06_June

June 27 - Exotics - Pufferfish - Redfish - Bluefish - Copious Hippy Shots

This report has some really exotic stuff in it. Stuff you just don't see that much of here in Sarasota. Oh, there's the requisite hippy shots, redfish, seatrout and whatnot but you'll be shocked by some other downright freaky sealife. To summarize the fishing: it's been good, but not mind numbingly, jaw droppingly insane. There are certainly tons of trout, as always, but the summer pattern has really started and the heat of the day makes the fish take a siesta grande. if you can get out at night, sunset or sunrise the fishing is strong but those times of day are really intended for eating, drinking and sleeping, though I suppose drinking can certainly be performed while fishing... Anyhow, lets get to the photos...

Hornetbear's Aquarium Emporium could get started with a few more of these beauties...

Night fishing is heating up. Literally. It's like 84 degrees out. Shorts and tee shirt weather. And a massive viking hat. And Clown shoes. And Leg warmers. You know, the essentials.


If the hook travels through the water facing upwards, how did this pinfish manage this trick? I think he was doing an upside down flyby like Maverick in Top Gun. That's what you get for showing off, Mav.


As usual, I was only focusing my efforts on large trophy fish.


Eco-Boy recovered another great lure from the mangroves. The tide was pretty low...


Got out fishing with my friend Kris at a secret spot.


Gotta love a good hippy shot. This one is pretty freaky. Kick back. Play some Floyd.


It's considered a crime in Sarasota to have a really crappy boat like this one


This is a green topped specklebacked monkeyfish. Not to be confused with the blue or blue-green specklebacked monkeyfish.


If ospreys could talk, this one would probably say, "what choo lookin' at foo?" It just seems like the kind of osprey he'd be.


We were out in the Sarasota kelp beds catching these monsters. Note the natural tar seeps sticking to the boats, too. The people we rented these from were really pleased about that. Real happy to see us.


Snook. That's the whole caption. "Snook." No. Wait.
"Snook, there it is!" (rap music here) That's the caption. That's slightly funnier.


I said all kayaks were the same but I was wrong. This is an Ocean Kayak Drifter and boy did it ever suck. What a tremendous suckstorm. The wettest boat I've ever been in. And it filled up with tar. And it got covered in tar. And it was cold. And aluminium foil doesn't work as a scupper plug. The dolphin was pretty, though.


That's Sarasota Mountain in the background. Nice picture of it.


This dock light is one of the underwater ones and man does it hold the snook. Maybe you can just see them better from beneath. Cast well beyond it and bring the lure thru slowly. No fish can resist that presentation. It must look like a underwater reenactment of Shakespear's King Lear.


These two are my old college roommates. The one in the foreground is completely insane.


Check out this mountain estuary. Sarasota is the most beautiful place in Florida, hands down.


Check out this monster! It's called a smelt and I think this is a pretty big one.


This is one of the best eating fish there is.


This bluefish jumped like 3 feet in the air. It was pretty dark out and I was thinking "Tarpon!" but then I started thinking "bluefish" when I saw it was indeed a bluefish. Nice one though. These really put up a fight.


And a final shot for the hippies. Enjoy my unwashed brethren! Now go get some dental floss n' soap you dang filthy hippy! Jeez.

_________________
http://www.hornetbear.com
“When I found the skull in the woods, I called the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns.”
- Jack Handy

JUNE 14 – SLAMS – SUNRISES – STINKPOTS – SAILCATS – STORMS

Greetings fellow fishermen! Fishing has been good this last week with the possible exception of the tropical storm that blew over the palm tree in my front yard and dumped 4 inches of rain and fertilizer into my fishing spots. I do, however, believe that fresh water infusion will eventually really help the fishing. The water just gets too clear inshore when there’s no rain. Also, brackish water is what the inshore fish of SW Florida really dig. So, the fishing is going to turn on in a big way, If the wind ever stops howling. Report forthcoming.

To preface this report, is spans a couple days though I plan to describe it like it all happened in like 90 minutes which makes me look like a really gifted fisherman. Read on friends.

Tropical storms make for some nice sunrises...


Surface action aplenty.


The Angriest Fish In The World!


You really shouldn’t ever stake a kayak out and walk away. No matter what when you get back it’s always just barely hanging in there. I almost set my kayak free to roam across Tampa Bay in a 20 knot wind one time. 5 Miles from the launch. Mucho stupido. It does make a rather peaceful picture though. Right up until it drifts away…


Ha! That’s a great Groucho Marx impression! You’re one funny redfish. You have amused me so I shall let you live.


Now THAT is a freaking catfish! Look at the size of that mother. Also I’m teaching “Catfish Handling 101” at the community college.


This is a sweet, top secret fishing hole. Just walk in bare feet down the sidewalk, catching snook. Simple.


I call this picture “redfish” for obvious reasons


I call this picture “The American Revolution And You.” I’m quite insane.


This snook was like, “You better put me down and go check on your kayak, dummy.”  And I was like “You can talk?” And then there was this big flash of light and I smelled burning rasins and incense and then I woke up with all my clothes on inside out. It was wierd.


When I get some treasure I’m totally going to bury it here. Textbook spot.


Trout, do you think that cloud looks like rain? Answer me damn it! You trout are such know it alls...


Chartruse is the new white. It’s in all the magazines.


Tangs. Not the breakfast drink, the little fish.


Mango snappers. Not the breakfast drink, either


Juvenile Mango? Grunt? Racoon?


Hippy! Get the hell over here! This is just what you need to finish that windchime.


This is a sheepshead. Underwater. Hanging out with me. We’re buddies. Sup’ my sheep?


Managed to do a little stinkpottin’ with the terpenator too. We were going to go out and give a baitfishing for tarpon seminar but it was a little too stormy for the HMS Terrapin. So put some greenbacks into the deadwell and went out to slay the flora and fauna of venice. Fun!  This shot is of Terp manhandling a redfish from the bow. He eventually lost it next to the boat and was like “Well, I got the best part of the fish… the fight” and I was like “you suck and you lost it and it doesn’t count unless you boat it.” Good times.


I let Terp outfish me because it’s his boat and he’s super sensitive. That’s the only reason he caught fish and I didn’t. it’s definitely not a skill thing.


Another beautiful day fishing the peaceful wilderness of SW Florida. Fire up the outboard! Crack me a beer! Crank up the tunes!


That’s the report!
_________________
http://www.hornetbear.com
“When I found the skull in the woods, I called the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns.”
- Jack Handy


Last edited by Hornetbear on Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:29 am; edited 1 time in total

JUNE 1 - BEACH SNOOKS - CRAZY UNDERWATER PHOTOS

This is a fishing report without all the boring, boring fishing. I guess its catch and release at it’s finest! You can’t come down on me for hurting these fish! These pictures are frickin’ discovery channel sweet. Because I know how into snook everyone is, I know you’ll forgive me for not fishing during this fishing report.

I rode my bike to the beach and took a quick snorkel out to see what’s what. I was shocked by the huge snook peacefully circling each other and basically just hanging out in 3 – 5 feet of water. There were at least 50 – 75 in one tight pack. I saw some HUGE ones (40”+) and tons of slots. I had my little waterproof camera with me and got some really sweet shots.

These are big fish. Really.


Hey dudes! What you guys doing later? Want to meet in the intercoastal for dinner?


What this guy needs is a pot of boiling water and some garlic…


Snook aplenty!


I’d be hiding too if all those huge fish were hanging out right above me…


Think that pinfish is a little nervous?


I think this is a baby gag grouper.


Saw some giant sheepshead. This is not one of those. I might take the spear out soon.


I call this picture “Pinfish and Sticks” because it’s a pinfish and some sticks.


I could’ve grabbed this fish. Easy.


Discovery channel special “The Snook Of Southwest Florida”


I bet I looked totally insane snorkeling in 5 inches of water. But that’s how I do it. Anything for my buddies on the internet.


This is what your shrimp sees.


More freaking snook.


Are you serious?


That’s a big dog right there.


This is a moody snook shot. Enjoy!


I think you probably get the picture by now…


Heres a rock with some crap growing on it…


More huge snook swimming peacefully by


I’m not holding back on the snook photos.


CLASSIC snook pose.


Stone crab. He’s probably thinking “man! That’s a lot of snook!”


This bait was looking pretty save and sound. I’m not sure if the snook were eating. But, you know they do… and when that happens… Kablammo!


Can you believe it? The interesting thing is they were really only in one spot, not spread up and down the beach. The magic honey hole. I wonder where it could be...
_________________
http://www.hornetbear.com
“Any man, in the right situation, is capable of murder. But not any man is capable of being a good camper. So, murder and camping are not as similar as you might think.”
- Jack Handy

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