The red tide seems to be behind us now. And, even on some pretty poor tides, the fishing was pretty good this week.
Bill Palda, over from the east coast, was first up on Monday. Bill was the only person to be the victim of a double booking in my career as a guide. I have never been so embarrassed in my life. Folks, I've got to tell you that he is a most forgiving and kind man, as he took the situation in stride, and didn't get fuming mad and make a scene. Some would have. He even gave me the opportunity to redeem myself. This happened during a time in my life when I was under a great deal of stress, and let a few things get away from me. Oddly, as we talked via email, Bill related that he'd been in a similar situation. It gave us some common ground.
We had a really poor tide to fish, and our weather pattern was reversed with onshore winds, which usually means coastal storms in the morning moving inland. So, my plan was to catch bait and fish within easy striking distance of the ramp so we could get back safely if the weather blew up on us. We headed to Picnic Island for our bait, where there were a couple of other boats. In the 2 to 3 feet of water all we could catch was pinfish and small new hatch shiners and threads. What a mess. We moved south to about 5 feet of water where a friend of mine had found bigger bait, and were soon ready to go fishing.
We headed to a beautiful spot in the south end of Matlacha Pass (pronounced Mat-la-shay) where there is usually snook, snapper, big jacks, and the occasional redfish action.. And, that was exactly what we found. It was a good spot, and Bill caught a barracuda, a redfish, some snapper, and several of those big jack crevalle that pull soooooo hard. Once we were sure the bite was over, we moved on.
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
This big jack ran Bill about 50 yards and right into the mangroves. We had to dig him out!
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
We don't see these juvenile baracuda in the shallows often!
With the weather looking more stable we headed up into the Sound. We settled in a spot that always has plenty of snook in it. The only issue is whether you can get them to eat, or not. With very little water movement, I didn't know how it might go, but we had a pretty good bite, considering the conditions. Bill caught several more snapper, I think about 8 snook including 2 that were 27 inches, and another redfish.
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
Bill caught some nice snook, including a couple like this one!
By the time the action was over there, it was over period, as we were approaching the noon hour and the heat was awful. We decided we'd had plenty of fun and headed for home by way of the Waterfront Restaurant. Oh, what great food. Bill agreed that the food was great and that my fried oysters were as good as he'd ever tasted, other than his own.
The next trip was on Thursday with Dr. Gary Shierling. Gary had bought this trip which I had donated to the Heart Fund, in the auction. It had been several years ago, and a long time since I'd seen Gary. He had attempted to book this trip several times, but I had not had available dates when he needed them. We were finally going to run that trip. This was his first time in the Talon.
We headed up to Picnic Island for bait. The bait came quickly in the deeper water, and I called my friend Maxie Stanford over to join us. But, he'd no sooner than arrived when big schools of threadfins moved in and the bigger shiners began to disappear. I worked hard to top off the well with enough bait for Gary and I to chum and fish.
The tide was full high first thing in the morning, and going out all morning long. I knew our best shot at a good bite would be as soon as we could get to a good fishing hole. I knew that as the tide went out, the sun got higher in the sky, and the temperature climbed, the bite would get tougher and tougher.
The tide was a 2.5 ft diurnal tide. The breeze was southeast. I have a favorite spot for such tides, especially when combined with south winds, but I hadn't been there to fish since before the red tide. The red tide had wrecked the area and it had been full of the infection and floating fish and seaweed for weeks. I figured it was time to check on it, and felt that if the water was good the fish would be back there.
I pulled in on the spot quietly and filled the chum chukka with a load of shiners. After a good shake up, I launched them at the hole. The hole erupted with snook chasing and crashing our baits as they tried to flee to safety. They didn't make it. From that point on, every bait that we tossed into the hole got wrecked almost instantly most of the time. Gary was catching snook, and I'd have another one in the rod holder waiting on him. This went on for several dozen snook, at which point Gary pronounced me the King of Snook, and said he was ready to do something else. Confucius say never leave fish to find fish, but that's what we did. We really wanted to find some redfish, but the tide, cloud cover, and low sun was making it next to impossible. We moved on.
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
Gary Shierling with one of many, many snook he caught that morning!
At the next spot we found the water barely moving in spite of what was supposed to be a strong outgoing tide. But, Gary did catch a beautiful redfish that got away right at the boat. We're fishing light tackle and light drag setting of around 2 pounds, yet this redfish managed to straighten an Owner Mutu light 1/0 circle hook right out. I don't know how she did it, but suspect she managed to do it by twisting around as reds often do. Gary managed another snapper there, but we just couldn't get anything else to eat, even though we could see snapper all over the place, and saw snook, as well. Time to go.
The last stop of the day would be my spot in Matlacha. I didn't see any evidence of the jacks present as I pulled in and got set up, but a bat full of chum soon had several fish popping on top. Gary was hooked up to the first jack almost immediately. The second hookup was another redfish, which I don't see much of there. Then he caught a snook and several more of those line ripping jack crevalle. There were plenty of snapper about, but they just weren't in the mood to eat. We'd had a great day, and it had been great to have Gary in the boat, again. Now, the breeze was gone and it was about 11:30, and we knew it was indeed over until late in the evening. We headed home.
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
I was up at 4 AM Saturday morning and went straight to the computer and queued up the NWS radar. Ah! It was pretty clear, and I knew I was going to get to fish with Bill Dueease and his daughter Michele this Saturday. I had canceled on Bill last Saturday, sure the weather was going to blow up in our faces before we could get to the first fishing hole. I was wrong! I was really looking forward to this trip, as I knew just from talking to him on the phone, I was going to like this guy.
We met at 6 AM, loaded up, and took off in the darkness. We had a redfish tournament going on, and I had watched a lot of boats already launch. Just another reason I hate fishing weekends. Seems there's always a tournament going on. My strategy for the day was simple, and based on the assumption that once the tourney was underway there would be boats sitting everywhere we'd want to fish. Simply, I wanted to be the first to leave the bait grounds and on my fishing hole of choice, the same place Gary Shierling and I had caught all those snook. The tide was now two hours later, and I figured we would have a great bite on the last of the incoming, and the first couple hours of the outgoing, and might well be able to spend the morning right there catching snook.
Michele took on chumming duties, and did a dandy job. But, as usual, about the time we got the first descent load of whitebait in the boat the cormorants showed up. What's up with that? There were a dozen other boats on the flat, and yet they pick me! It took a lot more work and more time to get bait, but as soon as we had enough that I thought we could make last, we were gone fishin! I really wanted to be up in the Sound before the rest of the guys.
And, we were. There was not a boat to be seen as we motored quietly into the first hole on the MinnKota 80. I was amazed, as was Bill. Once into position, I threw a bat full of chum. I didn't get the desired blowups all around, but there were a couple, and I knew the fish were still there. Baits in the water!
Both Bill and Michele were hooked up to snook almost immediately. We had a good bite, but not the crazy bite that Gary and I had experienced a couple of days hence. The bite went for a little more than an hour, at which point we hit the slack water before the full high tide. I explained that we'd have a lull in the action of up to an hour, and then the fish would eat, again. Or, at least they should.
The snook did bite again, but not as I had expected. Still, even though there had been lots of misses early on while they were getting used to circle hooks, and a couple of pulled hooks, Bill and Michele put about 15 snook into the boat. Bill had 2 fish that were 29 inches, and I think the tally was actually 8 snook for Bill and 6 or 7 for Michele. Of course, Bill had to remind Michele often that he had caught more snook than she!
SUMMER FISHING FUN!
Not getting the expected bite on the first of the falling tide, we decided to move on in search of redfish. Bill had let it be known he'd like some for the cooler. So, off we went to the area of Charley's Pass, to a neat little area that has been full of snook and redfish when I've been able to get in there on the right tide.
With some chum in the water the fish quickly let us know they were there. Now, all we had to do was figure out how to catch them. This kind of fishing; blow-downs from hurricane Charley, is perhaps one of the most challenging. You see, if the fish has enough power, he can take you around and behind the sticks you're fishing and break you off. For that matter, so can the bait. You really have to pay attention to what your bait is doing, or you'll soon be hopelessly tangled in the sticks.
Well, long story short, we found what we had come for. Michele lost the first redfish, but she and Dad managed to land 3 others which went straight into the bowels of the Talon. It was a long, hot day, and my brain is fried, but I think they got a couple more snook there, as well.
Finally, at around 11:30 AM, I assured Bill and Michele it was over for the day. Michele was already sitting down, as she'd had quite enough of the sun and heat. It had been a good day of fishing, and a very fun day for me. Bill was indeed a fun and interesting fellow, and I sure enjoyed his company. And, Michele was quite a good fisher-girl, and just as cute as she could be.
The ride out early in the morning had been smooth as glass. The ride home was fraught with large boat wakes coming from every direction with all the boat traffic so typical of the weekends. The first time I approached a series of wakes, Bill was tensed up and ready for that customary "bang" we're all used to. It didn't come. It didn't come on the second wakes, either. And, Bill was really amazed at how the Talon could go over that stuff and not beat him. When I had him guess the length of the boat, he started at 19 and went to 23, as everyone does. He was shocked when I told him it was 16 ft. long!
It was great to get in three good days of fishing with three great parties. The local print media would have us believe there's no point in going fishing, at all. But, as usual, they've got it wrong.
Tight Lines!
