Hey,
No fishing report today. I did learn that the snook are feeding some on the beach. My doctor has temporarily put my wading out of commission.
What Not To Do
I was wet-wading (no waders) with my neighbor when a thunderstorm/rain storm was approaching. He was near our entry point- I wasn't so I started moving very quickly when I slammed into a submerged metal frame (not sure what it was) with both shins and hopped over it. Too late- the damage was done. I had two puncture wounds (deep cuts) on each leg and three bad cuts as well as a number of small cuts. The cuts were about twenty (see photo below- skinny legs and all- haha) total.
Skinny legs and all
Because I wore out my waders and they now leak (I tried to fix them but it's hopeless)-- wet wading in the lagoon with open 20 cuts is not recommended. I have to wait for a while before I can fish the lagoon. I should buy some new waders but I'm not making much money playing guitar yet in PSL. So. . . I may fish some on the beach or from the shore or on the causeway. This will give me a couple days to let my right arm recover from making thousands of long casts- and I'll just fish left-handed if I do fish (I'm about the same either way).
What Else Not to do When You're Wading (or what to be ready for)
1) Be Reckless Around Piers. Besides going slow (even then you'll may get some bumps and cuts from submerged objects) wet-wading you need to be extra careful around piers. Not only are there nails, ropes and metal hooks sticking out occasionally from the decks and pilings but there are more objects in the water to trip over. Sometimes old mooring posts have broken off and are sticking up a foot from the bottom. The first big snook I hooked under a pier wrapped me around a post and I went charging under the dock after him- I had to duck and got soaked because the water was high. By then the snook had broken me off. Just be careful chasing a hooked fish under a pier. I've had 4 break me off so far and I'm sure more will do the same but you don't want to hurt yourself in the process.
2) Step on Sting Rays. I've been told to shuffle my feet as not to step on a sting ray- I don't know if I've stepped on one but I've hooked a few.
3) Fall in Holes. There are some fairly big holes 1 to 2 feet wide which are sometimes a foot deeper and if you're not careful you will fall- I've never fallen yet- but I almost have.
4) Forget the Tide. This has only happened once but I went way out to the sandbar on an incoming tide. When I came back in the tide was high and the water was over my waders on the other side of the sandbar. this didn't bother me but I got wet. You don't want to be forced to swim to get back in.
5) Forget to Bring Extra Gear. Remember to bring at least two extra clear monofilament leaders in case your line is broken. You also need two lures with hooks (two jig heads, DOA Shrimps etc). If you're catching fish you'll need to retie several times. You can also hook a stingray or manatee or anything big and you'll break your line. A snook can wrap you around a post with barnacles. You don't want to be a half mile from your car and have your line broken and not have replacement leaders and lures.
6) Forget Pliers. Bring a pair of needle nose piers. Some fish you can unhook without worries. A snook's mouth has no teeth- but it does have a razor sharp gill-plate. Jack have teeth, trout have two fangs. I caught a three pound bluefish and it cut me when I tried to get the lure out- my pliers had rusted shut!!!
7) Trip over Rocks. There are some large rocks in the shallow water and they have barnacles on them. The barnacles are sharp so keep away from them and be careful. There are very few rocks away from the shore line where I fish so it's not a worry unless you are very shallow or getting in or out.
8) Forget About The Sun. Even in 80 degree weather you will burn. Wear a hat and get polarized sunglasses. Wear a long sleeved shirt. Use sunsceen at all times- even on your lips! (There's sunblock chapstick). Be careful of the sun.
Richard
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