Another salty day

Went Tuesday and had a tough day like most everyone I’ve spoken to that went. They just weren’t interested. Oh I played with a few but they wouldn’t commit. Wednesday morning I went to the flea market with my Queen and had a good morning but the heat ran us off and it didn’t get real hot, just enough and few vendors. Picked up some more parts I needed for the skiff along the way home and after a nice lunch, tore into the wiring in the skiff. Under cover and no direct sun, it was as good as it gets down here this time of year. Got a lot done and needed a few more things to finish so I quit at just after 7 hours work at 7:45 pm. Finished up Thursday and everything worked as planned except one thing. Got the new bow light and base and installed them, so it was time to put the fire in the wire. Threw the switch and the courtesy light on the back of my bow light post came on. It seems I bought a 2 pin base and a 3 pin post. The post now needed due to the TM blocking sight of the red side of the bow light. Picked up the new base today and felt kinda dumb somewhere along the way.

So Friday was slated as a fishing day and I started early. Up at 4 and rolling before 5, I arrived at the ramp on time, 0 dark thirty. Prepped and launched in the dark and left the ramp marveling at the bioluminescence and it’s simple beauty. The crests of my wake lit up nicely, fish charging here and there left a lit trail. The prop trail was also very distinct. As always, the sun began to climb and the show was over. It was still too dark to run so about half throttle was all I would dare in the dim light.
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Got to my starting point by running til I was almost close, then TM a ways further, then let the wind blow me into place where I staked out and sarted walk-in the dog. It wasn’t long that I started getting slapped at, some sounded real small. Then the line came tight and I didn’t gain much ground. Lifted with the rod and reel back down, about 15 seconds or so and then it was gone. Gotta start somewhere. Hit and felt a couple of others then connected good and solid. First one was just over 19” and fat, very stout. A little while later while the sun was still low, I got another almost 19”, and both of these jokers fought very well. Both legal to keep, but they went back in the pool. The sun rose and the bite slowed and I moved to some other water I’ve fished before. Not much happened right away but I was confident. Lots of bait around. A small group of wakes started down the shore among the mangroves so I pitched right into them and connected with a nice Redfish. A good fight and a shake of the tail and off he went too. Now if I could just find a snook and get one of the Tarpon I’d seen to eat, it would be my first grand slam. I always look for jumping bait, and saw some a while later. I had a redfish magic spinner bait on the rod in hand and I overthrew it some, cranked extra fast keeping it on the surface, then killed the speed to normal and two cranks later, a snooklet crushed it like he hadn’t eaten in weeks. All of 16” and a piece, lifted him in and completed my second inshore slam in a week. As I got him unbuttoned and laid him on the ruler, I reached for my phone. He saw the opportunity and began thrashing toward freedom, so I reached to grab hold of him. Bad move. As I reached my hand around him he thrashed again and I remembered the Gill rakers which are like razors on these fish. The cuts were superficial but it was a lesson I’ll never forget. He was gone along with the proof of my slam. Cleaned and a bandaid and back in business. Caught another passing red and then there just wasn’t much going on so I moved back where I started. Smartest thing I’ve done in a while. Lots more activity. I wound up catching 5 or 6 reds, the 2 trout and the snooklet. Headed for the ramp and a sammich somewhere along the way, it was just 11:30. This week has given me two of the best solo days in salt water that I’ve ever had, and I didn’t forget to say thanks along the way. One of the reds went almost 24” and was caught on a rod I had rebuilt a few months back, icing on the cake. Everyone went back in the pool, and the big one was a tough choice, but I just felt it was right with the problems the lagoon is having of late. We need all the brood stock we can get. Here’s some pics, and thanks for coming along. Holler if you see me out and til then……..Skeet
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Man I really enjoyed the post.
Thank you.


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Man you had a nice day again. Sorry that I couldn't come along with you. But I see that you made the most of your day any ways.

Got there about dark again and things went very smooth overall. Got to my starting bank to see someone front end me and takeover where I was going to fish. Turned around and went the other way and got to a corner and sand bar combo that always has some activity early in the day. By this time I had been smacked a couple of times real good and momentarily came tight once but no takers. Have I said how much I like braided line for this kind of fishing? I can do the two handed heave of a long cast and still be able to set the hook at that distance. Anyway, I made a long cast and began my cadence and got smacked hard, fish jumping and frothy water , all in an instant. Now the line is tight and he jumps a few more times, a good Snook. He didn’t want to meet me and avoided my net several times. I did see that he was well connected so I didn’t rush him. Got him out of the net and left the tangled trebles for later, that was when I really appreciated how nice he really was. Just under 24”, still a bit to go to be legal, but not a mark on him other than those God gave him. Remembered quick that they sometimes don’t recover well, I slid him back in and waited for him to release my thumb. I touched his side and off he went, looking for another mullet. The only one to grace my boat though there was a few bumps and hits, I was ready for the house by 930 and held him near 7am. A good morning and ho e for lunch with the kids and grands. Back to work tomorrow but it’s been a good, productive week for me. Hope y’all had fun too……Skeet
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Can someone smarter than me please rotate my pic, my blood pressure is starting to get up there. Thanks.

looks like you had a good end to your vacation. Glad that you enjoyed it.

Nice going Tom, those are some good looking fish.

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Fun learn on your 1st dedicated Salt vacation! Congrats

Doug

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Salty is fun for sure.

I do miss the salt sometimes. Good looking catches