This was an abbreviated work week, as I gave myself Friday off as the first day of a four day weekend over Memorial Day, and I canceled a trip Tuesday because of poor tides and wind. The angler involved is local and can fish when conditions are better.

Monday morning Bud Dunn and I were at it again, chasing the one commodity they don't have up on the Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana coast, where he fishes; SNOOK! To my surprise, bait was tough at Cayo Costa, but we got it. I suspect I'll be looking elsewhere, soon.

We headed to a beautiful spot in the northern part of the Sound on the early part of the tide. We had a lot of the same hit and run behavior of the previous week, but did catch some fish. Later in the tide we headed south, and had a good bite for the last half of the morning. There were quite a few missed fish, but Bud is a very good angler, and listened to my coaching, and put around 15 snook in the boat before the morning was over. The largest was 30 inches, and a beauty. She went in the well. We had plans for her that night.

We finished the day at the Waterfront Restaurant with a great lunch and lots of fishing stories. What a great way to end a great day. That evening, Bud, his lovely wife, a couple of Bud's friends, and Bud's snook met me at the Seafood Center and Crabhouse just up from my fish camp, where we had a sort of a roast.....for the snook. Yes, they broiled it to perfection, and it was enough to feed the five of us. Before dinner, over cocktails, Bud gave me one of the nicest compliments a guide can receive. He said that he'd been out with lots of guides, and that he'd had trips where he caught more fish, but that I was the best guide he'd ever been out with. I'm still on a high from that. Thanks, Bud! Bud also recently sent me an email, which I have posted.

After having Tuesday off, I was eager to get out with my good friend Dr. Bob Rose, of Galveston, Texas, who was over just to fish for two days with his lovely wife, Kay. Since they were here just to fish, and to spend some time looking for their own fish camp, I invited them to stay here with me at my fish camp. It was really nice to have the after hours company.

We headed back to Cayo Costa for bait, not knowing for sure if the well was drying up, or not, but we caught plenty. We had a pretty stiff west wind, which kept up from going outside on the beaches where the snook are stacked up by the millions. That meant we'd have to get it done inside. We didn't get much of a bite until late in the tide, and Bob managed 6 snook to the boat. His biggest was 30 inches. Guess where she quickly disappeared to? Yep! I'd told Bob of what a great job the restaurant had done with Bud's snook, and we decided to do an instant replay that night. She went to the well.

Thursday's bite was quite a bit better. Bob and Kay boated around 15 snook to 29 inches, and a couple of trout. It wasn't the spectacular bite that we're used to having this time of year, but Bob agreed that it was pretty good snook fishing. It was great to see and fish with Bob again, and to finally meet Kay. Bob is one of my favorite folks to fish with, as he's chomping at the bit to get on 'em as soon as he arrives, and through the bait catching process. This man loves to fish!

I think we're definitely seeing some negative effects of having Blind Pass closed now for almost two years. Blind Pass was a major snook artery, as well as a major artery for other species. Critical water exchange has also stopped. I know in my gut that has to be affecting the fishing on the Sound side of things, and believe it has affected the fishing on the near beaches, as well. Additionally, our late season hurricanes last year scrambled all the wood on the beaches, and silted much of it over, which has really had a negative affect on the fishing there. Still, I think the Pass being closed is the biggest culprit.

Well, there you have it for another week. Friday morning I was headed to the east coast to visit my daughter, which is just a fisherman's excuse to get to the Bass Pro Outdoor World shop in Ft. Lauderdale. Now, I just have them drop me off there and come back a few hours later. It's like a fishin Disney World!

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 941-415-7282, and the new cell phone number is 941-376-2214.