by Capt. Matt Mitchell
This week’s fishing, most days, was spent with long-time clients. One of the great things about being a fishing guide is the relationships you build with a diverse mix of clients over the years. Knowing who you are taking out on the water and what their expectations are is half the battle in my line of work. New client acquisitions are good, though the majority of my work is from repeat customers. You always have favorites, and this week I got to enjoy time on the water with a few old clients.
Midweek, I got to fish with the Harrison family from North Carolina. These trips are always around this time of year and originally started over 10 years ago as shelling trips to the upper islands. Now they include a little fishing, some sightseeing/beach time, and watching manatees is a must. This year I was lucky enough to check all the boxes and, better yet, get 15-year-old Izzy her first Pine Island slam. The slam had a slot redfish for them to take for a lunch stop after the charter, which they always enjoy reaping the benefits of the fishing. These trips are more about making family memories than anything else, and watching Izzy progress as an angler brings a smile to my face.
Over the summers, I do lots of family boating trips while the kids are out on summer vacation. Most of these groups have the same goals, which are simply to have fun bending rods and, hopefully, take home enough fish for a meal. I really enjoy getting kids out on the water and seeing the excitement of the things we generally take for granted as watermen. Something as simple as seeing a turtle or a dolphin is not part of most people’s everyday lives. It’s a thrill to see what we are spoiled with every day through new eyes, and you learn never to take our amazing ecosystem for granted.
The go-to fish for family fishing trips has been the mangrove snapper for me. These feisty fish are plentiful and delicious. What’s better yet, many of the places I’m catching them are loaded with snook too. A few days this week, it was hard to keep up between putting baits on the hook and taking fish off. This fast-paced action is the best way to introduce younger anglers to fishing. It’s not about a trophy fish; on most of these trips, it’s more about a great introduction to fishing.
Capt. Matt Mitchell moved to Sanibel in 1980 and has lived in St. James City since 2000, when he started his fishing charter business. He spends over 300 days a year “living the dream” fishing. For questions and info: bookings@captmattmitchell.com
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