NFGFC Top slot and over-sized reds were everywhere

[Jumptrout51]

Left the lighthouse ramp at 7 a.m. with my partner Steve Stinson.
Came out of the lighthouse channel and headed into a beautiful sunrise.
The 30 degree air temperature made for a very cold ride to the first and only creek we spent our day in.
Got to the creek mouth about 7:30 am and used the trolling motor to get deep into the creek to find a good hole to fish.
We knew we would have a negative tide at 9:45 am and wanted to be set up near a hole.
As we turned off a branch in the creek the water was getting more shallow quickly and we ran aground on a sand ridge.
In the frigid 30 degree temps,Steve hops out of the boat to push us off the sand and towards our destination when we ground out again.
Back in the boat to give it some thought he sees a redfish tailing just ahead.
His best cast was still 25 feet short of getting the reds attention.
Out of the boat again he pushes us a little closer.
Back in the boat again his casts are falling in the range of the tailing red as he proclaims,there is another and another.Then suddenly,he sits down in the forward deck seat and puts his rod down.
As I asked him whats wrong,why isn't he casting,he says "It's a duck".
The small diving duck was breaching the surface just enough to appear to be a redfish.
The time spent duck hunting allowed the remainder of the water to leave from under our boat.
We were going nowhere.
We figured the tide would turn and begin its rise by 10:30 or so.
At noon the surrounding water was still running out.
After eating lunch we laid down to relax and dozed off to sleep.
At 2:30 Stinson interrupts my nap yelling "we've got water".
In a few more minutes the boat starts to float again.
Another good push by Stinson gets us on our way.
As we are picking our way out of the creek we see redfish everywhere.
Most of these fish appear too large to keep.
We have 10 rods in the boat,all rigged with different baits.
We used them all and never got a bite.
Finally Stinson yells he got the spoon......never mind,he spit it out.
This barrage of redfish went on for 3-400 yards as we exited the creek.
Once back on the shallow flats,there were more reds....everywhere.
Same result as before. No takers.
By now it is too late to make the weigh in at St. Marks Outfitters,so that embarrassing phone call is made.
We won't be back for weigh in and NO WE DON"T HAVE FISH.

[FishWithChris]

geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez

[bman]

Oh my...

[DixieReb]

Wow, JT, when I started reading that, I thought it was an article about catching a big pile of big reds. Sorry they wouldn't bite, you are still one of the best trout and red fisherman we know of. We had shrimp the last time we caught some, and even then it was plain luck.

[guthooked]

Got a good nap in though.

[fishinfool]

Dang.....

[MIKE REELMAN]

what creek was that. i want to know where i do not go there on alow tide. that's a bad day. have you guys consider on going on a diet .