October 2009
Sorry I have been slacking on the reports. I have been out fishing quite a bit, and the fishing has been very good. I have been seeing quite a bit of Redfish around the outer Islands, and a good amount of Snook in the backcountry creeks. I have also found a lot of juvile Tarpon in the backcountry too. I will do my best to keep the reports up to date. Thank you for stopping by.
April 18,2009
Once again Chokoloskee was extremely productive. Got a late start heading out, but that did not hamper the catches. Started out the morning on the outside finding a few Redfish, and Snook and one Trout. By the afternoon the winds had become a bit unbearable, so I headed up the Huston River to try the backcountry out. It paid off, we caught over 10 Snook. Sizes ranged from 2lbs to 4lbs. No records were broken, but it was constant action. I will be heading out this week as well, so check back.
April 13,2009
Returned to Chokoloskee today for another fantastic day of fishing. Countless mid sized Snook were caught both the back country and the outer islands We managed to boat two legal sized Redfish that we found around the outer islands. We also caught a couple of nice sized trout. all of these fish were caught north of the Chatham river. (front and back) The winds were 10-15 MPH out of the SE and the weather was perfect. I look forward to the upcoming months of fishing and will post more reports as I fish.
April 9, 2009
Fished Chokoloskee yesterday after a long stretch of not fishing. Minus the wind switching to the west south west we had an awesome day. We hit the back country first and found a bunch of snook. Only managed to get a couple of them. The water was gin clear so we could see everything that was going on.
After chasing the snook in the back for a while we decided to hit the front and see what was going on. As soon as we breached the mouth of the Chatham river we were hit with chop from 15+mph winds. We punched through it and hit some spots with no results until our last stop.
On the last stop we boated an almost 10lb Red. It was my buddies first one and he was pumped up. Even though the wind was not cooperating it was a perfect day. Not a bug around and not too hot
December 26, 2008
After a pretty hectic few months I was finally able to take some time and get on the water. Took a couple of guys to Chokoloskee for what turned out to be an action packed day. Got on the water around 7:30 and headed to the first spot.
The weather was absolutely perfect, with the exception of the wind blowing a little too much. After arriving to the first spot, we immediately saw bait fish being crashed so I staked up and we started fishing right away. With the first cast a small snook was landed,and the action was non stop for the rest of the day.
In all we landed over 20 snook,and lost countless others. They ranged in weight from 2lbs to 6lbs. The beauty of it all was they were all caught within the same small bay. Unfortunately we didn't get any reds, but with the amount of snook we caught I was pretty happy.
Now that things are back to normal for me I will be getting out on the water weekly instead of monthly. I hope everyone had a great holiday,and has a Happy and Safe New Year.
Marathon 06/21/2008
Well I headed down to the Keys for what was supposed to be a three day trip, but unfortunately got cut short to a one day trip. I sounds like a bummer, but it actually worked out perfect. Got a late start leaving the house Saturday morning,and made it to marathon around 8:30am. Got some bait and was launched by 9am.
I have been promising my girlfriend a tarpon for I don't know how long, so we hit pretty good tarpon hang out first. The tide was not right, but I tried it anyhow. Gave it a good amount of time with no luck. So I decided to try a good permit spot I know, that was at its prime time.
It was a short run from the previous spot, and within a few minutes the motor was off and I was poling the flat. Not less that five minutes on the flat I see a permit coming right at the boat. I instructed my Girlfriend where to cast and the crab went flying. She did everything perfect, but the fish got spooked.
She was a little upset that the fish spooked, but that quickly went away. Within seconds of the first one being spooked another one comes cruising toward the boat. Once again I tell here where to cast and how to retrieve the crab,and Bam it was on!!! The fish jumped all over the crab and took off across the flat.
The fight seemed to take forever because I was so worried the fish was going to get broken off, but after about a half hour, we boated the fish. I only have a fifteen pound Boga, and the Fish bottomed it out, so I am guessing the fish was pretty close to 20lbs.
After taking some pics I released the fish,and he swam away nicely. I went back to the same place right after the release and had a shot at two bigger Permit on the flat, but I blew it! Go figure. I didn't mind though, I was happy that she finally got a good fish on, and it just made it even better that it was a permit.
We tried a few more spots that I thought would produce, but the tides for those spots were not right, so we called it a day. Ill have to head back soon, because she really has the bug now!
Flamingo 04/22/2008
Decided to take a break from fishing Chokoloskee and headed down to Flamingo. Got to the park just after sunup and it was setting up to be a perfect day on the water. I figured I would launch in the front, so we did so, and headed toward East Cape.
After the nice ride out there I took my friend to a little spot I know in the East Cape area. The days goal was Snook. Well after fishing for a little my friends hooks up with a little red. Not too bad considering they have been eluding him for so long. We pressed on and finally he hooks up and lands his first Snook. Sure he was a little guy, but still a Snook.
We finished out that spot seeing some 80+ size Tarpon rolling and headed to our next spot. I had a plan for the day, but the winds had picked up so much that I had to change things up. I knew the tides weren't right for the next spot but decided to hit it anyways. We were there for no more than 5 minutes when my friend hooks up to a nice Snook. He fought him perfect and after a few minutes the Snook was ready to be landed. So I reach down to lip him, and at that same moment the Snook makes a last head shake and cuts through the 30# leader.
Its funny to see when people are so excited and bummed at the same time. I told him it happens from time to time, and just be glad you got to fight him. Well about 20 minutes later that same fish jumped about 20 feet from the boat trying to shake loose my $6 lure. I'm pretty sure he got it loose after his third try.
After that we hit a few more spots, but the wind had become a little too much for my liking and we called it a day. Not too bad for fishing on a Tuesday. I'm going to try and get in another day this week, hopefully the wind will lay down.
Take Care,
Vince
April 1, 2008
Headed out for a short day today in Chokoloskee to try and break the curse my friend has been plagued with. Got on the water around 8am and I decided I was going to fish the front today. The tides were setting up to be good, so I decided to hit one of my favorite spots. On the way I stopped at a few other spots to wait for the tide to make up a little, and we saw a few reds, but couldn't get them to eat.
After an hour or two at theses spots I decided it was time to head to the spot that I promised would deliver. Well my buddied thought for sure he was doomed to be forever hexed hooked up with a nice 25' red. To say the least he was happy, and to tell you the truth so was I. He has tried and tried and it finally happened.
We fished a little more but the winds kicked up pretty bad, and the clouds and rain were on there way so we bailed. I'm gonna try to get out another day or two this week and see what I can get into.
Take Care,
Vince
February 2008
Well so far it’s been a very tough month. The fish have had a bad case of lockjaw. I have found lots of Reds and Snook holding up in back bays, and shallow flats, but have only gotten a few to bite. I believe the cold snap we had turned them off for a bit.
The good news is it has been warm for the last week so they have definitely gotten back into the swing of things. Also with the water temp rising I decided to check out a winter Tarpon spot that hold some big boys. It wasn’t what it should be, but I did manage to jump one over 80 pounds, and saw a handful of 100lb + fish jumping in the bay.
I think this will turn out to be a great month and will post my daily trips as the happen. So check back for new reports, and of course new pics.
February 19,2008
Decided to head over to Chokoloskee today, to try break my buddies hex. I have taken him out a handful of times so far and he always walks away saying "I wish they would eat" and I am always apologizing when I catch a fish and he doesn't.
Today was no different. The weather was total crap (wind,rain,cold) but manageable. And the tides were on track. We headed to the first spot and there was fish!!! He lost no less than 4 fish. I don't know what it is. They wont stay on his hook. I caught a few trout, and lost a few lady fish.(on purpose) This was repeated spot after spot. Until the unthinkable.
My Buddie went in to a sport authority and they recommended him a lure, never saw one in my life, but I said hey, you never know. He threw it out a few times and nothing. So I told him to go back to the old faithful(jig) and try that out, because there was bait being busted. So while he was doing that, I decided there would be no harm in taking a few casts with his new lure he brought with him, because I was sure it would never work.
I was so wrong!! My third cast and I get smashed by a 6lb Snook. I felt so bad! I promised we would break his Hex. So I am going to take him to Flamingo next, maybe that will stir things up.
I plan on a few more trips this week (big POON'S) Ill post as soon as I return.
Take Care,
Vince