Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I stumbled across this site thanks to Dave Merical. I live in Sarasota, FL where I'm a professional outdoor writer and kayak fishing guide. Most of my guiding takes place on saltwater, although I do a few freshwater trips per year.

When I get a chance to go alone or with friends, I like to go to Lake Manatee, which is a 2,500-acre lake about 30 minutes from the house. There's never very many boats on the lake and I often feel as if it's my private lake.

I always fly fish and I catch lots of bluegill, bass, shellcracker, speckled perch, stumpknocker and channel catfish.

My flies of choice include No. 10 poppers, No. 10 or No. 12 gold beadhead nymphs and my Myakka Minnow. I like using poppers, but when that bites slows I just go subsurface and find it more productive on most days.

Another think I like to do is drive to the Everglades and fish for oscars, Mayan cichlids and peacock bass.

Hope I can learn from this site and contribute.

Views: 189

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Thanks for joining the site, Steve. My favorite thing in the world to do (outside of fishing) is writing about fishing. I think ultimately this site is going to be a great scientific reference, but also a place to sit down and have a good read. Can't wait to get further acquainted. :)

Bruce

P.S. I love doing things with my wife and girls, but that's on a different "favorite thing to do" list.
Hello, Steve!
I give Scott Kershaw credit for directing me here! The world keeps getting smaller! Hopefully, the bluegills will just be getting BIGGER!
I was talking to David Merical earlier and I am very interested in taking one of these guided fishing trips for oscars, mayan cichlids and peacock bass. I think this is an amazing combo of fish and would be a blast of a fishing trip. Thank you for joining the site. Feel free asking question and posting pictures, we love pictures. Happy fishing partner.
Welcome Steve, I go to several fishing sites, but wehn it comes to gills, there isn't a site out there that can beat this one!!!
Welcome Steve

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Lot of Coppernose Over a Piund this Summer….9/11/2026

Story to come in the next couple months…,,,
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Had a Great September Morning Earlier This Week…..9/10/2026

"Thanks John…..dabbled in a few other places but Facebook didn’t like my dictionary…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Had a Great September Morning Earlier This Week…..9/10/2026

"Nice to see you back here, Jeff! Been awhile! Got 78 water temp this past Tuesday, fishing for…"
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Had a Great September Morning Earlier This Week…..9/10/2026

Fished a mini urchin from blind squirrel baits under a float on a telescopic pole……surface temps…
Thursday
John Sheehan posted photos
Wednesday
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 29
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 26
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 20
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 12
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 5
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

grt26

"The Hot Crank Bait."
Jul 24
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

gtjuly26

"Been a long time getting a Greenie! Got two."
Jul 24
John Sheehan posted an album
Jul 24
John Sheehan posted photos
Jul 24
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

Floating snake 2

"Dick, have you tried it out?"
Jul 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

july26

"Nice to see them coming back in bigger sizes in my home lake of Cupsaw Ringwood NJ."
Jul 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

JULY26HELGIE PICKEREL

"Yes Dick .Iv'e eaten both Pike and Pickerel and sometimes laziness gets me taking back strap,…"
Jul 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

july26

"Nice"
Jul 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

JULY26HELGIE PICKEREL

"Nice pickerel, John. I know Northern Pike are good eating but the bones are something else."
Jul 21
John Sheehan posted photos
Jul 15

© 2026   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service