It's Monday, the 1st of July 2002 at 7:30 in the morning.
The forecast called for partly sunny skies with thunderstorms likely later in the day. We had an
incoming tide for the first part of the day and a late evening outgoing. The winds were out of
the SW 5-10mph for most of the day.
My guests for the day were John Goode a bass and rock fisherman from Maryland and his son
in law Gary. John told me over the phone he was an avid bass fisherman. He said he had heard
stories about our snook and wanted to find out for himself if they were all they were said to be.
Over the weekend our area had nearly 20 inches of rain over a three day period. The water in the
river was already bad but the monsoon that hit over the weekend really ruined everything all the
way to the gulf.
We arrived at the Causeway at 8:30 and 2 hours later we were still there without a bait in the
well. I decided to try the creek where we had caught some large snook last week. I figured since
John was a bass guy he could adapt to casting in the mangroves because it is alot like casting in
cover for bass. As it turned out I was wrong. John had alot of trouble casting the Zoom jerk
baits into the mangrove holes. They probaly caught a good 20 or so mangroves during the hour we
spent there. The tide was incoming and nearly slack. we did not even manage one bite. I decided
to take the guys to Punta Rassa Marina and let them get a little lunch before we headed back out.
Somehow I got water in my gas tank and it was really making the yammie run bad. I bought some
water absorber from the marina to help solve the problem. Fortunately the water absorber helped
and the engine started to run alot better.
Next we went back to the Causeway to try and catch bait. Once again we were shut out. I
then went to the next span and again nothing. The big threadfin are my favorite for the big snook
and I really felt we needed to catch some in order to have a shot at some of those 10-20lb snook.
At the next span I threw about 25 casts with no luck. At that point I had probaly thrown over 75
casts. I finally decided to quit going after the threads and see if I could get some pins on the
flats. I had to work but managed about 18 or so nice pinfish, a pound sized croaker, along with 5
or 6 big threadfin. Off to the snook hole we went. The tide was not right but I was hoping the
fish would cooperate anyhow.
When we arrived I promptly told John and Gary the instructions on how to land these big
snook. After completing my instructions, I always ask "Do you understand?" As everyone else does,
they shook their heads yes. We fished for maybe 15 minutes while everyone got accompanied to
fishing the docks. I pulled into a slip and baited up John's rod with the pound croaker. I casted
his bait into the hole and told him to hold on because he was going to get a big one. Sure enough
not a minute later Fish On!!! John did well pulling the rod up but he tried to reel without
pumping the rod. I told John to pump that rod and reel down to get that fish out. Finally he
managed to tire the big boy out. I could tell when John got the Snook to the boat he was amazed
at the strength of the fish. He said he had caught 30lb rock fish up north but they could not
even hold a candle to what that snook could do. John barely had enough strength to hold his prize
up after it was all said and done.
Next it was Gary's turn to grab some of the action. Gary was making fun of how John's snook
whooped him. Little did he know the same thing was about to happen to him. I baited him up with a
large pinfish and Bam!!! Fish On!! He tried to reel just like John did but to no avail. Once he
figured out he had to pump the fish to gain line he was able to bring the Snook on up to the
boat. He to was very surprized about the power of the snook. I told both of them that they would
probaly give up bass fishing altogether if they had a chance to tangle with a Snook. Now that I
think about it they probably won't since they live in Maryland. I don't blame them, I couldn't go
without fishing that long either.
As the day began to age John hooked into a real monster that pulled drag on the 80lb line and
150lb leader. I told him to pump that fish out of there but it didn't happen. He had already
wrapped John around the pilings. Even the 80lb Fins braid will give away with that much pressure
while rubbing on sharp barnacles. Gary razzed John again about his misfortunes. I told him he
will have to practice before I would let him come back. He told me he wouldn't have lost him if
it wasn't for my faulty equipment. We both laughed at that one. It's tough to admit you just got
beat up. Something else must have happened. That is what I say anyhow.
To conclude bait had never been tougher and at one time I was at a complete loss. I am glad I
finally realized pinfish and croakers catch fish too. John and Gary turned out to be a couple of
great guys and I look forward to catching with them again. If you are urning for
some rod busting leader fraying excitement then give Captain Chancey a call @ (239)540-7529
Until next time may you have line singing, leader fraying, and
drag screaming action!!!!
