NAUTICAL MILE

P  U  B  L  I  C  A  T  I  O  N  S

Capt. Rob writes "Reflections on the Water", one of the most popular columns we have. They are

stories from his day-to-day adventures in our local waters, with a little touch of personality. He is a full time back-country guide who's been fishing the waters of South West Florida since boyhood. He specializes in both light tackle spin and fly-fishing and supplies all the necessary gear for your charter. You'll spend your day aboard SoulMate, an 22 foot Skeeter that can navigate the shallow waters of Pine Island Sound and Estero Bay while searching for snook, redfish, trout and tarpon. Capt. Rob not only welcomes the accomplished angler, he encourages families with youngsters to join him for a day on the water.

July 2006

The Shadow

We’ve all seen him.  He lurks on the water just off the edge of the flats and mangrove cuts.  He watches.  He follows you to your favorite spots and quietly moves in.  The Shadow.  You see him in Ding and then at Panther and Wood Key.  Later he’s drifting the flats near the power lines.  The Shadow.

If you spend any time at all fishing in southwest Florida you’ve probably been stalked by someone in another boat.  The motivation is simple… Why work to find a great fishing hole when you can simply follow someone to theirs?

That’s sad.  It’s sort of like copying someone else’s homework or cheating on an exam.  You may get the answer right or pass the test, but you’ll never fully understand what the subject is about.

So if you are in the “shadows”, come out and begin by looking around and paying close attention while on the water.  There are many clues that will help you find fish.  Time must be spent studying the movement of the water by both tides and wind.  Pay close attention to wading birds and other wildlife.  On stormy, rainy days while stuck in the house, pull out the nautical and satellite charts and look for interesting underwater topography that could lead to finding that special honey hole.  Start by looking for deep holes near shallow water and large grass flats with depths from three to five feet.  Take note of any deep-water cuts between mangroves.

On fishing outings, take some time out to explore new areas.  If the boat you use is equipped with a poling platform and push pole, use it!  Get in close to the mangrove shoreline and pole yourself along the edge.  The view from the platform is like being on a tower boat without the noise.  If you spot fish, make a note of the location, time of day, winds and tides.  There’s a very good chance that they’ll be there again when the same conditions occur.

Don’t get stuck using the same bait or lures over and over again.  Try something new and perhaps radical.  Many lures intended for fresh water fishing work extremely well at attracting saltwater fish.  Try spinner baits and buzz baits for redfish.  After all… The soft plastic jerkbaits, which are successfully used today, were originally designed for bass fishing.    

There isn’t a lot of luck involved in fishing or finding fish.  It takes time and effort.  Just like any other sport, fishing requires study and practice.  Remember, you’ll get much more satisfaction finding that special fishing spot or lure than being The Shadow.

August 2006

The Shadow

We’ve all seen him.  He lurks on the water just off the edge of the flats and mangrove cuts.  He watches.  He follows you to your favorite spots and quietly moves in.  The Shadow.  You see him in Ding and then at Panther and Wood Key.  Later he’s drifting the flats near the power lines.  The Shadow.

If you spend any time at all fishing in southwest Florida you’ve probably been stalked by someone in another boat.  The motivation is simple… Why work to find a great fishing hole when you can simply follow someone to theirs?

That’s sad.  It’s sort of like copying someone else’s homework or cheating on an exam.  You may get the answer right or pass the test, but you’ll never fully understand what the subject is about.

So if you are in the “shadows”, come out and begin by looking around and paying close attention while on the water.  There are many clues that will help you find fish.  Time must be spent studying the movement of the water by both tides and wind.  Pay close attention to wading birds and other wildlife.  On stormy, rainy days while stuck in the house, pull out the nautical and satellite charts and look for interesting underwater topography that could lead to finding that special honey hole.  Start by looking for deep holes near shallow water and large grass flats with depths from three to five feet.  Take note of any deep water cuts between mangroves.

There’s an old saying that goes something like this… Every day spent fishing adds another day to you life. I wish that were true!  But there is some merit to the idea that spending time on the water, away from the trials and tribulations of life, can help alleviate some of the day-to-day stress found on the mainland.  

Fishing, whether from shore or from a boat seems to be a “mind eraser” for most anglers.  I know that when I’m out there looking for the next big snook, redfish or tarpon, I have very little time to think about anything but the approach and the hopeful impending hookup. This is what led me to call a good friend of mind whose father had recently passed away.

Nick Contessa and I had spent quite a bit of time together on Estero Bay fishing and talking about family, work and the latest lures and fishing tactics.  The death of his father had hit him hard and had taken him away from the water.  Having lost my dad only a few years ago, I knew a bit about what he was feeling.  Like my father, Nick’s dad had introduced him to fishing and had taken the time to see that angling became a part of his life.  Nick told me that his dad really didn’t fish all that much himself, but he enjoyed watching and helping Nick.  Obviously it’s paid off.  Nick is an excellent angler and a pleasure to share a boat with.  It was time for him to get back on the water.  I called and we set the date.

We started early and headed to one of our favorite spots at the top of the bay.  The fish were there and the fun began.  We found school after school of marauding jacks chasing bait around and through the oyster bars.  Some of the schools were so large the “push” of the water looked more like a pod of dolphin!  The mix also included a few snook, ladyfish and Nick managed to get hooked up with a big red.

Nick then suggested we try a spot that I hadn’t fished before and we were off to the backcountry of Estero Bay.  After arriving we started casting soft plastics to the bushes and the bite began almost immediately.  We both got several snook and large trout along with more jacks.  The water was falling and the bite continued for over an hour.  We still joke about my next comment.  “Nick, I don’t think there’s enough water to float a fish back here now.  We might want to think about getting out of here before we have to spend the night.”  I then looked up under the mangroves and saw a big redfish moving slowly with a bit of his back and tail out of the water.  I led him with a cast and within seconds the fight was on!  A few minutes later I landed a twenty-six inch fish.  After releasing the red and laughing about what I’d said about the lack of water, I spotted another push well up under the mangroves.  Nick graciously said, “Go for it” and soon I had another big red on.  The drag sang and the fish ran up and down the mangrove line but there was nowhere to hide.  The water was well below the roots and after a short tug-of-war Nick netted another twenty-six inch redfish.

We decided it was time to move on so we headed to a creek opening and ate lunch while waiting for the tide to turn back inward.  The conversation eventually led to our dads.  We reminisced about past fishing outings with them and how we both were instilled with an appreciation of the outdoors and wildlife.  We talked about the first fish we ever caught and the biggest.  The conversation was never sad.  It was more of a celebration of our angling roots.  We both felt that if it hadn’t been for them, we wouldn’t be doing what we were doing that day.  And what a shame that would have been!

After catching a few more fish in the creek we headed for home.  The fishing had been fantastic and the camaraderie even better.  Nick was back on the water where he should be and both our dads were smiling.

Remember, find the time to take your sons or daughters boating and fishing.   It’s important to show them what we enjoy in hopes that they’ll continue the traditions that mean so much to us.

September 2006

The Sky is Falling

There’s been a lot of talk recently about adverse fishing conditions in our local waters. Tropical weather and hurricanes are the least of our perceived problems.  We now have blue-green algae, smothering muck and red tide to contend with.  At every turn and in every publication there’s bad news on top of bad news. ENOUGH!

When the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Water quality in Southwest Florida is no laughing matter but I personally believe that it’s being blown way out of proportion by certain folks.  I sense a good deal of, “The sky is falling; the sky is falling.”

I’m the first to admit that things are not all peaches and cream but things could be so much worse.  Take a look at the devastation left by hurricane Katrina.  Now that was coastal catastrophe.

We do need to be cognizant of what’s happening in our home waters and we need to be diligent and active in changing the way that pollutants from both agriculture and development are handled. But we also need to learn to adapt to the ever changing hand that Mother Nature and man deliver us on any given day, week or month.  While changes and solutions for many of our water quality problems are in the works, it will be years before many of the fixes are in place.  It’s important, now more that ever, to understand how the winds, tides and salinity all play a part in the scheme of things.  A successful fishing trip depends on it.

The ever-constant movement of water, both in and out of our bays, sounds and passes is very important to finding the location of bait and fish.  It’s also important in facing the challenge of red tide.  In almost all cases, red tide begins in the Gulf waters and then “moves” toward our passes and bays. This movement is caused by tide and wind.  The size of the outbreak can be anything from small pockets to large areas that cover many acres of water.  I’ve found that when red tide appears, it’s best to start moving away from the outer water areas that are close to the Gulf passes and move well back into the backcountry.

The Caloosahatchee River also seems to be safe haven from red tide due to the flush of fresh water coming down the river during the rainy season.  If you combine an outgoing tide with the outflow from the mouth of the river you’ll find fishing is excellent around Shell Point and many of the small islands that dot that area.  

Be sure to monitor the winds and weather forecast.  If red tide is reported in San Carlos Bay, south of the bridges, then a strong south wind is going to push it well up into lower Pine Island Sound and Matlacha Pass.  However, a strong northerly flow will keep the outbreak south and perhaps push it back out into the Gulf of Mexico.

Remember…there will always be challenges on the water.  Whether its tropical storms, bad water or screaming cold fronts in January, the best of the best get out there and find the fish.

October 2006

You Only Need Four Boats

After spending quite a bit of time over the last year thinking about buying a new boat I’ve come to one conclusion.  In order to successfully fish in Southwest Florida you need four different boats in your arsenal.  Sorry, but that’s how it is so it’s time to head to the bank and bite the bullet.  The unique diversity of our area has caused this, and while you may think I’m kidding… I’m not!  Let me elaborate.

We’ll start with offshore.  There you’ll need something stout; something that can handle the long runs to our outer fishing areas.  You’ll need a vessel that can handle 4 to 6 footers as well as the flat calm and it needs to be reliable.  You’ll have to have at least two engines.  Three would be better.  After all, a breakdown 70 miles out is really a pain and it’s nice to have an extra engine or two to get you home.  Some form of a center console style boat at least 30-feet long ought to do it.  It will give you plenty of room for your friends, and they’ll show up big time when they hear you’ve got a nice offshore ride.  You’ll also need the latest in electronics.  A depth sounder and GPS are the norm but weather radar is a must.  Heading out in the summer months is easy… Getting back through the squalls and thunder storms is a whole different adventure.

Next on the list is the bay boat.  These are just smaller versions of their offshore cousins powered with single outboards from 150 to 300 horsepower.  Most are twenty to twenty-four feet long with center consoles and drafts of around 12 to 14 inches.  They’re used to fish the inshore bays like Pine Island Sound, Estero Bay and Matlacha Pass as well as the near offshore waters for tarpon, permit and grouper.  They are generally very stable with lots of room for several anglers and are also a great choice when you need to get the whole family on the water.  Equipment should include a GPS, depth sounder, a couple of live wells for bait and a trolling motor.  Oh yeah… If you hate using a conventional anchor in two to five feet of water, add a Power-Pole.  I’d rather fish with a Zebco pushbutton on a fiberglass rod than not have my Power-Pole anchoring system.

The flats skiff.  You’ve got to have a real flats skiff.  I’m talking shallow water angling with light fly and spin tackle.  You want it to float in six to eight inches of water and I mean REALLY float in six to eight inches of water. That would be with you, your 250-pound friend and all your gear on board.  If the spec sheet says something about “technical polling skiff” and “carbon fiber construction” than you are in the right territory.  These boats are usually 16 to 17 feet long, powered by a 40 to 90 horsepower outboard motor.  They should be equipped with a polling platform (that’s the airfoil looking thing over the motor) and a light weight push pole.  The idea here is slim to nothing… No electronics, no live bait well (water weighs a lot) and a cooler that will hold a cup of ice and 4 water bottles.  If you are really serious about targeting tailing redfish then this machine is a must.  I almost forgot.  You’re going to need a bunch of artificial baits and a lot of expensive fly-fishing gear.

Last but certainly not least is the kayak.  Without a doubt this is fast becoming one of the best ways to catch fish in our area and the reason is, you can get to places that other boat-bound anglers only dream about!  It’s basically wading without getting wet.  You have such a low profile to the water that the fish can’t see you coming.  They also can’t hear you because you don’t have an outboard or trolling motor, just you and a paddle.  There are a couple of other things to consider.  You don’t need a boat ramp to launch and the fuel savings are enormous!

So now you’re going to have to foot the bill for four fishing machines to be truly successful in our area.  Then again, you can buy your favorite from the list above and then work on finding three really good fishing friends.

November 2006

The signs of fall in southwest Florida are everywhere and the changing season requires a slight shift in angling tactics.  Many of our northern friends say the one thing that they’d miss living here; near the beaches of Fort Myers, is the lack of seasonal change.  Most specifically they mention the fall.  But those of us that live here year-round know that we DO have changes and it’s not just the increase in traffic.

If you drive anywhere near the Corkscrew Swamp or the Everglades National Park you’ll notice the swamp maples have their fall colors.  The hues of red, orange and yellow really stand out against the evergreens.  The feel of the morning air has changed.  It’s cooler with less humidity and if you’re on the water, a light jacket or sweater is required… At least for me it is!  The rainy season is almost over.  Now the showers only come once or twice a week and the threat of lightning is virtually gone.  Even the sunsets look different during this time of year; more pinks and purple mixed in with the red.

The migration of birds from north to south has begun.  I saw the first couple of white pelicans on an oyster bar in lower Matlacha Pass a few days ago and I’m sure more are on the way from their summer homes in the upper United States and Canada.  A pair of bald eagles has returned to Regla Island and many more will arrive shortly for nesting season.  The wading birds will return to Ding Darling on Sanibel including the rosette spoonbills and there will be an increase in the osprey population.

It’s a great time to be on the water enjoying boating or just heading up to Charlie Pass for a picnic or family gathering.  The big crowds haven’t arrived yet so you pretty much have the upper islands to yourself for shelling or exploring.

And then there’s the fishing.  It really doesn’t get much better than right now.  Don’t get me wrong, I love May and June too, but fishing in November can be a ton of fun!  The days are getting shorter, the water temperatures are beginning to cool and the fish are fattening up for the winter months.  They’ll eat almost anything.  It’s a good time to have shrimp in the live well along with white bait and threadfins.  And don’t forget to have some pinfish and ladyfish onboard for cut bait.  Those big reds love cut bait!

Keep an eye out while cruising across the open flats for birds diving on bait.  There are huge schools of ladyfish and spanish mackerel working that same bait from the bottom up and both are fun to catch and provide constant action for young anglers.

Fall is “in the air”.  Open the windows, air out the house and get out there and enjoy what our unique area has to offer.

December 2006

Wintertime Snookin’

As the winter winds began to blow and our local air and water temperatures begin to drop, snook anglers have to change tactics to find what is unquestionably the most sought after game fish in our local waters… Snook!  Here are a few tips to hopefully make your cooler weather outings more productive.

It’s important to think like a snook.  I’m not kidding.  They are a bit like us humans in the fact that they prefer warm water over cold and they will go to great lengths to find it.  Sort of like snowbirds heading for warmer climates.  When the water temperatures drop to around 70 degrees, snook move away from the shallow water areas and either head out in the Gulf to offshore reefs or they move up our many rivers and creeks to find warm water sanctuaries.  Snook can easily adapt to fresh water, so it’s not unusual to find them all the way up in the Everglades and at the very top of small creeks.  The water there is confined and protected from the wind and with just a little sunshine, warms quickly and provides a comfort zone.

While I like to use artificial lures for snook in the summer, I much prefer live bait during the winter.  And when it comes to live bait I generally stick to shrimp.  The cooler water slows the snook’s metabolism down and they just don’t seem interested in chasing a fast moving target.  Shrimp are slow and easy natural prey.

My winter snook rigs consist of a 7 ½ foot rod; a reel spooled with 20 lb test braided line and a 30 lb fluorocarbon leader.  I use a 3/0 circle hook placed just under the horn on top of the shrimp’s head.  Snook are out of season most of the winter and the circle hooks greatly reduce the chance of gut hooking and make safely releasing the fish much easier.

It’s very important to make the shrimp look as natural as possible.  Try to find an area where the water is moving and cast the shrimp to ambush zones.  Again; think like a snook.  They don’t want to exert a lot of energy so they will lay in wait on mangrove points and near backwashes for prey to come to them.  Deliver the shrimp upstream and let it “swim” by naturally.  On particularly cold mornings try weighting the bait by using small lead split shot placed about a foot above the shrimp.  Snook tend to move down in the water column on the coldest days so this will help get the bait in their strike zone.

I’ll use this winter pattern until mid March when the snook start to head out of the creeks and rivers for the bays and beaches setting up for the spawn in May.  But why wait until May when you can catch one of south west Florida’s best fighting game fish all winter long?

See you on the water!

June 2006

Summer’s here!

I often hear folks from up north say, “You don’t have seasons here.  Don’t you get tired of no seasonal changes?”

Nope.

That’s the quick answer.  But the truth is, we do have seasons, you just have to look a little more closely to see them.

Summer has arrived and I cannot only see it, I can feel it.  On the water the morning air has changed from a dry coolness to a damp and more humid feel.  There’s a mist in the air just before sunrise and you can smell the moisture mixing with the mangroves.  The migratory birds have left and the frigate birds have arrived.

The mornings are calm and the seas are flat.  Later in the afternoon the winds pick up and switch to the west and by late afternoon the thunderstorms are threatening.  

On the mainland there’s less traffic.  The snowbirds returned to their northern homes.  There are no lines at my favorite restaurants and a shopping trip only takes minutes instead of an hour.  I no longer have to show up at the boat ramp at 4:30 in the morning to find a parking spot!   

And the fishing is at its best!

The threadfin herrings and pilchards are moving in and growing in size and the tarpon are close behind.  Snook are moving to the beaches for spawn and hoards of ladyfish, jacks and spanish mackerel are crashing through bait on the flats.  Redfish have taken up residence on mangrove points and will eat just about any bait presented to them.  Trout are on almost every flat and it’s time to break out the top-water lures like Chug Bugs and Super Spooks.  Kingfish and amberjacks are offshore favorites along with huge snapper and grouper.  And then there are sharks.  Black tips, bulls, bonnet and hammerheads, to name a few.

It’s my favorite time of the year.  No more jackets and long pants.  It’s time to break out the shorts and flip-flops.  It’s time to get out on the water and enjoy southwest Florida fishing at its best.

April 2006

Sometimes we forget to look around.  That thought came to mind a few weeks ago while on a charter with a young couple from Indiana.  

We, as anglers, tend to get totally wrapped up in “the trip.”   We start mentally planning several days before the event by looking at tide charts, watching the weather and putting the entire fishing outing together in our heads.  Long before the trip takes place we begin strategizing like a college basketball coach planning for March Madness.  Where’s the bait going to be?  Which way is the wind going to blow?  Are the tides going to provide a good flow of water? What is Plan “B”?

And then the day arrives.

After a quick trip to the first stop, the bait goes on the hooks and the lines go in the water.  One of the baits gets hit and the fight is on.  It’s a nice redfish.  A few minutes later a trout is caught and then another red is on.  After a quick flurry of action it suddenly gets quiet.  While I contemplate a move to a new spot, an osprey dives to the surface of the water and catches a trout for breakfast.  But before he can get fully airborne a bald eagle dives from above and the battle for the catch is on.  All eyes on the boat are on the birds and the fishing is forgotten.  After several minutes the eagle prevails and flies off with the osprey’s catch.  The young lady on the boat says she’s never seen an eagle in the wild, much less what just occurred.  She’s much more excited about capturing the photo of what just happened than catching the redfish.

Moments later several bottlenose dolphin show up and begin to coral mullet against a nearby sandbar.  With explosive burst of speed the dolphin crash through the fish and consume their quarry.  Once again the couple put down the rods and grab the camera.  

As the dolphin swim near the boat the camera shutter clicks over and over and the young man says, “This is a lot better than Sea World!”

I can certainly relate to their excitement.

Last year my wife and I took a short vacation break in Colorado.  We flew from Fort Myers to Denver and then drove to Leadville, an old historic mining town located 11,000 feet above sea level in the Rockies.  For a flatlander Florida boy, the mountain scenery was breathtaking.  We arrived shortly after a late spring snowstorm so the area was still covered in a blanket of white, something not seen in southwest Florida.  On our drive up to the mountains we saw wild elk and antelope and even encountered a large herd of buffalo.  Fantastic!  At every turn there was something wild and different to experience.  For my wife and me, it was new.  For the locals, it was an everyday occurrence.

Colorado gave me a new appreciation for the natural environment that surrounds our home, and for the thrill it provides newcomers not accustomed to our saltwater estuaries.  We tend to take our wildlife and scenery for granted while in the pursuit of the “big one.”  That trip taught me to stop for a minute, take a look around and enjoy the moment as well as the great angling available to us here in the Fort Myers area.

May 2006

How big is big?

The question popped into my head a couple of weeks ago after receiving an e-mail from a potential client about booking a fishing charter.  His inquiry was about fishing backcountry vs. offshore and most importantly to him, “how big are backcountry fish?”

He wanted to know if inshore fishing was similar to fishing in streams and small lakes up north…“Lots of small fish and the occasional three to four pounder.”

Well… no…

I’ve fished quite a few streams, rivers and lakes from New Jersey to California and I’ve never encountered a hundred plus pound tarpon or an eight-foot bull shark in any of them.  It became obvious to me that the definition of “backcountry” fishing had a different meaning for folks not familiar with one of the most popular styles of fishing in Southwest Florida.  

The most remarkable thing about fishing in our area is that you never know what you might hook up with.  That’s one of the things that make each day on the “skinny” water so interesting.  Your first cast may produce a nice spotted sea trout and the next, a ladyfish or a jack.  Then comes the surprise.  On the next cast you let the bait settle in the water and BANG, out of the water comes a flash of silver and it’s huge!  Tarpon on!  The next 30 seconds is total bedlam.  The great fish shakes it’s head and rattles its gills and then rips off several hundred feet of line.  This is backcountry fishing at it’s finest.

Then there’s snook.  There’s a reason that it is the most sought after game fish in Florida. Not only is it great table fare, it’s a tremendous fighter that never gives up, even when alongside the boat.  I’ve had many anglers brag about their battles with northern pike and then they hook up with their first slot-sized snook.  It’s quite an eye opener.  First there’s the strike and then the run for the mangroves.  “Turn him, turn him, put pressure on him!” “Stop him, stop him!”  Pop!  The line separates.  I’ve seen lots of folks brought to their knees by snook.

So, how big is big?  I believe the answer is up to the backwater angler.  Some of us want the big tarpon, the “silver king.”  Some of us are happy with large sharks and cobia.  I prefer ladyfish on light fly tackle and I’ve seen plenty of young anglers that are quite happy with small mangrove snapper.  Sometimes more is better than big…    Sometimes.

March 2006

There’s an old saying that goes something like this… Every day spent fishing adds another day to you life. I wish that were true!  But there is some merit to the idea that spending time on the water, away from the trials and tribulations of life, can help alleviate some of the day-to-day stress found on the mainland.  

Fishing, whether from shore or from a boat seems to be a “mind eraser” for most anglers.  I know that when I’m out there looking for the next big snook, redfish or tarpon, I have very little time to think about anything but the approach and the hopeful impending hookup. This is what led me to call a good friend of mind whose father had recently passed away.

Nick Contessa and I had spent quite a bit of time together on Estero Bay fishing and talking about family, work and the latest lures and fishing tactics.  The death of his father had hit him hard and had taken him away from the water.  Having lost my dad only a few years ago, I knew a bit about what he was feeling.  Like my father, Nick’s dad had introduced him to fishing and had taken the time to see that angling became a part of his life.  Nick told me that his dad really didn’t fish all that much himself, but he enjoyed watching and helping Nick.  Obviously it’s paid off.  Nick is an excellent angler and a pleasure to share a boat with.  It was time for him to get back on the water.  I called and we set the date.

We started early and headed to one of our favorite spots at the top of the bay.  The fish were there and the fun began.  We found school after school of marauding jacks chasing bait around and through the oyster bars.  Some of the schools were so large the “push” of the water looked more like a pod of dolphin!  The mix also included a few snook, ladyfish and Nick managed to get hooked up with a big red.

Nick then suggested we try a spot that I hadn’t fished before and we were off to the backcountry of Estero Bay.  After arriving we started casting soft plastics to the bushes and the bite began almost immediately.  We both got several snook and large trout along with more jacks.  The water was falling and the bite continued for over an hour.  We still joke about my next comment.  “Nick, I don’t think there’s enough water to float a fish back here now.  We might want to think about getting out of here before we have to spend the night.”  I then looked up under the mangroves and saw a big redfish moving slowly with a bit of his back and tail out of the water.  I led him with a cast and within seconds the fight was on!  A few minutes later I landed a twenty-six inch fish.  After releasing the red and laughing about what I’d said about the lack of water, I spotted another push well up under the mangroves.  Nick graciously said, “Go for it” and soon I had another big red on.  The drag sang and the fish ran up and down the mangrove line but there was nowhere to hide.  The water was well below the roots and after a short tug-of-war Nick netted another twenty-six inch redfish.

We decided it was time to move on so we headed to a creek opening and ate lunch while waiting for the tide to turn back inward.  The conversation eventually led to our dads.  We reminisced about past fishing outings with them and how we both were instilled with an appreciation of the outdoors and wildlife.  We talked about the first fish we ever caught and the biggest.  The conversation was never sad.  It was more of a celebration of our angling roots.  We both felt that if it hadn’t been for them, we wouldn’t be doing what we were doing that day.  And what a shame that would have been!

After catching a few more fish in the creek we headed for home.  The fishing had been fantastic and the camaraderie even better.  Nick was back on the water where he should be and both our dads were smiling.

Remember, find the time to take your sons or daughters boating and fishing.   It’s important to show them what we enjoy in hopes that they’ll continue the traditions that mean so much to us.

Nautical Mile Publications

Capt. Rob Modys