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Luke Howard in the winter of 1802-1803 classified these lumpy cloud masses found close to earth as cumulus from the Latin word for heap or pile

Could this be something found at the bottom of the Gulf? click on it

A few of the mangrove islands where the action takes place

Colonel Sanders

Redfish This what every flats angler dreams about...a 50lb red caught and released in the warm waters of the Gulf. This spawner is probably 30 years old and is not a flats fish, but a deep water denizen.    The range of redfish extends up the Atlantic coast with Maryland being the northern limit, although a few can be found as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Mexico.    The best fishing for reds in history is NOW! Thanks to completely closed seasons in the 1980's populations of this mighty fish is exploding with the skinny water of the flats absolutely boiling with these tailing beauties. Schools of reds in the hundreds and in the 10 lb range is common and can be evidenced throughout the entire state of Florida. This is quite a difference from the mid 1980's when most anglers found it impossible to find a red over a foot long and these 'rats'  were usually caught in the canals during winter.

This is what it's all about. A 50 lb red fish is every flat anglers dream. Under current laws, this giant is off-limist to harvest from federal waters but is doing its' job in restoring the near shore population for flats anglers. Catch and release photos are remarkable.

Send your photos.

Sea Cow

While you're out fishing for reds in Florida, you may come upon this gentle aquatic denizen. The Manatee is a large aquatic mammal native to Florida and is found in near-shore waters where it feeds on sea grass and aquatic vegetation.

Alpha Zekko small medium

An all tackle World Record red caught off Hatteras Island, North Carolina in 1984 weighing 94 lbs 2 ozs.

Worms are used for bait by anglers worldwide. Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of one of these soil munchers is like? Misery Likes Company will give you a good indication

Redfish Recording

Knocking: (189 kB WAVE) -This sound is produced by spawning male redfish vibrating their bladders. It sounds like someone knocking on a door. A group of vibrating reds together can sound like galloping horses. An actual recording

click

The South Pole receives more sunlight than any other place on earth although an average hot summers' day is only 32 F

Other Fish Recordings

Spotted Sea Trout Weakfish Silver Perch Oyster Toadfish Atlantic Croaker Shrimp

This is me and the illustrious Captain Kirk of West Coast Fishing Charters with a red caught from under the mangrove branches behind us. These fish are extremely powerful and put up quite a fight. You can see from Kirk's shirt how deep we were wading. When out in the water like this you must remember to shuffle your feet when walking to chase off any stingrays that may be resting on the bottom.

These tailing beauties (tailing is when the red breaks water with its' tail while feeding in these shallow areas) come to the grassy flats to feed on the abundant forage. Where the grass opens into sand pockets is another area you certainly want to fish. Reds have a remarkable life span and can live up to 60 years and approach 100 pounds in weight.

St. Johns River, Florida

Here are more sites for info on this wonderous creature: Site1 Site2 Site3

This is why you shuffle your feet when wading The Southern Stingray is a shallow, coastal water fish that can cause you a problem if you step on it and it decides to slap your leg with its' venemous barb.

Why, you may ask, is the St Johns River being included on a redfish/flats fishing page? Well I'll tell you why. The St John has one of the most abundant populations of fresh water stingrays in the U.S. and is the only known population that reproduces and; completes its' life cycle in freshwater. So if you're swimming up the lazy river or wading for bass don't forget....shuffle!!

This is a great interactive fishing site for young anglers. As adults, we must start our kids young to promote a life time of dedication to the sport.

The photo is not too clear but the white object is a bait container filled with pin fish or shrimp.....the pins are netted in the early morning, usually at daybreak, before we head out to the flats

Stingrays or not, wading is still my favorite method of fishing for reds...and one of the most productive

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