Deck the Halls with Boughs of Grouper...

How has your holiday season treated you in regard to fishing? Did Santa stuff your stocking with grouper galore? Well, if not, you're not fishing with the right people or in the right places!
December is Captain Larry's favorite month to catch grouper, especially gags. So far this month the weather has not been the welcoming, pleasant weather Florida is known for; it's been windy, with some record cold temperatures earlier in Dec. As of the writing of this, Capt. Larry has still managed to fish offshore once this week, which isn't optimal, but certainly better than no fishing at all offshore! There was a window of opportunity in between cold fronts, and despite the weather, he was rewarded with a fantastic trip. Captain Larry got the present from the sea of a limit catch of gag grouper, along with some black grouper, a few festive red grouper thrown in, and many delicious snapper to make it well rounded.Live pinfish and grunts has been the best bait Capt. Larry has used, but frozen sardines and cut bait also have had awesome results. On every spot we fished from 40 ft out to 80 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island, the fishing party caught plenty of keeper grouper. On most of these areas, the serious anglers got hit by some freight trains of monster grouper that ran them down in the rocks, and physically abused these guys, resulting in a broken line! Capt. Larry calls it "taking them to school" or "rocking them up." And no matter how big or bad you are, a large gag grouper will rock you like a hurricane!

Further offshore past 100 ft, there are a whole posse of big amberjacks on the wrecks and springs, just waiting for a fight (are you up for it?), along with much larger mangrove snappers & the possibility of cobias, or black fin tuna showing up to crash the party. Above is Rob Brady from Bradenton, Fl with a flag yellowtail snapper he caught using a sardine in about 120 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island. Rob caught this while taking a break from his tackle shop called "Reel Tackle" at the Red Barn Flea market, and caught more than just this flag yellowtail-- more snappers, amberjack, and red grouper.

This time of year you have to be ready to fish whenever possible, in between these cold fronts, and you will most definitely be rewarded with a very Merry Christmas!

Capt Larry McGuire
Show Me The Fish Charters
Cell: 941-720-6475 | Email captlarrymcguire@gmail.com
Operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center, Bradenton, FL

Tis The Season To Catch Gag Grouper!

How are you celebrating this season? Well, Doug Peterson (below) brought in some holiday cheer by hooking the largest gag grouper he's ever caught, using a live pinfish. This was in about 60 ft. waters offshore of Anna Maria Island. Doug was visiting the area on vacation, fishing with his dad Jim; both caught their limit of gag grouper, PLUS some red grouper and snappers to make this a Merry Christmas for father-son team!
Also bringing in a festive treat this holiday season, was this nice cobia caught by Lee Smith using a live pinfish in about 130 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island. The happy fisher folks (left to right) are Lee Smith, Linda Schultz, Peter Dangler and Pam Turner all from the local Bradenton area. Lee needed a little assistance from his friends to hold the monstrous cobia up for a pic. His party also caught a plethora of grouper and snapper on their trip, which will definitely make this cold season warmer. Trying to figure out what to get that fisherman (or woman!) in your life for Christmas this year? Get them a gift certificate for a fishing trip of a life time by contacting Capt. Larry! It's truly the gift that keeps giving, and will be a present that will excite for more than just the moment of opening, be a "perfect fit", and might even lead to a posting with their picture on Capt. Larry's website!

Capt Larry McGuire
Show Me The Fish Charters
Cell: 941-720-6475 | Email captlarrymcguire@gmail.com
Operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center, Bradenton, FL

Get the Lead Out To Get Some Red...

Capt. Larry's fishing party got red this weekend, reaching a limit catch of firetruck red grouper and American red snapper. On that same trip, they also caught a mass of humongous gag grouper, cobias, legitimately impressive mangrove snappers, amberjacks and lemon sharks. The bites were coming so fast and furious on the bottom game, they never had a chance to deploy a flatline for the kingfish and other migratory species for what Capt. Larry calls his running game.

Jim Mallo (on right with Tom Blakely) and party represented the Lakewood Fishing Club this Sunday, and caught so many fish it about hurt! Though these were serious anglers, some almost had to tap out... but NEVER did. This wild trip happened out about 140 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, using the magical bait combo of sardines and pinfish.

Closer in, there are a lot of kingfish, Spanish mackerel, gag grouper, cobia, sharks, & barracudas... and interestingly enough, a few reports of sailfish. They were said to be caught out around 7 miles. Hooking up a sailfish at least has better odds than playing the lottery! The more you play offshore, the better your chances to win big, and eventually you will hook into one of these fantastic fighters in our waters. It's considered one of our ultimate catches on the west central coast. Most of our species are on a ferocious feeding binge, trying to get fat for the winter. Like it usually is on Capt. Larry's boat, there's hot fishing action going on, so seize the day & come out and get ya some!

Capt Larry McGuire
Show Me The Fish Charters
Cell: 941-720-6475 | Email captlarrymcguire@gmail.com
Operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center, Bradenton, FL