Sorry for the long delay between reports, I suffered a little set back in wrestling practice in the beginning of January. My right knee was took out from under me by one of the assistant coaches and our top wrestler at the same time. 380 pounds of force total on my right knee just buckled it right up. I ended the month of January with only one trip on the books. I am sure glad that month is over so we can get back to fishing. February is slam full and I should have plenty to report on at the end of each week.

      My first trip of February was with Jim Gibson and Jim Burt. Hence the title "Jim Squared." Jim G. told me before he came down from New York that he is so sick of the horrible weather up there that when he sells his house he is moving down to my neck of the woods. I picked the two of them up at Sanibel Harbor Resort and we proceeded to spend the next 45 minutes getting bait at the Sanibel Causeway. Everything is a little tougher during the winter months but the Jim's did not seem to mind. They were just happy to be in shorts and see the sun. Eventually I fill the well with nice frisky white bait and threadfin. Off we went to a spot that has been holding so many Snook it is simply unbelievable. I explained to them how things would happen when we got to the hole and where to look when we got there. The first Snook spotted was about 36 inches and as pretty as a peach. Then Jim saw a small pod of Snook that avg. between 34 and 44 inches with the biggest one going 20 pounds plus. At that point the Jim's told me how exited they were to see those big fish. They said sight fishing is the greatest in the world. Little did they know things would get a lot better. We turned the corner and there was literally 30 or 40 Snook all keeper size just sitting there staring right back at us. The Jim's made cast after cast to them and wouldn't you know it, all they would do is move out of the way of the bait. Over and over again, they were just not interested. I chummed and chummed but it just wasn't going to work. Sometimes they just won't eat.

Next we headed up into the Sound. We stopped at one of my favorite flats and Jim B. managed to land his first Snook ever. He said it hit like a ton of bricks. He could not believe the intensity the fish slammed the bait with. I told him to just wait until it warms up and he gets a big one on. Then he will truly be amazed. While the fellas were on the front going after Snook and Redfish with live bait. I started to throw the good old brown gig. I started laying into the trout catching one after another and suggested the fellas switch over to the same thing I was using. Well they did and we caught trout after trout for awhile. Once you find a school of holed up Trout. They just eat and eat until they have all had their fill.

          One of the funniest things about the trip was Jim G. talking smack to Jim B. about catching the first fish and the amount of Trout he was catching compared to Jim B.. Usually when someone talks a lot of smack, the other guy always seems to out fish the smack talker. When the Trout bite was over we decided to go get a bite to eat at the fabulous Waterfront Restaurant. The Jims said it was one of the best meals they have had and probably the best meal ever while on a fishing trip.

After we all finished lunch I decided to take the fellas back into one of my favorite Jack holes. The began to catch Jacks one after another. I told them to keep the jacks because I had something bigger in mind that would eat them. When the Jims tired of catching Jacks it was time to hit the Jewfish. I put a Jack on Jim G's rod and told him how to handle a big Jew. He fished the Jack for 30 minutes or so and only had a couple of nibbles.

Next it was Jim B's turn. I dropped the bait down the hole for him and handed him the rod. Sure enough something ate his Jack. I start barking out instructions and Jim followed them perfectly. I could tell by the way he was able to keep the fish from taking line that it was not a huge one. Nevertheless, Jim still put it on the fish and landed this nice Jewfish. I am not sure exactly how much it weighed but I would guess in the 25 to 35 pound range. Jim B really did a great job on the Jewfish.

     To conclude, the Jims seemed to have as good of a time as I did on the day. They can't wait to get back out with me as soon as the water begins to warm. I told them if they liked what they saw today then they would love what would be in store for them over the next couple of months. I hope everything went well with the closing of Jim Gibson's house so he can be my new monthly client. We have a great week of warm weather coming up and starting next week I am booked everyday. I should have some excellent reports for you all.          

cell (239) 470-4243 or work (239) 540-7529