"A Morning to Remember" Every now and then you just have one of those mornings. It was a Saturday morning and Chris and Brent Barnett were my guests for the day. Chris is Brent's nephew and has the screen name Sightcast from the Florida Sportsman Forum. We made it to the Ladyfish grounds close to 7:30am. It didn't take long before we had Lady's flying everywhere. We managed to get a good 15 in the well in 30 minutes. I knew we had to get what fishing we were going to get done as soon as possible because it was a beautiful Saturday and boats would be everywhere soon. Plus at 10am the tide would turn and go out for the rest of the day. We arrived at my Snook hole and baited up with the lady's on the Cape Fears. Chris was the first one to get smacked and the large linesider railroaded him into the structure quickly. He became a quick victim of one of the mean Snook that were down below. I told Chris not to worry everyone gets manhandled by these guys. It is just part of the learning curve. These fish are so strong it truly is amazing. Once Brent had a chance to see what he was in for I believe he prepared himself a little better. He tossed his Ladyfish in the structure and sure enough it was eaten in an instant. I saw the fish carrying Brent's Ladyfish away. I tell him to set hook. I really thought he was going to be in trouble because the fish had it for so long. When Brent slammed the hook into the fish the battle was on. I don't think Brent knew what he was actually getting himself into. I could tell by the grimace on his face. I yelled "more pulling less reeling." Brent began to gain line one the big fish and was able to get his rod tip to the sky. About that time a huge Snook busted out of the water. Brent wasn't able to get down on her fast enough to keep her head out of the water so he had to pull with all of his might again to get her back to the top. This time Brent was prepared and was able to keep her on top of the water. I Boga Gripped her and she went a remarkable 22.5 pounds. Brent was stoked he finally had is first Snook on the West Coast that went 20 pounds plus.
After seeing how hard Brent had to work Chris new it would be a challenge for him to put one of those monsters in the boat. He was up for it though. We worked over the structure and Chris had a couple of good thumps but never was able to get in a fight, he was only able to throw a couple of punches and that was it. Eventually we hit the last spot. I told him to put his bait in a nearly impossible spot. He dropped it down and Walla, Fish On. The Racing Mullet laid the wood to Chris and Chris laid it back. After a short tug of war, Chris managed to land this pretty slot sized Snook. We unhooked it. I took this great picture and when Chris let it go, he told the fish he was lucky Snook season is still a week away.
Even though we were done with the big Snook, we weren't done with the Big Fish. I asked Chris and Brent who wanted a shot a the true monsters in our area. Chris respectfully gave the honors to his uncle Brent. I carefully went over the instructions with Brent on how and what to do when he gets one of these beasts on. I bait up his hook and drop the big Lady down for him. But on the way down I feel the huge thump. I quickly hand the rod over to Brent and tell him he's got one. Brent set the hook and the automatically was pulled down to the gunnel. In about 5 seconds or so he was left with a busted line. He never knew a fish could pull as hard as the one he had just had on did. About that time Chris said, "are all your trips like this, man your customers are probably ready to go home by lunch time because they are wore out?" I rigged Brent up again and reiterated the instructions. He was ready this time he said. He had his thumb on the spool ready to lock down whatever would eat the bait I just dropped down for him. I tell you it wasn't a minute latter before he had a great big ol' fish on. Brent did everything he could to keep line from coming off the reel but it was still going. We had reached the critical point in the fight and I decided I better help thumb the spool or the Big Dawg was going to bust Brent off. Using both of our thumbs we managed to stop the fish and get it away from the structures. At that point I think Brent thought the fight was nearly over. Boy was he wrong. I let go of the spool and he was completely on his own. Right about the time I relaxed the huge Jewfish surged for the structure and jerked Brent down on the back deck. It scared me to death for a second. Brent recovered and got back to his feet quickly. For the next 10 minutes Brent pulled harder on a fish than he has ever in his life. When he finally landed it, Brent and the fish were completely wore out. However, he wasn't to tired to get this great picture with a truly phenomenal catch.
As the title of this report stated, it was truly a "Morning to Remember." All of this action and all of these monstrous fish by 10:20am on that Saturday morning. I was very pleased to be able to show Brent a Chris such a great time. It sure would be nice if it worked out that way every trip. Snook season is open and fall is around the corner. I can't wait for some great Pine Island Sound fishing. Till next time, keep those lines tight.
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After seeing how hard Brent had to work Chris new it would be a challenge for him to put one of those monsters in the boat. He was up for it though. We worked over the structure and Chris had a couple of good thumps but never was able to get in a fight, he was only able to throw a couple of punches and that was it. Eventually we hit the last spot. I told him to put his bait in a nearly impossible spot. He dropped it down and Walla, Fish On. The Racing Mullet laid the wood to Chris and Chris laid it back. After a short tug of war, Chris managed to land this pretty slot sized Snook. We unhooked it. I took this great picture and when Chris let it go, he told the fish he was lucky Snook season is still a week away.
Even though we were done with the big Snook, we weren't done with the Big Fish. I asked Chris and Brent who wanted a shot a the true monsters in our area. Chris respectfully gave the honors to his uncle Brent. I carefully went over the instructions with Brent on how and what to do when he gets one of these beasts on. I bait up his hook and drop the big Lady down for him. But on the way down I feel the huge thump. I quickly hand the rod over to Brent and tell him he's got one. Brent set the hook and the automatically was pulled down to the gunnel. In about 5 seconds or so he was left with a busted line. He never knew a fish could pull as hard as the one he had just had on did. About that time Chris said, "are all your trips like this, man your customers are probably ready to go home by lunch time because they are wore out?" I rigged Brent up again and reiterated the instructions. He was ready this time he said. He had his thumb on the spool ready to lock down whatever would eat the bait I just dropped down for him. I tell you it wasn't a minute latter before he had a great big ol' fish on. Brent did everything he could to keep line from coming off the reel but it was still going. We had reached the critical point in the fight and I decided I better help thumb the spool or the Big Dawg was going to bust Brent off. Using both of our thumbs we managed to stop the fish and get it away from the structures. At that point I think Brent thought the fight was nearly over. Boy was he wrong. I let go of the spool and he was completely on his own. Right about the time I relaxed the huge Jewfish surged for the structure and jerked Brent down on the back deck. It scared me to death for a second. Brent recovered and got back to his feet quickly. For the next 10 minutes Brent pulled harder on a fish than he has ever in his life. When he finally landed it, Brent and the fish were completely wore out. However, he wasn't to tired to get this great picture with a truly phenomenal catch.
As the title of this report stated, it was truly a "Morning to Remember." All of this action and all of these monstrous fish by 10:20am on that Saturday morning. I was very pleased to be able to show Brent a Chris such a great time. It sure would be nice if it worked out that way every trip. Snook season is open and fall is around the corner. I can't wait for some great Pine Island Sound fishing. Till next time, keep those lines tight.
Make sure you check out the new fishing magazine called 
Be sure to check out my good friends Maverick HPX. He is really looking forward to moving into a larger boat for him and his wife. He is willing to let it go for 19,800. Click on the link 