Capt. Troy D. Nash
September 20th, 2003, 01:59 AM
This morning... The sun had just begun to light the Lagoon as we reached the
boat ramp. I launched the boat and we motored out the canal and were soon on
plane leaving behind us an irridescent phosphoric trail. Headed to parts
unknown, the boat ran atop a sheet of glass and dew strewn down the deck,
drying as we were propeled further toward this days adventure. After an
exciting 15 minute introduction through the maze of grass flats around bird
covered islands and backcountry canals we came off plane and settled a
little more than a hundred yards from a slough I knew was holding a school
of Redfish and Big "Gator" Trout that were feeding on the droves of finger
mullet holding in the area. As soon as the boat's wake cleared, we witnessed
the carnage of an early morning meal by one of the local inhabitants. My
long time client and friend Chris Cantrell armed himself with a rod and
scanned the calmness for signs of more distressed baitfish. Chris let out a
cast from more than 100' that landed downwind and behind his target. Working
it through the area previously filled with fleeing baitfish returned no
results. The Gator Trout can be unforgiving and this fish was no exception.
Hey, what's that you have on there, I asked? It's a D.O.A. Jerkbait with an
1/8 oz. head, that's what you told me to get, isn't it? he replied. Too
heavy for this skinny water I replied back. Try this. I handed Chris another
C.A.L. and he says,... That's what I have on already! No man, it's not the
color, it's the jig head that's the problem. It's too heavy! This ones
rigged with a worm hook, try it! Chris likes to throw his own rod and tackle
but knows to listen to good advice so, as I began pointing out fish feeding
around the boat, Chris tied on the newly rigged lure. With the first cast, a
little past and on the outer edge of the schooling baitfish THUMP!
Kaplooooosh! It sounded like a toilet was being flushed. Chris reeled down
into it and swept the rod to the side, snapping it with his wrist and
sinching the line tight. He's on! Chris yelled as line began peeling off the
reel. Feels like a nice slot sized Red! After five minutes and a little game
of tug-a-war a MASSIVE Gator Trout became acrobatic boatside. Once I saw
what it was, I said, just keep the line tight and don't pressure him. I'll
get the net! That wasn't a Red, for sure but, I knew there was a school of
them some where close by so, I tried to be as quiet as I could as I
scrambled to get the net. Once we boated the Trout and took the customary
photos,and measured him, about an 11 lb fish I carfully estimated, we were
off in the direction I knew those Reds were hanging. The skiff slipped
quietly ahead as I poled us along the dropoff of the slough. We hooked a
trout every 50 yards or so, all 6 to 9 lbs. but, none as large as the first.
Once daylight pierced the waters surface, the potholes became visible enough
to cast to and there seemed to be multiple fish in each and every one. The
sun had risen completely and the seabreeze began to ripple the lagoon.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye and in the distance, I saw the slow
bronze tell tail flash of a Redfish moving through one of the large potholes
ahead. As we approached, there were multiple Reds lazily waveing their tales
just below the surface of the water while rooting in the lush, green grass
just out from the sand spots. This school of Red's recklessness was
encouraged by the broken surface and abundance of food on the flats. At
times, the Reds bluish tinted tip of the tail was all that was visible in
the grass. Then, other times, the entire wrist of the tail would suspend in
the air then slap the water as the fish would invert himself as to pin his
meal to the bottom. Chris picked off two tailers of about 25" and one 28"
Redfish that pushed a wake cruising across a sandspot. Both with a green
with pearl belly D.O.A. Spotting a second school in the distance,we
intercepted them as they made way along a shoreline of the flat on the
dropoff side. These were MOGANS! Chris made his cast and hooked up first as
I slipped off the poling stand and grabed a rod. I pitched to the head of
the school also hooking up, as they passed up his fish now held back by a
mear 8lb test line. Once we got them to the boat I released mine quickly and
grabed his. Chris has caught one of the biggist fish in the school. About a
58" fish that bottomed out the Boga! I rarely get to see one that size come
to the boat even using bait. Usually it's the younger, more aggresive fish
that will compete for a meal, thus providing a hookup. Chris was excited and
overjoyed with the catch. His personal best, he said! We took off to another
area and finished the day off Flyfishing to single cruising Redfish. At one
point, Chris had difficulty spotting a Redfish so I directed his casts from
my vantage point. To the left, 80' out... 10 o'clock. To the left 5 degrees,
a little more, LAY IT DOWN. STRIP STRIP, OK, LET IT FALL! BUMP IT,...
STOP,... BUMP IT AGAIN, BAM! HIT HIM! I hollered. I GOT HIM! Chris had
hooked up on a 17lb beauty and had never even seen him. It was AWESOME! Now
THAT is team work! This had been a great day and needed to be remembered as
such so, we packed up and headed in, recounting the adventure as we headed
toward the dock. You know, I didn't see one guide out today and very few
boats. It was nice!
HEY, Check it out! I JUST BOUGHT A NEW BOAT!!! In addition to my 18' Hewes
Flats skiff I guide on in the Flats of Mosquito Lagoon. I am now the owner
of a classic Pacemaker Center console Sportfishing boat made by the same
company that now makes Egg Harbour Sportfishing Yachts. "Chaser" has a
cruising speed of 20 knots, electronics, a full Teak deck and a tall tower
with full controls and outriggers. It's a FISHING MACHINE! I'll be
chartering it for some awesome offshore action. It's a great boat for
trolling, catching fish and having a good time! Tell me what you think...
www.redfishing.com/chaser.htm
--
Thank you,
Capt. Troy D. Nash
www.redfishing.com
1-888-988-8987
boat ramp. I launched the boat and we motored out the canal and were soon on
plane leaving behind us an irridescent phosphoric trail. Headed to parts
unknown, the boat ran atop a sheet of glass and dew strewn down the deck,
drying as we were propeled further toward this days adventure. After an
exciting 15 minute introduction through the maze of grass flats around bird
covered islands and backcountry canals we came off plane and settled a
little more than a hundred yards from a slough I knew was holding a school
of Redfish and Big "Gator" Trout that were feeding on the droves of finger
mullet holding in the area. As soon as the boat's wake cleared, we witnessed
the carnage of an early morning meal by one of the local inhabitants. My
long time client and friend Chris Cantrell armed himself with a rod and
scanned the calmness for signs of more distressed baitfish. Chris let out a
cast from more than 100' that landed downwind and behind his target. Working
it through the area previously filled with fleeing baitfish returned no
results. The Gator Trout can be unforgiving and this fish was no exception.
Hey, what's that you have on there, I asked? It's a D.O.A. Jerkbait with an
1/8 oz. head, that's what you told me to get, isn't it? he replied. Too
heavy for this skinny water I replied back. Try this. I handed Chris another
C.A.L. and he says,... That's what I have on already! No man, it's not the
color, it's the jig head that's the problem. It's too heavy! This ones
rigged with a worm hook, try it! Chris likes to throw his own rod and tackle
but knows to listen to good advice so, as I began pointing out fish feeding
around the boat, Chris tied on the newly rigged lure. With the first cast, a
little past and on the outer edge of the schooling baitfish THUMP!
Kaplooooosh! It sounded like a toilet was being flushed. Chris reeled down
into it and swept the rod to the side, snapping it with his wrist and
sinching the line tight. He's on! Chris yelled as line began peeling off the
reel. Feels like a nice slot sized Red! After five minutes and a little game
of tug-a-war a MASSIVE Gator Trout became acrobatic boatside. Once I saw
what it was, I said, just keep the line tight and don't pressure him. I'll
get the net! That wasn't a Red, for sure but, I knew there was a school of
them some where close by so, I tried to be as quiet as I could as I
scrambled to get the net. Once we boated the Trout and took the customary
photos,and measured him, about an 11 lb fish I carfully estimated, we were
off in the direction I knew those Reds were hanging. The skiff slipped
quietly ahead as I poled us along the dropoff of the slough. We hooked a
trout every 50 yards or so, all 6 to 9 lbs. but, none as large as the first.
Once daylight pierced the waters surface, the potholes became visible enough
to cast to and there seemed to be multiple fish in each and every one. The
sun had risen completely and the seabreeze began to ripple the lagoon.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye and in the distance, I saw the slow
bronze tell tail flash of a Redfish moving through one of the large potholes
ahead. As we approached, there were multiple Reds lazily waveing their tales
just below the surface of the water while rooting in the lush, green grass
just out from the sand spots. This school of Red's recklessness was
encouraged by the broken surface and abundance of food on the flats. At
times, the Reds bluish tinted tip of the tail was all that was visible in
the grass. Then, other times, the entire wrist of the tail would suspend in
the air then slap the water as the fish would invert himself as to pin his
meal to the bottom. Chris picked off two tailers of about 25" and one 28"
Redfish that pushed a wake cruising across a sandspot. Both with a green
with pearl belly D.O.A. Spotting a second school in the distance,we
intercepted them as they made way along a shoreline of the flat on the
dropoff side. These were MOGANS! Chris made his cast and hooked up first as
I slipped off the poling stand and grabed a rod. I pitched to the head of
the school also hooking up, as they passed up his fish now held back by a
mear 8lb test line. Once we got them to the boat I released mine quickly and
grabed his. Chris has caught one of the biggist fish in the school. About a
58" fish that bottomed out the Boga! I rarely get to see one that size come
to the boat even using bait. Usually it's the younger, more aggresive fish
that will compete for a meal, thus providing a hookup. Chris was excited and
overjoyed with the catch. His personal best, he said! We took off to another
area and finished the day off Flyfishing to single cruising Redfish. At one
point, Chris had difficulty spotting a Redfish so I directed his casts from
my vantage point. To the left, 80' out... 10 o'clock. To the left 5 degrees,
a little more, LAY IT DOWN. STRIP STRIP, OK, LET IT FALL! BUMP IT,...
STOP,... BUMP IT AGAIN, BAM! HIT HIM! I hollered. I GOT HIM! Chris had
hooked up on a 17lb beauty and had never even seen him. It was AWESOME! Now
THAT is team work! This had been a great day and needed to be remembered as
such so, we packed up and headed in, recounting the adventure as we headed
toward the dock. You know, I didn't see one guide out today and very few
boats. It was nice!
HEY, Check it out! I JUST BOUGHT A NEW BOAT!!! In addition to my 18' Hewes
Flats skiff I guide on in the Flats of Mosquito Lagoon. I am now the owner
of a classic Pacemaker Center console Sportfishing boat made by the same
company that now makes Egg Harbour Sportfishing Yachts. "Chaser" has a
cruising speed of 20 knots, electronics, a full Teak deck and a tall tower
with full controls and outriggers. It's a FISHING MACHINE! I'll be
chartering it for some awesome offshore action. It's a great boat for
trolling, catching fish and having a good time! Tell me what you think...
www.redfishing.com/chaser.htm
--
Thank you,
Capt. Troy D. Nash
www.redfishing.com
1-888-988-8987