Federal agency creates another paper crisis to shut down bottom fisheries

The drumbeat that some anglers may be hearing in the South Atlantic isn’t their imagination. It’s the sound of NOAA Fisheries relentless efforts to slam the door on their fishing access. Using the red snapper fishery as a stalking horse, NOAA Fisheries is preparing to take the highly unusual step of a Secretarial Amendment to impose draconian fishing closures on anglers. Measures that not even the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council thinks are necessary or warranted given what is known about the fishery…

The federal system continues to infuriate both the Gulf and South Atlantic councils and staffs as it creates paper crisis after paper crisis for various species. Stock assessments are far too infrequent, the recreational data system is a mess and economic data is non-existent. It is an outrageous situation, and the public must utterly reject this latest effort as the misguided pursuit of a federal agency that has lost its way.

Click HERE to go to the website where public comments are now being accepted until Nov. 8 on the Environmental Impact Statement. Your help is needed to shut down the Secretarial Amendment before the door is finally slammed on recreational bottom angling in the South Atlantic for good.

We only fished a few days this week till the winds blew up on us and it looks like they are here for a while. It’s normal for this time of year I guess though. Anyway, Capt Joe and Capt Ricky were both able to get offshore and have a little fun with the mahi and some bottom fish. Due to Milton the waters were muddy out to about 200 feet and that did not make the most ideal conditions. But they powered through with it and did ok.

Mahi and sharks are the theme of the week. Actually we had more mahi than kings this week. The water out to 220′ has been an odd color of black. It’s actually black mixed with some brown in it, almost like Okeechobee Cyprus black. Very odd to say the least. Hopefully this week of wind blows it out of here. Bunker and mullet have been in the northern bight and plentiful.

Trolling both has produced many species on the reef and on Pelican. No special secrets or special lures or fluorocarbon nonsense. Just go drag some live bait on the reefs and local wrecks. Tip of the week, fish slow! It hasn’t been on fire by any means but there’s a few fish around to have fun with. AJs are out in the deep but wont be getting to them this week. Jetty fishing with finger mullet has been a hit and miss. But when the tide is perfect, it’s as hard as you can go.

Have fun and be safe!

The Ocean Obsession out of Sunrise Marina at Port Canaveral has been on the fish! Mangrove snapper, mutton snapper and lane snapper are all being caught. If you are interested in getting in on their next Full Moon trip, give them a call ASAP to schedule your spot!

What a great week we had, it was solid fishing every day. Kings and Cobia is what’s for dinner! Bait is located every day up in the corner, both bunker and mullet. Take all that bait straight to the reef and throw them out naked! Only issue this week was the shark population and then mother nature. Try to be back by 2 and you’re golden. Definitely bring your frozen bait just in case you can’t get on that live bait. Frozen cigars from the Cocoa Beach Fishing Center are on point, just ask for Nicky. He’s more than eager to assist you. Shark fishing has also been on point. Fresh king and bonita work just fine and will get you hooked up. Capt Joe has been doing the daily crushings.

Stay safe out there and God Bless y’all.

Happy Labor Day to everybody. Hope y’all got a day off to enjoy a nice day out on the water. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our trip once again due to offshore weather being bad. Go figure the slow season comes. Weekends are always booked and the weather always comes in on weekends. We did quite a few shark fishing trips this week and all were very successful with an abundance of variety type of sharks black nose Black tip, sharpies, small hammer heads.

The Mullet Run is in full swing right now. So the sharks are actively feeding making the near short bite very productive. Fishing down towards the pier in about 35 foot of water has been doing just fine. Keeping the kids happy. Offshore fishing is also in full swing. The local reefs is the father. She needs to go mahi and kingfish. Plenty of those fish out there. They are eating mullet near shore as well as bunker that have also been schooling up everywhere.

Fishing has been on fire lately! It just has not let up and that’s a good thing. If you can catch live bait, that’s great, but honestly, the guys have been leaving with a box of minnows and crushing it. Tip your frozen minnow with your favorite colored King Buster. Species include sailfish, blackfin tuna, cobia, kings and even maui maui. And here’s the best part of it, you don’t have to leave 75 feet! Hit all your local reefs and your favorite hotspots.

Looks like we have another beautiful week coming up, have fun and be safe.

What an ending to a terrible week. Storm Debby came in with high winds like a typical spring break pattern and landlocked us all week. But she gave us a solid last few days and we should see a calm week following. Looks like the local reef has been on fire with kings, mahi, cobia and Capt Joe loaded up with some Blackfin tuna. Pics to follow. Bunker has been steady since the storm and thats making catching easier. Tip your live baits with some dusters.

Good luck and we shall see you out there. Stay safe and God Bless your week.

Every year at some point in August we get the great reset. After months of calm seas, clear water and easy fishing a passing storm will bring summer to an abrupt end.

What do we do when we can finally get back to fishing after this happens? We go deep is the answer. We look to bottom fishing for amberjack and vermillion snapper to make good days. We depend on the shrimp boats to give us action and capitalize on days we find a hard edge in the Gulf Stream to score some pelagics.

In simple terms it means if you are booking a fishing charter and want to catch fish you can keep you will be wasting your money doing anything other than one of our 9 hour full day trips.

Not going to sugar coat it. August sucks, but if that’s when you can go, we can put some good trips together if you give us the time we need to work. Save your money for another time if you can’t commit to a full 9 hour fishing trip.

Super simple report this month. Just is what it is. It has been a phenomenal summer and all things must come to an end. Let’s regroup and go put some work in for August and make great things happen.

Where do I start? Let’s start with the bait. The last few days they have been somewhat easy to find. The bunker have been tucked up shallow in the north tip of the bight. But not every day. Definitely don’t leave the dock without a box of minnows or sardines. A lot of guys are actually using ballyhoo now to troll for kings. They are a little tougher and last longer on the hook. Kings eat them just fine. As does every other species out there. try it out. A bag of small ballyhoo may last longer than a 30$ box of minnows.

The local reefs, 8a and pelican, have been holding fish just fine. or straight out to the lumps. If one spot doesn’t work just go to the next. That’s all we do. Nothing special. SLOW troll those baits and see what happens.

Bottom fishing hasn’t been all that great due to the start of the thermocline. The Cold water is here and shutting the bottom species down a little. Not only is the thermocline here but also a nice tropical storm bringing plenty of wind. So, it looks like we will have a week or so landlocked.

Good luck and have some fun. Be safe and God Bless.

The Ocean Obsession out of Sunrise Marina in Port Canaveral has consistently kept the customers on the fish this summer. Mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, lane snapper, triggerfish and sharks with the occasional kingfish, dolphin or cobia mixed in makes for fun fishing and good eating! Be sure to book your trip with this awesome captain and crew!