Not to sound too cheesy, but Darren, Wyatt and Tommy had a ha-wrasseing trip in and around the Fort Pierce Inlet this week!
Though I had live pilchards/threadfins pre-ordered, I decided to make a quick stop for live shrimp on my way to the boat launch. With six dozen shrimp in the livewell I tied the bay boat to the dock, replete with a new trolling motor and looking forward to a great trip! I noticed not one of the usual “bait boats” were here. It was at this moment I was happy I stopped for live shrimp; this back-up plan just became our primary fishing mode.
It’s that time of the year when cast netting pilchards and threadfins gets difficult. Two of the local bait catchers have started using Sabiki rigs to gather bait and that means fewer baits available and at a higher cost.
The guys had bites on nearly every live shrimp they tossed over the gunnels. However, most of these bites were from the little fishes hiding near the rocks. They had lots of missed bites, usually from no faults of their own. Still, they enjoyed lots of bent rods and boated many fish.
We even had to buy another four dozen to get us through our morning. While we caught no snook on this trip the guys tallied-up a big variety, including several species of snapper, several different jacks, two different color phases of wrasse, and a host of unmentionables.
Sometimes, even plan “B” can make fond memories!
Until Next Time, Tight Lines!
Capt. Mark Wright
