We have had a fantastic snook, redfish, trout, and tarpon bite this fall. The snook, redfish, trout, and black drum fishing will continue to get better as the water cools. The cooler water schools the fish up on the shallow flats. We are trying to book up as many dates as we can for the world class redfish and black drum fishing that occurs December/January. During this time, the drum join up in schools of hundreds and feed up on shallow sandbars and flats – this makes for incredible sighfishing! The following are some of our recent trips we’ve highlighted.
While vacationing in the Cocoa Beach, Alan wanted to give his entire family a chance to experience the great fishing the area has to offer. Capt. Peter split the day into two trips, taking Alan and his dad out in the morning and then taking his three boys out afterwards. The morning started off fast and furious with non-stop redfish coming over the side. Peter pushed a school of 27-34” reds up into a cove and the two anglers caught over 12 in the first hour and then switched gears for the big fish. Moving out to clear sand flats, Alan got to fish the big bull reds as they schooled up on them to feed.
After dropping off one and picking up three, the goal was to stay on fish and show the boys a good time. Fishing small schools of redfish, the boys had steady action on big, drag screaming redfish. When the boys were tired of pulling on fish, it was time to jig for trout. Peter took the boys to a trout spot on the edge o f a drop off and tied on DOA cal jigs. Casting jigs, the boys caught trout on almost every cast until it was time to head back.
Joe Schneider of Merritt Island booked Capt. Rocky for a half day of fishing in the Titusville stretch of the Indian River on a balmy early fall day. It did not take long to find schooling reds in the slick calm waters and Joe caught a number of the hard pulling bulldogs. There were enough memories already when shortly afternoon a monstrous redfish exploded on a mullet in the shallows. After a forty five minute epic battle Joe finally had his trophy fish. The fish measured 56 inches and weighed a guestimated 50 pounds.
Capt. Peter had the privilege of fishing with two docs, his good buddy Dr. Garrett Wegerif, and Dr. Garrison. The doctor duo sighfished 6 snook from 38-45″, trout, redfish, and two tripletail. The water was crystal clear – a beautiful day on the Indian River! It’s hard to beat the rush you get casting to a 30 pound snook sitting in 2 feet of gin clear water 30 feet in front of the boat…let alone a never ending parade of snook that lasts for hours!
This type of fishing can be done on a regular basis in the Sebastian area – highly recommended!!!
Natalie van Hoose from West Lafayette, Indiana can only visit home twice a year and those visits are not complete unless she can spend at least one day with her dad fishing the shallows of the Indian River lagoon system. Her last visit found her wading the sandy shoreline of the Banana River stalking huge reds and trout. Pictured below is Natalie holding a 27 inch trout and a huge red.
Mike Rimkus chartered Capt. Peter for a half day morning trip in the Sebastian area. Fishing with his two friends, Mikey whacked ’em – catching trout up to 33″, sightfished a 43″ snook, and landed six redfish. Great job on the mega snook and grand slam Mikey!
Saige from Nebraska is quite a fisherman and his mother wanted to treat him to a birthday present charter with Capt. Rocky catching big fish in shallow water. And it turned out to be the kind of birthday present he’ll remember for a long, long time. Saige caught a number of reds and trout during the charter including the huge fish pictured below and a double catch and release which is not easy for even a seasoned angler to accomplish.
Capt. Peter had a fun two days with Mike and Wayne – catching multiple grand slams. Jumping 7 tarpon (most got the best of us), four snook, a pile of trout up to 27″, tripletail, and a half dozen big reds made for some great memories!
