By Jake Bussolini. As a seasoned freshwater angler from North Carolina who has fished more than 100 freshwater rivers and lakes throughout the United States and Canada, why would I suddenly get the urge to start salt water fishing?
I’ve written six books about freshwater fishing and there isn’t much more that I have to say on that subject that hasn’t already been said. I decided to make a slow transition to in- shore salt water, just to see if I could get the same degree of excitement as I get from a battle with a five pound largemouth bass or a ten pound freshwater striper.
I had heard a good deal about the Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Islands area from friends. The fishing reports and public praise for the wide variety of fish species that reside there became a magnet to me, each year drawing me closer and closer to making the trek south to Florida.
This year the South East Outdoor Press Association held their annual meeting in Lakeland. As a member of that organization, I now had the excuse to make the trip south. I was invited to Charlotte Harbor by the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau. They provided me with the most acclaimed fishing guide in the region, Capt. Chris O’Neill of Tail Chasers Charters. Certainly I would need Capt. O’Neill’s years of experience because at the time of my arrival in Florida, Hurricane Matthew was just off the east coast of Florida and moving rapidly toward landfall.
Educated as an engineer, my books blend the science of fishing with the sport so I knew very well that nature has taught the fish more about tides and weather than we humans have yet to learn. I wanted to catch a few red fish and hopefully a tarpon or two, but I knew that there would be few fish that were willing to hang around with the hurricane so close by.
Capt. Chris was slightly more optimistic than I was and armed with a bait tank full of pilchards and live shrimp, we set out into Lemon Bay to satisfy my goals.
The red fish were elusive but Capt. Chris did manage to satisfy my red fish goal with several that I brought in like the one shown below.
At one point the juvenile tarpon were moving through Lemon Bay in a continuous parade, but they seemed not to want what we had to offer them. We finally did land this nice tarpon that at least provided the opportunity for a good photo op.
With the storm approaching, we didn’t have the opportunity to witness the variety of other fish that are resident to these waters, but I did get a full appreciation of why the Charlotte Harbor area is considered one of the most popular sport-fishing locales in Florida.
Even with a fishing trip cut short by the on-coming hurricane, Capt Chris O’Neill certainly knows where to find the fish under the most difficult conditions.
Jake Bussolini is a freelance writer of several fishing books. His books are unique in that they blend the science of fishing with the sport. Several of his books have been recognized by the Non Fiction Authors Association with silver awards for content and production. His books can be viewed at www.booksbyjake.com.