Clearwater Fishing Report for The Start of the 2013 Summer

With summer just around the corner, fishing is getting ready to pop. As bait starts to
show up, expect Mackerel, King Fish, and Cobia to follow them into near shore
reefs and hard bottom off Clearwater. Mackerel, Kingfish, Cobia, Redfish, and
even some Tarpon can be caught in April until the end of summer.

The Kingfish are here in full force!

We have been catching Kings from 20 lbs. to fish in the 40 lb. class. These are one of the premier fish at
this time of the year. We have been slow trolling live bait on light tackle, such as Shad, Bluerunners, Ladyfish and Spanish Mackerel. When you have all the bait, Mackerel and Kings in one area, it brings in the Shark.

We had a Kingfish eaten by a 400 lb. Tiger Shark. There are also Blacktips and some Bull Sharks in the mix. This is also the time we love to go after big sharks to put our clients on them. Tarpon have shown up
in good numbers in our area. They can be found in the backwaters and Tampa Bay. We can hook you up to these majestic fish.

Pompano have shown up in good numbers in the passes and also around the jettys.
Pink and white bucktail jig tips with shrimp have worked the best so far, but dock goofy jigs with a fly
will get it done as well. Redfish, Trout, and Snook have been in the same places in the backwater.
Small Pinfish and Pigfish with the tail and fins cut off are producing the better fish. You don't want to kill the bait; it just needs to flutter on the bottom. With so many species around, you can have a shot at catching some big fish to test your skills.

Now is the time to start booking your summer trips for Kingfish, Sharks, Mackerel, Cobia, Tarpon, and more.

Thanks,
Capt. Craig and Capt. Justin

Clearwater Fishing Report for March and April 2013

With the recent cold fronts coming through every 3 to 5 days, our inshore fish have
scattered and have been pushed to deeper water and structures. Redfish really
don't get affected by the colder water. Tactics for the light tackle enthusiasts are
to look for areas out of the wind. Start with a jig such as a 1/4 ounce jig head with shrimp style bait or paddle style soft plastic. Start with neutral colors so you can
go one way or the other. This will work around most drop offs on the flats. Top
waters always work well. If it's calm, use smaller lures such as the MirroLure
ShePup. If the water is choppier, switch to a larger topwater, like the MirroLure
TopDog.

For Trout, they will be in the same areas, and you can utilize these same tactics.
As the weather clears, look for the Redfish and Trout to move up on the flats
with the big Mullet schools. Concentrate on areas with potholes, oyster bars
and shallow flats with drop offs. With small bait starting to show up, this is the time of
year where live small pinfish, grass grunts and shrimp underneath a cork will
usually get the job done.

With spring just around the corner, fishing is getting ready to pop. As the bait starts to
show up, expect Mackerel and King Fish, as well Cobia to follow them to the near shore reefs and hard bottoms off of Clearwater. Mackerel, Kingfish, Cobia, Redfish, and maybe even some Tarpon can be caught in April.

Now is the time to start booking your spring and summer trips.

Thanks,
Capt. Craig and Capt. Justin

Clearwater Fishing Report for January 2013

The recent warm weather has made fish think it spring with water temps in the mid-60s. With this latest front look for fishing to get back to normal with the persistent north winds, will have the redfish scattered on flats. This will have the reds back to foraging for small shrimp crabs and bloodworms. My favorite baits are live shrimp mangrove crabs and saltwater assassin cocktail shrimp in green pumpkinseed or a dark brown grub with a 16th once weed less jig .

Next would be the mirrodean clear with silver sides and also the Zara Jr. top water in the red fish pattern.

With the water temps dropping, are bait is gone until spring. Shrimp will become the go to bait for most of the inshore species. The trout have been swarming to move to the spoil islands up in St. Joseph the fish
of the windy days which has made the water to sandy. This is one of the first areas where trout congregate. The deeper docks will be holding back on the docks redfish, sheepshead and black drum. The best docks are one with lots of oysters on the pilings with good water flow.

Silver trout have invaded the hard bottom areas off the beaches if you want to catch them they are great table fair. As the day warms the reds push their way on to shallower flats to seek that warm water. This is where you will catch your bigger trout. They will be laid up in the potholes or right on the edges. Make sure you find flats with lots of mullet. The redfish will be in with the mullet as they stir up the shrimp and other Crustaceans. Sometimes the only thing that works is artificial.

Fall offers a large variety of different styles of fishing.

Thanks,
Capt. Craig

 

Clearwater Fishing Report for December 2012

The recent winds and cooler days and nights has been chilling the water temps. Inshore fish are on the
move to deeper flats as well as canals and around docks with good water flow. With the tides being lower
than normal with the persistent north winds, redfish should start tailing on flats. A lot of potholes and turtle
grass makes for the ideal bottom to forage for small shrimp crabs and bloodworms. My favorite baits are
the saltwater assassin cocktail shrimp in newpenny or bone diamond with a 16th once mustad peg hook.
Next would be the mirrodean pro series redfish pattern and also the zara jr. topwaters.

With the water temps dropping, bait will start thinning out. Shrimp will become the go to bait for most of the inshore species. The trout have started to move to the spoil islands up in St. Joseph sound because
of the shelly and rocky bottom. This is one of the first areas where trout congregate. The deeper docks
will be holding redfish, sheepshead and black drum. The best docks are one with lots of oysters on the
pilings with good water flow.

Position your boat so that you can fish up tide of the boat slips. When the day warms up, the trout and reds will push their way on to shallower flats to seek that warm water. This is where you will catch your bigger trout. They will be laid up in the potholes or right on the edges. Make sure you find flats with lots of mullet. The redfish will be in with the mullet as they stir up the shrimp and other Crustaceans.

Fall offers a large variety of different styles of fishing.

Thanks,
Capt. Craig

 

Clearwater Fishing Report for Fall '12
Clearwater Beach Fishing Report

What's Hot!

The King Mackerel bite has been off the hook. The big ones are closer to the beach with all the bait and Mackerel. Ladyfish and schools of Bluerunners have brought these Kings (aka smokers) just outside of the swim buoys.

Temps are in the mid 70's in the morning, and as high as the high 70's by late afternoon. Other species include Hammerhead Sharks, which is very odd. We usually have lots of Blacktips and Spinnersharks which devour all the fish feeding on the same bait fore Kingfish. As for bait, one throw with a 10' 1/4 inch mesh cast net can nab you 300 to 500 baits or more.

Don't throw away the dead ones. Look for the birds working on our beach reefs up to a 1/2 mile off the beach.

Once you find them, anchor up, start live chumming, and the fish will frenzy up. Your boat will become the food source for Mackerel, Kings and possibly many other species. My favorite way is slow trolling, to cover more area. Have your rods rigged and ready for Cobia, Triple Tail, and even Grouper in case they show up.

With cold front now starting to come in, the water will be cooling down into the low 70's, and this should bring in a good push of Kingfish. The snook will be moving to their winter canals.

The baits of choice are scaled sardines small pinfish or select shrimp. There are still some Tarpon off the beach feeding on the massive schools of bait with all the other species. Redfish and Trout are starting to move around a little more with high winds out of the northeast. Find areas with cleaner water when winds blow up to 20 knots, because of the muddy water the winds create. Clearwater has such a vast amount of flats! The oyster beds are still holding a good number of Reds. Small pigfish and pinfish under a cork, or dead ones on the bottom will get the job done on the high tides going out. After the front, things in the backwater and on the flats will change. With lows at night around 60° and highs in the mid 70’s during the day can bring inshore waters to the same temps. Look for the fishing to pick way up after things settle down.


Now is the time to book a charter for Grouper. Season closes October 31st, and fishing is incredible!

Thanks,
Capt. Craig Lahr.

 

Clearwater Fishing Report for 9/12 to 10/12

Trolling for grouper in 19 to 22 ft of water less then a mile off the beaches is hot right now. The nearshore is on fire with tons of bait, mackerel, little tunny and some kings. The water temps are in the low 80s in the morning, and as high as the mid 80s by late afternoon. This has the mackerel schooling in large numbers. Live scaled sardine are plentiful and are around the bridges before daylight.

Look to the beaches after the sun is up watch for birds diving. Drop your trolling motor to get a net full of bait. One throw with a 10' 1/4 inch mesh cast net can nab you 300 to 500 baits or more. Don't throw away the dead ones. Look for the birds working about 1/4 to a 1/2 mile off the beach.

Once you find them, anchor up, start live chumming, and the fish will frenzy up. Your boat will become the food source for mackerel, little tunny and possibly many other species.

Have rods rigged for king mackerel, cobia, sharks and even grouper to be prepared if they show up. Snook have been in the passes and around the freshwater run offs. When fishing the passes focus on the jettys first with white bait or threadfins. With the big out going tide in the late afternoon, try the fenders. The bait of choice are pigfish, pinfish or shad. There are still some tarpon off the beach and the back water. Focus on the outgoing tides

For the people that want to catch sharks, there are plenty around. Fish at night with the full moon as the tide moves faster to carry your chumslick. With all the mackerel around, first light can bag you big spinners, and black tip sharks are raveging these fish. Redfish and trout are still in the same areas. For trout, work flats that are 3 to 5ft deep with scaled sardines under a float, or just free line them. Redfish are still feeding hard on small pigfish and pinfish. Cut the fins and tail off on the bottom, you can also tail hook them under a cork.

Now is the time to book a charter for grouper. Season closes October 31st, and fishing is off the hook.

Clearwater Fishing Report August 2012

The flats are still producing big trout and lots of redfish of all sizes. The water
temps are in the mid 80s in the morning and as high 90s at midday. This has got the reds schooling
in moderate numbers. Live pinfish with the tail cut off and split shot has been working great.
This is all water temp. related, and has seemed more like September.

The trout have averaged 17 to 22 inches, up to as big as 24+ inches fish flats with depths of 4 to 6'. The redfish have been from 24 to 30 inches. The bulk of schools have been around. osterbars with fresh water runoffs and spoililands with pot holes.

Snook have been in the passes and around the freshwater run offs. When fishing the passe focus on the jettys first with white bait or threadfins. With the big outgoing tide in the late afternoon try the fenders. The bait of choice are pifish; pinfish or shad. There are still plenty of tarpon around off the beach and the back water focus on the outgoing tides. For the people that want to catch sharks there are plenty around. Fish at night with this full moon as the tide move faster to carry your chumslick.

Clearwater Fishing Report May and June 2012

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. Join our Clearwater Florida fishing guides and experience fishing like never beofre.

Clearwater Fishing Report March 2012

The flats are still produceing big trout and lots of redfish of all sizes. With the water temps in the high 60s in the morning and mid 70s at mid day has got the reds schooling in bigger numbers.Live pinfish with the tail cut off and splitshot has been working great. this is all water temp related it is so warm it like april.

The trout have averaged 17 to 22 inches, up to as big as 24+ inches. The redfish have been from 24 inches to 30 inches. The larger ones have been around oysterbars and the spoil ilands.

With water temps in the gulf at 68 degrees has pushed lots of bait to are area. school of threadfins and scaled sardines have pushed mackerel along the beaches from tampa bay to tarpon springs. Cobia and kingmackerel should start showing up in good numbers soon along the beaches of clearwater on the nearshore reefs.

When fishing them use at least a 5 ft section of 20lb to 30 lb fluro leader with a 3 to 4ot circle hook.This would be for live bait to pitch to cobia that may be cruiseing by. The other would have a 1/4 oz jig head with a black berkly power eal this will get you the shot at a split second becouse you may only get one shot.If the kingfish start to show up just add a wire rig to the floro carbon. Haveing multibale rod rig can keep you one step of these migratory fish. some tarpon have made and early arrivel to tampa bay to the backwaters of clearwater.

Fishing has been on the upswing, and spring is right around the corner. It's a great time to book a trip with our Clearwater Fishing Guides.

Thanks,

Capt Craig Lahr and Capt. Justin Curd

From flats to structure

The flats have been on fire with big trout and lots of Florida redfish of all sizes. With the water temps staying consistant, fish have moved to the shallower flats with broken bottoms and potholes. What has kept these predators on the flats is lots of small whitebait. Artificials have worked the best. The number one lure at this time has been the Saltwater Assassin 3 inch shrimp with the color being olive and bone, and also the clear and silver Mirrodine. These baits have produced the bigger fish.

The trout have averaged 22 inches, up to as big as 30+ inches. The redfish have been from 14 inches to 24 inches. The larger ones have been on the docks.

Dock fishing has been very productive this month for redfish, black drum, and sheephead. With the water temp down in the high 50's to low 60's, the fish have been around the docks that are in off colored water which warms faster. The docks that have been holding the most fish are those which have good barnacle and oyster growth and have mullet under them.

When fishing them use at least a 3 ft section of 30 to 40 lb fluro leader. Jumbo shrimp with their tail pinched off on either a qt oz jig head or on a nocker rig with a qt oz bullet weight and a 3/o circle hook has been the ticket. For artificials the D.O.A glow shrimp and the Saltwater Assassin shrimp in chandalier isle color on a 4/o 1/8 oz Mustad peg hook has been the best bet. The best time for dock fishing is during and after cold fronts. These predators will find warmer water in the back canals where there is more consistant water movement which maintains an even water temperature.

Fishing has been on the upswing, and spring is right around the corner. It's a great time to book a trip for the best Florida fishing charters experience.

Thanks,

Capt Craig Lahr and Capt. Justin Curd

West Coast Florida - Clearwater Fishing Reports