Plan A, B & C
As a Professional Captain I always strategize my trips to ensure the best result possible for my clients. Weather, water temperature and clarity along with finicky snook and redfish making having a game plan with options a must. I started Saturday's trip with plan A & B ready to go. Everything was falling into place as I easily netted all the bait needed on my nearby flat, weather was great with light winds, a little fog and the first little nip in the air signaling fall is not far away. On the way to the dock to greet my guests I passed both areas I planned on fishing and found boat traffic bumper to bumper. Weekend boat traffic on Tampa Bay can be brutal but Saturday was as crowed as I have ever seen a weekend. I now needed a plan C & D in a hurry.
Keeping a Captains log comes in real handy. I looked back to this time last year and recalled some spots I have not fished in awhile. Good news as I found these locations free of other boats and fish eager to chew. We slammed again (snook, redfish, trout) fishing uptight to the mangroves and deeper flats as the tide ripped out. Live bait under a popping cork with a 30 fluorocarbon leader did the trick with the DOA Glo shrimp fooling the trout. Water temperature was steady this week at 82.5 look for the water temperature to slowly work into the magical 70 degree range as the days get shorter and shorter.
If you are like me and always looking for the perfect fishing Tee whether long or short sleeve you have to check out www.naclh2osports.com I own two and am ordering several long sleeve for fall. The artwork is very creative and fun.