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It was a week of very poor tides. Because I always give my customers the prospects as I see them based upon tides, those tough tide days sometimes don't book. That's OK. There's always plenty to do when I'm not on the water.
The only half way descent tide was on Monday, and that was the one day I worked. Of course, yet another late season cold front passed through on Sunday without bringing any rain. The water is still crystal clear everywhere you go, and there is still bait by the zillions everywhere, as well. Those factors seem to be the topic of conversation at the docks, and consensus is that's what's making catching so tough, right now.
I was on the water before 6 AM catching bait, and the bait was good with the mix leaning toward shiners rather than threadfins. I was back at the dock by shortly after 7 AM, and my customers Don Battles Jr. and Sr. arrived shortly thereafter. We chatted as we made our way through the causeway slow zones, and were off.
We had a pretty brisk breeze out of the north/northeast, and I thought it might be a good morning to stop somewhere in Ding Darling while we were waiting on the tide to swing to the incoming. With the north wind I figured the noseeums wouldn't be a problem.
As we approached I could see there was one other boat present, but he was messing around on his trolling motor presumably trying to figure out where he would fish. He finally settled on a spot and began chumming, as did we. We did have an occasional pop on our chum way back in the mangroves, but only managed to catch one gag grouper. Well, at least the skunk was out of the boat. A couple of boats came and went while we were there, and we didn't see another fish caught.
As the tide was about to get started, if you could call it that, we moved on into the Sound. The tide would be a nice high one by around 4 PM, but it was starting from an already high point, and the strength of the tide was very poor. It wouldn't be easy fishing.
For the first couple hours of the tide we were only able to get two snook to commit and bite a bait. I say that because virtually every bait we tossed out got scaled by the wary snook. The sign a bait when they mess with it, just as you'd sign your name. The snook is the only fish in our waters that can knock the scales off a shiner and not break the skin, leaving a band, or bands of scales missing roughly half inch wide. They'll make you crazy when they're doing that, and they've been doing it routinely, lately, because they're full!
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As the water began to cover things well, we turned our attention to redfish. They are the only reasonable prospects for taking home dinner, as most of the big trout are now off the beaches to spawn, and snook season is closed.
We worked an area hard, knowing the fish were there. I just had to prove it to the Battles. Finally, the first red ate, and Don brought one to the boat. It went into the well. As I recall the second fish was just short, but a while later Don Jr. managed a flurry of two more keeper fish.
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I would have kept them out there for the rest of the incoming and the first hour or so of the falling tide, but the boys had a commitment they had to keep, and we had to head in. The Battle Boys were great guys. It had been a fun day with Don and Don, although we had surely worked for our fish. But, they had enough redfish to feed the fish lovers in their group that evening.
I've got a full week next week, and the tides are going to be about as good as they get this time of year. Be that as it may, we still have mucho bait and clear, clear agua! Stay tuned.
I am happy to report that my friend Tom Ashby was able to sell his Release and conclude the deal last week with some great folks I've fished with a number of times. My congratulations to them on a great purchase.
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