A New Year Brings New Opportunity
- Captain Billy Howell
- Jan 16, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 16, 2019
Were you looking to start your 2019 fishing year off with a bang? Yeah, #METOO. From the day after Christmas until New Years Eve, Manic Mother Nature's wrath fell upon us in the form of clear, intense, droplets of water. Her wrath impacted all our major and minor tributaries, sending 25 year high flood waters and tons of debris raging from the North. Satellite imagery from January 9, 2019 (below) is enough to make even a somewhat enthusiastic angler's stomach turn.
The fresh water and mild temperatures have created a less than ideal scenario for speckled trout success. For entertainment purposes, many charter captains shifted their target species to redfish and black drum, since these species are less affected by an abundance of fresh water.
In speaking with several tournament anglers from this past weekends BOG (Battle of the Grubs), there were 17 boats signed up for the tournament. Only 5 teams weighed in fish. Some teams didn't even catch a speckled trout. If that doesn't give you an idea of how difficult the speckled trout fishing has been, the only other way you would know is if you had been out there yourself.
This coming weekend, Ugly Fishing's, Captain Patric Garmeson hosts his 5th Annual Winter Classic Invitational. Looking at the forecast for the 2 day event, it will be interesting with rain chances in the 80% range on Saturday and winds between 20 and 30 mph, Sunday, as the arctic air brings our coldest temperatures of the winter thus far.
It will be interesting to see the 2 day weights come Sunday, but there will no doubt be some diehard angling as money and tons of great prizes are at stake. You can keep your eyes on the leaderboards in real time at www.fishingchaos.com
LOCAL LEARNING
While fishing conditions may have been less than ideal so far this year, there have been and will be other ways to improve your fishing acumen and IQ without being on the water.
This past Saturday, The Saltwater Sportsman Seminar Series, hosted by George Poveromo, sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and many others, visited the Daphne Civic Center dropping tons of great fishing tips and techniques on local anglers and left a ton of awesome door prizes in their wake, including an all expense paid fishing trip to the Florida Keys.
Captain Patric Garmeson and Captain Chris Vecsey provided plenty of local knowledge and showed their tremendous value to the fishing community.
Fairhope Fishing Team played a crucial role in preparation of the event helping set up on Friday stuffing the giveaway buckets and then again on Saturday taking up tickets the morning of the event.
Over the past year, thanks to @BAMABEACHBUM enthusiastic and educational Youtube channel, surf fishing has gotten a boost on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Renowned surf anglers David Thornton, Capt. Dustin Hayes, Captain Chris Vecsey and Matt Isbell will be hosting a Surf Fishing seminar at the Orange Beach Community Center in Orange Beach on February 27, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. to spread some of that knowledge on anyone who is interested.
2019 Alabama Marine Information Calendar
Every year, Marine Resources in Alabama puts together a marine information calendar to provide vital information about tides, moons, sunsets, creel limits and habitat. Each year, followers submit photographs with an opportunity to be selected for the calendar. Fortunately my photo was selected for the cover photo for the 2019 calendar.
There is a story behind every catch including this one. As a captain, I seldom get to drop a line in the water, because I'm too busy driving the boat. On this particular day, the last day of red snapper season 2018, we took a buddy trip. Coach Scott Berry, FHS Fishing Team Coordinator, Jake Markris and his two sons, Jeff Bledsoe and myself decided to make last morning meat run.
After spending a half hour on the way out catching live bait, (cigar minnows and hard tails), we headed on to where we wanted to fish.. We dropped lines in the water and immediately began catching fish. Jake's sons were jigging with lighter tackle and Jake was dropping down live hard tails on the Daiwa Saltist 8000 / Proteus Rod combination on the port side of the vessel, while Coach Berry and Jeff Bledsoe. were holding their own on the starboard side of the vessel. I maintained my position at the wheel since seas weren't exactly calm.
For a moment, Jake stepped away from the live bait rod to help his son tie on a new jig. After setting our drift, I decided to step away from the wheel and drop down our last hard tail, about 12 inches long. I dropped the live bait all the way to the bottom and within seconds of it reaching there, I felt a THUD. I didn't reel, I just allowed the line to get tight and be sure the fish had eaten my bait then began reeling. The tug of war was on. Once I wrestled the fish off the bottom, he reached a depth where it just felt like I was reeling in a tire.
When the fish came within visual sight, you can only imagine the celebratory high 5's and Wahoos' that followed. Imagine my excitement realizing I had just landed my personal best red snapper.
It was a fitting end of the red snapper season for Bent Outfitters Fishing and myself.
NEW PRODUCTS
Enjoyed reading your blog. I attended the seminar Saturday and it was enjoyable. They gave away some great prizes.
enjoyed very much-good job
They sure are catching a break lately. I'm hoping the speck bite as we enter spring and summer catches fire. Looking forward to it!
Just waiting patiently for the Rhodan to strike, and being able to CMor
Cant wait for some good weather and great fishing reports