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!
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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
05_May
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
MAY 30 - REDFISH - SNOOK - TROUT - HIPPY SHOTS
Ahhh. Summer in Southwest Florida. It’s my favorite time of the year. Nobody around. Hot. Love bugs. Hurricanes. It rules. If you don’t like summer here you don’t get it. The fishing has been improving. Report follows.
Artsy sunrise shot.
Perfect conditions.
The super high tide put some fish under these mangroves.
This is the only semi-safe way I’ve seen to hold a catfish is like this.
A redfish swims away.
This is a picture of water falling from the sky. Legend has it that this used to happen all the time in Florida.
Nobody escapes!
Hippy, take a gander of this cloud!
I caught this fish in about 8 inches of water on an oyster bed.
The lure went in over a mangrove limb and I caught this snook by bouncing it in and out of the water… Gitten er’ done!
Seaweed hippy shot.
This monster completes the coveted inshore slam.
Hopefully the fishing will turn on with the coming weather and tides. It sure is good conditions lately.
_________________
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
MAY 6 - OLC TOURNAMENT - TRASHFISHPALOOZA!
Well. The tournament I was in didn’t go so well. Only four people actually caught fish in a brisk 30MPH wind. I was sitting out there thinking that tournaments really suck. I did, however, foul hook a sting ray so technically I was not skunked and would’ve survived another day on a deserted island. I also ended up winning 5th place overall because I had one good performance in the series. So that was cool. But otherwise sucked.
AHH. THE SUN RISES OVER I-275.
THE CURRENT WAS RIPPING THROUGH HERE ON THE WAY BACK.
A REALLY NICE PICTURE OF THE TROUT MAULER LURE EVERYONE HAD TO USE FOR THE TOURNAMENT
HIPPY SHOT OF SANDPIPERS IN BAY
I GUESS YOU COULD CALL THIS AN UNLUCKY HORSESHOE…
THIS WAS REALLY FUN TO UNHOOK.
MAKO WINS THE OLC!
HERES THE CARBON FIBER PADDLE I WON. I WOULD ESTIMATE ITS VALUE AT AROUND $35,000.
A big thanks to ERICK and Canoe Country Outfitters who put together this tournament. It’s a really good time.
So the rest of the week I’ve been on kind of a trash fish tear. I’ve been in them. I think the lizardfish national convention may be happening in my neighborhood. I’ve caught em’ all. That stingray set into motion a non stop assault of inedible and downright goofy looking fish. I took pictures of them, of course. I should buy an aquarium for some of the crap I’ve been catching!
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT FISHING – THE SCENERY
THIS PELICAN LOOKS PISSED.
I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MANY LIZARDFISH I’VE CAUGHT LATELY…
A FISH THIS STUPID HAD BETTER BE POISONOUS…
JACKS ON TOPWATERS ARE FUN. I WAS CATCHING THEM ON AN OYSTER BED IN ABOUT 8 INCHES OF WATER.
ALL THE USUAL SUSPECTS…
THE TROUT WERE AROUND TOO.
DON’T LEAVE GULPS ON THE HOOK OR THEY PETRIFY INTO LEATHER. I DON”T KNOW HOW TO GET THEM OFF. MAYBE SOAK EM. GROSS…
That’s the report! Nothing remarkable but there’s some fish. How often do you see a report with a sting ray, ladyfish, jack, pufferfish and lizardfish? Why, with a catfish that’s a double slam!
_________________
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
