With all the residential canals and inshore reefs, bay anglers are truly are blessed when it comes to fishing in December and it seems you never have to run far to find what you are looking for. Fish seem to acclimate themselves to the lower tides and feed all day with little or no concern of weather. Fishing around the grass flats also begins heating up, with plenty of respectable sight fishing. Live baits are occasionally unnecessary, especially with all the artificial lures available in today’s arsenal of fishing tackle, although it can be helpful when you’re looking for larger fish.

This time of year you never know what kind of fishing trip you may have. The weather can change at any time with the cold fronts arriving. It’s normally better before the front and things can shut down after the front. I would say that most trips we do manage to have a great time and catch dinner.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) moved Nov. 16 to prohibit the harvest of tiger sharks and three species of hammerheads from state waters in an effort to further
protect these top predators that rely on Florida waters to survive. The action was taken during the first day of the Commission’s two-day meeting in Key Largo.

“Sometimes the appropriate measures of conservation are the problems we avoid, not the problems we have to fix,” said Commissioner Brian Yablonski.

Cooler weather is coming… September’s gone and fall is here. We should start to get some relief from the summer’s heat and see water temperatures begin falling. Fishing charters this time of year offers plenty of actions on all your favorite species. However, if you’re looking for a good fish dinner, we have plenty of editable fish to choose from

A recent trip to the Homosassa River to fish with my friend, Capt. William Toney, out of MacRae’s of Homosassa, is what I consider a treat, considering Capt. William spent most of the time with a push pole in his hands and I, with a rod, stood on the “pointy end” of the boat. Whenever I get to take the bow to fish it’s a luxury to get the first shot at some nice fish, and, for the Nature Coast, it was business as usual.

This opportunity was spawned over conversation with the Eppinger Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of high quality fishing lures for over 100 years, which is a sponsor for both William and me. John Cleveland, Director of Marketing for the company, came down to join William and me as William filmed another episode of his popular Bright house Cable TV show, “Nature Coast Outdoors” that airs in Citrus and Levy Counties.

Fall is in the air… Well, almost. September is here and we are just around the corner from fall. We should start to get some relief from the summer’s heat and see water temperatures fall. Usually, September means gearing up for the one of the most revered species in our waters, Mr. Snook… Not this year. It will be catch-and-release only. No need to worry. There are plenty of options this time of year for catch-and-release.

The weather been extremely hot and humid, but the fish seem to have adjusted nicely because we’re still catching fish. There’s been good Redfish and Snook action throughout the bay with plenty of Trout action on good tide days on the grass flats. Often anglers find nighttime more enjoyable and, provided the mosquitoes don’t carry you off, the fishing is relatively productive, especially around lighted docks.
           
Looks like we finally got a greenback hatch on the grass flats and you can find bait in all the usual places. Although small it’s fishable and I’d be sure to use your ¼ inch bait net. Remember you don’t need to black out the livewell you only need enough for fishing. However, large greenbacks are not always the answer to inshore production. It’s called match the hatch and, because they will be eating the smaller baits, it’s always advisable that you fish with them. Remember you don’t need to black out the livewell; you need only enough for fishing

Remember the small baits are excellent for Mangrove Snapper, so if you’re looking for dinner check the local fish attractors or your favorite rock pile for some great snapper action.

Stephenie Franco from Westfield Indiana with one of our first kingfish of the season. The Kingfish was caught using a sardine in about 50 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island. The party also caught more kingfish grouper and snapper on a charter with Capt Larry McGuire Show Me The Fish Charters—Operating out of a new and better location Bradenton Beach Marina.

August has been a scorcher with humidity in the nineties, but we’re still catching fish. While it’s still important to pick the right tide days, for the most part, even if you miss, the bites still been fairly consistent. Although we’re not catching the numbers we might like, we are still catching. Warm summer waters make fish lethargic for most of the day, but at night they seem to become a little more active. Many summer anglers find nighttime fishing enjoyable and, provided the mosquitoes don’t carry you off, the fishing is relatively productive.

Justin Tsikererdanos from Kissimmee, FL, with a monster red group caught offshore of Anna Maria Island in 130 ft using a sardine. Justin was on a charter with Capt Larry McGuire Show Me The Fish Charters operating out of the Bradenton Beach Marina. Cell 941-720-6475.