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Posts: 299
| My second post from my trip...we stayed on Captiva Island, Florida for vacation for the week. The fishing off the dock is fantastic as well as an area called Red Fish Pass leading out into the Gulf. I took a few Muskie rods and baits just to play around. At night schools of very big snook would come in to the docks to feed but everyone at resort as well as local guides told me "good luck, you won't catch them. Snook are too finicky". I was told I needed 40# fluorocarbon leader tied with a uniknot to my line and tied directly to bait (a small bait). They were stunned when I showed them pictures of 6 snook landed on 80# braid, Stealth 180# fluorocarbon leader with staylock snap and either on a 8" Hellhound or a 8" Sebile Stick Shadd. Here's the best part..... All 6 snook landed were caught on a Figure 8!! Every single one! I'd cast out, bring bait back in lightening fast along dock and figure 8. The snook would come out from dock and smash it! I lost another 6-8 over the week running under the docks and wrapping around dock. Some of the bait shop guys didn't believe it and I had them meet me down at dock around 10pm to prove it. First cast and figure 8 I hooked one, second cast, figure 8 I landed a 40", 20# snook. All snook were between 34"-40" and fought amazing! They were so strong and stamina was awesome! Goes to show that Muskie guys and techniques pay off for other species.... I'll post pics later... |
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Posts: 63
Location: Minnesota | Awesome! I'd love to go down there and try that out sometime. Saltwater guys don't give our gear as much credit as they should. |
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Posts: 833
| I heard Larry Dahlberg speak a few years ago and at the North Metro Muskies Inc. Banquet and one of the things he said that stuck with me was somethign to the effect of: "Musky Anglers are light years ahead of Saltwater Angelrs when it comes to Artificial Baits. Saltwater Angelrs are light years ahead of Musky Anglers when it comes to Live Bait." Sounds like the OP is proving the first half true.
Thanks for the great story. |
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Posts: 299
| Yeah its an amazing place!! Captiva Island is a fishermans and family man's paradise!! Seriously check out South Seas Resort on Captiva Island. I have a 4 year old boy, 2 year old girl and wife. We all had the best trip! My kids prefer and loved this trip over Disney..hands down and it's a lot less money spent at Disney. This time of year the resort is nearly empty with crowds. You have resort to yourself. So much to do for everyone! You can catch nearly everything off of dock and Red Fish Pass. Rent a pontoon and seek out islands by gulf and catch whatever you want. Kids can swim in awesome pools, wife can shop till she drops. The resort has everything and Downtown Captiva is just a short walk or "rent of golf cart" away. Awesome restaurants, tackle/marina shops. So much to do in a small area. Any family man who chases Muskie would love this vacation!! My kids, wife and I all had that "sick" feeling having to fly back to Detroit. We all wanted to stay another week! I've been everywhere..seen lots of island resort type destinations and have to say that Captiva island is my favorite. So much to do is such a small area you won't get bored! We rented a condo/timeshare for dirt cheap and maybe spent a couple hundred on food, toys or wife's shopping (excluding my Tarpon trip). It's very cost effective and this time of year you can get great deals on places down there for week. If anyone wants to learn more about South Seas Resort let me know. We'll be going back go sure and might even consider buying a week down there permanently..... |
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