A great advantage of being a Florida native and living on the coast is the abundance of fishing opportunities our state offers. Whether it’s fishing on the open ocean, lake, river, or fishing from the …
Guy Harvey Camp Mack Teams with Bobby Lane, Power Pole and iAngler Launch Hall of Fame Big Fish Tournament. Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge along with Bass fishing pro Bobby Lane and JL Marine Systems, makers …
This post covers some of the best rigs for year-round sheepshead fishing in North East Florida. Many people do not have problems catching convicts but everyone does it differently and there is always a …
Guy Harvey Resorts, the International Game Fish Association and Bass Professional Bobby Lane team up for upcoming Outpost Academy at Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort on November 10th …
Captain George Gozdz provides you lessons and tips on Largemouth Bass A to Z on Reel Time Florida Sportsman featuring Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort and Lake Kissimmee!
While many parts of the country are still dealing with ice, snow, and ridiculously cold temps, here in Central Florida our bass are already in their summer patterns. And that means we are having a fantastic …
One of the patterns that is fairly consistent in late February during periods of extended warm-ups is that redfish feed aggressively on low incoming tides. They usually are foraging hard as they …
Poling a Hell’s Bay skiff along the edge of the mangroves in Florida Bay’s Garfield Bight, Captain Benny Blanco was delighted with the large numbers of baby tarpon roiling the shallow waters. …
The Florida Keys are steadily digging out from under the rubble and crumbled infrastructure left by Hurricane Irma’s devastating winds and floods that left as many as 10,000 residents homeless. …
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![](mailto:?subject=Surf Fishing in the Nation’s Oldest City&body=A great advantage of being a Florida native and living on the coast is the abundance of fishing opportunities our state offers. Whether it’s fishing on the open ocean, lake, river, or fishing from the surf, Florida has a thriving ecosystem that provides anglers an array of fishing experiences. As Florida begins its summer months, I’ve already landed a few pompano, redfish, and whiting on the Atlantic side of the state. While I’ve mostly fished the intercoastal waterway, I recently had the opportunity to learn more about surf fishing alongside Guy Harvey Resorts Pro Guide, Noel Kuhn. Guy Harvey Resorts St. Augustine Beach offers an excellent surf fishing academy for anglers of all experience levels at its resort location. As a founding member of the Florida Surf Casters Club and an expert in surf fishing techniques, Noel will hook you on this sport and have you casting up to 600 feet by the end of your lesson.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LRM_EXPORT_71321871609650_20190627_163932553.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-5336" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LRM_EXPORT_71321871609650_20190627_163932553.jpeg" alt="" width="779" height="778" /></a>Photo by Katie McCafferty
The beautiful pristine coastline of St. Augustine Beach is well known as one of Florida’s premier fishing destinations, which makes it an excellent location for an early morning surf fishing excursion. I met Noel on the beach just north of Anastasia State Park before dawn and began the process of finding the prime location. After choosing our spot near the runout, Noel demonstrated the proper cutting and baiting techniques when using a fresh assortment of blue crabs, clams, sand fleas, and small fish.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LRM_EXPORT_71499200935468_20190627_164229882.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-5338" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LRM_EXPORT_71499200935468_20190627_164229882.jpeg" alt="" width="1496" height="999" /></a>Photo by Katie McCafferty
Throughout the summer months, surf anglers on Florida’s east coast can expect to catch a wide variety of species including redfish, flounder, jacks, whiting, seatrout, and sharks. Due to differences in fish species size, diets, and depths at which they feed, each pole is outfitted with specialized rigging. Noel shared factors such as hook size, test, lures, and types of sinkers that affect your probability of catching fish. Having the proper surf fishing gear combined with the knowledge of fish species migrations are essential to hooking the fish you’re targeting.
As an accomplished surf angler, Noel specializes in long distance casting techniques and demonstrates on multiple rigs the importance of mastering the timing, technique, and tempo of your cast. Regardless of your skill level, he will teach you how to cast long distances and effectively land within the prized sandbar location. An additional benefit of attending the Guy Harvey Outpost Angler Academy is learning from Noel’s expertise in reading the structures of waves and tides and checking for differences in surf to locate the runout and sandbars.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LRM_EXPORT_17719764501515_20190623_110901381.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-5337" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LRM_EXPORT_17719764501515_20190623_110901381.jpeg" alt="" width="1003" height="1002" /></a>Photo by Katie McCafferty
Whether you are a local or vacationing in Florida, the <a href="http://www.Guyharveyresortstaugustinebeach.com">Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts in St. Augustine Beach</a> offers you the opportunity to try your hand at surf fishing while improving your casting techniques. The Angler Academy has surf fishing spots available with Noel Kuhn on ,July 21, August 18, September 22, October 20, and November 17 and can be booked at <a href="http://www.outpostacademy.com">OutpostAcademy.com</a>. All gear and equipment will be provided and ready on site when you arrive. The only items necessary for you to bring along are your fishing license, sun protection, and a notepad. In addition to surf fishing, Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts offers many ecoadventures for the whole family that can be booked directly on the Outpost website. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/surf-fishing-in-the-nations-oldest-city/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Capturing Convicts: Sheepshead Rigs & Tips&body=This post covers some of the best rigs for year-round sheepshead fishing in North East Florida. Many people do not have problems catching convicts but everyone does it differently and there is always a new way to learn. They are great tasting, fun to catch, and a good option when the weather is poor and Redfishing is slow or your clients are die-hard bass fishermen that “set the hook” a little too much. If you would like to learn more about catching sheepshead or have a special way that you do it, drop a comment at the bottom.
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The Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) are chewing right now in St. Augustine. With even some of the most novice anglers racking up double digits in a weekend, there are no secrets on how to catch them. Everyone does it a little differently even though most anglers say they do it the “right way.” Here is a little bit about what has been successful for me sheepshead fishing around St. Augustine for many years.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SheepsheadBoy.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5256" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SheepsheadBoy-300x295.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="295" /></a>Photo courtesy of Florida Memory “Sheepshead boy” Note: Not me…
I mainly use three different techniques for capturing convicts. The most common way is with a slip sinker rig, next is with a jig head, and last is with a speargun or gig. Usually the most successful days come from using the traditional slip sinker rig but I have racked up some serious meat with the speargun.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_9946.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5257" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_9946-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Mustad O’Shaughnessy live bait hook Extra Short 1/0 or 2/0
These are great hooks for tucking a fiddler crab or two on. Occasionally, I’ll use a double strength version of these hooks that is even better for fishing the nearshore wrecks and other deep water.
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Hooks are some of the most important choices in fishing.. obviously. These hooks have rarely failed me on all kinds of fish including on sheepshead.
Leader: Following is a six to eight-inch section of 20 pound monofilament leader tied using Uni-Knots directly to the hook and swivel. Swivel strength is always a bit heavier than the heaviest line I might use.
Weight selection: I use the lightest weight I can to get to the bottom. A 1/2oz to 3oz weight. Anything heavier than 3oz will make it hard to feel the sheepsheads bite and react before they are gone.
Rod & Reel: A bait caster reel thrives when fishing for sheepshead. I stick to the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur series. Either the S, C3, or C4 models are great choices depending on budget.
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Choosing the right rod for sheepshead should be based on strength, longevity, and length. A shorter rod with more back bone will help you tremendously when wrenching that convict out of the pilings. Save your money on buying super high-end fishing rods while sheepshead fishing because if you go enough, you will break a tip, bust an eye, or scratch it up on the barnacles around pilings.
Shoreline / Shell bottom fishing for Sheepshead
This is a very fun way to get into the convicts. Sometimes they are really chewing on the shell banks and other rock bottoms around this area. The traditional sheepshead rig will not be very effective in this situation because you will miss many bites.
Try using a jighead combo on spin tackle with a fiddler crab or shrimp.
Here is how:
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An 1/8th oz head with a 2/0 hook is just the right size for keeping a crab on the bottom long enough to get the bite. Following that is about a 2 foot piece of 20lb or 30lb Monofilament tied line to line to the main line using a double Uni-Knot. If you have the crabs to spare, using two fiddlers on one hook with a jighead will catch more fish.
As a disclaimer, you should always adjust your tackle to your fishing conditions regardless of what you are fishing for. Tides, wind, water clarity, and bait all play a factor in line choices and hook sizes. Sometimes Sheepshead are wide open and others they are very picky and need a little bit of encouragement.
Bring a shovel to crush up chum, like oysters, and to scrape barnacles off of pilings. The investment of time collecting a full bucket of chum will go a long way.
Remember to be respectful when fishing around docks and scraping peoples pilings, they paid a lot of money for their docks and sometimes forget that they do not “own” the water underneath it.
Be safe and Catch fish!!
By Guy Harvey Resort Pro Team
Captain Jakob Hardy
<a href="http://www.Fishardy.com">www.Fishardy.com</a>
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 these late winter reds are somewhat persnickety and a little spooky by nature. So picking the right artificial lure to get a positive reaction (we call that a bite) is very difficult. But during these warm up periods with rising temps the redfish typically get a bit reckless. That's when an experienced angler can take advantage of what I call the perfect scenario .
So what lure is ideal for this situation? Well the truth is several offerings will get the job done including spoons, jigs, plugs and even flies. Because when redfish are actively hunting and devouring food... all lures are in play. But still I have a few favorites that allow for accurate casting in spite of windy conditions like the BTB Jig (root beer) with a split tail trailer. Or the Mirrolure Catch Jr (finger mullet look) with single inline hooks, which plays well in cloudy or windy scenarios. And lastly the trusty Aqua Dream Spoons (black color) it gets the call for many anglers including me. Remember spoons are great choices if the clarity of the water is somewhat turbid (dirty/stained). But again if the redfish are fired up, any lure could be the answer... even top water plugs!
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Additionally, don't use a long heavy leaders. Shorter leaders in the 20" to 24" lengths are adequate. Too much leader destroys the action on light weight plugs or pulls the jig down into the grass... creating a fouling issue. And unless your fishing an area inundated with lots of Oyster a 20lb. leader weight should do just fine in most cases.
Also consider, a small skiff or kayak is a huge advantage when targeting these low water redfish. The ability to be ahead of the grazing reds will allow you dozens of shots in comparison to the larger heavier boats more reliant on trolling motors getting to the feed zone a little later. I know it's more work to push pole or paddle into the skinny water (shallow) but that extra 45 minutes to an hour of fishing when the water is low, really pays off.
Here's what you really need to know and that is to focus your efforts on the warming trends later this month and the low incoming tides of course. It may be freezing in some parts of the U.S. this time of year but the light tackle action on redfish in Florida is "red hot"! https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/redfish-in-florida-is-red-hot/){kind=link}
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