El Grande Snook, Kings, Grouper, and Cobia in SW FL
Capt. John GiddyUp-Bunch
March 21, 2009
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Dragging Yo-Zuri Clown DD Crystal Minnows in 26FT at the new Causeway Reef produced absolute CHAOS on Friday and 1/2 Day Saturday. My charter had the all the action on Friday but I loaned a good buddy (fellow Guide 3 of my Clowns) and he busted them this AM before it got WAY TOO ROUGH.
As everyone who has EVER read a GiddyUp report, I'm not one of these guys who is ALWAYS successful (if you get my drift)but on Friday, yours truly could not be stopped. I would like to say "Oh shucks, it was just being the greatest but I know better. The water clarity was perfect (no sandy tint to our Emerald Color)and the wind was a little offshore thus knocking things down at last than 5 miles. We were at 3 miles off the Sanibel Light House. Get this Fish Freaks. It was impossible to drag a Yo-Zuri Clown across this reef WITHOUT getting SLAMMED. Both rods. Drags screaming. Kings jumping. Goliaths destroying rigs and lures. And our grouper shortage? Water temp was 72 and we slaughtered the grouper as well. After rerigging, my customer casually flipped out The Clown and almost as soon as it hit the water a 38LB King exploded on it. The lure was literally on the surface when the King went off on it.
Many of my friends at the Univ of Michigan (who have yet to throw me a ticket bone vs Ohio State) want to know all about the pompano run. Allow me to say this without reservation. It was amazing and fun. I've been trying to catch pompano forever and I wish I could admit to being good at it. Again, I even caught pompano on every cast all last week. Red Fish Pass flats and Big Carlos Pass over on the beach. My sick and demented charter DUDES wanted to go look at the Spring Break Babes so we decided to try Big Carlos. It was amazing. You could put your lips in the water, wiggle them, and catch pompano. When the Gill Netters learned on the run, the schools were slaughtered and are now for sale all over Pine Island with signs all over the road. Hell, Grouper season is closed and they are selling grouper. FWC tries their best but they don't have the manpower. All of these "Fishermen" know me and everytime they see me they always let me know that I AM # 1! Why they love me so much is a mystery. They know I would drop a dime on them in a heartbeat but that RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER SHAKEN WITH GREAT VIGOR always endears me to them. In their defense, they have families to feed. Too bad our Gov can't treat them like the farmers. PAY them not to fish and save our fishery.
Can you imagine being a Pro Guide in Fl when trout and snook are closed at the same time? And they wonder why we have a Redfish shortage.
Big winds this week. 20-25 until Thurs-Friday. Check out my charity for Our Troops. www.operationopenarms.com It is awesome. For 4 years we have taken US Troops on combat leaves fishing for free. My Guides are not allowed to accept "tips" or "Gas Money". 2 US Presidents in the last 10 months have paid their respects to this great organization. And guess who founded the Whole Thing? GiddyUp! Well kiss my grits.
Tough week this week.
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