Departments



Articles

Less

Fishing News: Spring Fishing is ON
April 17th, 2011

Fishing News: Winter Redfish in the Waccasassa
January 14th, 2011

Fishing News: The Reds are Running
October 17th, 2010

Fishing News: Labor Day Redfish
September 25th, 2010

Fishing News: Chiefland Bass Fisherman Faces Fraud Charges
September 5th, 2010

Fishing News: Another Great Day of Fishing in Cedar Key
June 24th, 2010

Fishing News: Gone Fishin`: Birthday Trip
May 31st, 2010

Fishing News: Redfish Rendezvous at Deadman`s Key
May 22nd, 2010

Fishing News: Fishing Weather - Finally!
April 5th, 2010

Fishing News: A Window of Weather for Fishing
July 16th, 2009

Fishing News: Shore Fishing to Require License
July 15th, 2009

Fishing News: Trout Bite
May 2nd, 2009

Fishing News: Gone Fishin`: The Fish Are Back!
March 23rd, 2009

Fishing News: Fishing is Goooooood!
November 28th, 2008

Fishing News: The Best Fishing Day
October 16th, 2008

More

Summer Fishing

Summer Fishing

Capt. Dan Shannon

It`s been so stormy lately, I have not been able to get out and fish the inshore waters of Cedar Key, Florida. Today, Aug. 26th, tropical storm Isaac is moving up the west coast of Florida. It has already rained so much, that the water just sits on the ground in large puddles now, unable to soak into the upper layer of dirt. It`s hot and humid. Like all past Augusts`. The wind is light and the seas are flat and smooth. Late at night, if the moon is full you can see for miles out over the Gulf of Mexico. I can remember nights like that 35 years ago when I commercial fished the offshore waters between St. Petersburg, Fl. and Appalachicola, Fl. Just me and the Captain aboard a 28ft. solid wooden boat powered by a 6 cyl diesel engine. Comfort wasn`t a consideration. Filling up the 1000lb. fish box was our mission.

Imagine motoring from rock pile to rock pile and sending down whole bait fish, 60 to 90 feet deep, to bring up 40lb. Black Grouper and Red Snapper and Red Grouper.Captain Keith would fish all day and anchor up at night and get some shut-eye. He didn`t go at it steady 24 hours like some boats did back then. We`d fish an area called the `Florida Middle Grounds` out about 100 miles until we were full and then make our way into Appalachicola and sell our catch there and spend a night in town and then re-supply and shove off and fish our way back down to John`s Pass just south of Clearwater, Fl. and sell that box full down there. With a few days off, we would act how fishermen with big paychecks` act all over the world. Then tidy up and tighten down the boat and re-supply and do it all over again. Summer time fishing was real easy. Of course we watched out for the occasional hurricane. We`d cut those real close sometimes.

You know, I don`t get offshore in deep water much anymore. My charter business in strictly inshore along the islands and shallow flats. We don`t even fish at night, but I can still remember those full moon nights when the ocean was smooth as glass and the stars seemed right on top of us. Sure slept good on that little boat.

Folks, if the hurricanes don`t get us and its` not raining, call me at 352-221-5463 and we`ll get out on the fertile waters of Cedar Key, Fl. and catch some redfish, we are hooking up with reds all around the oyster bars right now, and speckled trout too. Check out the pictures at:
http://www.inshorefloridafishing.com
thanks, Capt. Dan

Click for printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

 

 

© 2013
Cedar Key News

cedarkeynews@gmail.com