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Date: Post Hurricane BOOM!
Title: Oct 3, 2004
Date: 03 Oct 2004
Time: 23:17:30 -0400
“What a difference a week makes” The wind still, the sky clear, the boat slid across ‘Lake’ Mexico at “go as fast as you want” speed. Mother Nature opened her arms and welcomed us back on the water with the understated class of a well-traveled lady, whose far away experiences bring the wealth back to you. Last week, you would have been better off in a stampede of elephants than to be on the Gulf. Now, placid was too rough a word to describe the tranquility of the Gulf. Unless you back tracked across your own wake, the boat never bounced. The storms had sucked all the energy out of the water and air; the Gulf exhausted. But, how would the fishing be? That was the big question. The answer: “Oh MY!” I believe if there was nothing else to eat, the gag grouper would start eating the rocks. The grouper rallies I’ve seen this week are nothing short of dream-like. At times, Little B and I fell short of keeping folks baited due to the action. After gaffing and passing off down the port gunnel, while Little B did the same off the starboard, I turned to see four guys standing there each with a ten pound or better grouper on a string waiting for us to put them in the cooler! Nuts! If the action was on video, I’d put money that the tape was edited. As if the grouper bite isn’t enough, red snapper have blown in. We’re bringing in two to five nice snapper in per trip, a rosy cooler bonus. Amberjack have revived. Friday, three were caught that weighed 20-25 a piece. The same day we brought in a 50 pound cobia that picked up a live pin fish enroute to the bottom. I wrote the Gulf was exhausted; the fishermen are coming back in the same condition. Glory days displayed momentarily in the smiles and stories of those who participated, captured on film, written in the memories for a life time. At least the hurricanes left us a little something good in their path. After looking and talking around, others are doing just as well. The grouper bite has been strong from 50 on out to 80 feet. The bait doesn’t seem to matter. We’re using herring halves, whole squid, bonita strips and live bait. Some folks have picked up grouper on the troll, as well as, a couple of king fish. Bait fish pods are dimpling the waters from the grass flat on west as far as you got the gas to go. Spanish mackerel and bonita a running a muck. Nothing like tossing jigs into a horde of fish and having the drag zoom. Brings out the kid in you. Flip that around to...bring the kids. They’ll love it and love seeing you become one of them. Hint: Fish around Little Bank (check the local chart). I’ve spoke with a few of the trout guides. “How’s the trout fishing?” “Tearing it up, in the green water.” Operative words: Green water. As opposed to the dark brown water flowing south of the river. The best water quality is north of the river. Some guides are fishing the deeper grass beds in 6-8 feet. Others are working the skinny near the bank. I’m a top water nut, so at day break I’d be hanging a right at channel marker 8 running just north of Dallus Creek and tossing splashy things in the shallow spotty bottom. Thinking about a gator trout blasting a top water plug will keep one awake the night before the trip. Quote: “The fishing was so good, I thought I was there yesterday.” Dave Engerbretson (1994) Capt. B.