I was excited all last week as I had made plans to go fishing with a couple of friends on a Friday. With my eyes glued to the weather forecast, I knew it was a borderline call, as the conditions could easily dash our plans. The forecast called for 15-20kt E winds, and I had told my buddies if the boat club gave us the green light, we would seize the opportunity. But if they canceled due to the weather, our fishing plans would have to be postponed.

Thursday afternoon, a call from the boat club confirmed our reservation. I promptly reached out to my fishing companions. One friend decided to cancel, but Chris was always up for an adventure and thrilled to join me. We set a rendezvous time at the dock for 7:30 a.m.

With bait in hand, I met Chris at the dock, arriving around 7:20 a.m. It was perfect timing as our boat pulled to the dock just as we arrived. We loaded up and set off from the marina, ready for our day on the water. With the stiff east wind, I made the call to head north and fish the leeward side of the spoil islands.

We started by working the spoil islands from SI14 to SI13. I started throwing the savage gear manic shrimp while Chris chose a paddle tail. After a few hours of persistent effort with little action, I decided to run north to Round Island. The winds were a bit more forgiving behind the island, but between the islands, we were brought face to face with relentless gusts and choppy waters.

Upon reaching Round Island, I switched to tossing the power prawn with a chartreuse tail while Chris went for live shrimp on a jig head. We covered Round Island all the way to the southern tip before drifting back towards the channel. Round Island yielded better results; we managed to reel in six crevalle jacks and several short snappers.

As we approached the channel, I decided to head south to see if we could catch something while drifting south of the South Causeway Bridge. Unfortunately, our luck was limited, and we only hooked one short mutton snapper during the drift. Disappointed but undeterred, we relocated to the Smithsonian dock. We caught a few short snappers but nothing sizable to take home.

Given the challenging conditions, Chris and I considered the day a success. We cherished the time of fellowship and the thrill of the chase. In hindsight, we were glad we didn’t cancel our trip.

Tania and I send our best wishes to all fellow anglers, hoping your fishing adventures are safe, blessed, and full of tight lines and good times! Until next time, keep casting and chasing those dreams on the water.

The Treasure Coast Chapter of Salt Strong now holds monthly meetings in Fort Pierce on the 4th Thursday of each month. These meetings are exclusive to inside members, who receive various perks, including 20% off tackle, access to Smart Fishing spots, and insider information on local trends. Monthly tournaments and guest speakers are also set to feature. To become an inside member, click the link below to receive a FREE pack of Slam Shady or a 10-Day Test-Drive of The Smart Fishing Spots App and The Salt Strong Insider Club. They ship you $35 worth of FREE Lures, an “Inshore Fishing Manifesto” Book (Physical copy), and decals – Yours to Keep Even If You Cancel!