During January 2010 FWC received hundreds of reports from anglers, fishing guides, and the general public regarding dead snook presumed to have been killed by cold weather and low water temperatures.
 
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission took a proactive and precautionary measure aimed at protecting surviving snook during their spring reproductive season by issuing an executive order on January 15 that temporarily extended closed harvest seasons for snook statewide until September 1.

On Show Me the Fish Charters we are catching lots of Gag and Red Grouper, large Amberjack, Spanish Mackerel, lots of sharks; Blacktip Sharks, Lemon Sharks and Reef Sharks.   We are also catching big Barracudas, Porgies, Mangrove Snappers and some catch and release Goliath Grouper.

For a must-do boat excursion in Central Florida, consider St. Johns River and Silver Glen, located on the southwest edge of Lake George. Glen Springs Recreation Area is located in the Ocala National Forest along SR 19, north of the intersection with SR 40. Those who boat in the Central Florida waterways are already aware that one of the best boat outings is spent at Silver Glen on Lake George.  In fact, the area is so popular that boating groups have dedicated their names to it.  “Boat the Glen” is an example of one such group.

The term “grouper” describes a family of saltwater fish, which includes a variety of species that live along the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Among them are Snowy, Nassau, Black, Red, Gag, Yellowtail, and Goliath Groupers. Groupers are considered one of the most prized fish along the Florida coasts. Known as a mild tasting, hard fighting bottom fish, the grouper is at home in the Southeastern United States. Florida Keys grouper may be some of the best grouper fishing in the world. The most common method for catching grouper is bottom fishing with heavy tackle. When a grouper aggressively strikes it will take the bait and usually take off quickly into the rocks, or any surrounding structure.

It’s just a little piece of hard wire, most often gold in color, and hurts like the dickens when it lodges in your skin, but it’s the most important piece of fishing hardware there is. It’s the most up-close and fishy personal part of your fishing attire. You can spend thousands on the rest of your equipment, buying the finest rods, reels, lines, and artificial baits, but if the hook isn’t sharp, or if it’s made cheaply, you’ll waste that perfect presentation and hookup. I’ve seen people do everything right except use a good sharp hook. Right down to setting the hook they had nailed it, but the big one got away on a technicality.

Many anglers have good fishing days—but not so common are the great catches that freshwater fishing can provide. What if I told you there is an opportunity for you to fish and catch large numbers of exotic species that you would expect to catch only on the Amazon? What if I also told you that you can experience all the action and more by traveling less than an hour from Miami?

My friend Kevin McCreay caught these beautiful snook near Boca Grande last Thursday night while fishing with me. We only had 7 live mullet between 13”—14” so that limited our fishing to an hour, but we still hooked into plenty of 38”—40” snook.  Why am I not in any photos you may ask, well ever since my last camera went in the drink about two weeks ago, I am reluctant to let anyone else use my new one… Let’s build some memories together now! Call 727-570-9711

It is hot down here in Florida now but we still have fishing opportunities. Our best bet is to get out early and have fun before it really gets hot. Evening can be productive also if it’s not stormy. Some Tarpon are still in both Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Snook may be opening up the first of September, but we don’t know for sure yet—Fish and Wildlife is still thinking about it. Redfish are improving now. Speckled Trout are abundant and hungry still. Mango Snapper are teasing us and should come on strong anytime. Spanish Mackerel are not thick but can make the difference if you are prepared. If it’s too hot get in the water, travel north for scallops or south for crawfish down in the Keys.

In January of this year I did a boat delivery from Tarpon Springs to Port Canaveral. If you remember, and if you were here I know you do, it was cold. It was real cold. It was the coldest it had been in decades and it hung on like a scared cat in a tree. Some days, the highs were only in the forties in some areas and the nights…well, let’s just say I didn’t go out at night with my thin blood from years of living in Florida. I don’t like the chill I get from getting something out of the fridge.

Along the way I sadly observed dead fish literally by the hundreds, maybe thousands, in some places. Even shallow Lake Okeechobee was dotted with dead fish as if an underwater explosion of massive proportion had taken place. Throughout the waterway the scene remained the same for the whole trip.