Fishing with Frank Almeda, July 2009

Offshore action is intense! We've been catching large red grouper, amberjacks, mahi-mahi, mangrove snappper, gag grouper, yellow tail snappper, big sharks – including black tip sharks. The best action is past 100 ft, and live bait such as pinfish has been working best.

Last Tuesday we guided Frank Almeda & his party through a bunch of gag & red grouper and snapper. Fishing was fast and furious, but because of his experience and skill, we were catching the largest and most impressive grouper. Frank is not only a thirty-eight year resident of Anna Maria Island, but he's 87 years old, which made his fishing skills even more astounding. Though he's the president of the Rod and Reel Pier Fishing Club, it was his first trip with Show Me The Fish Charters, and it was most definitely phenomenal. Way to go Frank!

July 15th Fishing Forecast

Offshore fishing is and WILL be great this summer in West Central Florida area. Monster red grouper are one of the hot species this month. The best action you'll find is 120 ft and deeper for the fire truck red grouper. Along with these bruisers of grouper, we are catching gag & scamp grouper, American red snapper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, tilefish, and mahi-mahi on the offshore wrecks; also we've been seeing many amberjacks, permit, cobia, barracudas, and a variety of sharks lately out there on those same wrecks. For our red grouper trips we start out on swiss cheese bottoms, that range from 120 to 160 ft, using dead sardines and squid. This combination of bait gets the red grouper fired up and then we throw in some dessert of live baits, such as pinfish, sandperch, and grunts; that's when we catch some serious monsters. Many of our parties need some help or even a spotter to help get these bad boys off the bottom because they are so heavy. Sometimes even our most fit anglers needs to tap out and recieve some help! August is also a tap out month for deepwater pelegics, especially bull dolphin. You can catch schoolies 100ft out and deeper, but the bull mahi mahi are usually out past 150 ft; that seems to really be the hot zone this month. We like to troll skirted bally-ho at about 5 knots at this time of the year. Using the trolling method, you can certainly catch wahoo, swordfish, billfish, and blackfin tuna... It's both exciting and intense! While I troll, I'm always watching my depth finder, and ferreting out new grouper and snapper spots. If you fish offshore, and do bottom fishing at around 350-400 ft, you can definitely catch some nice kitty mitchell groupers and Warsaw groupers. Remember to stay hydrated and drink plenty of liquids, because that summer heat can catch you off guard. August is hot, and this offshore fishing is REAL hot! So now is the time for you to come out and get ya' some, while the action is happening.

Capt. Larry McGuire Show Me The Fish Charters
Located at the Cortez Fishing Center, Bradenton, FL
cell: (941) 720 - 6475 email: captlarrymcguire@gmail.com