Monday I spent 1/2 day on the water pre-looking and fishing for the next 3 days of booked charters. I had found that redfish and trout were still hanging around in their winter areas and in good numbers. I checked lots of my spots and just like the previous two to three weeks, the water temp was 61 to 63 degrees and warming as the day went on.
My Tuesday client, Brad, wanted to catch some nice redfish. He also wanted to throw a fly at some trout if that was possible. Our first area was at the spoil islands in St Joseph Sound. We found trout in the 18 to 21 inch size. All six fish were caught on Cal jigs of New Penny and Red sparkle colors. We moved south to a flat area of 21/2 to 3 feet deep and continued catching trout. I though this would be the best time to bring out the fly rod and give it a try. Brad throw a Clouser Minnow white and silver. After many trys, we found one trout to take the fly. Nice 16" Trout. Picture below. We ended the 1/2 day trip on some redfish. After staking out next to some oyster beds in the same general area, we chummed with some shrimp and set out some lines using live shrimp. Brad was able to land a couple of nice 20" redfish.
Wednesday's trip was very different. I started this couple on the same spoil islands and found some nice trout again. After playing with them I headed straight for the redfish. As I slowly trolled along the oyster bed, their were no redfish in site. Water temp was now 68 degrees. A big difference from a day ago. After several other spots were blank also, I headed for some back water snook areas. Hoping that all of this warm water would start these snook to move around and come out from their winter haunts. As we pulled along this old channel and started trolling the flat side we saw several snook laying in the sun. I had my clients, Mike and Chris start free linning live shrimp as we drifted down the flat. Chris had 1 snook pick up ran some line out and dropped. No other takers. I think the snook wanted more sun than shrimp.
The reds and snook were starting to move around as the water temp was coming up.
Thursday was also different. Water temp was now 70 degrees. We checked some redfish spots and found only a couple of winter leftovers. Fortunetly, we did hookup on one nice redfish and two trout. We moved around Clearwater Harbor area behind Sand Key and caught several more trout on plastic jigs and Gulp baits. We aslo had several shots at some large snook sunning in that area but no hookups.
A very productive three days but also an indication that the fish are on the move as the water temp increases. Some of the back waters I was in on Thursday was 74 degrees.
White bait is around now but should start showing up in numbers around the passes and thats the sign that spring has sprung.
Good luck catch'em up. Check out the web site.
Capt. Gary Burch
AllCatchCharters.com
