After a bad accident forced a two-month fishing hiatus, I was finally ready to get back on the water. I promised my better half that I’d take it easy, so instead of heading west as originally planned, I did a leisurely trip to my home waters—Blackwater Bay. The river was muddy around Milton, but by the time I cleared the I-10 bridge, the water was clean although heavily stained with tannin. With the upcoming full moon, there was plenty of flow and a good solunar period from 10 to noon so I was hoping for some action.
The first stop had me tossing a Zara Spook in less than four feet. No trout and no mullet, either. I moved on. Tried the topwater again but with the advancing time and temperatures, I switched tackle to get down into the water column. The surface temperatures were as high as 84.85 degrees.
Swirls and mullet jumping were encouraging signs. I was tossing a DOA CAL Stark Naked shad tail on a 1/4-ounce chartreuse jig head. As I was twitching it back from the spartina shoreline, the jig was soundly thumped. I set the hook and the fight on 8-pound braided line was on. The fish made several strong runs, yet never showed itself. A big sailcat was the likely culprit, I suspected. As I eased it closer to the skiff with the Power Pole down, it suddenly made a surge towards the stern. Somehow the fish managed to wrap the line over the trim tab plate, around the Power Pole spike and then when it doubled back, around the extended push pole tip. It was a mess.
I opened the bail to reduce tension and belly-flopped on top of the poling platform, poking and jabbing the rod tip downward, trying to unhitch the coils. By a small miracle, I managed to unravel all those tangles without parting the line. The fish took off again and I finally confirmed the ID of a chunky red. Another stubborn surge or two and I hoisted my prize into the cockpit. A quick snapshot, brief revival in the water and it swam strongly off into the ice tea. No lemon, no sugar. Time for a long swig of cold Heineken.
The shoreline was still active and the lure fooled a dink croaker (first one in a long while), along with Orange Beach releases on a pinner and needlefish. Time to move yet again.
I normally sight-fish from the poling platform during my trips. The water visibility and my limited mobility made Motor Guide my friend today instead. As I eased slowly along the front side of the Blackwater oyster reefs bouncing the jig, another jarring thwack telegraphed up the line. This time I could see my adversary and it wasn’t another red I hoped for. Instead the jig had hooked a 3-foot stingray in the wing and it wasn’t a happy Dasyatis americana. After a few minutes, I wound it next to the gunwale and managed to pop the hook free without a Steve Irwin moment. My luck is getting better.
When something toothy nipped the tail off the lure, it was time to call it quits. The pre-summer sun was cooking and my energy was flagging. Besides, the magnolias were blooming in the refuge, an osprey and blue heron had squawked hellos and I had released a nice slot red. It was a good morning and even better to be back on the briny again.
Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of a summer fishing tradition. The 2024 CCA Florida STAR Tournament gets underway Saturday, May 25 and continues for more than 100 days, ending September 2, 2024. Prizes include boat, outboard and trailer packages for tagged redfish, tackle, gift certificates and scholarships for junior anglers. There are multiple inshore and offshore divisions but you have to be a CCA member and registered for the STAR tournament to win. Visit ccaflstar.com to sign up now and good luck!
Copyright 2024, Capt. Dave Lear
All rights reserved.