Fishing and Dreaming
I am sitting here on a Monday, thinking about my upcoming week. I'm teaching some fly fishing lessons, taking some people fishing, tying flies, and preparing for the trip to Abaco Lodge in October. It really isn't a bad way to spend a Monday, especially compared to those who are sitting in a work place they despise. I don't really consider what I do work; it's a passion. It is a passion I get to share with people from all walks of life and all across the world. Sure, I have those daily chores too, like cleaning the house, paying the bills, hitting the gym, or going shopping; but my passion allows me to do these things and keeps me going. If you are reading this, you probably have the same passion too. A strong desire to enjoy the outdoors, get out and fish and really take in what the natural world has to offer. Well, I believe you owe it to yourself. You owe yourself some pleasure and enjoyment in life, so come on and let's go fishing!
The fishing continues to improve, as the weather appears to finally be stabilizing a bit; not necessarily the winds, but the temperatures are stabilizing and making the water temperatures better for fishing. When the water temperatures become stable, the fish become much more predictable. It allows them to enter a specific pattern of moving and eating, instead of constantly being barraged with changes that alter their patterns. This is one of the reasons I love spring and summer fishing; not to mention the various species that show up. If you are tired of cold weather, like a lot of my clients from the northern clients, then jump on a plane or fill the car up and head down. We are expecting highs in the 80's and lows in the 60's over the next couple of weeks. These are perfect fishing temperatures! Yes, there will be a little wind, but we can work around that and make it an advantage.
Snook fishing has been ruling the recent trips. The snook continue to be active and happily feeding in the mornings and evenings. On a recent trip, I had a South Florida client who stated the snook fishing in my area surpassed his area; a surprise, as South Florida was the snook capital for a long time. But, I must admit, the way they have been recently, I find it hard to believe it could be better anywhere else. While our normal snook, in years and decades past, were 18"-24", they have been much bigger this year. We have taken several snook over the last two weeks in the 28"-32" range and we have had bigger ones that decided they wanted to show their power and handed our butts to us. It is hard to explain how powerful and aggressive these fish are. So, why let words describe what a video can. Enjoy a little piece of action from a trip last week.
Snook are not the only fish available. Redfish and seatrout are more than abundant, although they have been a little persnickety the last couple of weeks. This has had more to do with the unstable weather than anything else. But, hard work and persistence pays off and we have had plenty of shots and success.
If you prefer targeting sweet water species, instead of the salty types, the St. John's River is alive. Bass, bream and crappie continue to offer plenty of action. There are a lot of schoolie bass, which provide a lot of fast, fun action. What they lack in size, they more than make up for in aggressiveness and speed. It makes for a lot of smiles and laughs. Bowfishing is almost at its peak season too. The tilapia are bedding and making themselves available for anyone who wants to combine the stalking techniques of hunting and the challenge of fishing with a bow. Wading the flats of the St. John's River is a great time and you will see true beauty all around you. Taking home a mess of tasty fish is just a bonus!
I mentioned in the introduction that I am also preparing for my trip to Abaco Lodge. That trip still has some openings left. We will be heading to this premier lodge on October 1. Fishing will take place October 2-4; the guides are ready and I guarantee you will not find better guides. On October 5th, we will head back and you will have memories to last a lifetime! Boenfish, permit, tarpon, snapper, cudas and sharks will provide you with plenty of angling excitement. Good food, story sharing around the fire, and enjoying a cold beverage will just add to the memories and make sure this is the trip of a lifetime. I will also have a special gift for every person attending. Check out the Abaco Lodge blog for full details and message me with any questions!
As always, I look forward to hearing from you and will be happy to answer any questions. Do yourself a favor: take a break from the daily routine, book a trip, re-energize your life, and enjoy what the natural world has to offer! BOOK NOW!