Capt George Tunison

Surviving an incredibly intense — and for the thousands who lost everything, heartbreaking — weather event like Ian makes life’s simple things simply better. Right now the mullet in my canal are rocketing out of the water in great numbers and, of course, my northern visitors quickly ask, “What kind of fish are jumping like that?” To which I quickly reply with a knowing nod, a steady gaze and deadpan expression, “Salmon, that one was a coho” “Really? I didn’t know you had Florida salmon!?” “Oh, yes at least six varieties” Of course, my gal pal always rolls her eyes but stays quiet to let me have my simple fun.

If you’re ready to venture out to once again enjoy the simple pleasures of local fishing and boating, still be very careful as there’s still lots of garbage in the water to take out your prop or lower unit.

Speaking of garbage, make sure to take some bags and take a few minutes out of your day to safely collect (gloves?) what you can while you’re on the water.

Never leave the dock without an active tow package membership. Also, make sure you have sharp knives and wire cutters to free tangled props. With so much going on and even with tow insurance it still might take a few hours or more before you’re rescued. Oh, you don’t have insurance? Figure if you ever need help you’ll just pick up the phone and join? That will work as long as you’re willing to wait the 24 hours before your membership becomes active.

Worth repeating. While running at night, I hit a crab float and the trap rope tightly wrapped my prop killing the motor instantly. When I raised the motor the wire crab trap on the end had completely and very tightly encased the whole prop, making it impossible to make repairs as well as not having wire cutters or working flashlight aboard. Hanging from your lower unit at night, Slim Jim snack legs and lower body main course torso dangling in the dark shark-infested waters black waters of Charlotte Harbor while trying to cut away rope is not a task I enjoy, especially when your buddy in the boat is recreating the “Jaws” soundtrack.

Right now docks, decking, rope, roofing, logs, sunken boats, you name it, are ready to ruin your trip. In some areas shallow bottom contours may have changed. Point is, if you go, take it easy and slow down.

Think about taking along someone that could use a stress break or young wanna-be anglers that never have access to a boat.

On a positive note, with steady weather fishing ankle deep, tail wagging redfish action to coastal tarpon migrations, snook still along the beaches and inshore travel routes, seatrout and delicious pompano biting, there’s a fish for you.

If you’ve never caught a big king fish on light tackle with a big baitfish, you’re missing out on some of this time of year’s best not to far offshore fun as big king fish often move relatively shallow into near coastal regions. Pulling plugs offshore also pays off in big king fish. If you’re seeing Spanish mackerel schools, feeding kings might be lurking around as well. If these amazing looking predators are your cup of tea and you want to learn more, spend the bucks for a day with a pro in the know to save you years of trial, error and after election, politically manipulated, huge gas price hikes.

The offshore bounty will continue for those with magic GPS numbers while the many members of the grouper and snapper family await your offerings down below.

If you’re not going offshore, the best bet this month is to take advantage of the coastal tarpon flow or sight fishing inshore redfish in skinny water.

Most of all, if you made it through with little damage, lend a hand to those who didn’t.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. Contact him at 239-282-9434 or captgeorget3@aol.com.