Bussen Report: February ’10 | The Beachside Resident

By: Capt. Scott Bussen

Article Category: Canaveral Fishing Report Leave a Comment

So I’m one V8, two McDonald’s cheeseburgers and three Tylenol into my Monday morning after Sunday’s NFL playoffs.

I enter Stage-Two Recovery as I wrap myself up in my sweet new Snuggie and prepare for full hibernation. I’m a modern day cave man except my cave is lit not by campfire, but by the soft glow of the LCD flat screen. Alas, the sweet euphoria of an early afternoon couch coma is rapidly approaching, when suddenly, the dream bubble above my head evaporates like a cloud over the desert. “Tommy Boy” is starting in a couple of minutes! I’m not sure what number Man Law it is, but I know I am required to view a majority of this cinematic masterpiece.

So I watch “Tommy Boy” for about the 200th time. Now, y’all know my brain works a little bit differently than some, right? Well, it occurred to me that the National Marine Fisheries Service is much like Tommy in the early part of the movie when he’s an undeniable screw-up, not like in the end when he actually does something right. Funny thing is that even Tommy Boy can get something right some of the time. I don’t think NMFS has gotten one thing right in any fishery they have tried recently. I am going to put them on the list with weather persons as the only job you can be wrong 100% of the time and still keep your job. I mean, they could throw their hat down and miss the ground. They could sit down on the commode and still miss the bowl, which is only fitting for someone who enjoys pissing in the wind. They are like a bunch of sheep following each other in a circle, snoot to starfish. There’s a line in the movie about a T-bone steak, a butcher and putting your head in the part of the cow where the sun doesn’t shine that hit my funny bone. It made me think of how the NMFS is like a deranged ostrich who sticks his head into a place on his own body much warmer than sand. Are you picking up what I’m putting down?

Now that they’ve taken away our staple wintertime bottom fishery, I’m not quite sure what to write about. From what I’ve been seeing, there are too many grouper and snapper out there to even try and catch an amberjack. I never thought I’d see the day that grouper and snapper would reach trash-fish status. Times they are a changin’… Three more months of grouper closure and at least five more months of snapper closure to go. Pray for a miracle and get involved in the fight!

On a lighter note, the kingfishing was still pretty good last month. However, the colder water temps early in the month pushed the fish a bit to the south. The fish stretched from the south end of Pelican Flats down to the Offshore Bar east of Fort Pierce. Mixed in with the kings were a few cobia, dolphin, blackfin tuna, bonito and an occasional wahoo.

For February, I would expect this trend to remain relatively the same with the fish holding in the southern areas. There may be a few fish in the northern areas, but they will be scattered until temps reach above about 68 degrees. Try trolling spoons, plugs or seawitch/strip combos until the schools are located. Then switch to the lighter rigs with live baits or frozen sardines for fast action. Once a concentration of fish is located, it should be easy to catch a quick limit.

As far as trolling goes in February, the action could range from slow to fair. Probably the best bet on the troll this month will be the sailfish, followed by dolphin and wahoo. The key will likely be finding the green- to clean-water edge. Like the kingfish, the best bet for the pelagics should be to the south.

If you are a glutton for punishment or just a die-hard bottom fisherman, go ahead and try the bottom. There should be plenty of amberjack from the 27-fathom ridge on out to the cones. Just be prepared to cry as you release all those snapper and grouper! Cobia and triggerfish could also be a possibility on the inshore reefs and wrecks. If you do get out, have fun and watch out for those fast moving fronts.

If you need me, I’ll be… LIVING IN A VAN… DOWN BY THE RIVER!!

See ya on the pond!