Fishing Report for Pine Island Sound to Sarasota Bay, Florida

Capt. Butch Rickey
August 6, 2005
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report

REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 8/06/05 by Capt. Butch Rickey

I only had two trips to report on for the week, but the fishing was about as good as can be expected for this time of year. The heat, nearly fresh water, and typical poor moving summer tides surely combine to slow things down.

Tuesday was my first time out with Brian Burns, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and his good friend Eric, from across the river on the Kentucky side. They're mostly fresh water fishermen back home. Everything was glass slick that morning, and the flag at the mall was hanging as limp as a wet noodle. I was going to be b bruiser out there, I knew.

We headed up to the flats north of Flamingo Cut, that have been giving me good bait of late, and it was certainly there. We got a beautiful mix of pinfish, shiners, and threadfins of all sizes with just a few throws, as the boys took turns chumming. Trout were popping our chummed up bait right near the boat, so they caught a couple of those while we caught bait. We had a very early high tide, and I didn't want to waste a minute of the tide more than necessary catching bait. We were off to my chosen area.

Our first stop gave us nothing. I was surprised. We moved on to another area not too far away. As I arrived there ready to set up on what very little moving air we had, it suddenly switch 180 degrees, and I was forced to make a big circle around the wagons to come back at the fish from the other direction. But, once I did, we were immediately in the redfish. I had to reset the boat several times because the wind was so non-existent that what current flow we had was swinging the boat around in an awkward position. The boys had a good time catching redfish, and managed about 15 of those bronze torpedoes before the bite was over.

By that time the heat was so oppressive out there that we could all hardly breathe. We decided it was about time to go. It was still before noon, and I suggested we take a cool-down ride back toward the ramp and fish somewhere close by. That way, if the weather blew up on us quickly, we'd be close to home. Brian and Eric were for that.

The ride was just wonderful, but not enough to dry me out. I was still soaking wet. We took up position on a mangrove key and I tossed a bat full of chum. Nothing happened. But, I know this spot is always good for some nice snook. Then, the boys had several hits that were misses. But, suddenly, as I was about to toss in the towel, all hell broke loose at the end of Eric's line. Snook on! And, it was a nice one. After some exciting moments the fish was at boatside, and just after I got the Boga-Grip in her lips, the leader parted. He was that close to loosing that fish, and I explained that this was exactly the reason I was coaching him to kick butt and get the fish to the boat. This was one of the rare times when a fish takes a circle hook very deep, and she was on the leader. Eric was pleased with his 8 pound, 31 inch snook. It was the perfect was to end the day that we were more than ready to end. We just couldn't stand much more of the intense heat.

It was a good day. The boys said they'd learned a lot, and were eager to go out on their own. All the fish they caught went back to fight another day.

My second trip on Thursday was with Dick Gutowski, a great guy I fished with June a year ago. Dick has since made Florida his home, and had his friend Fred Giovanellio joining him for the trip. The flag was hanging limp on the flagpole as I drove by that morning, and I knew it would be another brutal day of heat.

WE headed right back up the Sound to north of Flamingo Cut, and the bait was even better than it had been. While Fred tossed a DOA shrimp at popping trout, Dick and I caught probably 5 to 600 baits in three throws. It was beautiful bait. Dick also sight-caught a trout or two before we left to chase redfish.

At our first stop Dick managed a snook, and that was it. There were several other hits and fish on, but none to the boat. We moved on in search of redfish. The action was slow starting out, but we were early on the tide, yet. We caught one or two at that stop, which is usually full of fish that are willing to eat.

We moved on to an area a mile or so away, and began again. We now had just a whisper of air moving, but it was enough to move the boat around on our slow moving tide, and move us off our target. We found the fish, though, and Dick and Fred had fun catching about a dozen of them, along with a couple of jack crevalle. Fred was a bit frustrated with himself, as he was missing a lot of hits/fish. But, they were both having fun learning about how I fish for redfish and snook in the area.

It was hotter 'n hell, and Dick is a guy who is happy with a few fish and ready to go home. So, this had been a good day, and he was ready to get out of the heat. I think Fred would have stayed out there as long as I wanted, but it was Dick's trip, thank goodness. Enough is enough in the August heat!

It was a short but great week of renewed friendship and newly kindled ones. I have only one more trip on the books before I begin my August sabbatical. But, having said that, if you want to fish I'm ready to go. We're certainly not recovered from the financial ravages of Charley last year, or of all the numerous lost days to bad weather so far this year. Anyway, fishing reports may be scarce for the next couple of weeks unless I decide to go fishing for fun in this heat.

Tight Lines!

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