World Record Trout: June 2016

Hi,

There are two IGFA record's for Spotted Sea Trout, one is weight and one is length. The "length" record is a new record which is intended to promote catch-and-release. The weight record is 17 7/16 pounds from Fort Pierce, Florida, in 1995 by Craig F. Carson.

                                             Luke Ledbetter with his record trout

The new length record is 34.25 inches by Luke Ledbetter of Alabama on a boat guided by Captain Peter Deeks of Merritt Island. It was caught in the Lagoon in the Melbourne area on live bait. Deeks estimated the weight to be over 14 lbs.

The question is: how many more big trout are swimming around from Fort Pierce to Melbourne. There have got to be a few.

This is a record that is within reach- whereas catching a 52 lb redfish in the lagoon is not practical. I can always dream. . .

Richie

Fishing Repot 7-20-16. Big Redfish- and the one that got away!

Hi,

I caught my biggest redfish yesterday - one inch and 2 lbs bigger than the one I caught at Walton wading a few months ago.

                                              My redfish over 12 lbs and over 31" (Click to enlarge)

It was big-- so big  its tail wouldn't quite fit in the picture :) Jim had a nice trout that was around 8 pounds- it wasn't long just stout:


       Jim's chunk of a trout

So here's the report of our day yesterday and the big one that got away!!!

Fishing Report 7-20-16 around 7:00 am wind east 10-14mph. Jim's boat fishing Lagoon in Vero area, high tide going out water temp mid-80, air temp about 92 when we left. I fished Skitterwalk on top and various plastics on jig. Jim fished a jig and red mirro-lure on top plus a popper.

We got on the water fairly early a little before 7 am to beat the heat. I was fishing top water and Jim was using a jig. We went out to our best trout spot and there were some fish there. I got three hits on top - all misses before Jim caught a nice trout on a jig. He caught another trout before I finally got one on my Skitterwalk. I got a great strike and then wham- nice fish on! My drag whirred and when I got it the boat it was a 4 lb bluefish. Jim helped get it unhooked and I was back working the Skitterwalk on top.

I caught two more trout then switched to a jig and caught a nice 18" fish that flipped off at the boat. I switched back to topwater and threw my lure 50 yards away twitch, twitch and wham!! Huge explosion - I set the hook-- but the line broke. My 8lb test must have been frayed or something cut the line.

Jim had caught 10 trout to my 4 when we moved to another spot further North. We drifted through once and Jim caught a nice snapper, then on the second drift he caught a two pound black grouper- too small to keep tho. 20 minutes later we couldn't find any trout so we tried the middle section of the lagoon near near a sandbar. It was less than 3 feet deep an clear. I made long casts with the topwater and finally caught a nice jack. We drifted through another area fishing jigs but no trout.

Jim went to the East shore and we drifted out over a big shallow flat with jacks busting bait in the area. The grass which died off last year was starting to grow back. Jim threw a Mirro-lure twitching it on top and I used my Skitterwalk. Jim got three hits, one trout knocked his lure in the air. He got 10 strikes with no fish. Finally I caught a trout near the boat. Then he caught one and I landed two more on top. He switched to a jig and caught two more. We went back to drift through again but ended up further north. I caught one more trout on top and he got a nice trout on a jig.

"This is a big trout spot," Jim said. "I bet we get a big trout here and a redfish. We used to catch redfish here all the time but that was 6 years ago!"
"We haven't caught a redfish in a while," I said. "It's been two months since I've caught one, at Walton when I was wading."

We went back and drifted through again. Right by the boat-- with just 10 feet of line out-- a monster trout slammed Jim's jig. It pulled drag several times and Jim was right - there's our big trout (see pic at top) he predicted. She weighted almost 8 lbs but she wasn't very long, probably 26, maybe 27 max- still a beautiful fish. Jim also caught a 4 lber and I had a nice 20" 3 lber on topwater. The fishing wasn't fast but there were fish in the grass and bait swimming through.

We went back and drifted through near where we got all the trout strikes. They weren't hitting like before. Half-way through the drift it happened. by it- I mean a giant redfish, bigger than any I'd seen and bigger than any Jim had seen in Florida came up and swiped at Jim's jig not more than 12 feet from the boat. The water was crystal clear so the got a look at that monster. This redfish was way over 3 feet long and must of weighed over 25 lbs. After she swiped at Jim's jig, she swished her tail and was gone. We were both in shock.

I stopped fishing topwater and threw my jig. Two minutes later, I saw a huge swirl behind my jig. I lifted the jig near the top and shook it. Wham!! A big redfish grabbed it only 15 feet from the boat, and like the monster redfish we both saw this one too.
"Redfish!!!" I yelled as the fish pulled drag, "it must be over 5 pounds!"
"Take you time," Jim cautioned, "Don't reel in when he's pulling line!"
That's about all the redfish did was pull drag! I was reeling down but I couldn't get him in. 10 minutes later I'd bring him in 20 feet and he'd pull drag 20 feet.  He just kept pulling drag. Jim pulled up the drift sock and told me to pull him around the boat. Several minutes later I finally pulled the tiring redfish to the boat.

"That's a big one," Jim said, "way more than 5 pounds." He lipped him with his scale and handed him to me. "Grab him under his gills and we'll take a picture." We took a couple pictures (see one above) and set it free.

It was hot and we headed back to out honey hole to catch a few more trout before we went in. Jim caught three more trout and I caught one on a jig. We got off the water after over 5 hot hours.

My totals: 1 big redfish, 1 jack, 12 trout, 1 bluefish
Jim's totals: 18 trout with one 8 lber, 1 snapper, 1 grouper

A great but hot day on the water.

The Trout that didn't get away! July Fishing reports

Hi,

My biggest trout ever, just shy of 30" and around 9 lbs:

                                             My Biggest Trout (click to enlarge)

This beauty was caught on 7-7-16 in the morning on on top water (Skitter-Walk) and measured around 30" and weight around 9 lbs --almost caught my ten pounder!!!

I'll give a couple fishing reports. As you may know the South Indian River Lagoon near Stuart had some toxic algae and I'm not wading in that area- which includes Walton Rd. Even though it's not as bad that far north. The St. Lucie River and all the way to the inlet has been green- green algae in the water, so until it cools down it's best to stay out of the water. Most of the problem is the dumping of toxic water from Lake Okeechobee by the Army Corp of Engineers (more on that later).

The beach has been good for snook, ladyfish and jack in the early mornings and evenings (6:30-8:00) and I've caught good number and one over slot snook (around 33") but, in general, the large females have not shown up yet.

Jim Bohrer has taken me out fishing about once a week and we've done well, we caught 88 trout one morning in June (I caught 47 that day) and 45 the last week in June but not many good sized fish. That changed yesterday when I caught six trout 23" or longer.

Fishing Report 7-7-17 Vero Beach Lagoon, north of 2nd Ft. Pierce bridge, Jim's boat. It very hot 81 in the morning and around 91 when we got off the water at 11:15 AM. Water temp around 84 with a breeze fro the southwest about 5-12 mph. overcast but mostly sunny. Low tide and outgoing to dead low. I fished skitter-walk (topwater) and a 1/8 oz Cal jig with sparkle 4" shad-tail plastic. Jim fished poppers and mirror-lure on top and 1/16 oz jig with a white plastic Berkley shrimp.

We went out from the launch and there was a boat near out spot, so we went around him and fished North. We were still in out best spot this summer. I threw my Skitterwalk out and the second cast the water erupted-- fish on, this was good fish. When I brought him across the weeds I yelled out, "Bluefish!" I wheeled him down to Jim unhooked him.

Jim was fishing a jig and I cast the skitterwalk as far as I could- one twitch, wham! the water sprayed in the air as a big trout missed my lure. Two twitches later- wham - fish on! This was a nice trout around 24" much bigger than the ones we caught the week before.

                                                          My First Trout of the Day

I hooked and released a slot trout two casts later when Jim finally had a hit. "Big one !!!" he yelled. His drag whirred. The fish swam at the boat then took off into open water. Jim had 100 yards of line pulled out and he yelled, "We're going to go after this one!" He automatically pulled up trolling motor and cranked the engine. "Must be a shark," he said as we followed it for 1/2 mile as it headed North towards the bridge. The fish slowed and Jim gained about 10 yards before it took off again. He cranked the engine and we went across toward an island. "that's twenty-six minutes already" Jim said. The fish wasn't even tired and Jim knew it. 'I'm going to put some pressure on it" he yelled and cut off the engine. He pulled the propeller up out of the water. "It'll pull the boat around," he explained. The fish pulled the boat about twenty feet before Jim's line went slack. He pulled the line in--the fish broke the hook!!!!

"At least my knots held," he said. I was glad we could finally get back to fishing for trout again. "That was a big fish," Jim said and speculated that it could have been a 30lb redfish. I guess we'll never know!

The guy that was fishing our spot had moved east and was a couple hundred yards away. I immediately got some awesome topwater strikes before landing a 19" trout. Then I cast shallow and had a big hit, water spraying everywhere- fish on! This fish was every bit as big as the 4-5pounder I landed earlier- I got it to the boat with Jim telling me to keep my rod tip down. He lipped the trout with his de-hooker and we took another picture of another big trout!!

While Jim was tying on a different topwater I hooked another big trout and it jumped completely out of the water twice before making its way to the boat. I pulled it around to Jim who didn't even look up, the 4 pound trout splashed against the boat and flipped off. On the next cast I caught and 18" trout and Jim helped me get the two treble hooks loose. Jim set the trolling motor heading North and I was casting in the shallower water. I got strike, then I left it sit, twitch and wham!!!

"Fish on!!" I yelled.
"Is it a big one?" Jim yelled back.
"Yes, bigger than the other ones!!!" I answered. I put my rod tip down to keep her from jumping.
"She's going under the boat" Jim yelled.
'Turn off the trolling motor" I yelled. I walked around the deck to the back of the boat. "This is monster!!" I yelled and then I pulled her up.
"Keep your rod tip in the water," he warned.
I kept her beside the boat for 10 seconds before Jim could lip her.
"Nice trout Buddy!" Jim said. He took several pictures and the fish was so long it barely fit in the picture. He measure her and she was over 29" and under 30. "Closer to 30" he said later. He weighed her and she was just under 9 pounds. What a fish!!!

Several minutes alter I landed another nice trout. We went by the our spot shallower and suddenly the water exploded around my Skitterwalk. Another huge trout grabbed by lured and with a tremendous splash of it's tail took off north. I set the hook and reared back- the fish pulled 10 yards of drag and just popped off. This was at lesat as big if nor bigger than the other one. I was shaking. I realized I put way too much pressure on that fish instead of letting it take line. I pulled back my Skitterwalk- the hook was bent, I lost a trophy trout.

We went to another spot but the trout weren't there I caught one small slot on a jig but that was it. We went North where Jim's friend had lost a big trout and fished the flat. Nothing. we caught a couple jack and made 5 passes with no trout. We hit another spot and nothing. Then I realized that Jim, the master, had not caught a trout. I'd only caught 11 but 5 of them were 23" or over so it by anyone's standards was a great day- especially with a 30" trout. We headed back to the honey-hole.

On my fist cast I got a vicious a strike on topwater and then near the boat a 19" trout slammed it and I got it over the boat side before it flipped off almost hitting the rail. Jim hooked a big fish on a popper but it was a 4 lb bluefish- he still didn't have a trout! I caught another 4-5 pound trout and we took another pic. I was hoping he'd catch a trout soon. Jim caught two more big bluefish. And I caught my last trout, nice slot, before Jim finally caught a slot-trout on his topwater.

It was getting hot and we made a pass in hte shallow water but I got just one strike before we headed in it was around 11:00 am. We'd fished about 4 hours.

My totals: 12 trout with 6 trout 23" or bigger and one almost 30"er (11 on topwater). I also caught 1 bluefish and 2 jack. A hot day on the water.
Jim's totals: 3 jack, 3 bluefish and 1 trout; most on topwater.

Troutarama with Jim Bohrer and Record numbers: over 100 each

Hi,

I have a couple pics that I'll put on later. We didn't catch many decent trout- probably three around 20" but we caught more trout than I've ever caught. Jim said he caught 111 trout and I caught by my best guess 101- I was more into the catching than counting. It was a day so active there wasn't enough time to drink water or eat. I also caught two fish at one time- more on that later. Trout, trout and more trout!!!

That 's 212 trout in about 6 hours woah!!!

Fishing Report 6-4-16; on water at 7:30 am Round Island (West Side) Water temp around 83, air temp about 78 then around 90 by 1pm, light wind from the east - later blowing about 12-15mph. Water clear to murky. Tide incoming then outgoing. Topwater early then Cal jigs with different plastic baits.

When Jim texted me to go with him I knew my only good rel was in the shop being repaired. My second reel worked but  it has a small spool. I put on new line that was way too heavy and so when we started fishing I got snarls and couldn't cast far.

We put in at a Marina off Dixie Hwy and as we went out Jim gave me a topwater to tie on. There was some bait 50 yards off shore spanning a long flat. We started casting out topwaters. Jim told me to slow it down and I did. My third cast a trout hit my plug and knocked it in the air!! Then it hit again and wham trout on!! I reeled in a nice slot unhooked it, and cast again. There were trout feeding everywhere. Jim caught a couple on top and I was getting a strike on almost every cast. They'd hit it three or four times before one would attack it and get hooked.

                                     One of my nice topwater trouts (click to enlarge)

In thirty minutes I caught about 12 trout topwater and had 40 strikes. It was awesome. I was still fishing topwater when Jim switched to a jig. Finally my line got snarled for the 5th times so bad I had to cut it. Jim caught 3 or 4 trout while I was messing with my line. Finally he tried to help me but decided to give me another rod and reel to use instead. Then I really started catching trout!!!


We had been following bait with the trolling motor across the flat in about 4 feet of water. The tide was almost high and the bait had gone under the surface. Jim stopped and we fished a spot next to a white buoy. I cast deep and got a hit- missed pulled it up got another hit- trout on-- it came in near the boat- then flipped off and I caught another trout following that one 15 feet from the boat which I released!!! Crazy!!!

We had double trout on probably 25 times and once I caught two and released them while he caught and released on. In that spot and another spot just 50 feet South we caught over 150 of our 212 trout.

I also caught two fish at one time!!! I caught a small trout and when it splashed near the boat a bluefish came up and grabbed it. The trout was to o big to swallow so the bluefish grabbed it's tail- but it wouldn't let go!! So I pulled both out of the water and when I swung them over to the boat the bluefish came off.

We tried some other spots in the area and still caught trout but not at the trout for every two casts rate. Here's a pic of Jim with a nice trout he caught in the morning on topwater:

                                                       Jim's Trout

Eventually we went back to the same area we fished in the morning and caught a few here and there at a steady rate. Finally I caught one nice trout in the afternoon,

                                                              Richard's Trout

So it started getting windy and it was hot and we were tired- tired of releasing trout, so we headed in. What a day.

Our totals: Jim caught 111 trout and I guessed 101 plus we also caught 4 jacks, one around 4 pounds, 2 bluefish and 1 puffer fish. A beautiful day on the water.

A Day with Mr Trout --May 10 Fishing Report

Hi,

I finally hooked up with Mr Trout- Jim Bohrer, and we went fishing in his boat at Round Island. We got a late start and the tide wasn't right and we both had trouble retying lines- but in the end- it was fun and we caught a few fish too!!!

Jim is the president of the Rod and Reel Club and an all-around great guy. He has caught more big sea-trout than anyone in this area and maybe more than anyone in the country-- after all this is one of the best big trout areas in the country. I guess his biggest is around 34 inches and 14 lbs and he has the pics to back it up.

Fishing Report 5-10-16 around 9am at Round Island dead low tide to incoming- Windy from south-east mostly South--fishing in Jim's boat with different plastics on jigs.

We launched at the Round Island ramp and headed out through the deeper cut. There was some chop on the water. The bait was flipping on the top behind two small islands which blocked the wind. Jim slowed down and told me to cast to the islands. My third cast- trout on!! It wasn't big and I lifted it up and unhooked it and back in she went. We went out some and the wind drifted us across a flat- usually there was grass there - but all he grass died in late August, a truly devastating loss for the fish and the fisherman. Grass=bait=shrimp=crabs and that's were the fish go to avoid being a bottle-nosed dolphin's slurp. Where are the trout? Everywhere but they aren't stacked in a nice grassy spot.

I got a snarl and had to cut my line. Jim wanted to show me one of his knots but then just tied it while I fished his pole. Trout on!! I caught a nice slot on his pole!!! I had two trout and Jim's a hell-of-a-fisherman so that wasn't going to stand. I got another snarl and it took 5 minutes to get it untangled and my line was messed up so I cut it and retied. In the ten minuted that took Jim caught two very nice trout, one about 19" and the other a slot. We drifted through and I got another trout then he caught one more. after another drift we headed to one of his special spots. But no grass was there and no bait was there and no trout were there.

We headed across some boat markers to the East bank and let the wind and Jim's trolling motor (hand operated with a remote control from the back of the boat by Jim) guide us. We were drifting shallow along the mangroves looking for redfish. Jim caught another trout- which surprised us. Then he caught a small snook. Then a redfish followed his lure to the boat and smacked it. Jim set the hook but the fish popped off- no slam today.

I lost a small fish then lost a nice one before hooking a 24" snook which came to the boat and flipped off. Jim wanted a pic but I catch a snook every day bigger than that. Jim hook a nice fish that splashed and pulled drag- "snook" he yelled. Then we saw it - a big trout. It wasn't long- maybe twenty-one inches but it was fat, He weight it- over 4 pounds. What a fatso!! I took a couple pics and will post one soon.

                                                  Jim's fat trout (click to enlarge)

We headed back and drifted. I immediately caught a nice trout and Jim got caught up in a tree and busted his line. We drifted all over while he retied, I caught and small snook and missed a fish or two. We each caught another trout and he aid the total was 11. I knew he caught 6 so that was good. 

We moved to another spot and caught a bunch of ladyfish. I had to go help my girlfriend so we had to head back with only 4 hours or so on the water.

                                                     My crazy girlfriend (click to enlarge)

Out totals- 11 trout with one over 20 and 4 pounds, 3 snook, and a bunch of ladyfish. a great windy day on the water.

My Biggest Redfish and other true lies

Hi,

A few days ago, Sunday May 8 to be exact. I caught my biggest redfish. How big was it? For wading Walton it was a monster!!! I didn't get a picture so I had a choice: Do I keep it and eat it or throw it back to get bigger? I threw it back. I did measure it on my fishing rod and it was around 30" long give or take a half inch. How heavy was it? I guess it must have been at least 10 lbs-- it's mouth was huge and they have small mouths. More in my fishing report.

May 8, 2:30pm Walton Scrub. Tide outgoing and fairly low. Air temp around 86 and water temp in the mid 70s. Wind about 10mph from the east. Water clear to murky.

I went shallow and didn't get a bite until I reached the 1st pier. Then I got a bite- wham!!! My drag whirred and a 26" snook jumped. I tried to keep it away from the pier- and I got lucky and it went away from the pier and to the shallower water. I've been having some tough luck on piers- got broke off 4 times a few days earlier- twice on the pier and twice on big snook breaking my line. Only one of them was my fault- I didn't retie. Today I unhooked the snook and it swam away- beautiful!!!

At the third pier I hooked a bigger snook that really gave me a run. It too went away from the pier. When I released it I saw two people standing on Indian River drive watching me. Hey, ty Mr. snook!!! The water was getting low and the last two piers didn't produce a strike. I saw some bait deep, so I went across the sandbar.

It's been slow deep. There are some big jacks and occasionally some ladyfish and bluefish but no trout. The feeders just come in, hit some bait and they are gone. So today was no exception: I fish deep then I'd see some feeders busting bait. I go over there and -- nothing. I saw three schools of feeders and by the time I got close they were gone. I'd cast and cast but nothing. I fished deep over a mile and not one bite.

It may have been the tide-- it was about dead low.  By the time it started moving I was all the way back. I was reeling slow and steady while I looked at my line for a snarl. Suddenly wham! I felt the bait being scooped up and I set the hook. Fish on!!! I didn't take long for me to know this was a gooood fish. I started to bring it in but no- it took out 10 yards of line. I thought it was a jack but it didn't go around me in a circle. What was it? I'd pull it in then it would take line out. Five minutes later I finally got it to me and pulled it up. Redfish!!! What a monster!!! This redfish was twice as big as any I'd caught at Walton and any I'd seen at Walton. The spot on his tail was as big as my fist. I pulled him up-- what should I do? I could take him to shore and get my camera out of the car but that would take 5 minutes at least and I only have 8 lb test. I had to let him go- I couldn't even pick him up with one hand- I tried- he was just too big. I put my pole under my arm lifted him up with two hands -- he was well hooked. I lipped him and measured him against my pole, I put my pole back under my armpit and unhooked him. He swam away --no problem!!!

I was shocked- what a fish! Next cast I got a hit then I caught a small trout, it flipped off before I could unhook it. Two casts later - wham - big hit!! Missed it- woah!!! Then on my next cast my jig was absolutely crushed. Fish on!! This was another big one. My drag whirred the fish leaped in the air shaking it's head-- bluefish. This was the biggest bluefish I'd hooked and it went absolutely crazy. I had water all over me- it was jumping everywhere. When I got it to me it was huge-- over 5 lbs. In the lagoon this was one of the biggest I'd ever caught- usually they are 2-3 lbs. I got my pliers out and fought it keep it from cutting the line before I could get the hook out- what a struggle! I squeezed the hook and shook the pliers- back in the water it went!!

I fished for 10 minutes and went North- then back- the bite just died. I headed off the water.

My totals: 2 nice snook one a slot; my biggest redfish a whopping 30" and around 10 lbs, 1 bluefish and 1 small trout. a beautiful day on the water.

Brief Fishing Reports 4-20-16 Slam and 4-21-16

Hi,

I've been fishing and the water in the Lagoon has been very high all week, at least 1 foot higher than normal. There's some sign of grass trying to grow shallow but the deep water and wind keeps the sun out so this isn't helping. With the full-moon it's prime time to fish but it's too windy especially on the West side.

The fish-of-the-month at the Stuart Rod and Reel club is largest trout. Yesterday I caught a 24" and a smaller slot, the day before a 21" and the day before that a 23".  I have a pic of the 23" and 21".  I measure them on my fishing pole which I have taped.


      Gotcha!!! A nice trout 23" from Monday

Yesterday I had an inshore slam- lot's of wind. Today I caught a big snook!! Here's a brief report:

Fishing Report: 4-20-16, 10:30am Walton Scrub-- Wind SE 14mph gusting, water high incoming then outgoing. Water temp 73 air temp 80. Water slightly stained and stirred up. Fishing Cal 1/2oz then 1/8 oz with different CAL paddle tails.

There were two people fishing live bait in shallow so I went South to fish the piers. One of the guys fishing with live bait caught a nice trout as I went by. He was fishing a live shrimp. It was very deep shallow with waves so I stayed to the shore. It would be high tide in 30 minutes so I tried to get moving. I caught a small ladyfish that leaped in the air twice. I pulled it in and it shook off. The first pier was dead. I cast 30 times and finally got a strike- missed it. I fished the short second pier nothing and the long third pier nothing. I didn't even fish the ends because it was so deep. The water was finally going out and I had little to show for my day so far.

I blanked on the 4th pier and started fishing slower. I had a heavier jig on because of the wind and waves. The 5th pier was dead too then suddenly after I cast shallow through the pilings I felt some weight- my line just stopped. I set the hook- fish on! nice fish, I thought it was a jack because it stayed down then saw it redfish!!!


          Small-medium redfish, had two spots

That was exciting then headed for "snook cove" which is an open area with mangroves. I cast off the white pilings and immediately had a fish on - trout!! The trout jumped twice and I wheeled an 18" beauty over to me and released it. 


                    18" Trout, my first

"Now all I need is a snook" I thought. I worked my way into snook cove and wham!!! Fish on!! It was a snook!! It came halfway out of the water then took off pulling drag and turning me sideways. I pulled it to me and it splashed again. I pulled out my camera, pulled it up and go a shot- it was about 30" a small slot. Then something weird happened I lifted my rod tip and my line broke- for no apparent reason- I guess fishing piers will do that- wear your line on barnacles.


    Slot Snook- it flipped over and broke my line!!!

It counted because I could have easily netted it. I was upset that it had to swim away with a hook in its mouth!!! In about 15 minutes I had an inshore slam. Wow!! I fished snook cove and up to the pier nothing. On the way back I cast where I caught the trout- I had a hit then another trout on!! This was big trout woah. It was easily around 4 lbs and I measured it on my pole and it was just less than 25".  The pic didn't come out- sorry.

On the 4th pier going back I caught a nice 2 lb jack and another ladyfish. I headed deep and got a hit immediately- missed it. I fished deep back and suddenly about 15 feet from me something slammed my jig- my drag whined and it just popped off. That was big- don't know what it was. I fished back and caught another small ladyfish.

My totals: 2 trout, one big around 24", one redfish, one slot snook, one jack and 3 ladyfish. A beautiful day on the water.

 ________________________

Fishing Report 2: dated 4-21-16, 8:30am Walton Scrub-- Wind SE 16mph gusting, water high incoming. Two-three foot waves.Water temp 73 air temp 80. Water slightly stained and stirred up. Fishing Cal 1/8 oz with different CAL paddle tails.

Today it was very windy and I only had three strike- but two of them paid off!! Nobody but me was crazy enough to fish the West side!!!  I first fished south to the piers- nothing. There were two foot waves with occasional whitecaps on every cast. When I made it to the first pier I patiently fished it. I cast toward the deep end and there she was- wham!! Big snook on!! She came out away from the pier quick then bellied half-way out of the water. Woah!! I tried to pull her North even farther from the pier but her second run went back to the pier- pulling drag the whole way. I couldn't stop that run but just when she made it to the pier I turned her and she went shallow away from the pier. After a couple minutes in the open water I got my camera out and got two pics. This is the best one:



       A submarine? No!! A big snook around 40".

She was well hooked but tired and after measuring her against my pole, I unhooked her. I moved her in the water till she swam away. I'd say she was over 10 pounds. What a fish!!!!

I fished all the way up to the 5th pier and had a vicious hit under that- missed it. By now I noted my jig was falling apart the led had separated. I headed back fishing quickly in the rising tide with huge waves.

When I got to the open stretch near Walton Scrub I fished out from the second mangrove and wham!! Snook on- another big snook. This one hit it- missed it then hit it and I set the hook and my drag just screamed. It went right out in the deeper water and splashed around but wasn't hard to bring in.  Here's a close up:

                                                    A very nice upper slot around 32" beautiful fish!!!


What a windy day- two snook one around 40 and one around 32.