This past weekend Captain Doug and I had the opportunity to guide Don and Ron Rankin, a father and son from Toronto, Canada.
The Rankins had been fishing with another guide on Friday. They had caught some nice Snook and were anxious to try something new. Upon boarding my boat they asked me what we had planned for them and I told them Snook fishing. They immediately said they wanted to try out some wreck fishing for Permit and Cobia. I told them I had been offshore the day before and it had been very rough. They insisted that they could handle the bumpy seas and wanted to go wreck fishing.
Doug and I switched our plan at a moment’s notice and went looking for crabs for bait. Half an hour later we had eight perfect small crabs in the live well.
I set out for a local wreck in about 12 feet of water that we had fished the day before and had seen Permit on. Upon arrival we anchored up and rigged up our anchor ball just in case we hooked up to a big Permit.
Within a few minutes schools of 20-30 pound Permit were circling behind the boat. Don and Ron were excited to see these fish and even more excited at the prospect of catching one.
We set out two crabs and waited. The Permit just didn’t seem to be interested in our crabs. Doug was determined to get one to bite and he kept presenting a crab to the cruising fish. After several attempts and much to my surprise one fish sucked up the crab. Doug immediately handed off the rod to Ron who began fighting the fish. We got off the anchor in an attempt to get away from the wreck and the big Goliath Groupers that inhabit it.
About five minutes into the fight the fish headed back to the wreck and wrapped the line around something; it was over, fish 1 angler 0.
Back on the anchor again and trying for the Permit it became apparent that the remaining fish just were not going to eat for us so the decision was made to head to another shallow wreck.
Upon arrival we anchored on a nice piece of structure and set out two more crabs. Soon we had some Permit circling the boat and looking at our crab offerings.
Bam! Ron hooked up to a very nice Permit which we chased around for about half an hour. This time we got off the wreck and the Goliaths showed us mercy.
A few more minutes passed and we netted the big Permit. After many high fives we weighed the fish in at 28 pounds. A nice trophy Permit by anyone’s standards.
We headed back to the anchor ball and tied up. I began jigging and soon was hooked up to a nice Cobia which I landed. Soon Ron was hooked up to a rather large fish that was burning line off fast. In the distance I watched as a huge Snook jumped. After a few minutes the large fish made a run for the wreck and was entangled in something. I took over the rod and was able to free the line and returned it to Ron but it was too late. The Goliaths had eaten the big Snook and the show was over. The rest of the day was occupied by Mackerel and Trout.
On Sunday morning our clients stated they wanted a Tarpon. I told them I have not been having luck with Tarpon but would give it my best shot. After netting some large Mullet we headed for a place where we had caught Tarpon. This time they just were not home. After catching a few Trout and Sharks I made the decision to head to another shallow wreck.
This wreck is very small and has been holding good numbers of Mackerel and Blue Fish, a lot of fun to catch but not the Tarpon that the clients wanted.
As soon as we set the anchor two big Cobia cruised by the boat. We baited up with one of the big Mullet that we had been using for the Tarpon and within five minutes it got eaten by something big. We released from the anchor ball and head after the large fish. After a solid 30 minute battle we gaffed the big fish. A sweet 44 pound Cobia. Ron had caught another trophy fish.
This was shaping up to be another great day of fishing. Returning to the wreck we set out another Mullet and waited. The remaining fish had lock jaw so we moved on.
We headed down to the Rogers River for some Snook fishing. After an hour of slow fishing all we had to show for our efforts was a nice 10 pound Snook and some little guys.
One more stop at another shallow wreck produced several nice Spanish Mackerel but no Cobia or Permit. With the weather closing in we headed for home.
Capt. Jim Stoner
Everglades Pro
www.evergladespro.com
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