BOCA GRANDE--We were so far back in the boonies that even the tide had trouble finding us.
Thank goodness Captain Scott Moore was at the helm of his tunnel-hulled and shallow-running 17-foot Shoalwater or we'd probably be filling this story with a dateline, "WHERE ARE WE?"
Although Moore is considered by most to be the world's preeminent snook guide, he's also quite proficient when seeking out such other backcountry, bay, and near-shore species as tarpon, tripletail, mackerel, trout, and cobia.
Our target for this trip was redfish, a broad-shouldered bruiser which has been made an amazing numerical comeback since being protected by game fish status and removed as a prime target for commercial netters.
Leaving Uncle Henry's Marina at low tide, Moore was able to skim across inches-deep shallow flats without damaging the ecosystem.
"We're going to be fishing potholes," said Moore after shutting down his engine and poling into a position where we would silently drift into choice areas.
"Believe me," he emphasized, "redfish can be just as spooky as bonefish in these shallows and a quiet approach is vital for any success at all."
Moore opted to cast a 1/8-ounce jig with a chartreuse head and motor oil-colored grub tail, while we selected a relatively new 1/4-ounce gold spoon with a treble hook which was designed for "skinny" water. We chose ultra-light spinning gear with six-pound test line, sans any leader material.
Action was soon coming as a nice red in the five-pound class pounced on Moore's offering and headed for the safety of some nearby mangrove roots.
Fortunately, the guide was able to turn his golden-hued adversary and, following several moments of give-and-take combat which featured several boat circling runs and a couple of speedy dashes beneath the boat's hull, he led the fish alongside where it was released.
We quickly got into the act as first one, then another, redfish couldn't resist the tantalizing wobble of our gold spoon and struck with the fury of a crazed linebacker.
As the day continued on a slow, incoming tide, the size of fish increased to the point that most everything we hooked ran in the seven to 10-pound class.
As we approached mid-afternoon, Moore connected with the day's trophy, a red that topped the 15-pound mark, after losing a trout which would have exceeded five pounds.
Most folks, when thinking of this tropical area, associate its waters with tarpon.
While it's indisputable that Boca Grande is the mecca for enthusiastic silver king aficionados from mid-April through August, it's also true that these surrounding jungle-like aqua areas are classical for snook, redfish, and trout.
Cooler months are tops for reds, while March through November are prime for most everything else.
In all, we probably hooked, landed, and released more than three dozen hefty redfish to 15-plus pounds on ultra-light tackle during six hours of serious combat on a delightfully warm February day.
You too can cash in on this bonanza. For starters, however, we'd suggest that you reserve Captain Scott Moore--or one of several other talented backcountry experts who ply these hauntingly beautiful waters. Moore can be contacted by dialing 813-778-3005.
During the past 15 years, we've successfully enjoyed several opportunities to safari with Moore for giant, tackle-busting snook.
To this, we can now zealously add redfish.
Copyright (c) 1996 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
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