Indian River, FL

[JohnR]

Greg - some day I'm going to make that trip down there. We can send G & K off with the kids and we'll just fish - howboutit?

[schoolie monster]

I think that's a great idea. I know you would like it and if you and I went down, I think we'd be more serious about fishing. I'm serious on the days with the guide, but I've made a pitiful attempt at the surf/wade fishing.

My dad and I pretty much loaf on the off days... of course, that's fun too.

There's alot of places to try too. My next trip will be my 10th since 2000. I'm starting to think I need to try something different. I really want to see the Keys.

The thing that's nice about where I go is the cost. I just wait for a cheap flight to Orlando which are common. Its an hour and a half to Sebastian. Cars are usually fairly cheap. Hotels aren't bad either.

Getting to the keys probably amps the cost up a bit and isn't as easy to get to... plus, at this point, I know my area fairly well, so there's a comfort level. And I'm very comfortable with Tod.

I'm taking Jess down to Mystic on Tuesday... KJ took Lyssie and Brit to Maryland, then to PA for the week. Its eerily quiet here. I never realized to what extent she and I are the quiet ones in the house. I'm sorry, but one kid seems like cake now. I'm almost bored.

She helped me with some engine maintenance today... and we started and ran the motor for a while. The boat is ready to rock except for a new prop. Almost forgot I dinged that last season... sucks that tropicland went down. Need a new honda place.

Later dude.

[Fish On]

Here's a couple redfish a buddy of mine caught in Galveston bay last weekend.

[Fish On]

OK, try again.

[Duke41]

Schoolie Monster--- I fished the same area last February and caught sea Trout and Jacks. I am going to guess you fished a large cove with a few million dollar houses on it and then went across the bay to the Indian River up to the dam? We saw some Tarpon up there but only caught lady fish. Lots of Manatee and dolphins. I have also fished the Keys. Sight fishing the flats at Key West and Pine Island. The fish are a lot larger. Barracuda, Tarpon, Big Jacks, bull sharks, etc.. It is a totally different experience. THe keys are where the bigger fish are for sure. You should check it out.

[schoolie monster]

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.

[Fish On]

OK Schoolie so first you have to understand that I have never personally caught either of these two types of fish. also, I looked at allof the these pictures at the same time and was pretty impressed, so forgive my mistake (though that is no excuse, they are really quite different).

My compliments on your recognizing the black drum even with my presenting them as Redfish. seems like you really know your southern species.

So along with my apologyu I will post a couple pics of the real thing. These ARE redfish that my buddy also caught in the same general area.