PLAYING CATCH-UP

Salty Dawg44

   I haven't had my boat in the water since June due to problems with a leg that has been going bad for years. I put up with the Arthritis, but this year it got really bad and an MRI showed Necrosis too. Time for a rebuild! Getting the surgery scheduled took forever due to limited space due to COVID. Anyway, the new parts work fine, and I'm about 95% ..... a few more beers and I'll be up to 100%.
   So with the calm weather today, and a bad forcast next week, I decided to give it a try. There was a 7:30 negative low tide, so I put in early and eased out in the dark. I was well offshore as the sun came up.

I ran out to 35' and had my grouper limit plus released 2 shorts in about an hour. 

Then I picked up and ran back in to try some shallow spots, but to the south of the channel entrance, I ran into wave after wave of bait pods migrating south.

They occasionally would shower, so I knew that there were fish feeding under the bait, but never once saw anything break the surface other than the baitfish. I put out a single line about 100 yards with a 6" plug that runs about 10 feet deep, circling around the bait pods, but pulling the plug underneath it.

I wound up catching 6 Kings (kept one to smoke) and one nice size Spanish that we grilled for dinner tonight. Water temperature was 71 degrees. 

I did a lot of dancing around on the deck, but the leg did fine.

Jts

Glad to see you back out there and good report.  Going early is always a good idea. 

Ruff One

I'll  donate a couple of beers to see you at 100 percent!! Looks like it didn't take you long to catch up. Nice fishing as usual. 

capt louie

Good report Pete ! Good the leg is still kickin' ..

xmuskyguide

GOOD JOB!

Slacker

some special fishing

Alex from GA

Good going Pete.