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Date: “Everyone is at the party now”
Title: May 3, 2004
Date: 04 May 2004
Time: 06:11:32 -0400
Let’s do a list of fish available on the grass flats right now, the beginning of May. Speckled trout, sand trout, flounder, red fish, blue fish, spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle, cobia, sharks (of all types and sizes), and if you looked real hard you could likely see a tarpon. If one spent eight hours blindly moving around on the flats tossing a jig, they would find plenty of action. Go with a professional guide and you may find yourself doing catch and release the latter part of the day. One secret is to move around often, in search of the bite, when you find the active fish take time to notice the depth of water and type of bottom. Fish in similar areas keeping in mind how rising and falling tide effects, at least, water depth. It sounds simple but takes time on the water to distinguish slight difference in bottom types and know the whereabouts of other ‘similar’ areas. In a nutshell, it’s a great excuse to go fishing more often. “Honey, I know I fished all day last Saturday, but I have to go back this weekend to learn more ‘similar’ bottom so it won’t take so long to catch a mess of fish so I can get back home earlier to be with you and/or so and so... The time on the water is for your benefit, Honey. Really”. It didn’t work when I fed out that line but it’ll work if you say it. Really, I promise. Let’s do a list of fish available offshore right now, the beginning of May. Amberjack, red grouper, gag grouper, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and cobia. If one spent eight hours blindly trolling Stretch 30’s in water 45-65 feet, you would stumble into some fish. When you catch a king fish, keep on trolling ahead. When you catch a grouper, circle around and bottom fish the area with live or frozen baits. Amberjack spots are given on local charts. For great action, deliver them a live bait. Don’t be surprised if cobia are mixed in with the amberjack. It sounds simple but takes time on the water to determine when is best to troll and how long should one bottom fish a single spot. In a nutshell, it’s a great excuse to go off shore fishing more often. “Honey, I know I fished all day last Saturday, but I have to go back this weekend to redefine those new grouper numbers I found so it won’t take so long to catch a mess of fish so I can get back home earlier to be with you and/or so and so...” The excuse won’t work. I promise. The best bet: Be a sweetheart to her all week long and invite here along. One of two things will happen. One, she’ll go and have a good time. Or, two, she’ll recall what a sweetheart you’ve been and think you deserve a day on the water. Those two responses are way too ‘Leave It To Beaverish’ for our modern day women, but just maybe, you can get a little more time on the water. Take care, Capt B.