Okay, it’s been hot in central Florida over the past several weeks, the hottest I can remember, and I do not mean just the temperatures – the fishing has been scorching hot too! Since we have already dealt with how to beat the heat in a past fishing report, let’s focus on the adventuresome and fortunate anglers who have recently braved the summer sun with Native Sons guides during the last several days.

First, there was a group from Louisville, Kentucky consisting of Craig and Julie, his fiancée, along with brother-in-law Troy who fished with Capt. Rocky on the NASA flats Monday morning. Even though the group had only 2 and ½ hours to fish before needing to rush to Orlando in order to catch their flight home they had a blast chasing redfish, petting manatees and generally just enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. Pictured below are Julie holding her big redfish and Julie greeting a manatee.

Second, Tyra and Cliff, a father and daughter team from Orlando, fished with Capt. Peter in the same waters several days later and connected with 8 redfish weighing up to 18 pounds. They were sight-fishing the bronzed brutes from a number of large schools roaming the shallow, clear water in the morning hours. Pictured below are Tyra and Cliff with two redfish caught simultaneously.

Also fishing the NASA flats in Titusville with Capt. Peter were Kenny and Jack Vitek of Orlando. This was one of those special trips where the anglers were able to cast to large tailing redfish in calm, glass-like conditions. They caught 7 reds up to 20 pounds and probably saw close to 300 fish on the day. They also caught 75 plus schooling trout up to 18 inches, 2 jacks, and several ladyfish by throwing jigs into ‘potholes’ in crystal clear 5ft. water. By the way, this was a half-day charter which ended at noon. Pictured below are Kenny and Capt. Peter with one of their redfish – note the calm, glassy water in the background.

Finally, Capt. Roland, in an obvious moment of temporary insanity, agreed to take five teenage boys on a charter to Ft. Pierce last Friday morning. The boys (Chris Brennan, Chris Hubbard, Jeff Fitzgerald, Jordan Clark and Josh Jones) had a blast wading, swimming and frolicking along the spoil islands of the Intercoastal Waterway. They also caught 2 snook, 8 trout, 1 redfish, and one decent mango snapper between the horse-playing. Basically, it was, as one described it, ‘a kook free for all.’ Pictured below is Chris Brennan with his 32 inch snook.

It has been a while since our last fishing report and my notebook is bulging with information. Scanning the pages, we find the following brief descriptions:

Friday, July 20th – Capt. Roland and Capt. Peter prefished ‘near-shore’ off Satellite Beach for tarpon and kingfish.- several pods of rolling poons sighted and three silver kings landed with the largest weighing over 100 pounds – some of the action video-taped for future posting.

Saturday, July 21st – Capt. Roland guides Haney Family from California on ‘near-shore’ trip off Satellite Beach – five large sharks hooked and landed in the first hour – horrendous thunderstorm spotted on radar and trip cut short – digital camera broke and pictures lost.

Monday, July 23rd -25th – Capt Rocky dry-docked Flat Broke for fiberglass repairs and engine work.

Thursday, July 26th – Capt. Rocky and Capt. Peter guide Preston Howard on ‘psycho’ Ft. Pierce trip – numerous trout, snook, jacks, ladyfish, and snapper caught – one monster snook spooled Shimano Sustain 4000 reel with 15 lb. test braided line – Preston pictured below with one of the jacks.

Monday, July 30th – Capt. Rocky with family from San Antonio on the Banana River – three redfish caught and several others missed – bite much slower than the day before – boat fiberglass experienced issues.

Tuesday, July 31st – Flat Broke returned to repairman – repairs would require two more days

Wednesday, Aug. 1st – Capt. Peter took video crew for major national project to Titusville – caught several tarpon on fly and chased monster redfish – many filmed and landed – posing below is Peter with a redfish.

Thursday, Aug. 2nd – Capt. Peter guided group of Mobile, AL based attorneys back to Titusville – redfish turned on around 9:00 am and eight redfish hooked and landed – several over 20 pounds.

Friday, Aug. 3rd – Capt. Rocky with Giles and Blake Rainwater, a father and son team from Melbourne – fished the Titusville area, launching from Kennedy Point Park – targeted the same schools of redfish along NASA flats – morning frustrating but the fish finally began to move and feed in the early afternoon – pictured below are Blake and Giles holding one of their trophies, a 40 inch fish weighing close to 20 pounds.

Saturday, Aug. 4th – Capt. Rocky had one of those special trips – everything seemed to go right – crew consisted of another local father and son team of Jeff and Zack Loeb (his birthday) and Sam, Zack’s good buddy – fished the Melbourne/Grant area on half day trip – caught eleven fish including eight our targeted species, spotted sea trout –pictured below is Zack with one of his many fish followed by Sam with the largest trout of the day, a 30 inch, eight pound trophy – all trout were over 20 inches!

Saturday, Aug. 4th – Capt. Roland chartered in the Sebastian/Grant area – caught a number of nice trout and two snook before the afternoon rainstorm terminated fun – digital camera still broken.