Final Nearshore Report of 2023 - Albies and Redfish Madness

Well, it looks like this might be my last big nearshore report for the fall of 2023.  There are still some Albies around and we'll be chasing the big Bull Reds on and off through the winter, but my "life at sea" is complete for the year.  I've already transitioned to poling the backwaters chasing schools of Redfish.

I don't think I'm ever quite ready for two months plus of fishing almost every single day, but when there's catching to be done, we go!  The months of September, October and November are extremely hard to top here on the Crystal Coast.  From Spanish to Blues to Albies to big Reds to Amberjack to Cobia and Sharks...you just never know what might pop up.  And I love it!  I love the fact that at any moment you might be racing for the horizon and switching up rods and gear to take a sling at whatever is boiling on the surface under a cloud of birds.

I have to be honest though.  I would never get to experience all these cool things, if it wasn't for the anglers that choose to spend their day on the boat with me.  I'm honored that you keep coming back and trusting me to show you a good time.  I take that challenge very seriously, and I'll always work hard for you.  Thank you for coming and sharing awesome adventures and making memories with me. 

​Let's take a look at what mother nature brought us during the month of November.

The fall of 2023 was a bit of a funky season for Albies.  We'd have a few great days, then a few very tough days, and the cycle would repeat.  You could blame it on a lot of things, like weather patterns, but I don't speak Albie, so I don't really know what they were thinking.

Fortunately, there is an abundance of other possibilities out there too.  So if we hit a day when the Albies weren't on fire, then we went to see who else would play the game.

I've got to be honest, I friggin' love these big Drum.  I mean I love slot size Reds in the marsh, but there's something next level about seeing and catching these big adults.

I am so thankful for my repeat clients that fish with me each year, but I am also thankful for the anglers that give me a shot for the first time.  If this season was the first time you've fished with me, thank you for giving me a chance to show you a good time.

These gentlemen fished with me this Spring for Bonito and we ended up getting into a bunch of Bulls.  This fall they booked me for Albies, and we ended up getting into a bunch of Bulls again.  By the way, they also got their Bonito and Albies.

Pulling on a pig.

Subduing the beast.

Taking an intermission between Reds to catch some green and silver.

No sir, we're not having a good time at all.

Finally found a few full grown Albies in November.  This one was 30" at the fork and was tagged and released like many others this year.

I swear these things must have a lightbulb inside of them...they just glow!

Check out that tail spot!

This father and son duo has been trying to hit the golden jackpot for a few years now.  A little risk ended up with a whole lot of reward this time around.  So happy I was able to witness the mayhem with them.

These fish are art!

Can't always be sunshine and dry skies...the fish don't care, they're already wet.

That's what you call pullage.

Some days they are given, some days they are earned...every day they are worth it.

The fight's almost over.

Sending another tagged Albie back home. 
​For more information visit:  ​The Albie Project – American Saltwater Guides Association

Sunrise Albacore.

We gave the Mauser Watermans and Hatch Iconics a workout this fall, and they put the heat on plenty of mean fish without a hiccup.

We had some days towards the end of the season when the Albies completely ghosted us (they were offshore doing whatever Albies do offshore).  Thankfully we found plenty of trout and blues to keep the rods bent and anglers happy.

Thankfully the Albies did decide to come back for the last few trips of the season, and we got to enjoy some major pullage and drag burning once again.

Well, that's about it folks.  I'm already back in the skinny chasing after schools of Redfish.  The water is clear, and the fish have been plentiful, looks like we are going to have an excellent winter season sight fishing Redfish.  Give me a shout if you want to go chase Reds during the next few months, or if you are interested in any other upcoming opportunities.  As for next year's fall Albie season, I'm already almost 50% booked, so don't wait too long to contact me and get on the calendar.  Thanks for checking out the report, I appreciate you all so much and look forward to hitting the water with you.