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| Fishing Area: Southeast Florida | |||||
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 05-20-2013 | |
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Great weekend of fishing on the Cutting Edge!! The white brothers fished Saturday and caught 2 sails, 25 mahi 3 kings and a big blackfin. Sunday; Gary Lawson and the famed BOAT CENTER crew did it again with 12 mahi, 4 wahoo, a big black fin, and 5 sailfish. We all had a great time!!! 305-361-9740 FISH NOW FL1 info@cuttingedgefishing.com www.CuttingEdgeFishing.com | www.MiamiCharterFishing.com |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 05-20-2013 | |
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On the Cutting Edge... 25 dolphin 2 sails 3 kings 1 black fin 20 bonito... Not a bad day!!! 305-361-9740 FISH NOW FL1 info@cuttingedgefishing.com www.CuttingEdgeFishing.com | www.MiamiCharterFishing.com |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 05-18-2013 | |
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Fishing on the Cutting edge has been great. Our morning trips have been active, we've found a few good schools of 10 pounders, our parties have done a great job catching 18 fish averaging 8 pounds each with 3 fish going 15 plus. Tight lines. Call now to book your trip. www.cuttingedgefishing.com - www.miamicharterfishing.com |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 05-09-2013 | |
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Kitt Toomey finished off his royal billfish slam on the Cutting Edge today catching his final billfish the elusive Swordfish, with Capt Q, RJ, and Cap and Billy Hinckley! Great job Kitt! |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 04-27-2013 | |
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Today the sailfish slowed down but the Mahi showed up. This morning we saw only one sailfish and he did not eat. But we did get some kings and unlimited bonito . In the afternoon we ran off shore and found a hawk on the water and got a nice haul of Mahi, one tipping the scale at 42 lbs. The 20 schoolies weed all around 4 lbs. We will be out in the morning and will attempt to find more Mahi . Tight lines everyone! |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 04-27-2013 | |
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Today the sailfish slowed down but the Mahi showed up. This morning we saw only one sailfish and he did not eat. But we did get some kings and unlimited bonito . In the afternoon we ran off shore and found a hawk on the water and got a nice haul of Mahi, one tipping the scale at 42 lbs. The 20 schoolies weed all around 4 lbs. We will be out in the morning and will attempt to find more Mahi . Tight lines everyone! |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 04-23-2013 | |
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The fishing was good Again today on the Cutting Edge. With the final results as follows 2 out of 3 sailfish, a 300 lb hammerhead, a couple dolphin, a black fin tuna and tons of action from bonito. Call to book your charter now! For pictures go to https://www.facebook.com/cutting.edgefishing?ref=tn_tnmn |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 04-22-2013 | |
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Capt. Bob Lewis Kids Challenge on the Cutting Edge 10 year old Juan D and his friend Daniel,fished their first tournament Saturday on the cutting edge and did great. They took third place in there division, largest dolphin, and second largest tuna. Great job guys! Capt Q and Mike Lawson were crew |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 04-16-2013 | |
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Fishing today off Miami fl continued to be excellent. We had the best sailfish action of the year last week. Today we had 4 sailfish and a few Maui and a couple amberjack to mix it up . Fishing should continue excellent so give me a call Capt Q 305-361-9740 FISH NOW FL1 info@cuttingedgefishing.com www.CuttingEdgeFishing.com | www.MiamiCharterFishing.com |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 04-12-2013 | |
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Fishing continues excellent on the Cutting Edge off Miami fl. Yesterday's catch included 3 for 4 on sailfish, 12 Mahi , 2 nice kingfish and a bunch of bonito. The action should continue over the weekend. Call me now and let's do this. Tight lines Capt Q 305-361-9740 FISH NOW FL1 info@cuttingedgefishing.com www.CuttingEdgeFishing.com | www.MiamiCharterFishing.com |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 04-08-2013 | |
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Miami Fishing on the Cutting Edge was again very good over the weekend. We did target species on each trip; sailfish (there was no problem catching one). Along with sailfish, some Mahi, kingfish and amberjack are showing up. We expect the bigger black fin tuna to start showing up in numbers soon. Give us a call and experience some great fishing aboard the Cutting Edge. 305-361-9740 FISH NOW FL1 info@cuttingedgefishing.com www.CuttingEdgeFishing.com | www.MiamiCharterFishing.com |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 03-31-2013 | |
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Nice dolphin and cobia on the Cutting Edge. Capt. Q ‘s Saturday report With the winds at 12 out of the NE and north current you had to know it was going to be good. Started off with some nice schools of Maui, all on the edge and out to 200 ft. We caught one 42 and 20 schoolies all averaging 5 to 10 lbs. We also caught 2 cobia, one tipped the scale at 46 lbs. the other 30 lbs.We caught 2 out of 5 sailfish. We had a 600 lb mako eat a sailfish right under the boat, that was the coolest thing ever. We had a pack of three blues swim up behind the boat but none would eat. One I estimated at 300. Overall one of the best days in a while. Our mate today was mike Lawson. Capt Q. Call now to book your fishing trip. Or to see the pictures go to our website. http://cuttingedgefishing.com/site/2013/03/30/march-catch/ |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 03-21-2013 | |
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Fishing was great on the cutting edge. We caught 15 dolphin ,1 sailfish, a 30 pound king a red grouper and a bunch of Bonitos. There was North current and the best depth was 130 feet near fowey lighthouse. Also, we want to congratulate Kim Kelly and his party for winning a free half day fishing trip! Call to book your fishing trip now. |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 03-13-2013 | |
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Today fishing picked up with the first good day of Mahi fishing. Fishing the kites in 120ft there was plenty of action from 5 to 10 pound schoolies the fish are moving south fast and tough to stay with. Mahi will eat a dead bait first but then turn off unless you have small live bait. There were also a few Sailfish in the area. Black fin tuna also made a showing with the one or two a day average. The tuna are average 25 pounds. Big Kings should also start to show up soon! Give us a call and get into the action! Capt Q |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 02-25-2013 | |
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Frank Chieffalo and his Friends caught 21 Sails in two days this past weekend fishing off Miami Florida and Key Biscayne On the Cutting Edge, fishing could not have been better. They had one day(FRIDAY) with 18 out of 21 Sailfish. Captain Cap and Only one mate ( Super Mate) Mike Lawson made it all happen. They were fishing with Thread fin Herring they suspended from the kites. The incredible thing about it was they caught a 5 banger, a Quad, and a Triple, the rest were singles. Since then Fishing has remained good but not as wild as those two days. We are seeing several sailfish a day along with a wahoo, king and occasional bottom fish. The weather pattern looks as if another great bite will happen possibly by the weeks end, Give us a call to see if we have any openings for this bite. Tight lines Captain Quinton Dieterle Cutting Edge Fishing 305-361-9740 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 11-20-2012 | |
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Ft Lauderdale fishing November 14, 15, 16, 2012 Fishing Fort Lauderdale The last three days the weather has been mild, with temperatures in the low 60’s, and moderate winds out of the northeast. The bit of chop and swell resulting from the northeast wind has produced some great fishing. We have caught a few sailfish trolling on fresh mullet strips, prepared from some of the mullet we’ve netted as they move down the beach. The mahi-mahi have been abundant out in 600-800 feet of water. On the 15th we found the remnants of a cuban raft floating offshore that had a nice school of dolphin swimming underneath. The next day we found a 55 gallon drum floating offshore and it too was loaded with mahi-mahi, up to 10 lbs. We are always on the lookout for floating debris as it invariably attracts tripletail, mahi-mahi and wahoo. No wahoo were landed from around the raft or drum, but we landed three nice fish while trolling live bonito around from 150 to 300 feet of water. The Friday night driftfishing off Fort Lauderdale turned into another snapper fest, as our anglers landed 50 snappers, including yellowtail, lanes and mangroves. They also hooked up 60 blue runners, a barracuda, and a small shark. That’s over 100 fish in one four hour trip! Fort Lauderdale fishing sure is exceptional this time of year and the Lady Pamela Sportfishing fleet is making the most of these great fishing opportunities. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-01-2012 | |
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July 20, 2012 Today Justin and I had another group from Texas come out fishing with us on a shared charter. We trolled and shark fished the whole trip. Trolling was very productive as we wee landing lots of kingfish and bonito. We got one nice bite on a shark but it got hung on a lobster trip and broke the line. July 23 Captain JJ, and mate Mike, had Chris from Texas this morning on an 8 am‑12 pm trip. The trolling was productive as they caught a few Blackfin tunas and some bonito and kingfish. The boat had a live well full of blue runners and goggleyes so they tried some wreck fishing. Wreck fishing can be very productive using live baits rigged to a circle hook on a 30 foot long leader. A variety of species can be caught, including cobia, Warsaw groupers, black groupers, Almaco jacks, and amberjacks. Today they caught a 100 lb Warsaw grouper and Chris was the happiest person I have ever seen! Congrats Chris! July 25 Tonight the Lady Pamela III had a 7 pm‑11 pm snapper trip. We had 10 anglers on the boat and they were busy. The group landed 30 yellowtail and mangrove snappers. Driftfishing The daytime driftfishing trips have been great, with both morning and afternoon trips using dead sardines as bait to load up on kingfish and bonito. The afternoon trip even caught a Blackfin tuna and some mutton snappers! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 07-19-2012 | |
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Lady Pamela III July 10, 2012 Night Time Snapper Trip Over the last four nights anglers on the Lady Pamela III have been going home with sore arms, and full coolers, as we have been slaying the yellowtail snapper and mangrove snapper. We have been fishing in depths from 40 to 80 feet at night anchoring up and chumming heavily. Fresh bonito and cut squid have been the baits of choice. If you are looking to bring home a nice seafood dinner, our nighttime snapper trips are the way to go. July 12, 2012 Today saw the return of an old friend and a good day of fishing. My mate/Captain JJ returned to the Lady Pamela sportfishing team after 5 years and it was great getting back on the water with him. We had a 10 hour trip that included both fishing and listening to one of our anglers, Mr. Ellison, regale us about hunting trips to Africa and other exotic places around the globe. We started the day catching a few bonitos and some kingfish, and some really nice gray tilefish. The tilefish are good eating, but the anglers didn’t want to take any fish home, they only wanted to catch big fish. Toward the end of the day, about 15 miles north, we caught some beefy barracudas, and then hooked up an 8 ½ foot Dusky shark. I have only caught one other Dusky shark and this was a big one. It was also a surprise catch because Dusky sharks typically migrate north in the summer and south in the winter. James was the lucky angler that caught the monster shark and we recorded all the action on a GoPro camera. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 07-05-2012 | |
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June 29, 2012 This afternoon Mike, Darin, and Arvin went shark fishing off of Fort Lauderdale beach. They ran out to three hundred and fifty feet of water, loaded up with nice fresh bonitos, caught on the way out the inlet. They were ready for a sea monster, with rods set up with 2 hook rigs, using #19 wire and 400 lb leader. After a good hour of waiting, the mid bait got hit, but the fish missed the bait. With a little patience they were confident the fish would come back, and sure enough, he came back and he was on. Darin gunned the boat to set the hook good and this huge Mako shark came jumping out of the water into the air. Too bad they didn’t have a camera ready because it was a cool site to see! The crew finally boated the monster 250 lb. Mako. It was a great fight, and now it’s some good eating. Tight lines, Capt David Ide'' 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 07-04-2012 | |
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June 25, 2012 Today, JJ and Mike had a four hour charter in the afternoon. On the way out the inlet they bought some live goggleyes from the bait boat, hoping to catch the big ones. The wind has been out of the south and southeast around 15-25 mph for the last 6 days which makes the fishing excellent. They started trolling for the first two hours of the trip and the bite was really on. They caught plenty of bonitos, a few kingfish and two nice blackfin tunas. There was a load of fish in the boat from the trolling, so the group went and put the kites up, laying out three live goggleyes and three big fresh bonito slabs. In less than half an hour a Silky shark swam up and ate one of kite baits. The six foot shark gave our anglers a 20 minute battle before being photographed and released. Silky sharks are named for the smooth texture of its skin. They are a fast-swimming open ocean shark caught while migrating along the continental shelf, and are found in both the Atlantic and Pacific. The fishing excitement was not over though, as a sailfish swam up and ate the left long bait while we were releasing the Silky shark! This sailfish really put on an excellent show by jumping all over the ocean. It was just another great day of fishing in Fort Lauderdale. June 26, 2012 The good fishing continued today as we had two boats going out in the morning. Mitch and I ran the Lady Pamela I on a shared charter. We went trolling for the whole trip and caught a nice mix of fish, including 3 bonitos, a blackfin tuna, 2 barracudas and a mahi-mahi. On the Lady Pamela IV, JJ and Darin went both trolling and kitefishing. They too had a great trip, as their anglers caught a 30 lb wahoo, 10 bonitos, a Great Hammerhead shark and a Cero mackerel. Remember, when you come to south Florida, don’t forget to put Lady Pamela sportfishing on your list.' Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-30-2012 | |
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June 20, 2012 Today Chris, a friend of the family, and eight of his friends were on a Boy Scout retreat with their kids, so four of the fathers and four of the kids decided to come out fishing for an 8 hour charter. The weather in the morning didn’t look the greatest, and a few of my other charters canceled so I was worried that they too would cancel. But they wanted to go, so the Lady Pamela III, with Captain Adam and Mate Joe onboard, had their bumpy day cut out for them. They started the first six hours of the day trolling reef edge, catching one kingfish and ten mahi-mahi. That was a pretty good return for the morning. The group then tried some deep bottom fishing, catching a few gray tile fish in 350 feet of water. It had been such a good trip that Adam decided to try to catch Chris and his boys a monster fish. They put out one of the big tile fish and a nice fresh half kingfish out on 80 lb tackle hoping for a big hookup. Just about an hour later Adam gunned the boat ahead to set the hook on a feisty hammerhead shark. Everybody on the boat had to take a turn at the rod to battle this beast. The kids in particular were crazy with excitement! They finally got the 6-7 foot hammerhead to the boat for some pictures and a release. Kingfish, mahi-mahi, tilefish and hammerheads; not a bad trip after all! Tight lines capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.Ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-24-2012 | |
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June 3 - 16, 2012 The Lady Pamela crew had a thirteen day charter in the Bahamas with good friend Morgan. We started the trip on Saturday, fishing the KDW Classic in West Palm Beach. We had a good start to the week, as we landed over 60 fish, described in my last report. The next day we left for our 260 mile run to Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas, to fish the Bahamas Billfish Championship. This is a four day blue marlin tournament held over the course of one week. Anglers can choose one lay day of the five days of the tournament. On day one of the tournament I was working the cockpit, and we were fishing two dredges and six baits. While I was putting out the third bait a blue marlin ate the right long bait within the first minute of the tournament! Morgan fed the fish, hooked him briefly but then pulled him off twice. It happens. About an hour later we had a white marlin that ate the left short bait and we had him on, pulling drag like crazy. All of a sudden he just fell off. When we got the rig back to the boat it turns out that the darn tip of the hook broke off, releasing the fish. So much for our tournament! We stayed for a couple of days after the tournament to dive for hog snappers and do a little deep-dropping. We spent most of our time fishing in front of Man-O-War Cay, moving between 650-1300 feet of water. We were fishing for big queen and yellow eye snappers, using electric reels, set up with a five hook rig above an 8 lb weight. Not many anglers deep-drop in this part of the Bahamas so the fish were big, plentiful, and aggressive. Queen snappers run 3-10 lbs and are very bright red with a long forked red tail. They are a cool-looking fish that are pretty tasty as well. The Bahamas weather was fantastic for the entire trip, and in addition to the snappers, we ended up catching a blue marlin on the last day. That’s a nice way to end the trip. TIGHT LINES, CAPTAIN DAVID IDE 954 761 8045 WWW.LADYPAMELA2.COM |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-24-2012 | |
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May 19, 2012 Today was a good day as Chris and I had a really fun trip. We had a bachelor party on the boat in the morning charter with Scott and his friends from New York. They were out for a good time so we started out trolling for kingfish, bonito and mahi-mahi. The trolling was quite slow so we went to big game shark fishing, as they wanted a big fish. We sat in 350 feet of water for most of the trip before we finally got a bite. It was a monster bite though, and the bachelor got to fight this brutish game shark. He worked the fish for 30 minutes before he got smooth hammerhead to the boat. It was a great battle, and the New Yorkers really enjoyed the fight. May 20, 2012 This morning was a private six-hour charter with Lee and his wife Tiffany, and Jay and his wife Brenda. Mike and I left the dock with our charter at 7 a.m. and went out to the whistle buoy trying to catch some live bait. The whistle buoy so-called because it actually whistles, is the main entrance marker to Port Everglades inlet and generally has schools of bait around it. We succeeded in catching a few live baits, and then went deep, looking for a monster fish. A few hours later Lee hooked up and brought to the boat a nice scalloped hammerhead shark. Lee wanted to get Jay a big game fish so we continued fishing in 350 feet of water with big fresh kingfish and bonito baits. We finally got the bite just before lines in, and Jay got his big game shark too. These folks were a lot of fun talking to as Lee and Tiffany are tournament bass fishermen. We heard all about the tournaments that he and Tiffany fish, and all the places they have travelled to. What an experience! tight lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-03-2012 | |
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Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report April 23, 2012 This year has been a weird weather year but the fishing has continued to be red hot. We just had a rare late-April cold front move through Fort Lauderdale and the sailfish started to bite again. We caught four nice fish the day before and three more today. I heard of some boats landing six or more fish, depending on how long they stayed out. That’s spectacular sailfishing for the end of April! We are using live goggleyes and kite’s for the sailfish, and the bite has been in 100 – 140 feet of water with a very strong north current. We have also been trolling for, and catching bonitos and kingfish, along with mahi-mahi. They have been hitting sea witch feathers tipped with bonito strips, pulled behind planer boards. We are using planers that dive 50-75 feet under the surface. We are also hooking up a few wahoo and blackfin tuna on these planers. Drift-Fishing Daytime The past few days we have been catching plenty of v-liner (snappers), grunts, and kingfish. We have also had a few blackfin tunas, and bonitos. These fish are being raised on ballyhoo chunks and sardines. Nighttime The nighttime snapper trips continue to be very productive. The past few weeks we have been catching lots of gray snappers, yellowtails, muttons, and vermillion snappers. We are landing some nice groupers with the snappers, but unfortunately they are strictly catch and release until May 1. On our nighttime snapper trips we anchor up in depths ranging from 45 to 90 feet of water on our reef system. We run out a nice meaty chum slick with the current and the action heats up in no time! Come on out and have some fun! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-16-2012 | |
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April 9, 2012 Today Mike and I had two half day charters on the Lady Pamela IV. On the morning charter we had retired NFL quarterback Elvis Grbac and his family out fishing for a four hour trip. We caught a few live baits then went to a shipwreck about 5 miles north of Port Everglades inlet. We baited the rods and on the first drop on the shipwreck we hooked a massive fish. Elvis's son had a great fight on his hands, but he finally brought in a huge amberjack. We trolled around for another hour or so with no more bites, and then tried a few hours of sharkfishing. The amberjack ended up being our only bite but at least we caught a nice one. Afternoon On the afternoon charter Mike and I caught some more live baits and then trolled for a few hours with no bites. We moved out into 350 feet of water and sat there for three hours, again with no success. It was just about time to reel everything up and go home when the mid bait rod bent over and we were hooked up. Caitlyn, our 17 year old angler out with her father fought the mystery fish for a good 30 minutes before we caught a glimpse of a huge Mako shark. These are open ocean sharks that are only occasionally found closer to shore, so this was an exciting catch. Makos feed on swordfish, and we have been catching some swords during our nighttime swordfishing trips, so that may explain the presence of Makos in the area. This fish was a beauty, tipping the scales at 300 lbs and measuring over 8 ½ feet. Way to go Caitlyn! TIGHT LINES, CAPT DAVID IDE 954 761 8045 WWW.LADYPAMELA2.COM |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-10-2012 | |
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March 30, 2012 Today, Darin and I were joined by Marc and his family from Ohio, for a day of fishing here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We started the first few hours of the trip trolling for kingfish and tuna on the reef, working fresh ballyhoo and bonito strips from 80 to 350 feet of water. We had a few bites on the planers in 120 feet of water, but no good hookups. We finally caught one of the kingfish nipping the baits, then reeled everything in and went shark fishing. We put fresh baits out on the surface and on the bottom in 350 feet of water and it didn’t take very long before we hooked a monster on the bottom. We got Marcs’ son in the fighting chair for a long battle that none of us expected. The fight went on for over an hour before a 10 foot long hammerhead shark was up beside the boat. What a great fish. Way to go guys! One of the other Lady Pamela boats had a full day charter with Captain Justin and mate Pete. They caught a few mahi-mahi and some kingfish in the morning. Then around 12:30 pm Justin called me to say they had hooked a white marlin in 650 feet of water while mahi fishing. Angler Cody fought the fish for 25 minutes before landing the nearly seven foot long fish. White marlin are an awesome, though infrequent catch here in South Florida. Nice job Cody. March 31, 2012 Drift-Fishing Last night the Lady Pamela III went out on the 7-11 night snapper fishing trip. On these trips we anchor up and chum for four hours, and the last few weeks have been very productive. We have been averaging 50-80 snappers on these night trips, so grab a rod or use one that we provide, and come on out and catch some dinner. There is nothing better than fresh broiled or grilled snapper with a nice lemon caper butter sauce. Or how about Bahamian-style baked snapper with tomatoes and onions? Got your mouth watering? Give us a call! TIGHT LINES CAPT DAVID IDE 954 761 8045 WWW.LADYPAMELA2.COM |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 03-07-2012 | |
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Feburary 23, 2012 Today was a great day as I got to fish with my best friend Matt, who also worked as my mate for the day. We were booked for an all day swordfishing trip with Wayne and Richard, and we were looking forward to a cool day out on the water. In prepping for the trip, I discussed the Lady Pamela II boat options with the guys, recommending our 37 foot center console open fishermen. This is a great daytime swordfishing boat because we can get out to the fishing grounds quickly, giving us more fishing time; one of the keys to successful swordfishing. It wasn’t long after we left the dock that we were making our first drop. As soon as the baits hit the bottom we had a swordfish, and Richard caught the first fish of the day. Throughout the rest of the day we had a few other swordfish bites but no solid hookups. It was with the last hit of the day though, that we had the big hookup! This fish fought tooth and nail until about 500 feet from the boat when it pulled the hook. That’s the ways it goes with fishing, you win some and lose some! We wrapped up the trip with a nice ride home in calm seas, coming across a huge weedline about 5 miles offshore. There were mahi-mahi everywhere and we quickly caught the guys some dinner to round out another great trip! Is wrong to say that I love my job? Tight lines. www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 02-21-2012 | |
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February 10 , 2012 Today, one of our repeat clients and good friend David, brought a group of friends fishing on the Lady Pamela IV. Captain Darin and mate Rusty started the day trolling the reef trying to get some action for everybody on the boat. In no time they reeled in a nice wahoo. David was pretty happy as it is always nice when the first fish is dinner. They kept trolling and caught a few kingfish and one mahi-mahi before moving on to kite fishing with live goggleyes. David loves catching sailfish and I think there has only been one time where he didn't catch a sailfish with us. He is one of the luckiest people I have ever taken fishing. The last time David joined us was in August when there are no sailfish around at all and we got a bite from one. David's luck held, as a few hours into the kite fishing Rusty hooked a nice sail and got is set up with one of Davids clients in the fighting chair. This leaping sailfish put on a great on a great show for everybody around! Way to go guys! February 13, 2012 The last few days fishing has been red hot,with a wide variety of fish being caught in around from 300 –600 feet of water . We've had plenty of gaffer mahi around 10-12 lbs and have caught a few up into the 30 lb range. As for the bottom fishing, today we caught a boatload of grey tilefish. These fish live in self-made burrows, and I have a few hotspots for them along the steep edges of the continental slope. These are one of the best eating fish you could ever land. Along with the tiles, we landed a few wahoo, caught in 200–300 feet of water using swimming ballyhoo. The kite fishing was slow this day we did some dredge fishing instead. This is a trolling style of fishing in which a teaser made of anywhere from 30 to 150 artificial baits or strips attached to an umbrella-style frame are pulled behind the boat. The dredge mimics a large school of baitfish that can attract sails when the bite is otherwise slow. It is pretty exciting to see fired up sailfish come crashing into these teaser spreads. This is just another good way to catch sailfish out here in Fort Lauderdale. Beat the summertime rush and join us today. The fishing doesn't always stay good for long! TIGHT LINES, CAPT DAVID IDE 954 761 8045 WWWLADYPAMELA2.COM |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 02-13-2012 | |
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February 6, 2012 Today was my first day back from the Safari Club International's hunting and fishing convention in Las Vegas. Lady Pamela II Sportfishing had a booth at the convention, so it was a busy week promoting the outstanding angling we have right here in Ft. Lauderdale. I was excited get back out on the water with Jeremy and his friends from Arizona, as they joined us for an all day fishing trip. We picked up a few dozen live goggleyes and headed out to do some trolling. Right off the bat we caught a few short kingfish and some small blackfin tunas. We then decided to move on to some kite fishing. Around 12:00 noon we caught a nice sailfish. It was an awesome bite and Jeremy was tickled pink about catching his first billfish! That was the only sail of the day, but we did land some mahi-mahi in the ten pound range off the kites. It's pretty spectacular to see mahi crashing across the sea surface chasing the baits. What can I say, just another great Ft. Lauderdale fishing trip! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 01-25-2012 | |
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January 18, 2012 Newly wed’s Tony and his wife came all the way from Texas to come fishing on the 7am-1 pm charter. We started the morning out catching lots of live tinker mackerels around a freighteranchored off shore of Ft. Lauderdale. By the way, catching tinkers like we have been doing the last few days is unusual. There was no wind to fly the kites so after catching all the bait we needed we decided to slow troll the live baits. Within 15 minutes of having all six baits in the water we got a bite on the right long rigger. It was a nice sailfish and Tony’s wife jumped into the fighting chair to catch this beast. After a good 10 minutes of reeling she was getting too tired, so we swapped the rod to Tony, but that’s when the sailfish got away. We kept trolling the live baits and hour later we caught a nice 15lb kingfish. Fishing on the troll slowed down so we decided to try our luck wreck fishing. The first few shipwreck’s we went to did not produce abite, but we kept on trying. At the last wreck we finally got a few bites, landing a big amberjack.Overall, the fishing was slow, but we didn’t get skunked! Way to go Tony! Brad and some business clients came fishing yesterday afternoon on a two boat charter here in Ft. Lauderdale. We went right out in front of Ft. Lauderdale to 140 feet of water where there was just enough wind to get the extra light kites up in the air. The wind was blowing south with a 1.5 knot north current. Good sailfishing conditions if we could keep the kites up. Pauly was running the boat and I was in the salon when I heard a lot of commotion in the cockpit. I ran out just in time to see a sailfish jumping into the horizon and we lost it before we could set the hook. I was a little mad, but no big deal, as it was early in the trip. We put a fresh rack of baits back out,waited right there, and another sailfish took the bait. This time the fish was well-hooked so Brad got into the fighting chair. This fish really put on an exciting show, jumping all over the ocean. Once it was landed we tagged the sailfish and let him free to catch another day. Pauly then ranthe boat back to the south hoping for another bite, but that was it for the day. Brad and his friendsstill had a trip that they will never forget. Brad said that growing up as a kid his dad had a big sailfish mount on the wall and that had he always dreamed about catching one himself. Now, after 55 years of coming to Ft. Lauderdale beach, he got to catch a sailfish, just like his dad. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 01-21-2012 | |
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January 14,2012 Today, the Hyatt family from Pennsylvania joined us for an afternoon of fishing. They had just flown in this morning and said it was 20 degrees where they just came from and were loving the 65 degrees here in Ft. Lauderdale. The Hyatts had never been deep sea fishing before so they decided they would try their luck deep sea fishing on the Lady Pamela II. We left the dock around 2:00 pm and went right to an anchored freighter where we had previously caught tinker mackerels. After filling our live baitwell full of these prime but rarely seen baits, we went straight to kite fishing in about 200 feet of water as I had heard that a few sailfish were seen at this depth. Within an hour of getting all six lines set out we hooked a sailfish. This was one of the toughest sailfish I have ever caught. Andrew fought this fish for an hour and half, as it took us out to 700 feet water where the seas were huge. We finally tagged and released this bad boy sailfish though! After the big battle we ran back inshore to a few shipwrecks trying to get a bite with our remaining live baits. We got a few bites from amberjacks, but none stayed on the hook. That’s the way it goes sometimes. Wreckfishing with live baits is generally very productive though, with amberjacks, groupers, cobias, and big snappers always a possible catch. Tight Lines, Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 01-19-2012 | |
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January 7, 2012 The Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Team has kicked off the 2012 South Florida billfish tournament season with a first place in the inaugural Coconut Grove “No Rule's Sailfish Tournament”. My crew and I had made a last minute decision to fish this tournament on Thursday, so we spent all day Friday, the day before the tournament, fishing for bait. We loaded the bait wells with 20 dozen threadfin herring and 10 dozen goggleyes then ran from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami BeachMarina, where we spent the night. I was manning the helm, with my dad Peter, Bill, Kevin C, Kevin S, Adam, and John as my crew members. Professional photographer Russell Satterthwaite (http://russellsatterthwaitephotography.com) was also onboard as our cameraman. At 6:30 am on Saturday morning we loaded the bait from temporary holding pens back into in the boat and made our way to the 7:30 am “Bimini Start” point off the south end of Key Biscayne. The “Bimini” start got its’ name from tournaments held in the early days of tournament fishing in Bimini, in the Bahamas. Nearly a hundred big sportfishing boats would line up, right off the beach in North Bimini, and when the gun was fired it was a mad dash to the fishing grounds! I remember seeing some of these starts as a young kid and they were impressive! The “No Rules” Bimini start was not as impressive, as our 36’ Invincible, with triple 300hp Mercury Verado engines, left everyone else behind. We ran straight southeast to offshore ofFowey Light and put up the kites. There was practically no wind so used helium balloons on the kites to keep them aloft. Within ten minutes we saw a flopper sailfish. I floored the boat in reverse and we started to pitch baited spinning rods everywhere. Before long we had hooked upsix sailfish, eventually catching three out of the six. Not a bad way to start the tournament! Everymove we made on this day we got bites, and we ended up catching 10 sailfish and having over 20 bites. All this on a flat calm day, with the winds 5 mph or less! Special thanks go out to our sponsors Mercury Marine, Sufix fishing line, VMC hooks, Preferred Marine Group, and Carl’s Bait and Tackle. You guys definitely helped us fish and win this tournament on our new boat. As I said before, what a great way to start the tournament season! Tight Lines, Captain David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Email Us At 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 01-14-2012 | |
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January 5, 2011 I usually run the Lady Pamela IV, operating the boat from the flybridge, but today, I was aboard the Lady Pamela I and worked the cockpit, while Keith ran the boat. We fished with Glenda and her husband on a six-hour, 10am 4pm charter, and we needed to catch Glenda a fish. We picked a few live baits up at the local Lauderdale Marina on the way out, and went trolling for the first two hours. I was confident that we would catch something cool today because the last 4 days of fishing had been slow, and I knew that a recent cold front that had moved through was going to bring the fish bite with it. We landed a couple of nice kingfish on the troll then decided to switch things up a little and go kite fishng. I cannot say enough about witnertime kite fishing as we can catch wahoo, mahi-mahi, sailfish, marlin, kingfish, and tuna. Our first set of the kites today was just specatcular. We were still setting out our first four baits when we hooked a monster sailfish. It was a 30 minute battle before finally bringing it to the boat. What a great catch! We put the baits right back out and hooked another one, but it wasn't long before it pulled the hooks. We freshend up the baits again and sat right in the same spot until close to the end of the trip. I was right in the middle of telling Glenda about times when you might never get a bite until you are reeling in the last baits, which we happened to be doing, when darned if we didn't hook up! We tied into another sailfish that we ended up catching and releasing just before heading home. Glenda said they have fished all over the world and this was their best trip ever. For me, it was just a great day to be in the cockpit with some fine anglers. Tight lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-27-2011 | |
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December 20, 2011 Today we had an all day eight hour swordfishing trip. The seas were running 4-6 feet so we had to troll on the way to the swordfishing grounds. For the first two plus hours we never got a bite, and Eric and his father were looking disappointed, but we were sure we were going to catch them some fish. At about 5 hours into the trip, and about 11 miles offshore, we found a piece of bamboo floating in the water, and it was alive. Every few years you find a tree or other floating debris, and it has fish all over it. Today was that day and it was on fire! As we made pout first pass, the wahoo were jumping all over the surface, and bit off all of our rigs. Darin quickly re-rigged with wire leaders and we made another pass. We were catching wahoo and mahi-mahi left and right. It was amazing! We caught a 35lb mahi-mahi and a few 25lb wahoo. We ended up catching 8 wahoo and 8 mahi-mahi in 20 minutes beneath that one piece of bamboo. We eventually made it to the swordfish grounds and made our first drop in 1700 feet of water, with no bites. By this time our charter had enough of the rough seas and we called it a day. Why not, we had already landed an incredible sixteen big fish! Way to go Eric! December 23, 2011 Our client Arthur had booked a fishing trip with us last June, but with a death in his family, he had to cancel. He paid for the trip and said he would come back. Well, Arthur called the other day and was ready to go fishing in the afternoon. We started the trip out by catching some bullet bonitos, as Arthur wanted to catch his own live baits. Amazingly, as we were catching the bonitos, a sailfish swam up and tried to eat one of the baits! Mate Pauli, the fastest guy you have ever seen, hooked a live bonito on a spinning rod and quickly cast it out. We hooked up the sailfish and it was off to the races. The fish dumped a lot of line, so I started backing down fast. Unfortunately, there was another boat trolling nearby and snagged our line, cutting the sailfish off. Pauli was fit to be tied, but there was nothing we could do. We went back to catching the rest of our baits and set up our spread. Around 2 hours into the trip we caught a 40lb kingfish, one of the biggest ones I have ever caught. It was a monster, and if we had been tournament fishing, it could have been a winner! We rounded out the trip by hooking up a monster sailfish that we got all the way to the boat. I sure was glad to see that our earlier sailfishing misfortune hadn’t jinxed us for the whole trip! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Email Us Ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-23-2011 | |
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December 9 and 10, 2011 The wreck fishing has started to pick up over the last few days as the water temperature has cooled to below 78 F. We have been using live bonitos, otherwise known as “bullets”, as our primary baits for deep-dropping on the wrecks. It is no doubt one of the best types of live bait for wreck fishing. We have been seeing cobia, wahoo, amberjacks, black grouper, gag grouper, and a few big Warsaw grouper. We have even seen a few goliath groupers as well. The wrecks that we are fishing are found anywhere from 110 feet to 360 feet of water. There are over 300 shipwrecks offshore from Miami to Palm Beach, and as the Lady Pamela II fleet is centrally situated in Ft. Lauderdale, all of these wrecks are within fishing range for us. Traditional trolling using fresh strip of squid, bonito, and or mullet, fished behind a combination of planer boards and surface baits continues to be productive. We are landing plenty of mahi-mahi, wahoo, sailfish, and kingfish. We are also seeing a few blackfin tuna in the mix, particularly as we troll offshore of the deeper reefs. Kite fishing The past few days were a little slow for kite fishing because of the full moon. Even so, we still caught two sailfish out of three of our boats. A dry cold front is expected the next day or two, and that, coupled with the back side of the moon phase, should really kick off the sailfish bite. Live goggleyes suspended on 30 lb Sufix™ fluorocarbon leader is our go to bait for the sailfish action. It is always exciting to see these billfish crashing the surface after these baits! Come see for yourself! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide WWW.LADYPAMELA2.COM 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-16-2011 | |
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December 8, 2011 Today was a fun day for me as I ran the cockpit while my mate Drew ran the boat during a full day charter. We ran north 20 miles and got to our fishing spot right at about 8nat5 a.m. We had just gotten our first two baits on the kites when our client Mark hooked a sailfish! I quickly grabbed a spinning rod and bait from the well and pitched it towards a second fish for another quick hookup. It seemed like we released both fish within two minutes! I reeled in the second kite bait and we ran a mile south to get ahead of the moving fish. We set six kite baits back out and Mark hooked another saifish, releasing it in 5 minutes. A few mahi-mahi were boated during the next hour, then we got another sailfish bite. All of the fish we were catching were moving between 130 – 150 feet of water, and there was about a ½ knot of north current. We ended up catching 6 out of 8 sailfish, 5 mahi-mahi and a silky shark. Not a bad day of fishing, and we were back at the dock by 2:00 pm! Tight Lines, Captain David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Email Us ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-07-2011 | |
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December 1, 2, 3, 4, 2011 During the first four days of December, the northeast to east winds were just relentless. They were blowing about 10 20 knots the first two days and 20 35 knots the second two days. The good news though is that the mahi-mahi fishing has been the best I have ever seen. We have been averaging 5 fish every trip up to 30 lbs., with most of them gaffers. All of these fish have been on the reef, in 200 feet or less, and kitefishing with live baits has been the most productive. Also, the trolling for kingfish on the reef has been great, with some smoker kings up to 35 lbs. On December the 3rd trip, I was running the boat both in the morning and the afternoon. On the morning trip, Dr. Sun and his family from California came out deep sea fishing. We loaded up on the mahi-mahi and even had shots at a couple of sailfish. At 3-4 ft though, the seas were a little bumpy for the anglers, so we called it quits early. On the afternoon trip, a local angler Earl, and friends came out with me. They were comfortable in the 6-8 ft seas, and the fish were tearing up live goggleyes on the kite. We were catching mahi-mahi one after the other in 140 feet of water. While watching the action from the tower, I spotted a sailfish on the right long line, and after a quick yell down to mate Joe, he had the fish hooked up for Earl. This was a tough fish that Earl fought for 40 minutes in the 8 foot seas. It was a battle, and everyone in the cockpit was soaking wet before he finally landed the monster sailfish. It was great! Earl has been fishing and hunting everywhere in the world and he said he will never forget that fight! On the December 4th trips the hot fishing continued as we caught more mahi-mahi and two wahoo while trolling. We also landed a black grouper and a few amberjacks on the shipwrecks in 180 -240 feet of water. Driftfishing The great fishing continues as evidenced by the catches brought in on the drift boat. Every day we have been catching a few mahi-mahi, lots of yellowtail snappers, and a few mutton snappers. We are even landing a few king mackerel on deep jigs rigged with ballyhoo. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-07-2011 | |
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November 24, 2011 - Thanksgiving Today, Ann and her son, visiting from North Carolina, decided to spend Thanksgiving morning fishing aboard the Lady Pamela. I recommended to Ann that we pick up some live goggleyes, telling her that they would greatly increase our chances of landing a sailfish. Despite the added cost, Ann said to do whatever is necessary to make her son happy. So, we picked up the live baits, and then ran about 5 miles north of Port Everglades inlet to set up. The weather was great. Seas were flat calm, but there was enough wind to keep the kites up, and there was a hard south current and plenty of blue water. I couldn’t wait to get the baits in the water. Surprisingly, it took 1 hour 45 minutes before we had the first bite, but it was a sailfish and we fought it for a good 35 minutes into 30 feet of water. We got the leader a few times before fraying the sailfish off. I ran the boat back into deeper water, as this time the edge had moved out a little deeper, into 140 feet. My mate Darin and I got baits back out as soon as we could, and started the waiting game, again. After a while, Ann came on the bridge and said we could go in any time, as we had caught one sailfish, and that was good enough. We still had 1 ½ hours left and I wanted her son to catch some more fish, so I asked her to give it a little while longer. It sure paid off, as 50 minutes before the end of the charter I yelled right long, there he is! Darin ran down from the bridge, grabbed the rod and fed the sailfish, he hooked it up and it jumped all over the ocean! A more acrobatic fish I’ve never seen! I needed a Go Pro Camera! We were the only charter boat to not only catch one sailfish but two sailfish today. We just started using a lighter weight Sufix™ fluorocarbon leader than anybody else is using, and I do believe it makes a difference. Tight Lines, Captain David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-02-2011 | |
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November 18, 19, 20, 2011 For the last three days or so the weather has been very calm, and boy have the fish been biting. We have been using several different techniques, including trolling, kite fishing and wreck fishing. While trolling we have been catching kingfish, wahoo and mahi-mahi using fresh bonito strips behind blue and pink sea witch feathers. The kite fishing has been productive using live goggleyes and threadfin herring for big mahi-mahi, kingfish and plenty of sailfish. On almost every trip we have caught a sailfish, and their acrobatics have been unbelievable! The wreck fishing has been hit or miss. The other day, using live blue runners, speedos and live bonitos we caught two amberjacks and a black grouper. The shipwrecks we fish are anywhere from 100 out to 450 feet of water. The cobia, many in the 40-50 lb range, will be migrating through here pretty soon and you catch them on the wrecks as well. Day and Nighttime Swordfishing Over the past few weeks I have heard of a few boats going out at night getting plenty of bites, but most of the fish are short; too small to keep. Still, they do put up a good fight! The nighttime swordfishing has been best in 1000 to 1400 feet, above the sea mounts. Both live baits and dead squid, when fished 100 to 400 feet down in these areas, have been the key to success. Also, attaching a light stick or an LP light 30 feet from the bait improves the chances for a hookup. When the moon and the wind are right, and we have calm seas, daytime swordfishing is a great option. We have been fishing baits on the bottom, in 1650 to 2000 feet of water, with 8 to12 lb leads on electric reels. The daytime swords have been averaging 150 lbs, up to 550 lbs. Overall, some very nice swordfish are being caught. Tight Lines, Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 Ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 11-16-2011 | |
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November 13, 2011 Today was a special day for me, as I got to take my dad Peter out fishing. We don’t get to do that very often because we both always seem to be “working “on boats, instead of enjoying them. Not today though, as we took a day off and went fishing on our 36 foot Invincible center console boat. The night before, we had informed a few of our friends about our plans, and Bill, Russell, John, and Darin quickly agreed to round out our crew. That night I also put together two dozen live bait leaders, snelling VMC 5/0 circle hooks onto 16 foot sections of 30 lb Sufix® Invisiline™ fluorocarbon leader. In the morning, we picked up six dozen goggleyes from T & T live bait and ran north 30 miles to just offshore Boynton Beach inlet. We put up the kites, and as soon as we got the baits in we hooked up a double header sailfish, landing one out of the two fish. By 10:00 a.m. we had released another four sails and lost one. The outgoing tide had the current running at the inlet by this time so we reset the kites right in front. It didn’t take long before we hooked another sail, then another. We now had released six sails and lost two. Every time we set back up in front of the inlet we got a bite, so we kept jumping and catching sailfish. We ended the day with 10 for 12 on the sails. We also caught 10 nice mahi-mahi up to 20 lbs, a couple of blackfin tunas, a king mackerel, two silky sharks, and a barracuda. We ended up catching over 30 fish. Not too bad! Tight Lines , Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Email Us ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 11-12-2011 | |
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November 2 and 3, 2011 The last few days we had a nice cold front move through, and when that happens, you can expect first rate fishing in Ft. Lauderdale. We have been live bait kite fishing pretty much every trip for the past several weeks. On November 2nd we had a morning trip with Reggie and his friends from Washington, D.C. They caught a few 20 lb. mahi-mahi, and then missed a sailfish first thing in the morning. Later, Reggie hooked up a sailfish that we almost lost. The fish jumped straight at the boat, landed on the covering board, then fell back into the water. My mate Pauli said the fish was teetering like a seesaw! I got a good laugh when I heard that Reggie jumped out of the fighting chair because he thought that the fish was going to hit him! On November 3rd we had two half-day fishing charters; one from 8 a.m.-12 noon, with the other running from 1p.m.-5p.m. On the morning trip we caught some nice mahi-mahi and 10 Spanish mackerel. The mahi-mahi we’ve been catching the last few days have all been over 12 lbs, with a few fish of 20-25 lbs thrown in. We also missed a sailfish in the morning. Anglers Bob, and wife Terry caught a nice sailfish in the afternoon and missed a few other knockdowns off the kites. They also caught three 20 lb mahi-mahi and six Spanish mackerel. They sure boated a nice group of fish in four hours. You’ve gotta love the fishing this time of year! If you ever wanted to catch a sailfish or a swordfish, this is the time of year, and those are not the only abundant species. We also see plenty of kingfish, snappers, mahi-mahi, wahoo, tunas, and sharks this time of year. Come on down to Ft. Lauderdale and let the Lady Pamela crew show you the fishing trip of a lifetime. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 11-09-2011 | |
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October 29, 2011 David, and his friends from Indiana, joined Darin and I on the 8-12 morning trip. The trip was for Bob, who always wanted to catch a nice fish in south Florida waters. We bought a dozen live goggleyes from the Fort Lauderdale Marina on the way out. These live baitfish cost extra (from $60 to $100 per dozen) on top of the charter price, but it is well worth it. There was a strong 2 knot south current that morning and the wind was blowing 15- 20 knots out of the northeast, with seas running 4-6 feet. I was running the boat from the tower hoping to see sailfish tailing down sea but I didn’t see any. However, there was a large container ship anchored in 140 feet of water, and at this time of year, if there is a ship anchored offshore like that, they hold a lot of bait. That means there are fish there. Once we got to the ship, about 20 minutes after we left to the dock, Darin and Dominic put the kites up. As I have said before, kitefishing is the best type of fish to do in the winter time using live baits. So, right off the bat, with our first kite up, with one bait in the water, we jumped off a sailfish. We got the baits back out ASAP and within 20 minutes we hooked a monster sailfish. Our angler fought the fish all the way out to 350 feet of water before we boated it, took some pictures and let the fish go. It sure made the trip for David and Bob! We also caught a few mahi-mahi as a little icing to put on the sailfish cake! Way to go guys! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide www.Ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 10-31-2011 | |
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October 26, 2011 Today was a great day in the morning. We had a three boat charter in the morning, we me running our 36 foot Invincible (Open Fisherman). After a quick stop on the way out to purchase a couple dozen live goggleyes, we headed six miles north of Port Everglades to 110 - 185 feet of water. There was a strong south current with a northeast wind of 20- 25 knots. It looked as good as it could get in Ft. Lauderdale for sailfish and mahi-mahi. It took 15 minutes for me two get two kites in the air and a few flat lines in the water. Twenty minutes went by and I yelled there’s a sailfish on the right long bait! I fed the fish and it came up jumping. David, one of my anglers, took the rod and began his 25 minute battle with the sailfish. Once we got it to the boat we tagged the fish and released it. For the next two hours we had four more bites; three mahi-mahi an one oceanic bonito. It was a lot of fun and it is always nice to fish with a fun group of people. Oct 25, 2011 AM Trip Well on the morning of the 25th we had four on a split. Two guys from Pennsylvania and a husband and wife from Wisconsin. They did not want to buy live baits so we got it done the old fashion way, trolling using fresh mullet strips with down planers and four surface baits. The kingfish were plentiful on the troll and we caught 5 kingfish, a few bonito and one mahi-mahi. We caught our last fish of the day as we were trolling south back to our home port. A sailfish bit a blue and white sea witch on the left rigger and promptly dumped a half spool of line off a Shimano TLD30. I was telling everybody in the cockpit to reel every thing up so we could chase the fish. Once everything was cleared, I backed down on the fish and we caught it in 20 minutes. Mike was happy because he said he could not reel any more! We got the sailfish into the boat, got some fantastic pictures, then tagged and released the fish in front of Fort Lauderdale. PM Trip On the afternoon trip, we were fishing right off the beach in Fort Lauderdale in 110 feet of water. We put up two kites with five lines in the water. Randy and his family have been deepsea fishing on almost every vacation since they are from Kentucky and there is not much deepsea fishing there. Our first few bites were kingfish and they chopped our baits in half. Then we sat there for two hours with no bites. I picked up, ran 6 miles to the north, and put the same spread back out. It took 30 minutes but we caught a few mahi –mahi. Thirty minutes after that we got the bite from the fish we wanted, a sailfish. Randy’s son jump into the fighting chair and began fighting the biggest fish he had ever caught in his life. It did not take very long because the fish did a lot of jumping around and wore it self out. We tagged the sailfish and turned him free to fight another day. We caught the fish in 150 feet of water using live bait. There is no doubt that live bait is the key to success this time of year. I cannot say it enough, this October has been some of the best fishing in Fort Lauderdale that I have ever seen. Tight Lines, Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 Email us ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 10-27-2011 | |
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October 21, 2011 Today was a lot of fun. This morning’s trip I had a great group of guys, the Lambert brothers from New Jersey. Fishing was a little slow in the morning. We kite fished for sailfish for three hours with live goggleye’s and never saw a fish in the kite. So, the last hour we went trolling for kingfish and they were biting pretty good off the planers, rigged with fresh bonito strips and sea witch feathers. On the afternoon charter Thad, Woolley, Cody, and Bret joined us. They were all from Texas and you could tell they were going to be a lot of fun. We purchased live bait on the way out to try some more kite fishing, even though the morning bite was slow. We had a cold front that had pushed through today, and it was 64 degrees with the wind blowing out of the north around 15- 20 knots. A cold front like this gets the sailfish up and moving from the north to the south, and I was sure we were going to see some fish. We spent the first ten minutes kite fishing, in 110 feet of water, and Woolley instantly caught a 15 lb kingfish. We put the kite back out for another 25 min with no action. I saw a current edge offshore of us in 650 feet of water so I ran out there with the kites up. There were 6-8 foot seas outside and two out of the six customers were getting sick. So, after 25 minutes I decided to reel them up. As we were reeling the baits up a nice little school of 10 lb mahi-mahi swam up and we caught two of them, then we ran back to calm water. A good friend of mind Ray Ray called me on the phone and said when he was running back from Palm Beach he had seen a few schools of mullet swimming south, one in 110 feet of water and one in 250 feet. He said he might have seen some sailfish on them. I immediately reeled in the kites and ran north. We got 4 miles up the line and from the tuna tower I saw the huge school of mullet in 100 feet water. I yelled to my mate Paul to get some spinners ready to cast as soon as I pulled up to the bait ball. There were at least six sails there, maybe 8, and a nice sailfish grabbed the first bait Paul pitched. We caught the fish in five minutes, ran back to the school, and one of our guests pitched another bait. He hooked a sailfish on his own, but broke it off. We saw one more fish that we pitched several times to, but it just would not eat. Overall, it was a great trip, and to see all those sailfish on top was a sight. Tight Lines, Caot David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 10-19-2011 | |
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October 10, 2011 Jeffery and his wife from Washington, DC, fished the 1-5 p.m. charter this afternoon, aboard the Lady Pamela II. The weather was blowing 25 mph out of the northeast which made the seas a little big, but we could still go fishing. We had to go slow on the way out so there was plenty of time to rig a nice trolling spread. The baits were put out as soon as we cleared the inlet and once we got to 60 feet of water two 15 lb mahi-mahi slammed the lines. Captain Paul was yelling at the mate Peter to get Jeffery into the fighting chair. As we were fighting the two mahi-mahi Paul got a bite on the high line bait. This bait is trolled from high up on the fly bridge and it was a huge sailfish. Jeffery sure had his hands full while all this was going on but somehow he got it done! He was reeling in fish the whole entire trip. We ended up with 7 mahi-mahi and that huge sailfish. What a great trip. Tight Lines, Captain David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com email Us ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 10-06-2011 | |
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Fishing Florida September 29, 2011 Today was our all day dolphin fishing trip on the Lady Pamela III. A total of 14 anglers were on the boat and they enjoyed one of the greatest all day trips we have ever had. We started the morning out trolling with fresh bonito strips, and in no time we had limited out on kingfish. Then one of our anglers, Aaron, and his 4 year old daughter, hooked up and landed a sailfish. After catching all of these fish, we tried some snapper fishing, and limited out on the vermilion snappers! Next stop was gray tile fishing and we caught our limit of those as well. It was nonstop for Captain Adam. Oh, by the way, we also boated 5 blackfin tunas and four bonitos. What a stunning day out there on the water. September 30, 2011 Today Andy and friends came fishing from Kansas City. They were 45 minutes late this morning as they had lost their car keys and ended up taking a cab to the boat (sounds like it was a good night in Fort Lauderdale for the boys!). Anyway, when they got to the boat, they showed me (Capt. David) the car ring with the missing “key”. I took one look, grabbed the black thing on the key ring, pushed a button and the key appeared. The anglers and crew started laughing so hard we could barely get away from the dock! We finally got out the inlet and immediately started trolling on the reef from 100 -300 feet of water. We had a spread of four surface baits and two deep baits on planer boards. We were ready to fill the boat with fish, and that’s what we did. We were catching one kingfish after the other, along with a few blackfin tunas mixed in. The weather was beautiful, with a nice swell running along with about a 1 knot southerly current and southeast wind. Prime sailfish conditions. With about one hour left on the trip, angler Brad hooked a monster sailfish in 240 feet of blue water. It took him a good 20 minutes or so to reel it in on the 15 lb test and thirty lb leader, but we caught him. What a way to finish the charter! This was one of the funniest charters I have been on in a long time, all because of the way it started. Tight Lines, Captain David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Emails us ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 09-27-2011 | |
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September 17, 2011 Paulie and I are just a few days back from giant bluefin tuna fishing. We had two guys with us this morning, Edward and John from New York. I was running the cockpit and it was good to get back down there for a change. Normally, I am just running the boat, so today was great for me. Paulie cut fresh bonito strips before we left the dock, and I sharpened all the hooks and got the baits ready on the way out. Just outside the inlet I put out a great looking bait spread. It wasn’t long before we started getting a few kingfish, as well as a few blackfin tunas. We were trolling in 100 to 350 feet of water for that first hour. We even had a pesky sailfish on the right long rigger. I had a few shots at him before the fish finally faded away. I re-sharpened all the hooks and put all fresh baits back on top. It wasn’t 15 more minutes before I had a sailfish on one of the top baits. Just as I was getting Ed into the fighting chair, my left planer tripped, and I hooked up sailfish number two! I cleared all the lines so Paulie could start to drive the boat on the two fish. It was a tricky little struggle, but it all worked out, as we landed both fish. We sure ended up having a fantastic day. September 20, 2011 This afternoon the Lady Pamela and Lady Pamela IV both had afternoon trips. We headed offshore for dolphin and wahoo for the first three hours of both trips. Fishing was slow, with only a bonito and a few rainbow runners landed between the two boats. That is until the Lady Pamela found a cargo pallet floating in 500 feet of water. A quick radio call brought the LP IV in on the action! The Lady Pamela caught six wahoo and 10 nice dolphin up to 15 lbs., while the Lady Pamela IV caught four wahoo and four nice dolphin. Thanks to that pallet, what looked like a slow day, ended being two great trips! Tight Lines, Captain David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Email us ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 09-21-2011 | |
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September 15 Lady Pamela 2 All Day Dolphin Trip Lady Pamela 3- September 15, 2011 Today we left the dock at 8am with sixteen eager fishermen, my first mate Joe, 2nd mate Will, and myself. After a quick stop at Lauderdale Marina for drinks and snacks we headed out for what would turn out to be one of the best days of fishing this captain can remember. Joe was at the helm as Will and I started putting the baits out. Within two minutes of putting the lines out, we got our first bite. I set the hook on the first fish, handed it to an eager customer and turned around to witness four other rods bending over simultaneously. Five fish on and five fish in the box, a great start. As Joe continued to troll south, the hits kept coming with bonitos, black fin tuna, king mackerel and even a 30 pound wahoo coming over the rail of the LP3. Around noon we pulled in the trolling gear, and got out the bottom fishing tackle. I positioned the boat over one of my favorite wrecks and Joe and Will dropped our lines, baited with squid and bonito. As soon as they hit the bottom we were getting bites. For the next hour the crew pulled up Snapper after Snapper with some tasty Almaco jacks mixed in. After catching the Snapper I decided to try a long shot, we headed out to another spot that was even deeper. Once again the lines hit the bottom and instantly we were on the fish. Our customers were bringing up deep water Tilefish three at a time (Tilefish are a rare catch and some of the best table fare you can get). About this time the cooler could no longer accommodate any more fish, so Joe and Will started stuffing them in the live well. We continued catching the Tilefish until it was time to go in. On the journey back to the dock we stumbled upon a pair of Dolphin working a weed line in forty feet of water, Joe and Will threw a couple of live baits to these fish and we were hooked up. A twenty pound bull and a fifteen pound cow hit the deck, and were left on the deck because the fish box was full and so was the bait well. All and all an epic day. Two hours were needed to filet all the fish. Grand total for the day; 18 Bonitos, 8 Blackfin Tuna, a Wahoo, 8 King Mackerel, 4 Barracuda, 6 Almaco Jacks, 20 Vermillion Snapper, 46 Tilefish, and two Dolphin. Captain Adam Lady Pamela 3 www.ladypamela2.com 954- 761- 8045 Email us ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 09-09-2011 | |
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Capt. Quinton Dieterle September 9, 2011 Key Biscayne - Saltwater Fishing Report The Cutting edge is ready for the season now, and we practiced hard this weekend. Capt Mike at the wheel he managed some nice dolphin and some triple tail offshore and then to make the statement the season is here, banged out 5 Sailfish on the edge. The statement has been made, The Cutting Edge and its crew is fired up for this years action. The boat is in great shape with all NEW PENN tackle and All New Rods to help you and your family and friends get there dream catch. Contact us at 305-361-9740 Miamicharterfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-23-2011 | |
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August 17, 2011 Today was one spectacular day of shark fishing. Harlan and his family joined us on the Lady Pamela II for a day of deep sea fishing. We started the trip out trolling two planer boards and four surface baits that skip across the surface. Nice fresh bonito strips on all the rigs. We caught a few king mackerel and a nice blackfin tuna and a Spanish mackerel. The last hour of the trip we moved out to 350 feet of water for some shark fishing. Down went four fresh whole bonitos on 130 Penn Internationals loaded with 150 lb braided line. We left two baits on top, one in the middle, and a bottom bait. Right before we were going to reel up, the middle bait balloon got heavy, and I gunned the boat ahead to set the hook. Harlan got in the fighting chair for what turned into 30 minute battle. I sensed when we hooked the fish that it was a true monster as it took ½ spool of line on the 130 on the first run! When the leader finally got to the boat, I saw my first small eye thresher shark in Florida. It was the first one I had ever caught and only the 5th one I had ever heard of being caught in south Florida. These fish are normally caught in the Maryland, New York, New Jersey area. Great catch Harlan! August 18, 2011 This afternoon the Lady Pamela II went out trolling with Robert and his family from New Jersey. On the first pass in 100 feet of water we had a triple-header of bonitos, and everybody landed their fish. We got the baits back out as fast as we could and then caught four kingfish over the next 30 min. With plenty of time left, we went out a little deeper, from 250 out to 450 feet. We worked the baits back and forth between the depths and caught a 15 lb wahoo, a 30 lb wahoo, and a 20 lb barracuda. Trolling in the afternoons sure has been producing the some nice wahoos! Come join us! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Email us at ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-18-2011 | |
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August 11, 2011 Today was the big corporate charter that we have every year with a local insurance company here in sunny Fort Lauderdale. We had 10 boats booked from 8-2 p.m. It was like our own mini-tournament! My buddy David, the event organizer, fished on the Lady Pamela IV with mate Pauli and I. I should note that at the dinner party the night before, David stood up and said if no one catches a fish he would pay $400.00, at which time he turned around to me a said he would be talking it from my end! I was praying that everybody was catching fish, and they were. Most of the boats started trolling right off the bat, with the bonitas and king mackerals demolishing the baits. On the Lady Pamela IV we trolled the entire morning trip on the reef, then went Mahi Mahi hunting out in 800 feet of water. We had a sailfish on the right long rigger bait for a few shots and then he swam to the center rigger bait and Pauli missed him. Oh well, that's fishing! On the Lady Pamela, Darrin took his party shark fishing after after wearing them out on kingfish and bonitas. They waited for 45 minutes before hooking and releasing a 7 foot hammerhead shark. Another one of the boats caught a beautiful trophy sailfish. The pictures we got should be in a magazine. Long story short, all ten boats each caught 10 fish plus. The fish are biting: don’t miss out on some Fort Lauderdale fishing! August 12, 2011 The Lady Pamela III, Fort Lauderdale nicest drift fishing boat, had 14 people on board the 7-11 p.m. trip. On these night trips we anchor up and chum for snappers, groupers, kingfish, and what ever else bites. This night, the weather conditions where perfect and the fish where biting! We ended up catching 69 keeper snapper, mostly the best eating yellowtails and mangroves. Most amazing was that one person even reeled in a 3lb. spiny lobster! Lke I said, everything was biting that night! Hook em' up! Tight Lines, Capt, David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-15-2011 | |
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August 8 Today was one of the best days of my life. We had six on a split, Mark from Canada and Fabio from Brazil. Earlier that morning I picked up another trip for the Lady Pamela in my car and on the way to the boat the gentleman said that he wanted to go marlin fishing for the whole eight hours and I was explaining to the guy that blue marlin fishing is boring and you won’t get a bite so I dropped him off at the Lady PamelaI and I went to the Lady Pamela 4 to start my day. We left the dock at 8nat0 in the morning. We stared trolling the first four baits. We got out the outriggers, and had four Bonitas hooked up. The next 30 min it was nonstop as I made a pass in a 100 feet of water. We caught four kingfish up to15 lbs and a Mahi mahi around 10 lbs. We hooked another Bonita on the right rigger and Leo the mate asked who hasn’t caught a fish yet. Mark jumped right up and grabbed the rod. As Mark was reeling in the fish Leo and I saw two huge swirls behind the boat. I told Leo it was a big fish so Mark kept reeling in more line. Then all of a sudden this huge blue marlin started jumping away from the boat. I floored the boat in reverse because we were getting spooled, the fish was grey hounding for 400 yards, it was the craziest thing you would ever see. The next 5 hours of the trip was constant battle. The Marlin came close and we harpooned the fish, that lasted 10 minutes before the harpoon pulled out. One hour later another boat brought us another harpoon. Once getting the harpoon we had to wait for the fish to surface again when it did Leo didn’t hesitate to throw the poon and the second throw he got him we hooked the back of the harpoon rope to a 50 lb reel just in case the bouy went under and it did the blue marlin took all of our line on the 50. I told leo to grap a 130 lb reel and hook the 50 and to throw it over board. It took another 300 yards then I told them to push up the drag we were already one hour late and I did not want to be there all day so we took our chances. It was a long slowbatttle getting this monster from the deep blue ocean to surface but we did get him another hour ½ we got him the put us 31/2 hours late to the dock and a 51/2 hour battle some thing to never for get. Tight Lines, Fort Lauderdale Florida 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-14-2011 | |
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August 5 Max Pacioretty, left wing for the Montreal Canadians, and his family fished with us today. We bought a dozen goggleyes in the morning, on the way out, and started the trip trolling the reef. The fishing action was nonstop for two plus hours. We caught 5 kingfish and 10 bonita. The bonita were swimming north in 100' of water, in schools of thousands. It was a sight to see for the whole trip. Maxs' mother in-law was getting a little seasick so we tried some shark fishing for about an hour, with no bites. Max said lets reel them up and go home because everyone was getting a little seasick. As the last shark bait was being reeled in, I saw three huge mahi mahi swim by the boat. I ran up in the tower and started yelling at my mate Pauly to grab some spinning rods. As I was re-positioning the boat to find the fish Pauly was getting a goggleye out of the live well. I pointed out the fish to Pauly, he pitched the bait, and the fight was on with a 25 lb. mahi mahi. I told Pauly there were more fish there so he grabbed another spinner, and pitched a goggleye. It was another hookup and Rod Sergay , Max's father-in-law boated a 30 plus lb'er. What a great way to end a morning fishing trip in Fort Lauderdale! Come join us! Tight Lines, 954 761 8045 Capt David Ide www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 08-06-2011 | |
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Fort Lauderdale Fishing on Happy Day Today with Capt. Zsak We had a high pressure sitting over Fort Lauderdale FL for the past week, winds out of the east southeast, 8-12 mph, moderate chop and blue skies. Our charter today on the Happy Day Today Topshot Fishing was a group convention from AT&T from Pennsylvania. With large schools of Bonitos along with Black Fin Tunas mixed in migrating down the coast, and with the start of August also corresponding with the migration of Wahoo’s passing Fort Lauderdale FL makes for good fishing action We started off trolling off of the sea buoy in Fort Lauderdale, which sits in 120 ft. of water and puts us 1.8 miles from the beach. We are very fortunate that the drop off comes very close to the shore in Fort Lauderdale which puts us 15 minutes from the dock to the fishing ground, compared to Miami which is 7 miles off shore and Palm Beach 11 miles off shore. We put down two plainers, a #3 drome spoon on one plainer and the other had a black and purple sea witch in front of a double hook Bonito strip and four surface baits, two Ballyhoos and two Bonito strips. Trolling the drop off from 60 ft. of water to 200 ft. of water and trolling over different wrecks, produced a mixed bag of Bonitos from 8-15 lbs, Kings from 5-20 lbs, Tunas from 5-30 lbs. and Barracudas. With a good catch of fish on the charter boat Happy Day Today Topshot Fishing, it was time to start heading back from our deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale FL to the dock at Bahia Mar. This ends another successful and adventurous deep sea fishing charter on the Happy Day Today/Topshot Fishing with Captain Zsak. For a successful and adventurous Fort Lauderdale fishing on the Happy Day Today, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-04-2011 | |
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July 28 Gary and Victor from New Jersey came out on the Lady Pamela IV for three days in a row. The first day we went out in the afternoon. We went right to 350 feet of water and put out three shark baits, one on the kite, one on the bottom and one in 150 feet of water. We sat there for three hours before we finally got a bite, about a seven foot shark on the kite bait. But it didn’t last too long, the fish fell off and the four hour trip was up but Gary really loves shark fishing so they booked another trip for the next afternoon. Gary told me, David I don’t want to catch bait for sharks, I want to get on the boat and shark fish the whole trip he said I don’t care if I catch a fish, but all I want is sharks so that what we did. The next afternoon Gary and Victor showed up around 12:30. We got on the boat and untied the lines and stared shark fishing in 150 feet of water at the whistle buoy. It took about 45 minutes before we got a bite on the bottom. As soon as a 100 yds. of line was off the reel the fish fell off. We put the baits back out for 30 minutes and I decided to reel everything up and run 8 miles north. Leo put the baits out in 135 feet of water as soon as we stopped the boat. It took 20 min and we had a fish on Victor got into the chair took 30 turns on the reel and the fish got away. I felt bad for Victor because this was the third shark we lost in two trips. I was determined to catch Victor a monster shark. Just as it was time to reel in all the baits, the last rod in the water (before Leo had a chance to reel it in) bent over to the bottom and I gunned the boat ahead to set the hook. This time Victor was going to sit in the fighting chair for almost two hours and fight a fish that some people only dream about. It was a very long battle and took a lot of strength form both Leo and I. We finally got the monster 400 lb. bull shark tied up to the boat and there was a 35 lb cobia swimming around the monster bull shark. So I quickly grabbed a spinning rod and a live ballyhoo and pitched it several times before the huge cobia finally ate the bait. Then Victor didn’t get a break, he had to reel in another fish. This cobia didn’t take long maybe 10 minutes before I gaffed the cobia and threw him in the box. I told victor to sit on the box to keep them in it. I am sure this is a trip that Victor and I will never forget. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide www.ladypamela2.com ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 08-03-2011 | |
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Fort Lauderdale Fishing on Happy Day Today with Capt. Zsak With a pleasant breeze out of the east southeast at 8 mph, with sea conditions 1-2 feet, temperatures in the mid 80's, made it a very pleasant fishing charter for Britt and Chris Cook and family from Utah. Britt, Jr. is a junior angler at the age of 7, and was ready to do some deep sea fishing on the Happy Day Today Topshot Fishing Charter out of Fort Lauderdale FL. I questioned Britt, Jr. what he wanted to catch - he extended both arms out as far as they could go for a total of 4 ft. and said he would like to catch a Shark. Looking at his dad, I said, maybe we could catch one bigger than 4 ft, and off we went on our fishing charter adventure in Fort Lauderdale FL. We cleared the jetties; the sun was gleaming down and shimmering light on the water. I mentioned to Mitch, our mate, to start off first by doing trolling and then doing some Shark fishing. We trolled around one of our 34 artificial wrecks off of Fort Lauderdale FL which are located anywhere from 60' to 360' of water. We had two plainers down, one with a #3 drome spoon and the other with a blue and white sea witch with a Bonito strip behind it and 4 Bonito strips for surface baits. Our first bite was on our #3 drome spoon - a 10 lb. Bonito - which Britt, Jr. reeled, and I told Britt, Jr. that his catch was perfect size Shark bait. We trolled around, and the rest of the family caught a mix bag of Bonitos, King Fish and Barracudas. I told Mitch to get prepared to do some Shark fishing, and I headed out to the Shark grounds, which sits in one of our artificial wrecks off of Fort Lauderdale FL, sitting in 345' of water. These wrecks are home for residential fish, including bait fish such as Bullets, Runners and Speedos, and in return, the predators, such as Sharks, are lurking close by. We put out our Shark baits, one surface bait, one mid range bait and one bottom bait, with bloody carcasses hanging off the transom of the Happy Day Today charter fishing boat. We patiently waited for the Shark's arrival, and not too longer afterwards, we were not disappointed. Our mid range bait started taking out line very slowly - this is very unusual for a Shark to do - Mitch started bringing in the other lines. As the line continued to exit the reel at a slow rate, I told Britt, Sr. that this fish did not know he was hooked since he was swimming away at a normal rate. When the Shark realized he was hooked, the true battle started. The Penn 80 International Reel let out a high pitch sound as the line exited very quickly. Forty-five minutes later, as the Shark came close to the boat, we could all look down and see the glimmer of this huge predator. IT'S A THRESHER SHARK!!!!! A very rare Shark to catch off of Fort Lauderdale FL. Britt, Sr. brought the fish closer to the boat, measuring a little more than 13' and weighing approximately 500 lbs, which was a little bit bigger than what Britt, Jr. requested. We snapped pictures of the beautiful predator fish, and Britt, Sr. requested to make a replica mount of the Thresher Shark. As we released the fish, we could hear the big tail slap against the side of the boat. It was time to start heading back from our deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale FL to the dock at Bahia Mar. This ends another successful and adventurous deep sea fishing charter on the Happy Day Today/Topshot Fishing with Captain Zsak. For a successful and adventurous Fort Lauderdale fishing on the Happy Day Today, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 07-30-2011 | |
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July 21, 2011 LADY PAMELA I Today the Lady Pamela 1 had a full day charter for daytime swordfishing. We left the dock at 7 am in the morning and were going to return at 4 p, a long day on the water, but we wanted to catch a big swordfish to bring back and hang at the dock for Jim. We rigged a few Bonita strips and squids on the 15 mile run out, when we got to the sword grounds we had the reel ready to go so we dropped in 1800 feet of water off the double 0 mark, our first drop. It didn’t take 20 minutes and we had a bite but we lost him. So we made three more drops. While we had our sword bait on the bottom a whole school of Mahi- mahi swam up to the boat, 80 plus fish. In one hour we caught 45 Mahi -mahi great day for our customers, one fish after another on lite spinning rods but only 20 keepers the rest were to short to keep so we let them go. It was a long day, no swordfish but lots of Mahi. LADY PAMELA IV On the Lady Pamela IV we had two half day charters. In the morning we caught lots of kingfish and Bonitas on the troll and some small black fin tunas. In the afternoon trip we had Marcus from Venezuela and his family. We started the trip out trolling and caught five nice size kingfish up to 15 lbs. and four Bonitas. Then all of a sudden one of the planer rods bent over an stared ripping drag off the reel faster than normal and a nice sailfish started dancing all over the ocean. Leo cleared all the lines fast so Paul could start backing down the boat to chase the sailfish. It was a good 15 minutes before landing the sailfish. It was six foot in length and we tagged the billfish then let him swim away so we can catch him another day. Great job to Marcus from Venezuela. Marcus owns his own charter boat in Venezuela but never catches sailfish but he told me they catch a lot of big tiger sharks there. LADY PAMELA III Adam and Joe had the all-day dolphin Thursday trip today. Joe said it was definitely an exhilarating all-day of catching dolphin today. They found weed lines from 650 foot of water all the way out to 980 feet and Joe said that he couldn’t even get two lines out for most of the trip. They caught 60 Mahi-mahi on the 8 hour trip today and only got to bring home 12 Mahi- mahi the other dolphin where too short to keep. But it was great that there were 15 people and all 15 people got to catch 4 fish each that’s what makes a good trip. TIGHT LINES, CAPT DAVID IDE LADY PAMELA 2 SPORTFISHING CHARTERS WWW.LADYPAMELA2.COM |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 07-29-2011 | |
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Fort Lauderdale Fishing on Happy Day Today with Capt. Zsak With the weather in Boston almost breaking 100 degrees, Mr. Wayne Larqent, wife Anne, daughter Amy and son Sean came down to Fort Lauderdale FL for some cooler weather and a deep sea fishing charter on the Happy Day Today Topshot Fishing Charters. A slight breeze out of the east, 5-7 mph wind and temperatures in the mid 80’s was a perfect fishing day. We got an early start this morning, 7 am - I mentioned to Anne that there have been some nice Wahoos being caught off of Fort Lauderdale, and I suggested for us to target them first. With that in agreement, we started off trolling off of the sea buoy in Fort Lauderdale FL with two plainers, one with my favorite, a 3 ½ blue reflector drome spoon, and on the other was a pink and blue sea witch with a double hook Bonito stripe for bait (2 Bonito strips, one Ballyhoo and one Jap feather for surface baits). It was like Anne had a magic wand – once I told Anne and Amy to call the fish – “here fishie, fishie” – the pink and blue plainer rod bent over, the rod tip bounced up and down and the line exited the reel at an extremely fast rate. These were all indicators that we had a Wahoo hooked up. Anne had a tug of war with the Wahoo until finally Anne won and brought the fish to the boat. While Mitch, our mate, gaffed the Wahoo, I told everyone to step back and to be careful of its razor sharp teeth. Mitch could barely lift the 53”, 43 lb Wahoo out of the water, while it thrashed back and forth. Wayne had a smile on his face, knowing that there was plenty of meat on that one fish for many meals. Wayne, Amy and Sean took turns the rest of the fishing charter catching numerous Bonitos, King Fish and Barracudas. A good Happy Day Today was had for all in this fishing charter trip in Fort Lauderdale FL!!!! It was time to start heading back from our deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale FL to the dock at Bahia Mar. This ends another successful and adventurous deep sea fishing charter on the Happy Day Today/Topshot Fishing with Captain Zsak. For a successful and adventurous Fort Lauderdale fishing on the Happy Day Today, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 07-22-2011 | |
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Fishing on the CUTTING EDGE The last couple of days have produced nice catches of Dolphin (maui). Large grass patches and Debra are holding the fish. Mostly 4 to 5 pounders but we are finding some larger fish. On the edge we are still finding some smaller dolphin and a occasional big Kingfish. Bonito still are thick on the edge. Give us a call, we have some days available-- 305-361-9740 Cutting Edge Charters Capt Q |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 07-14-2011 | |
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July 1, 2011 The Ellison family from Texas came out fishing today with Josh and I for a full day charter. We started out catching a few live baits at a ship that was anchored for a few weeks in 100 feet of water. The live baits that we caught where speedos and blue runners. After getting the live bait we started trolling to the north with four top baits out and two deep planers out. We caught a few kingfish and bonitas. The trolling was nonstop and we ended up catching 10 bonitas an 4 kingfish. Then all of a sudden I hooked an Atlantic Sailfish off the bridge, on the high line. Mr. Ellison’s son got into the chair, and it took about 20 min before we landed the 83” sailfish. We tagged the fish real quick and released it. Then we stared shark fishing in 350 feet of water with three shark baits. It took one hour before I got the bite and I gunned the boat ahead to set the hook. We got Mr. Ellison into the fighting chair. It ended up being a 9 foot hammer head shark. After landing the hammer head we went wreck fishing with the live baits we caught earlier during the trip. I went to five different ship wrecks from 160 feet to 245 feet and we caught one huge Almaco jack that fell off as we were bringing it in the boat. It was a long day out on the water but we caught fish the whole trip. The Lady Pamela 3 Morning Drift Fishing Trip July 2,2011 Today the Lady Pamela 3 on the afternoon trip 1-5 had one of the best drift fishing trips we had ever had. Using fresh sardines and ballyhoos two to three hook rigs using 2 or 3 oz leads. We where fishing in a 100 – 180 feet of water the fishing was red hot. Every body on the boat was catching fish the boat drift boat the Lady Pamela 3 caught 28 bonitas, one Almaco jack about 30 lbs, a 29 lb Blackfin tuna, two mutton snappers, and three kingfish one spectacular fishing trip. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide Lady Pamela 2 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-26-2011 | |
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June 19th On Sunday, Steven and his grandson came fishing aboard the Lady Pamela IV with John, Jose, Rick and Rob from 1-5PM. Steven was from Texas and had been deep sea fishing a few times before, but no luck with catching any big fish. We wanted to put Steven on the fish so we started the trip trolling two planers and four top baits. There was a lot of seaweed around and it is hard to troll when the conditions are like this. We started to catch some bonitas and had a few kingfish bites. I got tired of cleaning all the seaweed off the lines so we got the kites ready with some big shark bait rigs to switch things up. Steven and Jose helped reeling the trolling stuff in and we stopped in 150 feet of water right in front of Port Everglades and popped two kites up with live cigar minnows and threadfin herring that we caught in Miami a few days before. The wind was blowing south east at 15 MPH as we got the spread out. All of a sudden a little storm rolled in from the west and I had to position the boat around and head into the wind. We sat like this for 30 minutes before I reeled in the kites because the wind was up and down. We kept the big shark baits out, I told Dave, the mate, to get the snapper rigs ready, and we were going to catch our people some eating fish because the fishing was a little slow. While Dave was inside I saw our bobber go down and I gunned the boat ahead to set the hook. Dave came running out to see what was going on and I was telling everybody to reel in the other bait so they wouldn’t get tangled in the rod that we had the fish on. Steven jumped into the fighting chair, got all strapped in, and went to battle. I have been fishing for many years out here I have never seen so much line pull off the reel in one shot. We hooked the fish in 110 feet right off Fort Lauderdale beach and the fish ran to 650 feet of water. For one hour we never saw the fish, when we did in was a true sea monster. It was a 12 ½ foot Great Gray Hammerhead Shark. Steven was very tired and so was the shark. The shark was dead when we pulled it through the transom door into the boat. It took all six guys to do so and I threw my back out in the process. The fish weighed close to 750 lbs. It was awesome. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 06-22-2011 | |
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In my past 35 years of fishing, I have been fortunate to travel around the world twice, fishing every ocean from Australia to Mauritius, meeting and making friends to all sorts of people from fishermen to artists to entertainers. Back in the early 1980’s, I had an opportunity to meet Guy Harvey in Costa Rica. We have continuously crossed paths while fishing around the world and discovered that we had mutual friends, such as Marsha Beirman, Helen Grant, and Bobby Dehart. Last month I was fortunate to be invited to fish in the First Annual Biminis Big Game Club Billfish Invitational Tournament which was held at the Biminis Big Game Hotel, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort. All sorts of Guy Harvey’s memorabilia’s were on exhibit at the resort, along with the history of the Island and Hemingway. In the three days of fishing this tournament, numerous Blue Marlins were hooked up, along with Wahoos, Mahi Mahi’s and Yellow Fin Tunas. It was good to meet up with some of my dearest old fishing friends and captains, such as Captain Ned Stone, who is now the Director of Program Development at the Outpost Resort and Captain Billy Black who moved his operations from Walkers to Biminis, to name a few. At the awards banquet, a roast was held as a birthday gift for Frank Johnson, who is world wide famous for his Mold Craft Lures. Numerous guests went up to the podium to tell Frank Johnson stories and how he got into the lures business, including Pete Woods of Woods & Associates and Jack Eriskline from Australia who is a well known sculpturer and did the sculpture in front of the IGFA and Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. It was great to be a part of the functions held at the Guy Harvey Outpost Resort. Remember, for a successful and adventurous Fort Lauderdale fishing on the Happy Day Today, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-21-2011 | |
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June 13 Today my friend john an his sister Pamela chartered the Lady Pamela 2 for a half day fishing charter in the morning off of fort Lauderdale beach. We cut fresh Bonita strips in the morning so we would have the best bait possible to catch a lot of fish. Once getting all the lines out two down deep and four up top we were ready to catch some fish the fish two hours were slow no bites at all. We end up trolling 8 miles south to a wreck once getting to the shipwreck we keep trolling in circles around the wreck every pass we were catching kings and Bonita an a cero mackerel. John an Pamela were catching fish for the last part of the trip when I told Dave to reel all the lines in we got one last strike a atlantics sailfish it was great john had never been deep sea fishing before an the last two hour of the trip were great up until this point john an Pamela thought it was boring. It turned out to be a great day for john an Pamela now there going to expect a sailfish on every trip they told me when they left . June 14 Fort Lauderdale Drift-Fishing Lady Pamela 3 Tonight the lady Pamela 3 had 8 people on the night snapper trip. Every night we anchor up and chum for yellow-tail snapper, muttons, grays, vermon, an schoolmasters tonight the yellowtail fishing was pretty good in 50 feet of water we caught 30 yellowtail snappers up to 19in and two legal muttons as well a good snapper trip for 8 people. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide Lady Pamela 2 www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-14-2011 | |
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June 8 James and Matt and their wives came fishing this morning on the Lady Pamela 4 to try their luck deep sea fishing here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We started the trip out cutting fresh bonito strips for trolling with sea witches and planners. As soon as we got to 80 feet of water we started to put all four top baits out an two deep lines ( 60 ft. under the surface ). It wasn’t long before we had a few bonitos hooked up at one time. For the whole trip we had nonstop action kingfish, bonitos, and a nice wahoo. The wahoo was a great fight it took 20 min to catch the wahoo, James was telling us the whole trip that it was the best fishing trip he had ever been on. We came in 40 minutes early because Matt got a little sick but at the end of the trip we had 7 big kingfish, one 50 lb. wahoo, and 8 bonitos. That’s a great four hour trip. June 9 Today was the All-Day dolphin trip we go every Thursday for the whole day for $90.00. We take 15 people on the Lady Pamela 3.We started the trip out cutting fresh strips for trolling all day. We normally take 15 people but today we only had ten. Trolling eight lines with fresh strips and ballyhoos we where catching fish all day long they caught 20 Bonita’s, 10 kingfish, a few yellowtail snappers and cero mackerels an some black fin tunas an to Mahi- Mahi. It was a very successful all- day dolphin fishing trip the boat end up cathing over forty fish. Tight Lines, Capt. David Ide Lady Pamela 2 www.ladypamela2.com 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-07-2011 | |
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June 4, 2011 8-12 morning This morning Paul an I had 6 guys down in fort Lauderdale for a bachelor party. They never really had been deep sea fishing before so we had some fresh bonitos in the morning that we cut up into strips. This time of year have fresh bonito strips is key for trolling. Our first pass in a 150 feet of water we had a triple header on. One kingfish, Bonita, and a small black-fin tuna. Evan couldn’t believe it for the three hours we where trolling it was as fast as I could work every time I turned around we had another fish on the line bonitos, king fish, black fin tunas we also caught a few small mahi - mahi that we had to let go because they where to short to keep. Evan and friends got sea sick so we came in early but the fishing was red hot we ended up catching seven kingfish, 6 bonitos , 3 mahi- mahi , 3 black-fin tunas. And we came in one hour early. 1-5 Afternoon On the after noon trip we had Doug an Kevin an some of there business clients they took the afternoon trip because the fishng has been a little better. And it was we started trool as soon as we got to a 100 feet using two planners down deep around 60 feet under the surface and four baits on top as soon as we got all the lines in the water we had 2 bonitos on one doug in the fighting chair an one guy standing up with a belt on. The next two hour strait we couldn’t keep a bait in the water it was unreel at one time the Lady Pamela 1 had a sailfish on right next two us we keep circleing the Lady Pamela 1 an Paul yell there he is on the right long rigger so I picked the rod up and hooked the sail we cleared all the other rods and backed down hard an it took 1 min or so but we landed a nice 6 foot sail fish and the Lady Pamela 1’s sailfish was 5 ½ feet the trooling has been as good as it get the last couble of days. So after that two hours of none stop action Doug an his friends want to try some shark fishing. FORT LAUDERDALE DRIFT FISHING This morning our DRIFT FISHING boat the LADY PAMELA 3 went out with 18 people. Fishing between 90 an 180 feet of water using fresh sardines and ballyhoos with three hook rigs an 1oz lead. They caught 18 Bonita’s, 2 big Mahi Mahi, 5 big kingfish, and a few yellowtail snapper. That’s a great catch for the drift boat this time of year every day on the lady Pamela 3 for the last two weeks the drift fishing has been great. Tight lines, Capt David Ide Lady Pamela 2 sport fishing www.ladypamela2.com (954) 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-05-2011 | |
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Chuck and family from a small “HOME TOWN” of Mitchell, South Dakota came fishing aboard the Lady Pamela 3 on our daily drift fishing trip yesterday. The fishing was excellent the boat caught some big trigger fish, a few 8-12 pound bonitos and a big kingfish. At the last moment of the trip, we had to reel in and head back home. Right at this time Chuck hooked in to a monster fish. He fought the fish for a while and when it came up to the surface, Joe, the first mate on the boat shouted, monster kingfish. The deckhands rushed to grab the bigger gaff and ran to the corner of the boat to gaff the king. Good job Chuck on catching the biggest fish of the trip, a 30 king fish. May is a good month for catching a wide variety of bottom fish and surface feeders on the drift boat. On the Drift fishing we are also catching kingfish, mutton snappers, yellowtail snappers, grouper, bonito and black fin tunas. There is some good deep sea fishing out there these days. (Testimonial) David, Thanks for the great fishing experience. May 2011 to see Mike Miller of The Heat, take in a couple of great basketball games and do some fishing. Mike Miller is from our small "hometown" of Mitchell, SD pop. 14,500. As you can see from my pictures that our prize fish was the 51" King that I caught, as well as some other fine catches by my brother Mike, my dad Chuck Sr. and Uncle Tony. Thanks again! Tight Lines, Lady Pamela 2 Sportfishing charters Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-31-2011 | |
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May 19 Today Lamar Scott and bob came fishing aboard the lady Pamela IV. We stared the trip out trolling using fresh Bonita strips and new sea witches with a 80 foot leader the fishing was great. The first few fish were 15-20 lb kingfish Scott and Lamar both caught the first two our next couple of bites where black fin tunas around the 5- 8 lb range in 200 feet of water is where we are catching the black fin tunas . Next all of a sudden a nice sailfish on the right long rigger I was in the cockpit and I told paul to put the boat in a turn well I feed the fish now I yell I've got him and it was jumping all over the ocean it makes one great trip if you catch Atlantic sailfish. May 20 Today ran the boat and Paul was in the cockpit working hard as normal. We were on a big convention and the group we had only wanted to catch big sharks so we spent the whole trip using 200 lb test 130 penn reels and big kingfish head on the bottom four rods it took a few hours but once we got the bite the fight was on. It took a good 30 min and we had a rare Cuban night shark. The first one I had ever caught in the daytime it was a great trip. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 Lady Pamela 2 Fishing Charters |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 05-28-2011 | |
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Fishing in Ft.Lauderdale fl aboard the charter boat "Happy Day Today" 46' Hatteras. The temperature in South Florida, Ft. Lauderdale may be rising but our prevailing winds out of the southeast cools temperatures down to make deep sea fishing pleasant either in the morning or afternoon. Our charter boat has everything included, all tackle, licensing, coolers/ice and a air conditioned salon. The charter boat is clean, fully equipped with all electronics, and our local ft lauderdale fishing tackle shops supply us with fresh bait and tackle so experienced fishermen would appreciate a well run charter boat with either Capt. Tom Z or Capt Rick B at the helm. This morning we have guests from Protective Insurance who have offices in AL, CA, FL and IL. Protective Ins had a convention in ft lauderdale and there were four charter boats fishing 20 personso in the charter. Protective Ins contacted around and was told to book throught the charter boat Happy Day Today for their deep sea fishing. People from all over the country came down to enjoy our beautiful weather and do some deep sea charter fishing here in Ft. Lauderdale South Florida. We started off by doing some trolling. After fishing for and catching four King Fish, twp Bonitas and one Black FinTuna, I decided to do some wreck fishing. We have 34 artificial local wrecks sunk off our deep sea waters in fort lauderdale fl. Some of the wrecks dating back to 1974 – these wrecks range from 40 ft. of water, also accommodating divers, to 550 ft of water, and are homes for many different species of fish. This time of the year, the majority of our wrecks hold a variety of fish: Amberjacks, Snappers, Groupers, Cobias and Sharks. These types of fish are mostly bottom dwellers. By using a circle 18/0 with an 80lb leader, we drop live bait down into the wrecks. I positioned myself above one of our artificial wrecks in Ft. Lauderdale in 240 ft. of water, using a live Goggle Eye fish for bait with a circle hook and two lbs. of lead to fight the current that was traveling at 3 ½ knots to the north. When you hit the bottom with your lead, it is best to take six turns on the real to raise the bait off of the bottom, eliminating the possibility of getting hooked to the wreck. With the live bait down, our first angler was Carrie Profaizer from St. Louis. All of a sudden, the rod bents over and Carrie is holding on to the rod with both hands. The fish took out 25 lbs. of drag from the spider line – we knew we had a good size fish hooked. Twenty minutes later, Mitch, our mate, grabbed the leader and there appeared a 45 lb. Amberjack – pictures were taken and the fish was released. When you release a fish, the bladder is filled with air so you squeeze the abdominal area of the fish to remove the air caught in his stomach making it easier for the fish to swim back down to the wreck. The second angler was Dan Barrie from Chicago who caught another Amberjack fish approximately the same weight. Our last stop was right out in front of the sea bouy, with 45 minutes left in the charter, we quickly poped up wth kites and tried for a Sailfish. Lucky for all of us, there she was on the left long, fed perfect, one of the anglers who never caught a Sailfish wanted to catch one soo bad, so we gave him the option, the mate can hook the Sailfish or Paul could, he said yes, grabbed the TLD 25 and did a great job, fed the fish, came tight, kept reeling and fought the fish standing up, it pretty cool to be watching an angler deep sea fishing in fort lauderdale fl and fight the Sail for 20 minutes, then up to the boat, Mitch billed the fish, got the hook out of his mouth, got some great picutres and let the Sail go, she swam away just fine. Its tought to beat a Goggleye out of the kite, Sails love'em. It was time to start heading back from our deep sea salt water fishing charter to the dock at Bahia Mar, fishing fort lauderdale fl is a Sout Florida marina. This ends another successful and adventurous deep sea fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today with Captain Tommy Zsak. For a successful and adventurous deep sea fishing fort lauderdale charter excursion on the Happy Day Today in sunny South Florida, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-21-2011 | |
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MAY FRIDAY THE 13 Lady Pamela 2 Darin and I headed to Bimini Bahamas to go yellow fin tuna fishing with Gary and Greg. The Friday morning we got there we cleared customs and got are gear off the boat and ran 35 miles north east of bimini Bahamas and started looking for birds it didn’t talk very long before we found the bird I stared pitching live pilchards every where but never got a bite. It was a good two hours before I saw another patch of tunas birds. This time we got the tunas well I was throwing live baits darin, Greg, and Gary where all hooked up on yellow-fin tunas. This particular time we Caught four tunas two around 50 lbs and 1 around 70 lbs, 1 30 lber. Not bad to start since we left the Bimini Harbor at10:00 am in the morning it was 1:45 P.M at this time. We kepp looking for the tuna bird darin and I were on watch the whole day Gary and Greg called us the bandits or outlaws because we love what we do and were the best at it. We didn’t stop catching fish the rest of the day there mighthave been a few 30 min sessions where we didn’t get a bite for the most part we were on the fish. There is no fishing like Yellow-Fin tuna fishing in the Bahamas it’s the finest thing I had ever done. We go every April, May, June, July there is nothing like it in the world. Around 5:00 P.M that day Gary an Greg could not reel in any more fish or they just didn’t want to I could understand because the next day my whole body hurt. So we returned to Bimini harbor at 6:00 P.M and started to unload or fish we had 13 Yellow-Fin tunas and the smallest one being 20 lbs and the biggest 80 lbs it was a great day. May 14 The next morning getting to the boat drain told me the live bait died over night witch wasn’t good because finding the pilchards in bimini could be hard we looked for three hours caught some live googleyes and some blue runner Gary an Greg made the call to mutton snapper fish because the full moon the snapper are spoaning an to try some grouper fishing so we anchored on a wreak in 90 feet for hours not one bite. So we picked up the anchor and went to a wreck in 76 feet where we using catch the muttons. We stared catching amberjacks we end up catching 5 up to 50 lbs abd two nice yellowtail snappers and two smaller grouper we had a few big black grouper bite but they got away not bad fishing for two days in the Bahamas. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 05-12-2011 | |
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Deep Sea Fishing on the Happy Day today in Ft. Lauderdale South Florida is a great Birthday gift, as it was experienced by Wayne Fountain and his wife Allison from South Carolina, along with their friends, Jim and Sharon. It was a beautiful sunny day in Ft. Lauderdale. The sun was shinning, the wind was out of the west northwest 5-10 mph, 1-2 ft. seas and purple water into a depth of 60 feet. Our target today was Sailfish so we purchased a dozen Goggle Eyes from Bud the baitman. The current had been running between 3-4 knots to the north, so I positioned the boat on a wreck off of South Florida Ft. Lauderdale. We started off by flying two kites with two live Goggle Eyes from each kite. Five minutes into flying the kites, Allison was not feeling like herself, an aftermath from yesterday’s early celebration of Wayne’s birthday, and was thinking of returning to the dock in Ft. Lauderdale if she did not feel better within a few minutes. All of a sudden, the Atlantic Sailfish changed her mind. On the left short kite, a Sailfish with its pitch black dorsal fin out of the water and its bill swatting at the live bait from the kite, got hooked up. With the 40 lb. test line screaming off the Shamano real, the Sailfish jumped out of the water with the sun’s rays glittering off his body. Allison’s discomfort all of a sudden vanished. The Sailfish decided to turn 180 degrees and tail-walked towards the boat, putting on a spectacular show. Twenty minutes into the battle, Allison brought the fish to the boat. Mitch, our mate, lifted the Sailfish into the boat for pictures and an autograph , afterwards releasing the Sailfish. The Sailfish measured 83”, estimated 55 lbs. Wayne told Allison that she had made the right decision by staying a few more minutes – now it was the birthday boy’s turn. Sailfish on the right long kite bait! This Sailfish was very fortunate because he grabbed the bait off the hook and got a free meal. The current was going very quickly to the north of Ft. Lauderdale, and the next wreck was coming up quickly. As I positioned the boat close to the wreck, a Sailfish on the right short kite bait came immediately out of the water 100 feet from the boat, showing his beautiful neon colors. This was Wayne’s Sailfish and within 15 minutes, he brought the Sailfish to the boat, as Mitch lifted the fish for picture taking. This one measured 84”, 55-60 lbs. It was now time to end our deep sea fishing charter trip off of Ft. Lauderdale South Florida, so we headed back to the dock. For a successful and adventurous deep sea salt water fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today in sunny South Florida Ft. Lauderdale, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-10-2011 | |
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May 8th, 2011 What a great way to spend Mother’s Day; on the water, sport fishing in Fort Lauderdale. All of our boats had full day sport fishing charters today (Lady Pamela I, Lady Pamela III, Lady Pamela IV and the Lady Pamela V). The Lady Pamela I left the dock before the rest of us and got a head start on the fishing. They ended the day with a few high fives after catching a lot of Bandit Rudder fish, an Almaco Jack on a 9500 spinning rod with Sufix 65lb braid and a speed jig and a Sailfish on a pink and white seawitch while trolling. The Lady Pamela III caught two 50lb Amberjacks on Williamson deep jigs, Bonito fish, King Mackerel and a few Blackfin Tuna. The Lady Pamela IV, which I was running, only fished for a total of 3 hours catching a Rainbow Runner and an Almaco Jack. The Lady Pamela V, the newest addition to our fleet (36 ft Invincible center consol boat), fished a total of 8 hrs and caught a 20lb Mahi Mahi, a 200 lb Sandbar Shark, 4 King Mackerel and 3 Bonito fish. Fishing was fantastic in Fort Lauderdale today. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | Quinton Dieterle | Date Posted: | 05-06-2011 | |
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Fishing Off Miami/Key Biscayne has been consistant with Sailfish and ton's of bonito. The big kings have not showed up yet in numbers but there are a few around. The surprise is the lack of Dolphin, we usually by now are catching at least some small fish, but there has been none to speak of. Calm weather over the weekend is most likely going to slow things down on the surface but for action fish the bonito will not go away and amberjacks are steady on the wrecks. Tight Lines Q Dieterle Cutting edge Fishing |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-06-2011 | |
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May 1, 2011 Sunday morning Rusty and I went fishing with a couple of repeat clients out of New England. Mike and Katie go out with us a few times each year for the past 7 years and have great success on every trip. On the way out we picked up a dozen goggleyes and began trolling in front of Ft. Lauderdale in seas of 2-4 feet and winds out of the SE at 15-20 knots. We hooked up some bonito and decided to kite fish; every year Mike and Katie catch a sailfish with us and we didn't want to break tradition. Mike did mention that he'd like to hook into a hammerhead shark and we also put out some big baits over the side to oblige. Ask and ye shall receive! It didn't take long before he was sitting in the fighting chair cranking on a Penn 130 reel with a strong, 8-foot hammerhead on the line pulling in the opposite direction. A Boston native, Mike is a very loyal client and they are lucky to always catch some cool fish while they are out with us. While this is happening below us, Katie and I hook into a mahi-mahi from up in the flying bridge. After letting the shark go free and retrieving our hooks we finish the fight from up top and put a 10-lb. dolphin into the fish box. The conditions were still good to keep the kites up and our good fortune continued as another hammerhead took the bait. The 6-foot fish gave us a battle on the 30-lb. test line before breaking off and sending us back to port with more memories of Ft. Lauderdale sportfishing. May 2, 2011 This afternoon we had Lady Pamela 1 with Capt. Keith and Randy and Lady Pamela 4 manned by Capt. Leo and Dave trying to out-do each other for company bragging rights. Both boats were out around 1PM, with LP1 starting out with trolling, and Leo on the LP4 sending up the kites. The surface baits did their job and it didn't take long before we had a nice sailfish hooked up. Like a ballerina with a pointy bill, the sailfish leapt and danced over the waves trying to throw the hook and get free. A half-hour later the crew had the fish next to the boat, attached a tracking tag and released it back to the depths. Leo and Dave also caught a few kings and a fat, 30-lb. blackfin tuna for later consumption. The Lady Pamela 1 trolled around and filled the box with bonito, king mackerel, and mahi-mahi before calling it a day. Tight Lines and Happy Cinco de Mayo! Capt. David Ide Lady Pamela 2 Sportfishing www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-02-2011 | |
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April 25-28, 2011 Lady Pamela 2 Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 The last 4 days of fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale have been fantastic; some of the best fishing I've ever seen. The morning trip on the 25th had us catching lots of blackfin tuna, with 4 fish weighing over 10-lbs. each and 3 nice mahi-mahi of about the same size. After catching lunch and dinner it was time to kick it up a notch and go for something a little bigger. Our clients were excited when we hooked them up with a beautiful 6-foot sailfish to round out a great morning of sportfishing. Another clear and sunny day greeted us on the morning of April 26 and we began fishing on the troll. For the first couple of hours we had been using sea witch lures with fresh-cut bonito strips on #4 and #6 planers, and 4 bonito strip set-ups on our outriggers- maximum coverage for the best results. King mackerel were snapping like crazy and we kept seven of the larger ones and a few smaller blackfin tuna. We were nicely warmed-up and Capt. Pauly and I decided to send up the kites. No sooner did we get our left side bait out when a 5-foot sailfish was eating it! Pauly started reeling in immediately but the fish was wrapped up in the line and managed to jump off. We took about an hour to get the rest of our spread set up properly in about 170-feet of water. Well worth the effort, we watched as a fat 6-foot hammerhead shark swam up to our right long kite bait and take it- a perfect catch to end an awesome day of fishing. We've had some fantastic weather for fishing and the morning of the 27th was more of the same. Capt. Pauly and I had a split group on the boat looking to catch "... something big...", and nobody was disappointed. Many large fish are migrating past southern Florida now and we hooked up with a few on Wednesday. "Something big " turned out to be a HEAVY 10-foot hammerhead shark, a fish they thought they'd only catch in their dreams! The dream continued that morning as the guys also hooked up with 2 large sailfish that managed to throw the hook- not a bad score for a half days fishing. We were anxious to get out again in the afternoon and returned to where we had such good luck earlier in the day.Trolling out to where we had been kept us busy catching kingfish, bonito, and blackfin tuna for a few hours. Success was with us again when we sent up the kite rigs and were rewarded with a 25-lb. cobia, a beautiful fish. Another day in paradise fishing right out in front of the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale! Our all-day drift boat trip on Thursday was able to take advantage of the number of large fish passing through this time of year. No surprise at hooking up mahi-mahi and blackfin tuna, but the 7-foot hammerhead shark they caught was a thrill for everyone on board. Our 36-foot Invincible, the Lady Pamela 5, was out on a 6-hour trip with "Let's Take A Hero Fishing". Capt. Tex caught a few mahi-mahi and won a tournament for a happy sailor with a nice sized sailfish. The weather is great and we're having some of the best fishing we can remember- sharks, snapper, and sailfish are all in town and we're out everyday catching them! Join us for a fantastic day of fishing here in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Tight Lines! Capt. David Ide Lady Pamela 2 Sportfishing Charters 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com Or email ladypamela2@bellsouth.net |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 05-02-2011 | |
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Florida Fishing Charters South Florida fishing report for April 26 May 2 Captain Jim Hale www.floridasportfishingcharters.com 786-255-1788 This week Tarpon Shark and Bonefish Fishing here in South Florida is excellent, especially for large Tarpon around the Miami area. I have been putting a lot of time in the last week fishing for Tarpon especially around Miami at night. When the tide is right we are averaging 5 to 15 bites on live crabs. This week we had a night never to forget unfortunately. Sal Carigliano of Boca fished at night with me in Goverment Cut hooked and landed one Tarpon around 90 pounds. The second Tarpon he hooked screamed drag and pulled us out of the cut and into open water I figured the Tarpon around 160 pounds. About 50 minutes into the fight he brought the Tarpon by the boat and I leadered the fish to take a photo, Seconds later the fish made another amazing run....I figured something bad was happening. We had plenty of light on the boat to see an estimated 17 foot Oceanic Hammerhead Shark making a full charge at the Tarpon. I grabbed a knife and cut the line to free the fish and give it an opportunity to escape. This all happened about 8 feet from the boat ! The sharks body came three quarters of the way out of the water and thrashing violently on 3 occasions trying to get the Tarpon. Now we were trying to escape, before I knew it the shark came under the boat to get the Tarpon again and tried to jump this time lifting the port side of the boat up a bit ! With the dorsal fin resting against my port side rub rail and looking down on me it seemed I floored the boat in an all out "get the hell out of here move !" I Don't think the Tarpon made it.... But we did ! In the Keys Tarpon are on the move on the ocean. Many are cruising from bridge to bridge. On the outgoing tide I am finding them swimming strong, we are getting plenty of shots on fly. In the backcountry they are moving good on the banks but the laid up fish are starting to thin out for now from what I see. In Florida Bay "Flamingo" the Tarpon kinda disappeared with the windy conditions we had. However they will show up soon in masses of the West coast any day . They will eat lures and live bait like mullet in a heart beat. Also Leonard Charlton and David Green from London England fished Flamingo and the two excellent anglers caught large Sheepshead Snapper ,Trout and 2 Large Bull Sharks out front. Within two weeks we should have our first good Palolo worm hatch in the middle and lower Keys. The worm hatch is something all Tarpon fisherman should see and fish one time in their life. The hatch usually happens on the first full moon in May but can happen on the new moon as well. The hatch normally happens on theses moon phases in May and June for several nights. The hatch times will vary depending on the tide and the moon. Some areas will have a hatch on some nights and others wont. When we get in the middle of a hatch this is an excellent time to catch a Tarpon on fly using a "worm fly". When the worms hatch and swim toward the ocean the Tarpon will only eat the Palolo worms. It is a sight to see, nothing but Tarpon everywhere sipping and gulping the Palolo worms as they swim through the bridges. The Tarpon act as if they are drunk, rolling on their sides, tail slapping the water and doing crazy things Just feet from the boat and not having a care that there are skiffs everywhere with anglers loaded with fly rods. This is not only for fly anglers but we have used spinning rods with the worm fly as bait and have had good success. In Biscayne Bay we fished for Bonefish on Friday and I am happy to say that I saw more Bonefish than I have seen in nearly two years, the unfortunate thing is that we didn't get a hook in one! We traditionally fished stalking the flats with a spinning rod and had many good shots with some bad luck mixed in! On many occasions we would get some cloud cover and not being able to clearly see the swarm of Bones approaching, then as the sun would appear, there would be forty to fifty Bones in a nice sized school high tailing it away from us. It was that kinda day! Look for a report soon. Good luck Capt. Jim Hale |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 04-26-2011 | |
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Here in South Florida Ft. Lauderdale, just another typical sunny day - winds out of the east southeast 10-15 mph. Rick Thomas and family, along with his friend, Michael, who is 84 years old, all from Georgia chartered the Happy Day Today to do some deep sea salt water fishing in Ft. Lauderdale South Florida. We started off by doing some trolling with 3 Ballyhoos for surface baits for both long riggers and center, and Bonita strips with squiggley’s in front of both short riggers. Our two plainers consisted of a blue and white sea witch with a Bonita strip behind it and on the other plainer rod we had a pink sea witch with a Bonita strip. Our target was to just catch fish for Mr. Thomas and Mike. We started fishing off of the sea buoy in Ft. Lauderdale South Florida in 120 ft of water looking for some King fish. Finding some bait fish over a local artificial wreck, we started to catch King fish ranging from 5-12 lbs with a couple of Bonita’s mixed in. Bonitas are in the Tuna family and are very strong fighting fish. As I moved over to the next artificial wreck the left plainer rod tripped. Was it another King fish? To Mr. Thomas’ surprise, a Sailfish started jumping behind the boat. As this Atlantic Sailfish did his acrobats, showing us his power and neon colors, it was a site for Michael putting a smile on his face. Mr. Thomas reeled in the Sailfish, and Mitch our mate leaned over to hold the fish for picture taking. We released the fish - cheers could be heard from quite a distance. Trolling around, picking away at more King fish and Bonitas, the left plainer rod tripped again – this time to our surprise it was a 20 lb. Wahoo. The Wahoo is the fastest fish in the ocean clocked at 64 mph, and an excellent eating fish – pure white meat. It was time to start heading back from our deep sea fishing charter to the dock at Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale South Florida. This ends another successful and adventurous deep sea fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today with Captain Zsak. For a successful and adventurous deep sea salt water fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today in sunny South Florida Ft. Lauderdale, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-26-2011 | |
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Fort lauderdale bahamas fishing lady pamela 2 April 19-20 April 19, 2011 Bimini was our destination as Darin and I headed out of Ft. Lauderdale on our brand new 36′ Invincible to film a fishing program in the Bahamas. A picture-perfect Tuesday morning began with us picking up Jimmy and the camera crew guys at Bimini Bay Resort for our first day of shooting. We ran the boat out to a wreck sitting in 90 feet of water and Jimmy hooked up a nice, fat 70-lb. amberjack with the first bait. Not to be outdone, Darin drops his live speedo over the side and catches an amberjack of his own. I send down another speedo and Jimmy lands a 20-lb king mackerel. I headed the boat to Cat Key and tried some grouper fishing at depths to 70 feet, but only caught a 30-lb king mackerel and a smaller kingfish. April 20, 2011 Over dinner last night Darin and I decided that for Day 2 we would run 30 miles NE to the tuna grounds. Rumors were that the yellowfin tuna were around so we took the gamble and made the big run in the morning. For the first 2 hours the only thing we caught was a tan until I spotted a group of birds. I headed in and ran circles around the birds, getting a bite on a horse ballyhoo using a 30-lb. rod. I was fighting a 50-lb. yellowfin tuna for 35 minutes, long enough for us to lose track of where the birds were. Searching for the rest of the day, it was around 5PM when I found them again and we ended up catching 7 yellowfin tuna. One fish that Darin caught on a 20-lb. spinner easily weighed in at 70-lbs. - minus the shark bite taken out of its side! During all the mayhem we had seen a Great White shark cruise along the side of the boat, no doubt grabbing a little free lunch. An awesome sight to end a great trip- it’s better in the Bahamas! Tight Lines- CAPT. David Ide Lady Pamela 2 Sportfishing WWW.LADYPAMELA2.COM 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 04-20-2011 | |
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Tarpon Fishing A brief report of the Tarpon Fishing for Miami and the Florida Keys Captain Jim hale www.floridasportfishingcharters.com 786-2551788 April 20 2011 Tarpon fishing on fly during the day and bridge fishing Miami or the Keys at night with live bait has been red hot. Tarpon on fly has been great on the ocean and in the back country. Smaller Tarpon around 70 pounds are easy to find and have been eating flies. We are finding a lot of laid up fish around some of the islands in the backcountry, Most of the smaller Tarpon eat a little better than the big oceanside Tarpon that are over 120 pounds. The flies I like have to be small, barred neck hackles in light yellow or ginger are the way to go in light color water and in the dark colored water black purple and brown has been my choice. When the tides are right we have been fishing the bridges close to Miami at night, it is a easy trip for most people either staying or living in the Miami area. The trips are generally around 5 hours. And expect to get anywhere from 8 to 15 bites a night! And if the tides are not good in Miami normally we travel to the Keys for some great night action around the bridges. When we are fishing around the bridges, drifting live crabs or Jumbo sized shrimp on the outgoing tide is a sure thing either Miami or in the middle Keys. Last week we went 3 for 8 on Tarpon around 70 pounds at night, and 2 days 4 for 7 on fly and 2 for 10 both days on fly in the middle Keys, all Tarpon were under 100 pounds. In Biscayne Bay Bonefish are showing up in good numbers also. I will be fishing almost every day through June so look for more reports coming soon. Good luck Capt. Jim Hale www.floridasportfishingcharters.com 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-17-2011 | |
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April 12, 2011 The fishing here in the first 2 weeks of April has been off the charts. Every trip out we land a wide variety of fish such as cobia, king mackerel, wahoo, mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna , and sailfish. The morning trip started with some trolling to the south and everyone got in on the action, reeling in large bonitos and kings and having the time of their lives. We were heading towards three shipwrecks , lined up on the bottom at 98, 110 , and 190 feet of depth where we could put out some live blue runners and bullets. One bonito was sent down to about 70 feet and the rest were used near the surface. After about 20 minutes we were hooked into a nice barracuda and a jack crevalle. That spot yielded a couple more fish before Cpt. Pauly ran the boat to the wreck at 190 feet and caught a huge almaco jack. On the afternoon trip we left the dock at 1PM with 6 people on board, a group of guys who owned a bunch of NAPA auto parts stores from, you guessed it- Napa Valley, California. The group wanted to catch a shark and we set to catching some fresh, live baits. Armed with a few kings and bonitos, Leo set them up with 3 monster hook rigs and prepared for a fight. We went to 350 feet and put our entire spread out in hopes of attracting a sea monster. In less than a 1/2 hour there was a large, 9-foot hammerhead shark racing around behind the boat. Unbelievable...... the fish wouldn't bite! He must have seen something he didn't like, but we weren't going anywhere without him. There we were right off the coast in the gulf stream current waiting for that shark to return for an hour before we got the BITE! It took another hour to fight this brute up to the boat where the guys saw that it was not the shark from earlier, but a huge, 12-foot hammerhead! This strong giant weighed every bit of 400 lbs- the catch of a lifetime! After catching that beast we headed to a wreck in 220 feet of water right outside of Port Everglades, and finished the day with an almaco jack and an under-size black grouper that we released. April 13, 2011 Our fleet- Lady Pamela, Lady Pamela 3, and Lady Pamela 4 all set out this morning and caught live baits for a day of Ft. Lauderdale's finest fishing. I was at the helm of the Lady Pamela with Pauly as 1st mate and a split party of six on board. We trolled for the first few hours and hooked up a double-header kingfish with the first baits we sent over. I thought they'd keep biting but didn't get another king, just some bonitos. We continued south, and as we got down by Hollywood I saw some ballyhoos getting up. I was up in the tuna tower when I saw a sailfish and yelled down to Pauly to grab a spinning rod. With a live blue runner as bait Pauly made a perfect cast in front of the sailfish. Fish on! It was not the fight we wanted as the sailfish thrashed and jumped and eventually pulled the hook- no more sailfish. Further south we made a drop on a ship wreck in 190 feet and caught a lesser amberjack and a cobia, ".... nice fish!" April14, 2011 Cpt. Pauly and Leo had a couple of split groups today and a couple of hammerhead sharks. The morning trip caught a hammerhead, a mixture of big bonitos, a 15-lb. king mackerel, blackfin tuna, and some cero mackerel. The afternoon trip was a group from New Jersey with similar results. Using some of the fresh kings and bonitos, the sharks were caught in about 350 feet of water straight out of the channel markers, a pair of beautiful 8-footers. All-day Drift Trip April 14, 2011 Our all-day dolphin trip turned into an all-day snapper trip! Cpt. Adam was fishing the Gulf stream, maybe 5-8 miles offshore and in 230 feet of water. A couple of mahi-mahi were caught on the troll along with 4 bonitos, a king mackerel, and 4 blackfin tuna during a slow morning. We moved south against a steady, north current to some ship wrecks, using ballyhoo, bonito strips, and squid as bait. Bingo! It was action and more action with the final tally at over 80 vermilion snapper brought on board. The filet table got a workout and our clients got plenty of delicious fish to take home. Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 04-16-2011 | |
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The last three days fishing offshore and inshroe off Fort Lauderdale have been a mixed bag of fish. The fish that we have been catching are Sailfish, Mahi-Mahi, Snapper, Amberjack and King Mackerel. We typically start the day out with one of four options. Depending on what you would like to target. Do you want to catch edible fish, or do you want to catch game fish. This is where we can advsie whats been caught and what fish are biting best. Of the four options, we can head righ offshore and target Mahi-Mahi and Wahoo offshore anywhere from 500' of water to 700' of water. Looking for the weedlines and floating debris is where we have the very best sucsess catching fish. Using deep baits and live baits. Fishing in the Gulf Stream has been goood because the Mahi are coming through. Not in large numbers but the fish we are catching are anywhere from 10 pounds to 20+ pounds. Also we can fish the inshroe reef in waters from 80' to 130' feet of water. We are targeting King Mackerel, & Bonito. By using deep lines and surface lines (sea witches, King busters, strips and Ballyhoo) we are having good success catching the Kings from 8 to 15 pounders and Barracuda and Bonito. Also we go right to Sailfishing just out of Ft. Lauderdale reef line and set up on the local South Florida wrecks. On the wrecks that are in 120' to 200' of water hold bait which is a great area for a migrating Sail to hang around and feed on the scools of bait that hold in and around the schools of bait fish. Again the productive days fishing offshore out of Ft. Lauderdale is when we have bait, wind and current. If interested in the current bite, what has been hot and what is the best opportunity to catch fish. Please contact myself or my father/owner Captain Tommy Zsak to discuss the day/ bite/ and what works best for your group. We can take up to 6 persons fishing and please call to discuss availability and rates. Thanks, Capt. Dave Zsak (954) 439-8106 www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-11-2011 | |
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April 7, 2011 Fort Lauderdale Fishing We left the dock this morning with a mixed group from New York, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas for our weekly Thursday dolphin trip. Clear, sunny skies, temperature in the eighties, and calm seas of 1-2 feet added up to another great day of Ft. Lauderdale fishing. Artificial lures, ballyhoo, and fresh-cut bonito strips were used on the troll and down on the wrecks to catch fish during the course of the trip, at depths of 100 to 350 feet. It was a nice assortment at the end of the day- 22 mahi-mahi, 7 red porgy, 3 vermillion snapper, 9 triggerfish, spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and bonito. Great weather, great fishing! Every thursday 90.00 per person Tight Lines Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-07-2011 | |
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April 1 2011 A clear, bright morning greeted us in Ft. Lauderdale as we welcomed the opening day for vermillion snapper. About a dozen people from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio came out with us looking to take advantage of the great weather to fill the boat with fish. We caught about 35 snapper mixed in with an assortment of triggerfish, butterfish, jacks, and porgy before returning to the dock. Our afternoon trip was 14 clients, 9 from Wisconsin and happy to be away from the cold zone. We did the majority of our fishing above some wrecks using cut squid for bait. The catch in the afternoon was even better; non-stop action as we reeled in triggerfish, kings, and 65 vermie snapper! Filled fishboxes and tight lines- Florida fishing at its finest! April 4, 2011 The clear, sunny skies were welcome but the strong north current made the wreck fishing slow for the day. Both our drift boat trips had Cpt. Adam and the crew joined by groups from Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin- still a bit warmer in Ft. Lauderdale! The days catch ran to a handful of kings, a few triggerfish, and over a dozen snapper. Both charter boat trips hooked into kings and bonito, with the afternoon excursion grabbing a bit more action. They were using a bonito strip on a purple sea witch, trolling in about 100 feet and the prize was a hefty 40-lb. jack crevalle. A beautiful fish for a happy couple! Tight Lines, Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 WWW.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 04-06-2011 | |
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Deep Sea Salt Water Fishing in South Florida Ft.Lauderdale on Happy Day Today/Capt. Zsak Sunny skies in Ft. Lauderdale South Florida. Winds out of the west northwest, 15-20 mph. Michael Kent and wife, Jean, son Ryan, and daughter Rachel from the south side of Chicago combined a business trip with a deep sea sport fishing charter on the Happy Day Today in Ft. Lauderdale South Florida. Our main target was Atlantic Sailfish. We ordered a dozen Goggle Eyes for bait from Bud the baitman. We started off trolling off the sea buoy in Ft. Lauderdale, heading to the south, with a current about 3 knots going to the north, exchanging the water quickly over the reefs. We set up two kites with a total of 4 live Goggle Eyes for bait and one from the rigger. Our first bite was a 25 lb. King Fish, which we call Anacondas, that skyrocketed out of the water a good 15 feet, making his appearance very obvious. Ryan was our first angler, and bringing the King Fish to the boat a good challenge for him. Mitch, our mate, gaffed the Anaconda with care so as not to get bitten by the razor sharp teeth. Our next angler was Rachel, and we wondered what our next catch would be. Sailfish on the left long!!! This Sailfish decided to swim to the north, tangling the long and short kite baits on the right, however, Mitch was able to untangle the mess which allowed Rachel to fight her fish. After numerous leaps, the Sailfish was brought to the side of the boat for picture taking and release. Since this was Rachel’s first Sailfish, she was overjoyed and proud of this catch. Now it was Ryan’s turn again, sitting in the fighting chair waiting his arrival. Sailfish on the right short!!! After a 25 minute battle, Ryan brought the Sailfish to the boat and again pictures went flying and thereafter, the Sailfish was released. We brought in both kites and made a move to the south of Ft. Lauderdale, back over a wreck. After putting out the kites and one bait from the rigger, the rigger line came down and this fish sounded on us. More than likely it was not a Sailfish since Sailfish tend to come to the surface, and this fish did not. Tuna, Bonita, King Fish???? The fish came closer to the boat, and Mike, who was the angler, brought the fish to the side of the boat. Mitch gaffed the 20 lb. Bonita and put it into the fish box. Bonitas are not noted as good eatable fish, but they are good strip baits. It was now time to end our deep sea fishing charter trip off of Ft. Lauderdale South Florida, so we headed back to the dock. The month of March was a very good month for Mahi, Wahoo, Black Fin, Sailfish and Shark fishing. April is also turning out to be a very productive month. We have had good current and the bait have been holding on the structure which is great and hope they stay another month. The bite is good and continues to be good. For a successful and adventurous deep sea salt water fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today in sunny South Florida Ft. Lauderdale, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-01-2011 | |
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March 27, 2011 The seas were flat and calm as we left Ft. Lauderdale this morning with a full boat. For the first few hours we trolled using sea witches and fresh-cut bonito strips. A nice 8-lb. blackfin tuna and some kings of about 5-10 lbs. were caught before we moved on. Using a live blue runner for bait we dropped on a wreck inabout 100 feet and hooked up an abaco jack. The weather picked up in the afternoon with 20-kt. winds and seas of 4-feet so we called it a day. March 28, 2011 The fisherman sharing our boat this morning also shared the thrill of catching a 6 1/2 foot sailfish! We were on the troll using a pink and white sea witch and fresh-cut bonito strips when the fish hit. After a 25-30 minute fight the fish was close enough to the boat to attach a tag and safely release it, The rain came and went and we ended up catching 4 kings on planers in about 60-100 feet of water. The afternoon was sunny again as we left the dock with Sean from Illinois. A couple of nice kings of about 8-10 lbs. were caught trolling. The conditions were good for kite fishing and up they went. We were in 150 feet of water right out from Port Everglades using kingfish as bait and a Penn International 130 reel. Our reward was a magnificent 8-foot Great Hammerhead shark! Another fantastic day fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale. Tight Lines. Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 WWW.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 03-28-2011 | |
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Lady Pamela 2 fishing charters March 22, 2011 Springtime is here in Ft. Lauderdale, and so are the mahi-mahi! Today was clear and sunny as we headed straight out of the port to do some trolling. We were at 200-300 feet using bonito strips when we hooked up on a few big dolphin- a good start on a beautiful day. For the most part we fished right out front, catching tuna, kingfish, and wahoo of various sizes throughout the day. Dave- Pauly couldn't remember a whole lot for Tuesday's trip. Obviously some reports will be better than others. Again, I will make contact with the captains in a more timely manner and get the information to do the reports smoothly. March 23, 2011 This mornings trip had some great weather out of Ft. Lauderdale for Gary and Jim from Chicago. The seas were flat calm as we trolled south, using bonito strips on planers. We were in about 100-110 feet of water when the kingfish started to bite and we landed 4 nice ones. The guys were looking for a shark but happy to get the action going and get warmed up. Blackfin tuna were next, and we went to 200-300 feet and caught a few keepers. At 350 feet there was nothing happening and we ran inshore a little bit to 150 where we hooked up and kept some nice mahi-mahi. The afternoon fishing was in the same areas and we caught another 4 kings. Our clients were also happy with the 30-lb black grouper, even though we had to release the big fish as he was out of season. A little further south and we were wreck fishing in about 100-140 feet of water using live bonitos. At this spot we hooked up a few more kings and barracuda, including one at 54 inches. A beautiful day and some great fishing- Tight lines! Capt. David Ide Lady Pamela 2 Sportfishing ladypamel2@bellsouth.net 954 761 8045 |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 03-24-2011 | |
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This morning in South Florida Ft. Lauderdale winds were out of the east at 12 mph - seas were running 3-4 ft., blue indigo waters pushed into the Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The morning fishing trip produced a Mahi Mahi, Sailfish and Shark. What follows is our afternoon fishing charter. Steve Seifert and family from the beautiful state of Tennessee chartered the Happy Day Today to do some deep sea salt water fishing in Ft. Lauderdale South Florida. The winds subsided and came down to a 5-7 mph in the afternoon. We started off trolling to the south of Ft. Lauderdale to one of my favorite wrecks which sits in 164 ft. of water. As we trolled down to the south using two plainers with a 3 ½ drome blue reflector spoon on one and a pink and blue sea witch with a Bonita strip on the other. We hooked up with a couple of King Fish in the 5-8 lb range and then we set up our two kites on top of the wreck. The current was going to the north approximately 3 knots, so I had to set up a little bit south of the wreck. As we approached the wreck, the Sailfish popped up on the right short kite bait and another Sailfish on the left short kite bait. Both Sailfish put on a spectacular show, one jumping to the north and the other jumping to the south, making it a true Chinese fire drill. One Sailfish settled down but the other fish jumped over the line and cut it, leaving us with one Sailfish on. One of Steve’s daughters fought the fish and brought it to the boat. Mitch, our mate, brought the fish into the boat to take pictures and released the fish to swim away. We went back to the wreck to get set up again with our kite baits. Immediately, to the amazement of Steve and his family, we saw the dorsal fin of a Sailfish swimming around the long right kite bait. The Sailfish attacked the bait, leaping in and out of the water. Steve’s other daughter fought this Sailfish, bringing it to the boat, giving us a two for three on Sailfish. The wind died down and we had to pull the live Goggle Eyes from the riggers and put our dredge teaser out to attract more fish. Not to long afterwards, a Sailfish fed on the right short bait, behind the dredge teaser, coming out of the water and spitting the bait. It was time to start heading back to the dock at Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale. This ends another successful and adventurous fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today with Captain Zsak. Join us and enjoy a once-in-a-life-time experience with Captain Zsak – 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 03-23-2011 | |
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March 18 LADY PAMELA 2 SPORTFISHING Friday we started with 5 people on a split trip in the morning and 6 on a split for the afternoon. On the morning charter we caught 2 nice barracudas and a few mahi-mahi. Trolling along a blue edge in 200 feet of water we found a few logs floating with mahi hiding underneath along with some small wahoo. That afternoon we had on board Kevin and his son from Prince Edward Island and Jeff from Michigan. We ran south from Ft. Lauderdale to some ship wrecks, catching live bonita and blue runners on the way to use for dropping on the wrecks. Our first 2 passes over the relic with the live bonita got us 2 barracudas. Running further south to another wreck at a depth of 235 feet our first drop was using a 30-foot leader and a12/0 circle hook. That 1st line in had Kevin jumping into the chair, fighting the fish all the way up to the boat. The 20-minute struggle landed a 50-lb amberjack. We made 3 more drops over the site and Jeff was able to haul one in as well. March 19 Yesterday Paul and I fished with Charles, Jim, and Bob from Ohio. We left the dock at 9:30 AM and headed south for the wrecks, catching baits to fill the well along the way. Our closest ship wreck was at 220 feet and we caught a 20-lb amberjack. We released this fish and hit every wreck from 100 to 300 feet and finished the day with 5 amberjack, a small silky shark, and a monster barracuda. Tight Lines! Capt David IDE 954 761 8045 WWW.LADYPAMELA2.COM |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 03-18-2011 | |
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[ATTACH]470[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]471[/ATTACH] Monday and Tuesday I had my whole crew out fishing with me. Darrin, Paul, Leo, and I had the outfitters from the Outdoor Channel on our boat for a few days filming a TV program and did we have some AWESOME fishing! Day 1 we headed south out of Ft. Lauderdale to a wreck about 5 miles away to catch some live sardines. We were baitfishing for about an hour when Leo saw a sailfish jumping in the waves offshore of us. I ran the boat out to the area while Leo, Darrin, and Paul all pitched live baits at different times. It took a quick 15 minutes before Pauly hooked one of the fish. After watching the sailfish jump around the ocean awhile we got him released and looked for more. We picked up and went south for another 15 miles to a spot called the "Double Diamonds" for more action. We popped our kites up into the air and were waiting for a bite- it didn't even take 15 minutes this time. The boat was sitting on an edge in 150 feet when Pauly hooked sailfish #2. We got the release on this fish and then ran south again because the current was running at 2.5 knots, which is good for kite fishing although you have to keep resetting. All day long the fish were coming in one at a time. Sailfish numbers 5 and 6 were a double-header grabbed by Pauly and Leo. With the tally at 6 sailfish, 4 mahi-mahi, 3 bonita, and a blackfin tuna we decided to call it a day and headed home. On the trip back we told the camera crew that we would stop on a ship wreck and try for some amberjacks and barracudas. The current was at 3 knots here and the fish weren't biting off the wreck. I spotted an edge and moved the boat over to 150 feet and told the guys to put the kites up for a few minutes. Even as the kites go up with 3 baits on each Pauly hooks up on sailfish #7 while Darrin just misses getting another. I slide the boat over to 140 feet and as I do Darrin gets a bite off our right long rigger and hooks up on our last sailfish of the day, number 8. The crew from Outdoor Channel went 8 for 10 on sails and caught a handful of other fish- what a fantastic day of fishing. On the 15th we decided to go daytime swordfishing to get some good footage. Leaving the dock at 6:30AM we headed for the sword grounds about 20 miles off the shores of Ft. Lauderdale in 1800 feet of water. About 90 minutes later we drop our first bait, a bonito belly strip with a 10-lb. lead weight all the way to the bottom. Leo and Darrin set up a kite with a shark bait on long, a goggleye in the middle, and a sardine on the short and wait for the bites. The action started before noon when we got a double-header mahi-mahi, both fish around 25 lbs. Darrin picked up another 40 lb. mahi on a spinning rod and it was a good tussle with 3 fish on at the same time. The crew boated all 3 fish as Leo saw another and pitch-baited another 20 lb. fish. That gave us 4 nice, big dolphin on the last day of the shoot, but not we never got a daytime swordfish bite. Tight Lines Capt David Ide 954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 03-12-2011 | |
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Deep Sea Salt Water Fishing in South Florida Ft.Lauderdale on Happy Day Today/Capt. Zsak This is the second day of the deep sea salt water charter by Andy Williams on the Happy Day Today with Captain Tom Zsak but this time for Shark fishing. Same weather condition as yesterday in South Florida, Ft. Lauderdale - rough seas, winds out of the north, northeast at 15-20 mph, seas running 5-8 ft. Andy had a 1:30 pm flight back home to Indiana out of Ft. Lauderdale, so we left the dock at 6:30 am. Being a hard core excellent angler, Andy was the only one that went fishing that day; his friends decided to stay in. Andy purchased another dozen Goggle Eyes from Bud the baitman. I went directly to one of the artificial wrecks off of Ft. Lauderdale in South Florida noted to hold Sharks. We started off by putting out two kites and our Shark baits on the surface, mid range and bottom. As we were putting the second kite bait out, we immediately got attacked by Mahi Mahi’s in the 5-10 lb. range. Only having one angler on the boat, Andy, we let the other Mahi Mahi hooked up until Andy was finished fighting the first one. After Andy reeled in all three Mahi Mahi’s, I yelled out – “we can’t Shark fish here because there are too many Mahi Mahi’s” so we left the area – which goes against my golden rule – don’t leave fish to find fish. I set up fishing on another ship wreck off of Ft. Lauderdale, South Florida, and set out both kites, a Shark bait on the surface, midrange and bottom range. Out of nowhere a Golden Hammerhead Shark attacked the surface bait. After 5 minutes fighting the Shark, we pulled the hook on the Shark. We set up again for Round Two. After getting all the baits set up, a Sailfish popped up on the long left kite bait, immediately coming out of the water, tail-walking and doing a 360 in the air, showing us his magnificent power and neon colors - he got wrapped up on the leader and broke it, swimming away. Round Three – As we set up this time, my favorite rod bent over, the bottom shark bait and immediately the line from the 80 International reel which holds 130 lb test stainless steal wire line screamed off. The advantage to using a wire line for a bottom bait is that there is zero stretch, which is to the advantage of the angler. After a half hour battle, Andy’s Bull Shark rose to the surface. As we took pictures of the Bull Shark and released him, an estimated 6 ½ ft. long, 200 lbs Bull Shark, he swam away to do battle again. Andy said – “Thank you for my Shark – let’s head back to the dock so I can leave for the airport on time," and so we did. For a successful and adventurous deep sea salt water fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today in sunny South Florida Ft. Lauderdale, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 02-08-2011 | |
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Fishing out of Port Everglades out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida has remained consistent with a decent bite of Mahi-Mahi, Waho (offshore) and inshore we are catching Sailfish, Cobia and King Mackerel. The weather has ideal for offshore charters, the seas have been 2' to 4' and the wind has remained a consistent 8 to 12 mph out of the Easterly direction. We are seeing good bait schooling up at the sea bouy, the anchored ships and even offshore we are marking bait fish offshore of Ft. Lauderdale. The bait are an excellent resource for fishermen as they obviously attract the predatory fish as well as any recreational fisherman or charter boat can catch the baits off the bouy/ anchored ship. The palegic species like Mahi, Sailfish, Cobia have been feeding on the bait fish (Tinker Mackerels, Goggleye & Blue Runners). When heading offshore, we are looking at all the conditions, wind direction, current (North or South), also is there a weed line offshore and or floating debris we target Mahi- Mahi typically on the surface and by tolling a skirted ballyhoo deep we are seeing some Wahoo. When inshore, there have been we have been catching and seeing pods of Sailfish coming through, they are concentrated around 00 feet of water and out to 200 feet of water depending on the day, current, wind and tides. When deciding what to target, we discuss with the charter what they would like to target (edible fish or game fish) and we then make a game plan. If fishing for Sailfish, we are fishing with two kites, 4 baits out of each of the kites with two rigger baits. Fishing for Cobia, we are using live bait on the wrecks and also targeting Amberjack which have been biting good when the current picks up. Inshore trolling for King Mackerel, Barracudas and Bonito and Black Fin Tuna we are fishing in 120 feet of water around structure (sunken ships and reef/ structure). Charter fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale or any South Flordia area for that matter changes daily and staying on top of the bite is how we try to consistently be a productive fishing charter boat. With Captain Tom and Capt. Rick both who have been fishing these waters for over 25+years, you have a very good chance to have a good day on the water. I am lucky to have learned from my both Captain Tom and Captain Rick on the charter boat “Happy Day Today”. If you are interested in booking a fishing charter, please contact us. We can are happy to discuss the catch, what’s been biting, charter pricing and the tackle of the charter boat "Happy Day Today", don’t hesitate to call with any questions. Tight lines, Capt D. Zsak 46' Hatteras S/F (954) 439-8106 www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 01-25-2011 | |
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One cold front after another has really turned on the Sailfish and Shark action for the past week here in sunny South Florida. Pods of Sailfish have been migrating south in 100-180 ft. of water off of Ft. Lauderdale. The Sharks have been migrating south in deeper waters from 300 to 550 ft. off of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Matt Eliscu from Boca Raton in South Florida and his buddy, being locals, know the advantages of the cold fronts and chartered the Happy Day Today to do some Sailfishing. We started off trolling with Ballyhoos and two dredges. I heard on the radio that the Sailfish were in deeper waters, around 180 ft, so I moved to that depth of water. We put out two kites with live Goggle Eyes for bait. Fishing with light tackle, 30 lb. test, makes it more sporting for the angler. Before long, one Sailfish popped up on the left short, swam around the bait and left. We brought the bait in to check it out, and the bait was in perfect shape so that Sailfish must not have been too hungry. We put three baits back out, waiting for the next Sailfish to appear. There he was again, on the left short. This one did not swim around the bait, he just ate it and away he went, coming out of the water, showing his neon body as the light reflected off of his skin, jumping numerous times, away from the boat. “Well this one has taken ¾ of the line off the reel,” cried Mitch. Once we brought in the rest of our fishing gear, we started to work the fish - by that time he was almost down to the knot. Matt did an excellent job working the fish and retrieving the line. After a ½ hour battle, he finally brought the fish to the side of the boat. Pictures were taken quickly, so that we could go catch another one - the Sailfish were still coming thru. We moved back into the same depth of water where we hooked up the last Sailfish, getting set back up again. In a few minutes we hooked up a double header - one on the right long and one on the left long. After the initial hook up, one of the Sailfish threw the hook, but we were still hooked up with the other Sailfish. It looked like another good battle, as I backed down on the fish. Matt’s friend brought the other fish to the side of the boat and more pictures were taken. After releasing the fish, the Sailfish swam away with all of his beauty. We ran out of time – it is time to get back to the dock so we headed back from our 4 hour deep sea fishing charter trip to the dock at Bahia Mar, in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale. This ends another successful and adventurous fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today with Captain Zsak. Join us and enjoy a once-in-a-life-time experience – 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Zsak | Date Posted: | 01-25-2011 | |
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Deep Sea Sportfishing in South Florida Ft.Lauderdale on Happy Day Today/Capt. Zsak It was a cold day in Sunny South Florida in Ft. Lauderdale. The temperature was 54 degrees this morning with the possibility of rising into the low 70’s by noon. Winds were out of the north, northwest 10-15 mph, seas 2-3 ft high – a little chilly out on the bridge, but today looks like a Sailfish day. Mr. Dave Mittel and his three boys from Pennsylvania chartered the Happy Day Today to do some deep sea sport fishing in South Florida off of Ft. Lauderdale. The three boys, Michael, Sean and Zack, the youngest, were geared up to do so deep sea sport fishing. This was Mr. Mittlel’s 3rd charter with the Happy Day Today and me as the Captain in the past year, so he knew the operation we run. We started off by flying two kites in 140 ft. of water on top of one of the artificial wrecks, a 210 ft. freighter, which was laid to rest here in 1963 off of Ft. Lauderdale. The artificial wreck holds bait fish and a variety of different species of fish, including the pelagic Sailfish. With the cold front that was pushing thru, we knew it would be good Sailfishing, so we purchased a dozen Goggle Eyes from Bud, the baitman. The first hook up was a double header Sailfish, one eating the left long kite bait and the other eating the right long kite bait. Just my luck that the Sailfish decided to go on the opposite directions!! “Well, Mitch, which one is the closest to the boat,” I asked. Mitch looked at the amount of line left on the reel and decided that the one on the portside was the closest, so away we went, chasing down the fish on the portside. The two youngest boys, Sean and Zack, were the anglers. As Sean reeled in his Sailfish to the boat, I could see that there was not too much line left on Zack’s reel. We have to release this Sailfish quickly, so pictures were quickly taken in order to concentrate on bringing in Zack’s Sailfish. After releasing Sean’s Sailfish, we gave attention to Zach’s Sailfish, which he now was able to reel in. As he brought the Sailfish onto the boat, Mitch grabbed a hold of the bill and lifted the Sailfish out of the water. The Sailfish was like a movie star as all the cameras went flashing off, taking in the beautiful neon colors. As we released the Sailfish, he swam away like nothing happened. As the morning progressed, with other fish being hooked up (Shark, Mahi Mahi, Bonitas), the next two hooked up Sailfish did not make it to the boat – both of them spit the hook out – but the show they put on was spectacular and the boys were amazed. We were almost out of time so I told Mitch to pull the trap door up and release a couple of more Sailfish . As the joking words left my mouth, two more Sailfish appeared and we hooked up another double header. After a twenty minute battle, one of them threw the hook but the other one was hooked up and reeled in by Michael. Again, cameras were flashing, and I was pleased that all three boys caught a Sailfish. It was time to wrap up our deep sea sport fishing so Mitch brought in the rest of the tackle. We headed back from our 4 hour deep sea sport fishing charter trip to the dock at Bahia Mar, in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale. As we came into the dock, I took a picture of the three boys with the three Sailfish flags and the one Shark flag; the entire family was beaming. This ends another successful and adventurous sport fishing excursion on the Happy Day Today with Captain Zsak. Join us and enjoy a once-in-a-life-time experience – 954-439-8106 – www.topshotfishing.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-04-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 December 1st, 2010 Today was a great day for the Lady Pamela fishing fleet. One of our smaller boats, a 27’ Ocean Master center console, went daytime swordfishing to see if the cold front would make them snap. The cold front was expected to move through around 3 PM, so Mike left the dock at 8 AM sharp. Around 9 PM, Mike was sitting in fertile grounds and made his first drop in 1,800 ft of water with Dolphin belly. Our first drop didn’t attract any Swordfish so we made a move to the south. Our second drop of the day provided a 2 ½ hour battle with a big Broadbill Swordfish. The current was kicking at 2 knots with a S SW wind. When the fish came to the surface, Brett threw the harpoon as Mike gaffed the Swordfish. When we got the tail rope on the fish, he went nuts. I had to call over another boat to help us get this monster fish in the boat. It took 5 of us to get the 450 lb’er in our 27 footer. Nice fish with a 103” fork length. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 10-19-2010 | |
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Fort Lauderdale Deep Sea Fishing Lady Pamela Sportfishing Charters www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 October 13th, 2010 Conditions were just right for a nighttime Swordfish trip tonight. Joe, Adam, Paul and I headed offshore and reached our destination around 7:30 PM. Our bait consisted of dead Squid and Bonito fish. Within the first hour of soaking our baits, we caught a small Swordfish, 42 inch’er. After a few pictures, we released the baby back into the blue for a future fight. Bait went back out and the greatest shark fishing began. By midnight, we had caught 13 sharks; Hammerhead Sharks, Cuban Night Sharks and Thresher Sharks would not leave us alone. After we got to shark #13, we packed up and ran back to Fort Lauderdale. October 14th, 2010 Five people joined the Lady Pamela II on a shared charter today. After last nights Sword fishing/Shark fishing adventure, we knew the Sharks were in town and hopefully we could put them on one. Live bait was in the well and we headed offshore trolling blue and white sea witches. The King Mackerel were not hiding it was Kingfish after Kingfish. We must have caught 8 Kings and some Bonito. So we went out to 400 feet of water and put out our baits. After an hour, the mid bait got a bite. As the boat is going forward, Michael jumps into the chair and gets set up to haul in this monster catch. It was a 30-minute battle and we landed him in the boat. October 16th, 2010 Barry and his family from Fort Lauderdale came with Paul and I aboard the Lady Pamela II. Paul was running the boat today. We started out the trip catching some live Bonito around the whistle buoy. We only caught one, so we started trolling with three rigger baits and two planers one down 40 feet and the other around 60 feet. On the planers, we were using pink/white and green Mylar sea witches with fresh mullet strips. It took the first hour before I got a bite and our first fish was a 10 lb. Kingfish. As the trip went on we slowly picked up some fish a King here a few Bonitos, then Paul hooked up with a nice fish on the top bait. A sailfish and it was jumping all over the ocean. Barry’s’ friend Mike gets to reel in the Sailfish. It was small, around 5 feet or so. A sailfish always makes the trip exciting. Next, we went out to 600 feet looking for Mahi-Mahi. That did not last long when the guys said, let’s go look for more Kings. As we got back in around 100 feet, we got a strike. Barry reels the fish to the boat and it is a five-foot Trumpet fish. It was awesome. I never saw one like this. It was pretty with all sorts of colors, yellow and neon blues. It was the coolest fish We had ever caught It was amazing. So, for Barry and Mikes trip total we caught 4 Kings, 1 Sailfish, 2 Bonitos and 1 Trumpetfish. October 17th, 2010 Today looked like the start of Sailfish season. In the morning, I had four guests Shaun and his wife from California and Randy and his wife from Quebec. On the way out the Inlet, we stopped and Shaun and Randy bought as dozen goggle-eyes. We proceeded out the Inlet to around 100 feet of water and started trolling, looking for Wahoo, Kings and Dolphin. There was a little south current. I trolled in and out from 100 to 200 feet and got two bites. Caught one Kingfish as we got up to the North, I saw that the conditions were almost perfect. North wind 15-20 knots, a nice north swell and they were “TAILING”. I got our kites up with four goggle-eyes. It did not take long, ten minutes and we had a huge Sail on my left short rigger and another on my long. I missed the one on the long but Shaun was in the chair with the first Sail. Shaun never had caught a big fish in saltwater before and now he had a fish on the end of his line that most people would die for. As Shaun is fighting his fish, I yelled right short. Randy hooks the fish. While I am backing down, Shaun runs up to the bow of the boat with his, so his line does not hit the boat. We caught Randy’s in 10 minutes and released it. We then continued for another 60 minutes before getting Shaun’s fish up to the boat. It was an action packed four hours of fishing. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-30-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 August 21, 2010 Andrea and Robert came fishing this morning aboard the Lady Pamela II. We started the morning by trolling the reef anywhere from 85 ft – 200 ft of the stacks. Andrea reeled in the first fish of the day on a pink/white sea witch with a fresh bonito strip. A Mutton Snapper and King Mackerel fish ate shortly after. Fishing was non stop for the rest of the fishing trip. Andrea really lucked out, too. Robert didn’t want any of the fish so Andrea went home with enough for left overs. August 27, 2010 George and his family came deep-sea fishing for the very first time this afternoon aboard the Lady Pamela II. George and his family experienced a non-stop bite offshore. Total catch for the day = 7 King Mackerel fish, 7 Bonito fish, 2 big Barracudas and a nice size Amberjack over 4 ft in length. Nice day of fishing in Fort Lauderdale! August 28th, 2010 Fishing in Fort Lauderdale was phenomenal today. A long time customer of the Lady Pamela, Kelly, brought along his buddy Andrew from Canada and a few other friends to go deep sea fishing with Captain Paul and myself. First pit stop, the can for some live bait. Bait fishing was tough so we moved on to trolling; it wasn’t long before we had six or seven Bonito fish and a Barracuda. Out of nowhere, the right rigger got plucked by a Sailfish. As I was reeling in my high line, Captain Paul hooked Sailfish #2 and within seconds I had Sailfish #3 on the end of my line. Tripleheader Sailfish bite mid August, I love it!!! While Andrew was fighting his Sailfish, he backlashed the reel. Captain Paul locked it up as I was backing down and we caught all three Sailfish. Andrew, you couldn’t have asked for a better day of fishing in Fort Lauderdale! Kelly, see ya next time! Drift Fishing starting at $45 per person, call for details. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-30-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Fort Lauderdale Drift Fishing & Sport Fishing Report June 22nd, 2010 Today, my buddy Ed, his wife, Alan and I headed offshore aboard Ed’s 54’ Viking boat in 5-7 ft swells in search of the Daytime Swordfish. Once we reached our destination, Alan and I were ready to rock and roll in the cockpit and make a drop. Our first drop of the day consisted of a 12 lb lead in 1,950 ft of deep blue water. We waited patiently for the bite and after 45 minutes, it was time to reel it up and go for round two. We rigged up a fancy bait and this time dropped it down in 1,750 ft of water. Within 30 minutes, we got a nice bite but it didn’t last long. Ed made a 3-mile move south and after 30 more minutes we were hooked. It was sloppy out there but Ed managed to hold the boat right on top of the fish. As soon as Alan removed the lead, the Daytime Broadbill swam up to the surface. Nice fish! I look forward to fishing with you guys again, just in more comfortable seas! June 26th, 2010 The Lady Pamela Fishing Fleet welcomes the newest addition, Fort Lauderdale’s ONLY Sportfishing Drift Boat, the Lady Pamela III. Not like your average drift fishing boat in Fort Lauderdale, the Lady Pamela III is a Sportfish boat, carrying a maximum of 24 passengers. Today, Captain Adam had a wedding party of 22 aboard the Lady Pamela III and Captain Paul and I fished aboard the Lady Pamela II with a private charter. Captain Paul led us to the edge where I popped the kites and dropped two deep baits down below. The bite was nearly instant; drag was pouring off it. After 30 minutes of watching this huge fish run, I got a good look at the 14 ft Hammerhead Shark come up to the surface. The giant shark didn’t come up for long, it disappeared for another run. This time it was Captain Paul’s turn in the cockpit. Captain Paul couldn’t believe how powerful and large this fish was until he started leadering the fish for himself. An hour into the fight, the angler in the chair said, “There’s no way we can catch this fish.” Captain Paul said, “We are going to get this fish.” Finally, after a very sweaty fight, Captain Paul and I managed to get a head rope around the Hammerhead Shark. It was huge; words cannot even describe how big a 14 ft Game Shark is when your feet away from it. The Lady Pamela III ended their day with a nice size Warsaw Grouper. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-14-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Deep Sea Fishing Ft Lauderdale, Florida / June Update Fishing in Fort Lauderdale during the month of June is nothing short of epic. There is plenty of activity inshore and offshore. Whether we are making a deep drop for Daytime Swordfish in 1,800 ft of water or trolling offshore for Mahi, the Lady Pamela II fleet will find the action. The Kingfish, Mahi – Mahi (Dolphin fish), Grouper, Amberjack, Wahoo, Barracuda, Blakfin Tuna and Bonito will show themselves and stretch your line. Not only will you be putting fresh fish in the box for dinner, the occasional summertime Sailfish might just creep up on your bait and start jumping within feet of the boat. Sailfish are still being spotted offshore; we like to call them the Summertime Spindlebeaks in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Fort Lauderdale houses several shipwrecks and reefs anywhere from 200 ft to 350 ft of water. The reef and wreck fish just can’t get enough of the summertime heat. Amberjacks, Game Sharks and Groupers are just waiting for you to drop bait on their front door. Early in the morning from 7 AM – 10 AM, is when fresh bonito strips and new seawitches attract the most amount of King Mackerel offshore Ft Lauderdale. Deploy your trolling spread 90 ft below the surface in 90 – 150 ft of blue water and the fish will eat. A 40 lb Amberjack on the line will show you who’s boss, can you imagine what it’s like to hook up with a 10 ft Game Shark? The Lady Pamela II has been very successful catching big fish on the wrecks and reefs this month. Summertime is Mahi time. On June 1st, I fished on a private boat out of Fort Lauderdale and we hooked up with 30 Mahi – Mahi offshore in 300-900 ft of water. Several of them were too short in size but we didn’t go home empty handed. June is well-known for its solid Dolphin bite as it is peak season from now until the end of July. The seas lay down, the water heats up and the weed lines drift on the surface. Weed lines can run for miles and are always a good sign when searching for Dolphin fish offshore. Come across a weed stack and chances are, you will have a run in with a school of 30+ beautiful blue-ish green Dorado’s looking to eat. They put up one hell of a fight and fillets make for a great meal. Fresh Mahi – Mahi is a true South Florida souvenir. June truly offers a mixed bag of fish offshore in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Warsaw Groupers, Black Groupers and Jew Fish are commonly caught during the summer months while deep sea fishing the wrecks in Fort Lauderdale. Around the full moon on slick, calm days, the Grouper tend to come off the wreck and eat your Bluerunner and Speedo baits. Not only is the Grouper bite just right around the full moon, the Wahoo like to play as well. When conditions are perfect, expect a few shots at some nice Wahoo fish. In the late afternoon, the inshore bite is hot and heavy for giant Tarpon in the Intracoastal. In a 4 hr period, 5 to 6 bites by rolling Tarpon is common. During the last week in May, we went 1 for 4 on the Tarpon bite, landed a Barracuda in the mix and battled with a Stingray on the line; talk about exciting, non-stop action, in the cockpit and from the bridge. On Sunday, June 6th, I led the Lady Pamela II offshore Fort Lauderdale for a all day Daytime Swordfishing charter. Before making the hour run east into the Gulfstream offshore, we loaded up on live bait. Once we reached our destination, we started to make our first Swordfish drop and put out a few surface baits for good measure. The Mahi would not leave us alone. We caught 10 Dolphin before the Swordfish bait made it down deep. We ended the day with three wicked Swordfish bites. They all managed to pull the hook but they did give our anglers a little taste of the fight. June is also the time of year when we head across to the Bahamas for sportfishing expeditions. The weather is perfect, the seas are calm and the fishing is nearly endless. The yellow eye snapper bite is red hot in 850 ft water. You can reach your limit in no time and leave ‘em biting for the following day. While deep sea fishing in the Bahamas, expect to catch monster size Mahi – Mahi, Wahoo on the troll, giant Amberjacks on the wrecks and Blue Marlin jumping within feet of the boat. How can you go wrong? You can’t. For Memorial Day Weekend, I headed over to Bimini, Bahamas with friends and family for a little R & R and fresh conch salad. Seas were flatter than you could imagine, it only took us a little over an hour to arrive in our 27 footer. For the majority of our crossing through the Gulfstream, a weedline was by our side. Once we saw a spec of land, lines went in the water and dinner went in the cooler, fresh Dolphin. Later on in the day, I learned that my buddy Sean had hooked up with a Blue Marlin earlier in the morning. While hearing about the Blue bite, I was distracted by all the traffic on the dock with Mutton’s, Mutton’s and more Mutton’s (Mutton Snapper). The Mutton Snapper spawn from June through August. Around the full moon with an outgoing tide on the edge of the reef, live/dead pilchards and dead goggs do the trick anywhere from 80 – 110 ft down. With a 30 ft floral carbon leader, an 8 oz lead and a sharp, 6.0 hook, you will hook up with many Mutton Snappers in the 6 – 12 lb range. Interested in sport fishing the Bahamas? We are your gateway to the Bahamas, call today. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-27-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Deep Sea Fishing in Fort Lauderdale during the month of May offers an endless variety of fish, from 30 lb Mahi – Mahi on the troll to 10 ft Game Sharks in 350 ft of water. May is notorious for its east wind, which pushes the blue water edge in tight close to shore and the fish follow. May is the last hurrah for the Atlantic Sailfish bite, though other fish fill in the blank. Throughout the month of May, we have caught an average of 4 Sailfish per week while live bait kite fishing offshore. Kite fishing is key to catching. Live bait flopping on the surface attracts 90% of the Sailfish we catch in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Sailfish bite will continue to fizzle out as we come into summer. However, Fort Lauderdale is labeled Sailfish Alley for a reason; summertime Sailfish do exist and they will pluck your bait during the months of June, July, August and September. Game Sharks, such as Hammerhead Sharks, Thresher Sharks, Mako Sharks, Bull Sharks, Sandbar Sharks and Silky Sharks, are some of the largest, toughest fighting fish that pass through our waters here in Fort Lauderdale. From April to August, Game Sharks are king in South Florida. When searching for a Game Shark offshore, Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel, and/or bloody Bonito heads make the prefect bait to drop in 350 ft of water. All that’s needed is a knot of current, fishing kites and the proper deep bait and your chances of hooking up with a monster is likely. The reef is very active right now. Trolling in 100 – 300 ft of water with pink/blue/white seawitches is catching the eye of the King Mackerel, Blackfin Tuna and Bonito fish. These lures imitate flying fish and squid which attract the fish to our line and then into the fish box. The King Mackerel are showing up in numbers anywhere from 80 -175 ft of water, averaging anywhere from 5 - 20 lb’s, occasionally catching some fish in the 50 lb range. The Blackfin Tuna aren’t hiding, either. We’ve been successful with the bite, allowing anglers to go him with ample amount. These fish put up a nice fight on light tackle and make great table fare. May is known for its east wind which pushes the bluewater edge in tight close to shore. In other words, the Mahi are loitering right out front. Lately, during our 8 hr fishing charters just a few miles offshore, we have been taking many 20+ lb Mahi and Wahoo. The Lady Pamela III caught 22 Mahi – Mahi (Dolphin fish) on Sunday, May 23. Wreck Fishing has been hit or miss this month. When the current dies, fishing slows down on the shipwrecks. We like to use live bluerunners, speedos and bonitos to lure these fish out and off the shipwrecks. The types of species we’ve been hooking up with lately are Amberjacks, Almaco Jacks, Black Grouper, Warsaw Grouper, Cobia and Mutton Snapper. The standard rig we use to drop on the wreck is a 15.0 circle hook attached to a 30 ft, 125 lb test leader with a 2 lb lead. After we present our bait, we wait patiently for the bite. As soon as we have a visitor, we set the hook by pulling the boat away from the wreck so the fish can’t run back into its favorite territory. Nighttime Tarpon fishing has been the best we have seen in months. The grassy flats in the Intracoastal are full of life. When nighttime Tarpon fishing in Ft Lauderdale, we like to leave the dock around 6 PM and get out there before the sun sets. This week we had three Tarpon trips, and every trip we averaged 4 Tarpon bites. On May 24th, we had 4 Tarpon bites and ended the trip with a Shark bite, which put up a great fight. During the first week of May, we headed offshore to Swordfish grounds in search of a Broadbill, or two. Shortly after we deployed our spread into the deep blue, a Swordfish visited our bait and gave our angler a sore arm. ASK ABOUT OUR SUMMERTIME FISHING SPECIALS Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | Nel Martinez | Date Posted: | 05-26-2010 | |
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While on Swordfish charter the other night we caught and released this 20 pound swordfish on a Daiwa BG60 with 20 pound test. Right after we set up, we saw some dolphin in the hydroglow and we baited up and landed a 15 pounder. So when we saw some other greenish fish we baited up again and sent a few Threadfin out for the dolphin. We hooked up and our customer fought for 2 hours. While he was fighting it we saw another dolphin come up and we caught a 19 pounder. I thought to myself; how big can this other fish be? When we brought it up. It was sword! The customer was very happy with his unique catch. While we where reviving it a 250 plus pounder swam by the light right by the boat. We were anxiously waiting for the bite from the big one but it was not meant to be. We did however land a 70 pounder. More info at http://www.miamifloridafishingcharters.com |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-02-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 April 30th, 2010 On April 26th, we welcomed the Navy, the Coastguard and Canadian vessels as they sailed into Port Everglades for Fleet Week 2010. Fort Lauderdale was flooded with US Military and we got to see them leave Port Everglades as Fleet Week came to a close today. Today, Peter, Guy, Doc and 3 other friends joined Captain Paul and me for a repeat fishing trip aboard the Lady Pamela II in Ft Lauderdale. Peter hadn’t fished aboard the Lady Pamela II since August of 2009, he was amazed at our renovations and our new articulating fighting chair. We poked out of Port Everglades and released our trolling spread into the water. The Kingfish and the Bonito fish weren’t hiding. Three Blackfin Tuna hit the cockpit and went into the fish box for dinner. We topped off the trip with a nice size Amberjack at the wreck. This afternoon, Mike and his two buddies came fishing from California and wanted to land some fresh Dolphin. Once we reached a nice blue edge offshore, the kites went into the air. Within 30 seconds, the deep bait got hit and Mike reeled in a 100 lb Hammerhead Shark. About 10 minutes after our Game Shark, we missed a Mahi. It happens. We placed our trolling gear in the water and watched the rods. There wasn’t much action on the troll until I got the bite on my high line. We hooked up with an April Sailfish and it began jumping right in front of our eyes. That was probably one of the last Sailfish we will see until the season kicks off again in the fall. We expertly released the Sailfish back into the blue and ended the day with two Blackfin Tuna for dinner. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-26-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Ft Lauderdale Spring Fishing Report – April 2010 Fishing in Fort Lauderdale during the month of April is always action packed. The Barracuda are stealth inshore, the shipwrecks are full of fish and the Game Shark bite is solid if bait is presented properly. How could you go wrong? Florida experienced a record-breaking winter and man, are we glad to welcome the warm weather! The sunshine is now consistent along with the 80-degree afternoons we missed so much. The seas didn’t necessarily agree with us for the first few weeks in April, but we’ve seen a big change and calmer seas as the days go by. The Atlantic Sailfish stuck around for a majority of April, but the bite has slowed down considerably. We’ll just have to wait until the season kicks off for that satisfying slap out the of rigger. Game Sharks have officially moved on in. February to June is prime time to go big game Shark fishing in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Hammerhead Sharks, Mako Sharks, Tiger Sharks and Thresher Sharks are just some of the biggest fish caught off the east coast and Fort Lauderdale comes in at #1 for the bite. Head offshore to 300 ft of deep blue water, drop a fresh, bloody Kingfish head on the bottom and your chances of tugging on one of these bad boys is likely. With the Lady Pamela II new and improved suspended fighting chair, you won’t be disappointed during the fight. Just imagine, fighting a fish as big as you within feet from your feet. Once hooked, average encounters last more than an hour, leaving you with a very soar arm after a stellar catch. Game Sharks offer the ultimate offshore challenge. This month, we’ve gotten up close and personal with a handful of Hammerhead Game Sharks; they are by far one of the coolest fish in the ocean. The shipwrecks are always active in the springtime. Amberjacks, members of the Jack family, are predominantly found in Florida. Amberjack fish are known to be voracious predators that forge over reefs and wrecks in small groups. AJ's, sometimes called by locals, are powerful fish and seem to know what to do when you least expect it, like run straight into their favorite territory, a wreck. The Amberjack is no doubt a powerful fish; not so much a fast, long distance runner, but more like a powerful short sprinter who runs straight down before heading into cover; they guarantee a fight. Surprisingly, the Cobias haven’t been hitting as nicely as we’d like. The wacky weather we’ve dealt with, the fish are dealing with as well. The Lady Pamela II has landed a few nice Cobias this month and hopefully the bite improves. I’ve heard of scattered Cobia schools, but they haven’t moved into Fort Lauderdale as of yet. Talk about good eats, Cobia is one of the tastiest fish in the ocean and we look forward to the bite. Between 200 ft and 500 ft of water, the Wahoo are feeding on blue spoons with pink/white seawitches and fresh bonito strips. Wahoo fish are best known to sport fishermen for their speed and high-quality flesh. They are handsome looking fish with their razor sharp teeth and are one of Florida’s prize game fish. The Mahi – Mahi have been hit or miss lately. One day you’re heading back to the dock with a 30 lb’er and a few smaller ones to fill the cooler, the next day there isn’t a Dolphin fish in site. Generally, by the beginning of April, the Mahi have popped in and by the end of April their swimming in herds offshore. We are expecting the bite to pick up any day now. We are all craving fresh Dolphin. Lately, the wind has been blowing out of the west in Fort Lauderdale. With that said, Swordfishing conditions have been far from perfect. However, on April 20th, the winds were considerate enough to turn around and allow for a comfortable Nighttime Swordfishing charter. The bite was almost instant. As soon as the sun settled and the squid hit the water, the fish turned on. We got our Swordfishing fix with four nice Broadbill’s in the cockpit and we were back at the dock by 1:30 AM; we even got a few hours to sleep before heading out for an 8 AM start. The Swordfish ranged from 100 lb’s to a 150 lb’s. Now that we got a little taste, we will definitely be back offshore for more. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-08-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Fort Lauderdale Fishing / March 2010 Spring has definitely arrived to Fort Lauderdale and the action followed. Fishing in Fort Lauderdale during the springtime is great; big game species ditch the north and head south for a few months, just like snowbirds. Just about every type of fish that settles in Fort Lauderdale is bustin’ bait offshore. We’ve noticed the fishing changes daily, but the bite is consistent. The Sailfish are still poking through our live bait spreads offering a show within feet from the boat. The King Mackerel are active on the troll with numerous bites at once. The Blackfin Tuna are beginning to show their faces and the water has warmed up just enough to allow fresh Cobia for dinner. Wreck fishing has been one of the most productive ways to get a bite from an Amberjack and/or a Barracuda bigger than your kid. The Mahi – Mahi and Wahoo bite is improving offshore and the Game Sharks have called Fort Lauderdale home in 350 ft of water. This is Fort Lauderdale fishing at its best. I would have to say, March is one of my favorite months to go fishing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The weather is finally warming up and the Game Sharks move in to South Florida, as close as a mile from the beach. The trick to attracting these tough fighters is positioning a bloody fish head on the bottom. Hammerhead Sharks, Mako Sharks, Bull Sharks, Big Eye Thresher Sharks and Tiger Sharks have made it here safe and sound for their annual migration and they guarantee a fight when hooked. Now through May, we are going to see some of the biggest fish we’re going to catch all year long. With our new fighting chair suspended over the water, there is no greater rush than looking down at a 10 ft Game Shark silhouette after an hour long fight. The Lady Pamela II has been successful with the bite. Now is the time to get out there and hook you up with a fish of a lifetime. Generally, towards the end of March, the Dolphin fish (Mahi – Mahi) snap for 2-3 weeks. By the end of April, the bigger Mahi run through in herds offshore. We’ve landed a few Mahi – Mahi but were crossing our fingers for the bite to pick up, which it should. Check out our Captain’s Log for updated daily fishing reports. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 02-26-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report February 2010 The New Year surprised Fort Lauderdale with freezing temperatures and great fishing. February crept up on us with chilly afternoons most northerners would consider “warm fronts.” These mild South Florida cold fronts have been consistent and so have the Sailfish, Kingfish, Blackfin Tuna and Game Sharks offshore. Fort Lauderdale, Florida is known as one of the top Sailfish fishing destinations in the world. Spindle beaks are caught year round in Fort Lauderdale but November through February accounts for 75% of all the Sailfish we catch. South Florida’s “cold weather” really gets these fish feeding, especially when it’s blowing and rippin’ offshore. Kite fishing with live goggle eyes does it every time. On February 11, we headed offshore with John and his buddies from Ontario. Swordfishing wasn’t an option but kite fishing on the reef was. We positioned ourselves on the edge in 150 – 180 ft of water and got the bite immediately. Watching your angler fight his first Sailfish is unbelievable. Now imagine, fighting a Sailfish suspended over the water, within feet of its airborne cartwheels. Talk about excitement. Sailfish aren’t the only talk of the town; The Game Shark’s have arrived to Fort Lauderdale! Year after year, the Game Sharks make their way south to our backyard and they guarantee a fight. The Lady Pamela II fleet has begun to catch Hammerhead Sharks and even Bull Sharks just a mile from the beach. Fighting these fish is not an easy task. When you think they’ve signed off after a 30 minute fight, they haven’t, you better be ready for another run! Believe me; it’s all worth it in the end when your 7 ft Hammerhead is behind the boat and your up close and personal with a set of man eating teeth. It is totally rewarding. On the weekend of February 4, the Lady Pamela II shot over to Bimini for a 4 day fishing weekend with a group of guys from Michigan and South Carolina. Fishing was just what we expected, only better. Our goal for day one was to catch dinner. After we cleared customs and got the OK to head offshore, a giant Tiger Shark ate and took us for a run, but only for a minute, literally. Our first bite of the day was a tease but we got a taste and wanted more. Round two produced a nice size Bimini Bull Shark and a fight Alan will never forget. At the end of the day, dinner was MIA but we had a good dock story. Day 2 was a grand slam. More Barracuda than you could shake a stick at, a handful of Amberjacks, a Hound fish and Game Shark #2. By day three, we were beat and the seas weren’t giving in. A White Marlin swam in our spread and ate. What cures sea sickness from 7 footers? A bite from a white. After a 30 minute battle, the Lady Pamela II landed it’s first White Marlin ever. Fishing in the Bahamas never seems to amaze me. The best time to travel to the Bahamas for a deep sea fishing trip is during the summer months when the seas and weather agree with us. Call now to book a summer vacation you’ll never forget, the fish are waiting. February has been filled with fish of all species, from schools of Mahi Mahi to Amberjacks on the shipwrecks. Check out our updated Captain’s Log at www.ladypamela2.com for daily fishing reports and pictures. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 01-26-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Fort Lauderdale Fishing Outlook January 2010 2010 definitely surprised South Florida with freezing temperatures and a killer bite offshore. Only the brave, die hards were on the water in search of the Atlantic Sailfish and it was well worth it with all the layers. During our unwelcomed, drawn out cold snap, the Sailfish bite was solid; herds of spindle beaks came through with double digit catches that made dreams come true. Every angler went home ecstatic with extremely sore arms, but a great story to tell about. One morning, I remember one of our Canadian anglers say “this guy has on his survival gear.” As funny as that sounds, he was right. Fort Lauderdale’s unusually cold winter this year really got these fish feeding and we didn’t let the weather stop us from heading offshore to find ‘em. Foul weather gear, a pair of gloves and a beanie made life a lot warmer aboard the Lady Pamela II. Fishing is always an adventure. Mixed in with the Sailfish are Kingfish and other species. The King Mackerel tend to show interest while live bait kite fishing, eating the goggle eyes that are suspended and intended for the Sailfish. The shipwrecks are also holding heavy with big fish that offer a great fight on light tackle; a 40 lb Amberjack will show you whose boss real quick. The Blackfin Tuna are around and make for a great fresh fish dinner. Trolling the reef also provides the opportunity to hook up with a Mahi – Mahi or two. There haven’t been a ton of Dolphin fish offshore, but that doesn’t mean you won’t run into a school and land enough for left overs. Along with the passage of fish, another snow bird will be showing up here shortly, the Game Shark. Shark Fishing season is right around the corner and the Hammerheads, Threshers and Makos will be more of a possibility as we move into Spring. South Florida Game Sharks range in size from 7 inches short to 39 feet long. They put up one helluva fight and it’s extremely rewarding when you win. The Lady Pamela II crew has developed techniques that make daytime swordfishing a very successful sport as we’ve been able to catch them with great regularity. Research has shown that during daylight hours, swordfish hang out around 1,800 to 2,000 feet down looking to gnaw. Fresh squid and petite, whole bonito make for great bait when luring a beefy Broadbill up to the surface. The Lady Pamela II landed a 500 lb’er this month and it was one of the greatest fights we’ve experienced in Fort Lauderdale yet, it was man against fish. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 01-01-2010 | |
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Lady Pamela Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 The Lady Pamela Fishing Fleet headed offshore with Mike Clark, his daughter and his son for an after Christmas fishing adventure in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They were spending the Holiday’s in South Florida and took advantage of what Fort Lauderdale is known for, deep sea fishing. Trolling was productive. We landed six Bonito fish within minutes of trolling gear in the water. After our Bonito pop, we headed to a wreck and dropped live bait on the bottom. It was an instant bite with a 40 lb Amberjack and a 50 lb’er to top of the trip. Mike and his kids were impressed on how hard these fish fight! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 12-21-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Happy Holidays from Fort Lauderdale, Florida & the Lady Pamela Sportfishing Fleet December isn’t making its presence felt here in South Florida weather wise, but fishing wise, the bite is just what us Fort Lauderdale fisherman anticipated. A few cold fronts have come and gone and brought much more to the table than just wind and rain; a solid bite afterwards! We do prefer our 80 degree afternoons, but these chilly spurts don’t just make us Floridians shiver, they make fishing in Fort Lauderdale very exciting. December deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale means a mixed bag of fish. The Atlantic Sailfish are out and about and looking to eat from the kite. Watching a Sailfish jump 5 ft high, 5 times in a row is the ultimate adrenalin rush and a sight to see. The Mahi – Mahi are weighing in anywhere from 10 – 30 lb’s and are tastier than ever. The Wahoo are making the rods bend and putting up some wicked fights along with the Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel and Bonito fish on the troll. Wreck fishing is producing some nice Black Grouper and beefy Amberjacks up and down the coast. Game Sharks, such as the infamous Hammerhead, have been seen, fought and caught and they don’t give in easily. And to top it off, the Swordfish bite has been steady, day and night. What more could you ask for during the Holiday season? During the winter months, great Sailfishing will be affected by the passage of cold fronts, in a good way. When the wind patterns pick up and it’s blowing offshore, the cold air moves through and the water temperatures drop. The Sailfish move through looking for warmer water and multiple catches are common. The only disadvantage is nasty seas, big rollers, but a great bite. To us Fort Lauderdale diehards, it means perfect Sailfish conditions and what we long for. Trolling bait or dangling live goggle eyes from the kite usually attracts a Sailfish within minutes. These pretty pelagics are caught year round; however, November through March comes in at number one for the Sailfish bite. During the height of season, several bites per day is common, it happens and we catch 'em. That must be how the name Sailfish Alley came about for Fort Lauderdale, Florida! The New Year brings several different exciting attractions to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the bowl games, the superbowl and the sun. There are tons of things to do and see while in South Florida, but nothing compares to deep sea sportfishing offshore in Fort Lauderdale. Take advantage of what Fort Lauderdale, Florida is known for – our backyard, the water, the fishing. Bring home a memorable experience with some of the world’s best sportfishing. Head down to South Florida a day early or extend your vacation to experience the thrill of a lifetime aboard the Lady Pamela Sportfishing fleet. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 11-01-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 It may not be snowing or below 50, but between the north winds, the blue water and thousands of bait fish, it sure does feel like winter has arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Our first very welcomed cold front has come and gone and was much appreciated by us Fort Lauderdale fishermen. It blew 15-20 out of the northeast and gave us a few cool October afternoons. Not only were the two days extremely refreshing, the Sailfish bite offshore was solid and exactly what we anticipated. October has provided a mixed bag of fish, from giant Wahoo taking runs to gaffer size Mahi Mahi, Kingfish, Bonito and Blackfin Tuna on the troll. And as November and December approach us, we only expect fishing to improve in South Florida with the Sailfish bite. Large pods of baitfish are chuggin’ it down from the north and the bigger fish tend to follow. Expect to see the Atlantic Sailfish free jumping within feet of the boat and big Dolphin lookin’ to eat your bait. The Ballerina of the Sea puts up a wicked fight and many high fives will be given after the battle. The Wahoo was definitely a hot item offshore this month. Between the dark, electric blue color above and the shiny, vertical stripes throughout, you can’t mistake this fish especially when it’s smoking your reel. The Lady Pamela II was very successful with the Wahoo bite and we sure did land some monsters that could’ve fed a village. Several anglers went home with smiles and sore arms after reeling in this prize game fish offshore in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 09-30-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Ft Lauderdale Fishing September 2009 Deep Sea fishing has been phenomenal in South Florida this month. Loads of Kingfish and Bonito make it easy for everyone to catch a fish and even go in for seconds. The average size Kingfish is anywhere from 5-10 lbs and the Lady Pamela II has landed some monsters that tipped the scale at 40 lbs plus. Not only are the Kings solid offshore, the Blackfin Tuna and Wahoo bite has been consistent in the 200 – 500 foot range. These fish put up a wicked fight and man are they tasty! The Mahi bite started out extremely slow and sent many anglers back to the dock empty handed this season. With that said, there is a bit of encouraging news and hope offshore. The bite has since picked up and the Lady Pamela II is making up for lost time on the Mahi Mahi. Those delicious Dolphin we all love are slowly showing up in good numbers. On September 19th, Captain Paul, myself and our anglers had five Mahi on at one time, talk about action. We ended our fishing trip with nine nice ones and a beefy 25 lb’er in the box. Sailfish season is approaching Fort Lauderdale and the Sailfish have already begun to bite. With a rippin’ north current and blue water you can’t go wrong with Spindle beaks. The Atlantic Sailfish is by far one of the most sought after game fish in the world and they can be found in plentiful numbers especially right here in South Florida during the winter months. Sailfishing is one of my all time favorites. They are capable of powerful runs, acrobatic jumps and reel blistering dives which may make your arms regret they ever tangled with this great fish. Our sportfishing fleet has averaged four bites per week and it may triple come November. We cannot wait! The Autumn Swordfish bite has been hit or miss for the past couple of weeks. The Lady Pamela II has ventured offshore both Daytime Swordfishing and Nighttime Swordfishing in search of big Broadbills and we’ve come home with a few nice ones in the pit. Swordfish don’t give in easily and a good team effort is required to pull a big boy in the boat. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 09-14-2009 | |
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Labor Day Yellow Eye’s in the Bahamas Minus the rain, weather was perfect to head over to the Bahamas for a weekend getaway with friends and family for our annual Labor Day fishing trip in Bimini. Seas were flatter than a pancake and I was looking forward to fresh Yellow Eye. As Bimini is basically my second home, I know of some great spots to put fish in the box. A group of us left the Harbor around 9:00 AM and the fun began. “Deep dropping is like grocery shopping,” as one of my buddies always said. It wasn’t an instant bite but we did manage to reach our limit and enjoy fresh dinner on the dock Saturday night. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 08-25-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 As we entered into August, seas were flat as glass and the fishing was phenomenal, producing Kingfish and Bonito for all. The Bonito bite is still strong and steady with the Kings by their side. Get your Bonito fix in now and save those strips for later because September is right around the corner and the bite should come to a halt here shortly. Kingfish on the other hand will remain on the reefs and will continue to bite anywhere from 30 – 60 feet below the surface. Trolling is the most common way to land a Kingfish and the Lady Pamela II has been successful with 8 – 10 lb’ers coming over the side along with a few bigger Mackerels in the 25 -40 lb range. Not only have the Kings been hitin’ the deck left and right, the Blackfin Tuna have showed themselves quite nicely this month. Blackfin Tuna provide excellent sport on light tackle and a hefty 50 lb’er on the line is common. Blackfin flesh is a bit dark but extremely tasty sushi style. The image of several Sailfish release flags flying from the rigger plays nicely against a South Florida winter sky. However, anyone who thinks Sailfish are strictly cold-weather species might want to reconsider. Spindlebeaks aren’t just for guys in grundens. For the past several summers, a growing number of Sailfish have been caught from Palm Beach to the Upper Keys. Yet, the bite is nowhere better than off the coast of Fort Lauderdale and Miami during the summer months. This must be how the name “Sailfish Alley” came about for Broward and Dade County. August hasn’t given us much wind to work with, but we did have a few days where it was blowing enough to fly the kites and get our hands on a few jumping Sailfish. Winter is creeping up behind us and the Lady Pamela II is excited to see what the season has in store for us. Although spring is high season for Game Sharks, the August bite hasn’t been too shabby. We’ve caught a handful of Game Sharks offshore that didn’t give in easily and put up a wicked fight. Hi Captain Dave, Just got back to Atlanta and wanted to send you pictures of the big catch. I can’t believe I caught an 8’ golden hammerhead shark. It was my dream to catch a shark – I watch about sharks whenever they are on tv. From Thomas The shipwrecks offshore have been holding heavy with loads of fish. Drop a fresh bait 350 ft deep and your chances of attracting an Amberjack is likely. Not only are Amberjacks hanging deep, Groupers flock to a well presented bait sitting on the bottom as well. Move into the shallow wrecks and the dinosaur Barracuda will hop on that bait and bend the rod. The Wahoo bite has been incredible around the full moons. Wahoo are one of the tastiest eating fish and these fierce fighters will show you who’s boss on the water real quick, especially at 75 lb’s plus. Mahi fishing is the talk of the town right now. It has been hit or miss, with a few small stray fish here and there, nothing to rave about, yet. The Lady Pamela II has been averaging about 10 Mahi per week anywhere from 5 – 20 lb’s. The delicious Dolphin haven’t chugged it this way yet, but we are still hoping for a big run of hungry fish next month. Sea ya on the water… Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 07-10-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 On Saturday night, David and his son set sail with Captain Paul and me for an all nighter Swordfish trip. A bit ironic, there was a Swordfishing Tournament taking place offshore. We left Lauderdale Marina around 5 PM and arrived to our destination around 7 PM, trolling our way to Swordfish grounds. As soon as we hit our spot, lines went in the water and the night began for us. Not even an hour after deploying our baits, David reeled in a 90 lb Broadbill. It was a pretty instant bite so lines went back down immediately. Before we knew it, we were hooked again. David’s son grabbed the rod, got situated in the chair and started reeling. A 46 inch’er came alongside the boat and we released him for a future fight. At this point in the game, we weren’t necessarily catching big fish, but we were getting the bite and we weren’t complaining. Two long hours went by before we got another bite. After a 30 minute battle, David won with the Broadbill Swordfish at the transom. Three times a charm, right? David’s son landed a beefy 300 lb’er to top off the night. Captain Paul and I haven’t seen the Nighttime Swordfish bite go off like this in a long time. Too bad we weren’t fishing the tournament; we probably would have won with that guy! Now’s the time to venture offshore to catch Broadbill Swordfish. The seas are flat calm and the bite is on! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: Ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-14-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Fishing in Fort Lauderdale during the month of June is truly satisfying. There is an abundance of activity inshore and offshore. Take your pick or fish both sides, I can guarantee that you will go home with a sore arm, a huge smile and a memory to last a lifetime. Now on to the good stuff; fishing. In the late afternoon, the inshore bite is hot and heavy for giant Tarpon. It’s common to get 5 – 6 bites by 100 lb’ers during a 4 hour period. On June 5th, the Lady Pamela II went 2 for 5 on the Tarpon bite just inside of Port Everglades. After putting out our baits, it didn’t take long before he was on. The 5 ft Tarpon started his series of jumps and our anglers enjoyed every second of the fight. Throughout the night, we had 4 more strikes, one of those being a solid hook up. After a few minutes on the line and one good jump, the fish managed to pull the hook and give it back. Our anglers went home happy as clams with a story to tell their friends. Fishing offshore in Fort Lauderdale is nothing short of epic. Whether you’re making a deep drop for Daytime Swordfish in 1,800 ft or trolling over the reef just a mile offshore, you’ll find action. The Kingfish, Mahi, Barracuda, Blakfin Tuna and Bonito will show themselves and stretch your line. Not only is there action below, the Lady Pamela II has come across schools of jumping porpuses swimming alongside the boat and a handful of sea turtles mating on the surface. We’ve found great success with Daytime Swordfishing, the bite has definitely picked up. They’re hungry and willing to battle with you during the day and the night. Broadbills are one the toughest fighting game fish in the Southeast, average encounters last more than an hour. If you’re looking to tug on something big, Swordfishing is the trip for you, during the day or night. Summertime is Mahi time. June is well-known for its solid Dolphin bite as it is peak season from now until the end of July. The seas lay down, the water heats up and the weed lines drift on the surface. Weed lines are always a good sign when searching for Mahi offshore. Come across a weed stack a few miles out and chances are you’ll have a run in with a school of 30+ beautiful blue-ish green Dorado’s looking to eat. They put up one hell of a fight and fillets make for a great meal. Fresh Mahi – Mahi is a true South Florida souvenir. June is also the time of year when we head across to the Bahamas for sportfishing expeditions. The weather is perfect, the seas are calm and the fishing is nearly endless. The yellow eye snapper bite is red hot in 850 ft water. You can reach your limit in no time and leave ‘em biting for the following day. The Lady Pamela II has traveled to Bimini quite a few times this month and caught monster size Mahi – Mahi, Wahoo on the troll, giant Amberjacks on the wrecks and we’ve seen two 500+ lb Blue Marlin jumping within feet of the boat. How can you go wrong? Fishing is strong and steady in all places with all techniques this time of year. So, let’s get out there and catch some fish! Sea ya on the water... Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 06-05-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 On Sunday morning, a crew of Alison, Dustin, Dustin’s father, Captain Paul and I set sail aboard the Lady Pamela II for Dustin’s birthday. What a better way to spend your birthday than deep sea fishing offshore in Fort Lauderdale. The plan was to go daytime sword fishing and put Dustin on a big one. We were successful. We left Lauderdale Marina bright and early and ready to catch some fish. The weather was wonderful and the fishing wasn’t half bad either. We started off our trip trolling to Swordfish land and hooked up with a handful of Kingfish and a good size Mahi. Once we reached our destination, Captain Paul dropped ‘er down 1,800 ft and did the fish dance. Our crew was on full alert. Captain Paul and I kept a close eye on the rod because a bite by a powerful Broadbill on the bottom might not be anything more than a slight bend in the tip. Once he was on, he was on. Captain Paul got Dustin situated and he went to town. After a brutal fight in 90 degree heat, the fish came into view of the boat, fighting its way to the transom. There were several high fives and handshakes given after Dustin landed his 100 lb Swordfish. I think I may have heard him say it was his best birthday ever on the way in. Happy Birthday Dustin! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-29-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Mahi-Mahi Madness! Deep Sea fishing offshore Fort Lauderdale has been great this week. Although the weather hasn’t been picture perfect, the seas have been comfortable and the fish have been biting! There’s been tons of action on the reef for our morning and afternoon fishing trips. The Sailfish bite has petered out but the Mahi – Mahi have moved on in! Al and his colleges set sail aboard the Lady Pamela II while in Fort Lauderdale for a work convention. Today was there window of opportunity to catch a break from the office and enjoy sunny South Florida. We left Lauderdale Marina bright and early and on a mission. Once we got out of Port Everglades we visited our friend, the local buoy, for bluerunners and speedos. We trolled the reef and landed a handful of King Mackerel and Bonito. Lately, it’s been common to run into a school or two of Mahi – Mahi in 500 ft of water. Right around 450 ft of water we came across three schools of nice size Dolphin ranging anywhere from 5 – 8 lbs. There were a few 12 - 15 lb'ers in the mix, too. The Mahi – Mahi are running right now and there’s nothing like a homemade Dolphin sandwich! Sea ya on the water. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-21-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 This afternoon, we had a group of people from all over the country; Gary from Canada, Jeff and his wife from Georgia, Bill from Michigan and Ray from Fort Lauderdale. All five had one thing in common; they wanted to catch fish, lots of fish. The anxious anglers set sail aboard the Lady Pamela II around 11 AM with Justin in the cockpit and myself at the helm. We headed to the local buoy to load up on live bait, but they weren’t cooperating with us. Plan B for bait – anchor off a shipwreck along the beach and hope for the best. The Bluerunners and Speedos couldn’t hide for long; we filled the well to the rim and ran to fertile grounds. Justin put the trolling gear out with six lines figuring at least one would attract a King Mackerel, Mahi or a Blackfin Tuna. Nope! Not even a nibble. We tried and tried on the troll but nothing was going on and our anglers were getting antsy. There was some action at a wreck down south so Justin pulled everything in and we were off. Ten miles later and there we were, at the wreck. After two drive by’s and no bites, I said to myself, one more and that’s it. Three times a charm. We nailed a giant Barracuda and Gary was the man. He fought the 40 inch’er for a good 10 minutes before the Barracuda gave in. We got some photos and said adios as the fish swam away. I made another pass around the wreck and we got a big bite on the surface. Bill jumped into the hot seat and reeled in an even bigger Barracuda. This fish was over 4 ft long and had one mean set of teeth. Our first wreck of the day wasn’t an instant bite, but it definitely didn’t let us down in the end. The shipwrecks were holding heavy today so I ran over to the deep wreck and made a drop on top. Ray and Jeff got a nice workout reeling in some jacks (they didn’t realize these game fish fought so hard). Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-16-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Deep Sea Fishing in Fort Lauderdale during the month of May offers an endless variety of fish, from giant Mahi – Mahi on the troll to 10 ft Game Sharks on the wrecks. Now’s the time to call in sick and head offshore to go sport fishing in South Florida and experience the thrill of a lifetime! May is the last hurrah for the Atlantic Sailfish, as the Game Shark bite comes in at #1. The 10 - 25 lb King Mackerel are holding heavy on the reef along with the Bonito, Black fin Tuna and the big boy Mahi - Mahi. These are the main species feeding offshore right now and they are hitting anything presented correctly, from the kite to the bottom bait. The Wahoo action remains strong and steady along with the Nighttime Swordfish bite. Whether you're looking to tug on something bigger than your 10 yr old or you’re just out there to catch dinner for the family, we've got you covered. Come offshore fishing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida aboard the Lady Pamela II. The Springtime Sailfish bite should continue on through the middle to the end of May. Now is the time when you can expect to see the larger Sailfish lingering on the edge. Our Sport fishing charter fleet has seen a few floppers here and there, getting a handful of bites per week. During the first weekend in May, the Frequent Flyer II ventured off to the Bahamas and landed a giant Sailfish just a few miles off of the coast of Bimini. They’re still out and about and kite fishing is key to catching. Live bait dangling on the surface does it every time. I’d say 90% of the Sailfish we hook up with eat from the kite. Sail fishing is one of my all time favorites, especially when they put on a parade of head shaking leaps. However, the time has come and we’ve officially started the countdown. You only have a short time left to land the pretty pelagic until the season kicks off later in the year. Game Sharks are some of the largest fish that pass through our waters here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Hammerheads, Tigers, Bull Sharks and the endangered Big Eye Thresher are in the neighborhood so to speak. It’s the Game Shark’s time to shine and they are making it a point to do so. The Lady Pamela II and the Frequent Flyer II have been catching some monsters with rigged King fish heads sitting deep at 350 ft of water. There will be many high fives after a grueling fight with one of these guys. The reef is RED HOT! A short time trolling is rewarding. Fresh strip baits and planner rods catch the eye of the King Mackerel and Bonito. The Kings have showed up and man did they chunk up. Landing 10 – 30 lb’ers is common these days with the occasional 60 lb’er. These fish fight like a son of a gun and will leave you wanting more. Not only is the reef littered with Kings, lit up Sails loiter around the area as well, tapping and plucking at the bait with its spindly beak. Monday night was beautiful, calm and comfortable for our Nighttime Swordfish trip. Captain Darin and I lead our anglers 16 miles offshore to fertile grounds where we deployed our spread and hoped for a stray Swordfish. It wasn’t long before a beefy Broadbill ate the best of baits and was hooked. Our anglers got a few cranks in until the Swordfish pulled the hook and decided to release himself and fade away. Shortly after, another Swordfish visited our bait, took a bite and fell off. If you can’t play hooky from work, leave an hour early and get your fix with some action packed nighttime fishing. The Snapper and Game Sharks show themselves quite nicely on the wreck around sunset. Sea ya on the water. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-05-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 BIMINI BITE REPORT Ft Lauderdale is the gateway to the Bahamas. Due to the lack of local charter boats in the Bahamian islands, the best way to sport fish and explore the islands is to charter a boat from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Only 50 nautical miles from the South Florida coastline, Bimini is a prime fishing destination. It all started with Jose’s wife, Anna. She was looking to surprise her husband and ship him and his three buddies off to the Bahamas for a weekend getaway with the guys. None of them had ever been to Bimini before, so they flew over a week before to check it out and they fell in love with the islands emerald waters and tropical atmosphere. A two day trip to scope out the island was all it took; Jose, Lou, Daniel and Garry were heading to Bimini to catch fish, eat freshly cracked conch and come home with a great story…or two. Friday morning was the big day; the Frequent Flyer II was ready to go, with every fishing lure, rod and reel you could imagine. We blasted out Port Everglades around 1 PM and arrived in Bimini to clear customs just before happy hour. Jose and all his buddies got situated into their lush Bimini Bay cottage around 5 PM as the Frequent Flyer II docked at Bimini Blue Water Resort. We had big plans for Saturday morning so we let our anglers enjoy their first night on the town as we got all of our deep drop gear in order for an 8 AM start. Captain Peter and I are very familiar with Bimini’s waters and reef system and know of several great Yellow Eye Snapper spots we hit up a few months back. Deep dropping it was in 850 ft! We couldn’t have asked for a better bite, it was instant. The Yellow Eye action was non-stop; we caught 30 big boys and left ‘em biting. Our secret spot has never let us down. The Bahamas basically serves as a hotel for Game Sharks and Lou was interested in getting his hands on maybe a 10 ft Tiger or Hammerhead to tell his buddies about back home. Bimini Harbor it was! The kite went up with a live goggle eye along with three fresh shark baits on the bottom. It didn’t take long before we got the bite. Peter yelled down “Big Blue Marlin on the left short!” I pushed the boat ahead to set the hook and we had him on. It wasn’t a Blue; it was a huge Sailfish starting his series of jumps right before our eyes. Lou jumped into the fighting chair without even thinking about it. Fighting the first game fish of our trip was the only thing on his mind. Twenty-four hours into our fishing trip and we had a cooler full of Yellow Eye’s and a Sailfish fight to rave about. I’m pretty sure every body went to bed beat, but anxious for another great day of fishing. We got a head start on Sunday morning and said adios to Bimini. Trolling gear immediately went out and we were expecting anything. About 8 miles offshore a gaffer size Mahi – Mahi ate, weighing in around 25 lbs. After we got a few pictures of our first dolphin, he went straight in the box for dinner and we starting running back towards South Florida. Captain Peter and I were up on the bridge when I noticed another big Mahi swimming along side the boat. I spun the boat around quicker than ever, Peter pitched him a bait and we were hooked up! That dolphin jumped on our bait and didn’t hesitate. Jose reeled in the second Mahi of the day. To make a long story short, we landed another 25 lb’er before we arrived back at Lauderdale Marina. Our three day Bahamas extravaganza turned out to be one helluva fishing trip with a great group of guys! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 05-02-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Now through the beginning of May, expect to see tons of Sailfish action of the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Today Carlos and his son set sail with Matt the mate and I to go Deep Sea Fishing. Our duo was in town visiting from Brazil and I wanted to show them what fishing in South Florida was all about. On the way out, we made a pit stop at Lauderdale Marina to fill the well with live goggle eyes for later use. Trolling for King Mackerel was the first thing on our list. Our fresh bonito strips and ballyhoos really turned them on, they were hitin’ the deck left and right. Twenty minutes into Trolling and our left planner got a hit. Whatever ate fell off immediately. Then the other planner got a bite. It had to of been the same fish! Carlos gears up and starts reeling as the flopper starts his series of jumps within feet of the transom. The excitement didn’t last long; he spit the hook and hauled. I wasn’t going to let this one get away. Spinner rod to the rescue! I rigged up a live gogg real quick and pitched it, hoping it would land right in front of his face. We finally got him on, and he was on good this time. Carlos and his son both got a taste of this game fish as they fought him all the way to the boat. It was a beauty. All morning, Carlos had Tuna on his mind. “How can we catch a Tuna?” Not even a minute after we released our Sailfish, Carlos reeled in a nice Blackfin Tuna. The 12 lb’er made his day. It’s ironic how things work out sometimes. I’ll tell you what, there’s nothing better than freshly caught Blackfin for dinner. The Tuna went in the box and the lines went back in the water. As soon as fresh bait touched the water, the right rigger got a hit. We couldn’t believe our eyes as the baby Blue Marlin showed himself. That fantasy didn’t last long either, he got away before we could stop him. It was a bummer, but nice to see a Blue out there. Today rocked out there! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-20-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 There’s been a lot of activity offshore this week in Fort Lauderdale. This afternoon, Joe and his girlfriend got in on some action aboard the Frequent Flyer II. Around 4 PM we headed out the Intracoastal Waterway, not like the usual 8-12 or 1-5 trips we run daily. We rigged up some fresh bonito strips and started off trolling. The King Mackerel and Bonito were showing themselves in good numbers. When we reached the reef, the sun started to set and man was it pretty. We crossed our fingers for a grouper or snapper to bite. Within 10 minutes of trolling the reef, we were hooked. We saw color as the fish hovered below. The 7 lb Mutton Snapper was bright and beautiful. We knew we were in a good spot now, so trolling gear went right back in the water and we sat back for another instant bite. After 15 minutes in the fighting chair, Joe reeled in a beefy, 20 lb Cobia. Nice catch guys! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide E-MAIL: ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-19-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 This afternoon, Frank and his buddies joined the Frequent Flyer II to go deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Live bait was MIA today, there wasn’t any available. A friend of mine, also a local fisherman, was so kind and gave us two dozen thread fin herrings. With our live bait situation settled, we were ready to go look for the Atlantic Sailfish. Trolling to our destination, we hooked a few Bonito and six King Mackerel. Trolling was on point today, but we were so anxious to use our thread fins, we popped the kites. Not more than ten minutes passed before the clip from the right kite popped open. All of a sudden a big mama jumped all the way out of the water, pouncing on the surface. She couldn’t pass up our precious bait, she really went for it. We were in the right place, at the right time, with the right bait, presented the right way. Justin set the hook as Frank called dibs on the rod. He jumped in the fighting chair with excitement, knowing it was going to be a great fight. The Ballerina of the Sea put on a 30 minute parade, jumping all over the ocean right before our eyes. The power of this fish was impressive. After a 30 minute battle between Frank and the Sail, Justin was able to get the leader. When Frank saw the size of his fish, he couldn’t hold back the smile. Frank and his buddies got a few pictures for keepsake, and we released the Sailfish for a future fight. Sail fishing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, particularly in April, is nothing short of epic. Fort Lauderdale provides an ideal Sailfish season for the inexperienced angler looking to land a pelagic and a great place for the pros to enjoy another great day on the water. You only have a short time left to head offshore and hook up with a Sailfish. The countdown has begun, as May is the last hurrah. Let’s get out there and catch some fish. Check out our Sportfishing Forum at www.ladypamela2.com Tight Lines! Captain David Ide Ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-18-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 SOUTH FLORIDA SPRING TIME FISHING REPORT April has been one of the most exciting, action packed months for us here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Whether you like fishing the Inlet for the stealth Barracuda or dropping on the wreck for Amberjacks and Game Sharks, pick your spot and you will have a story for your friends. April is my favorite time of year to go deep sea fishing in Ft Lauderdale. The weather is to die for and the seas are comparable to a pancake. Not to mention, the fish are biting. When there’s a rippin’ north current offshore, the Atlantic Sailfish is lingering nearby and usually looking to eat. Last week, the Sailfish were out and about. I saw a flopper jumping behind the live goggle eye on the right rigger just before the satisfying slap, line was just pouring off the reel. The power of this fish was incredible. With myself at the helm and Captain Paul in the pit, the Sail started his series of head shaking leaps right before our eyes. Our angler, John, fought the Sailfish all the way to the transom after a nice little run. He got a good look at his pelagic and we turned it loose – that thing swam away like a rocket. The Lady Pamela II guided John to his first Sailfish release ever. John added a few King Mackerel and Mahi – Mahi to his red hot action. The Sailfish bite will soon come to a halt as May approaches us. Come fishing with us, you won’t be disappointed. Game Sharks have officially moved on in. February to June is prime time to go big game shark fishing. Hammerheads, Makos, Tigers and Threshers are some of the biggest fish caught off the east coast. However, we’ve noticed a late start with the Game Sharks as April comes in at #1, producing the most bites. Head offshore to 300 ft, drop a rigged Kingfish head on the bottom and your chances of tugging on one of these bad boys is likely. Once hooked, average encounters last more than an hour, leaving you with a very soar arm. Game Sharks offer the ultimate offshore challenge. This month, we’ve gotten up close and personal with a handful of Thresher Sharks. One day we caught two giant Threshers back to back, both just shy of 12 ft. That day went down in history. The shipwrecks are always active in the spring with tons of fish, tons of BIG fish. There have been some takers on a few 50 lb reef donkeys. Amberjacks are one of the toughest fighting fish out there and if you’ve never experienced the fight, a 30 lb’er will show you whose boss. Surprisingly, the Cobias have been hitting nicely for us aboard the Lady Pamela II. They move off the beach and onto the wrecks just looking for our speedos, it seems. Talk about good eats, Cobia is one of the tastiest fish in the ocean. The Mahi – Mahi have been hit or miss lately. One day the weed line generates an ample amount, the next day there isn’t a dolphin in site. May is when the dolphin bite really goes off. You will hear a lot of Mahi talk during the month of May, when the big boys start to show. You can’t beat fresh Dolphin for dinner, that’s the true South Florida souvenir. Holy King Mackerel! The Kings have been running and we’ve had no problem finding them. Fresh bonito strips, an 80 ft leader and a planner does the trick every time. This equates to plenty of rod bending with the 20 – 30 lb’ers. Even the 8 – 10 lb Kingfish pull hard on the rods, leaving the angler wanting more. The first week of April, we headed 15 miles offshore to Swordfish grounds to see what we could get ourselves into. After an hour of fishing and not catching, we finally got a bite. He was on there for a bit until he snagged the hook. Since then, we’ve tried our luck a handful of times, averaging 3 – 5 bites per night. If you’re not necessarily a night owl, Daytime Sword fishing is another great opportunity to hook up with the Gladiator of the Sea. Check out our Daily Captain’s Log to keep you caught up on what’s biting offshore Ft Lauderdale, Florida! www.ladypamela2.com Tight Lines! Captain David Ide Ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-12-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 This morning, David and his three buddies from Chicago joined Tom and his wife from Buffalo, NY aboard the Lady Pamela II. We set sail from Shallow Harbor and realized these guys all had one thing in common, they wanted to catch some fish and go home with a good story. Once we hit the ocean, we ran to this beautiful blue-ish, green edge in 160 feet of water. The kites went up in hopes of landing a Sailfish or two. We sat back patiently and waited for a game fish to show himself. An hour went by before we packed up and moved on to trolling. Trolling was a little different then kite fishing today. I dropped the first bait in the water and it was an instant bite. I think I may have heard one of our anglers say “This is what I’m talking about.” We reeled in a 25 lb Wahoo on mono, which is unusual, but awesome. We were finally in the feeding area, so our bait went back out and BAM!, we got another hit on the left planner. Tom’s wife jumped in the hot seat and the battle began. She fought a BIG Bluefish for about 15 minutes before it came within gaffing range of the boat. All I could think to myself was “Holy Bluefish.” On Thursday, Captain Paul caught 28 of those bad boys. We’ve never seen the Bluefish bite go off like this in our years of Sport fishing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. Hey, we're not complaining, keep 'em coming! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide Ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-05-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 On Wednesday afternoon, David and his daughter Maria came fishing aboard the Lady Pamela II with Captain Paul and myself. We headed out Shallow Harbor around 1 P.M. with our father, daughter and my buddy Matt, our Mate in Training. Trolling gear was in the water and so were the Kings. Maria was having a ball reeling them in one after another. After we reached our limit on the Kingfish, we decided to go target something bigger. It's Spring time and you know what that means, Game Sharks are migrating through South Florida and the bite is going off! Captain Paul took us to a nice spot just a few miles north of Port Everglades, our baits went out and we sat back. Matt was on the bridge with me and noticed something strange with the 200 bait. The rod bounced a few times before Captain Paul touched it. He started reeling it slowly and then BAM it bent over like you wouldn't believe. I pushed the boat ahead to set the hook and Matt raced down from the bridge to get in on some cockpit action. David and Maria played pass off for quite a while, but pulled through as a team. They fought a 10 ft endangered Thresher Shark all the way to the transom. Now that's one helluva Game Shark! Check out our Daily Captain's Log to keep you caught up on what's biting offshore Fort Lauderdale, Florida! www.ladypamela2.com Tight Lines! Captain David Ide ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 04-01-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 The weather has been beautiful for us Florida folks, but the seas have been a bit intimidating. The plus to a windy day offshore, the Sailfish bite is on. When it's blowing 15-20, chances are the Sailfish are feeding just a few miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. Head out fishing on a day like this and your most likely going to see one jump within feet of the boat. This morning we headed out Port Everglades and instantly got hooked on the troll. We landed two Blackfin Tuna around 8 lb's, a petite Mahi - Mahi we threw back, a nice size Cero Mackerel and a 7 lb Kingfish. Good thing the bite was red hot early, sea sickness kicked in and that's never fun. We had a group of troopers but man were they glad to be back at the dock. Not too shabby for a short time of fishing, there's nothing better than fresh Tuna for dinner. Gary and his friends joined the Lady Pamela II this afternoon in hopes of catching a few Mahi for a true South Florida souvenir. We headed out Shallow Harbor and once we hit open water we were ready to reel in some fish. Captain Paul picked a good spot in 500 ft of water and our spread was out. Right off the bat we got the bite. Once it ate, I called it a Blue Marlin, Captain Paul was confident that it was a Sailfish. He was right. The Ballerina of the Sea was jumping all around the boat, putting on a great show for our anglers. They sure have made a name for themselves. We got some great shots of the flopper in action. Once we got the Sail within range of the boat, we got up close and personal with the pelagic and saw it's true colors, it was a beauty. Sailfish are by far the most exciting fish to fight when they're on the line and one of the prettiest fish in the sea. Check out our Daily Captain's Log to keep you caught up on what's biting offshore Ft Lauderdale, Florida! Tight Lines! Captain David Ide ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 03-25-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 Sailfish Bite Pushes Through Fort Lauderdale, Florida! This morning the Lady Pamela II set sail with a group full of troopers. Shelly, her Husband, Julius and his family joined the LP II crew in 5-7 ft seas ready to catch some fish and go home with a great story. When the seas are nasty the fish usually bite, especially the Atlantic Sailfish. On the way out the Intracoastal we loaded up with live goggleeye's to fly the kites. When we hit open water, we picked a spot and popped the kites. Within 20 minutes of kite fishing, Shelly and her Husband hooked up with a flopper. It was a large Atlantic Sailfish jumping within feet behind the boat. All 5 anglers were jumping up and down with excitement. It was a tough fight, but Shelly's husband did it. He was stoked when he got that 5 1/2 footer to the boat. Not too long after we released the Sailfish, Julius' son landed a gaffer size Mahi - Mahi weighing in around 20 lbs. We headed back to Shallow Harbor to drop off our early birds and pick up our afternoon anglers. We had a killer morning trip and couldn't wait to top it off with a great afternoon bite. Russ and Russell joined us from Minnesota, David and his wife traveled here from the Windy City and Elizabeth was in town from Maryland. Conditions were perfect to fly the kites. The Sailfish were around in the morning so we picked up live goggleeye's hoping to hook up with another one. Within minutes of suspending the goggs from the kites, we hooked a nice size Barracuda. Then a Mahi - Mahi ate and Elizabeth reeled in a 20 lb'er. It didn't stop there. The right long got hit, Justin picked up the rod but the Sailfish spit the hook. We didn't catch the Sail but we weren't complaining with our cuda and gaffer size Mahi. Last stop of the day was the wreck. We made a few drops and didn't even get a nibble. There wasn't much current, but it didn't hurt to try. All in all, the Lady Pamela II had another great day on the water. Tight Lines! Captain David Ide ladypamela2@bellsouth.net 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 03-23-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 This morning we a had a boat load of anglers from all over the US. Hugo and his son visiting from Texas, Robert joined us from Virginia and Mark didn't have to drive too far, living right here in sunny South Florida. We needed live bait and we got some. We filled the well with a good amount of live speedos and bluerunners. We checked live bait off the list and ran 3 miles north to put the trolling gear out. Before we even had everything out, BAM! a dolphin ate. After we put the Mahi in the box both deep baits got hit with two gaffer size King Mackerels. We were on a roll now and we weren't stopping. We put the baits back out, catching a total of 5 nice size King Mackerels. Our anglers wanted to tug on something a little bigger so we headed to one of the several shipwrecks and made a drop. First drop of the day and we were hooked instantly. Whatever it was, it swam right into the wreck (not a good thing) and broke us off. Another big bluerunner went for a swim and we hooked a game fish immediately. Who knows, maybe it was the same fish looking for lunch. Bob jumped into the fighting chair ready to reel. After a 25 minute battle, Bob won and landed a beautiful Amberjack on his deep sea fishing trip. What a great way to end a South Florida vacation! Check out our daily Captain's Log to keep you caught up on what's biting offshore Fort Lauderdale, Florida! www.ladypamela2.com E-MAIL the Captain your catch with photos ladypamela2@bellsouth.net Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | David Ide | Date Posted: | 03-20-2009 | |
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Lady Pamela II Sportfishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 March of the Fish - Offshore Fishing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida March has been one action packed month here in sunny South Florida aboard the Lady Pamela II, no fish recession here! March is one of my favorite months to fish offshore in Ft Lauderdale, it's finally warming up and we are seeing a mixed bag of tough fighting game fish and those delicious eating fish the Southeast is known for. On Saturday the 14th, we landed a Silky Shark just north of Port Everglades, went 1 for 2 on the Sailfish bite and fought a monster Amberjack off a wreck in 300 ft of blue water, in the matter of 4 hours. Our anglers went home with sore arms and a memory to last a lifetime. This is the type of deep sea fishing I live for, rod bending and screamin' reels. Don't get me wrong, there have been days where the fish haven't quite cooperated with us aboard the Lady Pamela II, but for the most part the hook ups have been not stop and we've been coming home with great catch. Sailfishing has been hit or miss lately. They disappeared for a bit, then a little push came through and the bite picked up for us in Ft Lauderdale. Sailfishing is one of my favorite types of fishing, watching the Ballerina of the Sea jump 30 feet behind the boat is one sight to see. Fighting the Atlantic Sailfish is a blast and look for the action to continue keeping our anglers smile into Spring. You only have a short time left to land a Sailfish, let's take advantage of it aboard the Lady Pamela II now through the beginning of May! The Mahi - Mahi have been solid in 300 - 500 ft of water offshore. We've noticed that trolling with live blue runners and popping the kites with goggs dangling on the surface does the trick with the dolphin. The bite has been unbelievable, literally. We've been catching anywhere from 10 lb Mahi - Mahi to 30 lb, 40 lb and even 50 lb beefers. During the first week of March, the Blackfin Tuna were showing up in good numbers offshore and in the cockpit. We were averaging 3 nice ones per trip, which I've never seen in my years of sportfishing offshore Ft Lauderdale. It was great while it lasted but it has slowed down a bit, at least for the Lady Pamela II fleet. Trolling for Kingfish comes in at #1, being the most consistent bite offshore right now in Fort Lauderdale. We've seen some monsters out there and caught a handful of 30+ lb'ers. It is common to land 3-5 nice ones per trip these days. The kings are definitely lingering in our backyard as we speak. Wreck fishing has been great, producing big Amberjacks, Cobia and Barracuda's in anywhere from 65 ft - 300 ft of water. Amberjacks are one of the toughest fighting game fish we hook up with, average encounters will leave your arms sore for a few days and a grin on your face from ear to ear. Let's not forget about the infamous Barracuda either, stealth in the Inlet as well as on the shipwrecks. Their mean set of teeth and shiny, silver coat will truly amaze you. The Lady Pamela II has set sail for Swordfish a few times throughout the month of March. The bite has been good on either side of the full moon, going home with at least a few bites and a 200 lb'er in the pit. On the full moon, the average sword weighed in around 100 lbs. Last week we were fishing a few miles offshore with a surface bait on top and a 100 lb Broadbill came up interested, ate the bait but spit the hook. Spring time is here and so are the Game Fish! The Game Sharks have migrated South to about 300 ft of water and the trick to these bad boy's is a bloody kingfish head hanging out on the bottom. It really seems to turn them on. We will soon start to see a wide variety of Sharks in South Florida such as the Great Hammerhead, Mako, Sandbar, Bull Shark, the Big Eye Thresher, Spotted Tiger Shark and the Silky Shark. Talk about a brutal fight...hook up with on these guys and chances are you'll be passing the 130 off to your buddy to take a breather. Check out our daily Captain's Log to keep you caught up on what's biting offshore Fort Lauderdale, Florida! http://www.ladypamela2.com/...bin/forum/gforum.cgi Tight Lines! Captain David Ide www.ladypamela2.com 954-761-8045 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-11-2009 | |
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January 10, 2009 INSHORE: Well, here we go beginning another new year and looking forward to exciting adventures on the water. We have already had some great days out there in spite of windy conditions a lot of the time. The fish are feeding on the flats and you can find an assortment of species around the Indian River this month. We have had lots of fun out there recently. I had several friends return to fish the Indian River. Robert Strang and Denise were down and Denise topped off her day with a 26" snook. Keith Mullins and Kai were down to enjoy the nice weather again. Adrian and Phil Lusardi were out again with me and we had some wonderful fishing on one of those very windy days. Mark Platt, Bill Massan & John Wayman were some of the new clients that I had the privilege to have on the boat. The bite for redfish, snook and trout has continued to improve around the river, with some big gator trout being taken in the shallow grass flats. Our best day was with Adrian and Phil Lusardi as they caught six reds and a number of snook and trout. Almost all of our fish continue to be caught on artificials. DOA CAL jerk baits and grub tails are my favorites out there on the flats. Rootbeer is always a sure fire color to use during the winter months. These fish are all feeding in the same areas, so you can find yourself with an inshore slam on any given day. Fish slowly and keep a stealthy approach in the shallows to improve your success rate. Bridges continue to produce sheephead, black drum, sand perch and snapper on live or dead shrimp. Lots of mackerel, jacks and bluefish are around the inlets, while whiting and pompano are the best catches along the surf. You can usually find jacks and bluefish also feeding along the beaches. Channel edges along the river has held a good grouper bite as well as mackerel and snapper. And the usual ladyfish and jacks are wreaking havoc all over the river! Tip of the Week: Wind is the norm around the Treasure Coast during winter and spring. You can expect lots of it and plan your adventures around each front. It's also a good time to use the wind to get some much needed things accomplished that is hard to do most of the year. Here are just a few little chores that can be done when the winds are blowing and you have that itch to go fishing! 1. Cleaning out that tackle bag or box. You just never know what might be down in the bottom of it! 2. Changing that old line on your reels and making sure all your reels and rods are in good working order. 3. Checking safety equipment on the boat. Flares and fire extinguishers all have expirations that need to be checked at least once a year to comply with Coast Guard regs. There are many little things that you can just take a few minutes and check out so that your next trip on the water will be safe, fun and exciting. Checking lights on the boat and trailer change spark plugs or water separators, inspect battery connections, tighten the screws around the deck of the boat and many more small chores that take little time. Have a fun and safe 2009! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner [url=http://www.fishtalescharter.com]http://www.fishtalescharter.com[/url] email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | christian Sanchez | Date Posted: | 01-04-2009 | |
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Another Great December (CACHT FISH OR ITS FREE) We have kept busy catching plenty of fish aboard the "IMAGOS" with great clients and friends. We date back to the 5th of december for a quick evening Swordfish trip form 6 till 8 p.m. with 12 bites, 3 on live speedos and the rest on squid pulling the hook on 3 fish with two of the battles over 10 min. and by 8 called it a night with the reales of a 125 lb. Hammerhead. The 6th Luis Herrera and company fished the swordfish tournament with two fish in the boat one of 45 Lb. and the other at 60Lb. in rough conditions. Our next trip was on the 13th with 12 year old Chris with a busy morning catching and releasing 5 sailfish and one bonito. What a junior angler he'd be in the tournaments. The 19th we fished again with capt. Luis for a evening Swordfish with little success catch 2 Triple Tails in the Hydro Glow and once the wind shifted at 10 p.m. we manage to get 6 swordfish bites but could not get one to stick. My assumption is they were all small fish under 80 lb. with a attitude problem being how a bigger fish would have to inhale the squid snack and search for his next meal to support the weight. Still a great 4 hours of fishing and beats sitting at home. Our next trip was with Hank Luis and kids from texas for a morning trip with Sailfish in mind we headed due east strait into 20 knot winds and high seas over the course of two hours on the edge of the reef we had brought into the boat 2 Kingfish, 1 dolphin fish, and 1 shark. After that they decided to come into the inlet for calmer seas to reales Snook of 34-inches. The 28th was of to the swordfish grounds again with Kevin and his father, and friend Daniel. While listening to the Dolphins win against the Jets we we had 3 bites and two hook ups of Swordfish releasing one over 100 lb. next to the boat and the other pulling the hook after a few short minuets. The next night we fished for live bait (Goggle eye) for our tournament at the end of january to fatten them up to A status catching over 6 dozen. The 30th we fished with Phelipe and son Matties for a Sailfish Swordfish combo. From 2:30 till 5 p.m. we caught a Strawberry Grouper, a tough 35 l.b. Great Barracuda, and 6' Sailfish. Into the evening we set up our 6 line spread for Swordfish and waited patiently. After 3 rests of location we finally hooked up to a very stubborn Swordfish which we fought for 1 hour with 18 l.b. of pressure and 6 runs to under 500 feet down then 25 l.b. to seal the deal. The fat fish measured to be 74" L.J.F.L. and 48" around thats over 10 feet including the tail and bill which had been bit in half by a shark at one point in his short life. Not a bad night being how we were the only boat in the fleet to catch one and it being over 210 l.b. Another interesting fact is that the fish was a wrinkle belly Swordfish believed to be of western pacific origin. December goose down into the log book and january should be even better so call me to set a day of fishing and remember If you don't catch fish its FREE!! Thou be prepared to pay as I have not been skunked in the past three years. Tight Lines, Capt. Christian Sanchez (305) 496 8759 -COPY AND PASTE LINK AHEAD TO WEB PICTURE- http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr78/imagos33/IMG_1869.jpg |
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Posted By: | christian Sanchez | Date Posted: | 12-16-2008 | |
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December 9, 2008 WHALE SHARK!! SWORDFISH SAILFISH BLITZ & DISCOUNTS 150 $ It's been months since my last report and along the way has been great fishing and tournament wins!!! We date back to June the 28 when we had a tournament planed with a long time friend.Over the course of 8 hours fishing we found over 12 separate schools of Dolphin fish each containing over 40 fish all willing to eat anything in there path as we threw fly's, jig's, live pilchards, and even bare hooks at one point!!! We manage to lose count by the middle of the day after catching over 100 fish up to 26 pounds and at one point even saw my first 350 pound Blue Marlin in the Miami area. Still looking for that big mama, we were making our way to the next flock of birds when we we caught a stray tern and picked off 2 cows and 1 bull Dolphin of 33.2 pounds being the winning fish and placing thousands of dollars in our wallets. The next tournament we fished was the Mad Dog Mandich on the 25 of October in the florida keys. We took first place in the Grouper and Snapper division along with the catch of 2 Muttons Snappers, 1 Gag Grouper, 1 Mahi-Mahi, 1 Sailfish, and 4 King fish in 4 hours. Now for the more recent catches November the 15 we fished a combo trip for bottom fish and blue water fishing. In 3 hours of fishing on the edge of the reef we mange to catch 4 of 5 Sailfish, a Skip Jack Tuna, 6 Dolphin fish to 14 pounds, and a King fish of 18 pounds. We then slid onto the reef to catch snappers for 2 hours and ended with 20 flag Yellowtail Snappers, 2 Sharks to 75 pounds, 3 huge Blue Runners, a Barracuda, 1 Amberjack, and 4 Mutton Snappers over 10 pounds each. That over 40 fish in 4 hours!! Our next significant day was on the 20 when we had a evening swordfish trip with Miami locals to attempt to pick up on some new techniques to improve there sword fishing success. With eager anglers we manage to get out to the swordfish grounds by 3:30 and decided to drop a bait down 1740' while the sun was still up. Within 20 minutes we hooked up to our first Swordfish and after 30 min. of a teeth grinding fight the fish shook the hook lose. With enough time for one more drop we manage to hook up to to our second fish (or should i say freight train) of the evening. With over 30 pounds of drag and 2500' of line this fish had its mind made up from the beginning as we stared in disbelief as we got closer to the gold of the reel spool and then the gave way. There are some real beast of fish out there waiting to be caught!! With anticipation for the night we put our 6 line spread out and ended the night with 2 of 3 Swordfish to 120 pounds, and 2 cuban night sharks to 70 pounds. Our next special trip was on the 28 which was my birthday. We fished with a good friend and there family members to attempt to catch there first Sailfish over a morning 4 hour trip. Fishing was extremely slow with no current and dirty water but we manage to catch 2 King fish and lost a couple Amber Jacks to the tall structure of the wreck by 10 am. While wreck fishing I mange to spot a sailfish jumping in the distance and set up south of him but never had a bite. Then my clients pointed another free jumping sailfish with the same exact results. While set up we had a curios WHALE SHARK swim right up to the boat and picked of 5 Cobia to 13 pounds and 3 Remoras. With the Whale Shark still circling the vessel my crew manage to convince me to swim and ride on top of the 15 feet magnificent animal!!!!. Quiet a birthday present being the second one I have ever seen. The next day was a evening Swordfish trip from 6 to midnight. Our first Swordfish was in the boat by 7 that was close to 175 pounds. Over the course of the night we caught a`Dolphin fish in the Hydro Glow light and 3 more swordfish to 80 pounds releasing 2 to catch another day. What a night with great friends and shooting stars. The Swordfish and Tarpon bite should remain on fire for the next couple of months and the Sailfish have began pouring through with great chances of having double digit release in a single day. I am going to be more up to date with my fishing reports every three weeks so keep logged on to see what more exciting catches will be made. We are also DISCOUNTING 150 DOLLARS on all trips!!!! Due to recent fuel decrements. Tight lines, Capt. Christian Sanchez Imagossportfishing.com |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 12-04-2008 | |
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Tailing Bonefish Everywhere November 2008 This past week was a great time for anglers who fished for the grey ghost. The whole week had falling water in Biscayne Bay mixed with rising air temps as the day went on made for some sick bonefishing! Large schools mudding in south Biscayne Bay with smaller schools of big fish on the flats tailing all over the place, M.J Attong caught 3 tailers over 9 lbs on a half day in south bay on live crabs this past week. Other catches where Mark Schmidt of Danville Pa. caught 2 on flats and broke off 2 more on floating grass on the edges of the flats. He was using a Kwan shrimp. This trend will continue with cool air temps at night….warm to hot during the day and Falling water is always good. In Florida bay falling water and a warming trend pushed major amounts of snook up on the flats, one day we threw everything from Berkly gulps…Pilchards spoons, live shrimp, almost everything I had in the boat and all they did was give me the finger!! Not eating….The next day on a half day gig Joaquin Vargas and his sons Liam 6 yrs old and his brother Alec Vargas 9 yrs old caught a good amount of Trout Lady fish Jacks with Alec catching a nice 31 inch Snook with his little brother breaking off another on that was bigger. Also we caught a good amount of triple tail on crab pot buoys and caught 2 small cobia on the park markers. I am giving a 15% discount on all bookings between now and March 1st. If interested don’t hesitate, pick up the phone and call. Best of Luck Capt Jim Hale www.hurricanesportfishingcharters.com 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Tim Dillon | Date Posted: | 10-08-2008 | |
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fishing out of palm bch has been good the last few days. with plenty of bait inshore around 85ft there have been quite a few dolphin anywhere from 85 to 400ft off of the breakers hotel. trolling ballyhoo and strip baits with a few small splittail mullets seem to be producing a nice catch. a few sails on the edge have also been showing up keeping our mates on their toes. a few amberjacks have also been on the deep wrecks along with a few muttons and black groupers also. get the kites out here soon and dust them off and make sure all of your electrical connections for the kite rods are working properly as sailfish season will be upon us soon. i know the crew of the Island Clan can't wait. good luck and tight lines Capt Tim Dillon Island Clan Charters.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-09-2008 | |
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August 7, 2008 INSHORE: We enjoyed fishing schools of redfish once again this week. It's a sight in itself to see anywhere from fifty to one-hundred redfish out in front of the boat. We had some great fun and won a few battles fishing the flats of the Treasure Coast! It might be hot and muggy, but it's a great time of year to fish the Indian River. While fishing with Steve Rial and his buddy, we ran into Charlie Norburn and his wife on the flats. Both boats ended up fishing a nice school of reds and everyone came out a winner! Charlie's wife, Linda, caught her very first redfish and can't wait to get out fishing again. The fish have been moving so any flat around the river could be holding them on any given day. From the Moorings south to Bear Point, you could find a school out there feeding. Most times, they have been very shallow so watch and see what is going on around you. DOA TerrorEyz has been the go to bait recently for redfish. DOA shrimp or CAL grub tails will also give you an advantage when fishing for redfish. Snook have been holding around the jetties, docks and bridges around the river. A good night bite on the moving tides continues to keep anglers busy with catch and release snook. The trout bite continued to be slow this past week. They are gorging themselves on pin and pigfish, so try the TerrorEyz around the grass flats this time of year. Lots of good size snapper reported along the channel edges this week. Greg Schroeder reported he is catching lots of nice snapper. The surf has held whiting, jacks, Spanish mackerel and snook along the beaches. Can't beat a good ol' silver spoon this time of year! Tip of the Week: Patience when fishing the shallow flats can really pay off if you take the time to watch the water and learn to read what is going on around you. It's good time of year to get out and see what is happening around you. Calm mornings mean that you can see just about anything moving on the flats. Redfish can sit and feed quietly, but you can find them if you are patient and watch. Noting where fish are feeding can help you on future adventures. Redfish like to feed in the shallow, sandy flats and sometimes are in less than a foot of water. It's fun, exciting and rewarding fishing! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-25-2008 | |
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July 24, 2008 INSHORE: Some days I am truly amazed at the fantastic area we have to fish here on the Treasure Coast. Over the past twenty-six years that I have lived and fished along the Indian River, I am thankful for the abundant resources that we are so fortunate to enjoy. This past week, we have seen redfish schools that you could never find ten or fifteen years ago. Large and small schools of redfish have been roaming the flats this month. Watching a school of a hundred fish tailing and feeding in a foot or two of water bring the excitement level up rapidly. It's been a great week on the water! We had found a few schools last week and when Frank Miller arrived at the ramp, we were in for some great fishing opportunities. After fishing a couple areas, we finally came up on a large school of reds. Keeping our distance so not to send them running, Frank hooked up on four reds and boated three of them. All upper slot or larger....he ended up with a 26" - 28" - 29" tally for the morning. Earlier in the week, found them once again feeding on the flats and a 27" beauty to the boat. Tom Hull joined me later in the week and we found them feeding in less than a foot of water with tails everywhere. While waiting for the tides to rise a few more inches to allow us to get close enough for a cast, Tom hooked up on a large jacks that was riding along with the school. We also boated a 29" redfish to make for a successful day. It was a wonderful week out there! Snook fishing has continued to produce fish at night around the jetties, bridges and docks. We boated a few shorts around some of the docks to the south of Fort Pierce on DOA TerrorEyz and lost a couple nice hits under the docks. There are still tarpon around the inlet and down around Big and Little Mud Creeks. I had two nice tarpon hits on the DOA Big Fish lures this week. They look very realistic in the water. Bridges have continued to hold snapper, some croakers and sheephead. Bonito and Spanish mackerel still chase the bait around the inlet and turning basin of Fort Pierce. Beaches have been giving up whiting, mackerel and some bluefish. It's a great time of year to be fishing the Indian River! Tip of the Week: Watch around you when you are fishing and see what is happening. Fish are feeding on the prevalent baits right now. If you watch, you see mullet, greenies and lots of pinfish. Change things up with your lures to match what they are feeding on. With all the pinfish and pigfish out there on the flats, try a DOA TerrorEyz. It has worked for us this week on snook and redfish when they wouldn't look at a shrimp. Don't be afraid to put down that favorite lure and try something different! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-20-2008 | |
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July 20, 2008 INSHORE: Summertime on the Indian River.....It's a wonderful time of year. Lots of afternoon thunderstorms have brought much needed rain to the area this year. You have to plan your trips carefully to get out and beat the odds of getting wet. The water has remained remarkably clear in spite of all the wet weather out there. Fishing picked up the latter part of the week and we enjoyed catching a variety of fish around the river. Joe, Manolo and Pepe were out with me when the fishing was a challenge, but did catch dinner of snapper, mackerel and trout. It was a great day to be on the water. Joe Senneville and Crystal Mutchler went out to celebrate Joe's birthday. Of course, Crystal caught the most and biggest fish! She ended up with a 20" black drum, 21" redfish, several snapper and an assortment of other fish to end up the day. Joe caught his share of the variety, including a grouper and snook. Happy Birthday Joe! We again found redfish on the shallow flats. A few large schools have been cruising the flats with the higher tides, but have been very hesitant in biting. We found a school of more than a hundred reds this week, but they were not in the mood to eat. Move slowly when fishing the shallows as you never know when you might happen on a school of reds. Gold spoons, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are good choices to use out there. Trout was on the slower side for us this week. There is so much bait around, it's hard to get them to feed on anything else. We found lots of bait around Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island. Fish around the glass minnows whenever you happen on them. Snook fishing around the inlet has been mostly at night or on the moving tides. There are snook around the docks and mangroves of the river also. Fish early for a chance around these areas. Joe coaxed one to hit his top water lure in the shallows around some of the docks. There are still some nice snapper around the channel edges and docks. Crystal caught two keeper mangroves and a couple of short muttons from under the docks this week. Around the bridges, the anglers have caught snapper, croakers and sheephead. The mackerel are still around the inlet, but not as frenzied as last week. We did see some bonito crashing bait out there today. The surf has been producing mostly whiting and some croakers and mackerel. We had a lot of fun out this week and will be out there again looking for the action around the river. Tip of the Week: Keep plenty of water on the boat during the summer months. Drink lots of liquids to begin the day and continue throughout your adventure. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated as the sun beats down on you and the water. Make sure all your passengers do the same! Have fun on the water this summer. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-23-2008 | |
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May 23, 2008 INSHORE: Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it was May and not March! We continue to see windy days and finally got some rain to help the area a little. We ended up braving some challenging conditions on some days and ended up getting wet one of those days. This weather will continue for now and at least we will have a chance at rain showers most afternoons to try and green up the grass a little. The river has remained clean in spite of the winds. Mike McCann and his son, simply known as "L", were down and we fought some windy weather to get a chance at some fish. Mike's son ended up with a big ladyfish and lost a slot redfish to end a blustery day. He is gonna be a great fisherman! Nick Palladino and Mick Howells were up to fish this week, and we found a few places that were fishable. Mick found a 25" snook under one of the Fort Pierce docks and Nick boated a nice trout later in the day. Our day was cut a little short after some thunderclouds surrounded us. Sandy and Todd Langler stopped by the area this week to fish. We missed a number of good hits before Sandy boated a 26" gator trout. They also boated several mangrove snapper before the day was done. It was a tough week to try and beat the wind, but we did have some great fun out there trying! Live pinfish and pigfish have done well this week. Shrimp bought out the cats, jacks and pins around the flats. The river is loaded down with baitfish just about everywhere we have fished. The predators have been on the flats giving chase. It has been hard to spot redfish lately, but they are out there. As we finally get to summer conditions, look for sight fishing to greatly improve. We fished from Round Island to south of Bear Point this week. Try around the docks and grass flats to the south and Queen's Cove to the north. The inlet was boiling with Spanish mackerel this week and that means bluefish and jacks as well. Remember that snook fishing is almost over.....May 31st is the last day. The bridges have been on the slow side of late. We should see a surge in fishing this last weekend of snook season. The beaches have held some pompano, bluefish, mackerel and whiting for those anglers. Just off the beaches have held some kings, permit and bonita. The jetties have been producing jacks and bluefish mostly. Looking forward to next weeks fishing adventures! Tip of the Week: Take a few minutes one day and check out your First Aid Kit. At some point during the year it will be used for cuts, scrapes and assorted mishaps aboard the boat. Check out the contents and replenish any items that are missing, old or low in quantities. If you don't have one......it is a good idea to get one. Accidents can happen anytime and it pays to have the equipment to handle most situations that might occur. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Justin Baron | Date Posted: | 05-16-2008 | |
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May 15th Offshore with all this west wind dolphin have been sparce. that does not mean there not out ther. the king fish have moved into the beach up to 40lbs in 40ft and less. try small blue runners and sardines. look for fish sky rocketing. the sailfish are still around in 300ft to 110ft drifting live bait on a kite or dead sardeans will do the trick. the yellow tail bite is as good as i can remember at night from the ritz (out of boynton) to just north of boca. the bite is after sunset in 70ft through 90ft depending on the current. lots of chum is a must!!! so this is the time of year to get your lines wet if possible get out during the week a lot less traffic and better fishing. Inshore snook snook snook. the snook are everywhere, the beaches inlets and intercostal. there are alot of under size (slot limit) snook going around but if you put your time in they are there to be caught. i suggest live mullet, but artificials will work. the lights at night are producing as is all the inlets from jupiter through boca i heard from a good sorce that the sea trout are on fire up by the power plant so what are you waithing for go cast alime and make something happen. untill then tight lines Cpl Baron |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-04-2008 | |
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April 3, 2008 INSHORE: March went out with all the gusto is could muster and April has kept in step with the winds blowing so far this month. It has been a hard week to fish on both the river and ocean along the Treasure Coast. The fish have been biting if you can get to them out there. The dolphin bite has been good offshore and trout have been feeding along the river. As the winds die off, look for fishing action to really heat up this month! We found some trout out there earlier in the week. Use live shrimp on corks, soft plastics (like DOA CAL jerk baits) or top water in the early mornings. Queen's Cove, Bear Point and Harbor Branch have been the best areas around Fort Pierce with the Power Plant and docks to the south good places towards Jensen Beach. Snook fishing has been mostly done around the bridges, inlets and jetties. At least you had a chance at beating some of the windy conditions. Live pinfish or large shrimp has worked best lately. Nighttime fishing has produced the best bites on the outgoing tide. We have been seeing some big snook on the shallow flats recently and the top water action will start improving as the water continues to warm up. I was out with Mark Amorello on Saturday and we found a nice school of redfish on the shallow flats. The only problem was that we couldn't get within casting distance of them before they moved off to deeper water. This is the time of year to spend some time watching and reading the water. Patience and moving slowly along the flats will pay off in April. We had two other boats out there that didn't realize that there were redfish around the area. I like to use soft plastics when sight casting to redfish. DOA CAL jerk baits or DOA shrimp are two great choices out there. Fish them very slowly when sight casting. Bridges have been pretty much left out of the picture of late. There are still black drum and sheephead if you can stand it out there. Beaches have been pretty much blown out as well. Look for whiting and a few pompano once you can get back out there. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas are baits of choice. There are still snapper, ladyfish, jacks and mackerel along the channel edges to create some fun. I had a wonderful adventure with my wife, Eva, and our granddaughter, Chloe, recently. Three year olds are easy to please when fishing so we anchored up on a spot that held more small snapper than you could catch and let Chloe have fun with the fish and even playing with the shrimp. Always a joy to watch a child around the water! Tip of the Week: Time to check out the contents of the boat and make sure you have your rain gear stowed and ready. Showers will become more likely now and you can keep drier if you have your gear aboard and not back in the garage! We have had a good chance at rain every day of late and it will most likely continue this month. Be careful to watch for lightening! It's never a good idea to be on the water in a thunderstorm. Have a safe and bountiful April! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-20-2008 | |
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March 20, 2008 INSHORE: Well, another windy week along the Treasure Coast to test your skills at fishing. Offshore has been difficult for most boaters to venture out. The river has been fishable on most days if you could find areas to stay out of the worst of the wind. I was fortunate to meet some really great people this week and we had some fun in spite of the blustery conditions! Friday had Ralph and Cynthia Stinnler looking for snook. Cynthia lost one big fish under the boat and later caught a big jack around the jetties. We drifted into a number of big snook on the flats later in the morning. Harry Beaber took John and Peter out that afternoon and we found trout, jacks and a nice black drum on the flats. Joni and Paul Warner were out Sunday and found trout up to 21". Joni caught her first snook on the flats along with ladyfish and jacks. Jeff Olson and Elise were out on a windy monday. We found trout, ladyfish and jacks again. Elise caught two nice trout in the 18 - 20" size. Bob Alteri was back with friends, Tony and Mark. With a day that was too windy to stay on the water, Mark Roth managed to battle a fat 33" snook (on a DOA CAL Morning Glory shad tail) to the boat for photo and safe release. It has been a good week, in spite of challenging conditions! Mark Roth admiring his 33" snook caught on the Indian River flats.... Trout have continued to bite well as long as you can fish the grass flats. Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch have been the best producing areas on DOA CAL jerk baits in both light and dark colors. Work your soft baits slowly along the bottom for your best chance at a trout. We tried several days for redfish and found them on the flats, but just not willing to bite those days. Most we have seen are in less than two feet of water. Snook fishing around the jetties has been good with live pinfish for those brave enough to tackle the conditions. It will be nice to have a break in the wind until the next front arrives! Joni Warner caught her first snook this week along the mangroves.... Bridges were quiet most of the week. Still sheephead and black drum around them, but hard to fish in this weather. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the inlet area and chasing bait. The surf has also been quiet for now. Look for whiting and some pompano around when you can fish the beach. March has proven to live up to it's reputation of being a lion of months. Let's wait and see what surprises April will bring! Paul Warner caught this trout on the grass flats north of Fort Pierce... Tip of the Week: We were drifting along the flats this week and witnessed yet another boater run aground in six inches of water on the flats at a high rate of speed. Standing in ankle deep water, they tried to figure out how they were going to get off. It's bad enough to take a chance at damaging your boat or harming yourself or a passenger out there. You are also damaging a very fragile eco-system that is having enough trouble surviving without us harming it more. Once you leave a channel, know the area that you are entering. Tides vary greatly with many conditions that affect it. On this particular day, the tides were lower than normal. I have certain tide marks on flats that I frequent to let me know what the tides are doing on any day I might be out there. It might be an oyster bar, mangrove tree or shallow sandbar. Protect yourself, your property and our environment and be aware of your surroundings. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Merijo Attong | Date Posted: | 03-20-2008 | |
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Weather and Temps are great for Spotting Tailers For all you sight and fly fisherman the past six weeks has been very good for stalking bone fish. On warm days in between cold fronts they have been pushing up on the flats to play. Most of the fish I am finding are small schools of mudders and tailing fish pouring in an outgoing tide and are not spooky, in fact, in one area that we have been fishing, most of the fish are swimming around the boat waiting for us to feed them. I have been fishing this school for several weeks with good outcomes. Eric Johnson from Long Island, New York fished with me and found this out by bringing 2 bones to the boat on fly, one at 8 lbs and another at 12 lbs with plenty of shots at more fish. Also Mathew St. Germain and David Torbert from here in Homestead fished this week and Mathew caught his first 2 bones sight fishing on the flats with spinning gear. Great job guys! THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BONE FISH IN BISCAYNE BAY for February on SOME days I am seeing well over 100 bones! With all the hot temps lately and warm water there are also mega permit around they are acting like it is April. That should change back soon when we will get a cold blast this week and put the crazy fishing to rest or until this weird so called winter goes away again! I donÃt like the colder months and the past 2 months have made me grin and I am actually enjoying this winter!! IÃve been tying my own fly patterns and they have been working well. One of which is a small shrimp pattern in olive fur with pearl chenille gold with gold flash, and tan craft fur with pink flash and silver body with pearl chenille brown on a Mustad 34007 #4 hook. North of Flamingo in the back bays the big Tarpon are here to play with warm water and calm days , the largest tarpon to the boat so far is an estimated 110 lbs taken on a X-RAP with plenty more around the 80 + in lb range. On fly the large everglades flies are working well for big fish, this week James Dillard of Miami jumped 6 and boated a fish at 100 lbs. A cold front this week will push them out for a little while but they should return when it warms up. Windy and cloudy days can push fish down and out and weekends can be tough for Tarpon too with a lot of boat traffic around, this can push these weary fish around so if you are fishing for Tarpon and you see a line of boats please give them room and find other fishÖ there are a lot around, the slightest motor noise can ruin a anglers day and mine! In Florida bay the sight fishing has been a little tougher than last year. Last year reds and snook were plentiful. Lately I am finding good fishing early in the day on outgoing clean water. Larger redfish are starting to show up in small schools with singles and doubles too tailing on the flats.( These fish are kinda skinny, I know they spawn in low light months so maybe they are just starting to munch!) For anglers learning to salt water fly fish this can be a blast. The last week large snook are in pot holes to the east! When it has been windy and making Florida bay look like chocolate milk we have been tossing artificials around the mangroves in moving water, with results of snook to 10 lbs and plenty of redfish. Good luck Capt. Jim Hale www.hurricanesportfishingcharters.com 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-23-2007 | |
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Happy Holidays from Capt Charlie December 20, 2007 INSHORE: With the Holidays already here, I want to take a few minutes and wish everyone a wonderful Holiday Season from myself and my wife, Eva. We thank all of you for making this a year full of great fishing adventures and memories. We made a lot of new friends and were visited by many old friends. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I wish you the best for 2008 and hope your fishing adventures are fantastic. Be safe and happy! The latest cold front has passed by and warm, mild weather has prevailed most of the week. Sunshine and light winds along the Treasure Coast enticed a lot of anglers to venture out on the water and enjoy some great fishing. The water temperatures have continued to cool off, but the fish have been hanging on the flats a good part of the day. Looks like the coming weekend should continue with the mild weather patterns. I found fish on most flats this week. Redfish, snook and trout were patrolling the flats in two to three feet of water as the sun came up over the water. Top water will get you some early morning hits and soft baits on the flats will give you a chance as the day wears on. I found redfish both north and south of Fort Pierce. Jerk baits worked well for the reds and trout as well. Snook will also be in the same areas looking for an easy meal. I found quite a few schools of glass minnows in the river and this should help find good areas to fish. Fish around the bait schools for a good chance at hooking up. Work your lures slow.......you will have better results. Still good reports of pompano down south of Fort Pierce. Shrimp, sand fleas or small jigs are good baits. Flounder along the edges of the inlet have continued to bite. Try a live shrimp on a jig and fish it slowly along the bottom. Sheephead, snapper and black drum have been biting around the bridges and catwalks. The jetties have produced a lot of large jacks and Spanish mackerel. Hope you get a chance to fish soon! Surf: Whiting and pompano continue to feed along the beaches. Shrimp and sand fleas are hard to beat for them. You can also find some jacks, mackerel and bluefish also if you use a silver spoon or anything shiny. It should be a nice weekend to hit the beach. Tip of the Week: Looking for redfish on the flats is always fun and exciting. In winter, I like to fish along the edges of the flats early and move onto the shallow areas once it warms up a bit. Cool water temperatures don't seem to affect the reds as much as other fish. They will lie in very shallow water to keep warm in the sun's rays. Moving slowly and quietly is essential this time of year. Work across the flats too fast and you will find yourself spooking the fish. If you are fishing lures as slow as possible, it give you more time to fish the shallow areas and have a better success rate. Slow 'er down! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Happy Holidays, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-15-2007 | |
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December 14, 2007 INSHORE: Today is the last opportunity to catch that slot size snook until next year. The season closes today and won't open again until February 1st. A lot of anglers have been fishing around the jetties with live bait and having success in catching....not necessarily a slot size though. Bridges have continued to hold snook for night anglers with live bait or feather jigs. Early mornings can find them cruising along the flats. Joe Novak emailed me and caught a nice snook around the Jensen Beach Causeway that was just a little short of slot size. After today.....catch and release them with care. Trout fishing picked up this week, even though they are still out of season. The have been hungry for live shrimp or soft baits along the flats. Most have been in the slot size with a few above the 20" size. Fish the edges of the flats where the water drops off to 3 to 4 feet of water. It will be a couple more weeks until the season opens on January 1st, so again catch and release for now. Harbor Branch and Round Island has been good for trout lately. Redfish action continues to be good on the flats. They have been hanging around the shallows in the warmth of the sun and you can find a few hungry ones if you use soft plastics and fish them slowly along the shallows. Bobby found his nice redfish on a soft baits and boated it after being chased around the boat a few times. Again, fish your lures slowly and then slow it down some more. Redfish can be lazy this time of year and slow to move around. Cooler water slows the metabolism and reaction time is like.....do I want to get off the couch and get myself a snack or wait here for my wife to come through the kitchen???? Other action around the river has been around the inlet with Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jacks cavorting most days on the bait schools. Shiny spoons or diamond jigs can help you find them. You might consider a short wire leader if you want to keep that lure very long. Jacks and ladyfish are everywhere again. Ten year old Michael wore himself out on ladyfish this week. He lost count, but kept on fishing for them. He sure kept me busy! Sand perch and flounder have been reported around the bridges along with black drum and sheephead. Docks have held many species for those wading or drifting along them. It's been a great week on the water! Surf: Whiting and pompano are again the fish being most sought after on the beach. Shrimp or sand fleas are the bait of choice. Silver spoons and pompano jigs are good artificials to be working along the surf. I have heard of bluefish and a few mackerel also being caught by the beach anglers. The nice weather has made it great along the Treasure Coast surf. Tip of the Week: Cooler water temperatures in winter brings clean water on the flats. As the water clears, it's more important than ever to move quietly and slowly across the flats. Fish usually more skittish in clean water. Start on the edges of the flats. I watch many boats motor up on the flats and start fishing. Most of the fish around them have already moved off that area. Redfish will lie in very shallow water to soak up the sun's rays. Noises will send them off the flats in a hurry. Drifting across the area will allow you to keep the noise down and have time to fish your lures slowly. I keep a mushroom anchor in the boat to allow me to stop on any given spot to fish it more thoroughly. Slow down and you should have better success this winter. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 12-12-2007 | |
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South Florida back country Fishing Report for 12-10-07 Snook fishing has been the ticket in Florida bay with redfish in the mix and a couple of smaller tarpon here and there. Catches the last two weeks include a 35lb tarpon and a slew of small snook caught in the smaller backcountry creeks and ponds and we jumped a bunch of tarpon in the 50 lb range in larger creeks on top water lures, Tim Slawson with his two sonsà Jeff and Chris combined to catch over 20 redfish the largest at 12 lbs on live pilchards fished around structure in moving water. Snook fishing has been good as always this time of year but most of the snook are a little smaller than normal, on less windy days however we are finding a lot of small schools of large snook 8 to 15 fish in a pod swimming on the flats most of these fish are over 10 lbs, this weekend we landed a 24 lb linesider on the flats with 8 more over 10 lbs all of these fish were caught sight fishing on artifical lures. And you have no idea how many snook we saw like that!!! I have had a couple days when the fishing wasnÃt that great like a cold front passing over first thing in the morning and shutting everything down but for the most part the fish has been very good and I expect the same for the time being, if the weather remains warm the fishing will get better. Until next week! Capt. Jim Hale www.hurricanesportfishingcharters.com 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-07-2007 | |
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December 7, 2007 INSHORE: Isn't it great to live on the Treasure Coast in December??? Wonderful weather......great fishing.....it's a fantastic place to live! Hope you had an opportunity to enjoy this week and have plans to get out over the weekend. I spent last weekend on my annual voyage to Dolphin Stadium with my buddy, Pat. Not quite the same this year, but we had a fun weekend in spite of it. The fishing this week has been good for most species out there. Snook fishing around the inlet in Fort Pierce has produced an assortment of sizes. Some slots taken while most were shorts along with some oversize. Most fish are being caught on live bait or feather jigs at night. The outgoing tide has been the best time to fish. We found some shorts along the flats this week. Don't forget you only have till December 15th to catch that keeper fish. Trout season is still closed this month, but has been good this week for the catch and release anglers. Bob Bergen was aboard this week and boated a sweet 30" trout on the flats and released it to fight another day. Soft plastics has been good for trout along with suspending lures and live bait. January 1st, you can keep your slot trout. We ran up on a small school of redfish today and missed our chance at a hookup. Look for them to hang in the shallow flats during the day to soak up the warmth of the sun. Move along slowly and quietly for your opportunity. Soft plastics, like DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are good choices when fishing for reds this time of year. The pompano bite has picked up down towards the south of Fort Pierce. Live shrimp or sand fleas are great to use if you happen on a school. The flounder bite has started along the jetties and docks of the inlet. Look for them to be hanging around the docks and sandy flats of the river. Live shrimp is the usual bait of choice, but they will hit a soft bait, too. Spanish mackerel have been all over the river, especially the inlet area. We have found large numbers of them in the turning basin and along the channel edges. Live shrimp or shiny spoons will usually do the trick. Some are running in the five pound range this week. And, of course, the jacks and ladyfish are everywhere and anywhere. We found them up on the flats rolling like tarpon and hitting anything in sight. Great fun for the family! Surf: It has continued to be pompano and whiting along the beaches. Some bluefish have been caught along with jacks. Get some shrimp or sand fleas and head down to the surf for some great fishing weather! The surf near the jetties can also hold some flounder. Early mornings with a silver spoon can provide some exciting action and sometimes a snook or redfish cruising the beach. Tip of the Week: As winter creeps into the Treasure Coast, the water temperatures will vary day to day. As water temps fall, look for fish to be in deeper water in the early part of the day and head to the shallower areas as the sun warms. Trout will usually move to deeper water as it cools down. Vary your patterns to find where the fish are comfortable. Redfish will sit on the flats to warm up most of the day. Winter days can affect where and how you want to fish. Don't always keep the same routine and change things up if you aren't finding fish. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 11-28-2007 | |
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Fishing Report for the fall of 2007 November A little different air temperatures this November as itÃs down 10 degrees from last year. However, the 10 degrees has brought in the Mutton snapper a little earlier 4-15 lb Mutton bite is on in 15-30 foot of water. Last year the flats were on fire with warm weather all the way up to Thanksgiving. This year the patch reefs in the upper keys are the ticket so far, this week one day alone we caught 14 Muttons up to 15 lbs most are around 7lbs with a couple fish in the double digits and an occasional fish on the upper side. Mutton moves in from the deep wrecks and reefs to the shallow patches when water temperatures drop below 74 degrees. As the last temperature taken was 72 degrees, I think these fish will remain here until early spring unless we get a major warming trend like we did last January which screws everything up! The Muttons are being caught on ballyhoo plugs and live bait fished with 4/0 Owner hooks, 50 lb fluorocarbon leader on 30 lb braided line. Also on the patches we are catching Mangrove snapper up to 6 lbs, Mackerel, Red and Gag grouper, sharks, yellowtail. Cobia are in deeper water right now and will be moving into the chum slick anytime! Dirty water with a north wind is a key to finding the bite. On Biscayne Bay the bonefish are still around in big numbers. With the cold fronts moving in one after another it can push the fish to the outside flats and into deeper water. Bones are generally known as a warmer month fish but this time of year you cannot rule out a strong showing of fish. A couple days of warm weather will make bones show up all day long. Follow the tides to different areas with low water and you will find fish. Last week we caught 6 bones in 2 days with plenty of shots on mudding fish and some permit when the water temps were over 73 degrees. In Florida Bay the fishing has been great. Redfish can still be found on the flats but I have been finding them in deeper dirty water. We caught 8 fish in one spot over 30 inches and over 25 in the slot size. Snook are around in big numbers as well, though most fish are a little smaller than most would like. We are catching them on live baits fished around moving deeper water to the west of Flamingo or around Shark River to the north. The colder months will bring some fine fishing with Spanish mackerel, Cobia, snapper, reds, snook and Goliath Grouper on the gulf side, Mutton Grouper, Cobia and Sails on the Atlantic. Catch ëem up!! Capt. Jim Hale 786-255-1788 www.floridasportfishingcharters.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-16-2007 | |
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November 15, 2007 Inshore: In spite of some windy and rainy days, this week has given us a few days to enjoy the fishing along the Treasure Coast. Looks like the weather should continue to be nice for us over the coming weekend. Expect the breezy days though the winter and plan your day based on what the weather has to offer. Today on the water, the wind died off and provided fishing opportunities throughout the river. It was a beautiful day out there and the fish were biting, too! Early mornings have found trout, ladyfish, jacks and snook giving chase to the bait around the flats. I found plenty of bait schools. If you fished the pods that were getting bashed, you could catch a variety of species. Remember that trout are still catch and release the rest of the year. Snook season will close on December 15th. Try a top water lure at first light and you should find some nice hits out there. I found a few nice redfish up on the flats. There were hitting DOA shrimp on CAL jig heads. The inlet and bridges have been holding plenty of sand perch, snapper and black drum. Live or dead shrimp can help you catch dinner. There have been some nice sizes to some of the fish around the bridges. The Spanish mackerel have invaded the inlet. I found lots of them crashing bait around the turning basin. Shiny spoons or jigs should get you hooked up. Snook fishing has been mostly at night around the bridges and seawalls. I found a number of shorts feeding on the flats, but there are larger fish out there. too. Don't forget the docks around the river. I caught a 30" snook hiding under one this week. Live shrimp or mullet, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are great to use around the docks. You might also find redfish, trout and many other fish lurking underneath. Docks are a great place to target when the sun is high on the water. A number of anglers have caught snook and redfish out on the jetties and inlet docks lately. Surf: Most beach anglers have been targeting pompano, bluefish and whiting. With the winds letting up a bit, it's a good chance to hit the surf. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas have been the baits of choice. Silver spoons can find bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel along the beach or along the jetties. There are a lot of surf anglers who have been using the big fish sabiki rigs along the beach for whiting. Tipped with shrimp, you have a greater chance at a hookup with several hooks in the water. It might be worth a try! Tip of the Week: This week reminded me that winter is fast approaching the Treasure Coast. Memories of cool mornings and hot afternoons in the coming months will bring out the warmer clothing for the water. On these cool mornings, dress in layers so you can be comfortable both early and later in the day. It will allow you to take off those layers as the day heats up and enjoy the weather. The water can sure bring a chill at first light and being dressed properly will let you enjoy it along with the great fishing out there. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-09-2007 | |
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November 9, 2007 Inshore: Hooray for sunny weather! After what seems like an eternity, the sun came out and the winds died off to let local anglers venture out on the Indian River for some much needed fishing and boating. Offshore still hangs tough for most boaters and many enjoyed the river starting on Sunday. Oh, there is still a breeze out there, but very fishable conditions. Water quality is still down, but the fish have to eat and they did that most days for us this week. Snook turned out to be our target even though the slots avoided the hook. Dale Oosting, Alan Miller and Kathleen Hall all caught some nice snook from around the bridges and docks this week. Live bait worked best for us. The outgoing tides favored the most bites, though incoming kept us busy as well. Lots of different species are hanging around the docks and bridges and we caught our share of them. The better snook bite has continued to be at night around the inlet. Live mullet or shrimp has been the first choice of bait along with feather jigs and bomber lures. We found trout hitting early on live bait. Most were up to 22" and hungry. Alan caught all of his around the bridges. Also try deeper water with a popping cork and live shrimp. Try to find some clean water for the best opportunity. Later in the day, Alan, from Scotland, pulled a nice redfish from under the docks to finish off his inshore slam. A reminder that trout season is closed November and December, so catch and release is in effect now. Handle your fish carefully and release them unharmed. Speaking of dock fishing, Dale was down from Michigan and finally caught one of those fish that continually break you off around the docks. He topped off the day with a 34" Gag grouper that he horsed away from the structure with quite a lot of effort. Alan and Kathleen had a lot of fun catching a wide variety of fish around the docks. The catwalks have been yielding some sand perch and lots of anglers are also fishing around the seawalls around the library in Fort Pierce for them. The black drum have also filtered into the inlet and are holding the same areas. Live or frozen shrimp have worked best. Surf: Wind has left the beaches pretty dirty for now. Those anglers who are fishing the surf have found some whiting and pompano scattered along the Treasure Coast. Shrimp or sand fleas has been the best bait for now. Watch for bait schools that run along the beach and fish live mullet or cast a top water for a chance at snook, jacks or maybe a tarpon. I heard of a few pompano north of Fort Pierce, but it can change quickly. We should start seeing some Spanish mackerel soon. Tip of the Week: It's hard enough to remember fish, limits, slots, etc....etc... It is important to be able to identify the fish you catch and have some way to measure and know the sizes and limits if you plan on keeping any fish. One of the hardest for many anglers to identify is the difference between lane and mutton snappers. There are distinct differences in each, but still hard for many to distinguish. The legal size for each is enough to make it important to know your fish. Lane snapper has an 8 inch minimum, while mutton snapper must be at least 16 inches. Stop by your local tackle shop and check out some pictures of them so you can correctly identify your fish. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-18-2007 | |
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October 18, 2007 Inshore: Early morning fishing remained good this week on the Treasure Coast. First light bought us some nice action around the bridges in Fort Pierce as the snook continued to gorge themselves on the bait schools. Getting out early for that first light bite or fishing the tides around the inlet can help your chances on hooking up. Looks like the weather will cooperate this coming weekend, so plan on getting out on the water soon! We had some good action on snook in the early part of the days while fishing around the inlet in Fort Pierce. Lots of shorts out there to give you some action and we also missed a couple of good hits. Mark Amorello ended up with a slot size after a number of shorts at first light. The bite has been good on both tides as long as the water has been moving. Warren and Jerry also got in on some of the action around the bridges. Live bait has worked best with either live shrimp or mullet. We fished around some bait schools on the flats and found some shorts hanging around there also. We found a few trout out there, but the bite was off most of the week with all the dirty water around the river. Look around the usual trout areas to find some clean water. We did catch a few around Bear Point and north of Fort Pierce. Live shrimp on floats will give you the best opportunity. Try some top water at first light. The water should start clearing up a bit by the weekend with the wind laying up some. We found a few redfish, but they were just short of slot size. Try along the mangroves or around the docks and you might just catch a keeper redfish. Karl missed a couple good hits around one of the docks this week. Live bait or a DOA shrimp can give you the edge on getting a bite. We did find some glass minnows out on the flats and found fish feeding on them. I had a few reports of reds around the jetties this week. With the dirty water, it's a good time to break out the gold spoon on the flats. Snapper around the bridges and channel edges are still a mainstay for anglers out there. Mark Amorello nailed a nice 4 pound snapper at the north bridge. Most are in the pound range, but great table fare! Ladyfish and jacks are just about anywhere you look. We found some big ladies around the bridges this week along with a few grouper. Tip of the Week: It's always a good idea to clean out the ol' boat a few times a year. Dampness, especially like we have had lately, can creep into compartments and end up with mildew in and on things. Life preservers can mildew quickly when damp. Flares, if not protected, and draw dampness and not work properly. You might find that favorite lure buried somewhere with rusty ol' hooks. Boats are made for water.....but water isn't always good for boats. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-13-2007 | |
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October 11, 2007 Inshore: After another week of wild, windy weather, it finally calmed down a few days this week. We managed to fish in spite of the conditions and caught fish each time we were out there. The water is still dirty and will take a while to clean back up again. It's time to change tactics and fish the bait rather than fish the usual spots. The bait schools are still all over the river and we have found fish chasing it around the area. I found a number of glass minnows around the river and fish were hanging around them. Docks have been productive when the wind lets you fish them. Bridges have been very active in the early mornings and on the outgoing tides. Snook fishing has remained fairly productive. We managed a number of shorts around the bridges and missed a few bites from larger fish. Live shrimp worked best for us. Lots of bait schools have been hanging around there and the fish have been having a feast on them. Expect the grouper, bluefish, ladyfish and jacks to keep you busy also. The jetties have also been holding their share of snook for those anglers. Jon and Jerry had some fun around the bridge with snook, grouper and ladyfish this week. Trout fishing has been on and off. If you can find some cleaner water, you will probable find some trout there. North of Fort Pierce has been pretty dirty the past several weeks. South of Fort Pierce should clean up quicker and you can look to find trout from Bear Point south to the power plant as the water quality improves. Try top water early and switch to live bait in two to five feet of water. Alan and Tom were out with me this week. Alan caught a nice 23" trout on the flats. Redfish have been on the flats, but scattered and we spent more time fishing for trout and snook this week. We will be looking for them over the weekend again. There have been some caught around the docks and jetties in Fort Pierce with the bait schools moving around the inlet. Live shrimp fished under the docks will increase your chances at catching that redfish this week. Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges and the bridges. Jacks, ladyfish and bluefish have been all over the river chasing the bait schools. It's a great time to take the kids out and have some fun with them. There were a few reports of flounder prior to the weather churning up the river, but none this week. Tip of the Week: It's very easy this time of year to get sunburned out there on the water. Not only the sun, but wind can make it worse. Always use a good sunscreen when on the water. Once you realize that you should have put some on....it's usually too late by then. Make sunscreen part of your morning prep before you hit the water and use it throughout the day to keep those harmful rays from damaging your skin. It's much more fun telling fish tales that evening without a beet red face to go with it! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-28-2007 | |
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September 28, 2007 Inshore: Rainy days and rainy nights took over the weather forecast this week on the Treasure Coast. Fishing has been good if you braved the conditions to get out. We were stopped short for the Teen Anglers on Sunday due to thunder and lightning around the area. I managed a few hours later in the week before the storms moved in again. Looks like the pattern will continue next week as well. Break out the ol' rain gear if you try to get out. The water levels are high in the river and the quality has diminished and made it pretty cloudy for now. Lots and lots of bait out there and the fish continue to feed on it. The full moon slowed down the day fishing somewhat later in the week. Look for bait being chased to find the fish this week. Snook, trout, ladyfish, jacks and bluefish have all been out there giving the bait fits. You might have to try several spots to find where the bait is being crashed. Fish around the bait for the action. Top water, suspending lures and soft baits will be good choices to fish with. Live shrimp or mullet will also be great baits. Trout has continued to be productive this week. Try a few docks with some live bait in the early morning hours. Snook will hang around those docks waiting for breakfast to swim by. Most of the docks, due to the higher water conditions, will be a good option to try this weekend. Bear Point has been holding a lot of bait and we have been successful with trout there. Harbor Branch is another good area that continually produces fish for us. The bridges and channel edges have been yielding snapper and black drum with a few sand perch mixed in. I had one report of a large trout and 30" redfish caught up north of Fort Pierce. I had a few reports of flounder this week also. The night snook anglers that I spoke to reported mostly short snook being taken this week. A few slots and larger for the more successful ones. Live bait has been the best choice. Tarpon are feeding along the beach and inlets. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere. Large ladyfish have invaded the flats and jumping on anything that moves. Great action for the young ones! So much for a soggy fishing report this week! Tip of the Week: It's that time of year to get out the cast net and use some live finger mullet for bait. It's all over the river and the food of choice for the predators cruising the waters. If it has been a while since you used your cast net. Get out in the back yard and practice some before heading off on the water. There are several good sites on the net that gives instructions on using a cast net if you are new to the art. It isn't hard to do, just learn a technique that works for you and practice it. Enjoy the fishing this time of year! http://www.calusa.com/howtothrow.cfm As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-21-2007 | |
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September 20, 2007 Inshore: Other than some daily thunderstorms that have loomed over the Treasure Coast, the fishing has been good out on the river. Some breaks in the daily routine of rain, have provided a mixed bag of fish for anglers braving the conditions. Mullet are all over the river now and the predators are all out there giving chase. It's not hard to find fish....just watch for nervous or excited bait schools and you can find fish hanging around them. I managed a couple days on the water in between the weather this week. My wife, Eva, accompanied me on Saturday for some great fishing action on the Indian River. Fishing around bait rewarded us with catches of snook, trout, redfish,ladyfish, bluefish, jacks, snapper and grouper in our morning excursion. Eva finally got tired of reeling in fish, so we called it a day. With all the bait available, there will be a nice assortment of fish to be sought in this time of plenty. Early morning will find snook, trout, ladyfish and jacks up on the flats seeking an easy breakfast. A good top water lure will give you plenty of action in the wee hours of morning. Switch to soft plastics or sinking lures once the sun rises and start moving to the deeper edges of the flats. Washed out sand holes on the flats are a favorite hiding spot for large trout during the morning also. Live shrimp is always a great way to catch dinner around the river. The entire river is alive right now! Snook fishing has provided some nice slot size fish to the night anglers around the bridges and inlet area. Live shrimp is usually the bait of choice, but finger mullet is another good bait for snook fishing. Docks around the river have held snook, redfish and snapper. We fished several this week with good success. Live shrimp or soft baits will let you know if something is lurking under a dock. Redfish are still hanging on the flats. I was slammed by a couple nice reds while fishing the bait schools. Soft baits have always worked great for me and I use them on the flats most of the time. All the rain has raised the water level in the river for a few days and allows you to fish areas normally pretty shallow. Tip of the Week: Take the time to watch the bait. Nervous bait means fish, lazy bait might be a sign to move on. Birds are cruising the skies looking for bait being chased. Learning to read the water can give you a good insight on where to fish or when to move to another spot. Take a little time and watch what is going on around you. The river is an exciting place to fish. Letting the fish, bait and birds tell you what is happening can help make your trips more successful! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-06-2007 | |
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September 6, 2007 Inshore: A little cooler weather has eased up some of the heat on the Treasure Coast this week. Along with some afternoon showers, it has helped cool off the water temperatures on the flats. You can see the first signs of the mullet invading the river to begin the fall mullet run along the eastern Florida. It's a great time of year to fish the Indian River! Most weeks, lately, it has been a trout and snapper report. I was on the water today fishing the shallow waters of the north of Fort Pierce. As I saw a flash in front of the boat, I looked out on a nice sized school of healthy redfish working their way across the flats. All were in the upper slot range and with one cast, I had on a 27" bundle of angry fish. The whole school lingered around while I fought the red and there were even several that continued to swim next to the hooked fish as it neared the boat. The redfish are back on the flats! Trout fishing has continued to be most productive in the early mornings on top water or live bait on a float. Look for them to stay on the deeper edges of the flats for now, but they will begin to head up in the shallows once the mullet are in the river. As the water temps lower a bit, the trout will spend more time on the flats. Snook fishing has been good for the night anglers around the bridges, jetties and docks. Most have been shorts and some nice over-slots have been taken. It's been a challenge to get in the slot so far this season for a lot of anglers. Early mornings on the flats will find snook feeding at first light and a top water lure can get a strike. Large shrimp or live bait works well around the bridges and jetties. There are still snapper, jacks and ladyfish being caught around the river. Hit the channel edges for snapper. Jacks and ladyfish are all around the river this time of year. Look for things to heat up as the mullet continue to filter their way into the river. It's time to get out the cast net and be ready for some great fishing action! Tip of the Week: I fish a lot of soft baits on the flats. One thing that I do to keep my baits hopping along the grass is to hold the rod tip high while popping my baits up over the grass. Use short twitches to work the bait slowly along the bottom. I like to use CAL jigs on my soft baits and if you use short, sharp pops with your rod tip high, it will keep the bait jumping up before settling back on the bottom. If you practice, you will seldom pick up grass as you fish the flats. You can use weedless set ups also and use the same technique to work your lure. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-23-2007 | |
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August 23, 2007 Inshore: Dog Days of summer are upon us still and it's been hot around the Treasure Coast this week. Getting out early or late in the day offers the best opportunities to fish and a little comfort to go along, too. Fishing has continued to be productive for those early birds on the water. Trout and snapper has been the best bite along the river this week. I had Tyler Serio, Chad Merrill and Jason Horn on the boat Sunday for the first Teen Anglers Tournament. While the big fish evaded us, they caught a number of trout, snapper, look-downs and a variety of fish for the day. It was a great day of fishing for the guys. I always look forward to the tournaments and taking the guys out. All three of them were awarded trophies for their catch. The not hard to find the secret to fishing in the heat of summer. Look for the bait schools and you should find fish hanging around them. Snook, redfish and trout have been chasing the bait in the wee hours of the mornings and a good top water lure can get you a strike. Vary the way you work your lures until you get that hit and keep working it around the bait. Once the sun rises, switch to a suspending lure or live bait on a popping cork. The trout have been hitting mostly in the mornings, but you can still get a few to bite around the bait schools. There has been a good bite down towards the Power Plant and up north from Queen's Cove to Round Island. Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges with live or dead shrimp. Fishing around structure on the bottom can get you a good mess for dinner. There have also been sheephead and black drum hanging in the same areas. Use small hooks to have the best chance for them. We have had success on both tides. I heard from several anglers who have had some good luck this past week catching some nice snapper. Snook have been on the flats in the early hours chasing bait. Also look for snook and redfish to be lurking along the docks south of Fort Pierce. Lots of other fish around the river this time of year. We have been catching jacks, ladyfish, look-downs, barracuda and variety of other species that have invaded the river in search of a meal. Tip of the Week: Snook season open September 1st and is almost here already. It's a good time to check things and make sure you are ready for it. With the new regulations in effect, make sure you have something to measure your fish. Have you checked your snook stamp? Might just be time to do that, too. A lot of snook fishing gear isn't used as much during the off season, so it's time to check your rods, reels and line. It's usually pretty busy around the bait shops, ramps and inlets that first week. Make your plans and include alternate fishing spots if your favorite haunt is taken when you head out. It can get crowded, so a little patience, friendliness and awareness can help make for a fun experience.....hopefully a successful one, too! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 08-20-2007 | |
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Fishing Report August 2007 Flamingo in Florida Bay the winds have been light and the water is clear but on the warm side. This week the water temps were 85 and the fishing has been very good the last week. Prior to this the water temps were over 90 and the fishing was only good early in the morning. The water temps will climb soon again until we have a rainy day to cool it back down which can be any day. This week David and Alex Torbert, both very good young anglers, fished with me and caught 16 snook. Six of them on fly which was their first snook on fly, 5 redfish, largest at11 lbs and a tarpon all out of Flamingo. Small Tarpon right now are all over the place. The average size is 12 lbs but there are larger fish in the upper 20s to 30s around these little guys. They are a blast on fly and theyÃre eating well. Snook can be found around mullets mudÃs on the very shallow flats in Florida Bay. Eduardo Arana and Mariano Garcia fished with me on the 18th and caught a nice 11lb snook sitting in a pot hole on a Berkley Gulp shad. This fish would have been perfect on fly! We also caught 6 more snook around some of the islands at Flamingo and could have had more but the big bad sharks started up! Redfish are on the move now from flat to flat. Some days finding them on the beaches and flats can be easy and other days a little more difficult as time is not on our side to check every spot of Florida Bay! But when I find them it can be a fly fishermanÃs dream with a good size 7 lber. Merijo Attong caught an 18lb red casting to a moving school of about 25. By FlamingoÃs standards, this is a very large red. The nice thing is that there were a lot of these big reds around that day! Biscayne Bay is hot right now with big schools of bones on the outside flats on days the water temps are high, the days the water cools down these fish are pushing to the western shore especially around sun up these bones are a sucker for a small crab. Mark Schmidt from PA caught a 10 lb bone on a shrimp pattern fly I tied myself. The school we fished must have had 50 or more fish in it. Small Tarpon are also cruising the shore line on the outside of Old Rhodes to Key Largo. Keep looking for rolling fish in small schools tight to the trees. Most schools are around 6-8 fish and can be up to 40lbs they are eating D.O.A shrimp and any kind of small white or chartreuse fly And moving water areas in 2-3 foot are finding permit on the outside as well they are eating silver dollar size crabs. A couple of weeks ago we had a chance to go fun fish in the keys and check out a couple of new ideas and areas. As captains we do the poling not the fishing, but this trip we had the chance to fish and IÃm glad we did, we caught 6 permit all on crabs the largest was estimated near 40 lbs, these crazy fish were schooling in a strong current which made poling to them a little tough but well worth it! These guys were fighting for the bait like stripe marlin on teasers in Ecuador, 4-5 fish going after a crab each cast, I wish I would have brought more crabs! Till next time, go have fun and bend a rod! Capt. Jim Hale 786-255-1788 www.hurricanesportfishingcharters.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-16-2007 | |
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August 16, 2007 Inshore: I have always believed that the most rewarding part of fishing is taking kids out on their first adventure. Watching their faces light up when they catch a fish really makes your day. I had the pleasure of having a young man on the boat this week that did just that! Eleven year old, Sam Van Ornam, was on the boat this week with his dad, Tom Van Ornam and Pam Hargrove. You could see the excitement in Sam on the way to the first fishing spot of the day. We were fishing with live shrimp and Sam caught his first fish in a matter of minutes when we arrived. While it was only a large pinfish, he was so excited at that first catch and I could see the determination that he wasn't done for the day. He was rewarded a short time later with another fish on and I told him it was a large fish this time. Sam fought and battled the fish all the way to the boat. He was astonished when he saw a 29" spotted seatrout that weighed 9-10 pounds. Sam became a veteran angler after that and caught a number of fish the rest of the day, even giving dad some pointers before the day was finished. Congratulations Sam!! Trout and snapper were our targets this week. The heat and water temperatures have kept the shallow flats on the quiet side, so we have fished the edges and drop offs recently with some good results. Live shrimp on corks have produced some nice trout for us in the 20" range. Pigfish or pinfish can also bring you some good catches. I fished both north and south of Fort Pierce with good luck. We caught fish during the mornings into the heat of the day. Pam Hargrove managed to get a 20" trout to the boat while a four foot shark chased it and almost had it for lunch. Jerry and his sons also had some good luck with trout this week. Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges. Jerry Lyman and his two sons, Joe and John, caught dinner in a short time along the channel. Most have been 1 to 1 1/2 pounds this week. Black drum were also biting, but were just short of slot size. Live shrimp, again, was the best choice of baits. I fished the flats a few hours at first light this week and found snook and trout chasing bait until the sun came up. A five pound pompano hit a jerk bait early one morning this week along the edges of the flats. Top water is always productive in the early hours. Once the sun rises, head to the edges in deeper water for the best results. Tip of the Week: Kids! They are our future and the future of fishing in the area. They're eager to learn and the rewards far exceed the effort you put into teaching them fishing skills. Young Sam made my week and I still smile with pride at his success. This sunday will be the first Teen Anglers Tournament of the new school year and I am anxious to begin the new season with them. If you want to see what it's all about and have a boat, contact Capt. Joe Ward at 772-201-5770 if you would be interested in volunteering to help take the kids fishing. It's a great time and you can help nurture the future of fishing on the Treasure Coast! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-12-2007 | |
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August 10, 2007 Inshore: It has been a wonderful week of warm weather and light winds. Watching the sun slowly rise over the mangrove islands truly a sight to behold. It's a fantastic time of year to get out on the water. Drink plenty of fluids and head out to your favorite fishing spot! Fishing slowed down the first part of the week, but picked back up the latter part. It looks like a great weekend ahead of us here on the Treasure Coast! Trout fishing picked back up by the last of this week and we had some really nice catches on both top water and live bait. Geoff Kahler topped off this weeks trout with a huge 29" gator trout on a top water lure. Rick Monterosso added a big 23" and Joe Vennarini added his share to the catch, too. Get out early for the best bite. Look to the usual trout spots like Round Island, Harbor Branch and the east shore to the south of Fort Pierce. With the heat and water temps much higher, the redfishing slowed down for us this week. Look the deeper water off the flats to find some hanging around. I believe once the water cools off some next month, we will find them back in their old haunts again. Eric Turgeon boated a very nice 27" redfish on a soft bait in three feet of water around the flats. Snook fishing has been an early bite and not many reports this month as they are still out of season. Joe Vennarini boated two snook this week with the largest at 26" on an early morning top water. They will continue patrolling the shallow flats before the sun rises for an early morning meal. The bridges and docks will also hold snook during the daytime. Live bait will be the best choice once the sun comes up. We had two huge fish lost around the docks this week. Todd Dziak and Rick Monterosso both had large fish hit a live pinfish and take off to parts unknown. From the way they fought, it was most likely a big grouper or black drum. Lots of snapper are still around the river along the channel edges and docks. We have still found some ladyfish and jacks around the river and some bluefish have continued to cut lines off. Get out there early! Tip of the Week: Keep cool out there on the water! Easier said than done I guess. Drinking lots of fluids, wearing a hat and getting out on a plane once in a while can all help. A lot of boats, like mine, don't offer shade or cover and keeping cool in 90 degree weather is very important. Wetting a towel in cool water and putting it around your neck can help keep you cooler. Getting on the water early and off the water before the worst of the days heat arrives can also help. The fishing is great this time of year, so keep your cool out there while you are fishing!! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-03-2007 | |
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August 2, 2007 Inshore: Summertime weather patterns have continued here on the Treasure Coast, bringing afternoon thunderstorms through the area on most days. It's a great time to get out early and get your fishing done before noon. We have had our best luck at first light this week. Once the sun comes up....lather up with sunscreen and head for deeper water around the flats to find the fish. Thursday it was so foggy that you almost needed the compass to find out what direction you were facing. Trout was our mainstay this week. Some nice sized ones have been feeding on the bait around the river. We have found most bites in two to four feet of water. Top water worked well for us most days. Capt Pat Wells found some nice trout hitting in the shallow waters with me this past week. Steve Krac and his friend, Warren found a few trout up to 22" with a top water lure early. Live bait on popping corks will work once the sun rises high. Harbor Branch up north and most of the flats to the south of Fort Pierce has been producing trout. We found some nice snook hanging around the docks this week. Steve lost one nice one that headed under the docks and broke us off. Warren boated a smaller snook with a live shrimp also. We did see several large snook lurking around the docks to the south. Live bait has been our best option for the dock areas. Some redfish up on the flats this week. They have scattered for now. Emmett and his wife found some tailing but didn't to cast at them as another boat cut in front of us within twenty feet of the boat. Of course, the fish headed out off the flats. Jerk baits and gold spoons have been our choice of lures for reds. There are still some nice snapper along the channel edges also for those anglers. The inlet and turning basin has still been loaded with glass minnows and all the critters that chase them. Huge schools of mackerel, jacks, ladyfish and bonito have continued to follow the bait into the inlet area with the rising tides. Steve and Warren hooked up on several 10 pound bonito and boated one of them with much effort. Two were cut off by sharks.....we watch one big bull shark slash beside the boat and inhale a bonito that Warren had fought boatside. It's tiring fun! Tip of the Week: Top water lures can bring much fun and excitement at first light on the river. I can't think of much that can get your blood pumped up, when a big trout crashes the surface in the quiet of the morning. With the full moon recently, I tend to go to a dark color lure to stand out under the moonlight. I will go to lighter colors as the sky darkens with the moon phases. Vary the way you work the lure, if you aren't getting a strike. Sometimes you have to work if very slowly with short pops, while other times you might need to work if frantically across the water. Have some fun soon with a top water lure!! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-28-2007 | |
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July 25, 2007 Inshore: The Treasure Coast has come alive this past week as the bait moves into the river. Acres of glass minnows have invaded the area bringing lots of fantastic fishing with them. The Fort Pierce inlet has been frothing with ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, bonito, tarpon, snook, sharks and many other species lurking for an easy meal. You can find them around the beaches, jetties and filtering into the inlet as the tide rolls in. Tie on something shiny and hold on! All the charters this week enjoyed some fast, exciting action to end the day. I had Dave and Alex with me and we thought we were watching Jaws as an 8' bull shark kept chasing Dave's fish. Finally it took a huge ladyfish at the other end of Dave's line and we broke him off as he was stripping line off the reel. Bob Bergen was with me and the 8-10 pound bonito wore us out around the jetties, so we came inside and toned down on some Spanish mackerel. Jerry from Melbourne was also with me when the big ladyfish were boiling the water. It's a great time of year to enjoy fishing! Trout were off one day and on the next. We caught a few nice slot trout in spite of the hot weather. Live pinfish, pigfish or shrimp can get you a nice trout on the line this time of year. Top water can work early mornings. Move to deeper flats as the sun heats things up. We found redfish on the flats a few mornings. The super low tides kept the area to a minimum during the days. I did get a few reports of redfish catches south towards the Power Plant. The water has remained very clear recently and that give the fish a chance to see you well beyond casting range. Stealth is a must this month. Soft baits are working well on the flats. Snook are being caught around the inlet with the baitfish feast. Some large snook have been caught from the jetties to the bridges. Live bait or plugs have worked best of late. Remember to handle them with care and give them a safe, quick release. Lots of snapper have continued to be caught along the channel edges and structure. The surf has been holding whiting and the tarpon have been off the beaches. It's time to gather up the kids and show them some of the fishing fun we have around the area. Take some time to enjoy the great fishing out there! Look for August to continue to be HOT and lots of afternoon thunderboomers. Get out early or late and drink plenty of fluids. Tip of the Week: It was a pleasure to watch all the boats around the inlet fishing beside each other with courtesy and friendship. People waving and getting excited with each catch. Everyone was having fun together and enjoying the great fishing. There have been lots of boats around the inlet lately and it was nice to watch all the boaters sharing the spoils together. It's times like these that make you proud to live in the area. Hats off to everyone on the Treasure Coast! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | VJ Bell | Date Posted: | 07-23-2007 | |
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The sailfish have dominated our offshore action out of Stuart the last few days. While fishing for kings and assorterd bottomfish Sat the 21st we caught a sail out of a couple on our rigger baits. We switched over to a spread more condusive to catching sails and had suprising action,winding up with 7 releases for the day in 100-120 ft just NE of the St Lucie inlet. Sundays action proved lively as well as we caught 3 of 6 sail bites on a half day.A pleasant suprise in late July! |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-22-2007 | |
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July 19, 2007 Inshore: Imagine being out there on the river and suddenly finding yourself surrounded by over a hundred redfish. Well, that's just what Mike Mixon and Mike DeRosa experienced this week. We were fishing along the flats and they had already boated three nice reds. I knew the reds were still sitting ahead of us, but once they had turned and moved towards us.....we froze as more than a hundred redfish swam around us and headed south. We had been fortunate that some pesky dolphin had came onto the flats and happened to stir up the sunning reds. Lisa Weston and Johnny also witnessed the many redfish that have populated the Treasure Coast this year. I love fishing this time of year! I guess you have figured out that redfish was out target fish this past week. Mike and Mike teamed up for three reds from 22 - 27" this week. The water has become very clear and the fish are easily scared now. Stealth is a must to approach any redfish that you might find on the river. Soft baits have worked best for us. Fish them slowly to have a chance at a hookup. Trout have been biting in the deeper water both early and during the day as the tide moves. Lisa Weston caught a couple nice trout in the 18-20" range on live pinfish. Look for grass flats that run 3-5 feet deep and use some live baits to get some trout action. Harbor Branch and Round Island have been productive recently. Snook fishing around the spillways and bridges has continued to be good. I don't target snook this time of year as they are out of season. Mike DeRosa did catch a nice 24" snook though while we were fishing on the trout flats. There are many large fish in the shallow flats this time of year. Live bait has worked best for us. Snapper are still being caught on the channel edges and around the bridges. Bonita, spanish mackerel and jacks have been around the inlet feeding on the glass minnows. Shiny spoons or something similar can get you hooked up with a good fight. Tarpon, snook and jacks have been along the beaches chasing bait. Early morning fishing can give you a good chance at a hookup in the surf. Tip of the Week. Temperatures have been in the 90's lately and it can get mighty hot out there. Make sure you are using good sunscreen to keep from getting a bad sunburn. Find one that is waterproof and use it several times throughout the day. There are many brands and types. Use an SPF that will keep you safe from the sun's rays. Make sure your fishing adventure doesn't end up bright red! As always remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-12-2007 | |
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July 12, 2007 Inshore: CATCH OF THE WEEK: It was another great week on the water. Fantastic summer weather along with some great fishing. I enjoyed a wonderful thrill over the weekend. We took our granddaughter, Chloe, out for her first fishing trip. She is just about two years old now and we have been anxious for this first trip with her. With the help of Grandma and her dad, Rick, we thoroughly enjoyed this first fishing adventure with Chloe. She reeled in two nice catfish and was so excited at seeing a live fish in the water. I am sure she will be ready for another trip soon! Grandkids are a wonderful thing!!! Another week of redfish out on the flats awaited us. Don White and Mike Mapps were out with me over the weekend and we found the redfish cooperating. Mike and Don combined for ten hookups with reds and boated six nice ones from 22 - 29 inches. It was a fun filled day on the water. Rick Flynn was out with me also this week and after three hookups, he landed a nice 27" redfish on a low tide. Look in deeper water during the heat of the day to find some redfish. Jerk baits worked great for us this week. Round Island and north of there have reports of reds schooling in that area. Snook have been hanging near the flats in early mornings. The deeper water near the Power Plant has held some nice snook and trout lately. Top water at first light is a great way to get a chance at a hookup. Remember, they are out of season and handle them carefully. Lots of reports of snook around the spillways and bridges recently. Trout is an early morning bite using top water. Look for them to move into deeper water as soon as the sun comes up. Live pinfish or pigfish works great on a float. We found some up near Round Island and Harbor Branch this week. There have been some large trout caught this month. Jacks and tarpon are cruising around the jetties. Live bait, top water or diving plug can get you something biting at first light. I had a couple reports of Bonita coming into the inlet to feed also. Ladyfish and jacks are also around the river as is the norm this time of year. The bridges have been yielding some snapper to those anglers. Have some fun and go fishing! Tip of the Week: A number of new regulations went into effect on July 1st with the FWC. Some sizes and bag limits on several fish have been changed and it's your responsibility to know the laws. The new regs haven't hit many tackle shops yet, but you can find them at http://myfwc.com/marine/regulation.htm and print your own copy. While snook is well know for the changes there, some other offshore species are now changed. Be aware of the new changes....... As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 06-13-2007 | |
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June 13, 2007 Inshore: Hope you have been enjoying the nice weather finally! Thought the winds would never give us a break, but it's been pretty nice out there on the water. Lots of anglers were out this weekend to test their skills against the fish world. We should be starting our summer patterns of nice mornings and afternoon chances at rain. Now this is starting to look like Florida! Redfish were, again, cooperative to us this week. Greg Schroeder boated five reds in the 26-30" size range in a few short hours of fishing. I was out again Saturday and found three willing to take an artificial. As I said last week, work your baits slowly out there. Soft baits have been the best producers. Twitch baits have come in second in catching reds. Snook fishing has been much quieter with the closing of the season. You can have a good chance at a photo release on the flats at first light. Top water is always the choice lure early in the mornings. There should be a few hanging around the Bear Point area and under some of the docks also. Handle the fish carefully and release them quickly so they can be there this fall. Trout were a little slow this week for us. Bob Bergen did report catching a nice fat 24" trout that weighed in at 7 pounds. Early mornings on the flats and move off the edges as the sun rises. Top water early and live shrimp on popping corks later in the day. Queen's Cove and Round Island should continue to hold some nice trout. Some nice snapper have been caught along the channel and around the bridges. Some reports of decent size sand perch around the bridges have come in this week also. I heard of some pompano being caught along the beach south of Fort Pierce. Whiting will be hanging in the surf, too. Plan a fishing trip soon and enjoy what the Treasure Coast has to offer out there on the water.... Tip of the Week: As summer arrives, trout will become a little harder to target. They will be feeding on pigfish throughout the river and not much else will attract their attention. Get out those dusty fish traps or get you one to set out and catch some of those little guys that the trout will be cruising the flats for. A pinfish or pigfish on a popping cork will be a great way to catch some summer trout. And the little critters out there won't be as much a bother as they are on live shrimp. Good luck fishing out there! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 06-10-2007 | |
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June 8, 2007 Inshore: With the exception of a few days of less than desirable weather, conditions have been great to get out fishing this week! Winds have died off and visions of summertime have entered into the latest fishing dreams. Look for nicer weather to continue with scattered rains. It's a great time of year. The fish have been feeding and lots of catching going on around the river. The water has come alive, so plan a trip out soon and enjoy some fishing adventures.... Redfish have continued to reward us with some nice catches around the river. Tom Clancy boated two nice redfish in spite of a rough weather day. Ed Killer was my guest this week and in a couple hours of fishing, he boated four nice reds up to 27". Greg Schroeder landed five redfish in the 26-30" range later in the week. Soft baits, suspending baits and gold spoons gave us our success this week on the flats. Bob Bergen reported catching several nice reds including one on his fly rod. Snook fishing has tapered off with the closing of the season, but anglers are still out there catching them on the flats. Tom Hull reported catching several nice snook along the mangroves north of Fort Pierce. Top water lures will be great choices now that you can fish them early. Look around the mangroves in deeper cuts as the sun warms things up out there. Trout have also been hitting early most days. Capt. Pat Wells fished with me on Sunday and we boated several nice upper slot trout. Tom Hull also reported nice catches of trout around the 20" size. Soft baits and suspending baits have worked the best of late. Grass flats with sand holes are good areas to target trout. The jacks are invading the river and we found some bigger 8-10 pound jacks crashing bait this week. Lots of excitement on light tackle and they love slashing top water lures! Sand perch and some bigger snapper are around the river and the bridge and jetty anglers have reported some nice catches this week. Frozen shrimp has been the bait of choice. Along the beach, look for tarpon to be feeding along with whiting and some snook in the troughs. Watch for tarpon along the river channels and in deeper areas of the river. Tip of the Week: If you are targeting redfish this season, remember to fish your baits along the bottom. Redfish are bottom feeders and usually have their heads buried in the sand trying to stir up a snack. For soft baits, I use a light jig head when rigging. I hold the rod tip up and slowly pop it along the bottom slowly. By holding the rod tip high, it will bring the lure up out of the grass as you pop it. Let it settle back down into the grass before you give another pop. Most of us will start off fishing slow, but end up working it faster in anticipation of that next cast. Slow it down for more catching opportunities. Hope you are successful in catching a redfish this season! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 06-02-2007 | |
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May 31, 2007 Inshore: Well, June has arrived here on the Treasure Coast and we are still battling with the windy weather out there. Offshore has really been tough to get out for those anglers and the river hasn't been a piece of cake either. The fishing has improved in spite of the conditions out on the flats. Most anglers have been hugging the eastern shorelines or drifting across the flats in search of fish. It's gonna stay that way most of this week and into next week, so adjust your plans out there and catch some fish! Redfish was our fish this week. Robert Strang and Laura Colon boated four redfish in the 24-28" range, with a double hookup on two of them. Nick Palladino took out Tim Keck for his birthday and each of them caught two redfish that were in the 22-28" size. Tim lost a larger redfish that would have topped the 28" one. Chris was out with me and boated three reds in the 26-28" range. All were caught on soft baits or spoons this week on the flats. The water has been churned up somewhat, but the fish are still out there. We fished the areas from Bear Point to Round Island this week. Trout came in number two on our catch this week. The bite has held steady and there are some nice sized trout on the flats. Nick caught some really nice trout while drifting the flats. The usual areas have been holding trout along the east side of the river. Soft baits, live shrimp or twitch baits have worked for us most days. Snook season closes at midnight on Thursday, May 31st. The fish will still be there after that, but bring a camera for a good photo. Handle the fish and release them carefully to keep them healthy. Most action has been around the bridges and turning basin. Nick Palladino caught his snook on the flats to end up his day with a slam. Bridges has been slower and less anglers lately. Look for sheephead and black drum around the catwalks. Snapper have been hanging around the channels edges. Look for some bluefish and mackerel around the jetties and if you dare fish the surf, look for some whiting and a few pompano around the beach areas. June will bring more action out of the redfish on the flats and trout will continue to hit early mornings. Keep an eye peeled for schooling redfish around the favorite flats. As the winds die off, look to top water early and soft baits as the sun rises. Docks will hold some a nice assortment of fish both early and throughout the day. May bought us all a challenge and I think everyone is looking forward to a great June fishing experience!! Tip of the Week: If you regularly fish the flats, here is a little tip I use myself. I keep a small mushroom anchor on the boat to hold position if I drift into an area I want to fish more thoroughly. It doesn't take up much space and is easy to use. If you are fishing an area and start catch fish, drop the anchor and take the time to fish it before going on across the flats. You can weigh it easily and start your drift again. It's a simple tool that I use often out on the water. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-27-2007 | |
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May 24, 2007 Inshore: I can't seem to remember a May as windy as this month....or did they move Florida and forget to tell us?? One way or another...it has been a windy week and most days were not safe out there unless you were glued to the east side of the river. Lots of tournaments cancelled and the river looks like it has been in a blender. It's supposed to blow the rest of the week and into next weeks fishing opportunities. Looks like a good time to clean out the ol' tackle box or find out what is hiding around in the boat. Memorial Day weekend is here. Keep the weather conditions first in your mind if you plan on heading out on the water this weekend. We managed a few days on the water and had success on most of those days. The weekend ended up being either unfishable or the fish uncooperative as Dave Celko and I found out. Redfish has been our fish of the day on most charters lately. Michael Lazorik and his friend, Chris, landed two nice redfish. Tom Tait was fishing with his friend, Annette, and boated two slot reds also. On Monday, John Cox and Glenn Leewright each boated nice redfish off the flats. Soft baits have worked best for us in shallow water. Trout fishing slowed down as the water became dirty from the weather for us. Tom and Annette did manage some trout on their adventure on the flats. It will be hard to find clean water for a few days, but live shrimp on popping corks can help find some hiding around the river. We fished mostly in four to five feet of water when we were successful. Snook fishing has remained decent around the inlet and bridges. On Monday, John Cox and Glenn Leewright got into some fast action for a few hours as the fish were chasing bait all around the bridges for us. They landed four snook in the 23 - 25 inch range and lost as many more in an action packed couple of hours. Also in the action, were bluefish, jacks and ladyfish to keep the rods bending, too. The outgoing tides are usually the best opportunities and live bait helps get the hookups. SNOOK SEASON CLOSES ON THE ATLANTIC COAST - JUNE 1. It has been slow around the catwalks and jetties of late. The surf has been horrible to try and fish. Hopefully, as the weather calms down, we will get some reports of catches around those areas. Look for the snapper bite to pick up soon. The bluefish and mackerel should continue to hit around the jetties. We have landed a few flounder recently and look for that action to improve soon. Lots of bait in the river and we continue to see sharks patrolling around the flats. Tip of the Week: Memorial Day Weekend is here and many boaters will be planning a day or two on the water. The weather looks like it won't be too cooperative out there, so please everyone be safe if you venture out on the water. Safety for you and your passengers should be first on your mind. Watch the weather forecasts and know what how your boat will handle in these conditions. Have a fun-filled, safe holiday!! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-19-2007 | |
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May 17, 2007 Inshore: Luckily, the fish don't realize a windy day from a calm day. If you could get out fishing this week...the fish were there. Looks like these conditions will remain for a little while longer. We did manage a few much needed rain showers this week and the grass is sure relieved for now. Water conditions are cloudy in a lot of areas and remained relatively clean in others. You will have to look around to find some clean water for a few days. Redfish were again roaming the flats for us this week. Glen was down and boated a nice redfish this week. Dave was down from New York and boated two nice slot sized reds. We had a few get off on us, but enjoyed the hookups anyway. Look in shallow water to find some redfish cruising. Soft plastics and gold spoons worked best for us. All our redfish this week were slot size fish. Trout are feeding early and will move to deeper water as the sun rises in the sky. Top water or live bait usually works well for early morning trout. Clean grass flats are the areas to look for to find some trout hanging around. You can't beat shrimp on popping corks this time of year. Snook anglers are catching a few slot sizes lately around the inlet and bridges. Live bait is always the best choice. Most of the fishing has been at night or early mornings for snook. Larger shrimp has been scarce, so pinfish or mullet is a good choice for baits. Mike hooked up on a nice flounder on the flats this week. We have found a few scattered around the river lately. Ladyfish and jacks continue to patrol the flats for an easy meal. The jetties have continued to hold bluefish and mackerel along with the usual jacks. Not a lot of action lately on the catwalks. A few reports of snapper and sheephead around the bridges and structure of the river. Tip of the Week: Memorial Day is almost here and lots of boaters will be heading off on the water. Many don't get out often and this is an excellent time to check out the ol' boat and make sure it is seaworthy. It's never good for a boat to sit and there are too many things that can go wrong. Batteries go bad.....electrical problems can occur.....fuel.....trailer issues.....and many more. Don't wait until you have launched you boat at the ramp and find out you have a problem. The ramps will be super busy and it is better to find out now if you have a problem and get it fixed.....rather than tying up the boat ramp trying to find out why you can't get the boat started. Prepare now and make your holiday on the water an enjoyable one!! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-06-2007 | |
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May 3, 2007 Inshore: Lots of sunshine and great fishing weather arrived here on the Treasure Coast this week. The winds eased up to let anglers enjoy themselves both inshore and offshore. It was nice not to hide out among the islands for a change. Lots of baitfish have invaded the area and the fish are out there chasing them. May is always one of my favorite months on the water. Trout fishing was spotty some days, but we managed to catch some each day on the water. I had David Brashear and R J Swinford on the boat Sunday and each caught a nice trout in the Teen Anglers Tournament. Tom Hull was down from Melbourne and we caught a nice number of trout. Tom boated a huge 26" gator trout along with several others in the slot range. I managed a 23" fat trout also. Bob Whitbold reported another big gator trout catch this week. The usual flats were holding trout and we used jerk baits and gold spoons. Redfish were hanging on the flats again this week. After scattering several small schools we found a few in the mood to eat. Tom Hull battled a fat 26" redfish that he caught on a twitch bait. Spoons and soft baits are also good choices when seeking a spot tail on the flats. Some are hanging very shallow, so keeping a stealthy approach is a necessity. I have found redfish on most flats lately so they are out there cruising around. We caught a few snook this week, but they weren't our target most days. Most of the snook anglers are fishing at night along the bridges and seawalls around the inlet. I did talk to several who caught legal size snook this week. Live pinfish or large shrimp (when available) are the ticket for fishing these areas. Now that the winds have given us a break....try around the docks in the early mornings. Tom Hull completed his slam this week after catching a snook hanging around the flats. Bridge fishing was slower this week. While sheephead and some snapper are being caught, many anglers took a break in the action. Lots of Spanish mackerel are still around the inlet. Some big jacks have been around the jetties along with bluefish. The surf has continued to hold whiting, bluefish and some pompano for those beach anglers. I keep seeing more and more sharks around the flats. As the bait continues to show up on the flats, they will seek the shallows in search of an easy meal. Tip of the Week: Wade fishing is lots of fun and many people around this area take the opportunity to get out fishing on the shallows. We continue to see many large stingrays and sharks coming up on the flats in very shallow waters. Just a note of caution to be careful when wading around the river. I had a number of reports of sharks attacking fish as anglers were reeling them in and experienced it myself. Sound, smell and sight of a fish can bring a reaction from these creatures. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 04-30-2007 | |
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If you like snook fishing on the flats now is the time to go, every day we have been catching fish, as some days are better than others. A great day has been catching 15 -20 fish sight fishing in less than a foot of water and bad days has been only 3-5 fish per day depending on the anglerÃs skill and weather. The size are averaging 26 to 28 inches and between 5-7 lbs but we are getting fish that go over slot size of 34 inches and around 12-16 lbs and have had some snook over 20 lbs. This has also been a fly fishermanÃs dream with at least 10 shots at fish by 11 a.m. and generally 4-5 snook hooked up, again depending on anglerÃs skill and weather conditions. Roger Lynn from Cheyenne Wyoming fished for snook on fly and got a Florida bay inshore flats slam with a 9 lb, 31 inch snook, a 7 lb redfish and a 21 inch trout by noon the first morning and multiple hookups on larger snook in the afternoon. Redfish on the other hand are a little slow to show up this time or year, normally they are all over the place, but never the less they are still around and should make a strong showing any day. The ones that have been showing have been good size. David Torbert and Mathew St. Germain both 13 years old fished the Lucerne- Gossman tournament with me, David catching a 27 inch Red and Mathew sight fished a 31.5 inch snook with other great catches in between and both very good anglers. Tarpon are some days all over the place on the Ocean side of Elliot key down to Key Largo and some days when the weather has been a little ehÖ snotty, completely gone! Pods of tarpon 30-120 lbs are cruising the edges of the flats. These fish are responding well to flyÃs, dark with low light and lighter color in clear conditions with good sun. A 10-12 weight rod 20 lb leader with a 60-80 fluorocarbon shock will do the trick. In Florida bay tarpon have been around the island motes. They are in between 5-30 lbs and are a sucker for a live hand-picked shrimp or a D.O.A. shrimp. I have also been seeing tarpon slowly showing up on the edges of the flats in Florida bay which means it is only a matter of time when they pour into the finger channels and ponds in the bay rolling and free jumping at first light. This month I had the pleasure of BillÃs BoyceÃs show IGFA AnglerÃs Digetst film there show to be aired in July. I had a wonderful time and would like to thank Jason Schratweiser and Mike Myatt of the I.GF.A., Bill Boyce host of the show the I.G.F.A. Anglers Digest, Dee Peralta and Richard Chudy both on the camera. That day we jumped 3 tarpon brought 1 to the boat caught numerous snook some on fly and MikeÃs 2 nice sight fished reds on the flats. If you would like to see a sneak preview of the show please go to www.IGFAnglersdigest.com Behind the show and all of itÃs organization was Merijo Attong and Jennifer Barber of SportsmanÃs Addiction, thanks for all the help you two, you made it great!!!! Biscayne bones are big and bad now that the schools are getting bigger as the water warms up. We are catching fish regularly in the 9-12 lb class on live shrimp #1 Owner hooks and 12 lb fluorocarbon leader this is also a great time for fly fisherman. Permit is sometimes easy to find this time of year depending on the windÖ. They are now pushing their way on the flats these guys are generally 20 lbs but we have caught them as large as 41 lbs last year on live crab! Till next time, when I have time to write.. Tight lines. Capt. Jim Hale www.Canepolincharters.com 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-27-2007 | |
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April 26, 2007 Inshore: April sure isn't going out quietly. Lots of windy weather this week to keep you guessing about the weather patterns. We faced lots of wind this week, but fishing has been good if you can fish in these blustery conditions. Looks like the weekend will be a little on the windy side, but this won't last much longer as summer nears the Treasure Coast. Redfish are back and gathering for their summer jaunts around the flats. We encountered a good number of redfish in small schools this week and Tim Freeman and his uncle, Paul, boated three nice reds, including a double hook-up on the flats. Live bait, soft baits and twitch baits worked best for us and most of the favorite redfish flats should be showing signs of activity now. As the water warms up, look for an increase in redfish sightings around the river. Snook fishing around the bridges has been spotty most of the week with all the windy weather. Fewer anglers braved the conditions so reports are fewer of late. Tim and Paul each had a nice snook while enduring the windy stuff out there. We lost another good sized one down south on the eastern flats on a top water lure. Live bait is best around the inlet area, while top water or live bait works well along the flats. Early mornings have been best on the flats. Trout slowed down earlier in the week or at least you could find few places to fish for them. We found one day that we could slowly drift the flats. Paul and Tim caught a number of very nice trout from 18" up to 22" in just a few hours. Most were hitting soft baits and twitch baits for them. Look for clear water flats that hold sandy area around the grasses. A lot of areas were difficult to fish most of the time. We did manage the usual smorgasbord of the varied aqua critters that also inhabit the river. Ladyfish, jacks and a host of others are out there more than willing to take your baits and lures. Bridge fishing slowed down, but some snapper, sheephead and black drum are still being taken off the catwalks. Bluefish, spanish mackerel and jacks have continued to rule the jetties. Beaches, when fishable, have been yielding whiting to those anglers. Tip of the Week: In less than two hours on the flats, we observed three boats run aground in the shallow waters. One pontoon boat sat there twice in less than a foot of water racing the engine at full throttle in an attempt to get off the flats. What a waste of our environment that is fragile enough as it is without a few idiots out there helping to make it worse! If you leave the channel in unfamiliar waters...slow down and learn to read the water. Boats are expensive enough, too. Please take care of our waters and also your boats...... As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-21-2007 | |
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April 20, 2007 May Fishing Forecast for the Treasure Coast Inshore: Finally, the windy months of March and April are almost behind us and we can look forward to the great fishing weather that May has to offer us on the Treasure Coast. Other than the usual windy days, it has been a pretty mild winter and spring has arrived. Look for warmer temperatures and a little less blustery days. As the water temperatures climb, the fishing will steadily improve on the river. It will provide fantastic mornings for top water and lazy afternoons to drift the flats. May is one of my favorite month on the water! Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during MayÖ..twitch baits, top water and soft shrimp baits. Gold spoons will also be a great addition to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well. Bob from Jensen Beach caught a monster 36" redfish this week! Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water will always be one of the best choices in the shallows, with twitch baits being a close second. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is hard to beat around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities! DonÃt forget that snook season will close on May 31st and will re-open again on September 1st, Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still in the river in the early parts of May. I have had great success with jerk baits this year in place of live shrimp. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action. Bridges will hold the usual sheephead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and into the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure CoastÖÖplan on a trip out on the river soon! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-14-2007 | |
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April 12, 2007 Inshore: Springtime weather has invaded the Treasure Coast, bringing warm temperatures, much needed rain and a few windy days this week. It was a great time to be fishing the area. A cool front went through over the weekend and cooled the water a little, but it warmed back up quick enough to keep the trout happy most days. We should continue to see nicer weather each week. I had some very good anglers on board this week and we found trout most days. I had Adrian from Jensen Beach and his brother. They caught trout up to 24" this week. John and his dad, Bill were out with me and caught a good number of nice trout up to 28". We found most in two to four feet of water. Using live shrimp, jerk baits and twitch baits mostly this week, we fished most days north of the bridges in Fort Pierce. The east shore is still pretty clean on most of the river. We fished from the Moorings south. Look for grassy flats with sandy areas scattered around. We found a number of redfish around the river and Mark Amorello boated a nice 22" redfish. They have been skittish of late, but the way Mark's redfish hit....they are getting more active. Look on the shallow flats during the heat of the day for them to be sunning and feeding themselves. We have found lots of bait on the flats. I have several reports of redfish caught on the east side from Bear Point south to the Power Plant. Snook fishing has been mostly at night, but we are finding lots of them on the edges of the flats chasing bait. Weather and winds permitting, look around the docks early in the mornings also. Live baits have been working best and some of the night anglers are catching shorts, slots and a few oversized ones. Bridges have been holding sheephead, sand perch and black drum. There have been catches of croakers, but I haven't had many reports of them as yet. Pompano turned on for some anglers along the beaches this week. I received a number of reports of nice pompano catches by those using shrimp or sand fleas in the surf. Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jacks have been hanging around the inlet and surf. Grouper have been hitting around the turning basin for us a couple of days this week. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere! Tip of the Week: Size and bag limits on fish in our area have been set over the years to help keep our fish population healthy and increasing each year. Slot sizes on snook, trout and redfish are in place to keep the larger female fish out there to breed for the future generations of anglers. I had the misfortune of watching a family catch and kill a 40" snook and pretend to revive it until everyone had left. As I left, I watched them scurry to get it loaded and out of there before any law enforcement could have arrived. It was sad to see a beautiful specimen taken out of the spawning population. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-29-2007 | |
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March 29, 2007 Inshore: I had a fantastic week out there on the water. Oh yeah, the winds blew and the river was choppy on most days, but my fun came in the excitement of watching kids fishing. I had the pleasure of having several charters that involved kids who aged from four years to the teens. Nothing can beat the expressions on a child's face as they are reeling in a fish. Take a kid fishing with you soon! Once again, trout were our mainstays out on the water. Find some clean grass flats on the east side of the river and you should find some trout hanging around. I had Tyler and Vincent Serio on the boat sunday for the Teen Angler Tournament and Tyler caught a nice trout that won him the Middle School Division this month. Anthony was down with his dad from Long Island and he boated a nice 22" trout on a twitch bait. Hal and Chris fished with me on saturday and we caught a number of nice trout out there on the grass flats. Jerk baits and live shrimp has also worked well for us this week. We found a number of redfish up on the shallow flats. Most were sunning those days, but we did manage a nice slot on saturday. As the water temps continue to rise, look for them to become more active and hungry out there. We should see some schooling soon. Soft baits, twitch baits or gold spoons are always a good start on the flats. We have been fishing mostly the east side of the river the past few weeks. Snook fishing was great earlier in the week for the night anglers. Several reported catching their limits a few nights this week. Live shrimp or pinfish have been the best choices, with feather jigs a close second. Up on the flats, use top water early on the edges for another chance at a hookup with a snook. We caught several up to 24" earlier in the week on the flats. Hal Weliver reported a nice 27" snook taken on the flats this week. Ladyfish and jacks have provided us with several days of fun. I had the pleasure of taking Keith Mullins and his two boys, Turner (7) and Frank (4) out on the river and they had a great time catching the lively ladies. Turner caught the largest one I have seen around here in a long time. It gave him a good workout, but he won the battle. Bridges have been yielding black drum, sheephead and sand perch this week. Those brave enough to hit the surf have been catching whiting and some bluefish. Spanish mackerel and bluefish have continued to hang around the jetties. Tip of the Week: I think spring is trying to work its way into the Treasure Coast. Spring bring lots of sunshine and opportunities to get out fishing as the wind gradually lets up. It's a great time to fish and also a great time for that sunburn! Both the sun, wind and water together can give you that beet red look in a very short time. Make sure you use plenty of good sunscreen when you hit the water. It only takes a second to put it on and sure makes the end of the day much more enjoyable for everyone. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-17-2007 | |
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March 15, 2007 Inshore: Springtime weather spread throughout the Treasure Coast this week, bringing lots of sunshine and a few less windy days to make for mild fishing on the water. It sure has been a welcome change from the past month on the river. But as March is well known for....we can expect a windy weekend ahead of us and maybe bringing some much needed rain to the area. Mark Amorello with a nice 24" snook on the flats.... Trout was again our number one target this week. We had some nice days to fish both sides of the river for seatrout. Mark and Doug Amorello were down and caught a number of slot size trout over the weekend. Frank Depento and his buddy Pete were in the area and we managed a few slot sizes on a slower day this week. Our best day was Tuesday, when Bob Altieri and his buddies, Mark and Tony were out with me. They boated two dozen nice trout that day with Mirrolures and jerk baits on the flats. Fish the grass flats in two to four feet of water around the river. Tony, Mark and Bob ending a great day with a nice grouper caught by Mark.... Snook fishing around the inlet has been producing some slots and a few over slots on live baits or jigs. The north bridge has been one of the better areas. Don't forget to drop a live shrimp around some of the docks for another chance at a hookup with a snook. Mark Amorello and his son Doug were fishing the flats with me using soft baits, when Mark hooked up with one huge over-the-slot snook in about a foot and a half of water. It was great to watch that fish come clean out of the water a couple times before spitting the hook. He did manage a nice 24" snook to ease the pain a little! Mark caught this nice trout fishing along the Indian River... We found some reds on the flats, but they just weren't feeding when we were there. As this water continues to warm up, the redfish should become more active. Soft baits, gold spoons and early morning top water help get a chance at a hookup. The ones we found were shallow later in the mornings in two feet of water. Doug Amorello with one of his trout caught on the flats.... Bridges are continuing to give up Spanish mackerel, sand perch, croakers and sheephead. Black drum have also been around the inlet and structure in the river. I did get a report of a few larger snapper being caught around some of the docks this week. Surf anglers are enjoying a good whiting bite lately, with bluefish and mackerel mixed in the catch. Mark, who was out with Bob and Tony caught five or six grouper around the turning basin this week on live shrimp. Frank Depento with a nice spotted seatrout.... Tip of the Week: March is traditionally one of those windy months here on the Treasure Coast. Use the winds to your advantage on the river. Use them to make drifts across trout flats. East or west winds can provide one side of the river that is fishable and easier to maneuver on the flats. North or south winds can be difficult, but we have islands that can provide protection and areas to fish. Drifting can allow you to cast downwind and fish farther ahead of the boat before the fish can detect you in the area. We will always gripe about windy days.....but use it to your advantage to help make your day more productive. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-11-2007 | |
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March 1, 2007 Inshore: Windy days prevailed most of this week on the Treasure Coast. Fish were biting most days if you could find a place to fish out of the winds. It did taper down a little by Wednesday. It was hard to find a place to fish on Saturday and Sunday as the latest front came rolling through the area. Trout fishing started out good and slowed down as the cold front lowered the water temperatures as the days went by. By Wednesday, the water had cooled off quite a bit and fishing slowed down. We managed to continue to catch trout, but most were shorts. Brian Chamberlain boated a nice fat 24" trout over the weekend. Rob Schick took home several nice trout for lunch. Justin Harviston was down south and got into some trout. Matt Cassidy and his buddies had several hours of fun catching trout and ladyfish one after another. Michael Lawrence and I were out the day the water cooled off and although we caught trout, the shorts were hitting in the cool water. Once the water warms up again, look for the trout to get active on the flats. Live shrimp, twitch baits or jerk baits have worked well for us lately. Redfish continue to sun themselves on the flats. We scared a number while fishing the flats. We spent most of our time targeting trout. Hal and Brandon Weliver reported catching a half dozen slot size redfish south of Fort Pierce in the shallow flats. Soft baits imitating shrimp worked for them. Action should pick up as spring warms up the water. Snook anglers fishing at night are finding on and off nights lately. Feather jigs and large shrimp are the choice baits for night anglers. Both bridges in Fort Pierce have produced snook along with the seawalls of the turning basin. Don't forget to drop a live shrimp around some of the local docks for a chance at a snook. Bob Bergen reported catching a nice 24" snook on the flats down near the Power Plant along with some trout this week. Bridges have enjoyed catches of croakers, sheephead and Spanish mackerel. Live or dead shrimp is the bait of choice and shiny lures are being cast for mackerel also. The inlet continues to hold mackerel and bluefish, while the surf is yielding whiting and a few reports of pompano. Shrimp or sand fleas are the norm along the beaches. Looks like we might just have a nice weekend ahead of us, so plan on getting on the water soon. Tip of the Week: When is the last time you checked out your safety equipment on the boat? This year.....last year.....never???? Did you know that if your safety equipment includes flares, they are dated and must be current to be considered part of your equipment. Outdated flares might not work properly and won't pass a check by the Coast Guard or law enforcement. With spring nearly here, make sure all of your equipment is current and usable. It's there to provide you with the proper items to deal with an emergency situation. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 03-09-2007 | |
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Water tempsÖÖÖÖÖÖÖFebruary has been a darn good month for good fishing, cold fronts have been dropping water temperatures into the low 60s and in some places upper 50s which has brought in a lot of Spanish mackerel, sheep head, kingfish, small permit and cobia on shallow water wrecks on the gulf side deeper waters off Florida bay. These temperatures and species list should continue into late March. On warmer days some larger permit have been found in the shallows and the snook have been eating real well in creek mouths as well as in deeper water. Mid February U.K. boys Malcolm McConnelly and Steve Rowlands fished 6 straight days with me. On their first day of fishing they also brought their U.K. weather with them. We had horrible temps in the mornings of high 40Ãs and wind howling 25-30 knots. Seeing these guys thought the weather was ìlovelyî Steve managed to land a nice 33 inch snook. Day two and three winds calmed down and we fished water temps in the mid 60s. We went sight fishing for redfish with 8 reds being caught with the biggest reaching 30 inches. There were a lot of fish cruising, tailing and pushing big wakes, but not eating as well. The next two days were spent in the gulf on very calm days. Malcolm catching a 28# kingfish on 10# test power pro, a nice blacktip shark, over 150 Spanish mackerel (some on fly) and big sheep head. Just days before the U.K. boys arrives Dave Johnson and Steve Schwab fished in trying conditions and caught 10 nice reds on the flats the largest at 32 inches. In March hopefully the cold fronts will slow down which will bring a lot of tarpon into the ponds and lakes in the backcountry of Whitewater Bay. In February we were fishing it and found fish but the bite at the time was not very good. With the water warming up the bite should increase. Bonefish have been around but with temps lower than 72 bonefish are not happy. We have chased and had shots on nice bones with few hookups, the next week air temps will rise to 85 warming up the water and should make for some great bonefish action. The water temps in March SHOULD warm up, unless, the weather plans on playing more tricks on us. Like that nice and warm January and December, these fish rely on water temps at certain times of the year to migrate and spawn, like a calendar to us. For any of you that have fished spring with me know that the permit are just around the corner, May is pretty tied up with a few days left on the calendar. April and June will be all around warm weather and hot fishing. Until next timeÖÖTight Lines and good fishing! Capt. Jim Hale www.canepolincharters.com 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-02-2007 | |
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March 1, 2007 Inshore: March has arrived on the Treasure Coast and most of us are hoping for nice warm weather after some of the cold fronts that visited us last month. Traditionally, we can expect windy conditions along with some rain clouds. It might dictate where and when you can get on the water, but at least we aren't cutting holes in the ice to fish! Take advantage of the good days and get out fishing..... As the sun warms up the water again, look for fish to travel into the shallows to feed. Trout will continue to be most prevalent in the deeper grass flats in two to four feet of water. Those anglers using live shrimp on popping corks, soft baits and top water will have the best chance at hooking up with a trout. I like to fish the edges of the shallows where the water drops off to these depths. You can find some trout on the flats early, but they tend to go deeper after sunup. Depending on weather conditions, there are many areas to fish. Redfish will get more active this month and you can find some tailing on the flats in early mornings. Top water, soft baits or gold spoons are good choices for finding a spot tail on the flats. Don't forget to fish around the mangroves also. So far this winter there has continued to be a good redfish population around the river and the fishing has been good for them. I tend to like the east side of the river for redfish, but you can find them on the west side also. Live shrimp or soft baits have worked very well for us in the past around these areas. Anglers will continue to target snook around the inlets, docks and bridges on the Treasure Coast. Live bait always works best, but feather jigs and hard baits can also get you hooked up. Most of the action will be at night and at both ends of the tides. As the water warms up around the area, the snook action will liven up also. Those fishing the flats can also find snook feeding early or late in the day. Fish the mangroves during the rest of the day. Top water, twitch baits or soft baits can do the trick in March on the flats. We are still wondering what happened to the pompano bite this year and hopefully we will get some in March. Both the river and beaches have been holding them, but not much on catch reports for now. Whiting. Bluefish and pompano will be hanging around the beaches this month. The inlet will be holding Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish. Jack Crevalle and ladyfish continue to haunt the river and provide fun catch for all. Bridges should give up catches of sand perch, sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp. I think we are all ready for spring to arrive here on the Treasure Coast. It won't be long! Take some time to check all your equipment now and be ready as the weather improves to get out on the water. Make sure your reels are in good working order. Check your rods for broken or cracked tips and guides. How old in that line?? Get ready now on some of the windy days , so you will be ready to head out to the water! Have a great March for fishing! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 02-17-2007 | |
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February 15, 2007 Inshore: It was one of those weeks where one day the fish are biting and the next you are scratching your head. The last part of this week provided warmer water and the fish reacted to it. Guess it won't last too long with this next cold front bearing down on us from the frozen north. Dress warm if you are heading out this weekend! The trout bite was good over the weekend, but downshifted earlier in the week to slow. Even the ladyfish were taking a few days off. The water had warmed up by Thursday and the trout were back to their usual areas and hungry. We boated 8 1/2 on Thursday.....one was cut in half by a shark on the way to the boat. Live bait, soft baits and top water should get you a strike this weekend if the water stays on the warmer side. The western flats to the south of Fort Pierce held trout later in the week. The redfish have continued to stay on the flats when the sun is out. John M. was down and we found several on the flats, but they were just not feeding earlier this week. The bite picked back up on Thursday along the mangroves. Some good reports have come from the eastern side of the river. Soft baits have worked best when targeting redfish. Fish your lures slow this time of year. Snook reports have picked up the latter part of the week. Mostly shorts, but a few anglers have reported slots being taken. We managed two shorts along Bear Point on Thursday. Soft baits and top water on the flats and mangroves will be a good choice of baits for snook. Live bait and jigs around the inlet and bridges will give you the best chance at a hook-up. Jetty anglers are still fishing for bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel. Bridges are yielding sheephead, black drum and some croakers. Live or dead shrimp is the bait of choice for these. Pompano are still being skipped along the river, but the bite just hasn't been here this year. A few are being taken on the surf along with whiting. Tip of the Week: Winter is always a good time to check your batteries in the boat. Cold weather and batteries just don't always mix well. A worn and tired battery can suddenly die on you at the ramp. It also gives you the opportunity to make sure connections are free of corrosion. Of course, some days you keep looking for the heater and just can't seem to find it!! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 02-11-2007 | |
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February 8, 2007 Inshore: Weather...and the Super Bowl....played a large part in this weeks fishing chances. Lots of wind and some rain kept most anglers off the water most of the week. By Tuesday it finally began clearing up and brought some great fishing weather to the Treasure Coast area. Lots of boats were heading both inshore and offshore. Snook fishing around the inlets improved this week both around the bridges and on the jetties. I spoke to a number of snook anglers who caught their slots along with a good number of shorts. Live bait and jigs have worked best for inlet anglers. Most have been caught at night. Snook are hanging around deeper mangroves, but most will be shorts. Try soft baits along mangroves. Mark Amorello did boat a 20" snook from under the mangroves this week. Trout fishing was probably the next best catch on some days this week....if you could keep the ladyfish off your hook. Tuesday, we found them hitting soft baits on the flats north of Fort Pierce. Try Queen's Cove for them. South of Fort Pierce there were a several areas that held trout. Herb Ladenheim reported that on Wednesday they boated a dozen trout on soft baits. Congratulations goes out to Herb. Don't forget to try live shrimp for trout. Redfish were on one day and off the next. We have seen a good number of them on the flats during the day. We boated three on Tuesday, but could not get them to hit later in the week. They have been heading up on the shallows as the sun warms up the water, but are very easily scared this time of year. Mark and I saw a number of them sunning on the flats. Bridge anglers were still enjoying catches of sand perch, some croakers and plenty of sheephead off the catwalks. Jetties were giving up some jacks, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Neal Plante sent me a report of a huge 8 pound Sailcat caught by Glenn Cope of Fort Pierce on their boat. Glenn is a youngster of 80 and an enthusiastic angler, who took the battle to this beast! Congratulations Glenn on a fine catch! Tip of the Week: A grateful thanks to the Roadrunner Fishing Club and the Port St Lucie Anglers Club! Clint Walker of the Fishing Center and myself had the privilege of speaking to both these fantastic groups this week and met some great local anglers in our area. Great organizations, who make fishing fun and exciting! We do live in a wonderful area of Florida with great people around us! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 02-05-2007 | |
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Bonefish have been the targeted species this month, the water temps have been above normal, bringing cruising and tailing fish from all over into the shallow flats of beautiful Biscayne Bay we have been catching fish from 7 to the 13 lb bruisers , one trip this month tailing fish were seen all day and sometimes as far as I could see from the poling platform we had over 40 shots on tailers but managed to bring only 3 to the boat the biggest a nice 12 lber they have been eating small shrimp on calm days and on the windier days you can throw a medium to a little larger shrimp the bones can be a little spookier on calm days thatÃs why I like days with a little wind but not blowing 20 kts.The bones should continue their nice run in the bay on warmer days now that the temps are dropping once again. In Florida bay the water for January was extremely warm and to that is a large algae bloom that covered most of the bay back in the early part of the month which chased a lot of the reds out into cleaner water which is the deeper creeks with a lot of water movement. Any of you that have fished with me know where IÃm talking about. This last Saturday we caught 25 reds 6 black drum, 12 nice snook up to 27 inches and lost at least 8 more larger snook to the mangroves all in 5 hours of fishing. The earlier part of the month turned out some summer like tarpon with multiple trips jumping 2-3 poons over 80lbs everyday. Now that cooler temps are arriving bringing down the water temps the algae bloom is moving out and the water is clearing up and it is getting back to normal with reds and snook moving up on the flats on cool days with an incoming tide. Capt. Jim Hale 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-27-2007 | |
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January 25, 2007 February Fishing Forecast for the Treasure Coast Inshore: Spring is just around the corner! It's time to get out fishing. Can you believe that it is already February here on the Treasure Coast. With still a few cold fronts to blast through the area, it has been a mild winter so far and the fishing along the Indian River has been good. Look for winds to continue to blow this month, but finding a place to fish wonÃt be hard in the river. Spring isnÃt far off! Last year, the redfish were beginning to school up in small groups on the flats. With mild water temperatures, look for them to start hanging around together soon. Gold spoons, top water, soft baits and live/cut bait should get them to the boat. Watch the waterÖthey can be out there sunning and you might never notice them. The normal areas, like QueenÃs Cove and Round Island will be the usual haunts for redfish. Remember to keep a quiet, stealthy mode on the flats this time of year. Lots of snook anglers will be out this month in search of that secret spot for keeper linesiders. The inlet, bridges and docks will be first choice for most anglers. Around the mangroves will also be a great area to look for snook. Live bait and red tail hawks will be the best baits around the inlet areas. On the flats and docks, try live shrimp, top water and twitch baits for a chance at a hookup. With lots of anglers awaiting snook season opening...it will be busy on the water the first part of the month! Trout will be hanging around in the deeper cuts of the river. Look for two to four feet of water that is clean for trout to be feeding. Live shrimp on a popping cork is always a great choice of bait. Also try, top water, jerk baits and twitch baits out there. Harbor Branch and the Power Plant flats are usually clean and hold trout most of the year. With some of the windy weather still ahead, some day might be a challenge to find clean water during the month. Pompano should be cruising the river and beaches in February. Keep a small jig or sand flea ready if you find a school of them. The bite has been slow in January, but should kick off any day now. Bridges will be holding sand perch, black drum and sheephead during the month. Live or dead shrimp will be the best baits for them. Look for bluefish and spanish mackerel to be around the inlet and surf. Ladyfish and jack crevalle will still be cavorting around the bait and willing to give you a good fight on light tackle. Get the kids out one weekend and have some fun with them! Tip of the Week: Remember! Snook season re-opens February 1st. Be well aware of slot sizes and limits andÖ..have you checked your license and snook stamp lately? DonÃt get caught without them! Enjoy some great fishing in February! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-12-2007 | |
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January 11, 2007 Inshore: One of our usual cool fronts has worked its way across the Treasure Coast the past few days, bringing cooler night temperatures upon us. It looks like the next week should be great weather for anglers in the area. We will continue to have our normal windy days, but there are plenty of areas to fish out of it. Hope you had a chance to fish this week. Trout fishing was our target the past week. We fished several areas and where we found cleaner water, we found trout on the flats. With the warmer water before the front, the trout were hanging in one to three feet of water. Capt. Pat Wells went fishing with me last friday and we found good numbers of slot size trout biting and caught two that hit the 25" mark. With the winds changing continually, you will have to check out the usual areas for clean water. Live shrimp, soft baits and twitch baits have worked best for us this week. Snook fishing slowed down for us this week. They are still hanging around the mangroves in the deeper cuts. As the water warms up some this week, look for snook to be hitting the flats for a snack. Try top water if the conditions permit or a slow sinking twitch bait if it is choppy. Don't forget to try around the docks early with live shrimp. Redfish are still being caught, but most reports continue to be from the south of Fort Pierce on the flats. Live shrimp, gold spoons or soft baits are the best choices right now. You can also find some reds hanging around the docks on the west side of the river. I'll be heading south this weekend to look for some. If ladyfish had wings, they would probably be as thick as mosquitoes! It's a good time of year to get the kids out and show them some fun on the water. Watching that smile on a young one when a ladyfish or jacks hits their lures is worth it! Jacks are just about as thick out there. Have some fun this week! Along the inlet has anglers fishing for sheephead, sand perch and black drum around the bridges. In the surf, whiting, bluefish and occasionally pompano can be caught. Pompano reports are still not much to speak of for now. Tip of the Week: Winter is a great time to check over your equipment in anticipation of spring fishing. With so many windy days, there will be lots of opportunities to change line, check reels and clean out the ol' tackle box. Spring will be here before you know it and being ready to enjoy the great fishing is important to us all. Rummaging through a tackle box will sure bring back summer memories of fishing adventures past. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-28-2006 | |
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December 28, 2006 Inshore: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Treasure Coast Inshore Forecast- January I find it hard to believe that the year has passed by so quickly . 2007 is here with high hopes and new resolutions. I hope that everyone will resolve to keep our waters safe, clean and preserve our wonderful fishing experience for generations to come! 2006 was a great year for fishing along the Treasure Coast and I anticipate this new year will bring even better opportunities for us all. January brings about more cold fronts working through the Treasure Coast each week and if the water temperatures remain mild like last winter, we can expect the fishing to be just as good this year. Lots of windy days will determine where or if you can fish, whether inshore or offshore. There are many places in the river to fish and stay out of the wind on those gusty days. I always like to keep Round Island and Jaycee Park ramps in mind on such days. The opening of trout season on the East Coast of Florida begins this month.. Trout should be feeding on the grass flats in 2 - 4 feet of water during this time of year. Live shrimp on a popping cork is always a good choice. Soft baits on jig heads or twitch baits should also antagonize a trout into striking. On calm mornings, get out the good ol' top water and try it. Look for clean water in the winter for the trout to be hanging out on. While snook season remains closed this month, there is nothing wrong with catch, photo and release on the linesiders. Always popular places are around the bridges and the inlet area. Live shrimp or pinfish will be your best choice this month. Out on the flats during January, I like to target the flats south of Fort Pierce with popping corks and large shrimp in 2 -4 feet of water. Snook will be hanging around those flats looking for an easy meal. Redfish will head up on the flats as the sun warms the water. Being extra stealthy will get you a chance for a spot tail. I like soft baits and gold spoons during the winter months. Top water can also work on calmer mornings. This is the time of year you can find small schools tailing in the early mornings on the flats. Live or cut bait can also get you a bite from a redfish this time of year. Try Round Island flats or the flats on the west shore south of Fort Pierce towards the Power Plant. Hitting some of the docks both north and south of the bridges can also get you a hookup. Bridge anglers will be fishing for croakers, sand perch, sheephead and black drum this month. Live or dead shrimp is always the bait of choice on the catwalks. The inlet will continue to hold jacks, bluefish and Spanish mackerel during January. Pompano should be hanging around the deeper cuts of the flats and along the beaches. I have already started seeing them in several areas and look to see more soon. Don't forget to try your luck in the surf for pompano this month. I hope your New Year is filled with exciting fish tales and adventures! Have a great year on the Treasure Coast! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-20-2006 | |
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December 20, 2006 Inshore: It was a week of dodging wind and rain throughout the Treasure Coast. If you could dodge one.....the other would sneak up on you. If you didn't mind getting damp or wind blown....the fishing was great on the river! Water temperatures have dropped due to all the rain, but they should rise back up quickly. The fish still don't care if your are getting wet or not! It's funny how the snook seem to know when the season is over and they can bite at will and be safe. We caught quite a few snook this week on the flats. Look for them to continue hanging off the edges of the flats in two to four feet of water. Where you can find a lot of bait, the snook will follow. Dillon and Vincent from Teen Anglers were on the boat with me on Sunday. They caught and released 8 snook up to 29 inches. Live shrimp, soft baits and twitch baits have worked the best. Any flats on the east side of the river, due to the winds, should get you a chance at a hookup. We caught several trout this past week on the same flats with the same lures. Trout season will reopen on January 1st, so it's good practice for now. Live shrimp on popping corks work well during the winter months along with top water, soft baits and twitch baits. Most of the flats south of the Fort Pierce bridges should work along with Round Island and Harbor Branch to the north. Redfish, again, were cruising the same flats this week. Dillon boated a nice 26" redfish to win the Teen Angler Middle School division and take the big fish award. He caught it on a live shrimp on a popping cork. The will also be taking gold spoons and twitch baits this time of year. Find the bait schools and they won't be far behind. Fish for them in two to four feet of water early and find them in the shallows as the sun warms up the water. Lots of jacks and ladyfish still creating havoc among the bait. Lots of fun on light tackle for anyone. Vincent boated and released a four foot bonnethead shark this week on the flats. Croakers are being caught around the bridges and along the inlet. Some flounder are still being caught around the inlet area. Pompano have been spotty, but are in the river. Keep a rod ready with a small jig tipped with shrimp if you happen on them. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the jetties. Not many reports from the surf anglers. The easterly winds have kept it pretty much blown out for now. There are still some hard core anglers out there though. Tip of the Week: Winter can bring lots of variables to fishing. Windy weather and temperature changes can make even the best day challenging. Fishing can be fantastic during these month if you are willing to change tactics and try something different. Look to deeper water to find fish as the water cools off. Try different lures or baits when the "old reliables" don't seem to be working. Be willing to try some different areas. Wind will dictate a lot of where you can find fishable waters, but on the Treasure Coast, there are always places that you can fish out of the worst of the weather. Have fun this winter! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and HAPPY HOLIDAYS, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-14-2006 | |
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December 14, 2006 Inshore: Strong easterly winds have kept most of the river out of reach for the majority of anglers this week. Offshore was about shut down for most boaters. But on the brighter side....if you could find your way to the eastern shores of the river, you could find it still fishable and the water has remained quite clean in a lot of areas. Funny....the winds just never seem to matter to the fish! With more sunny days lately, the water temperatures have remained warm for this time of year. There are several boat ramps that come to mind whenever the weather dictates the areas you can fish. With winds coming from the east, Round Island and Jaycee Park are just the ticket to get out and miss most of the choppy waters. If you are in a kayak or wading....there are also many areas along the river on A1A between Fort Pierce and Jensen Beach to put in. We have another front headed this way, so watch the forecast and plan you excursions with the wind direction in mind. I headed south this week to fish some of the banks that were protected from most of the windy conditions. From Bear Point south to the Power Plant, the water is still nice and I found the fish hitting in one to four feet of water. A lot of short snook out there, but there have been a number of slots taken this past week. Some nice catch and release trout were also hanging in the same depths along with slot size redfish. A good variety of fish are being caught on the bridges in the inlet. Croakers, sand perch, sheephead and black drum top the list for those anglers. Live or dead shrimp has worked best. Jetty anglers are still catching bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Snook fishing around the inlet and bridges has been steady with some slots being taken. Still some flounder being taken around the river on live shrimp. The pompano fishing should be picking up soon as they are continuing to work their way into the river. Areas that I would recommend checking out this week depending on the weather. Round Island flats, Bear Point, the Power Plant and any docks that might be fishable. I have been having luck on twitch baits and soft baits this week. Fish them slower this time of year. I found a lot of my strikes were coming after the fish had followed it for a while to the boat. Later in the mornings, try gold spoons on the flats for a chance at a redfish. Tip of the Week: REMEMBER! Snook season closed at midnight tonight and won't reopen until February 1st. Trout season will remain closed the rest of December. Ignorance won't be an excuse if you get caught! Know your seasons and slot sizes on the fish you catch. A fine for illegal fish will cost you much more than the fish is worth...... As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-19-2006 | |
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November 15, 2006 Inshore: For a few days it looked like summer again...but that is passing and looks like it's gonna be blowing a lot very soon! Winter is pretty predictable most weeks.....lots of wind and cool temperatures to keep you on your toes. The water has cooled off and you must change your fishing tactics to match the weather and temperatures. We had another front head into the area, bringing windy conditions again. In spite of that, the fishing has remained active. Bridge anglers are enjoying catches of sheep head, croakers, flounder and some snapper. Beaches have been providing a few pompano, whiting and bluefish. The inlets have been holding lots of Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks. Snook fishing has been doing well with the conditions. Mostly shorts, but some keepers are still being caught around the bridges, seawalls and jetties. Live bait or jigs have worked the best. We have found a number of shorts hanging around the docks this week. Jordan Martinez boated a nice short snook and lost another that would have been slot size from around the docks in Fort Pierce. Redfish were scattered on the flats. I didn't target them this week, but had several reports of catches north of Fort Pierce on the flats. Gold spoons, live bait and soft baits are the best choices right now. As this front moves by and the sun warms up the flats, look for them to be out there. This is the time of year to find small groups tailing some mornings on the flats. Lets hope the wind cooperates! Flounder fishing picked up earlier in the week. Live shrimp works best, with soft baits a second choice. Around docks, sandy flats and around the inlet is the top places to seek them out. Tyler Serio caught a couple on Sunday along with a nice sheep head to top off his day. Ladyfish and jacks are just about anywhere you go...so just have some fun catching them! Let's keep hoping for a mild winter and keep the water temps above normal. We were fortunate last year and so far this one hasn't been so bad at all. Lots of places to fish and lots of ways to fish for them! Get out and have some fun this week. Best of luck to all the SKA anglers out fishing this weekend! Tip of the Week: Take a few minutes once in a while and check all your rods for damage. Broken or chipped guides will insure the loss of that big catch.... It's amazing how sharp a chipped or cracked guide is. It can cut Power Pro like butter if not repaired. Take a piece of nylon panty hose and run it through your guides. If you have problems...you will sure find out quick. There are many things between your hands and that fish on the other end. Making sure everything works properly help make that photo opportunity a reality! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 11-14-2006 | |
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Transition time again with fish on the move, the days of calm, sunny and hot are coming to an end with water temperatures on the flats in the mid 70Ãs on cloudy days in November. Winds are now picking up so now some of the flats fishing has turned into creek and sheltered water fishing which has been good and only will get better. If you find a shallow enough draft boat, some of the sheltered bays with shallow water are holding nice snook and a few reds. I fish these areas when the winds have been kicking up as the backcountry water has not been affected and is still clear enough to see the fish lying in the mud. In the upcoming months there should be an increasing amount of big boys back there. Soft plastics by Spike-it, are my choice, with light weight reeled slowly, with Quantum Cabo 30Ãs, in front of the fish will get his attention. Snook fishing around mangrove shore lines is always a blast and it should be good west of Flamingo on a rising tide if the temperature stays warm for a few days. Use top water like high rollers or skitter walk imitations of mullet in the morning as they will work well. Flats fishing in the last couple of weeks have been average to incredible on a day to day basis because the fish are moving around a lot. The redfish have been big for Florida Bay standards with three catches of reds over 15 lbs on the flats. Pam Baker of Ft. Lauderdale caught two last week over 15 lbs on Spike-it soft plastics, very large fish ÖÖ I thought with the wakes they were pushing that they were 4ft sharks from a distance! Glenn Hyde of the Redlands caught his first, 3 nice reds on a crappy rainy day, if it had not been for the squall line bearing down on us we would have had a stellar morning with nice low incoming water and fish pushing up on the flats all over the place including a couple of trout at 23 inches. Unfortunately, as we approached the pot holes on the flats we spooked out some giant snook and watched them bolt around us. Tarpon fishing has been real nice but the fish have been small from 5 to 15 lbs. Tom Oakes and Wayne Kotbra of Stuart Fla. jumped 26 little guys and boated 6 on light tackle, with Wayne getting a nice Glades grand slam of tarpon, snook and a real nice redfish. D.O.A. shrimp and live pilchards were the baits of choice for these fish. A grand catch by Tom Oakes with his secret ìlivey in the trees methodî is worth mentioning in this report. His pilchard hung below the trees just barely touching the water, just like a goggle eye hanging from a kite to catch a sailfish, and this 10 lb tarpon inhales it. Tom fights the tarpon out of the trees and boats the fish, great story and job of cracking me up!! Close but out of the trees is generally the rule, but after seeing this catch, Tom just might be on to something! Biscayne Bay bone fishing has been coming back great after the algae bloom. Low water on the outside on relatively calm days is showing good schools. Some of the fish have been on the smaller size averaging 7lbs but the normal guys a little bigger are still there. Also the western shoreline has been producing some nice fish and will remain good. Flats fishing in the cooler months will be just as good as last year or better as fish will want to warm themselves on rising water in the late mornings and early afternoons. Tight lines Captain Jim Hale |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-10-2006 | |
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November 9, 2006 Inshore: .....The answer is blowin' in the wind.....Good line for a song huh?? That's the way most of this past week has run here on the Treasure Coast. Lots of wind to keep most of the anglers off the water and the fishing slowed down. Looks like it has passed on through and we can look forward to great weather for the coming weekend. I got a feeling that there will be lots of boaters out come Saturday morning! The trout bite was good right before this last front moved through and it should pick right back up as the water clears up. I was out today and it wasn't as dirty as expected. Lots of fish are still hanging around on the flats at Round Island and down by the Power Plant. Top water, live shrimp and soft baits should muster up a hit. Just remember that trout season is closed and you can take a photo and release them for now. Snook fishing around the bridges and inlet has been good on the turning tides when the current is slower. It is usually a short bite, but has been good if you are there for it. The north bridge in Fort Pierce has been the best for now. Don't forget to hit around the lighted docks at night or early mornings. Live bait and jigs have been working the best. Up on the flats there have been quite a few shorts hanging around the mangroves and on the flats early. The redfish were out today, but scattered on the flats. Most will land in the slot size range. This time of year fish soft plastics or gold spoons slow on the flats. Some days will need a little persistence to find them. Round Island and Queen's Cove will be a good place to start. You can also try live or cut bait. Fish the deeper cuts on low tides and they will come up on the shallows during the high tides. Spanish Mackerel and bluefish have been around the inlets and along some of the beaches. Sand perch and snapper have also been taken around structure. Jacks and ladyfish are just about everywhere right now. As the water clears back up, the fishing should start to improve all around the area. Looking forward to a great weekend of fishing....hope to see you out there! Tip of the Week: Trout just never got around to reading when they were in schools and don't realize that the season is closed for them now. Lots will still be caught during the next two months and must be released. Please handle the fish you release as little as possible and get them back into the water quickly. It's important to the future of fishing for us to protect our wonderful resources we have here on the Treasure Coast. We all want the grandkids and great-grandkids to experience the same fun and excitement that we have been fortunate to enjoy! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-07-2006 | |
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November 2, 2006 Inshore: It's hard to believe that November is already upon us and soon the sweet aromas of turkey and pumpkin pie will be here! Where has this year gone already? Fall will bring cooler weather and many more fronts that will move across the Treasure Coast. Windy weather will become the norm throughout the winter on many days. This time of year, you make adjustments to your fishing plans to match the weather conditions. We are fortunate to have so many areas to fish, no matter what the conditions are each day. Remember that trout season is closed November and December, so you must release your catch for now. Trout fishing has steadily improved of late with larger fish being taken on the flats. Live bait, soft baits and twitch baits will all get them to bite this time of year. Round Island and Harbor Branch has been the best areas for us lately. Redfish are scattered most of the time now, but we have been getting some up on the flats later in the mornings. Live or cut baits, along with soft plastics, gold spoons and twitch baits have all worked with them recently. Round Island and Queen's Cove are good areas up to the north, while east of the Power Plant has held some to the south. Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlets and bridges for now. The bite hasn't been hot like we are used to, but it could turn on any day now. Some shorts and a few keepers reported, but it has been slower than normal. The flats will produce some shorts at first light and a few slot size will be cruising around up there also. Top water when the weather permits will be the best choice. The bridges have been yielding sand perch to some anglers. Sheephead and some snapper also being taken on the catwalks. Jetty anglers are enjoying bluefish and Spanish mackerel catches. The surf is producing snook, bluefish, jacks and a few mackerel along the beach. Ladyfish are everywhere on the flats this week. Pete Knoll was out with me and we boated a number of them on his flyrod. Offshore has been giving up some dolphin and kingfish to those who braved the weather this week. Tip of the Week: Looking for a better way to work that top water lure or trying your luck on a new twitch bait? Many anglers have switched to loop knots on the majority of their lures to help make their action more natural. If you haven't tried a loop knot, you don't know what you might be missing. It allows the lure to move as it wants to, instead of the line dictating what action it will take. Soft baits will bounce along the bottom much better and more naturally than before. There are a number of loop knots out there. The knot on the DOA lures website is the best I have found. Try it sometime! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-28-2006 | |
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October 26, 2006 Inshore: Other than a few windy days, this week has provided some great fishing weather for anglers. I was out this morning and the water was flat on the river. Lots of bait everywhere and lots of predators out chasing it for breakfast. The water is trying to clear up and should be nice in a few days. Hope you had a chance to get out fishing this week! Fishing was good for the most part if you could brave some of the windy weather during the week. Last weekend was great weather to be out on the water. Richy Freitas (with a little help from dad) boated a nice 22" trout and 26" redfish this week. Joe Senneville got himself a 26" redfish also this week along with an 18" trout. Look for the reds to be hanging around on the flats or cruising among the mullet or jack packs around the river. We have had our luck on soft baits (shrimp tails) or twitch baits. The trout bite has improved around the river. Most of the flats have been giving up trout, but the usual haunts like Round Island and Queen's Cove will be a great place to start. It's that time of year to break out the popping corks for trout. I got an email from Herb Solinsky about his trip down here last week fishing. They fished mostly south of Fort Pierce to Stuart and caught snook to 29" along with a variety of fish from flounder and trout to snapper, grouper and most every fish that roams the river. Sounds like they had a great week fishing! Snook has been somewhat slower this week. Lots of shorts being caught with a few slot size reported. We boated shorts this week and missed two slot size fish on the flats. They are hard on light tackle some days.... Your best chance will be at night along the bridges, inlets and lighted docks around the river. Live bait, jigs or bomber lures will be the choice baits out there. Catch the tides as they are slowing, especially the start of the outgoing tide. The surf will give up bluefish, snook or tarpon if you find the bait pods along the beach. Live or artificials can give you a hookup and there are some big fish following the bait. Bridges have been producing some sand perch and snapper for anglers on the catwalks. The jack packs are all over the river for some added fun to your day. It's a great time of year for fishing!! Tip of the Week: When is the last time you checked the safety equipment on your boat? All boats have required items to carry on board for safety. Sound devices, flares, life preservers, etc are a must to have on board. Check with your local Coast Guard for the required items on your boat. It's a good idea to check these items a couple times a year. Flares have expiration dates and probably are the most often overlooked item because of that. If they are out of date you can be cited for not having the proper equipment. It only takes a couple of minutes to check your safety equipment. Should it ever be needed, you will be ready for an emergency. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-20-2006 | |
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October 19, 2006 Inshore: The weather has cooperated most of the week, providing anglers with ample opportunities to get out fishing both the river and the ocean. Looks like warm weather will be here for now and looks like the weekend should be good for fishing! Reports around the river has been mixed this week, but there are plenty of fish being caught. Trout was the best bite of the week on the river. Reports of trout from the power plant flats north to Queen's Cove, Round Island and Harbor Branch areas. Live shrimp works the best, but top water early and soft baits during the day can get you a bite. I have been using shad or shrimp tails mostly in root beer or the darker colors. Most we caught were in the slot range and we did manage to miss a couple of larger ones. A few redfish are being caught in the same areas on live bait or soft plastics. Try top water early for some opportunities also. Largest one was 24" on the boat this week. It will be harder to find them schooled up this time of year. Lots of roamers out there now, so be patient to get a hookup. We had our best hits on a natural color shrimp tail. Live or cut bait is always a good way to entice a redfish into biting. Check around the edges of the flats or along the mangroves. Snook has been mixed. Some still being caught around the inlet areas, but it has been spotty at best this week. Look for the next full moon to provide some good action out there. Look around the flats early with top water and soft baits along the mangroves later. Look for the deeper mangrove cuts for them. There are some pompano in the river now. We boated a nice one this week, which found its way to the grill for dinner. Live shrimp or soft baits can give you a chance at one. Look for flounder around the sandy flats or around the inlet areas. There are still some being caught on live shrimp or soft baits. The surf continues to hold jacks, bluefish, tarpon and snook. Watch for the bait pods for the best opportunities. I drove up to Sebastian last week and it was loaded up on mullet all along the beach. Tip of the Week: Using leaders is pretty basically a must in saltwater. Lots of teeth out there to bite into things and you can lose a fish if not prepared. We all have our favorite brands, sizes and colors. Remember to check the condition of your leader often throughout the day. Fraying or nicks can be caused by fish, foul ups or just brushing up against something underwater. That small nick or fray could cost you that big fish when it hits. I re-tie leaders very often during the day to insure the best chance at landing a fish. Don't let the one that got away be due to something you could prevent. Hope you get that big one this week! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Bruce Burnette | Date Posted: | 10-19-2006 | |
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This week has seen slow to moderate action as we wait on cooler temps. to spark the fishing.A few dolphin are roaming around but they are sporadic.Kingfish and macks are in around Goverment Cut being caught on live pilchards and spoons.The best fishing now is at night for the Gladiator of the sea,the swordfish.I have heard reports here of fish over 300lbs. caught of the Triple Lumps.Most of the fish are being caught using squid.FWC is checking boats so make sure you are in compliance with all our laws.Remember,always use good judgement and obey the laws and release everything that is undersize,this is the reason why we can't give a report on our local bottomfish as there aren't much left.If you need a seasoned professional mate for the 2007 Sailfish season give me a ring.I can be reached at Deck Tech Sportfishing.My office number is 305-469-6171.Good luck and tight lines. |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-13-2006 | |
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October 11, 2006 Inshore: Ahhhh....fall weather has arrived. Mild mornings make it a fantastic way to spend a day on the water. The weather has cooperated very nicely this week and helped make the day very enjoyable on the water. We should continue with this great weather this next week! Expect the winds to arrive at any time during the day, but for now they have been just enough to take the edge off the heat of the day. This week the trout bite has really improved. Look for clean water and bait to find some trout lurking around for an easy meal. Harbor Branch, Round Island and down by the Power Plant has been holding some slot size trout most of the week. Live shimp, pinfish or soft baits have work the best for us this week. The catch of the week surely went to Eileen Anderson from Mass. with her 8 pound, 28 inch gator trout. Congratulations to her for a great catch! Snook fishing has been cooperative most of the week. Night fishing along the bridges, inlets and docks can give you a chance at a keeper linesider. Live baits are the first choice along with jigs and diving lures. Up on the flats, we caught mostly shorts, but there are some slot size hanging around the mangroves attacking the bait as it cruises by. The tides have been higher than normal, so you can fish a lot of areas that are usually too shallow. We were off a bit on the redfish bite. Found several tailing and a number of singles on the flats, but they just didn't cooperate well this week. But next week......I will be after them again! Look for them to be hanging around the bait pods and running with the jacks and bluefish around the river. Look for a lot of fish patrolling the beaches now. Snook, tarpon, bluefish and a host of others are chasing bait now. It's a great time of year for surffishing! Flounder have been all around the river. Lots of reports of them in different areas. Look for some flat sandy bottoms and fish them with live shrimp or soft baits. We have caught several on the flats this week. Tip of the Week: You can see that the days are getting shorter and soon the time will change. Us early morning anglers must make sure our boat lights are in working order. If you go out prior to daylight, check your light and make sure they work properly. It's not only the law, but it is a must for safety on the water. I hit the water a lot of days by 5:30 am and I sure don't want to happen on a boat without lights. Keep the waters safe for us all! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-26-2006 | |
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October Inshore Fishing Forecast: October is almost here on the Treasure Coast announcing the arrival of fall. The mullet run along the eastern Atlantic is in full swing now, bringing along many species that follow the schools of baitfish to feed. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, snook, tarpon and many others will be chasing bait from the beaches to the flats. It's a great time of year to fish the Indian River! As the fall weather arrives, it gradually changes the wind patterns. Expect more windy days out there and chances of rain anytime during the day. Let's sure hope that we won't be dealing with any hurricanes this year!! Enough is enough!!! Get out early for some great top water action in October. As the water temperatures gradually start cooling down, the trout and snook will be out early for brunch on the flats. They will head back off the flats as the sun warms up, so fish along the edges after the early bite. Redfish will continue to patrol the flats most of the day. Gold spoons, jerk baits and DOA shrimp will work great this time of year. Live bait is hard to pass up, so try shrimp or pinfish on popping corks. The inlets and bridges will be holding snook, black drum and sheephead for those anglers. Live bait is always the best choice. Night time will offer snook on jigs, Bomber type lures and live bait. The docks and jetties are also great places for finding snook hangouts. You will find some anglers trolling around the inlet areas, while other will anchor in their favorite spots and drop bait. Last year provided great snook fishing in the area and it looks like this year should be just as good. I will continue to fish the flats for reds throughout the fall. The past couple of years has been wonderful on the Fort Pierce flats for redfish. Schools of up to a hundred fish have been around the river and it has been lots of fun watching a good number of double hookups this year. We have been fortunate to see the redfish population on the rise in this area. Let's hope they continues to give us lots of fishing memories on the flats. Tip of the Week! Help keep our flat healthy! Please remember to not run up on them and leave prop scars that harm the grasses. If everyone works to keep them safe, the fishing will continue to improve each year. Let's not wait until they are dying to take action...... Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing! Capt. Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-02-2006 | |
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August 31, 2006 INSHORE: September Inshore Forecast As the hint of fall approaches us here on the Treasure Coast, anglers are looking forward to a great September for fishing. With remembrances of the past several years of storms, we faced yet another one this week. Luckily, it only brought some winds and much needed rain to the area. I hope everyone weathered it safely. The excitement along the east coast of Florida has reached is peak as the fall opening of Snook season opens on September 1st. Anglers have been rewarded all summer with great snook fishing around the Treasure Coast and have been chomping at the bit to bring home the bacon. Make sure you have checked your license and snook stamp before you head down to the river and make sure you are aware of the new measurement system for total length in effect since July. The inlets have been holding good numbers of snook all summer. Live bait, red-tail hawks, Bombers or Rebels will be great choices around the inlets. Look for the slower sides of the tides for the best action to happen. Up on the flats and mangroves, try top water at first light for a chance at a linesider hookup. August proved to be a fantastic month along the Treasure Coast for redfish. Schools of reds were cruising around the river all month. September should continue to produce lots of slot sized reds for anglers in search of the spot tails. Round Island, Queen's Cove and the Power Plant flats have all held good amounts of reds so far this year. Top water, gold spoons, twitch baits or soft baits have all worked well throughout the summer. Keeping quiet on the flats is critical to getting close enough have a chance at a hookup. Fish will run for cover at the least disturbance. Trout fishing will continue to improve as the water starts it's slow cooling off as fall approaches the Indian River. Fish top water or live baits in two to five feet of water on the grass flats. Look for the flats that also have sand pockets scattered on the grass for the best chances. Harbor Branch, Queen's Cove and Bear Point have all the necessary ingredients for a successful day seeking some trout action. Get out early for your best opportunity. As the fall mullet run nears the Treasure Coast, look for the big fish to patrol the beaches, inlets and flats for easy meals. Tarpon, jacks, snook and sharks will all be chasing bait along with many other predators following it along the coast. Live bait, spoons, top water and most any diving lure should provoke a hit. Look for some exciting action this time of year! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-19-2006 | |
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August 17, 2006 INSHORE: Another week of summer on the Treasure Coast. Heat and humidity to keep you company on the water. It was a mixed week with a few days of slow fishing along with good days in between. Looks like next week will bring the same. Hope you had a chance to get out fishing. Weekend fishing was good with redfish being number one on our catch list. Gary Graves was down from Melbourne and boated a nice slot size red, just before a storm front blew us off the water. Sunday the redfish school moved in again for another three boated. Lower tides have been best for the redfish fishing of late. Look for them to move across the flats on the edges. Gold spoons, DOA Shrimp and twitch baits have worked best for us. Top water at first light can also bribe one of them into a strike. Round Island and Queen's Cove are good bets to fish..... Snook in the early mornings have been on the flats if you can get there with a top water lure. One to three feet of water on the flats or along the mangroves should hold some linesiders. DOA Shrimp and twitch baits also have produced some snook for us this week. Snook season is not far off and many are scouting the bridges and inlets ahead of time for their best opportunities on opening night. Trout were slow for us this week. Early top water lures are your best chance for them. Harbor Branch and Round Island have clean water and the right bottom for trout to be patrolling this time of year. Live baits after first light will be your best choice of baits. The bridges have been producing some sheephead and sand perch. Some snapper have also been hanging around there along with the channel edges. Live or dead shrimp should get you some action. Some bluefish are still on the river and we have caught several lately hanging around the redfish. I have spotted a few tarpon on the flats, but no takers of late. Little Mud is still holding tarpon in the deeper waters. Tip of the Week: Most boat ramps and most tackle shops have drop offs for used fishing line. It's amazing how much fishing line is discarded on the water. I see the mangroves looking like spider webs of fishing line entangled all through them. Please dispose of your old fishing line in the proper recycling bins. The fish and all the other anglers thank you!! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-14-2006 | |
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August 11, 2006 Inshore: Great weather conditions have prevailed throughout the Treasure Coast, providing good fishing weather for anglers. Looks like it should continue for now, so plan a trip on the water soon. Tides have ran low of late, so a lot of the fishable flats were too shallow for most boats. Bobby Altieri holding one of his five redfish caught on the flats.... Schools of redfish are still out there on the flats. I spoke to Doug of Florida Fish and Hunt and they had found another school north of the Fort Pierce bridges. Harbor Branch, QueenÃs Cove and Round Island should all be holding redfish. They are not always easy to find, so study the water carefully and look for anything out of the ordinary. Bob Altieri and his son, Bobby boated six nice slots of 26-30" this past week with me. We had a school hanging around for several hours. Gold spoons, DOA shrimp and top water have all worked for us. I love the redfishing here! Bob and Bobby with another redfish.... Snook have been all around the inlets, jetties and bridges. Everyone is excited and getting prepared for snook season opening on Sept. 1st. Remember.....27-34 inches with the tail pinched..... Live bait has prevailed for snook fishing, but Rapalas, jigs, Storms and DOA TerrorEyz have all been catching their share. Work the slower sides of the tides. Fish the flats early with top water and the mangroves later in the day. Check your licenses and snook stamps, too. A double hookup early in the morning.... Trout fishing picked up on the flats this week. Some nice size trout are being caught around Round Island, Harbor Branch and QueenÃs Cove. Live shrimp or pinfish along with top water and jerk baits are the best choices for baits. Work them in 2-5 feet of water. Snapper fishing along the channels and structure has steadily improved. Reports of catches of one to two pound fish have been reported this week. Live shrimp is the first choice. Some croakers, sand perch and sheephead are being caught off the bridges. Tip of the Week: Safety equipment is an important part of boating. ItÃs a good idea to check it several times a year to make sure it is in good condition. Many safety items have expiration dates and must be current to be legal as safety equipment. Flares and fire extinguishers should be to make sure they are in-date and in good condition in case of emergency. It is your responsibility to insure that your boat is safe and is equipped with the proper equipment. LetÃs all keep boating safe! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-29-2006 | |
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July 28, 2006 INSHORE: DOG DAYS = HOT FISHING DAYS ON THE TREASURE COAST! August Forecast for the Treasure Coast August not only brings hot weather, thunderstorms and dog days, but great fishing opportunities along the Treasure Coast. Just remember to prepare for each trip with extra sun lotion, water and ice. It's not just the fishing that will be hot this month! Early mornings and late evenings will bring outstanding opportunities for top water fishing along the flats of the Indian River and St Lucie River. Zara Spooks, Chug Bugs and Skitterwalks will all drive the fish crazy in the calm waters as the sun peeks over the horizon. Snook, trout and redfish will all be roaming the flats in search of a morning snack. <a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0852.jpg" target="_blank"> <img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_0852.jpg"></a> Redfish will continue to provide great action in August... The redfish have been cooperating well so far this summer in the Fort Pierce area. Look around Round Island, Queen's Cove and the Moorings flats when searching for redfish hangouts. We still have some smaller schools feeding around the river, but they aren't easy to spot most days. We ran into a nice sized school this week on the flat edges in three feet of water and boated three from that school. Gold spoons, CAL jerk baits and Gulp shrimp will all look tasty to a slot size redfish. Work them as slow as you can on the flats during the day. <a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0857.jpg" target="_blank"> <img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_0857.jpg"></a> Get out early for the best action on the flats... Snook are still hanging around the bridges and inlets in St Lucie County. Live bait, Rapalas or jigs are still producing all sizes of snook, especially at night or early mornings. Top water will work on the flats or around the docks. In the St Lucie River, look around the mangroves during the day for snook to be lurking around. Remember that snook season is closed until September 1st...so it is catch, photo and release for now. Trout fishing is generally an early morning bite this time of year. Top water can bring you some nice oversized trout. Once the sun has risen, switch to live bait on popping corks. Pinfish or pigfish are the best bait choices this time of year. Tarpon have been hanging around the Moorings in the channels and also down around Little Mud Creek. It is a short time frame to get a chance at a hookup, so get out there before daylight with top water or live bait. The St Lucie River has also a fair amount of tarpon in the river right now. Look around the bridges, deep channels and spillways. The river is loaded up with jacks and ladyfish. Take the kids out soon and watch their faces light up when they get hooked up with some fun fishing. Snapper fishing continues to improve around the bridges and structure around the river. Live or dead shrimp works great for them. The beaches still are holding whiting and bluefish along the breakers. Watch for tarpon and snook to be hanging around the bait along the beaches in August. Shrimp or sand fleas are best for the surf. Keep lubed up with suntan lotion, keep hydrated and enjoy the fishing along the Indian River..... Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Capt Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-21-2006 | |
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July 20, 2006 INSHORE: Hot!......Hot!......Hot! That's the story lately. Summertime weather makes morning or evening fishing so much more enticing! It has been a good week though. A few tough days fishing plus some good days to keep you smiling. Looks like this weather will continue, so plan on hot afternoons with chances of thunderstorms most days. Plan on getting out early to have your best chance on the river. Most of our success this week came early in the day. Snook are still hanging around the inlet and bridges. Fish top water early for a good chance at a morning snook on the flats. This week, Steve Reiter battled a sweet 31" snook on the flats in less than two feet of water. Also try around the mangroves as the day heats up. Nighttime should be active in the inlet, bridges and spillways around the river. We have been having luck with soft baits and jigs out there for snook. Redfish were on the flats most of the week. You had to search for them, but they were hanging out during the mornings. Steve boated two out of four hookups on redfish, while Tom Lukat boated a nice slot sized in the early part of the day. Top water is getting its share of hits along with soft baits and spoons. From Round Island south towards the power plant will be holding some redfish this time of year. The trout bite was off this week for us. Too many jacks, cats and ladyfish are out there smashing everything on the water. Your best choices will be top water or live baits during the day. Look in three to five feet of water on the grass flats along the river. I had some reports of snapper, margates and sheephead around the inlet and bridges from some anglers using live shrimp. We had a couple of five foot bull sharks swim by the boat on the flats this week. Look for the tarpon to be around the Moorings channels and the cuts around the power plant. Not much reports of hookups this week. Tip of the Week: Make sure you check your tires and hubs each time you hook up to go fishing. It's important to have good tires at the proper pressures for your safety. Grease your hubs often to keep saltwater from seeping into the bearings. A little maintenance can help reduce the chances of a costly repair down the road. Take a minute and check that trailer! As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-14-2006 | |
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July 13, 2006 INSHORE: Great weather earlier in the week provided some great fishing on the Indian River. Calm winds and water made early mornings a great time for top water lures. Another front has moved across the area today and it will take a couple days to get back to normal again. Look for some nice weather this weekend, so hope you have a trip planned out there on the Treasure Coast. Snook has been the topic of the week so far. Early in the week, snook were hitting around the inlets and up on the flats. Top water, soft baits and DOA shrimp were getting some decent snook hitting in the shallows. Just at sunrise along the mangroves gave us some nice linesiders up to 28 inches. With all the rain, look for the spillways, bridges and seawalls to be active with snook. Any areas where the mangroves run on the deeper side will be the place to search them out. Redfish were a little more on the jittery side this week. We did boat several, but not like the weeks past. I had the pleasure of fishing with George Perez this week and we boated one out of three hookups for a nice 22" redfish for dinner. Spoons, soft baits and top water will give you the best chance at hooking up with a redfish. Round Island and Queen's Cove have been holding some lately. Trout were active earlier this week on top water and live baits. Once this front has passed through look for them in 2-5 feet of water in early mornings. I have seen some nice sized ones on the flats while looking for reds so they are out there! Again, try Bear Point and the power plant area to the south and Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch to the north of Fort Pierce. There are still generous helpings of ladyfish and jacks around the river to keep you busy. Some snapper along the channel, while the surf anglers are looking for bluefish and whiting. This weekend should provide us with some nice fishing weather. Tip of the Week: Got rain gear??? With all the afternoon showers this time of year, it's a good time to check out your equipment in the boat. Rain gear or ponchos are good things to keep handy in the event of a quick shower sneaking up on you. Have a place to keep your phone, camera and wallet dry and out of the weather. As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Capt. Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-07-2006 | |
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July 6, 2006 INSHORE: Stormy weather!......If only I could sing..... Lots of rain and storms working their way along the Treasure Coast this week. Afternoons bring heat, wet and lightning most days. It's that time of year to get out early or late to get in the best fishing times. I had the opportunity to get together with a couple of good friends on mine over the weekend. I met with Gary Graves and Capt Pat Wells up in Cocoa Beach to do some fishing on the Banana River on Sunday. It started out like a nice day on the water, but after two hours under a pavilion to avoid the thunderstorms. It wasn't quite as pretty. We managed to dodge the weather just long enough to find one school of oversize reds tailing, when another storm moved in over us and we had to evacuate back to the ramp. It was nice to get together, but the storms could have held off just a little longer. Rick Flynn and Shane Murphy joined me on the boat later this week, when it didn't downpour... Shane caught a nice 24" snook along with some ladyfish, while Rick jumped a juvenile tarpon of 15# on the flats. He also caught a nice size bluefish, trout and ladyfish. It was nice to fish in cooperating weather that day. We are still seeing some redfish tailing on the flats in early morning. Time to be quiet and stealthy for them. Gold spoons, top water or cut bait is our best choice for them. Look around the power plant flats down south or Round Island up north of Fort Pierce. You can find them most any time of day lurking along the river. Snook are still biting well in the inlet area around the bridges and docks. Live bait or jigs work the best. Night fishing will give you the most hits around here. On the flats, work your top water in early mornings for them. Trout are coming on the shallow flats early and will take a swipe at top water or live bait. Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove areas are still producing trout action. Ladyfish and jacks are still cavorting around the flats. Look along the edges of the shallows for them to be hanging around for an unwary baitfish. Tarpon are scattered around the river now. Look in the deeper cuts first, but in early mornings they can be on the flats. Rick hooked up with his in less than two feet of water on a top water lure. Tip of the Week: When fishing the shallow waters of the Indian River, stealth is very important during the summer months. Many early mornings result in little or no wind, clear water and fish that will run at the first sign of danger. It is important to be quiet on the boat and make no sudden noises or movements. It will result in more catches and an enjoyable day on the water. Shhhh-h-h-h-h....keep it down! As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 06-23-2006 | |
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June 15, 2006 INSHORE: The weather on the Treasure Coast has been fantastic this week. Great summertime conditions for top water fishing in the early mornings and plenty of calm water to fish most of the day. By monday morning, the tides were favorable for early morning fishing and the fish were coming up on the flats earlier in the day to feed. Afternoon storms will continue to build, so be prepared to get off the water if one is approaching. This should prove to be a great fishing weekend! By Monday, the redfish were hitting the flats most of the morning. We had five boated by 10 am that ranged from 24" to 28". Soft baits, gold spoons and twitch baits all were getting slapped around by the reds. Check around the mangroves later in the afternoon. Round Island, Queen's Cove and the Moorings have been holding redfish on the flats. There are still some smaller schools of them patrolling around some of the grass flats. I talked with Doug of Florida Fish and Hunt and he had also ran into a school of reds this week. Snook and trout fishing have been slower this week. Most of the trout are coming from top water early and live bait once the sun comes up. Harbor Branch and Bear Point both have clean water for trout to hang out in. Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlet and bridges. The majority of the action has been down in Stuart around the bridges and inlet there. Our bridges has been producing some snapper, sand perch and sheephead on shrimp. Whiting are still along the beaches in the surf. Tip of the Week: With the water temperatures continuing to rise, you must take extra effort to safely release your catch alive. Redfish, especially, are totally worn out by the time you get them to the boat. Remember to get them back into the water quickly and make sure they have revived and swim off on their own. It sometimes takes 10-15 minutes during the heat of summer to revive an exhausted fish. Help protect the future of fishing on the Treasure Coast! As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 06-20-2006 | |
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July Forecast INSHORE: A lot of rain this week has renewed the plants and grass here on the Treasure Coast and caused some delays in fishing part of the week. Summer afternoon patterns of scattered thunderstorms loom each day so be prepared for them when you are out on the water. I had a chance this week to catch up on some things around the house and spend some quality time with my lovely wife, Eva, who hasn't been feeling well lately. It was a week that I needed to be with her instead of fishing. July brings hot weather, afternoon rains and Fourth of July parties. Oh....and lots of great fishing out there,too! Mornings on the river will bring action at first light on top water lures for snook or trout on the flats. They will seek deeper water as the sun rises. I will be fishing along the mangroves for snook with jigs, twitch baits and spoons where the water will be 2-3 feet deep. Trout will move to deeper flats in 2-6 feet of water and will most likely hit pinfish, pigfish or live shrimp. Redfish will continue to hold up on the flats, but more scattered. As the water heats up, move to deeper cuts on the flats for them. Gold spoons, soft baits or cut bait will work best for them. Search along the docks during the day for snook or redfish hanging around there. Bridges will be producing snapper, drum and sheephead during July. Live or dead shrimp will be hard for them to resist. Watch the tides and fish the slower sides of them for best results. Whiting will continue to be in the surf with the occasional bluefish. Sharks will be patrolling along the beach also. Areas to fish in the river for July: Bear Point, Queen's Cove and Round Island. South of Harbor Branch will be a great area to work for trout in the mornings before the sun heats up things. The flats in front of the power plant taper off to 3-5 feet and will be holding trout during the day. The west shore down there will be good areas to search out redfish. Channel edges will be yielding snapper on structure. Tripletail will be around channel markers and pilings. Tip of the Week: With the heat of summer upon us, make sure you have a plan for an emergency. Heat stroke is always a possibility when out on the water. Signs: Heat exhaustion: Cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal. Heat stroke: Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high-- as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry. Treatment: Heat exhaustion: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition. Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink. Check out the Red Cross web site for more information: http://www.redcross.org As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 06-09-2006 | |
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June 8, 2006 INSHORE: It has been a fantastic week of calm water and warm temperatures. I had some great people fishing with me this week and we thoroughly enjoyed the mornings out there on the Indian River as the sun was rising off in the east. It's hot out there now, so go prepared and enjoy the weather. Shawn holding her 26" redfish caught on the flats.... Redfish have been scattered on the flats this week. We did manage to hit on a few schools though. Look for water on the flats that runs 2-3 feet for reds. They will hang out there during the day where they can scoot up on the shallows to feed and have a place of refuge to dive back into. Mark was down from Mass. this week and caught a 27" redfish out on the flats. Bob boated a 24" red on a mirrolure. Shawn caught a nice 26" redfish for dinner. Gold spoons, jigs and twitch baits are working on the flats right now. Mark with a 27" redfish caught along the flats in Fort Pierce.... There are still some snook patrolling the flats in early mornings. Top water, spoons and twitch baits are working early. Bob battled a nice 28" snook from under the mangroves on a gold spoon. The bridges are still producing snook bites as the tide is slowing down. Mark caught a 24" and got broken off by a larger one. Remember, snook season is closed, so a picture and release them carefully. Bob with a 24" redfish caught on a mirrolure... Trout will hit some top water in early mornings and live pinfish or pigfish during the day. The bite has slowed some this week. Lots of jacks and ladyfish are out there looking for an easy meal though. I talked to Chris from Okeechobee and he told me they had caught one and a half redfish this week.....a shark had devoured half of one as they were reeling it in on the flats. Bob boated this nice 28" snook from under the mangroves... The bridges are producing snapper, snook, sheephead and grouper. Some flounder are still being caught around the back side of the jetties and the bridges. Whiting are in the surf and hitting live or dead shrimp. Tip of the Week: It's a good time to take a few minutes and check the lighting on your trailers. The constant in and out at the ramp in saltwater will gradually invade your wiring and end up with a light not working. It's a safety hazard on the road and you can be stopped for faulty lighting. Be safe and check it as part of hooking up your trailer and repair them when you do have a problem. Safety ,both on and off the water, is important to all of us! As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Capt. Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 06-02-2006 | |
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June 1, 2006 INSHORE: Looking out across the sky at the setting sun this evening is a reminder of how I love living here in Florida and along the Treasure Coast. You can watch the sun rise early in the mornings over the water, knowing there will be an equally spectacular sunset to enjoy the coming evening. The weather has been great for fishing all along the Indian River. Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend! Jim holding his 28" redfish caught on the flats.... Snook season is now closed on the east coast of Florida. You can still have the excitement of battling that linesider, but must remember to practice catch and release until September 1st rolls around. Snook are still heading up on the flats in early mornings and can be enticed into hitting a top water lure. Look around the inlet, docks and mangroves during the day or at night for some snook action. Andy caught this nice 28" redfish on the fly.... We have continued having some good days targeting the redfish action. We had a couple of days that they were tight jawed, but most days this week has produced some great redfish fights. Andy landed and released a nice 28" redfish on his flyrod. Mike had a 24" redfish hit a soft bait and Jim boated a 28" redfish this week. Look for them on the shallow flats in one to two feet of water following the tides. Mike won this battle with a 24" redfish.... The trout bite was off and on again this week. Top water early and live shrimp on popping corks are your best choices of baits. Look for them to hang out in two to four feet of water along the flats. Try along Queen's Cove, Round Island and the Moorings for some trout actions this week. Another redfish along side the boat.... Jacks and ladyfish are still around the river looking for trouble. We have seen a few 5' bull sharks working the flats each day. There are still some bluefish hanging around. We were sight casting to some reds and hooked up on a bluefish instead. The bridges will continue to yield sheephead, drum and flounder on live or dead shrimp. Live shrimp has been hard to come by lately though. The beaches have been holding whiting and bluefish for the surf anglers. Tip of the Week: I was waiting at the ramp over the Memorial Day weekend on my clients and watching the boating habits of people on the Indian River. Most boaters practice safe boating habits, while there are always a few who don't bother or care about the rules of the road. A little common sense and courtesy can go a long way, especially during a busy holiday weekend. To increase your knowledge of boating and navigation, check out the Coast Guard Auxiliary in your area for class schedules. As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Capt. Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-25-2006 | |
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May 24, 2006 INSHORE: Summer weather has made it's way onto the Treasure Coast. We have enjoyed mild winds and great water conditions this week. The water most mornings has been flat and working top water at first light is a great opportunity to hook into something fishy. Afternoon showers seem to have finally arrived to ease the drought. Pete and Sue Knoll doubled up on these nice redfish of 26" and 29".... I had the pleasure of taking Pete and Sue Knoll out on the flats earlier this week. The redfish were cooperating for us that morning and they boated five nice reds that ranged from 26" - 29". We had our success using MirrOlures that morning. The redfish have been active lately and will hit spoons, soft baits and top water also. The eastern flats in the river has been our best producing areas. Sue with another 26" redfish from the flats.... Trout have been mostly early morning hits on top water lures. They seem to hit one day and not the next this week for us. Try jerk baits or live shrimp once the sun rises up. Live pinfish should also provoke a trout into a bite. Another redfish attacked a MirrOlure..... Snook will continue to come up on the flats to feed and you will have an opportunity to get one on a top water lure, such as, Chug Bugs, Zara Spooks or Skitterwalks. Vary how you work the lures to find what will tempt them into striking. The inlet is still producing some nice catches, but has slowed down somewhat now. Pete with another redfish caught along the Indian River... There are a number of fish around the river and bridges to catch. Sheephead and sand perch around the bridges. Whiting and bluefish in the surf and some flounder around the jetties should keep you occupied for a while longer. Tip of the Week: With summer almost upon us and the winds laying down more and more, it's that time of year to always remember keep water and ice in the boat. Keeping hydrated while out on the water is very important to having a great day out there. Drink plenty of fluids during the day as the temperatures rise and the sun shines down on you. It will keep you refreshed and ready to reel in that big catch..... As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner Captain Charlie's Fish Tales Charters www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 05-24-2006 | |
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If you like to target snook on the flats the time has come! Big numbers of snook can be and have been seen on certain tides in Everglades National Park feeding on mullet. This has been a great time to catch these fish on top water lures such as the Rapala Skitter Walk, be taken on fly and the Spike-it Holographic lures. This week Eric Naugle caught his second snook on fly a nice 8 lb on the flats and lost one on fly that went 15lbs on 8 weight gear using hand tied flies. Shane Day of Galveston, Texas got his first a 12lber on a beautiful top water hit that took the fish 3 strikes to actually get a hook set, and lost a screamer that went 15 lbs and had shots at countless more. If you want to do this kind of fishing be prepared to fish early. In the mix are a lot of nice sized redfish, which youÃll in singles and some schools tearing up the flats. When using the Spike-it Holographic lures I prefer using the gold or the clear blue. Putting a little weight in front and dragging it through the grass and mud is being very effective for snook, reds and big trout. I have been finding the reds all day long in skinny murky water. Tarpon fishing has been good around the bridges in the middle keys using live crabs free lined back to schools of fish between from 60 to 120lbs and are best caught in the early mornings and late afternoons. Biscayne Bay tarpon are pushing strong and are a great way to catch them is on fly using 12 weight gear for fish that average 100 lbs. The flies I prefer are brown flies in the morning with low sun angle and yellow with a little higher water and better sun. Low water is important and finding where the schools are moving, getting in the right position, a perfect cast and to watch a bucket mouth roll and gulp a fly is an incredible experience and landing him is up to you! Remember bow to the KING! There is also the Biscayne bonefish that are in large schools now. Calm mornings are making it easy to spot these guys pushing wakes and tailing. Since shrimp are small in the summer I prefer to throw small crabs on # 1 hooks with 4ft of 12lb fluorocarbon leader, Steve Schindler from Salt Lake City came in using some kind of crazy Zebco looking thing to catch his first bone of 10lbs, good job Steve and great fishing! In a little deeper water are the tailing permit. Finding the slick water thatÃs coming in is a key. We have been fishing schools of 30 to 50 fish with their backs out of the water. Average size is 20lbs but there are larger fish up to 30, a live silver dollar crabs on a # 1 hook with 3ft of 25# fluorocarbon leader is the way to go! On one recent trip we boated 1 permit out of 4 schools and a double out of the last school. The weather is now prefect and the fish are biting. ItÃs right now prime time flats and backcountry fishing. The fishing is so good any type of bait from fly, to live, to jerk to top water, they are hungry! Capt. Jim Hale www.canepolincharters.com 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-19-2006 | |
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May 18, 2006 INSHORE: Finally, some rain to give the landscape a drink of fresh water! I almost forgot what it was like to see the ground wet and the grass growing again. Now I have to add mowing grass into the weekly plans. There was a few days that made it difficult to get on the water, but overall it has been a nice week for fishing. Chris with a 26" redfish caught along the flats... Once again, the redfish bite was great on the flats. Top water in the early mornings and jerk baits, spoons and Mirrolures provided us with catches during the day. Chris was over from Okeechobee and caught three in a short twenty minutes that averaged 25-26 inches. Hal also caught himself a nice 26" redfish. Reports on them range on both sides of the river from the power plant up to Queen's Cove. We have been having luck on chartreuse or mullet colorings for success. Hal with an Fort Pierce redfish.... A lot of good snook reports around the river. Early mornings on the flats with top water can provide some shorts and slot size snook. Chris caught a nice 24" and missed a good slot size at the boat on top water. Around the bridges and inlet use live bait or jigs for a chance at a keeper or larger one. Remember that snook season closes June 1st so get your keeper soon! Chris with a nice snook off the flats... The trout bite has been good on most days. Our largest trout this week topped 26". Top water, soft baits and live shrimp will usually get one to bite. Reports all around the river have been good on most days this week. The usual haunts are Harbor Branch, Bear Point, Queen's Cove and Round Island. A great day of fishing..... Sand perch, drum, sheephead and flounder have been around the bridges. Live or dead shrimp are the best choices of bait in these areas. Jacks are still striking fear into the mullet all over the river. Snook and tarpon have been chasing bait around the inlet. There is lots of bait in the river and more working their way into it. It's a great time of year to be fishing! If you are up in Melbourne this weekend at the Coastal Angler Magazine Fishing Expo.....stop by the Teen Angler booth and say howdy! I will be helping there on Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Check out the Teen Anglers and see if you can get involved in such a great organization in your area. Tip of the Week: Enjoy life and get out fishing! Nothing more relaxing than watching the sun peek over the horizon and the fish slapping the water in anticipation of a new day. You can forget about time, troubles and stress and enjoy a wonderful day of fishing. Take some time and just do it! As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-12-2006 | |
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May 10, 2006 INSHORE: I'm seeing RED......nope...not angry, mad or in a bad mood....just seeing RED.....FISH that is. It has been such great weather this past week. Mild winds, warm temperatures and great fishing conditions out on the Treasure Coast. The water is looking clean and clearing up very nicely. And the fishing has been just as good this week. Hope you were out there! Redfish continues to be our first choice on the flats. We ran up on some nice schools over the weekend and things are looking like summer will continue to produce good catches of them. Vincent Serio caught a nice 26" redfish on Sunday in the Teen Anglers Championship Tournament. We doubled up of a school we happened upon that day. Jerk baits, MirrOlures and top water lures have worked best for us this week. Snook fishing continues to produce well. We have caught snook up to 24" on the flats. I had a chance to fish the St Lucie River this past week and caught snook up to 30" on soft baits along the mangroves. Top water, soft baits and MirrOlures will help you snag a linesider out there. I fished mostly north of Fort Pierce on the flats, but you can find them anywhere lurking around for an easy meal. Trout fishing picked up this week. We caught fish up to 24" on the flats. Again, top water, jerk baits and MirrOlures have produced well this week. Anywhere from one to five feet of water can get you a seatrout. Work you baits slowly to get them in the mood for a snack. I had the opportunity to fish with a friend, Capt. Joe Ward, this week on the flats. We had a great time and also caught snook, trout and redfish to top off the day. Reds up to 25" were hitting in shallow water north of the bridges. We had a wonderful day to play on the Treasure Coast waters. Flounder have been biting around the bridges, mangroves and inlet. Live shrimp is the best bait. Sheephead, drum and snapper continue to hit around the catwalks. Tarpon are definitely in the St Lucie River now. They are hungry and chasing bait all over the river. Check around Little Mud and the power plant for some tarpon now. It was a fun week on the water. I love this time of year and it looks like summer will be a great season out there also. Plan a trip to the flats soon!font> Tip of the Week: Always plan ahead for each trip out on the Treasure Coast. I tie on new leader and decide which lures or baits I will be using first that day. I like to have everything ready before I hook up the boat so all you have to do is grab that rod and make the first cast out on the flats. A little planning and preparation can make that first light a winner! Fishing is at it's best at first light in spring so prepare the night before and make it a memorable adventure! As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 05-09-2006 | |
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Florida Bay has been on fire as of April with schools of large redfish cruising the flats. I have seen 20 -30 fish in a school all around 9 to 10-pound category. The smaller fish are not in the schools yet and they seem to be in potholes waiting to ambush mullet. Along with the reds are some really big trout for Flamingo. The biggest trout we have landed was 6.5lbs and a bunch more between 4 to 6lbs, just as the smaller redfish, these large trout were in potholes ambushing mullet. Some good size snook are also playing the same game in potholes. The snook have not shown up as thick on the flats as of yet but I am expecting them at any time now, when they show up expect some exciting fishing in the mornings until the end of July into early August. I am using the Spike-It holographic lures working them in and around the holes. Remember to imitate your bait and Spike-It lures have some of the best jerk baits and colors around. I am using a #2 Owner hook with a 1/8 oz shot above the lure, also making sure the tip of the hook is at the top of the lure and is easily punctured insuring a quality hook set. Tarpon are on the move from spot to spot! Some days they are easy to find in deeper water around flats and some days it is not as easy in Florida Bay. Early calm mornings are the easiest ways of finding them rolling and most of these fish are in schools of 10-30. If you are fishing in light colored water they are easier to see as it looks like a large black cloud moving on top of the water with fish breaking the surface. Throwing live bait like a mullet or pilchard in front of them should get a bite. Getting in front of the school and throwing a fly (colors: black and red, yellow and brown are some choices) on 12-weight gear will be another great step in capturing one of these silver kings. Biscayne Bay is also a great place to fish for Tarpon. The deeper water on the ocean side flats is the place you will want to be. These fish will be on the move and again the schools will hold roughly the same numbers as Islamorada and Florida Bay. Permit have also shown up as the water has warmed up nicely. Merijo Attong, of Homestead, caught a 36 lber on a live crab in late April. These fish can show up in schools of 20-50 fish swimming with their backs out of the water or tailing singled out fish. They can get very big as the largest I have taken in the bay was 44 æ lbs on a Quantum reel, 7 ft medium action rod and 10 lb power pro and a # 1 Owner hook. Most of the schooling fish average 20-25lbs and live crabs are a must. Bonefish in South Biscayne Bay have been nice to me lately as well, with nice bonefish schooling up and eating live small crabs since the shrimp are small this time of the year. Many shots are had with calm and warm days with these fish averaging 10 lbs and a fly fisherman's dream! Capt. Jim Hale Cane Polin' Charters 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 05-04-2006 | |
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May 3, 2006 INSHORE: Looks like the winds of late have left us again and the coming weekend should provide some great fishing weather. The water got chopped up pretty well this week and it will take a couple days to get cleared up again. Get out that top water lure and get rigged for this weekend! Redfish remained our number one catch again this past week. Each day out there provided us with explosive action both on the flats and along the mangroves. Mike McCann was down from New Jersey with me this week and boated three nice redfish from along the mangroves. By the end of the day, he was an expert at skipping a lure underneath the lush undergrowth of the islands. Bob Wittbold and Bob Bergen boated seven redfish this week up to 26". Top water and soft baits were the table fare this week. Look for redfish from the power plant flats up through the Moorings on either side of the river. We found all of ours on the east side of the river due to the winds. Snook fishing around the inlet and bridges has remained good if you could get out of the winds to fish the area. We caught a number of snook on the flats just prior to the front moving in. Bob boated a nice 26" snook on a top water lure up on the flats. Snook season closes the end of this month, so plan a trip soon if you want some on the table. Trout was spotty for us this week. The usual areas of Queen's Cove, Harbor Branch and Bear Point have been holding trout, but was hard to fish most of the time. With the wind laying off now, the bite should pick up by the weekend. Top water early and live shrimp should get you some hits out there. Some nice reports of flounder along the catwalks of the south bridge in Fort Pierce. We found one angler who had his limit by noon. Live or dead shrimp around the bridges have been the best bait choices. Bluefish and spanish mackerel are still around the inlet and beaches for those seeking toothy critters. Ladyfish and jacks are cruising the flats in search of a quick meal. Showers of baitfish trying to learn how to fly are all over the river. Tip of the Week: Thanks to everyone who recently responded to a question I posed. If you could only take one lure out fishing what would it be? By a vast majority, anglers on the river would have a MirrOlure with them. Whether a top water or slow sinker, it appears to be a part of most anglers tackle. I remember my dad using them back in the fifties in Sebastian and he still talks about them to this day. Hope you have one in your tackle box! As always, have a safe weekend and remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-27-2006 | |
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April 26, 2006 INSHORE: Another gorgeous week of spring along the Treasure Coast has provided us with some great fishing weather. Mild morning breezes have given us great top water fishing at the first hint of the sun breaking across the eastern skyline. Lots of bait all over the river have brought the fish up on the flats to feed and we have had some fun this week catching some of them. Redfish have been the best catch for us this week. Early action on top water to mangrove fishing later in the mornings have bent our rods a number of times. Shawn and his wife were on the flats with me over the weekend and he boated an inshore slam along with several other redfish, too. Shawn got to sight cast to a small school of tailing reds to get his 24" red on a Berkley Gulp. Matthew and Andy went out with me another day and boated four nice redfish. Matthew caught a nice 26" red on top water, while Andy caught a close 25" on a Berkley Gulp. Tuesday we also boated four reds on various lures. Look for them in shallow water and you might also find some tailing in the early mornings. We fished the flats north of the Fort Pierce bridges this week. Trout have been hitting soft baits, but not as well as the reds have for us. Bob caught a nice fat 21" trout to top the catch of this week. Most we have caught have been in the slot range. Root beer, copper and darker colors have been our best soft bait producers. We have caught trout in four feet or less of water this week. Snook fishing is best right now at night or very early morning. The deeper mangroves will prove well during the day on soft baits or live bait. Work your baits slowly along the mangroves for best results. We caught reds, snook and flounder this week along them. Shawn boated a 24" snook from under the mangroves. South of Fort Pierce, look along the deeper mangroves. Snook will be patrolling the flats at first light so get out that top water lure!! Jacks and ladyfish are continually harassing the bait. Schools of jacks are all over the river and wreaking havoc just about everywhere. Bridges will continue to provide catches of sheephead, drum and croakers on live or dead shrimp. There is lots of action all over the river, so get out and have some fun! Good luck to all fishing the Kingfish tournament this weekend. Stop by the Fishing Center of St Lucie in Fort Pierce for your fishing needs to make it a successful tournament. Rigs, bait, chum or advice....just stop by and see Clint or Kelly! Tip of the Week: It's getting hotter and hotter as the days go on and that means the dreaded springtime sunburn!! Nothing worse than ending the day looking like an overripe tomato.... Put some on before you leave the house and several times during the day on the water. Don't take the chance without it and ruin the week by walking around like a scalded horned-toad...... Slap on some thirty weight and have some fun out there! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-22-2006 | |
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April 19, 2006 INSHORE: Spring sure is a wonderful time here in the Treasure Coast. Yep.....the winds died off this week and the sun has been shining down on us with warm temperatures and mild conditions. I always look forward to springtime and the great sunrises out on the Indian River each morning. Early morning fishing is continuing to improve each day. We have been using top water in the early mornings on the flats and switching to shallow runners, soft baits and spoons as the sun rises. There is nothing so exciting as watching the water explode underneath a top water lure! Get out your favorite and get in on some of the action. Snook fishing has remained steady over the week. Inlet and bridge anglers are continuing to catch all ranges of snook sizes. The flats are getting their share of hungry linesiders looking for a early morning snack. Craig Cilley celebrated his birthday recently on the boat by catching a 35" snook on a shallow running MirrOLure in only a foot of water. We managed to boat a number of shorts along with a few slot sizes this past week. Look for some around the docks and mangroves throughout the river as the water continues to warm. Trout has been productive from south around the power plant up to the Moorings on live shrimp and jerk baits. Scott caught a 21" trout on the flats north of the bridges in Fort Pierce. As the winds die off, both sides of the river will be fishable in all the favorite areas. Look for them to hit top water at first light. Redfish were up on the flats scrounging around in less than two feet of water. Jackie Cilley was using a chartreuse top water when it was blasted by a 25" redfish in only a foot of water. It was her first redfish and you can tell by her smile how proud she was of it. Top water, spoons, soft baits and shallow runners should get their attention. They should become more visible as the winds settle down. Lots of species are being caught around structure and bridges along the river. Black drum, sheephead, croakers and snapper have been table fare for those anglers. Live or dead shrimp have been choice baits. It's been a great week on the water and I hope you had a chance to get out. The channel between the Fort Pierce bridges has been opened up, so please be careful when boating through the inlet. Courtesy goes a long way to make for a great fishing experience!! Tip of the Week: My favorite subject.....take a kid fishing. I love having children on the boat. They love to fish and are so eager to learn. When Craig and Jackie were on the boat this past week. You could read their faces by their smiles as they caught and reeled in their fish. I see a lot of photos on the forums of parents taking their children out for a day of fishing. It's wonderful to see so many kids getting a chance to fish with mom or dad. They will always remember those trips like I recall of my dad taking me out on the river. If you haven't done it lately.....get out the gear and take them soon! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-16-2006 | |
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April 12, 2006 INSHORE: Thar' she blows........nope, not a whale sighting on the high seas.†Just the latest front blowing through the Treasure Coast most of this past week.†It's been strong winds daily to churn up the ocean and river and keep most anglers on shore.†We should be downsized by the weekend and get back to some spring weather by then.†The trout bite has really picked up lately.†When we could get out and fish, there were trout all along the flats north of the Fort Pierce bridges.†The Moorings produced a good number of slot sized trout and some nice over 20" specimens.†Paul Benton nailed a nice, fat five pounder on that MirrOMinnow that I love to talk about.†Most were hitting in two to three feet of water on the flats.†Snook fishing has been for the brave this week.†Those who dared stand up to the winds had some success along the jetties and bridges on live shrimp or jigs.†We spotted a number of big boys hanging around the docks along the river.†Once the water calms down, get out that favorite top water and hit the flats just around first light for a chance at a linesider on light tackle. Redfish have been cruising the flats and should be fishable by the weekend.†It might take a few days for the water to clear up, but the reds will be up there looking for a cheap snack.†Top water in early morning, live shrimp, gold spoons and soft baits are choice baits on the flats.†Bridges will continue to provide lots of fishing for sheephead, black drum and snapper.†Live or dead shrimp is the bait of choice from the catwalks.†Bait fish continues to filter into the river and those chasing the bait will follow it also.†Look for early morning fishing to improve each week. Charlie McClure reported that he was catching dolphin up to 20# while trolling in 140-240 feet out of Fort Pierce Inlet.†But then the winds came and changed plans for most offshore trips. Tip of the Week: Everyone has their favorite lures they depend on to produce day after day.†We all try the newest things on the market, but end up back to the ol' trusty lures that never let us down.†If you had to leave the dock with only one lure.....which one would it be??†I am curious which is your favorite.†Reply or send me an email on your choice.†Mine would certainly be the one I talk about the most in my reports....the shallow running MirrOMinnow.†I am adding a photo of a trusty ol' favorite that I was forced to retire this week.†After more fish than I can count, it just gave out after catching a vast array of fish all along the Indian River.†Let me know your favorite! Have a safe weekend.†Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you.†Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 04-07-2006 | |
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April 6, 2006 INSHORE: It looked like summer a most of the week. Light winds in the mornings to summer-like breezes in the afternoons brought a nice change to the Treasure Coast. We found that we have been able to fish a lot of areas that have been too windy to fish the past several weeks. I sure love the spring weather! We found redfish tailing just about every day that we were up on the flats. Most were in small schools of 6-8 fish in the shallows up north of the Fort Pierce bridges. Tim Freeman has been down from Virginia and boated a nice 25" redfish using a top water in the early morning. We also had several hits and misses from them. Look down south on the western docks for some reds to hang out. Tim holding his 25" redfish caught on top water.... I have had a number of good reports of snook around the bridges and inlet this week. Tim also boated a nice 24" snook from the flats on a top water. Mike emailed me and has caught several 24" snook up around Harbor Branch on top water while wading. We caught a nice 34" snook in the early morning on top water over the weekend. Lots of bait fish are entering the river and the fish will hit the flats in first light, so get out early! Capt Charlie with an early morning 34" snook.... Trout have been reported in numerous areas around the river from the power plant up to Round Island. Two to four feet of water has been the best depth to look for trout. Live shrimp, soft baits and top water. Mike Du Mars also reported a nice gator trout of 27" and 7lbs that he caught on a Poppa Dog. Mike Du Mars emailed me with this picture of his trout he got while wading.... We have caught a real smorgasbord of fish this week. Everything from snapper, flounder and lookdowns to the ever present ladyfish and jacks. The big jacks have followed the bait into the river and you can find some real rod benders schooling throughout the river. It's been a nice week to be on the water! The jacks are back! Tip of the Week: With spring here and the weather cooperating more and more, you can find the boat ramps on weekends packed with boaters heading out for a day on the water. Courtesy and patience is the order of the day on weekends all around the Treasure Coast. Don't tie up the ramps when putting in or pulling out your boat. We all want to get out there and have a great day enjoying the water. Let's not ruin the weekend at the ramp. Make it fun for everyone! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-24-2006 | |
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March 22, 2006 INSHORE: What a fantastic week for fishing the Treasure Coast. Mostly mild weather with some winds, but overall a great week through wednesday out there on the water. Spring arrived on the Indian River, bringing a lot of action out there on the flats. Hope you had a chance to get out there fishing this week. Snook action has remained steady around the bridges, docks and turning basin. We caught snook most of the week and lost a few nice slot sized ones also. Larger shrimp, if available has been the best choice in baits this week. We boated a number of snook off the flats and along the mangroves most of the week. The larger ones are hanging around the bridges and inlet, but are gradually working their way to the flats in the early mornings. We caught a number of redfish out on the flats. Anthony boasted a pair of slot sized reds at 24" and 27" off the flats north of the Fort Pierce bridges. Live shrimp, cut bait and gold spoons have been their choice baits. Al from Port St Lucie took home a nice 22" red caught along the docks around the inlet. Both sides of the river have been holding redfish. The water has remained clean in spite of the winds. Trout has been somewhat slower for us this week. Ladyfish and jacks are beating the trout to the bait most of the time. Keep fishing the grass flats of Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch for trout. Popping corks are drawing a lot of attention from just about everything out there. We found some pompano along several flats. Al and Chris Klingler boated a swe-e-et 2 1/2 pounder for dinner. Live shrimp or shrimp tipped jigs will usually do the trick. Al caught his just around the Harbor Branch flats. Ladyfish and jacks are terrorizing the flats almost anywhere you are fishing. We caught numerous sizes of them all week. Lots of fun for everyone! The bridges are still producing catches of sheephead, black drum, snook and snapper with live or dead shrimp. Speaking of black drum...... Chris Perrin was on board with his dad and uncle this week. After a long and tiring 20 minute fight, Chris boated and released a monster 60+ pound black drum. I am sure he is still smiling from that catch! Great job! Tip of the Week: Spring has arrived here on the Treasure Coast and many anglers are preparing for some of the great fishing the Indian River has to offer. Boating safety means more than on the water....it also includes the trip to the ramp. This is a good time to check out the equipment your boat trailer, before you head off to the water. Lights are very important, not to mention required. Safety chains, winch, strap, hubs, bearing and tires are just some of the trailer parts that need attention to make your trip to the ramp a safe one. Inspect your trailer each time you prepare for a trip on the water and have an exciting spring fishing season! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 03-17-2006 | |
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Transition time is here again with cold fronts moving in about once a week, some stronger than others. In March they became weaker making for some great fishing opportunities. In between fronts are producing some nice calm sunny days great for sight fishing. Bonefish have been making a strong presence on the Oceanside flats with 10-20 fish in a school, but good amounts of schools. Some of these bonefish are showing up on the inside flats now as well. Peter Santini from Boston and Gustavo Hernandez from the Galapagos, both first timers landed bones of 9 and 10 lbs. respectively with opportunities for more. Tarpon in April and May will be a strongly sought after, as the silverking makes their way north on the Oceanside edges. Expect them to show up in large numbers. These fish will be in the 40-130 lbs category with the smaller fish being closer to the shore in shallower water. All these fish can be taken on fly this time of year and Green Clousers is a good fly for these fish in the clear waters. Tarpon fishing in Everglades National Park will tend to eat more on Red & Black or Cockroach Brown, as the water sometimes is not as clear. Tarpon have already made a good showing in White Water Bay as well as out front of Flamingo. Remember a strong front can push these fish back out, but they will return quickly as the water warms. For those of you who do not fly fish, Tarpon can be taken on large live shrimp, pilchards or finger mullet. Fishermen have good shots as well by finding rolling fish that are feeding in creek mouths. A great plug is the Rapala Skitterwalk silver and black or a red and white subsurface Yozuri worked slowly. Tarpon are also making a strong presence in Government Cut. Redfish and Snook are cruising the flats. Reds are there in some places in a good number with up to 100 shots at fish in one day and that number should remain strong going into spring. Small jerk baits on weedless rigs are working well. I find fishing dark colors in clear water and light or silver in murky water works best. Gambler 3î Ugly Otter was crushing the Reds and always the Excude Gold RT Slug Saltwater. I personally like the Holographic Spike-It Bait myself. The Snook are still in potholes waiting to ambush mullet as they swim by, so look for an area with a good amount of white holes in shallow water and you should find your snook. Large trout are mixed in as well with the Reds and Snook. In late March we boated 8 fish over 24î which were all released. After a great Tarpon run we are looking forward to a stellar run of Permit in May and June. Tight lines and Gin Clear Water! Capt. Jim Hale www.canepolincharters.com 786-255-1788 800-950-FINS, Ext. 1 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-17-2006 | |
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March 16, 2006 INSHORE: The sun was shining on the Treasure Coast this week. Mild winds and warm temperatures made for great fishing weather, except for a few days later during the week. Looks like spring has blossomed here on the Indian River. Snook fishing around the turning basin, bridges and docks has improved with the full moon this week. Some nice catches have been made by those using live shrimp, pinfish or red tail hawk jigs. Snook have been heading up on the flats in the early mornings to feed on baitfish around the river. Top water on the calm days will bring some nice hits at sunrise. Bob boated a 24" snook and lost a nice slot size earlier during the week. Redfish have been cruising the flats on both sides of the river. They are very easy to scare right now, so be keep quiet and a low profile while on the flats. Live bait has worked best along with gold spoons and soft plastic baits. They will hit at an early morning top water, but the hookups might be a challenge. We found reds on both sides while fishing north of the Fort Pierce bridges. Vince caught himself a 17" redfish during the Teen Angler tournament over the weekend. Trout have been hitting live shrimp on the 2-4 foot grass flats. Hit some of the flats around Queen's Cove or Round Island. The ladyfish have been prevalent on the same flats and most times will beat the trout to the bait. They provide lots of exciting fun throughout the day, especially if you have a child on board. Something flashy and fast will attract a lot of attention. The bridges have continued to produce nice catches of sand perch, sheephead and black drum. Live or dead shrimp are always the best choices of bait around the bridge structures. Mangrove snapper have been hitting around the rock piles and mangroves. Harbor Branch has been giving up some nice keeper sized ones. Some reports of flounder around the jetties and inlet have been reported. James Robinson boated a nice five pound 26" flounder from the flats in only a foot of water. It attacked one of those MirrOMinnows that I am forever talking about. Make sure you stop by for the Anniversary Sale at the Fishing Center of St Lucie in Fort Pierce this Saturday, March 18th. Lots of sales, seminars, prizes and more will be awaiting you from 9am to 5pm. Manufacturer reps, Teen Anglers and lots of fun in store for every angler. Located on US 1, just south of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. Tip of the Week: Presentation is probably one of the most important aspects to fishing. Everyone talks about lure colors, sizes and shapes, but do you consider how you work that favorite lure to make it produce fish. I have watched several anglers fishing with the same lure and one might catch fish while the others continue to struggle to get a hookup. Presentation makes the difference! I continually advise anglers to be change their lure retrieve to see what might just work. Whether you fish a top water very slow and methodical or make it a fast, jerky and erratic retrieve, be willing to change the pace. A baseball pitcher doesn't throw the same pitch all the time and win games! Fish don't necessarily hit the same lures fished at the same retrieve all the time. Next time you are out there on the water, try working those favorite lures in different patterns and speeds. You just might be surprised at the results! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 03-10-2006 | |
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March 9, 2006 INSHORE: I was watching the sun break the silence of the eastern horizon this morning and bring its warmth to the waters of the Indian River. March is suddenly here and spring is in the air around the Treasure Coast. We have enjoyed a very mild winter and the fishing in the area has continued to improve each week. This should be a spring season to remember in 2006. The river comes alive in spring as the water warms up the flats. Redfish are sunning most of the day and you usually can get them to take a live shrimp or gold spoon as they look for an early morning breakfast. You can find them tailing just around sunrise across the flats in Fort Pierce in a foot of water or less. Head up to the Harbor Branch or Round Island flats one morning soon. Snook will be active in the early mornings on the flats. Spring is a great time to work a top water lure just as the sun is showing itself. I like the Top Pups and Zara Spooks for top water action. Try around Harbor Branch, Bear Point and Round Island on mornings when the winds is light and the water is calm. Nothing can stir your blood like a snook crashing a lure in the serenity of the morning. The fishing around the inlet has remained good for snook. Live bait or jigs continue to be the best choice. Pompano are still being caught south of Fort Pierce from the power plant to Stuart. Look for them as you head down that way and have a jig or live shrimp ready if you see them. Jacks and ladyfish are still plentiful all over the river. Some Spanish mackerel are being caught in the inlet and along the beaches. The bridges are producing nice catches of sheephead, black drum and sand perch. Most of the anglers along the bridges are using live or dead shrimp. Get your gear ready and plan a trip out soon. The weather has been great and don't miss out on some of the awesome fishing that the Indian River has to offer in spring on the Treasure Coast. Tip of the Week: I spent the past week with my dad, who has been ill and is now recovering. He should be home soon and back to his old self again. It made me think as we talked about some of the old fishing adventures we enjoyed when I was young. We all talk about the good ol' days. Did you ever think that the time we are spending out there yesterday, today and tomorrow will be those days to remember soon enough. Enjoy those times on the water and make them days that you can sit back a few years from now and tell tales of the good ol' days we are enjoying right now! Catch of the Week: Charlie McClure emailed me this week and was fishing off of Fort Pierce. After one cobia straightened out his hook, he boated a nice 20# cobia for dinner on a red tail hawk. Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 02-23-2006 | |
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February 23, 2006 INSHORE: What a fantastic change in the weather over the last week. Spring crept in early this week and warmed the water along with providing calm winds for great fishing weather. I had to look at the calendar to make sure it was still February! Hope you had a chance to get out and enjoy the water. I don't anticipate enough cold fronts to cool the water enough to slow down the trends we are having. It looks like the mild winter we have enjoyed might bring an early spring and great fishing weather for March and April. Each day on the flats, we found ourselves surrounded by redfish. Tuesday, Dennis and Pete came up to fish with me and we saw easily fifty reds tailing all around us in groups of 4-6 fish. Most were slot sized and with the warmer water, it reminded me of summertime. The largest red this week was 27" caught on the flats. Jigs, spoons and live shrimp was working this week. Keep quiet and move slowly with the clear water they will torpedo out at the least sign of noise, shadow or unusual movement. Snook were hitting along the mangroves on live shrimp and jigs. Some reports of both keeper and shorts around the bridges and turning basin this week. Snook and reds are hanging around the docks north of the Fort Pierce bridges. Large live shrimp, when available, has been the best choice in baits along with feather jigs and pinfish. Also look for snook to head up on the flats in early mornings with the tides to feed. Find the deeper cuts along the mangroves for both snook and redfish later in the day. Trout are still on the deeper flats and will come up on the shallow areas in early mornings. Live shrimp on popping corks has worked best. The power plant flats, Bear Point and Queen's Cove have been some of the best areas to fish for trout. It's still a race against the ladyfish right now and most of the time the ladyfish win. Bert and his wife were out with me this week and we found so many ladyfish, they were rolling like tarpon. Bring along the flyrod one day and have some fun with them. Dennis, Bert and Pete kept busy with the ladyfish on the fly. Black drum, croakers, sand perch and sheepshead were on the catch list around the bridges. Live or dead shrimp works best off the catwalks. Some flounder and snook have been taken on the jetties. Bluefish, weakfish, whiting and some pompano have been in the surf. Shrimp or sand fleas are the choice baits on the beaches. Call Clint at the Fishing Center to report your inshore and offshore reports. 772-465-RODS will get you the latest information on what, when, where and how the fishing is in the Treasure Coast area. Tip of the Week: Spring is almost upon us here on the Treasure Coast. Not too many cold fronts ahead of us now and most everyone is anticipating great conditions for the coming months. Take a little time during the next front to check your gear. Is it time to change that line? Did you ever fix that broken tip on your fishing rod? Is that favorite top water lure a good candidate for a rust remover commercial? Does your tackle box resemble one of those thousand piece puzzles? Take a little time now and be ready for those great spring days that are coming soon! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com Call me at: 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 02-16-2006 | |
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February 15, 2006 INSHORE: Ok....so winter came to pay us a visit over the weekend.†I guess the hardest thing was to dig through that closet to find something warm to wear.†But winter in Florida changes daily or hourly and the warm weather has again filtered its way to the Treasure Coast and everyone is anxious to get out on the water again.†The water temps took a dip this weekend, but with the sun shining again look for the water to warm back up for the fish as each day passes. Snook fishing has remained good in spite of the colder weather lately.†The turning basin, bridges and docks around the inlet area has continued to produce all sizes of snook.†Live shrimp, pinfish and red tail hawk jigs has been the bait of choice by anglers in search of that keeper snook.†The jetty has also been yielding its share of linesiders to anglers that braved some of those cold mornings.††Mark from Mass. was fishing with me this week and caught two black drum and a snook on his first four casts around the bridges.†He did miss one big snook during that trip. Trout fishing was a bit off the past several days, but with the warmer weather around us, look for them to hit in the deeper flats of 2-5 feet of water on soft bait, live shrimp and jigs.†Down around the power plant has been a great spot of late for many different fish.†Harbor Branch and Queens Cove have been active the past week. Redfish have been on the flats most of the day.†Keep a stealthy approach as they sun themselves in the warming waters.†We have been finding them in 1-2 feet of water and they will run at their shadow with the clear water on the flats.†Live bait along with gold spoons, small jigs and DOA shrimp will be your best opportunity at catching a red on the flats.†Look for them down across from the power plant on the west shore and most o the east shore north of the Fort Pierce bridges.†Lots of jacks and ladyfish are out there to fill your day on the water.†It's hard some days to catch a trout with the ladyfish trying to beat them to your bait on the flats.†Pompano have been south of the bridges from the power plant south towards Stuart.†Shrimp tipped jigs or sand fleas are the best choices.†Spanish mackerel have been south of the bridges also.†Try trolling along the channels with clark spoons.†Usually anything flashy will get their attention.†The surf has been coughing up whiting and pompano for the beach anglers using shrimp.†The bridge fishing has been very active for sand perch, black drum, croakers and sheephead.†Most anglers are using live or frozen shrimp. Like Rapala lures?†Check out the new X-Rap lures that Clint just received at the Fishing Center of St Lucie in Fort Pierce.†I continue to talk about the new MirrOMinnow shallow runner for flats and mangrove fishing.†They have a great selection of colors and they DO work.†Tip of the Week: I was just sitting here in the middle of writing my fishing report and thinking to myself about the first time my dad took me on the river behind our home in WV, many years ago.†Geez......that was well over fifty years ago.†I guess time passes and lots of things change, but fishing has always been a part of my life.†I hope that our children and grandchildren have the same opportunity as we have had in our lives.†Take a moment and share a fishing experience with your child or grandchild.†My little granddaughter, Chloe, is only six month old, but I have already outfitted her with all her fishing gear in anticipation of that first fishing trip with Grandpa.††There is no greater satisfaction, than watching a child catch that first fish.†Take a kid fishing......you'll be glad you did! Have a safe weekend.†Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you.†Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 02-12-2006 | |
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February 9, 2006 INSHORE: Another week of cold front after cold front has really cooled off the water on the flats and left the fish to seeking the shelter of deeper water. Lots of windy days this week left most anglers seeking sheltered areas to fish out of some of the gusty winds. We could use a few days of warm weather to get the water temps up a bit out there. The northwesterly winds this week left the majority of the river almost un-fishable in a lot of favorite areas a good part of the week. The best fishing most of the week has been around the inlet for snook. A number of reports of slot sized snook have been reported around the docks of the inlet, the bridges and in the turning basin. Leo, who fished with me this week boated a nice 24" snook just under slot and David also had a nice 22" snook. Most of our bites this week were on live shrimp. Pinfish, shrimp and red tail hawks were the best options for snook fishing. A lot of anglers are having success fishing at night around the inlet and docks for snook. There were lots of sheephead around the inlet area in good numbers and good sizes. Live or dead shrimp had them working your rods quite nicely. The surf anglers are reporting good catches of whiting and a few pompano along the beaches. Shrimp and sand fleas were their baits of choice. Bridge anglers have been catching some black drum, sand perch, croakers and sheephead off the catwalks. Most have been using dead shrimp for bait. We did manage to find a few reds on the flats north of the Fort Pierce bridges, but with the water so choppy and windy on the flats, it was difficult to fish for them. As the fronts get through and we can get a few days of warm weather, the reds will warm up along with the water. We have had success in the past few weeks on live and cut bait along the mangroves for reds. Seek trout in the deeper flats in 3-6 feet of water. With the water this cool, they will be slower to hit, but keep using that live shrimp, jerk bait or top water when possible. As the water warms up during the day look for the fish to become more active. I had a few reports of pompano, Spanish mackerel and trout down around the power plant just before the winds stirred up. Shrimp tipped jigs are great for pomps and shiny spoons will work for the macks. Friday looks like the winds might lay down a bit to try and get down that way to check things out. Watch the weather for this weekend as they are calling for some strong winds by Sunday. Tip of the Week: Spring will be here soon.....or not soon enough for some. There are some cold mornings out on the water. Make sure you dress properly for that morning you are heading out. It's much easier to take off layers and be comfortable, than sit there shivering and cold wishing you had worn more. I keep remembering last spring when I was waiting at the ramp for my charter to come in my long handles and jacket.....my two anglers from up north showed up in shorts and t-shirts. It was too late to change and I sure felt sorry for them as we headed out towards the flats. Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 02-02-2006 | |
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February 1, 2006 INSHORE: The weather had it's ups and downs this week, depending on which day you were out. Cold fronts working through during the week bought cooler weather and winds to keep you guessing each day. Once again mild weather has filtered into the Treasure Coast for a few days until the next front rolls around. Enjoy those nice days out there! Snook season opened today and some anglers who braved the weather overnight and into the morning were rewarded with some keeper sized snook to start their season off. The turning basin in Fort Pierce was productive to anglers using live shrimp or pinfish, while the bridges were working for some others. The flats and mangroves are still holding snook just under the slot ranges. Top water works the best in early mornings and live bait once the sun rises over the horizon. Redfish have been steady on the flats. Still somewhat skittish this time of year, but cut bait or live pinfish can coax them into cooperating. For an artificial choice, always try that gold spoon on the flats. Most of the eastern side of the river north of the bridges has continued to hold redfish most of the day. The trout bite has probably been the most consistent this week. Ladyfish will continue to try and beat them to the punch, but fish the deeper flats in 3-5 feet of water with jerk baits, live shrimp and pinfish for your best opportunity for trout. The flats by the power plant, Bear Point and Harbor Branch have been working well for trout. Lots of other chances for some good fishing are out there. The bridges and structure are still producing sheephead, sand perch and black drum. Live or dead shrimp is the bait of choice. Bluefish, jacks and ladyfish are still doing what they do well...... Pompano are still in the river and have been mostly caught south of the bridges and down to the St Lucie Inlet. I even had a couple of reports of tarpon around the spillway in Taylor Creek. Tip of the Week: With the opening of snook season, make sure you are well aware of slot sizes and limits. Do you have a way of measuring your fish? Is your fishing license current and do you have a snook stamp? There are already enough people out there who could care less about regulations. The fines are just not worth the risk! Have a great snook fishing season! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-26-2006 | |
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January 25, 2006 INSHORE: What a change in seasons so far this winter. It's been a very mild winter for now and with luck it will continue for a while. Our weekly cold fronts haven't bought the bitter winter cold temperatures into the Treasure Coast like past years. Keep your fingers crossed for more of this great weather! The trout fishing has remained steady, if you can keep the ladyfish from hitting your baits first. The grass flats have been loaded with ladyfish along with the trout. They are so aggressive that they will sure outweigh your trout catches for now. Keep on fishing the flats and you will get some trout action. Live shrimp on popping corks, soft baits and top water will keep your rod bending. Queen's Cove, Harbor Branch and the Moorings have been productive north of the bridges in Fort Pierce and down by the power plant heading to the south. Redfish still have their residence on the flats. They continue throughout the day sunning themselves in the shallow waters. With the water much cleaner, they will run at any noise or movement so keep a stealthy approach out there. Ed, from Dallas, boated two nice slot sized redfish to 26" from along the flats. Live shrimp, cut baits and gold spoons have been the most productive of choices. Most of the flats to the north and down by the power plant have held redfish this week. Snook action was scattered around the river. Most of our action was along the mangroves in the deeper cuts. We caught snook to 24" this week using top water and sinking twitch baits. Natural and chartreuse colors worked best this week. The north bridge and Taylor Creek has continued to produce reports of snook catches. February 1st is the opening of snook season so get your rods ready!! I also had a report of tarpon landed by the Taylor Creek spillway this week. Pompano have been reported south of here from the power plant to Jensen Beach. Keep a jig rigged on a rod to tip with shrimp in case you happen upon a school of pomps while out there. Ladyfish and jacks........as always.......everywhere! The structure and bridges have been holding sheephead, croakers and black drum. The sand perch fishing slowed some this week as the latest cold front came through, but should pick up again by the weekend. Tip of the Week: Need to charge that trolling motor battery or top off that starting battery in the boat? I finally exhausted the life out of my old charger and have they ever changed over the past few years. Lots of makes and models out there, but I bought a Black and Decker model that is electronic and takes all the guesswork out of batteries. Winter is the hardest time for batteries and it's never fun to find out you have problems at the ramp, no matter what time of year. The newer models of chargers tell you just about everything you need to know about your battery, including how many slices of pepperoni are on that pizza you just ordered! Check one out soon. Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-19-2006 | |
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January 19, 2006 INSHORE: I enjoy being on the water on these crisp mornings here on the Treasure Coast. It's wonderful to watch the sun come up over the horizon and see the water glisten as the first light crawls across the water. Of course, the warmth of the sun as it rises this time of year sure feels just as good, too! Milder temperatures and continued cold fronts crossing our path has continued to drop the water temps. Fishing patterns continue to change throughout the day as the sun warms up the flats. The water has been churned up a few days the past week, but will clear in a few days after the fronts drive through. I start out in 3-5 feet of water along the flats this time of year and target trout and snook that are lurking along the drop offs for an early morning snack. Soft baits, live shrimp or pinfish and top water are my choices for the early morning shift. Snook will feed along the deeper mangrove edges during the early mornings. We caught snook up to 24" on top water this week along the mangroves. Feb. 1st will reopen snook season here, that isn't far away! Trout will be advancing onto the flats in early mornings as the sun warms up the water. Start deeper with popping corks or soft baits and move shallower as the sun rises. Trout up to 20" were hitting well this week, with some reports of larger trout being taken around the flats. Bear Point and Queen's Cove have continued to be productive. Remember to slow down your retrieve with the cooler water temps. This is a great time of year to use your fly rod on those calmer days for some fun trout action. Redfish have continued to be patrolling the flats, but with the cleaner water, they have been more standoffish and must be approached very stealthily in order to have a chance at them. Live shrimp will be the best choice to toss at them for now. I have continued to see quite a few redfish on the flats north of the bridges in Fort Pierce. There are still plenty of ladyfish, jacks, bluefish and sheephead around the river. You just never know what you might catch during the winter! We have even caught the occasional barracuda up on the flats. Pompano have been scattered in the river. Bear Point and south towards Stuart have been where most reports have come from. Most of the pompano action has been in the surf south of Fort Pierce. The bridges and structure have continued to yield black drum, sheephead, sand perch and croakers. Dead shrimp has been the most popular choice for bait, especially around the bridges. Lots of sheephead around so far and good sizes reported on them. Tip of the Week: Each week brings more and more new residents to the area. You will see many more boaters and anglers on the water every day. Remember the rules of the road when out on the water. Safe boating comes from each of us. Be aware of your surroundings and other vessels at all times. Be prepared for the person who hasn't a clue about safe boating skills. Each one of us is responsible for keeping our waters safe and help prevent boating accidents. Set the example and don't be the CAUSE.... Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 01-19-2006 | |
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Capt. Jim Hale fishing reports December 6th through January 17th, 2006 Warm and calm days in between the cold and nasty days have made for some real good fishing, when we get them! Low water temps in the 60s on the flats in Biscayne Bay made bone fishing difficult at times, however, on the warm days ocean side flats are teaming with schools of the slimy bones. Paige Wells fishing with her boyfriend David had many shots at bonefish on the outside of Elliot Key when she got her first fish @10 lbs. That day we had numerous shots at permit, but had no takers willing to play! We also were chasing large schools of tarpon out in a little deeper water on the ocean side, most of these fish are cruising south were also not interested in going for a ride. On the other side of the bay I have had some luck with smaller permit around 10 to 15 lbers but they will only show up when we have temperatures in the 80s for several days and the flats warm up! On the other hand mutton snapper fishing has been red hot out on the patch reefs with good snapper catches in the 10 and 12 lb class along with red grouper and a nice gag grouper thrown in the mix. Late afternoon or early morning, are the best time. All you need is a little patience, good chum slick and some of the right bait! If one reef doesnÃt produce after 45 minutes move to the next one. In Florida Bay this time of year yields some of the best mackerel fishing anywhere! We have had numerous trips and too many fish to count, fishing with good friend Capt. Brain Helms we caught an estimated 550 lbs of mackerel and could have had another 200 lbs If we would of stayed and fished more, the average fish weighed in at 7 lbs most of these fish were released unharmed except for a couple for the smoker! The flats in Florida Bay have been real good when the water is low just after morning, large snook and plenty of redfish have been caught, some of the snook we have seen and caught are at least 20 lbs I have been catching most of the snook and reds on jerk baits, the spike-it halo graphic has been the best. Some of these days are good to bring out and dust off the fly rods. Find clear water and you should find fish. I recommend fishing this area right now if you can find the right day and conditions, they really arenÃt that hard to find. We have had days when the fishing has been nonstop! Good luck! Tight lines and Gin Clear waters! Capt. Jim Hale www.canepolincharters.com 786-255-1788 800-950-FINS, Ext. 1 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-12-2006 | |
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January 12, 2006 INSHORE: It must be winter here on the Treasure Coast.....one day you are wearing shorts and the next, you are rummaging through the closet in search of those elusive long johns! Cold fronts work their way through the area on a weekly basis now and the water temperatures continue to gradually drop. Looks like this weekend brings the next cold front to our way. Keep warm out there. Trout have continued to bite well in the river. The west side of the river down around Walton Road, Harbor Branch and the east side around Bear Point have all been productive. Live shrimp on popping corks along with jerk baits have worked best when fishing for trout. Look for water two to five feet in those areas. Remember to slow down your lures now. Fish react slower as the water continues to cool. Redfish are working the flats most of the day, becoming more active as the sun warms up the flats. Gold spoons, jerk baits and live shrimp have worked well on the reds this week. Try around the flats around the power plant, Round Island and Harbor Branch on the eastern side for some redfish action. Snook action has been doing pretty well around the inlet jetties, docks and north bridge. Remember snook are out of season until February 1st. Smaller snook have been hitting along the mangroves on slow sinking lures, spoons and soft baits. Croakers, black drum and sheephead have been the table fair around the bridges and structure along the channels. Some nice sized sheephead have been reported this week. Most have been caught on live or dead shrimp on a #6 long shank hook. Pompano have been scattered in the river, mostly south of the bridges in Fort Pierce. Some grouper are also being caught along the rocks piles. Tip of the Week: Now is a great time to take a few minutes and check out the batteries on your vessel. Cold weather and batteries don't always mix well. When your engine is cold, it takes more cranking amps to start it. A weak battery can leave you stranded at the dock. Take a few minutes preparation and make sure your battery is fully charged and the connections are clean and free from corrosion. You will be glad you did! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-06-2006 | |
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January 5, 2006 INSHORE: Mild weather this week has provided great fishing conditions on most days. Hope you had a chance to get out on one of these nice warm days. Looks like going into this weekend will bring some cold night temperatures on Friday and Saturday. Better break out the ol' long johns for your early morning fishing! Redfish was the fish to seek most of the week. Lots of them on the flats most of the day right now. Bob from the area was out with me this week and we spent a several of hours seeing one redfish after another on the flats. We managed a number of hits and boated several, including one nice, fat 27" redfish. Bob also managed to get a great hookup on the fly, only to get broke off during the fight. Each day on the water this week, I saw numerous reds out there. They have been hitting slow sinking MirrOMinnows and can't resist a nice juicy shrimp. Look for them north of the bridges in Fort Pierce on just about any of the flats. I have also had reports of redfish down near the power plant. Snook and trout have been hitting top water early. Some days have been slower for them than others this week. Soft baits like the CAL lures from DOA, spoons and shrimp on popping corks will work best on the grass flats in 2-4 feet of water. There are some large trout in the river searching out a quick meal. Harbor Branch is always productive along with Queen's Cove. Black drum and sheephead have been hitting well around the bridges this week. Lots of sheephead all over the river. We witnessed numerous small schools all around the flats. Shrimp is the best choice for fishing around the bridges and structure. Tip of the Week: Safety should be every ones concern. As we were fishing on the flats recently, we witnessed a boat powering though the flats, obviously unfamiliar with the area. As it ran aground, I could only think how foolish some individuals are about boating safety. Luckily, these two guys weren't hurt and maybe they didn't do too much damage to their boat. Let's start off right this year and practice safe boating for 2006! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 01-03-2006 | |
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December 30, 2005 HAPPY NEW YEAR! INSHORE: Most of the past week was great weather for fishing. The weather deteriorated by Thursday when the next front came through with lots of westerly winds and some rain to slow down the fishing. It looks like a great weekend ahead of us to start out the New Year! The flats were alive on earlier this week, with large trout hitting top water with some topping 28". The first few hours of daylight will find them feeding in the shallow waters. Chartreuse colors have been working best lately. I have had good luck with the Top Pups by Mirrolure. Redfish have remained steady on the flats moving up from the deeper cuts as the water warms up in the mornings. Early mornings look for them along the mangroves. Spoons and shallow runners have been working on reds. Redfish have been in the slot range up to 27" this week. Most of the flats north of the bridges in Fort Pierce have held redfish on the east side. Snook action was slower this week. Bob and I did manage to find some juvenile linesiders feeding on glass minnows along the docks in Fort Pierce. Early mornings will also find them along the flats and mangroves with the help of top water or soft baits. Croakers, sheephead, black drum and snapper have been around the bridges and rock piles in good numbers this week. Live or dead shrimp have been the baits of choice. Jacks and ladyfish have continued feeding all around the river. Stop by the Fishing Center of St Lucie for your live or frozen bait needs. Live shrimp or pinfish available along with all the frozen bait choices. Bring in your reels for some new line to start out the new year right! Just south of Seaway Drive on US-1 in Fort Pierce. Tip of the Week: Hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Year! Good Fishing in 2006! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-22-2005 | |
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December 22, 2005 HAPPY HOLIDAYS! INSHORE: It has been tough to get out most of the week due to wind and weather playing havoc all around us. Cooler temps are continuing to bring down the water temperatures. Fish will move to deeper water this time of year. Trout will be biting on the flats in early mornings and then moving to deeper cuts in the river. Fish for them in 2-4 feet of water slowly. Fish slow down their metabolism as the water cools. They will eat less often so you must entice them to hit. Snook will also be feeding in early mornings on the flats before moving to deeper cuts along the mangroves, Once the top water opportunity passes, switch to spoons (Captain Mikes), soft baits (DOA CAL, glow shrimp or the new MirrOMinnow) or popping corks with live shrimp. Redfish will be holding on the flats most of the day. They can tolerate temperature changes much better and will lay up on the flats to let the sun warms the water up. Gold spoons are always the best choice on the flats. Live pinfish or shimp will also work well. Croakers and black drum have been the fish of choice this week. Live or dead shrimp works best. Look for them around the bridges and rock piles along the channels. Ladyfish, jacks and bluefish continue to harass bait fish all over the river. There is always a great variety of fish available along the Indian River! Last minute gift woes???? Stop by the Fishing Center for a GIFT CERTIFICATE for your favorite angler! Or get a GIFT CERTIFICATE at the Fishing Center for a charter with Captain Charlie's Fish Tales! On US-1, just south of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Captain Charlie and Eva. It's the time of year to celebrate the season with family and friends. A special thanks to everyone who fished aboard Fish Tales this past year and made fishing FUN! Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-15-2005 | |
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December 14, 2005 INSHORE: Cold fronts come and go this time of year. The water is cooling off now and the fishing tactics will change as it cools down for winter. This past week bought both warm and cool weather along the Treasure Coast, but the fishing has held up nicely and there are lots of fish to be caught along the Indian River. The water is still dirty around the inlet areas, but clearing up much better as you get away from there. The snook have been biting off and on at night this week. The north bridge in Fort Pierce has provided most of the action along with some of the docks along the inlet. Many are fishing the jetties with mixed luck. The flats have had snook feeding in early mornings and hitting on top water, like Top Pups, Spook Jrs. and Chug Bugs. Chartreuse has been the best color on the boat this week. Chad from Sarasota boated a nice slot size 27" snook on top water this week. There are also some hiding along the mangroves in 2-3 feet of water. We are still catching fish on the MirrOMinnow shallow water lures with great success. Snook season closes at midnight tonight....so don't get caught tomorrow with one!! Trout in the early mornings have been on the flats and chasing top water along with the live bait. Again try chartreuse or red/white colors on the flats. Largest trout this week was a 28" fat and sassy one caught with a MirrOMinnow. Soft baits will work along the grass flats for trout. Try the grass flats around Harbor Branch on either side of the river and also up by Round Island. Trout season opens January 1st! Redfish were in numerous areas all week in the shallow water. From down around the power plant up to Round Island, there were slot size redfish cruising the flats. Gold spoons were working their usual magic on reds. Chad hooked up with a nice slot size and Kevin took second place in the Teen Angler Tournament with his redfish. We boated a nice 27" on a MirrOMinnow. Live shrimp and pinfish will also entice a redfish into biting. George caught his on a live shrimp and popping cork. Spanish mackeral, black drum, croakers, bluefish, ladyfish and jacks are also in the river looking for an easy meal. Fishing around the bridges and rockpiles will help boat some of these fish. Fishing along the channels will find some also. Lots of fish out there now, so get ready and have some fun. Tip of the Week: Remember to use your sunscreen!! Cooler weather and cloudy days can play games with your mind and you just might forget to use that sunscreen. You can still get an unwanted sunburn this time of year! Take a few minutes and splash on some of that 15 or 30 weight to keep your skin protected from those nasty rays of the sun. You will be glad you did! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-09-2005 | |
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December 9, 2005 INSHORE: Other than a few days of another cold front working its way through the Treasure Coast, the fishing has been great most days this past week. Beautiful weather over the weekend and another great weekend ahead of us. The water has been blown again by the winds that hit us mid-week, so the quality will be somewhat less than we like to see. Around the inlets, the water will continue to be milky and dirty for now. The farther you can get from the inlets, the better the water will improve. Snook fishing has remained steady through the week, when you could get out to fish. I had several reports of snook caught around the docks along the inlet, the north bridge and Taylor Creek areas. Bomber lures, jigs and live bait have been the choices of baits. Along the flats, top water, suspending lures, spoons and soft baits have worked well on snook up to 24". The eastern shores by Harbor Branch and Round Island have held snook this week. After sunrise, hit the mangrove edges for great snook action this time of year. Don't forget that snook season closes on December 15th! Lots of redfish were on the flats just prior to the cold front. They should continue to come on the flats to feed throughout the day. Slot size reds are hitting gold spoons, soft baits and live bait in 2-4 feet of water. Largest redfish we caught this week was 27". I have found reds on the eastern shore just about anywhere north of the bridges in Fort Pierce. Round Island continues to produce redfish on the flats around that area. The trout bite continues to be steady in the early mornings. Top water will entice a trout into biting along with spoons and soft baits. Work the areas where you can find cleaner water in 2-4 feet. As the water cleans up, the western shores along Harbor Branch will hold trout in the mornings along with Bear Point and down by the Power Plant. Trout season will re-open on January 1st. Ladyfish were boiling the water this past week. Large schools of ladyfish were along the edges of the flats feeding on glass minnows. When you come across them, toss just about anything at them and you should be on! Remember that redfish love a nice fresh chunk of ladyfish for a mid-morning snack.... Jacks are also patrolling the flats in search of a meal. Pompano are in the river, mostly to the south of Fort Pierce. Heard of some nice sized pomps being caught down towards Stuart area. Tip of the Week: With cooler weather approaching, now is the time to check out your batteries. For some reason, cold weather and batteries don't mix well if they are old and ready to die out on you. With a cold engine, it will take more juice to crank up that motor and that's when you might find yourself wondering what happened to that battery. Take a few minutes now to save yourself a lot of wasted time at the ramp. Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 12-05-2005 | |
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Well, itÃs been a while since my last report, no thanks to Hurricane Katrina and Wilma. Everglades National Park is still closed as of today. You can still fish the waters during day light hours but the runs are long to get there from Key Largo and not as long from Islamorada. The fishing is still good on the flats around the Flamingo area with good size Reds, some big snook and trout. We have been finding these fish on the last part of the outgoing tide, 3 reds were caught in the 10 lb class last week. The creeks and river mouths are holding a lot of bait and also a lot of different varieties of fish, with some good catches, Tom Harder from Deerborn Michigan fished with me last week and had a little slam action with a real nice snook of 33 inches, a couple of other smaller snook and 16 reds, most where in the slot size. Messes of trout were caught and in the end he jumped a small tarpon. His brother Rick caught a lot of reds with a couple of big ones mixed in; the bait of choice has been live pilchards. Black drum are here as well, most fish averaging 5 lbs in the creeks, we havenÃt been able to find any big ones yet, but the live shrimp was working well. Those of you fishing the area be careful running through some of the shallower channels and creeks as there are a lot of trees and stumps in the water some buried underwater where you canÃt see! Biscayne Bay bone fishing is very good right now. The average fish is 7 to 9 lbs. There are schools of bigger fish taken on live shrimp, which are running now, and the shrimp size is pretty good. A lot of these bones are taken on fly, in the last 2 weeks the fish have been schooling more and tailing less. Any small pink jigs with a tiny rubber tail will work when these fish are schooled up as well. Outside of Biscayne Bay weÃve catching mutton snapper averaging 5 to 6 lbs, some up to 10 lbs off the patches out in deeper water. Smaller grouper, some legal some not, are plentiful with a mixed bag of mackerel, mangrove snapper and small cobia showing up from time to time, I am looking forward to getting some bigger cobia here soon. I still have some availability open, so if you are interested in some flats or backcountry fishing just email or give me a call. Tight lines and gin clear waters! Capt. Jim Hale Cane Polinà Charters 800-950-FINS,Ext. 1 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 12-01-2005 | |
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December 1, 2005 INSHORE: Can you believe it's already December??? The holidays are already upon us. The weather has been more cooperative this week for a change. Some wind and rain, but nothing to keep an angler off the water. The water has been clearing up somewhat and should continue to improve if the winds hold off for a little while longer. Round Island and along a lot of the eastern shorelines are looking cleaner. The flats have been productive in spite of the water conditions. Snook have been the best bite this week on the flats. I tried the new MirrOMinnow shallow water lure this week. The snook were all over it from the first cast. Fifteen snook later, I was a believer! If you can find the new 19MR lure, fish it along the mangroves and let it sink under them and hang on. All the snook this week ran from 18 - 24 inches on the flats. Reports are still that some night snook are being taken around the north bridge and around Taylor Creek area. Only a couple more weeks until snook season closes on December 15th. We are still getting some redfish up on the flats. Some up to 27 inches are hitting gold spoons and top water in the mornings. As the water warms up, the redfish will become more active on the flats during the day. Also around the docks and mangroves will be holding some redfish. The flats around Round Island will generally hold redfish this time of year. Trout are hitting well in the mornings, even though the season remains closed through December. Some up to 20" are hitting spoons, live shrimp and soft baits in the mornings in 2 - 4 feet of water. Try a popping cork with your live shrimp. Just release any trout you catch. Try top water at first light for a chance at a feeding trout on the flats. Bear Point and Harbor Branch is always productive for trout. Jacks are still roaming the river and doing what jacks do best.......attack the baitfish! Top water, spoons and jigs will produce some fun action with some nice size jacks just about anywhere in the river right now. Light tackle will provide even more excitement to your day. Enjoy yourself and have some fun! Still hearing of flounder being caught around the inlet and bridges. Live shrimp is always the best choice along with live pinfish or mullet. A hungry flounder will also attack soft baits and spoons if presented their direction. Tip of the Week: With the continual fronts working their way through the area this time of year, now is the time to prepare for changing your tactics. As the water cools off, fish will head to deeper water where it's warmer and become slower moving. Working your baits slower will help make your trip more productive. As the sun warms up the water, the fish will also move into shallower areas to feed. Make sure you are ready to try something different. The fish are out there and still need to eat. Be willing to try different methods this time of year. And above all.......have FUN!! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Jake Smith | Date Posted: | 11-28-2005 | |
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Hey everyone, Jake here. Recently this past weekend I went to West End, Bahamas. The reports good. The first day was alright with 5 small dolphin and 1 wahoo that got eaten by a shark. We fished north of White Sands along the bank and trolled down to Memory Rock. The second day we trolled all day between west end and Memory. The depth was anywhere between 150 and 500 along the drop. We coaght 4 wahoo that day, 3 being about 40 pounds and the one was a nice 60 pounder. 3 out of the 4 hoo's hit on a planner rigged with a islander lure and a ballyhoo. They did not bite at any certain time either. All of the bites were spread out about hour and a half periods. We also had plenty of cuda bites but we went 4 for 4 on the wahoo's. The thrird day was slow. We put the lines in at sunrise and the tide was perfect for the wahoo, outgoing tides better. We started trolling north along the bank and we got a couple of knochdowns but never had a chance at the fish, never saw what it was either. We trolled almost 35 miles up the bank and ended up with 1 small wahoo about 15 pounds and a couple of cuda and 1 shark. That was horrible. The trip ended up being an alright trip with the wahoo's just starting to show up. As december and january show up the Wahoo bite on the bank should get better. I'll keep everyone posted if i hear anything else. If anyone else has a report, post it. Thanks, Jake |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-24-2005 | |
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November 24, 2005 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! Best wishes to everyone on this Thanksgiving Day and hope you have a wonderful day to celebrate with family and friends! INSHORE: It has been difficult to find many days that the wind hasn't been blowing this past week. Cooler temps came into the area this week and we will enjoy a nice fall weekend here on the Treasure Coast. Water temperatures will drop considerably with this front and you will have to look at deeper water or cuts to fish. There are still snook being caught around the bridges and inlet areas. Mostly at night using jigs or live baits. Some tarpon have been coming around the inlet at night. Also fish around the docks and deeper cuts along the mangroves for snook action. Top water will continue to be productive in early mornings and late evenings. Trout should be biting in early mornings in 2-4 feet of water. Try top water or live bait on popping corks. Don't forget that trout season is still closed, so only catch and release for now. Jacks and ladyfish will continue to feed around the river and hitting most anything you toss their way. As the water warms up during the day, look for redfish to move onto the flats to feed. Spoons, soft baits or live bait will be your best choices during the day. Also look for some redfish hanging around the docks and bridges in deeper water. We should be looking at a great weekend for fishing and hope you get a chance to get out there! Stop by the Fishing Center of St Lucie on the way and check out all the great selections of gear and tackle. Clint just received the newest Mirrolure shallow water lures. The 19MR shallow water should prove to be a very effective lure in this area for most fish. Stop by and get one while they last! On US-1, just south of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. Tip of the Week: Take time today to spend time with your family and friends. Our best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving! Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-09-2005 | |
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November 9, 2005 INSHORE: Looks like the weather will feel a little like fall weather this week. Lower night temps in the 60's will bring mild conditions to the Treasure Coast. The water temps will start dropping off with the cooler night temps. The water conditions are still dirty and hopefully it will improve some by the weekend. The trout bite has remained good in spite of the water. Early morning top water lures have offered the best opportunities for trout fishing. Live shrimp has made it a challenge catching a trout before the many catfish in the river attack it. As the water clears, the trout fishing will continue to improve. Snook fishing has remained decent at night around the bridges and inlet. Most of the action has been around the north bridge and Taylor Creek. Early morning can also find snook up on the flats feeding. Top water will work well at first light for snook. Spook Jrs., Chug Bugs and Top Pups have been working best this week. Redfish have been in the deeper cuts of the mangroves along with the bridges, docks and inlet. As the sun warms things up, you will find them moving onto the flats later in the mornings to find a snack. Jigs and soft baits have worked well on reds. I have been keeping to the lighter colors with the dirty water conditions. As usual, the jacks and ladyfish are everywhere and beating most fish to the punch. There are so many in the river, it's a challenge not to catch one! But they are fun to catch anyway so enjoy them while they are here. Flounder are still being caught around the bridges and jetties along with the deeper cuts of the mangroves. Soft baits and small pinfish are working best right now. Pompano are making their way into the river and beaches. Looks like fall is coming to the Treasure Coast. Tip of the Week: Take a kid fishing soon! There is no smile wider and no eyes brighter than watching a child reel in their first fish. Even though they usually want to take it home, name it and keep it as a pet.....but watching a kid enjoying a fishing experience is a rewarding experience. My little granddaughter is growing up fast and I keep showing her the boat and fishing rods.....and she is only three months old! Make your heart feel good and take a kid fishing soon! No report next week as my brother and family, myself and one of my best friends are all heading out on a cruise to relax and enjoy being together. I am looking forward to getting together with all of them. Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 11-03-2005 | |
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November 3, 2005 INSHORE: Cooler weather this week has brought some showers and winds to the Treasure Coast. It finally cleared up some of Wednesday and should continue to improve into the weekend. Water temps have dropped into the 70's from the cold front and cooler night temps. Now if the water can just have time to clear up before the next front moves through..... Trout fishing has really picked up in the river. Early mornings with top water have been providing lots of trout action on the flats. Live baits should be pigfish, pinfish or mullet. Live shrimp will also work, but the trout have to compete with the many catfish in the river for a tasty shrimp right now. Clint and I had forgotten that trout season closed November 1st and will remain closed until January 1st. Snook fishing has been improving at night along the jetties, bridges and turning basin. The north bridge in Fort Pierce has been the most active recently. Live baits and jigs will provide the best opportunity at a keeper snook. The flats will be active in the early mornings and late evenings for snook action. Try some top water as the water smoothes out on the flats along the mangroves. There is still a nice redfish bite on the flats. With the cooler water temps, move around the deeper cuts of the mangroves for a chance at a slot size redfish. Soft baits worked slowly across the bottom will give you a good chance at one. Also there are a number of reports of nice sized flounder around the inlet and flats. I know Doug from Florida Fish and Hunt found himself a nice fluke hole! I found a couple nice 24" flounder in a deep cut along the mangroves this week. Live bait fished on the bottom along with soft baits fished slowly will entice a flattie into biting. Jacks and ladyfish are still patrolling the river and wreaking havoc everywhere. Lots of fun to catch when things slow down. Just toss about anything at them and they will rip into it. Hopefully, the pompano will be showing up in the river soon and provide more fun on the water. You can find all your tackle and gear needs at the Fishing Center of St Lucie. Each week brings yet another new shipment of fishing stuff that we all need! Live and frozen bait is always available. Get your snook jigs at the Fishing Center, just south of Seaway Drive on US-1 in Fort Pierce. Stop by and let Clint or Kelly help you get set up for your next fishing adventure! Tip of the Week: Keep the latest Florida Fishing Regulations handy along with a way to measure your fish. Seasons open and close and slot sizes can be confusing. Don't ruin your day by keeping a fish that could cost you much more than you wish. Know size and seasons when you fish and have fun out there on the water. Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-27-2005 | |
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October 27, 2005 INSHORE: I hope everyone weathered Hurricane Wilma safe. She roared through Southeast Florida on Monday. For the past several days, fishing has only been a wish! I have boarded up six houses for the storm and am now in the process of taking down shutters, repairing roofs and soffitts and cleaning up tree limbs. Seems so much like just thirteen months ago. Wilma was one bad storm!! Winds and rain were much worse than either Frances or Jeanne. Lots of damage all over. We were some of the fortunate ones that got power back early this time. At least the cooler weather has made it more tolerable than last year. I am sure the water has been churned up and it will be a while before things can get back to normal. Lots of flooding will bring lots of fresh water flowing into the river. I will be back out this weekend to fish again and check out the river. For now, I will be helping repair damages around town and get things back in order again. I hope all of you are well and safe. I will see you on the water soon! The Fishing Center of St Lucie is back up and running as of Tuesday. Live bait should be arriving this week again. Clint and Kelly weathered the storm and are ready to get you back on the water. Stop by and see what new tackle has arrived. They have a good stock of Captain Mike's Spoons for your flats fishing trips! On US-1, just south of Seaway Drive. Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-20-2005 | |
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October 19, 2005 †INSHORE: Another week....another storm brewing out there.†Looks like things could get wet and windy once again.†The water hasn't went down since last storm and here comes more.†Sure has been one wet season this year.†Last weekend was nice for fishing, but this week has had it's ugly days of wind and rain.†We will see what happens this weekend though with Wilma contemplating heading this way. Trout fishing has picked up this week and fishing early or late with top water has been the best bet selection for trout.†Pat caught and released three nice slot size trout this week.†Start in two to three feet of water at first light.†Hopefully you will be able to find some clean water after the coming weekend.†It might get a little windy over the weekend around here.†North of the bridges on the east side has been good this week.†South on the eastern side where you can find clean water.†Night fishing for snook has been decent around the inlet, docks and bridges.†Early morning on the flats has been productive one day and quiet the next.†Live baits and jigs at night works best and top water in early mornings on the flats will give you the best shot at a snook.†There is no lack of bait pods for the fish to feed off of.††Presentation is your most important opportunity this time of year.†Your lure or bait has to look much more enticing than all that bait swimming around out there.†Redfish has been slow the past couple of weeks with all the dirty water, but should improve once the water can have a chance to clear up again.†There are plenty of jacks and bluefish out there ripping up the bait.†A light rod will provide lots of fun on the flats.†Pat boated a 24" bluefish this week.†Six year old Dominic had his hands full reeling in a number of big jacks, but managed to get them all boated.†He did a great job fishing that day! Tip of the Week: Take some time and check out your hurricane preparations.†We hope it doesn't come this way, but don't wait until the last minute to get ready.†Gas lines have already been long and some stations running out of gas already.†Remember last year and don't get caught unprepared.†Let's all be safe and get through this together! Have a safe weekend.†Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-13-2005 | |
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October 12, 2005 INSHORE: The weather has cleared up this week and provided great fishing conditions. The water is still somewhat stirred up from all the recent rain and winds, but there is lots of bait in the river still and the feeding frenzy continues this week. The water level continues to be higher than normal with all the runoff and that will allow fishing some areas not normally accessible. Snook are being taken along the bridges and turning basin at night. Live bait and jigs are the best choices for night fishing. Early mornings will find snook feeding on the bait schools on the flats. Top water will get you some nice blasts at daybreak. We caught some nice snook from 18" to 24" this week and lost one 30+ on the flats. Gold spoons have also proved to work great on snook just after sunrise. Trout are biting on the flats at daylight on top water and also hitting soft baits and gold spoons. Some nice slot size trout are out there enjoying the bait pods. Look for clean water later in the morning and try some live shrimp on popping corks. Bear Point will pick up as the water clears. Try around the flats from the Power Plant and also up around Harbor Branch on the west side. If you find bait....you should find fish! Jacks are everywhere in numbers and wreaking havoc all over the flats. There are some large schools out there ripping into the bait and providing lots of fun for light tackle anglers. Ladyfish are also in on the fall feeding and both will hit just about anything you toss their way. Captain Mike's Willow Spoons are now available at the Fishing Center of St Lucie. Stop by and check out the great selection for both inshore and offshore fishing. Let Clint or Kelly help you get set up for that next fishing adventure! On US-1 just south of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. Tip of the Week: I love being on the water. There is so much wildlife out there to enjoy while fishing or just taking a lazy boat ride. Watching an egret diving for dinner. Today, several manatees were playing all over the flats around me. Egrets steadily working the shallow flats for their lunch. We live in a wonderful area and I hope you take the time to appreciate the wildlife that inhabit your favorite fishing spots. Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 10-07-2005 | |
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Capt. Jim HaleÃs Florida and Biscayne Bay fishing report from 9/1/05 to 10/6/05 Fishing days have been numbered throughout September by tropical systems and too much fresh water in Biscayne Bay and in parts of Florida Bay. Florida Bay is coming back with a lot less fresh water than three weeks ago. My usual flats for the bonefish in Biscayne Bay are just now starting to hold fish again. Since the South Florida water management was letting out a lot of the fresh water into the Bay the ratio of fresh to salt was extremely high. This is my first fishing report since Hurricane Katrina and the following has been my observations while fishing. The landscape has changed in Florida Bay in some areas such as Cape Sable, Lake Ingram, Shark River and some of the run offs into Florida Bay common from Hurricane Katrina. Some of my targeted spots for fishing under and by mangroves and points are now under water or have washed away, making for numerous snags, but hasnÃt deterred the fish from eating, as a matter of fact it has made for more protection for the fish looking for their next meal! Black Drum started showing up early this year, they have not been the 20 to 30 lbers, but we have caught them up to 10lbs in the deeper cuts with good water flow using shrimp tipped jigs. Along with the drum some good-sized reds have also been taken. Fishing the mangroves around Florida Bay has been producing good to a very good snook bite. Some days are producing up to 20 fish a day and the average size has been in the keeper range, most all of these fish have been released to catch another day. Tarpon of all sizes are still here in some of the deeper water around the flats. The bite, however, was not that great because the fish must have been full from all the baitfish around. I have jumped a couple of big poons on the gulf side, seems to be a lot of them over there. The flats around Flamingo have been red hot on some days and other days the only bite is from that horse fly doing circles around the boat that just wont leave you alone! I had the pleasure of taking Bob Maucher, from Outdoor Florida Magazine, out last week. We fished the flats for reds and snook and had a pretty decent day catching 5 good-sized reds and missing a whole lot more. Just one of those days where the fish didnÃt like the hook, we saw an estimated 100 fish tailing the flats, no schools but singles everywhere. We were field-testing some of the baits I had mentioned in my last report, mostly Gambler plastics. They have come out with a new line and the 5î super stud bleeding shrimp was knocking the redfish out. Gambler also has a bullet weight that is no slide and can be brought up and down on the leader that I feel in love with. Spike-It holographic baits made by grand bay lures have been a great snook lure fishing them in potholes on the flats or around mangroves. I want to thank Val Osinski for supplying us with Gambler lures and hope that the future anglers out there can see the value of what I believe to be a great lure. More reports from Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay will be coming soon. LetÃs pray for some good weather and some better fishing conditions. If you are eager to bend a rod on some of these reds and snook call Island Fishing Adventures and book today. Tight lines and gin clear water Capt. Jim Hale Cane Polinà Charters 800-950-FINS, ext. 1 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 10-06-2005 | |
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October 5, 2005 INSHORE: Fishing was a little spoiled this week by Tropical Storm Tammy, when she blew up the coastline and greeted us with winds and rain most of the week. The river has been stirred up quite well, but there is fishing to do out there. It looks like it should calm down somewhat by the weekend and maybe things can get back to a little normality again. Well.....let's at least hope so. I can see lightning off in the distance this evening so who can tell what tomorrow will bring us. Look for clean water this week on the river and you should find fish. It will take a few days for things to clear up again, but the fish gotta eat! Early mornings will continue to be productive on the flats with top water lures. Trout, snook and jacks will be dining at sunrise, so plan on being there early. The water will be higher than normal with all the runoff, so be willing to try around the mangroves where the water will be deeper than normal and holding fish. Soft baits will be productive along the edges along with top water and jigs. Base your color selection on the water quality. Darker colors for clean water and lighter colors for cloudy water. Look for the redfish to head to the flats after sun-up and hitting spoons, soft baits and live bait. One to three feet of water should be good to find some redfish action. Also fish along the docks along the river to hunt for some reds. If the wind calms down, fish along the western shorelines to find some redfish. Taylor Creek has continued to be productive for snook. Fishing around the bridges and turning basin has also turned in some snook catches this week. Live baits along with jigs have been the choice of most anglers for snook action. The weather has affected the fish action most of the week, but it should pickup now that the storm has passed by us. Night fishing has provided the best chances at a hookup. Some undersize and slot sized snook have been taken this week. Some reports of flounder being taken under the bridges and along the inlet area this week. Live baits will be the best bet to use. It's hard for a flounder to resist a nice juicy shrimp drifting by..... Tip of the Week: Safe boating is every ones responsibility. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offer several boating courses to teach boating skills and seamanship. Many insurance companies will offer discounts on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete a course. There are too many boat operators that have little knowledge of safe boating. If you haven't checked into a course....do so today! All classes are taught at the Flotilla Headquarters, 1400 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL. I had a great time last week visiting my family in West Virginia. Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-22-2005 | |
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September 22, 2005 INSHORE: It was a short week of fishing due to the winds and rain from lovely Rita passing though South Florida. Hopefully, Texas will be spared the devastation that Katrina left in the Gulf. There are still some winds out there and offshore will be a mess for a few days, but it's clearing up and this weekend should provide some great fishing weather. Earlier in the week, the snook fishing continued to be productive around the docks, bridges and inlets. Red-tail Hawks are still the lure of choice along with live shrimp, mullet and pin fish. Night fishing has provided the best chances at a keeper snook. Mornings are great for a top water lure on the flats. Charlie McClure reported catching several large snook around the boils on live greenies with one a nice 33" keeper. Some nice trout have been caught on the flats early in the mornings. Harbor Branch and the Moorings have been giving up some nice trout this week. Top water at first light is the best opportunity for a keeper trout along with live baits in 2-4 feet of water on the flats. Redfish are still hitting in the mornings on the shallow flats. Some nice slot size are hitting top water and spoons in the first several hours after sunrise. Look for them in 1-3 feet of clean water. Zara Spooks, Top Pups and Chug Bugs are great top water this time of year. Jacks are everywhere both in the river and off the beach. Some bigger jacks have come into the river chasing the bait fish all over. Watch for the showering mullet and you will find a school of hungry jacks feeding on them. Charlie also reported seeing some rolling tarpon around Bear Point over the weekend. You will also find some hanging around Little Mud Creek. Very early morning fishing is required to get a chance at a hookup. Live bait and top water will be your best bet at fishing for tarpon. The Fishing Center of St Lucie has all the best snook lures. Need some good advice on what to use for that snook fishing adventure? Heading offshore? They have the best selection for all your offshore fishing needs. Plenty of live and frozen bait for that day on the water. Stop by today and check out the Fishing Center of St Lucie. On US-1 just south of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. Tip of the Week: Do you have a First Aid Kit on your boat? I am sure that most boaters have included one as part of their equipment. Check it out a few times a year and make sure it has everything included that you might need for an emergency. There are many chance accidents that can occur on the water. Having the right supplies to handle an embedded hook or nasty cut can help minimize a lot of accidental situations. Have emergency numbers handy in case you encounter an incident that might require medical help. Hopefully, you will never be faced with any kind of accident, but have the sense to be prepared for one should it happen to you. I won't have a report next week, as I will be visiting my mom and pop in WV. Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell) |
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Posted By: | Jake Smith | Date Posted: | 09-16-2005 | |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-15-2005 | |
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September 15, 2005 †INSHORE: This past week, most of the moisture had been sucked up by Ophelia as she headed north of us.†It provided good fishing conditions with lighter winds and less chance of rain all week.†The water has cleaned up nicely and the fall mullet run is in full swing now.†The river is loaded with bait and the feeders are following it along the river and oceanside.†It a great time of year along the Treasure Coast.†Snook anglers are enjoying good action around the inlets, beaches and along the lighted docks.†Jigs and live baits have been the choice of most fishermen.†Most have been undersize with some slots being taken.†Snook are hitting the flats early at first light for a breakfast snack and will be hitting top water in early mornings.†Look for some ladyfish and jacks to also be out there feasting on the bait.†Most of the flats will be productive with all the bait in the river.†I have been having luck on Top Pups, Chug Bugs and Zara Spooks.†You can find trout hitting in early morning on the same flats and hitting the same top water plugs.†Round Island and Bear Point have been producing trout on top water and live baits.†I have been using popping corks with live shrimp for trout in deeper water later in the mornings.†Redfish are hitting at sunrise and well into the mornings.†Again, top water early and switch to gold spoons or live bait later as the sun warms up the water.†Most flats have been producing redfish so there are many good places to fish this time of year.†Round Island and Harbor Branch flats have been coughing up redfish as of late. Tarpon will be following the bait into the inlets and along the beaches.†Live baits will be the best choice for a hookup.†Top water at first light will be working, too.†There will be plenty of sharks, bonito and jacks along the beaches to keep you busy working a reel.†Have fun and be safe out there. There have been good catches of mangrove snapper around the bridges, rocks and mangroves using shrimp.†Some flounder have been caught along the inlet and channels.†We have caught some black drum around the bridges this week.†Live shrimp has worked well for us.†Stop by the Fishing Center of St Lucie and check out the new shipment of Captain Mike's Weedless Spoons.†They are the best spoons on the market and continually prove to be productive on the flats.†They won't last long!†(It's the only spoon I use!) Need some good advice on what's biting and what to use?†Let Clint or Kelly help you get rigged up for your fishing adventure.†Great selection and great prices!†On US-1 just south of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. Tip of the Week: I keep seeing more and more anglers fishing the flats.†Some of them don't seem to know how precious those flats are to the Treasure Coast.†There are always a few boats that motor around on the flats and churn up the bottom, destroying grasses and productive bottom.†Those flats are in enough distress from other issues and we shouldn't contribute to their demise by lack of concern or care by those who fish it.†Be careful and protect our fishing areas, because if we destroy them....the fish will no longer stay! Have a great week on the water.†Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 09-08-2005 | |
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September 7, 2005 INSHORE: Those brave enough to endure the winds and rain that stirred up the water most of the week had a decent week of fishing. It was a difficult time most days for anglers to find areas to fish without getting blown out. Of course, the fish don't care if you are wet and miserable out there. The weather should improve some this week, depending on what Tropical Storm Ophelia decides to do. Right now she is out there festering off the Florida coast. We could get more wind and rain if it continues to stall out there or comes near the coast. Snook season began quietly due to the midweek start of the season but picked up by the weekend. There are lots of snook in the river and inlet right now and those brave enough have been catching some keepers along with some going on both sides of the slot. Hawk tail jigs and live baits have worked best along the inlet and bridges. Need some good advice......ask Clint at the Fishing Center! Early mornings have produced good snook fishing on the flats for the top water anglers. Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs are good choices for top water lures. Harbor Branch and Round Island have been great areas to fish lately. With the fall mullet run in progress, snook and many other species will be feeding along the beaches of the Treasure Coast. Redfish are still being caught on the flats. Most have come after sunrise and on gold spoons or top water. They will move in as the tides change and feed in the shallows. Lots of bait fish in the river now so lots of predators out there feeding! Expect to pick up some ladyfish or jacks while you are fishing the flats. Harbor Branch has been continually productive this summer and should continue to be active with all the bait arriving. Trout are being caught in the early mornings on top water. Head down by the Power Plant and Bear Point for good areas to fish for trout. Live shrimp will work also in the mornings. Look for 2-4 feet of clean water in those areas. Some nice size trout are in the river feeding on the many bait pods throughout the river. Stop by the Fishing Center of St Lucie on your way to your favorite fishing hole. Get some great bait, tackle and advice from Clint and Kelly. That's where I get all my fishing gear! They have my favorite lures and colors for all my inshore fishing, along with a fantastic offshore selection. Stop by and see what's happening in Fort Pierce today! Tip of the Week: The Indian River is a beautiful waterway loaded with mangroves, islands and wildlife. It's sad to see how some people abuse the waters. PLEASE keep your trash in your boat and dispose of it properly. It's disgusting to see how some have such little respect for the rivers on our coast. Take a little pride and keep our waters clean so our coming generations can enjoy the fishing and scenery that we have enjoyed ourselves. I want my granddaughter to catch those redfish that I often tell about in my reports! Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good fishing and be safe, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com 772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 |
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Posted By: | Jake Smith | Date Posted: | 09-06-2005 | |
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Hey everyone, Jake here. I've been fishing out of Jupiter Inlet this past weekend and I went out in my 21 seepro. We castneted all the bait we needed just inside the inlet at about 7 am and we went out. We started filling the baot up with bonitos when we hooked up on a sail in about 90 ft. off of greenroofs. We had to chase the sail and got the leader, then snaped him off. We caught 2 more sails, 1 king, and 13 bone heads. We had a fun time and I hope everyone gets a chance to get out sometime because the sail bite is on rite now. Thanks, Jake |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 08-31-2005 | |
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Cane Polinà Charters Fishing report August 6 through August 31, 2005 For the most part August has turned out to be a good month for inshore fishing. Though, this last week I was fishing for tree limbs. My fishing rod was a 16î Stihl chain saw and back up was a Ridgid wet vac. Before the hurricane, sweltering heat and typical Florida afternoon thunderstorm have tried to make it difficult to fish later in the day. Fishing in the mornings was still our best bet. I have not fished since the 24th of August due to Hurricane Katrina but prior to that I can report from Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay. In Florida Bay there are still a lot of schools of redfish. They once again dominated the flats. On the average these schools have about 50 fish in them. Some days IÃm chasing school after school and other days the schools split up and you see single tailers every where you look. Mike Stasko, of Cutler Ridge, FL, fished along with me and we managed to only catch 6 out of who knows how many reds we saw. The last day I fished was the day before the hurricane hit. I looked for the redfish all morning long and couldnÃt find them. After searching the entire flat I went back to the place I originally started from and where IÃve been seeing them religiously. There, they appeared in schools in front of the boat. The water was getting low but there were many schools of redfish still around the boat. A couple of quick casts into these schools and 6 redfish were released in 20 minutes. The fish averaged 6 lbs. with a couple of 8Ãs. The redfish that are tailing are a little more finicky and a little spooky. On the Westside of the park the tarpon are showing up in large numbers from Cape Sable to Harney River. The out-going tide with the bait pushing out into the bay have the tarpon going crazy. IÃve seen fish as small as 40 lbs and up to est. 180 lbs in these waters. In Middle Cape we jumped two in thirty minutes on live finger mullet (quarter-ounce jigs will work as well). Small tarpon are still on the flats rolling in the morning. These fish are only around 15 lbs. They are easily taken on fly. The fly I like is the light green color LeftyÃs Deceiver or white minnow patterns will work. The snook are still along the beaches and an out-going tide seems to be the best. Fishing around mangroves with water movement is holding these fish. In the second week of August I had the pleasure of fishing with Mike Leech (Ambassador of the IGFA) and his son Eric. He had the pleasure in seeing South Biscayne Bay for all it can be. Mike and Eric spent the morning chasing and casting on many schools of bones. All the bones early in the morning were tailing in extremely shallow water, kind of spooky and would not eat. At the next spot we chased school after school and finally managed to hook up on an 8 and 10 lb and missed a couple more. We were using live crabs the size of a quarter. The permit were on the outside and along channel edges on an out-going tide. There were also small pods of tarpon rolling just off Elliot Key on calm mornings, once again the green Lefty Deceiver is my fly of choice. Next month hopefully I will be field-testing some new inshore baits by some of the leading manufacturers and will give you a report on how well these baits produced. Because of Hurricane Katrina, the fresh water run off to the Bay will shake up fishing for a week or so. But I expect it to return to normal in the beginning of September. I will be on the water everyday awaiting their return and I will let you know next time how the waters are doing. Good luck to everyone who was affected by Katrina and I hope the clean up goes easily and quickly. Tight lines and gin clear water! Capt. Jim Hale www.CanePolinCharters.com 800-950-FINS 786-255-1788 |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-18-2005 | |
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August 18, 2005 INSHORE: Obviously, Dog Days have arrived here on the Treasure Coast. The highs are in the low to mid 90's and the heat index is much higher. Early morning, late evening or night fishing is the best times to get out and beat part of that heat. Keep hydrated out there and use plenty of sunscreen. The winds have been mild and should continue this pattern into next week. Ladyfish have been throughout the river and in a feeding frenzy at daylight. I started the week with a red and white Zara Spook that now has half the paint missing. I love hearing a top water lure getting blasted just before the sun starts to light up the sky. Jacks are also out there ripping through the bait pods. Find some deep holes with structure and you will find plenty of snapper. While most will be smaller, there are keepers lurking amidst them. Some good snapper fishing can be found along the deeper cuts of the spoil islands. Live shrimp works best. Snook and trout are on the flats early in the mornings and hitting top water for a few short hours at daylight. Largest this week was a 30" snook in one foot of water on that red and white Zara Spook. Move to deeper water around the docks and mangroves later in the mornings with live bait or soft plastics. Look for clean water and you should find the fish. Harbor Branch and Bear Point are producing some nice catches. The redfish schools are heading up on the flats at first light and working them for a few hours before heading off to deeper grounds. They are in schools up to over a hundred fish and most are slot sized from 20 - 27 inches. Once this week, we were totally surrounded by reds circling the boat. They are hitting top water, but expect a lot of misses this way. Gold spoons have remained the best choice of lures along with live or cut baits. Keep the noise down and movement to a minimum so you won't scare them. Some tarpon are still in the river. Best bets are the Moorings, Big and Little Mud Creeks. If you don't get there early, look for little cooperation from these fish. Top water and live baits have been working well for the early birds. The Fishing Center of St Lucie now carries Falcon graphite rods. Stop in and check them out along with Star, Rogue and many other rod choices. How old in your fishing line? Clint or Kelly can re-spool your reel with your favorite fishing line. Need some advice on fishing? Stop by and find out what's biting today. On US 1 just south of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. Tip of the Week: Keep a hook file in your tackle box to sharpen the hooks on your favorite lure. Many fish are missed or get off by not getting a good set on your hook. Tarpon especially have an iron mouth and unless your hook is very sharp, you will most likely lose it. They are inexpensive and can help make your fishing more rewarding. Just don't hook yourself!! Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-11-2005 | |
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August 11, 2005 INSHORE: It has been another gorgeous week watching the sun rise across the flats of the Indian River. Light winds have left the water very calm in the early mornings along the Treasure Coast. The water in the Fort Pierce area has remained clean in most areas, especially above the bridges. The shallow flats are full of bait and have many predators following it for an early morning snack. Get out early this month to have the best opportunities of hooking up with one of them. Get you fishing in early and be off the water before the afternoon thunderstorms brew up. They have been pretty nasty of late, so you donÃt want to get caught on the water in one of them. Redfish are still coming up on the flats in the early morning. Top water, spoons and live bait have been the best choices for hooking up with a nice slot size redfish. They have been cruising one to three feet of water for several hours after sunrise and move off to deeper water as the sun warms things up. They are being caught on most of the flats along the river, with most catches coming off the eastern shore. Gary from Melbourne landed two nice slot sizes up to 27î and Dustin from Tampa boated a nice 21î. Stealth mode is mandatory while fishing on the flats with the cleaner water and clear skies. Snook have been on the flats early and moving to the mangroves as the water heats up. Top water early and spoons or jigs later under the mangroves. Round Island and Harbor Branch areas have produced snook this week. Look for the deeper cuts along the mangroves. Remember, snook season is still closed until September 1st, so get a photo and release your catch unharmed. Ray from Port St Lucie boated a 23î snook this week around Harbor Branch. The trout bite has been at sunrise and can last a couple of hours until things heat up out there. Use top water or spoons along with live shrimp on popping corks. East of Harbor Branch produced trout as well as the Moorings. Round Island also gave up some sea trout to top water lures. Also good reports of trout and snook around the flats of the Power Plant. ItÃs a short time span in the morning to fish for them so plan your mornings early!! Some tarpon have been hanging around the inlets and channels. Big and Little Mud have some poons hanging in there also. Top water and live bait are the best presentations to use. Jacks and ladyfish have been all across the flats. Live bait, top water and the kitchen sink seems to work best on these aggressive fish. Have some fun, especially with the kids and put them on some of these fun fish. They sure are out there begging to be caught. I had the pleasure of fishing with Captain Al Bernetti of Teen Anglers this week. We chased three schools of redfish for a couple of hours and after several short hookups, we boated a nice 27î beauty. It was a great day on the water. If you want to get involved with a great organization, contact Captain Al at the website at: www.TeenAnglers.org Check out the website and see how you can help. ItÃs a great organization and an even greater bunch of middle and high school youth that participate in the program. If you are going to the Orlando Boat show, stop by the Teen Anglers Fishing Zone on August 13th. Find out how you can help get a chapter organized in your areaÖyouÃll be glad you did! It was a privilege to have the opportunity to fish with some great guys on Saturday at Round Island in "The Little Tourney" put on by Doug from Florida Fish and Hunt. Everyone had a fantastic time out there on the water. From kayak to skiff to flats boat, we spread across the river in search of a good days fishing. Quite a few fish were caught in spite of the summer heat, but sea trout caught by Team Pavers were destined to win the tournament. To check out their website go to : www.floridafishandhunt.com Clint and Kelly are back from vacation and the Fishing Center of St Lucie are keeping the anglers of Fort Pierce well stocked. If you havenÃt stopped by lately, you are missing out on a great selection of tackle and equipment for all your fishing needs. And I am sure you can get a few tidbits on where they are biting in the area! and yes they are biting out there.... Tell them that Captain Charlie sent you. Tip of the Week: How organized do you keep your boat? We all have lots and lots of STUFF that we need aboard. Some of it required and some of it our preference. No matter what you take out on your trip, keep it organized and stowed properly. I know that most of us donÃt have the storage to hold everything that we bring, so make sure you have an area to stow equipment. Keep a clear pathway from bow to stern to prevent trip hazards. Make sure lures hanging on your rods arenÃt in a position to impale anyone. Just simply have a little safety on your mind as you load your boat and as you use your equipment throughout the day. No one wants to end the day with an accident that could have been easily prevented. Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 08-05-2005 | |
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Cane Polinà Charters Fishing report July 10th through August 5, 2005 July through early August fishing has been pretty good in the mornings. After noon the bite slows down because of the heat. Some water temperatures in east Florida Bay had read 92 degrees in the afternoon. If you are looking to do some good fishing in the afternoon the best bet is to fish after the daily storms and showers have diminished. Sometimes these conditions are the best. Redfish love to tail and feed in rain cooled calm waters. My report this time is very short, as I have only fished about 10 days in the backcountry. As I mentioned in my last report I took some time off the backcountry and went offshore. The Lights and Sirens Tournament held by Island Fishing Adventures in Bimini, Bahamas was surely a blast with the Fireman winning the event. I had an extra week to remain and fish and ended up cleaning up the dolphin, grouper and snapper. The weather was a little sketchy going over with some high seas. The return however was a different story. It was smooth sailing with birds working schools of dolphin everywhere. Now that IÃm back in my norm of the backcountry, I have been seeing numerous amounts of bonefish and tailing permit in Biscayne Bay. The bones are averaging 10 lbs. We boated one on Tuesday at 13lb and change. The permit are a healthy 25lb average and the schools are fast moving. Most of my clients finish fishing by noon as the heat kills both, the bite and us on the boat. The same pattern has been happening in Florida Bay with the heat. The redfish and snook just quit hitting by noon. After a good shower or storm the bite came back on. A couple of days after charters I stayed and fished by myself after the storms passed. Having to come in and take cover from the lightning, I would proceed to go back out to my flats and find the redfish and snook back out for another bite in later part of the day. This bite, though, is not as strong as early in the day. Some mornings are holding large schools of reds in skinny water, other days we are finding them but in singles tailing, these fish have been kind of spooky. DonÃt forget the slimy bones that are still in the Florida Bay backcountry, these guys have been showing themselves early on calm mornings. Well IÃm back from vacation and back on the boat. IÃll talk to you all again in about two weeks for an update. Tight lines and Gin clear water! Capt. Jim Hale www.canepolincharters.com 786-255-1788 800-950-FINS |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 08-05-2005 | |
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August 4, 2005 INSHORE: Catch of the Week: I am so excited to announce that our daughter and son-in-law have made Eva and I the proud grandparents to 7 1/2 pound baby Chloe Lee on July 28, 2005. She is the most beautiful little girl. I have already bought her first fishing rod, so she can go fishing with Grandpa. I guess she will have to grow into it still, but I can't wait. Congratulations to Dena and Ricky on their first baby and our first grandchild. Ok...so I am bragging a little......I love it! Oh...this is a fishing report... The weather has provided great fishing opportunities during the mornings. Afternoons have been pretty stormy and rainy most of the week. The water has remained in good condition up on the flats and the fish have been there in the early mornings for breakfast. You have to get out early for the best bite. Watching the sun come up over the horizon is a good thing! The redfish bite has remained strong this week. Get out on the flats early and use top water lures. Red and white combinations on Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs continue to produce hits and hookups. Fish them slow for redfish to give them a chance to get hooked. Gold spoons have worked great once the sun comes up for a couple of hours. Once the heat arrives, the reds head for deeper water and the mangroves. Look for 1-3 feet of water that is clean for your best chances. Live baits have also worked well on redfish. Live shrimp or pinfish are hard to resist. I have been using them on popping corks. Sunday, we boated six nice slot sized redfish. Trout have been coming up to feed in shallow water at first light. They leave soon after sunrise so you have a short window to find them hitting top water or soft baits on the flats. Live shrimp and pinfish are working well also. Largest was 22" this week. Move to a 2-4 foot depth on the grass flats once the warmth of the sun hits. Snook have been hitting well at night around the bridges and turning basin. Live bait or jigs have worked the best. Again, hit the flats early for snook feeding on the bait. Top water, soft baits and spoons are the best choices. Move to the mangroves later in the morning. Jacks and ladyfish are all over the river and feeding on the bait pods. It's always fun to watch the bait erupt as they tear into it. Soft baits, top water and live bait will usually produce some fun action in the shallow water. Tip of the Week: Keep close tabs on the weather during the summer months. Summer squalls can pop up anywhere in a very short time. No matter if you are offshore or inshore, thunderstorms are nothing to play around with. Know what you will do if one is suddenly coming your way. We have had some violent storms of late and no one should be caught on the water during one of these. Have your rain gear aboard and know where you will go to get out of a storm. You might not be able to get back to your ramp, so have a plan in mind. Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing, Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Captain Charlie Conner | Date Posted: | 07-24-2005 | |
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South Indian River Fishing Report 7/21/2005 Port St Lucie and Fort Pierce July 21, 2005 INSHORE: What a wonderful week to enjoy the waters of the Indian River. The weather has been fantastic and the fish have been all over the flats. The water has cleared up nicely in spite of a little rain and continues runoff into the lagoon water system. Bait is crowding the flats while the predators are cruising them in search of a meal. Gorgeous sunrises and light winds have made each day a welcome sight. Hope you had a chance to enjoy the river! Redfish have been out in record numbers on the flats. James and Marji from Port St Lucie were on the boat when we encountered a school of reds that was easily over a hundred fish. We had a lot of good hookups they doubled up with a 24" and 29" redfish. While poling across the flats for redfish, we witnessed a five foot bull shark attack a school of reds, leaving only the head of a 20+ inch redfish behind. Dave had a nice hookup with a redfish this week from one of the schools. Look for them in one to two feet of water on the flats from sunrise to noon. Top water has worked great along with the ol' standby....gold spoon. You can also try soft plastics and live baits. A red/white Chug Bug has worked very well this week. Look for clean water and lots of bait. It sure is great to see so many redfish in Fort Pierce this year. Snook have continued to cruise the flats in the early mornings. We have caught some nice snook on top water just after sunrise. Again, red/white combinations have worked the best. Chug Bugs have been our go-to top water all week. Soft plastics are working well on snook along the mangroves after the heat of the day sets in. A lot of cloud cover some days have allowed the fishing on the flats to continue well into the morning. Use live bait along the mangroves for a chance at snook and redfish when it gets too hot on the shallows. Mangrove areas that have deeper water during the day. Round Island has some great mangroves areas to fish. The trout bite has continued to be good in two to three feet of water. Around the Harbor Branch area has been the hottest area this week. Les, Dave and Luke caught a number of trout. Les topped off the day with a nice 27" gator trout to give the guys a lesson in fishing. Live shrimp when you can get them are good on popping corks. Soft plastics have worked the best for some good trout action. A number of colors have been working great. White, chartreuse and gold have all been producing good trout bites. Ladyfish have been scattered on the flats and hitting just about anything. There have been some good size fish in the schools. Jacks have also been terrorizing the flats. Some nice 7-8 pounders have been cruising and feeding on the bait. Some big sharks are patrolling the flats. We had one six footer swim right next to the boat in two feet of water. If you have a stout rod and some cut bait with you, cast it at one of these big boys for some rod bending action. Not a lot of reports on the tarpon biting as of yet. Look to Big and Little Mud for some tarpon in the deeper cuts. Top water early and live bait are your best chance at a hookup. You have to be there early to have try to take advantage of them. Have you stopped by the Fishing Center of St Lucie lately? You can get all the lures that I use there at great prices. Just let Clint or Kelly know what you are fishing for and they will gladly help you select the best lures for your adventure. Live bait, ice and a vast array of tackle and gear can be found there. Stop by and tell them that Captain Charlie sent you. Tip of the Week: What do you keep on your boat for emergencies? Do you remember where it's kept? When is the last time you checked all your emergency gear? Hope I got you thinking..... First of all, the Coast Guard has required emergency equipment that must be kept on board at all times. Life preservers, flares, distress signals and fire extinguishers are among some of the required equipment depending on the size of your vessel. Be aware that some of these items have expiration dates and must be changed out when it expires. Condition of your equipment is also a necessity. Due to dampness, some items will mold and rot if not cared for properly. Do you have a first aid kit on board? It can save the day if an unforeseen accident should occur. There are lots of sharp, pointy things on most boats that could lead to an accident when least expected. Rain gear is another piece of equipment that could come in very handy during an afternoon squall. Not that Florida ever has afternoon squalls...... Sunscreen and sunglasses can make a hot day less miserable. While some equipment is required and some is more for convenience, make sure you check it several times a year. A wet flare will do you no good during an emergency. Check with the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary for the required equipment for your boat. Make sure you have it on board and take care of it.....it's meant to take care of you! Fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing! Captain Charlie Conner email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com visit my website at: http://www.fishtalescharter.com |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 07-07-2005 | |
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Cane Polinà Fishing report June 23 through July 7, 2005 Great fishing, the last couple of weeks has made Everglades National Park the place to be for snook, redfish and tarpon. The snook bite has been phenomenal if you have time to fish between storms. Everyday except one we have manage to land at least one snook, but on every day on the water we have managed to see them and get solid hits on top water lures. In the last two weeks IÃve experienced that the fish are biting tremendous while the clouds and rain are hanging around. On the days that were bright, clear and calm the bite was over early, that is one reason why on those clam days I like to be fishing right when the sun comes up. The bite is fast and furious but over quick (by 10 a.m.). That is only on the flats. On the Westside in deeper water were you get some good water movement we were getting the snook on top water, live baits and sub-surface lures. That bite has been lasting longer on the clam clear days. The redfish are still showing up in large schools in very shallow water. Some people tell me IÃm crazy, not believing these redfish are in the schools that they are, but with my clients and a couple of other guides that fish these schools it makes for a great day and catch. These fish can be found in the bights east of Flamingo all the way to Madeira Bay and also out in front of Flamingo on certain flats around the islands. These reds are taking small crabs, seeing that the summer shrimp are so small and hard to throw. We landed several big reds, but the one red that was a great fun catch was the nice 31î, these were caught on the Rapala Skitter Walk. They are also eating the Berkely Blade Dancer worked slowly on the bottom as well as gold spoons. Thanks to Mike Praznovsky of Pure Fishing who turned me on to these baits. They have been working great. Another great catch and release fish in Flamingo in the last two weeks have been the great Silver Kings. The fish that have been biting on the flats have been from 30 to 60 lb. We have seen fish over a 150 lb just cruising on the flats for a quick meal but thank gosh these pigs wouldnÃt eat anything we threw at them on light tackle! PHEW!!! On the fly the fish have been taken purple and black flies as well as red and black. The cockroach brown had been working better on calm clear mornings. A great fly company I use is Snowy Mountain Outfitters; contact Roger Lynn at mite10@aol.com if you are interested in some of these flies. The fish close to Flamingo are following mullet muds and the other fish on the clear banks are between Flamingo and Islamorada. There has also been a lot of bonefish on the clear flats in the Islamorada backcountry. In the last two weeks client/friend James Yerbury from Sydney, Australia fished Flamingo in between other scheduled charters. He managed to get himself a nice slam of a 12 lb snook, a 10 lb red and a 40 lb little king. Great Job ìMATEî! Unfortunately, the following day he went 0 for 5 on snook (bloody hell), but we did manage to land 3 in the boat, with the biggest being 20 lb. After experiencing the tailing reds and bones, rolling tarpon and snook exploding on top water lures he tried to extend his trip a few days but was unable due to airline overbooking. His last words were ìMate, IÃll be back!î Another great experience this last week for me was to have Col. Hunter Ledbetter, from the US Marine Corp. taking leave from the Middle East to do some snook fishing with me. What an honor and challenge to get him his first 10 lb snook. Thanks Hunter, good job. I will be fishing between now and the 18th of July, when I will then be venturing over to Bimini, Bahamas for the Island Fishing Adventures, Lights and Sirens Tournament. If you want to fish this fun, family oriented tournament email Pete Larkin at pllarkin@aol.com or call at 305-282-7611. Hopefully, IÃll see you all there. Tight lines and gin clear waters! Capt. Jim Hale www.canepolincharters.com 786-255-1788 or 305-926-7423 |
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Posted By: | sean harris | Date Posted: | 06-29-2005 | |
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hey its sean agian in jupiter.the king bite is on! go to lost rock hobesound my buddie john miller cought 75 head. on dead sardines if u use live youll cacth alot more.if kingfish is not what your after i caught 25 yellowfins off jupiter in let in 145ft on the edje.sails are going off with live goggles on the second reefline out.and also the snapper are chewwing in the 1st reefline out we limmited out on muttons mangroves and yellow tail tight lines and good luck. |
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Posted By: | Jim Hale | Date Posted: | 06-23-2005 | |
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Cane Polin' Charters fishing report June 1 through 20th, 2005 The month of June has produced some of the hottest flats fishing yet, but stormy conditions had made for some wet days on the water. Calm conditions mixed in have produced large amounts of tailing redfish on the flats. On numerous trips to Everglades National Park there have been schools of these tailing reds in the hundreds. Some days weÃre finding singles, doubles and smaller schools. But tailing redfish have been seen every day so far. Every trip so far this month we have managed to catch at least five fish in the 6 to 10 lb category. In the afternoons we are catch larger redfish on top water plugs when the tide is right. The snook has also shown up in the large numbers, though out of season until September 1st, they make for some great top water lure action. These fish have been crushing the Rapala skitter walk. We are finding on a daily basis from 25 to 60 snook on the flats. Everyday has been producing at least 2 fish of about 10 lbs. and the largest one caught was 16 lbs. Large number of snook are also found along the beaches. June produces great fishing on the flats but also produces some of the most hazardous weather conditions for flats fisherman. When fishing on these flats always keep an eye to the sky and donÃt get caught out in the middle of a flat when a thunderstorm is approaching. Work the edges if it looks like it could be a nasty day. We have also been fishing the Islamorada area for tarpon on the outside flats. A couple of days this month having charters down there have produced massive amounts of tarpon in two days we saw over three hundred tarpon but had only managed to jump 1. The tarpon are full from the worm spawn it seems. However we did find a fly that would turn these tarpon on more than the traditional flies. The tarpon were from 60 to 200 lbs. Some beasts were seen in three feet of water. One was so big that it looked yellow and had ìpublic school busî written on the side. While all charters are great, this month I hosted the World Class Sport Fishing Crew from the Outdoor Channel. This class act consisted of Sue Vermillion, producer, Bill Boyce, Host, Rick Westphal on the cameras and our special guest angler Carey Chen. The target specie for this particular show was tarpon. While shooting the crew jumped two and released 1. The weights were between 90 and 130 lbs. Bill was the first to hook up and as tarpon always do, took him straight to the pylons after about 20 minutes and broke him off, the second fish Carey was up and he managed to release his tarpon weighing about 90 lbs. The last fish of the three was short and sweet for Bill as the Circle Hook after four fantastic jumps from this Silver King broke the hook in half. Phone calls will be definitely made to this hook company as it was caught on film. The day couldnÃt get better as the morning was flat clam and while traveling out in the early morning we came upon a school of tailing bones. Bill was on the fly rod and made a perfect cast. Bonefish were coming up to eat the fly and a cormorant bird flew over the school and spooked the fish. Being a tarpon shoot we decided to head for the kings, but made some great footage for the show. I would like to thank World Class Sport fishing, Capt. HarryÃs Fishing Supply, Ecuagringo S.A., Island Fishing Adventures, Digital Comm Link, Snowy Mountain Outfitters (for flies), Sunshine Embroidery, Just Call Me Hunting and Fishing Worldwide and Carey Chen for making this all possible and a great day. For all of those who like to fish for the slimy bones and permit, they are showing up in big schools in Biscayne Bay on calm mornings. They are tailing and easy to spot. The average size of bones is 8 to 10 lbs. and the permit are around 20. Remember be careful on the waters as the storms can creep on you very quickly. Safe fishing and catch you next time. Tight lines and Gin Clear water! Capt. Jim Hale www.canepolincharters.com |
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Posted By: | David Brock | Date Posted: | 03-15-2005 | |
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Well, I took out my Pathfinder this week and weekend once agian to go after some redfish and trout at the grass flats. We came up successful on the week days with some trout... but ended up missing all the hits on Saturday. Not one hit on any of the live shrimp at all we were using with the exception of the jacks. The trout that we caught were only hitting artificial lures and nothing else. The water temp. was around 66 to 68 in the flats, but wit the cold front that came down during the mid to late week, it cooled off. If you go to the Lake Worth grass flats, make sure you have a boat that float in less that 15 inches of water (with motor submerged) because back thre at low tide it can get shallow. Have some live shrimp with you encase the lures fail. Keep you posted. |
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Posted By: | Jake Smith | Date Posted: | 03-07-2005 | |
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Hey this is Jake Smith again from Jupiter,FL. Just updating you about the cobia bite around Lost Tree and the Green Roof. The bite has been realy good and my neighboor went out a few days ago and caught a 35 pound Cobia on a ray near the beach. The wahoo and dolphin bite has been realy good too south of memory rock in West End, Bahamas. The offshore bite has been horrible here but occasionaly a few scattered dolphin bites, but small ones. If you want some action you can just go out and troll around 120 feet for thousands of bonitas. My neighboor also went out with some dead sardines this weekend and caught 5 kingfish which is a semi-good report. The last thing I herd from some commercial fisherman was that the king bite was realy good for some of them and they were catching alot of them now. Catch em up! Later. |
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Posted By: | David Brock | Date Posted: | 03-04-2005 | |
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Hey. It's David again. I took out my 22' Pathfinder this weekend and ran from Jupiter Inlet all the way up to Peck's Lake in search of the Cobia bite. Once we were half way to Stuart Inlet, the wind suddenly changed direction and it got very overcasty. The main bite for cobia is right off the Lost Tree area. The offshore bite is slow as usual but the new cold bite might throw in a couple of sails here and there but you gotta have luck. In Lake Worth at Munion Island there has been alot of trout and redfish there. You got to be in the right spot with live shrimp. I'll keep you posted. Oh, Jake Smith says he has a 22' Sea Pro but it is his dad's. |
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Posted By: | Jake Smith | Date Posted: | 02-24-2005 | |
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Hey What's up, this is Jake again! I just got a report from my friend Doni on his brand new 36 Island Runner and he went to West End, Bahamas this weekend for 2 days. He got 4 wahoo, the biggest one being 60 pounds. He also said he got about 10 dolphin all averaging 40 pounds. He told me that there were so many of them that he had to try an keep them off of his lines by hi-speed trolling so he could try an catch some wahoo! He also told me that he caught alot of groupers and snappers on the drop. So that was good news to some of us that are planning to go across to the Bahamas for sping break and if you just want to go over for the weekend because it is going to be flat this weekend in Jupiter,FL, which is where I am from. |
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Posted By: | Jake Smith | Date Posted: | 02-22-2005 | |
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Hey whats up. This weekend at jupiter inlet I went out in my 55 Gwaltney Carolina Custom and we went for 0 sails this time. We were just a little north of the inlet live baiting with google eyes. It was slow and the seas were ruff too. The sails have been biting a little south of the Palm Beach Inlet at about 150 feet on live bait. As for Jupiter the sails have been slow but you might hook one every now and then. The bottom fishing has been ok but not many muttons and alot of small grouper off of the green roofs. Dolphin about 10-20 puonds have been in big schools at 200 feet a little south of jupiter inlet. Big kings are of of green roofs using live bait at about 80 feet too. There are no wahoo right now and the spanish mackeral have been good off of the pier at about 20-30 feet using jigs and spoons. Good Luck! P.S. David Brock goes fishing alot, trust me! |
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Posted By: | David Brock | Date Posted: | 02-16-2005 | |
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Again, we ended up without a flying any red flags this weekend. We took a 38' Stoppler Tournament Edition this weekend. We started out like it was a day in the Bahamas but off the Jupiter Inlet instead. First our longs got hit within 5 minutes. We ran across the school of dolphin but both got off in 2 seconds. The bite was slow after that but then once we though the fish ran away, sail hit right behind the teaser in the floow up line. Once again, gone in 2 seconds because he never had a full grab on it. Well, the morning bite was a killer this weekend but we missed it. Get live gogs or runners and they are sitting between 150 to 200 feet. The bottom fishing is good i hear from friends that were out slaying grouper and snapper right off the Tiara in 100 - 105 feet and the Green Roofs in 100-120 feet just south of Jupiter Inlet. Im gonna go for the bills this weekend and I will tell you how i go 0 for 2 again. Haha. |
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Posted By: | David Brock | Date Posted: | 02-03-2005 | |
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Well, the sails are here. Last weekend, I took my friend's 55' Carolina Custom out and we came across a nice color change in about 120 feet of water right off Jupiter Inlet. With some scattered weed mixed in, the bite was on that day. We went 1 for 3 on sails but 4 for 4 on dolphin. The average weight of those dolphin were about 15-20 pounds. In late October, we landed a nice 62 pound wahoo off the Loran Tower on a TLD 15 rigged with 15 pound test. Lucky fish. But the sails are turning on and the mackeral are stacked along the beach south of Jupiter Inlet and Just alittle bit north of Palm Beach. The weed is a rare sight usally at this time of year but if you look for in on a dead east wind day, you'll find it. The sails are coming. |
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Posted By: | Lee Kerbel | Date Posted: | 11-10-2004 | |
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SEASON'S ON THE WAY!!!!! yesterday afternoon turned on nicely aboard the '45 Hatteras "SISSY BABY". solid north current and bumpy seas turned the snoot bags on!! we went 3 for 4 on the snooters in 3 hours kite fishin, as well as numerous king fish and dolphin and a trophy 50 lbs wahoo. this is a sign of things to come in the following weeks, as temperatures are dropping and the sails are beggining their yearly pattern of pouring through the southeast florida area. hope to see you out there(just dont run over my longs, googan!!) tight lines!!! |
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Posted By: | Cary Hanna | Date Posted: | 10-29-2004 | |
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10-18-04 It was the day of the cold front on Saturday morning as I had to actually put on a jacket as we headed offshore. There was a Northwest wind keeping temperatures below 65 degrees. From the moment we started fishing the action was pretty consistant for the next 4 hours. I think the first fish on was a Dolphin on the kite bait. Then a Sailfish on the kite bait just to get everyone warmed up. Fernando and wife and his 9 year old son and his 8 year old friend conquered the day. Fernando caught the first Sailfish from the kite bait then his son Nick and Derrick caught thte next three. All to the boat. In between there was some Kingfish bites and also more Dolphin bites. On Sunday conditions changed to east winds and to a north current and changed up the bite quite a bit. We still managed to get a great looking Sailfish and some Kingfish bites. There were alot of reports of Dolphin from 8- 10 miles offshore with a few fish going over 40 pounds. Just a side note that the fishing season is here and you should book your fishing trips at least a week in advance. Call for availability. Hope to see you on the water. Captain Cary Hanna www.newlattitude.com |
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Posted By: | Dave Knapp | Date Posted: | 06-07-2004 | |
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Fishing at Roland & Mary Ann Martin's fish camp with our grandson Daniel this last week finds the Lake fishing a little slow due to the lock closing for three months today. We fished the docks at the marina and did have a good mixed bag of Bass, Bluegills(pan sized), Specks, Gars, Sunfish, Oscars and Warmouths. Dave & Gabe fishposthaste@hotmail.com |
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Posted By: | Billy Green | Date Posted: | 02-27-2004 | |
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Tarpon season is upon us with us going 3 for 3 last night outside of Haulover Cut. We released a 50# first, a 75# second and another 50# third on 6 drifts. Shrimp is the primary forage right now with the night of the stronger shrimp runs being the best tarpon feeding evenings. |
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Posted By: | PAUL CAMERON | Date Posted: | 03-06-2003 | |
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ANOTHER MONTH HAS COME AND GONE... WE FISHED EIGHTEEN DAYS OFF SHORE AND MANAGED TWO BLUES AND A WHITE. A SCATTERING OF DOLPHIN WAS TO BE HAD BUT NOT MUCH... THE BULK OF THE ACTIVITY WE FOUND IN THE DEEP WAS AROUND 1100 FEET OF WATER ROUGHLY OFF THE DOWNTOWN WEST PALM AREA. (26.38N) TO KEEP FROM GOING INSANE FROM BOREDOM WE SPENT QUITE A FEW AFTERNOONS BACK IN CLOSER TO THE BEACH AND FOUND THE KINGS TO BE "LIKE THE OLD DAYS" SEVERAL SMOKERS TO AROUND FIFTY POUNDS WERE HAD BY ALL WHO WANTED THEM... A FEW SAILS DUMB ENOUGH TO EAT WIRE WERE ALSO TOSSED IN THE MIX AS WERE SOME JUMBO SPANISH MACKEREL... |
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Posted By: | PAUL CAMERON | Date Posted: | 02-05-2003 | |
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SAILFISHING WAS DREADFULLY SLOW AND SHOWED NO PROMISE OF IMPROVING FOR MY CHARTER ABOAR THE REEL DELIGHT, A NEW ALBEMARLE 28 I RECENTLY PICKED UP. I ASKED JOHN BIALOUS(MY CHARTER) IF HE WAS UP FOR AN EVENING OF SWORDFISHING AS OPPOSED TO SAILFISHING. HE AGREED AND THE DATE WAS SET FOR JAN. 31. WE PICKED UP A FEW RUNNERS AND WITH STILL SEVERAL HOURS OF DAYLIGHT TO BURN I FIGURED WE COULD JUST TROLL ON DOWN AND OUT TO THE GROUNDS. PERHAPS A DOLPHIN OR TWO MIGHT JUMP US AND I COULD LOOK FOR SOME TEMPERATURE BREAKS OR OTHER "SIGNS". WE WERE IN 1400 FEET OFF BOYNTON INLET WHERE I HAD HAD SOME GOOD FISHING LAST SUMMER WITH BILLFISH, BIG DOLPHIN, AND A COUPLE SWORDS AFTER DARK. THEN THE LEFT RIGGER AND RIGHT FLAT BOTH WENT OFF. I STOOD SLACK JAWED AS A PAIR OF BLUE MARLIN , ONE BIG AND ONE SMALL, DID A CRISCROSS THROUGH THE SPREAD AND BOTH PULLED OFF! I WAS FLOORED! SURELY THAT WAS A FREAK EVENT AND I SPLASHED A FRESH COMPLEAT ANGLER DK AND DESTROYER INTO THE SPREAD.THE DK GOT KNOCKED DOWN A FEW MINUTES LATER BUT I SAW NO FISH AS I WAS READY TO PUT HER IN THE CLIP AGAIN ANOTHER BLUE ONE POUNDED IT AND WE WERE OFF TO THE RACES. UNFORTUNATELY THE TLD 25 JUST DIDN'T HOLD ENOUGH STRING AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE FISH POPPED US OFF. NOW ABSOLUTELY THE FREAK BITES HAD TO BE OVER BUT I DEPLOYED YET ANOTHER DK. WHAM WHAM ! ANOTHER PAIR OF BLUES WAS UP. ONE HAMMERED THE DK AND THE OTHER SMOKED THE BALLYHOO I HAD TUCKED IN BEHIND THE BIRD. WITH ME ON THE HELM FIGHTING ONE AND JOHN DOING COMABAT WITH THE OTHER IT MUST HAVE BEEN A SIGHT! MINE RAN FORWARD AND AROUND THE RIGGER. SINCE JOHN WAS THE PAYING CUSTOMER I LEANEDON MY DRAG AND POPPED MY FISH OFF SO I COULD CONCENTRATE ON HIS. THE POOR TRANIES ON MY BOAT WERE GETTING A WORK OUT AS I PUSHED TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH BACKWARD THEY'D GIVE ME. AN HOUR LATER WE SET THE 300LB BLUE ONE ON ITS WAY... HOW IS IT THAT THERES SUCH A GOOD BLUE MARLIN FISHERY OFF THE PALM BEACHES AND STILL THE PUBLIC JUST PERSUES SAILS AND KINGS? |
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Posted By: | Charlie Kiss | Date Posted: | 02-03-2003 | |
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Wahoo fishing is good in Rum Cay, Bahamas! Today Captain Charlie Kiss, owner Bill Bevins and crew caught the following: 101 lb. Wahoo, 73 lb. Wahoo, and a 71 lb. Wahoo. They also pulled the hook on a 100+ lb. Wahoo. The mothership Strait Lady waited at the dock for the fishermen to return. Tonight they will all enjoy the fresh catch of the day served up with a nice bottle of wine. It's all part of a hard days work :) |
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Posted By: | J. Michael Simko | Date Posted: | 11-25-2002 | |
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11-22-02: Ron Cumbee and Dennis Gramm- a couple of old friends of mine that I once worked with, called me in hopes of bending a rod or two. So I shared the rumor I heard about sailfish on the move and gaffer dolphin being thick as well off of Juno Beach. Captain Nick Vannice was gracious enough to play mate for the day aboard the Aim E. When Nick's in the boat, I've learned to expect some impressive fish production. We picked up a dozen and half mix of gogs and runners from Mr. Sportsman/Eric at 7A and we were off to hunt fish worthy of a photo opportunity. The conditions were Chamber of Commerce perfect- 68 degrees with a light 5 knot NNW breeze. We found a subtle temperature break in 175' slightly South of the Juno pier. We cut back into 100' and Nick worked fast to set up my typical November bottom spread. Two mutton rigs (adequate weight rod side of 20' of 40# pink Ande leader, with a triple hook through a ballyhoo plug) straddling a 50# "meat rig" (2x the needed weight rod side of 6' of 60# leader, with a 8/0 Gamagatsu circle hook- eye socket bridled to a livie) On the lee side I set a helium kite with two Gogs bridled to 8/0 Gamagatsu circle hooks. Bottom action was slow, but once we drifted into the temperature change-BANG- a sailfish lit up on the close bait. Dennis grabbed the rod. I'm pretty sure this was his first sailfish on a kite, but all of his years of Northern pike and Muskie fishing would surely pay off. The sail ran south, Dennis came tight on the clip. The clip released and the slack was reeled in. With a slight rod bend in the opposite direction, the fight was in full gear. 20 minutes later we had our first release of the day. We tracked back to our original drift line, and set up the same pattern. This time our leader on the meat rod was cut clean in approx 160'. A wire trace would have been the ticket. Lesson learned. 9:30A the long kite bait got taken. Ron grabbed the rod and like Dennis before him, deftly finessed the sailfish to boatside within 15-20 minutes. We made another pass and decided to try our luck with the muttons at Lost Tree. The same set up in 80' due East of Lost Tree produced 2) 18" muttons, 1) porgy, and 1) trigger. No current was the barrior so we decided to pack it up and check out an offshore grouper hole that scored big for us last year. Halfway into this 10 mile trip we were running through some scattered weeds and saw approximately a 1/2 acre of flying fish explode in all directions. What happened after that was without a doubt one of the best Dolphin fishing days any of us have experienced. The weeds had no defined edge and were scattered enough to prevent any sort of trolling, so we went with the kite on a short lead. By keeping the baits close to the boat we were able to drift through the debris by lifting and placing the baits to avoid the hang-ups. Within five minutes we had our first hook up-a 15# cow. With her came the bull who ate a ballyhoo plug pitched by Dennis. We repeated this scenerio for the next three hours. The results were 10 dolphin over 15# each with four scaling in at 20-25#. We watched a number of boats attempt to troll into our action but get weeded beyond belief. At 4P I thought we had completely gone through our bait and started cleaning up to go home when one of us noticed a lone blue runner hiding deep in the livewell. He was so lively I just had to drain the well to scoop him. We stuck him on the kite about 30 feet from the boat, and all of us watched that poor runner have a coronary when he saw a big bull charging him from 30 yards out. What a sight! A big dolphin lit up and flourescent greyhounding towards a pinned livie. I can see it as if I'm there right now. He inhaled the by then either dead or shocked runner, and the fight was on. Dennis defeated the beast, and we were done. I've always been a huge fan of the circle hook when used properly. We went 11 for 12 on our circle hook catch ratio. 92% is a big number in my book. Look out Silver Sailfish Derby, the Aim E is bringing home the prize this year. On this trip some great memories were made and lifelong relationships forged. To me that's the best part about fishing. Until next time- Later On! J. Michael Simko "Aim E" |
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Posted By: | J. Michael Simko | Date Posted: | 09-09-2002 | |
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Saturday 9-07-02: I decided to give the Aim E a break after a summer of high speeding and wahoo lure design/experimentation. What a great summer it was. Christ Fellowship Church's Fishing Ministry put together an offshore event where interested church members, attendees, and their guests can enjoy a day of fishing and fellowship. All hardcore Captains and anglers know that any day on the calm-sunny or a wind raging seas is proof positive that God is alive and well. Throw in a screaming drag, and you've just tasted a little bit of heaven. Saturday was no exception. Tom Fendorio and his daughter Magda (14) joined Captain Nick VanNice and me on the "Miss Lisa". Our intention was to start the troll at 6:45A, but rough seas and heavy east winds would limit the wahoo opportunities. Nick made the call and we worked the Juno pier for 45 minutes putting 4 doz. threadfins in the well. We used #6-8 sabikis and a light 2 oz weight. Too much weight often affects the action of the rig and lessens results. 7:50A we set up due East of the pier in 120' and made drifts into 63' repeating as necessary. On the Miss Lisa we drift down sea bow first. This boat noses along as if on the slow troll. Far riggers get livies nose hooked on the flat. Short riggers get livies nose hooked on breakaway weights (2-4oz). These four rods get a trace of #4 wire and a 5/0 live bait hook. Two transom rods are 50# class and fished the bottom with enough weight to keep the angle sharp. Left one with 10' of 40# leader and a livie nosed hooked on a 7/0 circle. The right transom rod gets a ballyhoo plug on a triple hook on 50' of 40# mono. All reports were coming back in miserable fashion, but we stuck with the program. Magda's previous large fish was a 2# largemouth. I notice a slight hitch in her voice when she said "2#". Nick and I gave each other a wink, and both thought -1# max. Now there's a first class fisherwoman at 14 years old. 9A-right flat 78'= peanut dolphin (Magda). 9:15- Left bottom 73'= 1.5# yellowtail (Magda). 11:00- we had drifted just north of the Jupiter Inlet Left and right short riggers 75'= 6 and 4# dolphin (Tom and Magda). Magda breaks her record! 12noon- left deep 100'= 11# kingfish (Tom). We are now approaching the Loran Tower. 1P- right deep 63'= 8# red grouper (Tom). 1:30- Left deep 75'= 20# blacktip (Magda). A new record! The day was hard fishing. While big numbers weren't produced Tom and Magda had a great time, we made new friends, and what a great cause!! Until next time-J. Michael Simko "Aim E" |
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Posted By: | Ron Coddington | Date Posted: | 09-09-2002 | |
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The "Changed Conditions" fishing team started off Sept with a Sept 4 trip to the offshore swordie grounds. It was a perfect night with a dark moon and calm seas. As soon as the sun went down, fish started showing up in the lights and Angler Dave Weiler quickly hooked up on a nice 120# sword. Very unusual for this fish, he pulled the hook only to hazve the fish chase the bait up to the back of the boat. He quicklyhooked up again and proceeded to repeat himself with another pulled hook and the fish was back again. The third time was not a charm and when the hook pulled #3, the fish was gone. But not for long, with a total of seven fish in the lights that night, captain and angler teamed up to release and tag two small swords, and boating two 100#, 55" ljfl fish to end the night. A hot night with some hot fish! |
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Posted By: | Bill Scott | Date Posted: | 08-15-2002 | |
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BillCollecter Kind of rough last night on the Sword grounds , Had a bunch of die hards looking for a bite . by 11 pm things were looking grim . made our final set and found the bait.as the last bait was set at 250' Fisherman/capt Bob Boyle felt the smack on the rod tip bait. 3-4 cracks later just off the transom out he came jumping. once we came tight the game was on. as the angler was fighting him ,the long bait started to sing ,got em on again!!!all hell broke loose and we were tied in to a double. within 10 minutes we pulled the hooks on # 2 but an hour later a 120# Swordfish hit the deck .57 inch fork length and it was time to head for the barn and a cool one . what a great finish to as slow start . Congratulations to Capt Kunta Smith on saturday he fought and killed one 465 .See us at www. Billcollecter@aol.com |
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Posted By: | bill scott | Date Posted: | 08-11-2002 | |
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I run a 31 Oceanmaster out of Deerfield Bch FL. We specialize in Broadbill Swords. In the last week we had three trips . The owner of calcutta baits Howard , and friends had a chance to get in on the action with us ! we went 3 for 3 by 11 pm! The bite has been red hot and the big fish start showing up in the next few weeks. we are fishing a local tourney 8-24-02, looking for a charter . we have been averaging 3-5 bites a night and had one night w/ 13 bites. "Bill Collecter" released 6 fish in August w/ 9 kills so far . The bite is on ! any questions write www.Billcollecter@aol.com. |
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Posted By: | Nick Van Nice | Date Posted: | 07-23-2002 | |
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I fished out of Jupiter Inlet last Saturday, July the 20th in the first ever "MikeSimko" Wahoo tourney. I'm the Captain of the Miss Lisa, a well rigged 25' Proline. We broke the Inlet at 5:05Am and headed South along the beach. The plan was to work the edge from Lost Tree to Jupiter. We began trolling in 150' and had the first strike at 6:20. The left rigger went off, and we looked back to see a large wahoo skyrocket 15-20 feet clean out. In 20-years of fishing I've never seen such a sight. The hoo took about 150 yards line and after a short 10min fight we put him in the box. A 34lb beauty! We released two cuda's over the next hour and then had a sail knock down. At about 10 oclock we had another screamer on, that took 200 yards, broke water twice and then proceeded to charge the boat. We worked the fish back within 50-yards of the boat and lost him as the leader was cut. The fish was estimated to be a 30-40lb wahoo. Our 34lb Hoo took first place and the Miss Lisa and crew celebrated the tournament victory, with a couple of cold barely pops. Frankly, I get tired of people complaining about how lousy the fishing is, and how our waters get too much pressure. I bend rods every trip, and put meat on the table about 90% of the time. As far as I'm concerned, the fishing off Jupiter is the best it's been since the early 1980's. |
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Posted By: | J. Michael Simko | Date Posted: | 05-01-2002 | |
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April 28 7AM- I took two of my boys Andrew (9) and Darren (8)out of Jupiter. We took 1.25 hours to catch 3 dozen greenies and pilchards. Bait was tough to get since the most productive baiting was right next to the South Jetty. Also, between the jetty fisherman, a log jam of boats, and my boys just getting familiar with baiting using conventional tackle- it was complicated to say the least. By 8:30 we were passing the Blue Heron II on a 60' reef between Juno and the Inlet when I saw them gaff up a nice 20+# bull mahi. We set up a 1/4 mile south of that line and the boys spent the rest of the day pulling up 4 Kings to 17#, 2 dolphin to 6#, 1 cobia 16.5#, and a slew of bonita. They had a blast. Darren spent six straight hours dicing up dead bait and chunk chumming. Since my 8 year old throws chunks out faster than tree chipper spits mulch, I had to temper his speed by making him cut one chunk at a time, throw that piece, and then cut the next one. The cobia couldn't resist nosing up in the slick and sucking down Andrew's deftly pitched pilchard in his line of sight. The wind was light so a helium balloon on the kite produced seven spectacular strikes including both dolphin, and one bonita. We were fishing the Jupiter Christian School Tournament and Andrew's king was 5 pounds shy of the winning Junior kingfish, nonetheless, a great time was still had by all. The biggest kings were caught north of Jupiter, and the biggest dolphin 30+# were caught off the edge between 180-280'. Andrew's king did win him $300 in one of my events called Simko's Spring Fling Fishing Tourney. This is an ongoing event where some of my fishing buddies with boats kick in $30 for one fishing day of their choice within a two week window to enter eligible fish. The largest documented category fish wins all. On the next one we've decided to have carry overs (like golf skins) if the largest fish doesn't exceed 25# we add $30 more each and carry over. This could get exciting, but best of all it keeps us tournament ready. Until next time- Later on, J. Michael Simko (Aim E) |
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Posted By: | Capt. Eric Carlson | Date Posted: | 04-22-2002 | |
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Swordfishing has still been good for quite some time now off the Hallendale and Ftlauderdale Coast. Sat April 20 once again proved to be a spectacular Eve with clear skies, 1/2 moon and light winds. Bait was a little hard to come by as we got a little bit of a late start however the action started within the 1st hr of Lines In. The evening started off with a tripple run off with nothing to show for it. Live baiting Broadbills is a Crapshoot at best where hooks and bridles have a way of comming back empty. needless to say within the following Hr ..... Another double header presented itself which ended up with a happier ending ........ we got them both. We decided to fish till midnight with one more chance to present itself. A rather large fish came up jumping beside the boat before we had a chance to come tight. Needless to say, 2 for 6 was not a bad night. Depths fished ranged between 1400 and 1100 feet with heavy signes of bait recorded in all depths. After cleaning a fish ...... it was evident that sardines were plentiful and probably what was recorded on the machine. Its nice to see that this fishery seems to be making somewhat of a comeback and giving those with smaller boats a chance to play with larger fish. Lets do our best to keep it going strong. Tight Lines |
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Posted By: | bart sherwood | Date Posted: | 04-01-2002 | |
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Fort Lauderdale. Fishing has been good for big stuff. the Fighting Lady out of las olas Caught a 250lb swordfish recently. there have been some sailfish, some dolphin, and the Big game, Lady Pamela and Out of the Blue have been consistently catching some big Big eye thresher Sharks, 300 - 450 lbs. The weather has been good, the current, sometimes smoking the wrong way, bait has been tough. Come by and visit, Southwest corner Las olas Blvd and southbound A1A! |
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Posted By: | Ernie Small | Date Posted: | 03-22-2002 | |
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O.K. GUYS, .....Here's what's happening right now at Palm Beach, on "THE BABY GRAND" and other charter boats in the area. The "SPRING FISHING " is getting off to a good start, with DOLPHIN schooling and larger ones slightly off shore and even larger ones off shore in the deep. Good WAHOO catches are getting to be an everyday treat. For those of you that may not know, WAHOO is maybe the best eating fish in the Atlantic and is rated the highest in food value of all Atlantic fish. It is also one of the fastest fish you will ever encounter with speeds of 75 m.p.h. and maybe more. WAHOO "lite up" as do many sportfish. WAHOOs glow with 'tiger like stripes' of blue on white and are so delicious they are many times eaten raw. WAHOO is definitely my pick for the table over any fish you may catch in our area. A few BLUE MARLIN have been hooked up in the last 2 weeks. This is the time BLUES start showing themselves in this area. A very large (97 lb.) WHITE MARLIN was caught by a charter boat last week just 4 miles North of Palm Beach Inlet .This is just the beginning and it will continue to get better for the next 2 months. Large KINGS are starting to show up. Some 40 and 50 pounders are already coming to the scales in the last week. Every spring the "SMOKER KINGS" make their appearance and really turn up the "HEAT". We refer to them as "SMOKERS" because they will fry your thumb and your reel when they make their move. This is a real challenge for even the seasoned fisherman. There is quite an exciting, fairly new, "SPORTFISHING" adventure that we offer this time of the year for those of you that want to catch SHARKS. This time of year we have thousands of BLACK TIP SHARKS that gather here in shallow water and on certain wind directions we catch these MONSTERS on- believe it or not -"KITES" and LIVE BAIT, just like SAILFISHING. This particular SHARK feeds on the "kite bait" on top water and then explodes into the air and spins, thus earning the name "SPINNER SHARK". This way of fishing for these MONSTERS is very exciting and the "SHOW" is spectacular. These SHARKS are not as large as BULL SHARKS and make a very nice TROPHY at a fraction off the cost. This is something new to the SPORTFISHING world and just last year entered the record books for the first time. We, on THE BABY GRAND, have been developing and using this (kite fishing) technique for about 4 years and have it working pretty well. Huge BULL SHARKS and sometimes HAMMERHEAD and TIGER SHARKS are in this area this time of the year as well. We do offer SHARK fishing trips and have all the latest equipment and experience. For these specialized fishing charters, you must book a little in advance so we can be prepared. For those of you that don't enjoy WINTER FISHING because of rough seas, you will enjoy the SPRING FISHING SEASON as the seas are smooth to flat calm as the SOUTHERLY BREEZES are in control this time of the year and the DOLPHIN fishing along the endless WEEDLINES just gets better and better. For the last several days we have enjoyed a 10 and 15 m.p.h.wind from the Southeast and, to a welcomed surprise, we have caught numbers of SAILFISH everyday in shallow water just off the beaches of both Singer Island and Juno. Just goes to show , you never know what you may catch here by THE GULF STREAM. BAHAMAS ON YOUR MIND???? ALRIGHT IT'S TIME TO MAKE THOSE PLANS. We will be in LACAYA, IN APRIL AND IN CHUB IN APRIL. CALL AND LET'S WORK OUT THE DETAILS. WE PLAN TO BE IN THE MARSH HARBOUR AREA IN JUNE FOR THE BLUE MARLIN BITE . WANT TO CATCH A BLUE MARLIN? YELLOWFIN TUNA?HUGE WAHOO? THE BIGGEST DOLPHIN YOU HAVE EVER SEEN? WELL LET'S GO. THESE ARE THE PLACES TO FULFILL THOSE AMBITIONS. CALL 561-722-7279 DAY AND 561-840-1059 NIGHT. THE CELL NUMBER HAS BEEN CHANGED. 561- 722-7279 PLEASE NOTE............ E-MAIL ADDRESS....babgran@bellsouth.net Check out our website, which is, www.babygrandsportfishing.com Hope YOU FIND THIS NESLETTER USEFUL AND .......CATCH'UM UP!!!! Capt. ERNIE.............. |
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Posted By: | quality escorts | Date Posted: | 03-19-2002 | |
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find a fish charters march 16 - 17 2002 Saturday 20 miles south off of the hillsboro inlet we caught 2 thirty lb dolphins, and a 45 lb bull. Sunday 20 dolphin 10 - 20 lb average 35 lb bull and three wahoo.That was 12 miles off of the hillsboro inlet!! tug ropes are great!!!!!! good luck find a fish charters |
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Posted By: | J. Michael Simko | Date Posted: | 02-07-2002 | |
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Feb 1- I got a call from my buddy Nick VanNice on the Miss Lisa. What I like in a captain is a someone who can call their catch before they catch it. Nick told me he was going to put his crew on a big Hoo the next day. Having fished with Nick for years I've learned not to doubt him. Anyway, my cell went off at 8AM sharp the next morning and sure enough it was Captain Nick. He put Ryan Wuerthner on his first wahoo. This big daddy tipped the scales at 60+ lbs. Awesome! By the the way, Ryan and Nick are not only a hot fishing team. They kick "A" when it comes to mortgages. Check them out at Nexus Financial Group 5616843880. Great rates, low fees, and expert fishing advice. All their missing is hot wings and beer. Feb 03- I ran the Aim E up to Peck's Lake where I took a crew of 4 in search of Spanish. By the way the oldest in the group was 9 years old. For my money there is no better way to turn a child on to fishing than large quantities of Spanish Mackerel. Spanish have all the ingredients that turn kids on. They're fast, they swarm baits, they hit hard, and best of all they have TEETH. Even better is catching them on artificials and 4-6 pound test. After a few passes I realized that the kids just couldn't get enough action on their Got-Cha plugs. So we swung the boat a little North of the pack and started chumming with glass minnows. That was it. We were in thick. Once the fish are chummed up to the boat the kids simply flick the plug out and give it a few quick jerks. Kids were screaming, high 5'in, ribbing each other when they lost one or got cut off. It was as exciting for me, and extra special knowing that these kids won't let me rest until the next time I can take them fishing. Peck's Lake is hot. Take a kid fishing an you won't regret it. Until next time-Later On. J. Michael Simko Aim E |
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Posted By: | J. Michael Simko | Date Posted: | 01-17-2002 | |
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Jan 10- Team Aim E fished the biggest and best Silver Sailfish Derby to date, with between 51-55 boats entered. This report however, is more for the tournament wise. Take it from me I've made more than my share of strategic errors while tournement fishing- perhaps you can learn from this weekends. On Wed 1-09 we prefished on a very cold morning out the Jupiter/Juno area. Big numbers (up to 10 releases) were posted early AM off of Lost Tree. We- no I- figured that the bite might be slightly north (off Juno) the next morning since the weather trend was warming and there was little wind from the North. "Match the hatch". We had fresh gogs and runners to fish that area, but when we got started we quickly learned the bite had moved way north around Stuart. "The hatch", up there is greenies. We ran North (by this time the top boat had 5-6 releases) and basically soaked baits for the rest of the day. We went 0-2 and saw 2 more that had no interest in our bait. Keep in mind that one risk with the larger baits is that your hook up ratios will go down slightly particularly if the fish are not agressivly eating that type of bait. Day one batting average - .0000 I stink, and not of fish. Jan. 11 day two- 6AM we ran North got our greenies, set out 4 baits on two helium kites, and went 4-4 by 11:59A. Now we were fishing the way we knew we could, but the "Day One" setback would be difficult to overcome. Fishing after that point shut down almost entirely with the body of fish continuing to move North. Jan 12-Final day- 27 total fish caught. We had the right bait but did not have the hardware to get to Vero Beach where the fish had apparently moved. We finished the tourney with 4 fish and a generally poor finish, however, the lessons learned about bait, weather conditions, and sailfish migration will surely pay big dividends for the Aim E in future events. Until next time. Later On, J. Michael Simko Aim E |
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Posted By: | J. Michael Simko | Date Posted: | 01-07-2002 | |
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Jan 5 -I got excited at the prospects of a Hot sail bite a little closer to home(Jupiter)after Fridays cold snap and a forecast of strong N-Ne winds for Sat. A huge ground swell and a shortage of live bait kept the smart guys at the dock. The Jupiter Inlet was ominous to to say the least. I checked with my fishing partner for the day Dean "Cheech" Adkins and he said "let's go for it" (what does he care it not his rig). Got a dozen runners from Jupiter Live Bait and we made it past the breakers by the skin of our teeth. Once out it was a picture perfect day. The wind was out of the NW just enough to get a couple x-light kites up and keep them separated. The sail bite was hot early and we caught the tail end at 9A with a triple in 140' East of the Juno Pier. Then the wind died and of course I couldn't get my Helium tank filled on Friday which left me kiteless. Believe me that won't happen again. We went to plan "B" and moved inshore (same area) 65'-85' and got covered up with spinner sharks. They were free jumping everywhere. We went 2 for 6 on spinners all in the 80-100# range. Spinners are great sport on 20# tackle. We picked up a snake king and that was it for the bait and the day. Nick VanNice on his "Miss Lisa" trolled South of Jupiter and put his crew on 4 nice dolphin in the 10-15 pound range. Later they picked up 5 keeper Muttons and a keeper Red Grouper in 105' off of Lost Tree. the trick was 20' of light 30# leader, and the fish were ripping the rods out of thier hands. My team will be fishing the Silver Sailfish Derby this week so hopefully I'll have a winning report on the 14th. Until then- Regards, J. Michael Simko "Aim E" |
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