Fishing Report for Apalachicola, Florida

Robinson Brothers Guide Service

152 17th St. ~ Apalachicola, FL 32320

850-653-8896

  
 
11/6/00
Cren Pritchett & his wife Terri fished with Capt. Tommy Robinson on November 3rd. This is one of the dozen or so they caught in about 6" of water. "We had a great time on our visit to Apalachicola. The festival crowds were a little overwhelming on Saturday as Tommy said they could be, but we enjoyed everything nevertheless. Oh, and thanks for
making reservations for us at The Owl Cafe. Our meal was great. The fishing trip has been on my wish list for a few years. I am so glad I finally bit the bullet. I hope to be back next year. I believe I will be a better fisherman for Tommy to work with next time. Cren"
 
Dave Scheeff fished 4 days with us this past week. Two days were spent with Capt. Ward Holman and Stan Brady (Dave's "arranged" fishing date) then one day with Tommy & one day with Chris. I know he caught Redfish with Tommy and with Chris he boated a total of around 50 fish including Spanish Mackerel (2-7 lbs), Pompano, Bull Reds and Bluefish. Lots of Flashing & Rolling going on out there! Capt. Chad is still reporting in with Tripletail, plus lots of Redfish, Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead & Ground Mullet.
 
The following is an email I received from Dr. John Mears after his 3 days with Tommy last week. I couldn't have said it better! "Just a note to tell you and Tommy how much I enjoyed my recent trip to Apalach. I caught 58 Reds averaging 5-6 pounds in 3 days and most were sight fished! Now that's some kind of results. I never dreamed I would catch that many. You all have a superb operation and Tommy is one of the very best guides I have had the pleasure to fish with (I'm finally getting to eat lunch today). His new Hells Bay skiff is really stealthy and gets into the skinniest water I have ever fished. I hope his knee recovers. He made so many trips up and down the poling tower to release fish, I'm afraid he may have over done it. Thanks again for a most memorable trip and I look forward to another visit soon."
 
Til Next Week!
Kathy Robinson
 
10/16
Matthew Boles caught an 8 lb. Redfish plus 5 others (3-8 lbs.) and had 8 other shots, on October 3rd. And, speaking of Redfish, Tommy & Chris just came in for lunch a little while ago and stayed long enough to report that they caught and released 26 Redfish this morning, most in ankle deep water and they were headed right back out. (you KNOW what fishing guides do on their day off) Finally, our fall fishing is the way we expect it to be.
 
Nathan zoomed in this morning to tell me "They Thumpin' on the Outside Beaches!!" Well, I was almost afraid to ask what that meant, but he went on to explain that in all he released nearly 100 fish yesterday including Redfish, Trout, Pompano, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel and Jack Crevalle. About half of them were Ladyfish he was catching on Fly - some kind of experiment? Our local Veterinarian & his wife fished with Chris yesterday with much the same results. They caught so many trout he even got brave and picked up the fly rod (first time in about 10-12 years) and was successful with it. I know they kept a few for supper - Hobson is a great cook.
 
Tommy spent the past 3 days with a client & good friend who started fishing with him in Key West when Tommy was still a teenager. The first day was a little frustrating weather-wise but by yesterday morning they were hooking Reds on Fly in very shallow water.
 
I hope it doesn't offend our more conservation-minded anglers when I report on our Bayfishing guide's successes. I am really proud of the job they do and the variety of fishing we can offer you. The majority of our guides and clients are sports fishermen and tend to mostly release their catch. Bayfishing appeals to those of our clients who like to catch & eat, and there IS crossover! When you read about the large numbers of fish caught, please keep in mind that Florida has very strict, very low daily catch limits and we adhere to the rules. (most of the fish are released) Hefty fines are levied against the anglers and the guides who break the law. We don't! Anyway, when our flats guides were complaining that the Redfish had lockjaw last week, Chad and Adam and their guests were casting shrimp and wearing out their arms reeling in 40 to 50 Trout a day, a dozen or two Redfish, Tripletail, Flounder and Black Drum (had a 25 incher on 10/5). Don't you wish you were here? Did I mention the clear, cool nights and the warm, sunny days?
 
C-ya!
 
Kathy Robinson
 
10/6/00
(For years now I have refused to do it. I have made every excuse, advised against it and just been plain bull-headed about it. I am finally going to break down and (hopefully this one time only) become an "Angler Dating Service". David Scheeff (RWA) seeks a fishing partner to share a guide (and the cost of the trip) here in Apalachicola for up to 5 days of fishing, October 30 - November 3. It seems that he is the only one of his fishing buddies that is lucky enough to be retired already. Please contact David directly at 770-579-5267 or send him an email at cscheeff@mindspring.com)
 
Dr. Jim Cain & Dr. David Jaffe came up from Vero Beach to fish for Redfish in the wind this past weekend. We are still suffering a bit from all the fresh water & an East wind, but you can see from the photo that they made the best of it. This one weighed about 5 pounds.
 
Jeff & Marsha Baker fished with Tommy on Wednesday and managed to reel 12 Redfish into the boat. He came in saying "That Marsha sure does love to fish!" He also mentioned that this has been one of the worst weeks of fishing he has experienced in a long time, due to conditions.
Luckily, it is getting better every day.
 
Orvis was here all last week for a catalog photo shoot. (Tom Montgomery, photographer) Next springs fishing catalog should contain a few familiar sights and faces, so be sure to pick up a copy. Jason Weaver faxed us a copy of an article mentioning Tommy & Chris in Saltwater Fly Fishing magazine (October/November 2000) titled "Reds in the Mud" by Jerry Gibbs. Our shallow-est water season is just coming on and no, we are not booked up yet.
 
Kathy R
.

9/29/00
This is Kathy Robinson, reporting from behind the sandbags at my front door. Hurricane Gordon on the 17th was a snap here - got our lawn lightly watered, no wind damage and not enough rain to mess up the fishing. TS Helene was another story. It started raining Thursday night, and by Friday morning our house (and Chris') looked like Noah's Ark. We got nearly 11 inches of rain in a short period of time and until they blocked off the street from traffic, waves were splashing up on our front porch (thus sand bags to keep out the water). I paddled the layout boat up the street, and the little girls from across the street were swimming in my front yard. Did I mention that Chris & his family missed all the excitement? They were vacationing with Mickey Mouse.
 
The locals say that it takes at least 8 turns of the tide to straighten out the bay after that much fresh water run off into the Apalachicola River & Bay. Saturday the water was fresh enough (not salty) to drink and fishing was not the best, although Tommy managed to guide his clients to a few Reds, Trout & Bluefish using live bait but the bait died in all the fresh water, so he has decided even though he is getting really good at throwing the cast net, to leave the Bayfishing to Chad. Yesterday was a little better - Tommy reported at least 4 Reds on artificials with the Bryan's, a father & son team from Texas. Capt. Adam Teat came by the house Sunday night with his coolers full of grouper - he went off-shore and just couldn't leave them; they were biting so well. Chad just now stopped by to tell me they (Bill Price from Jacksonville) caught 80 fish off his bay boat today and they kept 34! Tommy is still out & it is after 6:00pm.
 
Last week Tommy & Chad came home with their limit of Tripletail on Wednesday (2 per person per day) after catching 6 or so and on Thursday he & Nathan caught 3 in just an hour or so. Tommy complains the entire time he is cleaning them that they are like cleaning turtles!
 
Most of the Robinson Brothers Guide Service spent September 10 - 14 fishing the Everglades (Tommy, Chris, Nathan & Jason - for fun, not for hire). They left at 4:00am trailering the Jonboats on Sunday morning for Chokoloskee, fished there Sunday afternoon til dark, fished the 10,000 islands on Monday then decided that there was a little too much water in the back country there, so they packed up and headed to Flamingo! Tuesday & Wednesday, in spite of the bugs, they caught Redfish cast after cast after cast plus a few other species. Tommy even brought me a pink flamingo feather.
 
Capt. Jason left here on Friday 9/15 for Palmyra Island in the Pacific to guide for Bonefish until about Thanksgiving. They do have email there, so I hope to be able to report some of his adventures here as well. The Fall Newsletter is going out in the mail the end of this week - hope you enjoy it!
 
Kathy Robinson
 
8/29/00
Yep, we're STILL fishing for Tarpon! The Migratory fish seem to have migrated to their next port of call, but many resident fish are found in among the bait schools of Pogy minnows (Gulf Menhaden). And while the guides are not specifically targeting Tarpon much more this time of year (more of an opportunity catch) they are having good luck with them in the early morning on live bait or on plugs. We expect to continue seeing them here until the first real cold snap of the season.
 
Redfish are being caught in the marshes and some on the outside beaches, and on days that are a little bit cooler the Trout have been more than cooperative. The Tripletail have been hanging around all summer long (still here), and Jack Crevalles in the "Teens" are found on the outside. Even smaller class Cobia are still being caught. What a summer we have had here!
 
For those who participated in the 4 boat-wide impromptu fishing contest on August 18th (Novartis Crop Protection Company) the winners were on Capt. Ward's boat. Total number of fish boated (and released) for the day was 118 - mixed species.
 
September Forecast - Much more of the same, but with a lot less traffic & tourist-type people. After Labor Day the population shrinks but the fishing opportunity doesn't. Hope you can take advantage of it.
 
Kathy Robinson
8/10/00
 
What does one say to the oft-asked question, "How are the Tarpon doing?" Just fine, thank you,
doesn't seem to be the proper response - though I have been known to use it! While the sheer
numbers of fish have dropped a bit from June/July, our anglers are still managing to hook up
on quite a few and all our guides are fishing every day.
 
Tina Scarpa (Macon & Apalachicola) caught this one this past Saturday while fishing with her
husband Bill & Capt. Tommy. An 80-pounder, according to Tommy's estimation. (Tina got the
WHOLE DEAL - the photo op, the keychain, the Tarpon slime) Even our Bay Guide Chad's
clients are jumping & catching them - be sure to take a look at the photo gallery. Capt. Ward's
anglers (Bill Vines - Striper guide from Morris, AL) jumped 6 on Friday.
 
According to Chad who has been "Slaying" the Speckled Trout, Redfish and Tripletail (even
some Pompano) in the past couple of weeks, "We doin' it!" Which is Apalachicola-ese for
the fishing is really good right now. His full day trip on Sunday ended early due to the fact that
they limited out before lunch. Please keep in mind that most of the fishing we do is catch &
release but when you fish with Chad, bring your cooler!
 
The last 2 weeks of August and the first 2 weeks of September will most likely be a mixture of
Tarpon, Redfish & Trout, etc. As it starts cooling down a bit (mid to upper 80's instead of upper
90's) the fall Redfishing and Trout fishing will really begin to take off. Local Bay fishing guides
report bookings already for the October push.
 
If you just can't take it anymore & you feel the need to fish - call me, or send me an email.
 
Kathy Robinson
 
7/25/00
 
7 lb Bonefish on Fly
 
Last week Capt. Tommy left the Apalachicola Tarpon flats for a couple of days of
Bonefishing in the Bahamas. (I got to tag along too!) We arrived at the Stafford Creek
Lodge on Andros Island to find a beautiful family run lodge owned by Prescott & Samantha
Smith. The accommodations were fantastic, 3 private cabins, 3 meals a day, no TV or
telephone and they even do your laundry! This might sound like a commercial for them, but
the flats we waded were pristine, with large schools of Bones to cast a fly at. They also boast
Permit & Tarpon fishing. Have a look at their website at www.staffordcreeklodge.com. If
you go and put in at Lowe Sound to wade the "Joulters" be sure to put in your order for the
best conch salad in the world with Neville, the Conch Surgeon. Enjoy!
 
Kathy Robinson
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