It has been a couple of weeks since our last fishing report was posted and the guides of Native Sons Fishing Charters, LLC have been super busy. While we are trying to gather pictures and accounts of these charters, we thought it high time we post a few highlights in order to give our readers an idea of just how fantastic the fishing has been thus far in February. By the way, we promise to add other summaries and photos to this report when we finally get a minute to catch our breath.

Some fishermen are born great while others have greatness thrust upon them. We are not sure how George Littrell achieved angling greatness but we are certain he has it. George, who splits his residency between Maryland and Cocoa Beach, is a long-time friend of Capt. Rocky. Recently he and Rocky hooked up to chase some redfish on the Indian River near Titusville. Conditions could not have been more perfect with calm seas, bluebird, sunny skies and moderate temperatures. George caught over a dozen reds with most exceeding twenty pounds. It was simply a ‘great’ day of fishing, by George!

Capt. Peter had some friends come down to visit him from Delaware and Maryland in hopes of spending a day on the water in Central Florida.   A.B. Cullen and Jay Fleming wanted to get some good photos of black drum and redfish.  Jay is a professional photographer who travels around the world observing wildlife and sharing his experiences through film.  The first day of fishing was spent sight-fishing schools of black drum and then tailing redfish.  One of the schools of drum that Capt. Peter has been fishing has in excess of 50 drum between 20 and 40 pounds.  These fish offer great sight fishing opportunities and are a great fighting fish.

Photos in order: Jay Show’s off one of his drum – Capt. Peter and A.B. show off a double – A.B. shows off a nice trout – Capt. Peter with another nice drum.

Jason Garey, along with Brian and Brad, two buddies from Houston, TX , had had enough of their hotel room in Orlando and decided to do some serious redfishing. The trio picked a day when most would have never gotten near the water due to the stiff north winds whipping the river into angry ‘tempest tossed.’ Braving the winds and the waves, Capt. Rocky guided the Texans to one of the very few sheltered shorelines on the Indian River. During the afternoon charter, the threesome displayed outstanding skill, strength and stamina while catching three redfish over fifteen pounds, the largest a 45 inch beast caught by Jason and estimated to weigh between 25 and 30 pounds, along a number of big trout. There were several other big brutes battled, including another heartbreaking monster lost boat-side. All in all, despite the nasty conditions, it turned out to be an awesome day on the water for Jason, Brad and Brian.

Capt. Peter had the privilege to fish with Vince Blumberg and his kids Aubrei and Elliott.  Prior to becoming “first-mate”, Elliott started the morning off with a nice seatrout.  Elliott did a fantastic job driving the boat and catching bait until his time ran out and had to be reunited with his mom for a beach date.  Vince and Aubrei were then able to enjoy some father/daughter time and fantastic flats fishing in Florida’s beautiful Space Coast.   Aubrei and Vince caught a variety of fish including redfish, black drum, and trout. (The final picture is ‘first mate’ Elliot having a blast driving the boat.)

Three good friends, Mike, Tim, and Tom, enjoyed a great day of fishing the flats with Capt. Peter this past week on the Banana River near Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach.  Fishing schools of mullet in the early morning provided a good trout bite.  Once the sun warmed the water, the grass flats came alive with schools of big redfish and trout foraging for food.  Concentrating on the sandy potholes near the edges of flats, the trio of anglers caught 13 reds up to 38 inches, and six trout up to 27 inches. Pictured below are Tom and Tim holding a pair of trophy redfish.

Three generations of the Murphy boys, Tom, Peter, Jacob and Conner recently chartered a day of fishing with both Capt. Rocky and Capt. Peter. Leaving Kiwanis Park in Merritt Island, both captains opted to fish along the Sykes Creek arm of the Banana River. Peter and Conner went with the ‘old man’ guide and had a blast catching redfish and big trout. Conner, the youngest Murphy, caught the biggest redfish – a 37 inch, 17 pound bull – while his dad Peter caught the biggest trout measuring 27 inches and weighing an estimated seven pounds. And since both fish are considered trophies, one can imagine a life-long argument insuring over which had the better catch. (The first two pics are of Conner while the final pic is Jacob holding his big red.)

C.R. and Gidget Hall enjoyed the beautiful weather we have been having this week out on the water with Capt. Peter.  The morning was spent fishing schools of black drum and redfish on grassflats on the Banana River.  C.R. and Gidget show off two of their beautiful redfish.

The monthly calendar may have changed but the red-hot redfish action has not. February started the same way January ended with a great day on the Indian River Lagoon chasing tailing redfish for the guests of Native Sons Fishing guides.  The following are accounts of individual angling performances over the last week.

 February began with a bang for Andrew and Rebecca Partridge from Dallas, TX who had a blast on their half-day charter with Capt. Rocky. This father and daughter duo enjoyed a gorgeous winter morning on the Indian River near Titusville, FL with temperatures touching the mid-70s, a far cry from the massive snow and ice storm ripping through their hometown. After some dolphin and manatee watching the pair proceeded to stalk tailing redfish on the flats.  Rebecca caught first red on the first cast at the first stop in the first fifteen seconds of fishing. She then nailed a spotted trout with her second cast and hooked into another redfish on her third cast. Andrew eventually joined the fray with a fat upper slot redfish and a beautiful 24 inch trout on back to back casts. He also caught the last and the largest redfish, a 45 inch, 30 pound beast. What a way to spend a winter day!

 

  

Lee Harp from Wichita, KS and his Uncle Ken from Orlando helped draw the curtain yesterday on one the best months of redfishing in recent memory. The weather was absolutely perfect with balmy temperatures, slick, calm water and bright sunny skies. The redfish took advantage of the spring-like conditions and flooded the flats in search of food. They were served live finger mullet by the Harps and aggressively attached the baits. The final tally on the half-day charter reached doubled digits and featured a pair of double hook-ups of 20 pound plus fish. The largest fish of the day was caught by Lee and weighed nearly 30 pounds.

 

 

Fishing with Dr. Pat Holden and his son Dr. Carlos Holden was a real paradox, pardon the pun. The two docs caught the day after the arrival of our last cold front and were greeted by a low barometer and cool north breezes. This combined to make the fish a bit scare and a tad sluggish. Nevertheless, the Holdens were patient and nailed a couple of very impressive redfish including a monster caught by Carlos and an unbelievably beautiful, 59 spot specimen by Pat. We suspect both fish will be long remembered by the ‘pair of docs’.  

 

 

John, Joe, and Jack fished the flats of the Banana River with Capt. Peter.  The cooler temperatures had the fish seeking warmth.  During the morning, the best fishing came from deeper creeks and canals.  Once the sun warmed the flats, schools of redfish and black drum moved up on the shallows to feed.  Sight-fishing a school of sunning redfish produced this beautiful fish for Joe.