Hey fishing dudes n' dudettes! It's time for a Hornetbear anglin' update. I've been fishing a good bit but damn, damn, damn meddling work has been impinging upon my reporting. As you may know, it takes a lot of time to upload this crap AND it doesn't pay very well. Actually, it just plain doesn't pay. Period. Who really cares about money? you can't eat money! (unless it buys food.) That's how the man keeps us down. Someday, we all know cars will run on pictures of redfish. Toyota is surely working on this as I type.
But, enough about that obvious source of alternative energy... A sweet report is afoot. Anglers, lurkers, and mildly curious spouses just sit back. Get really FOCUSED. Here comes a grip of sweet photos. Report follows.
Let's just kick this thing off with a hippy shot. Hippy shots are for our unwashed brethren who love pictures of birds, trees, lichen, other boring crap and Jack Johnson bootlegs.
Jacks are everywhere in beautiful Sarasota! They don't take traditional lures and you have to scoop them out of the water with a pitching wedge. A sand wedge puts too much backspin on them.
I gotta tell you, Ospreys are all over the area I fish.
A Flock Of Seagulls. That'd be a good name for a band...
This is my buddy Kris from SoCal... We were catching tons of trout until the canoe was struck by a drunken rental from CB's outfitters. I'll always remember his idiotic smile.
Eco-Avenger ALERT! Notice the plug stuck up in the mangroves next to that beautiful specimen of avian life. you will be happy to know I recovered this long, lost lure before it entangled that bird. Then I replaced the hooks and perforated many types of sea life with it. Sweet, sweet irony.
These chickens taste like crap.
This is a big redfish. I saw it streaking across a grass flat and I was like, "I'm gonna get you." This is why we go fishing here in Sarasota. It's exciting!
Paddlefishing Paradise.
Ok. Ok. TIME OUT. MIRROLURE MOMENT ... I mostly fish jigs. I love them. However, I sometimes fish Mirrolures because they work. Let's play a game... What can you catch on a mirrolure in a day... here we go...
Mirrolure Snook - no Brainer
Mirrolure MULLET?!
It's like nobody can escape! Mirrolure Needlefish!
You know how to unhook a stingray from your mirrolure? Shake vigoroulsy.
thats an amazing lure! Get into it!
OK so what's next? here's a hippy shot for the sailboat set...
Hippys rejoice...
Hornetbear and Redfish
And one final hippy shot for the unwashed masses!
_________________
http://www.hornetbear.com
Last edited by Hornetbear on Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:38 am; edited 1 time in total
_Hippy Shots
Oct 4 - Trout - Family Fishing - Artsy Hippy Shots
Greetings angling aficionados. I have been laid up for awhile (6 long weeks!) which has annoyingly cut into my fishing. I herniated a disk in my back and in addition to the mind numbing, life reevaluating pain it pretty much totally precludes a person from fishing. I've been lucky to get out of bed. Now that I'm better I have been fishing with my son a lot which is not prone to catching tons of fish but gives you a real chance to take some nice pictures while he drinks salt water, shrieks with glee and throws the rod into the bay. Report follows.
There's some crazy photos in this report
The waterproof Pentax Optio W20 takes a mean hippy shot. Really.
Awwwwwwwwwww!
Ohhhhhhhh!
When you're fishing buddy is a 3 year old, this is a 40 inch snook.
It's been raining some and I've been recovering all sorts of treasures washing out of the canals. These are like 6 bucks at Wal-Mart! Score.
Is this a legal PFD? I hope so cause that's what I've been taking out. Shoot, its only 4 feet deep here. Seriously, does anyone know?
This was caught on troll as I was screamed at to "paddle faster! paddle faster!". We were both pretty stoked.
Lightning hit our oak tree. It sent oak tree parts through the screen 100 ft away and melted the whole irrigation system and took out the cable. Stupid lightning.
How are the pods of bait everywhere? The fishing would probably be pretty good if mr. man would stop hammering the rod against the hull and screaming the spongebob squarepants song. Although you gotta love ol' spongebob. Hes a riot. "Yellow, absorbent and porous is he!" I love that part of the song.
This reel snapped in my hand during a tussle with a 16" trout. Really. This event is also the prelude into an Sarasota's Economy Tackle rant. I go in there (where I purchased this reel 6 mos. prior) and get the customer is ALWAYS wrong rap. Capt. Hungover tells me I must've dropped this and in his 20 years of making 9.50 an hour he's never seen anything like this. I'm like, "look, buddy, just please give me the address. I don't want to argue with you about the history of the reel." We stand there and finally he he gets a box for me and we literally are arguing over what happened to my reel. Jesus. What an oxygen thief. Economy Tackle is the lamest tackle shop in the history of time. What a tool shed. No fisherman should buy from those guys. I won't make that mistake again. I don't even really care about the reel. It's still sitting on my desk. It's the bad attitude those guys drop time and time again. When I was a kid it was the place to go but I'm done going there. They suck. Don't go there and definitely DO NOT BUY A KAYAK THERE. Seriously. Tell all your friends. I am.
With the exception of Economy Tackle, It's pretty nice living here.
I've been finding gear everywhere. This was in the tideline wrapped in some sticks and crap.
Yet another highly prized gamefish landed by the future 6x winner of the oberto redfish tour/nobel peace prize.
Want to keep a kid in a life jacket? Put it on like a straightjacket. Can't take off a backwards PFD.
Ohhhhhhh! Bill Dance topwater found in mangroves. This thing probably works insane. Bill would NEVER endorse a inferior product...
Dig this one, hippy
The tables have turned.
We caught some trout.
Interesting cloud formation #77231
I like how the cloud and the oyster bed are shaped the same. Clyde Butcher would totally dig that...
"Why would my father give me such a crappy reel? I think I'll throw it in the bay to express my displeasure..."
I told you there were a ton of hippy shots in this report.
The hits just keep on comin'
Hippies, rejoice.
Hornetbear.com - Sucking up bandwidth since 2005.
That's it! Sorry about the lack of actual fish photos but those all look the same anyhow.
July 17 - Night Snook - Trout Aplenty - Atmospheric Hippy Shots
People say that Florida is flat. This is because it is quite flat. However, when you take into account the massive thunderheads that form in the summer, you can get quite a range of visual topography. It rivals any mountain range in the world. I've been fishing and watching these massive storms boil on the horizon. It's amazing and constantly in flux.
The fishing has been status quo. Lots of snook at night. Lots of trout all day. Catfish, redifish, and ladyfish spread around the flats. It's hot by 10:00 am and you don't want to go back out there til' at least 6:00 pm unless it gets overcast. Nothing really amazing in terms of fishing, just nice steady action.
You hippies will be just pleased as punch about this report. It's more colorful than a tie-dye and has more nature and landscape shots than a Greenpeace brochure. So, tie back your dreadlocks, grab a handful of sprouts, throw on that Enya album and enjoy, dirtbag!
See? Every day it gets like this.
I've been watching these mangroves grow for like 10 years. It's not the fastest process, mangrove growth.
As you can see, I caught this redfish on a black and white clouser I tied myself. The pinnacle of angling achievement. I am awesome.
The anvil tops of thunderheads are from scraping against high winds as they expand upwards.
Hippy photography discussion: "Whoa." "Dude." "Whoa." "Dude." (repeat 10x)
I tried and tried to revive this fish. Finally, I just added it to my creel.
If you look closely you'll see the paragliders.
I like to fish lures until they're completely torn apart. A lure without a tail is just a shorter lure with less action. It's all about presentation!
This is a 280 lb. tarpon. I caught it with a purple and white deceiver I tied from my own hair. I used a fly rod I built out of bamboo. I grew the bamboo myself and watered it with tears. I spun the line out of lawn clippings and spider silk. This photo is actually a drawing so the fish would not be harmed in any way. I am such a tool.
Millions of these under the lights and out on the flats at night. I need to start bringing out a big rod with a circle hook. Ladyfish are incredible bait.
These were swarming through the lights and jumping in the boat from all over the place. I found one in my shirt pocket!
Artsy!
This snook was actually not under the lights but hanging out on a oyster bed in the dark.
Snappah!
Hippy shot 27411.
Hippy shot 27412.
Trout on strike king jerkbait with cloud reflection.
Oysters are sharp but quite tasty.
Abstract trippyness.
Nice cool blue sky. Ironically it's about 95 degrees out.
Ye ole' seatrout shot.
I love the fishing and weather in July. Amazing time to be anglin' in Sarasota.
_________________
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 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
May 29 - Giant Trout - Sea Monsters - Hippy Shots - Night Snook
My buddy Randy from La Jolla was in town for the memorial day weekend and we managed to get in some fishing while he was here. I'd been chanting how much better the fishing is in Florida than in San Diego so the pressure was kind of on to put my friend into some fish or risk looking like a real idiot. We managed to catch a huge variety and number of fish which made me pretty happy. The species count while he was here included redfish, bluefish, snook, trout, ladyfish, lizardfish, mangrove snapper, and the wily sailcat. Randy totally outfished me but when you're guiding it's better to focus on your guest. In fact, some people claim that its HARDER to guide someone to fish than to actually catch fish. This must be the case because god knows I'm a much better fisherman than Randy. Report follows.
How's this trophy trout? The trout fishing was completely off the chain.
We were in fish right from the first cast which was a huge relief considering I'd mentioned how good the fishing would be like 400 times the night before.
You have to give this needlefish points for trying. How are the teeth on these things?
Sadly, at the end of the day, Randy was eaten by a huge lizardfish. That's what happens when you outfish the Hornetbear. Really bad stuff. Remember this at tournaments.
I styled this osprey with a hairdrier to get this shot. Notice how nice and poofy he looks.
I told randy this was a huge snook and to pose for a picture with it. Joke's on you buddy.
Action! Non Stop Action!
Pretty nice flounder! This flounder was lucky I didn't have a cooler or ice wih me. I think if you don't have ice to preserve the fish you're being a real putz by keeping it. keeping a dead fish on a stringer or cooking in the Florida sun is a great way to make them taste like crap. The secret to preserving fish is mix the ice with sea water. This makes a super cooled salt slurry which makes the fish preserve perfectly. Seriously. It's the best way to ice down a fish.
You just never know what you're gonna get out there...
Hippys love sunrises. They also love goofy hats. Therefore they love this photo.
Got out night fishing too. Didn't get anything huge but had some really big blowups. Actually, the night fishing was the toughest of all the fishing we did. Night fishing is usually a total slam dunk but it was pretty tough going.
Another massive trophy fish for Randy. Well... He though it was.
Lots of mullet under the lights, too. Lights with lots of mullet don't seem to have that many snook.
Tons of bait everywhere but the snook just were not there yet. The tide was the last part of a incoming which just wasn't doing it. I think outgoing is better at night.
That was it for the fishing. I am going to say we pretty much scored. Super steady fishing and lots of variety. Now to dazzle you with some Jacques Costeau style stuff. read on!
the conditions were quite clear in this spot.
You hippys know you're all freaked out over this shot. You love it.
I felt pretty safe even though these were everywhere...
Sawfish! You never see those. What a tremendously skilled diver I am.
Jacks everywhere! What an incredible dive.
Whale Shark! Amazing! This is the dive of a lifetime!
Hey! What the hell are all these people doing standing around 50 feet under water? I've discovered Atlantis!
_________________
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
May 8 - Barracuda - Snook - Manatees - Trout
It's been a while since my last report. I've been in beautiful New York and San Diego for most of April. Went fishing in Mission Bay in San Diego and caught a sweet banded bay bass. She was about 13 inches long and freaking vicious. Like a 13 inch sea tiger, she was.
Anyhow, I'm back, and the trout fishing has been just wide open here in Sarasota. I've been using lures that were in goodie bags from tournaments and you know those things never work. I've STILL been able to catch tons of fish... When the free stuff is working you know the fishing is on. The fish have been mostly in about 4 feet of water usually with some mullet hanging out in shallower water nearby. Well. Lets get on with it.
Wow! Shocker. That's a barracuda! I never catch those. This one hit this Mann's Jerkbait about 2 feet away from the kayak. Theyre a strong fish. Some people like to eat these but I find them to be a little slimy and gamey.
A common sight in Sarasota these days.
I read that needlefish get so big in the South Pacific that people get speared by them when they jump out of the water. That would suck. That's why I wear Teflon body armor whenever I'm fishing. And a helmet. And blow a whistle continuously. Safety first!
People often talk about "matching the hatch" when fishing. This is directly counter to the funky chicken lure school of fishing which dictates "anger the fish with non-natural and annoying color." Here, the funky chicken school gets another vote. Or there was a hatch of hot pink and green minnows. I don't know but funky chickens sure work.
Ye ole funky chicken claims another victim.
Yet another trout falls for the ol' pink and green.
One nice thing about the state of Florida being on fire is the pretty sunrises...
Small pods of bait were all over the place. When the wind is calm you can really see what is going on. Also a hippy shot. Twofer!
I got into a HUGE group of manatees. I'd say there were 15 of them cruising around in a huge school of mullet. That's a lot of giant mammals to be next to in a kayak.
A manatee sneeze. They do this a lot. They also fart almost continuously. What you guys eating? Cabbage? Phew!
The heads are so little compared to the massive bodies. I noticed this when I was riding them around the bay like Aqua Man. I love riding manatees. Can't get enough of that.
This one was very good to eat. Ummm. Garlic manatee kabobs. Love em'.
This snook pulled me right into the mangroves with it. I caught it anyhow. You're going to have to do better than that to trick the Hornetbear, Mr. Snook.
This is a root beer colored 5 inch Manns Hardnose claiming a victim.
This is the first tailing redfish I've ever seen in Sarasota. They're really big, I guess.
It's pretty sad how beat up ALL the manatees I've ever seen in the wild are. Look at these prop scars. People need to stop running and gunning the flats and keep their 300hp bass boats in the fricking channel. It's just lame.
Thats it. Fishing is great.
_________________
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
April 6 - Everglades - Big Redfish - Camping
Ahhh, camping on the beach in the Everglades. The steady pulse of the sea. The ebb and flow of the tide. The sound of a raccoon polishing off a bottle of Captain Morgan's...Nature. Sweet. We left from the shady and cool oyster bar headed out to Picnic Key to camp. We jumped a few tarpon and got a chance to hang out fireside with the Captain (Morgan) and his immediate superior the Admiral (Nelson).
The amazing, self bailing, HMS Terrapin.
Since we were looking for Tarpon and stinkpotting anyhow, elitist artificial lure talk was quickly thrown from the window. We went in search of finger mullet to drift through the passes. I ran the boat and Jamie threw the net from the bow. This was fun until we filled the net with 100 greenbacks which all fit perfectly into the mesh. After beheading all these baits and remarking how good the fishing would be in the massive kill zone we'd just created, we found some perfect mullet. I fired up the engine and we set out in a hunt of the white whale of the gulf coast, the mighty tarpon.
It's important to note the massive scale of this area. It's not a pass or a beach. It's hundreds of passes and sub passes and little micropasses and tons of current wildly pouring in then 5 hours later screaming out of these channels. There aren't that many grass flats or oyster beds just mile after square mile of mangroves and lime green water. You throw a bait or lure out and the feeling is not so much "I'm gonna get you fishy" but "I guess this is what you do out here..."
The wind whipped and the current marched gulfward. We fished, hard, In the saharan sun.The mullet struggled perfectly off the stern. We did this for the better part of an hour. I started in on a 7 minute rant about how mind numbingly boring tarpon fishing was aboard the HMS Terrapin. Suddenly, in karmic retribution for my bitching, Jamie's drag on his massive narwhal rod and reel setup started to scream and a serious tarpon did a half pike 50 yards off the stern. About 95 pounds of fish was going crazy in the pass and I found myself skeptically glancing towards my gear. Jamie was getting all "Ahab" as he laughed maniacally and stood in the calf deep water breaking over the stern. The fish continued its run, jumped again and finally landed on the garden hose Jamie was using for a leader, breaking like a twig. I was shocked and the whole scene was a little surreal. Tarpon jumped and rolled sporadically around the boat. Those were some big fish. I apologize for not having photos but, well, we only jumped tarpon and they craftily evaded a photo session. It was all pretty awesome.
Here, you are known as BAIT.
Good looking redfish there.
After a tremendous day of tarpon fishing Jamie reintroduces himself to the Admiral.
That evening, we rigged up the narwhal rod and soaked the remaining bait. We didn't have any wire leader and we broke quite a few off that were probably sharks. We caught some catfish which were then hooked up and thrown right back out. The night fishing was actually much more eventful than the day fishing and its pretty hysterical to sit around the fire until the the rod starts freaking out and screaming in the night. It was really cool. We eventually ran out of bait and in a display of true bait chucker resourcefulness caught a big sailcat on a chicken wing. It was sweet. Then we chucked THAT unlucky bugger back out and went back to swilling fireside. Good times.
Fly fishermen and their ilk may want to avert their eyes. Yep. I said a chicken wing. Raw. Not a problem. This is how we're doing it.
Things got a little foggy after that. There was discussion of an early morning assault on the tarpon and a more rambling discussion of how awesome we are at fishing. We also talked about the anchoring of the boat and how well planned out it was. The waves lapped the shore. There were no bugs to speak of. Nice.
The sun rose to a clear and windless morning. There was a falling tide and a 1750 lb. boat basically giving us the finger from dry land on the high tide line. Evidently the anchoring was NOT that well planned out. Jamie mentioned that there was no way this could have been avoided since the admiral AND the captain had made such a strong showing at the fire the night prior. We busted out the chairs and started watching the tide rise for the next 5 hours or so. The tarpon really lucked out this time.
Oh wait. It's supposed to be IN the water. That's the problem.
We were able to get back on the water by 11:30 and headed back to town and homeward.
Back in Sarasota, sportfishing capitol of the world.
ACTION! So much more fun than boring old tarpon fishing.
There have been tons of redfish around lately.
Hippy shot alert. Hippy shot alert. Grab your wind chimes, seashell necklaces and bongos.
Ok. I have officially won the smallest fish caught on hook and line contest. Nobody can touch this.
Hmmmm. Perhaps a boating safety course is in his foreseeable future.
I tipped the lure with the world's smallest hook and line fish and caught this beauty on the next cast. 29"
Thats it! Thanks to Jamie and Stacy for inviting me along on their Everglades trip.
_________________
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
March 26 - Red - Snook - Trout - Howling East Winds
You know what would be awesome? Three weeks of steady 18 knot winds with no rain and no end in sight. That'd be really, really terrific from a fishing standpoint. Oh wait! Great news! there HAS been 3 weeks of wind and more in the forecast! Sweet! I hope you sailboat owners are enjoying this because I'm a little sick of it. They say March is the windiest month of the year in Florida and they appear to be 100% on target with that statement.
The fishing has been good and the nature photography has been swell too. The high pressure and whipping winds make for lots of cloudless skies (which all look kind of the same) but taking a camera out at sunset is basically a can't lose proposition for nice photos. Everything is better at sunset. Sunsets make fat people look tan and skinny. Small fish look bigger. Even a Yugo looks kinda nice at sunset. If you can't take nice pictures it's because you're not taking them at sunset. With that said, lets get on with this blustery fishing report.
Staying in the mangroves is a pleasant alternative to being beaten up in the ongoing maelstrom in the bay. I caught several jacks right in this very spot.
Once again, I have gotten the paddle into crystal clear focus but the actual subject of the photo is all whacked out. Nice one, Ansel.
The little black dots along the nose and face of the common snook are called meyopores and allow the snook to communicate with its kind and sense motion and mass in the water column around it. Just kidding. I don't know what the hell those things do.
Someday when you're older, like 6 or 7, you will start an Ebay store and support your old man.
This is the earmark of a truly great nature photographer. Note how I have quietly snuck up on the legendarily skittish great horned owl and captured this amazing photo. Lesser photographers will need a lot of patience and practice before they start achieving this kind of National Geographic quality result.
See? Sunset photo. Can't fail. You'd have to be a soulless monster or power drunk forum moderator to not like one of these.
Action! Dangerously close to that mangrove too!
Ye olde redfish hole produces another sweet fish.
It's funny that an animal that freaks and jumps all over the place when you catch it chooses to just hang out on your thumb until you shake it off. Perhaps, when snook are young, their mothers don't give them enough attention which makes them thumbsuckers. (Insert drum and cymbal sound HERE)
Ha! That channel marker has on a funny little party hat. I bet the other markers hate it when he goes to the cocktail parties...
Ok hippy, here you go. Show your girlfriend too. Now tell your dolphin story. Good.
It's blurry but its pretty cool.
I don't keep many fish but this one was gut hooked so badly that I decided to bring him home. I hate to waste them and trout are some of the best eating.
This is sweet snook/sunset/kayak fishing shot. Kind of sums it all up I think.
Thats it. Fishing remains steady. Enjoy the breeze!
_________________
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 Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:29 pm; edited 1 time in total
March 13 - Trouts - Red - Nature Shots out the Wazoo
Phew. the fishing has been a little tough in the greater Sarasota metro. Caught a bunch of trout, ladyfish and some other fish but it hasn't been the wide open free-for-all that I experienced the last few months. Ironically when the fishing is not that good the photography gets really good. There's something about not catching hundreds of fish that really makes you look for nice photos. Ying and yang, i guess. Anyhow I have some nice looking artsy shots and enough fishing shots to keep it somewhat about the fishing.
I find myself really looking for new kinds of fishing shots. Underwater. In action. etc. Thats where its at. keeping it fresh. I like to document the fish caught but leaving them in the water is probably more interesting, long term. Thankfully, a hippy shot will never go out of style. Shoot, at the end of the day most people like the hippy shots BETTER than the fishing shots. What a crazy world. Who thought people like sunsets better than a picture of a 14 inch trout. Weird. Well, here's the report
I consider Little Sarasota Bay to be sort of a Walden Pond with million dollar homes, power boats and jet skis.
Yow. Not even a bird or plant in that thing. Totally abstract weirdness.
I was fishing when the world started to melt. It was freaky. Fortunately I had my fishing ruler and took some measurements and got everything back to normal.
Better throw some fish pictures in... This is the wily sea trout putting up a fight.
I'm starting to realize that fishing isn't really about fish. It's about the experience. Fish are just a small part of the overall package.
Had to get the ruler out again for this one.
I like the upside down bird reflection in this photo. I also like ice cream and Snoop Dogg records. Snoop rocks.
I'm sure you're thinking, where are the fish? Well it's my post and I'll show a fish when I'm good and ready. Now, just sit back and enjoy this cormorant.
Now, enjoy this cormorant... again.
Ok. Ok. It's supposed to be about fishing. Here's another fish.
Umm. Well. There might be some really small minnow type fish in the water under this bird.
I call this picture "stick"
Gamefish! Pretty color on this one as well.
Don't Forget: Limit you catch. Wear sunscreen. Don't be a complete tool. Pick up trash.
_________________
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
March 1 - Nice Snook - Pompano - Reds - Trout
Finally found a canoe for the family to cruise around in. Thanks to Noles for making me a smoking deal. It's a 16 ft. Mad River kevlar and weighs much less than my kayak. He also hooked me up with the bent handled bending branches paddles and a seat. Thanks again dude. We had friends in town this weekend and we really got to use the canoe as a fishing machine. The fishing, while not electric red hot has been steady. The cold winds have driven the fish up near shore and we've been catching nice fish in canals and shallow shorelines. Check it out!
This is a classic family fishing shot.
Hippys, you're going to love this canal. Its real pretty.
The cold weather makes the water so clear. It's much harder to catch fish when its this crystal clear. They see everything.
Caught some of these sunning themselves on a shallow bank.
The wily Jack Crevalle made a cameo.
This is yours truly with the elusive pompano!
Attention FL hippies - nature shot and potential idea for a nice big tattoo - I think you should go for it, nature boy.
Best empty seawall picture ever.
That kid was born to angle and surf professionally and be a major investment banker. No pressure though.
I get the feeling this crab trap has been here a long, long time.
Trout fishing remains sick.
My buddy Kris, through some miracle of my guiding expertise, managed a snook in the slot with two two year olds in the boat. Amazing.
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“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
