CaptainRW1's Fishing Report

FISHING REPORT
Florida Central West Coast
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BRADENTON - OFFSHORE & INSHORE
(May 10, 2005)

SPRING 2005

OFFSHORE The weather controlled a large part of the beginning of 2005. January and February left a few days that were fishable in deeper waters. Amberjack were a little harder to attract this year, but we were able to bring quite a lot to the boat with sustained chumming. As I said, weather hindered long trips on many days early this year. Early spring, particularly March had a lot of windy days causing more cancellations than normal. On days we were able to get out, we still had to go to deeper water to build a reasonable box.

April was the big change, with a lot of late Kings, some great Cobia, and Shark. The Little Tuny stock seemed to be smaller. When we brought them in with chum, it would be just a few instead of fifty or better. But, we did get them quite regularly. The Spanish Mackeral were unusually large with some going into the six or seven pound range. Most shark were Bull, Blacktip, Spinner, Blacknose, and a Dogtooth here and there. The Cobia were varying sizes, but in every pod there seemed to be a good keeper size, although we did release several at the boat that were smaller. Next seasons keepers. Red tide is and has been a struggle for most down South of us, and is beginning to become a problem here too. We are having to go North or South or out farther to get away from it, but have been sucessful so far. In general fishing has been decent this Spring. So come and have some fun.

Snapper fishing has been pretty regular with some quite large ones in shallower water. The Grouper scene in shallow water has been speratic at least. Some Gags are found, but not many legal Reds unless you are willing to go to deeper waters. There seemed to be a lot more huge Great Barracuda than usual.

Bent rods and screaming reels, see ya on the water.

Captain RW

Numbering opened 06/11/05