Great Season -- August 29, 2007

It is a cold and dreary day. The kiddies have returned to school. Fewer boats on the water during the week. The days are noticeably getting shorter. Tarpon seemed to be pointing more south now rather than heading north. In addition, the days August remains on the calendar are slipping away. Another season is on the wan. Rougher seas ahead and our fishing conversations start to reflect around the past tense rather than the present or future. So, what does this mean? Cast and blast is right around the corner and wintertime sow trout.

True, some of the best offshore fishing for the year is ahead. YFT move in, the baitfish are a little, oxymoronic statement here, bigger, and the bulls of fall are moving in around the jetties. Nevertheless, with all this said, if fall has anything to offer nearly as incredible as the early part of the season, we could end the best season ever for the lodge.

Most of our guides caught personal best trout over the winter with some rivaling, if not, breaking the 12 pound mark. We had a number of well-loved clients break trout PR’s. We have landed a number of monstrous reds, yes on artificials, in the 40+ inch range. Moreover, we have absolutely hammered the tarpon this year with 15+ jumps a day with multiple landings—all on artificials and flies. Now, if I can only get the old man to stop bringing them on board for the ‘photo’ opportunity. Love ya dad! We have had a number of snapper in the upper teens—pushing the 20-pound mark. Finally some really good PR jack fish for my fly rodding brethren. So, lost in reverie about a season quickly becoming a has been, what does the rest of the season hold in store for us?

Start looking for juvenile reds to begin making their way toward the cuts for their migration to the deep blue brine. With their affinity for cooler water, lower light conditions, and the last few weeks to get a little loving, trout will become more aggressive and heavier as their feeding activities start and they bulk up for the cold months ahead. With a breeding full moon overhead right now, night wading is the way to go unless you can get on the water before the sun touches the horizon. If you get one of the croaking little males, drop anchor, power pole, or stand still and work the area over really heavy. Schools will be tightly packed and in very aggressive moods. Moreover, with the abundant fresh water from all the rain, look for a strong and consistent topwater bite.

The flatties should start making their appearance in numbers in the next couple of weeks. If you are interested in chasing the flat fish, watch the Weather Channel for signs of the first cold front or strong north wind and that should be the impetus to fire the flounder migration. Since we do not use live bait in the lodge, and I could not tell you how to rig a shrimp rig anyway, I am looking forward to working the ‘cut’ with some Gulp! During the height of the migration. I caught my first two flounder in three years early in the season on New Penny—so looking forward to the experiment.

For the offshore guys, we have a number of floaters and new rigs right offshore. Look for YFT and wahoo catches to start increasing. Snapper, as always, are readily taken and world class just mile from the lodge docks. The larger Tarpon will start their migration south and should stick around until the middle of December.

Hitting the poons tomorrow with pop on a rare double day off. We will keep you posted on the exploits!