Shell Creek 6-24-14

Made a trip to a new area I have been meaning to get out to for nearly a year now. Shell Creek is a freshwater creek system off of the Peace River in Punta Gorda. I had heard good reports of panfish and bass in the past from this location and put it up on my list of places to try out. The main reason it took so long to get out to it is that it is nearly an hour drive from my house. I finally decided to make the drive, and I am glad I did as there were many panfish and a few bass to be had on the fly.

Location: Shell Creek

Time: 0600-1215

Tides: N/A

Weather: Sunny, Hi/Lo 93/74, light winds

Vessel: Native Ultimate 14.5

Fish: 45 bluegill to 10", 3 largemouth bass to 15" and 5 stumpknocker to 6"

Tactics: 2 weight fly rod with a shrymph fly, and 5 weight fly rod with a #10 popper

Lemon Bay 6-23-14

Fished my favorite summer time area in Lemon Bay targeting snook and trout. Got a late start but still managed a half dozen of each. No giants but I did enjoy consistent action.

Location: Stump Pass State Park

Time: 0900-1130

Tides: High @ 1030

Weather: overcast, Hi/Lo 92/70, winds W@10mph

Vessel: Native Ultimate 14.5

Fish: 6 snook to 22" and 6 trout to 17"

Tactics: spinning tackle. DOA Shrimp and Unfair Lures rip'n'slash

New Personal Best Fly Rod Snook

Location: Beach on Gasparilla Island

Time: 0730-1000

Tides: Low @ 0930

Weather: Sunny, Hi/Lo 91/72, Winds ESE 4-8 mph

Vessel: Walking

Fish: one snook @27"

Tactics: 8 weight fly rod, white DT-Special with red head

Notes: New personal best snook on the fly. The fish was on the edge of muddy water created by an eddy on the shoreline. I was able to sight fish it and had an excellent 4-5 minute battle with two long runs. Its rare that I catch a beach snook on fly that can't be stripped in, but this one was on the reel almost immediately. I was lucky to have a few joggers who slowed down to watch the fight stop and take the picture.

Little Sarasota Bay 4-1-14

Location: Vamo Rd on Little Sarasota bay

Time: 0700-1300

Tides: Incoming

Weather: Sunny, Hi/Lo 84/70, Winds 4-8 mph

Vessel: Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5

Fish: snook to 15", trout to 13" and a 24" redfish

Tactics: Spinning tackle. Weedless Aqua-Dream spoon was the hot lure.

Notes: While I did manage a slam, the only respectable fish of the day was the redfish

Shad Trip 1-31-14

Photo by Dee Kaminski

Location: St. Johns River

Time: 0700-1700

Tides: N/A

Weather: Overcast/light drizzle and cold

Vessel: Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5

Fish: 30+ American Shad

Tactics: Ultralight Spinning tackle. Shiney hiney jig was the lure of choice.

Notes: Bucket list fish crossed off. Also caught Bluegill, Crappie and LMB.

Slow Day Up River

1-13-2014

Photo by Steve Gibson

Location: Brackish water area of Myakka River

Time: 0700-1115

Tides: Low @ 0945

Weather: Sunny, Hi/Lo 74/54, Winds 4-8 mph

Vessel: Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5

Fish: 2 snook to 19"

Tactics: Spinning tackle. Dark-colored soft plastics on jigheads.

Notes: Snook were nowhere near as active as the last time I had fished this area. Slow day but did manage to find a bit of a pattern.

2013 Fishing Highlight Video

2013 Fishing Highlight Reel from Patrick O'Connor on Vimeo.

First River trip of 2014

Location: Brackish water area of Myakka River

Time: 0845-1445

Tides: Outgoing

Weather: Overcast, pre-frontal conditions, Hi/Lo 68/57, Winds 10-15, gusting to 30.

Vessel: Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5

Fish: 9 Snook to 26", 1 Jack Crevalle @ 5 Lbs, 1 tarpon jumped @8-10 lbs, 1 Mangrove Snapper @ 11"

Tactics: Spinning tackle. Light jigheads with soft plastic jerk baits were most successful.

Notes: Snook were plentiful around structure but also were hanging in the middle of the canal in areas around no noticeable structure. Fishing was sub-par all morning, but picked up significantly once the approaching front hit around noon. 

Last Trip of 2013

Location: Backwater creeks of Charlotte Harbor

Time: 0830-1130

Tides: Outgoing

Weather: Overcast, pre-frontal conditions, Hi/Lo 73/62, Winds 10-15.

Vessel: Gheenoe

Fish: 20+ snook to 24" landed and 3 tarpon to 10 lbs jumped between two anglers.

Tactics: Spinning tackle. Light jigheads with soft plastic jerk baits were most successful.

Notes: Snook were hanging in deep water over muddy bottom. Saw but could not entice snook to 40" sunning on shallow mud flats. Tarpon were taken on exact same tactics as the snook.