Anyway, we went back out last Friday and yesterday. Friday we got out on the water around 10:00, an hour before low tide. I bought a couple dozen shrimp at the Keaton Marina to put under a cork for my son. We started fishing on the south side of Yates Creek around some bars in a couple feet of water. The water was clearer than usual. I was throwing assorted grubs as he soaked shrimp. He caught a couple large pinfish and that got him happy, while I was still consumed with finding trout and reds. After about an hour we moved north of Yates Creek and the water was stained. We finally got into some trout, he reeled in a 22 incher pretty much by himself. I started tossing Nuclear Chicken Gulps and the trout seemed interested in them. We ended up with three keeper trout. We caught shorts, pinfish, and a stingray to boot. Pretty good day.
Yesterday we had a couple of hours of freetime in the afternoon so my little fishin' buddy and my wife headed to Spring Warrior. Again we fished north of Yates creek in 4-5 feet of water and drifted in to shore with the wind at our backs. My boy hooked and reeled in an 18.5" redfish!!! He is hooked on fishing. We were only out for a couple of hours and that is all we caught, but there was a lot of boat traffic which spooks the fish pretty good.
Which leads me to my next point, courtesy. I thought we were all "sports"men in the great outdoors. I've been fishing this area for the last ten years and it seems like every year people are more inconsiderate than before. For instance we've got a drift that is taking us straight into shore. This guy fishing by himself with his trolling motor cuts right in front of us and starts fishing right in our drift maybe 30 feet away. Even my five year old son realized that this guy was a jerk. We're coming in yesterday and a couple other boats decided they wanted to also. One boat is right on my stern like I just can't go fast enough for him, then he decides to cut in front of me. In a channel. As we get into Spring Warrior Creek, where there are docks, and boats tied to docks, as well as "No Wake Zone" signs posted, a v-bottom boat comes screaming up towards us. His wake almost swamped us and all this fool could do was wave and look stupid. Thanks!!!
It's these people that make the sport a burden. I go out to relax and spend some quality time with my family and the ramps and channels are getting more like I-10 or I-75. I hope I'm preaching to the choir, try to see where other boats are fishing before you just motor up and destroy a drift they have established. I've got a large v-bottom Key West also, but when I see smaller boats like my skiff I try to slow down so I don't swamp them or terrorize them. Maybe actually try to slow down and enjoy the moment instead of being in such a damn hurry.
