Cold Fronts and Wind, and Some Good Fishing, Too!
Capt. Butch Rickey
March 28, 2014
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report
Week Ending 2/15/14..........
Cold fronts and bad weather were again a factor this week. I did get on the water twice, though.
First was my friend Bonnim Tanzman (BT) on Thursday, with his good friend Pete. The forecast called for wind 15 to 25 from the north with a front passing during the night. I was awakened by a storm at around 4 AM, and hoped that was the end of the rain. I talked to BT that morning, and it was misting, but the wind was down and radar clearing out. We decided to go for it. We met at Port Comfort Marina at 7:30. BT, Pete, and I discussed the weather again at the launch, and decided to go. We launched the boats and took off.
It was a little breezy as we made our way down the channel, but looked like things would be fine. But, as we approached the area we were going to fish the wind descended upon us with a vengeance. We were running along on the #3 speed setting, which is about normal paddle speed, when the wind kicked us in the face, and stopped us in our tracks. I turned around to the guys and said I thought we should rethink fishing. We headed back.
As we neared PCM, I got to thinking about sneaking around the back side of Connie Mack Island and exploring some mangrove tunnels with the boys. We'd be out of the weather, and it would be scenic and fun. That were all for it. I took them to several of the tunnels in Punta Rassa Cove, and they enjoyed exploring them.
By the time we'd done that it was around ten o'clock, and we decided to head in and go to breakfast at Marti's. We sat in Marti's for a couple of hours and bench fished over breakfast and coffee. Fun. We'd try again another day.
I was back at Port Comfort on Saturday, to fish with Bob Mikolaitis, whom I'd met there at the marina on a trip with Frank Faust. I don't normally fish on the weekends, but it was our only chance to get it done. The front that had come through Thursday and Friday was now entrenched, and I really didn't expect a very good trout bite.
We launched and made our way down to what would be our first stop. It was a cold morning, and there was no bite on the edges there. We moved on to what has been great trout, jack, and ladyfish action nearly every time I fish it. Once the tide begins coming in, the current really blows through the area. That heavy current makes it hard for some to feel the bite, even with braids. It's finesse fishing. And, you much situate the boat so that you are casting up the current, and retrieving with it. I got Bob and myself situated, and we went to work.
I was all over the fish, hooking up nearly every cast. I had parked Bob on the best part of the area, but he didn't appear to be catching much. I called him over and parked him right where I'd been catching, and headed over to where he had not been catching. I was again all over the fish, immediately. Hmm! I thought perhaps Bob was retrieving faster than the current was moving, and suggested he slow down. I moved Bob to where I had been catching a number of times during the morning, but he just wasn't catching very much.
I guess this illustrates one big difference in kayak guiding as opposed to live bait guiding out of a flats boat. Each angler is the captain of his own boat and fishing tackle. It's ultimately up to each angler to follow my instructions on how to use the different systems like the anchor trolley, rods and reels, baits, etc., in order to be successful. Some folks want to do things their own way, and some catch on quicker than others, of course, but once the angler gets familiar with the systems and doesn't have to think about what he/she is doing, the fun factor goes way up.
I realized after I went back to the kayaks a few years ago that most customers who are in a flats boat slinging live bait are observers, more than anything else. Not so in the kayaks. Everyone is participating in the whole experience. Everything I teach my anglers about casting, anchoring, landing a fish, for example, are absolutely the best way to do that task. The methods are tried and proven, and deviation from the methods usually results in problems. Of course, there are some things that are all but impossible to teach, like finesse fishing in a strong current.
After a non-stop bite all morning, the wind really kicked and the bite slowed. I suggested to Bob that we head in, and take a tour through one of the mangrove tunnels along the way. Which we did. Bob said he'd been in mangrove tunnels in the past, and one was enough.
It was a good morning of fishing, and Bob did catch a few fish, but I wish he could have caught more. He seemed to have enjoyed the day, though.
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