The 4th annual Charter Captain for hire work shop was this Wednesday, and it was another great day. Sarah Ellis from the UF IFAS extension office puts on the event and we learn much in the ways of fish biology, marketing and environment issues. I always look forward to this day and hope to attend next year.... Capt. Dan

We got today in and just in the nick of time, as a windy cold front is pushing through tonight. Bill, Roland and Mel were the team today and we spent the majority of the day sending down shrimp and catching a few sheepshead and small grouper. The bite was pretty good right away as Mel had the hot rod; but as the sea's built up and temperature dropped, so did the action. We left the sheepshead grounds on the bumpy sea's and added a couple trout on DOA jerk baits to wrap up the day. Always a fun time with you guys and I thank you... Capt. Dan

What a couple of degrees make! Jeff, Michelle and Ian were on board with me today and the sheepshead action was quite good. I kept it simple today and stayed shallow using live shrimp on a 1/8thoz jig head. With the gulf water temperature at about 54 degrees, it definitely made the fish more active and it sure was good to see some activity from other fish as well; including groupers, porgies and sea bass. Another cold front is on schedule for Tuesday with lows in the 30's again. We'll just have to see what happens, and I'll see you all on the water soon... Capt. Dan

A fun trip with a mother and daughter's team of Janice, Alyse and Amanda on board. It was a foggy day offshore and with the gulf still so cold, we stuck to the sheepshead plan; since it's about the only game in town. The ladies did just fine catching some nice ones, but the bite is still off from what it should be. The fishing should improve in the coming weeks as long as no more major cold fronts hit our area. I thank you all and I'll see you next time... Capt. Dan

Cold, Cold, Cold... That sums up the gulf right now and even though it's at 48 degree's which is extreme for us; we still caught a few fish. Tony and the boys were with me for the day and we gave it our all. I jumped around to various rocks and ledges, but its really tough out there folks until it warms up a bit. A couple sheepshead cooperated for us and secured a few fillets for dinner. The upcoming forecast is looking better, as warmer temperatures are on the horizon. Thank you guys and I'll see you soon... Capt. Dan

A special fun trip for me today as I was able to join good friends JC and Brandon, in JC's go-devil boat and we went for a magic carpet ride. For those of you that don't know, the go-devil boat is the closest ride to an air boat and they can go just about ANYWHERE. For today, we hit the holes way back in Ozello on a very chilly ride and found quite a few trout and red fish. Golden bream colored MirrOlure Lil John's were the flavor of the day on a 1/8thoz jig head. A very fun time and I thank you both... Capt. Dan

A decent weather day to venture offshore and poke around on the sheepshead grounds. The Coleman team was with me today and we were greeted to a chilly gulf temperature at 50 degrees. It's still been tough to get trips in with the weather as it is, and I'm sure I'll be repeating this statement in the coming days as tonight's forecast is projected to be in the 20's. Today though we caught some fine sheepshead, but the bites were slow and I had to move around here and there to get what we caught. Live shrimp on a knocker rig was our baits and be ready to bring in the brass monkey, as its getting cold tonight. Here's Mr. Clell with a fine winter Crystal River sheepshead... Capt. Dan

Hello everyone, I'm sorry for the lack in posts; but with the cold gulf temperature there hasn't been any bait available for my sheepshead charters. Today though, the shrimpers were able to catch some decent shrimp numbers last night and I was able to go to sheepshead land. I had Chris, Mike and Steve on board and we did well. The water temperature is still just above 50 degrees, so the bites are slow. We fished a couple different structures and did OK for the conditions. Some more trying weather is in the forecast, but soon as it breaks; we'll be out there back on the sheep's... Capt. Dan

Day two with the Beeson party and we had the same game plan. The bite was quite a bit slower then yesterday, as there was much more boat traffic on the river and makes it a bit congested. The team and I still caught a few small snook and a fine trout using jigs along the shorelines. The darker colors seem to work a little better for the snook as using anything "flashy", will guarantee a lady fish on the end of your line. A fun, but very cold couple days and I thank you all... Capt. Dan

A quick update before today's report.. Well folks, it looks like a major snook kill for our area from the Withlacoochee area to Chassahowitzka. I've seen lots of pictures of dead snook of all sizes and even though we still have several thousand that are safe in the rivers, the "outside" population took the hit. We'll still have fish to catch, but like the 2010 freeze; it will take some time to recuperate... However though, I did have a great first charter to start 2018 with the Beeson party in Homosassa. Myself and Capt's. Mark Zorn, William Toney, Rick Spratt and John Hamilton all had ice on board our boats and we made something happen in the cold conditions. The gang and I stayed in the river and had some luck with a mixed bag around the springs. Snook, red fish, jacks, large mouth bass, trout and we even jumped a tarpon, filled out our day. It's a small area, but we did OK, as the gulf will be slow for quite a few days. Here's Phil with one of the larger snook of the day... Capt. Dan