Life has been busy for Tania and me lately, making getting out on the water tough. We’ve both felt the impact on our mental and physical health—there’s something about being on the saltwater that feels good for the soul. So, when Friday rolled around, I told Tania we needed to go fishing. I planned a short trip to catch a few trout and get back in before the weather hit. As I made plans, my buddy Vern messaged, inviting himself to fish with us. We were thrilled to have him join us, and we planned to meet at the dock by 7:00 a.m.

Saturday morning greeted us with beautiful weather. The wind was calm, the sun was shining, and I could feel the excitement building. On the other hand, Tania wasn’t as eager—she’s never been a fan of fishing with artificial bait. Nevertheless, we arrived at the dock just before 7:00 a.m., where our boat awaited. Once at the dock, as we reached the dock, I was surprised to feel a stiff south wind, contrasting to the calm breeze we’d felt earlier. But it didn’t deter us, so we loaded up and quickly set off.

We made a short run to the trout hole we’d discovered a few weeks ago. Vern started with a purple Z-Man paddle tail, Tania used a Mulligan in the slam shady color, and I opted for a Prawn Jr. Apparently, Vern had the magic touch—he caught the first five fish! Soon enough, Tania and I joined in on the action.

In just an hour and a half, we landed close to 50 trout, along with several jacks, a catfish, and even a baby gag grouper. Around 9:00 a.m., the tide went slack, and the bite slowed. That’s when we noticed a wall of rain heading our way.

With the bite dying off, we decided to run for the marina to beat the rain. Unfortunately, the rain had other plans—it caught up with us just as we approached the marina, drenching us before we could get back to the dock. Ironically, the rain stopped as soon as we started unloading the boat.

Since we were off the water earlier than expected, we decided to grab a cup of coffee, stroll through the Saturday market, and dry off. As we sipped our coffee and wandered through the market, I couldn’t help but reflect on how a simple morning on the water can do wonders for the soul. It’s days like these that remind us why we love this sport—every cast is a chance to reconnect with nature, loved ones, and ourselves.

Tania and I send our best wishes to all fellow anglers. May your fishing adventures be safe, blessed, and filled with 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 hosts monthly meetings in Fort Pierce on the 4th Thursday of each month. These meetings offer a range of benefits to members, including a 20% discount on tackle, access to Smart Fishing spots, and insider information on local trends. Additionally, there will be monthly tournaments and guest speakers featured. To learn more about Salt Strong, click the links below for a FREE pack of Slam Shady or a 30-day test drive.