Let me start by saying I’m sorry. The family and myself have just gotten back from Vail, CO and Eastern North Carolina for Christmas and I swear I didn’t mean to let the cold follow me home but it seems that it did and for that I am sorry.
I fished Mitch Reinhardt and family along with Captain Mike on Wednesday. For me bait was tough for Mike not so much. He whacked it in a couple of throws me about 400. Our first stop we caught a bunch of trout and they were all fat. This spot also yielded snook and redfish so with the frigid weather we did OK. After a few boats motored through the spot things slowed but that’s OK we had already landed over 50 fish between us. After that the day seemed slow to say the least I noticed the pelicans were roosting in the trees, not a good sign. It’s kinda like grandpa telling you if you see the cows lying down in the pasture go home the fish aint’ a bitin’. Mike fished on New Year’s Eve with Mike Smith, goalie for the Lighting, and his family pitching artificals. Captain Mike told me they caught trout, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel on a half day trip. Not to shabby there pal.
The grouper bite is still on fire offshore. Grouper is closed from North Carolina around to Monroe County Florida and will close here February and March. I don’t see the need for this as our stocks are doing just fine and well according to commercial fishermen and charter captains alike. Visit FRA.org to see what’s happening as far as unjust closures and the like.
New Year’s Day marks the beginning of Speckled Trout season for the southern zone and it seems that we will be experiencing a banner year. Just remember to limit your catch and not catch your limit.
Please check Captain Mike and myself out on Saturday’s from 6:30-7AM and Sunday’s at 11AM for The Reel Animal’s Fishing Show on Channel 8 WFLA, and call in on Sunday’s from 7-9 in the morning to 620 WDAE The Sports Animal to win some cool fish stuff for sharing your stories and questions. Until next time, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’.”
