On this past weeks charters it has been day after day of over sized redfish.
Wednsday's trip was with a fellow fishing guide to do some scouting for upcoming charters. Our first stop was in the southern end of Mosquito Lagoon in hopes of some top water action from hungry spotted sea trout. Throwing a High Roller in the green color got me 3 nice one's up to 4 pounds. Other than a ladyfish this was it for the early walk the dog bite. Switching over to Rip Tide Realistic shrimp in the natural color proved to work well also bringing in 3 more trout bounced in sand holes. Moving north we hit an area where good size redfish have been for several weeks now. Our first fish was pulled in and measured a cool 37 inches with a very healthy belly on him. Within 5 minutes, another red was landed weighing in at 16 pounds. Enough of this spot, as we found them and decided to leave to hopefully catch the following day.
Thursday's trip was with the owner of a very popular restaraunt, Mike McKenna from Ormond Beach. Straight to the same area we were off to well before daylight. With a couple dozen jumbo live shrimp in the livewell I was pretty confident. Sure enough, as it was just breaking daylight I spotted schools of mullet running the bank with redfish in hot persuit. We anchored up just off the flat in 3-4 feet of water and threw our baits and both of us hooked up within minutes. In 2 1/2 hours without moving we boated 13 redfish up to 40 inches with 6 over size.
I was off the water Friday and Saturday for seminars at Bass Pro Shops Orlando.
Sunday's charter was with Kerry and his father from Georgia. Being off the 2 days before I decided to get 100 pigfish and head right back to the bar first thing. Good move! Kerry was up first within literally seconds, first cast, as I was reaching to hook his dad up with a pig I heard the sweet sound of the drag screaming off the reel. His pig was inhaled by what looked like a pretty big fish. It turned out after a 15 minute fight to be a 26 pound 44 inch red as big around as me! This was the beginning of us going through almost every pigfish. We ended up the day with this bruiser along with 3 others over 15 pounds and several slot reds. Not to mention trout in on the action too. If I were to take a guess, over 20. Not a bad day with Kerry battling his biggest red ever.
Hopefully with the mullet run starting fishing will stay just as hot as it's been over the past month.
Good Fishing!
Capt. Jeff