THello, my name is T. and I have a serious fishing problem. I fish the Everglades every Friday. I see patients Monday - Thursday, fish Friday and then occasionally another Saturday/Sunday depending on boys sports schedule. I even practice in my pool (all artificial) more so when Auburn sucks in football. The Glades is +1.5 million acres of inshore fishing and it is a labyrinth of mangrove islands. The word is "local knowledge is suggested" due to endless oyster bars, sand bars, shallow floor, downed trees/stumps from the previous years Hurricanes and just general danger around the corner throughout. But all the old time guides down here will tell you that the Everglades is best inshore fishery in the world. I grew up in Scottsboro, Al and bass fished in Jackson County Park, Goosepond Colony, the Tennessee River, Lake Guntersville, the ponds and lakes around Auburn University and ponds and lakes in Atlanta/Roswell. When I caught my first Snook it was a gamechanger for me. Like a meaner, bigger, badder ass Bass on steroids. I targeted the best inshore fishing flats boat, a Maverick Master Angler. Got a great deal on a Everglades guides boat of 13 years. It was the boat designed for the Everglades. Like a Range Rover on the water. Runs 55 in 10 inches. Then I just jumped in full force. I would go about a mile deeper into the Glades from the ramp each time and just fish deeper and deeper. I ran over a few sand bars and had to get off and push a few times. I caught fish but not large numbers. I was persistent but was not catching double digit fish very much. I read everything I could trying to soak up any information to help. I was getting more frustrated the more I went wanting faster success. One of the best was an article about Andy Bean (former UF National Champ, All-American, PGA Golfer) and how he had been fishing the Everglades for +50 years. I set it as a goal to meet and try and fish with him one day. He's not a guide and fishes to get away from people as much as to catch Snook. Then 6 months later while fueling up in Everglades City he pulled up behind me for gas too and yelled "Get that Damn War Eagle boat outta my way!" I pulled up, walked over and met him and cracked open some beers and talked with him for about an hour. We swapped numbers and I told him I would love to fish with him one day. He called me the next Wednesday. So over the past 8 months he has become my best fishing buddy. He has made it clear, I cannot take anyone to his spots unless it is my family and/or my friends that can't get there. That means I have had to divorce a couple of friends that are captains. He is 65 and after a really bad car accident 6 years ago he can't play golf like he use to. So he drives down from Tampa area 1-2 times a week to fish in the Everglades. Anyway to make a long story shorter, he has become my mentor and is teaching me everything he knows after 50 years fishing here. He had 3 daughters and no sons so I think in a way he sees it as teaching someone like him that loves fishing his wisdom. It is literally been the best thing to every happen to me in fishing. You can't really even pay someone for that knowledge/experience. It paid off big when I got stranded 40 miles deep 1 month ago overnight. Almost weekly I meet a fishing legend at Island Cafe in Everglades City over breakfast before daylight and before we all launch out. Met Steve Huff last weekend. Arguably the top inshore fly fisherman of all time. Yesterday me and my dog McQueen went fishing and I stopped counting at 50 Snook at mid day. All on topwater. Biggest 33" and smallest 24". This is supposed to be the slowest time of fishing the year. I have no aspirations of being a guide. F#$k that. I want to catch the fish. But I do love fishing with REAL fisherman and hanging out. Anyway if you got this far throwing out an offer for real Auburn people out there that are "experienced" in fishing and tying their own knots (i.e. this means you are an Angler). IF any of you guys comes down to the Naples area and want to fish on a Friday let me know. If I am free that week we can go fish. You pay for gas and ramp fee and I'll put you on Snook for sure and maybe a great shot at a Tarpon (time of year depending). For the extreme golf fans I spoke with Jack Nicklaus a few weeks ago and he may come down and fish with us in the spring. I'll get pics don't worry and I'll try to get him to wear my Auburn hat. Actually most of legendary golfers where great fishermen too. What Andy can do with a plug is amazing. Putting into 1 foot holes, 20 feet back in there from 70 feet away. Said he had the best eyes on the tour. When I met Andy the first thing he asked me is, "do you play golf?" I told him "No I fish." He said, "Good." My GOAL this year is to catch +1000 Snook. Yesterday put me at 203 for the year. Last year I got 478. Oh and each week I do a new Whiskey on the boat. I strongly recommend Clyde Mays Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Makes them fish bite something terrific! WDE
