I tried to be a gentleman!

Aquaholic IV

I tried to be a gentleman!

It was off at 9 with a good friend to the third hour of the outgoing tide.  We arrived at “The Spot” in Sailfish Point and I provided explicit directions where to cast and what to expect.  He baited up and just prior to the cast, he got a phone call that he had to take.  I was patient and trying to be a gentleman, but there was fish that needed to be caught!  My first cast got boiled on, but he missed the bait.  My second cast, Boom, landed a slot (out of season) Redfish.  I tried to be a gentleman and give my guest the first shot! The next hour was non-stop nuisance Snapper for both of us and a Blue Runner.  Today was hotter than any day, all last summer, they are saying it was 85 although there was no wind and high humidity, it was HOT!  My guest was overheated and getting heat exhaustion, so we headed for the dock, calling and texting prospective back-ups along the way.

Glenn Padmos from the Stuart Rod and Reel Club said he could be at the dock in thirty minutes and he was my next victim! Started off in “Mid St. Lucie River” although missed the tide.  Ran to the Manatee Pocket, where we were at a slack tide although Glenn hooked up a big Snook.  Sadly, it was wrapped around a piling but was presently on our side of the piling.  I maneuvered the boat to the piling with the intent to net the Snook, cut the line, and land the fish.  Sadly, the hook pulled just prior to me netting the fish.  It was an adrenaline rush and good teamwork.  I landed a Snooklet, Small Black Drum, and a huge Sheepshead on that same dock.  Worked another dock where Glenn got slammed and broke off another good fish. The first six dozen shrimp weren’t doing good, so we picked up five dozen more at Fish Heads.  Six dozen usually lasts me an entire day, although the Snapper were ruthless. 

Back to Sailfish Point, “The Spot” where Glenn landed a nice Snook, followed by my Snook and then I was on a roll, catching about seven more Snooklets.  The bite slowed down and my next victim was overheating, so we started working our way back, stopping in Hell’s Gate where Glenn caught a Big Jack and a Moon Fish.  We called it a day at 4.

Take note of the second picture, you would think if you owned a very expensive Sportfisher, you would know to stay in-between the red marker and the green marker, especially when there is a “shoal” warning sign twenty yards from where you ran aground.  The boat was listing and taking on water, see port side of boat where they have a hose pumping out water.  Tow Boat got him off by the time we came in this afternoon, but he was grounded really bad.

Approximate Totals:  Glenn - 2 landed Snook, 1 Moonfish, 1 Jack, plenty of Snappa

Keith – 1 Redfish, 9 Snook, 1 Sheepshead, 1 Black Drum, too many Snappa

chronicbreak

Good story and great pics. Thanks!

ASK KNOT

Hey Aquaholic.  Any Spanish at pecks yet?

Aquaholic IV

ASK KNOT said:

Hey Aquaholic.  Any Spanish at pecks yet?

I believe so, although the ocean has been too rough for me.  I did catch a few just outside the inlet a few weeks ago, when I went to catch bait.  They were on the rather large size but definitely Spanish Mackerel, not baby Kingfish.  They can look the same (even the yellow dots) although the lateral line is different.  King Mackerel the lateral line drops sharply under the dorsal fin, whereas Spanish Mackerel it drops slowly.