My old buddy Jack came down from Eastman and my son and his roommate made up the crew. I told the gang with my bum shoulder that I was going to ride and have a good time in the sun. I would fish as much or as little as they wanted to. I even put the big arm chairs in the boat for cruising. We were a pretty sorry relaxed bunch.
Put in at Keaton with the idea of meeting a bud and his bay boat so we could both run together to the Steinhatchee reef to catch some convicts. For some reason the bud never answered his cell and never showed up. With the tides the way they were, we left Valdosta at 7AM and headed to Keaton. Made our obligatory stop at Wilson's to hear some fishing lies and buy some ice. Got the marina a 9AM and there was a LONG line for the lift. Bought shrimp for the convicts.
Headed out the channel and when were off of grassy island, the seas keep getting bigger. Went from a nice chop to an occasional 4 footer with wind increasing. Hell with that I said, so we turned into deadman's bay to trout fish and watch the winds. We drifted all the way up to the marsh grass and although we saw some fish moving, the guys couldn't get one to bite. With my bum shoulder, I mostly acted as bait non-reflective. However, close to shore I pulled out my rod'n reel with a grub and I was the only one who managed a nice fat 24" red. Made a bunch of drifts and the wind never died to make a trip to the reef comfortable. Worked all the way back to the bird rack out from Deckle and there I caught the one and only short trout in 6' of water. Had one rookie on board who never caught even a pin fish.
Put the Ol' Pro back on the trailer at 5PM and headed to Roy Deal's in Perry. I was a little apprehensive about Deal's because the last time I went, it just was not the same, but my buddy Jack just had to go. Well bless my soul if Zodie wasn't back running the restaurant. Got greeted with the old standard greeting from back in Roy's day ... "Finest people in the world walk through that door". They have quit serving on those danged styrofoam plates and I am going to tell you guys, those were the best oysters on the half shell I've had in many a year. I had the grilled shrimp/fried oyster combo and it was super delicious. Roy's widow Rachel was hobbling around visiting too. The place was packed and deservedly so.
My face is a little red with sun/wind burn, but my soul is peace after a great trip.
