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Fish On... I thought those were black drum when I first saw the thumbnail b/c of the size and shape. Those are big reds!
They do get bull reds staging up in the inlets during the winter months in Florida. We drifted live baits thru the inlet during a couple tides the first day but couldn't get past the rat bluefish that were absolutely stacked in there. The second day the inlet was unfishable due to high winds and surf. A couple years ago, my wife and I each hooked up with a couple big reds, but they just shredded the leaders on the rocky bottom and we didn't get one into the boat.
Its almost two separate fisheries with the big fish outside and offshore, while the slot-sized fish inhabit the flats and mangroves inside the ICW. I really enjoy and prefer the inshore flats stuff, but I would love to get one of those monsters.
Duke, there are a few areas like that with sick houses. I think you were in the Sebastian River up by the dam? We tucked up in there last year to escape wind and and I had a couple shots at tarpon on jerkbaits, but couldn't get the hook thru... but that was towards the end of March. In '03, we were down there in May and we got tarpon up in the Sebastian. They were pretty active at that point.
I'm kinda limiting myself by fishing that area at that time of year. Its mostly trout, a few reds and small snook, and not in great numbers. But I like breaking up the winter, so I don't want to go later when the better fishing takes place (at that point, we are fishing up here). I think getting farther south into the keys probably would be the way to go. Like you said, there are more options down there.
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