Fishing enthusiasts have had an exhilarating and fruitful week on the water, and the upcoming days promise to be just as thrilling. As the summer heat persists, both the high and low tide bites are expected to sizzle, offering ample opportunities for anglers to reel in some impressive catches. Last week, the action was non-stop, with a wide range of species showing remarkable activity. On my recent fishing trip, utilizing the Kiss My Fish “Creeper” topwater lure, I landed an impressive assortment of fish, including snook, trout, redfish, a shark, and even encountered an unexpected guest—a gator.
However, the encounter with the gator took an unexpected turn, resulting in a hook lodged in my arm. Luckily, thanks to the recent guest speaker session at the Flagler Sportfishing Club, I had learned how to safely remove hooks that find their way into unintended places. Understanding the importance of sharing this knowledge, I documented the hook removal process in a video, which you can watch on my Facebook page (link: https://www.facebook.com/
Now, let’s dive deeper into the thrilling encounter with the gator. As regular readers of my reports know, I often discuss the strategy of beating the scorching summer heat by engaging in nighttime fishing when the temperatures are more tolerable. However, night fishing poses its own set of risks, such as limited visibility due to low or no light sources, especially when fishing far from dock lights on the flats. Accompanied by a buddy, we embarked on an adventure during a high and falling tide, surrounded by the chorus of predators feasting on baitfish. The grass line seemed particularly lively, attracting our attention.
Using topwater lures, my friend made a cast that piqued the interest of something lurking near the shoreline. Eager to investigate, I followed up with a cast of my own, hoping to hook into the presumed Gator Trout. Unfortunately, it turned out that the creature lurking beneath the water was not the trout we anticipated, but indeed a gator. Undeterred by this unexpected turn of events, and recalling my earlier success in catching a snook on the same lure, I was determined not to let the gator claim my lure.
After a spirited battle, I managed to bring the gator close to the boat, cautiously gripping its snout to prevent it from opening its mouth. Yet, amidst the commotion, the gator wriggled free from my grasp and, in the process, dislodged the hook, which found its new home in my arm.
Imagine the scene: with a hook embedded in my arm and a 5-foot gator onboard, darkness enveloping us, and the dock miles away, I made a swift decision. Seizing the gator by its tail, I bid it farewell with a playful “see ya later, alligator,” before releasing it back into the water. Although the incident injected an extra dose of adrenaline into the already eventful night, my fishing partner and I decided it was best to call it a night.
Apart from this thrilling encounter, our time on the water has been marked by several fruitful days. One standout experience occurred Thursday when I landed two redfish using the bone-colored Kiss My Fish “Creeper” topwater lure in addition to the exhilarating opportunity to reel in a four-foot shark on the same lure while the water on the flats was still deep enough to support such species. As the tide began to recede, we navigated our way into a small creek, where I successfully caught three more redfish using a Fishbites chartreuse paddle tail with a red jig head. Of the three reds, two exceeded the 25-inch mark, while the other two were within the lower slot size (I won’t mention the embarrassing amount of strikes and hookups I lost).
Moreover, the morning prior to this memorable experience, the same topwater lure resulted in an impressive 30-inch snook. I cannot overstate the excitement that surged through me as the snook aggressively attacked my lure, launching itself out of the water akin to a Great White Shark going after a seal. Witnessing such a spectacle was an exhilarating moment that made me feel like a wide-eyed child catching their first-ever fish.
In conclusion, fishing enthusiasts have been treated to an action-packed week, filled with thrilling encounters, unexpected surprises, and memorable catches. As we look ahead to the coming days, the high and low tide bites show no signs of slowing down, ensuring that anglers will continue to experience the joy and excitement that only fishing can provide. Remember to stay prepared, share knowledge, and, above all, embrace the adventure that awaits on the open water.
