Good morning folks: I had the distinct honor to take fishing a nice young soldier who was, somewhat, experienced in fishing, albeit if only for freshwater bass! I found out while fishing him Friday, that Raul could adapt quickly by learning many saltwater techniques and tactics. While my oldest son, Bobby, captained two Lieutenants, Matt Miller and Joe Storti, offshore on his boat, I keep Raul close inshore most of the day.
We started off fishing the oyster bars inside Ochlokconee Bay and pestered the redfish during the morning hours. Unfortunately, the reds were short fish and we couldn't enter them anyway, but they sure screeched Raul's drag plenty - you couldn't wipe the smile off his face! The weather was pretty darn nice, for the Classic, considering it usually is brutal in one sense or another! However, the rain stayed off us, but the wind picked up later in the day. I took Raul over to St. Teressa Bay and inside Alligator Harbor, but the winds were just too vicious to find any trout!
Our ride back was getting us pounded as the wind increased but it suddenly didn't matter anymore when we spotted birds working baitfish in the distance and headed towards them. After a few minutes of trolling a small silver spoon around the baitfish and watching the Spanish Mackerel jumping all over the "Greenbacks", Raul hooked up on a fat mack that peeled the line off the reel. When the rush of mackerel was over, we headed out to the Bird roast to check for Cobia.
After three turns around the platform "the man in the brown suit" came up for a peek just like I predicted it would - Raul was impressed I could do that (but we know that is SOP for Cobia)! Anyway, it took Raul three crabs worth of trying to cast the offering into the right spot so the "brown bomb" could see it, but, sure enough, the last crab was right on target. The Cobia inhaled the crab, Raul set the hook, and the Mr. Brown ran downtown under the platform and cut the line off on some barnacles ahead of the CT cork! So, if anyone catches the Cobia out there attached to my chartreuse CT cork, let me know - the fish looked like it would measure!
Back at the channel markers, we met up with Bobby and his crew who relayed how they got into small King Mackerel and large Spanish Mackerel off Bouy 24 and put 'em in the box! They also had a slug fest with "the man in the grey suit" (shark) - one about 7', that banged the officers up pretty good! Bobby said the "mack attacks" came on a Black/Silver sinking Mirrolure with red hooks and live "Greenies" they caught on bait hooks!
We returned to the Panacea docks and stowed the boats in wet slips and the soldiers went back to Carrebelle (one of the LT's was from Tallahassee - a grad of FSU's ROTC Program - and had his own truck). I picked up Raul 0530 hours (that's 5:30 a.m. for you civilians) in Carrebelle and we drove to the Panacea landing where I turned him over into the capable hands of my son, Capt. Tommy! I took my beat-up body back to the house for a hour combat nap! Tommy related that the winds were more vicious on Saturday than what we dealt with on Friday afternoon. After a "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" around the point, he fell back inside Ochlockonee Bay and worked the bars and shore line for reds and flounder.
Raul was able to catch some more reds (none big enough to keep), a nice flounder, and a huge Jack Crevale, that peeled out a tremendous amount of line before it could be CPR'ed (caught, photographed, released)! Tommy said he would not risk the frightful waves and go offshore, but Capt. Bobby and 1st Mate, grandson Bryan, took off for Bouy 24 and the Bird roast, but no more big mack attacks! I met them back at the landing around 5 p.m. and we loaded the boats on the trailers. Bobby, Bryan, & Tommy took off for home, but I had one more mission to accomplish - dinner!
I treated Raul to Posey's Restaurant where we had flounder and all the trimmings - my treat! Sadly, it was time to take my sergeant back to quarters in Carrebelle and say goodbye. We will stay in touch, for sure, by email and such. I told him that IF he won the boat, I would bring it to him at Fort Stewart...I don't know, though - who won it? I didn't go to the ceremonies Sunday because the troops were leaving early and the Roddenberry Wrecking Crew were "bone tired" - happy, but "tired and beat up"!
I look forward to this nest year, God willing, when we will do it again with the soldiers!!!
