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Here is my report for this
week:
Vortex Charters Fishing Report
02-18-2004
Captain Chuck MacIntyre
Vortex Charters of Tampa Bay
www.vortexcharters.com
02/25/04
With Spring-like weather starting to settle in and a new moon
to help with the tides, fishing this past week was a good
barometer for things to come.
With light winds dictating calm seas on Saturday, we fished in
60 feet of water catching numerous Gag and Red Grouper, with a
couple tipping the scales at 10 pounds.
Mixed in with them were Mango Snapper, who continue to put on
a strong show at the latter end of Winter. Scamp, my all-time
favorite, also joined the fray, but were too small to keep.
The size limit on Scamp is 16 inches.
Inshore, Trout and Sheepshead are still the headliners. The
trout are hanging on the edges of area grassflats, being taken
with small grub-like jigs and ‘select’ shrimp.
Ladyfish continue to spoil the bite as nearly every bait is
consumed by these voracious feeders after a few Trout are
landed.
The Sheepshead have been feeding heavily near the Skyway,
where rockpile in
10-12 feet have provided the most action.
With scattered reports of Threadfin Herring offshore, the
Spring King bite should be just weeks away!
Good Fishin’ to ya!
02/17/04
Old Man Winter has not loosened his grip on Florida just yet.
Cold Front after cold front has kept most boats from getting
to the Grouper offshore.
That does not mean that you should stay home and watch fishing
on TV—just stick around the bay and intercoastal; there’s
plenty of fish to bend a rod!
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of fishing with husband
and wife team John and Salley Kurnu from Ohio. Using large
shrimp as bait, we started the day fishing the flats for
Trout. After landing a half-dozen, the wind picked up forcing
us to the residential canals of Treasure Island. With a 20+
MPH wind howling, the first cast by John produced a nice 22
inch Seatrout. That commotion must have sent a signal to any
fish within a 100 yard range as every cast that followed was
consumed by a school of hungry Ladyfish.
Considered a trash fish, they delighted my clients with their
strong runs and acrobatic leaps. When you are catching a fish
on every cast—that’s just plain fun!
This should all change within the next few weeks, as St.
Patrick’s Day is the official start of Kingfish season!
Good Fishin’ to ya!
Capt. Chuck MacIntyre
www.vortexcharters.com
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