Boca Grande rain and lighting challange
Capt. Darel Carter
July 24, 2015
Boca Grande - Saltwater Fishing Report
July 15, 2015
Today's trip my nephew Jason and I were going flats fishing for snook, redfish, trout and mangrove snapper. He is on military leave from Alabama. We started at day light by getting bait on a local grassy flat. The bait was there but the wind seams to be blowing the wrong way at times. This was one of those times. With a boat change and some good chum throwing, we had plenty of good bait.
Our first spot was a long grass flat that sloped down to a deeper sandy bottom. Jason had the first hookup that did not stop for 75 yards. I know this because that is exactly how much 10lb test power pro I have on the spool that is connected to the backing. It was a Snook that never jumped. After a long fight, it came to the net and was 34" long.
On our next spot, I re-rigged and used sinkers to bottom fish for snapper and gags in about 12 foot of water. We were catching some nice keeper size snapper and I caught one 20 ½" gag. We lost a few good fish that could have been gags, and then we were interrupted.
A big rainstorm with lighting moved towards us. I immediately put all of the rods down and made a plain to good to Jug creek. Bull and turtle bay were covered and the pass was completely gone. We made it half way there and were completely covered by high wind and could see about 20 yards. We had our rain gear on and covered by a trap but still got soaked. I had to slowly drive by using my Lawrance chart GPS towards our destination. As soon as it cleared up a massive lighting bolt hit near a marker. It was about ¼ mile away and I could actually see sparks fly up off the water. I noticed a boat about 50 yards away with a T-top on it. That boat took off so fast after that, I would not want to be him. I bet he had a mess to clean up after that, if you now what I mean.
We made it to our destination and found two kayakers sitting on land in safety. I anchored in an area that I have never been before, and of coarse started fishing. First cast was next to the bushes with a ½ oz weight and dead bait. The bait was slammed by a rather large mangrove snapper. On the right side of the boat was trout after trout on free lined live bait. I also landed on Snook. On the opposite side, next to the bushes, I caught a 21 ½ red fish on dead bait. This spot was great and kept us busy. After the tide stopped and the storm cleared, we moved back to Bull bay. It was met with instantly hooked up trout after trout and more trout. It was time to go home, but had time for a stop close to the ramp. Jason caught a small barracuda.
What a great day of fishing with my nephew on leave from the military. This was a day he want soon forget.
Check out hookedonchaters.com and Capt. Darel Carter
Boca Grande Fishing Forecast:
Come catch fish with hookedoncharter.com and Capt. Darel Carter- Flats fishing in Charlotte county. Boca Grande and Punta Gorda.
Target Species:
Snook, redfish, trout, gag grouper and mangrove snapper
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