AFW

By Jason
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Monday, July 3, 2006

In the morning prior to our outing, I replaced the starting battery.  We went with an Ever Start Maxx battery from Walmart which carries a 3 year non-prorated replacement warranty.  I discovered that my Yamaha has a second output from the charge regulator, which is isolated from the starting battery.  I tapped this and ran it to the "accessory" battery which I added last year under the console, so now there is no chance of draining the starting battery with the lights, bait well pump, radios, etc.

Today we got started approx. 1:30pm.  We headed to the usual place for bait - Sanibel Causeway flats.  Bait was scarce, but we were able to capture about 20 pieces.

We started fishing near Sanibel Causeway Span B.  Nothing. 

We were thinking about heading to Chino Island but say rain in that direction.  Then a huge lightning storm was heading our way so we went the only direction we could go - towards Sanibel.  We docked and waited the storm out.

Then we headed back out and fished the channel that runs between the lighthouse and Span C.  Nothing.

Then to the lighthouse for a rest-room break.  Storms were building again and we left the lighthouse in just the nick of time. However, as we were almost WOT getting away from the storm that seemed to be chasing us, out of my peripheral vision I saw a bolt of lightning at 1 o'clock, immediately heard the clap of  thunder, and heard Karla cry out (which is unusual for her.  She is the adventurous type and tends not to worry about the elements or danger).    We docked once again and got under a building.  It was then that she told me that she had been holding on to the metal bimini-top frame and was zapped when the lightning struck nearby.  Unbelievable.  I inspected the bimini's frame but found no signs of a direct lightning hit.  The energy from the very close discharge must have been inducted into the bimini's frame and further transferred to Karla since she was in contact with the frame.  Amber and I were not contacting metal at the time of the strike.

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6:29pm

There were dead floaters here and there within 2 miles of the lighthouse.

After a while we headed to Knapps point at a depth of 15 feet.  Nothing.

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8:07pm
Almost sunset over West Sanibel.

Then we headed to the area between the lighthouse and FMB, and once again observed many little crabs as well as shrimp coming out of the bay headed for the Gulf.  Still no fish caught.

We began heading back and stopped at Punta Rassa for a restroom break when an officer with the Fish & Wildlife Agency docked behind us.  The lady officer came over and checked over all of our safety equipment.  She asked "Did you catch anything today?" and I responded "Nothing-we can't fish".  Then she asked me to open the cooler.  She looked in and I bet she was surprised to see only potato salad and fried chicken.  I was given a warning for not having a throw able floatation device (which I now have, and no registration documentation (sitting on my desk at home).  It was quiet out there at that time of night (about 1am) and she was checking everyone out.

We headed to the Cape Coral Bridge and found a very strong outgoing current.  There was lots of activity there; we observed episodes of hundreds of fish about 4-8 inches long jumping all at once as if something were attacking them.  Karla was the only one fishing at this hour and caught 2 catifsh.  

We headed back and arrived back on land about 4am  on the Fourth Of July.

In summary, the only place we saw significant fish life was at the Cape Coral Bridge, and I must say there was LOTS OF LIFE there at the bridge.  

• Seas: mostly calm

• Wind: light

• Precipitation: heavy

• Water Temperature: 88F

• Distance Traveled (mi): 47mi

• Hours out: 14.5

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