|
The Christmas Holidays and a last minute cancellation left me with only two trips to talk about this week.
It was a cold and windy Wednesday morning for my friends Drs. Howard Goldson and Steven Faigenbaum. My best friend Capt. Butch Boteler and I were to take Howard, Steven, and their sons out in two boats for a day of f fishing. I think we had all underestimated how cold it would be, as everyone was freezing. The wind was out of the northeast at 15 to 25 with the passing of the cold front.
We headed to the causeway for bait, and put everyone in Butch's boat so that he and I could use my boat for castnetting. The wind was blowing so hard that handling the boat under the bridge was nearly impossible. Throwing the net was very difficult, too, and I ruined it in the pilings, tearing a huge hole in it. We only managed to catch maybe two dozen bait. Certainly not enough for a day of fishing.
I had stopped and gotten hand picked shrimp as a backup, as I feared bait would be a problem with the passing of the first big cold front of the year. Butch had to go to Sanibel Harbor to buy shrimp, as there had been no place for him to get them coming from St. James City.
We were off, and the boys wanted to basically stay close to each other in our boats. I tried fishing some of my favorite, most productive winter potholes, some deep cuts, and good trout flats, all with the same results. Fishing was very tough and slow. Howard and Steven managed one redfish, about a dozen or so trout, a flounder, a ladyfish, and a key west grunt. Realistically, about as good as we could expect on such a miserable day. I guess Butch and the boys did about the same overall. We had fun, but I think everyone was glad to get back to the dock and work on getting warm.
Although the weather was better on Friday for Glen Maijer, his wife Cathy, and dad Pete, the fishing wasn't. We headed to the causeway for bait, where Glen took the helm of the Talon. I was also armed with nice shrimp, jigs, trollrites, etc. We managed to get enough bait to fish with.
I suggested to Glen that we try our luck with redfish in one of my favorite winter areas where the big reds often congregate on the super low tides. Redfish were about the only thing we could keep considering that snook and trout are still both closed.
The reds were there where I thought they'd be. I made eyeball contact with them more than once. I chummed and moved and chummed and moved, but we could only get one red to eat. Cathy caught a beautiful 26 inch fish that gave her a hell of a fight. I urged patience, as it is often rewarded with the reds in such conditions, but the fish never turned on in spite of my efforts. Finally, we opted for trout fishing just to get some action going. The gang caught a dozen or so, plus a couple of other fish I don't recall.
 |
I'm beginning the New Year with a full week on the books. But, I don't trust this weather. We'll se what happens.
The downturn in business because of the slow economy, and now further because of the attrocities of September 11, has had me and some of my friends brainstorming how we can generate trips, generate cash flow, and therefore stay in business through the tough times we have ahead of us. Here are the first two ideas I will put forward. First, since December and January are normally my only slow months of the year, I am fearful of just how slow they could be this year. I am going to roll back the cost of my half day trip to last year's rate of $325 for anyone booking in December and January. Further, if you would like to prepay your trip, no matter when you have it booked, either in lump sum, or in three or four installments, I will discount the trip by $25. Your trip must be paid at least a month in advance to earn the discount. With the market in such a slump and interest rates still declining, that's a much better return on your trip fee than leaving it in the bank until trip time.
So, come on folks. It's time to get out and enjoy your favorite pastime, in your favorite vacation destination. Let's show Osama Bin Lunatic that he can't beat us with economic terrorism, either.
I have now posted the final thumbnailed pictures on the Talon Page of this website, for those interested in seeing how one of these jewels goes together.
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!
Go to NEXT
Go to PREVIOUS
Or, call 1-239-633-5851.[Site Index] [Highlights] [Capt. Butch Profile] [About the Boat] [Kayak Fishing] [Customer Fishing Testimonials] [Booking Tips] [Weekend Policy] [Great Rates] [What to Expect] [Cheap Accomodations] [Send Email] [What to Bring] [Directions to the Ramp] |
[Snook Fishing] [Fishing Redfish] [Tarpon Fishing] [Trout Fishing] [Jack Crevelle Fishing] [Chasing Tripletail] [Customer Tales] |
[Florida Fishing Reports] [Fishing Reports Archives] [TV Quality Video Clips] [Articles] [Newsletters] [Hurricane Fund] [Angler of the Month] [Angler of the Year Awards] [Manatee Zones] [Sell Your Gear Here!] [Tackle Service Center] [Shop the BarHopp'R Tackle Shop!] [Hot Links to Cool Sites] [Send Email] [Back to Home] |
LOCAL DESTINATIONS![Fishing Sanibel Island] [Fishing Captiva Island] [Fishing Pine Island] [Fishing Sarasota] |
|
OTHER FUN STUFF TO DO! [Shelling & Sightseeing Trips] [Dolphin/Manatee Watch Trips] [Lunch & Bar Hopping Trips] |
