First stop was for redfish, only had one follower, but trout were interested in our offerings. We boated quite a few and placed a few on ice for the trip home.
While harassing the trout, I pitched up to a sand hole and a swarm of small mangrove snapper comes out nipping at my plug. In the middle of the swarm is one big honking sheepshead that busts through the swarm to inspect my offering. He come up close, I pause, he sniffs and takes a nip and bites the hook and it's on
. This all happened 5 foot from the boat. We land the fish and he joins the others on ice.Off to spot number two - We fish down a bank, picking up three short reds. We have a few blow-ups on topwater, but no dice. Finally lock into two good keepers and put them on ice for safekeeping. Continue to work down the bank and pick up a red here and trout there. We did lock into a nice 23-25 trout that we quick released at the boat.
Onto spot number three - The wind has now switched out of the south and it's stacking the waves up pretty good at the 6-foot mark. With a drift sock deployed we were drifting at .8 to 1 mph and my boat has low sides
. Managed to put another trout or two in the box and catch a few shorts.Onto spot number four - It didn't take Ron long to lock into a nice red. We fished on down the bank picking up 5 or 6 more reds. By now the sun is starting to touch the tree tops, my arm is aching and it's time to pack it in and we end another awesome day on the mighty Gulf of Mexico.
Probably the best all around fishing trip I have had on St. Andrews boating 13 reds to 27", 25-30 trout to 23" and a nice sheepshead.
On the menu was shiny floating plastic tubes with hooks, flat pieces of metal with a hook and diving plastic tubes with hooks.
Many thanks to Ron for spending a day on the boat with me, we have known each other for about 7 years and this was the first time we were able to wet a line. After we got back home we unloaded the gear and were talking about the days adventure with my wife. Ron says he has something for me. He presents me with a Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver dollar. I worked for the Marine Corps for 13 years and when I left, I felt like I did not have anything to show for my tenure with the Corps. I want to let Ron know that I now have something that represents that part of my life. I had a large lump in my throat and fought back some tears when he gave it to me. Thanks for giving me something that symbolizes my time working for the Marine Corps and the day we spent on the water.
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I had a great time fishing with you Chalk, I learned a lot and it was nice meeting Ms. Chalk and Lil Chalk. I appreciate your patience with me and hope we can do it again. Oh yeah, and thanks for the fish; family would have gone hungry if it was left up to me to bring home fresh fish. 
