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Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

The King mackerel had been hot for a week or so but then dropped off, but will return soon!  We had nice kings from the beaches out to the "M" artificial reefs.  Point of Rocks was one of the beach hot spots.  Catching live bait like herring and blue runners was the hard part.

Fishing on the bay has been fast and slow, but at the end of the day, some nice fish were in the box.  Sea trout, mackerel, bluefish, and redfish have made up most of the keeper fish.  Pompano, flounder, sheepshead, snapper, and black seabass are also being caught.  Ladyfish, Jacks and under size grouper have kept the action going.  Live shrimp and whitebait have been the top baits.

We have had to move around to find the fish.  Sometimes they are on the grassflats and sometimes in the deeper channels.  Redfish like the docks and deep water close to the docks, same with the snook.  The Sheepshead like anything that will grow barnacles, Sheepshead only eats crustaceans and mollusks.

Most of my fishing on the bay is done on 12 pound test line and 30 pound test mono leader.  Sometimes a small splitshot and sometimes a popping cork. I use a 202 4/0 gold hook or a stout 3/0 Lazer hook and no swivels, snaps, or wire.  For artificial baits I like the DOA shrimp or pompano jigs.


Enjoy and Protect Capt. Bob Smith
sarasotafishing@verizon.net
2529 Temple Street, Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 366-2159,
Cell: (941) 350-8583, Fax: (941) 362-4040
 

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I got serious about bass fishing the first minute I did it. After more than fifty years of serious bass fishing alot of experience and information has come my way. Alot of it through tought times and tough doings. Alot of it through the pure pleasure of pursuiting my favoritest pastime to its fullest. In the late 1960's bass fishing began to take leaps and bounds in popularity and in the sharing of information. Competition began! Not only did competition begin on the water but in the boating industry, tackle industry and clothing industry.

Those "jump suits" Ray Scott tried to put us all in are another story. My first bass boat was a pair of sneekers I used to wade the streams of Missouri in. Then came those 20" john boats that floated the streams. And one day we got a three horse to push that thing up a shoal. WOW! That was a treat back then. I guarantee you it was alot better than pulling a 20' john boat up a shoal. Later a 5 hp, then a ten, one day a hundred, and so on. Well, boats grew and finally trailers did.

I remember the first time I saw a Wonder State Trailer. Here was a trailer with a huge frame, giant 14 inch wheels and bearings you could lube from the outside. No need to take the wheel apart to lube the bearings. And.... YES!!! You DROVE, I say again...You DROVE the boat on the trailer. It was in the early 70's that I saw this trailer. If you were someone you had one of theese. That trailer set the prototype of design for other trailer manufacturers to follow. While Wonder State Trailers fell by the way side and is no longer manufacturing trailers, their original concept of a solid frame, large wheels, and a drive on platform remains the standard of trailer manufacturing.

Over all the years I have been in the public eye, or out dealing with the public I can't possibly imagine how many times I have been asked about bass boats. You know every one has an opinion and every one has a favorite. I do not remember ever answering a trailer question. The wrong trailer, or an improper trailer can lead to a world of problems. Most trailers are well made and will do the job. You can go to any boat dealer and select the boat of your choice. But, guess what, unless you special order a boat you get what ever trailer is under the boat. That should get you to thinking. Not that it is usually a problem. But there are some things to consider.

I have two bass boats now. So, I have two trailers. One boat is a 20 foot...all boat.... boat. And the other is a little shy of 18 feet with lots of back and a pointed front. Not as much weight. But, a well built boat. Each comes with the manufacturers trailer. Each trailer made to fit the boat it is under. Each trailer was manufactured by the boat manufacturer. There are trailer companies that manufacturer trailers for several different boat manufacturers.

I know your boat is important. One dealer can reduce the price of a boat package by short changing you on a trailer. You pay less and get less. Does it make a difference. Yes. A trailer is important. Think of a boat trailer as a frame. You would not put a subcompact frame under a pick-up truck body.

What to look for in a trailer. Things I have found in my years of pain and gain to be of importance. Does the trailer have enough guts to hold up the boat? Is the freame strong enough? Is the frame treated for the kind of water you will put your boat into? There is only one trailer tire to put on a boat trailer. If you go any where or do any towing, at all, the only trailer tire you should allow on your boat trailer is a Goodyear Marathon Trailer Radial!!!! These tires carry 50 lbs of pressure. I have NEVER had a problem with one. Some manufacturers put tires that look pretty on the trailer. Well.....my tire is supposed to hold my boat. It needs to be the best.

Was the trailer made with my boat brand and model in mind? If so, that is AWESOME! If not, look for another trailer. Does the trailer offer any kind of protection for occupants in a vehicle in the event the vehicle has a head on? Or if the boat is hit from the rear? Boats have been known to come through the back window of vehicles in head on collisions or in the event the boat is hit in the rear. What kind of protection is awailable? If the front eye of the boat is BELOW the front roller and the hook to the winch hooks on to the bow eye below the roller you are set. If not, there are chains and ties available that go from the trailer frame to the bow eye of the boat. Back tie downs are essential and valubale but, not very helpful in a collission. Back tie downs are designed to hold the boat on the trailer as it travels down the road- basically- to keep the boat from bouncing on the trailer.

Brakes!!! Essential!!! I HIGHLY reccommend disc brakes. They are easier to maintain and easier to take care of. They also work better and work longer. Years ago Chevrolet had an advertisement on television with a Chevy Luv Truck towing a railroad car. AWESOME display of power. Well...... they never showed you the truck trying to stop that railroad car. Think of your tow vehicle as the Luv Truck and the railroad car as your boat. What is the relationship of weight to weight? Your tow vehicle better be way more than what it is towing. Brakes help on the trailer, but, there is a limit. A four wheel drive goes great in the snow and ice, but, it stops the same as a two wheel drive. The best vehicles have four wheel disc brakes- most of the stopping power comes from the front brakes- front brakes on almost all vehicles are disc brakes- why not disc brakes on the trailer that carries your prized possession?

Look over the photo carefully. You will note that the axle and tires are gone. Where did they go? The trailer owner never found them. This trailer dissentigrated from under the boat. The owner had gone off to buy a new trailer while the pieces of the old trailer and boat laid on the road waiting for his return. Oh, they had to gather the pieces of the old trailer and put them by the boat that was dropped on the road.

Legendary Professiona Angler and Guide, Hugh Crumpler, takes his clients out catching in Stick Marsh and Farm 13, Florida. Hugh' website, www.HughCrumpler.Com offers guide service, photos, lake maps and more.

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Well, here we are with the water temperatures finally rising instead of the up and down syndrome we've been experiencing the past two months. It even dropped a few degrees last week but it's all going to be up-hill now. It's been tough, especially since the sheepshead bite is gone from the rocks. After fishing the Mayport Jetties for months I get to the stage where I look forward to not having to find who has fiddlers and not having to keep them alive day by day to fish with them. Anyway, no more fiddlers until October again when the sheepshead fire back up. Oh, you can catch sheepshead during the summer months, especially the last of June and into July when the big crab hatch happens and the sheepies are standing on their heads on the oyster beds at the higher tides. But as for targeting them at the jetties I don't even bother. It's tough to fish for them in the warmer months out there when you only catch one or two. I like more action than that.

  

CREEKS:

Here's when the redfish start really looking for something to eat. As the water temperatures warm steadily the red's metabolism are more active and they need more to eat on a daily basis. As they move around more they're more willing to chase their prey. Top water lures start in play a lot more in May. They also get further back up in the shallows and as we hunt for them, we begin to see quite a few more with their backs out of the water actually doing 'their hunting' for food. You just gotta love this time of the year.

Spotted trout are more active at least until the water temps get real warm in July and August. During this time of the year top water lures, jerk baits, floater-divers, etc. work real well as the trout start feeding up higher in the water column.

Very soon, the flounder will arrive in larger numbers, they should've already been here about two weeks ago. We've been catching a few here and there but small ones and not very many. I think the ups and dowbns in the temps keep them offshore longer this season.

Jacks and lady fish are beginning to show. So much fun on top waters. I know, most people don't target jacks or ladyfish but you just can't beat the fun they give you on light tackle. Keep your eyes peeled for bait fish busting out of the surface and hurry over there. Will be looking for the tarpon in the creeks about the end of next month.

 

JETTIES:

The bull redfish and sharks will be feeding this month out at the rocks and don't forget the black drum. They'll still be around. Black drum from 4 to 15 pounds should be hanging out at the jetties and the rivers the entire month of May.

Whiting, my favorite saltwater fish to eat should also be chewing in the sandier areas close to the rocks.

Look for schools of jacks to be schooling up bait fish and sight-cast to them for loads of fun and the tarpon should show up out there about the end of May.

The Spanish haven't been in like they should've been in April but they're in now, finally and you should be able to see a few cobia swimming toward and under your boat if you're anchored close to the end or at the end of the rocks. Usually small cobia, not legal ones, hang around there this time of the year but sometimes if you're lucky you can get a good sized one.

  

RIVERS:

Spotted trout along grass shorelines or rocks should be doing really good this month. I love those floater-divers and top waters for these guys. It's a blast on those lures.

Black drum in the hard bottom areas of the rivers and close to rocks and/or drop offs. Whiting are in the same areas as the drum hang out but they also like the sandier areas too. Yellowmouth trout are usually mixed in with the whiting a lot of times.

I also like to run along the river and look for schools of jacks busting baits out of the water's surface this time of the year. Fun, fun, fun!

Bull reds should be in the usual areas very soon. They've been slower coming in this year but come the end of this month it should be on.

Slot reds should be feeding in some of the same areas too.

 

SURF:

The pompano have finally showed up but there aren't quite the numbers as they should be yet. Should be picking up more and more now.

Whiting and good sized black drum are being caught in the surf and at the Jax. Beach Pier. Small bluefish and a few Spanish have also been taken in the surf.

 

Let's all remember to bring your trash back to the ramp and put it in a trash can or dumpster. We need to keep our waterways clean. Not many other people are helping us so it's up to the rest of us and PLEASE, if you're fishing from a bridge, secure your waste from getting blown off the bridges from the traffic. I see so much trash getting blown off into the water just when I'm heading under a bridge. If nothing else, put your empty drink containers back in your coolers or buckets. There is always a trash can nearby boat ramps, at some bridges, at bait shops, and at other stores you'll pass when you're heading back home.

 

You can say what you want about the South but,
you never hear of anyone retiring and moving up North,,,

 

Captain Vic Tison, USCG Licensed
P. O. Box 122
Jacksonville, Florida 32219
Phone Number: (904) 765-4936
or pager (904) 636-4987
VIC2FISH@aol.com
Neither Captain Vic nor Vic2Fish & Adventures, Inc. claims any responsibility for any injury or loss of property arising out of any party using these Fishing Reports.
If you no longer wish to receive Capt. Vic's Fishing Reports, please e-mail me to unsubscribe and I'll remove your address from the lists.

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Cap. Jim Passmore.
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270-579-1042. 
Orlando, Florida.
JPassmore1@cfl.rr.com
 

f you fish the Kissimmee Chain and would like to contribute a fishing report please contact Jim Dicken at Jimd072@aol.com

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