Hi,
We thought it was going to be a good day to go fishing-- it wasn't. It was cold and the windy blew steady from the North and then North East at 17-20mph with three foot waves and breakers. But something good did come out of this day that was so hard to fish. I caught a 28 1/2" trout that weighed an estimated 8lbs. What a monster- details follow.
Fishing Report 2-27-16 Walton Scrub about 12:30pm high tide incoming then outgoing. Water was about 68 and air was about 66. Windy about 17mph NE. Fishing 1/8 jig with CAL paddletails.
I went fishing with my neighbor Jim. we saw the waves breakers and knew it was windy. When we got on the water we found out how windy- it was almost unfishable especially since there's not much of nothing shallow- it's been dead shallow except when the snook were shallow but the cold has moved them out. Just brutal conditions.
We both went deep and made it past the sandbar. I got a strike as I pulled my jig up near me- I couldn't see the fish but it wasn't big. We went to our spot deep and I got another strike, then fish on!!! A wild an crazy ladyfish jumped out of the water, then again and again. I got her over to me and unhooked the 3 pounder- a fish at least-- and. . .they fight. Jim put on a heavier jig and he caught a ladyfish, then a small jack. I fished North and ahd two strikes but missed them. Then I caught my second lady fish, this one I didn't have to unhook as she jumped near me and threw my jig. I caught one more ladyfish but it was too windy to really feel your line so I went shallow. Jim stayed.
I fished shallow all the way to the 1st pier- nothing, not a strike. I carefully fished the first pier- nothing. Jim had come down and was fishing deep off the first pier. I fished the short 2nd pier nothing. Then I went to the long third pier and it was high tide so I went down nearer the shore. I made a long cast under the pier and wham fish on!!! Huge splash, then another!! This was big fish and at first I was sure it was a snook. Then I thought, "She's heavy but she isn't running like a snook." "Redfish?" I wondered. Then she came up again and shook her head- I saw her head. "Trout!!" I yelled to Jim. "Big Trout!!!"
I brought her up and she splashed again, unable to clear the water. I wheeled her around and at last got a glimpse- "Huge trout, my biggest!" I saw she was well hooked and pulled her to me. I quickly measured her against my fishing rod and took two pics (upcoming) of her in the water. Jim was nearby and headed my way so I took her over to him. He unhooked her while she was in the water but she jumped and flipped out of his grasp before I could take another pic. What a fish!! Jim who knows lagoon fish and has been fishing her for 18 years told me she "weighed at least 8 pounds" and was the biggest he had seen caught when he had been fishing. Later I checked her length by measuring the marker on my rod- 28 1/2 inches. Woah!!!
The rest of the trip was uneventful- too windy. I caught a nice jack on the way back and we got off the water.
Jim's totals: 2 jack 3 ladyfish
My totals: 1 trophy trout, 1 jack and 3 ladyfish
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Sixteen and Seventeen- Fishing reports 2-25-16 and 2-26-15
Hi,
Even though I'm not catching many snook I'm still counting them and now I've caught number 16 and 17 in the Rod and Reel Club's fish-of-the-month contest which started about two weeks ago. The recent cold front has pushed the snook back out of the shallows and I was lucky to catch two on Thursday 2-25.
Fishing has been brutal and catching anything is something. It should warm up some by next week and maybe the snook will move in shallow then.
Fishing Report 2-25-16 Walton Scrub around 1pm outgoing near low and then incoming. Water around 69 air temp around 64, cold and windy wind out of NW.
The cold front has pushed in and my neighbor Jim and I headed South and fished shallow. I was looking for snook, but the water was murky and shallow and no fish could be found. I headed for the first pier and Jim went deep. I cast 50 yards to the edge of the pier- wham!!! fish on! This was a snook and it jumped after I set teh hook then it jumped again. It wasn't big only 22" but it was feisty. I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] then released the fish in the shallow water. "Number 16" I thought. This was the number I'd caught in the last two weeks and I was keeping track for the Stuart Rod and Reel club contest.
I headed for the the next pier, nothing. the third pier- nothing. Jim was fishing deep near the third pier and he had a pompano on- it was a nice one [pic upcoming] around 4 lbs. He's been promising his son-in-law her keep some fish and this was a great fish to keep. i put it on my stringer and headed for the 4th and 5th piers but could get a hit.
Carefully fishing the sixth pier I skipped my jig under the pier and out the other side and I brought it under the per wham!! fish on1- the snook took out and my drag whirred. The problem was it went back under the pier and around the pilings. I charged after it dragging a pompano behind me on a long stringer. I went under the pier and much to my surprise the snook was still on!!! I puled it into shallow water away from the pier. It managed and small jump but quickly tired. She was about 24" long, a nice 3 lb snook. I released her and cast around the shallows- nothing.
Two dolphins cruised along the sandbar in very shallow water. One of them was inside the sandbar and went back over it coming out of the 10" water to cross back. I headed deep cross the sandbar to fish with Jim. He caught a jack and then another jack and I had two hits but not fish. I hook a small fish and pulled it near me before it flipped off- never saw it. Jim went in to fish the third pier some and I fished deep and caught a nice 2 lb jack.
I headed back walking backwards so I could fish with the 15mph wind at my back. I bumped into a manatee but it didn't get flustered it simply swam away from me. I cast deep, fish on!! this was a nice fish and I fought to get it in. When it came near me it kept down- a 3lb jack. I released it and kept wading north towards Walton Scrub. Jim was fishing closer to the sandbar behind me.
We got to my best deep spot near Waltons Scrub and I cast deep. Bammmm!! fish on!!! This one came up and shook it's head- trout! I pulled it to me- a nice 17". Since we had a pompano we need a another fish or two so everyone 96 people) could have enough. I tied it on my stringer and cast back out- wham!! a lady fish soared in the air. I pulled this big (3 1/2 lb) ladyfish in an released it. Then Jim caught a nice trout and we put it on the stringer- that was enough fish right there- perfect [see pic upcoming].
Two cast later I hooked a nice fish and it was running deep. Was it another pompano? It looked a bit like one and I pulled up it up- a 4lb jack.
We fished a few more minutes and got off the water.
My totals: 2 snook, 3 jack, 1 ladyfish and 1 trout
Jim's totals: 3 jack, 1 pompano and 1 trout.
Fishing Report 2- Walton Scrub 2-26-16 about 8:30am low tide incoming cold and windy NW. Air temp 62 water temp 67.
Windy and hard to fish. I met Al we went to Walton Scrub. Too shallow to fish shallow. I went deep to fish my spot because another wader was fishing North and heading for it. I cast deep across the wind. On the second cast I got a strike- missed it. About the 5th cast I felt a fish and set the hook- fish on!!! It came up and shook it;s head- a nice trout about 18". I released it and soon after felt a tap hooks set- fish on, another trout came up but immediately flipped off. By not the other wader fishing North was casting near me and Al had co9me deep and was casting in front of me.
I cast deep and wham- Fish on!! This was good fish and after 10 seconds and some drag pulling it jumped- a 4lb bluefish. It jumped several times and I was splashed as I tried to unhook it. I couldn't so I got my pliers and pried the jug from its teeth. I should have stayed there but we all headed South hand nothing was biting- nothing- I fished the piers nothing- I went deep- nothing. We fished back shallow and got not strikes. Al blanked and I don't think he had a bite- a tough, windy, cold day on the water.
My totals: 1 trout (lost trout) and 1 bluefish
Even though I'm not catching many snook I'm still counting them and now I've caught number 16 and 17 in the Rod and Reel Club's fish-of-the-month contest which started about two weeks ago. The recent cold front has pushed the snook back out of the shallows and I was lucky to catch two on Thursday 2-25.
Fishing has been brutal and catching anything is something. It should warm up some by next week and maybe the snook will move in shallow then.
Fishing Report 2-25-16 Walton Scrub around 1pm outgoing near low and then incoming. Water around 69 air temp around 64, cold and windy wind out of NW.
The cold front has pushed in and my neighbor Jim and I headed South and fished shallow. I was looking for snook, but the water was murky and shallow and no fish could be found. I headed for the first pier and Jim went deep. I cast 50 yards to the edge of the pier- wham!!! fish on! This was a snook and it jumped after I set teh hook then it jumped again. It wasn't big only 22" but it was feisty. I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] then released the fish in the shallow water. "Number 16" I thought. This was the number I'd caught in the last two weeks and I was keeping track for the Stuart Rod and Reel club contest.
I headed for the the next pier, nothing. the third pier- nothing. Jim was fishing deep near the third pier and he had a pompano on- it was a nice one [pic upcoming] around 4 lbs. He's been promising his son-in-law her keep some fish and this was a great fish to keep. i put it on my stringer and headed for the 4th and 5th piers but could get a hit.
Carefully fishing the sixth pier I skipped my jig under the pier and out the other side and I brought it under the per wham!! fish on1- the snook took out and my drag whirred. The problem was it went back under the pier and around the pilings. I charged after it dragging a pompano behind me on a long stringer. I went under the pier and much to my surprise the snook was still on!!! I puled it into shallow water away from the pier. It managed and small jump but quickly tired. She was about 24" long, a nice 3 lb snook. I released her and cast around the shallows- nothing.
Two dolphins cruised along the sandbar in very shallow water. One of them was inside the sandbar and went back over it coming out of the 10" water to cross back. I headed deep cross the sandbar to fish with Jim. He caught a jack and then another jack and I had two hits but not fish. I hook a small fish and pulled it near me before it flipped off- never saw it. Jim went in to fish the third pier some and I fished deep and caught a nice 2 lb jack.
I headed back walking backwards so I could fish with the 15mph wind at my back. I bumped into a manatee but it didn't get flustered it simply swam away from me. I cast deep, fish on!! this was a nice fish and I fought to get it in. When it came near me it kept down- a 3lb jack. I released it and kept wading north towards Walton Scrub. Jim was fishing closer to the sandbar behind me.
We got to my best deep spot near Waltons Scrub and I cast deep. Bammmm!! fish on!!! This one came up and shook it's head- trout! I pulled it to me- a nice 17". Since we had a pompano we need a another fish or two so everyone 96 people) could have enough. I tied it on my stringer and cast back out- wham!! a lady fish soared in the air. I pulled this big (3 1/2 lb) ladyfish in an released it. Then Jim caught a nice trout and we put it on the stringer- that was enough fish right there- perfect [see pic upcoming].
Two cast later I hooked a nice fish and it was running deep. Was it another pompano? It looked a bit like one and I pulled up it up- a 4lb jack.
We fished a few more minutes and got off the water.
My totals: 2 snook, 3 jack, 1 ladyfish and 1 trout
Jim's totals: 3 jack, 1 pompano and 1 trout.
Fishing Report 2- Walton Scrub 2-26-16 about 8:30am low tide incoming cold and windy NW. Air temp 62 water temp 67.
Windy and hard to fish. I met Al we went to Walton Scrub. Too shallow to fish shallow. I went deep to fish my spot because another wader was fishing North and heading for it. I cast deep across the wind. On the second cast I got a strike- missed it. About the 5th cast I felt a fish and set the hook- fish on!!! It came up and shook it;s head- a nice trout about 18". I released it and soon after felt a tap hooks set- fish on, another trout came up but immediately flipped off. By not the other wader fishing North was casting near me and Al had co9me deep and was casting in front of me.
I cast deep and wham- Fish on!! This was good fish and after 10 seconds and some drag pulling it jumped- a 4lb bluefish. It jumped several times and I was splashed as I tried to unhook it. I couldn't so I got my pliers and pried the jug from its teeth. I should have stayed there but we all headed South hand nothing was biting- nothing- I fished the piers nothing- I went deep- nothing. We fished back shallow and got not strikes. Al blanked and I don't think he had a bite- a tough, windy, cold day on the water.
My totals: 1 trout (lost trout) and 1 bluefish
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
All Day- Fishing report 2-23-16
Hi,
Yesterday was an all day fishing experience. Not a great day but I caught fish. The biggest snook I hooked broke my line when I tried to keep her from going under the pier. That was the only disappointment. I did catch two more nice snook to add to my Rod and Reel fish-of-the-month total which is now 15. Today with high wind and storms I'm off the water. The snook are on the west side and they are there in good numbers. I haven't seen or heard of any over-slot sized snook (36") but maybe they will come shallow soon.
Fishing Report 2-23-16 Walton Rd. 6:40 am low tide- incoming, light to moderate wind SE. Air temp 74 water temp around 71. Fishing 1/8 jig with CAL paddletails.
I met one of my fishing friends, Al at Walton around first light. We decided to fish at Walton Proper and go South. Al was fishing shallow crakbaits and medium sized rattle trap type lures. He blanked this morning but later that evening (round 2) caught two nice fish.
I headed out deep (past sandbar) to fish for trout and had one swirl at my jig when I pulled it up. Two casts later a small slot trout slammed by jig only 15 feet away- fish on!!! I wheeled the trout around and grabbed my camera. When I pulled it up it jumped and flipped off. No pic but one trout!!! I went South and Al was still fishing behind me. I cast deep and hooked a nice 18" trout and pulled it in and released it. Al went shallow and headed South. A guy we know started fly fishing just South of us near the last pier. I headed South to try and fish the last pier before he spooked the fish around the pier -- too late. He fished around the pier and went under it. Al and I went under it behind him.
The fly fisherman cast around the white pilings as I followed behind him fishing shallow with Al fishing behind me. I cast near some bait near the shore. Wham!!! Fish on!!! this was a good fish and it jumped twice- not clearing the water but I could tell it was a slot snook. I played it and let it take out drag twice before pulling it to me and taking a couple pics. I released the 30" snook [pic upcoming] and Al and I fished South shallow leaving the fly fisherman behind us. I got a good strike as I neared the next pier but missed it. Al was 200 yards behind by the time I cast around the pier. I got no strikes around the pier which is deep on the end and headed for the next pier only 50 yards away.
The next pier was shallower and fishable in its entirety but the snook are usually not deep- preferring to feed in shallower water under 3 feet. As I cast under the pier my line got a little tangled. When I lifted it up and shook my pole tip, a snook darted out from under the pier and slammed by jig. Fish on!!! This one went right out in open water and pulled drag twice before jumping. Not as big but still a nice snook about 24". Not only that it got my line untangled, not sure how!! I released it and headed across a low flat toward the next pier.
I have caught snook there the two times I've fished it and was expecting to catch another. But it was not to be- we got no strikes and we fished the next pier where I lost a fish near the bottom next to a pier piling. It seemed like a jack or catfish but I never got it hooked properly.
It was starting to get very windy and we quickly fished all the way back to Walton with no luck.
Fishing Report Part 2: 2pm very windy SE at 2nd Jensen bridge in Stuart in the shallows on the North side. Medium tide - outgoing. I met Ken at the bridge and he hadn't been catching much lately. He was fishing at a spot he showed me near the bridge supports when I got there. I waded shallow in the sandy area between the two spans. It was perfect the wind was at our backs and we could cast way out there. I went between two people fishing on the shore and was stuck there (between their lines) until one couple grew tired of not catching anything and left.
I cast out and on my third cast- wham- fish on!! I was hoping it was nice trout but when I pulled it to me it whirred around me and stayed down- it was a 2 lb jack. I released it and got a strike deep. It missed then I got another fish on- a wild 3 lb ladyfish leaped from the water. I finally got it to me and it leaped splashing water in my face and popped off- good-- ladyfish are slimy and hard to grab.
Ken came over to my spot and he caught a ladyfish, then a jack and then another ladyfish. Meanwhile I caught two small jack and a ladyfish. We waded West along the sandy bank casting deep. Then I started catching ladyfish on almost every cast. After catching ten and a small jack I looked over at Ken. He wasn't getting bit so I gave him a pearl white paddletail to try. He caught a jack and then a couple more lady fish.
Every three of four casts I'd have a fish on. A pelican came over to see what all the splashing was about. He just stayed there and I started throwing him the fish I'd caught. Most of them were probably too big for him to eat- I didn't know. The pelican missed every fish- even a small jack that I know he could have eaten. At the end before it rained the pelican was floating about 4 feet away from me- waiting for the next fish. But the wind and rain drove us off the water and the pelican never got a meal!!!
Fishing Report part 3: Walton Rd 4:45pm tide out going almost low. I saw Al at Walton when I was driving home- he was getting out of his car to go fishing! The wind had almost stopped completely- it was beautiful out there- overcast but beautiful. So I went fishing again- my third time!! I went deep and Al went shallow. I caught a small trout after 10 casts and released it. Then as I headed South to catch up with Al, I hooked a ladyfish, probably my 20th of the day!!!! The wind was picking up and I fished the end of the pier and then quickly went out deep and fished between the piers where Al was fishing shallow.
With the wind at my back I was casting 50 yards under the pier as I slowly made my shallow to fish with him. Suddenly under the pier a big snook grabbed my jig. I set the hook 50 yards away and the fish shook it's head and crashed along the surface. I started to pull it away from the pier but this snook had other plans. She headed for the pier. I tried to turn her but- snappp!!! my line broke. How big was she? I don't know but she was big.
I tied on another leader and jig while I watched Al catch a small snook and looked at his trout that he had on a stringer. The trout was a good 23" and he agreed to let it go after I took a pic [upcoming]. So we went back and I took a pic. We got off the water.
My totals for the day (3 trips): 2 snook and 1 that broke my line; 3 trout; 8 jack; and 20 or so ladyfish. A great but windy day on the water.
Yesterday was an all day fishing experience. Not a great day but I caught fish. The biggest snook I hooked broke my line when I tried to keep her from going under the pier. That was the only disappointment. I did catch two more nice snook to add to my Rod and Reel fish-of-the-month total which is now 15. Today with high wind and storms I'm off the water. The snook are on the west side and they are there in good numbers. I haven't seen or heard of any over-slot sized snook (36") but maybe they will come shallow soon.
Fishing Report 2-23-16 Walton Rd. 6:40 am low tide- incoming, light to moderate wind SE. Air temp 74 water temp around 71. Fishing 1/8 jig with CAL paddletails.
I met one of my fishing friends, Al at Walton around first light. We decided to fish at Walton Proper and go South. Al was fishing shallow crakbaits and medium sized rattle trap type lures. He blanked this morning but later that evening (round 2) caught two nice fish.
I headed out deep (past sandbar) to fish for trout and had one swirl at my jig when I pulled it up. Two casts later a small slot trout slammed by jig only 15 feet away- fish on!!! I wheeled the trout around and grabbed my camera. When I pulled it up it jumped and flipped off. No pic but one trout!!! I went South and Al was still fishing behind me. I cast deep and hooked a nice 18" trout and pulled it in and released it. Al went shallow and headed South. A guy we know started fly fishing just South of us near the last pier. I headed South to try and fish the last pier before he spooked the fish around the pier -- too late. He fished around the pier and went under it. Al and I went under it behind him.
The fly fisherman cast around the white pilings as I followed behind him fishing shallow with Al fishing behind me. I cast near some bait near the shore. Wham!!! Fish on!!! this was a good fish and it jumped twice- not clearing the water but I could tell it was a slot snook. I played it and let it take out drag twice before pulling it to me and taking a couple pics. I released the 30" snook [pic upcoming] and Al and I fished South shallow leaving the fly fisherman behind us. I got a good strike as I neared the next pier but missed it. Al was 200 yards behind by the time I cast around the pier. I got no strikes around the pier which is deep on the end and headed for the next pier only 50 yards away.
The next pier was shallower and fishable in its entirety but the snook are usually not deep- preferring to feed in shallower water under 3 feet. As I cast under the pier my line got a little tangled. When I lifted it up and shook my pole tip, a snook darted out from under the pier and slammed by jig. Fish on!!! This one went right out in open water and pulled drag twice before jumping. Not as big but still a nice snook about 24". Not only that it got my line untangled, not sure how!! I released it and headed across a low flat toward the next pier.
I have caught snook there the two times I've fished it and was expecting to catch another. But it was not to be- we got no strikes and we fished the next pier where I lost a fish near the bottom next to a pier piling. It seemed like a jack or catfish but I never got it hooked properly.
It was starting to get very windy and we quickly fished all the way back to Walton with no luck.
Fishing Report Part 2: 2pm very windy SE at 2nd Jensen bridge in Stuart in the shallows on the North side. Medium tide - outgoing. I met Ken at the bridge and he hadn't been catching much lately. He was fishing at a spot he showed me near the bridge supports when I got there. I waded shallow in the sandy area between the two spans. It was perfect the wind was at our backs and we could cast way out there. I went between two people fishing on the shore and was stuck there (between their lines) until one couple grew tired of not catching anything and left.
I cast out and on my third cast- wham- fish on!! I was hoping it was nice trout but when I pulled it to me it whirred around me and stayed down- it was a 2 lb jack. I released it and got a strike deep. It missed then I got another fish on- a wild 3 lb ladyfish leaped from the water. I finally got it to me and it leaped splashing water in my face and popped off- good-- ladyfish are slimy and hard to grab.
Ken came over to my spot and he caught a ladyfish, then a jack and then another ladyfish. Meanwhile I caught two small jack and a ladyfish. We waded West along the sandy bank casting deep. Then I started catching ladyfish on almost every cast. After catching ten and a small jack I looked over at Ken. He wasn't getting bit so I gave him a pearl white paddletail to try. He caught a jack and then a couple more lady fish.
Every three of four casts I'd have a fish on. A pelican came over to see what all the splashing was about. He just stayed there and I started throwing him the fish I'd caught. Most of them were probably too big for him to eat- I didn't know. The pelican missed every fish- even a small jack that I know he could have eaten. At the end before it rained the pelican was floating about 4 feet away from me- waiting for the next fish. But the wind and rain drove us off the water and the pelican never got a meal!!!
Fishing Report part 3: Walton Rd 4:45pm tide out going almost low. I saw Al at Walton when I was driving home- he was getting out of his car to go fishing! The wind had almost stopped completely- it was beautiful out there- overcast but beautiful. So I went fishing again- my third time!! I went deep and Al went shallow. I caught a small trout after 10 casts and released it. Then as I headed South to catch up with Al, I hooked a ladyfish, probably my 20th of the day!!!! The wind was picking up and I fished the end of the pier and then quickly went out deep and fished between the piers where Al was fishing shallow.
With the wind at my back I was casting 50 yards under the pier as I slowly made my shallow to fish with him. Suddenly under the pier a big snook grabbed my jig. I set the hook 50 yards away and the fish shook it's head and crashed along the surface. I started to pull it away from the pier but this snook had other plans. She headed for the pier. I tried to turn her but- snappp!!! my line broke. How big was she? I don't know but she was big.
I tied on another leader and jig while I watched Al catch a small snook and looked at his trout that he had on a stringer. The trout was a good 23" and he agreed to let it go after I took a pic [upcoming]. So we went back and I took a pic. We got off the water.
My totals for the day (3 trips): 2 snook and 1 that broke my line; 3 trout; 8 jack; and 20 or so ladyfish. A great but windy day on the water.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
East Side or West Side? Two fishing reports 2-19-16 and 2-20-16
Hi,
I usually fish the west side of the lagoon; Walton Rd and Walton Scrub. You could call these reports, West Side Story (I won't and my apologies to Leonard Bernstein). I've also fished the East side, Herman's Bay and Bear Creek and Blind Creek but I've never done much there. This winter I have caught some nice trout and a few small snook on the East side.
Following are two fishing reports-- one from the East side and the other from the West side.
1st Fishing Report: Herman's Bay North 2-19-16; 9am. High tide outgoing, Windy E air temp 68 water temp around 70. Fishing 1/8 oz jig with CAL paddletails
The wind was blowing mostly East at 18-20mph and Walton was too windy to fish. My neighbor and I headed to the East side of the lagoon and stopped just North of Herman's bay. We waded North toward the first pier. The wind was no problem but as usual finding the fish was a problem. My neighbor had a lunch engagement so we didn't have much time.
We fished North to the first pier (a private pier) with no luck, not a bite. It was too deep at high tide to wade to the end of the pier so we cast to it. On the North side of the pier my neighbor Jim finally broke the ice and landed a nice trout. He also got a few strikes before he caught another trout. Then he snagged a small "look-down" - a fish I'd never even seen before!!!
We waded slightly North of the pier and I still hadn't got bit. Another wader came under the pier and was fishing shallow behind us. Finally I had a hit and pulled up a small trout. Jim caught another nice trout. The wader behind us hadn't caught a thing so he turned to watch.
I cast deep around a pier piling and wham!!! my jig stopped--I set the hook--fish on!!! This was no dinky trout. The fish took off North then leaped in the air shaking its head-- it was a 4 lb bluefish and it wasn't happy to be deterred from swallowing baitfish. After a 3 minuted battle I unhooked him and showed him to the the other wader. "Nice fish!" he cried. Two casts later I pulled up an 18" trout and the wader was now fishing next to us in the deep water. We decided to fish on- and left him there in our spot. We talked to him later--he never caught a fish.
We fished North and I went far ahead. There were several schools of baitfish and I got a nice swirl as I pulled my bait to the surface. I cast back again and wham!! another bluefish!! He jumped and I pulled him around then he pulled drag and circled back. I pulled him up- grabbed my leader and saw he wasn't hooked well- he jumped and threw my jig- instant release- the best kind!!! Bluefish have teeth and they clamp down on your jig and sometimes won't open their mouths. Pliers have little chance of prying their locked jaws open- you have to put them back in the water for a sec- then pull the jig out of their mouths!!!
By now the tide had gone out some and we both headed back- Jim had a luncheon so we threw a few casts in out trout spot but had to hurry in.
Jim's total: 3 trout; one look-down
My total: 2 trout; 2 bluefish- a beautiful day on the water!!
2nd Fishing Report Walton Proper; 2-20-16; 3:00 pm almost dead low tide then incoming. Air Temp 76; Water temp 72. Wind 10-12mph SE
We stopped at Walton Proper because no one was fishing there- it's usually heavily fished on Saturdays. It was too shallow to fish shallow so we went directly out deep and to my first spot. I pulled up a trout, it flipped off- can't count that. Another trout swirled at my lure- it missed. I lost another trout that hit my lure only 3 yards away but popped off. I turned behind me. Jim, my neighbor, had a fish, and it was a good one. I fished while he brought it in- then it jumped- a beautiful 5lb bluefish. It was putting up a fight. Meanwhile I felt a hard hit- fish on!!! I had a very nice 3lb. trout. I took out my camera to take a pic of Jim's bluefish-- he grabbed the leader- it cut his leader- no pic. Instead I took a pic of my 22" trout [upcoming].
Jim caught a trout and I caught a jack, then Jim caught another Jack. This was ten minutes of action, he want to head North and I wanted to fish the pier South so we went different directions. I told him I'd catch up with him in 30 minutes or so. I fished quickly heading South. I lost a trout then hooked a small trout and pulled it to me- it flipped off on it second jump but I could have netted it- so it counted. I made it to the long and deep last pier at almost dead low tide. I worked the pier for 20 minutes nothing then I went back North to catch up with Jim. Two waders had come on the water and they were fishing shallow in 10" of water- didn't understand that!!! I fished quickly North and wham!! fish on. A medium sized 2 1/2 lb bluefish jumped in the air. I looked at the waders they weren't paying attention. I got the fish to me and tried to keep him from splashing- I couldn't he came up and I grabbed the leader- he flipped off. Instant release!!!
I wanted to catch a snook so I headed for the first white pilings and the oyster bed- nothing. I cast to the end of the pier- nothing. I went shallow and fished the South side Nothing. On the other side of the pier when I cast the water swirled- there goes my line!! Snook on!! It jumped but it wasn't much of a snook maybe 20" and I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] before pulling it to me- it jumped again in my face and flipped off- count it- one snook!
I worked the next white pilings and the mangroves but the water was too shallow and it was dead low tide. I worked the next pier where I'd caught many snook in the last week and on the backside had a hard hit- snook on!! This one was smaller and jumped twice before I unhooked it- 18" maybe, fun but small. I fished the next pier - nothing. Since I had caught up to Jim. He was fishing deep and had a ladyfish on!!!
I went deep and fished next to him. Jim had caught a 5lb pompano and several ladyfish. I immediately started catching ladyfish- and these were big ladyfish, wild ladyfish and they jumped every which way. After 5 ladyfish and 4 destroyed baits I was ready for something new. We headed back as the tide started coming in strong. I caught two jacks and lost another before we ran into another school of ladyfish. Count 3 more lady fish for me and 3 lost ladyfish. I hooked a bluefish but it threw my lure when it jumped.
Finally we got back to my fav spot at Walton Proper and just as quickly- trout on!!! I pulled up a nice slot trout and released it as Jim caught another ladyfish behind me. I caught a ladyfish and lost one before I nailed a 20" trout and pulled it over for Jim to see.
The sun was getting low and we got off the water.
Jim's totals: 1 large bluefish, 1 trout, 1 jack, 1 big pompano and many ladyfish.
My totals: 4 trout, 3 jacks; 2 small snook, and nearly a dozen ladyfish
I usually fish the west side of the lagoon; Walton Rd and Walton Scrub. You could call these reports, West Side Story (I won't and my apologies to Leonard Bernstein). I've also fished the East side, Herman's Bay and Bear Creek and Blind Creek but I've never done much there. This winter I have caught some nice trout and a few small snook on the East side.
Following are two fishing reports-- one from the East side and the other from the West side.
1st Fishing Report: Herman's Bay North 2-19-16; 9am. High tide outgoing, Windy E air temp 68 water temp around 70. Fishing 1/8 oz jig with CAL paddletails
The wind was blowing mostly East at 18-20mph and Walton was too windy to fish. My neighbor and I headed to the East side of the lagoon and stopped just North of Herman's bay. We waded North toward the first pier. The wind was no problem but as usual finding the fish was a problem. My neighbor had a lunch engagement so we didn't have much time.
We fished North to the first pier (a private pier) with no luck, not a bite. It was too deep at high tide to wade to the end of the pier so we cast to it. On the North side of the pier my neighbor Jim finally broke the ice and landed a nice trout. He also got a few strikes before he caught another trout. Then he snagged a small "look-down" - a fish I'd never even seen before!!!
We waded slightly North of the pier and I still hadn't got bit. Another wader came under the pier and was fishing shallow behind us. Finally I had a hit and pulled up a small trout. Jim caught another nice trout. The wader behind us hadn't caught a thing so he turned to watch.
I cast deep around a pier piling and wham!!! my jig stopped--I set the hook--fish on!!! This was no dinky trout. The fish took off North then leaped in the air shaking its head-- it was a 4 lb bluefish and it wasn't happy to be deterred from swallowing baitfish. After a 3 minuted battle I unhooked him and showed him to the the other wader. "Nice fish!" he cried. Two casts later I pulled up an 18" trout and the wader was now fishing next to us in the deep water. We decided to fish on- and left him there in our spot. We talked to him later--he never caught a fish.
We fished North and I went far ahead. There were several schools of baitfish and I got a nice swirl as I pulled my bait to the surface. I cast back again and wham!! another bluefish!! He jumped and I pulled him around then he pulled drag and circled back. I pulled him up- grabbed my leader and saw he wasn't hooked well- he jumped and threw my jig- instant release- the best kind!!! Bluefish have teeth and they clamp down on your jig and sometimes won't open their mouths. Pliers have little chance of prying their locked jaws open- you have to put them back in the water for a sec- then pull the jig out of their mouths!!!
By now the tide had gone out some and we both headed back- Jim had a luncheon so we threw a few casts in out trout spot but had to hurry in.
Jim's total: 3 trout; one look-down
My total: 2 trout; 2 bluefish- a beautiful day on the water!!
2nd Fishing Report Walton Proper; 2-20-16; 3:00 pm almost dead low tide then incoming. Air Temp 76; Water temp 72. Wind 10-12mph SE
We stopped at Walton Proper because no one was fishing there- it's usually heavily fished on Saturdays. It was too shallow to fish shallow so we went directly out deep and to my first spot. I pulled up a trout, it flipped off- can't count that. Another trout swirled at my lure- it missed. I lost another trout that hit my lure only 3 yards away but popped off. I turned behind me. Jim, my neighbor, had a fish, and it was a good one. I fished while he brought it in- then it jumped- a beautiful 5lb bluefish. It was putting up a fight. Meanwhile I felt a hard hit- fish on!!! I had a very nice 3lb. trout. I took out my camera to take a pic of Jim's bluefish-- he grabbed the leader- it cut his leader- no pic. Instead I took a pic of my 22" trout [upcoming].
Jim caught a trout and I caught a jack, then Jim caught another Jack. This was ten minutes of action, he want to head North and I wanted to fish the pier South so we went different directions. I told him I'd catch up with him in 30 minutes or so. I fished quickly heading South. I lost a trout then hooked a small trout and pulled it to me- it flipped off on it second jump but I could have netted it- so it counted. I made it to the long and deep last pier at almost dead low tide. I worked the pier for 20 minutes nothing then I went back North to catch up with Jim. Two waders had come on the water and they were fishing shallow in 10" of water- didn't understand that!!! I fished quickly North and wham!! fish on. A medium sized 2 1/2 lb bluefish jumped in the air. I looked at the waders they weren't paying attention. I got the fish to me and tried to keep him from splashing- I couldn't he came up and I grabbed the leader- he flipped off. Instant release!!!
I wanted to catch a snook so I headed for the first white pilings and the oyster bed- nothing. I cast to the end of the pier- nothing. I went shallow and fished the South side Nothing. On the other side of the pier when I cast the water swirled- there goes my line!! Snook on!! It jumped but it wasn't much of a snook maybe 20" and I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] before pulling it to me- it jumped again in my face and flipped off- count it- one snook!
I worked the next white pilings and the mangroves but the water was too shallow and it was dead low tide. I worked the next pier where I'd caught many snook in the last week and on the backside had a hard hit- snook on!! This one was smaller and jumped twice before I unhooked it- 18" maybe, fun but small. I fished the next pier - nothing. Since I had caught up to Jim. He was fishing deep and had a ladyfish on!!!
I went deep and fished next to him. Jim had caught a 5lb pompano and several ladyfish. I immediately started catching ladyfish- and these were big ladyfish, wild ladyfish and they jumped every which way. After 5 ladyfish and 4 destroyed baits I was ready for something new. We headed back as the tide started coming in strong. I caught two jacks and lost another before we ran into another school of ladyfish. Count 3 more lady fish for me and 3 lost ladyfish. I hooked a bluefish but it threw my lure when it jumped.
Finally we got back to my fav spot at Walton Proper and just as quickly- trout on!!! I pulled up a nice slot trout and released it as Jim caught another ladyfish behind me. I caught a ladyfish and lost one before I nailed a 20" trout and pulled it over for Jim to see.
The sun was getting low and we got off the water.
Jim's totals: 1 large bluefish, 1 trout, 1 jack, 1 big pompano and many ladyfish.
My totals: 4 trout, 3 jacks; 2 small snook, and nearly a dozen ladyfish
Thursday, February 18, 2016
A Snook Has No Pier-- Fishing report 2-18-16
Hi,
A snook has no pier-- or is that peer? All I know is a snook that has no pier is not a happy snook. All the the snook I caught today had a pier and they were waiting for some bait to swim by. Although the 7 snook I caught today weren't the most or the largest, they made it an exciting day, and. . . I now have 11 snook total caught for my fishing club's "fish of the month."
Fishing Report 2-18-16 Walton Proper about 9am tide high and outgoing. Some wind early then very windy from NE about 18-20mph. Air temp about 68-70 water temp about 70. Fishing 3/8 oz jig with paddletail on 8lb braided line.
I hadn't fished Walton proper (intersection of Walton and Indian River) for months. I've been fishing North at Walton Scrub and wading South but never making it all the way to the intersection. I knew the snook were under the piers and some nice snook had moved in shallow. I wanted to fish the awesome last pier which was south of Walton Proper and hit the trout spots deep so I stopped at Walton proper. When I climbed down the steep bank and waded in, there was a guy fishing shallow near the last pier with a fly rod. I fished South over to him and asked him if he was fishing the pier. He said, "No, just go behind me." So that's what I did. The guy with the fly-rod caught a small trout and I started fishing the last pier.
The last pier is the deepest pier of the eight piers from Walton Proper to Walton Scrub. I've caught some nice snook there and lost a couple huge (over slot- 10 lbs) snook. I fished for 30 minutes and couldn't get bit. Nothing!!! The fly-rodder went under the pier and I headed across the sandbar to fish deep. The wind, which wasn't blowing much, was picking up to around 12mph, not too bad.
I fished my way North to my first deep spot. Wham!! hard strike!! missed it! I cast back again wham!! fish on!! This was a good fish but it certainly was staying down-- a 3lb jack. I released it, rebaited and cast back out. Another strike, missed it, but it took off my paddletail. I rebaited and fished North into the wind. Wham!! the water exploded as I set the hook. A four-pound bluefish careened in the air. "Don't cut my line," I prayed. Fortunately the lure was not far in his mouth and I got splashed as I lifted him to me. "Another bait gone" I thought as I released him and rebaited. Soon I got a strike and a nice slot-sized trout shook its head as I pulled it in. I pulled out my camera and took a pic [upcoming]. The trout jumped twice but was double hooked in its mouth so it took me a few extra seconds to release it. The plastic paddletail bait was done - the head was ripped almost off. I rebaited and headed South to my next spot.
I looked behind me and saw the flyrodder nearby fishing the shallows. He had come back North. As he watched I caught an very nice trout, easily 20" and took another pic [upcoming]. About two casts later I got a strike and pulled up a trout that flipped off. Then I hooked another small slot trout and pulled it to me- it too flipped off but I counted it. I saw some bait and cast over it. As I pulled the jig near me I saw a fish flash then when I lifted it out of the water a bluefish jumped out of the water, flew in the air, and bit the tail of my paddle tail off. My jig was about a foot in the air when it hit!!! Great googly-moogly- that got my heart pumping!!
I caught a jack then another bluefish before I caught my last trout, my 4th. Then I realized I'd come to catch snook and in 90 minutes I hadn't caught one. I looked for the flyrodder- he was getting off the water- too windy and probably too few fish. I went in to the shore for a quick bathroom stop under the pine grove- then I set out to fish shallow for snook. I fished shallow to the broken down pier's white pilings (3 piers in the Walton stretch have disappeared and all that is left is the white pilings) and then fished the pilings-- nothing. I fished against the wind across the oyster bar and to the end of the long pier- nothing. I went under the pier, fished the other side and across the the second pilings- nothing. Then I remembered a deeper section of the pier that was shallow- I'd caught snook there before. My first cast parallel with the wind blowing my lure into the pilings and wham!! Snook on! I waded away form the pier and the snook obliged -- it headed to open water and leaped in the air. Not big, but strong! I pulled it around and it jumped and swam to me. I grabbed the leader and the 24" fish shook it head and flipped off. Yes--my first snook of the day- at last! Two casts later another snook grabbed my jig. This one swam fast away from the pier and I moved quickly to open water. It was smaller than the first about 20" and I lifted it by the side. After I released it I remembered- my camera- I had taken no pics.
I fished north across the second fallen down pier with while pilings and into a good open area with mangroves. Usually, snook will feed there, but not today. The wind was getting crazy- blowing at 15mph and there were two foot waves and whitecaps- where's my surfboard!! I had to make it at least to the next two piers. I fished the white pilings of another missing pier then carefully fished the 6th pier, a short but productive pier- nothing.
I went to the 5th pier and cast against the wind under each section- nothing. I went around and fished the other side- nothing. Then I cast shallow parallel to the pier and let the wind blow my line underneath. The bow of my line disappeared- wham! a nice snook grabbed my lure and took off. When I set the hook she leaped in the air completely out of the water. Wow, nice fish probably a slot (28")!! She headed back for the pier but I turned her and brought her splashing over to me. I grabbed my camera and took a pic then released her. The very next cast in the very same place- wham!!! snook on!!! This one wasn't as big and swam into the pilings but quickly came out. I pulled it into open water and released it. I cast back in the same place and wham!! another snook!! This one jumped and threw my jig so it wasn't a catch. After ten casts I moved to next short pier and into the brisk wind. "I guess I'll keep on," I thought, "they're biting." The short little pier had no bites so I went on to the white pilings and to the the long third pier. "This should be gr8," I thought. But it wasn't - I couldn't get a bite and fished the short 2nd pier without a bite. The last pier I could fish was the long fist pier- even with he wind I had to fish that pier.
Casting against the wind I got no strikes so I went over the the otherside and cast parallel. After 3 casts- wham snook on!!! This was a fairly big snook and I got it away from the pier and kept it from going back. I took out my camera and got a shot of it jumping. Nice!!! I released it and went back to fishing parallel. The next cast he bow on my line from the wind stopped- there got my line!!! Hook set, fish on!! This snook jumped completely out of the water!!! another nice fish!!! After I released it I was amazed that I immediately got another strike- had the fish on but it popped off. Then two casts later I caught a third snook in the same spot! This time it went under the pier and came out somehow not slicing my line on the pilings. I released it and could coax not more snook from that pier!
I headed back. the wind was 20mph and big waves were crashing into me. I tried fishing deep but it was a complete joke- too rough to fish. So I headed shallow and fished the piers quickly. Nothing until I got to the 6th pier then I cast shallow and puled the jig under the pier- Wham!! what a strike. The snook took off but under the pier. I was far away and tried but had the give it slack. I waded to the pier opening then checked my line it was wrapped around a piling on the other side- there fish was gone!!
The wind was whistling and I was blown back and got off the water. I'd fished over 3 1/2hours.
My totals: 7 snook with three around 28" none less than 20", 4 trout, 2 bluefish and 2 jack. A great but windy day on the water. Not many people would even try to fish in that wind :)
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Are the snook back? -- Plus two fishing reports 2-16-16 and 2-17-16
Hi,
When my fishing club (Stuart Rod and Reel) announced on 2-12-16 that the fish of the month was snook-- I was taken aback. There were three cold fronts and the water temperature sent the snook to deeper water. I catch lots of snook but not lately. It seem however with the recent warm-up especially yesterday with air temp in the low 80s that perhaps the snook would be back. I'm here to tell you -- they're back. Maybe not in great number or size but they are back shallow and there are some good sized ones too.
1st Fishing Report- Walton Scrub 2-16-16, 1:30 pm low incoming tide. Wind moderate out of NW but ideal for Walton. Fishing 1/8 jig with different 4" plastics. water temp low 70s. Air about 80 and beautiful. No camera.
What a day!!! I was fishing with my neighbor Jim. The tide was too low to fish shallow so we went deep. After a few casts I caught a nice 2lb jack and released it. There was some scattered bait. I went deep and had another hit- missed it. Jim didn't get a bite. There was a guy fishing a live mullet with a bobber North so we both headed South. We got nothing through the "dead zone" an area 400 yards long before the first pier.
Then wham!!! A fish nailed my jig and I set the hook- fish on!!! It went down and around and I knew it was another jack. This one was bight yellow- a river jack, nice sized too. I released it and several casts later caught a baby jack. Jim had still blanked but when we fished off the third pier his luck changed. First he caught, believe it on not a catfish!!! Then he caught two jack and a very nice 20" trout. Meanwhile I had caught two big bluefish and two more jack. There were small schools of bait drifting through and the fish were chasing them.
I saw a school of bait and cast across it. Wham!!! fish on!! This was a fairly big fish and I pulled it around then it took off toward me -- went around me and jumped- a very nice 4lb bluefish. I wrestled him to me and he splashed water all over me several times as I pried his mouth open to get the bait.
We kept fishing South then I told Jim we should check out an area shallow that we used to catch snook. We crossed the sandbar and fished to the mangroves. Wham! Fish on, my drag whirred-- the fish was flying, heading North- I knew it was a snook. When I got it to me it wasn't a slot (28") but around 24", a good 3lb heavy fish. Maybe the snook were back, I thought.
We turned North and headed home- Jim fished very shallow around the piers and I went back deep. About the third cast I caught a small trout- that I foul-hook, got him under the lip instead of inside it. I released it and caught a small jack and had another small trout flip off when I pulled it to me. I caught a decent 16" trout off the third pier then Jim caught a nice snook off the second pier.
After I caught another Jack we both fished shallow back and Jim had a fish on but it got off before we could identify it. We got off the water it was nearly 4:00pm.
Jim's totals: Jim caught two catfish, one mullet, 3 jack, 1 nice trout and one nice snook. He lost a big snook near a pier.
My totals: 6 jack, 3 trout and a nice snook. A beautiful day on the water
2nd Fishing Report 2-17-16 Walton Scrub. Medium low tide outgoing. Very windy and cool around 68 with wind blowing hard from NE. I went alone, leaving about 9:00 am and was on the water about 9:30. I brought my camera and took a few pics, two came out.
With 2-3 foot waves it was hard to believe anyone could catch anything. I saw one guy other there and he quickly gave up. Another boat was fishing near the sandbar- they too left. A boat was in my spot off the third pier but they weren't catching anything and when I caught up to them 30 minutes later they said they had hooked a pompano but lost it.
I fished shallow with the wind at my back- it was almost cold but not enough to bother me. I was making long casts and going South for the piers- nothing, no bites no action. I was looking for snook since they had been shallow yesterday. I got to the first pier and my third cast under it I got a strike up by the platform- missed it. I stood up against the pier and cast shallow. After 5 casts with the wind bowing my line I got a thump- fish on!! It was a nice snook - it jumped immediately but the lure stayed. I charged away from the pier and luckily the fish swam into open water. After several nice jumps, I took a pic, released it and headed to the second pier- nothing.
The boat that was fishing off the 1st pier was now tied on the third pier- so I couldn't fish it the whole way. I went under the pier and talked to the boaters who were having engine trouble- they started the boat right after I talked to them and roared away. I went to the next short pier nothing and when I cast near the 5th pier- fish on- this was a small snook (19") and it presented no problem and only jumped once as I pulled it to me. I fished the pier- nothing and went on to the 6th pier. After 10 casts suddenly I saw my line swimming away- I never felt a thing since it was swimming at me. I tightened my slack line and set the hook- wham!!!! Then nothing- my 8lb braided line had broken. Yes it was a hard hook set but I wasn't expecting to be broken off. Who knows what happened, but it surely was a big snook!!!
I retied with a heavier jig head (to fight the wind) and fished South to the mangroves. No snook there today!!! I went deep and fought the waves. You had to cast into a 20mph plus wind. I fished to the third pier before I had a strike- missed it. Then two casts later I caught a nice jack. I fished 15 more minutes deep and went back to the first pier to fish shallow and go in.
I made a long cast along side the pier in shallow water. Wham!!! There went my line at 100mph-- a big snook had it and was swimming north. I quickly waded North. Since the water was only two feet deep now I went fast. Suddenly the snook jumped and she headed back to the pier. I barely turned her and got her coming back. She jumped twice and I took two pics -only one came out, when she was being pulled near the top of the water. I hooked that snook was in 12" of water- amazing. She was a good 28", a small slot and a nice fish.
I fished shallow on back but didn't get another hit. A windy but good day.
My totals- 3 snook with one a small slot (two pics- upcoming) and one nice jack.
When my fishing club (Stuart Rod and Reel) announced on 2-12-16 that the fish of the month was snook-- I was taken aback. There were three cold fronts and the water temperature sent the snook to deeper water. I catch lots of snook but not lately. It seem however with the recent warm-up especially yesterday with air temp in the low 80s that perhaps the snook would be back. I'm here to tell you -- they're back. Maybe not in great number or size but they are back shallow and there are some good sized ones too.
1st Fishing Report- Walton Scrub 2-16-16, 1:30 pm low incoming tide. Wind moderate out of NW but ideal for Walton. Fishing 1/8 jig with different 4" plastics. water temp low 70s. Air about 80 and beautiful. No camera.
What a day!!! I was fishing with my neighbor Jim. The tide was too low to fish shallow so we went deep. After a few casts I caught a nice 2lb jack and released it. There was some scattered bait. I went deep and had another hit- missed it. Jim didn't get a bite. There was a guy fishing a live mullet with a bobber North so we both headed South. We got nothing through the "dead zone" an area 400 yards long before the first pier.
Then wham!!! A fish nailed my jig and I set the hook- fish on!!! It went down and around and I knew it was another jack. This one was bight yellow- a river jack, nice sized too. I released it and several casts later caught a baby jack. Jim had still blanked but when we fished off the third pier his luck changed. First he caught, believe it on not a catfish!!! Then he caught two jack and a very nice 20" trout. Meanwhile I had caught two big bluefish and two more jack. There were small schools of bait drifting through and the fish were chasing them.
I saw a school of bait and cast across it. Wham!!! fish on!! This was a fairly big fish and I pulled it around then it took off toward me -- went around me and jumped- a very nice 4lb bluefish. I wrestled him to me and he splashed water all over me several times as I pried his mouth open to get the bait.
We kept fishing South then I told Jim we should check out an area shallow that we used to catch snook. We crossed the sandbar and fished to the mangroves. Wham! Fish on, my drag whirred-- the fish was flying, heading North- I knew it was a snook. When I got it to me it wasn't a slot (28") but around 24", a good 3lb heavy fish. Maybe the snook were back, I thought.
We turned North and headed home- Jim fished very shallow around the piers and I went back deep. About the third cast I caught a small trout- that I foul-hook, got him under the lip instead of inside it. I released it and caught a small jack and had another small trout flip off when I pulled it to me. I caught a decent 16" trout off the third pier then Jim caught a nice snook off the second pier.
After I caught another Jack we both fished shallow back and Jim had a fish on but it got off before we could identify it. We got off the water it was nearly 4:00pm.
Jim's totals: Jim caught two catfish, one mullet, 3 jack, 1 nice trout and one nice snook. He lost a big snook near a pier.
My totals: 6 jack, 3 trout and a nice snook. A beautiful day on the water
2nd Fishing Report 2-17-16 Walton Scrub. Medium low tide outgoing. Very windy and cool around 68 with wind blowing hard from NE. I went alone, leaving about 9:00 am and was on the water about 9:30. I brought my camera and took a few pics, two came out.
With 2-3 foot waves it was hard to believe anyone could catch anything. I saw one guy other there and he quickly gave up. Another boat was fishing near the sandbar- they too left. A boat was in my spot off the third pier but they weren't catching anything and when I caught up to them 30 minutes later they said they had hooked a pompano but lost it.
I fished shallow with the wind at my back- it was almost cold but not enough to bother me. I was making long casts and going South for the piers- nothing, no bites no action. I was looking for snook since they had been shallow yesterday. I got to the first pier and my third cast under it I got a strike up by the platform- missed it. I stood up against the pier and cast shallow. After 5 casts with the wind bowing my line I got a thump- fish on!! It was a nice snook - it jumped immediately but the lure stayed. I charged away from the pier and luckily the fish swam into open water. After several nice jumps, I took a pic, released it and headed to the second pier- nothing.
The boat that was fishing off the 1st pier was now tied on the third pier- so I couldn't fish it the whole way. I went under the pier and talked to the boaters who were having engine trouble- they started the boat right after I talked to them and roared away. I went to the next short pier nothing and when I cast near the 5th pier- fish on- this was a small snook (19") and it presented no problem and only jumped once as I pulled it to me. I fished the pier- nothing and went on to the 6th pier. After 10 casts suddenly I saw my line swimming away- I never felt a thing since it was swimming at me. I tightened my slack line and set the hook- wham!!!! Then nothing- my 8lb braided line had broken. Yes it was a hard hook set but I wasn't expecting to be broken off. Who knows what happened, but it surely was a big snook!!!
I retied with a heavier jig head (to fight the wind) and fished South to the mangroves. No snook there today!!! I went deep and fought the waves. You had to cast into a 20mph plus wind. I fished to the third pier before I had a strike- missed it. Then two casts later I caught a nice jack. I fished 15 more minutes deep and went back to the first pier to fish shallow and go in.
I made a long cast along side the pier in shallow water. Wham!!! There went my line at 100mph-- a big snook had it and was swimming north. I quickly waded North. Since the water was only two feet deep now I went fast. Suddenly the snook jumped and she headed back to the pier. I barely turned her and got her coming back. She jumped twice and I took two pics -only one came out, when she was being pulled near the top of the water. I hooked that snook was in 12" of water- amazing. She was a good 28", a small slot and a nice fish.
I fished shallow on back but didn't get another hit. A windy but good day.
My totals- 3 snook with one a small slot (two pics- upcoming) and one nice jack.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
The 16th Bluefish and Fishing Reports 2-9-16 and 2-10-16
Hi,
I didn't think much about catching my 16th bluefish, in fact, it wasn't a good fishing day. The fish haven't been biting for the last 10 days or so. But I still try and usually my neighbor Jim goes out with me. Between the two of us, if there are any fish around we'll usually catch something.
So the last month I've been catching a bunch of bluefish sometimes four or five in a trip. So the fish of the month at my fishing club (Stuart Rod and Reel Club) were snapper, bluefish and inshore Mackerel. I have caught no snapper or inshore Mackerel -- not in the last month -- but I have caught a good number of bluefish. so I counted them up before I went to he meeting tonight and the total was 16. At the meeting Frank asked who had caught the "fish of the month." And guess what? Captain Squeeky had caught some and I told them I caught 16- and he said I had him beat. Another member John Wayne caught 16 and since we tied-- John (who had won an engraved hat a number of times) deferred to me- so I won a hat for first place in the "fish of the month" contest!!!
Here's the account of my last two bluefish. The bluefish have been deep, past the sandbar, and they love large paddletails - fished near the surface.
Fishing report 2-9-16 Walton Scrub- outgoing tide water cold around 68 air temp cold around 64, water stained from the dumping of polluted lake Okeechobee water.
I went deep and headed North. My neighbor went shallow and headed South. I told him I would meet up with him off the 2nd pier. I was throwing a 5" white paddletail- I got squat going North so I headed back. I got squat going South- the first hour not even a bite!!! I met up with my neighbor and we fished the piers shallow- nothing. So for the first 1 1/2 hours still not a bite. I went deep looking for a bluefish and the 5th cast or so wham!!! Fish on!!! It was a bluefish and what a fish, easily 4 pounds and it was splashing water all over me. I finally grabbed it and it wouldn't let go of my jig- its teeth were clenched. I got out my pliers-- I couldn't open it's mouth. Finally it put it back in the water- it opened it's mouth and with my pliers I set it free. My paddle tail wasn't so lucky it was torn in half. I used the tail to catch a 3 lb over 20" trout 5 minutes later. I missed another trout. Jim caught his second trout in the same spot and we fished shallow on the way back- nothing.
My Totals: 1 bluefish (my 15th) and 1 very nice trout.
Fishing report 2-10-16 Walton Scrub- outgoing tide water cold around 68 air temp cold around 64--water stained from the dumping of polluted lake Okeechobee water.
Same as yesterday I went deep and headed North. My neighbor went shallow and headed South. This time tho I had some action. First I pulled up a monster ladyfish around 4 pounds that swam completely around me before I knew where it was. On the way back north I hooked a nice bluefish that came in slowly then waited until it got to me to jump. I turned my head as it splashed around - fortunately this time it didn't cut my line with it's teeth or clamp on my jig. As I pulled the leader to grab it, it shook it's head and flipped off. No teeth to worry with. When I met my neighbor South off the third pier--this time I had already caught two fish and he had caught a small jack shallow and a trout. I hooked a small trout off the 3rd pier and then a nice ladyfish.
I went shallow and fished the piers --nothing. I went deep and lost what was probably and trout and then hooked a small trout only ten feet away. As I wheeled it around to me it flipped off. I caught a lady fish and my neighbor hooked a nice bluefish but it threw the lure. we fished shallow on the way back- nothing. It was cold but the sun was out.
My totals: 1 bluefish, 3 ladyfish and 2 trout (really one since I never got the other one close enough to net). A cold but beautiful day on the water
I didn't think much about catching my 16th bluefish, in fact, it wasn't a good fishing day. The fish haven't been biting for the last 10 days or so. But I still try and usually my neighbor Jim goes out with me. Between the two of us, if there are any fish around we'll usually catch something.
So the last month I've been catching a bunch of bluefish sometimes four or five in a trip. So the fish of the month at my fishing club (Stuart Rod and Reel Club) were snapper, bluefish and inshore Mackerel. I have caught no snapper or inshore Mackerel -- not in the last month -- but I have caught a good number of bluefish. so I counted them up before I went to he meeting tonight and the total was 16. At the meeting Frank asked who had caught the "fish of the month." And guess what? Captain Squeeky had caught some and I told them I caught 16- and he said I had him beat. Another member John Wayne caught 16 and since we tied-- John (who had won an engraved hat a number of times) deferred to me- so I won a hat for first place in the "fish of the month" contest!!!
Here's the account of my last two bluefish. The bluefish have been deep, past the sandbar, and they love large paddletails - fished near the surface.
Fishing report 2-9-16 Walton Scrub- outgoing tide water cold around 68 air temp cold around 64, water stained from the dumping of polluted lake Okeechobee water.
I went deep and headed North. My neighbor went shallow and headed South. I told him I would meet up with him off the 2nd pier. I was throwing a 5" white paddletail- I got squat going North so I headed back. I got squat going South- the first hour not even a bite!!! I met up with my neighbor and we fished the piers shallow- nothing. So for the first 1 1/2 hours still not a bite. I went deep looking for a bluefish and the 5th cast or so wham!!! Fish on!!! It was a bluefish and what a fish, easily 4 pounds and it was splashing water all over me. I finally grabbed it and it wouldn't let go of my jig- its teeth were clenched. I got out my pliers-- I couldn't open it's mouth. Finally it put it back in the water- it opened it's mouth and with my pliers I set it free. My paddle tail wasn't so lucky it was torn in half. I used the tail to catch a 3 lb over 20" trout 5 minutes later. I missed another trout. Jim caught his second trout in the same spot and we fished shallow on the way back- nothing.
My Totals: 1 bluefish (my 15th) and 1 very nice trout.
Fishing report 2-10-16 Walton Scrub- outgoing tide water cold around 68 air temp cold around 64--water stained from the dumping of polluted lake Okeechobee water.
Same as yesterday I went deep and headed North. My neighbor went shallow and headed South. This time tho I had some action. First I pulled up a monster ladyfish around 4 pounds that swam completely around me before I knew where it was. On the way back north I hooked a nice bluefish that came in slowly then waited until it got to me to jump. I turned my head as it splashed around - fortunately this time it didn't cut my line with it's teeth or clamp on my jig. As I pulled the leader to grab it, it shook it's head and flipped off. No teeth to worry with. When I met my neighbor South off the third pier--this time I had already caught two fish and he had caught a small jack shallow and a trout. I hooked a small trout off the 3rd pier and then a nice ladyfish.
I went shallow and fished the piers --nothing. I went deep and lost what was probably and trout and then hooked a small trout only ten feet away. As I wheeled it around to me it flipped off. I caught a lady fish and my neighbor hooked a nice bluefish but it threw the lure. we fished shallow on the way back- nothing. It was cold but the sun was out.
My totals: 1 bluefish, 3 ladyfish and 2 trout (really one since I never got the other one close enough to net). A cold but beautiful day on the water
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Inshore Slam- Fishing Report 2-6-16
Hi,
Fishing was slow, but slowly I caught a few fish. It was a nice day not too cold or windy. A nice day for an inshore slam= redfish, snook, trout.
Fishing Report: Walton Scrub 2-6-16. Medium low tide outgoing. Time 12:25pm sunny with clouds windy 5-12mph E. Water temp 72, air temp 72. Using 3/8 oz jig with different DOA baits.
I went down the bank and started fishing shallow. The water looked better today after a week of dirty water being drained into the lagoon from Okeechobee. A guy was just staring to fish at the same time as me only he came down the bank 100 yards North. I went deep past the sandbar and he stopped and was fishing on top of the sandbar!?!
I first threw a DOA keylime paddletail and I got a good strike after a couple casts but missed the fish. I headed North past the other fisherman and went all the way to the post (200 yards) without another strike. I had two pearl white giant paddletails (over 5") that I had been catching bluefish on so I tied one on and headed back South. It didn't take long before I had a great strike- fish on!! This was a big trout and it came up and shook it's head twice before it headed North into the shallower water. I took a pic then it jumped-- a good 20" trout. As I pulled it to me, it flipped off. The pic didn't come out, just a splash :)
I cast back out and on the next cast tap, hook set-- fish on!! I was another nice trout. It came up and shook it's head and the lure came off and flew right back at me!!! Some action at last.
I met the other fisherman on my way back. He said he finally figured out that I went across the sandbar and that's how I got so far out. He hadn't had a strike- he was fishing an electric chicken DOA. I talked to him then headed South. 50 yards away I had a strike, then another then, fish on. By the time it grabbed the bait the bluefish was only 20 feet away and it was crazy. It jumped then took off around me. I pulled it up and got a good look before it jumped and the lure popped out. I was drenched, water had splashed everywhere- even in my mouth!!! I spit it out and kept on fishing.
I went south and another bluefish hit my bait and simply exploded it but it missed my hook. There were three slashes across the head one almost cut the bait into. I tied on my last white paddletail. A few casts later and wham, a strike and a miss. Probably another bluefish, I thought. This time the whole body was gone. Since they were hitting white I took the head off the other damaged paddletail and fished with it's tail!!! Instead of over 5" bait, it was a little over a 3" bait!!!
When I got to the 1st pier, I went shallow. The tide was fairly low now but there was still some deeper water around the pier. I got parallel and cast shallow pulling my lure across the pier supports. Wham- fish on!! It wasn't big but it was a redfish (see pic below). I haven't caught many redfish this winter and I almost lost it under the pier but somehow my line didn't get cut and it swam out.
Small redfish but a redfish although it wasn't very red
I released it and two casts later, wham!! bigger fish on!!! This was snook and it was a nice slot, over 28". I had to get it away from the pier so I waded North and it too went away from the pier. After I unhooked it I held it up to the fisherman I met. He looked my way but didn't say anything. I took a couple pics of the snook but I couldn't find them because I had trouble downloading my pics. Eventually I'll find them and add the snook pics, they gotta be somewhere!!!
The Missing Snook!!! Nice small slot
I went to the third pier and got nothing, so I headed deep. I went way out since it was almost low tide and a had nice strike- missed it. I fished North back toward first pier. Wham fish on!! I set the hook and the fish was twenty feet way before I felt it again. Crazy!!! It was another bluefish and this time I got it in but it too splashed me badly. At least it didn't cut my line!
Two casts later I hook a ladyfish which careened out of the water and skipped 15 feet on its tail. Wow! I got it around and it jumped again and flipped off. I fished North and wham- another bluefish, this one stayed down until it swam by me- it was foul hooked (in the back) and I quickly released it. I caught a Jack on the way back and saw the same fisherman shallow. So I headed back in and talked to him. He said he caught a trout and lost a snook both shallow. So he was excited.
I got a strike shallow but missed it. When got off the water I realized that I'd used the tail of that paddletail to catch most of my fish and it was still on there although badly mauled.
My totals: 2 trout (one flipped off and shouldn't count), 1 snook, 1 redfish, 3 bluefish, 1 jack and 1 ladyfish. A beautiful day on the water!!!
Fishing was slow, but slowly I caught a few fish. It was a nice day not too cold or windy. A nice day for an inshore slam= redfish, snook, trout.
Fishing Report: Walton Scrub 2-6-16. Medium low tide outgoing. Time 12:25pm sunny with clouds windy 5-12mph E. Water temp 72, air temp 72. Using 3/8 oz jig with different DOA baits.
I went down the bank and started fishing shallow. The water looked better today after a week of dirty water being drained into the lagoon from Okeechobee. A guy was just staring to fish at the same time as me only he came down the bank 100 yards North. I went deep past the sandbar and he stopped and was fishing on top of the sandbar!?!
I first threw a DOA keylime paddletail and I got a good strike after a couple casts but missed the fish. I headed North past the other fisherman and went all the way to the post (200 yards) without another strike. I had two pearl white giant paddletails (over 5") that I had been catching bluefish on so I tied one on and headed back South. It didn't take long before I had a great strike- fish on!! This was a big trout and it came up and shook it's head twice before it headed North into the shallower water. I took a pic then it jumped-- a good 20" trout. As I pulled it to me, it flipped off. The pic didn't come out, just a splash :)
I cast back out and on the next cast tap, hook set-- fish on!! I was another nice trout. It came up and shook it's head and the lure came off and flew right back at me!!! Some action at last.
I met the other fisherman on my way back. He said he finally figured out that I went across the sandbar and that's how I got so far out. He hadn't had a strike- he was fishing an electric chicken DOA. I talked to him then headed South. 50 yards away I had a strike, then another then, fish on. By the time it grabbed the bait the bluefish was only 20 feet away and it was crazy. It jumped then took off around me. I pulled it up and got a good look before it jumped and the lure popped out. I was drenched, water had splashed everywhere- even in my mouth!!! I spit it out and kept on fishing.
I went south and another bluefish hit my bait and simply exploded it but it missed my hook. There were three slashes across the head one almost cut the bait into. I tied on my last white paddletail. A few casts later and wham, a strike and a miss. Probably another bluefish, I thought. This time the whole body was gone. Since they were hitting white I took the head off the other damaged paddletail and fished with it's tail!!! Instead of over 5" bait, it was a little over a 3" bait!!!
When I got to the 1st pier, I went shallow. The tide was fairly low now but there was still some deeper water around the pier. I got parallel and cast shallow pulling my lure across the pier supports. Wham- fish on!! It wasn't big but it was a redfish (see pic below). I haven't caught many redfish this winter and I almost lost it under the pier but somehow my line didn't get cut and it swam out.
I released it and two casts later, wham!! bigger fish on!!! This was snook and it was a nice slot, over 28". I had to get it away from the pier so I waded North and it too went away from the pier. After I unhooked it I held it up to the fisherman I met. He looked my way but didn't say anything. I took a couple pics of the snook but I couldn't find them because I had trouble downloading my pics. Eventually I'll find them and add the snook pics, they gotta be somewhere!!!
I went to the third pier and got nothing, so I headed deep. I went way out since it was almost low tide and a had nice strike- missed it. I fished North back toward first pier. Wham fish on!! I set the hook and the fish was twenty feet way before I felt it again. Crazy!!! It was another bluefish and this time I got it in but it too splashed me badly. At least it didn't cut my line!
Two casts later I hook a ladyfish which careened out of the water and skipped 15 feet on its tail. Wow! I got it around and it jumped again and flipped off. I fished North and wham- another bluefish, this one stayed down until it swam by me- it was foul hooked (in the back) and I quickly released it. I caught a Jack on the way back and saw the same fisherman shallow. So I headed back in and talked to him. He said he caught a trout and lost a snook both shallow. So he was excited.
I got a strike shallow but missed it. When got off the water I realized that I'd used the tail of that paddletail to catch most of my fish and it was still on there although badly mauled.
My totals: 2 trout (one flipped off and shouldn't count), 1 snook, 1 redfish, 3 bluefish, 1 jack and 1 ladyfish. A beautiful day on the water!!!
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Dirty Water- You can Keep it!! Fishing reports for last few days 2-4-16
Hi,
They (Army Corp of Engineers) are dumping polluted water from Okeechobee into our Lagoon. What was clear beautiful water is now brown tinged with red. Here's the thing-- they don't have to do it. If it rained 7 days and 7 nights there might be a problem with flooding. They're just doing --IN CASE THERE IS HEAVY RAIN. Well. . .why don't you wait until you know you have to pollute the lagoon. Sure there are solutions- but nothing is being done. I think if I was St. Lucie County I'd say no to the flow from big Okeecho. Then something would have to get done.
This started about a week ago and fishing has gotten worse- it may have been the weather but now we don't know.
Some random fishing reports:
Walton Scrub 2-1-16; fishing in the afternoon with my neighbor Jim; air temp 71 water temp 68. Wind out of South west, tide high outgoing. Fishing different baits on 1/4 oz jig. I went deep and Jim went shallow. The ladyfish were still schooled with bluefish on a north flat. I caught one, lost two them--then caught two more that I released. I had several mores strikes before I landed a nice bluefish nearly 4 pounds. Lots of action!!!
Jim was going South so I headed South fishing deep the whole way. I caught and released another ladyfish but only had one bite the whole way to the second pier. Jim caught a small trout shallow and we headed back North after fishing the second pier.
After we went back to the Walton Scrub area, I headed to the flat and caught another ladyfish and bluefish. Jim also caught a ladyfish and bluefish. That was it.
Midway 2-2-16 in the late afternoon. Very windy Southeast, some bait -tide high outgoing. Air temp 75 water temp 70. Fished with Jim, my neighbor. It was dead- neither one of us got a strike for an hour. I went deep after we waded South and finally caught a monster ladyfish around 4 pounds. I caught a bluefish that jumped a couple time and finally flipped off. Jim landed a small flounder. That was it- very slow.
Walton Scrub 2-3-16 late afternoon. Very windy Southeast, air temp 78, water temp 71, murky. Incoming fairly high tide. I went by myself, Jim was busy. The wind was gusting to 20 mph. I did my best with the wind at my back. I got a couple strikes, then a nice ladyfish nailed my jig and careened out of the water. I got it close and she jumped a couple time and flipped off.
I kept going north with the wind at my back. I got a hit and fish on!!! This was a big fish but not as big as I thought. When I pulled it to me I saw it was a 6 pound Jack-- the first Jack I'd caught in 3 or 4 weeks!!! I took a pic but I'm not sure if I got the fish or a splash :)
That was the last fish but I met another fisherman out there and went shallow to talk to him. I got one strike shallow and got off the water.
Walton Scrub 2-4-16 about 8am. Windy SE then very windy, air temp 79, water temp around 72. Medium tide outgoing. There's been a warming trend so I thought I'd go early to beat the wind- wrong. By 9am the wind was howling. I only got 30 minutes of moderate wind.
I fished shallow, nothing. I went deep nothing, I went back shallow and after 15 minutes going South I caught a 12" flounder on a white paddletail. It flipped off when I tried to release it. Well, a fish at last!!!
I went deep and nothing, then I went and fished the 3rd pier. After 10 casts, wham!!! Fish on! It was a nice small snook about 25" and 3 pounds. I got a couple pics of it (upcoming) and released it. I went deep off the 3rd pier and the tide was fairly low so I went out a ways. There were 2-3 foot waves with white caps everywhere- wild!!!
Then I got a strike- a big trout grabbed my key-lime paddletail. It was about 22" or so and I go my camera out and took a pic- missed it and brought it around again and it flipped off. Oh well :)
I cast deep and then half-away in my jig stopped- dead. I set the hook- whatever it was it was big- woah!! I tried to stop it and it stopped- I could tell it wasn't a trout or snook and it started peeling of line 10 yards, 20 yards. "Maybe a sting ray," I thought. I figured it was either a 25lb jack or a string ray and it was taking out all my braided line now. I had 80 yards of mono left. What should i do? I grabbed my line with my left hand, I pulled and that slowed it for a few seconds then it took off again. I grabbed the line with my hand and pulled back-- snap-- my line broke. I still had 40 yards of braid so I retied and kept fishing. I got no more bites and headed off the water. At least I caught a snook- they had disappeared for a couple weeks.
They (Army Corp of Engineers) are dumping polluted water from Okeechobee into our Lagoon. What was clear beautiful water is now brown tinged with red. Here's the thing-- they don't have to do it. If it rained 7 days and 7 nights there might be a problem with flooding. They're just doing --IN CASE THERE IS HEAVY RAIN. Well. . .why don't you wait until you know you have to pollute the lagoon. Sure there are solutions- but nothing is being done. I think if I was St. Lucie County I'd say no to the flow from big Okeecho. Then something would have to get done.
This started about a week ago and fishing has gotten worse- it may have been the weather but now we don't know.
Some random fishing reports:
Walton Scrub 2-1-16; fishing in the afternoon with my neighbor Jim; air temp 71 water temp 68. Wind out of South west, tide high outgoing. Fishing different baits on 1/4 oz jig. I went deep and Jim went shallow. The ladyfish were still schooled with bluefish on a north flat. I caught one, lost two them--then caught two more that I released. I had several mores strikes before I landed a nice bluefish nearly 4 pounds. Lots of action!!!
Jim was going South so I headed South fishing deep the whole way. I caught and released another ladyfish but only had one bite the whole way to the second pier. Jim caught a small trout shallow and we headed back North after fishing the second pier.
After we went back to the Walton Scrub area, I headed to the flat and caught another ladyfish and bluefish. Jim also caught a ladyfish and bluefish. That was it.
Midway 2-2-16 in the late afternoon. Very windy Southeast, some bait -tide high outgoing. Air temp 75 water temp 70. Fished with Jim, my neighbor. It was dead- neither one of us got a strike for an hour. I went deep after we waded South and finally caught a monster ladyfish around 4 pounds. I caught a bluefish that jumped a couple time and finally flipped off. Jim landed a small flounder. That was it- very slow.
Walton Scrub 2-3-16 late afternoon. Very windy Southeast, air temp 78, water temp 71, murky. Incoming fairly high tide. I went by myself, Jim was busy. The wind was gusting to 20 mph. I did my best with the wind at my back. I got a couple strikes, then a nice ladyfish nailed my jig and careened out of the water. I got it close and she jumped a couple time and flipped off.
I kept going north with the wind at my back. I got a hit and fish on!!! This was a big fish but not as big as I thought. When I pulled it to me I saw it was a 6 pound Jack-- the first Jack I'd caught in 3 or 4 weeks!!! I took a pic but I'm not sure if I got the fish or a splash :)
That was the last fish but I met another fisherman out there and went shallow to talk to him. I got one strike shallow and got off the water.
Walton Scrub 2-4-16 about 8am. Windy SE then very windy, air temp 79, water temp around 72. Medium tide outgoing. There's been a warming trend so I thought I'd go early to beat the wind- wrong. By 9am the wind was howling. I only got 30 minutes of moderate wind.
I fished shallow, nothing. I went deep nothing, I went back shallow and after 15 minutes going South I caught a 12" flounder on a white paddletail. It flipped off when I tried to release it. Well, a fish at last!!!
I went deep and nothing, then I went and fished the 3rd pier. After 10 casts, wham!!! Fish on! It was a nice small snook about 25" and 3 pounds. I got a couple pics of it (upcoming) and released it. I went deep off the 3rd pier and the tide was fairly low so I went out a ways. There were 2-3 foot waves with white caps everywhere- wild!!!
Then I got a strike- a big trout grabbed my key-lime paddletail. It was about 22" or so and I go my camera out and took a pic- missed it and brought it around again and it flipped off. Oh well :)
I cast deep and then half-away in my jig stopped- dead. I set the hook- whatever it was it was big- woah!! I tried to stop it and it stopped- I could tell it wasn't a trout or snook and it started peeling of line 10 yards, 20 yards. "Maybe a sting ray," I thought. I figured it was either a 25lb jack or a string ray and it was taking out all my braided line now. I had 80 yards of mono left. What should i do? I grabbed my line with my left hand, I pulled and that slowed it for a few seconds then it took off again. I grabbed the line with my hand and pulled back-- snap-- my line broke. I still had 40 yards of braid so I retied and kept fishing. I got no more bites and headed off the water. At least I caught a snook- they had disappeared for a couple weeks.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Top Ten Biggest Mistakes Drivers Make
Hi,
Fishing has been quiet in the lagoon. The water got cold and the snook left- so did the Jack. I've caught some nice bluefish, mostly big; 3-4 pound range and a lot of ladyfish. There are still a few trout and redfish around but they are hard to find and scattered. The trout and reds are shallow on the inside of the sandbar for the most part. My main concerns are the lack of grass at Walton which died out in August during super-high tides and rains and draining water out of Okeechobee into the canal and into the lagoon (which started again recently). The water is warming so maybe the fishing will improve.
Here are My Top Ten Biggest Driving Peeves and although they are mistakes and lead to accidents; most of them wouldn't get the bad driver a ticket. These bad drivers are mainly guilty on one thing- being completely oblivious to every driver on the road-- but them!!!
My Top Ten Biggest Driving Peeves (in no particular order although they all piss me off):
1) Stopping in the middle of the road to make a right hand turn. This has happened to everyone and it makes my blood boil. The driver in front of you is turning right- there are no cars in the turn area and instead of turning- the driver stops in the middle of the road for a second or two and then turns!!! What??!! I'm driving right behind them and I've already slowed down now-- I have to stop; and everyone behind me has to stop!!! Rule of the Road: Unless the lane that you are turning right in is blocked or backed up-- do not stop to make a right turn.
The same thing is true for a left turn if there are no oncoming cars- do not stop in the middle of the road if it's safe to turn. Just turn without stopping and speed up slightly into the turn (only if it's safe) to avoid making the vehicles behind you stop. Be considerate!!!
You can also cut across the intersection to keep traffic going (you get out of your lane sooner) but - be careful- you can't do this if other cars are in the intersection.
2) Driving 10mph under the speed limit in good driving conditions. What??!!! You just don't feel like driving the speed limit-- you have no place to go and aren't in a hurry-- SO WHAT!!! Aren't you aware that other people may need to get somewhere and they don't want to spend an extra 20 minutes driving behind you. The other part of this is: Speeding excessively and weaving in and out of traffic. It's OK to drive over the speed limit- in fact- I recommend driving 5-9mph over the speed limit to keep traffic flowing. On the other hand there are drivers who are maniacs who drive 20-30 mph over the limit and pass vehicles right and left. This is extremely dangerous and either you'll get a ticket or get in an accident. You can't speed excessively and avoid mistakes by other drivers- and-- they will make mistakes. In my opinion people that drive way under the speed limit or way over should -- get off the road-- both are very inconsiderate and dangerous.
3) Not paying attention to driving-- while: talking on the phone (doing anything on or with a cell phone); eating; drinking; talking or arguing with passengers; looking at a map (GPS, written directions; reading anything); listening to excessively loud music; doing make-up (grooming); changing clothes -- the list goes on and on. Texting is an obvious --don't text while driving period-- but if you're doing any of these other distracting things- pay attention to the road first. Texting has proven to be very dangerous- it's as bad as being intoxicated and driving but-- so are the many other distractions.
How many times have you seen someone talking on the phone who-- has no awareness of any vehicle on the road-- it's just them and their conversation- the driving is automatic- until something goes wrong. This talker can't be considerate of you or anyone else driving- because they aren't paying attention. Rule of the road: Pull off the road if you want to write down directions or have a deep conversation-- driving comes first.
4) Turn right on red- If there's a red light and you are turning right-- do not sit there until the light changes- turn right on red. Obviously you have to look and see if it's clear. Good drivers already know whether it's clear to turn right when they pull up and stop at the light. They don't sit there for 10 seconds to figure it out. There's nothing that makes me crazy faster than someone who either doesn't know the right on red law or doesn't care.
5) Not knowing how to merge into traffic. I'm pulling onto an interstate - I start to accelerate so I'm doing 55 by the end of the ramp so I can merge into traffic going 55. The driver in front of me stops!!!! What??!! I slam on my brakes and the cars behind me also stop. The stopped driver in front of me waits-- for every vehicle to be out of the way before accelerating on the ramp and getting on the interstate. If you don't know how to put on your left signal, accelerate and merge into traffic-- you shouldn't be driving. That's not to say you can't stop but only if the merge ramp has ended should you stop in most situations.
6) Improper spacing and not keeping flow with traffic. These are three different situations but they follow the same principle. Situation 1: You pull up to a stop light and there are ten vehicles in front of you but one car leaves a gap of 3 car lengths between their vehicle and the one in front of them- for no reason. Then everyone else behind them is 2 1/2 car lengths further away from the light- and-- someone that may have made the light won't make it because of this driver; a driver who didn't pull up to the car in front of them at the light. They may think- "What difference does it make?" but they obviously don't care about anyone driving behind them. The first driving principle is: be considerate!!!
Situation 2: Improper spacing is also frequent by bad drivers while driving. They just aren't in a hurry and instead of driving 3 or 4 car lengths behind the car in front of them in a 30mph speed limit-- they drive 10 or 12 car length behind or more- for no reason. Then the light turns yellow, they stop-- they missed another light- wasted another 2 minutes but what worse- you're driving behind them!!! Rule of the road: Keep pace with traffic.
Situation 3: A maniac driver who is either in a hurry, or drives like maniac all the time, is behind you. You're going 47mph in 40 speed limit. The maniac is right on your tail- only 1/2 car length back. If you had to stop suddenly they would run into you. The other problem is: you can't watch the road properly when someone is on your bumper and you have to watch them. What do you do? You can slow down and let them pass you or pull over and let them pass you. Otherwise you have to put up with it until you turn or they turn or they pass you. Rule of the road: Do not tailgate, use proper spacing- a car length for every 10mph. You have to be able to stop if the car in front of you stops.
7) Failing to use turn signals. How many times has this happened: You're driving down a two-lane road and slow to make a left-hand turn. There's an oncoming car- far away but coming quickly so you stop and wait for them to go by before you turn. Then the oncoming car, now only a few car lengths away, puts on their right-turn sign and turns right. You could have turned 20 seconds ago if you knew they were going to turn!! Use your turn signals to let other drivers know what you are going to do- not only does it save them time- but it can prevent an accident.
8) Not Driving in their lane. This seems simple but how many times have I seen bad drivers swerving out of their lane; almost running of the road; or, moving over the lane line when you're driving next to them- so you have to switch lanes for fear of being hit. Are these drivers intoxicated? Distracted? Maybe, but in most cases they aren't paying attention to their driving. I drive in the middle of my lane- almost all the time-- I don't have any trouble. There are drivers who can't seem to do it- they go over to the left riding on the line , then the right. What??!! Rule of the road: If you can't drive in your lane - get off the road- you shouldn't be driving. You'll either drive in a ditch or hit someone.
If you're driving on a four lane highway and you have two lanes to drive in - drive in one lane or the other- not both. If there is no one on the road it really doesn't matter-- if anyone is around - drive in one lane.
9) Not using common sense. Things happen that are outside of the normal driving experience, not all the time but enough so that the driver must make a decision. A storm comes through and the light was hit by lightning. It doesn't work. What do you do? You don't just stop and wait for the light to come back on!!!! Or for the police to come!!! Let's be practical. You stop, signal if you need to, and carefully go your way being prepared to stop if necessary. The intersection is now like a four-way stop-- no big deal.
A car has stalled out in the middle of your lane, in two-way traffic; it's in a no passing zone. You can stop and wait for a tow-truck to come, or, pass the car in the other lane when it's clear. What do you do? You pass the car when it's clear, breaking the law by passing in a no pass zone. Use common sense.
There are many instances where things happen-- a garbage truck is making stops; a postman has a delivery; a UPS truck pulls over but is still partially in your lane. Use common sense, be careful but keep traffic flowing.
10) Not being considerate; or; being over-considerate. There are many times you can let someone pull in front of you or turn in front of you - that won't really slow you down and helps them. If you can help someone - do it. Then there are times where letting someone pull in front of you- slows traffic and is the wrong time to let someone pull out. Letting someone pull in front of you when you are going close to the speed limit and cars are behind you is wrong. You have to stop- and the cars behind you have to stop- one of these cars may not be prepared to stop or see you letting the car pull in front of you- an accident could happen. It's not the right time.
Here's another example of being over-considerate: A driver is leaving a sporting event and driving slowly on a two lane road. A line of cars is waiting to get on- there are 30 cars, many of them just pulling up, while this driver has been going slow for 15 minutes in stop-and-go traffic. The driver lets one car in, then just sits there while all 30 cars pull in front. Over-considerate? Yes. And-- all the people behind the driver had to wait 30 cars and 5 more minutes when the driver decided let them in.
What should have happened? The driver should have let one or two cars go and driven ahead-- preventing other cars from pulling in front.
Always be considerate, whether it's moving over slightly to let a car into the right turn lane, calling 911 for a stranded motorist, or stopping to move a turtle out of the road. We're all in this together, let's help- but not too much, because you need to take care of what you need to do as well.
Fishing has been quiet in the lagoon. The water got cold and the snook left- so did the Jack. I've caught some nice bluefish, mostly big; 3-4 pound range and a lot of ladyfish. There are still a few trout and redfish around but they are hard to find and scattered. The trout and reds are shallow on the inside of the sandbar for the most part. My main concerns are the lack of grass at Walton which died out in August during super-high tides and rains and draining water out of Okeechobee into the canal and into the lagoon (which started again recently). The water is warming so maybe the fishing will improve.
Here are My Top Ten Biggest Driving Peeves and although they are mistakes and lead to accidents; most of them wouldn't get the bad driver a ticket. These bad drivers are mainly guilty on one thing- being completely oblivious to every driver on the road-- but them!!!
My Top Ten Biggest Driving Peeves (in no particular order although they all piss me off):
1) Stopping in the middle of the road to make a right hand turn. This has happened to everyone and it makes my blood boil. The driver in front of you is turning right- there are no cars in the turn area and instead of turning- the driver stops in the middle of the road for a second or two and then turns!!! What??!! I'm driving right behind them and I've already slowed down now-- I have to stop; and everyone behind me has to stop!!! Rule of the Road: Unless the lane that you are turning right in is blocked or backed up-- do not stop to make a right turn.
The same thing is true for a left turn if there are no oncoming cars- do not stop in the middle of the road if it's safe to turn. Just turn without stopping and speed up slightly into the turn (only if it's safe) to avoid making the vehicles behind you stop. Be considerate!!!
You can also cut across the intersection to keep traffic going (you get out of your lane sooner) but - be careful- you can't do this if other cars are in the intersection.
2) Driving 10mph under the speed limit in good driving conditions. What??!!! You just don't feel like driving the speed limit-- you have no place to go and aren't in a hurry-- SO WHAT!!! Aren't you aware that other people may need to get somewhere and they don't want to spend an extra 20 minutes driving behind you. The other part of this is: Speeding excessively and weaving in and out of traffic. It's OK to drive over the speed limit- in fact- I recommend driving 5-9mph over the speed limit to keep traffic flowing. On the other hand there are drivers who are maniacs who drive 20-30 mph over the limit and pass vehicles right and left. This is extremely dangerous and either you'll get a ticket or get in an accident. You can't speed excessively and avoid mistakes by other drivers- and-- they will make mistakes. In my opinion people that drive way under the speed limit or way over should -- get off the road-- both are very inconsiderate and dangerous.
3) Not paying attention to driving-- while: talking on the phone (doing anything on or with a cell phone); eating; drinking; talking or arguing with passengers; looking at a map (GPS, written directions; reading anything); listening to excessively loud music; doing make-up (grooming); changing clothes -- the list goes on and on. Texting is an obvious --don't text while driving period-- but if you're doing any of these other distracting things- pay attention to the road first. Texting has proven to be very dangerous- it's as bad as being intoxicated and driving but-- so are the many other distractions.
How many times have you seen someone talking on the phone who-- has no awareness of any vehicle on the road-- it's just them and their conversation- the driving is automatic- until something goes wrong. This talker can't be considerate of you or anyone else driving- because they aren't paying attention. Rule of the road: Pull off the road if you want to write down directions or have a deep conversation-- driving comes first.
4) Turn right on red- If there's a red light and you are turning right-- do not sit there until the light changes- turn right on red. Obviously you have to look and see if it's clear. Good drivers already know whether it's clear to turn right when they pull up and stop at the light. They don't sit there for 10 seconds to figure it out. There's nothing that makes me crazy faster than someone who either doesn't know the right on red law or doesn't care.
5) Not knowing how to merge into traffic. I'm pulling onto an interstate - I start to accelerate so I'm doing 55 by the end of the ramp so I can merge into traffic going 55. The driver in front of me stops!!!! What??!! I slam on my brakes and the cars behind me also stop. The stopped driver in front of me waits-- for every vehicle to be out of the way before accelerating on the ramp and getting on the interstate. If you don't know how to put on your left signal, accelerate and merge into traffic-- you shouldn't be driving. That's not to say you can't stop but only if the merge ramp has ended should you stop in most situations.
6) Improper spacing and not keeping flow with traffic. These are three different situations but they follow the same principle. Situation 1: You pull up to a stop light and there are ten vehicles in front of you but one car leaves a gap of 3 car lengths between their vehicle and the one in front of them- for no reason. Then everyone else behind them is 2 1/2 car lengths further away from the light- and-- someone that may have made the light won't make it because of this driver; a driver who didn't pull up to the car in front of them at the light. They may think- "What difference does it make?" but they obviously don't care about anyone driving behind them. The first driving principle is: be considerate!!!
Situation 2: Improper spacing is also frequent by bad drivers while driving. They just aren't in a hurry and instead of driving 3 or 4 car lengths behind the car in front of them in a 30mph speed limit-- they drive 10 or 12 car length behind or more- for no reason. Then the light turns yellow, they stop-- they missed another light- wasted another 2 minutes but what worse- you're driving behind them!!! Rule of the road: Keep pace with traffic.
Situation 3: A maniac driver who is either in a hurry, or drives like maniac all the time, is behind you. You're going 47mph in 40 speed limit. The maniac is right on your tail- only 1/2 car length back. If you had to stop suddenly they would run into you. The other problem is: you can't watch the road properly when someone is on your bumper and you have to watch them. What do you do? You can slow down and let them pass you or pull over and let them pass you. Otherwise you have to put up with it until you turn or they turn or they pass you. Rule of the road: Do not tailgate, use proper spacing- a car length for every 10mph. You have to be able to stop if the car in front of you stops.
7) Failing to use turn signals. How many times has this happened: You're driving down a two-lane road and slow to make a left-hand turn. There's an oncoming car- far away but coming quickly so you stop and wait for them to go by before you turn. Then the oncoming car, now only a few car lengths away, puts on their right-turn sign and turns right. You could have turned 20 seconds ago if you knew they were going to turn!! Use your turn signals to let other drivers know what you are going to do- not only does it save them time- but it can prevent an accident.
8) Not Driving in their lane. This seems simple but how many times have I seen bad drivers swerving out of their lane; almost running of the road; or, moving over the lane line when you're driving next to them- so you have to switch lanes for fear of being hit. Are these drivers intoxicated? Distracted? Maybe, but in most cases they aren't paying attention to their driving. I drive in the middle of my lane- almost all the time-- I don't have any trouble. There are drivers who can't seem to do it- they go over to the left riding on the line , then the right. What??!! Rule of the road: If you can't drive in your lane - get off the road- you shouldn't be driving. You'll either drive in a ditch or hit someone.
If you're driving on a four lane highway and you have two lanes to drive in - drive in one lane or the other- not both. If there is no one on the road it really doesn't matter-- if anyone is around - drive in one lane.
9) Not using common sense. Things happen that are outside of the normal driving experience, not all the time but enough so that the driver must make a decision. A storm comes through and the light was hit by lightning. It doesn't work. What do you do? You don't just stop and wait for the light to come back on!!!! Or for the police to come!!! Let's be practical. You stop, signal if you need to, and carefully go your way being prepared to stop if necessary. The intersection is now like a four-way stop-- no big deal.
A car has stalled out in the middle of your lane, in two-way traffic; it's in a no passing zone. You can stop and wait for a tow-truck to come, or, pass the car in the other lane when it's clear. What do you do? You pass the car when it's clear, breaking the law by passing in a no pass zone. Use common sense.
There are many instances where things happen-- a garbage truck is making stops; a postman has a delivery; a UPS truck pulls over but is still partially in your lane. Use common sense, be careful but keep traffic flowing.
10) Not being considerate; or; being over-considerate. There are many times you can let someone pull in front of you or turn in front of you - that won't really slow you down and helps them. If you can help someone - do it. Then there are times where letting someone pull in front of you- slows traffic and is the wrong time to let someone pull out. Letting someone pull in front of you when you are going close to the speed limit and cars are behind you is wrong. You have to stop- and the cars behind you have to stop- one of these cars may not be prepared to stop or see you letting the car pull in front of you- an accident could happen. It's not the right time.
Here's another example of being over-considerate: A driver is leaving a sporting event and driving slowly on a two lane road. A line of cars is waiting to get on- there are 30 cars, many of them just pulling up, while this driver has been going slow for 15 minutes in stop-and-go traffic. The driver lets one car in, then just sits there while all 30 cars pull in front. Over-considerate? Yes. And-- all the people behind the driver had to wait 30 cars and 5 more minutes when the driver decided let them in.
What should have happened? The driver should have let one or two cars go and driven ahead-- preventing other cars from pulling in front.
Always be considerate, whether it's moving over slightly to let a car into the right turn lane, calling 911 for a stranded motorist, or stopping to move a turtle out of the road. We're all in this together, let's help- but not too much, because you need to take care of what you need to do as well.
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