New Port Richey Fishing Charter

As I sat at the dock last Monday waiting on my charter clients to get ready, I could feel the warm rays from the sun starting to heat up my jacket. It took me by surprise as it had been a long time since I have not needed a jacket while I was on the water. As we started out the channel of the Cottee river in New Port Richey the day was looking very promising. I had I long time client with me today and for the first time his girlfriend had agreed to come with us. With the low tide we had we decided to fish out of my Ranger Banshee so we could access some schools of redfish that had moved up on the flats the last few days to enjoy the warm sun also.

We started out fishing the deeper holes and troughs at Anclote Island, this provided us with a few nice Trout but that was it. It was not what I was expecting from the conditions we had. We made a move to an area that me and a good friend of mine Capt. Clay had found a good size bunch of redfish. When we arrived on the flat I could see the reds pushing back and forth from and oyster bar to a grass point. We set up in the middle of the track to intercept them as they went by, we had a few refusals but we did get a beautiful 29 inch red to take a bait. Lisa fought the fish like an old pro and only when she landed it did she let us in that it was her very first redfish!! Congratulations Lisa.

After that the fish pulled a disappearing act on us like schools of redfish often do. So we relocated to another school and watched as they swam all around our baits with out so much as a sniff, oh well you cant always make them eat. It was a great day and the weather was wonderful except for a pesky little wind that would not quite let you keep your jacket off for to long.

Charlotte Harbor Fishing Charter

On Monday I was in Placida waiting for my client to show up at 7 am, the weather was perfect it was 57 degrees and the wind was nonexistent. We were planning on throwing artificial baits all day, which was good because I have a redfish tournament this weekend and I could use this trip to do some pre fishing. As we skated across the shallows it was obvious the fish were enjoying this warm morning and calm conditions also, every flat we came to had redfish and trout pushing across it. We were targeting the large sand holes in the grass flats with mirrolure Lil johns on jig heads, almost every hole we came to produced a few fish. We caught alot of trout to 24 inches and several redfish that I hope I can find this weekend again. we were also able to catch a snook which was also out on the flat looking for food, that was a very good sign!

As I sit here writing this report I am supposed to be back in Charlotte Harbor fishing, but mother nature will just not let this winter pass. The wind is blowing 25 knots and of course it is out of the NW, but “THEY” tell me by the weekend we will be in the 70’s. I cannot wait, when this winter does break look out the fishing is going to explode! I feel that alot of folks are thinking along the same lines as my charter booking are starting to pick up dramatically. If you want to get in on what is going to be a great spring now is the time to book it!

Capt. Greg DeVault

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Book your Florida Inshore Fishing Charter here!

With all the cold rainy weather we have had this winter it is so nice to finally see some warm and sunny days in the forecast. I had some very good clients scheduled to go fishing this weekend and was very excited to get out on the water and see what the warmer weather would bring us. I had them meet me at the dock at 7:30 and i got there about a half hour early to enjoy the sunrise and actually feel the warmth in the morning air that was finally not below 40 degrees.

As we left the dock I planned on heading south toward Tarpon Springs to see if I could get on some redfish and trout that me and Capt. Clay had found a couple of days earlier while out shooting some footage for our new Internet video site Proanglersjournal.com . when I pulled my Banshee off plane I could see some activity close to the area that the fish had been, I poled us into position and we began to see the tell tale head wakes of redfish. We made several casts into and around the school but could get no takers. We worked the fish for another 20 minutes or so and then decided to move through them and go to another school I had found earlier in the week.

When we got to the area of the next school I saw Capt. Clay coming in to, we decided to try and get on opposite sides of the school and hold them between us. This was a great plan except there were no fish to keep between us, they had obviously moved on from the other day. We said goodbye to Clay and went to yet another bunch of redfish, on arrival we watched as an Osprey dove on some mullet, his aim was true and he got his prey. When the hawk hit the water he showed us right where the fish were that we were looking for. A large wake pushed right at us, and as we got ready to cast I could see the redfish moving across the sand bottom from the platform. My anglers all made very good casts in front of the school, but to no avail. For some reason this group of reds didn’t want to eat either, we poled around them and had 4 or 5 more good shots but had the same result.

I was beginning to get a little frustrated with the fish so we decided to move on to another area that I normally see fish in this time of year. When we got into the small bay I could see fish pushing already, as we approached I could see a mixture of trout and redfish, surly these fish would bite. We made several casts to them and again all our offers were turned down. One of my anglers had an 8 wght. fly rod and I told him to give it a whirl, on the third shot…. finally pay dirt, a nice redfish ate a small clouser. We managed one more small red on a Mirrolure Lil John and that was it.

Although the fish was tough I was very encouraged to see the redfish and trout in the shallows in good numbers and schooling up. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and I saw some signs of bait-fish in the area. It should only be a matter of time before the water is warming and the bait will be here. Spring time charters are filling up fast for March and April so if your looking to get out or know someone who is now is the time to make those reservations.

Capt. Greg

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Normally I love our winter fishing, I get to wear jeans a long sleeve shirt and a light jacket and by the middle of the day the jacket is under the deck and we are soaking up the warm sunshine. Not so much this year, most days I have had so many clothes on that I feel like the Michelin Man, and by the middle of the day I was wishing I had more jackets to put on. However through all of the cold and wet and windy days there has been one silver lining to it all, the fish have still wanted to eat when we put the bait in front of them. It is amazing how you can be so cold, almost to the point of teeth chattering and then make one cast, feel a thump and your adrenaline turns into an instant heater for you. Even though I don’t usually fish with my clients when they start to catch fish it make me feel all warm and fuzzy, If I could only bottle that for the cold days that the fish are stubborn!

Well enough of my thoughts on the cold winter…..During the past week I was able to run several Airboat Charters in Charlotte Harbor, and the fishing did keep us warm for the most part. With the airboat I always want stiff north winds to blow the water way off the flats and force the fish into all the holes and troughs. The only problem is this year that north wind is very cold, but we have managed to stay warm. Most of the trips we were able to catch a good number of Redfish and a few Trout, some days the reds would be so balled up in one hole we wouldn’t move for a couple of hours. I was using 1/4 once jigs with Exude Darts and the new Mirrolure Lil John for bait, the slower the better when working them. There was one of the days that we went to a muddy hole and found some snook laying on the dark muddy bottom soaking up the warmth from the sun, that was very good to see. Most of the trips were about the same a good mix of reds and trout and clients that were happy they went, once they realized a fish can warm you up!

I have one more week of Airboat Charters scheduled for the end of this month, then the tides and days will get longer and warmer. Spring will get here and all that comes with it. Snook will again show up along with all the others from the inshore gang. The pelagics will start to follow the bait and the Tarpon will not be far behind. This year Spring vacation will not just be for the folks on land!

Capt. Greg

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Yesterday was one of those days that should have been very good for the fishing we were trying to do. A good low tide around mid morning, light north winds to make the water stay out, and a lot of sun so we could see the fish we were after. It was all in place except someone forgot to tell the fish they were supposed to be there and be hungry. We headed out to a flat in search of a school of redfish, but when we arrived all we found were mullet and a few strays. Not horrible but not what I was looking for, we did manage to catch one small red but that was it in 3 hours of searching. I decided to make the offer to put the boat on the trailer and head north to an area that I had been doing very well on the big gator trout. As we were driving north I called a good friend and fellow guide Capt. Clay to see how his day was going, He was in the area I was trailering to and I hoped for good news. He told me they to had been having a slow day, and that the fish would just not cooperate. As I put the boat in the water at the Anclote River I really had a good feeling about the move, we ran out to the island to fish some holes and troughs that usually always hold some fish. When we got there Capt. Clay was already out there not looking very enthused about the fishing. We put the power pole down and began fishing the same area I had done very well in just two days ago. Again the conditions were perfect except for the fish, they did not want what we were offering. We did manage 3 or 4 trout but that was it, I made one more move to a hole that is very secluded and could only be reached with the help of my Banshee Extreme. We got there and once again it looked perfect lots of mullet sunning, large pines to block the wind and clean clear water. Once again we were disappointed in the result of what we caught. We did manage the best fish of the day in this hole, a 23 inch Speckled Trout, bit that was it.

After about an hour in that hole we decided it was time to go have lunch ourselves, and realized that sometimes the fish win the battle. We will be back soon and I know the fish have to eat sometime. It is funny when we get used to catching 50 or 60 fish a day, that a day where we catch 10 or so fish just doesn’t measure up. But nothing cant beat a beautiful day on the water.

Capt. Greg DeVault

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Even though the air temperature were in the 40’s when we started, it was not long before my clients were feeling all warm and fuzzy from the pull of redfish. With the tides at there lowest and the help of my airboat, we were able to access all of sand hole and small troughs that the redfish and trout use to wait out the tide in Gasparilla sound.  We had to hit about 3 holes before we found the one that was holding a large bunch of fish. Once we got set up on them it was game on for the next couple of hours, redfish and trout came to the boat after falling prey to our Mirror lure Lil John baits. There were several slot sized redfish and most of the trout were in the 18 to 20 inch class. After the bite slowed we were able to go farther into the back country and find a large hole with a good dark bottom. The tide had started to come in and the trout were laying on the edge of the flat waiting for what ever the tide brought them. We set up on the back side of the hole and caught trout on just about every cast  until the water got high enough fro the trout to spread out on the flat. By that time it was time to head to the dock to put the boat on the trailer and grab some lunch.

With February will come the last of the negative low morning tides that make the airboat so effective, however this will open up the flats to the Ranger Banshee and alot of great fishing for March and April.

Fish on,

Capt. Greg DeVault

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When I woke up on Sunday morning it was 55 degrees with a 15mph northeast wind, It was suposed to get warmer and the winds were going to subside. At least thats what the weather man said. Needless to say when we pulled into Hooters 5 hours later it was 50 degrees and the wind was blowing 20 to 25 out of the north. The good news in all this is that I had one of my best clients on the boat that day, and I told him that the Trout love this kind of weather. He looked at me like I was crazy, but despite the weather Rob and John had a very good day catching nice gator Trout around Anclote Island.  

With the north wind we had a very low tide, I was able to get my Banshee Extreme into all the holes and troughs where the trout were hanging out. We were throwing a new bait by Mirrolure called the lil john and it absolutly killed them. We caught around 75 nics trout and a few Blue fish and small Reds mixed in. Although the wind was increasing and the temprature was falling we didnt notice as we were busy catching fish. We lifted the Power Pole one time all day, and that was to head in. They kept 10 nice trout on the last day of the season for the fryer and the rest went back with a sore lip. There should be at least another month of great trout fishing in the Tarpon Springs area, so now is the time to go.

Capt. Greg DeVault

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As we come to the end of January, we are still in the grips of the coldest winter I have ever experienced. But just like every year I look forward to the month of February. February means we are on the verge of our best fishing of the year. While it may still feel cold there will be a noticeable amount of humidity with the morning sun. We will start to see a gradual but very definite upward climb in our water temperatures. And if history repeats it self ( as it usually dose) we will see the bait fish show up in all the regular haunts. Once this occurs we will be standing on the edge of 4 months of the best fishing our area has to offer. The Redfish, Trout, Snook, and Mackerel will all start trying to put back the weight that they lost over the diet period of winter,this will offer us as fishermen a very unique time. The fish will feed with reckless abandon, and forget about some of there weariness around the boats and other disturbances we produce. In essence the fishing will be good and it will be easy.

But as I look outside I see a beautiful day with alot of sunshine, but mother nature is not quite ready to let go of her wintry grip just yet. The weeks weather forecast says we are in for another cold front at the end of the week. The fishing will be good ahead of it, but the cold air behind it will reinforce why the fish are in there deep holes and warm springs for a few more weeks. And while I look forward to throwing the net to catch dozens of silver crickets, I am preparing for another round of airboat trips. The water is very low and access is denied to most, but with the help of my airboat I have been able to find a redfish or two this year. This is a fun time of year but with everyday we are coming closer to the best time.

So get the tackle tuned up, make sure the boat is ready, spring will be here before you know it. Or if you want to make sure your at the best spot at the best time call your favorite guide and set up a spring time fishing trip. You wont be disappointed.

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This past week was the longest blast of cold air I have ever seen in Charlotte Harbor and the entire west coast of Florida. As a result we did have some fish that just could not take it and died. However what dos’nt kill you only make you stronger, and this is true of our fish also . The Snook, Reds, and Trout that found warm water were very hungry, and very willing to eat almost everything we had to offer. I ran my first trip on Tuesday and was greeted at the ramp by two very enthusiastic anglers, and 37 degree temps. I wasnt sure what we were in for but they were determined to give it a try. As we crossed the flats one thing became very evident, the fish that were here, were not anymore! We coverd miles of flats in my airboat and kept seeing the same thing … absolutly nothing.  I told them we had one more spot and if it was empty we were heading in, to my suprise and thankfulness it was loaded with reds and trout, we caught fish out of that hole for almost 4 hours striaght. It turned a cold day into a very plesent one. The rest of the week was much the same with the flats being pretty void of life, but like mother nature alway does she began to replenish as soon as the temprature began to rise at the end of the week. By Friday and Saturdays trips we were back to catching fish in multiple holes and catching alot of them.

This cold blast was very scary for those of us that make a living out here, but it dose show that life goes on and will always rebound if it has the chance. I cant wait to see what a little warm air and warm water will do to the fish this upcoming week.

1-888-557-1885

This Past week was a little chilly to say the least, and when you put the force of a giant fan behind you it gets really cold, really fast. That is what we had to deal with on this round of Airboat Charters in Charlotte Harbor. I had some of my best clients fishing with me this week and the fish did not let us down. We were able to catch Redfish, Trout, and Snook on every trip. The most notable catch was a 40 inch Snook the was taken on a small 1/8th oz jig, just goes to prove that elephants do eat peanuts! The other notable catch was with Two fathers and thier sons. the bet was most fish by either team, when the number got to 75 apeice we called it a draw. That day was the most fish I have ever landed on a charter, we estimated around 200 reds in a 6 hour trip. The weather has been very good so far this winter,but there is the threat of a large and very cold, cold front setting up to move through the state. If this happens I hope our Snook can get to cover to protect themselves from the cold water. I will be back on the airboat for the next full moon hopefully i will have some more good fishing to report about.

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Angling Adventures is located on Florida’s West Central coast, one of the most popular areas in the world to go fishing and take a family vacation. We provide fishing charters from Charlotte Harbor, and Boca Grande all the way north to Crystal River including the waters of Sarasota, Tampa Bay, St Petersburg, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, and Hudson. Capt. Greg DeVault is a full time guide, and with four boats available for fishing charters, we can cover any type of fishing you want to do. From throwing live bait to schools of marauding redfish, to pitching artificial at the miles of mangrove lined shorelines, to presenting a fly in the path of a tarpon or next to a tailing redfish, you are sure to find just what you’re after on a fishing charter with Angling Adventures.

As a full service fishing charter service we can set up your entire fishing vacation, from the actual fishing charter to lodging and any rental cars you may need. No group is too big or small for a fishing charter with Angling Adventures. With the use of multiple boats, we can accommodate the largest groups or just one person. As you surf  through our pages you will see many smiling faces from clients that range from novice to expert.

On all Boca Grande Tarpon Charters and Tampa Bay Area Inshore Charters

Capt. Greg provides all licenses, rods and reels, bait, tackle and ice for your drinks.
All boats are equipped with Coast Guard safety equipment
and have radios and cell phone on board.