This is a follow-up article to “Day Off” last month, which was one of those days where nothing could go right and is proof that planning is everything!
I kayak fish with a guy named Brad from time to time. He’s a former client and now friend. I called to see if he wanted to join me for a trip just west/north west of the Pineland Marina on Pine Island to Big Jim Creek (BJC). I’ve mentioned this place a few times here and even if the fishing is off, the paddle alone is worth the time. As a guide, I understand the importance of being prepared and ready for just about anything and I came armed for bear this time! We meet in Matlacha, where we loaded up a bucket of big lively shrimp and we were launching at the golden hour(daybreak). The tide was just on the incoming side of low and the winds were light from the east. We each carried several rods and had an assortment of lures and set-ups for live bait. There is a huge turtle grass flat in front of BJC that was our main target and as we arrived we could see a little activity, but no real feeding, so we began to fish toward the creek entrance. We had a few short strikes but nothing too exciting. About two-thirds of the way to the creek mouth, we saw some pretty big swirls and I was sure they were from redfish, so I tossed my favorite top water lure, the Badonkadonk from Bomber. As I came across them a tremendous redfish took it and we were on. A ten-minute battle ensued and we boated our first redfish, a 28” beauty, too big to bring home! Brad and I moved to the creek entrance where we anchored up and wade fished the shallows. Sure enough, with a ton of patience Brad continued to cast a live shrimp under a popping cork along the same mangrove overhang where the tide was now pouring in and landed our only two snook of the day, not huge fish but respectable and worthy! We spent an hour casting everything we had, soft plastic, twitch baits, paddle tails and live bait with a bunch of short strikes and one trophy sized spotted seatrout at 23”.
We decided it was time to paddle to the back side of BJC and noticed a lack of little baits, no feeding activity and the juvenile tarpon were not present as I had hoped. We reached a big turn in the creek, so I continued on and Brad anchored up and started fishing some big shrimp under a popping cork. I heard Brad yelling something about a big fish and when he came into view he was battling another big fish. Beautifully fought, Brad landed a 26” redfish that became dinner that evening for him and his wife. Planning, preparation and patience all played a role in this very successful trip!
It’s a wild world-get out there!
Fishman Dan