Great fishing thanks to Irma and Nate

Thank You, Irma. This post Hurricane Irma snook is proof that once they’ve passed, big storms really can shake the fish tree, so to speak.

Two hurricanes in less than a month? Well, we dodged the bullet on both, as one petered out over the state before making it up around Tampa, and the other was so far offshore that we didn’t get the full brunt.

But there’s more good news, because after the storms, the fishing is on fire. Hurricanes are sort of natural cleansers. Sure, they stir up the water and make a mess, but they also break loose and toss about sediment, dead vegetation and stagnant backwaters, taking it all out with the tide and sweeping the waters clean over the days that follow.

What’s left? Conditions prime for fishing. Just like wooded areas grow back greener than ever after a brush fire, so too the bays and inland waters bloom with life and activity following big storms.

The proof is in the fishing, and we’re seeing it now. Not only did the storms shake the fish trees a bit, they coincide with the change of seasons and all that rain means the water has cooled, making fish more active than ever. Snook and redfish action is the best indicator that our fish are in a good mood, which means a feeding mood.

I’m not hoping for another storm, as we’ve had enough of that, but I am looking on the bright side: Booking a trip right now is wise, indeed, and it’s all thanks to Irma and Nate.