OFFSHORE Today was a perfect day to spend on the water. Unfortunately it is the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend and I did not have a trip. Last week we had lots of folks in town and I had trips everyday. The weather did not co-operate however and I only got to run one Gulf trip. The weather Thanksgiving morning was splendid to take folks out who had never been in the Gulf before. The gentlemen and his son who chartered me wanted a shot at big fish and they got them. The fish were a litle more experienced than my anglers though and we lost a big grouper and king mackeral. I changed tactics and we went two hook fishing for a little bit smaller fare with much success. The vermillion snappers bit real well and we got our limit of 30 fish no problem and threw a bunch back. We also had several triggers, some pink snappers and an amberine. Not bad for a 4 hour trip. The Red Snappers bit REAL good also even on small baits and we had even had one about 7 #. It broke my heart to tell that young man that we had to throw his fish back but hopefully the pictures turned out well and he'll have great memories. I love taking somebody for the first time. I don't know who gets more exited, my anglers or me. Most of the other charter captains I know have taken to the woods for deer season so I can't give much more of a Gulf report. I have trips this weekend (weather permitting) so I'll try to write another report as soon as I get to go again. INSHORE I had two groups last week who wanted to go fishing somewhere even if it was blowing 30 knots. So I took them to the only calm place I know of no matter how hard it blows. I launched the boat at the mouth of the Intercoastal waterway and ran up about 8 miles. The trout and the redfish are definately up there. On my first trip we caught 4 redfish and about 30 trout ( we released all but 6 trout for dinner). I had brought a little over 5 dz. live shrimp usually plenty for 3 people on a 4 hour trip. We ran out of bait after 2 and half hours and went jig fishing. We had almost as much success as with live bait. Three days latter my charter wanted to fish even though the gulf was a washing machine and the forecast was for 25 knot winds. No problem, I took my folks and 10 dz. shrimp right back to where I had found the fish. The fish were still there but not near as hungry. There were also about 2 dozen other boats up there all throwing grubs. We caught 2 trout and 6 redfish (all released). My youngest angler of the day caught the glory fish that we kept for thier dinner. I made my usaully quick bobber count, came up short one and quickly yelled for him to real and set the hook. When the fish turned and ran thru the other 2 lines and down current a 100 ft I knew we had something better than what we had been cathing. After a great chinese fire drill I slid the net under the first Sunshine bass I've seen this year. At about 4# he had our 12 year old angler grinning from ear to ear and all exited about the biggest fish he had ever caught. I talked to several of the other boats that day and most folks had no fish while a few had 1 trout. I think the fish are there just the barometer was rising at about warp speed while we were fishing. A high steady barometer and a little less boat traffic would probably have the trout eating the prop off again. At least I had a mess of shrimp to boil at the end of the day. For those that like to surf fish the whiting are the fish of the month. If you can find a pretty day without much surf take a ride to the beach. Not only have there been lots of them the size is good too. The redfish should be moving up to the flats at Indian Pass in another few cold fronts. Sight fishing for any species is always my favorite sport and I can't wait. If your comming to Fla. for Christmas vacation give me a call and we'll do some skinny water fishin'.