I wish that I could tell you that we slayed them this week but all of you would know that I’d be lying but there were reports of huge schools of redfish on Progress Village Drive. Wow what rain but we needed it. That being said, I spoke with Captain Tommy LaOrange who reported last week while grouper and snapper fishing left out his flat line while changing locations when all of a sudden he hears the drag scream. He didn’t realize the line was still out they reeled it in and there was a 17 pound Mahi or dolphin fish so he re-rigged started trolling again and bam a 22 pounder and they were only 20 miles off Clearwater Beach. As I’ve been telling you the near shore wrecks are loaded with all the snappers, grouper, scamp, kingfish, cobia, and permit just to name a few. The only thing is you need to be ready for anything, as anything can happen. For instance a few years ago Captain Larry McQuire of Cortez just 26 miles off Bradenton Beach hooked up with a 350 pound Blue Marlin and was able to do so because of having the proper tackle and being quick on his feet and hooking up the fish when the opportunity presented itself.
We just got back from Boca Grande and I have to say we caught more fish this year than I have in the past 10 but the fish were acting weird you could not really pattern them what worked one day may not work the next you just had to figure it out on a day by day basis and there was no rhyme or reason to it.
In the bay snook are spawning so remember to treat momma with care, but it’s OK to give her a little exercise. The mangrove snapper bite should be on absolute fire as well as the juvenile tarpon. On the beaches tarpon remain king. While snook fishing off the beach in Anna Maria Gary Caccippo hooked a tarpon on a green back on his snook outfit. Needless to say he had to go home for more line. Boy that had to be a hoot.
Be sure to tune in Saturday Mornings at 6:30 am and Sunday’s at 11 am for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and call in Sunday’s from 8-10 with your reports to ESPN Radio 1040 AM to win some cool stuff. Please visit us on the web @
www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com or call 866-GAMEFISH to book your dream trip and until next time “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’”.
