Must Catch Fish!

Having just finished 7 of 8 days on the water, we've experienced 4 major changes in the weather. From a day with winds exceeding 20 mph, another with tumultuous rain squalls with imbedded waterspouts, a slick calm steamy hot day and one with thick fog having less than a 1/4 mile visibility. Though we were able to catch fish (plenty of redfish) on most of the days, it sometimes pains me to have an angler want to pursue a target species though the weather conditions don't allow it on fly tackle. A greasy shrimp would have surely closed the deal. Guess I feel they should get back to the dock having caught something for their  expense of a day on the water with me. I had the pleasure of having had a very patient angler on the bow during my last day. I struggled immensely to see the fish and allow enough time to get my fly angler to get a shot. A few fast moving showers overcame us during the morning as we blew out redfish on a leeward shoreline then draped us in a high veil of clouds during the afternoon as the bonefish scooted out from under the bow of the skiff as i overran them. For they had the advantage in the blinding glare. The day however flew by for me as Bruce and I chatted about the fishery, the strategy of catching these ghosts we could not see and life in general. After my day with my new friend, I'll have to rethink my "must catch a fish" tendency as I had the most pleasurable day with him, sans fish

They're baaacckkk!

After a long hiatus from the flats, the water temps swung greatly in our favor and had the bonefish swarming the flats once again. I'd been forced to fish the backcountry the past several weeks for redfish, due to the cold water. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it, but the brisk boat ride (freezing cold for us southerners) was getting old. I had a striper fly fisherman on the bow and though we hooked only one, it was good to see the fish mudding recklessly in schools of 20-50... Come on Spring!

expect the unexpected, even when it's expected

With ominous clouds overhead, but perhaps a very short possible window to fish, I gave them the options..
1. return home to a warm cozy bed, deposit refunded no questions asked.
2. make the run across the bay, in the rain, fish in the rain, run home in the rain before the bad stuff cuts us off from option 1, and make it a very short day.. My customary glance at the computer's radar before I leave each day, told me it wasn't going to be pretty.
They choose...... door number 2
As we slid across the placid bay, we were treated to this beautiful vision of a double rainbow, but they don't call them RAINbows for nothing.. I ran em back to a few spots i'd been fishing the past four days and caught a number of redfish, drum and sheepshead, but it wasn't long before the heavy stuff descended upon us. Twenty four miles through the rain and two whiteouts (one a possible waterspout as the boat blew sideways at one point while running along at 25 mph) later, we made it back to the marina.
One was not too happy with "my" decision to take them out, as he was soaked and chilled to the bone. But it was in fact their choice.... Dropped them off and I opted for option #1

Just another day in paradise...

Well, sort of. Once again the winds are howling and the temps plummeting. It's at 47 degrees this morning. Winds 20-25 out of the NE. My charter for the day backed out (can't say I blame them) and tomorrows not looking to good either. This past weekend I attended a running event with a group of strangers from around the US. It got me to thinking about my time spent on the boat with new clients every day. I've once heard another seasoned guide say, "Taking a guided trip on a backcountry skiff is akin to spending eight hours in a locked bathroom with a stranger". You've got to make the most of the time with your new best friend or its going to be a very long day. Luckily I enjoy people (the fishings just an added bonus for me) and the experiences they bring onboard. Hopefully the five other folks I spent 191 miles with in a sweaty, smelly cramped van while running, eating and sleeping in for 36 hours to Key West, felt the same way. Here's hoping your next charter doesn't feel like its spent in a jiffy John.