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SNAP ATTACK
By, fulafish, 8/25/08

We started out of Sanibel with a livewell full of bait, the baitbox full of chum and the other essentials. Our crew consisted of the 1 and only Princess, Michael McVay, Mark Mathy, Marc Mathy and myself Jason. We headed out about 55 miles to get our hands on some great Snappa's. We quickly loaded up on good sized YT's none under 20''. Then we started getting into the bigger guys. >>Forum Thread & More Photos

PUNTA GORDA
By, PVredfisher, 8/16/08

My buddy and i went down to punta gorda to do some fishing. The first day in the afternoon when we got there we went out for a quick trip and man it was windy. We started fishing in some canals and within minutes I hook up with a big fish he was running all over and we just follwed him and tried to keep him out out of the docks then saw it and it was a big black drum, it easily bottomed out my 30 pound boga. Then we found some snook and caught 12 ranging from 22 to 29in.

Are first full day started off kinda slow but then found some fish we caught 3 reds to 24in and one snook and a couple small trout. Then we found a bunch of small tarpon rolling, but could not get them to eat anything.

The next morning got out early started working I was throwing sebile and Anthony was throwing a jig I started the morning with a nice red and followed it up with a mid 20in snook. The anthony got in the game with a smaller red. We caught three more reds then around 10 we went and netted up some bait. Went back to the area were we caught some of the reds and I got the first bait in the water and right away got hit and caught a red. From then on you could not keep a bait in the water for more the a couple minutes. We ended up catching 36 reds ranging from 22in to 28in and had multiple double hook ups.

Friday got out early and got on some topwater action and caught 4 mid slot reds and 2 snook around 25in. After that bite slowed we moved spots and found a few more fish and caught 3 more reds.

Sat we went fishing till around 11 before driving home. had another good morning an caught 4 reds biggest 26in and One smaller snook. We had an awesome time and caught lots of fish despite how windy it was. >>Forum Thread & More Photos

RAINBOW REDS
By, BFISHN, 8/10/08

So I got my offshore report done for the year, I guess it's time to get back to the flats fishing. This is that time of year that the redfish are plentiful, and really fat upper slots can be caught just about everywhere. The best bite has been coming on high water on the last of the incoming tide. Live bait, cut bait, arti's, they are all working. Most of the fish have come from under the bushes, but there are still reds cruising the bars and open flats.

A few trips ago I had Boston Ken on the boat. We go fishing every summer in August when it is sweltering hot. He has caught many snook before on the boat but never a red. He finally got what he wanted and continued the onslaught first thing in the morning....

These fish were the most perfect tourney fish. I told Ken if we had entered the tournament that was going on that day that the fish would have had lock jaw. Dilly and I decided to enter the Charlotte Warriors tournament but we never needed to hit this spot as we caught 13.87 pounds on his first spot and we ended up in 2nd place. We had four pigs right on the line and had to use a balance bar. It has been like that just about everywhere. Congrats to Miles Meredith for beating us out at the end of the tourney with 14.09 pounds.

He ended up catching some trout later in the day to complete the slam. I on the other hand was having a rough day but I did manage to catch another fish in a rather neat way. We spotted a huge stingray on a sand bar just stirring up the bottom. At first glance I saw a big fish on its back, thought it was a cobia. Cut up a sardine head and everything worked perfect. It turns out on second glance it was a big red. I landed the bait on the back of the stingray, it flapped its wings, the bait rose up, and the fish gulped it up. Ended up being a 10 pound red ...

The next trip was with my good buddy Capt.Flossman on the forum. It has been a long time since we had fished together. We headed out this past Saturday on Charlotte Harbor and like a dumby I forgot to check the weather. The bite was hot with the pressure moving. The wind was howling, the storms were all over us. Here is Larry with a nice fish posing with a pretty background, you can see how close the rain was to us. Oh and Larry likes rainbows so we set up this backdrop .....

I said I had enough and put the cut bait away. Went to my old faithful, arti's. Broke out a Mirrodine and headed further south. The tide by this time was going out but the water was still high. Hit a sandy depression and popped a few reds on the Mirrodine. Here is one of them(I didn't get skunked!!)....

Had to head for cover after that second fish, the lightning was getting bad. We sat out of the storms for a few hours then decided to call it a day and make a hell-a-cious run back to the ramp. Glad to be back safe. Now I have a cold. Hope the rest of you are staying safe on the water and catching some fish. Tight Lines. >>Forum Thread & More Photos

REDS & SNOOK
By, Native Fins, 7/27/08

Growing up in South West Florida as a fisherman definitely changes the way you look at our eco-system differently then most. From driving over our bridges to notice the water quality improving, more fish in areas that didn't used to be so abundant, to a bigger variety of shore birds taking over shallow grass flats when the people are scarce. Our area as of this year has definitely seemed to improved over the past couple of years. I know from what all the old timers tell me "the fishing isn't what is used to be" but if you compare it to the recent, It is slowly starting to get better. Since the good majority of us are becoming a little more aware of how much we impact our fisheries, I think we tend to be a little more self conscious about what we do on or around our waterways. I've noticed a change just by reading the post's on the internet fishing forums . From people jumping all over others by the way they mis-held a fish, Their opinions on how many fish are caught and what should be kept, and to taking the time to pick up that "eye sore" piece of trash as it floats by. As a Florida "native", I spend a good majority of my time on the water. Wether being a bum out on the beach, or at work taking tourist out on kayak eco tours. I've noticed the ups and downs of our eco-system. And lately, It has been looking up. >>Forum Thread & More Photos