June 3 -- Wind and Water -- St. Marks

[Hula Popper]

So, all the Mike Ruckers were talking glass -- "bays and protected waters smooth ... seas 1 foot or less." So I took a day off from work Tuesday and made it to the Spanish Fort.

I was suprised to see that a large number of others had the same idea -- a lot of empty trailers at the ramp for a Tuesday.

After taking note of the furious pace of construction on the new two-fer ramp, I moved out and made for the lighthouse. A light breeze, as often happens in the morning, but I knew it would die off, per the Mikes.

Saw some action at the oyster bars at the mouth of the St. Marks, so tried something there -- no luck though something did snag my shrimp, I lost it almost immediately and could not encourage a rematch.

I'm still figuring out how to best fish the bars, so I decided I'd move on and tackle that lesson another day. On to the flats.

Wind was still light but not as light as before. Hmmm. Made my way to Peter's Rock -- I don't know why, but I'm obsessed with that spot. It seems like it should produce ... though it has yet to do so. Peter's Rock preserved its record -- no fish -- so I moved east, toward the Aucilla, stopping to read the text printed on the new stake line "Boundary St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge." and wondered why the new boundary markers are a few yards short of the old. Did the flats shrink?

Made it to the Aucilla neighborhood ... saw some guys wading. Did they have any luck? Couldn't tell ... trying to be polite and keep my distance.

Snagged a short trout ... then something hit hard ... a catfish about the size of a stick of butter! Then his little brother hit on. Three itty-biddies.

By then, it was down-right breezy and kicking up some chop. I decided to ease back toward home and try Cobb Rocks.

Sneaked in, but the semi-gale blew me right over the rocks. I saw two keepers (Spanish mackerel maybe?) ease off with my arrival. I wonder if they heard my choice words? Don't take it personally, guys. I'll be back.

Still hurling live shrimp, I brought in a short, but not quite as short as before, trout, then ... nothing. Tried some topwater lures ... something new for me, but in this wind neither the fish nor I could see what the heck the Top Dog was up to. Called it a day.

Banged against the chop back toward the lighthouse ... got to wondering about all those guys who took off for grouper grounds, expecting those "1 foot or less" seas. Hope they didn't venture out in a john boat.

Kinda drifted off in the sun and breeze, then saw something splash funny in the water about 50 yards away. Dang, it's a rock! How'd I let Black Rock sneak up that close? Gotta pay better attention.

Decided to stop and throw a few shrimp again. Lost the shrimp, but could never discern an actual bite. Who knows. TIme to head in.

The sturdy breeze had blown water way up the river -- never seen the ramp so wet. But very light traffic at the ramp itself -- nice thing about a Tuesday.

Ramp construction crew was still fiddling with engines, cables and such. I wished them luck, loaded up ... and reminded myself that though I did not tear 'em up out there, I could have, after all, been at work. Declared victory as I pointed the Surburban toward Tallahassee.

[wevans]

I went after them Groupa in "what some on here call" a Jon boat 17.5 Aluminum Bass boat and didn't do to bad but it was ROUGH ta say the least
http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpBB3/vi ... =3&t=18641" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ya gotta admit, it still beat bein at work

[Pinocchio]

Enjoyed your report HP. If I coulda talked someone into it I'd have gone out yesterday in general vicinity you did. Seems like the wind has been blowing it's @$$-off for the last 2 years out there! Getting tide and weather to cooperate is nearly impossible anymore! But I'd rather go than not and take my chances betting mostly on a good tide which I think yesterday was (at least what I remember from looking about 2 weeks ago.) I'll fish with anybody except modulators, furry-ners, and Sopchoppians so if you're not one of them three and don't mind being outfished give me an IM sometimes when you might want a fishing podna.

[wevans]

Sopchoppians don't fish over that-a-way no how

[Pinocchio]

Sopchoppians don't fish over that-a-way no how

Thanks! That's nice to know!

[Jumptrout51]

Good report. Keep 'em up.

[Mook!]

Thanks for the report. Always better to be fishing than not fishing unless there's funnel clouds and lightning. It was an excellent tide yesterday, but big barometer changes and a cold mass hitting a warm mass. I don't know what those stupid Ruckers were thinking. We got hail at the office and the power knocked out by lightning. I saw winds to 30mph on radar. Fish hunker down and ain't prone ta eatin when them fronts shear like that.

[Flint River Pirate]

Great report! Thanks for sharing.

[tin can]

Enjoyed the read.

Wish I coulda been out there.

[DixieReb]

Sorry ya didn't tear 'em up, but at least ya made it in in one piece. It's been rough out there every day we fished this year. Keep try'in.

[sml]

Does peters rock get exposed? IF not do I have to worry about hitting it?

[leesburgga]

I am probably not the one to answer, but I have never seen a rock at peter's rock. peter's rock is in water about 8-12' deep depending on tides.

as you probably know, rock garden, black rock and cobb rock are completely different stories.

i hope someone will confirm my answer on peter's rock.

[Atticus]

It doesn't ever get exposed from what I know but on 'very special' winter days you can saw off your foot there.

Very special winter days = negative low and N wind with an attitude

I went out on a 'very special' winter day last year and bent the prop on something not that much closer in to the hill than Peters'. I was a few miles East of peters rock itself however.