Thank God that we are getting closer to spring. Water temperatures are warming up pretty fast and the fish can be found in places that were deserted just a couple of weeks ago.
This week every charter I had were fly fishing trips. So, early in the week I went to find some fish for my next charter. Using a chartreuse clouser minnow I blind casted the sandy depressions that cover many of Pine Island Sound flats. The tide was low when I started, this tend to congregate the fish in the holes where a sinking fly or a jig works well. I caught about 15-20 seatrout with one of them tipping my boga grip scale at 61/2 pounds, a dandy on a fly rod.
My first trip was with Mr. Tom Haeussler. Tom is retired; he lives in Columbus, Ohio and spends a month during the winter season in Sanibel Island. Tom wanted to do some fly fishing, he had enjoyed catching seatrout but we were looking for a bigger challenge.
The morning was breezy and it was coming out of the east. The Redfish were not tailing at low tide, so it made it hard for Tom to see them. The opportunities were sudden and those spooky fish did not allow a second cast.
Late in the week I had Jack St. John, he is 14 years old and a fanatic fly angler. Jack lives in Cullman, Alabama and loves any kind of fish as long as he can catch them on fly.
We had corresponded many times via email and I was looking forward to our meeting, for his enthusiasm was contagious. I picked Jack up at 7:00am and we headed for the flats. The tide was “super low” and the wind was coming out of the east making things worse. We decided to wade in some deep cuts around the mangrove islands where the Snook likes to spend the low periods of the tide.
I instructed Jack to cast into the holes and to let the fly sink deep before retrieving it. After just a few casts, Jack felt the line get tight, so he set the hook and we had a fish on. After a short fight a small Redfish emerged. I landed the Redfish for Jack and as we released it, the Red was instructed to find some of his larger siblings for us. But this did not happen here, but snook were moving across the sand bar in and out of the holes. Jack had some “shots” at these Snook but to no avail.
The wind picked up and a strong southeast breeze was making matters difficult. We were debating our options of continuing to fish or to head back home. Jack had been looking forward to the trip so we decided to try one more place. We found a calm cove, I started poling a sandy shoreline and we immediately saw Redfish. Our visibility was good so we could see snook and reds all along the shore. With good casting skills and a 14 year old enthusiasm, Jack had many close encounters with the Reds. One fish in particular was charging Jacks fly with bad intentions, mouth open and all, it was too much for Jack to see and he pulled the fly right out of the fish mouth.
Lay up Reds in groups of three and four passed our bow, but these Reds were pretty spooky. Jack enjoyed the experience and learned a bit about soft presentations and “Redfish Fever”.
Sight fishing and fly fishing are the most challenging ways to catch a fish. Anglers and guides must do their part to successfully stalk and hook a fish on the flats. This is not a game of numbers, especially if you are not experienced, but the reward is a memory of some of the most challenging angling anywhere.
Seats are limited, so give me a call, or drop me an email, and let's GO FISHING !
Capt. Rey's Fishing Report