Panhandle Fishing Report by Xan “Barr”
We’ve had some great fishing this month the weather has been good and I had a birthday. This month has been great for taking people who don’t like to fish if they aren’t catching. The catching has been really good on the flats all round St Andrews Bay.

Perdido Bay
Capt. Roberts reports that the Redfish are moving into the pass and the big ones are eating everything in site. The locals call it the running of the bulls. The Flounder are moving out of the bayous and toward the pass for the spawn. Live bait and jigs on the bottom are hooking lots of them. The biggest aren’t there yet but you can catch plenty of keepers.

Pensacola, Escambia Bay
Capt. Dennis Arsenault www.LostKeyCharters.com says the flats are still holding some Trout but the best times are early and late. Try five to ten feet depths if the catch is slow. The Pompano are showing up on the beaches but most are too small with only a few keepers. Sand fleas, Shrimp and Pompano jigs are catching. Let the water cool a little and the Pompano bite will get better. Ladyfish Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are hitting top water plugs, Gotcha plugs and bright spoons. Live and frozen shrimp are working too. We’ve been getting reports from all over that bay of lots of small Sharks.

Destin, Choctawhatchee Bay
The Redfish have been reported best around the bridges and docks, and the Flounder reports just outside the pass sound like fishing tales. Some boats are reporting over thirty Flounder per trip. The guys on the gulf fishing pier are catching Kings, Pompano, Redfish, Bluefish and Spanish mackerel.

Panama City, St. Andrews Bay
We’ve been having a ball every time we go out this month. Mom had one of her most fun days in a long time with some line burning Bluefish and big Trout. The laugh of the day was when Mom had a Ladyfish at the boat and it jumped and hit me in the face. What it left on my ear wasn’t that funny to me. Two treble hooks and a spanning Ladyfish isn’t what you want to see coming at your face.

The typical day this month brought Flounder, big Bluefish, Ladyfish and dozens of good Trout. We’ve been catching lots of Grouper on the deeper flats with lots of them within two or three inches of keeper size. The Redfish are in the pass and they have been pretty big.

The Flounder are moving out to spawn and will be in the deeper holes and the pass for a while. A red jig with a white grub works real well but sometimes we use an electric chicken color grub too. Flounder are hungry right now and will eat lots of different stuff. Work the holes and drop offs. Deepwater Point and the Camel Back drop off are good starting points to fish for Flounder.

Our bud Capt. Mike Pankey is as always catching more than his share of good Trout and Redfish in East Bay. He said he isn’t seeing many small Trout and few giants but most are in the 17 to 20 inch range. Capt. Mike likes big live bait. You can talk to Capt. Mike at Howell Tackle in Panama City, or call him at (850) 625-2294. Some of our best advice comes from Howell Tackle.

St. Joseph Bay
Redfish are the most plentiful right now, and a live Shrimp under a Cajun Thunder is what works best. The flats and sandbars around Black’s Island is the hot spot for both Reds and Trout. Top water plugs and gold spoons early and late work well on the Trout.

Some Pompano are being caught using pink Pompano jigs at Mexico Beach, and Crooked Island Sound is showing some Spanish mackerel.

Don’t forget the Destin Fishing Rodeo Oct. 1st. thru 31st. The fishing is great in the panhandle and the weather is perfect. Today’s high temp is 84 and the low is 68. Tomorrow should have a high in the upper seventies and a low in the upper fifties with a dry front coming thru, and the fishing just gets better.

See you on the flats, Xan.l begi

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October 1,2008

St. Andrews Bay

Mom, Dad and I got out this weekend into St. Andrews Bay Down around the city marina. Naturally we did better with live Pinfish but we did okay with artificial too.
Redfish point didn’t produce like we thought it might so we moved to some of the flats over near the paper mill. Dad put us on lots of Trout and Bluefish, but not much else. The Trout seemed to be holding in areas together in about four to seven feet of water. While we were drifting the flats we would catch for a while and then the bite would stop for a long time. After a while when we would catch one Dad would drop anchor for a while. We don’t keep any of our catch from near the paper mill.

The best fight of the day was when Mom hooked up a two foot Bluefish. She must have fought it for ten minutes. She did everything right and she had to because she was using 8lb. line. How she got it in without its tail cutting the line I don’t know.

While I was in school Tom and Dad made it out this week too. I think Dad was telling me fish stories. He said that they caught maybe three dozen Trout, twenty Grouper, a few Flounder, two Sharks, several Bluefish and a Spanish Mackerel.

The Trout were on the flats in about five feet of water and the Flounder were in ten feet and more. The Grouper were all too small but several were within three inches of being big enough to keep. As usual Tom did most of the catching but if I could have been there the haul would have been huge.

This coming weekend there will be a boat race so we will stay home. We’re having a “Fishing with Boogers” cook out. The grill will feature Mom’s best ribs in the world.
I’m sure Tom and Dad will make a couple of trips while I’m in school next week, thanks a lot.

Capt. “D”, and Strick-9 went to Louisiana this week and the word is they caught lots of Trout and Redfish. Look for a fishing report from Capt. “D”, and look for a fishing lie from Strick-9 next week.

Jimmy Louis and Marley have been working on their sailboat for a three month fishing trip in the Keys. If you have been wondering why we haven’t heard from Jimmy lately, well that’s why. Our Jimmy Louis reports will be coming from somewhere off the Keys.

Now that things are slowing down we are trying to start a new page called “Strick-9’s Fishing Lies”. We also have lots of new footage for several new shows so come back soon to watch the action.

 

 

 

 

August 15, 2008

Well here I am again. This month we fished all of our regular spots and two days at St. Marks. We scalloped the first morning at St. Marks and fished in the afternoon. The scallops were plentiful and good size, but the fishing could have been better. Dad thought that maybe we didn’t know what bait to use but an old timer at the fish camp said the trout were mostly small. On our second day we took a trip up the Wakulla River all the way to the spring. We saw more Mullet than anything else but there were lots of bass and Bream too. Some of the locals were catching Bream but most folks were after Bass.


Perdido Bay and Escambia Bay
According to the fishing booger Larry “Strick-9” Strickland, Spanish Mackerel are thick in Escambia Bay this month and they are running from 2 lb to 5 lbs. He is fishing with artificials and working them fast.
The Mangrove Snappers are in better numbers too. The trout are on the deeper flats in the early morning and after a rain.


Destin, Choctawhatchee Bay
Spanish are looking good and the Mangrove Snappers are around most docks and for sure the Mid Bay Bridge. Look for trout in the early morning about sunrise. The Redfish are scattered around the bay and the flounder are showing up in the channels. If you see a scallop don’t touch it because they are off limits west of St. Joe.

Panama City, St. Andrew Bay System
We’re still catching big Trout on the flats in West Bay in the mornings from just before sunrise till about 7:30am. I think the best artificial bait are top water plugs and suspended Mirrolures. Everyone has been catching Trout on live bait and the bigger the better. The best live bait is Menhaden, Pinfish and Mullet. We are getting Redfish on Spooks, Skitterwalks, and Mirrorlure Top Pups. The guys down at Howell Tackle said the best colors are bone and chartreuse.

St. Andrews Bay is holding lots of Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, and Ladyfish. Camel Back Shoal is a great place to start but check the points and you will find them. I got me a “goodun” (Spanish Mackerel) the other day, about 4.5 lbs. Dad got a double hookup with two big Bluefish and what a mess that was in the boat. We are seeing more and more Mangrove Snappers all over the bay.

In East Bay, Capt. Mike Pankey (Hanky Pankey Guide Service) is catching more Redfish than anybody. In three trips last week over fifty Reds were landed and good numbers of Trout too. He’s not seeing too many Spanish Mackerel yet, but when he does they are in the 5 to 6 lb range. The best bait is live Pinfish, the bigger the better. You can book a trip with Capt. Pankey at (850) 785-8548 or hankypankeyguideservice.com.

St. Joseph Bay
The Trout fishing in St. Joe was a little bit slow but we are seeing more Flounder. Our postman Mr. Jimmy has been catching Flounder on live Bull Minnows in the intercostals waterway. Our luck was along the drop-offs. The Scallops are better than last month but anything is better than that. The best place for Scallops is between Presnell’s and Oak Grove, and around Blacks Island and Pig Island.




Indian Pass
We didn’t get to go to Indian Pass this month but the word is Tarpon are on fire down there. Lots of Tripletail and some good Redfish are being caught. The weather was bad last week and some power lines were blown down crossing the bay to St. George Island so there were a few days when nobody went fishing.

Offshore
Uncle Bill has been repowering his new boat so he hasn’t been out much. The Captains out of Treasure Island Marina are catching Wahoo about twenty miles out. The tarpon are cruising the beaches in schools. Offshore the King Mackerel are being caught in good numbers.

Don’t forget. The Red Snapper season closed in federal waters on August 4th.

 

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The Panhandle Fishing Report 07-12-08 by Xan “Barr”
Fishing has been great here in the panhandle but it has been hard to get a full day in. The lightning has been driving us off the water most days before I’m ready to go home. We’re still catching all I want to clean even with the rain.

Perdido Bay
The famous Dr. Picou from the Rusty McHugh Band reported chasing a good school of Tarpon six feet long and up in the bay last week. They were very spooky so the hook ups were few, but the fun was big. I’ve heard other people talking about Tarpon up in Perdido Bay & out in the gulf (2miles out) but have not seen them myself.

The Redfish are still biting around the pass at the beginning of the falling tide, also a lot of Ladyfish & Bluefish. I’ve not caught a nice trout in a while but we’re still catching a lot of small ones on the grass beds.

Some baits (Menhaden, Greenbacks) are starting to get some size to them. So break out the cast nets for all the free bait you can catch.

The white trout have been pretty good at night around the dock lights in Old River all the way into Pensacola Bay. I've heard that the three mile bridge has been pretty good to fish at night also. Tight lines. Captain Dennis Arsenault cell#850-255-0532, 1-866-696-3692
www.LostKeyCharters.com

Destin, Choctawhatchee Bay
Destin has had a very good month of fishing. The Cobia are still here in good numbers close to the beach and even in the bay. The offshore bite is killer too. Gary at Half Hitch tackle told us about one guy catching a Wahoo about 80 pounds. Tarpon have been spotted offshore in about 50 feet of water.

Panama City, St. Andrew Bay System
North Bay, West Bay and St Andrew Bay. The Trout bite is still great with lots of 20 inch plus fish being caught. Dad and I have been wearing them out in the mornings before the rain. We’ve been catching the bigger ones near the shore in the shallows for the first two or three hours after sunrise, and then in the channels later in the morning. One day last week just at sunrise I got a double hook up on a Gags top water lure. The front hook had a 14.5 inch Trout and the rear hook had a 24.5 inch Trout. The big Trout was trying to eat the little one and got foul hooked.

The Redfish are all over the place in the grass. We’ve been using live pinfish about hand size and chumming with what ever I can get in the cast net. Calling up Redfish and Trout hasn’t been a problem.

We catch so many Bluefish and Lady fish that we don’t bother to report them. If you just want to catch and release there is plenty to release just catching Bluefish, Ladyfish and Catfish.

The Flounder have been in deeper water this month but we haven’t been looking for them so much this summer. Fall is when we get hot on Flounder.
Our buddy Capt. Mike Pankey from Hanky Pankey Guide Service out of Panama City has been giving us the best reports from East Bay. His customers have been limiting out on 20 inch plus Trout and slot Redfish. Capt. Pankey says the hardest thing to find is slot Reds, but oversize fish are everywhere. All this month his half day trips have produced six or more oversize Redfish almost every time. You can get more info at www.hankypankeyguideservice.com.

St. Joseph Bay
The Trout bite at St. Joe has been great too. We had the best luck between the city boat launch and Presnell’s Marina. The bite was consistent from sunrise until about 10:00 am. We found a few Flounder in the channels out from Presnell’s to Black Island. Redfish are no problem in the early morning using live shrimp and LYs. Some of the guys at the ramp told us about Tripletails being caught on shrimp but we had our hands full with the Trout and Redfish. The scallops were small and very few. Dad is taking us back to St. Joe again next week but I think Keaton Beach is much better for scallops.

Offshore and near shore from Indian Pass to Perdido Key
Snapper and Grouper are biting well from Alabama to St. Joe. My uncle Bill is still having trouble getting his bait to the Grouper because of the Snapper. Frozen bait or live bait, it’s up to you. Boats all over the panhandle have been trolling up Dolphin, Wahoo, and White Marlin. The weed lines are holding lots of fish. Uncle Bill says to troll Ballyhoo with a skirt.

Lots of small boats are free-lining live bait or trolling the beach, catching King, and Spanish mackerel and a few Dolphin. We’ve gotten several reports of tarpon schooling near the beach around Panama City Beach.

If you seem to be catching too many undersize fish try putting hooks just one size larger on your lures. Just make sure they don’t get hooked on each other. On rainy days when you can’t get out come to my web site, fishingwithboogers.com, for fishing videos, fishing reports, fishing tips, and my grandma’s recipes. Remember, you can’t catch fish if you don’t have your bait in the water.

I can’t fish everywhere so I get help from some friends. The Perdido Bay report is from Capt. Dennis Arsenault, and the East Bay (St. Andrew Bay system) report is from Capt. Mike Pankey.

This is July report to “Outdoor Florida” magazine. We have been reporting to them for a few months now. If you are ever in central or south Florida you can pick one up at most tackle shops. They are free and full of good info. Look for my articles in the “Woods and Water” magazine soon also.

 

 

 

Panama City, (Trout report)
North Bay and West Bay 06-25-08

This month has been one of the best in a long time for large Trout. We’ve missed more large trout than we have landed but we got to see them and sometimes after a long drought that is enough. 13” to 18” is the usual size but as of late we have been pulling in 22” plus fish because of one small change we made.

Lately I’ve notices lots of strikes by huge trout but they rarely hooked up. It seems that we have been missing at least a few 25” plus fish everyday. After changing hook sizes and brands, the hook ups started coming more often. A #8 treble hook doesn’t have a large enough gap or heavy enough wire to securely hook a larger trout or redfish. A number six treble hook is marginal for a good redfish and useless on some of the large ones being caught in the St. Andrews pass.

Hook size isn’t the only consideration, brand is also important. The low end hooks like what you find in the chain stores like Wal-Mart dull quickly or straighten under weight. The better quality hooks such as Gamakatsu, or Owner penetrate and hold better than the common cheaper brands. They cost more, sometimes as much as 80 cents each for a #6 treble hook but when gas is over four bucks a gallon I like to come home with something to show for my investment. We practice catch and release much of the time but now days we are releasing less and less. Oil prices are taking their toll on everyone, and the fish are not exempt to this economic challenge.

Sorry about that rant, now back to the fishing report. This week’s best story started with a peach with blue streaked sunrise Friday morning as we left our dock. The sky was clear which was unusual for the week, the wind was calm and the temperature was perfect. As we eased along the canal we could smell bacon frying, onions being sautéed and Mimosas in bloom as the usual dogs ran out to greet us on our way to the mouth of the canal. Once at the mouth we hooked up to run the eight miles plus across North Bay into West Bay to a huge expanse of grass flats. The water was mirror smooth and the wind felt good on the skin. Xan was kicked back on the seat in front of the center console with his hair blowing like a Skunk Ape on a motorcycle running across the Everglades on Hwy. 41. We knew this was going to be a good day, as we were the only boat on the water. Not a tourist in sight.

When we settled on a flat out past Breakfast Point the sun was up enough to see our lures hit the water and the rolls and strikes the fish were making. For the first hour we caught several trout 15” and under and had missed six or eight good strikes.

While Xan fished I tied a “Gags” walking dog on with #4 hooks and handed the rod to him. He through it as far as most grown men could and let it lay on the surface for a slow ten count. The lure was about ten feet from the grassy shore as he started to chug it across the surface. Three chugs with the water splashing off its flat face and then let it stand for a moment. As he started to pull it slowly this time, the water seemed to rise in a dome around the lure, then like a missile the water shot up a good three feet in the air. The initial excitement of the strike caught us both looking. As Xan worked the fish it suddenly stopped fighting and the pressure on the rod went away. Xan thought it might have gotten off only to have another mighty blast of boiling water and spray, this time pulling his knees to the gunwales and bending him over the side. He fought it for a moment and then said “I think it got off again.” As he reeled he corrected his last statement and said “I don’t think it is very big after all.” Just as he completed his correction another attack and back to the gunwales he went, this time he made sure the hook was set. After fighting the fish another sixty feet to the boat we both saw that his fish was really two fish. The front hook had a 14 ½ inch trout and the rear hook sported a 24 ½ inch trout.

I grabbed the net and went for the quarry when the larger of the two managed to turn loose and swam about three feet away. As we felt our hearts sink he turned around and charged the smaller trout, and that is when I scooped both out of the water and hauled them on board. The smaller one had a huge gash in its side where the larger trout had attacked it but we released it anyway as it was under size.

We fished for another two hours and caught several good trout but the real excitement was over for the day. God had blessed us with a great story and an even better supper. Becky baked it with sautéed onions, peppers and her special spices. The sides were fried okra, black-eyed peas, sautéed peppers onions and squash, sliced tomatoes and fresh baked bread. Life is good.

After supper the three of us went back out for a sunset fishing trip. The wind had come up a little and the suspended lures worked best. We landed several under size trout with a few keepers. The jumps and runs were furnished by some big ladyfish and the strong pulls were complements of a 9 lb. 3 oz. sail cat. Our trip was cut short by a thunderstorm that produced enough lighting to chase Capt. Ahab off the water.

We’ve replaced all our hooks now and the fun meter is pegging everyday. Don’t scrimp on your equipment. In the long run it is much cheaper to use the good stuff.

Next week we will be fishing East Bay and St. Joseph Bay, weather permitting.

 

 

Panhandle Fishing Report June, 2008

It’s June and everybody is complaining about the heat. Some folks blame the heat on different things but I like to call it summer. “A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one”, Poor Richard’s Almanac.

Perdido Key - Pensacola
The rat reds have been hitting live shrimp on the grass beds, also the bigger ones have been there too but not as much. We got to go out Perdido pass today (06-14-08) and right after the tide turned and started to move out we started catching some big Redfish, smallest 22 inches, and largest 32 inches all on live shrimp. Also some Pompano, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Black drum.

We’re still catching some specs early in the morning before it warms up, then they head for cooler water.

The inshore reefs are holding a lot of undersized Gag Grouper & Mangrove Snapper. People are still catching some nice size Spanish in Perdido pass along with a lot of Bluefish. We’ve been spotting Tarpon in the bay this month too.
Captain Dennis Arsenault, cell#850-255-0532, 1-866-696-3692, www.LostKeyCharters.com

Destin, Chattahoochee Bay
The Okaloosa pier is a great place to fish if you can find a space. Lots of my buddy’s are having fun on Bluefish, King mackerel, and Spanish mackerel. We got some good Redfish in the holes on the flats on the west end of the bay not far from the Hog Town, boat ramp. Trout are on the flats just after sunrise and just before sunset. Most of our fish were caught in 3 to 6 feet. The best lures were suspending, and top water. Live Pinfish were working great on both Red fish and Trout.

Panama City, St. Andrews Bay System
In St. Andrews Bay we’re catching Trout, Mangrove Snappers, Spanish mackerel, Ladyfish, Bluefish and Shark. Fish the private docks for smaller redfish and the pass at the end of the out going tide and start of the incoming tide.

In North Bay we’re catching mostly smaller Trout, and have lost a few to the Sharks. Dad had his hand on my leader when a 4.5 to 5 foot shark got the gator Trout, lure and all.

Over in West Bay we have been catching lots of Trout on the flats and Redfish in the holes. We have caught more large Trout this month than any time in the last two years. We’ve been using Yo-Zuri, Mirrolures, live pinfish and live shrimp.

East Bay is producing lots of slot and over size Redfish on the flats. The Trout are plentiful in all sizes with some being caught over twenty inches. Capt. Mike Pankey has been treating his customers to their limits of Trout and Redfish in as little as two hours. The best times are before 9:00am, and after 4:00pm. The East Bay report is from Capt. Pankey. For more info call (850) 625-2295 or www.hankypankeyguidservice.com.

Port St, Joseph Bay
Around Presnell’s Marina to Indian Island and south to Pigs Island is where to find the Redfish and Trout. The baits of choice are live Shrimp, LY’s and Pinfish under a Cajun Thunder. Some really good fish are being found in the deeper holes as the water warms up in the heat of the day. The last few hours of the day is when we have been finding the best trout bite.

Offshore from Indian Pass to Perdido Key
Indian Pass to Mexico Beach is reporting lots of Dolphin, King and Spanish Mackerel. Some boats are reporting Wahoo. Trolling is producing the largest catches. The Tripletails are holding on the crab buoys around Indian Pass.

Panama City charter boats are reporting loads of chicken Dolphin and Spanish mackerel. King mackerel are showing up more and more these days. The Red snapper and Grouper bites are still strong. If you want Amberjack, some of the bridge spans are holding them.

Destin is giving up Kings and Bonita near shore in the morning and offshore in the afternoon. The whole coastline has lots of Sargasso so the chicken Dolphin are everywhere. More Wahoo are showing up off Destin and there are reports of Marlin, and Swordfish farther out too. Bottom fishing is producing Red, Mangrove, Lane, and Black Snapper.

Pensacola and Perdido Key offshore is a repeat of Panama City and Destin.

I’m 11 years old, I’ve been fishing for 95½ years and I’m working on my third hip, but this is my best year of fishing yet. I’ve been catching more big fish this year, so I had to cut back on my lying. To see what I’m up to, log on to www.fishingwithboogers.com. Until next time, I’m Xan “Barr”.

“He that would catch fish must venture his bait”. Poor Richards Almanac

 

May 31,2008

Boogers:

The Trout are back on the flats here in Pine Island Sound.
It took a little while to figure out just what they would hit.
Our usual live Shrimp and soft plastics weren’t working, I had just been
to a yard sale at a retired pro Bass fisherman’s house and bought boxes of
mostly new lures for a buck each, among them a lot of top waters.
I rigged up a couple of colors and started working them, ten minutes and three 20 inch Trout later, Marley abandon her live (small summer) Shrimp and joined me in boating three more in the twenty inch range.
The water here is still very clear due to little rain, and what a thrill watching those gators
slam the baits, most with one or two following them up. I've always caught quality fish on top water baits and today was proving it once again.
Due to gas prices we are seeing more kayak fishermen out there, some with trolling
motors, I can't think of a better way to work a shore line. The coolest ones have a detachable foot controlled motor, and working a fish is simple. Most folks paddle until they get one on then use the 12v power.
We don't have much of a fuel bill with our 9.9 or 15, but I can understand the guys with 200 hp flats boats using kayaks on the quiet days.
The Tarpon are still here, and so are the Sharks, so you can still get that huge pull at anytime while fishing for Trout and Redfish.
The afternoon, falling (hill tides) are carrying small crabs in the current headed out the pass and the Tarpon are all over them.
These quiet days also make for great wading on the flats and when the temp hits 90, anchoring and sneaking up on those tailing Reds can cool you down.
Today one of my scouts is taking some folks up the river, past downtown Ft Myers, none of us has been up there for a while and it will be good to get a report from him this evening
Today I’m working on my Sailboat, doing this and that to get ready for our Carib. trip this fall, but Marley and I will be back on the water Monday-Thursday


Till next time

Catch em and Eat em

LULU

 

 

5/22/08

We have been going out about four days a week and the temperature has gotten better but the wind almost blew me out of the boat. Everybody we’ve talked to from Pensacola to Pine Island has complained about the wind, and today it is even worse.

DESTIN
Our friends from Destin all report a lot of Cobia with fish in the 60 to 90 pound range. I heard about a 12 year old girl landing a 61 pounder this week.
My friend Ted said the Red Snapper are plentiful and making it hard to get your bait down to the Groupers.
Fishermen on the pier are catching a lot of Spanish Mackerel, and a few Pompano, but on the beach the Pompano are rocking.

ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM, PANAMA CITY
We’ve been seeing some tailing Redfish in the mouths of the creeks at high tide. Large schools are in Grand Lagoon and around the State Park across from Bay Point. The best live baits are live Shrimp and Pinfish. My dad hooked a huge Redfish and fought him for what seemed like 15 minutes until he spit the lure.
The trout bite has been good with the warmer weather. We’ve been catching Trout from 12” to 28”. The flats are holding the smaller fish but we are catching lots of keeper Trout using live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder. The bigger fish seem to be hanging in about 5 to 8 feet of water. Our best Trout action has been in the bayous, and just off the flats and in potholes.
The Spanish Mackerel are better than they have been for many years in the bay. Everybody is catching them in good numbers. We’ve been casting suspending lures and fishing them fast.
We got into a school of Jack Crevalle about two miles up into the bay and I had the fight of my life. The fish I hooked was over three feet long, but I couldn’t land him on my light tackle.
On the beach Pompano are in good number, and the best bait is a jig tipped with a sand flea, or a piece of shrimp. They’re also being caught on frozen shrimp and sand fleas, rigged with two hooks on leaders and a pyramid lead.

ST. JOSEPH BAY
Capt. Mike reports lots of Pompano in the area, all the way from Indian Pass up to Crooked Island. He was using a Pompano jig tipped with shrimp.
On our trip to St. Joe last week we caught a few Spanish Mackerel, but we saw some huge Flounder. Live bull minnows are catching the Flounder.
The Trout fishing is getting good with the larger ones being caught in 4’ to 8’ of water just off the grass flats. We had good luck with live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder.
Redfish are in large schools on the flats around Presnell’s landing. If you like to fish with a spoon you are in luck because they are hitting spoons and live shrimp.
If you have never fished St. Joseph Bay I can tell you now that you will need a shallow draft boat. At low tide that place looks like a meadow.

OFFSHORE FROM INDIAN PASS TO PENSACOLA
The Snapper bite is strong but remember you don’t want to be caught with Snapper outside the 9 mile limit. The Grouper bite is strong too so go get them first and then catch your Snapper. Everybody is limiting out on Snapper quickly so you won’t have any trouble doing the same.
There are some new rules and some new required equipment so you better check before you leave the dock.

 

05-16-08
Boogers:

A thousand years before the first blocks were being quarried for the great pyramids in Egypt the first Pine Islanders were thriving. Artifacts, shell mounds, and human bones, on Pine Island date back 5,500 years.

The culture developed here for the same reason I am here, no winter weather,
and the wildlife, and sea life, that can't be found anywhere else in the U.S.

The CALUSA Indians, had a complex and social society ranging form Tampa to the Everglades. They are believed to be related to the MAYAN culture that
developed in Mexico and Central America, due to similar artifacts found in both areas.

I live in the last part of developed areas on the West coast of Florida,
Just 25 miles south of here, the great Sea Of Grass, known as the Everglades
located on the Southern tip of the state. I am surrounded by Mangrove islands, sisters to the Ten Thousand Islands, just south of here.

While I fish, hunt and explore our coast, it isn't hard to imagine the Calusa being here so long ago. They had to co-exist with the same Snakes,
gators, mosquitoes and No-See-Ums that I do.

The Calusa built shell mounds to a height of 60 to 80 feet, to serve as high and dry home sites, and Conch shell pyramids used in religious ceremonies, there are at least 50 ruins of them just on Pine Island.

Every time I throw a cast net or hook and line, I think of my long lost brothers
doing the same, trying to bring something home for supper, and telling stories
of the big one that got away.

It's May in Southwest Florida, and that means TARPON, the oversize Herring known as the SILVER KING, can be caught almost anywhere in our local waters. They will attack almost anything, in the early morning you can find them rolling on the surface and sight cast to them. At night they lie in the deep water passes to the gulf. Small crabs, cut Ladyfish, live Pinfish under a bobber, large shrimp, jigs, Thread Herring on a free line and Pilchards weighted on the bottom.

World famous Boca Grande Pass, is just 10 miles north of here, and on any given day for the next month there are at least 100 boats jockeying for position each with a fish on. In those close quarters heavy tackle is a must to keep some kind of control of the 100 plus pounders.

If you are unsure of the rules of etiquette at Boca Grande this time of year,
Go with a veteran Tarpon hunter or guide and see how it works. You don't want
to be the Monkey that messes everyone up. Any way, any where you get one
this time of year, can be the thrill of a lifetime.

Snook season has ended, with the new slot 28-32 inches and one per day
it was tough to bring anything home. We caught a few and sighted a lot of them
this year but the catch was slow all over. Undersize or oversize, they are still
one of the great pulls in the water. We will see the next few years what the new
rules and regs does for the stock. I'm sure the Florida Saltwater Commission
knows what they are doing. (RIGHT!!!!)


Sharks are everywhere this time of year, and can show up anytime. I'ts common to pull up half a Trout, or to have a 3 footer take a jerk bait.

While drifting for Trout, rig a medium size rod with one of the big Pinfish
that took your Trout bait and drift it behind the boat. On a slow day it can give
you a pull while you’re looking for that big “Yellowmouth”.

The neighbors caught a 7 foot Hammerhead yesterday and got some good pictures of it in the water. No, they didn't boat him, my neighbor likes his 17 foot boat.

Speaking of Trout, the bite has been a little off due to the east winds the last week or two. Some of the Panhandle Boogers were down for a while, we caught some nice fish, but not our usual limit in 3 hours and 50 fish caught. This wind will lay down soon though and things will be back to normal.

Redfish are always here, but you have to target them. Work the overhanging Mangroves with Shrimp, cut Ladyfish, DOA's, Pinfish. Practice your sidearm casting and lay your bait as far up in the shade as you can. Using a popping cork can give you a little more control getting it in there and it will keep the bait out of the roots. Once "Ole Spot" takes it, get him out of there as quick as you can, then fillet and release in hot oil.


Stone Crab season ends today, boats with thousands of traps are chugging up
my canal, to clean and repair them. A lot of Crabbers will truck their traps to the Keys to prepare for the up coming Commercial Cryfish season. “A trap sittin on the hill all summer don't make no money”.

The Panhandle Boogers will be showin up in a couple of weeks, so I better get
out there and do some scoutin.

June brings some hot and still days, so I'm riggin up my biggest straw hat
and my top water lures.


Till Next Time

Catch Em and Eat Em

LuLu

 

 

 

 

PERDIDO BAY
Fishing around the pass has been producing some sheepshead, on shrimp sand fleas and fiddler crabs, also some bluefish around the bridge. Up around wolf bay, trout & redfish have been pretty good under the docks, live shrimp are the best, then gulps. Bon Secour River has also been good for reds & trout. A friend caught some flounder up in Palmetto Creek, said they were pretty nice size.
This report from: Captain Dennis Arsenault www.LostKeyCharters.com

DESTIN
The cobia are back! The piers are reporting a good number of cobia caught, with Pensacola topping the list. The Destin jetty is good for lots of Spanish and a few redfish and pompano. The shark bite is very good in the pass with fish anywhere from 20 to 100 lb. being caught.
In the bay the trout and redfish are very good. The trout are moving on to the flats in the warm water. The Mid-bay Bridge is producing lots of mangrove snapper and sheepshead.


ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
With the April weather warming up the fishing is getting better. In North Bay we found a few keeper trout on the flats, but the wind chased us into the canals where we did better. The grass hasn’t greened up yet but it is coming back. In the mouths of the canals I pulled out eight trout and one bluefish in just over an hour on suspending Yozuri lures.

The pass and Deepwater Point are producing Spanish mackerel. The jetties are loaded up with sheepshead, with live shrimp and fiddler crabs being the best baits. The redfish are still showing good numbers in the pass, and the baits of choice are live shrimp and pinfish. West Bay and East Bay have schools of redfish swimming the shorelines. They’re spooky so be quite and make long casts.
Pompano are still being caught on the beaches and the best baits are a jig tipped with shrimp, gulp, or sand fleas.

ST. JOSEPH BAY
We fished potholes in the flats east of town and hammered the trout. They were holding in about eight feet of water along the edge of the grass. Live shrimp under large popping corks, and suspending lures worked well for trout. We caught Spanish mackerel on fast moving crank bait, and flounder on jigs tipped with shrimp. The wind was calm and the water clear. This report from: Capt. Mike.

OFFSHORE
The Cobia are showing up from Indian Pass to Perdido Key. The wind and water clarity are making the Cobia fishing tough. Live eels and jigs are what you want for best results.
The Amberjack bite is good over the bridge spans off Panama City, but farther offshore is producing the larger ones. Live bait and Butterfly Jigs are producing the best strikes.
The Grouper bite remains steady with best reports coming from 15 to 20 miles off. Look for Black and Red Grouper, and Scamp over hard bottom. Butterflied Spanish Mackerel and live bait are best.

 

 

PERDIDO BAY
04-05-08

Fishing around the pass has been producing some sheepshead on shrimp, sand fleas, and fiddler crabs, also some bluefish around the bridge. Up around wolf bay, trout & redfish have been pretty good under the docks, live shrimp are the best then gulps. Bon Secour River has also been good for reds & trout. A friend caught some flounder up in Palmetto Creek, said they were pretty nice size. This report from: Captain Dennis Arsenault www.LostKeyCharters.com cell#850-255-0532

 

 

DESTIN
04-05-08

The cobia are back! The piers are reporting a good number of cobia caught, with Pensacola topping the list. The Destin jetty is good for lots of Spanish and a few redfish and pompano. The shark bite is very good in the pass with fish anywhere from 20 to 100 lb. being caught.

In the bay the trout and redfish are very good. The trout are moving on to the flats in the warm water. The Mid-bay Bridge is producing lots of mangrove snapper and sheepshead.

 

ST. ANDREWS BAY SYSTEM
04-05-08

With the April weather warming up the fishing is getting better. In North Bay we found a few keeper trout on the flats, but the wind chased us into the canals where we did better. The grass hasn’t greened up yet but it is coming back. In the mouths of the canals I pulled out eight trout and one bluefish in just over an hour on suspending Yozuri lures.

The pass and Deepwater Point are producing Spanish mackerel. The jetties are loaded up with sheepshaead, with live shrimp and fiddler crabs being the best baits. The redfish are still showing good numbers in the pass, and the baits of choice are live shrimp and pinfish. West Bay and East Bay have schools of redfish swimming the shorelines. They’re spooky so be quite and make long casts.

Pompano are still being caught on the beaches and the best baits are a jig tipped with shrimp, gulp, or sand fleas.

 

 

ST. JOE BAY
04-03-08


We hit the flats of St. Joe this morning and found them within 1,000 feet from the ramp. A short putt to a long hole about eight feet deep proved to be the best place for us. We drifted over it several times with fish on with every pass. After a number of passes we decided to anchor in the back end of the channel like hole and free lined live shrimp.

We were soaking live shrimp under large popping corks and hammered the trout. We fished for a while after limiting out and threw back several keepers. We caught flounder on jigs, and Spanish on suspending “Rattle Traps”.

I think I could fish all week in St. Joe Bay on less than a tank of fuel.

The bite is on.
Capt. Mike.

-------------------------------------------------------

Pine Island Sound, Florida
April 2, 2008

Boogers:

Pine Island, April 2, SE wind 10kts, high Tide 12:57 pm, Waning Moon 17% full.

March is finally over and the wind has laid down. April is the finest fishing around here, the grass is coming alive
the flats are warming up and the bait fish are showing up. The Snook and Tarpon bite is already getting better and the next two months will be the best of the year.

Due to severe drought conditions the water is still very clear. It hasn't rained 10 hours in 10 months we are over 20 inches below normal rain fall.

Marley and I have limited out on Trout 3 out of the last 5 times we have been out.

With the baits showing up, we will start doing more Red and Snook fishin. Somebody stole my Pinfish trap, so I'm back to the cast net.

The Snook are at the rock jetties at the pass and are hitting white
bucktail jigs 1 1/2 ounce. Most are under size but a few big ones
are being taken there.

My Buddy “AIN’T RIGHT”, has been seeing Tripletail holding just behind crab pot buoys waiting for the small crabs they pick off the buoy line.

Low tides in the morning, and the mirror surface of the water are revealing tailing Reds on the shallow flats.

We eat fish at least three times a week, so keeping the freezer stocked is an on going process, we are headed back out this morning, to find baits and hit the Mangroves for Reds and Snook but this time of the year the Mangrove Snapper are good size too. With the 10 inch size limit it takes a few for supper, but they are fine eating.

Look for Updates more often now that the season is here.

Louis&Marley
Pine Island Fl.

-------------------------------------------------------

 

PINE ISLAND
03-19-08

Boogers:
 
March 19th 10:am,  Temp. 81, Water temp 72,   Wind S/E 15 to 20 kts,    gusting to 35, with small craft warnings.
 Marley works long weekends, so we can fish Mon-Thur. There is a lot less traffic on the water during the week.
 While Marley's working, Iseldom use the skiff, unless I have to go to one of the other Islands to do day work, or play a music gig...
 I love fishing with my wife, it’s like fishin with my best bud, and my girlfriend. She can stick her hand down into a gut hooked Snook, and throw a cast net. But lately I think she suspects me of fishing without her   (GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE ON PINE ISLAND)
 She has been hiding the fishing rods, when she goes to work.........................
 I caught her sniffing the cooler on the boat for fish smells...............................
 She got up in the middle of the night and took the spark plugs out of the Evinrude............................
 I want all you guys to be FISHIN FAITHFULL...................
 and gals to be FISHIN FRIENDLY.................................
 
 
 
(MEN ONLY).............................DUDES, I had a friend who's wife BURNED his BOAT, MOTOR, TRAILER, TACKLE, & RODS right in the driveway.
 Don't take the chance, take yer wife fishin.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PANAMA CITY
03-15-08

Thursday
We fished Thursday with little luck. The temperature was in the sixties, the sky was overcast and there was a slight wind. The day started off with a light rain as we loaded the boat but it soon stopped. Within ten minutes we landed our first trout. Fishing in the mouths of canals proved to be the best. After about an hour we had landed about eight fish, but none were keepers. We decided to fish the flats for bigger fish but only landed one small trout before the wind picked up and the rain started again. On our way home we stopped in a protected place where I usually find fish, and sure enough I got one, and Tom pulled two out of that one little hole. On the way up our canal Tom pulled another from under a dock. We caught fish but all were too small.

Sunday
Xan was in town and was ready to fish. We got on the water shortly after church. The tide was running in all afternoon and the wind was at 15 mph. The sky was clear and the temp was in the upper seventies. In other words, it was a great day for fishing in the panhandle.

At first the back country fishing was slow and the no-see’ems were as bad as they get. Between swats and rubs Becky landed the first fish of the day, a nice trout. Xan had one hook up but lost it. We moved to the flats to avoid the bugs and after an hour with little action we ran in to let someone off the boat. About two hours before sunset as the tide continued to rise, we started fishing the flats. We landed fish on spoons, topwater and suspended lures. Once Xan got his mojo going there is no stopping him. He out fished everyone on the boat. Fishing with Xan is like going to a comedy club. He tells jokes and pokes fun at everyone in sight while pulling fish out of the water. To say the least, we had a great day “Fishing with Boogers”.

Sunday was a catch and release day but most of what we caught were too small to keep anyway.

-------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

PINE ISLAND
03-09-08
Boogers

Sunday March 9, Temp 70, water temp 69, Wind N E 10 to 15 kts

Waxing Moon at 1% vis.

Snook season started the first, in the middle of a cold front, so it was a little slow. The last week it has warmed up and the bite is improving. Where the wind and current are pushing them up on the bars, fish up to 32 inches are being taken on hand picked shrimp, pilchards and pinfish. Those tossing arti's, are getting them on Yozuri's and Mirrolure's.

The Gator Trout are back, YEA!!, Marley and I are getting all we can handle at our usual spots. Fish in the 18 to 22 inch range are actually out numbering the juvies.

We can always tell Snook season, on our canal, and others it’s not uncommon to see twenty to thirty flats boats cruising up and down running trolling motors throwing live baits under every dock they pass. This is always an effective method around here.

The offshore fishing is a little slow due to big seas on these cold fronts, but AJ's and other bottom species are doing OK when the boats can get out.

We have promised each other to fish Mon thru Thur this week no matter what (This is for Harmony in our home) and believe me I live up to my end of the bargin. Our reason for moving back to this beautiful island was to fish year round and there is nothing we would rather do.

(Fish with yer wife, better life)

I will let ya’ll know what happens this week.


Louis&Marley
Pine Island, Fla.

-------------------------------------------------------

ORLANDO FRESHWATER AND ST. PETERSBURG SALTWATER
03-08-08


THE BASS IN THE PICTURES IS 9LB 10 OZS CAUGHT IN A SMALL LAKE IN ORLANDO ON A 6 INCH SENKO AND 10LB TEST MONO. THE CRAPPIE BITE IS VERY SLOW, BUT THE BREAM, SHELL CRACKERS AND BLUE GILLS ARE IN FULL SWING, WITH A LOT OF FISHERMEN LIMITING OUT. WAS OUT ON SUNDAY ON THE ST JOHNS RIVER AND ME AND MY BROTHER LIMITED OUT IN FIVE HOURS WITH THE LARGEST COMING IN ABOUT 2LBS MOST AROUND THE POUND MARK.

THE FISHING IN THE ST PETERSBURG AREA HAS BEEN GOOD MOSTLY, THE SHEEPSHEAD FISHING. FISHED ANNA MARIE ISLAND ON 3/10/08 THE ROD AND REEL PIER WAS PACK, AND THE SHEEPSHEAD BITE WAS ON ALL DAY, WITH THE LARGEST FISH I SAW OF THE DAY WAS A 4LB SHEEP HEAD, I LEFT THE DAY WITH 12 FISH RANGING FROM 14 INCHES TO OVER 18 INCHES. TOSSED BACK ANOTHER 30 OR SO THAT WAS NOT QUITE 12 INCHES. THE BITE STAYED STEADY ALL DAY LONG. EVERYONE WAS LIMITING OUT. THERE WERE ALSO A COUPLE SNOOK CAUGHT THEY DIDNT MEASURE OUT BUT THEY WERE GOOD FIGHTS FROM WHAT I SAW. THE SHEEPSHEAD WERE BITING A RANGE OF BAIT, FROM SAND FLEAS TO OYSTER CRABS, ALSO SHRIMP. AND OYSTERS. SORRY NO PICTURES OF THE SHEEPSHEAD, BUT WILL TAKE SOME TOMORROW WHEN I GO BACK OUT.


WILLIAM STYLES

 

-------------------------------------------------------

 

DESTIN OFFSHORE
02-25-08
The Amberjacks are on the wreaks in good numbers with the occasional Cobia mixed in. Snapper and grouper are being caught but you can’t keep them. Grouper are out of season in federal waters until after March 15th. Snapper and trout are also out of season right now. There are still some nice flounder to be had in about 75 feet, and you can keep 10 over 12”.

When the water warms up about five more degrees the bite should come back strong. Until then get your gear ready for season.

---------------------------------------

 

PANAMA CITY
St. Andrew Bay 02-25-08

Sheepshead are being reported everywhere, but I keep hearing about them around the jetties. Live shrimp and fiddler crab are the bait you want. Fiddler crabs should not be hard to come by. If you can’t find them in the shops look for them on the mud flats at low tide. I’ve been finding them easily, but they have been small. Sheepshead don’t care, they eat small ones too. Black drum are also being reported at the jetty.

The mouths of rivers and creeks are good places to find slot Redfish, and soft plastics and spoons are working well.

Speckled trout are out of season until March 1st. but there are plenty to catch. Look for them where the water is warmer, like on the flats in the afternoon. They like to hang on the edges of holes and channels in and around grass flats. Gulp shrimp on a jig is my choice for trout this time of year. When the water warms up a little I will start using top water lures.

-----------------------------------

PENSACOLA FISHING REPORT
ESCAMBIA BAY 02-25-08

Redfish are being reported in good numbers on the flats in Escambia Bay and up in the Black River. Gold spoons and 3” Gulp are reportedly taking lots of fish. White trout are hitting well in deep holes of about 20+ feet around the 3 mile bridge. Mid morning Sunday I counted over twenty boats fishing the 3 mile bridge, if that tells you anything. The best bait is gulp shrimp bounced off the bottom. The pass is holding Sheepshead and Black Snapper on the rocks.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY
22 FEB 2008

30 PLUS INCH RED FISH CAUGHT OFF THE ROD AN REEL PIER ON ANNA MARIE ISLAND. ONLY FISH THAT WAS CAUGHT THERE, IN 3 HOURS.

STARTED THE DAY UP AT WEEDON ISLAND CAUGHT 3 SMALL SILVER TROUTS, ONE 10 INCH SHEEPSHEAD, IN A LIL OVER 2 HOURS. MOVED FROM THERE TO MERRY PIER ON PASS A GRILLE, WHERE WE CAUGHT OVER 20 BLACK GROUPER, WITH THE LARGEST MEASURING OUT AT 19 INCHES, AND ANY WHERE FROM A POUND TO A THE HEAVIEST WEIGHING IT AT 3LBS. AFTER 3 HOURS HERE WE WENT DOWN TO ANNA MARIE ISLAND WHERE I CAUGHT THE ABOVE RED FISH. WOULD LIKE TO THANK JEFF AN HIS WIFE WHO CAME DOWN FROM PHILLY TO FISH WITH ME

WILLIAM STYLES

-----------------------------------------

 

PINE ISLAND, FLORID
02-20-08
Boogers:

Pine Island Fla, Feb 20, Temp 77, WATER TEMP 70, East winds 10kts
Overcast, High tide 2:30 pm.

We had a smooth ride to Charlie's Pass (Don't look for it on the
charts, it's a spot on North Captiva that washed through during
Hurricane Charlie, and has since repaired itself) but any local
would know what you’re talking about.

Marley on live shrimp, and I with pink soft baits on a quarter ounce
jig head drifted over 4 to five foot of turtle grass and targeted
the white sand pot holes that range from 6 to 8 feet deep.

Just about every hole gave up a nice Trout, we caught at least
50, one after another. Some days we do this all day, and take
some mid range fish home, but today the big ones were there.

We caught our limit (the third time in two weeks) and they were
all quality fish. Out of our limit of 8 fish (trout), three were the max take
size of 20 inches. It was good to see those slabs back on the
flats.

We got some Flounder, and the usual Ladyfish, Blues, small Grouper
and big Catfish.

Tomorrow will be a repeat of weather and tides so we will be out
there again.

Like I have said before, we fish a 14ft skiff, with an old 9.9
Evinrude. Cost's us about 15 bucks (including shrimp for Marley)
to spend a day on our beautiful waters.

KIDS... You ain't gotta be rich to fish

KILL EM & EAT EM
LOUIS&MARLEY
Pine Island, Fla.

-------------------------------------------------------

CEDAR KEY
02-18-08

With warming water the Redfish and Trout are biting well, and are hanging on the flats near the islands to the south toward Crystal River. Around Cedar Key we have reports of big Trout over hard bottom, and in the mouths of creeks and rivers. Jigging for the Trout is what we were told to do. Keep in mind that Trout are out of season here and you must return them to the water. Releasing them into the water in the cooler doesn’t count.

I got one report of high numbers of Redfish being caught on the incoming tides using live shrimp. They are also hitting live Pinfish. The rivers and back country on hard bottom with moving water is producing well.

--------------------------------------------------------

Ten Thousand Islands
02-18-08

In moving water the shorelines and flats are seeing the redfish and trout in this warm weather. One might fish the outside points as well. It seems that the fish don’t care about the tides right now and any tide is fine. The back country bays are holding lots of redfish. Try the oyster bars for good results. Most any bait presented to them will work.

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

Ponce Inlet, Florida
02-18-08

Our reports from Ponce Inlet this week were good, with redfish from 20 to 30 inches not uncommon. Other reports of good size flounder from 15 to 18 inches and bluefish in the big range being caught. This is the time for sheepshead and they’re fat this week. The baits of choice are the usual, live bait fish and shrimp. The best time is on an incoming tide.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Indian Pass (Gulf County, Florida)
02-16-08

Whiting have been reported all winter from Indian Pass all the way up the Cape in the surf. Capt. Mike has been fishing the “Stump Hole” and reporting Whiting and Pompano too, now that the water seems to be warming up.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

ST.JOE BAY
02-16-08

The St. Joe canal and the ICW are reporting Redfish, Black Drum, and Sheepshead. Shrimp and Gulp curly-tails are doing best.

Just north at crooked Island we are getting reports of Pompano. We were catching a few Pompano all fall, but the reports of Pompano are getting more frequent.

--------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

PINE ISLAND
02-14-08

Feller Fishers:

Pine Island, Fla. Feb 14, Temp 75, water temp 70, N-E Wind, 5 kts.
Mid high tide

Gott’em everywhere we went today, driftin’ over pot holes, and yankin’ em
in every cast.

They were runnin’ small today, we caught over 50 Trout, But most just under
the 15 inch limit. WE always take two or three to bring home, but not the
huge ones, we let them go.

I'm Fishin’ a 14 ft Skiff, with an eighties model 9.9 Evinrude, costs about
10 bucks for me and my wife to have a wonderful day on the water.

KIDS................ YOU AIN’T GOTTA BE RICH....... TO FISH



LOUIS&MARLEY
PINE ISLAND FL

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

NAPLES, FLORIDA
02-10-08
Good action can be had on pompano, mackerel, bluefish, trout, jacks and ladyfish in the troughs and areas with hard white sand next to grassy flats. Snook, redfish, sheepshead and drum are being caught in the back protected shallow bays with dark bottoms.

 

 

CHOKOLOSKEE
02-10-08
Gag grouper seemed to be the big story last week. Grouper of all sizes moved into the area and gathered on any structure. One backwater guide fishing on a small wreck in six feet of water south of Everglades City said he boated a dozen gags in under an hour, and another captain fishing south of Marco Island reported landing 40 legal gags. Some of these fish measured between 30 and 40 inches, and weighed over twenty pounds.
They’re gathering in all depths of water wherever there is any structure, such as wreck, ledge, or rock pile. They are taking mostly live baits such as grunts, pinfish or thread herring. Few are being caught on shrimp and some on cut bait in the deeper water.
The cool days have been only fair, but the warm ones are producing a lot of snook. The cooler days are made for trout, pompano, and mackerel on the grasses flats. The weather predictions look good for the next several days.

 

 

PINE ISLAND
02-07-08

Boogers:
Thursday, 7th January, Pine Island Fla.

The wind laid down to 15 kts today so we got out early trying to kill that
SKUNK, we got yesterday.

We got to North Captiva, and caught our limit of KEEPERS, the first hour.

What a difference a day makes, and 10 kts. of wind, yesterday it was blowin
the dogs off the chain. Today we got to all of our good spots without getting bashed by the chop.

Marley still wants a different pull, and the live baits are hard to find this time of year, so I spent the day making a pinfish trap, we will take it out where we know they live, buoy it off and leave it over night. This time of year, throwing the bait net is really hit and miss.

Hope to have a good report, come Monday when we will target both Redfish'
And North Captiva Passes. Looking for Grouper, and big Reds, if we can get the baits.........................FISH ON


Kill Em and Eat Em
LULU&MARLEY
P.I., FL.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

PINE ISLAND
02-06-08

Boogers:

NOT, ZILCH, NADA, ZIP......

The weather wasn't with us today......... Feb 6 Pine Island, wind Southeast
15 to 20, too much chop to go to the good spots.

We fished protected waters on both sides of the island, Marley got some
trash fish on live shrimp, but LULU got not. It's the first time I got skunked in a long time. The bait fish can be found but you really have to do some traveling to find them.

Winter is tough here, but you can deal with it, if you have enough sunscreen

I have no fish to clean, tonight so I will just sing the NO FISH BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!

WIND FROM THE EAST______ FISHIN THE LEAST......................

Maybe my wife, the top dog today, will catch me a Snook off the dock
before sundown.


Hey Honey!!!!!!!!
Catch me a fish, would ya!!!!

LOUIS&MARLEY (The High Hooker)
P.I. FL



Mr. Louis can be seen performing with “Pine Island Corky” at the FloraBama on Perdido Key from Feb. 27th. to the 29th., and with the players from the old “Chilly Boy Blue Band” on March 1st. and 2nd.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pine Island

02-04-08


Boogers:


Got out early, and headed to North Captiva. Southeast wind about
5 kts, made for a good day. Temp today 83

Caught over 40 Trout, and got our limit of keepers, good to see that
happening again.

Also boated Flounder, and (SAND) or WHITE Trout.

I netted a lot of baits first thing this morning, to use fishing Redfish
Pass, but we got caught up in the Trout and didn't bother going over there.

That’s our plan for tomorrow; Marley wants a different pull on her line
so we will target the Reds and Grouper in the pass.

Trout are still liking Pink soft baits and we fished with them all day.

Gotta fuel up for tomorrow, cook us some Trout, and slick some of those
Pine Island Tomatoes, and watch another sundown.

Respect LIFE.........

LULU&MARLEY
P.I. FL.

 

 

Boogers

Perfect Pine Island day
JAN 30TH, LOW EIGHTIES, WIND SOUTHEAST @ 12MPH
Got out just after sunrise and headed to North Captiva.
Wind was behind us on the way over and made for a smooth trip

Started catching the Trout as soon as we got there, and caught
them till 4 pm this afternoon. We never keep track of all the undersize fish, Ladyfish, Catfish, Jacks, and such, but we keep a count in our heads or in the box of all the keeper size.

We got over thirty Trout today, and kept six in the 16 to 18 inch size. A four foot Shark, took one of my plastic jig heads and tried to steal most of my 10lb test line, it was a short fight, you know who won.

Marley is fishing live shrimp mostly, and I as always throw Pink Plastic Jigs. This week the Jigs have caught 5 to 1 over the shrimp.
The water is not too cold to wade, and tailing Reds are on the flats
if you don’t mind getting wet.

I've got fish to clean, so Louis and Marley will be sending another
report soon.


Louis & Marley
Pine Island Fla.

_________________________________________________________________

CAPE SAN BLAS (Lighthouse Point)
01-28-08

San Blas Cape is a beautiful point at the base of St. Joseph Peninsula, in Gulf county Florida. Most of the peninsula is protected by the St. Joseph State Park.

I don’t do much surf fishing but this week I thought I would kill some time and try my luck at Cape San Blas. There is parking near the beach so getting there wasn’t so hard, but getting out of the wind required some effort.

According to the fishermen on the beach the only thing anyone was catching was whiting. As it turns out that is what I caught too. I tried using cut bait, even some uncooked scallops from dinner, with no luck. The only bait I got any bites with was “New Penny Gulp Crab”. Before the cold snap on Jan. 19th redfish, trout, and whiting were all biting well. Everyone is waiting for the weather and water to warm up a little.

Indian Pass is only a few miles from Cape San Blas and I decided to try my luck there. After fishing for an hour without a bite I pulled my rods and headed home.

I will be trying to fish that area again soon, but next time I will use my boat. I’ve been looking at my charts of St. Vincent Sound and it looks very fishy. I hope to send that report soon.

A happy visitor form Michigan

________________________________________________________

TAMPA BAY
01-25-08

Reports from Tampa are good. The Redfish are in small groups hanging around potholes but are willing to eat. Live shrimp and jerk baits are reportedly working well on the reds.

Trout are abundant with many slot and larger fish being caught. Look for holes 8 to 10 feet deep on the flats. We had reports of pink curly tail grubs, MirrOlure 52m, and DOA shad tail jigs being the best baits. I’m betting live shrimp will work well too.

Flounder are showing up in good numbers in sandy holes. The bait of choice is live shrimp on a jig bounced off the bottom.

This is a general report from all over the Tampa Bay system. Keep in mind the Tampa Bay is huge, so check the reports from the area you plan to fish before you leave on your trip. Some areas are much better than others.

 

SARASOTA, FL.
01-21-08

While looking for a spare trailer tire in Sarasota Monday, we got this report from Sarasota Bay.

The list is long. Bluefish, Trout, Sheephead, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, and lots of over slot Redfish are showing up. The reds were reported along the sand bar off Buttonwood Harbor. Look for the Trout in Gasparilla Sound. The best bait seems to be CAL shad tails.

A cold front covered Florida on Sunday so it is anybodies guess as to what will happen next. The temps and conditions have gone back to normal in the central and southern parts of the state so the fishing should be back.

 

 

PINE ISLAND SOUND
01-19-08
After driving to, and launching our boat at Pine Island, then, a 12 mile boat ride we arrived at Jensen’s Twin Palms Resort on Captiva Island. (It is easy to drive to Jensen’s but I like to leave our rig at a friend’s house on Pine Island.) The following morning when Xan, Tom, and I left the marina the conditions were not the best. The temperature was in the mid seventies. A cold front was moving in with winds of 20 to 25 miles per hour, and the sky was partly cloudy. We got out a little late, about 8:30 am, and the tide was low.

Capt. Dennis Arsenault of “Lost Key Charters”, Orange Beach, Alabama, and his wife Pam got out about an hour and a half before us and caught six keeper trout in just about an hour. The shorts and ladyfish were not counted but they landed quite a few. They fished the last hour of the falling tide on the flats just off South Seas Plantation in about three feet of water. Their bait of choice was Gulp grubs.

We first fished a channel near Chino Island but only caught shorts. Dennis and Pam joined us in their boat and got in the drift but did no better than we did. Mr. Louis, Marley, and our old friend Larry Strickland fished their way around the island catching only short trout and ladyfish.

All day we landed about 12 to 14 trout and maybe 20 ladyfish on our boat. Xan did most of the catching and rubbed it in at every opportunity. We had been trying to stay out of the wind but gave it up for what we thought might be better fishing grounds. All three boats moved west about two miles but had no luck at all. Our next move took us to the spot where Dennis and Pam had caught fish but the bite was over. None of the boats reported catching anything at any of the other spots. Our last move took us to the debris off “North Cap.” but all we caught was a fast drift in the high wind.

At 2:00 we gave up and headed back to Jensen’s. There were a few hours of daylight left but we had a wedding party to attend at the marina and didn’t want to be late. Jimmy and Elizabeth were greeting friends by the time we arrived and one could hear the music and smell the grills as we pulled up to the dock.


I talked to two gentlemen who caught several sheephead using cut shrimp. Most of their fish were in the 15 to 17 inch range and they caught more than they wanted to clean, but did not limit out.

The weather was mush too rough to get out on the 20th with winds from 25 to 30 mph, and cold rain. As we were taking the boat back to the launch on the 21st I noticed the fish finder was showing fish stacked up at the mouths of the canals.

Jensen’s Twin Palms Resort is in my opinion the best place on Captiva Island. The Resort has been there since the 60’s and is like stepping back into old Florida. The cottages look new, the docks are superb and the Jensen brothers are legendary. Jensen’s is just minutes from some of the best inshore fishing on the west coast of Florida. I’ve been going to Jensen’s for ten years now and there is always something going on. Often on weekends they will have a band playing in the afternoon down by the dock. Many song writers from all over the U.S. and Canada come to Jensen’s and can be seen trying out their new material. The guests gather under the little chickee and around the tables and grills under the palms enjoying the music. There are guides for hire and boats to rent. The office has tackle, soft drinks, snacks and tall tails. If you wish you may rent a slip for your own boat, which is the way we always go. For a great adventure you owe it to yourself to try Jensen’s Twin Palm Resort on Captiva Island. You can reach them at www.gocaptiva.com. We fish out of Jensen’s several times each year. Look for us there.

For you fans of the “Doc Ford” novels by Randy Wayne White, the Jensen brothers and the resort are characters and settings used in the books. One visit will show you why Mr. White refers to these boys and the resort in his novels.

This is not an advertisement, just good advice.

 

 

 

IHOWARD CREEK (GULF COUNTY, FL.)
12-30-07

I’m sorry this report is so late, it is entirely my fault. We (the entire Booger staff) were out of town and had no internet service. I would like to thank Glenn for this report and I hope he sends more. This is a fun report and I like his style.


Hey there, this is Glenn and I do a lot of fishing at Howard Creek. Where is Howard Creek you ask? Well it’s in Gulf County between Wewahitchka and White City. There are two landings on the White City forestry camp road, I use the lower landing. White City has a volunteer fire dept., one church (yes it’s Southern Baptist), and a little country store. The traffic congestion is provided by a four way stop, and this little community even sports a one way street, go figure.

Now for the fishing report which, isn’t all that much. The river is less than one foot and the fishing isn’t that great right now.

I’ll send another report when I fish Howard Creek again, until then, in the words of Jim Wilson, “Tight lines and I’ll talk to you later.”

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PINE ISLAND
01-10-08 fishing report

We got 17 trout today. Actually we got 17.5 Trout today, one was reduced to ½ it’s original size by a little Black Tip Shark.

I’m now looking for that no-good so-n-so. I want my slab back.

The water is still beautiful; we’re seeing things on the bottom we’ve not seen before.

Remember this kids; you don’t have to be rich to go fishing.


The Southern Booger Team; Louis and Marley

Mr. Louis is an accomplished song writer and singing artist. Many of his songs have been recorded and are well known. For information about his works, or how to purchase his works contact us here at fwbviewer@fishingwithboogers.com. Watch for his CD’s in our store in the near future. Mr. Louis has performed with such greats as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, David Allen Coe, Mickey Newbury, and many more.

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Dear Fishing with Boogers,

My mom and dad took me fishing at the Tom Adams Bridge at Englewood and I caught a big Catfish. My dad said it weighed 3 pounds and 3 oz. I had a piece of my ham sandwich for bait. I think Catfish like ham. We had fun and dad got mud on him. I like fishing there because my name is Tommy.

Tommy R.
Englewood, Fl.
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Fishing with Boogers
Me and my sister caught some Pinfish and some little Mangrove Snappers. We caught three Trout. We were close to the Gandy Bridge parking lot. I left my shoes and we had to go back and get them. We let all our fish go. We are going to go back and catch them again.

William R. and Sidney R.
Tampa, Fl.
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Fishing with Boogers
Dear Xan,

Me and my dad met your dad when he was getting gas. He told me how to spell your name. We were on our way to go fishing at Green Key. I caught a crab and a Croaker like you have in the fish id.

Bobby C.
Port Richy, Fl.
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Fishing with Boogers,

We caught a few small Bass and some Bream up near Crystal Cove Marina. We were using worms.

Tom B., Connor C., Jimmy C., Jimmy M.
Palatka, Fl. Back To Top
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Fishing with Boogers
Dear Xan Barr

Me and my dad and mom caught eight Bass on Lake Martin Al. We were using artificial bait. Mom caught the biggest one of all.

Suzanne G.
Oak Grove, Al.
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Dear Xan Barr
Fishing with Boogers

Some people caught some other stuff but I caught a Catfish. I think it was about 3 or 4 pounds. I thought it was going to break my line. My friend’s dad helped me get it in. He got the net. My friend Mark caught a Catfish too. I think his was a little bigger. We were fishing at Black Jack Point on Sardis Lake, Mississippi.

Mat N.
Memphis, Tn.
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I would like to thank everyone who sent in fishing reports. Tell your friends about Fishing with Boogers and lets all have fun. Remember to be easy on the fish you release, and don’t take more than you need. . . . Back To Top . . . . .

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