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I had a full week on the books, but wound up loosing Friday to boat and trailer maintenance. The fishing Monday through Thursday was off and on.
The week began with Manuel Calvit, of Herndin, Virginia. Manuel booked two days with me and was very interested in learning all he could about our fishing. Monday, he brought along his good friend Milen, up from Miami.
We headed off to Picnic Island to catch bait, and had a bit of a late start. I was concerned that bait might be hard to get. We also had a light northwest breeze, which is rare to have this time of year. Bait was tough as it turned out, and I worked hard for it. We got plenty to fish with, but didn't have the luxury of doing much live chumming to try to get stubborn fish to bite.
We headed off into the Sound with hopes that the fish would bite. When we got to the first stop I had chosen for the day, we quickly caught several snook there, and I though that perhaps we would have a good bite. But, it was short-lived there, and we soon moved on.
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At the next stop I was looking for both snook and reds. Milen hooked a beautiful snook that jumped and showed us herself, but got away. Of course, we ragged on Milen the rest of the day about that snook. The redfish wouldn't eat, and that was it for that hole.
The next stop again gave up no fish! It was a tough bite. We headed to a spot where I had done great the week before, looking for snook, snapper, and grouper. The boys caught two jewfish, and that was it. By that time the tide was laying still, and we decided to head to the Waterfront Restaurant for lunch. I knew Manuel and Milen would love it, and they did. Once we were done, I asked the boys if they wanted to hit some more spots, but they agreed that they'd had enough of the sun and heat.
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Tuesday morning Manuel and I got an earlier start. I headed back to Picnic Island for bait, expecting to get plenty. But bait was sparse, at best. We got a couple of dozen on the first throw, and after that is was one or two at a time. I'm too old for that! I decided I was done with Picnic Island, and headed straight up to Chino Island for bait. We had to figure out the current, but in four throws we were loaded with a ton of bait, and certainly had enough to chum with. And, partly because of all that bait, Tuesday was a totally different day!
I headed to a beautiful mangrove shoreline I hadn't fished in many years. I don't know why. Something instinctively told me to go there. I threw a bat full of chum. Several snook busted the chum, telling us they were there. A minute or two later Manuel caught the first snook of the day, and the bite was on! Over the next several hours Manuel caught some 30 snook, 2 redfish, 1 nice trout, and a big flounder at that spot. It was a great morning of fishing. And, I had also given Manuel the BarHopp'R casting clinic, and taught him the trade secrets of landing big fish on light tackle. The best part was that Manuel was a great student. He did a great job of turning what I had taught him into fish.
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Once the bite was over there, we headed to another area in search of more snook. But, we were at the top of the tide, and the fish weren't in an eating mood. Manuel managed a couple more snook before we decided it was time for lunch, again at the Waterfront. It was a great lunch, as always, and we had fun talking about our two days of fishing. Manuel told me how impressed he was with my gear, and said that he and Milen had been to the new Bass Pro Monday evening, where the clerk couldn't believe that he fished with a guide who used Shimano Stellas and St. Croix Legend Tournament rods.
Back at the ramp, I showed Manuel two reels I'd brought for him to check out. They were a Shimano Stradic 2500, and the Stradic 2500Mg (magnesium) models. The Stradic is Shimano best selling reel series, and a great value. Manuel fell in love with the magnesium Stradic at first sight, and bought one from me. I can't wait to get Manuel's first fishing report telling me all about his first catch with his reel.
Once we got the reel taken care of, we flagged down Capt. Rob Modys to take some pictures of Manuel and me clowning around. Manuel is a great guy, and I enjoyed my two days with him immensely. My gut tells me that I have made a life-long friend.
Wednesday brought forth my first trip with Joe Cooper and his teenage son, Andy, down from Orlando. Joe had arranged this trip as a graduation present for Andy. Great present! Because it's getting light earlier and earlier, I asked Joe to meet me at 5:30 AM. We took off into the darkness up the river and down Miserable Mile, heading to Chino Island for bait. But, for some reason bait was tough. We got enough to fish with, but didn't have enough for live chumming. I found myself wondering how things can change so much in the space of one day.
Once bait was caught we headed off to the first stop of the day, hoping that we would be greeted with a good bite as in the day before. But, it wasn't to be! At our first stop, in the same place where the snook had been so aggressive the day before, the snook didn't want to eat. Oh, they were there! And, they let us know it; busting baits, knocking them out of the water, scaling them, etc. But, they didn't want to eat. Joe and Andy caught about a half dozen snook at that first stop.
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After working the area over well, we moved on. I was looking for action, and thought I knew where I could find it. But, the only action we found was a couple of nice light tackle jewfish. We moved on. Since we were going to have lunch at the Waterfront, I decided to hit a couple of holes in that area. They are usually full of snook, as well as other fish. The boys managed a few more snook, and a couple of nice snapper before we decided to call it a day and go to lunch.
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It hadn't been an easy day, but it had been a fun day, and Andy assured me he'd had a great time. Andy and Joe were great, and patient with the slow bite situation. I look forward to their return.
Thursday morning it was finally time to fish with one of my very favorite fishing buddies; the DA! Dave Adair, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Dave and I have been fishing together for years, and always have a blast. And, Dave is a very skilled angler, and quickly adapts to whatever fishing we do together. Dave brought his brother, Brian, along for this trip. I hadn't seen him in about three years, and it was great to have him along with us, again.
I met Dave and Brian at the dock at Sanibel Harbor Resort at 5:30, and we were off in the new moon darkness headed to Chino Island for bait. It's amazing how things can pop out of the total darkness at the last second as you ride along. I think Dave was amazed that I could navigate my way in the darkness, and have manatee signs and markers appear out of the darkness just feet away as we rode along. Hey! So was I.
Once we were safely at Chino Island, we set about catching bait. But, unfortunately, bait didn't set about being caught! I don't know what in the world was going on, but we couldn't get more than a few dozen baits. So, in disgust, I headed to the flats near Flamingo channel for bait. Once situated in about four feet of water we did catch bait, but it wasn't easy. I was exhausted by the time we were done.
I expected a good bite at our first stop, but it didn't materialize. OH, the fish were there, and they surely let us know it. We had snook busting our baits and blowing them up, but they weren't serious about eating. Dave and Brian managed several snook, but certainly not what should have been.
Frustrated, I went for what I thought would be a sure thing; a pull on the end of Dave and Brian's lines. Dave had fished this spot with me on the one winter trip we'd done together, but it was the first time for Brian. The gag grouper, jewfish, and redfish were biting. We had a great time there, and the guys caught lots of nice jewfish, several gag grouper, one nice snook, a couple of nice snapper, and 3 nice redfish. Oh! And, if you count the speckled trout we caught in the net while catching bait, we got the Slam! :-)
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Once that was over, we moved on to a spot that has been very kind to me over the years. The breeze was all over the place, as it had been for most of the day, making it hard to stay on a chosen spot. But, we made it work. We managed to put a few more snook into the boat, and ended the day with a redfish that Brian caught on a small pinfish which got tangled in a crab trap rope near an oyster bar. We went in and freed the fish, and it was a great way to end the day. We retired once again to the Waterfront Restaurant, and it was Brian's first time.
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Back at Sanibel Harbor Marina, where I'd picked up Dave and Brian, we off-loaded a bunch of pinfish we'd kept for them to use as bait that evening, and said our good-byes. It hadn't been a stellar day, but it had been a great day with one a good friend who is always happy with whatever we do, and however it goes. We've had some awesome days together. Thanks, Dave, for all those days!
I was supposed to fish with Jess Smith, his girlfriend, and his Dad, on Friday. But, late in Thursday's trip I developed boat problems that had to be attended to. So, I commissioned my friend, Capt. Pat Burns to do the trip for me, so I could get the Talon to the shop. Once Danny at Fowler Marine had taken care of the boat problems I stopped at Boatmaster Trailers to have them check out some strange goings on with my trailer brakes. The verdict was that the pads, rotors, and calipers were shot, and the actuator also was shot. True to form, the great crew at Boatmaster did what was a minor rebuild of my trailer, replacing all of those systems and getting me out of the door by 4:30. All I can say is that I'd never own anything but a BOATMASTER! Those guys are just great, as are their trailers!
And, that's probably more than you wanted to know about my week as a fishing guide. It was off and on, but all in all it was a great week with some fantastic folks. And, when you get right down to it, that's why we stay in this very hard, but very rewarding business.
Tight Lines!
Be sure to check out www.BestFishingBooks.com, Books and gifts for fishermen from my friend Jim Dicken!
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