It’s been a relatively cool winter in Florida so far and the fish have not been on the bite. Yesterday everything changed and the fish were biting in Sarasota bay. My friend, Tom and I went out on my boat and got about 15 spotted sea trout each and I got a couple Spanish mackerel. We brought home 3 fish. The Spanish Mackerel were 25 inches and 29 inches and the trout was 19 inches. All were caught on paddle tail jigs. I think with the warmer weather the fish will continue to be on the bite. I’m going to try for reds in the shallows tomorrow.

Got my first redfish off the beach today. Fishing a pompano rig with shrimp, the rod went down and stayed down. Great fight and landed this 231/2″ beauty. Filleted and will be having it cooked up a Kretches’ on Marco tomorrow night. Also had a 14″sheepshead. Not as big as Ed’s, but I got to eat this one.

Just when I thought the winter of extremes in Southwest Florida was over (coolest, rainiest & windiest), my second trip with Dragonfly Charters experienced the lowest water levels anyone can remember. The reasons are the same as up north – strong east winds since we are on the west side of FL and a full moon.
Undeterred, Captain Mike and I set off in his 16′ skiff into the backwaters searching for redfish and snook. It didn’t take long before the 70 hp motor was lifted and the trolling motor was deployed. Shortly after, the captain had to use a pole but we still bottomed out. The captain went into the water and started to pull us along. I offered to join him but at his suggestion, manned the pole as we moved ~150 yds to deeper water – 3 feet deep!
Unfortunately, with the shallow water, the fish were really spooky. Large snook scattered as we neared them or cast nearby. At least the smaller ones took our shrimp along with several reds. Then I saw a disturbance and threw my shrimp ahead of it. Immediately my line went tight, and the fight was on. After several minutes, multiples swirls, tail slaps and several drag screaming runs, the beautiful red came alongside the boat. After a quick photo and measurement (~33″), the fish went back into the water, The captain commented that the only two overs caught this year so far, were today and on my last trip 4 weeks ago.
I had several short reds including one that was 1/4″ shy of the 18″ minimum size. It was an amazing experience including watching several ospreys diving and capturing fish all around us.

Went back to my previous spot today with frozen sand fleas and fish bites. Heavy wind required using Sputnik sinkers to hold bottom. Caught these two chunky Pompano at 14″. Filleted and taken to Cocomo’s in Marco and had them prepared Francais style. Delicious meal. Will be targeting these tasty fish for the remainder of my time here. Still have some fillets to fry up for tomorrows dinner.

I have been all but absent in 2023. Physical issues and just life in general got in the way. So a month on Marco Island is just what the doctor ordered. We arrived on 2/3 and I fish strictly surf along Tiger Tail Beach. The first two days fishing produced 3 black drum each day, ranging from 15″ – 22″. All filleted and fried up for a delicious dinner.

Today, 2/17 I walked down the beach to where I believed the sand bar tailed off from the beach into deeper water. I baited a pompano rig with live sand fleas and 15 minutes later landed the pictured 16″ pompano. Great fight on light gear. It has been filleted and we will be heading to the Capri Fish House where they will cook up two platters with approximately 2lbs of fillets. Two more weeks of fishing left before we have to head back to the deep freeze.

I use the term “Florida Cold” to describe the weather here in Cape Coral when it’s unusually cold and the natives are freezing! We’re talking mid 50’s to low 70’s with brisk winds. Nothing like what I read was happening up in Manahawkin. Anyway, yesterday the weather returned to normal, and the fish were biting.

I went out with Dragon Fly charters for my sixth time since coming to FL. Capt. Mike operates a 16′ skiff with a 70HP engine and trolling motor. We fished the inshore mangroves and had a blast! The redfish I’m holding was 31+” and fought hard on light tackle. The FL limit is one fish from 18 to 27″ so after the photo I quickly released it. I had other shorts but couldn’t get my slot fish. We then went looking for spotted trout using a cork with a trailing shrimp. Again, lots of shorts but then I caught the beauty in the photo that went 19+”. That one went into the cooler. We also caught short mangrove snappers, ladyfish (looks like a needlefish and is great for chunk bait, several short sheepshead and finally one nice keeper. I also caught a blowfish and showed the captain my video. That went home with me too.

We barely saw another boat, watched ospreys and eagles put on a show and encountered several manatees who were also in close for the warmer water. It was a great time and I will repeat it in February and again in March.

With the end of the 2024 season fast approaching, John Stuebing and Jerry Nichols joined me for a striper trip. Once we cleared the inlet and turned north, working birds were scattered close to shore out to about a mile off.
My first cast using a Tsunami Sandeel jig produced a 24+” that would have been tagged had it not jumped out of my hands and back into the sea. Jerry was using a large surface Spook and had stripers taking shots at it until one finally got hooked. John tried the Spook and he also had luck with it along with action on a flutter spoon. Seems the fish were hungry!
By 10:00 we had our 3 slots and 3 bonus tag fish. Between the cold temps and non-stop winds, we decided to call it a day.

Jerry Nichols invited me for a day of bass fishing on Thursday 11/30. With both the wind and waves reasonable for venturing outside, only the cold temperatures made things a little uncomfortable but we both were dressed for it.

Once clear of the inlet, we headed north but it was a short trip to find birds, boats and bass. But you definitely had to work for them and we did not get the epic bite that had been the norm. My fish (just shy of 31″) was on a 4 oz weighted paddle tail and Jerry’s fish (30″) was on a surface plug. As the bite died, we tried a little trolling to no avail. With the wind starting to increase and both of us having early afternoon doctor appointments, we decided to head back in. Still a fun time fishing despite the few fish we caught.

After plenty of turkey and football on Thursday, we hit the water on Friday and Saturday fishing for stripers off IBSP. We connected with fish about 2 miles out with two overs and a couple shorts on Friday and then got into the slot fish on Saturday. We weren’t able to get out Sunday but heard from others that the morning was epic with a huge school of fish (and huge fleet of boats) just 1-2 miles north of the inlet. My 9 yr old nephew, Jake, caught his first stripers and had the best time. See video clips and check out his channel        Jake with another Striper #fishing – YouTube

On November 16, I had a great tog trip with Wil, Paul and my buddy Bob. We ended up with 18 keepers before we ran out of bait after starting with 9 dozen crabs! Paul had a 10 lb 1 oz tog which was released. Wil and Bob each had their limits. What a day!

Brian, Tyler, friend Smity and I left the dock at 5:45 AM heading to IBSP. We wound up going past Ortley before we started seeing life. Started catching there and then headed back south. The fish were all over the place hitting top water plugs.

We then fished the jetty and caught a few keeper Tog and more stripers. We continued south past the inlet for more Striper action. Never caught this many bass on top water in my life.
It was certainly a day to remember!

Two weeks ago I bought a used 10′ Jon boat to use in the lagoons near the house to fish for white perch. It was in “like new” condition, but with only a wheel system on the transom for pushing it around. I put a mount on the bow for a trolling motor, cleats, seats, and electrical wire for the trolling motor.
This morning I put it in the lagoon for a test run, brought my net and rods, and headed West. On the first cast, I felt a few light bumps and assumed I was coming through a school of bunker. Next cast caught a small white perch – BINGO! I then downsized my jig and hooked what felt like a bigger fish. Got off!
Next cast caught the pictured fish, a 13.5″ white perch. All was dead after that!! I headed back to my dock, measured the fish, and released it to catch again!

I went up to Sandy Hook with a few friends on Wednesday, October 26th to target bass by throwing plugs. We all caught quality bass in the 36″ range using 6″ pencil poppers. I was lucky enough to land this 47″ cow that had to be close to 50lbs. It took all I had in me to land this beast. I revived it in the surf, and it kicked away and swam off strongly.

Once again, I decided to drive to Barnegat Light and fish for tog off the bulkhead. This is the sixth time in 10 days that I have gone there. I’ve fished the same spot each time – just off the left side of the road that goes to the state park. There is plenty of space along the water before you reach the condo docks.

There is plenty of action and yes there are a lot of shorts. Today was my third keeper that I’ve brought home. I actually had a second keeper today that I gave away! My fish were all 16″. But I have seen fish that were 17, 18 and a 20″ that I netted for someone.

I usually stay for 2 hours or so. Tide doesn’t seem to matter either way. I’ve caught them on green crabs and equally well on sand fleas. Give it a try for yourself and catch a tasty meal.

Fishing the day after our club dinner was tough, but I couldn’t say no to John Stuebing’s offer to search for Striped Bass. After rounding Holgate, we headed north and quickly found schools of bunker – but no predators were bothering them! We trolled, threw topwater plugs and jigged to no avail.

We headed further north towards the pipeline and saw some really heavy returns. Our jigs barely hit bottom before they were hit by small weakfish (10-11″). We kept thinking a keeper was in the mix, but all fish were identical in size. We continued our search following small bird action and I caught a small bonito that was released. We ended the day trolling back towards Little Egg Inlet without success.

Despite our small success, it was still a great day on the water! Back at the John’s dock, I spoke with a someone cleaning off their boat. He had traveled solo up past Seaside Heights – quite a trip from Tuckerton – and had caught three large stripers 42, 44 and 47″ via snag and drop close to the beach. That blitz was also reported in tonight’s On The Water email report. Sounds like the fall run is starting!

After hearing about all the tog being caught in the Barnegat Light area, I decided to give it a try on Monday 10/16. I stopped at FHQ for crabs, but when told they had mole crabs aka sand fleas, I opted for a pint at $12. There had to be a hundred or more in the container and you don’t have to deal with pincers and cutting them in half.

I stopped near Andy’s restaurant and began fishing the bulkhead towards the new condos. I used 3 oz and flung the crab out a good ways. Immediately it was stolen. This continued the rest of the afternoon. I caught probably 25 shorts but no keepers. But I saw several caught. And yes, you will use most of those mole crabs feeding the hungry tog.

I came back Tuesday and had the same luck – all shorts. On Wednesday, I moved further away from the condos and closer to the road. After several shorts, I finally hooked into a bigger fish. I brought my long net and someone did the honors for my first jetty keeper tog.
I am in the LBI tournament and have never entered a fish over 8 years. I doubted my fish would win anything, but I wanted to enter a catch. SCB&T recorded it at16″ and 2.32 lbs! I will definitely give it another try before the fish leave for deeper water.

Went fishing with Ed (The Pres) yesterday. When I arrived at Ed’s boat early morning, he already had Ice and Bait ready to go. Off we went to GSN.
Once on the reef Ed positioned the boat over a sunken Barge and engaged the Trolling Motor. We picked at Sea Bass with a mix of shorts and occasional Keeper. We did this routine several times re-positioning on different wrecks. Around noon the bite seemed to turn off. We had a dozen Sea Bass and one nice Porgy in the box.
It was a good day of fishing and just great Fall weather.

With beautiful weather forecast, I joined John Stuebing for a day of sea bass fishing. John’s plan called for hitting the Boiler, a small wreck ~ 8.5 mi east of Little Egg inlet. We caught plenty of fish but the keeper ratio was low and after many drifts, John decided to try another spot.

Spot #2 was the Marvin, an old clam dredge about 5 miles south of the Boiler. Once again, lots of fish but it was taking time to get our 20 fish limit. Still needing 8 fish, John wanted to try a debris field another 5 miles south off A/C discovered using his relief shading feature. Here, the keeper ratio was better, and we finally had our limit. No FOM worthy fish and we only caught sea bass. The great weather and calm seas made for a nice day on the water.

Had a good day fishing this Labor Day. My daughter caught her first keeper fluke near Double Creek and the dyke. It was a great day on the water with fluking, blowfishing, clamming and swimming. My family bagged three blowfish dinners.