West Coast Florida - Cleawater Fishing Reports
no oil but great fishing
The Tarpon bite has been slowing on the beaches. look for fish to move into the back water after the fullmoon From Clearwater to Tampa Bay,these area are often overlooked. look to find fish early in the morning near flats with good dropoff or the passes nort of clearwater. Trout are in good numbers. Sizes have been averaging 18 to 20 inches on deeper grass flats from 3 to 5 feet that have potholes. Live scaled sardines or swimming style shad tails on a quarter ounce jighead will produce good results. Snook are just starting to move into their summer areas. We have been seeing more snook near freshwater runoff, live scaledsardines are the bait of choice on the middle of the high tide. the passes have held good number of snook. live freelined pinfish or grassgrunts have produced some big fish. outgoing tides have been the key fishing the passes whether day or night. Redfishing has been hit or miss. The new and full moons seemed to have produced good numbers of these bruisers. The tides are much more extreme on the new and full moons. The best time to fish is on low water with the tide coming in, or on highwater going out. Look for the Mullet schools around spoil islands or flats that have plenty of potholes. The best bait has been cut threadfin, cut pinfish and cut ladyfish. Because of the warming water, the fish prefer not to chase live bait. if you are into shark fishing there are plenty around. For your assurrance, there is no oil on the West Coast Beaches. They are clean and pristine, for your enjoyment. Come fish the fishing capital of the world, known as Florida. Thanks, Capt. Craig Posted on 7/26 2010 by Captain Craig Target Species: snook, sharks redfish, trout. tarpon
Come Enjoy Clearwater
The Tarpon bite has been the best I've seen in years. From Clearwater to Tampa Bay, this area is often overlooked, and is as productive as Boca Grande, without the boat traffic. My clients have been averaging 2 to 3 fish, on half day trips, with lots of bites and fish that have either jumped off or spit the hook. Long time customer Mike Devita landed the first 200 lb. Tarpon in the 13 years I have been guiding him. Hopefully, I can give new clients that experience. Trout are in good numbers. Sizes have been averaging 18 to 20 inches on deeper grass flats from 3 to 5 feet that have potholes. Live scaled sardines or swimming style shad tails on a quarter ounce jighead will produce good results. Snook are just starting to move into their summer areas. We have been seeing more and more of these fish on the beach every day. If we could get some rain, the Snook will start moving to the freshwater run offs. This creates the perfect water salinity, known as sweetwater. Redfishing has been hit or miss. The new and full moons seemed to have produced good numbers of these bruisers. The tides are much more extreme on the new and full moons. The best time to fish is on low water with the tide coming in, or on highwater going out. Look for the Mullet schools around spoil islands or flats that have plenty of potholes. The best bait has been cut threadfin, cut pinfish and cut ladyfish. Because of the warming water, the fish prefer not to chase live bait. For your assurrance, there is no oil on the West Coast Beaches. They are clean and pristine, for your enjoyment. Come fish the fishing capital of the world, known as Florida. Thanks, Capt. Craig
Dont believe mainstream media
For people wondering about the oil spill. there would be no way for the oil to make it to the westcentral coast. The loop current runs north and move slightly east. It may hit a very small area of the west part of the panhandle. There is 1200 miles of gulf coast of Florida. So, enjoy the outdoor vacation on the Florida beaches and water. Thanks, Capt Craig
Tarpon,Tarpon,Tarpon
The Tarpon have shown up in the passes from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. These fish are just showing up. The best time to target these brawlers is on moving water in the passes. For the backwater enthusiast, there are poons in quiet areas on the edges of the deeper flats. These areas are prime during midmorning due to excessive boat traffic. Tarpon have been ranging from 80 to 100 Lbs. Now is the time to book your trip for the thrill that only the King can bring. Redfishing has been strong on the flats. These bulldogs are feeding on whitebait and hard plastic jerk baits. The average fish are ranging from 26 to 34 inches. Snook are just starting to come back. flats and the inside of the passes are producing a few fish.
Warm Weather, Hot Fishing
Weather is heating up, and fishing is even hotter. With the massive amounts of bait that has recently shown up, fishing is in high gear. Spanish Mackerel are everywhere. Big Kingfish have made their way into the nearshore wrecks, as well as Cobia, Mangrove Snapper, Grouper, and Flounder. The flats have finally gotten back to normal. Redfish, Snook and Trout are scarfing the white bait like candy. The Tarpon have shown up in the backwater and in Tampa Bay. From here on out, fishing will get even better, so don't miss out on the chance to experience this maylay. Thanks, Capt. Craig
Finally!
With the warming weather, we have finally had quite a bit of bait showing up. This includes scaled sardines, threadfin herring and shad. This is a definite sign that our migratory fish are on their way. April 1st, Grouper season opens. These prized fish will be getting ready to feed. They will be in depths from 30 ft. on out, which makes them within striking distance in our new 22 foot Bay Boat. Also, the Snapper will be mixed in with these bruisers. Cobia are just starting to show up, and Mackerel have made their appearance in Tampa Bay as well as Clearwater. Trout are in full swing as well as Redfish. King Mackerel, Tarpon, and Sharks will be here before you know it. Now is the time to book the encounter of a lifetime. Capt. Craig
Get ready for the action
With spring and summer right around the coner, it's time to start booking your charters for Redfish, Trout and Tarpon. Grouper will start to feed on shallow ledges as well as Snapper. Don't miss out on the action. Thanks, Capt. Craig
out with the cold PLEASE
Since the weather keeps fluctuating, fishing has been a challenge. Trout are still feeding, but the trend has been taking two days of east winds to gather these fish back into bunches. Most of the fish have been scattered, but are of good quality. We have been encountering fish ranging from 17 to 22 inches. It seems that the preferred depth has been 3 to 5 feet of grass flats with big pot holes in them. Drifting live shrimp underneath a popping cork, and/or Cajun Thunder has made a big difference. If you can get that second day with the east winds, the Trout will move up on the flats to deeper pot holes. Redfish are on the flats, but the tide and area has been crucial. Live shrimp and small pinfish are working well. The best bait has been the Saltwater Assassin 4" Cocktail Shrimp in the pattern of chandelier isles with a 16th ounce mustad peghook. Worked extremely slow seems to be the most productive for these bruisers. Sheephead have been spotty. Live shrimp, mud crabs, or fiddler crabs have worked well. High water in the mid morning or early afternoon has been the most successful. Hopefully the weather will break and get things back to normal, in order for you to enjoy a nice day out on the flats, from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs. Thanks,
Back to Fishing
Now that it's been about 3 weeks since the arctic cold fronts, Redfish have finally started to feed. With extreme low water, the Reds have been tailing in potholes where the water is a few inches deeper. Live bait or soft plastic shrimp in dark colors have worked the best. The Trout have finally been on the move. Most Trout are also working these same areas. These are the big females from 20 to 28 inches. The deeper flats have held bigger numbers of Trout, from 13 to 18 inch fish. There is alot more fish in the 3-5 foot depth on the drop offs on the flats. The Flounder are still thick in our area. Target oyster bars next to channels or grass flats with deep drop offs from 5-10 feet. Live little pinfish or grass grunts have produced some nice big flatties. Also, small pink grub tails as well as white and pink LuvLures have been very productive.
Cold Front Brings Founder
The return of the cold fronts as brought in our migratory fish. Schools of big Mackerel are thinning out. These Speedsters have been averaging 3 to 6 lbs. They are scatered live chum from white bait to plugs, as well as flies. Their big brother, the king mackerelhave move offshore to wamer waters flounder are every were fron 13" to 24" have been in the sand next reef and osterdeds with good dropoffs Redfish have started to school up on the flats near oyster bars. These Bruisers will start to change their feeding pattern to crustations over the next month as the water chills, and the bait becomes less prevalent. Though Trout season is closed for the south region, there has been a good push of these fish to our area. The Trout have been ranging from 17 to 25 inches. The norm has been fishing shallow flats with lots of pot holes in 1 to 3 ft. of water. Snook have started to move towards their winter spots. Docks near residential canals have been the most productive areas. Chum these areas with white bait, as it will give up where they are hanging out, as some docks can be deeper than others. They are also in the deeper cuts off the flats. Use the same technique to locate where they are more concentrated. If you have been thinking of booking a trip, now is the time to pick up that phone
Coldfront = Fish
After our recent cold front, water temperatures have dropped from 86 to 78 degrees. Fish are on the move and the chew. King Mackerel have just made their presence known in the clearwater area. Live Shad, Ladyfish, and Spanish Mackerel are just a few baits to catch one of the speedsters, also known as a smoker. If you are a fly enthusiast, now is the time. If you are looking to have a chance at breaking a world record on Spanish Mackerel or King Mackerel, I am your guy. I have spent countless hours and years to make it happen for me. As an IGFA world record holder and IGFA captain, I have the experience to put you on these 35 MPH speedsters. I hold the IGFA 6lb tippet for King Mackerel at 25lbs. Also redfish are in big nubmers. Cut Ladyfish can't be turned down by these bruisers of the flats. Other baits such as Pinfish and Scaled Sardines will get the job done. So start to book your trip wether you are a pro or a novice on fly, spin, or artificial. There are many different species to target right now off the Clearwater beaches and back water flats. Thanks, Capt. Craig
fishing at it finest
Fishing has been awesome lately. There has been plenty of Mangrove Snapper from 2 to 4 Lbs. on the reefs and off our beaches. Catching the limit of these tasty fish has been fairly easy. Also, Grey Snapper, Cobia, and Spanish Mackerel have been all over these areas. Flounder fishing has been some of the best I've seen in 15 years. We have been averaging fish from 14" to 26", and catching from 3 to 15 of these flat fish. Redfishing is starting to pick up as we move through September. October will really pick up, with the Reds getting into bigger schools. Snook season is now open. They have finished spawning, and should be more apt to feed. They are still on the beaches, but most fish have moved to the passes. Outgoing tide at dusk and into dark has been prime time. Bait of choice is pinfish, pigfish, and shad. The Tarpon are still around, but it is a challenge to get them to eat off the beaches. Tampa Bay is producing fish from 60 to 120 Lbs. Shark fishing is still great. If you want a shot at these bad boys, there is still plenty of time.
its not just hot so is the fishing
Here we go! More 90 degree days with a few storms mixed in. We always say things like, 'I don't ever remember it being this hot!' or 'I've never seen this much rain!' even though it is the same every year. One thing I know is we make the same type of adjustments this time each year. Beach fishing when the backwaters are in the 90's. We are still getting fish in the backcountry on higher tides which stay a little cooler, but most of my focus is around the points and beaches in search of those striped predators, Snook! So, here is my report on every thing going on including the Snook fishing... My pursuit of Redfish is based mainly on tides. The high tides always allow the Reds to get into the bushes where there is shade and protection from the Bull sharks and Dolphin that forage on the flats. They also have an opportunity to ambush small baits while in the roots of the mangroves. Those of you that have fished with me know I like to use a cut bait method with a split shot to attract the Reds out of the deep root systems to the edge for an easy meal. It works great when the Reds are around the tree line I am focusing on. Chumming helps to draw them to the area as well. Docks have also had the same effect as the mangroves. Even fish need a little shade in the summer. The 4 - 8 foot grass flats around any moving water are holding hundreds of Trout. In most cases we can pull up, throw a handful of chum and watch them blow up baits on the surface. Most of them are in the 12 - 16 inch range, but the action is awesome. A few larger Trout are there, we just need to sort through a few small ones to get them There are usually Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish as well as the occasional Shark looking for food. I like to use freelined sardines to get the bite. Now, Snook! I have been running the troughs along the beach with my trolling motor until I run into groups of 10 - 50 Snook at a time. These fish are cooperative when the conditions aren't too clear and calm. Lately, the water has been so clear that they tend to move a long way from the boat, once I set up on them. We will get a bite or two from them before I need to ease down the shoreline to get in range again. When these fish are too finicky, I will head for the rock jetties or the deeper cuts around the points and passes. Grunts are getting hit hard by the bigger fish and the smaller male Snook still like to attack a healthy sardine. I've had plenty of clients catch their first of many Snook this year. If you haven't caught yours yet, you need to book a trip soon! Tarpon are still around although you dont see the numbers.fishing the bridges at night have produded some great action. off the beaches try dead shad ladyfish or mullet on the bottom as these fish change there pattern with the warm water leave one livebait out just in case. lots of fish have move canals and and deep cuts in the backwaters. for the shark hunters yhre every ware on the flats to the passes
the heat is on.
Pure Heat (July 2007) With our recent hot temperatures and water temps hovering at 90* in the Gulf, and mid 90's in the backwaters, you'd think fishing would be slow. But on the contrary, fishing is just as hot as the weather. Tarpon have been my mainstay. Whether it's in the Gulf or the backwater and passes, these giant Silver Kings have been feeding well on crabs and big pilchards. We have had several takers, catching a decent number of these Chrome Battlers, ranging from 40 to 150 lbs. This trend will continue through July, so if you want to test your endurance, now is the time. Snook fishing has been some of the best I've seen in years. Snook have been everywhere, but most are close to the passes due to the slightly cooler water. These Bad Boys have been feeding on pilchards at the end and the beginning of the tides. Most fish are averaging 8 to 16 lbs. Redfishing has been awesome with 25-31 inches being the norm. The beginning of the outgoing tide has produced the most results. These Reds have been hanging on oyster bars and drop offs with good water flow. Dead bait has been the ticket, due to the hot water. So forget about the heat, and let's get out and do some serious summer fishing
game on
june is almost gone and july is right around the conner. tarpon have been on the feed getting ready for the spawn on the full moon. wehave been averging 7 to 8 tarpon and boating 2or3 to the boat. these bad boys have been in the passes at night and inthe backwater. redfish have just shown up in big schools of 500 to a 1000. these fish are on the flats. cut laddtfish or pinfish is the key to susecess. snook are on the move from the beach to the pass. scaledsardines & thredfin herring have got the job done. pay attion to the tides and solunar periods for the best action. thanks capt craig clearwater fishing giude
fishing is fired up
with the recent rain fall of 8" and lots of wind thing have got back to normal. tarpon have come back strong there are many schools to give you that shot of a life time with the silverking. snook fishing is awsome sightfishing the beach or fishing fresh water runoff has prodused some nice fish ranging from 8lb to a few fish pushing the 20lb range. red fish have been just about everywere from docks to spoililand and osterbars
They're Here
The Tarpon have started to shown up on the West Central Beaches from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. These fish are in in small schools. The fish are also in the backwater as well as on the sand bars witch ofers some great flyfishing. best time to target these brawlers is from daybreak to around 10 AM. For the the fly enthusiast strating a little later to have good sun to sight fish these, there are plenty of these giants from Tampa Bay to St. Joseph's Sound. These areas are prime during midmorning due to excessive boat traffic off the beaches. The Tarpon have been ranging from 80 to 150 Lbs. Now is the time to book your trip for the thrill that only the King can bring. Redfishing has been strong on the flats. These bulldogs are feeding on whitebait and hard plastic jerk baits. The average fish are ranging from 26 to 34 inches. Snook are up and down the beaches and in the passes. White bait has been the bait of choice to coax these weary fish into feeding. Fish ranging from 5 to 20 Lbs. has been the norm. This is the month to achieve the Grand Slam
kingfish on 6lb tippet on fly
World Record Kingfish January 26, 2009 Fishing guide Craig Lahr of Largo has tried for the past five years to set a new world fly tackle record for kingfish. This is no small feat, considering these open-ocean predators have dozens of sharp teeth that cut through even the thickest monofilament fishing line. But this fall, Lahr, who normally fishes inshore for trout, redfish and snook, headed about a mile off Clearwater Beach on a slick, calm day with a livewell full of scaled sardines. Live bait is strictly prohibited when fly fishing, but Lahr knew that if he could work the kings into a feeding frenzy, he might just be able to fool one into taking a fly. So Lahr chummed for about 10 minutes, until there were kingfish skyrocketing on bait all around his boat. The angler grabbed his nine-weight fly rod, tossed out a pilchard pattern, and hooked a 25 pounder. He fought the fish for about 20 minutes. The line was so light, the fish didn't realize it had been hooked. As the king lingered along side the boat, Lahr reached down and grabbed it by the tail. Lahr submitted photos of his catch, documentation from the weighmaster, as well as his leader and line to the Dania Beach-based International Game Fish Association, which took about two months to approve his catch. He is now the proud holder of a 6-pound tippet world record. The IGFA maintains hundreds of records. Many line class records are attainable by the average angler.
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