In looking back and rereading some of my old fishing reports, I've come to the realization that, as a professional fishing guide, I've never actually described, nor discussed, a 'typical' Bait Box guided fishing experience.  I say 'typical' because each Bait Box guide runs their trips more or less pursuant to their specific personality; and we all  know  how complicated the human beast can be.  Through time, attrition, and customer feedback, The Bait Box has culled the finest and most experienced guides in Ft. Myers/Lee County, Florida.  As a result, the product remains consistent across the board and each angler can rest assured that they are in the hands of a consummate professional who values your dollar and will work extremely hard and diligently for you.

What makes a guide a guide?  All fishing guides are first, and foremost, U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains within the Merchant Marine.  Most captains obtain the basic license referred to as the 6-Pak License which allows captains to take a maximum of 6 paying customers aboard at any one time (as long as the boat is rated for that amount of people, plus captain).  A captain's license is valid for 5 years, with renewals taking place each 5 years thereafter.  Anyone can become a captain; there are some 3500+ licensed captains in Lee County.  Most don't own a boat.  There are various prep courses that ultimately prepare one for the Coast Guard exam - a 4 part exam.  Pass the exam, and you're a captain.  Taking the concept one step further, a fishing guide is a person who is a licensed captain, but who has put in years - if not decades, with several of the guides - of time on the water, studying the myriad subtleties involved in the Natural World.  He's also a motivator, storyteller, teacher, bartender, butler, maid, psychoanalyst, and medic, amongst many, many things.  A good guide doesn't fish.  He shouldn't have time to.  He's also extremely concerned with safety and the ultimate enjoyment of his customer.  All Bait Box guides are both licensed and insured.

Fishing and the fishery of Pine Island Sound are in a constant state of flux, dictated by tides, seasons, Moon phases, migration patterns, water temps, cold fronts, red tide/pollution issues, etc. ad nauseum.  You've got to 'put in your dues', as the saying goes, which can only be done by putting in days on end on the water.  As with most things in life, if you do anything long enough, you'll eventually become very good at it.  Unless you're numb.  The same goes for being a fishing guide.  There is no specific point in time when one transitions from captain to guide other than the point at which one of the 'established' guides takes a newbie aside and throws him overflow business.  A captain hates to give up a charter, and will only give them to a guide he knows will maintain his own standards on the water. I guess the newbie has been predetermined to be a 'guide' by the original captain/guide before he gets that first call - so there is kind of a 'chicken and egg' scenario.  At any rate, careful observation of the 'new guy' and his operation by the 'establishment' is what ultimately garners him overflow business.

A professional fishing guide worth his salt will employ live bait, typically in the form of 'shiners' which are the much sought after scaled sardine that populates the grass beds of Pine Island Sound.  Because they require massive volumes of freshly oxygenated sea water - conveniently provided by a live well - one cannot purchase them from any of the local bait shops.  Fish tend to feed in low light conditions - and catching bait is no exception.  Whereas we typically schedule our pickups for the c.7:30-8:00 AM hour, most guides are awake at 4:00 AM, launch by 5:30 AM, and head out to a grass flat c. 2-3 feet deep where we anchor up and set out a 'chum' trail.  Old school chummers use cat food - which is really nasty to deal with; most of us use 'tropical fish food' (available at The Bait Box), which is made by Purina and looks like brown sand.  Mixed with water, it turns to the consistency of watery dough, and disseminates nicely through the water column.  C.first light (about 40 minutes before sunrise), the telltale sign of bait showing up is indicated by what looks like rain droplets on the water - which are individual minnows feeding along the surface.

Most guides employ a 10 ft. cast net, which is weighted with c. 17 lbs. of lead around its perimeter.  Throwing a cast net is a bit of an art form - taught to me by an established guide by the name of Jon Eaton.  Successful cast netting is simply defined by having enough bait to fish the amount of customers one has over the length of the trip.  My thinking works as such: one fisherman for four hours entails a specific amount of bait.  Two folks, and I have to land enough bait to fish one man 8 hours, three folks - one man for twelve hours...  You get the picture.  'Enough' bait is more of a feel than an actual amount - hopefully, one is throwing away bait at the end of the day.  On good days, I've thrown the net three times and I'm done.  In the Winter, I've thrown for as long as two straight hours...  Not one of these guides belongs to Gold's Gym. Cast netting is a messy, sloppy process; and when each guide is done, there then entails about 15-20 minutes of stowing and cleaning up in preparation for one's pickup.

Back to the dock and it's time to fish!  I speak with all my customers by 5:00 PM the day before we fish to readdress all the basic details.  We leave from the Punta Rassa public boat launch, located adjacent to the Sanibel toll booth on the mainland side of the causeway.  The city of Sanibel does not allow any commercial boat pickups or drop offs from the island, which is why Sanibel customers must travel off island.  We establish a shove off time (which, in my world means you are parked, and standing on the dock ready to go), and make sure each customer has the the 7 basics I require: hat, glasses, food, drink, $5 to park all day, a positive mental attitude, and always be prepared to yank and crank!

Different guides fish in different places.  Some I see out there, others simply disappear into the myriad fishing areas we have, only to be seen again at the end of the outing back at the dock.  That's the magic of this place - a gazillion miles of fishable water.

All fishing is referred to as 'light tackle' fishing - 15 lb. test PowerPro, 30-40 lb. fluoro leader, and a 1/0 hook.  Casting is typically more of a one armed 'flip', as in bass fishing, to the shadows typically created by the miles and miles of mangrove lines we have here.  Snook are a nocturnal feeding fish and have very light-sensitive eyes.  They regress to the shadows once the Sun begins to rise, and targeting them typically entails setting up on the Western side of a mangrove line (in the mornings) and targeting the shadows.  Redfish are an Autumn species that tend to pack into schools in the Fall.  Coincidentally, we have 'negative' low tides in the Fall and Winter (lower than our average low tides) that allow one to target the 'tailing red.'  Tailing redfish are quite a sight and are indicated by the triangle tips of their tails poking through the surface of the water as they rout around the base of the grasses, looking for crustaceans and the like.  On the higher tides, they regress to the shadows under the bushes (mangroves), just like snook.  Spotted sea trout are the third species we target and are more of a cooler water species - tending to bite throughout the Fall, Winter, and early Spring months.  'Bycatch' might consist of crevalle jacks, Spanish mackerel, lady fish, snapper, grouper, pompano, and black tip sharks, among others - but guides primarily target the 'big 3': snook, redfish, and trout.  Tarpon season takes place April-July, but that's a whole different article altogether.

On a half day (4 hr.) trip, we might hit four or five different areas (dovetailed so we don't spend the day traveling - you can't catch a fish if your hook's not in the water), and cover a non-linear distance of 30-40 miles.  With a Mercury 225 Optimax, it doesn't take long to get anywhere.  Customers are allowed to kill and keep any legal fish, and each guide will filet, ice, and bag the fish for their customers.  Keep in mind that when the customer is gone, each guide has another c.2 hours of work cleaning his boat, retying all the broken lines (I carry 6 rods), and prepping for the next outing.  Each half day outing adds up to a seven to eight hour day for each guide.  Longer outings entail longer hours afterward.

Payment is due at the end of the trip; fishing is a cash business everywhere on Earth.

Hopefully, this gives a clearer picture to anyone thinking about hiring a guide, but who have been unsure as to what it actually entails.  I, personally, have met some of the most interesting people in my life on my boat - experiences I wouldn't trade for anything.  There is something to be said about a business where your customer shows up with a smile, laughs all day with you, and gets off with an even bigger smile.  A wonderful, if not exhausting, lifestyle!

Remember: don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,

Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
The Bait Box Fishing Guide



 

Father's Day 2008

On an antique secretary's desk in the front hall of a home in Rhode Island sits an old color - almost faded to gray, really -  3"x3" picture of two very young boys - one 6 years old, the other 10.  The picture was taken in 1971.  The older of the two has a bowl haircut and massive buck teeth, prominently displayed by an ear to ear grin as he subtly leans back, struggling with both hands wrapped around its tail to hold up a bluefish some one third his own body size while trying to make it look effortless.  Waist-high is as high as this fish is going, barely managing to keep the nose off the ground.  Next to him, his younger brother stands with his arms squarely folded across his chest and a wry smirk on his face - a clear indication of being chagrined not only at not catching 'the big one'; but also having it caught by his big brother - and then having to stand next to him for the picture.  It was one of those dog days of August.  Both boys are wearing shorts, but being in New England and fishing in the morning, the older of the two is wearing a vibrantly colored Norwegian sweater.  To this day, I remember the colors of that sweater well, even though the picture has faded dramatically, as the older of the two boys is me - and the experience was, to a 10 year old boy, one of enlightenment indelibly etched into my being.  It was my first big gamefish!  It was the beginning of the lessons of Life.  It was the beginning of a lifestyle.

In the late Summer, schools of menhaden - a baitfish native to New England - populate Narragansett Bay en masse, and with them follow massive schools of bluefish averaging 20"-25".  They are caught in the Barrington River, but are notoriously found feeding in massive schools in the Bay itself.  A huge benefit to fishermen is that some frenzies take place up and down the beaches - typically around sunrise and sunset - as the blues use the beach as a backstop for the bait, and one is able to easily cast to feeding fish from the shoreline.  We moved to this home while I was away at Summer camp in July of ' 71, and so coming home to it and living directly on the water for the first time involved myriad new experiences - one of which was watching schools of fish breaking the surface just offshore of our beach each night right around supper time.  My dad kept a rod strung and ready to go on our back deck overlooking the bay - and on more than one occasion I simply bolted from the dinner table - nothing said - with my food half eaten, grabbing the rod, and running manically headlong towards those fish with my mother chastising me until she was (finally) out of earshot.  The problem was, I couldn't land a fish.  Oh yeah, I had many on - but they all seemed to get broken off.  Adding insult to injury, I would lose the lure. And being a kid, I was never prepared and didn't know how to tie knots.  So I would trudge back home - sometimes after one cast, always after some kind of fight, head hung at all the 'possibilities' that were never to be.  One night, I watched an "old guy" (I grew up in an era when you didn't trust anyone over 30) land three fish in a row.  As for me, one cast, one fish on, one snap off.  Boogers.  The old salt looked at me and imparted some sage advice, "Don't throw it in the middle of the frenzy, you'll get snapped off.  Throw it to the edges - that way when you hook up, you'll hook up a fish away from the pack and will lessen your chances of being snapped off."  Ah, so there is a strategy to all of this?  This is pretty cool.

Early morning details of that day don't particularly stand out at all - other than the manic anticipation I felt simply at the prospect of chasing blues by boat - my first time ever.  I remember it as being a clear and crisp morning - hence the sweater.  Dad had an aluminum 14' Starcraft with an old Evinrude Fastwin 18 HP outboard (damn thing went faster than hell, from my recollection), and kept it moored (yup, a 14 footer) in the Barrington Harbor.  It would take us some 20 minutes or so to run the Barrington River out to the mouth where it runs into the bay. 

When a school of blues target a school of menhaden, one is witness to a brutal feeding frenzy matched by few other events.  Zillions of baitfish jump and scatter out of the water like silver raindrops in a downpour as bluefish cut and slash through the balled up bait, voraciously feeding on anything and everything that moves.  If you are a true fisherman, experiencing this event the for the first time (and for me, every time) is like nothing else.  The space/time continuum stops, and one simply becomes caught up in the moment.  Nothing else exists.  Adrenaline gushes through your veins.  Your ears ring.  Your heart rate increases dramatically, breathing becomes shallow and quick, and you're brain overloads from all the 'possibilities,'  while your muscles seem to cramp up and cease to work in sync.  It's ecstasy!  You're in Heaven. 

After arriving off our beach and then moving East back toward the Barrington Town Beach, we scouted the water for any signs of activity - gulls diving headlong into the water, flashes of white foam from slashing fish, "nervous" water in otherwise calm water - all indicating potential feeding action.  Nothing, nothing, nothing...  And then: there they were!  Some half mile in the distance and c. 50 yards offshore, the calling card of infinite bliss displayed itself.  Gulls screeching and circling in spasmodic fashion, hovering in mid-air, then diving headlong into the water and emerging with a shiny baitfish - only to circle around and do it again; waves of baitfish popping out of the water in curtains left and right, as bluefish rip the water into a foamy froth, slashing and mutilating their prey.  Artificial lures and steel leader are the norm for catching these fish, and we had - in my opinion -  the Mother of all problems on our hands: we weren't ready to fish.  We still had to tie on the leader and attach the lure.  So there we were, dead drifting around a massive school of fish - sometimes breaking against the side of the boat - and I'm wigging hard!  Come on, let's go!

As cool, calm, and collected as he has always been - dad took the time to teach me my first lessons.  Slow and steady wins the race; proper preparation at all times.  "Take this end, run it through the lure, then wrap it five times around itself, thread it through the loop you created at the bottom, and then up through the second loop at the top.  That's a fisherman's knot."  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Good God, give me the rod!  After several admonishments about the rod being a weapon and treating it as such, a school erupted next to the boat into which I promptly cast, immediately hooked up, and immediately snapped off.  OK, OK, OK, just tie the line directly to the lure.  Let's get going!

Nothing doing.  Just as before, Dad pulled out a new leader, showed me the knot again (I'm 10), and gave me the rod.  Again a school erupted, and again I cocked back for a bull's eye shot right in the middle of it.  But just before unloading, that sage advice from the old salt came back into my mind - don't be greedy, be smart.  Don't follow the 'herd' mentality.  I lobbed one to the outer edges of the frenzy and cranked.  Nothing.  Again.  Nothing.  On the third time I threw it, BANG, we were off to the races!  That fish fought, and fought, and fought some more!  Relatively speaking, it would be akin to a grown man fighting a tarpon!  The lactic acid made my muscles ache!  I didn't think I could do it.  A hard run under the boat instilled panic and had my old suspicions returning - but I was able to manage and got him back up and into open water.  Dad netted the fish in one swoop, and suddenly - seemingly just as fast as the hook up - it was over.  My heart was pounding, adrenaline pumping, ears were ringing - I'd never experienced this kind of a rush before!  And I was really, really happy.

Click.  And a picture.

I look at that picture every time I visit the folks, and it always evokes the same contemplations.  Man, the many worlds I've come since I first left home.  I know, and have always realized, I'm a very blessed person - and I have my dad, and my mom, to thank for it.  His guidance, positive mental attitude, utter patience, complete fairness, and bottomless sage advice have all contributed to the successful man I am today.  And I'm very, very proud of him.  Pop, you have stated on numerous occasions, "I don't understand where you got all this passion for fishing in your blood from," and yet, it was you.  You turned me on to a world I never knew existed; and at the same time you prepared me for the Real World. 

I think every parent wants, first and foremost, for their child to be happy.  Happiness is an extremely fleeting "thing"; one is very fortunate when one finds it. If you are fortunate to find it, don't lose it.  I'm extremely fortunate: I'm very, very happy.  And I have you to thank for it.  Happy  Father's Day, Pop. 

Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide
 

May 22, 2008

One always hears the saying, "appreciate your health" - and most people say they do; yet, in reality, one typically only appreciates something when they no longer have it.  I confess, I'm guilty.  I fish and guide barefoot.  It just feels natural.  c.Six weeks ago, I had a mangrove snapper come up in my cast net along with my typical pilchard and pinfish haul.  Not wanting the snapper, I was able to separate it from the bait and let it flap around my deck for a moment while I unloaded the net in my live well.  The bait was extremely difficult that particular morning, showing up in a 20 minute time frame from dark/first light to just before sunrise.  I had three people to fish a full day, and in my head I was trying to catch enough bait to keep one man fishing for 24 hours.  That's a lot of bait.  And not much time to net it.  So I was pretty frantic out there, chumming hard, loading the net like a madman with slop and spew flying everywhere, throwing it far with an horrendous grunt and pulling it in as quickly as possible (read: hand burns); and in the passion of the moment, I side kicked the snapper overboard.  Big mistake.  A dorsal fin needle embedded itself deep to the bone on the outside of my left foot, just beneath the ankle.  I knew I was in long term trouble immediately...  Combine the wound with a busy fishing schedule, add in some general neglect and irrational fear of the doctor, and pretty soon you've got a major infection that completely overrules your life.  Not pretty; think, brown recluse spider bite - for those in the know.  The doc loaded me up with some penicillin-type footballs yesterday, and already things are looking much, much brighter.  His lecture: appreciate your health, and address any issues immediately.  And wear some shoes, dopey.

The wind has blown for virtually three straight weeks, making the tarpon fishery difficult at best.  18-22 mph winds from the WSW have preempted any fishing in the Gulf and has pushed the fleet inside the barrier islands.  A recent float had me drifting threadfins on the west side of the B-span (incoming morning tide), with a hookup or two witnessed, a stint around the South Matlacha area, and then off the Ding Darling Wildlife area, where we managed to jump one tarpon before it threw the hook.  Generally speaking, though, the wind has been so fierce by 11:00 AM that just being in a boat has been a bit unpleasant.  Lunch at the Waterfront Cafe on Pine Island has been where most trips have ended up.  Today, the wind finally let up (of course, I'm off the water) and I see the general Summer doldrums just upon us.  The tarpon should be back in full force by this weekend as we head into the Memorial Day weekend.  The threadfins have been very consistent beneath the bridges and various other structures in Pine Island Sound, and pass crabs may be gathered on the outgoing tide around the Full Moon.

The snook fishery, though out of season, has been phenomenal!  Pilchards have been showing up during that brief time frame in the morning, and if you have bait, you'll catch snook!  A recent trip through Tarpon Bay and the Ding Darling wildlife back country produced not just numbers, but size.  The passes (Redfish and Captiva) have also yielded big fish in big numbers.  With the wind, the beaches have been inaccessible - but look for that all to change as this wind finally appears to be laying low for a while.  Redfishing on the Eastern side of Pine Island has been extremely successful, with some schools being reported and fish holding beneath the bushes on these higher tides.  Trout are still biting, with some 'gators' yanked and cranked up and out of Redfish Pass on the very few days I was able to get there.

The Last Quarter of the Moon takes place 5/27.  Look for flat incoming morning tides to accompany this time period.  The big falling tides will be in the afternoons, making the afternoon/evening fishing a bit more productive on paper.  The New Moon takes place 6/3.  As an aside to the beginning piece: be very careful out on the water.  People allergic to bee stings will be cleaned out by some of these fish.  Beware the snapper, the pinfish, and the catfish.  Our cats have three prongs which destroy cast nets and are filled with poison.  Both pinfish and snapper have quills in their spine (as do snook and reds) that have a small dose of poison.  And always beware the stingray.  Seek immediate medical attention when you get stuck, and don't let things disintegrate to the point that I did - it just isn't wise.

Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug; and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,

Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide
 

April 27, 2008

I realize it's been a while since I forwarded a fishing report; to be honest, the cold front last week fouled things up so badly I didn't have a whole lot of positive things to write about.  Other than filling a column full of ranting, loathing, and self-pity,  I was flapping around like a snook in my cockpit with a hook still in him - lots of effort; little production.  Post cold front, though, the fishing is red hot , the bait has been plentiful, and I'm all smiles and ready to write!

That cold front was a doozy!  Not only did it affect our area with unseasonably cool (read: cold) temperatures; the associated winds were relentless for almost a week.  Before the front, back country fishing for snook, redfish, and trout was spectacular!  The tarpon fishery and associated threadfin bait situation were both in sync. and resulted in easy catches of bait and multiple  tarpon hookups by single captains.  All that bliss came to an ugly and abrupt stop with the front, as water temperatures dropped from c.78 to c.65 overnight.  The result was that the threadfins disappeared - and with them went the tarpon.  Where?  Now that's a good one...  While you're at it, what's the Market going to do on Monday?  Also, the shiner population became rather sparse; being replaced by myriad pinfish, and making productive back country fishing incredibly difficult.

It has been almost a week since the front, and with each day the water has been getting warmer!  My thermostat read 78F when I launched at Punta Rassa this morning - the ideal temperature for all of our fisheries.  The threadfins seem to be back in in full force, pass crabs can be seen floating on the surface of the water around the full moon, and shiners for back country fishing are plentiful - provided they are timed correctly.  The best part: THE TARPON ARE IN!!!

Tarpon can be seen doing their traditional rolling, free jumping, and tail slapping all over Pine Island Sound!  Spring afternoon winds have kept the tarpon fleet on the inside of the barrier islands - today setting up just inside the "C" span of the Sanibel causeway at daybreak, and then moving a half mile and setting up on the channel that runs from the "C" span out to Pine Island, running just West of Picnic Island, later in the morning.  A stout rod and reel, 50 lb. test Power Pro, an 80 lb. test fluorocarbon leader, and a 6/0 hook baited with a live threadfin or crab will do the trick.  Wait for the 'dut, dut, dut' - feel of your bait, and you'll soon be holding on for fear of becoming shark feed!

The snook bite has been beyond phenomenal, as they have made their way to the passes and beaches and are feeding voraciously on shiners (scaled sardines)!  Look for shade (mangroves), or underwater rock outcroppings and drop offs (passes) for your most effective fishing.  The father/son Bait Box trip this morning (Scott and Kevin Smith from Scarborough, ME) landed some 15 snook this morning and broke off countless others fishing exclusively with live shiners!  Kevin clocks in at 11 years old!  My customer from several days prior hammered the snook by fly - so they seem to be taking anything with an undulating movement to it.  A traditional green over white, or just straight white, fly in size #2 or #4 - tied either Clousure style or Deceiver style are equally effective. 

Threadfins are being found around the Sanibel causeway bridge legs and other such structures located around Pine Island Sound.  They are showing at first light - look for one to pop the surface before throwing a minimum 1/2" net.  The new bridges seem to be snag free for the castnets - everyone's concern after the dismantling of the old bridges.  Shiners (scaled sardines) are plentiful, though they seem to be showing up in a 20 minute window of time between dark and first light (I'll call it "purple light").  After that, it's nothing but pinfish.

The Last Quarter of the Moon takes place the 28th, with the associated flat tides falling around that date as well.  Look for fishing to pick up the morning of the 30th for the most consistent results, and running through May 7th.  Remember: snook season closes at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, 4/30, and will remain closed May, June, July, and August for the killing of snook.  Also, the boating of tarpon and goliath grouper is now illegal in Florida.  Fish must be kept in the water while being released.  Get out and get fishing, the bite is spectacular and the weather is what makes Florida the very special place that it is!

Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,

Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

 

March 30, 2008

When one gets into the rhythm of life down here in Southwest Florida, days tend to melt away - one into another.  Beautiful, cloudless blue skies, cool nights, and warm lazy days all serve to dull the senses after some time - making each idyllic day seem like the next.  There's a saying: All the days in Southwest Florida seem the same after a while; one can always tell when it's Sunday: the newspaper is a little thicker...  As I'm sitting here, on a rare day off, I seem to have lost all contact with reality, as I was extremely surprised to see a 'thick' paper lying in my driveway this morning.

My lost consciousness is due to two major factors: 1) I have been guiding non-stop over the past eight weeks, and 2) I'm an extremely numb person.  With regard to point #1: extremely windy and unsettled conditions two weeks ago have finally given us respite in the form of calm conditions, albeit slow tidal movement.  Unsettled conditions were a result of a nagging little front that pushed through the area, stalled, drifted North, stalled, etc. over several days.  On the days I was able to legitimately fish a paying customer, ducking into the lee areas away from the winds was essential.  A barometer bouncing up and down didn't help much either, throwing the fish into a seeming state of confusion.

This past week, with a nice High dominating our weather, conditions could not have been better!  Calm wind conditions, temps in the mid-80s, and decent tidal flow have completely turned things around.  The snook bite has exploded, with March 15 being the date in my mental calculator by which snook have taken to the beaches.  And, true to the past, snook are all over the beaches as the water temperature has consistently hovered at 75F, with Gulf Stream water due West of us holding at 79F.  The bite will only get more intense as our water warms, and the tarpon show up.  Threadfin herring - the primary bait of choice for tarpon - have begun to show up beneath the causeway bridges, with some rolling fish here and there.  Bull sharks are roaming the area - always a 'side show' to the tarpon.  My gut tells me the fish show up in large numbers now that the wind has stopped blowing the bait offshore and the water temps stay above 75F. 

Castnetting for scaled sardines, our primary bait used in back country fishing, has been extremely difficult.  Bait has been showing up in an extremely short 15 minute window of time beginning at the very wisps of 'first light'.  Afterward, each throw of the net is dominated by zillions of small pinfish, which will work on snook - but are not my bait of choice.  Confounding one's effort to throw the net has been a persistent algal bloom which clogs the net and adds 20-30 lbs. to each throw.  When running one's boat, one can see large blooms caught along tidal lines - looking kind of like effluent.  Yuck.  It tends to clog up the livewell system, dismantle one's bilge system, and can collect, clog and overheat one's engine if sucked up in large quantities.  Beware!

This next week is shaping up to be a great fishing week as we head into the New Moon and exploit a decent tidal flow!  Good rising morning tides should produce snook on the beaches, in the passes, and the creeks.  Trout have been 'a dime a dozen' when targeted on the grass flats.  Drift with the breeze until you find a pod, drop an anchor for 10 minutes, and see how many you can yank up!  Poppers work extremely well, as do lead head - rubber body jigs, and gold spoons.  Reds will be found beneath the trees (mangroves) on the higher tides.  The water clarity is still incredible - as a result, I have been able to do a lot of sightfishing for snook with my customers.  The fishing is unbelievable - get out and get at it!

Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug; and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,

Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide
 

March 15, 2008 

"Beware the Ides of  March" as the saying goes, or your liable to be "stuck" (or at least be prepared for someone to be sticking it in you).  These days, the pinfish are really sticking it in me first thing in the morning; my hands look like I've been husking cactus on my off time.  Et tu, pinfish?  That, and the fact that there is a ton of microalgae in the water has turned the cast net/bait process into a workout from Gold's Gym.  The 3/8" mesh most guides throw at this time of year is a great way to avoid a 'Florida Christmas tree' (which occurs when tons of undersized bait gets jammed into the cast net mesh and sparkles in the sun), but has served to trap a load of algae on each throw - making the process a bit of a back-breaker these days.  The reason for the algae is way beyond my means - best left to the marine biologists.  While it always seems to show up at this time of year, it hasn't seemed to affect the fishing which continues to be fantastic!

March 15 is the unofficial transition date when snook come alive and the water is ripe with many species of fish.  Snook are just making their way to the beaches, with decent catches of fish both on the outgoing and incoming tides around the Redfish Pass area.  The fish we boated yesterday were absolutely silver in color - a definite contrast to the black backed fish caught in the River and creeks over the Winter months.  Coming out of their Winter doldrums, the snook are feeding voraciously on anything that drifts by - shiners or smaller pinfish.  Shrimp haven't seemed to be bringing up many fish - other than sheepshead and snapper, with shiners bringing up snook on a c.20:1 basis over shrimp.

Water clarity is still beyond belief, and the trout bite on the flats has been hot and heavy.  I finished up a trip with two guys at the beginning of this past week with a 'popper' contest on a trout flat, with one customer beating the other 30-24 over an hour's time - good fishin'!  Ladyfish seem to be the bycatch these days with some huge (2-3 ft.) crevalle jack being found in some of the back country creeks.  Spanish mackeral have been around sporadically, typically cutting right through my 40 lb. test fluoro leader...  Keep your eyes out for huge cobia cruising our waters, especially in the S. Matlacha area, just North of Picnic Island.  Look behind manatees on shallow grass flats, as you're liable to see several monsters filter feeding on the diatoms stirred up by the manatee tails.  Also, in the mid-day hours, keep the Sun behind you and look for cobia just under the surface of the water.  If you boat one, beware the armor spine that comes up out of nowhere that  will thrash you like no other thrashing in your life!  Tarpon are within whiffing distance, and triple tail may be found hanging on the crab lines in the Gulf.

The Full Moon takes place 3/21 with the better water movement taking place in the mornings, and some rather flat tides in the afternoons.  The 17th through the 20th look to be great mornings to fish (on paper) with good, strong incoming tides (which take the guess work out the back country areas one risks getting stuck in).  A very small front is forecast to come through the area c. Wednesday night into Thursday - it shouldn't do much but kick the wind up a little bit.  Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug; and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,

Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide 

February 27, 2008  

I know, I know, I know - I'm way behind on my reporting; my apologies to any and all who have been patiently waiting (hopefully, to more of 'all' than 'any'). The reason I've been lax is because the fishing has been beyond phenomenal, I've been booked solidly, and I'm beginning to live on coffee and fumes!

'Cuda in the River, bonefish on the flats... What's going on here? Basically, we are finding ourselves amidst the convergence of a 'perfect storm' of events that, I imagine, we are blessed to experience - and will probably never see again during our lifetimes. That is: unseasonably warm water temperatures coinciding with a 100 year drought that have resulted in gin clear water, high salinity levels, and water temps that are some 10-12F above where they should be found at this time during a 'normal' year. The result: insane fishing conditions, with massive snook turning on a month early, redfish biting hard beneath the bushes on the higher tides, and trout flats coughing up fish at the rate of a dime a dozen.

I personally yanked and cranked up a small barracuda from the Caloosahatchee River four weeks ago (obviously, with an extremely clean hookset - as I was using 40 lb. test fluorocarbon leader material), and then a(n) (honest) friend managed a very small bonefish off the first causeway island as you come from the mainland, on the beach facing the lighthouse (Gulf). I attribute both to being extremely wayward fish - as they are really 'Keys' fish - as well as to the high salinity levels found in our waters.

Usually, the waters around the mouth of the Caloosahatchee are classified as a brackish water estuary - which is a mixture of freshwater and predominantly saltwater - resulting from natural rain runoff from Central Southwest Florida, as well as artificial freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee flowing down the River and mixing with the tidal flow/saltwater. With this current drought there has been extremely little rainfall, resulting in virtually zero land drainage; and the extremely shallow levels of the Lake have preempted any freshwater releases down the River. During a normal season, freshwater running down the River picks up a tannin from the red mangrove roots that then mixes with the tidal saltwater and results in a 'coffee' colored water around Pine Island Sound. This effect is magnified during the Summer by the daily afternoon rains and increased volume of freshwater flowing downriver.

These days, the water is so clear, I'm sightfishing for snook in areas that should never, ever be clear. There is a basic adage: 'if the snook can see you, they won't bite...' Yeah, right. My snook are biting, and I'm talking numbers; and because these fish are Winter holdovers in the River and creeks, some of them are absolute monsters! Water temps are c.75F at the moment, though with the little blurb of a cold front that just passed by, dropping to c.72 for a day or two until hot temps return and crank the water back up. Shiners have been consistent on the flats one day and gone the next. I haven't thrown around the causeway bridges at all this year (weird), instead going to various grass flats that have produced bait for me in the past and chumming (even weirder). When they are around, the shiners have been extremely thick, which confounds my thinking when they are 'no shows' the next day.

Flat tides (one tide per day as opposed to our normal four) will take place 3/28 - 4/2, with our semidiurnal tides returning 3/3 - 3/12. The Last Quarter Moon is 3/28, with a New Moon taking place 3/7. Snook season begins at Midnight 3/1, and our laws dictate one snook per person, per day, between 28"-33" with the tail pinched.

My advice: get out and get fishing - what's taking place here before our very eyes will not last and will never be seen again! Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers, Capt.
Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

January 28, 2008

Can you believe January is almost over, and Spring - the Daytona 500 of fishing seasons - is virtually within casting distance? This has been a rather benign year, weather-wise, with our usually precipitous cold fronts being few and far between. On average, a front blows through Southwest Florida every 4-5 days. Typically preceding each front are unseasonably warm temperatures - the 24-hour period before the actual front hits marked by dead calm breezes and glass-like seas. Warm Southerly breezes pick up as the front approaches; humidity builds up and thickens the air. Temperatures plummet and winds then pick up dramatically from the West, gusting and shifting to the Northwest as the rains fall (ever so briefly, these days) and the front blows through. Afterward, the wrath of Mother Nature takes over in the form of an ice-cold wind from the North that blows relentlessly for a day, and the barometer rockets through the roof! Within three days, winds shift to the East where they are heated up by the Florida land mass, and we're back to our normal 78F days (on average), with night temps in the low 60s.

"Specialized local knowledge" takes on a whole new meaning when boating and fishing Pine Island Sound as a front blows through and negative tides prevail, with an emphasis navigation. Your fishing chart of Pine Island Sound shows water depths that are the 'average' of all the low tides throughout a year. An 'average' low tide depth is a relative term, as a boater must know what specific type of tide he faces as well as the direction and strength of the wind. 'Type of tide' refers to the specific tide on a particular day and how it projects relative to a depth chart. The Bait Box has, for free, 4 month projected tide predictions complete with the phases of the Moon and predicted low tide variables. The Sports section of the News-Press includes a 'sine wave' graph, in the 'box scores' section, that shows you low tide relative to the average low tide. While tide depths are an average on a chart, we have what are known as 'negative' low tides, and 'positive' low tides. A negative low tide is one where there is physically less water in Pine Island Sound than is shown on the chart. A positive low tide, then, is one where there is more water at low tide than is shown on a chart. (Charts don't tell us how ultimately deep the water gets - that would be irrelevant - if one can make it through at low tide, everything else is relative). As positive tides are moot, negative tides are important to understand.

Winter morning tides on calm days can be extremely low, with a "-1.2", or c.14.5" less water than is shown on a depth chart, being our extreme bottoming out point (which just took place on the morning of 1/21). Whereas much of our water is mid-thigh deep to begin with, a loss of an extra foot of water in the Winter will have numerous effects. The first, obviously, is running aground. In the Keys "brown's aground and green means go", and for those 'in the know', it is a truism. Here, however, darker water is 'go', and yellow 'sand' is, typically, aground. I wish I could be more specific - run aground a few times (we all have) and you'll develop a natural instinct for avoiding it. (FYI: when you pick out a fishing guide in our area out of the blue (not from the Bait Box, who only employ the top guides in our area - always!), first check out his forehead - then check out his skeg. If he's pale, he probably hasn't been out putting time in on the water; and if there is paint on his skeg, he's definitely not travelling to the really shallow "fishy" destinations...).

When a North wind blows following the passage of a front, the effects of an outgoing tide can be magnified with profound effects. A North wind serves to further push the water South out of Pine Island Sound into the Gulf of Mexico - sometimes by as much as a foot; and then has the ability to hold the incoming tide at bay, sometimes with dire results.

Over the New Year's weekend we had just such an event occur with dramatic results. Prior to a major cold front coming through, our water was an unseasonable 70F - with the fish bite beyond phenomenal. In one tide cycle - coinciding with a major cold front - everything changed. Our warm water rushed out on a negative low tide, and was further severely reduced in depth by a brutal 30 mph ice cold North wind. Pine Island Sound was virtually emptied, the incoming tide was held at bay, and when it finally released 48F water came screaming back in with dire results. Juvenile snook were the worst to suffer from the drastic drop in temperature, as they are a warm water species fish and extremely intolerant of cold water. A fish kill was reported in some areas around the Sound - nothing with long-term effects. The snook bite still has a bit to recover, though, as water temps have taken some time to rebound.

When the North wind blows and the tide is going out, it is also important to leave any areas with shallow approaches before they end up high and dry. The various Ding Darling entrances are a case in point as one can get stuck back in some of the holes - thinking one has plenty of water upon entry - with no way of getting out on some of the lower tides. It can be a long time between tides. Summer can be especially dangerous as major lightning usually explodes in the afternoons.

Negative tides, while shunned by most, are an opportunity to both really study Pine Island Sound - where to run and where not to run; and to study the various underwater sloughs and breaks fish use to move in and out of specific 'holes.' All these little secrets expose themselves at low tides, and one can then exploit that information on the higher tides when the nuances are covered up. Tailing redfish are also at their ultimate on the lower low tides, creeping up on the grass flats and oyster bars - each with their signature triangle tail tip just poking through the surface of the water as they rout around for food with their noses down. Sight fishing at its finest!

The Moon's 1st Quarter takes place on the 29th which kicks off a week of flat tides. Our semi-diurnal tides start with regularity again on 2/4, with the New Moon taking place on 2/5. Trout are back in season as of 1/1: 4 per person per day between 15" - 20" (although 1 trout per person per day within the 4 fish aggregate may be over 20" - personally, I find that trout over 20" tend to be full of worms when cut up while the smaller ones are usually clean). Redfish are always in season (1 fish per person per day between 18" - 27"). Snook are out until 3/1. Beware the morning low tides! As always, don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

January 7, 2008

A new year is bringing the "same ol' ": unseasonably warm temperatures, stellar fishing, and some of the best water - in terms of clarity - that has been seen in a lifetime!

     After a nasty cold snap between Christmas and New Year's Day that saw a morning low of 33F (Ya, I know, eh? 33F...   What the...?) and 20-25 mph winds, we have rebounded to the 80F mark during the day, which has served to stabilize water temperatures before they plummeted drastically - which would have put our fishery in a stupor.  Calm conditions are further allowing the water, which dropped from 70F to c.67F,  to warm - which should serve to further enhance each species' appetite as they come out of a non-feeding spell over the last week.  The lack of rain, which is exacerbating  our potential for severe forest fires this year,  has resulted in crystal-clear water conditions; and an incredible emerald look to the water on clear days from high up as one passes over the Sanibel Causeway bridges (for the newly initiated, or those who haven't been here in a couple of years, the view from the top of the old draw bridge on a clear day is a corker!).

     The snook bite suffered the worst from the drop in water temperatures, as their metabolism slows to a stop as water temps drop.  They become extremely lethargic, and one can drift pristine shiners right in front of their noses and they just won't bite.  Sometimes switching to shrimp, or an extremely small fly (#12 - wispy white bucktail), may do the job.  But, by and large, there is a reason snook season is closed now: you can virtually scoop them up with your bare hands after drastically cold conditions set in.  On average, a cold front blows through the area every 4-5 days during the winter months, resulting in windy conditions and see-saw water temps that only serve to confuse the fish.  This current high is forecast to last a week or so, and with it come phenomenal conditions!

     Starting on the 8th, we will be coming out of a 'flat' tide week, where we only have 1-2 tides per day, as opposed to our typical 4 per day semi-diurnal tides.  Water movement is key to fishing, regardless of whether it is rising or falling.  The New Moon takes place the 9th with 5-6 days of favorable tidal fishing after that.  Low tides c.7:30 AM - 8:30 AM over the next week will allow the redfish fisherman to target some tailing reds on the grass flats as the water move up from each morning's low tide.  The snook bite will get stronger as the water temperatures begin to rise a little later this week.  69F would be a nice target.

     The trout bite has remained fairly constant through the cold front, biting on both shiners (if you can find them) and shrimp.  The bait situation has been a little sloppy, with shiners disappearing from the flats two weeks ago, reappearing just before the cold front, and now a bit of a challenge to find again.  Redfish thrive in cooler water, and will be seen tailing around the various oyster bars that make up areas of Pine Island Sound and the Matlacha Pass areas.  Grass flat edges, especially as the water creeps up from low tide, will produce the tell tale little 'triangles'  (tips of redfish tails) that wiggle back and forth as they rout around at the base of the grasses for crustaceans.  Also, if you can set yourself up on one of the miles long sandbars that run from Tarpon Bay to Blind Pass, look right along the line where the grass meets the sand, and the discerning eye will see redfish torpedoes rocketing along the line, up and down the sandbar.  Typically, these fish have been spooked and will not feed on a casted bait; instead, take it as a sign that fish are there and instead concentrate either on the tail or, in higher water, the signature "swirl."  The swirl is akin to one moving a flat hand, palm up, from underwater towards the surface, and then stopping just short of the surface.  That upwelling water results in a circle of calm water that grows from the middle out.  Bluefish and ladyfish always bite through the cold weather - target the rips around the Sanibel Lighthouse and some of the oyster bars of south Matlacha Pass on higher tidal flows.  Grouper can be found on hard bottom areas using shrimp - many being of 'keeper' size.  A stout rod may be required.

    All in all, a great week to look forward to!  Get up, get out, and get at it - that monster is just one cast away!  As always, don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,

Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide
 

December 8, 2007 

Alrightee. I'm back... And alive. After a quick run to Rhode Island for Thanksgiving, I managed to contract some kind of flying death along the way that - suffice it to say - pulled the plug on my bilge and sank me for almost two weeks.

But I'm back, feeling like a champion, and with four consecutive days of fishing have the following to report: the fishing in Pine Island Sound is absolutely phenomenal for December - let alone any other month!

After a brief cold spell earlier in November, temperatures have been unseasonably HOT for any typical Autumn. With daytime temps in the low to mid 80s and nighttime temps in the mid 60s, the water temperature has remained in the low 70s, prolonging a fantastic Fall bite among the big three: snook, redfish, and spotted sea trout - as well as bluefish, pompano, and tripletail. The live bait (shiners) have been plentiful on the flats at daybreak; in fact, yesterday I was able to load up a livewell within 30 minutes, starting at c.11:00 AM, with enough bait to fish three people on a four hour afternoon trip. Coupled with our 100 year drought and resulting pristinely clear waters, conditions would be hard to improve. If I could, I'd ask Mother Nature for a break over the next several days, as the New Moon comes into play starting Sunday 12/9. The results are flat tides - that is, minimum linear water movement - over the next five days. The 12th will be about the slowest, with one tide taking place all day.

Look for general conditions to become more favorable starting Friday, the 14th, as we head into the Full Moon and get back into our typical cycle of four tides per day. FYI: Snook season is closed December-January-February for keeping snook. Trout season is closed November-December, and is set to reopen in about three weeks. The "Mail Channel" restrictions and the "minimum wake to shore" law along Pine Island's St. James City area have been lifted for the Winter months, allowing those boaters 'in the know' to shave off a bit of time getting around the Southwest corner of Pine Island. Current forecasts have no significant cold fronts coming through our area, so fishing conditions should remain awesome for the next week or so! Remember: Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug - and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers, Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Baitbox Fishing Guide

November 15, 2007 

It turns out the three guys champing at the bit were none other than Chris Cox, Michael Bartlett, and Justin "Head" Dary - three fairly recently graduated college buds out for a weekend hurrah together. With bloodshot eyes and a zombie pace at 5:30 AM - I decreed no open flames on board until 10:00 AM... After chumming and loading up on some good-sized shiners between first light and sunrise, we then set up in the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River where we were able to exploit the lingering outgoing tide during the quietest part of the 'day.' 

The river is a thoroughfare to the Gulf for thousands of boats upriver in both Ft. Myers and Cape Coral. Underwater prop noise is always an issue in our area due to the sheer magnitude of boats coupled with our extremely shallow water. One's most productive time in the river is first thing in the morning as the light conditions are low and favorable, and the boat traffic is relatively minimal. Once the boat traffic cranks up, the fishing tends to fall way off. 

As low tide was to take place c.1 hour into our trip, I wanted to avoid the stagnant water movement associated with the inverted hump (on a wave chart) of low tide. The beauty of having the river available is that, not only being an extremely productive fishing estuary, the tides run c.2 hours or so behind the Punta Rassa tidal prediction - allowing one to fish moving water while the general water movement in southern Pine Island Sound remains stagnant. As I state to my customers over and over, I don't care whether it's high tide or low tide - as long as there is water 'movement' (or tidal flow). Tidal flow stirs up the baitfish, which then stir up the snook, reds, and trout. 

Seeking his first ever snook, I had 'Bartlett' drifting a meaty shiner down current beneath an overhang of mangroves. "Keep your line taut to the bait and wait for the tap, tap, tap feel of your bait as the snook comes up behind it and inhales the water around the baitfish in its attempt to suck that bait directly into its gut." As snook have no teeth (but a very 'sandpaper-like' inner lower lip), they feed more subtly than most fish. Yes, sometimes it's 'hammer time' right out of the barrel, but in most instances, it is more of an unnatural feel of your bait being subtly tugged. After several false starts, the old boy got the rhythm down, reared back, and set the hook on a keeper-sized snook - which he promptly returned to the water. My hat's off to him. A moment later, Justin tore into his first snook, a tad undersized, and we were off to the races! Being an old salt to this game, Chris basically hung out and regaled in the exploits of his buds. A really great day! 

Michael Wilson and Scott Tollaksen combined for boat-based and shore-based trips last week with some great results. Again, with windy conditions and the low tide taking place in the morning, we started up in the river with mixed results, but really tore it up in the creek mouths of the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. Successful navigation through some shoaly water can yield up some awesome (relatively) deep water back country holes. But be careful, being in some of the back country on a falling tide - especially the negative ones - can result in a boater being stuck in there until the next high tide, which could be a loooong time. A midmorning shore-based trip through the Refuge itself was slow due to the brilliant sun, with zillions of snapper to be caught if that were one's fancy. Scott's lone snook was taken after patiently and persistently drifting a shrimp via an awkward cast along a shady mangrove line adjacent to one of the culverts beneath Wildlife Drive. Persistence paid off, and a snap of him holding a linesider and sporting a smile so wide I'm afraid his head will cave in - looks to me like he was having fun! 

The full moon takes place the evening/morning of the 24th/25th. A good tidal flow will be taking place the 20th - 24th, with midmorning high tides earlier in the week and some rather severe negative tides (deviating from the 'average low' stated on one's chart) taking place midmorning on the 22nd (-.4), 23rd (-.7), and 24th (-1). While the average boater is intimidated by really low tides, the fisherman will use the time to explore the contours of Pine Island Sound for future reference as well as to seek out tailing redfish. Employ the old adage, 'slow and steady wins the race', to avoid running aground in unfamiliar area and use it as a learning experience. Remember, don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

October 27, 2007

It's 3:45 AM, I'm up and prepping for a 3/4 day Bait Box trip with three guys, and I have a few minutes to kill before I 'hitch up and head out'. "Iron Man?," you say; "How does he get up at 3:30 AM?" The answer: it's easy... Go to bed at 7:00 PM. You can imagine my social calendar...

Fishing during October has been one of the best months on record, primarily due to the lack of rain, and the resulting deluge of fresh water running from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River! Any sunny day (which is virtually every day, these days) from the top of the new A-span bridge (right after the toll plaza), one sees nothing but shimmering emerald water as far as the eye can see. To those familiar with the traditional 'coffee water'-look at this time of year in the back bay, resulting from tannic acid in the red mangrove roots 'bleeding' and flowing downriver with the rains, these pristine waters are a reminder of how this area once was - before Man began diverting water.

The resulting fishing - or should I say catching - has been awesome, with no letup in sight until the first major cold front comes through. Tarpon to 120 lbs. have been caught all over the Gulf beaches of Sanibel on threadfins and really big shiners that are showing up in one's castnet. Prevailing winds have been consistently blowing from the east, making the beaches accessible as they are situated in the lee with an east wind. Big snook can still be found running the beaches between the beach and the sandbar and will last until the water temp. takes a drastic plunge. Water temps. are currently c.81F, down from a summer high of 90F. Redfish can be found around the various rock outcroppings along the Gulf beaches, as well as in the Passes (Redfish and Captiva). Some decent morning falling tides should yield up some large snook and reds on a drift along the inner wall of South Seas Plantation, where a #3 splitshot will get a bait down deep where the fish are holding. Huge catches of redfish have been reported along both the eastern and western sides of Pine Island, where schools can still be spotted running the grass flats on the higher tides, and 'tailing' reds routing around on the lower tides. This weekend will be a perfect time to target tailing reds as we have some rather severe midmorning negative tides that will lower the water level of Pine Island Sound remarkably - especially if a northeast wind picks up. It's best to bring a pole and pole your way around the flats, as any sound in minimal water will send the reds scurrying. The bait situation has been phenomenal, with summer threadfins finally giving way to the heartier scaled sardine (shiner) - the #1 bait to catch fish. At the moment, it is so plentiful on the flats that chumming and netting during the dark hours yields loads withing minutes of chumming. Alright. The fish are calling, and I've got three guys champing at the bit, ready to put 'the hurt' on some big snook and some big reds!

As always, don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, and be prepared to yank and crank! 

Cheers, Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

October 4, 2007

As a follow-up to my last installment regarding fishing in the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, I've put together a 'how to' guide for folks who want immediate access to some phenomenal fishing - virtually from the back of one's car. The refuge is open 6 days per week, with the refuge being closed on Fridays. The hours are 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM. Access to the park is via "Wildlife Drive", which is located between Rabbit Rd. and the Sanibel School. Entry fees are: $5 per vehicle, $1 per pedestrian, and $1 per bicycle - all payable at the entrance booth located at the front gate. FYI: an annual pass may be purchased for $12 at the same entrance booth, making it more cost-effective for multiple visits.

The tides run c.2 hours later than the 'Pt. Ybel' (East end/Sanibel Lighthouse) tides. I find that the best fishing takes place during the 4 hour time period comprised of the 2 hours of rising (incoming) tide up to high tide, and the 2 hours of falling (outgoing) tide. Low tides, generally speaking, are not as productive and take out many of the areas to be covered. On some of the severe negative Winter tides, the refuge can look like a desert. Live bait - typically shrimp as they are the easiest to purchase and transport well - is the best way to go. My setup consists of a pickle bucket, half filled with water (sloshing), with a 'Super Mr. Bubbles' aerator for fresh oxygen. A 'Flow-Trol' floating bait bucket is employed when I wade fish. A quick Darwinism: if you don't remove the entire pickle bucket with your master supply from your car in the Summer (with the windows rolled up) your shrimp will toast themselves within 20 minutes - take it from me, I know... Artificials work as well: bucktail jigs, Yozuri minnows, poppers, Rat-l-Traps, gold spoons; and fly fishing can be especially productive - though one must pay particular attention to one's backcast.

Using the entrance booth as our starting point (important: I paced this article off with my car's odometer using the entrance booth as the starting point. Mileage markers posted inside the refuge do not correlate accurately to my distances), our first stop takes place at the fist culvert located .2 mile from the booth. There are a series of culverts along the Drive with a fairly similar makeup. On the left hand side of the road, you will see a sandy 'hole' with a big 'collar' of sand resulting from the 'blowout' of bottom material due to the rushing incoming tides. The collars don't run completely back to the road; instead, there are two little 'alley ways' that run parallel to the road and are the result of water draining from the massive expanse of water beyond the 'blowouts'. Cover all the areas of the hole, and then work the alleys for fish coming and going from the expanse water. Beware of the lava rock that comprises the areas around the mouths of the culverts (both sides) as hooks with split shot and jigs tend to get snagged down there. Also, listen for the signature 'hand clap' sound snook make when feeding, coming from inside the culverts themselves. Drifting a shrimp down current through the culverts can yield very productive results. The right hand side of the culverts is extremely productive as well. I fish it the same way, though there are mangroves that are more easily accessible than on the left. Dragging an artificial, or placing a shrimp by these mangroves can yield some huge snook. Beware that the lava rock is more spread out on the right side, potentially resulting in more snags. One final note: a gate is lowered in the culverts during the month of October that mitigates the incoming tidal flow from the right (Pine Island Sound) to the left (estuary) in preparation for the arrival of seasonal birds. The water in the estuary is kept artificially low so the birds can feed. The result is that fish trapped on the estuary side stay there for a while, and from my observations today there are many juvenile tarpon to about 25" or so ready to be plucked from the estuary side of the culverts.

Another .3 mile from the first culvert (.5 mile from booth) is a second culvert. Again, fish this the same way as the first. .5 mile from the 2nd culvert (1 mile from the booth) and extending some .4 mile or so are a series of 7 - 8 pools off to the right that can be very productive on the higher tides. The pools start just past the "Red Mangrove Overlook", and are also marked by a speed bump in the road. The mangroves provide awesome cover for snook, and are typically loaded with mangrove snapper and sheepshead. .6 mile from the 'Red Mangrove' sign (1.6 miles from booth) is a minor culvert, with a small pool located just past it on the right. .1 mile from the minor culvert (1.7 miles from booth) is located the "Cross Dike" culvert. This culvert can have some great water flow, and fishermen should target both sides of the culvert. Walking toward the Cross Dike Overlook, there is fishable, albeit narrow, water on both sides. Beware of gators and do not wade beyond the "No Fishing Beyond This Point" signs. 'Fishing' beyond the signs is fine, just don't walk past them. Another .2 mile beyond Cross Dike (1.9 miles from booth), and just beyond the Overlook Tower is located a 4th culvert. .6 mile from the 4th culvert (2.5 miles from the booth) is a 5th and final culvert. Fishable water on the higher tide is available on the right hand side between the 4th and 5th culverts. The water on the right side of the 5th culvert can be extremely productive as it is fairly deep water and is populated by deep water mangroves.

.2 mile from the 5th culvert (2.7 miles from the booth), and c.50 yards past the canoe/kayak launch sign, the road bends sharply to the left. On that corner, though grown in a bit, is a little 30 yard path through the mangroves that leads to an open expanse of water that opens directly to Pine Island Sound. If one wants to wade fish, this is going to be the best opportunity. Guide boats will fish this area for snook, reds, and trout on the higher tides. On the lower tides, you have all the fish to yourself! Drag a Flow-Trol full of shrimp behind you and work your way West along the shoreline targeting all the shadows created by the mangroves - it can be extremely productive!

Finally, .6 mile from the 'path' (3.3 miles from the booth) are the 'power lines', which are the actual power lines that come over from Pine Island. This involves about a 200 yard walk straight down the 'road' to the end. Just short of the end, on your left, is a mini cove ringed by mangroves. Straight off the point is fairly deep water. A 'canal' of deeper water runs the length of the power lines in order to allow access by the service barges. The deep water runs up to, and right along the front of, the point. Any fish entering or exiting the massive flat to one's left must pass in front of this point, again making it a potentially productive spot. That about covers all the productive water in the refuge. While other pools and mini expanses of water exist that I haven't touched upon, the above stops have been my most consistently productive areas. Hopefully, for you too. Remember: Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug; and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

September 17, 2007

I had the pleasure of fishing four guys serving our armed forces last week, and as opposed to doing my typical 'boat thang', we opted to do the 'shore thang' - spending several days fishing the shores of Sanibel to a high degree of success! We had a 'flat' tide situation, resulting in little vertical water movement in the early mornings; but a high tide held fish close to shore and underneath some of the docks we waded and fished. On day one, the first stop was Blind Pass, also referred to as 'Santiva' or 'Turner Beach', and is where Sanibel and Captiva are joined together. We tossed 1/2 oz. lead head bucktail jigs in white, chartreuse, and yellow. Some were tipped with shrimp, some were tipped with sand fleas, and others were fished completely clean. Admittedly, all to no avail after an hour of continuous casting. We pitched some shrimp along the south (Sanibel) side of the breakwater and lost numerous shrimp to undersized snapper. Best to move on. With a pickle bucket full of Bait Box shrimp and a double 'D' filled Mr. Bubbles, we advanced to the Pine Island Sound side of the Pass/bridge and wade fished the docks along the Captiva side with live shrimp. When the tide is high, the fishing beneath the docks can be hot and the access is fairly easy.

After transferring some shrimp into a 'Flow-trol' shrimp bucket (the kind you can drag behind you through the water) we started at the dock closest to the bridge and slowly worked our way north. A lush frontage of red mangrove lines the far shore, and we worked the docks for structure - especially keying in on the shadows as the sun rose higher - and worked the very edge of the mangrove line as we made our way toward the next dock. There are five docks that are fairly accessible; beware: as you make your way north (away from the bridge), the water becomes deeper (maxing out at chest deep) and the bottom becomes progressively muddier. Shoes not attached to your feet (Crocs, flipflops, etc.) run the risk of being sucked off. Keeping one's reel out of the water becomes progressively more difficult. The guys were good for snapper, snook, redfish, gag grouper, goliath grouper, lady fish, and several sheepshead. Nothing massive, but honest-to-goodness nonstop action that had everybody's heart skipping a few beats! We then headed into the Ding Darling wildlife refuge to tap some of the incredible spots it holds. FYI: an annual pass may be purchased at the gatehouse located at the very entrance to the refuge for $12. This will be a major cost savings to anyone who visits the park multiple times, as there is a fee charged for each carload upon entrance. Within the first 3/4 mile, there are three culverts running beneath the road that serve to flood and drain the area to one's left with the tides. The effect has also been to concentrate water and current flow, making them a magnet for both baitfish and gamefish. Being muddier on the left side of the road, incoming tides have rushed through the culverts and blown out 'holes' in the mud, evidenced by the sand 'collar' one sees defining the 'blow out.' Fish will circulate throughout these holes, making it important to fish the shallower areas at the tops of the collar as well as the deeper water in the middle of the hole. Be aware that lava rock comprises the bottom at the very mouth of the left side culverts, making snags a nuisance to anyone dragging the very bottom. If you listen closely, you will hear the distinctive 'hand clap' sound snook make when hammering bait at the surface inside the culverts. A brave soul can try standing up current of the culvert, opening the bale, and letting the current drag a shrimp through. Getting a big snook out against the current is another story... On the right side of the roadway, the culverts have holes with deeper water, but are lined with lava rock. Fishing can be extremely productive there on either an incoming or outgoing tide. We employed shrimp, jigs, and rat'l'traps to moderate success, with ladyfish and snapper making up the bulk of the catch. There's another culvert/'blow out' just past the viewing tower, and we pulled over there for much of the same. Just past the kayak launch sign is a little-used path through the mangroves that allows one to access and wade fish a very productive area typically fished by guide boats. We used live shrimp and spent most of the time catching snapper.

Our final stop was the power lines coming from Pine Island. The path is about a 300 ft. walk to a rocky little peninsula. On the left are mangroves that hold snook and reds (among others) and off the point runs a channel that comes straight in along the power lines (so that a service barge can access them for repairs), and cuts a hard right to left right in front of the point. Any fishing moving to or from the massive flat (Hardworking Bayou) on one's left typically must pass by the point. Day two was much of the same, while day three was a Friday, making Ding Darling (closed Fridays) inaccessible. Instead, we started off at the east end of the island, fishing the water around the pier, though not the pier itself. Both shrimp and jigs produced snook, reds, grouper, ladyfish; and a massive school of big jacks were enticing as they were just out of casting range from shore, but were being caught right and left by folks on the pier itself. The last part of the day was walking north along Bowman's beach, sight fishing for snook. Whereas we saw upwards of 60-80 snook cruising the shoreline, nary a one would bite. It must have been bad ju-ju or something... Anyway, a very productive time; and the type of fishing I would recommend to all. Also, if you really pay attention, you'll notice that all the folks fishing from boats typically pitch their baits right up to the shoreline... 'Cause that's where all the fish are. Remember: don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug; and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

August 27, 2007

Alright, folks, I'm back in town after a Summer of "flounderin' around" various parts of the country and destinations south. After taking a long look at the Punta Rassa public boat ramp (scheduled to reopen 10/28), I decided to take a much-needed breather after an insane tarpon season in order to recharge for next season (which, in my world, starts 9/1 - redfish season!). I traded in my rods for a set of golf clubs and spent the better part of the Summer beating that ball like it owed me money. And probably got about as much out of it... I've been out the past several mornings, albeit dodging a few thunderheads at first light, and am extremely pleased with what I see. Per usual, the water inside the barrier islands is stained its seasonal 'coffee' color as a result of the tannic acid from mangrove roots upstream in the Caloosahatchee River washing down with the seasonal rainfalls. The novice fisherman might interpret this as fouling the fishing; but not so. Whereas some former concentrations of fish upriver will be displaced downriver by the lowered salinity level in the water, resulting in less favorable fishing there, snook are able to survive in either salt or freshwater environments - and notoriously thrive in brackish water (a mixture of salt and fresh water) environments. The mouth of the river has been extremely productive for snook lately, with my theory being that an extraordinarily large snook population manifested itself upriver this past year due to higher than normal salinity levels resulting from our severe lack of seasonal rainfall. This, in turn, has allowed baitfish to swim farther upriver than would normally be found, with snook and other fish in hot pursuit. With the relative large volume and sudden influx of rain we have had over the past three weeks, it seems the resulting effect has been to push the baitfish back downriver - as they seek a high salinity level to survive - bringing a large population of snook with them. The salinity level at the mouth of the river seems to be such that there is a favorable environment for holding baitfish, making it a productive spot at the moment. Also, while fish do use their eyes to see bait, more important is their employment of their lateral line - the line that all fish have running along their sides (the black stripe, in the case of snook) that allows fish to detect electro-magnetic current. Throw a bait near a snook in dark water, and I guarantee you he'll know it's there. The passes are holding clear water, and with these favorable offshore winds blowing in the mornings, the Gulf is flat as a pancake. Big snook have been seen cruising the beaches, and schools have been breaking the surface around the breakwater at Redfish Pass. The big redfish will begin their annual migration any day now, with some monsters holding in the rocky areas of the passes, and huge schools tearing across the flats on higher tides and tailing at low tide. Bait is plentiful, with shiners running bigger along the Gulf beaches than inside the barrier islands, but a nice supply of bite sized pinfish are being found only in the grasses. The water temperature is starting to fall, c.88F this week, but smaller bait dies off fairly quickly in the livewell, unable to survive in the oxygen-starved water. Good tides this week should provide for some excellent fishing, just keep one eye to the sky at all times. Remember: Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug; and be prepared to yank and crank!

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

August 5, 2007

What a difference in conditions over the past two weeks: we've finally transitioned into the 'rainy' season with rain falling both in the mornings and in the afternoons. Of course, 'for every action there is a reaction,' and all this fresh water will force a change in one's fishing strategies and techniques.

Prior to all the rain, I was able to get a few trips in during a 'flat' tide week. With a bit of a change in strategy, my customers were able to boat a decent number of snook and reds. With respect to tides and 'flat' tides: as we head into the first quarter and third quarter of our moon phases (or, conversely, coming off the full moon and new moon phases) we experience a tide anomaly for three or four days as compared to our typically semi-diurnal tides (two highs and two lows per day), with one long incoming tide typically starting in the mornings during the summer months. Several tides may last up to 15 hours, with c.1.5 ft. of linear movement, slowing any water movement to a crawl. I don't personally mind whether it's high tide or low tide, as long as there is water movement (current). Water movement stirs up the baitfish, and the baitfish stir up the gamefish. Before the rain, baitfish were readily available on the flats around Punta Rassa. Fishing in the river was very productive for snook; one had to be careful heading into the creeks and the deep backcountry toward the end of the high tide. Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water, and with temperatures at their summer peak, there is very little oxygen in the water. If one gets deep into a creek or backcountry area at the end of a long incoming warmwater tide, the water there heats up and comes out red hot on the outgoing tide - potentially killing all the bait in your livewell and generally shutting down any fish bite. By concentrating on the river, the passes, and some of the mangroves just off the intracoastal areas, I was able to find 'cooler' water with a relatively higher oxygen content holding more productive fish.

Voluminous amounts of fresh water coming down the Caloosahatchee River, held back somewhat by the Sanibel causeway islands, mixed with overall 90F water temperatures is going to force a change in castnetting and fishing strategies over the next week or so. The baitfish are typically dispersed around the southwestern corner of Pine Island on the back side of Chino Island, where the fresh water/salt water ratio is much lower. The causeway islands tend to back up fresh water flowing from the Caloosahatchee, impeding its flow to the Gulf. The result is a short-term imbalance in the ecosystem. Baitfish are chased out by the fresh water, and with them go the gamefish. 'Coffee water', or water stained a dark purplish color by all the tannic acid in the mangrove roots is a dead giveaway as to when one should move one's fishing and castnetting to the outer beaches, passes, and away from the Punta Rassa area.

Summer is beginning to wane, and with it comes a change in tidal fishing. Whereas our early to midsummer water is marked by incoming morning tides, this week will provide for some awesome falling tides starting c.5:00 AM. This current will allow for some decent chum drifts during the castnetting stage of the day and hold through midmorning to early afternoon later in the week. Drier weather is forecast to be building in starting this afternoon, so it should be an awesome week for putting 'the hurt' on some fish! This will also allow for the Punta Rassa area to become productive again over the next several days. If you go out, keep one eye to the sky at all times! Remember: don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, (and be prepared to yank and crank!).

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

July 20, 2007

Once again, I'm going to point out what a weird year this has been in terms of seasonal changes. Spring took forever to come; and once here, she behaved very badly. Downright cold temperatures and biting Northerly winds made access to fishable waters - and plain just being on the water - a testy experience, day after day, not to mention punching a hole through tarpon season.

Here we are in the middle of July (yup, I said 'middle of July' as opposed to 'middle of Summer', like all you folks up North, 'cause it's Summer here all year 'round!)and we still have yet to make the transition into 'rainy season.' At the same time, alot of clouds and electicity have been flowing through the area at all hours - sparking more forest fires than actually raining, and wreaking havoc on my ability to (safely) get out and fish. The reason for the tardiness of the rainy season lies far beyond my comprehension somewhere between El Nino and La Nina. Do you know that someone on my boat actually asked me where that was..? Not a Bait Box customer.

What I do know is that our weather pattern in the Summer is typically dominated by what is known as the Bermuda High. A high builds up and stalls over Bermuda for weeks on end resulting in our typical rainy season day: beautiful blue skied mornings with a slight offshore breeze. At about Noon, the wind breeze dies and the water is smooth as glass. At about 1:00 PM, the onshore breeze begins to pick up, and big puffy clouds build over the mainland. At c.4:00 PM, massive thunderheads that have built up extremely quickly - given the start to the day - unload their wrath on all those who disrespect Mother Nature. At other times, the high will drop South over the Bahamas, which results in brutal morning storms, clear but humid middays, and big boomers in the afternoon again. Our problem has been all the booming, all the time, but no rain. Boomers are bummers, so to speak. Also, the 'water cops' are running around town looking for illegal lawn watersprinkling (no, not FWC, Marine Patrol, Coast Guard, etc...), and I can't figure out how to turn mine off.

The Punta Rassa ramp is closed until 9/28/07 for reconstruction and new parking spaces. The Sanibel ramp is open; the Bait Box is no more than a driver/nine iron away, just around the corner on Periwinkle Way for all your bait and tackle. It is wisest to purchase a parking sticker from the Sanibel Police/Parking Division for $80 (annual: 12/1 - 11/30; no prorations) if one plans to boat alot over the next ten weeks - hourly parking will quickly break the bank (not to mention keeping you looking at your watch all day on the water). Keep one eye to the sky at all times if you're going out. Remember: Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug (and be prepared to yank and crank!).

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team
Bait Box Fishing Guide

July 1, 2007

Summer's here, and the time is right... for snook fishing, though not to keep. Coinciding with the arrival of Summer, water temperatures and plentiful bait (shiners) have allowed for consistent action in all my fishing spots. The big shiners from Spring have given way to the new generation of (painstakingly) small greenbacks. They're a pain in the tail to deal with, but it is nice to see a successful spawn from the past generation. It's time to break out the 3/8" mesh castnet in order to avoid Southwest Florida's version of a Christmas tree. For those scratching their heads, a Florida "Christmas tree" is what your 1/2" mesh castnet looks like after throwing for this small bait. Their heads get stuck in the bigger mesh by the hundreds, and get all lit up and sparkly when the sun shines. One typically will spend a good 20 minutes or so squeezing off the heads, and then shaking the bodies out (or that sweet smell of death will eventually close you down). A 3/8" mesh will avoid this problem and allow you to spare the baitfish, clean up faster, and get fishing quicker. Water temps are c.88-89F, which means the oxygen content in the water is much less than the cooler Winter water (cold water holds oxygen; hot water disperses it). Try using frozen plastic ice blocks in your live well to keep the water cool and allow more oxygen to mix with your water, thereby keeping your bait alive that much longer.

This weekend marks the traditional "end" to the tarpon season, with three major league outgoing tides in the afternoon/evenings over the next three days. Look for pass crabs to emerge at sunset in Boca Grande Pass for a feeding frenzy one is blessed to live to witness. Singles will still be around thereafter, and fish are caught, but by and large the commercial (guided) fishery is becoming next year's fantasy.

The snook bite has been unbelievable! While still out of season, the ability to walk the shoreline on a calm morning and either fly fish or throw a bucktail jig, or even a rat-l-trap, can provide for a monster fight with a snook! For those who are savvy, an incredible bait to use is the sand flea, or mole crab, which bury themselves along the shoreline, and may be accessed via a sand flea rake (available at The Bait Box). Scrape the rake where the shore meets the water. If you look closely (on a calm day), you will notice about a 4"-6" dropoff right where land meets water. The fleas are in that dropoff. Keep them in a bucket with a bit of wet sand on the bottom and a wet towel placed over the top to keep the direct sun off them. Because they are light, and they bore through sand like acid, I recommend using a small trout float to suspend them up off the sand. Freelining (no weight) will work, if distance is not a concern. Trout and reds are still being caught, though we are still c.6-8 weeks away from the monster schools of redfish to start showing up. With those thoughts, I leave you for 10 days of wallowing around Darwin's waiting room in the Gallapagos. Swimming iguanas, blue footed boobies - I'll have to pinch myself! I'll give you a quick report upon my return.  Remember: Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug (and be prepared to yank and crank!).

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team

June 14, 2007 

As the saying goes, "some things take time and good things happen to those who wait;" and for those who have waited: the current fishing conditions are absolutely stellar! After the relentless winds over the past several weeks, coinciding with some 'flat' tide conditions (no water movement), current conditions have merged in a perfect convergence (does anyone remember where they were during the infamous Harmonic Convergence of the late 1980s?)to provide for fantastic all around fishing. No wind, a rising morning tide (coinciding with the approach of the New Moon), and late season cool water temps have brought the tarpon back with a vengeance! Having since migrated from their early season holdouts inside the intracoastal and associated deep water back country areas, tarpon can be found rolling just off the beaches early in the morning before the breezes blow. Now is the perfect time to target and fly fish for these lazy rollers, as they can be sightfished in the clear calm early morning waters. With current water temps at 87F, the bite looks to last for several more weeks.

While out of season to keep, snook are biting like a bear out of hibernation! Big shiners are the key, as the snook are extremely spoiled at this time of year with acres of glass minnows available for them to forage. Pinfish will catch a snook, but I've had consistent action with the shiners, which are still rather large than typically found at this time of year. From my experience, the shiners have been showing up in my chum line at dark and petering out right at sunrise. So, your best bet is to get up and get cracking. My customers from the Bait Box this morning, Dr. Gary Phillips and his son Christian, from the Knoxville area of Tenn. caught both snook and trout on a half day trip. Threatening skies kept us in the River, and Tarpon Bay areas; each was very productive for both snook (in the mangroves) and trout (on the grass flats). Tides are going to flatten out over the next several days, meaning minimum water movement, and a weak front is forecast to die out over our area - making for some unsettled conditions. Make sure you keep one eye to the sky and check the NOAA radar channel before going anywhere near the water anytime after Noon. Oh yeah, during the Harmonic Convergence, I was flipping burgers in Vail, growing a beard, and pretty much following the mantra of my early years, "eat, drink, and see Jerry..." Remember: Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug (and be prepared to yank and crank!).

Cheers,
Capt Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team

June 1, 2007

Fishing this year, generally speaking, has been marked by an overall lag in conditions and seasons. Winter was one in which unseasonably cold temperatures and winds held for long periods of time; and this trend has persisted late into Spring. Now officially in Florida's worst drought in the past 100 years, the fishing - when accessible - has been spectacular.

The tarpon showed up two weeks early this year, in the middle of March, with an awesome bite taking place on the inside of the barrier islands. A constant East wind kept all boats out of the Gulf. Of the eight or nine days the Gulf had been accessible during March-April, the reports were of a consistent bite. On May 18th, the wind began to blow, and it hasn't stopped since. The result was a dead stop to the tarpon bite, with most fish simply "disappearing." The tarpon have once again showed up en masse, and with water temps in the mid to upper 70s it looks that the season may last a good long while. On the snook side, my trips with Jack and John Felter, and Rob, Adam, and Austin Kunis, have been boating at least 20 per half day this past week - exploiting a good tidal flow and being where the bait is before first light.

This week marks our march to the moon's first quarter - that infamous time where we have one tide per day and everyone has to work a bit harder to get the fish to bite. The passes and the river are always my 'default' locations during these tides as each squeezes the water into a bit of extra movement - providing your best chance of a hookup. Windy conditions are forecasted over the next several days, so be extra careful on the water.

Remember: Don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug (and be prepared to yank and crank!).

Cheers,
Capt. Dave Torrance
Mercury Saltwater Team