Fishing report for the week ending 12-31-2010
My last post for 2010 ends with nice weather after a cold start to Christmas week. I was finally able to shed some of my heavy jackets starting wednesday and the rest of the week got better every day. Even though the air warmed quickly the water struggled to get out of the high fifties as of saturday brrrr.
This week as most of the prior ones has seen redfish be the best of whats available, this is bringing no complaints from anyone that I have talked to. In fact most people are saying this is the most redfish that they have seen this time of year in a long time. The reality is that many of the predatory fish snook and jacks for example that were killed as a result of last years freezes are not there to eat the small reds in there first year. Nature has a strange way of doing things many of which we only have theories about but it appears that we are setting our area up for some great redfishing in the near future. I am no expert but I have heard that slot reds are between two and three years old, if this is true the smaller reds in the 16 and 17 inch range that we are catching now will be in the slot by this summer and into the next.
The smaller reds have been found around oysterbars, deeper mangrove shorelines and creeks. The best bet has been live shrimp under a popping cork either on a circle hook or jig head. I have also seen more than normal numbers of flounder. Sea trout were of the more schooling size sub slot fish when the water was in the mid fifties but with a warm up and season comming back slot fish are getting better. I have had the best luck with white redfish magic and suspending plugs but a live shrimp also works well.
Warm weather and light winds the next few days will make for great fishing, start the new year right get out and fish.
Tarpon season is just around the corner its not to early to get your reservation. Mid April thru July
For charter information or to book a trip contact
Capt. Gary Clark
Ultimate Charters
Ph. 239-542-9315
E-mail fish@ultimatecharters.com
www.ultimatecharters.com