I guided a father and son the other day on a backcountry angling trip. If you happen to venture in the backcountry and aren’t familiar, either hire a guide the first few times out, or use a shallow draft boat you don’t care much about. It can get really rocky and shallow, but at times can be really good fishing.
We were trolling along, working the points, cuts, and pockets, utilizing shrimp under corks, occasionally dropping anchor to work an area longer, or better. We saw plenty of action in the way of bait fish, mullet, and redfish that were working the area, but did not want to feed.
Goes to prove, that at times, you can go to fish, locate fish, throw to fish, but you can’t make fish close their mouths around your hook. Before the end of the trip, dad hooked up with a nice red that quickly managed to shake the hook. However, a very nice 19” trout, and a large sheepshead was brought to the boat. One of the local FWC surveyors back at the dock said it was the biggest sheepshead he’s seen in three weeks.
Now, when someone can cast a rod with no problem, work a lure efficiently, know a variety of species of fish by name, catch a 9lb. bass, and love the mere word of fishing, they are a good angler. But when you can do all that at 6 years old like this son, you are truly an awesome angler. Roland, look out!
Thanks guys, for the memories. Trout reports are still coming in good, despite the sweltering weather leading to surface water temperatures at 90 degrees, along with little or no wind on some days. From dawn ‘til breakfast is where you will find the best results. Plenty of shorts to go around, but some decent keepers in the mix as well.
The floating grass is as bad as I’ve ever seen. Be careful and keep an eye on your engine pilot hole to make sure water is pumping. I’m not talking mats, but small islands of this stuff. Persistence like anything else is the key. Keep working the points and cuts around the islands, mainly on the last of an incoming. Thunder-Spins for when the sun gets bright, Top Dogs and Spooks early in the morning, or cut bait and shrimp under floats can be productive at times. The spoil bank islands at C.R. have been giving up some reds and macks lately. Usually anchoring off a cut or rocks, tying off a chum bag, and casting some cut bait or pinfish will produce.
On a freshwater note: Local lakes and the rivers are still reporting good catches of bass and panfish. Trolling and casting crankbaits and spinnerbaits to your structures, weed lines, and ambush points, are what have been doing well for bass. Crickets, or of course, popping bugs on fly, for the panfish. Can’t go wrong.
Be safe, and good fishing, on the nature coast ……….> Capt. Rick
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