[thill]

My plane leaves in a few hours and I just heard the conditions are right for an overnight trip 80+ miles out of Naples. I'm so pumped! I have a day and a half of client meetings planned, then head out into the gulf for 24 hours. We usually run 35-65 miles out and fish off wrecks or reefs for grouper and snapper, but this time we'll be heading a little further and staying much longer! One of my "checked bags" is a cooler of venison I'm going to exchange for a cooler of gulf shrimp, grouper and snapper for my return. There's nothing like fishing the saltwater and it's very addicting.

I will post pics of our catch when we return Saturday afternoon.

 

[Riverdude]

Sounds like a great trip! Live pinfish will outfish frozen squid on reef dwellers most times.
Good luck. I'll be looking forward to the pics.

 

[Shoeman]

Sounds like a hoot!

 

[Radar420]

Is this a charter or do you rent a boat or have friends in the area?

I'm leaving Sun for the Tampa area and then a Keys trip in mid-Feb - hoping to restock the freezer myself.

 

[thill]

Is this a charter or do you rent a boat or have friends in the area?

I'm leaving Sun for the Tampa area and then a Keys trip in mid-Feb - hoping to restock the freezer myself.

I have friends in the area, both have boats and one is actually a commercial fisherman. He sells most his fish to local restaurants. Good friend to have!

Good luck on your trip! We hit the keys in June and have a blast!

 

[Northernfisher]

I have friends in the area, both have boats and one is actually a commercial fisherman. He sells most his fish to local restaurants. Good friend to have!

Good luck on your trip! We hit the keys in June and have a blast!

Any word on now bad the recent cold snap was on the snook?

 

[thill]

It was 36 this morning, so probably shut it down. Sunday we're fishing backwater so hopefully they'll be more active.

 

[Northernfisher]

It was 36 this morning, so probably shut it down. Sunday we're fishing backwater so hopefully they'll be more active.

Was it cold enough that the had the snook kill they did a few year back? thanks.

 

[Shoeman]

From what I've been reading, anything South of Tampa should be OK.

North not so much.

 

[Northernfisher]

From what I've been reading, anything South of Tampa should be OK.

North not so much.

Thanks - Tampa has been the northern end of the snook range for years as I understand it.

When we were in Tarpon Springs (North of the bay) we would get a night or two a year below freezing. Just south of the bay it was almost unheard of.

Glad it hear it is not like a few years ago down south.

 

[Shoeman]

Just North of Anclote Key (Tarpon Springs)

 

[stickman1978]

That is a bummer.

 

[Riverdude]

I spent quite a bit of time on the Florida Sportsmen fishing forums yesterday, on this very subject. Bayport is the very northern limit of a snooks range. Everywhere south of that the snook are doing just fine. Very isolated areas of snook kill.
There were actually quite a few snook caught from Tampa Bay, south, even during the cold spell.

 

[Northernfisher]

I spent quite a bit of time on the Florida Sportsmen fishing forums yesterday, on this very subject. Bayport is the very northern limit of a snooks range. Everywhere south of that the snook are doing just fine. Very isolated areas of snook kill.
There were actually quite a few snook caught from Tampa Bay, south, even during the cold spell.

Glad to hear it.

I used to have a spot as far north as New Port Richey but, that was as far north as I remember catching them and it was a spring.

 

[thill]

It was not the most comfortable trip but it was fun! We came home with a nice mix of red grouper, yellowtail, mangro, vermilion and red snapper and a few porgys. It was a constant grind until 4:30 am when we finally tried to sleep. Up fishing again at 8:30 am -1 pm then headed back in against sharp 4 footers. I still feel like I'm on a boat. We're estimating close to 300 lbs in fish in the box. Love that fishery!

 

[Shoeman]

You guys must have been fishing quite deep

Nice Work!

 

[thill]

You guys must have been fishing quite deep

Nice Work!

120 ish

 

[thill]

Back home enjoying the fresh gulf catch. Yellowtail and gulf shrimp. Gulf shrimp has ruined me for the stuff I used to buy in MI.