Fishing Reports by Captain Steve Gibson
About The Author: Captain
Company: Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing
Area Reporting: Southwest Florida salt water and fresh water
Bio: Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing was established by Steve Gibson, one of the most experienced anglers in southwest Florida. Gibson has been fishing for 45 years and nearly 35 of those years in Florida. He received his B.A. in Journalism from Marshall University in Huntington, WV in 1971. Following his graduation, Gibson enlisted in the Air Force and served four years. He was an information specialist for the Consolidated Tactical Air Command Office of Information at Eglin Air Fore Base near Valparaiso, FL. He spent his last two years as the historian of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin. A professional outdoor writer and photographer, Gibson's writing and photographs have appeared in several publications, including Florida Sportsman, Gulf Coast Angler, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, Saltwater Fly Fishing, The Fisherman, Cabella's Outdoor Magazine and Florida Fishing Weekly. He also served as host of Fishing Paradise on Sarasota's SNN6 and was host of a Suncoast Outdoors on a local radio station. In addition, Gibson hosts a two-day seminar series at Robarts Arena in Sarasota, called "Go Fish! Fishing Extravaganza." He is co-tournament director of the Sarasota Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association's Fall Fly Fishing Challenge. An avid angler, Gibson has won many tournaments including the Fly Fishing Division of the Sarasota Sports Fishing Anglers All-Release Tarpon Tournament, the Fly Fishing Division of the Sarasota Sports Fishing Anglers Spring Classic, Sarasota CCA All-Release Photo Challenge (snook division and spotted seatrout division), Sarasota CCA Fall Fly Fishing Classic (trout division), Fly Fishing Division of the Venice/Englewood CCA No Motor Tournament and he took first place in the Orvis Dealers Fly Fishing School Tournament in Islamorada with a 14-pound bonefish. Gibson resides in Sarasota with his wife, Kathy, their daughter, Morgan, and their Jack Russell Terrier, Jack.
[Sarasota,FL] Excellent tides producing good action in the backcountry. Tailing redfish, snook, spotted seatrout and mangrove snapper are cooperating.
[Sarasota,FL] Redfish, snook and spotted seatrout are chewing pretty good on the incoming tide.
[Sarasota,FL] Fishing has been good, but is expected to improve greatly as the weather and water cool. Fly fishing is resulting in up to 100 fish per day.
[Sarasota,FL] Fish are in the shallows on incoming tide and hitting a variety of lures and flies.
[Sarasota,FL] Beach fishing snook and other species is expected to be good through the end of the month. Big fish still cooperating.
[Venice,FL] Great sight-fishing for snook has been good during the incoming tide and should continue for another month.
[Sarasota,FL] Those who work hard are coming up with quaility fish.
[Sarasota,FL] Variety of fish available in Sarasota Bay; late-season tarpon providing fun.
[Sarasota,FL] Despite wind, fishing has been good along the west side of Sarasota Bay.
[Sarasota,FL] The wind was blowing and opportunities were few. But (thank goodness) the ladyfish saved the day. We launched at Turtle Beach and paddled south to Blackburn Bay. Greg landed several really large ladyfish on Clouser Deep Minnows before the wind got too strong.
[Boca Grande,FL] When the wind blows out of the north-northeast, we get extreme low tides which make for great sand hole fishing. The fish have nowhere else to go and jam up in the holes.
[Sarasota,FL] The air and water are cooling and usually leads to hot fishing in southwest Florida's backcountry.
[Pine Island Sound,FL] The bite was hot as snook blasted glass minnows along the mangroves. When the sun got up high enough to light the flat, I began casting into sand holes. Using a 6-weight rod, sinktip line and olive-and-white Clouser Deep Minnow, I began hooking fat mangrove snapper on nearly every cast. Before the bite was over, I caught and released 25 snapper. The largest was about 14 inches, but all were fat as they could be.
[Sarasota,FL] Fishing hasn't been easy, but persistent anglers can catch quality fish if they keep a lure or fly in the water.
[Sarasota,FL] Grand slams are possible on fly and spin as redfish, tarpon, snook and spotted seatrout are cooperating.
[Sarasota,FL] Get out early and you'll enjoy some hot snook and redfish action.
[Sarasota,FL] The weather is hot, but so is the fishing for those who don't mind getting out early to beat the heat.