Florida Fishing Reports

Sept 18 - Night Snook - Hippy Shots - A Dog

The night fishing remains totally ridiculous. I've caught 5 - 15 snook every night this week. My son goes to bed about 9 and I usally slip out for an hour and hit the lights near my place. It's been amazing and I also managed to catch some sweet pictures and a hippy shot or two.

I think a little wind is really helpful for night fishing. The line seems to spook them when the water is completely smooth. I have a canal I fish with tons of fish in it but the shelter from the wind makes them extremely sensitive to the line in the water and their buddies being pulled out by their lips. Conversely, I have a spot on the bay that you can drift right through and just continue to pull snook after snook out until they're all gone. Report follows.

Some nights you can just tell the fishing is going to be pretty good.


Hippies and Wilderness Kayak owners alike are going to like this one.


Known catfish hotspot.


Cookie cutter 26 inch snook.


Beautiful skies in September. Usually we get tarpon this time of year inshore but I haven't seen any yet.


He's a little pissed about the low tide killing the bite.


A boy and his dog and his flipflops and a bunch of no-see-ums.

_________________
http://www.hornetbear.com

February 15 - Snook - Hippy Shots - Redfish

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

July 17, 2007 - 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

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

March 26, 2007 - 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 1, 2007 - 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.

_________________
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

February 14 - Snook - Reds - Tons of Trout

Hola amigos. The fishing is great. I was in Washington DC, our capitol, where the fishing totally sucked.  I'm back and it's real nice again.

I've been getting out and enjoying some darn steady action. Trout, snook and even the elusive Sarasota redfish have made an appearance. The snook are in the canals and trout are in the deep potholes and redfish are kinda in-between those two places...

Anyhoooo... all I use is jerkbaits on a 1/8 leadhead. Spoon? Nope. Topwater? Nah. Texas rig, doa shrimp, live kitten? No, no, no. I've been just going with what works and its been killing it.

Just put a dab of peanut butter on your thumb to catch snook.


Ahh. The beautiful sea trout. These little guys are thick right now.


You catchy the reeedfeeesh then you don't. They are a wily breed.


This, friends, is a massive trophy lizardfish.



Small redfish are all over the bay these days.


This is the first pinfish I've caught in the last 2 years. Amazing. When I was growing up this is what I exclusively fished for.


Funky winter weather makes the clouds do this... Totally different than the thunderstorms of summer...


Catching fish from the dock rules. It's the minimalist in me. I call this photo "hobie, cat".


I think it's a little crazy to not touch the fish at all. Grab em' carefully but with authority. Get the hook out. release.
I love the XTOOLS unhooker. It's like a endoscopic surgery instrument for deep hooked fish.


The best hippy shots occur at sunset. Even a mostly cloudy one will fire up those crazy mothers...


When the fishing is really good you can catch em' on a bare jig.


Ahh. Canal fishin'. The fall leaves. The avian life. The grocery bags and plastic chairs caught in the trees.


Hornetbear's Anglin' Gear Corner: This little anchor is the best. It holds in all but a freakin' gale and you can knock it over the side with your elbow when you catch a fish drifting. I love it.


Hornetbear's Rigging Info: You cannot have a soft bait that spins around in the water. Make sure you drag it through the water at a good speed and watch the action of the lure. You want it to stand or wobble slightly when retrieved. If it's hooked badly it spins and just doesn't look like a fish swimming in the water column. Don't let your bait spin through the water. Fish like a natural presentation.


Fishing remains steady.

Note to Anglers Everywhere:
It's a fine line between knowledgeable fisherman and know it all jerk. Do the right thing. Be cool. Teach by example. Make friends.
_________________
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 2 2006 - 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

September 10 - Big Redfish - Night Snook - Excellent Fishing

Aloha anglin' afficinados. Fishing has been hot. Check it out.

The sun rises...


More primo habitat.


Trout have been hitting well all over the bay.


The Marina has finally been torn down. Now, I kinda miss it.


There have been thousands and thousands of mullet everywhere lately. You tend to get excited when you see mullet because they're so active on the surface.  I mean, if you see mullet, it means there's some fish out there. Mullet = not a total dead zone. You can cast lures into mullet all day and catch nothing. Fun.


An interesting juxtaposition of sea and land or my camera went off by accident... not sure...


Dock Light Fishing: This picture shows how far away from a dock light you should be to catch fish. Get too close, no fishes. I've found you should just cast right at the light and hopefully go past it. Lately, the edges haven't produced like right in the middle of the light. Also, pausing your retrieve doesn't work for me. Once you stop a quick retrieve the fish are like "Woah dude, that's a piece of plastic." you have to create competition under the light and a quick and getting quicker retrieve helps.


Good casts make it happen. Once you get good at skipping your lure way up under the dock,you will start really catching fish. When your first cast wraps around the dock light it just ruins your mojo.


Hippy shots are everywhere.


Cast into about 20 wakes and felt the lure being knocked around. This sweet redfish finally smacked it. 30.5" was the measurement. That's the biggest redfish I've ever caught on a jerkbait.


Thats it!
_________________
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

AUGUST 27 – JACKS – SNAPPERS – TROUT – SNOOK – FISH APLENTY

Have been fishing in the early morning and late evening and it’s been pretty darn good. As long as you avoid getting electrocuted by the massive thunderstorms there’s a grip of fish out there. I’ve tuned into some hot spots and have caught a whole array of sea life.   I even caught a black drum which I’d never even seen in my local waters prior to this encounter. From dock lights to aimless drifting, once you tune into where the fish are it’s non stop catching. Report forthcoming.

This is not actually a harbor in Maine like it says…In fact, it’s now a big pile of rubble in Sarasota…


They wily black drum. I’d never caught one of these before and was happy to add him to the species list. Now all I need is a whale shark, monkfish and a coelacanth and I can retire from fishing and move on to big game hunting in Africa. This probably will happen in September. That’s when the coelacanths are in the intercoastal…


The elusive Sarasota catfish. A rare and cagey breed highly desired by sportsmen around the globe. I bet you guys in Alaska are dying to come down here and catch some of these beauties. Beware! Their poison spines are second only to their laser vision and spitting venom in terms of anglin’ danger! Truly a fine catch. Accolades to me.


There are SO many trout around right now. They’re everywhere and up to about 18 inches.


Mangrove snappers are the finest eating fish in the sea, besides pompano and steak.


This lure really produced. It doesn’t have much “wiggle” but everything was chewing these up. I had to bite the top off to get the jig to sit in there properly which is pretty nasty but, hey, I’m fishing and therefore things that are normally unacceptably gross are suddenly ok. Like throwing a cast net full of 3 week old greenbacks. Like reaching your hand into a hot bag of gulps. Like running ladyfish slime through your hair and laughing like you’re insane and talking to the fish and… You DON’T do that? Oh. Ok. My bad. Anyhow…biting the tip off really does work.


I’m not sure why this heron was standing on one leg. Maybe he had worked out earlier and was sore. Perhaps some hippies can shed some light on this behavior… He stood there for quite awhile. Fricking goofball heron…


This heron is behaving in a more traditional manner. I really like this shot because its so peaceful. What you can’t see in this picture is the loud fart I’m about to crack. HA! Take that nature boy!


This is primo snook habitat! I’ve caught some really nice fish here.


Wide open jack fishing right now. The lure can barely touch the water before getting exploded on. That is a really fun kind of fishing. Jacks drag you all around the bay. I was fishing in front of a house throwing a cocktail party and you could tell that all the dudes were dying to get out there. It’s my favorite kind of fishing.


Jack at sunset. I was using the strike king jerkbaits in ivory. Those are the ultimate lures for catching tons of fish because they are indestructable. They never snap or lose a tail, they just get kind of fuzzy, which the fish really seem to like. I also think white is the best color, period, end of story, for all conditions. High visability but still looks like a fish, not some chernobyl refugee.


You can see the magic lure hanging out here


This is when the fishing gets really good. This is also about 25 minutes before they alert your next of kin how good the fishing must’ve been.


This is primo jack fishing, right here… Hippies also will have something to keep them busy. Everybody wins here.

 
Are you serious? This is one lucky fish.


So, this story needs to be told. I’m coming back after sunset and catching fish everywhere. I’m catching short snook after snook under the docklights and finally I get to the best docklight in history. I lightly cast out and finally hook a serious gill rattling big snook. We tussle and the hook pulls next to the boat. The lure flies by my ear and completely wraps itself around the other pole, and I mean completely. I’m having the best snook fishing in months and I’ve managed to incapaciate not one rod but both that I’d brought. I seriously had to cut both lines and start over. After I’d stopped crying and pouting I managed to catch a few more fish but the magic had passed. That’s how it’s done. You don’t want to catch em’ all. Conservation minded anglers know it’s important to tangle all your gear into a tight ball right when the fishing gets really good.

Ladyfish were running through the lights too. This is a pretty big ladyfish…


Here’s a snook. These were all over the place after sunset. I had to stay FAR out from the lights to avoid spooking them. It’s easy to ruin a good light by getting too close.


A final hippy shot for you, starbeam! Now go wash your feet. I mean it.

_________________
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

AUG 13 – SLAM – WIDE OPEN FISHING – REDS – SNOOK – TROUT

Hey dudes and dudettes. I’ve been night fishing and it’s been pretty amazing. The heat of the day dissipates and the fishing really turns on. Just plain old wide open fishing, non stop. Fish jumping in the boat, monster fish spooked in 8 inches of water, can’t stop catching ladyfish good. The tides have been ripping and when you get to the spots where there’s some flow, lookout. It’s pretty crazy, actually. You start out and the water is completely still. Paddle about a mile to a narrow spot in the intercoastal and…blam. Fish everywhere.

A quick note about dock lights. Dock lights here are tough to fish with lures. In my experience, these snook usually are fat and happy. A little glow in the dark piece of plastic is a hard sell. You’ll get some half hearted strikes but, really, the legend of just pulling snook after snook up from beneath the lights is just that, a fantasy. The reality is the little buggers are easy to spook and surrounded with perfect little shrimp to eat. Hucking and chumming white bait works, of course, but that’s really not very sporting. Chumming for snook is easy. If I ran a charter I'd do it all day long. Fat Jimmy Johnson from Newark needs to catch a fish... However, as a sportsman from Sarasota, I refrain.

I know the snook lights within a mile of my house well and, man, it’s hard work to pull a snook out. You basically get 1-3 chances to present your lures and then its pencils down, they’re on to you, move on.

Headed out at sunset… tide was medium, zipping out, heading to an extreme low @ midnight. Wind was out of the north/variable @ about 10 knots. I headed out and went straight to my spot where the tide moves the fastest. Hooked up right away and there was a ton of surface action. It was mostly ladyfish (I think) but I caught a potpourri of fishes and quickly rang up an inshore slam. The wind and the tide were balanced almost perfectly and I was able to just sit in the same spot without drifting or even changing position. I moved around from boil to boil catching fish everywhere. 

Well. Lets get to it.

Hippy! Front and center! This picture is crazier than that time you were camping in Oregon and found that driftwood that looked like Jerry Garcia riding on a giraffe! Check it out.


This is a hot spot for snook. Don’t paddle under it, though. I predict the whole thing will be just below sea level in about 2 months. A couple weeks ago it didn’t look like this. It’s so decrepit that I don’t like to get close to it. You can watch it slump more and cave in more every day. I’ll start taking pictures of it and we can have a marina collapse pool. I’m predicting hurricane Helene, Sept 25 takes her out. Place your bets!


Redfish! Caught a bunch of these up to about 20 inches. They were hitting right on the surface, shouldering the ladyfish out of the way. It was hard to catch big fish because there were so many small, angry fish.


Terpo! On the davits! You’re for real. Don’t forget your friends. You’d never get this photo because it’s your boat. I love that hull style.


Wouldn't be a fishing report without a catfish...


Mangrove snappers were freaking everywhere too. I caught one that had to be about 3 inches long. I should’ve kept them because there were so many. Cleaning fish at 1:30 AM in the dark with mosquitos is just not worth it.


Hey hippy! The compost pile is doing fine and your ladybugs seem to be controlling the aphids. Now look at this freaking photo! I know. I know. The channel marker is manmade. But otherwise it’s nice, right? Play your pan flute to indicate “yes.”


Mirrolure. I like this little lure. It’s a suspending one and though I like the auditory gratification of night fishing with a topwater, this one really catches fish. Same lure was catching snook under dock lights. Solid.


Hippy shots are where you find them. This ladyfish was crawling with hippy mojo.


Snook on a glow shrimp under a docklight. Imagine, if you will, about 20 slot fish all stacked up and Lil’ Dummy here goes for the lure. The big ones are wayyyy beyond this. That’s how they got big.


This is an awesome snook light. It’s amazing, really. Some lights only have mullet. Some are empty. Some are always teeming with snook. This one makes sense to me but many seem to have no rhyme or reason.


Redfish under the lights. This lure had no tail to speak of and still was catching fish. The puppetmaster doesn’t need no stinkin’ tails.


The ladyfish were everywhere and pretty big. I love catching fish. People say they would fish all day and only want to catch one fish if it's a good one. I disagree. I love steady action. Call me crazy.


Caught a bunch of these too. This was a pretty typical one. Had a couple big ones shake off next to the boat. Trouts have soft mouths. You can’t horse them.


Fun night fishing but I’m ready for fall. That’s the best time to be a fisherman in SW Florida or anywhere (besides Antartcia). Gets cooler and all the fish have been getting big all summer. Bring it 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

AUG 4 AND 5 - DOCKLIGHTS - SNOOK - REDFISH

I finally got out to do a little night fishing. I left at sunset and at about an hour after dark, the sealife was unbelievable. Big shrimp were everywhere being chased airborne by ladyfish and snook. Amazingly, I had a shrimp jump into the kayak with me. Bait and mullet were all over the place getting pulverized.

Suffice it to say, the fishing was pretty good.


I started out in the middle of the bay fishing along a long oyster bar. This proved to be good only for ladyfish. The sunset was spectacular and the forecast rain had held off.

Hippies and meat fishermen alike will be pleased with this nature filled report


Moon Rise & sunset


Ladyfish and moon.


Caught a fish right here.


Sweet.


The size of the shrimp that were jumping all around…


I rigged the shrimp up on the jig I was using and caught this…


Hows this picture of a snook crushing a shrimp?


I caught a redfish and a bluefish after that. The snook really weren’t interested in the lures and that ladyfish got the shrimp. Had a few fish release next to the boat. I should’ve brought a dip net for the shrimp.

There were probably 15 snook hanging around.


Look at all the bait…


You know you love it.

Dock lights really draw fish in. I also find that the places with dock lights that are on at night tend to be good fishing during the day as well.

--- ADDENDUM --- THE NEXT EVENING ---

I had a little time to fish and I had to roll up right on the same spot. I had cased it pretty well the night before and I quietly slid up to the light. I really don't think those fish had any idea I was there.

I threw a gulp grub and got nothing. I slipped away pretty bummed. I fished some other lights holding fish and had a few shakeoffs. They might have been oysters... Anyhow, I came back to the light and threw a mirrolure and got a WAY better reaction. It was a suspending one and I watched it come through the light. I was fishing it pretty slow and finally was able to get something going!

Yes! This rules.


Mirrorlure glass minnow. The new one. Outperformed Gulps radically tonight.


I think the biggest difference tonight was stealth. Once you spook them, it doesn't matter what you throw. I was quiet and the wind was offshore, which pushes you away from the fish not into them. On the way back I was paddling over a shallow flat and, just to show how active the bay is right now, a mullet jumps into the kayak with me. Amazing.

Thats 2 suicide attempts! A shrimp (who actually succeeded) and this mullet trying to get into the smoker!


The hard bait really worked tonight. I almost didnt even try to use it. You never know.
_________________
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 Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:28 pm; edited 1 time in total

JULY 25 - TROUT - SNOOK - SNAPPER - STORMS

One really nice thing about bad weather is the spectacular show that surrounds it. Sunrises are red. Thunderheads turn the sky purple and black. Sunsets are gold. It’s unfortunate that you get electrocuted in lightning storms because up until that they’re kind of nice. The fish seem to really like weather too. You always seem to catch fish and play better golf around storms. That’s how it is. The fishing has been OK and the report follows.

Hey Moonflower! Put down your tambourine and get ready for some hippy shots!


That’s an osprey on the mast of the sailboat.


Your Indian name shall be “Setting Moon, the Trout.”


HeeeeeY! No poopin’ on the boat, pal.


Another SWEET looking catfish.


Later that day I planted some basil in this fish.


I think catching lots of different species of fish is really cool. You never know what you’re going to get. Well. You know you won’t catch a salmon....


Its been awhile since I’ve caught a snook in the mangroves.


Hmmmm. Maybe I should’ve set the hook a little sooner…


I braved the rain for this photo. Hope you like it.


Cormorants have an awesome lifestyle.


Anybody know how to eat sea grapes? I know you don’t eat them right off the tree…


Your Indian name shall be “Thunderhead Pinkyflip, the Snook”


Dude. That’s pretty tripped out.


Woah. Artsy. That’s a good one for the calendar.


I’m not sure these birds have any idea where to fish. This one was clearly grasping at straws and following me around.


Hippy, avert your eyes. I brought home some trout for dinner.


Final abstract hippy shot for you.


That’s that. A nice colorful 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

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

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

APR 3 – SNOOKS – JACKS – LADYFISH – LEEZARDFEESH – TROUTS

You really can’t complain about the weather right now. It just doesn’t get much more perfect that this. Light winds. Beautiful cloudless days with crystal clear azure water. Basically picture perfect Florida weather. I, however, plan to complain about the fishing. It’s thin! I haven’t gotten skunked lately but it’s been darn close. As in “oh thank you god it’s a lizardfish” close.  As in, “Whew, I caught this one eyed ladyfish” close. Why, a person might start fishing with bait it’s been so tough out there! Well. It’s not that bad.  But…man… it’s been tough going. I did manage to angle some fish up from the depths. And I took some pictures to prove it. These pictures span a few days…Report follows…

THERE IS MY NEW STAKEOUT POLE WHICH I WON IN THE FALL FS TOURNAMENT! THAT IS ONE NICE LOOKING STAKEOUT POKE. MUCH BETTER THAN THE BROKEN DOWEL I WAS USING. THANKS CAPT. DICK.


THERE’S A NICE LITTLE FLATS BOAT CRUISING THE INTERCOSTAL. I BET GIRLS HAVE GONE WILD ON THAT BAD BOY.


SMALL SNOOK, WELCOME ABOARD! NOW, HOLD STILL AND…SMILE!


THIS TROUT REPRESENTS 1000 CASTS WITHOUT A NIBBLE. I GUESS THAT’S A MILITROUT IF YOU’RE USING THE METRIC SYSTEM…


IT WASN’T ALL BAD ABOARD THE HMS HORNETBEAR. THIS WAS A PRETTY NICE SNOOK, REALLY.


I CAUGHT THIS FREAKY LOOKING ONE EYED LADYFISH. I HOOKED HER IN THE LIP, TOO. I SAID TO THE FISH, “LUCKY FOR YOU, MODERN CATARACT SURGERY ALLOWS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST TO REPLACE YOUR CLOUDY LENS WITH AN ARTIFICIAL LENS, THUS REGAINING VISION IN THE RIGHT EYE. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SAVE UP ABOUT 6500 DOLLARS OR GET DECENT LADYFISH HEALTH INSURANCE. I RECOMMEND A PPO PLAN IF YOUR WORKPLACE OFFERS IT.”


HERE’S A PRETTY STRONG ARGUMENT FOR SPENDING MORE THAN 14 DOLLARS ON FISHING RODS. I SWEAR THIS ONE CORRODED AND BROKE WHEN IT WAS EXPOSED TO THE NON AIR CONDITIONED ATMOSPHERE RIGHT OUTSIDE WAL-MART. IT’S A BERKELEY. BOOOOOO.


HERES A SHEEPSHEAD CARCASS THAT HAS BEEN KICKING IT UNDER MY DOCK FOR DAYS… I THOUGHT THE SHARKS WERE GOING TO EAT HIM?! I GUESS THEY WERE STUFFING THEMSELVES ON ALL THOSE CRYPTIC MORTALITY SNOOK…THAT I NEVER SEE… ANYWHERE…EVER…


HIPPIES REJOICE. IT’S A PRETTY FLOWER. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS NO FRAGRANCE. SO YOU’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO REEK OF BODY ODOR UNTIL YOU BATHE. THIS FLOWER CAN’T HELP YOU. SORRY.


ORNITHOLOGICAL FACT: THE COMMON NAME FOR THIS BIRD IS “BLUE-HEADED AFRICAN MONKEY CHICKEN.” REMEMBER THIS SO YOU CAN IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHEN YOU SEE ONE.


YOU GOTTA ADMIT THE COMMON LIZARDFISH IS A GUTSY LITTLE DUDE. THIS IS LIKE YOU OR I TRYING TO EAT A GERMAN SHEPARD WHOLE.


GOOD OLD RED HEAD AND WHITE BODY. IT’S A TIMELESS FISHING CLASSIC. LIKE HOOKING YOUR BUDDY WHEN YOURE DRUNK OR CATCHING A SNEAKER IN A CANAL.


MAN! CAN THOSE LADYFISH JUMP!


YOU’VE SEEN LOTS OF PICTURES OF HUGE SNOOK LATELY. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE PICTURES.


OH! SWEET! CATFISH! DOES THE FUN EVER START?


THIS JACK IS THINKING, “I REALLY, REALLY HATE THIS GUY.”


HERES A CLOSEUP OF THE WORMS THAT LIVE IN THE TAIL OF THE COMMON JACK AND MAKE THEM NOT SO DESIREABLE TO EAT…


AND YOU THOUGHT THE OTHER SNOOK WAS SMALL! GOOD THING THIS CAMERA HAS AN OPTICAL ZOOM.


HERE IS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL LIZARDFISH. MARK SOSIN, LETS SEE YOU BOAT ONE OF THESE BAD BOYS. THOSE TEETH ARE SHARP! I MIGHT GO AHEAD AND GET THIS ONE MOUNTED…


TROUT, YOU LOOK KINDA LIKE A COORS LITE. CONICIDENCE? I THINK NOT.


I JUST CAN’T RESIST A LADYFISH SHOT. I’M WEAK. I LOVE EM’


So. That’s the report! It’s been fun but I sure haven’t seen the giant trophy fish that I pretty much expect to see every time I go fishing. Tomorrow is another day.
_________________
http://www.hornetbear.com
“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

FEB 22 - POMPANO - CATFISH - SLAM - WIDE OPEN SOTE ANGLING

How you doing, fellow anglin' aficionados? I've returned to the greater Sarasota metropolis and have resumed angling. The fishing has been really, really good. Fish everywhere. I caught a really big snook but fumbled the monster during the photo shoot. You'll have to just imagine a really great picture of a really big snook because all I have is a nice clear picture of my hand. Report follows...

Weather has been beautiful. Really nice clear windless days this week. I managed to get out early in the morning and found the fishing to be extremely good, as I mentioned. I have developed a theory about fish location as it pertains to where the sun is.

HORNETBEARS GUIDE TO FINDING WINTER FISH IN THE MORNING:

The sun rises in the east and sits in the southern sky. Therefore, the northwest corner of bays, canals, lakes, and kiddie pools get the first immediate light. Thus, this area will heat up first and in the cold mornings of the Florida winter the fish will congregate there. I have been having amazingly good luck seeking out this exposure ASAP when I get on the water in the morning. I have been paddling over a mile to get to these hot spots (no pun intended) and have been rewarded with radically improved fishing over the eastern shores. Cloudy and overcast days to not have as dramatic a difference but fish, like people, are creatures of habit. Fish the northwest corners in the morning. Just roll up like you own the place. You might want to scream some crazed expletives at the fishing guides that are there already. They love the local color this adds for their clientele. You will also want to twitch uncontrollably and talk to your paddle, hand and/or beer.

HORNETBEARS GUIDE TO FINDING WINTER FISH IN THE EVENINGS:

Do the same thing but the northeast corners become the hot spots.

HORNETBEARS GUIDE TO FINDING SUMMER FISH:

It's so hot in the summer do the exact opposite of what you do in the winter. in the spring and fall you're on your own...

Ok! Fishing is easy! Cast, retrieve, unhook, repeat...

WHITE PELICANS. SO BEAUTIFUL BUT QUITE STINKY WITH ALL THE PELICAN POOP AND WHATNOT...


WOULDN'T BE A SARASOTA REPORT WITHOUT THIS SHOT. I REFRAINED FROM TAKING MORE OF THESE SHOTS. YOURE WELCOME.


HERE'S THE WORLD'S CRAPPIEST STAKEOUT POLE. IT WAS A REAL PIECE OF CRAP UNTIL IT BROKE THEN IT AMAZINGLY BECAME EVEN CRAPPIER. I OWN A SUPER NICE CAPT. DICKS STAKEOUT POLE BUT I KEEP IT AT CUBS HOUSE IN PINE ISLAND... CUBS? YOU READING THIS?


CAUGHT A BUNCH OF THESE. I GOT A NICE GATOR TROUT AS WELL BUT, LIKE THE SNOOK, I CHRIS SIMMS'D HIM BEFORE I COULD TAKE A PICTURE. NOTE THE WHITE GRUB LURE. ITS A GULP. THEY'VE BEEN KILLING IT ON ALL SPECIES.


WHOA! DANGER! CAUGHT A BUNCH OF THESE UNDER SOME DOCKS. EVEN WITH PLIERS THESE FISH ARE HARD TO UNHOOK. INSERT SAILCAT HORROR STORY HERE.


WHOEVER SAID THESE HOOKS TEND TO BREAK WAS RIGHT. NOTE THE "KEEPER" PART OF THE HOOK WAS "KEPT" INSIDE THE LURE. I STILL LIKE THEM BUT THEY DO TEND TO SELF DESTRUCT AT SOME INOPPORTUNE TIMES...


YEAH! GAMEFISH. THIS IS IN THE AFTERNOON AND IN THE NE CORNER OR THE BAY. THIS SHOT CAME IS RIGHT AFTER I DROPPED THE BIG SNOOK WHICH KIND OF SOFTENED THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER I WAS ON.


"I'VE GOT MY EYE ON YOU MR. LURE!"


OHMYGOD! THE SURF IS GOING OFF! LOOKS LIKE HAWAII!


OH. WELL THEN. MAYBE THE SURF ISN'T ALL THAT BIG. PERHAPS THAT SANDPIPER BROUGHT HIS BOARD...


ALL GOD'S CREATURES ARE BEAUTIFUL, EXCEPT FOR THIS UGLY MOTHER.


THAT, FRIENDS, IS A SOLID LITTLE LURE. I CAUGHT MORE SPECIES ON THAT IN 2 HOURS THAN I'VE EVER CAUGHT BEFORE...


HEY! YOURE A FUNNY LOOKING JACK! HOW'D YOUR FACE GET SO SMALL?


FOR ME, THIS IS AN ETHICAL GREY AREA... DO YOU TURN THE FL