Team Blogger (s) Wanted

I am currently building a blogging and forum web site about fishing in the Hernando/Pasco area. I fish the Hernando Beach area about 4 times a week when the weather is nice and write a blog about fishing in the Hernando Beach area.

If any one is interested in blogging about your fishing adventures in the Hernando area please let me at zippyjr123@gmail.com FYI: using Google Blogger is as easy as writing an email.

Requirements:

Be willing to post information/knowledge and pictures/video about your fishing adventures and fishing conditions. You would not be expected to share your numbers, but a general location would be helpful. i.e. A depth "35ft" or Distance "22 miles" etc. The benefit is that you will have a record of your fishing trips (with pictures/video) for many years to come!

You will need a free Google gmail account for access to the blog account.

Red Snapper Report 06/21/09

Over the weekend I was invited to go offshore, unfortunately I had other plans for the weekend. I have recently talked to several anglers who have braved the heat and high gas prices to run out to 60-80 feet. The reports where all about the same. Lots of short gag grouper and in less than 50 feet the short red grouper are so thick that it's hard to catch any legal fish.

While the grouper fishing is somewhat difficult everyone agrees that the snapper fishing is better than most can remember. Over the last 3 weekends, the anglers I spoke to limited out every trip on red snapper and big gray snapper (mangrove snapper). The biggest red snapper reported was 28 lbs with several other over 20 lbs. And most of the mango snappers have been in the 5 lbs pound range.

The key to snapper fishing is downsize your tackle and use long fluorocarbon leaders. Leaders should at least 6 ft min (the longer the better). Most grouper rods are rigged up with 60 - 100# mono or braid, loaded with 4-8oz lead. With snappers keen eye sight you would be hard pressed to catch a snapper with that rig. Bring a couple of rods rigged up with 20 and 30# mono or braid and reduced lead. You will want to use the lightest weights just so the baits sink. Remember the snapper have no problem come up 10-20 feet off the bottom for a meal and catching them that high off the bottom allows you to use lighter line.

The heat and gas price may slow down many anglers, but the ones who do head well offshore seem to collect their rewards in snapper.

Good Luck
Zippyjr

Shallow Water Grouper Report

Report 06/19/2009.

The latest shallow water grouper report came from two friends that spent last week fishing everyday. They fished in 12-14 ft of water and limited out everyday. Most keepers where 25 - 27 in while the biggest was 32 in. They also caught many shorts (but fewer than the offshore reports) as well as a few short red grouper. Which I believe is a strong indication that the red grouper are making a very healthy recovery.

Off of Hernando/Citrus counties there is a large flat area that starts in 10ft out to 13ft. This large area of grass flats is about 4 -6 miles wide and it has many low profile rocks. Most of these rocks are very hard to find on a depth recorder, unless you go directly over it. Over the years I have found many, but I know there are many many more out there. The way I found most of them is in the fall drifting trout. Sometimes you will hook grouper other times you can see them busting the top of the water chasing bait. Yes grouper will hit surface baits. The largest shallow water grouper I have caught was 24lbs while trolling a skip baits. When something like this happens make sure you mark the area. If the water is murky, you may not be able to find the rock. If you mark the location, you can always come back when the water is clear.

Typically by this time of year, all the larger grouper have moved to deeper water and will return in late September. This is another good sign that the grouper population should continue build over the next 7-10 years, unless gas prices stay high. Then I could see the grouper stock returning to their maximum potential levels.