Redfish on the flats

Capt. Craig Lahr fished with me today and caught this huge 38-inch Redfish. The largest Redfish ever landed on my boat.

Beach Snook Fishing

Art Korp visits Clearwater for two weeks every year and enjoys wade fishing the beaches for Snook.

They're were a few times we could not stop the bigger fish from swimming right into the mangroves and cutting us off.  We would mostly sight cast to the Snook as they swam down the beach.

As always a few Redfish and Trout were mixed in with the days catch.

We always like to take our fresh caught trout fillets to Molly Goodheads and let them fry the fish up with all the sides.

Reel Florida Adventures  (727) 251-2623

June Snook Fishing near Clearwater FL

Wade fishing along the beaches and outer barrier Islands have been very productive this month.  The Snook like to cruise along the shoreline in very shallow water swimming in and out with the tides.  A very stealthy way of fishing is to get out of the boat and wade along the shoreline.  Some of the Snook will cruise by in groups and others swim by as singles.  Scaled Sardines for bait has been very productive as always.  Above is Chris from Connecticut releasing his first Snook which measured 34 inches.  Chris also caught a nice size Redfish from the same sandy shoreline.

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April fishing report

April 2013 Fishing Report:  Large female Spotted Sea Trout were schooling up in the shallows a few weeks ago in March.  We were using Scaled Sardines tossed into two feet of water with great results.  I think the larger sea trout have learned to stay near the shallows and residential docks at night giving them a little protection from Flipper. We were actually looking for Redfish on a recent trip when we found a large school of female trout measuring up to 27 inches.  I would like to see a maximum limit of 26 inches on trout as these fish are all fat with roe.

Redfish are starting to show up more as the water gets a little warmer in April.  We have been doing well locating Redfish near the oyster bars on the higher stages of the tides.  Shrimp and fresh cut bait are working well on the Red Drum in these areas.  Remember to limit your boat noise as the fish are very spooky in two feet of water and less.

Kingfish are here now and hopefully will hang around into May.  I am not able to fish for the Kings very often as my boat is a flats boat and not made for off-shore fishing. However, on the calm mornings with an east wind I am able to venture a few miles out for the Spanish Mackerel, Kings and Bonita schools. Get them into a feeding frenzy behind the boat by tossing a hand full of live bait out every now and then.  This is how a fly fisher can score a fast swimming Pelagic.

Capt. Paul Hajash 727 251-2623

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Had a nice time fishing with Nick and his father and father-in-law last Saturday.  One oyster bar produced 5 Redfish and a large trout.

July 24th fishing report

Scott Atherton hooked a large Tarpon today while fishing for trout on a deep grass flat off Tarpon Springs.  Scott and his father battled the fish for 2.5 hours along the beach in some very rough water. The Tarpon eventually chewed through the light 30lb. leader.

June 2012 Fishing Report

   Hello Everyone.  This June continues to provide great Tarpon fishing in the Clearwater and St. Petersburg, FL area.  The Tarpon have arrived in great numbers and have been around since April.  We are targeting these large fish along the beaches and bridges of Tampa Bay using large Scaled Sardines and Threadfins for bait.  Small Blue or Pass Crabs also work well.

   My good friends, Mike and Chick, from Virginia had great success this June at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  They boated their largest Tarpon to date, estimated at 170 – 180 lbs.  This large female fish ate a Threadfin near the slack tide stage.  A couple Bottlenose Dolphin were pestering us just prior to the Tarpon biting.  For a few years now the Dolphin have learned to grab our baits and slowly pull the fish from the hook.  The Skyway Bridge is the only place I have seen this behavior from Dolphin.

   Several nice Gag Grouper were landed and released while fishing for Tarpon at the bridge.  At the time I was wishing it was July so we could take home a few Grouper fillets.  Cobia and large Spanish Mackerel were also a by-catch while Tarpon fishing.  

   I have several repeat clients coming to town just to fish for these powerful fish.  If you see a group of boats Tarpon fishing along the beaches please cruise by slowly keeping a good distance away.  You should approach others fishing, drifting with the wind using your trolling motor or push pole.  If you are approached by another boat fighting a large Tarpon cheer them on with hoots and thumbs-up as it could be a fish of a lifetime.   

Capt. Paul Hajash  (727) 251-2623

Reel Florida Adventures

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