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Although not as bad as last week, it was still a very windy week, and the tides were poor for the first couple of days. But, great customers, hard work, and reasonable expectations made for some great trips.
First up was Joe Griffin, and his good friend Bill, of Indianapolis, Indiana. Joe and Bill drew the worst tide of the week, and it was tough fishing. Fortunately, bait was pretty easy, and it wasn't long before we were at the first stop of the day fishing for big trout. The trout didn't want to play, though, as we only caught one, and the snook were lockjawed, early.
Eventually, I decided to chase redfish. I knew I could get right on the fish in big numbers, but didn't know if they would think about eating. We made our approach to the flat on the trolling motor, and began chumming at the first sign of fish. I saw the school make a big push right in front of me, and they were right where they usually stage on that particular flat. It didn't take long to have the first strike, and it was a big fish for Joe. It blew his mind, as it took off for parts unknown, the Stella 4000 drag screaming against the big fish pulling through the 15 pound Power Pro. Joe was just amazed at the power and size of that fish. It turned out to be 12 pounds of bronze torpedo! Quite a fish for Joe's first redfish. Soon, Bill had one on, and it was the same surprise. His fish was 11 pounds! But, that was it. The fish shut down, probably because the tide was about done.
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After waiting long enough to be darned sure the reds were done, we moved to a favorite snook hole, where to my surprise, we found some action. I had not been hopeful that we'd see any more action, because the falling tide was non-existent. But, Joe and Bill were treated to the run and jump of a half dozen or so snook before things ground to a complete halt. It ain't over till it's over, but it was definitely over. We headed home with a Slam under our belts, and the first of all the species for Joe and Bill. The boys had been a ball to fish with, and we'd had a great time.
Wednesday, it was my old friend Dan Rathka, who lives down in Naples, and his best friend Phil Mollica. We had a front on our doorstep, and the wind was around to the west. That opened up some spots that I hadn't fished in a while because the wind totally dictates where you fish when you're shiner fishing. Bait came pretty easily at Tarpon Bay, and we were soon parked on the first snook hole of the day. The fish were there, and turned on. We were all getting hit regularly, and regularly taken to the cleaners. They were kicking our butts in this close-quarters spot. I think I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and would estimate just from my experience with big snook and by the horsepower she had, that she was around 30 pounds. I back that up with the fact that I found 7 snook all over 35 pounds dead in that spot many years ago after a freak hard freeze. I was shocked. Anyway, the fish hit my shiner with such a vengeance that even when I grabbed the spool of the Stella 4000 FA, full of 30 pound Power Pro, I couldn't stop it with my bare hand! It was like hooking an old Packard passing by at 55 MPH while you're bridge fishing! Eventually, she got far enough back into the mangroves that even putting the rod all the way in the water wasn't enough to keep the line away from the sharp stuff. The big female won that one! But, we all caught snook, including two keepers, and a number of smaller fish. We also got a nice trout, and a small redfish, getting the Slam out of the way early. Perhaps the most exciting fight of the day was the first fish Dan hooked, which we thought was a big snook. Dan did a great job of turning and steering the fish out of the bushes, and it turned out to be a big 7 pound jack crevalle.
After fishing a few other spots without much happening, we decided to go take another shot at the big redfish. Dan has caught them with me more than once before, but it was Phil's first time. Boy, was he surprised at how they pull. But, again we only managed a couple of ten pound fish before the clamed up. It was OK, though, as we had been on big fish nearly all morning, and had enough in the well to feed the gang that night. And, Dan and Phil had been great fun, and kept me laughing most of the morning.
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The front passed through Wednesday night, and Thursday morning, I attempted to get to Tarpon Bay to catch bait before picking up Rob Bierman up on North Captiva. But, the wind was vicious right out of the northwest, and the Sound was butt ugly. I lost my pushpole four times trying to get to Tarpon Bay it was so rough. As good as the Talon rides in the rough, it was just too nasty. Once at Tarpon Bay, where to my surprise, there were two other boats chumming for bait, I called Rob and told him it just wouldn't be possible for me to make the long ride to get him, and then take him home again, in such rough water. We rescheduled for Friday. When I finally got home, I took the pushpole off the Talon. I rarely use it, anyway.
It was still very windy Friday, but at least the trip was doable. I caught bait by myself at Tarpon Bay, and was on the phone to Rob at 6:55 to let him know I was on the way. He didn't know for sure whether we were fishing or not, until I called. I had plenty of bait, but I knew it would be a very tough day of fishing with the passing of the front. But, Rob and his father-in-law, Ralph, were ready to go, as they had not managed to catch anything other than ladyfish and jacks on their own.
Even though the tide was very low I decided to check on my redfish school first instead of later in the tide. The reds were there, and we got busy trying to pull them in to us. In what seemed to be a filling of our quota for the day, we had two fish eat rather quickly. Rob and Ralph each got big reds of 12 and 11 pounds, and that was it. They wouldn't bite any more. Go figure! I kept working on them for a while, not wanting to face the reality of two fish being it, but it was. They were lockjawed! We also got a big trout or two for the Slam on the same flat.
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We moved on and turned our attention to snook. We found the snook on the next stop, and they were willing to eat. We spent the rest of the tide at that stop, and Rob and Ralph managed to boat around 8 nice fish, and of course, missed their share, too. So, we had gotten the Slam on a very tough post-front day, and caught some nice fish. We'd also had a ball. I took the boys back to Safety Harbor staying close to the shore and out of the wind, and then made the long ride home. I was glad we had been able to make our trip, as Rob and I had a trip planned last year, and family matters forced him to cancel at the last minute.
On Saturday, I had my first trip with Mike Trazzera, of Absecon, New Jersey, and his uncle Pete, who now lives in St. James City, on Pine Island. I knew as I made the trek across the Sound to St. James that it would be a big wind day, and that the fishing would be tough. It's always tough for at least two or three days after the passing of a front. Our efforts would be further subverted by bunches of boats fishing a local tournament. I met Mike and Pete at the Waterfront Restaurant, and we headed across the Sound to Tarpon Bay for bait. Bait came quickly, and even though we were one of the last of a dozen or more boats to show up, we were one of the first ones gone.
My first choice spot to fish early on the tide already had a tournament boat sitting on it when we went by. I had to go to Plan B. Plan B is a great snook/big trout hole. The snook were there, and killing our baits, but were not eating. Fortunately, we had an abbreviated trout bite, during which Mike and Pete caught a dozen or so very nice trout. Most were around 3 pounds! We fished several other spots in search of snook action, but to no avail. We changed gears.
I headed to the flat that had been giving me those 2 big reds each morning, fully expecting to catch at least our allotment. But, it was not to be. The fish were there, for sure, but not about to eat. I gave them probably more time to change their minds than I should have, but they just weren't interested. Finally, we had to move on.
We turned our attention back to snook, and fished a number of great spots. We got lots of kill strikes, but nothing serious enough to get a hook into. I decided to make a major move to different ground, and it was there that we managed to shake a few snook loose. Pete got a nice keeper of around 29 inches, and Mike got to sample the run and jump snook action, and they loved it. But, it didn't last long, as we were on the top of the tide. Once again great customers and sticking with it had made for a great day!
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In terms of numbers it was a tough week. But, all of my folks caught some quality fish, and had a great time. I'm reminded of what my new friend Bill Cruickshank of a couple of weeks ago said about fishing. His words of wisdom were, "Fishing is like sex! When it's good, it's VERY good! When it's bad, it's VERY good!" Man, ain't that the truth?!
We've got some great mid-day tides next week, and the weather is supposed to be back into the 80's. We'll see how it plays out.
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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