4.28.13
Here is what we know:
Didn't fish Saturday due to work.
Wind blew 25 knots Sunday.
Catfish like cut mullet and shrimp in Alligator Harbor.
It's calm this morning (Monday)
Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
About Dang Time
4.24.13
water temp 71
Wind N 10 mph
Well it is the 24th day of gag grouper season in Wakulla Co. waters and we haven't been able to get out yet due to the wind.
The only nice day to go was the opening day and the old Seacraft wasn't ready for a sea trial.
We got up today and it was real foggy, which meant no wind, even though NOAA was saying 2-3 footers and rain. Rain showers were approaching from the east, but wanting to get in some grouper action, Nancy and I headed off to Lanark ramp. We donated our $10 ramp fee and headed off to a number right at the state waters line.
As we got through the pass on the north east end of Dog Island we could see the 2-3 rollers coming in from the south. We continued and decided to go a little off course and hit some numbers Terry Carruthers gave me before he moved to ATL.
A guide boat was anchored up on one of the spots, but we could troll around him easily enough.
On our first pass I was watching the Lowrance structure scan and saw the bottom jump up and told Nancy to get ready. The words were barely out of my mouth when she yelled "fish on".
I picked up the rod that was behind me and quickly discovered it was hung on the bottom as the drag was spinning.
We turned over the lure snag and tugged and tussled with the stuck plug, finally backing up the way we came hoping to remove it from the bottom.
It finally came loose and I immediately felt the pull of a fish. My drag had been set too loose and the grouper had grabbed the Manns Stretch 30 and pulled it into it's den.
We got it aboard and it weighed 8.5 lbs. What a good start!
water temp 71
Wind N 10 mph
Well it is the 24th day of gag grouper season in Wakulla Co. waters and we haven't been able to get out yet due to the wind.
The only nice day to go was the opening day and the old Seacraft wasn't ready for a sea trial.
We got up today and it was real foggy, which meant no wind, even though NOAA was saying 2-3 footers and rain. Rain showers were approaching from the east, but wanting to get in some grouper action, Nancy and I headed off to Lanark ramp. We donated our $10 ramp fee and headed off to a number right at the state waters line.
As we got through the pass on the north east end of Dog Island we could see the 2-3 rollers coming in from the south. We continued and decided to go a little off course and hit some numbers Terry Carruthers gave me before he moved to ATL.
A guide boat was anchored up on one of the spots, but we could troll around him easily enough.
On our first pass I was watching the Lowrance structure scan and saw the bottom jump up and told Nancy to get ready. The words were barely out of my mouth when she yelled "fish on".
I picked up the rod that was behind me and quickly discovered it was hung on the bottom as the drag was spinning.
We turned over the lure snag and tugged and tussled with the stuck plug, finally backing up the way we came hoping to remove it from the bottom.
It finally came loose and I immediately felt the pull of a fish. My drag had been set too loose and the grouper had grabbed the Manns Stretch 30 and pulled it into it's den.
We got it aboard and it weighed 8.5 lbs. What a good start!
We got set up again and began the troll over the 44 foot deep structure and as we approached the bottom came up again. I said get ready and bang another one hits the plug. This time the drag was set right and the twin came aboard. Another 8.5 pound fish.
The grouper guide boat had seen enough and pulled anchor and left.
We trolled the area another hour with nothing to show, so we decided to anchor up and fish as the wind was getting pretty fresh out of the NE with rain showers around us.
Nancy quickly got pulled down with a just barely throw back red grouper that measured 19".
I dropped down with an L-Y and caught a nice red grouper.
We pulled anchor and headed back to Lanark to begin the work of cleaning fish and boat.
Happily we dined on panko coated pan fried grouper for dinner.
About Dang Time!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wind From The East..........
Fish Bite Least
We have fished the last two days in a nasty east wind and crappy water.
Tried putting in at Lanark to go out in the 40 feet water off Dog Island and catch our first grouper of the year.
The forecast was for 1-2 foot waves.. Ha. ha. ha. ha. ha.!
Got out between Dog and the hill and it was quite a blow. Made it to the end of Dog and St. George island. Took a rest from the nasty drive, soaked some bait with zero results and sea trialed the Seacraft back to the hill. What a ride!
Managed to catch a couple of trout and spanish south of Ho Hum.
Tried the mouth of the Ochlockonee River yesterday.
Small trout, small mackerel, small reds, nasty east wind, nasty water, no tide.
Yep that sums it up.
We have fished the last two days in a nasty east wind and crappy water.
Tried putting in at Lanark to go out in the 40 feet water off Dog Island and catch our first grouper of the year.
The forecast was for 1-2 foot waves.. Ha. ha. ha. ha. ha.!
Got out between Dog and the hill and it was quite a blow. Made it to the end of Dog and St. George island. Took a rest from the nasty drive, soaked some bait with zero results and sea trialed the Seacraft back to the hill. What a ride!
Managed to catch a couple of trout and spanish south of Ho Hum.
Tried the mouth of the Ochlockonee River yesterday.
Small trout, small mackerel, small reds, nasty east wind, nasty water, no tide.
Yep that sums it up.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Stow Away Net Test
4.10.13
Water temp: low seventies
Still Murky
I wanted to got out and see if the big trout that we catch every year at the mouth of OR had showed up yet.
The idea was to catch one of these biguns and test the new net Doug got me for Christmas.
The big trout weren't there but the net worked well, the first fish it scooped was a spanish mackerel and then it netted a few more trout. The biggest was 17" which came home to become a taco sandwich soon.
Water temp: low seventies
Still Murky
I wanted to got out and see if the big trout that we catch every year at the mouth of OR had showed up yet.
The idea was to catch one of these biguns and test the new net Doug got me for Christmas.
The big trout weren't there but the net worked well, the first fish it scooped was a spanish mackerel and then it netted a few more trout. The biggest was 17" which came home to become a taco sandwich soon.
The Stow Away net worked well, and it says it is a saltwater version so we will see if it stands up to the salt. It collapses down for storage, but when opened it extends at least four feet. Thanks Doug!
We managed to catch 10 trout in about two hours. We would set down on a hole and catch two or three and then they would quit biting. Most were below the 15" line of demarcation though.
We also took the Seacraft out on Monday evening. We trolled Rotary Reef to no avail other than losing my favorite trolling plug.
The Structure Scan on the Lowrance worked great, as we could see the bridge components that make up the reef perfectly, like they were a picture.
We went all the way out to Ochlockonnee Shoals, but no bites out there.
We then came back to the flat at the "2" marker and caught a Jack and a Spanish. Heading in we realized the tide had left the building. Ran aground getting into Mashes Sands harbor, couldn't get the boat on the trailer. Nancy drove the truck to Rock Landing and I drove the boat all the way to the Landing hoping we would be able to get it on the trailer there. Thankfully we could since the next hight tide was 2 AM and the no see ums were eating!
STUPID!!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Floating and Fish Sliming of the Seacraft
3.28.13
Water Temp: 62 Degrees
Clarity was really nasty at the mouth of the river
We finally got the Seacraft out in the water after months of rehabbing the old 1976 boat.
Actually, we took it out a couple of weeks ago to put an hour on the new engine, but we had a steering malfunction and had to come back to port. Some idiot put the steering lines on backwards so left was right and right was left. That made for some interesting driving.
Today we were able to put the boat on plane according to Yamaha, so that was our plan.
If all went well, we planned on doing a little fishing too.
Well, all went well and Nancy landed the first fish ever placed in the boat with this nice keeper trout.
Water Temp: 62 Degrees
Clarity was really nasty at the mouth of the river
We finally got the Seacraft out in the water after months of rehabbing the old 1976 boat.
Actually, we took it out a couple of weeks ago to put an hour on the new engine, but we had a steering malfunction and had to come back to port. Some idiot put the steering lines on backwards so left was right and right was left. That made for some interesting driving.
Today we were able to put the boat on plane according to Yamaha, so that was our plan.
If all went well, we planned on doing a little fishing too.
Well, all went well and Nancy landed the first fish ever placed in the boat with this nice keeper trout.
We kept driving the boat and checking to make sure there were no leaks and kept working our way out to find some decent water. We wandered out to the flat by the 2 marker and Nancy caught this eater on a curly tail grub.
I had my favorite jerk bait bit off by a hungry spanish mac, but got revenge later with two others that came boat side.
My crack photographer got a picture (kinda) of the Seacraft as we came back to port.
It's nice to get out finally and with gag grouper season opening next week, we now have the possibility of a couple of good months of fishing for them.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Mahahaul, Mexico Fishing Or Non Fishing Report
Feb. 20-Feb 24, 2013
Windy, WINDY, Did I Say It Was WINDY!!!
The idea was to do a DIY bonefish trip and enjoy the sights, food and drink in Mexico. The trip was planned before Christmas. Everything went well, except for the DIY bonefish.
The first day was windy, but I did manage this nice snapper in front of our hotel.
Windy, WINDY, Did I Say It Was WINDY!!!
The idea was to do a DIY bonefish trip and enjoy the sights, food and drink in Mexico. The trip was planned before Christmas. Everything went well, except for the DIY bonefish.
The first day was windy, but I did manage this nice snapper in front of our hotel.
It was quite windy that day, but I figured the wind would lay and the next few days would be better.
Not.
The wind blew 25-35 knots day and night and the water inshore turned from a nice clear green to coffee with cream.
I managed one more snapper in the town of Mahahual, but that was it.
But the food was great!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Red Snapper Slaughter, Outrage Anywhere. Anyone?
2.16.13
This video was big news in our shop today.
When I first viewed it, I was saddened by the waste of wildlife, whether you fish or not.
There are so many things wrong with this situation I can't start to count.
You can view it and make up your mind but this slaughter can be magnified into everything that is wrong with the government and it's policies in the good ol' USA now. And like many people we don't know what to do about it but vote.
Gulf Coast Red Snapper Slaughter
This video was big news in our shop today.
When I first viewed it, I was saddened by the waste of wildlife, whether you fish or not.
There are so many things wrong with this situation I can't start to count.
You can view it and make up your mind but this slaughter can be magnified into everything that is wrong with the government and it's policies in the good ol' USA now. And like many people we don't know what to do about it but vote.
Gulf Coast Red Snapper Slaughter
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