Fish Logs

Earlier in the week Capt Mike and myself went out to shoot and episode of The Reel Animals Fishing Show.  We ran out of O’Neal’s Marina in Saint Pete.  Just a short boat ride and we were catching trout on artificials.  The fish weren’t very large but plenty with a few keepers in the mix.  

 
On Thursday, I carried our underwater camera guy, Scuba Steve, (Ben Bateman) his best friend Scott and his dad, Mike along with the son/brother in-law, Brian, offshore.  We looked for white bait around the bay to no avail and headed for the skyway.  In just three throws of the cast net we had plenty of pinfish, pigfish, and one sardine and off we went.  We hit some spots in the 40-60 foot range and had a few small grouper and I believe on gag that just made the slot.  The wind looked like it was lying down so we ran 40 miles to 120’ of water. 

Let me tell ya it was a good call.  Upon reaching our spot we immediately began chumming the water with a chum bag and cut bait.  We started on cut bait with a little success but nothing to write home about.  Then we switched to the live pinners and pigs and it was game on.  We only made the one stop and limited out on Gag Grouper, Red Grouper, Scamp Grouper, and Mangrove Snapper.  We caught several Amberjacks with the big one around 45 pounds.  I was surprised we did that good with the full moon on us.  I guess the lesson is in winter you go when you can especially this winter with the strong fronts we’ve had.  I mean earlier in the week the gulf seas were at 8’ and we ran home in 1-2 footers.  So you just gotta go.
 
Be sure to check us out on WFLA News Channel 8 for The Reel Animals Fishing Show Saturday mornings at 6:30 and Sunday mornings at 11.  Also call in Sunday to WDAE 620 AM The Sports Animal to give us your reports and questions and who knows, you just my win something.

Mike and I were discussing having an ice shanty building contest with all the cold weather we have experienced over the past week or so.  That being said neither of us has been running trips pretty much for the past three weeks.  So let’s talk about the cold and how it’s going to affect us for years to come. 

According to Dr. Ron Taylor the fish kill that we have experienced is the second worst in Florida history and the first for so many consecutive days where the temperature didn’t reach at least sixty degrees.  I have been on the phone with bother charter captains in the area and have heard of water temps being recorded as low as 43 degrees F.  The water temperature in Apollo Beach last Saturday morning behind my house was 51 degrees.  Folks I haven’t seen so many dead fish since the red tide a few years ago.  We have lost thousands of fish that will not replenish them selves over night.  One of the saddest is our number one game fish in the state, Snook.  I have seen personally the bottom littered with dead snook. 

I have also know that the next statement will not be popular but is right.  We need to close snook season for the next two years minimum to give these fish a chance to rebound.  The reason I say two years, that will give us, time to access the situation and if an extension is required we can do so, if it can be opened back well, we can do that to. 

I love to eat snook as much as anyone, but let’s face it if we loose this resource we can’t go to Texas and buy them to restock.  Florida is the only state in the union that has these magnificent creatures with Tampa being at the northern end of there range.  For more information on the fish kills visit www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com on the message boards and also www.myfwc.org.  If nothing is done to help these fish I pray that everyone will practice catch and release to give these guys a chance.  You and I both know they are worth more on the end of a line than they are in a frying pan. 

Be sure to check us out Saturday mornings @ 6:30 on News Channel 8 and Sunday’s at 11:00 am for The Reel Animals Fishing Show, and call in to 620 WDAE The Sports Animal on Sunday’s from 7-9am to ask your questions and give your reports.   Until next week do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’.

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Let me start by saying I’m sorry.  The family and myself have just gotten back from Vail, CO and Eastern North Carolina for Christmas and I swear I didn’t mean to let the cold follow me home but it seems that it did and for that I am sorry. 

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