed an appreciation for artwork, especially
paintings, sculptures and wood carvings that interest me. Being in the line
of work I'm in, it's paintings with fishing scenes, fish and boats that I
enjoy. The carvings that I have were done by Frank Gabriel of Appolo
Beach. The ones I have are full size replicates or snook and redfish that
alot of people have a difficult time believing they're carved from wood.
Harvey Guant is a local artist that does excellent work on
everything from fish prints, T-shirts, tiles to custom picture frames. Till
the end of December, you can view Harvey's work at the "Arts Council of
Manatee County", located at 926 12th St. W. in Bradenton, or call him
at 941-729-4523.
Florida
Sportsman Magazine puts out a line of books that are very helpful
and I'll mention 4 that I have. "The Fishing Planner",
gives you a full year of tide, moon phases and solar lunar tables for all of
Florida. Also, alot of useful information about a variety of things.
"Sportsfish of Florida" and "Sportsfish of the Gulf
of Mexico" are two fish identification books that are illustrated
by Kevin Braut. The pictures are in color and right on the money. Each
fish is described with its scientific name, other names for the fish and
information about the fish, such as size, food value, game qualities, tackle
and bait to use and also areas where the fish can be found are included.
"Bait, Rigs and Tackle" covers more knots than you will
ever need to know, from "how to tie a "Bimini Twist" to how to hook a shrimp
and other live baits. Personally, I think all of these books are necessary
to have.
"How To" books
and videos on fly fishing, fly tying, cast netting, cast net repair,
cleaning fish and books on antique rods, reels, and lures are also great
ideas. Popular stocking stuffers range from filet knives, sharpening
stones, jigheads, hooks, pliers, sissors (that cut braided line), and charts
are all excellent.
If none of
these ideas appeal to you, check with a local tackle shop for help. They
have knowledgeable people that fish and can give you first hand
information. Gift certificates always work and all of the tackle shops have
them. Fishing Guides also have gift certificates available
and its good to secure a fishing trip for a prime time period for the
upcoming year. If it's a major gift you're looking for, the Power
Pole, a shallowwater anchor is a great gift for the inshore
fisherman. It is a little pricey, but a great gift. There is also
electronics like a handheld GPS or VFH radio. They are excellent and
reasonably priced gifts for the angler.
I hope some of
these suggestions help. If you have any questions or want more information,
you can call me at: 941-737-5672 or 776-1187. If you're looking for
a Charter, give me a call also. If you need info for Rod & reel repair
stops, give me a call. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
CAPT
THOM SMITH & MARTI SMITH FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR
941-776-1187 & 737-5672
HERE'S
THE LATEST FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR,
Bradenton 941-776-1187 cell 941-737-5672 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
DECEMBER 3, 2006
LOW
TIDES SHOW LOTS OF SECRETS
Over the past
few weeks, we've experienced our first real cold front this fall. The
cooler air temperatures and windy conditions cooled the water temperature
down to the low or mid 60's depending on how deep the water was and what
type of bottom you were on. The sandy or rock bottom areas tend to be
lighter in color and don't heat up like a darker mud bottom would. Over the
years, I've talked to people that try to avoid the extremely low negative
tides that normally happen during the new and full moon periods. Their
reasoning is on the low tides, there's more of a chance of running aground
or just hitting bottom.
That may be
true, but I tend to look at it differently. In our areas we do have some
hard bottom or rock areas that could damage your prop or lower unit, but I
would say that at least 90 to 95 percent of the area is either sand or soft
mud, so even if you did run aground you wouldn't damage your engine. A rule
of thumb here is , if your not sure of what might lie ahead, slow down, idle
and take your time as you motor around. A low tide can reveal alot of
secrets about the bottom that you may have never known before, even if you
fish there regularly.
Over the years,
I've found pot holes, grass lines old boats, concrete blocks, and even an
engine block that were never visable on a higher tide. The blocks and
engine were obviously put there by someone trying to create their own
artificial reef, (which is illegal, by the way). I would suggest you jot
down some notes as a reminder of what you observe and take advantage of the
information the next time you fish the area or during the warmer months.
Two weeks ago,
we had a new moon period and we fished on a negative .4 tide. There was
alot of extra real estate showing. The extremely low water served two
purposes. It eliminated alot of places the fish couldn't be and it
condensed them into deeper holes and edges where they staged up until the
water started moving back in. During the winter months, some of the fish
like snook, may have already moved to deeper, safer spots where they will
probably spend the next few months. Redfish, flounder, sheepshead and
spotted seatrout can handle the cooler water temperatures and can still be
caught on the flats.
Just a
reminder, seatrout are Out of Season until the 1st of January and
snook season closes the 15th of December until February 1st. With
the full moon falling on Monday, Dec. 4th, we will experience some extremely
low AM tides for the whole week, so if you're interested in taking a look at
what I've been writing about, this week would be a good time, or wait
another two weeks for the new moon period when we will have simular tides.
The whitebait
are slowly fading away from the grass flats and the Skyway Piers so far are
still holding bait. The trip out there could be a waste of time, because
alot of anglers are reporting that shrimp are quickly becomming the bait of
choice. Greg and Diane Brune, of Lakewood Ranch caught and
released a Grand Slam, snook, trout and redfish using live shrimp, fishing
in Terra Ceia Bay. In my next article, I'll try to concentrate on gift ideas
for the anglers in the family.
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS AND ANGLER'S REPAIR.
776-1187, 795-6711 OR 737-5672. ANGLER'S REPAIR HAS CLOSED THE LOCATION ON
CORTEZ, BUT HAS SEVERAL DROPOFF/PICKUP SPOTS. GIVE ME A CALL. REMEMBER A
GUIDED FISHING TRIP MAKES A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT.
HERE'S
SOME INFORMATION FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF: ANGLER'S REPAIR & FLATS LADY
CHARTERS. 776-1187 OR 737-5672 (cell) # e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
SALTWATER FISHING AT ITS BEST. BRADENTON, FLORIDA AND THE MANATEE COUNTY AREA.
BY: CAPT. THOM SMITH of “ FLATS LADY CHARTERS” & “ANGLER’S REPAIR” Tel: 941-776-1187 OR (cell #) 737-5672 e-mail tesmls@infionline.net
The Manatee county area has so much to offer anyone interested in fishing, or just the beauty of the area. It holds everything from The South Sunshine Skyway fishing pier, to the quiet back country where the scenery and wildlife is just as interesting as the fish that swim the waters. You can fish from the pier itself or the waters around it, and hook everything from grouper, sheephead, mangrove snapper, mackeral, kingfish, and even permit & pompano. If this isn’t what you are looking for, then head for the backcountry. Here, you will find snook, redfish, trout, flounder, and even possibly a tarpon or two. The “Backcountry”, from Joe’s Bay, Bishop Harbor, Miguel Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, and the Manatee River hold just about any species you are looking for.
These areas also hold bait, (whitebait), if you choose to use these small fish, or you can stop at any of the many bait shops and Marinas, in and around Palmetto and Bradenton to get shrimp, or your choice of bait. Whitebait availability does depend on water temperatures and during the winter months, they tend to disappear. Artificials are also very good, and many Anglers choose to use them. Mister Twister RT Slugs, DOA Shrimp, The DOA Deadly Combo and Gold Spoons are always a good choice. If you choose to use whitebait, mix your “chum”, to entice the little critters close to the boat, throw your net, and fill your bait wells. Then--- head for the fishing.
Terra Ceia Bay holds many areas around the mangroves where you can catch a redfish, snook, or just enjoy the scenery. It is not uncommon to see a beautiful pink Rosiet Spoonbill, or many of our other Florida birds. Terra Ceia Bay holds its own bird sanctuary, called Bird Key, where you can just sit in your boat, and watch the birds, if the fishing is slow. In the “cut” from Terra Ceia Bay to the Manatee River, it is not uncommon to see a Manatee family or two, swimming around. Of course the beauty of the mangroves themselves is something to see. Up to the East of the skyway, you will find Joe’s Bay, Bishop Harbor, and Port Manatee. These areas are dotted with oyster bars, and deep edges next to the mangroves, that will supply you with snook and redfish along with many other species.
If you’re looking for the Big grouper, kings, cobia, etc. head west from the beaches of Manatee & Sarasota county to the 1 mile, 3 mile, or 7 mile Reefs. These reefs hold the big fish, and will supply you with a great place to Scuba Dive also. If it is trolling for “Kings” that is your choice, head for Egmont Channel, put a “spoon” on, or your choice of “live bait”, and get ready. It is not always that the “Kings” are running, so this is something that may not always be a choice, but when it is time, it is a great experience. During certain months, you can also catch Tarpon in the areas off the beaches, or go North to Terra Ceia Bay, or around the Skyway Bridge.
If you head south from this area, down the Innercoastal Waterway, you will find many fishing spots as well as Marinas and “on the water” Restaurants all along the way to Sarasota Bay.
THE FISHING IS GREAT, SO JUST PICK AN AREA AND - LET’S GO FISHING. REMEMBER FISHING CHARTERS ARE A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT.
HERE'S
SOME GOOD NEWS & HINTS FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS &
ANGLER'S REPAIR, Bradenton 941-795-6711 & 776-1187 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
OCTOBER
15, 2006
WATER
TEMPERATURES & TIDES ARE IMPORTANT
I have never
been a big fan of cool or cold weather for extended periods of time, but I
do have to admit that the cool mornings we've experienced the past few weeks
have been a nice change from the heat. Water temperatures continue to drop
and the Gulf water temperature is around the 80 degree mark. The flats do
warm up to the middle 80's during the heat of the day. In my view, some of
the most important factors for fishing sucess are tides and water
temperature. As I've mentioned before, the tide to me is like a conveyor
belt with food on it. It doesn't seem to matter weather it is incoming or
out going, the water movement carrys bait, crabs, shrimp and other morsels
that a preditor will feed on.
When the tide
is slack, the fish may still feed, but when the water starts to move, that's
when the dinner bell rings. Water temperature provides a comfort zone for
fish and depending how hot or cold the water may be can clue you into where
the fish may be, especially snook, trout and
redfish. During the hot summer months, they will drop into the
deeper water to stay cool and in the winter, it's the same but for different
reasons. They move to the deeper water to stay warm!
As the Gulf
cools down, the kingfish will be forced south from the Pan Handle, following
the bait schools and the warmer water as they migrate south to the Keys. We
have had some reports of Kings being caught off of our coast, but for the
most part, seem to be "school size" fish in the 10-12lb class. Last week,
Spanish mackeral were being caught back in Terra Ceia Bay in an area that we
don't normally expect to find them. The lack of rain, the high salinity and
large schools of glass minnows throughout the Bay, seem to be the
attraction. Redfish seem to be providing the most action. The reds are in
some larger schools and smaller groups scattered throughout the area.
Deeper mangrove shorelines and oyster bars would be good places to
concentrate on.
Snook,
especially the smaller fish are abundant with a few keepers available. Sea
trout have made a nice comeback after all the problems they experienced last
year with the redtide. The area from the Bulkhead north to
Port Manatee seems to produce better than Sarasota Bay.
Flounder fishing has improved over the past few weeks for anglers targeting
the pot holes on the flats around oyster bars and on hard bottom areas.
Although I haven't observed many sheepshead in the areas that I fish,
friends have told me that in certain areas, they are seeing alot staging
around canals and docks, so it looks like it could be a banner year for
sheepies.
The bait
situation is still excellent, but as we cool down, expect to see the
whitebait, threadfins and pinfish to thin out. Stone Crab
Season is open now and if all the blue crabs around are any
indication, it should be a good stone crab season, as well. The blue crab
population and the amount of big shrimp that were around earlier this year
were the only two positive things to happen as a result of the red tide.
(Pictured is Virl, with a nice snook).
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR.
795-6711 & 776-1187 E-MAIL ME AT
tesmls@infionline.net LET'S GO
FISHING, THE TIME IS HERE!!!
HERE IS
SOME FISHING NEWS FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S
REPAIR, Bradenton 941-795-6711 & 776-1187 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
OCTOBER
1, 2006
FISHING
WITH BRAIDED LINE
In my shop,
Angler's Repair and during the seminars that I do, I am often asked if I
prefer monofilament line or braided line. I must admit that I was hard to
convince that the new lines are better. Maybe it was something about "old
dogs and new tricks" that made me a hard sell. Having a rod & reel repair
shop, and seeing the problems caused from the stronger, no stretch and
abrasive braided lines, when they first came out, had me believing it would
not last. Some of the first generations of lines would actually cut into the
ceramic guides on your fishing rods. Some anglers that were use to a hard
hook set, were snapping graphite rods while hooking a fish. Gears and drags
on some reels were taking a beating because of strength and the "no stretch"
features of the lines.
Over the years,
some major improvements have been made by the line manufacturers and now I
rearly use "mono". When I do, it almost feels like fishing with a rubber
band because of the stretch. These days, it seems just about all of the line
manufactures have their own line of braid. Three of the most popular are
Spiderwire, Berkley Fireline, and
Spectra Power Pro. All of the braided lines are smaller in
diameter and much stronger than Mono. For instance, Power Pro can be the
diameter of 2lb. mono and 10lb test, or 6lb diameter and 20lb test. The
sensitivity is amazing with live bait. You can feel the live bait moving or
getting nervous when it is being checked out by a preditor.
One drawback,
is that knots may become a problem due to the shape of the line. With the
naked eye, they may all look round. Some may be, but by looking at the line
magnified, it may show they are flat or triangler shape. This could cause a
problem with the knot system you may be using. Sometimes a change in knots
is required to make sure they don't slip. While Inshore fishing, I usually
tie a braided line to a fluorocarbon leader line, using a double Uni-knot
or Surgeons knot with an extra wrap. Both of these knots
are strong and easy to tie. If you have any question about knots, I suggest
you pick up a copy of Vic Dunaway's book,"Baits, Rigs & Tackle".
It is a great book and most tackle and marine stores carry it.
Local tackle
shops also carry the braided line in small 100 yd. filler spools to larger
spools if you have several reels to fill. You don't need to fill the whole
spool with the line. Use the old line for filler or backing and put
100-125yds of the braid on the spool. Do not tie the line directly to the
spool without some sort of backing. If you do tie it to the spool, be sure
to put a spot of super glue on the end of the line to secure it to the
spool. If you don't, there is a good chance that the whole ball of line
will slip on the spool and your drag will be useless. Some other benefits
of this type of line are, you get very little twist in the line if you reel
against the drag, also, you get none of the memory or coiled line that you
get with mono when it has been on a spool too long. Its toughness is hard
to beat when fishing heavy structure and situations where mono would be
"sliced & diced".
I do need to
mention some of the drawbacks to the line. The main one I see is, you have
to pay attention to your line. If you get a loop on the spool, it can
develop into a knot that you can't pick out, forcing you to cut the line.
What I have found is, instead of the thinner diameter, I have gone to 6lb
diameter and 20lb test to eliminate alot of those problems. The other
drawback I see is not so much with the line, but with graphite rods.
Graphite is strong, but also brittle. There is no need for a violent hookset.
A violent hookset usually results in a violent reaction from the fish and
sometimes a lost fish. If hooks are sharp, a twitch of a rodtip will result
in a hookup. Over the years, many innovations have come along, and I believe
the "Braided Line" is one of the best.
The schooling
redfish are here and trout are perking up, snook have been alittle slow, but
by all indications, the next few months should be great for
fishing. (Pictures is Grayson Carlton with a nice trout).
GOOD
FISHING, CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S REPAIR.
941-795-6711 & 776-1187 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net GIVE ME A CALL TO GO
FISHING OR ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
HERE'S
SOME FISHING NEWS FROM CAPT. THOM SMITH OF FLATS LADY CHARTERS & ANGLER'S
REPAIR, Bradenton, Fl 941-795-6711 & 776-1187 e-mail
tesmls@infionline.net
SEPT.
10, 2006
FISHING WITH NATURES PROBLEMS
As much as it
pains me to talk about the redtide situation, it is a fact of life that
there has been a redtide problem off of our beaches for a few weeks now.
Another fact is that it's not nearly as bad as it was last year! This past
week, we've had thunder storms building in the Gulf and moving ashore
pushing the redtide onto the beach. Also, the full moon and the higher
tides pushing more water has added to the problem. A change of wind
direction to our normal weather pattern of storms, building inland and
moving to the West should push the redtide off the beach into the Gulf. So
far, this situation is not nearly as bad as last year and as I found out
last year, there are still alot of places that have not been effected,
especially in the back country.
I have two
times of the year that are my favorites for fishing. Springtime, when
everythins seems to be brand new and everything seems to come alive. The
water is clean and clear, sea grasses perk up and turn green and the fish
move out of their winter haunts, looking for something to eat. The other is
Fall or late summer. Right now, water temperatures are cooling down due
partially to all of the rain we've had and July and August are behind us.
September, October and usually November are great fishing months. Redfish
are schooling, snook are now in season, trout seem to be picking up and
there is lots of bait as a food source for them to feed on.
As I've
mentioned in the past, during these months, I really prefer to get out and
away from the boat, especially on the very low tides and work the pot holes
or sand holes where the fish tend to drop into until the tide flows in again
and they can fan out and roam the flats. Over the years, this has been a
very sucessful technique for me to use. The lower water not only condenses
the fish, it also keeps boaters from running over your fishing holes.
Sometimes it can be pretty amazing what you can find in these pot holes.
The most consistent fish you catch are snook, trout and redfish, but I've
also caught flounder, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, bluefish, Spanish
mackeral, small blacktip sharks and I've jumped a tarpon!
Live bait,
whitebait, pinfish or shrimp will all work. Artificials are what I like to
use. The Mister Twister RT Slubs in the "Baby
Bass, Mangrove Red or Golden Bream" are good colors or the
DOA Glow Shrimp or even the DOA, Deadly Combo
will produce fish. When you wade into a spot, be sure to shuffle your feet
or do the "stingray shuffle" just in case and approach your target area with
the wind at your back, so as you're not casting into the wind. Keep your
distance from the spot and slowly and thoroughly work every nook and cranny
of the sand hole.
Right now in
the Bay, the bait situation is very good with large bait schools roaming the
Bay and the flats and the Skyway Piers are loaded. Smaller Spanish mackeral
are feeding on the bait schools and just about any structure, rockpile or
ledge should have plenty of mangrove snapper on it. As I've
mentioned, snook are back in season, but there is a new size limit you need
to be aware of for "Keeper Snook". Now they have to be at least 27inches
to 34 inches.
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