Tania and I headed out last Saturday for a much-needed day on the water, just the two of us. The wind was calm, the seas were flat, and we were hopeful that the conditions would lead to a great day of fishing.

We left the house around 5:45 a.m. and headed to the Fishing Center to pick up bait. As always, we said our traditional prayer together on the way, asking for a safe trip and a blessed day on the water. We arrived at the dock around 6:30 a.m., loaded the boat quickly, and shoved off. By 6:50 a.m., we were out of the inlet and heading south toward the Boils.

With the calm seas, we made it there in no time and were the first boat to arrive. We began drifting near the east buoy like usual, dropping 30g slow-pitch jigs; however, after several drifts without a bite, we decided to move over to the west side. More boats began showing up around that time, but we started seeing more life in the water. A school of spadefish swam past the boat, and tarpon were rolling all around us.

Tania had the excitement of the morning when she hooked up twice with what was likely either a shark or a tarpon. Both fish made short, strong runs before breaking her off. I also had a suprise catch, a mantis shrimp, which shed its arm as soon as I pulled it out of the water. Around 8:00 a.m., with very few fish being caught, we decided to leave the Boils and try some shallow reefs in about 50 feet of water.

The shallow reefs were a little better, although not by much. We caught several banded rudderfish, which are good eating, but they were not the species we were targeting. I was hoping to find some snapper, but after working those reefs for several hours, we only had four fish in the cooler: two banded rudderfish and two porgies.

At that point, I told Tania we should head in closer and try some nearshore reefs to see if we could find a few snapper. We never did catch the target species, but the last stop gave us a great surprise. In only two drifts, Tania and I both got in on the action and caught four bonefish. They were definitely not what we expected to find that day, but catching such a prized species was an awesome way to end the trip. 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.