When was the last time you found yourself in a situation where things seemed to be flowing with an obvious air of synchronicity? You’d think it would rather common, but we all know it isn’t. Adding strangers to the equation introduces another list of potential energy. Call it law of attraction, birds of a feather, like-minded wavelengths or what have you. There’s no hard science to it (yet) and it’s often difficult to pinpoint the exact variables that make for good chemistry. But it’s a tangible feeling, right? Random connections can unexpectedly lead to extraordinary opportunities, advanced knowledge, tangents in relevant circles, and ultimately new paths to pursue. Sometimes these events fall into the (dare we say?) serendipitous category. You just never know when the stars are going to line up, and Life opens doors - you never even looked for...
As some of you are painfully aware, the gauntlet of harsh Northern winter urges a lot of folks (including mine) to head South. For a number of years now, my folks have made tracks down to Florida, and have kindly invited my wife and me along. Although we live in the mountains at 6200 feet, our winters are not quite as brutal. Tahoe gets pounded with plenty of precipitous snow storms, but we are spared the damp Arctic air that sweeps over the Great Lakes and freezes you to the core. Even so... Any chance to be with Mom and Dad is great! Time to share with Mom and Dad, in Florida, during winter? We’re there! Bonus: my brother and his wife often join us for an overlap during that stay. So, it’s an opportunity we all look forward to.
Now, if you picture Florida as a forever balmy tropical paradise, maybe you haven’t watched the news enough. Several of my previous visits during February required heavy fleece and long underwear, when the entire month prior was T-shirt weather. I recall a particularly frigid visit to Disney World one year; wool hats, scarves, and jackets were literally flying off store shelves – onto Tourists! Another year, I spotted a woman spending her vacation time on a beach chair, huddled in a fur fringed winter parka! The silver lining to this chilly overcast pattern: the parking at the beaches was wide open…
You may also know, serious fishermen (and women) watch the weather obsessively. Fair weather fishermen stay home during inclement weather; serious ones fine-tune their strategy. I suppose I lean toward serious – sometimes monitoring a comprehensive cross-section of forecasts several times a day leading up to the last minute possible before launch time – just in case a plan needs adjusting. Besides the what-to (or not-to) pack clothing factor, we all know weather greatly affects how fish move and feed. This is especially true for fish adapted to warm water (like in Florida), where cold weather can shut things down mercilessly. Let’s not forget the ever-present Tide factor, especially important for gauging fish movement on the flats. Weather can make or break the fishing trip. This year, the weather gods smiled warmly on us with a long-standing high pressure system; we were blessed with 85 degree blue-bird days and steadily warming water. Perfect!
Where is this going? Well, a friend and I had recently been doing a bit of music together and... I was unable to work a (particularly good) gig with them because… I was going to visit my folks in Florida at the time... Oh, really? It turned out he had a brother who lives in Florida and… takes him fishing when he visits and… Really? My folks had rented a place in Cape Coral this year. It turned out his brother lived in Cape Coral.
See where this is going? Numbers were exchanged, and by the time I left Tahoe, my Dad and I were graciously invited to join my friend’s brother, and his friend, on his friend’s boat on Sunday. Got it? My friend’s brother said his friend had a boat that would accommodate us all best. Wow!
If you’ve never been to Cape Coral, it’s a bit like Venice. The entire area is crisscrossed with a network of canals where people dock boats in their back yards with relative protection from ocean storm swells. These are coveted locations for water lovers of all kinds, ranging from pleasure boaters to fanatic fishermen - the latter of course being my chosen faction. Also of interest, depending on the season, a lot of fish make their way from the Gulf into these canals…
Sunday morning (shocker: another be-autiful sunny day…) - we arrived at a lovely home situated on the maze of canals. A tarpon decal on the truck in the driveway told me this guy leaned toward serious. We were greeted at the door by my friend’s brother’s friend, Eric who (m I liked immediately and), directed us to swing around the back to the dock. My friend’s brother, Craig (whom I also liked immediately), pulled up a second later like clockwork. There was a comfortable ease about both of them, and it felt like I’d known them for a long time.
Seeing Eric’s boat confirmed he was indeed serious about his fishing. It was a flats boat complete with fore and aft open deck platforms to cast from, loaded with compartments designed to stash line-tangling gear out of the way. It was a beautiful craft. After years of fishing from anything-that-floats, from float tubes to kayaks, to full-on bass boats and big charter cruisers, I’ve embraced whatever works for the job – to get me to the fish. Now, I’ve also taken Dad out fishing quite a lot in our travels. As well as the above range, we’ve gone out in leaky old row boats on temperamental lakes, drift boats down major rapids, and (no boat) full hike-in river destinations. Dad’s tough! Since today I was dragging him out on a complete Mystery Date, I was glad to see it wouldn’t be one of those adventures.
Rods and coolers were packed with amiable efficiency, and (like clockwork) we were soon dreamily gliding down the canal in the golden sun. Both of these guys obviously both knew their way around a boat. Years of water travel have taught me to recognize the mannerisms – the way someone handles a bowline, or how they set up their gear. While these routines were being deftly run, I overheard Eric ask Craig, ‘So… you know these guys?’ ‘No…’ They both laughed.
According to Eric, the warm weather had perked up the fish considerably and he had seen several nice snook hanging around his dock lights ‘just the other night’. With this in mind, a shallow trolling plug was tossed out behind the boat – because… you never know! We paused at a bend near the mouth of the canal system to cast a few lures out for some mangrove snapper that were hanging along a drop off. Dad got one immediately on a jig. These eager fish were on the small side and couldn’t even engulf the fly I was throwing. No complaints however! From my snowbound place of cabin fever, any tugs on the line were a welcome feeling!
Hatches were battened down while we left the channel markers (and the manatee slow zone) and opened the throttle, heading toward that beckoning wide open space in the Bay. On the smooth water, Eric’s boat achieved almost instant plane, and we sped toward a bobbling line of crab pots. He said we’d first try to nail a few triple tail, a fish I’d only seen pictures of. Apparently, they have a strange habit of nosing up to the buoys, and are usually fearless to hit anything that swims by. I thought the plan was to drift and cast along the buoy line but no. Without slowing down, we proceeded to zoom along these buoy lines at 30 mph, with Craig and I hanging off opposite gunwales, peering into the water with polarized glasses to spot fish. This was certainly a new tactic to me!
As they prefer colder water, Triple tail are usually a winter quarry. So, their season was just about done. But after a few minutes of concentrated effort, we spotted 2 nice fish and swung the boat back within casting range. Eric was interested in seeing one take a fly, and urged me to get in casting position in the bow. After a few false casts, the fly was twitching by the 2 fish who lazily broke off from the buoy in formation and drifted toward it. This looked good, and I was tensed with anticipation of hooking a new kind of fish. Suddenly, both veered off and dropped down to the depths. I don’t know if they didn’t like the fly, or the boat. But several more casts - including a few from Craig with live shrimp - didn’t bring them up. Eric said triple tail are normally pretty bold. He’s almost run them over with the boat, backed up a few yards, and then caught them. But, he added, we probably weren’t the only ones to target these particular fish, and perhaps they were more wary now. I was thinking they hated the fly or my presentation just wasn’t good enough…
Undaunted, we set off running a few other buoy lines and found a few more fish to target. I wanted to see a definite hook up this time, so I asked Craig to toss out a shrimp first. A light spinning outfit was used to deftly flip an unweighted shrimp over the fish. Again, the lazy approach, but this fish took the bait and put a nice bend in the rod as Craig reared back and set the hook. With polarized specs, we could easily see the triple tail bull-dogging away out there in the clear water. Although I’m told these fish sometimes jump, this one didn’t, and soon the net slid the fish into the boat. Triple tail, Eh? They are flat, somewhat flounder-like in appearance, and reportedly quite tasty… However, this one was a bit under-sized so (no tasting today) it went back in the bay. It felt good to be with guys who (like me) respect their resources, and understand that Fishing Regulations are intended to actually increase fishing opportunities for the future. It only works if people respect them. ANyway, we ‘ran pots’ for a bit longer, and as it didn’t look like a mighty bounty out there, we turned our attention toward the shoreline structure.
While anchoring up near an old pier, the boat overflowed with an amusing stream of jokes. Serious? Yes, but these guys certainly knew how to have fun! Dad joined the guys pitching live shrimp into the pilings while I (the eternal optimist) tossed flies toward a nearby point - hoping to interest a snook that might be cruising the beach. Eric obviously had the hot rod because he was hooking most of the sheephead coming to the boat. Then again, maybe he’s just real good at casting and feeling takes? Serious. I had a few takes on the fly which turned out to be small Spanish mackerel – a lot of fun when they are (a lot) bigger. All the fish were on the small side, and more jokes started mounting about how secret this spot was.
Action is action (which is good), but we’d had our fill of this and started to reel in. Casually, Eric set the hook on the last nibbler before we pulled up stakes. Our eyes widened as his rod took on a noteworthy bend. ‘Whoa! he said, This is definitely bigger!’ The water here was a bit murky, so none of us could tell what he actually had on down there. The line moved dangerously toward the pilings several times but Eric was able to maneuver it back toward the boat. Craig was quick with the net when it finally came close (the second time…) and he swung the biggest sheephead any of us had ever seen aboard! Most of them fall into the 1 lb class; the field scale indicated this fish was over 4 lbs! Eric beamed saying it was his personal best, and a great last-cast at that!
Two dolphins had moved in around us over the commotion. They are notorious for putting the bite off, and putting it on the fish on your line! Eric and Craig said they had both recently ‘done battle with 200 pounders’. Time to move.
The tide was rolling in and Eric said it was time for another Secret Spot he knew. As it was a Sunday, there was quite an assortment of boat traffic seen running around in the open water. Most of these boats were large pleasure boats and party barges. Watching the cavalcade of weekend warriors carving wakes between the channel markers, Eric shook his head, ‘I could never understand spending all that money on a boat that doesn’t have rod holders…’ ‘What’s the point of having a boat if you don’t fish out of it?’ Dad smiled at this and I could tell he was having a good time - along with everyone that is. God, I love fishing…
This Secret Spot was a weedy shoreline along a mangrove covered island. There were a few boats drifting along this stretch, but Craig said they were all ‘out of the zone’. We didn’t see them hook anything, and they kept moving along so that seemed like an accurate assessment. As almost immediate proof, Eric had a nice snook blow up on the end of his line placed ‘in the zone’. The hook flew out on this jump, but it was very encouraging nevertheless! Craig saw some white bait milling around the boat prompting Eric to quickly pull out a net and acquire an assortment of bait fish for the live well.
Action came intermittently, and I was surprised at the variety of fish we caught here. There were the ever-present catfish (1 on the fly!), ladyfish, and yet another nice snook that grabbed a white bait I (hung up the fly rod and) cast in to the transition zone between the beach and the drop off. This fish also jumped heroically and made several powerful runs before Craig swept the net under it. I’d caught snook on flies before, but they’d all been little shakers. Now I understood why people love these fish, they are terrific! This snook was barely in the keeper-size slot (28-32 inches), but it continued to give me a wrestling match while Craig removed the hook before being released. I can only imagine what a 20 pounder would be like. Or a 30… and they get up to 50…
Eric and Craig had one more ‘Secret Spot’ they wanted to hit before heading in. It was a tidal creek heavily lined with mangroves and a brisk bait-sweeping current running through it. There was another boat up there, and as we approached, we noticed it was a woman - fishing alone. This was good to see on one hand, as it’s not nearly as common to find women fishing as it is men, much less by themselves. On the other hand, I was thinking some lonely fisherman is missing out on meeting a good woman.
We found a tree loaded with more sheephead and small jacks, and these were a lot of fun to finesse out of the structure. Unfortunately, there were also 2 dolphins cruising around this spot. So, it was obvious there were fish present, but they were understandably nervous! We managed to keep our hook-ups away from them and enjoy this last hour of fast action. I even landed one on the fly… No, not a dolphin…
On the rodeo back through the channel, Eric said he was glad I brought the fly rod because he was curious to see how it fared out here. Since I didn’t pull in any big ones on flies that day, he was convinced it wasn’t necessary to dive into a whole new world of gear and techniques. Not yet anyway? I assured him that fly casting can be a lot of fun, and that flies often do work very well in the right situations. But yes, it is a whole other animal with some meticulous nuances to the approach. Casting is definitely more challenging in the blustery bay wind, making boat positioning more critical to place the fly ‘in the zone’. Great casters, of course, will overcome these common obstacles. I’m not quite there yet…
Today, the fly rod wasn’t a big producer for me, and maybe a more experienced salt water fly guy might have cleaned up. Maybe... So, I urge anyone considering the fly rod not to write it off – not yet anyway… Plus, once you catch fish on flies, it can be very addictive, and I’d just hate to see someone else going down this miserable path…
Fly casting can also occupy a lot of open air (space) in a boat; I’ve learned to be very conscious of keeping my whipping line out of the way of others. I’m fine with staying out of the way and targeting different water because I enjoy casting flies and fooling fish on fur and feathers (say 10 X fast). Of course, this doesn’t always put me ‘in the zone’ but it’s not a huge concession. I’ve taken a lot of people with various skill levels fishing, and generally think of the boat as one team. Everyone in the boat deserves the thrill of catching a fish. If I’m rowing the boat thru a steelhead run and my buddy gets a nice fish, I’m feel like a part of that because I put us there.
Back at the dock, in the refuge of the canals, the wind was now tamed to a gentle breeze. All was calm and quiet… Except us! The adrenaline of fishing and flying across the open water was now being tempered with some ice cold beers. Craig quickly cleaned the fish we’d kept and then… gave them to me and Dad to take home. Unexpected and fully appreciated, then and later that night – grilled!
All of us, I’m sure, can recall a few occasions (not just fishing trips) with new people that felt awkward for a myriad of reasons. Let’s not relive them (campfire stories?…). Sometimes personalities just don’t quite click. Like meeting your wife’s best friend’s husband (got it?) - whom you’re automatically supposed to become best friends with too? It doesn’t always work that way, even if that guy likes fishing! Hanging out behind the screen of uncertainty is impending history – which could always turn into one of those trips.
Now, my Musician friend is one of the coolest personalities I know, and the people I’ve met with him have also been great to get along with. So, it stood to reason that he naturally associates with others of like mind, right? But then (as the shoe falls), we don’t get to choose our family, bringing up the spectacles that some folks regularly endure on Holidays (Uncle Harry’s at it again?!)… However, from the moment Eric opened the door, and Craig rolled up, I knew we were going to have a (seriously) good day, fishing or not. Dad and I enjoyed the whole day on all points from start to finish. Click.
Undeniably, fishing has an ancient appeal in that restores a semblance of our connection with Nature. It is one of the main reasons I still reunite with some of my best friends. Click. As Life intervenes, those trips are becoming more difficult to coordinate; the best laid plans don’t always work out. Sometimes a plan won’t even come together at all! So, when I have an experience like this one just fall out of the blue while I happen to be in Florida, it shows that Life has a funny way of lining things up when you least expect it. It reminds me that the connection I feel with Nature, is one shared by others. Thanks for sharing!
Epilogue: My Brother (Tom) joined Dad and I on another boat with an excellent Local Guide – Karl Butigian – who also put us on a lot of great fishing, in not too perfect conditions to boot. Tom landed a beauty snook right away and said, ‘OK, I’m done. There’s no way I can top this!’ Dad had the hot rod though; it seemed he could do no wrong, hooking fish right next to Tom’s line - over and over. The bonus for me: I even landed a nice one on the fly…
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