Mondays' guest was Joe Mercurio who is the host of a popular radio show in Sarasota called "Smells Like Fish." Joe hasn't been out on the water for a few weeks due to the furtherment of his education in "Environmental Sciences." I had sent him some pics earlier in the week of the Snook we were putting in the boat. He couldn't wait to just get out on the water.

The tide was still going out at 9a.m. when I picked Joe up at the Punta Rassa boat ramp. So we headed off to catch some ladyfish for the big snook. The Lady's turned up quickly and we managed two or three to the boat in about 15 minutes or so. We then headed off to the Mogan Mansion. Our water is still so dirty. I have a feeling the snook are not biting as well towards the end of the tide because of the lack of bait in the dirty water. After 45 minutes or so of fishing without a bite it was time to head up into the sound for some inshore grouper action.

The first stop we made only produced one hit and Joe missed it. I knew we would have plenty of more chances to miss fish on the day. The next stop was the "one". I told Joe several times he would not believe how tough these fish were. I rigged both of us with 2 feet of 40lb fluro leader, 1/2 oz weight and size 2 Eagle Claw live bait hooks. We were using live pinfish hooked through the back slowly reeled through the structure. For the first ten hits Joe was broken off on at least 8 of them. Those grouper are relentless. I can't believe how many times we were broken off in an hour or so. We eventually got the hang of it and finally boated 10 or so grouper. I believe I got the largest and Joe came in a close second. We did get one unusual catch. Joe and I were fishing the structure when he gets slammed by a grouper and about the same time I get crunched to. The fish was wrapping me around all of the structure he could and fortunately my 30lb test 8lb diameter Fins braid held up. When the fish finally surfaced it was a 4 foot nurse shark. Joe actually called it when he said I bet there are nurse sharks down there and sure enough I get one on. Joe and both were getting hungry so we left the fish biting in order to go get a late lunch at the "Waterfront Restaurant" in St. James City.

After a wonderful meal at the Waterfront, off we went to catch some ladies for the Racing Mullet at the first part of the outgoing tide. Fortunately the ladies were in the same area we caught them earlier in the day. In about 30 minutes we put about 15 ladies in the well. Time to go get a big snook. When we arrived the tide was moving quite well but everywhere we tried produced nothing. Eventually we ended up where we started. Our first stop seemed to be the best one. Joe handed me his rod so he could get something in the front of the boat. When he did his rod gets hit. I tell him he has a fish and hand him the 15 to 40lb Cape Fear, then he slams the hook into the fish. After a short fight, a nice keeper grouper comes up with a Ladyfish hanging out of his mouth. Into the cooler he went. I told Joe those Eagle Claw Live Bait hooks are the best and sure enough his 6/0 hook penetrated the groupers mouth right in the top lip.

Finally, it was time for a little snook action. Joe has the fortune of fishing alot of the big tournaments. He fishes the Ranger Redfish Tour, Red Snook Tourney, and several others on a constant basis. But he hasn't had the opportunity to do much structure fishing with live bait. He didn't know what he was in for. I tossed his Lady into the Snook's lair and in a few minutes his bait was inhaled and the battle was on. Joe set the hook and the snook started pulling Joe instead of the other way around. Most people that have caught Snook know they are powerful and put up a good fight on light tackle, but they have no clue what kind of fight they will put up with the drag on lock down and a solid backboned rod like a Cape Fear. Joe started to win the war and after a minute and a half he boated the fish. She was a beauty, a nice 16.5 pounder that went 38 inches.

In conclusion, we had a very good low stress day. We just wanted to have fun and managed to do that and catch fish too. I was glad to see Joe get one of the big Snook and a nice grouper to take home for dinner.

If you are urning for some tackle busting, leader fraying, excitement then give Captain Chancey a call @ (239)540-7529

Until next time may you have line singing, leader fraying, and tackle busting action!!!!