Fishing Report for Pine Island Sound to Sarasota Bay, Florida
Capt. Butch Rickey
February 26, 2007
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report
REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING 2/24/07
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 2/24/07
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
FISHIE, CAN I BUY A BITE?
I know we've had periods of hard fishing in years past, but boy I'll tell you, this past week or so has erased the memories of previous episodes of lockjawed fish. Several cold fronts in a row with no reprieve in between, an absurdly high barometer, very cold water temperatures, and depleted stocks of one of our go-to winter species, speckled trout, have combined with very poor tides toward the end of the week to matters even worse. I'm not trying to run you potential customers away. This too, shall pass. But, if I'm going to accurately report on what's happening here, then I have to tell it as it is, and right now it's very tough to catch anything other than sheephead and the occasional black drum, or perhaps ladyfish. Yet, as tough as the catching was this week, the fishing was fantastic, and I've ironically had some of the most enjoyable days on the water with my friends and customers that I can remember.
First up this week was Andy Mount, and his daughter Rachael, who I first fished with around this time last year, along with his other daughter, Stephanie. We had a great day of big trout fishing. That day had started out slow, and then turned hot. This day would start out slow, and remain slow. We left the dock at 7 AM armed with a variety of artificial baits, and the knowledge that with the water temp in the 50's we were in for a hard day.
At our first stop, normally a wonderful place to be in the dead of a southwest Florida winter, Rachael caught the only fish. And, and a nice one it was. She scored a fat, 5 pound trout on an Exude RT Slug. Surgery at the ramp later revealed that part of it's weight and big belly were at least a dozen mojarra in its stomach! Usually, when you find one big trout like that, you will find many, but we couldn't buy another strike. After working the area over well, we moved on.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
For the next few spots the results were the same. Nothing would bite. So, now fighting the clock and the tide, I decided to take Andy and Rachael grouper fishing. Often, they will eat when nothing else will, and they fight like gangbusters on the light gear. Getting them out of the rocky homes is a real challenge.
Once at our destination, we were greeted with a bite. It wasn't a hot bite, but a bite, and Andy and Rachael managed 6 or 7 nice gag grouper that were averaging 17 to 20 inches. The best part was that we did it without loosing a single rig or fish in the rocks. We thought we'd finally lost one on the last fish of the day, when Rachael got slammed, and was then immediately stuck in the rocks. She was sure she had been hit, but it had been instantaneous. I explained that her grouper was in the rocks with it's gills flared, and that we would not likely get it out. I pulled and pulled on the stuck line and could tell there was a fish on the other end, but nothing would give. So, we pulled anchor and moved over the rocks, where I was able to put the rod down into the water and get a different angle on the fish. I still expected to just break the line or leader, but all of a sudden the fish let go and out it came. Rachael seemed amazed, and it was a bit of a small victory on a tough day.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
We ended what had nonetheless been a fun day with a great lunch at the Waterfront Restaurant before heading home to clean our fish. It had been great to share the boat with Andy and Rachael once again.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
Tuesday, I would finally get to spend a day with my good friend Dr. John Hitt, who has many of you have notice has been conspicuously absent from these pages since last June. He's healthy and looking great and once again able to fish, and more than ready for some time on the water.
I met John at his dock at around 9 AM. We had talked, and he knew things would be tough. Although it was cold, it was a good looking weather day, and a nice day to be on the water. But, with a water temperature of around 58 and a barometer at 30.30, I knew we were going to work hard for what we caught on artificials.
John and I decided we'd go to the Sanibel side and check on some of our favorite winter potholes. For as long as I've fished them they consistently give up outsized speckled trout, and plenty of them. Well, upon arriving at our destination, we were surprised to see the water so clear, that if it weren't for the glare from the sun, you'd swear there was no water there! Another strike against our cause.
We worked the area over well, moving from hole to hole. I did finally see one nice trout as it bolted from the edge of a hole after we had fished it. So, we knew there were some fish present. They just weren't eating. But, upon reaching the last hole we were still without so much as a hit. We had eliminated that spot from our list of things to do on our subsequent trips later in the week.
We had spent a lot of time working those holes, and now just wanted to try to catch something. We opted for Long Cut, which is usually slightly warmer. It's usually full of winter visitors who are sheephead fishing, but we just fish around them. They're usually on anchor, and we're usually on the trolling motor until we find a good trout bite.
Shortly after arriving, we caught a nice snook! I couldn't believe a snook would even be in 58 degree water and not be comatose, say nothing of be willing to eat something. I suspect the lure hit him on the head and he struck in retaliation! Who knows! But, it certainly was an unexpected twist in the fishing. John soon got a very nice trout, and for a fleeting moment, we thought we might even encounter a bite, but it wasn't to be. We had some bumps, but the fish just weren't interested in actually eating. The only other fish caught was a ladyfish.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
We went home with our one nice trout having enjoyed a great day on the water feeling a small sense of victory.
Wednesday was my second trip with Paul Davey, of Wantaugh, New York. I fished with for the first time last year during this same time, as I had Andy Mount. Last year, it had been Paul and his wife, Lisa. This year Paul was with his two daughters, and today it was nine year old Jessica's turn. Last year Paul, Lisa, and I had a fantastic trip. It wasn't until I looked back at last year's fishing report out of curiosity, that I realized we fished last year at this time in 75 degree water! On this morning our water was around 60 degrees. That 15 degree difference alone can shut our fishing down. Say nothing of the other factors that are always involved.
\
I picked up Paul and Jessica at the Waterfront Restaurant at 11 AM. I told Paul that when you take kids fishing, you have to fish for the kids, and he understood what I meant. After evaluating all the options and the weighing results from my trips and those of other guides, I decided the best thing to do was to take them sheephead fishing. At least they were likely to bite to some degree. Paul was good with that, and had even brought a rod and reel for Jessica to use out of concern that she could loose one of my high-dollar rigs over the side should a big fish attack her bait.
I was armed with a well full of nice hand-picked shrimp, and it was only a matter of minutes before we were anchored in Long Cut dunking shrimp pieces on the bottom for Sheepies. It took Jessica and Paul a while to get the hang of sheephead fishing, as it's almost an art form, but once they did, they caught plenty and had fun. I did most of the casting for Jessica, as the line was heavier than we typically use for such fishing, and hard for her to cast with just a split-shot and a piece of shrimp.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
Early in the fishing, I had an opportunity to demonstrate my well honed casting skills with Paul's rig, which is shorter than I'm used to using. I made a cast for Jessica and smacked Paul on the head with the float, and then hooked his hat and simultaneously snatched it off his head! Geez! Fortunately, it wasn't a hard cast, and Paul was still standing. My record of never hooking a customer is still perfect! Paul assured me he was OK, and we had a good laugh. But, I removed the float rig, which was quite long, in favor of the split shot rig. I had only gone with it because I thought it might make it easier for Jessica to see a bite. But, it wasn't working, anyway.
After several hours, I could tell Jessica was winding down. From the sheephead we went to see if the grouper would bite. You can probably anticipate the answer. Nada! I asked Paul if he'd like to go try to find a redfish, also telling him the chance were slim, but he was game to go for it. So, we were off to a place where the redfish are usually cruising this time of year if there's water enough on the flat. The water there was gin clear, and the fish could probably see us coming a mile away. We never saw a fish. We drifted across a part of the flat casting our gold and silver spoons as far as we could, hoping to reach fish we couldn't see. But, we never had a hit. But this time, Jessica was ready to go home, and we headed back to the Waterfront. It had been a good day for Jessica, and after all, that's what it was all about.
I met John Hitt again at 10 AM on Thursday. After telling John of the fishing for the other days in the week thus far, I advanced an idea that we go spend a relaxing day anchored up sheephead fishing. I had tried to reserve some live hand-picked shrimp for our efforts, but the shrimpers still had not delivered by the time we reached the ramp. So, we opted for frozen shrimp and sandfeas, some small hooks, and slide sinkers, and sheephead fishing we went.
Driven by the north wind, the tide was still going out when we arrived to claim a spot in Long Cut. Nothing would bite. Finally, when the water began to turn around, we caught a small snapper. As the water got moving in earnest, we caught a few sheephead, but the pickings were slim, and the fishing had indeed gotten tougher and tougher as the week had progressed. The water was bouncing around 62 degrees.
John did have a chance to demonstrate his advanced angling abilities when he landed a sheephead of not more than 3 inches in length. You've got to be good to do that. Even though the bite was very slow, we were in no hurry to take off. We were having a great time relaxing, enjoying the beautiful day, chatting and catching up on things. It was a truly no pressure day, and very enjoyable.
As we were preparing to head home, I told John that given the almost total absence of a bite, and the worsening conditions as the week went along, that I wouldn't mind if he wanted to opt out of our trip on Friday. After considering that we'd had two very relaxing days on the water, he decided he could indeed put the day to good use at home.
I met Fraser Dougall Saturday morning at the Waterfront Restaurant for our second trip of the month. Our first one had been tough enough. I had arranged for him to fish the day before with another local guide because I had been booked with John Hitt. Fraser told me they had used live shrimp for bait, and only caught two fish. He didn't really have to tell me. I would have bet on as much. This was my first time with his two good friends, Wally and Hume, and I knew it was going to be tough to get anything going. Again, I had waited around at the ramp for the shrimpers to deliver their live shrimp to Shack Baits, but eventually had to leave before they arrived, if they ever did. So, we would be fishing artificials only.
We headed up into the Sound to our first stop comfortable in the knowledge that we had a beautiful day to be out, and that Fraser is a man who knows all to well that sometimes the fish just don't bite. I really wanted to make something happen for the boys, especially since they'd had one tough day the day before, but it just wasn't in the cards. One of the boys hooked a nice trout at the first stop, but didn't get it to the boat. We never had another hit there.
But, it didn't take me long to realize that I had a bunch of great, fun guys in the boat, and that I was going to have a fun day regardless of the fishing. With the bite so slow I had time to give the boys my "BarHopp'R Casting Clinic", and then had fun nagging them about doing what I'd taught them for most of the day. We laughed and joked and carried on, and had a grand time. We managed to catch one grouper after that trout, and that was it. The fish were just absolutely lockjawed! Fraser, Hume, and Wally took it in stride, and kept on fishing, ever optimistic that something would bite on the very next cast. But, that something never did, and finally arm weary from a day of casting, we tossed in the towel.
But, if there was a better way to end a week of no bite, I can't imagine what it could be. I had more pure fun and laughs with Fraser, Wally, and Hume than I've had in a long time. I'm glad we went, and sure enjoyed sharing the boat with such a great bunch of guys.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
And, that's the way it went. It's hard to say when; this week, next week. But, at some point the water temperature will hit a magic number, and the barometer will retreat, the cold fronts will fail to push this far south, and things will turn on. We'll be looking at great spring fishing, and I know we're all more than ready for that.
In the meantime, anyone know where I can buy a bite?
Be sure to check out my new eBay Store BarHopp'R Fishing Finds!
REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING 2/17/07
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 2/17/07
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
WHAT HAPPENED TO BETWEEN THE FRONTS?
As I sat down before my HP to pen this report I looked out of the window of the fishcamp to see virtually every living thing dancing the boogie to a 44 MPH wind, ushered in during the early morning hours by heavy rains! Not only can I see the wind, I can hear it roaring! For the better part of a month, now, there has been no recovery period between cold fronts. Normally, we're already pretty much done with them by this time, anyway. But, when we do get late season cold fronts they are typically followed by a couple of days of cold north wind and no bite, then an easterly wind for a day or two, when fishing improves, and then the south and west winds that usher in the next front and a day of great fishing. We've had a chain of fronts where the wind is still blowing out of the north bringing cold air and high pressure when the next front arrives! Seems very bizarre to me, and it's wrecking our fishing and our business. And, here we are with several days of record cold temps in south Florida.
Our week began with two rainy days on Monday and Tuesday, followed by a day of high winds on Wednesday. I moved my trip with Paul Davey to Thursday, which was forecasted to be a decent day with a slight chance of showers, canceled my Friday trip with my friend Gerard Ripo and friends on a forecast of 25 MPH winds and bitter cold, and tried to cancel my trip with Fraser Dougall on Saturday, our coldest day of the winter thus far, knowing it would me miserable on the water, windy, and that the fish wouldn't eat. But, Fraser wouldn't hear of it. So, it was a two day work week.
I made the trip up the river and across Miserable Mile Thursday morning as dawn was breaking. Finally, it was supposed to be a decent weather day. I was excited about seeing Paul Davey, again. And, meeting his twelve year old daughter, Anne. Dave and I first fished together last year, along with his wife Lisa, and had a blast. I was hoping we could make it another fun day for he and Anne. I arrived at the Waterfront Restaurant to pick them up at 6:30, as it was getting light.
We had an extremely low winter tide of -0.7 ft. at around 7:30, so the challenge would be to find a place to fish that offered a reasonable prospect of catching something. With the warmth knocked out of the water by previous fronts I knew it would be near impossible to find a snook that would eat, but also that the rest would not be very willing, either. I was armed with plenty of lures and a well full of hand-picked shrimp, and had just the spot.
My expectations were low given the conditions, and I warned Dave that Anne would predictably catch most of the fish, if any were caught. I was a bit puzzled by all the cloud cover, as it looked as if it would rain any minute. But, the chances of rain were minimal according to the weather soothsayers and sages. When we got to our spot which was protected by mangroves, there was no wind, and the no-seeums were quick to announce that dinner was, well......on us! I quickly sprayed everyone's exposed parts, and thank God it seemed to do the trick. Now, we could get down to fishing.
Suddenly, we heard the excited chirping of an osprey close by, sounding as if he was talking to us. I answered him, and he told me HE was the first one to catch a fish. He was sitting on a limb dismantling a good sized ladyfish when we spotted him.
Predictably, Anne struck first blood, with her first snook. It was not a big one, but one more than I expected to see. Then she struck second, third, and maybe fourth blood with more snook. Dave was getting behind. But, Anne's rod quickly cooled as Dave began catching speckled trout after trout. And, they were nice fish. Almost like we're accustomed to seeing so many of during the winter and early spring, but which have been conspicuously absent this year because of the red tide kill. Boy, I was happy to see those trout, and so was Dave. Dave had built a substantial lead on young Anne, and we were teasing her about it by now. She finally got in on the act and caught some trout, too. We kept 7 nice, fat trout, but later released all but one big one that was gut-hooked, and didn't make it.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
As the bite tapered off about mid-morning, the wind was building and so were the clouds. Rain looked imminent. We headed to another spot that I often use on winter days when the glamour species don't want to bite, just to produce action. It's trout action, and when on, if a fish every cast. I reasoned that if we caught trout at that first spot, perhaps there were finally the small trout in this spot. And, I was right.
The fish were there, and we caught them on nearly every cast after Dave and Anne got the hang of going really slow. We were having fun just catching when it began to drizzle on us. Well, I don't mind cold, and I don't mind wet, but cold AND wet are a bad combination. It sprinkled, and stopped, sprinkled and stopped. But, finally began to drizzle in earnest, and we decided it was time to go home, having had a pretty good day.
Back at the Waterfront we had a great lunch together, and I was glad to see that they were really busy. Things have been slow all over. It was a great ending to a winter fishing trip, but a nasty ride back to the ramp. Dave and I are scheduled to fish again this coming Wednesday with a different daughter. I hope the weather cooperates!
After watching it blow all day Friday as I worked in the office and ran some errands, I was glad I had canceled the trip in favor of another day. Friday night was the coldest of the season. I had tried to talk my friend Fraser Dougall out of fishing, but it was his only shot at getting on the water with his son Scott, with whom he hadn't fished in a long time. Fraser still wanted to go, knowing full well there would not likely be much catching going on. For him, it was about being on the water with his son.
And, you know! That's one of the things that I like about Fraser. He's as nice a fellow as you'll ever meet, and he is also very easy going. He's also gleaned from a lifetime of fishing the knowledge that it's not all about catching. Fishing is about being on the water, enjoying nature, spending quality time with friends and loved ones. Catching is the icing on top of what is already a very tasty cake!
I met Fraser and Scott, who was over from L.A. at 7:30. It was almost eerie arriving at the already parking deficient ramp on a Saturday morning that late, and being one of only two people there! The other was Capt. Steve Waugh. We laughed at each other as I approached after launching the Talon, and Steve joked that he'd even offered to pay his customer not to fish, but that he wouldn't hear of it. By the time we left the dock only one other guide, Kelly Kaminski, had shown up. I had decided to rig a couple of outfits with circle hooks before leaving the dock, knowing full well that by the time we got to our first stop my hands and fingers would be dysfunctional and totally out of my control. And, I was right. By the time we arrive, they were numb.
Fraser and Scott fished hard, using live shrimp and jigs, and all we could manage was to donate the live shrimp to small bait stealers like pinfish, small snapper and sheephead. We never got a serious bite from anything else. The fish were there, but lockjaw prevailed! We gave it until the tide turned around and began coming in. It would not have been wise to leave before doing so, and I hoped that the fresh incoming might allow a short bite. But, it was not to be, and we finally moved on.
We turned our attention to open potholes that are my staple for winter action. I knew full well though that if we hadn't been able to catch at the first spot, it was highly unlikely we'd catch anywhere else. And, I didn't think the water would warm sufficiently while we were out there to allow a bite to happen.
The first three potholes, which are normally full of trout, were duds. The fish weren't eating. At the fourth hole nothing was happening when Fraser made a cast that landed almost right in front of the boat on the edge of the pothole, and drew teasing from Scott and me. But, Fraser taught us a lesson when his bait was quickly consumed by a beautiful speckled trout. We took pictures and let her go. It was the only one that would bite, and Fraser had hit it on the head to get it to do so.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
We decided we'd try to find some hungry redfish, just to do something a bit different. I fully expected the same kind of greeting we'd been getting all morning long, but it was worth a try, and the reds are always there. It was more of the same, though. Not a nibble on a spoon, jig, or shrimp. Again, we moved on.
We were into the afternoon, now. And, we only had about an hour of moving water left. Once the tide stopped, what had been lockjaw would turn into zippered lips. I headed for Long Cut, which will often give up trout when they won't bite anyplace else. Because of where it's at, and the composition of the bottom, I believe the water may be just enough warmer there to allow a bite on those cold winter days. There were plenty of boats there, which is why I don't like going there, but they appeared to all be fishing for sheephead. We would work around them.
We worked the shoreline with jigs, notably the smaller Bass Assassins. Right from the start we were getting bumps. As we moved along we even got several fish to rise to our lures where we could see them, but they didn't take well enough to become hooked. Finally, we hit a spot which gave up 6 or 7 nice trout and a ladyfish. At that point the boys remembered they had to be home around five because they had company coming. We called it a day and headed home. Fraser and Scott had thoroughly enjoyed the day, as had I.
WINTER FISHING FUN!
So, now here I sit wrapping up this fishing report. I just got off the phone with Andy Mount, my customer for tomorrow. It's more of the same weather tomorrow, and it's going to be cold. I laid out how I see the day going, and Andy Still wants to go. He, too, knows fishing is not always about catching. Thank goodness for great customers.
I've got a 6 day week on tap, including 3 days with John Hitt. John is really anxious to get some fishing in, and is fully recovered from his heart attack. Many of you have asked about John, and he seems to have his own fan club here on the BarHopp'R portal. Pretty cool. I hope the weather lets us get those days in, but I have my doubts.
Be sure to check out my new eBay Store BarHopp'R Fishing Finds!
More Fishing Reports:
