11/2- Two "float freaks" at it

My buddy and fellow float fishing freak is back in town, for the winter, Doc Miller. After yesterday's solo trip I called him and said "Doc, where are you because if you're not here in J-ville you need to be!"

He said, "I'm here. I'm getting my boat bottom painted and maintenance done." I tell him that we have to go tomarrow. I was just out float-rig fishing and it was a blast, plus I dropped to the bottom and had massive action on just dead shrimp and cut mullet.

Well, he couldn't say no. So we headed out around 8:00am and worked the same area I had fished the day before.
That right there was a Jacksonville fishing, "too much to ask" situation going on!

It was also, "In and out" constant Navy traffic all day long!

After all my years fishing the Jetties I should always know better. NOTHING around here can be repeated the next day. Especially when Trout are concerned!  It's a J-ville phenomenom.

But, we did pull a pupper Redbass and one really nice Trout out of the same spot......"But certainly not 30 Trout and 2 limits in an hour and a half!"

But we tried....and tried.

 

So we moved on, because when fishing around here. You fish "windows of opportunity". Because that's all you get. If you fish here and haven't realized that yet. Oh boy, you need to put more water under your boat.

-SAY HELLO TO MY LITL REDBASS.......

Moving quickly and with purpose we dropped anchor on a different spot but in the same zip code. First drift of the float Doc sweeps his float-rog rod and sets the hook on a good fish. A Redbass!

My turn, and I come back with the seasons first float-rig caught Sheepshead.

We repeated the hook-ups back and forth for about an hour (the window) catching Reds and Trout back and forth. Big Red, small Reds, but sweetheart sized trout. (it's always about the Trout.....the thinkin man's perfect fish)

After the first hour though, it all quit. (Window over!) But it was amazing. The current was still running, but all of a sudden, the reds quit and the Trout went to 14 inches, versus 17-20 inches. I caught a left-over Jack Crevalle too.

I saw my third Tripletail swim by in the last two days, never stopping just swimming straight south.

We made a few more moves and all the windows of this tide were over, so we caught a Piggy Perch on the bottom and used it for cut bait and filled the cracks in the fish box with Yellowmouth Trout. And then we headed in. I had fish to clean and get ready for Saturday morning.

-------------------------------------------------------

I had a Saturday charter 11/3

Had regular customer Erica with her two daughters out today and her daughters best friend. We fished the jetties and the kids had a ball catching Croakers, Whiting, Yellowmouth Trout, and they had two big Reds hooked up, that eventually pulled the hook. Yes, the big Reds usually aren't for the first timers, that are young girls. But heck they had the feel of them. We filled the box with fish fry fish and everyone by days end was laying down sleeping, while Erica and I did some drifts for Whiting far from the jetties. But most were really small. 

NEXT UP: 3 guys on Monday & Tuesday. Same crew for 2 days. 

BOOK YOUR DAY NOW!

NOVEMBER 1 - INSANITY

I received a comment posted from someone....."no name was given", about Trout in Mayport. On the post I did about being stir crazy with this weather.

OH YEAH!
I'M ON TOP OF IT.

It was pure insanity today. Upon the Jettywolf, doing R&D for up coming charters. I did make a video, but have no time to spend hours editing it till maybe Weds.......or Sunday.

So I'll just throw up this report:

West winds were quite HARD (15 kts) and in my book WEST is the worst! I hate a west wind....and can't even fish a east wind, most of the time. But I faired okay.

Trout limit to 4 pounds by 9:30am, started fishing around 8:00am. Had to find them first, but once I did, easily caught 30- 40 fish, a 27" Redbass, and a 17-3/4" Redbass, and had a few Yellowmouth Trout too. And one Mangrove Snapper at 11".

Then, as the tide turned I moved locales. Got in position for some EZ drop shrimp (dead) to the bottom. Yellowmouth Trout, Croakers, more Specks, and even had a nice pupper Black Drum. The bite was crazy, fun.

Then it happened, the anchor slipped. So I pulled it and looked carefully around where I was fishing. "I could mark the giant Reds on the bottom, they were all over!"

I re-positioned, fired down a piece of dead shrimp and that's when a 20+ pound Redbass sucked it up. I was fishing my super Fairy Wand rod, it doubled over and of course, this wasn't what I was wanting, by no means.

Afterwards, waves of Mullet and pods of Pogies were all around me. I caught some Mullet super easily, and tried a few.

Two Thursdays ago it was wild fishing in this same spot, with Yellowmouths 12-14" eating 3-4" Mullet, along with small 14" Specks, and of course hundreds of pounds of Redbass.....Hurricane Sandy didn't change any of that!

I caught small Specks and Yellowmouth Trout on the live Mullet, again. And then, FOUR more 20-25 pound Reds on the ole Fairy-wand Ugly Stik. What an ass kicking it was on the mega-light rod.

(SEE VIDEO ABOVE IN 11/4 REPORT)

It was insane, light tackle "solo" fishing.

I was all alone, not a soul around and I was wacking fish like crazy! Filling the fish box, and having a ball.

UP COMING PRE-BOOKED, CHARTERS:

Saturday, and then a "double day" with the same folks on Monday and Tuesday.

Just wish I took photos rather than doing a video. Video's take forever to edit and get done. And after reviewing what I had, the camera angle was wrong 1/2 the time and doing video's in the midst of a EPIC bite of fish had me loose some, too.

I'M ADDICTED TO TROUT. So, this morning Doc Miller, who's back in town and myself are heading out to go wack us a few limits of Specks and come home. He's been up in N.C. all summer, so he's ready. Another limit for the freezer is what I have in mind.

BOOK YOUR DAYS NOW. I have some days left in the middle of the month, and the very end.

NOVEMBER IS THE #1 MONTH OF THE YEAR IN MY BOOK. NO SWEATING, JUST FISHING.

 

10/31 - Who's "stir crazy"...I am!

Good Gawd. This wind is just relentless isn't it?  Where is that storm now...almost Canada and it's blowing like all HELL here still?

Just like summer's heat, and sweaty to the oldies, "stick a fork in my ass, I'm over this wind!"

Supposedly, as of tommarrow. The wind is going to start taking a break. And I just gotta go. Even if I sit in my boat anchored up watching the tide flow in. It's better than sitting here doing squatola.
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Ya'll may know that I am in love with my Shimano TRN-100G reels that I use for bottom fishing. When I had that good run of customers and great weather from the 18th thru the 21st. They really proved themselves on all those big Redbass we caught.

Ya' just can't seem to hurt these reels. Simple, non-corosive, decent gear ratio, slick drags. Of course this comes from a guy with a 26' welded boat aluminum alloy boat..."You can tell I like things that are tough and simple!"

High maintenance, and glitzy, just isn't for me.


I've been squeaking out the last few years using my low profile Shimano Citica's for float-rig fishing. Their drags aren't what they used to be, and corosion issues is something I have to stay on top of all the time. Because let's face it, do people on my boat really take care of the tackle I give them. NOT REALLY!

Instead of using a rod holder in which I have many, all over. The rods get dropped against the side of the boat, even attempts at laying the rods on the deck happens, all the time. The reels, have sun screened hands all over them. They get good and wet, and banged around.

So, I have searched long and hard for a reel for my float-rig fishing needs that fit my scrutiny. And I'm not real happy with what's out there. If I came up with a Tackle Company, it would be called "Charter-Tough-Tackle". And all I'd sell would be simple, tough and very proven durable rods and reels, that met up to my personal approval.

And since I have to buy in minimums of four, that's how the tackle would be sold, also. But, I came close to finding a  person just like me. He's in Michigan, not the "deep south".

So, I went out on a limb, and am going to try out Okuma's 200L Classic reel, for Float-rig fishing this year.

The reels are very similar, but much smaller than the famed Shimano TRN-100G's I love so much. Which is what I wanted. have bushings rather than bearings, which means it's not a big time casting reel.  I couldn't get from Shimano, a "SMALLER" reel.  If only they made a TRN-50G, Oh damn would have that made my search simpler! Half the size, would have been nice.

But with float-rig fishing a MINIMUM of a 5:1 gear ratio is needed. Because the faster the reel, the faster you can take up "belly" and/or "slack" in your line, as the float drifts, and then disappears under water, with a BITE! 

The only thing that would make these reels almost perfect would be an "auto-engage" so when the handle is turned a 1/4 turn, the reel would go from casting to engaged. That's what I've given up, over using more low profile reels. But, I'll see. Might be a unseen benefit. Because customers who aren't super savvy have a way of sometimes "pulling the trigger" too quick when the float bobs in the water, and not letting the fish take the float completely down under the water.

The mili-second that it'll take to flip the reel to "engage" may give the fish just that much more time to eat the bait. As I said......"we'll see."

Is all this too in depth?
If so, let me know. (post a comment about this below)
These are the kind of details that matter, to me.
I'll do the in-depth tackle thinking. You as a customer, just do the fishing.

That's why you're hiring me, RIGHT.

Now go and try and find this same info on another fishing guides web site.


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Here's a quick reference guide to PowerPro Braided line diameter, versus Mono.

Power Pro
US Sizes

SIZE (lb.) DIAMETER (in) ~ Mono Equivalent
8 / 1
10 / 2
15 / 4
20 / 6
30 / 8
40 / 10
50 / 12
65 / 16
80 / 18
100 / 20
150 / 30
200 / 50
250 / 80

10/29 - A serious No Go....

Yesterday, I went to the boat ramp and there was about a dozen trailers in the parking lot.

Well, they picked it right.....or because it was a weekend, they just had to go. That's probably the real reason.

So, I was supposed to go this morning. I had looked and watched the "WIND" forecast flop around all week for Monday like a Bluefish on the deck. And as it turned out. I called my guys, which went from 3 persons to 4 persons by last night.

I heard it. The wind. As the cold air blew in last night, the wind was whistling thru the trees in my neighborhood. By 10pm the big tall pines branches, were whipping all around.

 

I was ready! I pulled out of the closet the foul weather pants, the water proof boots, and the Green & Blue Grundens fishing jacket, and aired them all out for this mornings useage.  "The cold air arrived on the high winds."

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

TODAY
NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS.
SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. INLAND WATERS ROUGH.

TONIGHT
WEST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS. SEAS
3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY.

TUESDAY
WEST WINDS 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO
5 FEET. INLAND WATERS ROUGH.

TUESDAY NIGHT
WEST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS.
SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY.

WEDNESDAY
WEST WINDS 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS
CHOPPY.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY
WEST WINDS 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY
WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2
FEET OR LESS. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up for me "pre-booked" is Saturday. And it looks like it'll be till Wednesday when things calm down a bit.

ANY WIND SPEED ""OVER""  15 KNOTS, IS NOT A KIND WIND, WHEN DEALING WITH 4 PEOPLE. ESPECIALLY AFTER BAD WEATHER, AND 40+mph winds FROM A STORM.

Yesterday, the river looked like Pea Soup, with a bit of sand mixed in it.

10/24 - Here comes Sandy weather!

I had to go, and see what the deal was on the last real day that's "do-able". I was all alone, of course. Or just confident, in the JETTYWOLF....heck, she loves the slop!

Rescheduled a bunch of charters, this week and weekend. That means, It's gonna be a busy November.

W-O-W, Starting Monday did ya see those temp. numbers????

 

I'm heading out Monday, with Milton A. and his three brothers. Last year we fished in the wind, right around this same week. So, I guess we'll do it again.

 

I love the CHILL...feels like Float-rig fishing to me.

 

I think "green fishing jacket" , will finally make it out of the closet. Hurray.

 

10/23 - Let's reinterate a bit....

Yeah. I believe that's a fancy pants word for "repeating ones self". 

verb:  Say something again or a number or times, typically for emphasis or clarity.

Had a Marine Corps. Sergeant as a instructor when I was in the USAF Law Enforcement Academy, many moons ago. He used to yell alot, as most Marine Corps Sergeant's seem to do. And he used to yell at us, "DO I HAVE TO  REITERATE EVERYTHING TO YOU PEOPLE!!!"

So, with that said. Here we go, with something I know I covered a while back.

Last week: 10/18 thru 10/21 I conducted a experiment, once again with no one really knowing.

 

My favorite hook is a Matzuo 2/0 Sickle Bend "bait holder" turned in eye.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, that's a "do all" hook for me. BUT, then I used them on Reds to 32 pounds.

 

And not once had a deficiency in their ability to get a Red to the boat. I use "turned in" eyed Bait holders.

 

 

And then I snell them, I believe snelling is the strongest connection, period. The Matzuo hooks are deadly sharp, and won't break the bank either when you can run thru 25 a day, in just snags sometimes with a boat load of people.

 

 

I show people how these hooks will "HANG" on my finger print on my finger, they're that sharp!

 

That's this weeks "recommendation".  I've been using a 2/0 for "do-all" fishing, and a #2 for Float-Rig fishing with live shrimp.

 

 

Now remember; the reason I can get away with using this small hook for Big Reds. Is because I have a completely matched "tackle system" as I call it.

 

Slick smooth drags,  and soft parablic rods.

 

Parabolic?  Wat's dat?

 

Here's Parabolic:

Notice that the whole rod bends?

 

Yeah, I was in a local fishing tackle store one time and asked why they ever have a selection of "softer action rods".

 

The answer I received was, "Oh yeah, you like those buggy whips don't ya...you should be using a fast taper bla,bla,bla...."  

 

On top of it being the wrong answer it also had a "snooty sounding" nature to it, as the wannabe fisherman sales person, answered me.

 

I call them my "fairy wands", because my good friend Capt Randall called my rods that. And the name stuck!

 

Morale of the story...Big fish, light tackle, people having F-U-N, fishing is supposed to be fun, and no Broke Rods or Lines.

 

 

 

 

 

10/22 - Re-scheduled today......

Hmmmm.......I'll assume with the wind blowing, and with this the real-time weather right now in Mayport

Station MYPF1
30.397 N 81.430 W

11:00 am EDT
1500 GMT 10/22/2012
Wind: NE (50°), 17.1 kt
Gust: 19.0 kt
Air Temp: 73.6 °F
Water Temp: 76.8 °F

That this is probably what the Jetties look like. So yesterday, I called Jay today's charter and we resceduled for Saturday.
I'm not a football fan, or have any need to watch Florida vs. Georgia play. And I'll be hoping alot of people aren't like me, and will be watching and not fishing.

But the forecast this week is a rough one:

SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION

REST OF TODAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET.
INLAND WATERS CHOPPY.

TONIGHT
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS
A MODERATE CHOP.

TUESDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.

TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO
5 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
EAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 7
FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

So I'm not sure even Saturday will be fishable!

Yep, right as the fish are on the serious "feedbag" and I'm having days that are just toooo, F-U-N!
Glad I got in the 4 in a row, at least!

10/21 - Two Hour KIDS trip

I had a cute princess on the Jettywolf today. Her name was Reagan. She was 6. And she caught some fish, saw some Dolphins, played with some live Mullet, and even had on some lucky seaweed colored costume hair, to help her catch her first ever fish....a Mangrove Snapper.

Reagan, Trent and Amy came out to fish on the Jettywolf at 8:30am. I was fortunate I got to sleep in till 5:30am....and then my eyes just open and I'm wide awake anyhow.

So as usual, I was at the ramp an hour early so I could catch some bait...."live Mullet".

I had a P-L-A-N.  Have Reagan catch some small fish, and hopefully put Dad on some larger fish.

Guess what. The plan worked out PEFECTLY!

We had to stay in calm waters because I wasn't gonna take Reagan into the slop & chop of where I have been fishing. The wind was honking pretty darn good today.

Seems like we're in a pattern?????

Let's see;

Thursday - calm
Friday - not calm
Saturday - calm
Sunday - not calm

So, that means tomarrow means it'll be calm?  I guess I'll see, won't I?

Reagan played with the Mullet and reeled in a few.  with help from Amy and Trent. Species included; Margrove Snappers, Whiting, Seabass, Piggyperch, and then one of the rods baited with Mullet bounced. I handed it to Trent.

Low and behold, something that hasn't been caught on the Jettywolf, in a long time.

A True Hammerhead Shark.

 

Then, as we fished a while longer, another Mullet baited rod bowed over and Trent got another good fight. This PLAN was really coming together.

A 20 pound Redfish!

 

We ended our two hor Kids Trip "slash" Big fish teaser for Dad trip. And Reagan drove us back to the dock sitting on the leaning post as I helped her steer us in.

Talk about a GREAT TWO HOUR KIDS TRIP......WOW!

Reagan even made me some Thank You Cards before hand.  I told her "I usually don't get anything so special from little girls like her"

 

 

Now, wasn't that just a sweet thing from such a little sweetheart?

 

10/20 - CALMED way down.......

Had Angelo V. a local Navy fella, his Mom and Bob visiting from Michigan aboard the Jettywolf today. I was hoping the front would calm down, and it did. The ocean laid flatter. And as the day went on, the wind even laid down.

And guess what was back......."the hordes of Mullet, but this time they were hugging tight to the jetty rocks in what looked like back on Thursday. An endless stream of baitfish!!!"

We no sooner anchored up for the second time. First time I just wasn't right. "And that always bugs me." So when we got just right, we used cut Mullet. Only because I didn't have an endless supply this morning at the dock, they were a bit harder to catch. So we had to make them last.

Using small cut pieces, Bob was the first to hook up. Oh, how these Reds make people freak out. Being a Speckled Trout kinda guy and being a fish fry kinda guy, afterwards. I know that these Reds won't last like this. So no matter what, we have to get on them.

Again, 2 ounces of lead was used. No giant tackle either!

 

Everyone got their chance and we even had at least two or three "double headers" (two big fish on at once!) And finally, we started catching a few Sharks. Mini Blacktips. And a few larger that ate through a leader or two, on the first run.

But Angelo's Mom was the one who scored a KEEPER. A perfect 24 incher, for the fish box. And as usual, the 12-15" Yellowmouth Trout, were chewing on live and cut Mullet and hitting the ice filled fish box.

 

 

Oh...I forgot to mention. But back on Thursday. The guys even had 13-14 inch Speckled Trout out in the sand way off the rocks in 30+ feet of water. So the Specks are gonna show as time goes on.

Personally, I lost count of Redbass. Just like on Thursday I estimated between 25-35 of them. Today, at least 10-15 had to be caught? Or more??

We went back and forth between cut bait and live bait. And let me tell ya, sometimes it just didn't matter.

Everyone was hooking up.

 

 

We ended the day with the largest Red at around 35 pounds. It kicked Bobs butt!  It was all out mayhem at times. I was mult-tasking my butt off. Tieing leaders, untangling, un-birds-nesting, making a move and dragging the anchor, pinning on baits......whewwwww. It was GREAT!

IF YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON THIS FISHING. BLAME NO ONE, BUT YOUR DIALING FINGER FOR NOT CALLING ME!!

RIGHT NOW IS SOME OF THE BEST OF THE BEST. THERE'S SO MANY OTHER "GUIDES" THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING ON.

LIGHT TACKLE, LIGHT SINKERS, LIVE OR CUT BAIT.  FILL THE BOX WITH A FEW KEEPER REDS, AND THE CRACKS INBETWEEN WITH PERFECT FISH FRY SIZE YELLOWMOUTHS. ADD IN A FEW SPECKS, JACKS, TARPON ROLLING ALL OVER THE PLACE. BLACKTIP SHARKS, JUMPING, SPECKLED TROUT IN 34' OF WATER, DAMN I LOVE IT.

IT'S SO ON!

10/19 - FRONT blew through......

IT'S GO TIME FOLKS!

And today was day number 2 of a 5 day run. And so far, it's looking like summer is definitely way behind us.
FINALLY.

And I say that because here comes those little cold fronts passing thru. Which is okay with me. But, today I had Paul and his son Allan aboard from Tennessee. I had a feeling the slick calm ocean couldn't last. Which enables us to catch 300-400 pounds of BIG Redbass in one day.

Oh, BTW......for anyone who thought or even asked, back in Sept. or even the start of October. "Dave, ya going after those big Reds?"  And my answer was, "NO".  The reason being is I'll let the rest of yall chomp at the bit. I certainly am NOT into using that 8-16 ounces to hit the bottom of the river, when I know you don't have too. IF YOU WAIT!

Yesterday, max lead used 2 ounces!!!!!

Now that's "L.T." - Light tackle fishing.

Today? 2 ounces.

Allan caught a 24 pound Redbass no sooner we were on the first drop of the anchor. And the anchor was slipping anyhow. So I pulled it and we gave chase. The Big RB was full of fight and wouldn't come off the bottom. I was telling Allan, "Hope this isn't a Polish Flounder",  aka: StingRay. Because we haven't caught one yet, but ya never know.

In between we tossed 12"-15" Yellowmouth Trout in the fish box. The dang Yellers will inhale a 3" Mullet in a second.
Double time if you use "cut" Mullet.

 

Then it was Dad's turn. Paul slammed the hook into a big Red, and it wasn't even 10:00am yet. But the wind started howling. The light'ish breeze started gusting to 20 knots of the N.W. and made holding anchor out in the sand troublesome.

I could tell it was a small "front" that was passing thru, because the bites slowed down, the hordes of Mullet from the day before were gone, and the water started to get real dirty looking. And we even got sprinkled with some rain.

So we had to eventually give up the jetties and head into the river. I wanted someone to catch a Flounder, and after many failed attempts because of wind and tide. Allan finally popped one. And I helped out...." I had one grab a mullet before it even hit the bottom, but it got off.

 By the afternoon the sun was shining, the clouds had past and we boxed some larger Yellowmouth. Then headed in. Yellowmouth and a Flounder made the makings for a fish fry.
 

10/18 - FALL MULLET RUN!!!

Had Glen, Jim and Charlie aboard the JETTYWOLF today.......on the JETTYWOLF's 6th Birthday! Today, She was delivered to my driveway six years ago. I sat in a chair in my driveway, waiting for her to roll down my street on a trailer.

So NO, we didn't have a birthday for her, like this. It's not my style.

But rather, we went out and worked her deck. And netted fish, after fish.

Cuz, the fall Mullet run is in full swing!  Literally, acres and acres of Mullet and even Pogies. And guess who's underneath them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAUGHT ON 3" MULLET:  SOMEWHERE OVER 25 REDS TO 24 POUNDS, 6 - TROUT, 15 - YELLOWMOUTH TROUT, 10-JACKS, 2-BLUES, 1-CROAKERS, 1-LADYFISH, WE EVEN HAD TARPON ROLLING ALONG SIDE THE BOAT.

 

GAME ON FOLKS!

 

BOXED - 6 KEEPER REDBASS

                 15 YELLOWMOUTH

                  1 SPECKLED TROUT