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Florida Fishing reports are provided by professional Fishing Charter Captains 
and Fishing Guides throughout the State of Florida, The Keys, and Bahamas. 
Whether you prefer fishing salt water, freshwater, inshore or offshore, flats, 
back country or flyfishing, for bass, trout, marlin or tarpon, 
you'll find what's happening on the water here.  

Click on region name below to see 
fishing reports for that area.

Florida Major Cities By Region

Northeast East Central Southeast The Keys
Fernandina Beach
Jacksonville
St. Augustine
Flagler Beach
Daytona Beach
New Smyrna
Titusville
Cocoa Beach
Melborne
Sabastian
Vero Beach
Ft. Pierce
Stuart
Jupiter
West Palm Beach
Boca Raton
Ft. Lauderdale
Miami Beach
Key Largo
Tavernier
Islamorada
Marathon
Key West
Florida Bay

 

Southwest West Central Panhandle Central
Flamingo
Everglades City
Marco Island
Naples
Ft. Myers


Bahamas
Abaco

Central America

Hawaii

Punta Gorda
Boca Grande
Venice
Sarasota
Bradenton
St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay area
Clearwater
New Port Richey
Pine Island
Homosassa Spgs
Chambers Island
Cedar Key
Suwanee
Steinhatche
Carrabelle
Apalachicola
Port St. Joe
Panama City
Destin
Ft. Walton Bch

Pensacola
Gainesville
Palatka
Ocala
Deland
Leesburg
Orlando
Kissimmee
Lakeland
Winter Haven
Lake Wales
Sebring

Okeechobee
Belle Glade

See Map of  Florida  By Region  & The Bahamas  Here

              Fishing Reports  --  SOUTHWEST  FLORIDA       (Back to top)

(For contact information, see the Charter Directory)

Captain Becky Campbell ~ Everglades City, Florida
Rather Be Fishing Charters
Ph# 239-695-2029 Cell# 727-709-1375    email: captainbecky709@aol.com

January 30, 2010 

Fishing report for after the cold blastOkay here were go.....It has been one heck of a ride with the cold weather we had here in South Florida. We actually beat records set back in 1927. Okay that's a long time ago, so what do we do now. Well, Mother Nature can be really cruel sometimes and this time she did her job and did it well. You know that fishing is all a matter of personal feelings, and that's what makes every guide (person) different as it is what he/she believes in according to his/her experience on the water. Well, I believe that Mother Nature know what she is doing. That whatever she did/does she did/does for a reason. Maybe there is not enough food so she has to thin out her stock. Maybe she has a lot of weak or sick fish that just aren't going to make a strong future stock. Okay then how does she take care of this.....with Red Tide or below normal temperatures is a couple ways. I really think that because of this we will have a better, stronger stock now and with in the next couple years to come. Okay what did I see during these record temperatures, quite a lot of big snook, huge snook to say the lease, baby tarpon, and lots of small bait fish, like pinfish, silver jenneys, ladyfish etc. Oh did I say catfish....lots of dead catfish.

So, what has the fishing been like since the cold. Actually it has been pretty good. The fish are not (my opinion) in there normal places, so we just have to hunt for them a little harder. I really believe that a lot of big snook went offshore and they will be back inshore at their normal time to come inshore.

I will say that the fish have quite a appetite since the cold. We are catching Redfish, and Large Trout. Every Redfish I (customers have caught) since the cold have been keepers and are fat at that. We are catching limits on Redfish and also Trout. The cold didn't bother sheepshead or blackdrum either, at least I didn't see any dead. Haven't really caught any, but haven't tried either, as my customers have been happy with Redfish and Trout. Oh, I almost forgot there are also Gray Trout and Sugar Trout to help in the table food and fun in catching.

The weather is back to normal and it is so beautiful. Today was another chamber of commerce day with temp in the low 80's and clear sky's.

"What are you waiting for, pick up that phone and give me (Captain Becky Campbell) a call (239-695-2029) for that fishing experience of a lifetime cause the fishing is great and so is the weather"

Fishing Report  by Capt. Becky Campbell
239-695-2029
Everglades City, Florida 

Capt. Becky Campbell
Ph# 239-695-2029

 

 
 
 

             Fishing Reports --  WEST CENTRAL,  FLORIDA     (Back to top)

(For contact information, see the Charter Directory)  

Half Day and Full Day Fishing Charters

Backwater - Inshore
Nearshore

Eco & Photography Tours

Fishing - Sightseeing

Custom Charters

All ages welcome
Up to 6 passengers

REELIN  &  CHILLIN  CHARTERS  INC.

Captain Terry L. Frankford
USCG Licensed & Insured

 941-228-7802 

35 YRS EXPERIENCE FISHING IN SARASOTA 
AND BRADENTON 

Email Capt. Terry Frankford
 

Visit our website:

www.charterfishingsarasota.com 

 

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 


January 1, 2010

Hernando Beach Gulf Grouper Deep Sea  Fishing Report

Gag grouper are abundant and easy to catch on the reefs, ledges, and wrecks west of Hernando Beach Florida. The last week of the year proved to be one of the best grouper fishing weeks of the year.  Gag grouper on every spot we fished along with Mangrove Snapper, and Grunts.  We had a blast catching big Gag grouper and some Red grouper on frozen Threadfin Herring.  January looks to be equally consistent despite the drop in water temperature.  Fishing with dead bait on the bottom and waiting a while for them to start feeding makes a big difference in catching the larger Grouper.

Capt Rick Rodriguez a Full Time Captain who specializes in helping you have fun catch Grouper!

727-992-9494

 
Captain Bob Smith  --  Sarasota, FL.
Tel: (941) 366-2159     
Cell: (941) 350-8583    E-mail:  capt.bobsmith@verizon.net

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




 
 

               Fishing Reports  --  PANHANDLE  FLORIDA        (Back to top)

(For contact information, see the Charter Directory)



              Fishing Reports  --  CENTRAL FLORIDA           (Back to top)

(For contact information, see the Charter Directory)

 

 

            Fishing Reports  -- BAHAMAS & CENTRAL AMERICA         (Back to top)

(For contact information, see the Charter Directory

 
 
 
   

 

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