BarHopp'R II remains in dry-dock undergoing physical examinations by marine surveyors and now a naval architect. I'm not sure what that is. Whatever the result, I'll be without her for a while. BarHopp'R I came out of Outboard Motor Connection Thursday, just in time for Friday's trip.

My lone trip of the week was with Darren and Kathy Stoffel, here all the way from California to umpire for the Roy Hobbs World Series Baseball games. I'm really glad I didn't have to miss this trip, because Darren and Kathy are as nice a couple as you'd ever want to meet.

Although I didn't like the tide at all, high in the morning and outgoing for the rest of the day, Mother Nature did give us a gorgeous day to be on the water. My plan was go get bait quickly if possible, then run to the redfish flats to try to catch some of those bronze torpedoes still hanging around before the tide started to leave, then move to snook territory as the tide started moving out real well. The plan almost worked.

I went back to the same area I'd been catching bait, hoping it hadn't disappeared while I was off the water. We had a strange combination of current and wind that made it hard to keep the boat positioned where I needed to throw the net. It kept drifting off the chum spot. I would hit bait on one throw, then none. We made some adjustments, and chummed heavier to really draw the bait in, and loaded up with beautiful shiners. My concern was that I had taken too long.

When we got to the first stop, there was still plenty of water, so it was just a question of whether the fish were still there, and if they'd still be interested in eating. I figured they would, since they're basically in a "fatten up for winter" mode.

We had speculated that Kathy, who has done relatively little fishing, would catch the first, biggest, most, and last fish, as the women folks somehow always manage to do. True to form, Kathy jumped off to a commanding lead and had 5 redfish in the boat before Darren got his first fish, a nice snook. But, Darren finally got going and had things ties up by the time the bite slowed and we left in search of snook.

Not long after arriving at the second snook stop, Darren hit a big one, but she got rid of the hook before he cold get her to the boat. The Stoffels did manage to catch 3 snook, 2 good sized mangrove snapper, and a jack before Kathy had had enough.

It was a very enjoyable day. Darren told me lots of stories about his Alaskan halibut and salmon fishing adventures, and told me he'd always dreamed of being a guide. I told him he'd make a good one, as he just loves to fish, and more importantly, loves to help people catch fish. He left vowing to be back in two years. Next year they're off to Kona, Hawaii, for billfishing. When he returns, we'll swap Hawaiian fishing lies. I've got a few to tell, seeing as how I'm married to a beautiful Hawaiian gal.

I received two very nice email letters this week, one from George McRobbie, the other from Tom Ross. Check them out in the "Testimonials" section of the website. Letters like those are the true reward of the guiding business. I also received a letter from a fellow who had wanted to book with me, but couldn't. He wound up booking with a guide that I've heard a lot of negative things about from folks whom I've fished after the fact. I warned him of some of the reports I'd heard, and asked him to let me know how it went. You should have seen the letter he wrote me. Unfortunately, he said it had been the worst guide trip he'd ever been on, confirming all the things I've been hearing. It temps me to start a "Stinkers Page" and make this guide the first entry, but I'm not sure that would be a proper thing to do. I'd be interested in your opinions if you care to share them. Any attorneys out there?

It looks like my business might be about to finally slow down for a little while. November is not full, but it's not over, either. Regardless, there will be enough to make for some hopefully interesting fishing reports.