St. Marks 05/01/2004

Post by **Tom Keels** » May 2nd, 2004, 7:55 am

Got a late start because of the weather. Sonny, myself and my oldest 2 headed out to chum rock about 9:30. We got there anchored up and threw out the chum. Immediately we had action around the boat. Mostly from double palm size spottails. The kids had fun catching pins and I started throwing a nylure tipped with a live shrimp. I started picking up rock bass pretty quick. I hooked up again this time to something a little more stout. As it got near the boat I could see it was a small grouper. As it came up another grouper, much bigger darted out from the rock trying to get the smaller one. I told Sonny to throw behind my fish. He did and the fight was on. The fish tried to get back to the rock and almost made it but Sonny got him out. I netted the fish and mesured him at 22 1/2 inches. Keeper in 8 feet of water. Nice.

The chum died out with nothng else to show for it so we headed over to greymare to drift fish for a few. We had been on our drift about 5 minutes and had picked up a couple of shorts and misses when some asshat idles right through our drift within casting distance.

I yelled to him and gave the "what are you doing" gesture. I guess he didn't get it so he turns the boat towards us and idles up, cuts his motor and says "What?" I give him an ear full keeping in mind the kids are on the boat, but I let him know exactly what he did wrong.

He just drives off, right over top of my CT I'm drifting out the back of the boat cutting it off and wrapping it up in the prop. Guys, I think the only reason I'm here and not in the county jail is the fact that the kids were on the boat. Oh well.

At that point I was so frustrated we decided to go. Finished the day about 1:00 pm.

Total tally.

4 rock bass
1 22.5 inch gag.

Post by **Rogan** » May 2nd, 2004, 8:33 am

Sounds like a decent trip overall. Keeper grouper in 8 feet aint all bad.

Post by **Reel Country** » May 2nd, 2004, 8:51 am

sure am glad the weather predicters messed AGAIN. Good day on the water.

Post by **tin can** » May 3rd, 2004, 8:07 am

I'm sure the kids had fun.

I suppose folks don't realize what they are doing when they run through your drift. I had 4 boats cut my drift off this weekend. I told one guy there was a $200 charge for locating fish for him. He didn't think it was funny.

Post by **dolphinatic** » May 6th, 2004, 1:32 am

Hey Tom......asshat has a few twin brothers too

. I've met a few of them at St. Marks this year

. I've had to keep my cool too because of the kiddies also.....glad to hear that you caught some rock bass...I haven't caught a one yet

!

Post by **Chalk** » May 6th, 2004, 5:48 am

WTF...I missed this one

...I think it was posted the days I was playing Noah

Sounds like a good trip except for that jawja boy cruise'n by

(It's a joke, I live in jawja)

Post by **tin can** » May 6th, 2004, 7:27 pm

Don't be startin no more trouble, Chalk.

Post by **Chalk** » May 6th, 2004, 7:31 pm

Who me.....never...I'm innocent (they didn't see it, I didn't do it

)

Website · Post by **rev** » May 6th, 2004, 7:41 pm

Pass me the soapbox...

I was fishing a shoreline not far from the lighthouse yesterday when a yahoo ran straight up to me, came off plane (my boat bounced from his wake as he slowed), lowered his troller, and cut in ahead of the shoreline I was working. That's the kind of stuff I expect when I'm fishing on a weekend on the Mosquito Lagoon, NOT on a Wednesday at St. Marks. Needless to say, I was exceedingly unhappy. With all of the miles of shoreline between St. Marks and Aucilla, why in the world would you pick to fish a long cast away from one of the only other boats on the water?

Done ranting...feel a little better. Caught 2 redfish and it was a gorgeous day.

Post by **RodBow** » May 6th, 2004, 7:50 pm

rev, were you yaking or did you have your real boat?

Post by **T Smith** » May 6th, 2004, 8:06 pm

Ive noticed the same alot of people out here have no manners or sense , probably both. Without fail as soon as the bite turns on some yahoo goes flying by, nobody knows how to give people space. The same goes at the ramp I've been passed several times in the canal trying to get to the ramp at the lighthouse.

I guess the no wake sign only applies to polite people. Like rev said I'd expect this down south somewhere but not up here. I just say the office jerk is still a jerk even on the weekend.

Post by **tin can** » May 7th, 2004, 7:02 am

There are boaters, and people that own boats. There are fishermen, and people that own fishing equipment. Owning a boat doesn't make you a boater. We live in a high speed world, where some people have no respect for others.

One of the most satisfying experiences I've had was when a boat owner (by no means a boater) ran by me several times one day. Later in the day he had motor problems, and needed assistance. I eventually helped the guy, but he had a different attitude when I left him.

Rev, you can have your soap box back, now.