Independence Day report - Jul 4, 2004

You must admit, my last couple of fishing reports were fairly void of fishing details, so let me try to make amends. First of all, the tarpon fishing (Fly fishing for Tarpon) has been killer, AND, July/August dates are still open. Chris told me the other day that it is so good he would not want it to be any better. (??)

Waking up in the dark is not the norm for our friend Guy, but he was glad Tommy dragged him out of bed at 5:00am when he had hooked 2 fish by 6:30 Tuesday am and had 6 on the day before. Loyal Tarpon follower Big Daddy John Morrow & his son Jim hooked up 4 yesterday morning with Nathan. Bruce Aughtry barely had time to get his line out Saturday morning before a big fish slurped Bruces Popsicle fly. I heard tell that one of Jasons regular anglers was so happy with his 5-day trip that he kissed him at the dock. (was that in lieu of a tip?) Trent Scofield, who usually drags the bad weather around with him like the Charlie Brown character Pigpen, even hooked a fish 2 weekends ago, as did his buddy Joel Smith.

Do I have any clue how big these fish were or the exact number caught or catch ratios or which flies, line, leader, rods, etc. are winning the popularity contest? NOPE! By this time every year the combination of long, hot days, too short nights (we get up at 4:30 EVERY morning) and sheer numbers of fish tends to reduce conversation with and between guides at the end of the day to monosyllables and some of those are unintelligible. But they are fresh and bright and ready to roll every morning!

This morning, Capt. B.T. Hinson was here in my office when a regular client called from the Apalachicola airport, certain that he would not be able to score a guide with no notice. B.T. picked them up a half hour later and put them on some small redfish the 2nd cast. (spin fishing that is) About the time Rick started asking to be put on some Hungry Reds a big school of big hungry fish came swimming by and they hooked 4 or 5 good size fish out of it. Not bad for a pick up trip. As BT says, any time spent on the water is a good time.

Now let us talk about Bay fishing. Literally, in the last week the fishing went from some really good redfishing to practically nil over the weekend and then the last 3 days or so the trout have been thick as fleas on a huntin dog. Capt. Jr. put E.T. Mannings group on some good fishin on Monday, and Tuesday Bucky Wagner, according to Jr. slaughtered the fish. (NOT literally!) Capt. Darrell Ward had a couple of the Manning kids on board with their brand new little rod & reel outfits and they were very proud of the fish they caught on their Own Poles.

Have I mentioned the Offshore trips I have been booking? Bruce Millenders 36 foot Hattaras the Reel Time and Charlie Logues 26 foot Shamrock have shown off our offshore fishing several trips of late. Gary & Glenda Davis fished with Charlie on Monday and ended up sharing their catch of Snapper & Dolphin with us. Capt. Ottice Amison has recently signed on with us for weekend trips out of his 24 foot Privateer.

Keys & Everglades trips. If you fished with Tommy or Chris this spring and would like to lay claim to your days in 2005, please get in touch with me ASAP. Even if you already told me remind me again and lets get your dates nailed down. If you havent fished with us in the Keys yet and you would like to, we are expanding the dates that Tommy will be in South Florida beginning with the entire month of January, plus, we are expanding our business to include booking a few, select, full time guides in the Lower Keys. Call me, Write me, Ask me for details!

RBGS Visors have arrived. Stone colored with our logo embroidered in dark green, dark green undervisor. $20 (plus postage) Our new T-Shirts are also on order!

Have a Happy & Safe Independence Day Weekend!! I'm going diving or scalloping or something.



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