It was the week of the full moon. Although the full moon brings good morning tides, it curses us with fish that have lockjaw. Our prime species, snook and redfish, are both very much nocturnal feeders. For several days either side of the full moon, the fish feed throughout the night, and when morning comes getting the fish to eat can be nearly impossible. They've got full bellies.

Monday through Wednesday were reserved for my friends John and Martha Hitt, from Orlando. John is the president of the very progressive and fast growing University of Central Florida, there. John loves to fish, and Martha is patiently learning. The Hitts had already been here for the previous week fishing from their new Maverick flats boat, but unfortunately, not catching much. I was hopeful that I could change that.

I was greeted by northwest wind at around 15 knots as I launched BarHopp'R II on Monday morning. I knew that would keep us off the beach, where most of the snook are staged. We'd have to get it done inside. I figured that by the time we ran to Cayo Costa for that beautiful bait, the tide would be getting about right on the flats. I was right. We concentrated on redfish that first day, and by the time we were ready for lunch we had boated 7 or 8 nice reds. It wasn't the explosive redfishing that can often occur, but I figured it was pretty good for a full moon tide.

Tuesday, the wind was around to the northeast, which I thought would allow us to fish outside. Turned out that it was pretty bumpy out there. To make matters worse, we had beautiful bait, but the snook wouldn't eat it. We got lots of what I call "hit and run" strikes, where the snook hit the bait and kill it, but will not hold on for you to set a hook on them. It seems to be a strike that is either instinctual when they're not really hungry, or a strike that is protective of the eggs, but either way, it's frustrating when they're doing that.

We saw perhaps four fish caught on the beach, before Martha began feeling sick, and we headed inside to get on flat water. Martha decided that she should probably go in, and we dropped her at the South Seas dock on the inside of Captiva. While I was waiting on John to return, one of the South Seas guides, I believe named David O'Connor, came out and gave me a bad time about being at their dock. For the life of me I don't understand why they insist on alienating everyone who picks up a customer there. He threatened to call the sheriff, and I invited him to do so. I took my mooring lines off his dock and continued to sit right there.

Once John returned we headed out to concentrate on redfish again. Now a day closer to the full moon, it was hard to get anything to eat, but we did manage to boat 6 redfish, 1 snook, 1 trout for the Slam, and a ladyfish. We experienced the same frustrating behavior from the snook inside, as well. Again, it wasn't a fast and furious day of catching, but I didn't talk to anyone else who was doing any better. That evening I joined John and Martha for dinner at the Green Flash Restaurant, which now stands where the old Timmy's Nook stood for nearly five decades, on Captiva. The view is nothing short of fabulous. Every seat in the house is looking out over the Sound from the stilted elevation. The food was quite good, too. I highly recommend a trip to the Flash to anyone who is going to be staying on Captiva or Sanibel.

Wednesday, it was just John and I. Martha decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and decided to stay behind. We were now a day before the full moon, and the wind was roaring at 20 from the east. Just great! I knew getting anything to eat would be a tough sell, but big John did managed to catch 1 redfish, 4 snook, and 1 trout, for the Slam.

It was great to spend three days with John and Martha. I wanted so much to put John on the kind of redfish action he'd been reading about in my fishing reports, but it was not to be. We didn't do too bad, considering, and I hope John was happy.

Thursday it was the day of the full moon, and still blowing like crazy from the east. When the wind is east, the fishing is least. You can sure believe that is true! My good friends Giles Boudreau and his partner David, BarHopp'R regulars, we over for some more fishin fun. I told them it would be tough, and it was. Even the bait at Cayo Costa was tough to come by, but we finally got it. The snook were in the same kind of mood, hitting and running, and the boys missed lots of hits. They did manage to boat 4 snook, and broke off one monster. They also boated 4 big reds to 30 inches. Although the catching was slow, we had a good time, and I always enjoy fishing with Giles and Dave.

Thursday evening, John and Martha Hitt met me at one of my favorite mainland restaurants, the Seafood Center and Crabhouse, which has a long and colorful history here. We enjoyed a great meal, and great fellowship. It's really great to be able to spend time with my friends after the trip.

Friday I had my first new customer in a while, Bud Dunn, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Bud was a real interesting fella, and a very experienced angler, but this brand of light tackle fishing was new to him. We had the same conditions, and boy, did we have a tough day. We fished hard that day, and had a lot of fun, but at day's end only had 4 snook to show for our efforts. Bud had lost one other. Bud and I were scheduled to fish again on Monday, and I fully planned on us redeeming ourselves then.

Well, that's the way it went. It was a typical full moon week with great tides and disinterested fish. Things should be on the improve next week.

Note: Those of you who have trips booked in the future, or who may want to book, should note my new phone numbers. Home/office is 239-628-3522, and the new cell phone number is 239-633-5851.