St. Mark's 6-23/24

Post by **Ron Wilson** » June 24th, 2007, 10:25 pm

Took my son and two of his buddies for a fishing trip before they head off for their junior year of college. We didn't leave the house until Saturday morning, so we got a late start. First line in the water around 0930. About three casts into the trip, hung this guy with a Catch 2000, just outside the lighthouse. Got a little concerned that we may be battling sharks the whole weekend.

Headed to deeper water (both South and East of the LH) and began to consistently pick up trout and black sea bass (and one more shark). Some pics of the trout and the three boys. They are really challenged trying to position them and their catches for a decent pic (from left to right, David, Ronnie, and Corey).

Decided to stop at an oyster bar in the St. Mark's River on our way back. Passing by the second bar, I call fish as I chunk a spoon. About 10 yards into the retrieve, I'm setting the hook on a nice red. Handed the pole to Corey who has never fished the flats before and a few minutes later, a 24" red is in the cooler. We decide to make another drift by the bar, but the wind wasn't cooperating, so we beach the boat on another oyster bar and I wade a couple feet out. About the third cast, I set the hook on another red. Yelled for David and hand off the pole. Got worried the fish was going to get shallow on the bar and cut the line, so we load up in the boat nearby and take the fight to deeper water. Several minutes and a couple really nice runs later, we boat a nice 31". Turn that one loose and try for a third attempt to get my son a turn, no joy. Head to the house and b'qued some burgers and hot dogs.

Corey's Red

David's Red

David's Red Video 1
http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa10 ... IM0125.flv

David's Red Video 2
http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa10 ... IM0126.flv

We got on the water Sunday by 0730. More of the same, but not as many trout. At one point, we pick up a flounder, and as we get it to the boat notice a nice black sea bass following it to the boat. David holds the door mat near the boat as Ronnie drops a jig. A very nice 15" sea bass swallows it and in the cooler they both go. Not long after we decide to take it to the house, with one more attempt to put Ronnie on a red (no joy). On the trailer and heading home by 1430. Pic of the boys after they have changed and are ready to hit the road. Great weekend spent with the boys.

Post by **bman** » June 24th, 2007, 10:37 pm

Nice reds and a great trip with your son

Post by **tin can** » June 25th, 2007, 5:41 am

Great trip, Ron.

Post by **birddog** » June 25th, 2007, 6:38 am

Excellent report, Ron. You did some fine guiding for those boys.

Post by **Redbelly** » June 25th, 2007, 6:43 am

Post by **Reel Slow** » June 25th, 2007, 7:08 am

That is a great weekend

Real nice reds

Post by **flatpicker** » June 25th, 2007, 8:31 am

Post by **Chalk** » June 25th, 2007, 9:09 am

Good trip Ron

Post by **Barhopr** » June 25th, 2007, 10:41 am

I'm sure your an "Ole salt" to those guys putting them on fishing like that

Post by **Sir reel** » June 25th, 2007, 12:35 pm

Good job of fish'n and report'n.

When you moved to deeper water on Sat, how deep did you find the trout?

Post by **Ron Wilson** » June 25th, 2007, 12:47 pm

Sir reel wrote:Good job of fish'n and report'n. When you moved to deeper water on Sat, how deep did you find the trout?

I'm guessing anywhere from 7-10 feet. I say guessing because my fish/depth finder quit working. However, based on previous trips to similiar areas, I know I'm in the ball park. You probably know where the two poles are east of the LH, and we were in that depth most of the time. We also caught one or two in the vicinity of Peter's Rock. We targeted the patchy areas and set up drifts.

Good Times · Post by **Good Times** » June 25th, 2007, 4:20 pm

GREAT report. Love the video. Ronnie lookss like Bird Dog at 19.

Post by **Jumptrout51** » June 25th, 2007, 5:16 pm

Post by **Eerman** » June 25th, 2007, 5:58 pm

Nice bunch of fish.

Post by **Ron Wilson** » June 25th, 2007, 6:47 pm

Good Times wrote:Ronnie lookss like Bird Dog at 19.

Yep. I asked him if he was a BD wantabe and informed him that someone was probably going to point that out on the forum and he said "Yeah, you're probably right." My theory is that he was trying to flatter the real BD into taking him out in that new boat.

The irony is that we couldn't buy a red for the young BD look alike.