The wind was again not our friend this week. I lost two of my four days to the wind.
I met my good friend Dr. John Hitt at his dock Tuesday morning at 0600 hrs. after we canceled Monday for wind. We had two days scheduled, and gambled on Tuesday being a better day. And, as far as the wind was concerned it was.
As we rode down the river toward Picnic Island for bait, I asked John what he would like to target. John reminded me that he loves to trout fish, and that he wanted to have some meat at the end of the day. With snook season closed and redfish scarce lately, it was an easy decision. But, we wouldn't be fishing for just any trout. We'd be fishing for fish at the top of the slot, or trophies.
Bait took longer than usual, both because I was throwing a net that's very different from my own, from a boat very different from my own. I kept having problems with the brailles getting tangled, but in an hour of so we had a big well full of bait, and were ready to go chase trout.
I decided on taking John someplace new and closer to home, just in case the wind double-crossed us and really kicked. We headed to McIntyre Creek, where there are almost always nice trout hanging around the mouth, as well as other fish like jack crevalle, small cudas, ladyfish, and small grouper. We were in the action almost immediately. We both missed too many fish, but by the time the very early tide was done, we had a well full of nice trout.
IS IT SUMMER, YET?
We considered for a moment going someplace else to do some more fishing, but John needed to get in early enough to get the boat cleaned up and dried out in preparation for heading back to Orlando early Wednesday morning. We headed home.
Since we still had a well full of bait we decided to fish around some of the docks in his marina on our way in. We've caught snook there before, using it as a nineteenth hole of sorts, but we could only get a couple of fish to roll up on the bait.
John and I were happy with the morning, and it's obvious that our trout are coming back strong from the big red tide kill two Octobers ago. This coming winter we should be back to normal barring any future red tide events that kill a lot of them.
I was back on the water again Thursday with a really neat pair, Dan Shaw, and his sixteen year-old daughter Daniell (Dani), who loves to fish. Dan is fairly new to the area, and holds a USCG license. He is considering doing an occasional shelling or sightseeing trip down the road. His boat is not suitable for our kind of shallow water fishing. Thus, the trip with me.
We met when Dan wrote me after reading some of my fishing reports, inquiring about the chum we use and how to use it. One thing led to another, and there we were, ready to enjoy a day on the water together, hopefully giving him an introductory course on flats fishing.
As if the default setting, the wind was already up well as we left the dock. It was southeast. We headed to Picnic Island, where I had to put out a regular danforth anchor to back up the PowerPole. The water wasn't moving, as we were there on the slack tide. With Dani chumming I threw the net a number of times dragging up only pinfish and a shiner or two. I was getting concerned that the morning would turn into an Easter egg hunt for bait.
But, I knew we wouldn't know whether we were going to catch bait until the tide began to run, so we stayed put and continued chumming. Two things happened; the water began to move well, and Dani really dialed in her chum placement, and boy did the bait come. In a couple of throws we were loaded up, and I couldn't see the bottom of the well. And, to think we were at one point thinking of heading back to the dock because of the wind.
Knowing that the wind would likely move around to the south or even southwest, and kick as well during the morning, I elected to go to the Sanibel side to fish. That way we would be in the lee of the worst of the wind, and if it got real ugly out there, the trip home would be much more comfortable. We stopped at the powerlines along the way and managed to catch a couple of ladyfish, which we would use later.
Once we got to our first spot we didn't have to wait very long for the first action. And, of course Dani broke the ice with the first snook. Dan got a couple of snook, too. Then Dani had a fish really take off with her bait and run around to the port side of the boat with what eventually turned out to be a nice bluefish. We don't see all that many of them that large up in the shallow waters around here. There were a couple more snook, and then Dan finished up the spot with a small redfish that went into the well.
IS IT SUMMER, YET?
IS IT SUMMER, YET?
IS IT SUMMER, YET?
Dan and Dani were having a blast catching their first snook and commented on the good bite. They were a bit surprised when I told them it wasn't a good bite according to how things usually are. It was good enough, and we were all happy the fish were eating.
IS IT SUMMER, YET?
We moved to another area as the tide slowed around eleven o'clock, and I decided it was time to show Dan how we fish ladyfish steaks. I carved one up, and put out two baits. Within a few short minutes the right rod went off, and I knew we had a nice redfish on. Dani stepped up to take the fish, and it turned out to be a redfish just under the 27 inch slot with the tail squeezed. They had their limit of reds.
IS IT SUMMER, YET?
We managed to catch a couple more snook, but after the red the bite was pretty much over except for a couple of catfish. We ended the day with about a dozen snook, several that got away close to the boat, the bluefish, two ladies, and the two redfish. A pretty good day.
Having waited on the slack tide, the ride home wasn't bad even with the wind up at 20 or more. Not having to run on a tide that is running against a big wind makes a big difference in the level of chop. We finished what had been a great day of laughter and joking at the dock cleaning fish. I hated to see the day end.
My old friends Ron and Pat Hunter, the Texas waders, and I decided to reschedule our Friday trip based upon Thursday's wind, and the forecast. We're all back pain sufferers, and it just didn't seem prudent given they live within a couple of hours, and can pick a better day.
Things seem to be slowing down as summer nears. I only have three trips on the books for next week. I just hope these late season fronts that have been giving us all this wind will finally go away.
Be sure to check out www.BestFishingBooks.com, Books and gifts for fishermen from my friend Jim Dicken!