Omniscient waters greeted Mike Pittiglio and his crew as twin 454 engines propelled the 31-foot Sea Ray out of Michigan Harbor for a day of muskie fishing on Lake St. Clair.

Having just taken a mammoth 56-inch, 38-pound muskie with Walter Skszek of Belleville on Friday, Pittiglio stirred the interest of Monday's crew with fabled stories of muskie lore.

The wide-eyed crew -- consisting of first-time muskie anglers, Tim Kohloff and Dave Dankovich of Royal Oak, and Lenny Pittman of Warren -- were in good fishing hands with Capt. Mike Pittiglio and first mate, Mike Zainea, from St. Clair Shores.

"The fishing has been phenomenal this year," said Capt. Mike, noting Lake St. Clair is "the best" muskie fishery in the world. "There are bigger muskie and more muskie in Lake St. Clair than anywhere else that we know of."

For Kohloff, Dankovich and Pittman, the calm before the storm might best describe Monday's muskellunge experience.

Led solely by its Global Positioning System, Muskie Mania traveled some 35 minutes from the banks of St. Clair Shores to the other side of the lake in Canadian waters to an area known as the "Red Barn" near Belle River.

Understand that Pittiglio's wife just days prior gave birth to their first child, a healthy baby boy named, Mike.

"I'm not fishing tomorrow," said Pittiglio, 29, of Macomb Township, a 16-year fishing veteran, "so we're going for it today."

On a glorious afternoon, first mate Zainea quickly went to work tossing out a pair of Planer Boards and equipping 10-foot Ugly Stiks and Tekota Shimano reels with assorted Z-Baits. The divers are custom-made by Zainea and sold locally, or at least until recently when they were all bought off the shelves at Professional Fishing Center in Harrison Township for $9 apiece.

Having all the Z-Baits now, Pittiglio and Zainea orchestrated a couple down rods on Monday; two rods of the corners; and a couple lines off the Planer Boards. The boat was steadied at 3.8 mph and the quest for the big one started.

"All this catch-and-release is really off," Pittiglio said as the eager crew waited for the first bite. "We are seeing so many more big fish. Releasing them for another day is the way."

As Zainea changed assorted Z-baits to find which color would work first, the winds quickly shifted from the south and began picking up from the northeast.

"That's not good," Pittiglio said as what started off calm soon turned to a 5-foot white water chop along with sprinkles of rain. "The northeast winds are the worst. But it might do something for the muskie."

After four hits and misses -- one muskie left its tooth in the wood bait -- the sound everyone wanted to hear was heard for the first time.

"Whizzzzzzzzz," sounded the $250 apiece stainless steel Shimanos with a 40-pound test line. "Whizzzzzzzzz."

"FISH ON!" shouted Zainea, a school teacher at Warren Lincoln High School and full-time fisherman. "That's a muskie."

Timmy Kohloff, 36, who grew up in St. Clair Shores but never experienced muskie fishing on the lake, took the Tiger Ugly Stik in his two hands and held on.

"Keep tension on the line," Zainea lectured. "Keep it tight."

As Capt. Mike dipped the large net into the water, Kohloff reeled and walked backwards to the front of the boat. The first fish of the day -- a 12-pound, 34-inch muskie -- came on a 6-inch carp colored Z-Bait.

"I can't believe it," a smiling Kohloff said. "All these years and not going muskie fishing; it was worth the wait."

Before long, the winds had picked up to 20 mph and waves were crashing into Muskie Mania, but the crew never stopped wondering what size fish would be next.

And next on deck was Dankovich, who quite professionally hauled in a 10-pound, 30-inch muskie, taken on a sucker colored Z-Bait.

"That was great," Dankovich remarked. "That was fun."

Pittman, meanwhile, would have to wait nearly an hour for his first taste of muskie. And just as the crew began wondering if another fish would bite -- Wham!

"FISH ON!" said Capt. Mike, noting it was the third straight fish to come off a Planer Board. "That sounds like a big one."

Pittman, 44, reeled down and brought the Ugly Stik up as the fight was on. It took longer to reel this one in, but when the muskie landed in the net it turned out to be an 18-pound, 37-inch beauty.

"That was awesome," Pittman said. "That was an awesome feeling."

Before long, rain and clouds had come and gone, but the winds persisted keeping the crew in a jovial mood.

"This is everything I imagined Lake St. Clair to be like," Dankovich said.

The rougher it got on the water, the better looking the ensuing muskies were.

Next came a 13-pound, 33-inch muskie caught on a black and orange Buck Tail followed by Tim's 15-pound, 36-incher; Lenny's 8-pound, 28-incher; and finally a 23-pound, 39-inch muskie the crew let me take.

Eight muskie would have made even the most experienced muskie fisherman happy; but as day turned to night and Zainea started taking in the rods -- Bam!

"FISH ON!" Zainea called out to the amazement of the crew.

Kohloff, now an experienced muskie fisherman, picked up the Ugly Stik and hauled in an 18-pound muskie on a Night Rider.

"I cannot believe it," he said. "I thought the trip was over."

The moon was shining high and the clouds that followed Muskie Mania all day soon turned partly clear. It was now time to get back to the docks, except the most amazing thing happened.

"FISH ON!" Zainea shouted again. "It's a big one, too."

A surprised Dankovich took the rod and reeled in what turned out to be the day's 10th fish -- a 21-pound, 38-inch muskie that would have made anyone proud.

"A perfect 10," someone said.

Just like Muskie Mania Charters.

To book a muskie charter with Capt. Mike Pittiglio, call (586) 260-4068 or click on muskiemaniacharters.com.