Captain Terry Frankford    --   Sarasota 
Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc.
941-228-7802 ~ e-mail - terry.frankford@verizon.net

Fishing Report 01/20/2010 – Capt. Terry Frankford

It was a really cold couple of weeks here in the Sarasota Florida area. With the water temperature dropping to 46 degrees at times the fish took a hard hit. For some it was to cold - snook, spadefish, small mullet, catfish and ladyfish were hit the hardest in this area. There was a fish kill for these and I'm sure other species, however it wasn't catastrophic. I have heard reports from other Captain's in areas on both coasts of Florida having larger fish kills, but I didn't see that here. Yesterday as the tide was changing I did see dead fish in the tide line, however it wasn't major. It was sad seeing some large snook along with the other species, however with the temperatures being in the 70's for the rest of the week hopefully they will bounce back.

Fish Tails aboard the Reelin & Chillin

The second day after the water started to warm up Andy Hale and son Hayden enjoyed some great action with black drum being the fish of the day. We found them around structure near the southern area of Longboat Key. Andy landed two, with young Hayden taking the award for catching nine. They Kept a couple for dinner and released the rest for others to enjoy. We moved to another location and had some fun ladyfish action before calling it a day.

Darren and Jayne Jones had a fair day also catching black drum and sheepshead. Again the location was south Longboat Key around some docks. We didn't catch as many as Andy and Hayden, however Darren did land one that was around four pounds making for great light tackle action. He was only using ten pound test line when he pulled this fish away from the structure before fighting it in open water.

Captain Talk

Leftover shrimp - seems like a waste to toss them over the side after paying up to $4.00 a dozen. And we all know what it's like trying to use a shrimp after it's been frozen, they end up soft and won't stay on the hook. Here is something to try if your going fishing within a day or two after you have these leftovers. Salt them down, I mean really pour on the salt - make it look like their almost buried in snow. Set them in the frig to keep them cool. The salt will harden them up helping them to stay on the hook better. This is a good tactic for winter fishing because fish are not as active when the water is cool - they don't have to work for their dinner chasing a free lined shrimp around. Also, after hooking a shrimp it usually dies pretty quick - don't throw these guys over they harden up just fine in the salt. Just so you know I did test this. On Andy and Haydens trip mentioned above Hayden caught 50% of his black drum on shrimp I had from a trip two days before that I salted and put in the frig. It does work so try it if you like, you may save a few bucks and still put dinner on the table.

Tight Lines & Good Times, Capt. Terry Frankford
Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc.
Capt. Terry Frankford
941/228-7802
terry.frankford@verizon.net
www.charterfishingsarasota.com
www.naturetourflorida.com

Capt Rick Rodriguez
Gulf Grouper Deep Sea Fishing and  Dive Charters,  Hernando Beach, FL
(727) 992-9494                       Email:  gulfgrouper@tampabay.rr.com 

December 25, 2009

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

Pompano are getting thicker on the Stephen's Point grass-flats just a little
south and off of the Ringling home.  Although the fishing has been improving
throughout December, we had a slow start Wednesday afternoon.  Due to the
wind, I opted to fish the east side of the bay for a slower drift and less
chop.  We fished with live shrimp on and around the Stephen's Point
grass-flats for two hours and hardly lost any bait.  Then the wind slowed
just a little and the fish started to chew.  Pompano, large Spanish
mackerel, 3 to 4 pound bluefish and some nice seatrout made our afternoon.
We also caught some large ladyfish in the mix.  I am sure that my D.O.A. and
Silly Willy jigs would have worked just as well as the live shrimp but I
didn't want to take the time to re-rig or change our luck.

Earlier in the week I found a large school of Spanish mackerel just outside
of New Pass by the small red and green markers.  The birds were diving and
the fish were boiling as they fed on the schools of baitfish.  The macks
were mostly small but keeper size.  We did well with Silly Willy jigs,
especially when we tipped them with a small belly strip from the mackerel we
kept.  Of course live bait was also working.  Over the past few weeks, some
the biggest mackerel we caught were in Big Pass, some almost 30" long.

There have been reports of some keeper size gag grouper being caught on the
bay.  I have not targeted them myself lately but I plan to do so soon.  My
favorite bait for them is fresh caught pinfish, not over night baits from
the bait shop.  Pinfish will almost always dive to the bottom, so no lead is
needed.  Most of the water depths you may fish on the bay are only 10 to 20
feet deep.  When a pinfish dances on top of the water it is a good sign of
predators below.  If it is grouper below, you will see your bait simply
disappear under the surface, not a surface blast like a bass would do.  If
your bait disappears, don't wait more then a few seconds and start cranking
like mad until you feel the weight of the fish.  Then set the hook hard and
keep the fish moving away from the structure.  I never like to fish over the
structure on the bay.  I cast to it so that I don't run off the larger fish.
I may mark a structure by dropping a marker to the side or behind it, out of
my way but still giving me a reference point for casting.  To have any
consistency at bringing keeper size grouper to the boat, you need to use at
least 20lb test line, 60lb test mono leader, stout 4/0 to 6/0 hook and lock
down your drag.  With grouper, you don't have the option to let them run.
Remember, this is for large bay grouper and not deep water offshore grouper.
This is a good starter method but not the only method for grouper on the
bay.

Enjoy & Protect

Thank you!
Capt. Bob Smith
Phone: (941) 366-2159  Cell: (941) 350-8583.
Email: capt.bobsmith@verizon.net
My Website: http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

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