A Great day at Keaton

Post by **Steve Hendley** » October 5th, 2003, 11:22 pm

Hooked to the boat Saturday morning and headed to Keaton Beach, got to the marina at around 7:15. There were about 10 boats ahead of us at the lift so we put in at the little ramp, only had to 2 boats ahead of us there. By 7:45 we were heading out of the channel, at maker #3 we turned south toward the bird roost.
My son started catching pin fish and I was throwing a purple canary SWA. After an hour of this I had only picked up 1 keeper blue fish, and not the first trout. We stayed in the clear water at the bird rack until 9:30 then decided to head north towards Adams beach. The water was a little stained, but not bad, so we ran in until we were in 5 foot of water. There we started fishing pin fish under a C/T and SWA, with in the hour we had pike up a couple keeper trout and black bass. Over the next few hours we caught several black bass, short trout and small sharks which we through back. By noon the wind had died and it was slick so we ran out to 10 foot of water and free lined pin fish for some Spanish mackerel. After an hour with no action I was contemplating heading off shore for grouper, but decided to head back towards Spring Warrior and give the trout one more try. On my second cast I caught a 22inch trout then my son caught a nice blue fish on a pin fish. Over the next few hours we had a lot of action with short trout back bass and small sharks.
By 3:00 we had 5 or 6 nice trout 2 blues and numerous black bass in the cooler but my son had not boated a keeper trout yet and was pressing hard, he made me promise we would not head back until he boated a trout, I agreed. By 4:00 I had 9 trout in the boat some caught on SWA and some on pin fish and my son picked up a 2 foot shark. Realizing we would be heading back on low tide I tried to get my son to let me off the hook but he insisted he wanted a keeper trout, so we fished on. At 4:45 he finely boated a 17inch trout, it was time to go.
The total count on fish was 7 black bass, 1 two-foot shark, 2 nice blue fish and 10 trout, 2 of which were over 21inches long. It was a beautiful day to be on the water not to hot and a nice breeze most of the day.
My son showed me his determination and made me proud, he worked hard, and though frustrated at times hung in there.
Even though loading the boat at low tide was tough it could not over shadow the great day my son and I had.
This was a day I wont soon forget.

SH.

dstockwell · Post by **dstockwell** » October 6th, 2003, 6:41 am

wtg.

Post by **wevans** » October 6th, 2003, 9:11 am

A good mess of fish AND a day on the water with your son, it don't get no better than that

Post by **Steve Hendley** » October 6th, 2003, 9:52 am

wevans: you are absolutely right it just doesnt get any better.

SH.

Post by **CSMarine** » October 6th, 2003, 10:16 am

Does sound like a fine day on the water Steve.

Post by **JimR** » October 9th, 2003, 2:40 pm

I agree it sounds like a great day with your son. I hope there was another person on board though. " 3 over 21 inches " would certainly put a damper on the day if FWC was checking when you came in.

For the record , I'm not bashing or trying to start anything. Just an observation.

Post by **Steve Hendley** » October 9th, 2003, 3:31 pm

Jim, of course there was another person on the boat I wouldnt make a mistake like that. (ya right) You did make me pull out my fishing regulations though. Thanks for pointing the obvious out to me.

SH.

Post by **CSMarine** » October 9th, 2003, 4:25 pm

Steve, your allowed to keep three over 20" with two people. You just have to pay extra for the third fish.