Capt. Bob Sabatino has guided fisherfolks throughout these south Florida waters for more than 35 years, but avoids Boca Grande Pass like the plague.
"With all those boats working in such a relatively small area of the Pass for tarpon, it's just too much hassle," he said recently as we, along with Joe Julavits of Jacksonville, worked near mangrove shorelines along Pine Island on a high tide attempting to entice some hefty snook, redfish, and trout to our 1/2-ounce gold spoons, frozen sardines, or small live grunt baits.
"Besides," he added, "I can get into plenty of tarpon throughout the backcountry or along the beaches just about anytime."
While it's "a given" that nearby Boca Grande Pass has more silver kings concentrated in one small area than anywhere else in the world from April through July or each year, it's also true that drifting the Pass nearly elbow-to-elbow with from 100 to 200 other boats of various sizes and shapes can be nerve racking.
Tarpon, however, were not on this day's menu. Instead, we were attempting to score a "backcountry slam" with snook, redfish, and trout.
Action was quick in coming as we cast our Daiwa spin gear to the mangrove edges and were greeted with one resounding strike after another as channel bass (redfish) slammed our offerings with unusual gusto.
Sabatino, who describes himself as "a meat and potatoes" angler, feels the optimum time is one hour before and one hour after a flood tide.
"Most of the fish will be tight against the mangrove root systems and will dash out to ambush an easy meal," he stressed.
Many of this day's quarry scaled from four to six pounds each. But, several reached the eight- to 12-pound range which contributed to some formidable piscatorial battles as we attempted to keep these adversaries from cutting our 12-pound test lines on the roots, rocks, and barnacles.
Sprinkled amongst the redfish which, by the way were all released, were a half-dozen or so snook weighing between four and 10 pounds each, some of which fell prey to the soft, weedless and snag-proof Real Magic, a lure originally created by Roland Martin for largemouth bass, which is proving deadly for all manner of saltwater species.
We also connected with a half-dozen barely legal-sized trout giving each of us our "slam."
"Since redfish were protected from commercial exploitation several years ago, the population has recovered tremendously," Sabatino mused.
"There are more around today than at anytime in my memory."
Sabatino operates from a 24-foot, shallow-draft, center-console Privateer powered by a 140 hp outboard which he considers to be an optimum craft for both inside and outside fishing.
The guide is booked, on average, about 250 days per year and said that 95 percent of his clients are inexperienced fishermen.
He adds that women and kids listen better than men, and therefore, often catch the most fish.
Based at South Seas Plantation, Sabatino points out that he can be on fish within five minutes of the marina.
Anyone wanting some fast, furious, and varied angling action can contact Bob Sabatino by calling 813-472-1451.
Copyright (c) 1996 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
Home | Library | Fishing | Saltwater Fishing