Steve Gibson

The wind finally settled and the tide was predicted to be extremely low. So, that meant a trip to Pine Island Sound was in order.

The Sound is a great place to look for tailing redfish on a negative low tide.

Launched the kayak just before dawn and began paddling to a lush turtle grass flat that often holds tailers. Took about an hour before I saw my first tail.

In all, I saw about 12 tailing reds. I hooked up one briefly on my First Cast Crab. The fly, a crab imitation, was named First Cast Crab because I hooked a nice spotted seatrout the first time I cast it.

The FCC also produced several more spotted seatrout and a bunch of mangrove snapper. I found trout, snapper and snook in cuts on the outgoing tide in the backcountry. I caught a snook and some snapper on a chartreuse and white Super Hair Clouser.

Later in the afternoon, I hooked up a nice red on the Clouser. The red was in a foot of water on sand. There were a number of reds back there as the tide turned to come in.

Sightfishing has been pretty good, although the fish haven't been large. Still, small snook, reds and trout are great when you see them before you cast and watch them eat the fly.

The beauty about fishing out of the Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5 is that I can stand up, pole and spot fish. It's a very stable kayak and I love fly fishing out of it.

Tides are good the rest of the week for tailing reds.

Fish Species: Redfish, snook, spotted seatrout, mangrove snapper
Bait Used: Flies
Tackle Used: Fly
Method Used: Fly
Water Depth: 1-3
Water Temperature: 79
Wind Direction: N
Wind Speed: 5-10
Redfish on Super Hair Clouser
Redfish on Super Hair Clouser

Snook on Clouser
Snook on Clouser


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Steve Gibson

About The Author: Captain Steve Gibson

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.

941-284-3406
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Steve Gibson