Indian River, FL

[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.

[schoolie monster]

Fish On, no need to apologize, I hope you didn't think I was being jerky. After I opened the thumbnails, I thought they were big redfish too. I think when reds get really big, they get more bulky and resemble black drum more. And those fish have a coppery color like reds.

Now that you say that though, I should have known they were black drum though b/c they don't have a spot.

I actually thought maybe they were stocked fish and that's why they looked different. I know they have a big stocking program down there and I know we used to catch some funny looking trout back in my freshwater days.

This was my 6th year fishing down there, but my knowledge is mostly thru reading or shows. After my first trip down to FL, I fell in love with the fishing. So I read about it, check out the shows like "Addictive fishing" that are mostly set in FL. Strange, but I actually read more about southern fish than I do stripers. Probably cause I get to fish for bass 40-50 times a year versus 2 or 3 times in Florida.

ps... those are still huge reds.

[Fish On]

No worries, my compliments on your identifying the black drum.

Tight lines!

[fishaholic18]

I'm going to Vero Beach in a couple weeks. Any suggestions where I can find cherter info.?
I want to try some Florida fishing.