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Last year we "accidentally" caught our first 2 kings. Now I'm wanting to find a few more. But I have no idea how. We've bought a couple of lures and I've read some about rigging; but how do you go about finding them? When do they normally run here in the panhandle? Thanks for any info.

I'm attempting my first night fishing trip this weekend (with a boat fresh out of the shop...). Anybody have any tips, safety or otherwise?

Sorry, a little slow with this one.

Left Carabelle about 8:15 with my wife and mother-in-law. Headed SE to 60'. Drifted using LY and squid.

My mom-in-law and I were catching the grouper and my wife couldn't catch anything. About the time she started complaining, zing!! Her reel started screaming ...

Thanks. I've got a "new" ride and I'm ready to head for deeper waters...

I normally put in at St. Marks but I'm wanting to go out at Carabelle for the first time later this week. Any advice on ramps, channel navigation, etc?

Thanks.

(How about local restaurants, too!)

Judging from the "War Eagle" on his post, I'd say he got the wrong orange and blue. I wouldn't allow it on my boat, either.

Hey Tom, what's the story on the font page photo? That thing would scare me to death!

Mostly squid. Also cut up some of the sand perch we caught. The trigger took a lot of the squid before it hit the bottom. That was a lot less of a problem with the perch.

Went out Friday in my 14' Cobia followed by a buddy in a bass boat. We left the ramp St. Marks lighthouse at 8:00. It was a little rough for him but not too bad.

We stopped in 17' at first. I told him I was going to ride and look for some holes. While I was looking, his son landed his first grouper ...

I can't speak personally, but my wife's aunt says they're catching plenty of grouper in about 20'. I'm going to try it Friday if the water's calm enough so I'll let you know.

One word: SLOW! :cry:

After a late start (thanks to the boat key left at home on the dresser :hammer: ) we finally hit the water about 10:30. We stayed around until about 4:00 hoping it would turn on, but it just never did. We ended up with only 3 keepers between the 2 of us, and one of those was ...

We went out around 10:00 and came in just before you got there. Caught 20-25 trout but only 4 keepers, two just over 18" and two just over 15". 3 were in 5'-6' and 1 in 3'-4'. Finally got around to trying live shrimp, but all they got us were shorts.

Headed back again tomorrow, Lord-willing ...

Fishing 101 - What effect does the water clarity have on saltwater fishing? Do they tend to bite more in clear water or stained water. And how should the clarity affect choice of baits and retrieves? (Notice the use of 'effect' and 'affect' in the same paragraph? 8) )

BTW, it's an awesome thing for ...

I think the same document said the hardhead was "edible, but generally not eaten". Maybe I'll try a sailcat next time I go out. They are kind of fun when you're expecting another spotted short and instead the big lug grabs it and tries to take you around the boat.

The following is taken from a fish identification document at http://www.marinefisheries.org (http://199.250.30.114/marine/fishinglines/fish_id2.pdf):

GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH - Bagre marinus
Family Ariidae, SEA CATFISHES
Description: bluish above; silvery below; dorsal and pectoral fins
with long ...