Huy Coy with a Pompano
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Fishing that is. Fishing out and around the Cedar Key area is still going strong. I know it`s hot - 95 degrees - and it`s been storming for a month now, with on again, off again rain and wind. But I got out with Hugh Coy and his grandson Cameron on Monday, and the whole day was clear and calm and only 90 degrees, with water temperature of 85. The water clarity was really good at 8 to 10 feet. We went out over some spotty bottom just west of North Key and started soaking some shrimp at the very beginning of the incoming tide. Granddad Hugh hadn`t been in the water more than two minutes when his float was snatched down under, and line from his reel started screaming off. That`s such a jolt to hear an extended screech of line being ripped out as a strong fish runs with your bait. It acted like a shark zig zagging all over, but as it came into view I saw it was a pompano. A nice fat one. I dipped it up and measured it at 14 inches. In the cooler it went. 
Cameron Coy with a shark
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We caught the usual pinfish and catfish and small trout. A lot of under-the-15-inch-limit speckle trout. Among those small trout there were two large ones. Hugh and grandson Cameron each caught 18 inch and 17 inch trout. Then after a short lull, both hooked into sharks: two bonnet head sharks at the same time. They really fight hard. You have to get out of your chair and walk back and forth on the boat and some times maneuver all around the boat. Granddad and grandson had to duck under each other to keep their lines untangled. I netted them both, and we took a picture with Cameron and his shark, and then we released them both. We ran over to Deadmans Key and angled for red fish next to the oyster bars but didn`t have a bite. There are still thousands of birds nesting on Seahorse Key. What a sight to see hundreds of Frigate birds gliding as high as you can see on the thermal currents up there. You can stare at them for a while and see that they never flap a wing. Just floating along. There were so many this past Monday, it looked like the flying monkeys in the "Wizard of Oz." 
Cameron Coy with a Trout
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When we docked back inside Cedar Key, I filleted three fat speckled trout and the most delicious pompano for the two anglers and wrapped them up in a zipper bag with ice. Folks, we saw many bait pods and mackerel jumping high over them and smashing thru them everywhere we went. Couldn`t hook a one. It`s not too hot sitting over 85 degree water under my shade top. So if you want to catch your own fresh fish call me at 352-221-5463 and we`ll arrange a date and time for you and your group. Check out the pictures on my website, http://www.inshorefloridafishing.com Thanks, Capt. Dan | 