Flats Report for Cocoa Beach & Titusville areas
January 23rd, 2007 fishing report by Capt Doug Blanton
Redfish
We are continuing to catch most of our reds in less than a foot but in the late mornings if the wind isn't blowing to hard we are starting to pick up a few larger fish in two to three feet. It has still all been about finding schools of bait. The funny thing has been that most of the reds we have caught have been on small shrimp flies and High Rollers Trout Fingerling. We have had a few come up for top water but most are still a little slow committing to it.
For those of you that are always asking me about the bull reds, I have seen a few but haven't been able to get one to eat yet. I'm hopping that within the next few weeks we should start boating a few. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, between late winter and early spring we get a run of bull reds between 35 and 50+ pounds. The are only here for a few weeks before they move on. The rest of the year most of our fish run between 20 and 30 pounds.
Trout
Wow, I wish I could say that the trout fishing is going nuts but not yet. We are starting to boat a few fish between 5 and 7 pounds but only a few. The good thing has been that it has been all on top water. We have had our best luck with the 4.25 Red Head High Roller on calm day and the 3.25 Florida Special Rip Roller on windy days. As with the reds is has all been about bait. However, a little trick I have used for years finding big trout has been finding schools of 4 to 5 pound mullet. All of our trout we have caught over the past 15 years over 10 pounds have been in or just outside of schools of these larger mullet.
For those of you wanting to catch big gator trout, that is those over 30 inches, you need to call me now and book a trip for a day in late March or April. I am going to try every trick I can to have one of my clients put the next world record in the boat this year. I have seen a good number of them over 40 inches. 2 years ago we put one 16.8 oz at 37 inches in the boat.
Tarpon
There are still a good number of tarpon in this area but getting them to eat has been a challenge. We have boated a few on small twitch baits but the best numbers have come on chartreuse flies. I'm still considering them a bonus to our trips and not booking trip around them.
Spring break is one of the peak fishing times of the year. It is also one of the times that if you want to come down and book a charter you need to do it now. All of us full time guides book up months in advance. So if your wanting to get out please call ASAP.
until next time.....
Get out there and catch a memory.
Capt. Doug Blanton
To book a trip with Capt Doug click here or call 321-432-9470