Yesterday, Tori and her significant other, Scott, came into town and wanted to go fishing. The marine forecast was not good, with a 15kt east wind and 3–4ft seas, and normally I would have canceled the trip. The weather was also questionable, but since they wanted to go, we kept the reservation and gave it a shot.

We left the house around 6 am to get things started. On the way to the dock, I said our morning fishing prayer. We stopped at Wawa for coffee and breakfast, then grabbed ice and headed to the Fishing Center, where I picked up 5 dozen shrimp, hoping for a good bite.

We arrived at the dock around 6:45 am, loaded everything up, and headed out. My plan was simple: run to Bear Point and target trout. With that east wind, we would have some protection, and with the incoming tide, I figured we would drift southwest. I started us just north of Bear Point, close to shore.

Scott was the first one ready, so I handed him my rod with a cork and shrimp. I made the first cast for him, showed him how to pop it, handed it over, and turned around to get everyone else set up. No sooner did I tell him to keep an eye on the cork popper it went under. Unfortunately, he is not used to fishing with a circle hook, so he set the hook rather than just reeling.

Once everyone was fishing, Tania, Scott, and Tori were all using shrimp under a cork, and I was throwing a 3 1/2-inch paddle tail in Optimus Lime color from Salt Strong. Tori was the first to land a fish, and it was a good one, a 2 1/2-foot bonnethead shark. She was pretty excited since it was her first shark.

Scott got on the board next but ended up with a catfish. I picked up a small trout that ended up self-releasing at the boat. The bite was not on fire but was consistent. We kept drifting in the same area and working it over.

Around 8:45 am, Tania switched to my rod. I had been telling her I was getting bites, but she said I was just catching the grass and not getting bites. However, I was fishing weedless, so I was confident they were bites. It didn’t take long after she switched for her to hook a trout.

We fished from about 7:15 am to 9:30 am and used up most of the shrimp. A storm started pushing in, so we decided to head back to try to beat the rain, but that didn’t work. We got caught in a pretty good downpour on the way in, and it didn’t let up until we finished loading the car.

For the day, Tori led the way, catching 6 trout, a bonnethead shark, and a catfish. Scott added 2 trout and a catfish. Tania finished with 4 trout and a pinfish, and I ended with 3 trout. Although we hooked more fish than we landed, the action was steady for the short time on the water.

Short trip, but overall, a great day on the water with family. Definitely worth it, even though we ended up drenched. Tania and I send our best wishes to all our fellow anglers. May your time on the water be safe, blessed, and filled with tight lines and good memories. Until next time, keep casting, keep believing, and keep chasing those dreams on the water.

The Treasure Coast Chapter of Salt Strong now hosts monthly meetings at Islamorada Brewery and Distillery on the 4th Thursday of each month. These meetings offer members a range of benefits, including guest speakers and fellowship with local anglers who share their knowledge and help one another catch fish. Membership to Salt Strong includes a 20% discount on tackle, access to Smart Fishing spots, and insider information on local trends. To learn more about Salt Strong, click the link below for a FREE 30-day test drive.