Small Boat Big Family Vacation

By Captain Rod and Susie Stebbins

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Florida - Susie and I had been planning this trip with Randy, Jodi and the two grand kids Justin and Ricky, who live in Tampa, FL, and my second son Scott and his wife Dani from Sioux Falls, SD. Our 27’ Sea Ray just was not big enough to hold all of the gear and humanity. We devised a scheme that just might work and make everyone happy. All of the wives Jodi, Dani and Susie, were looking forward to some relaxation, shopping and freedom. Grandpa, Randy, Scott and the kids were looking forward to some fishing, diving and teaching the kids about family stuff. This meant that we needed to take toys, diving and fishing stuffs. Also there had to be enough for everyone.

OK, here was the plan. Randy rented a camper and a small enclosed trailer just big enough for the gear and play things including a small inflatable. Scott and Dani had a conversion van they would use as a motel. Communications between the everyone and the boat would be by cellular phone. The camper would house Randy and Jodi. The kids got to stay on the boat with Grandpa and Susie. This would allow Randy, Scott and the wives to spend some quality time together and slip away to town during the evenings. SANCHO offered plenty of room for Susie’s extra touristing clothing. Me, I took a couple of shirts, shorts, swim suit and a smile. We all agreed that Grandpa is beyond looking pretty.

Susie and I will leave the marina Thursday afternoon and head south along the intracoastal waterway for about ten miles to Bunces Pass (N27-38.900 W82-44.000) for the first night. This is a pet place. It has reasonable shelter and it is a short dingy ride to a spoil beach. We anchor SANCHO our 27 foot Sea Ray in about five feet of water and we are ready for a most pleasant afternoon and our first night on vacation. After an early supper Susie launches our inflatable dingy. With a little rowing we are on the beach just in time for the sunset. Hand in hand we walk the shore. The only noise was the soft shhhhhh of the ripples of water over the sand. The sun is as big as mother’s apple pie and as it touches the horizon we can see a million shades of orange and red. The orange rays reach for the ski. A deep sigh and a kiss, what a life.

The next morning, Friday, we slept in for we were not to rendezvous with the kids until the next late afternoon. About eleven we go underway and had a very pleasant run to meeting place. We arrived at 4:00 PM. Our meeting place, a little used cove known as Peekings Ranch Cove (N25-47.850 W82-16.767) on the northeast shore of Gasparilla Island. Just north of the cove and right at the bridge there is a surfaced ramp that we can dingy to get the kids. SANCHO’s cellular phone rang announcing Scott and Dani’s arrival in the area. Susie and I jumped into the dingy and lit the 5HP outboard. In about eight minutes we were at the ramp and a few minutes later the van rolled into the ramp area. In about an hour, Randy and his family arrived. After the hugs out came the food and drinks for was only the first of many great tail-gate parties.

The kids were ready for their next two weeks of sun and fun. Our plan was to work our way south along the intercoastal waterway. We would stay at any place that was interesting and fun for everyone.

That first night on the boat was fun. The two grandsons could not sleep and wanted to fish. Susie baited them up with bobbers and shrimp. Justin, the oldest at nine years, and Ricky who was almost seven were beyond excited. They fidgeted about and were all over the boat. Once they got their bait in the water Susie taught them about not scaring the fish by making noises. This seemed to work the boat quieted to a dull roar. Ricky was the first to announce his catch, a sail catfish. Justin echoed his approval with a twin. So went the evening and well into the night. Scott and Dani retired early after a long days drive. Randy and Jodi wanted to be alone and they did not say why. They sure missed a lot of the fun!

Bright and early, just before the sun, I heard a thumping noise. It was Randy and Scott and they wanted to go fishing. Jodi and Dani were still counting sheep. Susie was right behind me getting the coffee and breakfast going for the army. After a fast breakfast, Susie took the dingy and headed for the camper. The girls were going shopping. We would stay in touch with the cellular phones. By eight Randy took the helm and Scott hoisted the anchor. We were off to a nice place for some serious fishing. Not far from the anchorage is a not so well known island named Cayo Pelau. On the south side of the key island there is a very narrow cut (N25-46.000 W82-12.900) with plenty of water at low tide for SANCHO. At the narrows we met another boat, a brand new Pro-Line 231 Walkaround. We had do pass near them to get to the narrows. While we were waiting for them to pass, they slowed and introduced themselves, Doug and Shelly form Fort Myers, Florida. They admitted early in the conversation that they were new at boating and fishing. They wanted to camp out and do some fishing but did not know what or where. Susie suggested they tag along with us, that is if they didn’t mind an army.

All of the formalities out of the way we turned north into the narrow cut and we hugged the sand bar on the left. A little turn to port and we are inside. Very slowly we made our way to the far end to about three feet of water where we set our anchor. Randy and the kids would fish the mangroves from the inflatable. Scott and I would do our fishing with waders along the east side of Cayo Pelau and the grass flats. We want Snook (2/license/day, 24” minimum 34” maximum) and Red Drum (1/license/day, 18” minimum 27” maximum). We will keep only enough for dinner which would amount to about three fish depending on their size. All others will be let go.

First things first. Randy and I took the inflatable to the grass flats. Once we spotted local bait, we built our chum. Cozy Kitten cat food, a loaf of bread and some of that smelly fish juice. I let Randy do the hand mixing. Squish, squish and his hands now smelled terrible. At the bow Randy dribbled the chum into the water and cast some about five feet from the boat. Once, then twice. I had my ten foot cast net at the ready. Randy nodded and out went the net right where he had cast the chum. After about five casts we had enough bait for everyone. I took my Bait Caddie and filled it up with lots of flipping little fish. We passed enough over to the Pro-Line and Randy took the rest in his bait box.

Randy took Scott and me over to the grass flats and let us off. Scott preferred artificial lures and I used the local bait. Randy putted the seventy yards to SANCHO to get the kids and soon they were off to fish the shore line mangroves. We could hear all of the loud chatter all of the way to the mangroves. Randy had his hands full and I was very happy to be wading. Not given to pay a lot of attention, I stepped into a hole. It was not too deep, just deep enough to allow a river of cool water into my waders, wow what a feeling! My whoop drew the attention of the kids and to cover up, I yanked back on the rod feigning a great strike. More screeches from the kids, “Grandpa got a hit...”

For most of the morning I traded bait with the fish. By now Randy was out of sight and Scott was several yards to the south of me. The quiet was very refreshing. My mind wandered of to the girls and I began to imagine just how much money they were spending. Susie is usually very careful about her budget until the Grand kids are involved. “Sure hope we have enough money for the vacation.” I said to myself. As I was drifting into the hum-drum of cast and retrieve, cast and retrieve I paid less and less attention and just about the time I was present in another dimension, my rod took a great dip and the reel sang its disapproval. A big strike at last. In a bit I had my Bull Red and it was too big to keep. I baited up and trusted that maybe there might be a nice school of them. I cast off to the same place and got another strike - too big again. Again I cast and in a moment I had another one on the line and this time my Redfish was a keeper - 21 inches of dinner.

One neat thing about the Bait Caddie is that it floats your live bait right nearby. There are holes in each end that allow fresh water to pass into the caddie. The bait will stay alive for a long time. Also there is a small cooler built into the top for something to drink and there is a place to clamp a stringer for the catch. My Redfish was strung and not hurt. Dinner would keep fresh until we get back to the boat. I baited up again and cast to the same area - nothing, all was calm again and my pants were still wet.

By noon Randy and the kids were working their way back north towards us along the mangroves. All was quiet now and it seemed they were beginning to work like a team. I could see three poles being cast. What a moment for this old man. I was witnessing my son and the next generation fishing as a family. A little tear found its way to my starboard eye and I swelled with joy and pride. I kept working the grass flat to no avail.

The sun was nearly high in the sky by now and Randy was within shouting range. Ricky and Justin caught sight of me and started yelling that they had dinner. Ha, I said to myself, so do I and for once I had a nice fish. I was really pleased Susie was not here as she almost always shows we up. Just when the kids were abeam of me and the Island I got another nice long pull on the rod. I leaned back on the rod and began a great tug of war. This fish would first swim far to the left and the over to the right. It would take line and then let me reel like crazy as it seemed to swim towards me. Randy and the kids made their way towards me and at one point they said they saw what they thought to be a long fish. Maybe as much as four or five feet long. They were even pretty sure that it was gray in color - nah, not gray, not a shark in this shallow water maybe a Cobia. I kept reeling in and tugging and when it got within about fifty feet from where I was Randy yelled to me that I had a gray shark in tow. Randy brought the inflatable to me and I handed Justin my pole. Randy pointed the boat away from me and soon I was out of range. Phew, there I was, a fish in tow, live bait smelling up the water and me wading. What an attraction I must have been for the shark.

I about ten minutes or so the kids had the sharks tail tied to the side of the dingy and under control. While I waited Randy took the kids to SANCHO and dropped them off and unloaded the dingy. Basic chores done, Randy first got Scott and his one Redfish and a nice Sheepshead. Then Randy picked me up. What a great day of fishing, excitement for the kids and all ended just fine.

Back aboard SANCHO, Justin told me he could hardly wait to show his mom his Shark. Ricky told me that the shark would have bitten me because I was probably to greasy. Justin and Ricky were very proud that they had caught the biggest fish of the day completely overlooking the two keeper Snook that Randy had caught. I took off my waders only to have the two Grand kids chime in simultaneously, “...look Grandpa wet his pants.” Ricky asked me if I was really scared. No matter what I said they would not believe that I had stepped into a hole. All they said was “...right Grandpa.”

Our new friends in the Pro-Line followed us to our anchorage with their nice Redfish and we invited them to join us for the feast. What an evening, family, friends and food. The shark was just the right size for making grilled shark steaks. Susie battered the Redfish and the Snook into fingers and they were deep fried in vegetable oil. All was served with a great salad and grilled corn on the cod. Everyone ate their fill. Just when we were settling by a nice camp fire and enjoying nice elevator music, Ricky reminded everyone that Grandpa and wet his pants while fishing. We had so much fun that we stayed there for the two weeks and fished our hearts out and everyone had a great time. Each day we hoped for another shark, but we were denied.

Charlotte Harbor is loaded with great fringes of mangroves and grass. It is known for the great Tarpon fishing and the many man-made reefs close by. We found lots of fish and caught enough to feed the brood everyday. We did not use the diving gear. The snorkeling was enjoyed by Scott, Randy and the kids just about every evening. They collected a mess of sea shells for their garden.

It really does not get much better than having the family around for fishing, sunning and funning. We are planning another one of these things for 1998. It might be possible for my other son Rod junior to join us. I will lend him my waders.

Best to all...
Capt. Rod, Susie and the damned cat...

Capt. Rod & Susie Stebbins of Weak Industries can usually be found surfing the internet or cruising up & down Florida's Suncoast in a Sea Ray boat of type (depending on Rod's mood).

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