Sonny Schindler Blog: World Record Tripletail
Safe to say the Shore Thing Guides have been spending more time on the water than on land. Having a hard time keeping up with the days, trips and stories, but that is why we take a lot of pictures. We can upload more and much faster on the Shore Thing site, just not enough hours in the day, as sleep has become a precious commodity.
Salinity, fishing, weather and variety just seems to be getting better with every trip. Some of the larger multi-boat corporate trips have been returning to the dock with trout catches in the hundreds!!! Sure we have had slower days but the arrival of the shrimp, pogies, rain minnows and mullet has kept the action red hot.
The Boone and Crockett lady fish swarms have been a chore on the arms, tackle and boat cleaning. Many of the better trout bites have been in the areas the trashy ladies have been slumming. Gotta pay to play I guess?...
Been have hit and miss days with the big bull reds. Some days you can't get away from them and some days, none of the 9 nine boats get a strike from one. One good theory we are going with, is that they are following the shrimp and pogie boats.
Captains Matt, Alex and myself did get to spend the first part of the week at the Cat Island House with Hoyt crew. Nine merry men from Lafayette, LA joined us for one of the best weather trips we have ever had out there. Fishing was slow but steady and what we lacked in numbers we made up for in size. We caught big trout in the LA Marsh, around the island and few other "secret spots". This was there second trip to the island house, and most certainly not the last.
One late arrival of the season that has been very well received has been the tripletail. All week, the guides have been seeing them and catching a few good ones. Two note worthy catches this past week came on Fathers Day Sunday and Thursday. Sunday, Shore Thing Platinum Plus member Milton Weems landed his first. Joined by his better half Harriet, this was first after numerous trips with Shore Thing. One heck of a Fathers Day gift for our friend Mr Milton.
Now Thursday, just may be the first WORLD RECORD ever caught on a Shore Thing Trip. Triple Platinum Elite members, the Guice Tribe(Nathan, Tyler and Sydney) were in for a treat. We missed our window on Tyler for the IGFA small fry (10 an under) boys division. He is too old and the record is now 25lbs! Young Mrs Sydney on the other hand is 9 and one of the luckiest ladies I've ever had on the boat.
While hunting trout, we were crossing open water in Chandelier sound when Nathan yelled, "watch out"! I had all of 2 seconds to try and turn the boat before we ran over a huge free swimming tripletail. I have no clue how we did not chop that monster up in the propeller? As luck would have it, we quickly spun the boat around and just sat still for a few minutes. Just as we put the boat in gear, the fish was on the surface swimming away from us. A big shrimp placed in its path was all it took for Syd to be on the receiving end of a pending IGFA small fry girls WORLD RECORD. The existing record is just over 15lbs. We weighed Sydney's at the commercial dock in Bayou Caddy, and it came in at 17.24LBS!!!
Dad Nathan is handling all the particulars to certify the catch.
The one thing that helped her(besides luck) was the new Okuma 55 RTX prototype we got to try out. We normally use our 30 class gear to catch triple tail, the 55 just has more horse power, but is small enough for even Syd's hands to crank on.
Just a fantastic week on the water, and it looks like its just gonna get better.
****SHORE THING Fishing Charters****
The Largest inshore fishing company on the MS Gulf Coast. Specializing in speckled trout, red fish, flounder, triple tail, black drum and more! We fish the Louisiana Marsh, the Mississippi Barrier Islands and many other areas. Our full time fishing guides are extremely knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. We have many boats available, small and large groups are welcome. Anglers under the age of 13 fish for free! All of our boats and guides are licensed to fish in Mississippi and Louisiana. We supply rods, reels, tackle, snacks, drinks, ice, fuel, bait and fun. No charge for fish cleaning and bagging. Be sure and ask about our all inclusive overnight fishing packages to the Cat Island House. www.shorethingcharters.com or 228-342-2206.
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