Early Fishing

Capt. Dan Shannon

Even though the air temperature was 75 degrees and the all important water temp was 65 degrees, it`s still not spring time. Not yet. Yesterday, Feb. 12, I took 3 fellows out fishing around the Cedar Key area. They were all friends from upstate New York. They were really glad to get out on the water in the fresh air and feel the sunshine on their faces. Me too. I was optimistic about the results of our trip as we sat at the dock before we left.

We motored all over. We went to all my favorite spots for trout and redfish. The oyster bars had small bait thrashing at the surface. A good sign there may be big reds `patroling` the bar. We didn`t catch 1. Not even a small one.
We then drifted over grass in about 4 feet of water between Deadman`s Key and Seahorse Key. All was very quiet when we heard that sound all fishermen love to hear. Ed`s reel was singin` that song. Line was tearing off the spool and ripping through the water. Trout will come to the surface as soon as they are hooked and splash around and try and throw the hook. This one did just that. It`s a beautiful sight. Angler leaning back, rod bent way over, fish thrashing. I picked up the dipnet real quick and waited alongside until Ed could maneuver Mr. Speckled over to me and I snatched him up and over the side. He measured 22inches.

We got all excited. We just knew the trout were moving in and we were right in their way. We didn`t get another bite.

On the way back to the dock I stopped at another good redfish spot called Grassy Key, and we flipped jumbo shrimp at the edges with no luck. The picture below is Ed Pierce with a trophy trout. I filleted his catch and he had 2 fat slabs of fresh trout to eat that evening.

Like every year it`s mid-March before the fishing gets real active here in Cedar Key. It really picks up with mackerel and redfish and speckled trout, and many other species. Warm weather, light winds and plenty of fish. Call me at 352-221-5463 and we`ll pick out a good morning and go do it. Thanks, Capt. Dan

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