Tropical Storm Debbie No Deterrent For Anglers

fishing report june 23,24,26,27

Windy weather and rain associated with Tropical Storm Debbie did not deter hard core anglers, even I was hesitant about leaving the dock. But Dan and Dave Atkinson said they were not worried about getting wet. Winds were puffing from the southeast about 25 miles per hour when we left the dock. The radar showed most of the rain to the west and well offshore.

We decided to get out of the wind over by Cape Sable and give Snook fishing a try. It had been good a couple days ago with the Pielow's and this father son team were keen. We used sabike rigs behind a chum bag and soon had plenty of pinfish and some razor belly pilchards for bait. We made the run around the "corner" and tried 4 spots ending up with a couple smallish Snook. Finally on the last move Dave Atkinson hooked a large Redfish. The action began and lasted for over 2 hours. Using Fox Sport Fishing Bonefish Trek rods fitted with Diablo spinning reels Dave and Dan caught 3 of the big Redfish and 7 large Snook. Luckily for us the bite stopped and we headed home to Islamorada. The sky was getting dark by the time we hit the dock and 15 minutes later the squall hit with gusts of wind to 50 and a downpour. These guys must be doing something right!

Dave and Dan Atkinson had the hands full of Big Reds
and Snook using Fox sport fishing Bonefish Trek rods fitted with Diablo 350

another whopper of a Snook for Dan Atkinson

Big Reds started biting

big Snook on the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo
for Dave Atkinson of Chicago

The next day we did not go far from home and caught a mess of Snapper for dinner. I was able to cast-net a few mullet so on the way home we anchored in a channel close to Bud 'n' Mary's marina and got really lucky. The wind was out of the south west about 30 and we still managed to catch 2 Tarpon. One each for Dan and Dave. Both fish were caught on 5 piece Tarpon Spincast rods fitted with EOS 30 Fox Sport Fishing reels.

Now I had 2 more days with some of my favorite anglers. Richie Silver and Ira Kanarick.These guys have been fishing with me since 1973 and love using Ultralight tackle. The weather was rediculously windy with gusts to 35. Even running the edges of the flats we took plenty of spray but once we got behind one of the backcountry keys you could not feel it. Plenty of Mangrove Snapper were caught and Richie caught a beauty of a Redfish on the Fox Rage Ultralight rod fitted with Diablo 350 spinning reel.

it was blowing a steady 30mph but we found a lee and had fun catching
Mangrove Snapper on Fox Rage Ultralight rods.

Richie Silver proudly displays this Redfish before releasing it to fight another day.

you would never guess the wind was blowing 30 on the other side
as Richie Silver fights a nice Redfish

On day 2 the wind had died down to 20mph and we made a run to west. We chummed up small bay ballyhoo and cast-netted them for bait and started casting. Plenty of big Mangrove Snapper and Seatrout were caught this day. The boys ended up having a fine time.

Captain Skip Nielsen