There was no morning fishing on oct. 12th. I had gotten an unwanted souvenir from Naples during the last days. Some of the local fauna started an infection in my right ear causing me to visit the local doctor.
Man those American doctors are expensive!, and then that medication.
So I was a sick puppy but I tried continuing to fish anyway.
On the 12th. after the doctors visit I was not in the fishing mode for sometime. Late in the afternoon we made the decision to go fishing Doctors pass and then after sunset Joe's dock in Venetian bay. The westerly winds had turned the beach into a mess. So we fished the pass. With a small black Clouser minnow I caught a new fish species, my first little mangrove snapper.
Mangrove snapper from Doctor's pass.
When the sun was about to set we went to the beach to take some pictures. Although the clouds at the horizon obscured the sun the sunset still produced some great colors.
Sunset at the beach.
While fishing in the pass I was cut-off by a big fish. There where some pretty hefty Jack Crevalle circeling the rocks. I got a following fish but it did not take the fly. I changed my setup and tied on a rig with two EP micro minnows. That was the ticket for one of the Snook feeding close to the rocks.
A small Snook from the pass.
As it got dark an owl made a low pass over my head and headed for the pole that stood alone on the yetty. Not an every day sight for me so I did my best to get the bird on film.
Owl
When it got dark we headed out to Joe's dock in Venetian bay. As we arrived on the premises the Snook where stacked near the docks where the lights attracted all kinds of baitfish and shrimp to the surface.
Michael was soon into a Snook. After that the Snook retreated under the dock and only now and then they came to the surface for a snack.
Those Snook where surely not stupid.
Michael into a fish.
At first I had no luck with the fish. After changing fly pattern and tactics I also hooked some fish.
Snook from the dock.
When I hooked my third fish after missing several takes disaster struck , my four page Sage rod became a five piece. It was my fault because I hauled in a fish with the rod at an too steep angle. So my fishing was over. I spent the rest of the time taking pictures of the feeding Snook. It was tricky but at least I managed some reasonable shots.
A Snook returning to the deep.
Like Joe said, the Snook where stacked at his dock!
This was the second shot I had at dock fishing and it was the first time I hooked some fish. We had slowly gotten the hang of it. While filing this report I purchased a new rod at the shop. Tonight we will visit the dock once again for some new fishing adventures.