Fishing Report for Pine Island Sound to Sarasota Bay, Florida

Capt. Butch Rickey
May 20, 2007
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report

REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 5/19/07 by Capt. Butch Rickey

Normally, we expect the fishing to be as good as it gets on the new moon tides, but it was tough going all week. My theory is that the big high pressure that followed the last front in and gave us a whole week of north/northeast winds was the culprit.

The week began with my old friend Chic Bruning, who's now fully retired and sure enjoying it. I think this was the first time Chic has fished by himself, and it was fun. On the way to catch bait Chic said some very complimentary words to me, and I was floating on Cloud 9 for the rest of the day. For a guide, that's the ultimate payday.

We went to the B Span flats, where there were only a couple other boats, and set about chumming. I got them started and studied the water for a bit, and then turned the chumming over to Chic's experience hands. It didn't take us long to have plenty of bait for a day of fishing, and because we had a very early tide, I saw no sense of wasting time catching bait we may not get a chance to use. We were off.

I decided to hit a spot in Matlacha Pass early on the tide, just to show Chic something new. Once there I put out some chum, and it was immediately eaten by something. A minute or two later we had our first line cut off. Then Chic caught one of the culprits. It was a spanish mackeral. We caught one other mack, and a mangrove snapper. Even though we worked the area over pretty well, that was all we could get to eat. It was time to move on.

I decided to fish a pretty little spot on McKeever Keys that I hadn't fished since last year. The water was up sufficiently to have fish there. The first red that ate got away. We managed one other redfish and a snook there before things dried up.

We moved on north and settled at Pumpkin Key. We had our best bite of the day there, as Chic boated 5 redfish and several snook. We tried hard, but just couldn't get the redfish to bust loose and really bite. Well, they've been so tough in the south end of the Sound this year, I was quite happy to see those. SPRING FISHING FUN!



SPRING FISHING FUN!

Our last stop was good until the tide quit running, and Chic caught a few more snook before it did. It worked out OK, though, as Chic had an airplane to catch around 4 PM, and had to get in early. So, we used the early tide as a good excuse to catch an early lunch at the Waterfront before taking Chic back to the dock.

It was a great, fun day with one of my favorite fishing buddies. We've been fishing together for some eight years, and it's always a great time sharing the boat with Chic. He LOVES to fish! And, hunt.

Tuesday was my first trip with Sid and Vicki Hunt, of McCormick, South Carolina. I had chatted mostly with Vicki on email arranging the trip, and her sweet personality came through. When I met them Tuesday morning I realized she was much nicer than I had imagined, and she and Sid were both pretty funny.

We headed out to B Span for bait, and with Sid chumming were baited up and ready to fish in less than an hour. I headed north into the Sound knowing we had strong chance of storms anytime after noon.

We settled on a spot that I used to fish only in late fall, winter, and early spring. But, over time I realized that it can also be very good during the heat of summer. The wind was brisk to say the least, and it soon became obvious that we would be plagued by birds trying to steal our baits for the rest of the day. Vicki took over on that first hole and caught several snook. Sid got a couple as well, and if memory serves me, they caught a ladyfish or two, and a trout. But, the bite was short lived.

SPRING FISHING FUN!



SPRING FISHING FUN!



The next two spots we scored zeros. Between the wind, seaweed fouling up our baits, and birds stealing our baits away from the fish, we were having a hard time, and I was exasperated with the situation. Sid and Vicki were very patient, and good humored.

I decided to head on further north into the Sound looking for cleaner waters and fewer birds. But, neither materialized. And, the wind was flopping back and forth as much as 45 degrees, making it nearly impossible to set up on a spot, and stay that way. Grrrr! The first stop was a dud, and I know it's full of fish. But you can't make them eat!

We moved on north to a spot I don't often get to because of the price of fuel. I try to avoid doing that much running, but when it's not working south I go north. At that last stop Sid managed a nice redfish, and Sid and Vicki both caught a couple more snook. Look at the foam streaks on the water in the picture of Sid. That's from the wind. SPRING FISHING FUN!



It was a tough, frustrating day for me as the guide, and as I found out later, for everyone out there. And, of course! As I went to pull up the trolling motor so we could head to the Waterfront Restaurant for lunch, the pull rope broke. At that point I was about ready to throw the whole motor overboard. That's not fair, though. That's the first thing I've had go wrong with either of my two motors since I've had them. They're great!

I could see weather building in the distance, and had been watching the east pretty closely as we fished. Once we were at the Waterfront I got a look at the Weather Channel, and didn't like what I saw. After Sid and Vicki came back from the cat box, I suggested we skip lunch and get safely home. The weather appeared to be quickly brewing, and was already at the eastern border of Lee County. They were in agreement. Especially Vicki. She didn't want any part of lightning, and that's the only attitude to have.

It had been a bumpy ride to the Waterfront, and would be bumpy for a while longer. Being their first experience in a flats boat, I don't think the Hunts could appreciate just how well the Talon takes that nasty water. Folks who've been in rough waters in other flats boats always rave about how that little skiff just seems to hop right over most of that stuff, rarely making any spray, and rarely pounding you like most boats do.

Well, we'd made the best of a tough day in tough conditions. Sid and Vicki were great, and very patient with the situation. My thanks to them.

I had been looking forward to my Wednesday trip with Gary and Glenda Parker since March. Gary is the fellow who bought the Maverick from me, and had booked this trip before that. The first thing Gary told me was that they had been using the Maverick a lot, and having a lot of fun with her. That was good to hear. He also told me that he's not allowed to drive. His son Garrett, has commandeered the helm, and won't give it up! Knowing how tough it had been so far for everyone, I was wishing we could fish another time, but we'd just have to make the best of it. After catching plenty of minner dinners at the B Span flat, we headed into the Sound to our first stop of the day. The conditions were perfect to fish it, and I knew there were plenty of fish there. But, would they eat? Well, right off the bat Gary got a redfish and Glenda a snook. Several others were missed and lost. I think we also put a ladyfish in the well. But, things soon died, and it was time to move on. SPRING FISHING FUN!



At our next spot I was looking for redfish. We couldn't get the reds that I know were there to eat, but did manage a few more snook. Glenda was having fun catching her snook, and told me that this was her first flats fishing experience. She hadn't even been on the Maverick, yet.

We were basically being greeted by the same tight lips we'd had all week. I decided on a big move, and headed to an area that I hadn't fished in a long time. I'd been and checked on it a time or two, but the floating smutz had been so thick the area was unfishable! Upon arriving I was pleased to see the water had some color, and the seaweed wasn't around.

At our first stop we were greeted with a pretty good snook bite, and Gary and Glenda had a great time catching them, and one trout for the Slam. Boy, was I happy to see those fish willing to eat. Once the bite tapered off, we made a move to another spot nearby, and were again back on eating snook. The bite went to the end of the tide, and we caught a bit more on the first of the outgoing. SPRING FISHING FUN!



SPRING FISHING FUN!



SPRING FISHING FUN!



It was time for a great lunch to end a pretty good day of catching. We headed to the Waterfront Restaurant, and Gary and Glenda were primed for a great lunch. But! It was closed for vacation. They had told me earlier they were going to close, but I forgot all about it. So, we decided we'd head to the ramp, pick up the seat back for the Maverick, and the Parkers would go to Pincher's Crab Shack and get started while I gave the Talon a quickie bath. I met them there a short time later. Though it's not got the charm of the Waterfront, it's a great restaurant, and will do in a Pincher! It had been a great day with great folks.

Thursday, I was up and gone as early as if I'd been fishing. I took the Talon to Fowler Marine for some maintenance, and then took myself to the VA Clinic for some maintenance. The Talon got a new fuel gauge and tach cluster, as well as a few other minor things, and I got some lab work done. My blood pressure was normal, but the ophthalmologist did find some very early hints of hypertensive retinopothy, and my sugar was again high. They want to dig deeper.

I'd been looking forward to Friday's trip with Al Ellis for a long time, as well. Although Al lives in West Palm Beach, he hales from right here in Ft. Myers, and was four years ahead of me at FMHS. It's fun to have him in the boat and talk about the old days, and because Al loves being on the water. He's a laid back, no pressure guy. While we caught bait he told me stories of a monster snook that got away down in Flamingo, a bruiser redfish he caught on the rod he'd bought from me, and later showed me pictures of his wife Jan with a couple of very nice snook she'd caught there. And, it was Jan who had given Al this trip as a Christmas present. What a gal!

I had been at the ramp at 5 AM that morning, and the parking was already nearly gone. It looked like a gold rush going on there. There was a tournament going on; the Old Timers' out of Tween Waters, and there would be boats everywhere trying to catch fish that don't want to eat. I told Al I thought our strategy might best be to get bait quickly and go camp on a good spot for the day. He agreed.

We didn't have any water moving until the middle of the morning. The funny thing was that we caught most of our fish on the slack tide. Go figure. Al put around a dozen snook in the boat up to around 10 AM. But, once the tide really began moving, the fish just shut down. We worked all over a several square mile area, and couldn't get anything more than lots of baits scaled by snook. We had been almost completely unmolested by other anglers most of the morning. Al and I were shocked by that. SPRING FISHING FUN!



SPRING FISHING FUN!



But, once we left the area in search of fish that would eat, we found a boat sitting on almost every available mangrove shoreline, key, and oyster bar out there. And, as soon as one would leave, another would come in just a few minutes, not realizing the spot had already been beaten upon by other anglers. I was determined to put Al on some more snook, and hopefully a few reds, but it just wasn't to be. The jaws had been locked up, and Mother Nature had thrown away the key.

We headed for home, and at the ramp Al assure me that he'd had a great time, and that it wasn't just about catching for him, as I apologized for the tough bite. What a great guy! And, even though it was mostly a tough week, what a great week. Great customers make it work even when it's not working.

Be sure to check out my new eBay Store BarHopp'R Fishing Finds!

And, be sure to check out www.BestFishingBooks.com Books and gifts for fishermen from my friend Jim Dicken!

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