Tight Line SXM
02-03-2011, 09:31 AM
To all those that have been reading my reports I've decided to change my format to mke it a little easier to follow.
I'll try to post more regularly, at least three times weekly.
Let's start!
As reported earlier under another thread the snook on St. Maarten have shown up early. Not they they went anywhere but they are starting to move from their winter haunts into shallower waters where they are accessible from the surf and a few marinas.
On the last four of five outings we've scored a snook or two. Nothing big, largest about 10#, but that's pretty good for this time of year. All were taken on live pilchards(white bait).
The few other shore bound sportfishermen also reported an increase in snook activity. One of my buds landed snook 10# and 18# in a single morning on the French side of the island. Others are reporting fish to 10# as well.
Tarpon are always around. Most that I've put clients on recently are within the 15 - 20# range. Makes for great action on light tackle.
Yesterday afternoon I loaded my vehicle's livewell up with pilchards and headed to the beach with my kids. We fished snook until it got dark and although they were feeding, evident by their swirling, none decided to answer the dinner bell.
Although the kids were ready to go home they agreed to allow me an extra 20 minutes to fish for tarpon.
We moved to were they are known to school after sunset and I sent out the largest pilchard I had. After walking the "sprat" through the outflow of the falling tide for about 10 minutes I saw a 30# tarpon take to the air and my reel starts screaming.
As I fought back the initital adrenaline rush my oldest daughter, 8, asks to fight the fish. Although she's landed fish to 20# from shore the extra 10# of tarpon was too much for her, or so I thought.
I relunctantly passed her the rod and made sure she had it positioned for the best leverage as it was a 9' rod. Within short she settled in to the fight instinctively lower the rod tip a little when the tarpon would look to take back line or jump.
After 5 minutes of back and forth Nicole started to complain about her arms hurting. I moved her second hand to the upper grip to give her a little more fighting power while she worked through her pumps and she said, "Thanks Dad. That's a lot better." (Enough to make a grown man cry!)
Another 5 minutes in and I readied the landing net. Two or three more pumps and she would have her largest fish ever.
Another jump by her competitor and then I saw Nicole make her first mistake.
While the tarpon was in the air she reared back on the rod instead of lower the tip.
Mr. Tarpon won the battle and went on his way but Nicole refuses to lose the war she wants to return tonight to fight another.
That's my girl!
Tyt Lynz everyone!
I'll try to post more regularly, at least three times weekly.
Let's start!
As reported earlier under another thread the snook on St. Maarten have shown up early. Not they they went anywhere but they are starting to move from their winter haunts into shallower waters where they are accessible from the surf and a few marinas.
On the last four of five outings we've scored a snook or two. Nothing big, largest about 10#, but that's pretty good for this time of year. All were taken on live pilchards(white bait).
The few other shore bound sportfishermen also reported an increase in snook activity. One of my buds landed snook 10# and 18# in a single morning on the French side of the island. Others are reporting fish to 10# as well.
Tarpon are always around. Most that I've put clients on recently are within the 15 - 20# range. Makes for great action on light tackle.
Yesterday afternoon I loaded my vehicle's livewell up with pilchards and headed to the beach with my kids. We fished snook until it got dark and although they were feeding, evident by their swirling, none decided to answer the dinner bell.
Although the kids were ready to go home they agreed to allow me an extra 20 minutes to fish for tarpon.
We moved to were they are known to school after sunset and I sent out the largest pilchard I had. After walking the "sprat" through the outflow of the falling tide for about 10 minutes I saw a 30# tarpon take to the air and my reel starts screaming.
As I fought back the initital adrenaline rush my oldest daughter, 8, asks to fight the fish. Although she's landed fish to 20# from shore the extra 10# of tarpon was too much for her, or so I thought.
I relunctantly passed her the rod and made sure she had it positioned for the best leverage as it was a 9' rod. Within short she settled in to the fight instinctively lower the rod tip a little when the tarpon would look to take back line or jump.
After 5 minutes of back and forth Nicole started to complain about her arms hurting. I moved her second hand to the upper grip to give her a little more fighting power while she worked through her pumps and she said, "Thanks Dad. That's a lot better." (Enough to make a grown man cry!)
Another 5 minutes in and I readied the landing net. Two or three more pumps and she would have her largest fish ever.
Another jump by her competitor and then I saw Nicole make her first mistake.
While the tarpon was in the air she reared back on the rod instead of lower the tip.
Mr. Tarpon won the battle and went on his way but Nicole refuses to lose the war she wants to return tonight to fight another.
That's my girl!
Tyt Lynz everyone!