islandvp.com April 2013 | 27A www.siestasand.net • 941.539.0205 • APRIL 2013
Water World
|Captain Jim Klopfer
Adventure Charters 941-371-1390
Mother Nature has been kind to Sarasota in 2013. Sunny skies and warm days have the water temperature up higher than normal and the fish are a little ahead of schedule. April should offer incredible fishing for a variety of species. Big Pass and New Pass will be alive with fish migrating in and out of the bay this month. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano, and ladyfish should be plentiful. Pompano prefer a small white or chartreuse jig bounced along the bottom while the mackerel are often found higher in the water column or breaking on the surface. There is nothing more exciting than casting a surface plug on light tackle or a fly into a feeding frenzy! Action on the deep flats will be very good for speckled trout, pompano, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish. The best flats to fish will be from Siesta Drive north to Long Bar. Flats that are near both passes will be especially productive. A ¼ ounce Cotee jig in gold, olive, or rootbeer is a great lure to prospect with; a lot of water can be covered and just about every species will hit it. Rapala X-Raps work very well when surface activity is seen, they also are a great lure to troll slowly and locate schools of fish. Silver and gold spoons are another good choice. Live bait works very well, too. There should be plenty of whitebait to net up and of course a live shrimp free lined or fished under a noisy float is a deadly technique. The area between Siesta Drive and Blackburn Point
Spanish mackerel are plentiful in April and are great sport. Dan Vukner fooled this one on a fly!
will be good for snook as they migrate out towards the beach to spawn. Any point, oyster bar, dock, or creek mouth that drops off into deeper water is a likely spot to try. High, outgoing tides are best. Plugs cover a lot of water and result in vicious strikes while jigs require more patience but will fool more redfish along with snook. Don’t be surprised when a big jack crevelle or trout inhales an offering meant for a snook or red. This has been a fantastic season for sheepshead and while it is past its peak there should still be plenty of these tasty saltwater panfish around. Docks, seawalls, and bridges near passes will hold sheepies. A live shrimp fished on the bottom will fool them, along with snapper, grouper, and flounder. Surf fishing should be very good for Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, flounder, pompano, and more. Live or frozen shrimp fished near the bottom with a little weight works well. Spoons, plugs, and jigs will also catch plenty of fish. April is a great month for anglers with a small boat and not a lot of experience to catch big fish. The beaches and inshore artificial reefs will be thick with king and Spanish mackerel, along with false albacore and the occasional cobia. Trolling spoons is very easy and deadly on all species.
|Tour by Land and Sea with Just Ducky Tours... It’s a trip on the JD Dolphin LARC V (Light Amphibious Resupply Craft), an ex military vehicle commonly known as a duck. The comfortable, open air boat is U.S. Coast Guard certified for up to 27 passengers. One climbs a ladder to board because the trip starts in a parking lot beside US 41 (the Tamiami Trail) in Nokomis located between Sarasota and Venice. Once aboard, Captain Stewart and son Shane give you the history of “Ducky” and its capabilities. Then you are off down the three lanes of US 41 high above the traffic - much to the amazement of passing motorists. Shane hoots his ancient horn at people and there is much waving by everyone on board. Ducky enters the water at the old railroad station park in Venice. The captain points out nature habitats and other highlights of land and sea as you travel the picturesque inland waterways of Venice and Casey Key down to the Gulf of Mexico. Often dolphins swim alongside and an occasional manatee is sighted.
You’ll see ospreys, other wildlife, and beautiful waterfront sights. The Duck returns to shore at Higel Park boat launch on Venice Island. You’ll then travel by land down scenic Venice Avenue with much more hooting at the pedestrians and storekeepers. Then you’re back over the bridge that you had earlier gone under by water. Back to the lot and you’ll be talking about this cruise for a long time! Small coolers, binoculars and cameras are welcome. Daily Trips Depart from Nokomis at 10, 12 and 2. Location # 15 on our Waterway map located on page 23. 1011 Tamiami Trail South Nokomis, FL 34275 (Just South of Capt. Eddies restaurant) For Reservations contact Just Ducky Amphibious Tours by calling (941) 485-6366