After a delayed start Friday Morning we were off to the Fort to do some fish’ in and catch’in. After my last trip, the Grouper I caught really had made the fever burn. Me and my First Mate and my loyal Kippy “The Sea Dog” headed out of the river to the flats. JT’s weather forecast was right on the money, wind out of the east at 10 knots. I had brought along some of that “stank” shrimp and some of the regular brine (shell-less) shrimp for treats on our gulps. We started with popping corks and gulps. First Mate brings in the big fish of the day, 19". (The 19" trout stole a jig a gulp under a from a smaller trout that was barely hooked and was being skiied quickly to the boat, in a second, the 19" trout slammed the bait steeling it from the baby trout, right at the side of the boat and took a quick ride into our cooler. Never seen that happen before. Wife was kind of in "shock" at that point. In the picture you can see where Kippy took a chunk from the trouts dorsal fin during the landing. (Sugar and Spice, and Lime Tiger). We put 5 in the cooler before lunch and headed out to 20’ to troll for grouper. First mate said she was “board” so the decision was made to head north to get back on the flats to do more catchin’. After several casts and some good fighting flat heads and shorts we called it a day and headed back to the hill. Got back to the ramp at 1800 hours wore out tired. According to my Garmin we had traveled 44.9 miles for the day’s adventures. Details: Water temps morning 72.5- evening 75.0. Visibility Eastward down by Grey Mare 5.5’ , water color sweet tea. Gulp colors used Molting, Sugar and Spice, and Lime Tiger. Afternoon air temperatures (80-90) mean it’s time to bring on your Bimini if you don’t catch your limit before lunch. (got pictures to share)
Kipper used to ride with me every trip, and loved to attack any fish I pulled over the gunnel.
Note the teeth marks and missing scales and partial dorsal fin near the tale. That happened when the fish was brought over the gunnel and Kippy viciously attacked the fish, after it spit out the hook on the deck.
Our ever present Light house, Our landmark.
Cormorans standing on Grey Mare
Kipper loves to ride the bow back to the hill, (brave little long haired Datsun)
Time is the most precious commodity we have in life, stay focused.
