This week has to go down as one of the windiest on record, even for the month of March. We had wind gust to 35 MPH nearly every day, and steady winds at 25. It made getting to and from the fishing grounds a challenge, and made crossing the Sound a last resort proposition. We had tides with good height, but not a lot of strength, and the wind served to take what strength was there, away! It's amazing how the wind can move or stop water! So, the effect on the fishing was negative, and the fishing was tough all week. That said, I had some great trips with some wonderful people, proving once again that it's not just all about catching.

The first trip on Monday was with Sam Burgess and his younger sister, and his dad, Stephen. I apologize for my brain failing me after a week, but I can't remember Sam's sister's name. They were down from Woodbury, Minnesota, and were happy to be here in the warm weather. We were facing a descent tide, but a very tough wind.

We headed over to Tarpon Bay to catch bait, and had plenty within a hour, and were ready to fish. Problem was, the fish weren't ready for us. The gang fished their hearts out for the first couple hours without a fish in the boat. It was the old hit and run routine from the snook and the trout. Frustrated, I finally decided to go and see if I could get my school of big reds to eat. I knew they would be right where I had last found them, and it would be a matter of whether they were willing to eat our offerings, or not.

Once on the flat things improved many-fold when we got the first takedown. I had been chumming with live shiners, cut shiners, and live and cut pinfish. I had two live baits out under Cajun corks, and two cut baits out on each side a long way from the boat, and placed in the bow rod holders. Once we got the first big red on, I knew we would catch a few, but didn't know how long they would bite before they'd had enough or someone clueless came running across our fish.

Well, the answer was that the Burgess clan boated 7 or 8 big redfish, with the largest at 11.5 pounds, along with 2 beautiful speckled trout of 4 pounds each. Of course, they predictably missed some fish and there were a couple that got away with cut line, etc. But, those big reds all at 10 pounds or better and big trout made for a pretty good day of fishing, even if it did take a while to get going. The bait of choice had been steaked pinfish. The reds had been a blast for my gang.

Tuesday was my first trip with Joe Trad, and his young son Phil, of St. Louis, Missouri. Joe and I had been trying to get together for a trip for a good three years, and it was finally happening. I had hoped that the conditions would be perfect for a great trip, but that was not to be. It was blowing fiercely out of the northeast.

Things began predictably with tough bait. We finally got it after trying at Picnic Island, and then on to Tarpon Bay. It was so nasty I wanted to avoid Tarpon Bay, but I knew the bait was there. I also think that the northerly wind tends to stack the bait in there thicker than it might normally be. It took a while, but once we got the bait going, we got plenty. The next challenge would be to find fish willing to eat.

We fished a lot of great spots, and the boys fished hard. It's probably safe to say that nearly every bait they pitched into the waters got hit, but it was the old hit and run game once again, and the hits were impossible to feel, especially through such strong wind. Time and time again they reeled in their live shiners only to find them half dead and signed with that unmistakable snook bite that knocks the scales off the body but never breaks the skin!

The wind was so high and the Sound so rough getting to my schooling reds was not an option. So, we stayed with what we were doing. By the time the tide had quit moving, Joe and Phil had 2 trout weighing 4 pounds each, and 3 snook, including 2 keepers. Not a lot of fish, but quality fish. And, we'd had a blast in spite of the conditions. We took a very tough day and made the best of it.

Wednesday, the recipe was more of the same! Wind! Wind! It was my first trip with Alison Ward, and her uncle Bill Cruickshank. Ali had been planning this trip with her uncle for quite some time, and I felt almost as if I knew her before we met. She was really pumped about getting out of the cold weather still plaguing New Jersey, and catching some big fish. I was worried about making that happened under the conditions we were dealt.

We took off in the brutal wind and rough water and headed straight to Tarpon Bay for bait. The reward was that bait came easily, and we had plenty for fishing and chumming. We made our was up into the Sound and the first stop produce a few nice trout, and snook bites on nearly every bait they reeled in. It was more of the same. But, Ali was a lot of fun, and Uncle Bill was a real character with a wonderful sense of humor, and we were having plenty of laughs.

We moved to the second spot, and it was the charm. The snook were willing to actually eat a bait there, and Bill and Ali caught a good dozen snook and one more trout. Several were right at the slot limit of 26 inches, but we didn't attempt to stretch any for keeping. We kept some nice trout, instead. And we had fun.

I was concerned about the ride home in such a horrific wind. Bill is 78 if memory serves, and looks great and is in great shape. He runs every day and is sharp of mind, but he is a cancer survivor, and somehow miraculously survived numerous machine gun and mortar wounds during World War II. He is a survivor indeed, and tough, but I was worried about the rough ride home being a bit much for him. Well, it wasn't. He hung tough and never once flinched or complained, and was smiling at the dock about having such a great time. It was truly a great day with great new friends.

Thursday it was my first time out with Doug Campbell and his son, James. Doug was down on a quick getaway from his law practice in Tennessee. I explained the circumstances with the wind and gave him the chance to back out, but he and Jimmy were sports and ready to brave the conditions for a day on the water.

We first headed up the river to the ladyfish grounds. But, the wind blowing so hard had the tide slowed nearly to a stop even in the river, and the bite was slow. Jimmy managed to hook several fish, and had a few right at the side of the boat where they got off. We did manage to get one in the well, and I knew that if I could get to my redfish school, we could probably turn some of those ladyfish steaks into redfish.

From the river we went to Tarpon Bay for bait, which came easily. We were loaded up. In the Sound it was the same story as the days before, only worse. We couldn't get a hook in anything. There had been a lot of hits and a few snook missed, but we had nothing in the boat. Time was getting short on the tide, and I knew I couldn't wait any longer, so I decided to brave the nasty waters to get to my redfish school. I prayed they would eat!

There was one other boat on the flat, but not close to where I wanted to be. We made our approach from a long way out on the trolling motor so as not to chance bothering anything he may have going on. Turned out he didn't have anything going on, as we never saw them catch a fish.

I began my chopping and chumming routine, and put my usual combo of live and cut baits out. But, today we had that one ladyfish to use, and I knew that if the reds would eat anything, they'd eat that. Before we had our first hit, the guide (who shall remain nameless) had no compunction about starting his engine and driving around behind me within 50 yards, even though I did everything possible to keep from disturbing the fish on that flat. Totally uncalled for, and totally unprofessional. Unfortunately, that kind of conduct seems to be the order of the day with a certain group of guides.

Well, it wasn't long before we had a first strike. It came on the ladyfish, and it was a beautiful 10 pound redfish. Next we had a big hit on a shiner under the Cajun float rig. We missed several hits, and bagged one more 10 pound redfish, which gave us a chance to teach Jimmy how to pump and reel the big fish in. We also had 2 nice 4 pound trout eat our ladyfish steaks, and also had a big snook pick up one and run with it, then jump completely out of the shallow water and throw the hook. Jimmy was on the rod, and got a little ahead of the fish and dropped her slack. Now, she swims to fight again another day.

Again, it was a day of low numbers, but quality fish, and we had a blast. The last part of the ride home was very nasty, and we had to stop to retrieve my pushpole more than once after it was knocked out of it's brackets by the big waves. Was it worth it? Darned right!

It was a tough week. It was an unusual week in that it's the first one in a long while that was filled with all new customers. Usually, I have mostly regulars that fill my weeks. I want to thank all of you who were willing to brave the wind and conditions to fish with me last week, for your patience and your sense of adventure. Every single one of you were great, and I look forward to fishing with you all again in the future, hopefully, under a bit better conditions.

We begin next week with very poor tides, and who know when this wind will lay. We'll have to see how it goes.

If you want to be able to continue to fish Florida waters please follow this link, "Manatee Zones: How You Can Help" and please take the time to become involved, even if you don't live in Florida. Let the politicians know WHY you come to Florida on vacation!

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