Geez! This is getting tedious. This was to be a busy week. but in typical November fashion, big cold fronts and big winds claimed most of the week. I managed to get out Friday, only. And, what I though would probably be a stinker of a day turned out to be a good one.
My trip was to be with my friend John Howell, of Winter Springs, Florida, and John's daughter Kate and son-in-law Jimmy. I was too meet them at the Waterfront Restaurant in St. James City, on Pine Island., at 6:30 AM. After not fishing for three weeks, I was restless and up very early. I was at the ramp early, and the fishing reports I heard at the ramp weren't good.
The ride to the Waterfront was a bit brisk, but I had wrapped myself in long-john lowers, and heavy long sleeved tee-shirt, socks, and a heavy jacket. The high was supposed to reach into the mid-70's, but I had serious doubts.
I arrived at the Waterfront as it was getting light. John told me there had been a change of plans; that Kate and Jimmy hadn't made the trip because one of the babies was sick, and that it would be him and his wife Jennifer. Although I was looking forward to getting reacquainted with Jimmy and Kate, I'm just crazy about Jennifer, and was glad she was coming.
We were off! I had reviewed several years worth of fishing reports the night before, and knew just where I wanted to be on this low outgoing tide. I was sure we'd get into good action there. In fact, I told John that I had never been there this time of year, fishing bait or lures, and not done well.
I should know better! We worked the large area over well for a couple of hours and never got a hit. We were tossing an Exude RT, a Rattletrap, and a DOA Terroreyez. Nuttin, Honey! After braggin on the spot, I felt like the village I D 10 T! Frustrated, we moved on north into the Sound, and hit two more spot that ALWAYS produce nice trout and good action this time of year. Again, Zero, Zilch, Nadda darned bite at the first spot, but Jen did get the smell of the skunk out of the boat with a pretty jig-caught redfish. But, that was it. We couldn't' get another of the fish that were surely there to eat. Geez!
The tide was getting quite low, now. Land and seaweed were showing everywhere. I decided to fish a large pothole that I used to fish often years ago. It had fallen from favor as traffic and pressure on the area increased. I had fished in about a month ago, for the first time in a very long time, and was pleased to see quite a few snook and redfish in the hole, as well as some trout.
As I made the final approach to the hole, I had second thoughts about whether I could get in there, or not. The water was very skinny, and there was grass showing in places. But, I knew that the turtle grass was usually pretty tall on this flat, and that the bottom was very soft. I went for it. We didn't even touch going in, but John and Jen both admitted that they were pretty white-knuckled as we skimmed across mere inches of water.
Once settled in one end of the hole, I first anchored and tied on different lures. We were now tossing two different types of jigs, and a hammered finish silver spoon. On the third move in the hole, we struck pay dirt. A pretty little redfish ate the silver spoon. I told John and Jen that we caught one more on that spoon, we were tying on more spoons. And, it wasn't long before we had another red on the spoon. I tied on another spoon; gold.
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
Finally, we had a bite going, and it was a pretty good one on lures. We caught a good 8 redfish of varying sizes, and more importantly, lost and missed just as many. Jen also caught a couple of nice trout, and John caught one beauty on a jig. By the time the tide got dead low, we were pretty much surrounded by land. We weren't going anywhere for a while in anything less than an airboat. The Talon is the next best thing to having an airboat, but...... So, we relaxed and had some snacks, and waited on the tide.
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
Our schools of redfish were trapped in the hole with us, and I fully expected to have a better bite once the tide began coming in. But, that didn't materialize. But, it certainly wasn't for a lack of fish. Before we left the hole, I moved us to the edge where we'd been fishing, and we were all amazed to see how many redfish and sheephead there were there. They were thick as thieves! They just weren't eating.
But, it mattered not. We'd had a good day on the last of that falling tide, and we were all happy. John, who tires easily because of a stroke he suffered four years ago, said he'd had a blast and was worn out and ready for the dock. So, with motor up and flaps down we went charging out of the hole and across the grass to the deeper water and home. Of course, deeper water around here is 4 to 6 feet!
And, that's how it went. It was a wonderful day with some of the very sweetest people I know. And, that's what fishing is really all about!
Be sure to check out www.BestFishingBooks.com, Books and gifts for fishermen from my friend Jim Dicken!
