8.20.13
Stormy, Coke colored water, Windy
Just saying, we are still here.
In the past few weeks we have tried scalloping (couldn't see due to dark water), and fishing (chased off by storms, wind, rain)
Tried yesterday again. We wanted to attempt to see/catch a tarpon.
Results: 3 hours outrunning storms, back ache from extremely choppy seas, dirty scum line on the boat.
That has been the kind of summer it has been.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Day of Firsts
July 30, 2013
Water temp: 88 degrees
Flat Calm
There hasn't been much to report, except, rain, storms, more rain. We have been out a couple of times, but without a whole lot of luck inshore.
We finally got a day that looked good in the upcoming weather reports and off we went to the ledge and red grouper hole that I went out with Patty and Willie when they were in town.
It was a day of firsts, mainly for Nancy, as I played net boy and gaff boy as the day progressed.
She had never been out so far when it was flat smooth as these trips are few and far between.
We hit the red grouper hole without much to celebrate. After about 45 minutes, there we headed over to the ledge and started pulling grunts to the boat. I was getting some nice ones spoon jigging again.
We did manage some pinfish for bait at the dock before we left Rock Landing.
I was baiting Nancy's rod with them and she waited patiently to get bit. And she did, three broken lines worth.
But in between the tore up reels and rods she did put this nice cobia in the boat.
It was the first time she had caught one. Unfortunately it was a 1/2" shy of being a keeper.
Water temp: 88 degrees
Flat Calm
There hasn't been much to report, except, rain, storms, more rain. We have been out a couple of times, but without a whole lot of luck inshore.
We finally got a day that looked good in the upcoming weather reports and off we went to the ledge and red grouper hole that I went out with Patty and Willie when they were in town.
It was a day of firsts, mainly for Nancy, as I played net boy and gaff boy as the day progressed.
She had never been out so far when it was flat smooth as these trips are few and far between.
We hit the red grouper hole without much to celebrate. After about 45 minutes, there we headed over to the ledge and started pulling grunts to the boat. I was getting some nice ones spoon jigging again.
We did manage some pinfish for bait at the dock before we left Rock Landing.
I was baiting Nancy's rod with them and she waited patiently to get bit. And she did, three broken lines worth.
But in between the tore up reels and rods she did put this nice cobia in the boat.
It was the first time she had caught one. Unfortunately it was a 1/2" shy of being a keeper.
I had spooned up two spot tails which I was letting her use for bait. The first one was hit so hard I heard the rod hit the gunnel before the line broke.
The next one got hit as she slowly reeled it to the surface.
After a prolonged battle around the boat, this beautiful 42" smoker king fish came to the boat. It was the first one Nancy had ever caught. It was also the biggest one we have caught so far.
Her co worker told her to catch a king and he would make his famous fish dip with it. He was cleaning the smoker as we left the ramp yesterday. Can't wait for that!
Finally, I had a first as I spooned up this triggerfish. I had never caught one and was told how great they are to eat. Lucky for the fish, as the season doesn't reopen until tomorrow.
Being so calm and sunny we were done in by noon by the heat and headed back to Rock Landing. The air conditioning provided by the 35 mph ride back in felt great!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Dock Trash Red
7.16.2013
We were gonna go out and do some evening river fishing, but as we were preparing to leave a storm blew up and that was that.
But, since Nancy had to work tomorrow, and she hasn't fished since last Monday, we proceeded down to the dock to do our dock trash fishing trip.
We were fishing and talking to some neighbors who were telling us about an alligator that had crossed the road by Patty and Willie's lot, when the rod about got yanked out of my hand.
I handed it to Nancy, who proceeded to land the biggest fish we had ever caught of our dock.
We were gonna go out and do some evening river fishing, but as we were preparing to leave a storm blew up and that was that.
But, since Nancy had to work tomorrow, and she hasn't fished since last Monday, we proceeded down to the dock to do our dock trash fishing trip.
We were fishing and talking to some neighbors who were telling us about an alligator that had crossed the road by Patty and Willie's lot, when the rod about got yanked out of my hand.
I handed it to Nancy, who proceeded to land the biggest fish we had ever caught of our dock.
The water now has a deep tannic stain due to all of the rain that has occurred and this fish took on the dark colors of the waters. A beautiful deep copper color and two spots on this side as a bonus.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Grunts? Yes! Grouper? Not So Much.
7.8-7.10.2013
Water: 82 degrees.
Patty and Willie made it down to examine their real estate holdings and we fished for three days.
Day one was a trip off to Ochlockonee Shoals trying to catch a trout or two and then possibly a cobia on the way back to the hill.
I managed a nice spanish mackerel.
The trout were a little indifferent, but one went in the box. We hit a little black sea bass hole coming back and caught a keeper there.
We caught some pins and hit the poles coming back towards the river and Pat caught a small cobia and had a bigger one break her off on the tripod.
Tuesday and Wednesday held promise of smooth seas for the first time in a while so we planned our off shore jaunts to try and catch some grouper.
We fished in the area Willie calls the fingers. The water depth was between 50 and 65 feet.
Day one featured a grunt as a whole cooler came home filled with tasty filets.
One keeper red grouper came with them which Pat mustered to the boat for her first keeper grouper ever.
Water: 82 degrees.
Patty and Willie made it down to examine their real estate holdings and we fished for three days.
Day one was a trip off to Ochlockonee Shoals trying to catch a trout or two and then possibly a cobia on the way back to the hill.
I managed a nice spanish mackerel.
The trout were a little indifferent, but one went in the box. We hit a little black sea bass hole coming back and caught a keeper there.
We caught some pins and hit the poles coming back towards the river and Pat caught a small cobia and had a bigger one break her off on the tripod.
Tuesday and Wednesday held promise of smooth seas for the first time in a while so we planned our off shore jaunts to try and catch some grouper.
We fished in the area Willie calls the fingers. The water depth was between 50 and 65 feet.
Day one featured a grunt as a whole cooler came home filled with tasty filets.
One keeper red grouper came with them which Pat mustered to the boat for her first keeper grouper ever.
Three more were hooked up but battled back down to the rocky bottom to break lines and hearts.
Wednesday dawned with very calm seas and new numbers. We hustled out quickly after a storm delayed our trip for a little bit.
As we neared our destination the seas were smooth but storms were rumbling.
Pat struggled on a few fish to get up off the bottom.
They won the battle.
The grunts bit a little bit and Willie hammered this non keeper gag.
But got back with this nice red grouper caught after he pulled an octopus from the bottom.
As the storms were nearing we decided to high tail it back to the ramp, only to be stopped short of Rock Landing. We ditched into the Mashes Sands Ramp and were rescued by Nancy as this storm approached.
Our visitors left today, convinced that their real estate portfolio was growing as planned.
As we loaded a whole 18 gallon trash bag with vacuum packed filets, I was hoping they could get back soon.
Maybe Pat can catch an even bigger grouper next time. Or scallop. Or flounder gig.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Chasing the Over Harvested Red Snapper
6.25.13
The oh so kind NOAA allowed a 28 day season to chase the "over harvested" red snapper. With three days left in the season I was able to arrange a trip out to try and get some for the table.
Larry and Phil were staying at St. Joe and came over the Carrabelle to try and get some too.
If Phil is here there is a no doubt a tropical disturbance in our future so I was wary to his arrival.
We headed out towards V tower through some rough seas through East Pass, but getting on plane as we cleared the sandy shoals entering the pass.
We dropped down near the Navy tower but only a couple of light taps greeted us at the 70' drop.
The decision was made to motor another 10 miles to the deeper 100' of water and the day turned into a catch fest as the fish were enjoying deeper depth.
Many small under sized snapper came aboard.
We kept banging away catching lane snapper, beeliners, red grouper, king mackerel, sea bass,sharks and of course the larger red snapper.
While no giants were brought to the box, I did catch a nice 24" red snapper. I let Phil hold it for me when we got back near the hill. He was feeling bad not setting up on any biguns.
Larry caught this nice smoker on squid on the bottom. Go figure.
The oh so kind NOAA allowed a 28 day season to chase the "over harvested" red snapper. With three days left in the season I was able to arrange a trip out to try and get some for the table.
Larry and Phil were staying at St. Joe and came over the Carrabelle to try and get some too.
If Phil is here there is a no doubt a tropical disturbance in our future so I was wary to his arrival.
We headed out towards V tower through some rough seas through East Pass, but getting on plane as we cleared the sandy shoals entering the pass.
We dropped down near the Navy tower but only a couple of light taps greeted us at the 70' drop.
The decision was made to motor another 10 miles to the deeper 100' of water and the day turned into a catch fest as the fish were enjoying deeper depth.
Many small under sized snapper came aboard.
We kept banging away catching lane snapper, beeliners, red grouper, king mackerel, sea bass,sharks and of course the larger red snapper.
While no giants were brought to the box, I did catch a nice 24" red snapper. I let Phil hold it for me when we got back near the hill. He was feeling bad not setting up on any biguns.
Larry caught this nice smoker on squid on the bottom. Go figure.
We filled the fish box with a lot of color.
As you can see from the pictures, we had to wait out a thunderstorm at the mouth of the Carrabelle River.
But, thankfully, we didn't get wet.
It was nice chasing the red snapper with a good group of guys that enjoy fishing at the Forgotten Coast.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Ochlockonee Shoals Drift
6.24.13
Water temp: 85
The idea was to go to the shoals, do some drifts in 10 feet of water, catch some trout for company coming in, go catch some pinfish, jump a tarpon on the pinfish and come back to the ramp.
Everything went fine except the tarpon part, but at least a shark gave us a cheap thrill.
We caught 2 eating size trout and one 21" trout on the drifts at the shoals. Caught 4-5 under sized trout also.
Nancy was banging the bottom with gulp on a jig head and I was throwing a Fat Boy.
I have used it in the past but didn't have any trout to show for it. While working at the store a guy came in and told me I had been working it way too fast.
He said to count it down to 10 or 15 and just do a twitch, kind of like fishing for spots at Lanier in February with jerk baits.
The Fat Boy falls back down at every pause and when the trout want it they really eat it.
This nice 21" really fought hard and after a good battle, came on board.
Water temp: 85
The idea was to go to the shoals, do some drifts in 10 feet of water, catch some trout for company coming in, go catch some pinfish, jump a tarpon on the pinfish and come back to the ramp.
Everything went fine except the tarpon part, but at least a shark gave us a cheap thrill.
We caught 2 eating size trout and one 21" trout on the drifts at the shoals. Caught 4-5 under sized trout also.
Nancy was banging the bottom with gulp on a jig head and I was throwing a Fat Boy.
I have used it in the past but didn't have any trout to show for it. While working at the store a guy came in and told me I had been working it way too fast.
He said to count it down to 10 or 15 and just do a twitch, kind of like fishing for spots at Lanier in February with jerk baits.
The Fat Boy falls back down at every pause and when the trout want it they really eat it.
This nice 21" really fought hard and after a good battle, came on board.
Gonna pick up a couple more of them today at Academy Sports as mine got chewed up pretty good yesterday.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Inshore run
6.10.13
Nanacy and I did a little inshore run. I heard of some gator trout being caught and wanted to look for some tarpon.
We did get some trout and had the biggest one break off. We had a shark eat my badonadonk and take it too.
This trout got a taste of Nick's Wicad swim bait.
Nanacy and I did a little inshore run. I heard of some gator trout being caught and wanted to look for some tarpon.
We did get some trout and had the biggest one break off. We had a shark eat my badonadonk and take it too.
This trout got a taste of Nick's Wicad swim bait.
Bluefish were schooling and fun to catch. This one came aboard after a good fight.
We went down to Mud Cove to look for tarpon rolling. We did a slow troll and saw plenty of bait, but no tarpon rolling.
Maybe next week!
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