Had Scott Z. and his son Zach, on board today. As it turned out I had James & Robin C. booked for today for the a long, long time. Then, yesterday I got a call that James hurt his back and couldn't hardly walk. "Hey, been there done that, at least once a month myself." So James and Robin had to cancel. And while being the "even-steven" that I am. Scott called me a few hours later and took their spot. Now that's what I like. No messing around. Scott said, "we'll take it." And booked his trip immediately.
Since last Friday, and then again on Sunday, I had Jon & Chris M. on both days. And I've probably not had a more challenging two days in years! And Sunday was a real wash, in the sustained 20 knot winds. That never quit.
So, today plans had to change. No fancy fishing what so ever. The plan today was; keep baits in the water and catch fish no matter if they are big or small or in between. And that's just what I did.
First spot along the "lil' Jetties" during the smokin' incoming tide as the East wind helped with the push. Drop down some boat ramp caught finger Mullet on my heavier rods and see if there's actually any big Redbass around.
N-O-P-E! Not one sniff.
It's so funny, or actually sad. I've caught more big Reds at the lil jetties this year in the 9990 degree heat of July, than I have in the last few weeks......AND IT'S NOW LATE SEPTEMBER!!!!!! (supposedly the hot time of year for big Reds...so I've heard??)
Yeah....welcome to bizarro world, Cappy Dave. (One might say)
So, Scott, Zach and myself took off and hit the Carlucci Boat ramp real quick to see if I could cast net a few more perfect sized Mullet.
Nope, no Mullet to be seen.
The writing was on the wall. My plan was now going to hit implamentation stage; Park it, and Fish it.
So we ran up river a ways. Grabbed the medium light rods matched up with the Shimano Cruxis low-pro reels and a bottom rig. Open the dead shrimp bucket and go to town, and just plain catch some damn fish! I was sick and tired of bait-n-wait fishin', targeting obvious species that are not gonna bite.
And these below are what us three set the hooks on all day:
- Croakers
-Spots
-Sand Trout
-Yellowmouth Trout/Weakfish
-Piggy Perch, Pigfish
-Bluefish
-Spadefish
-Jack Crevalle
-Whiting
-SeaBass
The three of us caught while using; dead shrimp, pilchards, mud-minnows, and small mullet, on the bottom. Having fun shootin the bull, telling stories, and as Scott said, "Spending the day with his son, bending a rod." And Scott and Zach were USDA GRADE Fisherman all the way!!!
We did take some time out to try for big Reds again. It took hours and hours for the tide to turn hard enough so the boat wouldn't just lay in the wind. And when something finally did take a big bait on the bottom (Live Croaker) it turned out to not be a big Redbass, but a 82 degree river water favorite.....a 50 pound Stingray.
We kept trying for a little while more. But the Croaks and other snatchers just kept shaking the rod tips. So we all went back to dropping dead shrimp down on the bottom for a few more bites till we packed it up and headed back to the dock with what we had in the cooler.
Didn't take any photos. I'll save that for when the big fish, ""or Trout"", start biting again......someday.
But, we had a cooler full. And enough for a real good fish fry.
Next up: Friday with one angler, and Sunday with two anglers.
Will the EAST winds stop blowing........"Doesn't look like it. The funk still continues...."
**REST OF TODAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
**TONIGHT AND FRIDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
**FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
So we'll just do what we did today. And that's NO running around. And keeping lines in the water for as long as possible.
It's called, K-I-S-S fishin'.
