A Great Day of Fish and Wildlife With Two Great Guys!
Capt. Butch Rickey
February 3, 2012
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report
Report For The Week Ending 1/21/12
I got out on Friday with a two great guys, George Khoury and Paul Currie, who are both local. George is my age, 66, and Paul is 55. Both are in fantastic shape. We met at Castaways around 7 AM, and were on our way by 7:20 AM. We had what was shaping up to be a beautiful weather day, an extremely low tide, and it appeared that the red tide was now no longer with us.
We made our way out to the flats. I paddled half way, but George and Paul both paddled all the way, and did for most of the day. Once at the flats we parked and got out. I gave the guys a casting clinic, and then we walked the boats in to where we had enough water to paddle. I stationed George and Paul on the first spot and moved to check out the next. And, the next. The fish weren't in an eating mood. We finally struck the first fish, and it was a big, fat speckled trout of nearly 6 pounds.
I continued from hole to hole searching for a bite, calling my guys in to me when I found a fish or two. But, the bite early was just tough. So was visibility. We managed a few trout. As the tide came roaring in we made a move to another area looking for a trout or redfish bite. I would get the guys situated and then move on to scout out spots where there are always fish. I was at the point I just wanted to find them a bite, even if it wasn't outsized trout or redfish. In truth, the water was very cold, and I think we just had to wait for the sun to get high enough in the sky to warm the water a degree or two. I've seen that a thousand times in my guiding career. Once the water gets to the magic temp for the fish, they decide to eat.
I called the guys in on what was a pretty good bite, where I was catching trout on nearly every cast. Toward the end of the tide, I decided to go and see if I could scout up some reds on the flats. A short distance away from the boys, I had a red follow my lure right to the end of my rod, look at me, and then take off. I knew I had fish there, but they're always there once the water is right. A short time later I hooked up with a feisty 20 inch red, which I put on the stringer. I called George and Paul in to see if we could have them catch a couple more, but it wasn't to be. We finished the day with lots of undersized trout, 5 nice keepers, the redfish, and several flounder.
All in all it was a great day to be on the water in the kayaks enjoying what nature has to offer. See say lots of ospreys, several eagles, as well as tons of while pelicans, herons, turns, and others. Paul got in first and had everything out of his boat and rinsed off by the time George and I got in. Thank you, Paul. You're spoiling me. I cleaned the fish, and bagged them up for the guys, and kept some for myself for dinner. I got to meet the wives, and George promised me he would be going again. Can't wait!
Target Species:
Redfish, trout, and flounder
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