PB Shellcracker @milemarker 504

Not real interested in honing my fish-cleaning capabilities yesterday, but did have a laid back, late start agenda in mind. Did have some criteria in place however, to include some live bait presentation :yikes . Still using the skinny ultralight tackle to accentuate the intermittent thrill challenges. My M. O. included- late start(11), close to home(20 minutes), river setting, low boat traffic, peace & quiet, lots of action, increase area intel, possible species PB on skinny tackle. Didn't take long for the curtain to rise to welcome in the day's guests. My game plan was more or less to locate my quarry with fan-casting artificials(hand-ties, tiny black beetle- spins, also had success w/mini plastic crayfish(green/chartreuse) added to beetle-spin) etc.) than drop a pre-rigged rod w/tiny float, fished about 16" above a half red worm hooked to a small 1/32 jig head. Worked like a scripted movie!:popcorn Brought back big time, youthful memories of seeing "bobber down"!:highfive Even had several incidents of bobber smacks! Species enjoyed were decent bass(lbr's), various bream species(c/n >9"s, red bellies, stumpknockers>7", 1 drag-testing mudfish(3 lb), shellcrackers>12.5" !! Banner fish of day was no doubt, the humungous pb SC that I was certain was a mudfish or l/m 'til I caught 1st glimpse= OMG!! Fortunate enough to have long-handled net @the ready b4 photo shoot/ice slurry bath. Only brought enough home(10) to dirty up half a newspaper. Hope your Cinco de Mayo holds nearly as many childhood "thrills" as my 504 yielded yesterday! Enjoy the pics, stay safe friends- and remember..."6 feet apart supersedes 6 feet under!!" +Cross+ Hopefully, by doing so, you'll experience your life's MILEMARKERS- :twocents:biggrin

u2s :fish

Also, any horticultural enthusiasts(Flycaster etc,) can yield info. on streamside plant in pics from yesterday? Maybe edible(ripened), medicinal =Thanks-

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Nice pics Vic, er er Doug.
I had the same idea, especially the late start, which is actually early for me.
But my plan was for the very beautiful Blue Cypress lake west of Vero Beach which as you know is where the St Johns begins.
The Cypress trees grow well out into the water pretty much all way around the lake, and my plan was to get into the shade they provide.
However Blue Cypress is also a well known sanctuary for Ospreys, there are no doubt hundreds of nests and birds in those Cypress trees around the lake, and they now have young ones living in them. So i was getting yelled at by the nervous big birds every time i got even close.
But i did have a nice ride around the perimeter of the entire lake watching them catch a few, before i loaded up and headed home.

Looks like a guava bloom.

Yobuck, those post are put up by Doug, Up2specks. My board name is Anchor Man, I live in Virginia and only come to Florida in the winter.

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Oh I almost forgot, very nice catch Doug, thanks for the post and nice pics.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Anchor Man

Yobuck, those post are put up by Doug, Up2specks. My board name is Anchor Man, I live in Virginia and only come to Florida in the winter.

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Well thanks for that Vic, but fact is i actually was aware of that, also aware of who owns the $20.000 shotgun. Lol

Unfortunately, it appears that my guava jelly making plans have been eliminated. The plant in question turns out to be a non-consumable(humans) button bush. Fact furnished through my knowledgeable neighbor gardener. Thanks Karen.:highfive
Doug

A ft. long cracker is some serious business, WTG.....hear ya on the float, memories of letting the current drift your bait til going under is quite the anticipation, usually channel cat's back in the day....

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Nice cracker! Boat traffic off the charts here.

Great catch and great pics..... I caught a 10.5 inch cracker the other day on 2lb nanobraid and giggles the whole time like a little boy