Fishing Report for Pine Island Sound to Sarasota Bay, Florida

Capt. Butch Rickey
October 21, 2005
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report

WEAK OF WAITING FOR WILMA! by Capt. Butch Rickey

By the time this week actually got here, what was supposed to have been three trips had degenerated into one! By the time my Tuesday trip came along, hurricane Wilma was already looming on the horizon. Word was it would be striking the southwest Florida coast on Friday.

Tuesday was reserved for Cliff Young, down from Eagle River, Alaska. Cliff owns a bed and breakfast there. He brought along his good friend and sidekick, Dewayne Brantley. We shoved off at 7 AM, to begin our quest for bait. If felt pretty sure that if we could get bait, we could put some nice fish into the boat. But, several of the guides I talked to that morning were again telling stories of non-existent bait.

We headed into the Sound, and made several stops before landing at Flamingo. I just about wore myself out throwing the castnet, but we got plenty of small threadfins, and enough descent shiners to be able to fish and throw live chum. We also had plenty of pinfish. We were ready to fish.

First stop was a spot that I typically fish only in the late fall through early spring, on the low, low tides that winter brings. We had a pretty low tide that morning at around 9:30, and I thought it was worth checking out for snook and trout. It would also give Cliff and Dewayne a chance to get familiar with the light gear.

The trout were there in plentiful numbers and were willing to play. The boys caught a bunch of them. And, not long after I mentioned that I was surprised we hadn’t seen a snook, Cliff caught the first of two or three from that hole.

Once things slowed we headed to the next spot, which is another hole I typically only fish on very low tides. We were looking for snook there, along with the possibility of more bait. There were quite a few of both in the hold, and the boys caught plenty of both. Once things slowed there, we motored around the area looking for bait. We did find some schooled threadfins and a few tiny shiners to add to our well. We were already loosing some of the first caught threadfins.

By now, the water was getting high enough to look for snook and redfish on the flats. I took the boys to one of my favorite spots for chasing reds on the low incoming tide. We worked the area well, but to my dismay the fish weren’t eating. We moved on.

The next spot was the charm. We quickly found big reds and big snook. For the rest of the trip Cliff and Dewayne caught snook and reds as we moved about the area. Cliff got the best snook at 32 inches, 10 pounds, and Dewayne got the best red at about 30 inches. Cliff also put a 28 inch red into the boat.

We had a hell of a good time, and it was obvious that Cliff and Dewayne were serious fishermen. They told me of their many adventures catching king salmon, huge halibut, rock bass, and other fish in Alaska, and I was amazed at how knowledgeable they were. Ha! It wasn’t until we were back at the dock that I found out that they both run charterboats in Alaska!!

One thing is for sure. I made two new friends on this day. I hope to be able to get away and fish with them in Alaska one of these days!

It’s now Friday. Where is Wilma? She’s all but stalled over the Yucatan, and now not expected to hit Florida’s west coast until late Monday, or early Tuesday. Three of my days next week were to be with my old friend Ron Kolata, who’s in bad need of a vacation, and really wanting to get down here and fish. If she comes in here Tuesday, the whole week will be in jeopardy. Hell, if she comes in here with a direct hit, the next year or so is in jeopardy!

Can you believe this will be the seventh hurricane to strike Florida in little more than a year? Enough, already. All we can do right now is hang on.......and pray! Please pray with us.

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