A Great Redfish and Trout Day With Jeff O'Brien
Capt. Butch Rickey
February 1, 2012
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report
Week Ending 1/14/12......
Again, I had two trips scheduled for this week, but only got to run one. It was a good one.
It was my first trip with Jeff O'Brien, of Beverly, Ohio. Jeff and I met early Monday morning at Castaways ramp, and were soon on our way. We had a beautiful day, but that was tainted by a still persistent red tide and floating dead fish, a full moon, and a radically low tide. There was land showing everywhere!
Once we arrived at our first destination, we were greeted with what is so often the scenario on the full moon. The fish didn't want to eat early. We managed a few fish, but generally it was slow. Once the tide quit running out, we used the dead time as travel time to another area, in pursuit of redfish and trout.
We were on the incoming tide now. The bite still wasn't great, but we kept working at it, and managed to catch some nice fish. I would park Jeff on a spot and then go see if I could find a bite a short distance away. By the time the tide was done we had caught 9 redfish, a nice flounder, a dozen or so trout, and several ladyfish. All but two of our reds were keepers. Jeff was a great guy just about ten years my junior, and we had a great time. I look forward to his return.
I was supposed to take my long time friend, Dr. John Hitt, President of UCF, in Orlando, on his first kayak fishing trip on Saturday. I was so looking forward to that, as I haven't seen him in a while. But, his presidential duties got in the way at the last minute, and he and Martha were forced to cancel their plans. They will return in early February, and we'll try again.
That was it. A short week. There are plenty of open dates through the spring. Come on down and try out the great sport of kayak fishing. You'll be pleasantly surprised and how fun and rewarding it is.
Target Species:
Redfish, trout, and flounder
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