I have to take a moment and say thank you to Waders. You keep me warm and dry when the wind and water could suck the heat out of Satan's soul. The weather change is bringing down the water temps which can result warm water hypothermia. I know I have shown symptoms of it over the last couple times I have been out.
I recently bought a pair of Frog Togg's chest waders. I bought the boot foot and not the stocking foot, I want to stay warm and dry with no exposure. The stocking feet are fine, but I like to spend several hours in the water and exposure is exposure. Heat loss occurs faster in water than on land, so being half submerged in cold-water without protection, really limits the fun you can have.
The water locally is now down to the high sixties. The Gulf will drop more than that, hopefully it wont drop as low as it did when we had the big Snook kill 2 years ago. I think the water got down into the 40's locally and stayed there for about 10 days. That type of cold water kills the susceptible fish, just like it would kill a human that's not paying attention.
I am looking forward to being able to wade deep again. I have pretty much been limited to the waist deep water, once I submerge my chest, I am only good for about 45 minutes. If I stay only waist deep, I am good for a couple hours.
Hitting the flats at 6, when the air is 50 degrees and the water is 68. You are begging for trouble if you are not properly dressed. I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm not sick yet because I have some great luck, and that's it. I leave the water when tying knots becomes to difficult. The loss of finger dexterity is what I use to gauge how cold my core temp is. I'm really glad my Mom doesn't read this.
I can't wait to get back out there again. I can't wait to be chest deep, chasing the ledge again. It will be good to chase the bigger fish that lurk along the ledge and the deeper pot holes. Tight lines and good luck.
* My new waders work great! Being able to get those extra few few feet deeper and further makes all the difference. I tried them out on Friday the 16th and had a banner day. The trout were out in full force, I had several baits torn in half. The large Ladyfish are passing trough Tampa too, I had a couple over 24 inches bend my rod. The spooky Manatee came back again, he breached about 15 feet from me and killed the fishing briefly. As soon as he reversed his direction, the action picked right up again. It's great hanging around for hours and enjoying myself instead of freeeeeezing. Tomorrow morning the 18th, I am heading out at dawn. Good luck and enjoy your weekend.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Oldsmar Flea Market
Where else can you get 3 pounds of Stone Crab Claws for $20 bucks? The same guy also sells Jumbo Shrimp, I'm not talking about the jumbo's you buy at the grocery store. No, I am talking about small/pygmy lobsters! The fish-monger sells Little-neck and medium-neck Clams for $3 bucks a dozen. All his products are fresh and locally sourced. They travel all of about 100 miles which makes them especially appealing because you are supporting local businesses, not a faceless, profiteering Corporation based out of Vietnam.
My favorite local fishing store is there as well, Fishing Supply Liquidators. I have gotten to know all the guys and they have gotten to recognize me as well. I always buy something from them, usually it is more than a little. I just can't seem to say no when the price is right and they always throw free stuff in my bag. Whenever they get something new in, that works, I usually get an email or a notification of some kind.
There are several Farmers Markets inside the Oldsmar Flea Market that sell all kinds of local produce for next to nothing. Picking up a pound of Tomatoes for a buck is normal. Watermelons and Pumpkins fight for attention, but are usually eclipsed by by the Orchids that are placed towards the front. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are placed with care and priced to move, with hollers beckoning passers-by to sample their items. Samples abound, and are gobbled by children or adult alike.
Sparkly watches and baubles line tables, like little soldiers vying for inspection or perusal. Cheap Chinese knock-off's glimmer and twinkle under the fluorescent lights. Necklaces and pendants compete for attention just like the shiny watches, everything that glitters line the aisles. There are things for sale that make no sense and things that appeal only to small children. Antiques and their collectors are scattered throughout the Flea-Market, all of which have quality wares which appeal to some people, like myself.
The snack shops and food vendors all have something different to offer. All the food is good and filling. There is not a lot of variety any more, there used to be Greek, Mexican, Spanish, Chinese, American, BBQ, and several others. Unfortunately the vendors of ethnic origin are becoming less and less. I'm sure this is cyclic and will not be the norm from now on. When we first started going years ago, there was much more variety, but just like anything else there are natural ebbs and flows. I'm sure by this time next year, there will be several new vendors offering something wonderful from their indigenous country.
The boutique businesses though, are the backbone of Oldsmar Flea-Market. In my opinion, these people with the drive to create a unique product are the reason the flea-market exists. Their only outlets are the flea-market and the people that visit it and the internet. These people create stuff in their homes or garages or backyards and bring it to Oldsmar with the hopes that people will find it just as impressive as they do. The artisans that make up this group fabricate and bring to life all sorts of things that never occur to me until I walk past their merchandise. The gourmet dog biscuits, to the magnetic jewelry, the giant geodes; if you have thought it or dreamed it, Oldsmar Flea Market probably has it.
The pet stores are interesting as well. I avoided the reptile place. I don't do cold blooded critters, no matter how loyal someone tells me they are. Even some places that don't sell pets exclusively, sell puppies, kittens or something cute and cuddly behind the counter. I do like the place that sells birds. I could never afford the $1,000+ birds they sell, but I sure do like hanging out with them. They have a Cockatoo that is super friendly, and a Blue Macaw with a lot of personality.
Go check out the Oldsmar Flea Market. It's every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is open by 8 a.m. on the weekends and that is usually when the best stuff comes out from the Garage Sale crowd. There are over 200 booths inside the flea market itself, there are 100+ outside as well. With all the farmers market stuff and books and crap to wade through, it's tough to do the whole thing in one day, unless you have a plan. Wandering aimlessly through chotzski-choked aisles is an adventure for the senses that you will not regret or forget.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Sandy's Gone
With Sandy being gone and normalcy returning to the flats, enjoyable fishing has returned. It was getting depressing looking at the water, wading into the water and catching only jellyfish and grass. I hate jellyfish because a Portuguese Man-O-War jumped up and bit me once. Some people think it was a Box-Jelly but I think I could survive a hit from a box-jelly. They would have to blown half way around the world as well, a highly unlikely, and singular incident.
I had a strange year on 2001. That was a year of, if it doesn't kill me, it will certainly cause long term to liver damage. That year I got wrapped up in a killer jellyfish, bounced along fire-coral, had my regulator stick at 65 feet and caught Dengue Fever twice. Pretty sure anything past my late 60's is questionable. I hate jellyfish and mosquitoes, neither really serve a purpose but yet they carry on. It's funny that you can have a tropical storm, get some rain, and not have to worry about bugs. What a great time of year fall is in Florida. All I have to contend with is swarms of little jelly's. In the grand scheme of things, I'll take swarms of jellies over swarms of mosquitoes.
I have been going through withdrawals, not being able to wander around the flats. It's been tough knowing that any effort I put forth will be futile. Trying to sling a fly would only result in head trauma. Mucky water attracts fish of another sort that are not the sort you want to be wandering around with. With all the wind, I tied some flies and waited for the sun to come out again. It sounds sad but I hate knowing there are epic times to be had and all that's keeping them from happening is some stupid wind.
Hopefully with the calm returning to the Tampa area and some nice, cool-air hanging around, maybe I can get in some great flats time. There are some new areas I have wanted to check out. All the muck and bottom being churned up should be fabulous in estuaries for out-going tides. The river mouths may produce the fall behemoths that are pushing into the estuaries. I'm hopeful that the wind cooperates and I have time to be able to get out. Upper Tampa Bay Park is on the to-do list for the next couple weeks. I want to get some play time in there before I hit Mosquito Lagoon.
I had a strange year on 2001. That was a year of, if it doesn't kill me, it will certainly cause long term to liver damage. That year I got wrapped up in a killer jellyfish, bounced along fire-coral, had my regulator stick at 65 feet and caught Dengue Fever twice. Pretty sure anything past my late 60's is questionable. I hate jellyfish and mosquitoes, neither really serve a purpose but yet they carry on. It's funny that you can have a tropical storm, get some rain, and not have to worry about bugs. What a great time of year fall is in Florida. All I have to contend with is swarms of little jelly's. In the grand scheme of things, I'll take swarms of jellies over swarms of mosquitoes.
I have been going through withdrawals, not being able to wander around the flats. It's been tough knowing that any effort I put forth will be futile. Trying to sling a fly would only result in head trauma. Mucky water attracts fish of another sort that are not the sort you want to be wandering around with. With all the wind, I tied some flies and waited for the sun to come out again. It sounds sad but I hate knowing there are epic times to be had and all that's keeping them from happening is some stupid wind.
Hopefully with the calm returning to the Tampa area and some nice, cool-air hanging around, maybe I can get in some great flats time. There are some new areas I have wanted to check out. All the muck and bottom being churned up should be fabulous in estuaries for out-going tides. The river mouths may produce the fall behemoths that are pushing into the estuaries. I'm hopeful that the wind cooperates and I have time to be able to get out. Upper Tampa Bay Park is on the to-do list for the next couple weeks. I want to get some play time in there before I hit Mosquito Lagoon.
Monday, October 29, 2012
KOA Camping Kabins are the best
So the family is going to bunk together under one roof? I'm not real sure about the whole idea, but I figure that's why there's alcohol and Ambien. All that keeps running through my mind is the Griswald's and American Horror Story. I've taken the girlfriend camping now for years, she's become like a machine when we get to the campground. She knows her duties and knocks them out super quick, all while swilling Mic Ultra and making up funny stories about our neighbors. She's the only one in her family that camps, which is why I think she wants to bring them to the Titusville KOA.
The cabin has two rooms, a full kitchen, and a half bath. I'm bringing along the tent and air-mattress just in case. I know myself and the quiet I am looking for when I camp. If there is a bit too much "togetherness" in the cabin, I'll simply sleep where I am most comfortable; under the stars. Jon snores so loud I think he needs one of those sleep-apnea-machines. He reminds me of the old guys at deer camp after they drank too much, except he doesn't drink.
The bunk-beds for the kids should be great. I'm not sure if they ever slept in bunk-beds before? The tree beds are a ton of fun, as well as the Fred & Wilma table and chairs. I call the cabin furniture, "Fred Flintstone Furniture", because it's made out of tree limbs and big-clunky planks. The door, made of heavy tongue and groove planks, has usually gouged a half arc into the wood floor. The whole cabin is made from tongue and groove cedar, which gives it a warm feel. The weathered porch-swing usually completes the cabin feel.
The last KOA I stayed at was in St. Augustine. The place was near the beach and on its own small lake. The water came right up the deck offering some great views at night. I took some great time lapse and open aperture photos that I think capture the tranquility of a KOA, more than the day time photos.
The Titusville KOA is only a short 10 minutes from the famed Mosquito Lagoon. The lagoon is an incredible fishery year around, but in November it is in its prime. Schools of Redfish migrate through the Lagoon after every falling high tide. The Atlantic which is about 25 minutes from the cabin will be home to all kinds of migrating fish that time of year. It will be an epic time to be on the east coast.
With the Kennedy Space Center being so close as well as the Hollywood Boardwalk, I don't think there will be a shortage of things to tire everyone out. I think we will all have the chance to feel like kids when we walk among the rockets and satellites. The boardwalk always brings the kid out of everyone too. I think there will be good times to be had by all, but I'm still bringing the tent.
Sorry guys
I was so pissed waking up at 6 a.m. on Saturday to 20+ knot winds. I bought the shiners knowing I would more than likely be dumping them into the honey hole. The guy working at Chiquita Bait & Tackle warned me about the wind but I told him I had made a promise. He chuckled and said he wouldn't buy any shiners back.
The kids were up when I got back, squealing about how they were the Bassmasters. It was cute and I knew they would be disappointed but what choice did I have? I promised them that if we didn't catch anything, I would take them the following day. Hurricane Sandy was causing the winds to whip up some serious chop, which in turn mucked up the bottom too.
Standing on the bridge overlooking the water, I knew it was going to be a short trip. The wind was bad on the road and in the parking lot of the bait shop, but holy crap was the wind bad on the bridge. If the wind was blowing 20 in the parking lot, it was blowing 25+ on the bridge. It was ridiculous and cold.
With the hooks baited and all the lines in the water, it wasn't more than 2 minutes until the whining started. I was actually grateful because my bald head was freezing. The wind was blowing so hard that the line was wind resistant enough to lift the bait out of the water. The conditions were bad, it was beautiful but not conducive to a good time.
The yearly trip was a bust. The weekend was shot, there was no fighting the wind, so alternative plans had to be made. The kids just wanted to go to McDonald's for a Happy Meal. I was more than happy to oblige and get outta the cold.
The alternative plans were made on Sunday when we decided upon a family trip to the Titusville KOA for Thanksgiving. We reserved a couple of cabins and are a 20 minute drive to the Space Coast. I promised the kids that instead of Bass fishing, we will go shark fishing. I have a couple spot around New Smyrna, Mosquito Lagoon, and Cocoa that have produced for me in the past.
The kids were up when I got back, squealing about how they were the Bassmasters. It was cute and I knew they would be disappointed but what choice did I have? I promised them that if we didn't catch anything, I would take them the following day. Hurricane Sandy was causing the winds to whip up some serious chop, which in turn mucked up the bottom too.
Standing on the bridge overlooking the water, I knew it was going to be a short trip. The wind was bad on the road and in the parking lot of the bait shop, but holy crap was the wind bad on the bridge. If the wind was blowing 20 in the parking lot, it was blowing 25+ on the bridge. It was ridiculous and cold.
With the hooks baited and all the lines in the water, it wasn't more than 2 minutes until the whining started. I was actually grateful because my bald head was freezing. The wind was blowing so hard that the line was wind resistant enough to lift the bait out of the water. The conditions were bad, it was beautiful but not conducive to a good time.
The yearly trip was a bust. The weekend was shot, there was no fighting the wind, so alternative plans had to be made. The kids just wanted to go to McDonald's for a Happy Meal. I was more than happy to oblige and get outta the cold.
The alternative plans were made on Sunday when we decided upon a family trip to the Titusville KOA for Thanksgiving. We reserved a couple of cabins and are a 20 minute drive to the Space Coast. I promised the kids that instead of Bass fishing, we will go shark fishing. I have a couple spot around New Smyrna, Mosquito Lagoon, and Cocoa that have produced for me in the past.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Family time
I just got off the phone with my nephew. His voice went up an octave because he is so excited about going fishing this weekend. His voice went up even higher when he asked if I could please take him saltwater fishing? Pretty sure that I created a monster. I told him it was up to his Dad and sister and not just him on where we go, but I might get him up early on Sunday to show him one of my honey-holes in Naples. It depends on the tides and what happens on Saturday.
He is a cute little 9 year old and has more questions than I have answers. He also has the attention span of a Lab. Bored out of his mind until something interests him, then he's off like a shot! It's amusing to me and one of the main reasons I enjoy putting him on the fish. His old man however, I don't think he has the fever. We have never been fishing by ourselves, it is always him with one of the kids in tow. He says feels like an inconvenience because I'm always doing the work; baiting, landing, de-hooking, releasing, re-baiting, casting, unsnagging, fielding-a-zillion-questions. It's not something I mind doing, I don't think he gets that yet though. All that running around, is fun for me. If everyone is enjoying themselves, then I am doing my job as the facilitator of fun.
Jon wants to learn how to do everything, but it's not something you learn overnight, besides we only get together twice a year. This year though we have broken the norm and have actually gotten together 4 times and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Who knows, maybe 2013 will have more family time in it than all the other years combined?
Monday, October 22, 2012
Give away
I am never really sure why people like to stop me and talk to me, while I'm fishing? I dress funny; I wear a white patterned balaclava with a white booney hat and sunglasses, along with long sleeves and long pants. It seems especially strange to me when people want me to explain why I am catching fish and they are not? I usually have one answer; luck. I know that's not the truth; or the answer they are looking for, but it is my stock answer. People want to see what I'm using and what I have, along with a small dissertation of the lure. I had this very thing happen 7 times on Saturday and 5 times on Sunday, an even dozen. I even had two guys go out of their way, just to paddle-board up and pick my brain. I got the most questions when I was rummaging around under rocks I had flipped on shore. I suppose it is a strange site to see someone flipping rocks, jabbing at the dirt, coming up with a crab in my pliers and cussing up a storm as I de-claw them.
I will teach people how to flip rocks and what to look for. Oysters are sharp and if you are not paying attention to where, and how you are grabbing a rock you can end up with a stitch worthy gash. I will also show people how to pick up crabs correctly, how to spot a female and why they need to leave her alone. As soon as I mutter the phrase, "Fly Fishing" or "Matching the Hatch" the eyebrows go up behind everyone's sunglasses. I immediately tell them, "I don't have all the answers, sometimes I don't have a good answer, but I will try my best to field any questions." I usually end up giving away some of my flies or lures to people, telling them all the same thing, "now you have a lure that works, go buy a couple more and when your having a great day, give a lure or two to someone who's having a bad day and tell them why."
I usually try to get into the back-country, away from people and away from the noise. Unfortunately the fish are not always away from the main roads and highways. While this makes loading and unloading extremely easy. It also opens the doors for the weekend warriors, and their bombing the water with shiny things from shore. I enjoy this particular breed of fisherman. They bring buckets, coolers, chairs, multiple rods, umbrellas radios, cases of beer, and a dizzying array of lures, baits, jigs, plugs, and God knows what else?They sometimes provide me with entertainment when the bite is off.
I don't know why people are afraid of water, especially fisherman? We all go swimming in the ocean and the Gulf right? So why in the world are most fisherman, trying to stay dry and fishing from shore? I mean honestly, when you fish a river you wish you could be in the middle so you can cast to either bank. Why would you not want to walk away from shore so you can pitch to either the shore or the deep? I watch people bring all sorts of crap with them to edge of the water, but never INTO the water. Sure there are the few that wander around like I do, and to you few I say, "Thank you."
The places where I go you can walk nearly 1/4 of a mile, away from shore, before the flats drops off. The drop off is a scary- scary place. All sorts of toothy monsters lay in wait there. At least that's what my psyche tells me and it's what I buy into when I am; chest deep, 1/4 mi from shore, it's getting dark, something just splashed behind me, and what was that against my leg? Like I said, the drop-off is a scary-scary place, it's a total mind &*^&**^, but the waist and chest deep grass-flats before the edges are some of the most beautiful places in Florida. Each flat offers it's own eco-system, and it's own specific topography. Some grass is longer, some pot-holes are bigger,or deeper, there may be mangroves, there may be oyster beds, there may be shifting sand bars, anything is possible in grass flats.
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The picture above was taken with my Iphone panorama option. I haven't figured it out quite yet, but it seems like less is more. The entire flats area which is several miles to the left and right are cropped funny to make the picture look like it's an inlet, it's not. In the picture, about as far as you can see out, is the drop-off. The sandy areas in front are the potholes and grass. The initial area of grass and sand is what I like to get out beyond. Since fish spook pretty easy, presenting a large form above them is the easiest way to spook them. When you are looking into the sun the fish have the advantage, their vision is actually magnified and blurred so when you move, they dart. If there is a fish cruising this initial area and he spooks, he will alert the rest of school and your prime spot is busted.
Here I am maybe 300 feet from shore and it is just over my knee's. The sandy area is what I refer to as a pothole. They are sandy areas in a mix of sea-grass, which serves as prime ambush points for predator fish. A (something small and shiny), swims through the sandy area unsuspectingly and POW, a predator fish nails it. These are the first thing that need to be found during low tide, along with any other type of structure.
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Here I am closer to 1,000 feet from shore and it is still at best waist deep. The pot holes are influenced less by tidal change and moving sands so they are less defined, which means more aggressive predator fish and more active roaming of predator fish.
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Here I am chest deep, about the full 1/4 mile maybe more? Those are hotels in the distance, you can still see the bottom, all you do is pick your pot hole and cast to it. Just watch out for boats, jet skis, and thinks that can cut clean through 30 pound test.
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Showing the subtle waves that will alert a spooky fish to your presence. Hard to believe that ripples like this in clear, smooth water will give a fish pause.
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I enjoy looking back toward shore from my extreme distances. I get to take it all in, all 360 degrees of it. It's where I get lost for a while and forget to think. I had the pleasure this weekend of watching this one guy throw an entire tackle box worth of lures at the water. I don't know what he had, but every couple of casts he would be sitting back down tying and something else on, it was comical. I felt bad that he had invested what seemed to me, a considerable amount of money and had no luck, but then again that's why they call it fishing.
That's what is great about wading out into the blue. You have a complete circle to cast from, and if you choose a direction to walk, every 50-75 feet you have an entirely new area to fish. It doesn't matter the type of of lure you are using this time of year, as long as it is either a Silver or Gold Spoon. The only exceptions to this rule is when you match the hatch. I did that over the weekend, but I timed the waters incorrectly to work it to my advantage. The winds picked up creating a pretty bad chop, along with a steady, 5-knot, Southeast wind, which caused the bite to end at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. It was a stellar Flounder bite from 7:30-10:00, on the fiddler crabs I caught on Saturday. I caught a dozen legal Flounder, some where over 24 inches and bent the shit out of my rod.
I Matched the Hatch, but failed to judge the tides and barometric pressure. The wind and chop churned up everything on the flats, causing all the fish to head for cover. I was going to do the same but decided to try to my luck at the drop-off. I had 2 more large, angry crabs and several hours until I had to be home, so I figured leaving good bait behind was bad fishing etiquette. I'm an idiot.
I judged the current in front of me, around the drop-off, to be running at maybe 1-2 knots, and was about 18 feet deep. Anyone can do this with Google Earth and a topo map by the way. Find your position, research the tidal flows, and research the current flows. It's all on-line and readily available. So casting toward the 10 o'clock position and allowing the crab to free line and sink with the current, should afford me a pretty good fish and the hook-set would more than likely be directly in front of me. With all the chop, wind, waves, grass, and muck, all I wanted to do was catch something before I left.
The drop-off is where boats and jet-ski's run, so standing against the wakes they kick up is a big pain in the ass. Dealing with the reality that something is capable of cutting my 30 pound leader clean off, with out too much of a tug on the pole, is a whole other pain in the ass. Thirty pound Sufix Superior has the ability to hold a piano to your roof, or you can pull a car out of a ditch with it. What I'm saying is the stuff doesn't just break. I had a pretty quick realization, that "Oh Shit" moment, where you are really grateful your not reeling a 30 inch Redfish, to your nearly submerged body. Here I was again; looking around, wondering what else I was sharing my grounds with, but I really didn't care as I backed away from there. Being so far from shore and realizing your an idiot is right up there with, well I don't know but it is one of those moments that you just wish would be over quickly. One-thousand-three-hundred-twenty feet is a long ways to ponder the stupidity of fishing alone, at dusk, even if the cell phone is waterproof and there is reception.
Once I got into waist deep water I felt better. I was cold though from being out of the water. I didn't realize how bad the wind was blowing until I got out. Trudging toward those guys on shore, I could just feel their stares and questions looming large. I tried my best to walk around them but as I got closer I could see some of them reeling their stuff in and waving. Waving back sealed my fate and committed me to telling at least one story. Seeing beach contractors with all their do-dads and gadgets give me pause, but I realize not everyone is a minimalist. Their eyes scan and bore into me looking for more paraphernalia besides a pair of hemo's, clipped to my shirt. When they pose the inevitable questions of, :what are you using"; I point to my chest and tap my shirt pocket to make my spoons jingle. People just don't seem grasp the idea of less is more.
After showing off my wares, showing what's under rocks around shore, and giving a small lesson about matching the hatch. I head home before noon, cold, tired and hungry. I learned a pretty valuable lesson about the wind, but because I didn't go to the other side of the bay, or the leeward side, I didn't really learn enough. I would like to take my canoe or kayak out to the ledge with some steel leader to see what's hungry. I have been drug around before by giant fish, and it's almost that time of year again! November brings the migration of giant bull Redfish into the bays and estuaries around Tampa Bay. This is my favorite time of year to fish, some areas will have schools of Redfish in the hundreds. Being prepared, aware and knowledge about what is natural to the area will allow for incredible success.
Next weekend is my yearly retreat back to Cape Coral to take my nephew fishing. I got him hooked on Bass a couple years back and he has never looked back. I got to turn another person onto my favorite past time. He enjoyed it so much he wrote a little book about it. It was the coolest Christmas present last year.
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I will teach people how to flip rocks and what to look for. Oysters are sharp and if you are not paying attention to where, and how you are grabbing a rock you can end up with a stitch worthy gash. I will also show people how to pick up crabs correctly, how to spot a female and why they need to leave her alone. As soon as I mutter the phrase, "Fly Fishing" or "Matching the Hatch" the eyebrows go up behind everyone's sunglasses. I immediately tell them, "I don't have all the answers, sometimes I don't have a good answer, but I will try my best to field any questions." I usually end up giving away some of my flies or lures to people, telling them all the same thing, "now you have a lure that works, go buy a couple more and when your having a great day, give a lure or two to someone who's having a bad day and tell them why."
I usually try to get into the back-country, away from people and away from the noise. Unfortunately the fish are not always away from the main roads and highways. While this makes loading and unloading extremely easy. It also opens the doors for the weekend warriors, and their bombing the water with shiny things from shore. I enjoy this particular breed of fisherman. They bring buckets, coolers, chairs, multiple rods, umbrellas radios, cases of beer, and a dizzying array of lures, baits, jigs, plugs, and God knows what else?They sometimes provide me with entertainment when the bite is off.
I don't know why people are afraid of water, especially fisherman? We all go swimming in the ocean and the Gulf right? So why in the world are most fisherman, trying to stay dry and fishing from shore? I mean honestly, when you fish a river you wish you could be in the middle so you can cast to either bank. Why would you not want to walk away from shore so you can pitch to either the shore or the deep? I watch people bring all sorts of crap with them to edge of the water, but never INTO the water. Sure there are the few that wander around like I do, and to you few I say, "Thank you."
The places where I go you can walk nearly 1/4 of a mile, away from shore, before the flats drops off. The drop off is a scary- scary place. All sorts of toothy monsters lay in wait there. At least that's what my psyche tells me and it's what I buy into when I am; chest deep, 1/4 mi from shore, it's getting dark, something just splashed behind me, and what was that against my leg? Like I said, the drop-off is a scary-scary place, it's a total mind &*^&**^, but the waist and chest deep grass-flats before the edges are some of the most beautiful places in Florida. Each flat offers it's own eco-system, and it's own specific topography. Some grass is longer, some pot-holes are bigger,or deeper, there may be mangroves, there may be oyster beds, there may be shifting sand bars, anything is possible in grass flats.
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The picture above was taken with my Iphone panorama option. I haven't figured it out quite yet, but it seems like less is more. The entire flats area which is several miles to the left and right are cropped funny to make the picture look like it's an inlet, it's not. In the picture, about as far as you can see out, is the drop-off. The sandy areas in front are the potholes and grass. The initial area of grass and sand is what I like to get out beyond. Since fish spook pretty easy, presenting a large form above them is the easiest way to spook them. When you are looking into the sun the fish have the advantage, their vision is actually magnified and blurred so when you move, they dart. If there is a fish cruising this initial area and he spooks, he will alert the rest of school and your prime spot is busted.
Here I am maybe 300 feet from shore and it is just over my knee's. The sandy area is what I refer to as a pothole. They are sandy areas in a mix of sea-grass, which serves as prime ambush points for predator fish. A (something small and shiny), swims through the sandy area unsuspectingly and POW, a predator fish nails it. These are the first thing that need to be found during low tide, along with any other type of structure.
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Here I am closer to 1,000 feet from shore and it is still at best waist deep. The pot holes are influenced less by tidal change and moving sands so they are less defined, which means more aggressive predator fish and more active roaming of predator fish.
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Here I am chest deep, about the full 1/4 mile maybe more? Those are hotels in the distance, you can still see the bottom, all you do is pick your pot hole and cast to it. Just watch out for boats, jet skis, and thinks that can cut clean through 30 pound test.
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Showing the subtle waves that will alert a spooky fish to your presence. Hard to believe that ripples like this in clear, smooth water will give a fish pause.
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I enjoy looking back toward shore from my extreme distances. I get to take it all in, all 360 degrees of it. It's where I get lost for a while and forget to think. I had the pleasure this weekend of watching this one guy throw an entire tackle box worth of lures at the water. I don't know what he had, but every couple of casts he would be sitting back down tying and something else on, it was comical. I felt bad that he had invested what seemed to me, a considerable amount of money and had no luck, but then again that's why they call it fishing.
That's what is great about wading out into the blue. You have a complete circle to cast from, and if you choose a direction to walk, every 50-75 feet you have an entirely new area to fish. It doesn't matter the type of of lure you are using this time of year, as long as it is either a Silver or Gold Spoon. The only exceptions to this rule is when you match the hatch. I did that over the weekend, but I timed the waters incorrectly to work it to my advantage. The winds picked up creating a pretty bad chop, along with a steady, 5-knot, Southeast wind, which caused the bite to end at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. It was a stellar Flounder bite from 7:30-10:00, on the fiddler crabs I caught on Saturday. I caught a dozen legal Flounder, some where over 24 inches and bent the shit out of my rod.
I Matched the Hatch, but failed to judge the tides and barometric pressure. The wind and chop churned up everything on the flats, causing all the fish to head for cover. I was going to do the same but decided to try to my luck at the drop-off. I had 2 more large, angry crabs and several hours until I had to be home, so I figured leaving good bait behind was bad fishing etiquette. I'm an idiot.
I judged the current in front of me, around the drop-off, to be running at maybe 1-2 knots, and was about 18 feet deep. Anyone can do this with Google Earth and a topo map by the way. Find your position, research the tidal flows, and research the current flows. It's all on-line and readily available. So casting toward the 10 o'clock position and allowing the crab to free line and sink with the current, should afford me a pretty good fish and the hook-set would more than likely be directly in front of me. With all the chop, wind, waves, grass, and muck, all I wanted to do was catch something before I left.
The drop-off is where boats and jet-ski's run, so standing against the wakes they kick up is a big pain in the ass. Dealing with the reality that something is capable of cutting my 30 pound leader clean off, with out too much of a tug on the pole, is a whole other pain in the ass. Thirty pound Sufix Superior has the ability to hold a piano to your roof, or you can pull a car out of a ditch with it. What I'm saying is the stuff doesn't just break. I had a pretty quick realization, that "Oh Shit" moment, where you are really grateful your not reeling a 30 inch Redfish, to your nearly submerged body. Here I was again; looking around, wondering what else I was sharing my grounds with, but I really didn't care as I backed away from there. Being so far from shore and realizing your an idiot is right up there with, well I don't know but it is one of those moments that you just wish would be over quickly. One-thousand-three-hundred-twenty feet is a long ways to ponder the stupidity of fishing alone, at dusk, even if the cell phone is waterproof and there is reception.
Once I got into waist deep water I felt better. I was cold though from being out of the water. I didn't realize how bad the wind was blowing until I got out. Trudging toward those guys on shore, I could just feel their stares and questions looming large. I tried my best to walk around them but as I got closer I could see some of them reeling their stuff in and waving. Waving back sealed my fate and committed me to telling at least one story. Seeing beach contractors with all their do-dads and gadgets give me pause, but I realize not everyone is a minimalist. Their eyes scan and bore into me looking for more paraphernalia besides a pair of hemo's, clipped to my shirt. When they pose the inevitable questions of, :what are you using"; I point to my chest and tap my shirt pocket to make my spoons jingle. People just don't seem grasp the idea of less is more.
After showing off my wares, showing what's under rocks around shore, and giving a small lesson about matching the hatch. I head home before noon, cold, tired and hungry. I learned a pretty valuable lesson about the wind, but because I didn't go to the other side of the bay, or the leeward side, I didn't really learn enough. I would like to take my canoe or kayak out to the ledge with some steel leader to see what's hungry. I have been drug around before by giant fish, and it's almost that time of year again! November brings the migration of giant bull Redfish into the bays and estuaries around Tampa Bay. This is my favorite time of year to fish, some areas will have schools of Redfish in the hundreds. Being prepared, aware and knowledge about what is natural to the area will allow for incredible success.
Next weekend is my yearly retreat back to Cape Coral to take my nephew fishing. I got him hooked on Bass a couple years back and he has never looked back. I got to turn another person onto my favorite past time. He enjoyed it so much he wrote a little book about it. It was the coolest Christmas present last year.
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