Fishing Report for Pine Island Sound to Sarasota Bay, Florida

Capt. Butch Rickey
December 20, 2003
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report

REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/20/03 by Capt. Butch Rickey

This had to be one of the worst weather weeks here in a long time. The passage of two fronts, the first bringing lots of rain, made for a windy week, all week. It was a good week for me to have off, as it turns out. I made a trip to Sarasota on Wednesday, and the wind was gusting to 40 MPH, and I could hardly keep my big Dodge conversion van on the road.

Thursday, I drove to Orlando to meet my good friend Dr. John Hitt, president of University of Central Florida, at his beautiful campus home. Why? Well, I had tried to help him find a buy for his 99 Maverick 17 ft. Master Angler, which he had decided to sell after getting his much larger Action Craft Coastal 22. That didn’t pan out. It seemed that one thing led to another, and John and I found ourselves making a deal we were both happy with that would allow me to buy the boat, and once again have a backup. It’s a beautiful boat well equipped with a Yamaha 130, a Minn Kota trolling motor, poling platform, trim tabs, GPS, and more. John gave her plenty of TLC, and didn’t use it very much, either. She doesn’t have the room or the stability of the Talon, but she rides very nicely and will float shallower. So, I have a great backup boat that will also allow me to focus a little more on skinny water trips for tailing redfish.

As a guide who normally has a very busy schedule, it’s a great comfort to have a backup boat. Having two boats probably seems crazy to most folks, considering how much trouble owning one boat can be at times. But, there’s nothing more reassuring than knowing you have another boat to fall back on when there are problems with your motor, your hull, or your trailer. I want to thank John from the bottom of my heart for making it possible. It’s been a tough couple of years in the guide business, but I feel very good about the coming year. For that reason, I was not too nervous about signing on the dotted line. I hope time proves me right.

So, that’s the news of the week. John put a new boat under my Christmas tree, and I can’t wait to get out and do a trip in her. Oh, I’ve been in her with John on several occasions, but it’s been a while, and it’s not the same as running a trip in her. So, I can’t wait.

Unfortunately, we’re looking at the coldest weather of the year right now. We are under a freeze warning as I write this report (Saturday). But, the weather gurus are saying that most of next week it will warm and be nice. I’m booked every day except Christmas day, so I hope they’re right.

This is the last report before Christmas, so I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my wonderful friends and customers for their loyal business and friendship, which have made it possible for me to survive the still uncertain economic times this past year. I want to also thank all of you who were first-time customers during 2003, and hope that you will remain a part of the BarHopp’R fishing family. With that, I want to wish each and every one of you the merriest of Christmas’, happy Hanukah, and a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous 2004. May God bless you all.

More Fishing Reports:

• All Reports by Capt. Butch Rickey
• Pine Island Sound Fishing Reports
• Southwest Florida (Cape Sable to Boca Grande) Reports
• Florida Fishing Reports
• Browse All Fishing Reports