by Capt. Matt Mitchell
Breezy was an understatement this week, and unfortunately, I’m confident that these winds will continue through the whole month of April. Fishing in 20-30mph winds is challenging, but Pine Island Sound has so many places to duck and hide that you can still have a successful day in some crazy conditions.
With so many far-from-perfect weather days this week, I often got tucked in the sheltered bays and creeks of the Ding Darling. Working wind-blown points and shorelines, we had redfish up to 25 inches along with lots of smaller snook. Open, sheltered, clear-water flats in the ‘Ding’ Darling Refuge also had a good sea trout bite. This bite was never on fire, but with a little work and lots of moves, we put together some decent trips on days most would not have left the dock. The Ding Darling is a one-of-a-kind place and very rarely fails me when things get tough.
Having a bigger boat can make a huge difference this time of year, as I’m able to cross the bay comfortably in almost any wind. Back in my flats skiff days, basically, this whole week would have been blown out and canceled trips. With the big 26ft boat, I can keep clients safe, dry, and comfortable, which is a huge deal in my business. Most of the time, clients are visiting and have a very short window; they are here and want to go fishing, almost no matter what.
This week, I had the pleasure of fishing with one of my oldest clients. Nick and I started fishing back in 2001, and I have been lucky enough to watch all his grandkids grow up catching fish and making memories on my boats. Every time he has a family visit, they go on a fishing trip. The entire family just loves to fish. This week, we managed to have 3 generations on the boat and, despite the winds, had an amazing day. Nick is 87 years old and still has that childlike enthusiasm for fishing that I can only hope to have at his age.
If you’re waiting for perfect conditions to get out and fish, it may be a while before you get out. Learning to operate a boat safely when it’s rough can only be learned hands-on. I try not to make long, exposed runs in these conditions, and once I reach a sheltered area, I fish it thoroughly.
April is always a challenging month due to the never-ending winds. One thing I do like about windy days, though, is the lack of boats on the water.
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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