So, yesterday we dropped the Oh Hell Mechele! in at the Ten Foot Hole ramp in Apalachicola about 7:30, and headed up the River. Surprized that on Thursday there were quite a few trailers already parked at the ramp, and noticed that most were from guide boats. Good place to head out on the Bay.
Anyway, the River was beautiful as always with just a couple of folks fishing along the river banks. Passed under the railroad bridge, and came to the pinhook, where the River splits to the Jackson going West and the Apalachicola jogging East, then North. As we zoomed along at 4100 rpm and 32 mph, I noticed a surface commotion off the starboard side. Came off plane, thinking maybe some nice small stripers or white bass, maybe. Grabbed those "emergency" rods.
Made a quick cast, and hooked up almost immediately. Grace, my daughter, did the same. Whoa, leaping ladies! Ladyfish, six miles up the River, in a giant school. No bass. We caught and released several, and then Grace hooked something bigger. I was hoping striper, but it was a Jack Crevalle. Lots of fun, anyway. We left the fish biting and headed West.
Crossed Lake Wimico, with the One Fifty Suzuki FS humming a tune, and then waved to a nice trawler we passed piloted by two older folks, looking like they were digging "retirement", kind of like me, but obviously with more money. After a few more miles and White City ramp, hung a left at the St. Joe Canal, passed Raffield Seafood, the 98 bridge, and then entered St. Joe Bay.
Decided to go over to some flats near the State Park, which was almost directly SE. After arrival, anchored the boat and had a nice time swimming, exploring, and looking for marine life. Found a few scallops, several sun ray venus and Chione clams, lots of crabs, fish, and urchins. Fun. Left them all, we were just looking.
An hour passed, and the wind had picked up. It was time to grab some lunch. The bay was white capping, and we were at the end of the fetch, with the chop on our side going to three feet and short nasty. Put up the spray shields and lowered the tabs, and headed back to St. Joe on a slow plane. My daughter was getting a bit concerned with how rough it had gotten, but by going slow and having good plastic we got back dry and just fine.
Stopped for a nice lunch at the Marina, and got to admire the fine boats docked there.
So relaxing to have a cold one, sample some blackened grouper, and gaze out to the Bay, now calm as the wind died and changed direction. Finishing up, we headed back North to the Jackson River.
Saw a beautiful fawn and mama along the canal bank, and had an uneventful trip back. One more "emergency" stop to cast a few times, but nothing to show for that one. Put the boat back on trailer at Apalach, and took her home to Carrabelle for washing and storing. Coffee and snacks at Carrabelle, then through Panacea to grab some beautiful head-on shrimp from My Way, then to Tallahassee, arriving about 5 p.m. Grace made some killer sauces and a salad, and I gently boiled the shrimp until just pink. They were really good, bathed in several sauces and washed down with an ice-cold Corona. My wife joined in and we near killed the two pounds of head on. Not long after, I hit the sheets.
This retirement ain't so bad.
Luck,
EJ
