3/23 (Fri): My buddy (Dave) and I arrived at Shell Island shortly after lunch. Got checked in, put gear in the room and headed off for a couple hours. It was going to be a short trip since we were waiting on our boys and one of their friends to arrive. Headed out of the river, making my obligatory stop at one or two of the oyster bars. Picked up a pup red, then headed West. Picked up a couple 16"+ trout, then headed back in. Spoke to a couple folks at the camp and it appeard most who headed West did well.
3/24 (Sat): Didn't have enough room in my boat so we rented a Shell Island boat for the boys for Sat/Sun. Couldn't get anyone to get up and head out at sunrise, so off I went (alone). Same stop by the same oyster bar, same result (pup red). Headed West again and got nothing. Headed back in around 0930 to pick up Dave and the boys. Dave and I make a pretty good run East. Fished Grey Mare/Cobb Rocks area, which included moving in toward shore. Boys fished East flats from 2' to 6' of water. Neither boat produced a keeper, with very few bites between us. After receiving my much deserved counseling from Chalk Saturday night, which included some input from BD (relayed through Chalk)
, I decided to make some adjustments for Sunday. Side note: after a safety brief with boys on safe boating reminders, which included monitoring the radio, we headed our separate ways. Decided to "check" on the boys and see if they were monitoring the net; realized I did not recharge the batteries in my hand held. My buddy Dave just shook his head. Saturday's Sunrise:
3/25 (Sun): Started out by myself again early morning. Picked up a 16" trout on the West flats and headed back in to get Dave and the boys by 1000. Thought I had a plan for the day figured out, but apparently Dave and the boys heard talk of spanish mackeral at the camp and organized a mutiny. They informed me that my guide services were lacking and "our plans" were to get in 6'-7' of water and try the spanish. While the boys head to the designated spanish hole, Dave and I stop outside the lighthouse for a looksey. Had barely turned off the motor when about 45 minutes of pretty hot spanish and trout action began. That shut down and we decide to join the boys at the spanish hole. Boys had already boated a couple spanish and once again, we barely had the motor turned off before we were tied up with some nice spanish. We also managed a fat 19+ trout in 7' water. Boys decide to separate and headed back West and picked up two fat 20"+ trout close in and West of Big Pass. Dave and I got in close East of Stoney Bayou.....nothing. Had to have the rental boat in by 5:00, so we called it a day. Final count: 7 spanish to 24" and 7 trout to 22" and one blue.
Couple picks of the day's catch:
3/26 (Mon): More of the same..went out early by myself, came back picked up everyone, then headed back to the spanish hole. Picked up a couple more nice spanish, and couple more fat trout in 7'-8' of water. Had to quit early to return home.
It was great weather all weekend and the fish ultimately cooperated, but the highlight was spending a couple days with the boys.
Thanks to Chalk, JT and BD. Really appreciate your input and patience with my obvious fishing shortfalls.
Sounds like the Spanish are already thick; cobia and pomps should be here in no time.
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