Feliz Navidad from Old Homosassa!
Feliz Navidad from Old Homosassa!
We’d like to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season and all the Best Wishes/Catches for 2012! I can’t believe it’s almost the end of the year; wow did that year just whip by? Is it me or does each year go faster as we age? 2011 has been very kind to us and we’ve experienced all sorts of wonderful events and occasions over the last 12 months. Special thanks to everyone that fished and scalloped with us this past year, you’ve made this our most memorable and rewarding season yet! I’d also like to thank all the folks at Mac Rae’s Bait Shop, Jason, Stephanie, Craig, Bobby and Thomas; I appreciate all you did for me throughout the year. We hope to see you all again in 2012, Let’s go CATCHING!
As I did last winter, (it’s 83 degrees outside while I’m typing), I will not be doing any charters during December, January and February. One because it’s been so cold the last two winters, two because the wind is always blowing, especially out of the East, and three I’ll be traveling, (mostly South), during those months. I don’t know about you but I just don’t enjoy fishing when it’s cold, windy and there isn’t any water. If you’d still like to fish during those months, I’ll be glad to book a charter for you with one of the other local/loco Guides. If you’re thinking about booking a charter in March or April, don’t wait as my calendar is already starting to fill. Also please don’t forget to book your Scallop charters and hotel rooms early as that is our busiest time of the year. Scallop season normally opens July 1st and runs through September 10th.
Remember those hard to buy for anglers on your shopping list with a Gift Certificate, available on our Home Page at www.HomosassaRedfish.com for a memory and adventure that will never be forgotten! Our first time, “Introductory Offer”, of $299.00, for an all-inclusive full day charter for one to four anglers would even make Santa a very happy fisherman!
2011 started for me in one of my favorite places in the world, Islamorada in the Florida Keys. I fished with one of my oldest fishing buddies, Captain Rich Mitchell. The closest Rich and I can figure is that we’ve been fishing together for between 15 and 20 years now. It’s always a pleasure to visit the “Sportfishing Capital of The World” with Rich and his “foodie” wife, Francine! If you’re in Islamorada give him a call as I’m sure you’ll have a great day on the water.
From there I departed for South Andros Island in the Bahamas and fished 5 days with Lonnox and Timothy at the Pleasant Bay Bonefish Lodge. As I arrived at the lodge I was met by “Sweet Charlene” who instantly felt like a lifelong friend. Staying at this lodge was like staying at someone’s home, very comfortable from the moment I arrived. Wading the flats of South Andros was amazing to say the least, every flat held huge schools of Bonefish. Caught my first Bonefish on a fly! We caught at least 10 Bonefish all five days I fished!!
After returning to the states, I met my wife, Cynthia in Dallas for all the Super Bowl festivities. It was just a little colder in Dallas then it was on South Andros Island! Towards the end of March we met our good friends Lisa and Captain Ben Marshall on Bokeelia Island in Charlotte Harbor for a week of fishing and relaxing. We stocked both of our freezers with mucho fillets! Cynthia and I also fished one day with one of the local legends of that area Captain Chris Wittman. While with Chris, Cynthia caught her first and second Snook and I managed to catch another in-shore Grand Slam, Snook, Redfish and Trout! Cynthia was only a Trout short of catching her first Grand Slam! In April, we shot our first TV show with Chef Pete Flores from Hook, Line & Skillet. That was a lot of fun and the day was full of action as we caught 14 different species! We made a brief stop in Savannah in June on our way to a relatives wedding on Kiawah Island near Charlestown, South Carolina. We fished with Captain Champ Smith out of Mount Pleasant for a half day and it was the first time Cynthia and I both caught Redfish outside of Florida! It’s always nice to fish and learn from a true professional. Plus he let me catch more fish then Cynthia! In August we departed for a trip of a lifetime to Ireland! What started as a four day Salmon fishing adventure purchased at a Coastal Conservation Association, (CCA), banquet turned into three weeks of touring the Emerald Isle. We fished at the Glenmore Rivers Lodge in County Donegal with Sim Hay. Not only was Sim an awesome fishing guide he showed us around the local area and pubs and has become a friend for life. Cynthia caught the only Salmon, on a fly! As I said earlier we have been very fortunate and blessed to have experienced all sorts of wonderful events and occasions over the last 12 months.
What will 2012 hold? Oh yeah, I’m starting the year by going South to the Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize sill hunting my first Permit before heading to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis!
Take a spouse, child, friend or your entire family on an exciting outdoor adventure here in our tiny fishing village and experience Florida like it was hundreds of years ago! Come bend a rod with us in one of Florida’s last best kept secrets, the beautiful and productive waters of Homosassa and Chassahowitzka! Let’s go CATCHING!! HAPPY EVERYTHING!!!