Saturday, March 13. 2010
This week has brought reports from way down south all the way north redfish, trout and snook are on the move. We have had several reports of large schools of redfish are here. There are schools numbering up to 500 individuals per school in the bay area. The trout are everywhere and the snook are poking their heads out. Looks like things are back to normal and from the reports the catching is phenomenal.
Mike and I spent this week over in Stuart, Florida with Captain, inventor/mad scientist Mark Nichols of D.O.A. Lures. On Tuesday we went out with Capt. Jim Ross looking for cobia on the Manta Rays. People I had never seen a Manta up close but the look like a nuclear sub just under the surface. The biggest one we saw had to be pushing three thousand pounds, yes three zero zero zero pounds and as big as my F-250 Truck. We saw a few small cobia but no takers. The next day we were with the man himself, Mark Nichols. The task was to shoot three shows in one day. The most we had ever done was two and it wasn’t easy. In the first hour we had the first show done with tons of pompano and jacks. Then just a short 300 yard boat ride for show number two. In just two hours we had plenty of good size by Florida standards, bluefish, redfish to 25” 6 of them, and 4 just under sized snook. Next a two mile boat ride and show number three. One this one trout was the target and I must say Capt Mike and Jerry put on a clinic just spanking Mark and I. In just over an hour done with a bakers dozen of trout in the 18-20” range. Not the ten pounder we were looking for but with a 25 knot wind not too shabby, not too shabby at all. Bear in mind that all of the fish that were caught were all on D.O.A. products from just the pinch weight for the pompano, C.A.L.’s for the reds and snook, and even the world famous original D.O.A. shrimp for the trout. What a day and all I want to do is say thank you again Mark Nichols for another wonderful day on the water.
Be sure to catch us on Saturday mornings on The Reel Animals Fishing Show at 6:30 am on NBC Channel 8, Reel Animal Saturdays with Captain Mike from 6-9 am on 970 AM and Sunday’s from 7-9am on 620 AM WDAE for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and call in a give your reports and questions. Until next week do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’.
Saturday, March 6. 2010
This past week has been anything but fishy! High winds, rain and cold temps lead to very poor fishing conditions although some die hards are claiming to have done fairly well at the power plant out flows. Cobia, Black tip sharks, Lady fish and Trout were caught by those crazy enough to go. For those of us who chose to get our chores done it looks like relief is on the way. There is a warm up in the forecast and just in time. They are calling for an entire week of weather in the 70’s which could really turn things loose. The big Trout will get very active 3 to 4 feet of water. They have eaten the minimum for survival for months now and should really come alive with a warm up. The Redfish schools that poured in on this past moon phase should also start to get acclimated to the shallows and start more of a normal feeding pattern.
There is also some great opportunities to catch some big Sheepshead as they also seemed to pour onto the flats with this past moon. Again some slightly warmer water temps will get these guys to fire off as well. A shrimp on a #1 hook with a small split shot about 15 inches up the leader will work great for these fish.
A warming trend should also drive some of our bait back to the bridges and piers and out of deep water. With more bait moving around the bay things will get right and we can put this crazy winter behind us for good!
Catch Capt. Michael Anderson and Capt. Billy Nobles every Saturday morning on News CH8 at 6:30am and on AM970 for Reel Animals Saturday from 6:00am to 9:00am and Sunday mornings on AM620 for the TA Mahoney Co. Reel Animals Radio Show from 7am to 9am or to book a trip call 1-866-Gamefish.
Sunday, February 28. 2010
The first of the week started out with promises of a good week. Highs in the low 80’s upper 70’s you know the way life is supposed to be here in Florida. I had some people scheduled for a trip on Monday but  thunderstorms were in the forecast so we moved our trip to Tuesday. The plan was to meet at 7am grab some bait and head out offshore. The bait was a little tough to say the least but we finally got enough and headed out offshore around 10am. The winds were supposed to be out of the east coming NW by late afternoon. Don’t you know it as soon as we rounded the lighthouse, NW winds.
I remember back a long time ago an old commercial fisherman told me, “Son when ever you are in the gulf in winter and the wind switches NW, head home it’s gonna get bad.” We’ll we ran out a little anyway and it did get a little snotty to say the least. We hooked a few big fish and were unable to turn them. With conditions worsening we changed gears headed in our destination was O’Niell’s Marina to grab some shrimp. After gearing up for some light inshore action we looked for the large schools of drum that invaded the bay about 2 months ago but couldn’t find them, next let’s hit some trout. I had purchased 8 dozen shrimp and had two anglers using the Berkley Gulp Shrimp and two using live shrimp. In about an hour and a half we burnt through all our bait and had a limit of trout, speckled that is. The trout I had been catching were small on Tuesday we caught two small ones around 10-12 inches the rest were anywhere between 16 and 22 inches, and the action was non stop.
Talking with other Captains, the off shore is on fire when you can get there. The trout, black drum, and redfish are in the bay in abundance, just as we have another week of cold scheduled. The key is to pick your day. When conditions are right, the bite has never been stronger.
Be sure to catch us on TV Saturday mornings for The Reel Animals Fishing Show @ 6:30am on Channel 8 and listen to Captain Mike on 970 AM from 6-9am on Reel Animals Saturday’s with Captain Mike and Sunday’s 620 AM from 7-9AM for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and call in and give us your reports to win some cool fish gear. To book your trip visit www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com and until next week, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’.”
Friday, February 19. 2010
The Low tides of last week and the negative low tides of next week will offer some great opportunities for those who like to wade fish. Redfish and Trout will be bunched up in the deeper troughs inside the bars of Cockroach Bay, Joe Bay, Terra Ceia, Miguel Bay and around the Fort DeSoto and Weedon Island areas. The 4th street area will also be worth a look. The areas of dark mud bottom usually will hold the most fish as these areas will heat up the fastest. I recommend a good pair of neoprene waders as water temps are still well below normal. I find the best bite on 5 inch Berkley Gulp Jerk Shad rigged weedless on a 5/0 Gamakatsu worm hook. This will help you deal with the seagrass on the low water. New Penny and white are the 2 colors I can’t live with out. Topwater plugs will also work well as small mullet are often there food of choice this time of year. This could be the best technique for catching your Trout of a lifetime. Most of the big Trout have been held up in this skinny water. If getting out of the boat is not your idea of a good time, there will be plenty of fish on edges as well. Trout and Ladyfish have been plentiful with 50 to 100 fish days the norm. Again, the bigger Trout have been held up skinny so as the tide rises, follow it up onto the flat and work the deeper pot holes. This could also produce some nice Flounder as the bite for them picks up this time of year as well. Catch Capt. Michael Anderson and Capt. Billy Nobles every Saturday morning on News CH8 at 6:30am and on AM970 for Reel Animals Saturday from 6:00am to 9:00am and Sunday mornings on AM620 for the TA Mahoney Co. Reel Animals Radio Show from 7am to 9am or to book a trip call 1-866-Gamefis
Saturday, February 13. 2010
You are not going to believe it. The fishing this week has been absolutely on fire, record setting, world class, catchin’. I have never landed so many walleye and salmon in Tampa Bay its unreal. Had ya going didn’t I? To be honest I haven’t been on the water all week. We were supposed to run but with the fronts, wind and rain we cancelled. It’s better to live to fight another day. Mike and I did make it to south Florida and went to the Miami International Boat Show to see some old friends and meet some new ones. Any one who has never made the trek to that show, if you love boating, fishing, or just the water lifestyle you gotta go.
As I stated earlier I haven’t been on the water so let’s talk about what’s on the horizon for us. Spring, what a wonderful time and word, is just around the corner. As the water temps will rise look for snook to come out from the deep holes and springs in our river systems to their regular haunts. Schools of redfish are already moving in but take your time. It seems that once the reds are here it takes them a few weeks to settle down if you will and get comfortable with their new home.
Tarpon, Tarpon, Tarpon, my favorite time of year. Look for schools of Silver Kings to start migrating to their traditional breeding grounds and just before the tarpon get here. PERMIT, did I mention we love permit. A lot of people don’t realize how many permit we have and what a great game fish they are. Capable of making screaming runs to 300 yards on light tackle. All I can say is WOW! I you like what I have described just hang in there. It’s right around the corner, it won’t be long, I promise.
On a different note, Dennis O’Hern, is leading the charge for our rights to fish. They are heading to Washington, D.C. to fight the grouper and snapper closures. Please go to their site all you have to do is go to www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com and on the right hand side of the page you will see a tab (Join FRA) Click on that and check it out for yourself. Folks this is the pit-bull in your fight for your right to fish and for your kids to fish. Please support them as we do.
Check us out on Saturday mornings @ 6:30 on WFLA News Channel 8 and call in Sunday’s from 7-9 to WDAE 620 for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and your chance to win some cool stuff. Call us at 1-866-GAMEFISH to book your trip of a lifetime and until next week, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’.”
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