The Flat Back II has been running in some different directions lately, but all in the direction of fish.  We’ve been catching snook, trout, redfish, tarpon, flounder, jacks, and ladyfish on this coast, and across the state in Stuart, more very large snook, trout, redfish, snapper, tarpon, and big jacks were landed.

     Jim Goff, of Terra Ceia had his brother-in-law and nephew in town for a brief visit.  On a half-day trip they found lots of fish that were very shy and not looking to feed, but still we managed to entice a number of trout, ladyfish, and snook while fishing just north of the Skyway Bridge in Joe Bay. 

     My friend and outdoor writer/ photographer, Rusty Chinnis of Longboat Key, joined me to look for some tarpon in lower Tampa Bay.  It was a bit breezy and fish were not cooperative.  Rusty threw several fly patterns on a 12 wt. rod with no bites.  I tried tossing a DOA Trolling model Baitbuster on 15-pound spinning gear and had an instant hook-up.  I seemed to have hooked the bottom, but instead, when getting over the spot where I thought I was hung up, the bait moved.  Moments later I was pulling up a near keeper gag grouper in about 10-12 feet of water.  It was a fun morning, but without a tarpon.

     Norman Wells of Exuma in the Bahamas fly-fished with me for two days during some slow tide periods.  Norman was looking to land his first Tampa Bay tarpon.  While having good experience with tarpon in the Bahamas, he said that our fish were much larger.  Where he comes from, a 40-pounder would be a medium to large tarpon.  We set out looking over hard bottom areas for some happy fish.  It turned into a long day, as most fish didn’t show well with the windy weather we had.  He had several shots at rolling fish, but no hook-ups.  I took the opportunity to cast to a wayward fish with 20-pound spinning gear and a DOA Baitbuster and the poon scarfed up my bait and was off like a shot out of a cannon.  After nearly 15 jumps and 15-minutes, the fish was spent and along side the boat ready for pictures and the release.  We estimated the fish’s weight at about 100-pounds.  After several hours of looking for fish again, we decided that they were done and went inside Terra Ceia Bay for some snook, trout, and redfish action, and we did find it.  I managed to pick up all three species, for not only the West Coast Slam, but also an IGFA West Coast Grand Slam with tarpon, snook, and redfish in a single day.

     Day two was different.  We arrived on some hard bottom about 6:45 a.m., and were greeted with dozens of rolling fish that seemed to be chewing on threadfin herring and scaled sardines.  Norm changed flies repeatedly, only to be refused.  We must have seen 300 tarpon over the course of the day, but none took his fly.  He did, however, pick up small grouper and black seabass in the same area.  Back inside Terra Ceia Bay, we fly fished for snook, trout, and ladyfish.  While we weren’t fishing for them, we even managed to pick up a few quality lizardfish.  So, there ya go.  Ya never know what you’re going to catch.

     Friday, the 30^th I left for Stuart to spend some time with my friend, Mark Nichols, owner of DOA Lures.  We worked a couple of days on a prototype lure for a special outing for his guides and a group of outdoor writer’s coming in early the following week. 

     Sunday, I had Jerry McBride, assistant editor for Shallow Water Angler and Florida Sportsman Magazines onboard with his two kids.  We had a ball catching snook, trout, and redfish on DOA Shrimp and CAL Jigs.  Eventually we were chased off the water by a rainstorm.

     Monday, the outdoor writer’s arrived and we were assigned guests aboard each boat.  I had Robin Smilie, of Florida Sportsman Fishing Shows aboard along with Spencer Marchant, rep for Shimano, Power Pro, and a number of other brands.  We started at the St. Lucie Inlet just before sunrise and within the first hour Robin hooked up with a big snook on a DOA Baitbuster.  After a ten minute tussle with the fish, she was boat side for a few pictures and the release.  We managed to catch several more snook there before we went wade fishing on a nearby flat.  I picked up several small snook there in the 25-to 30-inch range.  The tide turned to come in and with the flooding tide, dozens of snook in the 20-to 30 pound range moved up on to the flats.  Unfortunately, only the smaller fish in the 28-to 30-inch range would eat.  Spencer picked up a nice speckled trout weighing about 5-pounds on the DOA Shrimp.

     The following day, contributing editor for Florida Sportsman Magazine, Max Branyon, hopped aboard for a short morning fish.  During the course of the morning we hooked up and lost several snook.  I did land one snook at the “Hole in the Wall”, a spot at the St. Lucie Inlet.  We then moved up the St. Lucie River to the Roosevelt Bridge looking for snook.  Earlier that morning several anglers landed about a half-dozen snook up to 25-pounds there on Baitbusters.  By the time we arrived, the action had hit a lull, so we left to head back for a shallow flat that I had seen big snook on the day before.  When we got there, the tide had started in.  At one point we saw at least a hundred giant snook in the 30-to 40-pound range moving around on the edges of the flats.  Lockjaw was the scenario, but Max did have one big fish hit and spit the Baitbuster he threw.

     It’s great to see a fishery so alive with big fish, and within only a few hours ride from the Tampa Bay area.  I leave there always looking forward to the next time I head over to fish.  ‘Til then…catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham

(941) 723-2655

E-mail: flatback@tampabay.rr.com