When I got a call from Steve Traves, of AMI Outfitters, asking if I would mind having an extra angler join us on our first fishing trip of the New Year, I immediately said OK. The trip was all the better because we would be introducing a novice angler to some of the spectacular fishing we have in local waters. This wasn't the first time Parker Novi, from Anna Maria, had been fishing, but it was the first time the 17 year old had fished from a boat. As it turned out, he was a natural, quickly picking up the nuances needed to work the lures we fished.

We began the day near Tidy Island, drifting the flats on a deep grass edge. Fishing with a DOA Shrimp and jigs, we immediately started catching trout. After a couple of drifts, I decided to switch to a top water plug to do a little prospecting.

I've always been a fan of top water because of the excitement of watching fish strike on the surface. In addition to the visual aspect, the commotion the plug makes attracts fish. It only took a couple of casts for a nice trout to hit the plug and one cast later a 4-pound bluefish smashed the offering. The blue fought hard, putting a deep bend in the light spinning rod and taking line off the spool against the drag.

After catching several trout on a jig, Parker switched to a top water plug, and I gave him a quick lesson on "walking the dog." This involves moving the lure from side to side as it's retrieved. I explained the technique, adding that he should periodically stop the lure. The pause, according to old time top water lure maker Sam Griffith, gives fish time to "read the menu."

Parker quickly picked up the cadence, and it wasn't long before he hooked a nice bluefish. The blue put up a hard fight, making several runs and a number of head shaking trips to the surface before we landed, photographed and released it. I instantly knew Parker had enjoyed the battle when I saw the excited look on his face. On the next cast, several of the predators attacked the plug at once, knocking it completely out of the water three times. We all had a great time catching and releasing bluefish until a change of tide ended the action.

During the lull we decided to head south and explore some flats near Longbar Point. Since the top water action was hot, we abandoned the jigs and shrimp in favor of plugs and a lure called the DOA Deadly Combo. The business end of the Deadly Combo features a plastic shrimp, but the rig functions to attract fish with sound. The shrimp is suspended from a leader attached to an orange float. The float slides back and forth between two swivels.

When it's worked with the rod it makes a splashing and clicking sound. As a fish approaches to investigate the sound, its attention is drawn to the shrimp. It's classic bobber fishing with a twist.

Novi and Traves switched to the Deadly Combo while I continued to work a top water plug. We didn't' encounter any more bluefish, but trout to 16 inches provided us consistent action for several hours. When the wind picked up and the fishing slowed, we decided to head back to the ramp. It was a great day on the water, and while the fishing was good, the best part was the camaraderie and spending time with a new friend. If you haven't tried top water, I highly recommend it. It's fishing on steroids, and once you've got the bug, you'll keep coming back.