"Best Day Yet!" I have wrote a years worth of these fishing reports. This one here is either 52 or 50 something. I am not sure exactly how many there are now, but I know we have caught a lot of fish and some very big ones too. Some clients have had good days, some so so, some okay, and some very good days. However the two trips David Young, his son T.D. Young, and T.D.'s friend Mike had the best total for big Snook I have ever seen. Stay tuned to the following fishing report and pictures because you will no doubt be impressed.
Originally I was supposed to pick David up on Monday the 7th at 6:30a.m. at the Sanibel public boat ramp. I waited for 15 minutes and realized he may have gotten things crossed up and was thinking he was supposed to meet me at the Punta Rassa boat ramp. So I drove over there and waited for another 15 minutes. Still no David. I knew he would show up but I didn't know when. Well I went back to the Sanibel boat ramp and waited another 15 minutes. Still no David. At that point I gave my wife a call to see if he had called the home phone. My wife Angela said no one had called so I asked her to check my emails for his number. She checked and called me back but couldn't find a number anywhere in his confirmation emails. Although my wife wasn't able to find a number she was able to find one very interesting tidbit. One of David's emails said I can't wait to fish and we will see you Tuesday. Well the 7th and 8th was Monday and Tuesday. David had us going out Tuesday and Wednesday. Oh well chalk that up to experience. What to do now? I was on the water early in the morning in the Pine Island Sound with nothing to do. HA!! Nothing to do but go fishing that is. I called my good friend Capt Butch Botelor to see if he was up to a day on the water. He happened to be painting at the time but told me he could meet me at the Waterfront Restaurant in an hour or two when he finished up his paint work. Once I picked Capt Butch up we had a real tough time getting bait. We spent the hole day trying for bait and never really succeeded until later in the day when I picked up my good friend Nelson and his friend Leonard. Eventually, we were able to net some Mojara, we didn't know how big of a blessing that would be until later in the day. The tide was incoming and the big fish had their mouths wide open. We finished the day with two Snook, one 18, and one 19 pounds. We also landed 3 Jewfish with the largest one going 30 plus pounds. Click on the link Big Snook Photo Gallery to view the new Photo Gallery.
Armed with confidence from the day before and the right schedule I picked David and the gang up promptly at 6:33 at the Sanibel boat ramp. The first thing we did was go after the Ladies. I know this may sound funny but the lady fishing is the most important part of the day. Sometimes I get a little over excited when someone gets one on. I really put the pressure on them to get it in and to the boat as fast as possible. Most of the time several will jump off before someone finally lands one. This trip was no different. I spotted the ladies chasing bait and jumping out of the water. I trolling motored over to them as quickly as possible while handing each person his Cape Fear. I was very anxious and knew they needed to cast and reel as fast as possible to land the most ladyfish. Everyone was a little slow in getting their jigs in the water and to the fish. When the bite was over we tallied three ladyfish in the well. I wish we had more but that was the hand we were dealt for the morning half day trip. Fortunately for the fellas I had 4 or 5 big mojara left in the well from the day before. I baited David, TD, and Mike up with the three ladyfish. I gave them their instructions and informed them of what they were in for. They made the same mistake every client makes before going on a trip with me, they didn't take heed to the sheer power of the Snook that were about to eat their lunch. I am not sure which one of them was molested first but I believe it was Mike. I had warned him to get his feet set and but down so he could handle the force the big Snook was about to lay on him. Well he made an attempt but it just wasn't good enough. He was jerked to the edge of the boat and the big Snook pulled Mike and his locked down drag 80 pound test braid and 125 leader and snapped it in about 5 seconds total. Next I believe it was TD's turn. Him and Mike are both very good soccer players and they know how to get in good stances. TD's stance was excellent but he failed miserably at his first attempt at wrangling in one of the big linesiders. Next it was pops turn, he had a big Ladyfish on but it was dead. After seeing the first two guys get whooped while he sat there without even a bite, it kind of put him off guard a little. I went to the back of the boat to bait TD up and when I looked back, I see David heading over board. The big Snook hit him so hard on the 25 to 50 Man O' War spooled with 200 pound Fins braid and two hundred pound test leader that I knew he was going over board. David was jerked to the edge of the boat and on his tippy toes. Fortunately for him right as he was reaching the point of no return, the 200 pound test leader cut in two. Can you imagine Snook mean enough to bust you off in a matter of seconds on 200 pound test leader. They are truly amazing.
If they weren't ready before, they were all three ready now! Each one of them had taken their beating and each one of them wanted revenge. I put a big Mojara on each of their Cape Fears. Before I knew it David's bait was inhaled in one quick gulp. The big Snook pulled David from one side of the boat to the other. It was literally all he could do to just hold on to the rod. Eventually David was able to get the big Snook away from the major structure but not away from the outside pilings. The big Racing Mullet wrapped itself around the piling over and over again until it couldn't go anywhere. We trolling motored back to it and I was able to unwrap the line. When the line was unwrapped I Boga Gripped the big girl. I looked back at David and he could not believe his eyes. He had never even thought about catching a Snook that big. When I held her up to get a quick weight she went an enormous 23.5 pounds. David was ready to take a prolonged break after this quick picture.
A little earlier David mentioned how his son TD always out fishes him but I was nearly positive that wouldn't be the case on this day. Mike was the next one to get one on, but he suffered the same fate with this broad Linesider as with the first one. He was able to keep her on for a few more seconds but eventually she was able to bust him off. TD was next up to the plate. I tossed his double fisted Mojara at the front door of the Racing Mullet Mansion. In a quick minute or two his bait was completely inhaled. The huge fish drug TD right down into the pilings. I yelled you have to pull that fish out. Less reeling more pulling. I could here the line sawing against the piling. The Fins did a great job as TD kept pulling with all of his might he was able to turn the huge Snook away from the piling and get it's head in the air. I instructed TD to keep it's head high in the air until I could Boga Grip it. TD was in awe, the big Snook had to be 4 times the size of his biggest ever. It's a great feeling to see a 15 year old land such a great fish.
Next it was Mike's turn. He was on the fish and ready as he could be. The two other guys were having to take a break because they were both busted off again by Snook. Mike was armed and ready. A big Snook slams his bait and the battle is on. Unfortunately for Mike it was only on for about 10 seconds and he was busted off on the structure again. I felt bad for Mike as did the other two guys. We really wanted him to get one but the bite stopped so we decided to give Mike a shot at the Jewfish. I had one rod that was still rigged. It had 200 pound test Fins braid with 200 pound test leader on a Cape Fear Blue Water 20-30 class rod. The first drop didn't produce anything but I knew something had to eat the big Mojara. The next drop was the key. Mike felt the Jewfish eat it and then pulled with everything he had. The wrestling coach in me kept pushing him to pull harder and get that fish away from the structures. He gave several good pulls which enabled him to get the Jewfish away but on one of the pulls the rod just couldn't take all of that pressure and snapped two eyes up. Mike looked back at me as if to say, "Sorry for breaking your rod." He didn't get any condolences from me though. I yelled keep pulling don't let that fish get away. You've got him. Mike was able to get that Jewfish to the top with about a 4 foot broke in two Cape Fear. He did a great job keeping at it after the rod broke. See for yourself, check out his Goliath Grouper. We had a great day and finished it off at the Waterfront Restaurant for lunch. Which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
After such a great first day, I wasn't sure what would be in store for Day 2. I picked the gang up at the same time and they were all eager and ready for some hardcore Lady fishing. The guys now knew the importance of Ladyfish and they were prepared to get as many as they could. We hit the same spot as the day before and thought we were on them once again. For some reason that was not the case. After 45 minutes we only had one in the well. I decided to try a spot we hit a few days earlier but wasn't very successful. Sure enough they were there and the fellas hammered down on them. We put 10 or 12 Ladyfish in the well over the next 25 to 30 minutes. Loaded with a well full of Ladyfish we headed to the Racing Mullet Mansion. The bite wasn't as quick as the day before but they soon turned on. Mike was the first one to get torched once again. He did better this time but it just wasn't meant to be. David got the next shot but he too was destroyed. Here comes TD once again to show everyone how to do it. I cast his bait up to the structure and he waits a few minutes before a big Snook engulfs his Lady. He has got it down now. He gets real low and puts as much pressure on that Snook as he possibly could. At one point the big Linesider put a pounding on him and drug him in the structure but he kept at it and pulled her away. Man!! what a great job this kid is doing. Another 20 pounder. This one went 21 pounds to be exact. I told him that he might as well quit Snook fishing because it won't get any better than this. I don't know exactly how long I had to wait before getting my first 20 pounder, I do know he did it before he turned 16. What a great job!
Mike was now our focus. We really wanted to see him get a big Snook out of the cover. He kept trying and trying but every time the fish was just a little tougher than Mike could handle. Mike did manage to get one close to the boat, but the hook pulled when it wrapped around the structure next to the boat. Wouldn't you know it, while Mike is suffering some more misfortune TD comes in right behind Mike and pops a nice 12 pounder out of the same hole Mike just lost his fish in. TD had the hot hand. What a nice fish! Just think the smallest Snook landed was 12 pounds. These guys had one great trip.
To conclude, I had a great time with these guys. I like the young guys. They are usually good kids and try as hard as they can to land the big fish. As for Mike hang in their buddy. Hopefully we will get you a nice one next time. As for TD he has since got the big head, rightfully so I might add. Now when he emails me, he refers to himself as the Snook Master. Gotta like the kid. Even his Dad David has a right to talk a little especially since he caught the biggest Snook of his life as well. I love this summer time fishing. It seems as if the big fish are as hungry and mean as ever in the summer. Tight Lines to all!!
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A little earlier David mentioned how his son TD always out fishes him but I was nearly positive that wouldn't be the case on this day. Mike was the next one to get one on, but he suffered the same fate with this broad Linesider as with the first one. He was able to keep her on for a few more seconds but eventually she was able to bust him off. TD was next up to the plate. I tossed his double fisted Mojara at the front door of the Racing Mullet Mansion. In a quick minute or two his bait was completely inhaled. The huge fish drug TD right down into the pilings. I yelled you have to pull that fish out. Less reeling more pulling. I could here the line sawing against the piling. The Fins did a great job as TD kept pulling with all of his might he was able to turn the huge Snook away from the piling and get it's head in the air. I instructed TD to keep it's head high in the air until I could Boga Grip it. TD was in awe, the big Snook had to be 4 times the size of his biggest ever. It's a great feeling to see a 15 year old land such a great fish.
Next it was Mike's turn. He was on the fish and ready as he could be. The two other guys were having to take a break because they were both busted off again by Snook. Mike was armed and ready. A big Snook slams his bait and the battle is on. Unfortunately for Mike it was only on for about 10 seconds and he was busted off on the structure again. I felt bad for Mike as did the other two guys. We really wanted him to get one but the bite stopped so we decided to give Mike a shot at the Jewfish. I had one rod that was still rigged. It had 200 pound test Fins braid with 200 pound test leader on a Cape Fear Blue Water 20-30 class rod. The first drop didn't produce anything but I knew something had to eat the big Mojara. The next drop was the key. Mike felt the Jewfish eat it and then pulled with everything he had. The wrestling coach in me kept pushing him to pull harder and get that fish away from the structures. He gave several good pulls which enabled him to get the Jewfish away but on one of the pulls the rod just couldn't take all of that pressure and snapped two eyes up. Mike looked back at me as if to say, "Sorry for breaking your rod." He didn't get any condolences from me though. I yelled keep pulling don't let that fish get away. You've got him. Mike was able to get that Jewfish to the top with about a 4 foot broke in two Cape Fear. He did a great job keeping at it after the rod broke. See for yourself, check out his Goliath Grouper. We had a great day and finished it off at the Waterfront Restaurant for lunch. Which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
After such a great first day, I wasn't sure what would be in store for Day 2. I picked the gang up at the same time and they were all eager and ready for some hardcore Lady fishing. The guys now knew the importance of Ladyfish and they were prepared to get as many as they could. We hit the same spot as the day before and thought we were on them once again. For some reason that was not the case. After 45 minutes we only had one in the well. I decided to try a spot we hit a few days earlier but wasn't very successful. Sure enough they were there and the fellas hammered down on them. We put 10 or 12 Ladyfish in the well over the next 25 to 30 minutes. Loaded with a well full of Ladyfish we headed to the Racing Mullet Mansion. The bite wasn't as quick as the day before but they soon turned on. Mike was the first one to get torched once again. He did better this time but it just wasn't meant to be. David got the next shot but he too was destroyed. Here comes TD once again to show everyone how to do it. I cast his bait up to the structure and he waits a few minutes before a big Snook engulfs his Lady. He has got it down now. He gets real low and puts as much pressure on that Snook as he possibly could. At one point the big Linesider put a pounding on him and drug him in the structure but he kept at it and pulled her away. Man!! what a great job this kid is doing. Another 20 pounder. This one went 21 pounds to be exact. I told him that he might as well quit Snook fishing because it won't get any better than this. I don't know exactly how long I had to wait before getting my first 20 pounder, I do know he did it before he turned 16. What a great job!
Mike was now our focus. We really wanted to see him get a big Snook out of the cover. He kept trying and trying but every time the fish was just a little tougher than Mike could handle. Mike did manage to get one close to the boat, but the hook pulled when it wrapped around the structure next to the boat. Wouldn't you know it, while Mike is suffering some more misfortune TD comes in right behind Mike and pops a nice 12 pounder out of the same hole Mike just lost his fish in. TD had the hot hand. What a nice fish! Just think the smallest Snook landed was 12 pounds. These guys had one great trip.
To conclude, I had a great time with these guys. I like the young guys. They are usually good kids and try as hard as they can to land the big fish. As for Mike hang in their buddy. Hopefully we will get you a nice one next time. As for TD he has since got the big head, rightfully so I might add. Now when he emails me, he refers to himself as the Snook Master. Gotta like the kid. Even his Dad David has a right to talk a little especially since he caught the biggest Snook of his life as well. I love this summer time fishing. It seems as if the big fish are as hungry and mean as ever in the summer. Tight Lines to all!!
