Fishing the Ecofona
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Fishing the Ecofona
OK this may be a little long winded so bear with me. The day started at 5am getting up to take the wife to the airport. Flying out to Nevada on business. Had to go back to the house to feed the crtters as they did not want to be up for the early flight.
This was my first ever trip out of the Ecofina. I normally go out of the Aucilla but the tide was so low I could not get the boat off the trailer. This should have been a tip not to go to the Ecofina but I could not fish last weekend and I had just gotten my boat back from Porters and wanted to see how it ran.
I got to the boat ramp and unloaded. I ran into another boat that was launching at the same time. I asked if they knew the river and could I follow them. No problem he says and off we go. Did not run 1/4 mile and hit bottom. Thank god it was just mud. I asked my guide at this point how much water his boat drafted, 6 inches he says. I let them go and idled the rest of the way out. Finally get out to some water to let the boat run, at last!!! Runs up good but after 1/2 mile starts dropping RPM's up and down 800 or so each way. Determined to make this trip work I tried everything I could to make the boat run well enough to go out but to no avail. I fished around close for a couple of hours and caught shorts. Had enough at this time so we turn SW and run. Boat starts acting up again. Ran to 10 feet of water and shut down. Dropped anchor and opened a beer. Might as well drink at this point. Discourged I put out two rods fishing bottom for trout. For the next two hours I caught fish as fast as I could get the rods back in the water. Haul one in and then out it out jig the one that was down already and haul in another. All in all I can't tell you how many I caught but it was all I wanted. Has my limit of nice trout and threw in two sharks for good measure. Dropped the boat back off at Porters this mourning and Waivel is going to look at it. Kind of fun poking at them for a change.
This was my first ever trip out of the Ecofina. I normally go out of the Aucilla but the tide was so low I could not get the boat off the trailer. This should have been a tip not to go to the Ecofina but I could not fish last weekend and I had just gotten my boat back from Porters and wanted to see how it ran.
I got to the boat ramp and unloaded. I ran into another boat that was launching at the same time. I asked if they knew the river and could I follow them. No problem he says and off we go. Did not run 1/4 mile and hit bottom. Thank god it was just mud. I asked my guide at this point how much water his boat drafted, 6 inches he says. I let them go and idled the rest of the way out. Finally get out to some water to let the boat run, at last!!! Runs up good but after 1/2 mile starts dropping RPM's up and down 800 or so each way. Determined to make this trip work I tried everything I could to make the boat run well enough to go out but to no avail. I fished around close for a couple of hours and caught shorts. Had enough at this time so we turn SW and run. Boat starts acting up again. Ran to 10 feet of water and shut down. Dropped anchor and opened a beer. Might as well drink at this point. Discourged I put out two rods fishing bottom for trout. For the next two hours I caught fish as fast as I could get the rods back in the water. Haul one in and then out it out jig the one that was down already and haul in another. All in all I can't tell you how many I caught but it was all I wanted. Has my limit of nice trout and threw in two sharks for good measure. Dropped the boat back off at Porters this mourning and Waivel is going to look at it. Kind of fun poking at them for a change.
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Re: Fishing the Ecofona
At least you didn't tear her in half going out on that low. You got some trout and soem time on the water.
In the words of the great Doc Holliday, "I'll be your huckleberry"
Re: Fishing the Ecofona
Dang right!!!!!! This story had a happy ending.
Re: Fishing the Ecofona
Sorry to hear about your boat problems, but glad you found some trout.
Re: Fishing the Ecofona
Where's the tires for the trailer?
Re: Fishing the Ecofona
One of the better catches that has been posted recently.
Not sure I understand how you were fishing in the 10' water. Did you have the jigs just set'n on the bottom, long leader under a float, jigs tipped with cut bait or ?? plastic on the jigs, gulp, color , etc. ?
Not sure I understand how you were fishing in the 10' water. Did you have the jigs just set'n on the bottom, long leader under a float, jigs tipped with cut bait or ?? plastic on the jigs, gulp, color , etc. ?
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
Re: Fishing the Ecofona
I found it strange too. I was using Gulp New Penny on a black jig head trying to get to the bottom but they would not let them get down that far. I did try to use a white pogey to see how they liked that and it did not work well. I tried a couple of colors but the new penny was it. A couple of weeks ago I had similar results in 16 feet of water. The difference there was I did not anchor so I did not catch as well.
Re: Fishing the Ecofona
Thanks for the information RC 
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
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Re: Fishing the Ecofona
Glad you were able to make it a success of sorts. Sorry to hear about the ongoing boat problems. I too am having some minor problems but with perseverance and a little patience they are getting worked out. It is always good to catch a limit. Makes it all seem worthwhile somehow.
FF
FF
Re: Fishing the Ecofona
I went today at 3:30 pm ran waoall the way after i got past the houses ..It was the first time ive been after my appendix busted on the 12 and was 2 hard headed to go to Dr till fridat the 15 after a long stay in TMH im back to full power ..went down maybe 4 creeks to the left 5 ft water on hight tide he bite was good... Ended up with
6 trout 1 was 23"
1redfish 22"
2 sail cat maybe 7lbs had 2 break off never really turned ever what it was got bak to the hill at about 8:30 pm
6 trout 1 was 23"
1redfish 22"
2 sail cat maybe 7lbs had 2 break off never really turned ever what it was got bak to the hill at about 8:30 pm
