Scupper Pro Frank
09-22-2003, 04:52 PM
NOT believe!
Sally & I went up to Stuart for the weekend courtesy of a friend of ours who put us up for free as she attended an annual meeting at the Marriott Hutchinson Island Inn and Resort.
The main complex is located along the southernmost Causeway road leading out to Hutchinson Island, and backs up to the Indian River, while additional buildings are located on the far side of the golf course along the ocean side of the island and face the Atlantic beach. We had a fairly nice room in the main building, and took 2 hours driving up Friday afternoon from Miami.
We left the kayaks behind fearing really inclement weather, with agitated breakers on the ocean side, and intermittent rains and more fearfully, T-storms on the Indian River. But I DID bring a couple of rods and my tackle. Arriving around 4 in the afternoon, we settled in and we strolled the property as the sun was beginning its descent around 5 PM. We went through the pool area and past the bar where Mary’s group was to have a poolside gathering later, and continued past the back and out towards the water.
We were walking along the pier leading top the docks talking to another couple when the waters began swirling beneath us…
About 30 yards off towards the river side there was a the sound of rocks being tossed at a sheet of metal as a big bait bust, complete with scores of baitfish jumping in terror form unseen predators below spattering the surface like small stones being dumped.
Snook…?
About 50 yards up along the low mangroves between the docks and the preserved shoreline (it was a ‘freestanding’ marina, attached to the mainland only by the pier we stood upon) was an even MORE agitated, rolling bust.
Not thirty feet away, another jittery flutter of frightened shiners flashed in fear as they were savaged by something -or thingS -from below…!
And then, right before our very eyes, and just about beneath us, not more than 10 feet away, the famous Florida Indian River Lagoon “Cirque d’Eau” appeared: a pod of bait about 8 feet in diameter was ripped apart at the seams by vicious silver linesiders. They so violently shredded the school that several broke the surface, and two near somersaulted out of the water as they twisted into the hapless minnows.
It was an awesome sight to behold.
I ran back to the car and grabbed my light rod with a topwater on it, and returning in 5 minutes or so, found several other busts to cast into or retrieve through, but no luck. Speaking with a fellow at the famous Snook Nook the following day, he noted that they probably would’ve struck a good-sized live shrimp or a diving or underwater lure.
And though I tried later more then, and returned later that night, and the next night, my “luck” held, and I was skunked. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif
But that’s OK –it was truly a sight to behold as those snook savagely feasted on the bounty of the Indian River. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif It's a good thing to see the fish populations -both prey as well as predators -faring well; let's hope it stays that way as we all practice good conservation and preservation techniques. I just wish I’d caught the frenetically frenzied action with my camera to share with all the FLYC. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
If you’re ever up there, friends, sharpen your hooks, get your snook stamps, get out on the water at the witching hour! And, of course, THIS time, bring your yaks, and
Paddle on!
-Frank in Miami
Sally & I went up to Stuart for the weekend courtesy of a friend of ours who put us up for free as she attended an annual meeting at the Marriott Hutchinson Island Inn and Resort.
The main complex is located along the southernmost Causeway road leading out to Hutchinson Island, and backs up to the Indian River, while additional buildings are located on the far side of the golf course along the ocean side of the island and face the Atlantic beach. We had a fairly nice room in the main building, and took 2 hours driving up Friday afternoon from Miami.
We left the kayaks behind fearing really inclement weather, with agitated breakers on the ocean side, and intermittent rains and more fearfully, T-storms on the Indian River. But I DID bring a couple of rods and my tackle. Arriving around 4 in the afternoon, we settled in and we strolled the property as the sun was beginning its descent around 5 PM. We went through the pool area and past the bar where Mary’s group was to have a poolside gathering later, and continued past the back and out towards the water.
We were walking along the pier leading top the docks talking to another couple when the waters began swirling beneath us…
About 30 yards off towards the river side there was a the sound of rocks being tossed at a sheet of metal as a big bait bust, complete with scores of baitfish jumping in terror form unseen predators below spattering the surface like small stones being dumped.
Snook…?
About 50 yards up along the low mangroves between the docks and the preserved shoreline (it was a ‘freestanding’ marina, attached to the mainland only by the pier we stood upon) was an even MORE agitated, rolling bust.
Not thirty feet away, another jittery flutter of frightened shiners flashed in fear as they were savaged by something -or thingS -from below…!
And then, right before our very eyes, and just about beneath us, not more than 10 feet away, the famous Florida Indian River Lagoon “Cirque d’Eau” appeared: a pod of bait about 8 feet in diameter was ripped apart at the seams by vicious silver linesiders. They so violently shredded the school that several broke the surface, and two near somersaulted out of the water as they twisted into the hapless minnows.
It was an awesome sight to behold.
I ran back to the car and grabbed my light rod with a topwater on it, and returning in 5 minutes or so, found several other busts to cast into or retrieve through, but no luck. Speaking with a fellow at the famous Snook Nook the following day, he noted that they probably would’ve struck a good-sized live shrimp or a diving or underwater lure.
And though I tried later more then, and returned later that night, and the next night, my “luck” held, and I was skunked. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif
But that’s OK –it was truly a sight to behold as those snook savagely feasted on the bounty of the Indian River. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif It's a good thing to see the fish populations -both prey as well as predators -faring well; let's hope it stays that way as we all practice good conservation and preservation techniques. I just wish I’d caught the frenetically frenzied action with my camera to share with all the FLYC. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
If you’re ever up there, friends, sharpen your hooks, get your snook stamps, get out on the water at the witching hour! And, of course, THIS time, bring your yaks, and
Paddle on!
-Frank in Miami