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Panama Mullet Snapper with Patrick Sebile on the Stick Shad.
7.25.2011
This weekend I manage to take the boat out for a few hours to do a little recon for bay tarpon fishing. Usually this time of year the beach thins out as the big tarpon ventures back into Tampa bay to feed. Since the waters is not quite as clean as what can be found on the gulf beaches these guys eat a little better than their counter parts.
I usually use a DOA bait buster because of the way it swims/dive and the strong hook. Just make sure you use the “trolling” model, otherwise a good fish will straighten your hook out in no time. If I get one, more on this later on how to work the lure, what to look for etc.
The recon for now came back negative. It seems I wasn’t the only ones looking as there were several boats fishing Tarpon depth to no avail.
On the way in Kapers and I stopped at a few spots that held a few fish. We manage 6 red fish and 2 small snook. I was trying out the Sebile Jig head combined with the Mirror lure little jon. Kapers was using the DOA gold rush swim tail which has now became one of his favorite lures.
This is basically uncut video footage of a big mullet snapper caught in Panama while I was fishing with Patrick Sebile.
Mullet Snapper
Fishing with Patrick Sebile with Jay Withers, the 300lb tarpon man.
Yesterday I awake at 5am so I could get ready to make another drive. This time however it was only 1:30minutes south to the Gasperilla Marina. I was excited to fish with Patrick Sebile today. Yes the guy that’s CEO of the Sebile lure company. With us was Captain Jay Withers and Jeff of Ted’s Tackle.
We got on Jay’s 24′ Pathfinder and headed off to find some redfishing. It didn’t take long before Jay put us on the fish. We power poled down started to sling away with Sebile Baits. If you haven’t seen them before they are pretty unique in design as far as lure goes. Some and liquid fills, some have a keel, some are 3″ long and some are 10″+. They ain’t cheap that’s for sure but they are different and most important of course catch fish.
We started to catch some nice redfish. Most of them were upper slot to just over slot fish. We took the time to do some nice photos but during it all, Patrick with a accent, was telling stories of some incredible overseas fishing. Here I am thinking Patrick was just a lure designer/owner. I come to find out he’s actually some world famous crazed fisherman who’s fishing resume just stunned me. The guy holds more than 300 IGFA world, European and French fishing records. He has fished in 61 different countries. He’s was a lure designer for Mepps/Mr.Twister and before that he guided in Africa for 17 years! He was the guide the day the gentleman landed the 286lbs IGFA all tackle Tarpon. At 40 years old, he’s got some massive fishing achievements and needless to say I was quite impressed.
“Max Domecq on March 20, 2003. The massive tarpon weighed in at 286lb 9oz (130kgs) and was caught in Rubane, Guinea-Bissau, Africa.”
After the bite died we moved on and decided to head offshore to do some trolling with the larger lures. After a stop for some lunch and a little breather were off and running towards the Gulf of Mexico. The seas were glass calm so the ride out couldn’t have been much better. The bite however was lacking. There were zero current and no activity on the top. The only fish we caught was a bonita. We headed back in to call it day and decided to try for a snook. We caught some jacks, ladyfish, small reds, then Jeff gets a nice strike. There were no head shake so everyone thought it was a nice redfish. After a few tensed minutes, Jeff finally gets the fish boat side and it turns out to be a very respectable snook.
It’s now completely dark. Were only a couple miles from the marina. We were tired and hungry but it was sure worth it to hear all the cool stories. Some of Patricks’ adventures Patrick were just over the top. The fishing was just a bonus.
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