Fishing is amazing right now. Plain old awesome.
There has been just wide open trout, redfish, jacks, etc. Basically everything but the wily snook has made an appearance lately. Windy? Cold? Who cares!
I'm even getting a little paranoid about the backgrounds of my pictures because the fishing has been so hot. Is everyone catching fish like crazy?
Anyhoo, here's some pictures to check out. Enjoy!
Sweet trout pulled from the fishin' hole.
26" trout which is a little too big for the camera!
Strangely, Fish and Game did not come by. They were definitely checking boats...
This ladyfish is probably not having a great day based on present company...
Tons of redfish schooling...
Tons of trout.
Run for it! That cormorant is coming...
Jacks were up on the oyster beds.
Another sweet redfish.
_________________
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
12_December
Dec 2 - Reds - Snuke - Trout - Night Shots - Hippy Shots
Greetings anglers of the Atlantic, Gulf and some hangers-on from the Pacific! I am thoroughly bummed to report that some of the finest pictures I've ever taken in my favorite month (October) I ran over with the lawnmower. That's right. The camera was waterproof but was NOT lawnmowerproof. I will definitely seek out that feature in my next camera. I had thrown the camera up into the grass after a late night of dock light fishing and I atomized it the next morning. There were some hippy shots on that thing which would've made Jerry Garcia tear up. But, alas, that's how it goes.
I can now report my new camera purchase is the new Pentax OPTIO W20. It's 7 mind warping megapixels and I got 2 batteries for extended trips into the everglades or outer space or whatever. The grand total with a 1 GIG memory card was $320.00 -- I did not buy the warranty because my experience with the OLD Optio was so good and the camera itself had improved so much in 1 year that I felt that the warranty didn't equate to the improvements in the camera and it's resolution. If it breaks I'm screwed. That's the devil may care kind of person I am.
The pictures I had included these highlights:
1. HUGE jacks under a dock light. The jacks had pulled me so close to the light that the photo was a illuminated with the light from the dock light instead of the flash. It was some Ansel Adams photography I was layin' down.
2. Big Ol' SLOT snooks. Really. Lots.
3. Snook everywhere. Just plain old everywhere.
4. Snappers, lizardfish, hippy scenery aplenty and other aquatic bric-a-brac.
5. The Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot and Paris Hilton totally sober watching CNN at 2 in the morning. It was HOT!
Oh Well.
This brings me to the belated November installment of the report. I have been travelling all over the place which has, annoyingly, cut into my fishing. Las Vegas has no fish except at the Mandalay and the Mirage and there is no access there to speak of. I heard about an easement but security is quite tough there... I finally managed to get out a few days and shoot enough pictures to make a decent report. The weather has been cold and windy but the fishing has been strangely awesome. When the air temp gets under 70 I usually assume a total skunking but, amazingly, the fishing was really good. The howling winds, wildly low tides and freezing temperatures really piled up the fish into deep channels. The wind also creates a pretty predictable current which, if you're all zen tuned in, you can pretty much ESP the exact location of the fish. Lets get on with it.
This is a 20 inch trout. I was fishing next to some guide with some clients who were getting skunked. He was all tucked out of the current and just not where the fish were. So I staked my kayak out and started fan casting like a psychopath to mark my terrain. I was catching tons of redfish and trout right here. Nothing huge but steady action...
This is a release shot. These are good for several reasons. 1. It means you actually released the fish an didn't kill it during a 30 minute photo shoot. 2. You can't show the same fish over and over being released. You basically know this is the only shot like it. 3. You just never know what you're going to get. Sometimes a artsy underwater shot. sometimes just your hand. Unpredictable! Adventure!
One thing a photo does a pretty bad job of doing is showing how cold and windy it is. Suffice it to say it was quite cold and windy.
Night fishing is just so easy. You just cruise over to the light and get to catching. I can catch fish in an hour and be back by 9:30. Sweet.
Kind of a hitchcockian hippy shot right here. Sometimes you take a photo that's a little disquieting to the typical hippy. That's the breaks, dirty hippy. Live with it. It's not all sunshine and moonbeams out there.
Caught tons of small to mid sized redfish. Schools of them would chase the unlucky winner to the boat. Really. I couldn't buy a redfish this time last year. What a difference a year makes. I bet in 2 more years ther'll be tons of nice fish hanging out in Sarasota.
Note the oysters beneath this here redfish. Right after this I cut my thumb wide open on an oyster I caught. I pulled it in like you do when you catch the wily shellfish. I was briefly excited, then denial, anger, and finally acceptance. I grabbed it like a real dummy and started bleeding copiously. You should have seen the blood. Final destination III blood. Video game blood. I tried to keep fishing but it was just too gnarly. I was all casual in grabbing it and I swear it was razor sharp. I don't carry much in the way of first aid (read: none) with me and I was a little concerned to tell the truth. So I applied some pressure a gingerly paddled back to shore.
We debated the virtues of polarized amber glasses for awhile then Mr. Redfish mentioned that he was choking to death so I let him go. But I still think amber is the best color. I don't care what that stupid redfish said.
Tons of these. Man, I wish you could see the pictures I lost. Imagine this fish but part dinosaur, part cougar and part rabid ferret... that's a jackcougferrasaur! very dangerous... Borat like...
HIPPY! Up and atem! That's a blurry feeding osprey shot!
Dock light trout. Simple. Beautiful. Like a haiku.
Is this a mangrove snapper? It looks a little different? If there's a snapperologist out there please reply...
I've switched to light Penn gear for all my anglin' needs. This picture captures all the fishing gear I use except for a 25lb bag of fertilizer and a stun gun and a thermos and a big dip net and a 3wt fly rod spooled with phone cord. that is all I need. really.
This is a picture of my beautiful leg. Too bad that small snook got in the way. Otherwise, I bet Tyra from Americas Next Top Model would send me an email. You know she's on all these fishing forums. She's into legs... She's just too busy to post. Tyra! I know you're reading this. It's Steve! Text me...
And that friends is it except one final aside...
My website http://www.hornetbear.com is getting ready to expand it's boundaries. As you may or may not know traditional fishing forums discard your wildly valuable fishing reports. Seriously. I know. that's crazy talk but it's TRUE! So, if you're into it I would like to archive all the good fishing reports (cubs, prowler13, Minnow, DaveR, Monkey, Slowride, Slingshot, Texas Anglers, Anyone who is funny, ET AL!) I'd like to have a rough location, season and other info to store the photos. I prefer funny reports but if you're humorously challenged, I understand. Big fish are awesome. As are super hot chicks, hippy shots and people sinking their boats at the ramp. I want to store, with permission, great reports. It's the coolest thing about fishing forums (except arguing over idiotic ethics, politics, and bait preference which is really cool and super smart) Please PM me or email me at steveschadt@gmail.com. brothers and sisters, fish on.
_________________
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
DEC 15-18 REPORT - SNUKE - ADVENTURE - CANAL - REDFISH!?!?
Amazingly, I caught a small redfish this week. I know. I know. It's unfathomable but there it was. All 15 inches of wild redfish fury a'flippin and a'floppin beside the kayak. Caught a bunch of other fish too and of course captured some priceless hippy imagery that you'll all want to check out. Report follows.
I can't really remember the exact dates and whatnot so this will be more of a ramblin' photo essay rather that my usual strict chronological account. That's just how it's going to be. Get used to it.
THERE IT IS. A DEBRIS RETAINER. LOOKS LIKE IT'S REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB, TOO. 
I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT KAYAK SECURITY. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE JUST LAYING AROUND. EVERYWHERE. 
FREE KAYAK! COME AND GET IT! THERE'S PLENTY TO GO AROUND. STEAL A PROP WHILE YOURE AT IT! 
I CALL THIS PHOTO: "JACK AND JERKBAIT IN SILHOUETTE" or "MY GLORIOUS THUMB" 
SO, THIS LADYFISH ACTUALLY JUMPED INTO THE KAYAK. REALLY. FISHING IS EASY ONCE YOU KNOW HOW. 
WHOA. EVERYBODY LOVES THOSE FREAKING SHRIMP. 
LIZARDFISH IS TRULY A GOOD NAME. BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A LIZARD. SEE? AND MAYBE THE NAME SMALLTOOTHYDINOSAURFISH WAS A LITTLE LONG. 
NEW PENNY SHRIMP JERK BAIT?! HAS THE WORLD GONE MAD? 
GO AHEAD. PLAY YOUR BONGOS AND LIGHT YOUR INCENSE NOW. 
NO SPOT IS TOO NASTY FOR THE HORNETBEAR TO ANGLE AND NO SNOOK IS SAFE. 
RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS THROUGHOUT SW FLORIDA SHOULD WARMLY RECALL THIS FAMOUS SPOT 
YEP. PULL OUT THE BONGOS AGAIN. IT'S TIME. 
"OH, HI. I WAS JUST PASSING THROUGH. PLEASE RETURN ME TO THE WATER. YOU SEE, I BREATHE WATER, SO, YOU'RE KIND OF CHOKING ME, WHICH SUCKS. AND MAYBE I COULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SHRIMP THINGY'S. THEY'RE REALLY GOOD." 
I CALL THIS SHOT "PEACEFUL SEAWALL" or "PRIVATE PROPERTY KEEP OUT, DIRTBAG" 
ONE MORE SEAGULL IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT AND YOU'LL WIN THIS GAME OF TIC-TAC-TOE AGAINST TEAM OSPREY 
RUMOR HAS IT THIS IS TOM CRUISE'S NEW HOUSE. THIS DIGITAL CAMERA WILL PAY FOR ITSELF YET! 
OHHH. WHITE PELICANS. SO GOOD WITH GARLIC AND BUTTER. 
ITS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT IN PELICAN SOCIETY, WHITE MALE PELICANS ARE ACTUALLY THE MINORITY AND PROBABLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. 
OH I CATCHY THE SNOOKY. YEEEESSS. NO PROBLEMO. ALL DAY LONG. SNOOKY SNOOKY, COME TO THE HORNETBEAR. 
THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY NICE FISH. MAYBE EVEN SLOT. SEASONS OVER THOUGH. RUN ALONG. 
HERE IT IS! THE SHOT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! 
REDFISH! UNBELIEVABLE. EVERYBODY LOVES THE SHRIMPY! 
And so another week of fishing has come to pass. Fin.
_________________
“I brought you a tuna sandwich. They say it's brain food. I guess because there's so much dolphin in it, and you know how smart they are.”
- Marge Simpson
DEC 5 - POST EEF DEBACLE - HORNTBEARS FISHING MYTHS & LAWS
Greetings all. It's been quite a week. I thought, for a change of pace, I'd talk a little about fishing and possibly show some pictures of fish. Just throw it out there, so to speak. Report follows.
Only took one photo at the EEF tournament. I was really too busy hauling in my gill net to focus much on photography. Those things are freaking heavy! I did manage this lovely shot which will surely make some tambourine shaking hippies out there smile...
BEAUTIFUL. NOW I'LL JUST HOOK UP THIS CAR BATTERY TO THIS SHOCK POLE AND GET TO FISHING! 
That's all that happened at the EEF (for me anyhow) I did manage to catch a 16" redfish which broke a 3 month redfish drought. I didn't get a picture because I was using the disposable camera provided by the EEF.
Now its on to today's report... A tale of ethical angling, adventure and long boring stretches of aimless drifting.
I left the county easement at 8:00 and headed out to fish. It was a gray and nasty morning so the hippies aren't going to get much on that front. Caught a big trout right off the bat. Forgot my law stick in the car but I'm estimating it was about a 86" trout.
WHERE WERE YOU ON SAT? TOURNAMENTS ARE STUPID UNLESS I WIN THEM. THEN THEY RULE. 
Caught a few more short trout and the sun came out. It was getting much nicer and I considered wading. I almost never wade and it has to get pretty darn warm for me to do it. I don't like getting any mud or water in my kayak, either. I also don't like wading on anything other that perfect white sand bottom. this brings me to:
HORNETBEAR'S 3 LAWS OF WADING
1. If your flip-flop sticks in the mud this is not a good spot for wading and there are no fish nearby.
2. If the water is cold or even cool when you touch it with your flip-flop clad foot this is not a good spot for wading and there are no fish nearby.
3. If you see an oyster or anything else that looks sharp (stingray, bicycle, butcher knives) this is not a good spot for wading and there are no fish nearby.
Wading is easy and often results in great fish if you know the 3 laws. I continued to angle my butt off and caught the usual smattering of undesirable by-catch.
56" SNOOK 
WHOA! A 49" PERMIT! 
LURE SO SAVORY. MUST EAT. UMMMMMMM. 
"HEY! IS THAT A WILDERNESS KAYAK? HOW YOU LIKE THAT? BLUES A GOOD COLOR. COULD YOU PULL THIS HOOK OUT FOR ME? THANKS." 
TARPON! UNBELIEVABLE! THAT'S A SLAM! 
After all that action and the coveted inshore slam I threw on my new top secret lure. A lure so steeped in secrecy that even the CIA, FBI, OLC and EEF are unaware of the enormity of my discovery.
BERKLEY GULPS JUST RELEASED NEW STYLE. XMAS SWIM SOCK. 
MORE SNOOK. THAT'S KIND OF MY "THING" 
FINAL SNOOK. BACK TO THE DOCK WE GO. 
And that ends another fine report. The first true report with photos since the event which shall go unnamed because it is just so unbearably boring to rehash again. I feel better. I will close with some very popular fishing myths i'd like to debunk.
HORNETBEAR'S 3 MOST POPULAR FISHING MYTHS
1. Pufferfish. There is just no such thing. No photographic evidence. Never seen one. I hear the puff up or something but they're clearly imaginary. "Oh the pufferfish ate the tail off my lure" Right... Or the Lure Leg Fairy came and got it and you'll get a nice shiny spoon under your pillow... stupid mythological fish.
2. Tailing Redfish. No such thing. Never seen one. Some limited photographic evidence but I'm pretty sure theyre some kind of leopard mullet. Redfish simply do not tail except in children's books with unicorns.
3. DOA Shrimp. A fish is about as likely to eat one of these as it is to walk or ride a bicycle. Never seen a fish caught on one of these. No photographic evidence. Any fish caught on one of these should be put on a suicide watch as it clearly impaled itself on purpose.
_________________
“I brought you a tuna sandwich. They say it's brain food. I guess because there's so much dolphin in it, and you know how smart they are.”
- Marge Simpson
