Report submitted by 'Curmit/Shindle'

Chandeleur Islands Surf Report Chandeleur Islands Surf Report, Louisiana July 2nd-4th, 2008 Tweet

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Report written by Shindle and sent to me (Curmit) for posting

After months of anticipation, time had finally arrived for our trip to the Chandeleur Islands. Repo and I headed out a couple days early to chill out in Biloxi and have some fun. We spent the weekend prepping gear for the trip by day and hitting the casinos at night. We should have stayed by the motel pool.

Money gambled in Mississippi STAYS in Mississippi!

It was amazing to see the after effects of Katrina three years later. Signs of devastation were everywhere. It was sad to see so many of the big waterfront homes and trees gone. Eerily, many lots only had the front steps remaining...and a “for sale” sign. It really sunk home what that storm did to the gulf coast and how many lives it touched, or took.

Soon Sunday was here and we found our way to the dock and waited for the other anglers to arrive. The marina had not been rebuilt other than the boat docks. It looked as if it had been bombed. One of the cab drivers had told me that the storm surge had reached 32 ft at the beachfront drive. The tackle shop was still operating out of a nearby trailer. Soon fellow anglers began trickling in. The first to show up was Gene, then Curtis & Kip, next Ben, Ben Jr., and Mike.

The Double Trouble, our mothership for the trip also pulled up and began to offload her latest clients and begin the refit for our trip. We decided to go do our shopping while they cleaned the boat and converged on the nearby Winn Dixie like bandits with shopping carts. On our way back to the boat a wicked storm blew in as if an omen. We arrived back at the docks to see that TJ, Buckeye, Wilbo, and HWK had made too. All twelve souls and a stowaway named Gargulio that would make it "lucky 13".

Anticipation was high, and after some minor boat "mechanical" drama that Curtis helped solve, we began to load the Double Trouble with tons of gear. So much for packing light! Beers flowed and stories were told as we whooped it up waiting on departure time. Offshore thunderheads brewed, and lightning bolts seared the heavens as if daring us to enter the gulf's domain. Nevertheless soon we were underway...

After what seemed like minutes of sleep, I awoke to the sounds of anxious anglers wolfing down breakfast and readying gear. Jeremy the senior deckhand proved to be a really hard worker and had made a big breakfast and gotten our skiffs ready for departure. After a brief safety lesson, we loaded our skiffs to the point of capsizing and bee-lined it for one of the passes through the main island. It would be the luck of the cards on this first trip as no one knew what to expect or where to go. Old instincts and experience would rule the day for all.

Kip, Curtis, Repo, and I traveled north of the other anglers and navigated a somewhat shallow pass at high tide. The gulf was flat and manageable even in the small crafts, so we headed up the beach a bit until we saw what looked like a nice stretch of beach. In we went like shark fishing navy seals, pulling the skiffs right up on the beach. The sun began to rise and we were introduced to a beautiful little island that would be our fishing "home" for the next three days.

It wasn't long before rod holders were set up on this shell covered beach, and baits were readied. I had brought along 5 large amberjack (to over #50) from Texas, and one accompanied us to the beach this day. Kip and Curtis set up their gear a bit north of Repo and I. I watched Repo wander up the beach casting a spoon while I rigged up. Next thing I know I see his rod bent over. He brings back a nice cownose ray that would join our party as fresh bait! Caught on a spoon! I quickly ran three baits via kayak and was rigging a fourth when Curtis comes back from a bait run at the pass. Bait was scarce, but he had scored a few hardheads and whiting. While we were talking in comes a lemon shark cruising down the surf line, fins popping out like a movie! I wasn't able to rig a pitch bait before she disappeared. I rigged a chunk of cownose on a large circle hook attached to a four foot length of singlestrand. No weight but the bait! I tossed it just south of where I last saw her and stuck the rod in the pvc. Minutes later she come blasting on the surface and throws the hook. I rig another chunk and soon we have our first mean Chandeleur Island shark on the beach! Cool! Everyone is running baits and soon we have the beach pretty well covered up. What was really nice is that with the light wind and current you could get away with using minimal surf weights, and they would stay where you dropped 'em.

Soon the beach was a beehive of activity as my buddies began to hook up as well. It felt like the old days again! A blacktip! Then a bull! Man what a blast! These sharks were mean as hell. Each release had to be done carefully. They also knew how to do what I called "The Katrina Crawl". They knew how to get back to the water. The morning went by in a blur of runs and things started to slow down as the sun rose higher, and the tide dropped. Curtis had received a bad dose of shark rash on both ankles from a bull shark beat down. He would be in pain the rest of the trip. One got Kip pretty good too.

Repo and Kip had discovered a shallow gut up the beach and were quite adept at spearing stingrays for bait. With the offshore breeze Curtis even floated a bait out repeatedly. Every time I looked it was getting blasted. These sharks all liked to show off on the surface. Meanwhile my ultra mega atomic super baits remained untouched. A fierce storm developed and kicked our ass for awhile. Cold Rain in July. My new frogg toggs proved their weight in gold while Repo's new set sat back on the boat safe and dry. Ha! After the storm the water had muddied and the west winds had brought in huge pile of sea grass. Normally big piles of green weed can be a good thing, but this was a mess. At least it was easier to clear of your line than sargassum, by far! As the tide and sun dropped, we decided to call it a day.

Eager for a rematch in the morning, we barely made it back through the pass and actually and to push the skiffs a bit at creepy time. Being in the water there was always creepy time. We made it back safe and left all our gear on the beach for the island spooks to play with. Oh yeah, thanks to Jeremy for bringing us lunch on the beach!

After a nice shower and cold brew it was time to visit with the other guys about their experiences. A couple guys had had only fair luck while TJ's camp had gotten into them even thicker than us! Great job! While all the sharks seemed to be between four and six feet so far they were all mean and feisty! Ben told me that a good sized shark had approached Mike while he was in the water. Mike didn't say much that night. Don't go in the water Mike...SHAAAARKS in the water Mike!!!!

Day two came quick and without so much gear it was easy to get underway.

Right back to the same spot and there was our gear and our bait. Katrina had scoured these islands so clean that there were no critters to steal your bait. Baits were run quickly and the morning was ripe with action again. Things quickly slowed though and this would prove to be our toughest day. By now we were all getting sunburned and finally we set up some shade. There may be no four legged critters but the green flies were horrible! Damn Green Devils!

In the afternoon I noticed some bait offshore getting blasted, and took the kayak and a light rod out to investigate. A few schools of large mullet were being destroyed by large bluefish. I easily got into the blues but they proved tough to keep in the kayak as they ricocheted out every time I unhooked one. These were big blues in the three to seven pound range. I ultimately popped a hatch cover and stuffed them into the kayak. Then I realized that I sounded like the jungle drum dinner bell from hell and headed back to the beach. Fresh bait was the ticket. They wanted nothing to do with my hard earned Texas imports. A few more sharks and we headed back to the boat on low tide. It sucked having to leave at prime time but there was no way to navigate these shallows at night. Maybe next year we'll make arrangements to stay on the beach and see how it goes. Scary night time paddling!!

Another delicious meal, hot shower, and great time with a bunch of new friends...life is good! No trucks running through your camp. No jet skis. No one saying "Hey I think I want to be a shark fisherman". This place was truly the last bastion of the sport as far as I'm concerned, the last of the buffalo. Sharks OWNED this place.

Now suddenly it would be our last day here. Still hoping for the big one, most of the other guys had caught some nice fish, but I was beginning to see signs of the beating we were all taking. This was tough fishing in a tough place. Sunburns, shark rash, bug bites, and swollen ankles from the seashell Olympic dashes were quite evident everywhere. Time to man up! I rigged up three giant YFT heads I had brought along under a float. I drifted it back off the stern, and unceremoniously began dumping much of the prized bait back where it belonged, where they roamed freely before I took their lives for this crazy sport. I gave one big AJ to Ben and the guys in hopes that it may procure a sea beast for them.

I slept poorly that night, getting up frequently to check on the dinosaur heads floating in the blackness. While everyone slept I leaned against the port railing and watched the most beautiful storm I can remember off to the south of the islands. Like a giant crystal lantern in the sky growing higher and higher. Magnificent lightning danced for me alone. I felt young and old. How many more trips will there be Michael?

Day three our last was suddenly here. I was sick. No REALLY sick. My stomach was killing me. We piled in and off we went again. This time we brought along our little stowaway for some shark fishing fun. After our beach landing we all got into bait haul mode. Kip had speared quite a few cownose rays on the trip back in last night. He's a madman with that thing! We pounded out bluefish as the bite was red hot! Kip and Curtis fished north while Repo and I casted south. I was getting a bluefish or good hit every cast on a big kastmaster. Repo was tossing a big topwater and was quickly getting stripped by some unseen beast. Somehow he got is line and lure back. Next thing you know I'm getting smoked on my baitrunner by what turned out to be a nice little blacktip - on a spoon! Yahoo! Repo is working his topwater bait when we both see a bull shark come up and grab it. Crazy! He doesn't stay hooked, so I paddle out and drop a fresh chunk of ray on his head. Meanwhile everyone is either running or casting baits. I feel ill and run for what little cover I have to drop my shorts. Just then I here "Shindle!!!" and watch my casted rod double over and scream drag. I yell back "I'm TAKING A SH!T!!!" and I watch Repo run all the way down the beach to try and grab it before it launched into space. I think I laughed, and then threw up.

Reenergized I headed back to rebait the casted rod. By then the boys up the beach were already hooked up and having a ball. The bait I dropped on the "topwater" shark went off and up came an angry bull shark thrashing on the surface. I about had him whipped when my casted bait went off 100 yards from me. I reeled the bull in close to shore then put the rod back in the holder and backed off the drag. Repo made it to the casted bait before the rod snapped. I was quick on his heels though and promptly snatched it from him. "Thanks buddy". This fish was heavy, slow, and strong, and on the smallest rod of course! I was praying for that big fish, but after quite a battle, it turned out to be a big old stingray. Dang! How I landed that fish on #30 mono I will never know. He even took Gargulio for a ride before we released him! In fact Gargulio babysat some of my sharks while I was fighting other fish.

Thanks creepy amigo.

At one point we had a lemon, a bull, and a blacktip on the beach at the same time. Badass! Kip and I continued to run monster baits to no avail. They wanted fresh chunks. After returning to shore with a tangled mess of braid, leader, and bait, Kip seemed very frustrated. I gave him the never give up, let's kick some butt, voodoo pep talk. It seemed to work cause next thing I know he's reeling in a dark, fat 6'6" bull shark that proved to be the biggest shark of the trip. Way to go Kip!

Action continued and this would be our best day of the trip. The afternoon slowed a bit, but re-baiting usually brought another shark fairly quickly. The day flew by and reluctantly we loaded our ton of gear into the skiffs for a seriously dicey surf launch. Somehow we made it underway and headed back to the Double Trouble. Curtis & Kip’s motor was acting up so we headed in freight train style. After cleaning up and dinner we all got together and partied and laughed.

We left the islands under a beautiful sunset and perfect weather. I couldn't have been with a nicer bunch of folks. A trip I will never forget. Though the big ones eluded us this time, there is no doubt they are around. I'll be back for you big girl!

Thanks Troy and Jeremy for a wonderful adventure! Adios amigos...Michael

Gargulio getting a good night’s rest before the adventure begins

Shindle walking amongst the rubble of a beachfront home

Gargulio after a long day on the rubble tour

Below are some pics of chainsaw artwork that was commissioned on the trees that were killed during the hurricane..

Shindle and the first shark a nice little lemon

Kip hooked up

Bull that got me good on both ankles

Kip with a lemon

Casting a float rig into the surf

Shindle trying to grab one of the feisty sharks

Trevor and his blacktip

First night coming back in while checking depth thru the shallows

Day 2 Sunrise

Trevor and nice trout caught out of the surf

How to do a proper release with these feisty sharks

Curtis blacktip

Kip and a lemon

Kip and a blacktip

Kip and a bull

Shindle teaching Gargulio how to fish

Mothership “Double Trouble”

Sunrise on our 3rd and last day

Curtis and bluefish bait haul

Shindle and a blacktip caught on a spoon

Shindle hooked up

Kip hooked up

Curtis hooked up

Gargulio in kayak ready to go fishing

Shindle and the waterspout

Shindle and the waterspout

Gargulio taking a break after landing another nice one

Shindle and a lemon

Gargulio and his big stingray

Curtis hooked up in the background

Kip and a bull

Curtis and a blacktip

Kip and the biggest shark of the trip 6’6” Bull

Curtis and yet another blacktip

Gargulio and another long battle

Last day and counting the days until we can make it back

Getting towed back after motor troubles

Getting towed back after motor troubles

Our home for a 3 days the “Double Trouble”

My feet after 3 days of shark rash

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