04-30-2003, 07:06 PM
[center][font "Times New Roman"][#000080][size 5]Don Ray Internet Studio [/size][/#000080][/font][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][#000080][size 5]Click on this picture to register to win a half day trip with Capt Doug Blanton[/size][/#000080][/font][/center] [center][font "Arial"][size 5][url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768726&s=24058622"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/Gatortroutsm.jpg[/img][/url]
[/size][/font][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 5][url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768725&s=24058622"]www.donraystudio.com[/url][/size][/#800080][/font][/center] [left][#312c98][size 5]Flats Report[/url] for the Banana River[/size][/#312c98][/left]
[#312c98]4/30/2003 Flats fishing report for the Titusville & Cocoa Beach area. By Capt Doug Blanton[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Depending on how you look at, fishing has been great and slow. What I mean by that is the trout have been a lot smaller than they have been for the past few weeks with one or two exceptions. We have been putting only a few fish in the boat each day. But, the reds have been tailing in larger schools, and have been quite a bit larger. Many of the reds we have caught this week have been in the 20 to 30 pound range with a few larger fish showing up. So, to sum everything up, we are catching less fish but the ones we have been getting have been of great quality. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Redfish[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Better late than never I always say. For the past 10 years in the middle of March the larger reds have shown up on the flats of the Banana River near Cocoa Beach. That is every year except this year. I was starting to wonder if we would even get a shot at them this year when I finally came across a school of 30 to 40 pound fish last week. I don't know if all the late cold snaps and rollercoaster water temps did it or they have just been a little slow this year. The good news is they are here. Now we just need them to start feeding. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Last week we fished a school of these bulls for over an hour without one strike. We through just about every lure I had and not one of them was wiling to play. Luckily a second school should up this week that has been a little slow to strike but is more than willing to make a drag scream.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Most of these fish have been willing to bust top water for the first few hours after sunrise. However, after 9 am if you still want a hookup they have only been willing to eat soft baits worked just above the bottom.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]All of our reds this week have been caught in 2 feet or less in grassy areas. They appear to be feeding on small crabs and grass shrimp. Our best catches have come just prior to sunrise until around 9 am. After that they have been moving into deeper water and not tailing as much. All these fish have been very spooky. So, when stalking a flat for these fish you have to turn the trolling motor off and pole your way in from at least 100 yards out. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]This brings up something I have put off for too long. If you see someone poling an area, Don't jump in front of them running your motor. Not only are you going to upset the person you are cutting off, you aren't going to catch anything either. The proper thing would be to cut your motor 100 yards or more off the flats and pole in 100 yards or so behind them. This way you still have a good shot at finding the fish they missed and the ones that got past them. I had to bring this up because I had someone do that to me this week and spooked a school of red off I had been following for about 30 minutes try to get close enough to to cast. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Once again, keep in mind that when the reds are spooky you may only get 2 or 3 casts at them. If you see them start to move off let them go and try to follow a few hundred feet behind until they settle down. Many times they will push a few feet away and start tailing again. Wait till you see this before you move in for a cast. If you don't it is like throwing rocks at them.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Most of our reds this past week were caught on[/#312c98]
[#312c98][url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]3 1/4 inch Florida Special Rip Roller[/#800080][/url] rigged with a #4 [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768720&s=24058622"][#800080]Daiichi's 3x Bleeding treble [/#800080][/url][/#312c98]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768721&s=24058622"][#0000ff]1/4 oz gold silver minnow[/#0000ff][/url]
[#312c98]Cotee's [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]Reel Magic[/#800080][/url] in [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]black/gold/flk[/#800080][/url] rigged with a 5/0 [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768724&s=24058622"][#800080]Daiichi Bleeding Copperhead Hook[/#800080][/url] [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Cotee's purl Swimmin' Shad[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Reds on Fly[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Our best fish caught over the past few weeks on fly have been on black/white or black/gold #1 bend-backs with a red and gold body and #2 shrimp. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Trout[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Trout fishing has been okay this week. It is starting to remind me of the summer trout bite. There are a lot of fish out there if you get out early enough. Once the sun moves over head they move off the flats and down to the bottom. Once this happens you can still catch a few on the surface but not nearly as many as at first light. When this happens switch over to a grub. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Most of the trout we are catching at this time are bit smaller this week. The only good thing is there have been a lot more of them. Most have been caught in or near schools of bait on top water in less than a foot before first light.. Once again as with the reds after 9 am the best catches have come on jigs or spoons in 3 to 4 feet on the outer edge of the flats. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]If you find yourself catching a few of these little guys you may want to move on to something else or crush your barbs. If you are still finding a few larger fish try using a larger lure. This is a great way of weeding out the smaller fish. Keep in mind that every small trout you release unharmed is one more gator you may catch tomorrow.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]All of our trout were caught on [/#312c98]
[#312c98][url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]3 1/4 inch Florida Special Rip Roller[/#800080][/url] rigged with a #4 [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768720&s=24058622"][#800080]Daiichi's 3x Bleeding treble hook[/#800080][/url].[/#312c98]
[#312c98]For my larger fish I throw a [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]4.25 Rip Roller or the 4.25 Original High Roller[/#800080][/url] [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Cotee's purl Swimmin' Shad[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Everything else [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Large schools of glass minnows have been working the middle of the river for the past week. We have only caught a few ladyfish around them so far. However, keep your eye on them in the early mornings. This is the time of year that the larger juvenile tarpon start showing up looking for a quick meal. Also watch for the larger jacks to be feeding on this schools. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Get out there and catch a memory. Capt. Doug[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Here are a few pictures from last week. [/#312c98]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768732&s=24058622"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/DSCF0005_small.JPG[/img][/url] [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768731&s=24058622"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/troutky_small.jpg[/img][/url] [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768730&s=24058622"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/trout43003_small.JPG[/img][/url] [url "doug's/pic's/trout430031.JPG"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/trout430031_small.JPG[/img][/url] [img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/redfight.JPG[/img]
[#312c98]Here are a few videos made by Zuni Bob on a fishing trip a few weeks ago. Thanks Zuni.[/#312c98]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768722&s=24058622"][#0000ff]Redfish video[/#0000ff][/url]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768723&s=24058622"][#0000ff]Trout video[/#0000ff][/url]
[url "http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs.aspx?customerid=28274"]![[Image: signup.gif]](http://lb.bcentral.com/images/alist/signup.gif)
[/url] [left][#312c98]My tips for sight catching fish with Top Water!!! [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768729&s=24058622"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url] . [/#312c98][/left]
[#312c98]For more information on Flats fishing with Capt. Doug [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768728&s=24058622"][#800080]click here [/#800080]
[/url][/#312c98]
[signature]
[/size][/font][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 5][url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768725&s=24058622"]www.donraystudio.com[/url][/size][/#800080][/font][/center] [left][#312c98][size 5]Flats Report[/url] for the Banana River[/size][/#312c98][/left]
[#312c98]4/30/2003 Flats fishing report for the Titusville & Cocoa Beach area. By Capt Doug Blanton[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Depending on how you look at, fishing has been great and slow. What I mean by that is the trout have been a lot smaller than they have been for the past few weeks with one or two exceptions. We have been putting only a few fish in the boat each day. But, the reds have been tailing in larger schools, and have been quite a bit larger. Many of the reds we have caught this week have been in the 20 to 30 pound range with a few larger fish showing up. So, to sum everything up, we are catching less fish but the ones we have been getting have been of great quality. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Redfish[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Better late than never I always say. For the past 10 years in the middle of March the larger reds have shown up on the flats of the Banana River near Cocoa Beach. That is every year except this year. I was starting to wonder if we would even get a shot at them this year when I finally came across a school of 30 to 40 pound fish last week. I don't know if all the late cold snaps and rollercoaster water temps did it or they have just been a little slow this year. The good news is they are here. Now we just need them to start feeding. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Last week we fished a school of these bulls for over an hour without one strike. We through just about every lure I had and not one of them was wiling to play. Luckily a second school should up this week that has been a little slow to strike but is more than willing to make a drag scream.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Most of these fish have been willing to bust top water for the first few hours after sunrise. However, after 9 am if you still want a hookup they have only been willing to eat soft baits worked just above the bottom.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]All of our reds this week have been caught in 2 feet or less in grassy areas. They appear to be feeding on small crabs and grass shrimp. Our best catches have come just prior to sunrise until around 9 am. After that they have been moving into deeper water and not tailing as much. All these fish have been very spooky. So, when stalking a flat for these fish you have to turn the trolling motor off and pole your way in from at least 100 yards out. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]This brings up something I have put off for too long. If you see someone poling an area, Don't jump in front of them running your motor. Not only are you going to upset the person you are cutting off, you aren't going to catch anything either. The proper thing would be to cut your motor 100 yards or more off the flats and pole in 100 yards or so behind them. This way you still have a good shot at finding the fish they missed and the ones that got past them. I had to bring this up because I had someone do that to me this week and spooked a school of red off I had been following for about 30 minutes try to get close enough to to cast. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Once again, keep in mind that when the reds are spooky you may only get 2 or 3 casts at them. If you see them start to move off let them go and try to follow a few hundred feet behind until they settle down. Many times they will push a few feet away and start tailing again. Wait till you see this before you move in for a cast. If you don't it is like throwing rocks at them.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Most of our reds this past week were caught on[/#312c98]
[#312c98][url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]3 1/4 inch Florida Special Rip Roller[/#800080][/url] rigged with a #4 [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768720&s=24058622"][#800080]Daiichi's 3x Bleeding treble [/#800080][/url][/#312c98]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768721&s=24058622"][#0000ff]1/4 oz gold silver minnow[/#0000ff][/url]
[#312c98]Cotee's [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]Reel Magic[/#800080][/url] in [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]black/gold/flk[/#800080][/url] rigged with a 5/0 [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768724&s=24058622"][#800080]Daiichi Bleeding Copperhead Hook[/#800080][/url] [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Cotee's purl Swimmin' Shad[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Reds on Fly[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Our best fish caught over the past few weeks on fly have been on black/white or black/gold #1 bend-backs with a red and gold body and #2 shrimp. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Trout[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Trout fishing has been okay this week. It is starting to remind me of the summer trout bite. There are a lot of fish out there if you get out early enough. Once the sun moves over head they move off the flats and down to the bottom. Once this happens you can still catch a few on the surface but not nearly as many as at first light. When this happens switch over to a grub. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Most of the trout we are catching at this time are bit smaller this week. The only good thing is there have been a lot more of them. Most have been caught in or near schools of bait on top water in less than a foot before first light.. Once again as with the reds after 9 am the best catches have come on jigs or spoons in 3 to 4 feet on the outer edge of the flats. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]If you find yourself catching a few of these little guys you may want to move on to something else or crush your barbs. If you are still finding a few larger fish try using a larger lure. This is a great way of weeding out the smaller fish. Keep in mind that every small trout you release unharmed is one more gator you may catch tomorrow.[/#312c98]
[#312c98]All of our trout were caught on [/#312c98]
[#312c98][url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]3 1/4 inch Florida Special Rip Roller[/#800080][/url] rigged with a #4 [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768720&s=24058622"][#800080]Daiichi's 3x Bleeding treble hook[/#800080][/url].[/#312c98]
[#312c98]For my larger fish I throw a [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768727&s=24058622"][#800080]4.25 Rip Roller or the 4.25 Original High Roller[/#800080][/url] [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Cotee's purl Swimmin' Shad[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Everything else [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Large schools of glass minnows have been working the middle of the river for the past week. We have only caught a few ladyfish around them so far. However, keep your eye on them in the early mornings. This is the time of year that the larger juvenile tarpon start showing up looking for a quick meal. Also watch for the larger jacks to be feeding on this schools. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Get out there and catch a memory. Capt. Doug[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Here are a few pictures from last week. [/#312c98]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768732&s=24058622"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/DSCF0005_small.JPG[/img][/url] [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768731&s=24058622"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/troutky_small.jpg[/img][/url] [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768730&s=24058622"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/trout43003_small.JPG[/img][/url] [url "doug's/pic's/trout430031.JPG"][img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/trout430031_small.JPG[/img][/url] [img]http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/redfight.JPG[/img]
[#312c98]Here are a few videos made by Zuni Bob on a fishing trip a few weeks ago. Thanks Zuni.[/#312c98]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768722&s=24058622"][#0000ff]Redfish video[/#0000ff][/url]
[url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768723&s=24058622"][#0000ff]Trout video[/#0000ff][/url]
[url "http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs.aspx?customerid=28274"]
[/url] [left][#312c98]My tips for sight catching fish with Top Water!!! [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768729&s=24058622"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url] . [/#312c98][/left] [#312c98]For more information on Flats fishing with Capt. Doug [url "http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=768728&s=24058622"][#800080]click here [/#800080]
[/url][/#312c98]
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