Report for Week Ending 8/6/11

Only one trip again this week, but considering the tide and conditions, it was a good one.

My trip was on Friday, 8/5, with a great young man, Danial Veitia, from Miami. We had a horrid outgoing tide all morning long. I had warned Daniel that the fishing would be great, but the fishing very likely tough. On the plus side we had a nice little breeze going that kept us cool for most of the day. Dan was fishing from his own boat, a 14 ft. Hobe. He's a very experience kayak angler.

Our original intent was to launch from Castaways on Sanibel. But, because of weather considerations, and the tide, I asked Dan if he would mind fishing Estero Bay. He'd been there before, and was good to go.

We met at the ramp at Lovers Key at 6:30, and were soon in the water and ready to go. I figured our best chance of a descent bite would be first thing in the morning as the tide began moving out, and while it was still relatively cool. I was right.

We made our way to our first stop, which wasn't too far away. Once there, it was obvious that the water was still full of turtlegrass, and that working anything other than spoons would be difficult. Dan put a redfish and a jack in the boat there, and I got a snook and several reds. Then, it was over!

We fished our way east with little to show for our efforts. But, we were having fun. With the weather looking pretty good, we decided to make a run to the east side, to an archipelago of mangrove keys, to see what we could find. I'd never fished them before, but had wanted to explore them. Dan was all for doing some exploring.

Once there, we went to work. By this time the water was pretty low, and it wasn't the optimum time to be fishing there. But, it was the optimum time to learn what was there and know what it all looked like when it was covered by a good high tide. Dan scored 3 redfish, and me one. It was a beautiful area, and I can't wait to go back there on a proper incoming tide.

We headed back across to the west side and stopped at another spot I'd never fished. The outgoing tide was about done, but I did get a jack crevalle, and I think Dan got a catfish. We finished the day with 8 redfish, 2 jacks, a snook, and a catfish. Not bad considering the tide we had to fish. We had a great time, and I made a new fishing friend.

Fish Species: Redfish and snook
Bait Used: Jigs and spoons
Tackle Used: Shimano reels/BP rods
Method Used: Stake-out and cast
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About The Author: Captain Butch Rickey

Company: The Bar Hopp'R

Area Reporting: Backcountry fishing and flats fishing in the waters of Pine Island around Sanibel Island, Captiva Is

Bio: Capt. Butch Rickey spent much of his youth growing up on Sanibel and Captiva, near Ft. Myers, and has fished the waters of Pine Island Sound for much of his 60-plus years. Capt. Butch specializes in light tackle live-bait fishing for snook, redfish, tarpon, and trout in Pine Island Sound, but will be happy to accomodate any other type of fishing you want to do. You'll enjoy fishing the beautiful clear water of the shallow grass flats, mangrove keys, potholes, and oyster bars. You'll marvel at the wildlife on, in, and above the water. You'll see Florida as you always imagined it would be. A Barhopp'R trip will satisfy the fisherman, hunter, and sightseer in you. Capt. Butch is an instructional guide, and gives you only the best Shimano Stella reels and St. Croix Legend and G. Loomis rods to use. Butch is U.S. Coast Guard licensed, insured, experienced, and provides fishing license, bait, ice, digital camera, cell phone, and lots of advice and coaching when needed. He will work hard to put you on the fish.

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