Gag grouper are abundant and easy to catch on the reefs, ledges, and wrecks west of Hernando Beach Florida. The last week of the year proved to be one of the best grouper fishing weeks of the year. Gag grouper on every spot we fished along with Mangrove Snapper, and Grunts. We had a blast catching big Gag grouper and some Red grouper on frozen Threadfin Herring. January looks to be equally consistent despite the drop in water temperature. Fishing with dead bait on the bottom and waiting a while for them to start feeding makes a big difference in catching the larger grouper.
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
We finally have dredging operations going on in the Hernando beach channel. The Law of Gross Tonnage applies, "if it's bigger than you it has the right of way."
Seriously you must opearate at slow speed when passing the dredge operations. If the actual suction dredge machine is there it has cables stretched across the channel to steer by and in order for you to pass they must be lowered. If you get impatient and speed through you may catch the cable with your prop and that will ruin your entire day.
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Pass the dredge operations with caution and at slow speed. |
New rules pertaning to reef fish, that means anything on a rockpile, go into effect on June 1, 2008. Basically you are required to have on board a dehooker and venting tool and only use NON stainless circle hooks with natural bait.
Go to New FWC Rules to get the official information.
To relieve this condition there is a process called venting where the swimbladder is pierced with a hollow needle which lets the air out. Then the fish can swim away back to his habitat to live. For more information on this please to go: www.flseagrant.org/program_areas/fisheries/venting/index.htm
Venting Tools and dehookers can be purchased from Aquatic Release Conservation at http://www.dehooker4arc.com/
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Betty Airheart caught her first redfish on a spoon while fishing the Hernando Beach channel with Capt Rick |
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John Thomas and Capt. Rick hold a 32 pound Kingfish that buzzed by the back of the boat while fishing for Grouper |
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or visit his website at www.gulfgrouper.com
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These warm Gulf waters seem to have kept many manatees in the rivers so use caution when boating on them. Also remember is is ILLEGAL to harass a manatee. Especailly DO NOT mess with a mother with a baby. We had an incident in the first part of August where people drove a mother away from it's newborn baby and it took two days for them to get re-united. This was extremely fortunate because most of the time she would have abandoned that baby. Yes they are cute , but they don't look so cute when they are dead.
Mannatees cannot tolerate water below 66 degrees for long so in the winter months they move into coastal rivers and areas around warm water sources such as power plant discharges. Throughout Florida you will notice MANATEE ZONE signs with speed limits from NO WAKE to 25 mph. Gulf temperatures range from a low of around 57 degrees in February to a high in the upper 80's in August.
The saying, "EAST IS LEAST and WEST IS BEST" will serve the boater well when figuring the tides.
It is especially important to file a FLOAT PLAN when you go out on the water. Tell someone where you are going, when you expect to be back, who is with you, what supplies you have (food, water, marine radio, cell phone #, etc.), and what a description of your boat ( Registration #, color, make, length). Also let them know when you get back or change your plans.
Don't be fooled into thinking you don't need a float plan just because you are fishing in shallow water. Flats fishing increases the chance you can hit a rock and damage your prop and or motor. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. BOATERS HINT
Please check your vessels safety gear before you go out: Marine Radio, Flares, Life Jackets, extra water, first aid kit to name but a few. Contact us at 592-0097 for a FREE Vessel Safety Check by the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary
is active throughout Florida. They have boating education classes and do FREE Vessel Safety Checks.
There are Flotillas in Hudson, Hernando Beach, Homosassa, Crystal River, Ocala, Yankeetown, Gainesville and at Suwannee (Hart Springs) to name but a few.
If you prefer to have a private guide then consider Capt. Ronnie Richards. He lives here in Weekie Wachee and knows the area well. Give him a call at 352-596-0308; or E-mail him at captrrr@bellsouth.net
Call 352-628-1327 or E-mail ernestb@tampabay.rr.com
Capt. Frank Bourgois, www.alwaysfishing.com , offers both inshore and offshore fishing. Call him at 352-666-6234 or E-mail at E-mail him at info@alwaysfishing.com
Captian Steven Soults of Angling Adventures Charter Fishing Guide Service, www.angling-adventures.net , is a Full Time Licensed & Insured West Central Florida Charter Fishing Guide Service offering Guided Fishing Trips / Flats Fishing Trips / Offshore Fishing Trips & Inshore/Backwater fishing adventures on the beautiful flats & Backwaters of Hernando County, Pasco County & Citrus County. www.angling-adventures.net
OFFICE (352) 686-0853 or (352) 238-9339
Flatts fishing for Redfish, Trout, Cobia and T arpon call Capt. Leo Riddle a call at 352-628-7397. Visit his website www.homosassafishingcharters.com or E-mail him at captainleoriddle@aol.com
For a back country or flats fishing adventure give Capt. Gary (GT) Cox a call at 352-628-5419. Visit his website
They also have canoes and kayaks available if you wish to get a little exercise.
YOUR LICENSE RENEWAL
I really hate to tell you this but all Coast Guard License holders must sign up for a TWIC card ( Transportation Workers Identification Card) at a cost of $132.50 tvery 5 years see http://www.tsa.gov/twic . The kicker here is that you must go to Tampa (in our area) twice -- once to process your application and again to pick it up. That's right they will not mail it to you; you must get it personally.
COASTLINE REALTY SERVICES, Inc.
AREA EVENTS COASTAL RECREATION GEOGRAPHY Back to Homepage