Fun On Light Tackle

The last couple days it has been Fall like weather. I've had to wear a fleece vest while moving about in the boat. What a nice change after a long hot summer. But the fishing changes with the seasons. Now we are starting to see less Tarpon in the bay but the annual run of Spanish Mackerel is beginning. These light tackle gamesters provide my bread and butter fishing through January. Along with the mackerel are Bluefish, Ladyfish and Seatrout. With the Mackerel come the Spinner Sharks.

Mangrove Snapper are not as plentiful in the bay but will be very common on the patch reefs in weeks to come along with Groupers.

I had Al Rissan and Bill Brosnan for the day and they requested dinner for 20 people. Quite a tall order. We did it though with Yellowtail, Mutton and Mangrove Snapper. Along with Porgy and a couple keeper Red Grouper. A fun day.

Al Rissan with a Mutton Snapper.
Fox Bonefish Trek rod and Diablo 350 spinning reel.

Al with a Yellowtail and Bill Brosnan with a Red Grouper
also landed on the Bonefish Trek, Diablo 350 combo

The next day I had the father son team of Pete and Pete Aiello. It started out choppy and cool and we had to run the edges of the banks to stay dry.

As the day went on it became slick calm.

Using Bonefish Trek and Rage Ultralight rods paired with Diablo 350 reels and 10lb Horizon (Fox) braid we fished 4 spots in the bay.

Action action!

Diablo 350 reels and Fox Rage ultralight and
Bonefish Trek rods were perfect for a day of action fishing

Pete with a fine Spanish

Red Grouper

young Pete with a Black Grouper

Pete Sr. with a Gag Grouper

The Seatrout bite was the best. We kept a few of those for dinner along with 10 Mangrove Snapper. Also caught were 11 Spanish Mackerel, 2 Bluefish, too many Ladyfish to count and a number of small Grouper. All fun on the light tackle.

Captain Skip Nielsen