Needed a gaff at Blackshear today

**Shine Runner** · 01-08-2012, 11:02 PM

Yep. A gaff was used to land this crappie eating machine. I keep one in the boat for when I go to the salt water flats. Never thought I would use it while crappie fishing. We didn't time the battle but it was long and I can tell you BNM ProStaff rods are TOUGH! Caught on a jig tipped with a minnow right after my son landed a good 1.58 lbs crappie. He makes one heck of a 1st mate. He cleared the deck for the battle and I wish he had been the one to grab up the rod. He weighed 20.21 lbs after he ate one of the crappie in my live well! I would have thought the gaff in the head would have cured his appetite but it just goes to show how much of a eating machine these fish are.

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Oh, and yes we did catch crappie too. 1.58 lbs was the best today and 1.76 yesterday. Kept 25 yesterday and 24 today. Pushed jigs w/minnows along the channel and ledges and most fish were below 12'. Color didn't seem to matter as much as depth. I counted 62 boats between the State Park and the power dam Saturday. Never seen so many boats on Blackshear fishing. I guess Crappie.com is reaching a lot more than the reports reflect.

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**gabowman** · 01-08-2012, 11:36 PM

Sounds like a couple good days of catching crappie shine!Thumbs Up And that flathead....well all I can say is WOW! Getting one that big to the boat on crappie gear is a chore and looks like you guys did it right. Congrats on the catch and thanks for sharing those pictures. Looks like the kjids were enjoying themselves holding up that catfish.

**Danbo** · 01-09-2012, 07:12 AM

Maybe I need to send a large party of "Trickers" and "Trailers" down there and start the process of E Rad A Cation of dem flatheads. I hate Flatheads. They almost destroyed the Bream in our Georgia Rivers.

FISH STUNNER SHOCKER BOAT CATFISH FINDER & FREE PLANs | eBay

This Trick only works on Flatheads and should be made legal in Georgia. It does not shock but stuns and will not hurt the native fish.

**papasage** · 01-09-2012, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Danbo

Maybe I need to send a large party of "Trickers" and "Trailers" down there and start the process of E Rad A Cation of dem flatheads. I hate Flatheads. They almost destroyed the Bream in our Georgia Rivers.

FISH STUNNER SHOCKER BOAT CATFISH FINDER & FREE PLANs | eBay

This Trick only works on Flatheads and should be made legal in Georgia. It does not shock but stuns and will not hurt the native fish.

i have a old crank phone that will work i paid $10.00 for .added a 12v motor to it works fine so my soninlaw said

**RIVER HAWK** · 01-09-2012, 10:26 AM

Shine Runner, I hope you ate that flat head monster. I used to commercially fish flat heads on the Oconee River. I learned from a wildlife biologist that the skin on a flathead is exactly the same thickness on a 1lbs. as a 60lbs. monster. Also the most important fact is the quality of meat is exactly the same on a dink or a monster. They are fantastic eating no matter how big they get. I can only imagine the slabs of meat you got from either side of that monster. I used to fillet them and then cut steaks from the fillets. Amazingly ugly fish to produce such fine meat. Looks like that was a fishing trip those boys are always going to remember. GREAT MEMORIES!

**jonboatfisher** · 01-09-2012, 11:15 AM

Nice fish Shine! Thanks for the good report. I wasnt able to go this weekend. Had my boat in a mess adding some things. Seeing those pics has my vacation days calling my name.

**Shine Runner** · 01-09-2012, 11:38 AM

River Hawk - Yes that meat is some kinda good. The bigger they are the better they taste. We skin them from the lips to the tail. Lots of good meat on the head.

Danbo - I hate to think of the #'s of crappie and bream they eat. Even after a gaff was stuck through his head, he was still trying to eat the crappie in my livewell.

Game Warden stopped by and talked with us a while at the boat ramp. Nice guy. He was impressed to see the tackle used to land that monster. He did mention the number of boats and fish being caught. Best count your fish twice. Just saying....

**rwindis** · 01-09-2012, 01:01 PM

Thanks for the report - your boys look pretty excited. I would have been.

**Danbo** · 01-09-2012, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by papasage

i have a old crank phone that will work i paid $10.00 for .added a 12v motor to it works fine so my soninlaw said

The old crank will get every fish and that is not good.

**Danbo** · 01-09-2012, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by RIVER HAWK

Shine Runner, I hope you ate that flat head monster. I used to commercially fish flat heads on the Oconee River. I learned from a wildlife biologist that the skin on a flathead is exactly the same thickness on a 1lbs. as a 60lbs. monster. Also the most important fact is the quality of meat is exactly the same on a dink or a monster. They are fantastic eating no matter how big they get. I can only imagine the slabs of meat you got from either side of that monster. I used to fillet them and then cut steaks from the fillets. Amazingly ugly fish to produce such fine meat. Looks like that was a fishing trip those boys are always going to remember. GREAT MEMORIES!

The DNR says not to eat them if they are over 5 pounds as the big ones are full of Mercury. When DNR stuner so many in the Satila two years ago they put anything over 5 pounds in the landfill.

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