Sunday we fished out on some hard bottom and caught a few snappers, grouper, samll AJs, lots of small sharks, and triggers. On the way back in, we met a HUGE school of spanish mackerel just outside the inlet. We trolled spoons and cast into the schools and caught 40-50 before calling it a day - not a bad start to the vacation. We kept a few fish for the grill that night.
Monday we went looking for scallops in the bay. We found about 3 gallons (in shell) in a couple hours. A relaxing way to spend an afternoon.
Tuesday, a friend and I decided to stay in close to the buoy line at St. Joe and try for kings. We rounded the tip of the peninsula and noticed a huge school of bait. We stopped and with 2 casts of the net had a couple hundred LYs and other bait. We put about 25 in the live well and headed out. We set up between the last 2 buoys and drifted live bait. Barely got the rod in the holder before line starts peeling off. We fished for the next 2 hours and cuaght 9 kings all around 10-12 lbs - no big ones, but a lot of fun on light tackle. Had as many cutoffs/breakoffs.
Wednesday we went back to the bay for scallops and found about 5 gallons in a little over an hour. They were delicious that night.
Thursday turned out to be the last day fishing. Went out looking for a few kings on the 4th. We caught bait (live LYs) - a hundred of so with one cast of the net. We went to the buoy line and drifted but only had a few short hits, so we decied to head to the car bodies are and drift for kings. Weather turned bad as we got there i about 60 ft of water. We set out 2 live LYs and waited. After a little while, one rod bounced and I figured we were about to get a king. A second or so after that, the water erupted as a 5 1/2 ft sailfish came out of the water. I grabbed the rod and my brother started the boat. After a 15 minute aerial display we brought the sail to the boat, took a couple quick pictures, revide him and set hime free. I had never even seen one alive before. What a beautiful fish. Check him out:
Can't wait til next time.
Randy
