Trout ... Trout
The Trout bite has continued to be great. On charters I have had, we are getting alot of Trout from 10" to 23". Find areas with bait, grass and structure and use topwater, sub-surface twitch baits or bounce a jig with your favorite plastic or Gulp and be ready for some action. With the Trout we are getting a mix of Mackerel, Ladyfish and Sea Bass. The Redfish are here but in small schools, look for them around the oyster beds and with the mullet. Keep an eye out for the Sting Rays, the Cobia are swimming with them. Keep a jig handy and toss anywhere near the Ray and hold on. We have been site casting to theses hard fighters. The "Silver Kings" will be showing up real soon.
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Spring
Finally old man winter gave us a break in the weather. Now if we could just get the wind to slow a little, we all would be some happy fishermen. On recent charters we have seen a lot of redfish on the move, they aren’t real quick to eat but still getting a few to chew. I believe the redfish bite will turn on soon and will be hot. Right now they will hit cut bait and shrimp. Try around the outer islands anywhere you see oyster beds and/or mullet jumping. The trout have been the target fish lately, they are all over the place, inshore and off in about 4-6 feet of water. We have been using shrimp on the bottom and under a cork, both have been real productive. Another good sign of things picking up is the bluefish are showing up. This usually means the baitfish are around. These guys will fight all the way to the boat and then some, they hit and fight like they are bigger than they are. On calm days try topwater for some exciting action, they will hit diving plugs and live shrimp. Hold on when you get into these bad boys. The spring is here and the fishing is heating up, so get out on the water or call me and lets have some fun fishing.
Good luck on the water, Capt “Fishdaddy” Joel Gant
Hernando Beach, FL.
352 279-1615 fishdaddycharter.com
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Hernando Beach October Fishing
Fishing is HOT… HOT … HOT .. with the cooler weather were getting. It seems fish love the cooler weather just like people do. The Redfish, Trout, Bluefish, Grouper and most species are actively on the move, looking for anything to eat. On a trip yesterday I caught a 26” & 27” Redfish on cut bait, with a high tide, I searched the grass flats in about 1 – 2 foot of water. In this shallow of water, I was able to site cast these fish. This is one of the most exciting ways to fish ( along with a topwater hit ) To see the fish, make a perfect cast, watch the fish come to the bait, take the bait and then the fight is on, is enough to make even the seasoned angler excited ! Don’t forget Oct. 5 th is when the crab traps will be dropped, this means thousands of chum will be just off the Nature Coast. I believe this brings many fish closer in, which means Grouper, mackerel, kingfish, cobia and sharks will be all over the nearshore areas. The cooler weather also makes it a lot more comfortable to be on the water, so get out and enjoy what most people only wish they could do.. fish Florida !
Capt. (Fishdaddy) Joel Gant
Hernando Beach, FL.
Fishdaddycharter.com
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Opportunity Fish 8/13/2009
I would like to talk about what I call “Opportunity Fish” Many times when I’m targeting say redfish or trout, as I’m moving to and from my flats spots I come across an opportunity fish. What is a opportunity fish? This may be a cobia, shark, jack, snook or a school of mackerel or bluefish working a bait pod. On a recent charter off Homasassa, I saw in the distance what we call rain on the surface, this is when small baitfishes like glass minnows or pinfish are making the surface of the water look like its raining. This can be from them just moving around and or a predator fish stalking them. I slowed the boat down and already had a small spoon rigged up, I threw it beyond the “rain” and pulled it thru, on the first cast I hook up with a Spanish mackerel. What I recommend for this type of fishing is to always try to read the water, many times the water will tell a lot. Look for nervous water, which can be just a small difference in the ripple of the water to a big ripple or birds diving or “rain” on the surface or a school of jacks busting the surface .Also, try to always have a rod setup with a spoon or my favorite, a jig with a soft plastic lure or Gulp, it seems that almost all opportunity fish will hit a jig! This type of fishing can turn a slow day on the water to an exciting day.
Good luck on the water, Capt “Fishdaddy” Joel Gant
Hernando Beach, FL.
352 279-1615 fishdaddycharter.com
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Summer time is here ! The days are longer and the sun is hot. So is the trout, mackerel, sea bass, grouper and shark bite. They are in the 6 - 10 foot flats area. You can throw just about anything and hook up, artificial like jigs, spoons and Gulp bounced on the bottom will get you a tight line. If you have them, small pinfish will get you a "Gator Trout". The redfish are in the backwater areas with the higher high tides we've been having. They are taking top water lures, gold spoons and cut or live bait. Always keep a heavier rod on board, there are alot of cobia, shark and tarpon on the flat right now. Always check the weather this time of year, the thunder storms can come up quickly. Be safe and catch fish !
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" Old Hitler "
This is a little different report. Do to the summer time shark showing up in large numbers, I decided to write a little about "Old Hitler" the famous hammerhead shark that has been making many a stories for decades by many fisherman that swears to have either seen or hooked (usually only for a short time) This famous shark has been around since before WWII, reports from Captains and fisherman to the Coast Guard at that time, that a German submarine was cruising the shores and channels of the Gulf. That is how big the reports of Old Hitler were, from 20 - 30 feet long. Old Hitler has been reported from Homosassa to the Keys,This legend has been reported to attack the motors and props of boats.
There have always been large sharks along Florida's coast, but this one stood out. The legend revolved around one gigantic shark that had a large gash in its top fin, an injury it sustained after a rumored run-in with a mullet fisherman sometime in the early sixties. The fisherman struck the shark with a machete after the creature mauled a net full of fish and began bumping the 15-foot vessel with its flat head. The hammerhead swam away with the large knife still embedded in its dorsal fin.
The average lifespan of a great hammerhead is estimated to be 20 to 30 years, but they could live much longer.It is possible that they could live to be 70 years old or more, especially the larger ones. The juveniles appear to grow relatively fast, attaining a size of 6-7 feet in probably 2-3 years.
Is there an Old Hitler around every inlet? The experts say "It is highly unlikely that the fish that spawned the legend of Old Hitler is the same fish still roaming these waters" Myself, I love to believe in old myths and stories that have been handed down from our grandparent or the old salts we have met in our journeys. "Old Hitler Lives ON "
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Spring has finally arrived, There are alot of fish starting to move around now. Slot and overslot Redfish can be found around the outside islands and deep in the shallow grass, if you find mullet and rock, there will be some redfish around. Live bait, cut bait and artificials all work right now. Trout can be caught in the 10 foot grass flats, shrimp, jigs and top water work well. Keeper Snapper are being caught in the deep holes all around the canals. As always Jacks, Ladyfish and Bluefish are keeping rods bent inshore and near shore, and are always fun to catch.
I'm always looking for reports from other anglers in the area to share. So please e-mail fishdaddy@fishdaddycharter.com reports and pictures and I'll try to post them to keep this Fishing Report section interesting. Thanks and see ya on the water !
Capt. Joel
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