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SeaHunter Boats

Fishing Report

Tall Tails Fishing with Captain Tony Traad utilizes two skinny water flats skiffs as well as a canoe.  This allows for a variety of shallow water flats and back country experiences.  Whether you want to live bait the deeper creeks and channels of the back country for snook and tarpon; fish the shallow flats for tailing bonefish, permit or redfish; or have the ultimate skinny water back country canoe experience deep into the interior of the back country where only a canoe can go; Tall Tails has the boats and equipment to make it happen.

 The 2005 SeaHunter 18' flats skiff is well suited for choppy waters which often accompany foul weather, thus, fewer trips have to be canceled because of weather thanks to the SeaHunter’s choppy water capability. The SeaHunter has a 150 horse powered engine and a 50 gallon fuel capacity which allows for long range trips into the vast back country of the Florida Everglades and the ability to comfortably cover distances in a very good time period leaving more fishing time for anglers.  With a 9 inch draft, the SeaHunter can put anglers within casting range of tailing fish.  If live baiting the deeper channels and creeks, a maximum of three anglers can fish from the SeaHunter 18'.  I recommend however that you try to limit the number of anglers to two for your convenience; four people with gear on an 18 foot skiff take up a lot of room.  If fishing tailing fish in shallow water, no more than two anglers can fish from the SeaHunter 18'.

The 2002 16 foot flats skiff has a tunnel hull and a draft of 5 inches affording it the ability to access very shallow flats to stalk tailing fish.  In the 16, the falling tide on a flat is rarely a concern and often anglers can cast to and catch fish cruising around with their backs and dorsal fins fully exposed.  The 16 has a 70 horse powered engine and an 18 gallon fuel capacity giving it the ability to cover moderate distances in a reasonable time period.  The 16 comfortably fishes a maximum of two anglers.

The canoe offers an angler the ultimate in back country excursions to places that are either closed or inaccessible to boats.  On these trips the targeted species are red fish and snook and an angler can expect to catch either in waters so skinny that the canoe almost can’t navigate the shallow water.  Small to medium sized tarpon are sometimes found in the deeper sections of these back country canoe areas.  The canoe trip is a one angler trip and the angler will have to help paddle from spot to spot.  This trip is for the hearty adventurous sole who doesn’t mind sitting in a canoe for several hours.

TACKLE

 Most people seem to prefer using their own fishing tackle and equipment, however, rods/reels and tackle, both spin and fly, can be provided upon request.  Tall Tails rods and reels consist of Biscayne Rods and Daiwa, Tibor and Finor reels.

 Most of the spinning gear used during a back country or flats trip is light weight from 8 to 12 lb. test line and seven to eight feet long.  Your reel should have a line capacity of about 200 yards.  Fly rods range from 7 to 12 weight with the most commonly used fly rods being in the 8 and 9 weight class for smaller fish and 10 to 12 weight rods for bigger fish.  Once again, your fly reel should hold at least 200 yards of backing.

 TACKLE FOR SMALLER FISH: Suggested rods for bonefish, permit, snook (in open water), sea trout, barracuda, small tarpon, small sharks, black drum, sheep head, triple tail - Seven to eight foot spinning rod spooled with 8 or 10 lb. test line or an 8 to 9 weight fly rod.  A seven weight fly rod can be used for redfish and sea trout.

 TACKLE FOR LARGER FISH: Suggested rods for large tarpon, snook, permit and sharks - Seven to eight foot spinning rod with 12 to 17 lb. test line or a 10 to 12 weight fly rod.

  FLY LINE: It is recommended that you bring a floating line, sink tip and a sinking line for each of your fly rods rigged on an extra spool for quick change outs.  Different conditions and areas may require a different technique.