06-12-2003, 01:34 AM
[#312c98]6/11/2003 Flats fishing report for the Titusville & Cocoa Beach area. By Capt Doug Blanton[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Fishing has been like a roller coaster on the Banana River since Memorial Day weekend. Prior to that weekend the reds where schooled up in groups from 50 to 150 fish and willing to eat most days. Now they are on one day and off the next. They have become like trying to predict the weather. So for those of you who have had a few of those day over the past few weeks, your not alone. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Also, one of my charters this past week wanted to make sure that I mentioned that a manatee pushing water on the outside of a flat looks a lot like a school of bull reds pushing water. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Redfish[/#312c98]
[#312c98]When the reds have decided to show up and play over the past few weeks most have been in 2 to 4 feet of water cruising the outside edge of the flats. A good way of telling how these fish are going to act is by paying attention to how deep they are running. If you are in 3 feet of water and the reds are holding close to the bottom there is a good chance they are not interested in feeding. If they are closer to the surface you will probably have a better chance. Now the clincher, It is just like my chemistry teacher always said," the first rule of nature is that things are always the same unless they aren't". [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Most of the reds we have been catching over the past few weeks have been on Cotee's [url "http://www.donraystudio.com/fishinglures.htm"][#0000ff]Reel Magic[/#0000ff][/url] in [url "http://www.donraystudio.com/fishinglures.htm"][#0000ff]Rainbow trout[/#0000ff][/url] rigged with a 5/0 [url "http://www.truturnhooks.com/cgi-bin/Web_store/web_store.cgi?page=/daiichi/products.html&&cart_id=9172973_2371"][#0000ff]Daiichi Bleeding Copperhead Hook[/#0000ff][/url] . worked slowly around the edge of the schools. Most of these fish have been in the 15 to 20 lbs range. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Trout[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Trout fishing slowed down a lot since the water temp broke 80. There have been a few fish willing to play but nothing worth talking about. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]To sum things up. It's summer, if you want to have a great day on the water you are going to have to get up early or chase thunderstorms until this high pressure system passes. [/#312c98]
[#312c98]Get out there and catch a memory. Capt. Doug[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Here are a few pictures since my last report. [/#312c98]
[url "http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/DSCF0010.JPG"][img]http://www.indianriveradventures.com/doug's/pic's/DSCF0010_small.JPG[/img][/url] [url "http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/pic's/red503.JPG"][img]http://www.indianriveradventures.com/doug's/pic's/red503_small.JPG[/img][/url]
[#312c98]Here are a few videos made by Zuni Bob on a fishing trip a few weeks ago. Thanks Zuni.[/#312c98]
[url "http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/video/Red%20100kbsps.wmv"][#0000ff]Redfish video[/#0000ff][/url]
[url "http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/video/trout%20100kbsps.wmv"][#0000ff]Trout video[/#0000ff][/url] [left][#312c98]My tips for sight catching fish with Top Water!!! [url "http://www.sightfishing.com/fishingtips.htm"][#800080]click here[/#800080][/url] . [/#312c98][/left]
[#312c98]For more information on Flats fishing with Capt. Doug [url "http://www.indianriver.cc/fishing_trips.htm"][#800080]click here[/#800080][/url].[/#312c98]
[#312c98]Here is a page I put up to try to help out with expectations when hiring a guide. Let me know what you think and if there is anything I need to add. [url "http://www.indianriver.cc/doug's/expect.htm"][#800080]Click here [/#800080][/url][/#312c98]
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