Very Wide Variety

10.8.13

After the stormy weather got through, we decided to try our luck.

The fish I had caught out on Whetstone Point were either gone or ran out of water to swim in as we had an extremely low tide yesterday morning.  The dolphin put on a show attacking mullet in very skinny water.

We headed back into the harbor to get our lines stretched by some sand trout and they didn't disappoint us as we boated a dozen and kept a couple for dinner.

We came in on the lowest tide and decided to try the mouth of the river in the evening.  It was surprisingly calm and there were a few fish to be caught.

Jack Crevalle bowed us up a few times, as well as lady fish and blue fish.

They were pulling hard in the incoming tide that was howling up river.

The water was very off, probably due to the strong tide and the tropical system that had just passed.

Finally a Fishing Report

10.3.13

Well the wind has been howling from the east for many, many days.

I watched folks catching sand trout in Panacea harbor last weekend. Nancy and I tried it Monday. But only caught one trout and one whiting.

I braved the east wind Wednesday and finally got on some trout in Ullmore cove. First catch of the day was a sailcat. Next was a nice flounder that spit the bit at boat side. Then I figured out a stretch of the cove that produced 15+ trout before the high tide ebbed.

Had to go and fish the tourist rig with a new penny gulp for the best action and to keep out of the weeds.

We are hunkering down now for an approaching tropical storm. It looks like after this blow the weather will improve substantially and the fall bite will really crank up.

Just to give you an idea this is a picture of what the weather has been like.
It was photographed at St. George Island last week.

A lot of fishing, a little catching.

9.7.13 and 9.12.13

Nancy and I went out to the 35 ft. depths on Monday to see if any grouper had come in closer.

Nancy caught this non keeper and had one body slam her to the boat seat, but that one got away.

We also caught a few grunts, but not much to bring home.

I went out today trying to find a tarpon.  I saw some ladyfish jumping and decided to head across the channel and catch one for cut bait.

Much to my surprise, my first cast yielded a nice 15" trout on the Paul Brown Fat Boy.

On the next cast I caught the big lady fish I was wanting for bait.

And on the next cast a tarpon decided he wanted the lure more than I as he tore it away from me and broke my line.

Now that I had my bait I figured I could get bit on the big rods I brought for tarpon.

Nope, no bites.

At least I got my first tarpon hook up for the year.

Whale Stranded on Dog Island

8.28.13

My sister said she saw a whale jump behind our boat last summer.

I guess maybe she did see it.

Here is an article on one that didn't make it on Dog Island.


http://www.apalachtimes.com/news/outdoors/whale-stranded-on-dog-island-dies-1.190473

Weeds, Dark Water and a Few Fish

8.28.13

Made it out yesterday for an offshore run.

The forecast was for less than 1' waves.  Off course that wasn't correct, as we made the turn in front of Ochlockonee River, we quickly realized that we were going to plan 2.  Didn't really have a plan 2.

David and I ended up on the barge at the 24 marker for a while.  He got snapped off by something with big teeth.  We thought the waves may be laying, so we headed further out and finally ended up at the ledge.

David caught a keeper red grouper on his first drop and I was spooning up grunts and one trigger fish.

We figured it was time to get back to the hill and the 2-3' waves we had to head into coming out were now our following sea.  Jeez.

Then we hit a huge field of grass that was out in front of Alligator Point.  We idled through it and had to stop and clean the prop as the grass got entangled all over the motor and transducers.

I was happy to get back to the hill and get my sea legs back.

Got a good mess of grunts for fish tacos and a nice grouper filet out of the deal.

We're Still Here

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.

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.

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!