FISHIN ST. MARKS

[FUTCHCAIRO]

WELL THE TWO OLD MEN OF THE SEA DECIDED TO HIT THE GULF THIS MORNIN. SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME. LOW TIDE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE AT 7:30 A.M. SO WE TOOK OUR TIME GETTING DOWN TO THE LIGHTHOUSE POOL. WHEN WE GOT THERE AT 9:30 THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH WATER TO LAUNCH THE BOAT, THE CANAL HAD A STRIP OF WATER ABOUT 2 FEET WIDE OUT TO THE MOUTH OF THE CANAL AND AT THE BAR AT THE MOUTH THE WATER WAS ABOUT 1 FOOT WIDE. IT MAY HAVE BEEN 6 INCHES DEEP. WE DECIDED TO WALK OUT ON THE JETTIS AND CAST FOR A WHILE TILL THE WATER CAME IN ENOUGH TO LAUNCH. FINALLY AROUND 10:30 WE HAD ENOUGH WATER TO LAUNCH AND POLE OUT THE CANAL. WE FISHED THE BAR IN FRONT OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, EAST FLATS, BACK IN THE RIVER AND BACK ON THE EAST FLATS. WE NEVER GOT THE FIRST SSTRIKE, WE HAD SEVERAL TROUT FOLLOW THE PLUG IN TO THE BOAT BUT THEY NEVER STRUCK. WATER TEMP WAS 63 DEGREES, THE WIND WAS PERFECT AND EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT AFTER WE GOT OUT ON THE WATER BUT THERE JUST WERE NO FISH. NEVER SAW THE FIRST SCHOOL OF BAIT FISH, NO BIRDS FLYING OR DIVING, JUST SAW 2 SMALL MULLET NEAR THE BAR IN FRONT OF THE LIGHTHOUSE AND THAT IS ALL WE SAW. WE FINALLY GAVE UP ABOUT 2 PM AND HEADED BACK TO TALLY. THERE WERE 16 BOAT TRAILERS PARKED AT THE POOL WHEN WE CAME IN, SEVERAL OTHER BOATS CAME IN ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE DID AND THEY HAD THE SAME LUCK WE DID. IT REALLY HURTS TO GO OUT THE FIRST TRIP THIS YEAR AND NOT EVEN GET A STRIKE. WE MIGHT HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO FISH IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN.
CARL AND PA, THE OLD MEN OF THE SEA

[captkeyser]

OUCH!! Sorry to hear that guys. Maybe next time you should venture further east. That is, if the tide permits. Good luck next time.

[bman]

Keep your chin up!
We all have days like that and the next will be a barn burner!

[CATCH 22]

You'll get em next time

[creech]

[DixieReb]

Hey, Pa.
Don't give up, sometime a first trip is like that. At least ya missed the storm we got in at Keaton today, wasn't fun.

[BAD BEHAVIOR]

Grady County boys never give up PA!!!! Keep after em, its gonna get better!!

[Bow'd Up]

Beats a good day at work anytime

[tin can]

Come on, now, Pa. You know you and Carl ain't gonna give up. It's still early in the year. You know it'll get good in another month.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

HEY FELLAS, WE WON'T GIVE UP. WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A TRIP OVER TO VENENCE , LA. TO BE ABLE TO CATCHEM LIKE WE USE TO HERE. IS IT JUST US , SEEMS LIKE LAST YEAR WAS THE WORSE YEAR WE HAVE HAD HERE IN ST. MARKS. NOW IT IS STARTIN THE SAME WAY LAST YEAR DID.

PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

[caseycook]

You'll get em next time PA!

[RHTFISH]

First trip = just consider it a "shakedown" cruise....make sure everything is working!

Mr. Pa and Mr. Carl are idols amongst us "younger" folks!

[dolphinatic]

They weren't hitting on the flats at Econfina either , PA.....all our fish came in the river.

[GoneFishin]

Well guess the young bucks won this one cause I was at stoney bayou at 645 and saw prolly a hundred tails- released 12 reds to 29 inches and 1 flounder..sometimes it pays to have the little rigs.

[Wadey]

Sorry to hear that guys, if it makes you feel any better and that you are not alone I set out for 5 days fishing with 3 boats and 5 anglers, 6 hour drive north here in the uk to find snow on the mountains and freezing windy conditions we fished from sun up to sun set, just four small pike between us all week, just got home!.......why do we do it?