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Fishing continued tough in the Sound for me and most everyone I've talked to. The red tide seems to have made it into the Sound on the onshore breezes the first part of the week, adding to our delimna. I've seen lots of floaters, especially near the passes.
I had my first ever trip with Jana Satchi on Thursday. Jana was over for a couple weeks of holiday with his family from England. Of course, back home he fishes brown trout to about a pound and a half on the rivers and streams with tiny dry flies tied on #18 hooks. Can you imagine? I doubt I could see one with my unglassed eye! He had never used open faced spinning gear, and never fished with live bait. It is forbidden in England. I did bring an 8 weight flyrod and two boxes of flies just in case we were able to get a good bite going.
We headed to Kiesel's flat for bait, and found plenty of pinfish of all sizes, and lots of small shiners and threadfins. I decided to fish the west side of the Sound, and soon we were at the first stop. It wasn't long before Jana had his first big redfish on, and after a nice fight, in the boat. I can't take notes on the water, but I'm pretty sure it was 10.5 pounds. Before long he also had a snook to the boat.
We fished several other spots without much happening, and finally wound up on a hole I hadn't fished for many years off North Captiva. Although we didn't get a great bite going, we did get somewhat of a bite, and Jana caught another big redfish, and another snook. He also missed enough fish to have made it a great day of catching, but was very happy with the day as it turned out. He had his first snook and redfish ever, and considering what a handicap he had having never used spinning gear before, I think he did just great! I look forward to Jana's return in the spring!
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Friday, I had my first trip with Scott Kolp, of Allen, Texas, and his thirteen year old nephew, Jake. I told Scott the night before our trip how tough the catching had been. He assured me that he was an experienced fisherman, and understood that the catching wasn't always great, but the being out there on the water was!
We went straight to Kiesel's for bait, and quickly had all the pinfish and small shiners we needed. We headed for the first stop, and it wasn't long before Jake had the first snook and a couple of big redfish in the boat. The biggest was 10.5 pounds. We hit a lot of spots after that, including the spot that had been so good to Jana the day before, but didn't see any action again until the last stop. We had worked our way up the western side of the Sound, and then back down the eastern side. Nothing! But, I had high hopes for the last stop, and showed Scott exactly where I expected the fish to be. I felt sure we'd catch when I came across redfish as I made my approach.
Sure enough, the first pinfish under a Cajun float that hit the water was immediately inhaled, and the bite was on. There were only the three of us trying to manage four rods. We'd have been better off with more anglers or less rods. We had a few messes we had to undo, which cost us valuable time and fish. But, we managed to boat 8 - 10 redfish before the tide was over, making our total for the morning a good dozen. The last bite we got was on a piece of chunked pinfish I had out behind the boat. The rod went off with a violent bow to the water and singing of the drag. I worked it out of the rod holder and passed it to Scott. A spinner shark of around 5 feet launched itself skyward at the beginning of the fight. Scott fought the fish for some time, and I was beginning to think he might actually land it. Apparently, the large circle hook was in the corner of the mouth, and the shark wasn't getting it's teeth on the leader. Not much! Finally, it cut through the leader as Scott worked the big fish to within just a few yards of the boat. I guess it's a good day when anyone goes home talking about how the fish wore him out, and that's exactly what Jake was doing! He HAD caught the two biggest fish, and Scott and I had to tease him about getting in shape for his next trip.
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I have a strict no weekend policy, but I will break it for my loyal friends and customers. Russ Hubbard is one of my most loyal friends and customers, and we hit the water Saturday morning at 6 AM, trying to beat the ramp crowds and get a head start on the many boat fishing a tournament this weekend.
We got bait, including a number of big snook sized shiners, at Kiesel's, and decided to hit a snook hole or two with them right off the bat. We gave it plenty of time, and had a couple of hits, but didn't catch a snook. I headed to the same hole I'd caught with Jana, and it did give us one big redfish around 11 pounds. I got to fight it to the boat, and it was great fun. We didn't see another fish until late in the morning. I went back to the same area I'd caught the reds with Scott the day before. But, this time I wanted to work the area over really well. There are lots of places for the fish to be.
To my surprise, we found no fish except right where I'd found them the day before. Once we moved there, we were on a bite. Russ and I had a grand time catching redfish from two different schools, and I also hooked a very large stingray, which I soon broke off in the interest of time and redfish. Russ and I stayed right there with those fish until we were sure it was over, and put a dozen or more nice reds in the boat. With Russ at the helm of the F-16, we finished what had been a very nice day at the Waterfront with a great lunch. Afterward, Russ piloted the F-16 home. That was my first time in almost two years in the Talon, that I wasn't at the controls. I probably drove Russ nuts with suggestions of what to do, but it was cool to be a passenger, and see and feel what my customers do. It helped knowing I was in very good and experienced hands.
Well, that's the way it went. There are lots of floaters in the Sound, but we managed to catch some good fish. Perhaps things will continue to improve in the coming week.
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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