It's the weekend of the 26th of April 2002. The forecast called for clear skies, a full moom and a low incoming tide. Winds out of the SW 5 mph.
On Friday, I was coaxed by Nelson my fishing partner to go to his old stomping grounds at the Sanibel Pier. He invited me on Friday evening to fish the end of the out going tide with him and another fella named Jason. We brought out the heavy gear: 3 Penn 9/0 spooled with 100lb test and 150lb leader. They were rigged with 8 oz egg sinkers and 5 or 6/0 hooks. Nelson netted the bait right at the pier. In one cast he caught ladyfish, trout, small snook and a mullet or two. Nelson put a trout on one rod, a mullet on the other and Jason put a mullet on his rod. In about 30 minutes Jason got the first fish on, it was a huge 38' snook that weighed 16.5 pounds on the Boga Grip. Jason got a can opened up on him by that snook. He looked as if the snook was going to pull him in the water instead of him pulling the snook out of the water. The fish was Jason's largest snook he has ever caught by far. There was one huge problem however I had left my camera at home and Nelson's camera did not have any film in it. Jason took the news fairly well and revived the fish at the beach and let him go. A few minutes later he found a disposable camera that he forgot he had in his bag. He did not take that very well and proceeded to call himself some choice words. We soon left, because the tide started to slack and there was absolutely no bite going on at all. Well since I don't have a picture of that snook, here is one a little smaller from Cory.
It's 4:30 in the morning and the alarm clock rings, it's time to get up and get ready for the Chokolooskee trip. We fixed a few sandwiches, loaded the boat and then the bait. We were off at 5:45 but still had to gass up. We usually don't gas up until we have traveled a few miles because I don't like towing the boat full with gas over a long distance. The boat is gassed as well as the truck and we are off again a 6:15. We arrive a 7:30 at Choko Island Park and it is full so we head back to the other ramp wher 5 boats were waiting in line and 50 trucks and trailers were already parked down the street. I thought we were going to a remote area deep in the Everglades instead it looked like I was at the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp. Anyhow here is how the trip went. We fished our favorite spot with one break off and soon ran out of bait. The bait spot we like was bone dry. We decided to head to the Broad river right into the face of 2-3ft white caps. Our poor decision obviously. About an hour and 35 miles later we arrived at the mouth of the river. That was one long an bumpy ride in two to three footers. Now get prepared for the fishing report. Not one fish in the Broad River but it sure looked good. Two small jacks in the Indian Key area, one small snapper, and one small jewfish. That was it, a 114 miles total on the boat and 4 total fish. I hate the full moon and probaly won't ever make another far trip during the full moon unless it is a night fishing one.
