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Capt. Corner - Friday, July 21st - Jim Huddleston

As the warmer fishing months are here on the west coast of Florida, most inshore fishing revolves around finding schools of fish. Trout will be layed up in deeper green pockets off the beaches and just inside passes where strong currents run across fertile grass flats. Redfish have been bunched up together along the mangroves on high tide and along dropoffs and potholes on lower tides. Snook fishing turns highly addictive during these summer months, as this is when the biggest fish of the year are caught. Many different factors come into play when hunting a trophy snook. Types of bait, strength and depth of tide and the proper tackle are required to give anglers a chance at a twenty plus pounder.

When planning a fishing trip, it helps to look at what factors will give you the best chance at catching the desired species. Tide plays a major role in this equation. On our central gulf coastline, the tidal range is around two to four feet, with greatest variance found around the new and full moons each month. Summertime brings in higher water and allows fish to push up into mangrove shorelines to feed in the shade. When this greater volume of water leaves an estuary, bait and crustaceans will be flushed out through passes where snook and redfish will lay up in the current to feed. When the tides are slower, say only moving a couple of feet on a cycle, work points and sandbars that will create a funneling effect of water and push water more rapidly.

With large numbers of snook congregated on the beaches now, many anglers are having great results when the window of opportunity opens. This window usually coincides with the strongest part of the tide or a major lunar phase that turns these linesiders on for short periods of time. Looking like a dark grass patch on the sand, these small schools of snook are competitive feeders and will crash chummers thrown their way. A belly-hooked bait thrown in with these chummers will swim erratically in a strong tide and won’t go overlooked by nearby game fish. By tossing baits along an edge and allowing it to flow down naturally will attract snook better than baits pinned to the bottom with a weight.

On the incoming tide, the water has been gin clear along St. Joseph Sound and made fishing along the beaches tough when the sun is higher in the sky. Downsizing tackle will draw more strikes, although increase chances of losing that big one. When fish become finicky and won’t strike a frisky sardine, step down in leader size and hook size to draw more strikes. By loosening the drag on the reel, less friction will not cause break offs. Most beach fishing won’t have any obstacles to worry about cutting anglers off on.

When snook start to have a case of lockjaw right now, secondary baits work great. Butterfish, pinfish and grunts are prime candidates for lethargic fish. These three baitfish have a tendency to sit down in the current where lunkers hang. The bigger the better when it comes to trying to catch a twenty plus pounder. When rigging these baits, it is best to barely hook them in the mouth so that when a fish eats the offering, it is an instant hookup. Some fisherman like to run the hook through the shoulders, but then it takes a hard, aggressive hookset and often miss the shot.

Schools of redfish are holding up in the backsides of Honeymoon and Anclote island where there is not much traffic to disturb them. Larger fish are the norm in these bronze packs as the fish are averaging from 24 to 32 inches. A trolling motor or push pole is the easiest method to get near these skittish fish. On incoming tides, tailing reds are pushing up in skinny water and chasing bait in the sandy potholes. The most stealth approach is to get out of the boat and wade to them. The rich turtle grass flats of Anclote Key are firm enough as you won’t sink too much approaching the redfish. Copper spoons with brown bucktail trailers are working great in this low water condition. It resembles the many crabs and chubs running around these flats. Once the water gets high, these fish are pushed up against the mangroves. Work the opening in the bushes, as these are prime ambush spots. Submerged oyster bars against the trees is another great area to look at on flood tides.


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Tournament Wins & Accomplishments

1997
•Hernando Builders Association Fishing Tournament
- 2nd Place - Redfish Division


1998
•Saltwater Flats Fishing Association (S.F.F.A.)
•St. Pete Open - 2nd Place
•S.F.F.A. - Ft. Meyers Snook Attack - 3rd Place
•Scott Brantley All-Release Flats Tournament
- Overall Master Angler - 1st Place
•S.F.F.A. - 4th Annual $75,000 Yamaha
- Tournament of Champions - 12th Place


1999
•Scott Brantley All-Release Flats Tournament - 1st Place
•S.F.F.A. -  Loadmaster Trailers Classic - 5th Place
•S.F.F.A. - 3M / Midnight Pass Tournament - 3rd Place
•S.F.F.A. - Pasco County / C.C.A. Flats Slam - 3rd Place
•Mercury / Peter T. Assimack Memorial Tournament - 1st
•Charlie Rice Memorial Tournament - 1st Place
•S.F.F.A. - Overall Season Open Division Calcutta
- Open / General / Live Bait Division  - 1st Place
- Open Artificial Division  - 2nd Place
•S.F.F.A. - $125,000 5th Annual Ranger Boats / Evinrude Outboards
•Saltwater Flats Fishing National Championship held @ Bahia Beach
Island Resort & Marina - 3rd Place
•Largest Inshore Slam of Championship - Team of the Year


2000
•2000 -Johnny Kellar Inshore Tournament - 2nd Place
- Overall Calcutta Winner
•Bayer Grand Slam Plug - C.C.A. REDSNOOK Series - 4th Place
•The Ranger Boats / Mercury Outboards Professional Redfish Tour
- Tampa , Fla. Tour Stop - 1st Place - 16.92 lbs.
- Largest Redfish - 8.79 lbs.
•The Hooters / Angelus Foundation Flats Tournament - 1st Place
- Redfish Division - 1st Place - Trout Division
•Bayer Summer Redfish Classic - C.C.A. REDSNOOK Series - 6th Place
•The Ranger Boats / Mercury Outboards Professional Redfish Tour
- Qualified for Championships in Jacksonville , Fla.
- 13th out of TOP 50 teams on tour
- Member on Official Rules Committee for tour


2001
•Hooters / Angelus Foundation Flats Tournament -2nd Place West Coast Slam  - Largest Snook
•$80,000 Bayer Grand Slam Plug - C.C.A. REDSNOOK Series
- Tournament Calcutta Champion - Largest Redfish
• The Ranger Boats / Mercury Outboards / Cabela’s Pro Redfish Tour
- Qualified for Championships in Titusville , Fla.
- Top Seventy Five Teams on Tour


2002
•SunTrust Banks / Angelus Foundation Flats Tournament
- Tournament Calcutta Champion
- Largest Snook - 38 inches - 19 lbs.
- 2nd Place West Coast Slam Division
•The Island Way Grill / YMCA Grand Slam Tournament
- Grand Slam Champion
•Hooters Inshore Slam Tournament
- Largest Snook - 39”
- Calcutta Champion
•Mercury Professional Redfish Tour - Sarasota
- 11th Place
•Mercury Outboards / Peter T. Assimack Memorial Tournament
- 3rd Place - Redfish Division
•Pasco County Builders Association Fall Classic
- 1st Place -Trout- 2nd Place - Snook- 2nd Place - Redfish


2003
•Pasco County Builders Association Fall Classic
- 1st Place -Trout
- 2nd Place - Snook
- 2nd Place - Redfish


2004
•The Jordan Driggers Hook-a-Cure Fishing Tournament for Cystic Fibrosis
- Ladies Division - 2nd Place Redfish
•3rd Annual Jay Barrett Hollywood Invitational
- 1st Place Snook
- 1st Place Redfish
- Overall Champion
•The YMCA/Synovus Bank Cotee River Flats Classic
- 1st Place Youth Division - Redfish
•Pasco County Builders Association Fall Classic
- 1st Place Snook
•The Chuck Lamar/Mercury GrandSlam Celebrity Fishing Tournament - T.V.
- 1st Place Celebrity Redfish Division - 31 1/2"
- 3rd Place Angler Redfish Division - 30 1/2"


2005

•The Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament Series presented by Yamaha Outboards and Century Boats - T.V.
- Week #5 Champions
- Top 10 Team of the Year Race
- 174 pound Tarpon

•St. Judes Children’s Hospital Invitational - T.V.
- 3rd Place - Redfish
•The Mercury Outboards Peter T. Assimack Tournament
- 2nd Place - Redfish
•Outback Steakhouse National Vender’s Tournament
- 1st Place - Most Fish
- 2nd Place - Redfish
•Pasco County Builders Association Fall Classic
- 2nd Place - Snook
- 2nd Place - Redfish
•The Mercury Outboards/YMCA/Island Way Grill Tournament
- 1st Place - Trout
- 2nd Place - Redfish
•The Chuck Lamar/Mercury GrandSlam Celebrity Fishing Tournament - T.V.
- 2nd Place - Celebrity Snook Division
- 2nd Place - Celebrity Redfish Division


2006

•2006 Oberto Redfish Cup



•The Walmart / FLW Pro Redfish Series - Tierra Verde , FL - T.V.
- Largest Redfish of Tournament
- 6th Place
- Top 10 Team of the Year Race
•The Mike Alstott / Gloomis Celebrity Fishing Tournament
- Pro Guided Division
- 1st Place, 2nd Place & 3rd Place
•The Island Way Grill / Mercury Outboards / YMCA Flats Fishing Classic
- Pro Guided Division
- 2nd Place – Redfish
•The Catches Restaurant / Suntrust Bank/ YMCA Cottee River Classic
- Pro Guided Division
- 2nd Place - Redfish


2007
•The ESPN Oberto Redfish Cup presented by Mercury Outboards - T.V.
- Punta Gorda
- 15th Place
•The Walmart / FLW Pro Redfish Series - Clearwater - T.V.
- 20th Place
•The Mercury Outboards Peter T Assimack Memorial Tournament
- Pro Guided Division
- 1st Place & 3rd Place Redfish
- Overall Champion
•The Mercury Outboards Celebrity Fishing Tournament
- 3rd Place Angler Slam
•The Miller Lite Professional Tarpon Tournament Series presented by Yamaha Outboards and Century Boats - T.V.
- Week #3
- 6th Place
•The Miller Lite Professional Tarpon Tournament Series presented by Yamaha Outboards and Century Boats - T.V.
- Week #5
- 7th Place
•The Crab Shack / Suntrust Bank / YMCA Cottee River Classic
- Pro Guided Division
- 1st and 3rd Place Redfish Division
- 2nd and 3rd Place Grouper Division



Memberships & Committes

•Member - Coastal Conservation Association (C.C.A.)
•Member - Inshore Fishing Association The Professional Redfish Tour
•Member - North American Fishing Club
•Member - I.F.G.A.
•Member - Florida Guides Association
•U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain # 912121
•Committee Chair YMCA of the Suncoast Island Way Flats Fishing Classic
•Committee Chair YMCA of the Suncoast Catches Flats Classic Tournament
•Instructor in FlatsClass.com-a beginners fishing class taught each month

 
TV/Radio/Magazine Media  Appearances & Guest Spots

•Captain/Writer for CapMel.com fishing reports
•Featured Captain/Host of Bill Miller’s “HOOKED ON FISHING” T.V.-8/14/03
•BIG FISH TACKLE Signature Series HuddleSpoon
- Has my endorsement and picture featured on the package
•Boater’s World Seminars- 6 total
•West Marine Seminars - 3 total
•Sports Authority Seminar- Fall Fishing Days-Sept. 2003
•TAMPA BOAT SHOW - October 2003- 2 Featured Seminars
•South Florida SPORT FISHING MAGAZINE-Featured article and
- Captain Writer for the Fall Issue(Sept./Oct./Nov./Dec.)
•WFLA T.V. CHANNEL 8 - Buccaneer Post Game
- Fishing Show w/ Capt. Mel
•Captain Mel Radio Show- 970 am - Sept. 20 , 2003
•South Florida SPORT FISHING MAGAZINE-Headline article and
Captain/Writer for the Winter Issue(Dec./Jan./Feb.)