Happy New Year & A Fishing Report Thrown In For Free

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
(& A Steinhatchee Fishing Report)
From Steinhatchee Fishing Guide Captain Steve

I trust you all had wonderful Christmas.

 The weather has been great here in Steinhatchee. We have had some classic winter time conditions, the kind I spoke about in my last report or two. 

Ditch and pothole fishing. I like to use a jig. Some like Mirrorlures and others shrimp. I like to feel the bottom and the strike, which can be very subtle. When the sun shines for a couple of days the Reds will 
come out and play.

Have fun, enjoy GOD’s beautiful outdoors, be careful, watch the water levels, especially during the falling tide.

A fishin report from Steinhatchee Fishing Guide Captain STEVE

This looks like in a photo in a book, its a trout caught with Captain Steve of of Pepperfish Key Charters. He also took the photo.

Trout Caught Yesterday With Pepper Fish Key Charters

Yankeetown, Crystal River & Levy County Fishing Report

Salt Water Fishing Report
for Crystal River, Yankeetown, Cedar key and Levy County- 12/23/08

Fished the “Progress Energy” Hot water Discharge Canal last week. Had several reports of good numbers of large Spotted Sea Trout, as well as Snook and Cobia being caught there, so I thought I’d give it a try.
Got a late start, then had to make our way through the spoil islands and skinny water in fairly heavy fog.

Finally made it over there about 10 A.M., just in time to catch the bottom of the falling tide. Typically, the best tide to fish in this area, especially for Redfish, is just before, and after the high tide…Oh well, shut-up and fish…………

Didn’t set any records, but the fish we caught were nice. Large Spotted Sea Trout, Black Drum, and Redfish, along with several Jack Cravelle’s. Not bad considering the tide.
 
Also, good numbers of Gag Grouper are being caught off the Citrus and Levy county coasts fairly close in.
Now is the best time of year to target them.

Speaking of “time”…
We only have a few weeks left until the new Gag Grouper reg.’s …

As of Jan. 1/09, a 2 fish limit on Gag Grouper goes into effect as well as several other regulation changes.
February 1 thru March 31 the season is closed…Don’t forget to update your “Law Sticks”…
Hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas..

This Crystal River, Yankeetown & Levy County Fishing Report is from Yankeetown Fishing Guide Captain Nick of Slick Charters.

In the Big Bend its “Winter Mode”!

Looks like the “pro’s” at the N.W.S. might have gotten it right. Record low temp’s in both October and November have started pushing fish further inshore all over the Big Bend region.

Grouper populations, as well as other pelagics spend the summer months offshore, then migrate to nearshore waters as the temp’s drop.

Other species, such as Trout, Snook, Cobia and Permit , also seek out the warmer nearshore waters during the winter months.

With water temp’s approaching the 50’s off the Citrus and Levy county coasts, we go into “winter mode” and move into the skinny water inshore, as well as the Progress Energy Discharge Canal” at Crystal River  for most of our saltwater fishing.

Good numbers, and a wide variety of highly sought after game fish are typical of these nearshore trips, and is a great time to take the kids. Most of these trips are only a few minutes ride from the dock.

Also, the Grouper that we typically go miles and miles offshore to catch have moved in. This means less riding and more fishing…

Gotta love it!

This Crystal River and Yankee Town Fishing Report is from Crystal River and Yankeetown Fishing Guide Captain Nick

Bring Some Leftover Turkey and Fish

I’m still eating leftover Turkey, in fact I took a thigh with me in 
the boat Friday, cold fried turkey is almost as good as cold fried 
chicken.

Winter has come early this year. Fish are orienting them 
selves to deeper, warmer water. Mainly rivers and creeks. Sunny 
afternoons will have them move on the flats to feed and warm.

Some people like to use shrimp, but jigs work great when you find fish. That is the key to cathing fish during these conditions. I know it sounds simple, but I don’t stay long if not getting bit. If it stays overcast, concentrate on the holes, as opposed to the adjacent flat. Limits can be tough somedays, but you’re sure to find some over 20″ Trout.

GOD Bless and Good Fishing
Captain Steve
 

This Steinhatchee Fishing Report is from
Steinhacthee Fishing Guide Captain STEVE of Pepperfish Key Charters

The fish are there
so wrap up and go fishing with
Pepper Fish Key Charters

Its Cool Out in Cedar Key and Suwannee But the Fish Are There.

To get a Cedar Key and Suwanee, Florida Fishing Report I called Don at Cedar Key Marina.

He says that big trout are being caught and that the “Sheep Head are going like gang  busters“.

He was at the Cedar Key pier yesterday and a man had caught some 24” trout and ended up catching his limit from the pier. He also said people were catching good Sheep Head by the pilings.

Don wondered over to the docks and all the charters came back with good catches. Several had 25lb Red Grouper on them. One had a Bonita and a good size King Mackerel.

Red Fish are moving into the holes in the creeks and are congregating  in layers. And like the trout the ones being caught  are of good size.

Be aware that this weekend has small craft advisories, as always check the weather and seas before heading out.

This fishing report is from Don at Cedar Key Marina in Cedar Key, Florida.