River Crickets: Green Cove Springs. Saturday 08 27 11

[Big Bend Brian]

Saturday: Was planning on taking the family post Hurricane Irene scalloping out of Steinhatchee but the mornings forecast was for 15-20 knots so I went to PLAN B.

Taking our 19 foot Whaler, PLAN B, I let the girls sleep in and Casey and I headed to Green Cove Springs. Our old fishing club in Gainesville, the GOFC, was having a shrimp outing so we tagged along and shrimped with good friends.

Despite it forecasted to be a near record HOT day the breeze kept things cool and it wasn’t too bad.

On the water by 8:40 a.m. and It took a bit of throwing but by 1 p.m. we finished the morning with 5 gallons (throwing one 8 foot and one 6 foot shrimp net). Didn’t tear em up but probably average 12 shrimp a throw. A fun morning on the water with friends & family.


Dock Holiday crew from Gainesville


Casey at the net


A friend just e-mailed me a photo of Casey & I shrimping off Plan B.
Plan B is not a great shrimping platform on account of all the railings, rod holders, and sharp points around the gunnel but it works out.


Casey & I throwing




River Crickets

Hoo Yah!!
Brian

[bman]

Very Nice

[Hit-n-Miss]

Wow love your posts

[Tidedancer]

Fire up the Pot!!!

[FUTCHCAIRO]

HEY BBB, THOSE MAKE FOR SOME GOOD EATIN. BACK WHEN I WAS A BOY, MY UNCLE HUGH USE TO TAKE US DOWN TO SHANDS BRIDGE AT GREEN COVE, HE WOULD CAST THE NET FROM THE OLD WOODEN BRIDGE AND DUMP THEM IN A #2 WASH TUB, I WOULD THEN SEPARATE THE BIGUN'S AND PUT THEM IN ANOTHER #2 WASH TUB FILLED ABOUT HALF WAY WITH ICE, THROW THE SMALLER ONES BACK IN. ME AND MY COUSINS WOULD HEAD THE LARGE ONES AND SWIRL THE ICE AROUND WHEN WE PUT THEM IN THE ICE TUB. UNCLE HUGH WOULD CATCH ENOUGH TO FILL UP THAT ICE TUB IN ABOUT 2 HOURS OF PITCHIN THE SHRIMP NET. HE WOULD STAND UP ON THE RAIL OF THE BRIDGE AND CAST WHAT LOOKED LIKE TO ME, ABOUT A 8-10 FT. SPREAD NET UNTIL WE FILLED A #2 ICE TUB WITH HEADED SHRIMP. WE GENERALLY DID THIS AFTER DARK, UNCLE HUGH WOULD TAKE HOG FEED AND MIX IT UP IN CLAY AND MAKE BALLS ABOUT 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER, HE WOULD THROW THOSE BAIT BALLS OUT ABOUT 10 FT. FROM THE BRIDGE AND ABOUT 20 FT. APART. I CAN REMEMBER THE BUGS WOULD ALMOST EAT US UP, HORSE FLY'S, MOSQUITOES,YELLOW FLYS,
AND KNATS. WE WOULD LOAD THE ICE TUB FULL OF SHRIMP UP IN THE BUGGY AND HEAD TO CLAY HILL, WE WOOULD GET HOME ABOUT DAYBREAK AND MY MOTHER AND HER SISTERS WOULD MAKE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOOD OUT OF THOSE SHRIMP, SALADS, BAKED SHRIMP, SHRIMP COCKTAIL,, BROILED SHRIMP, AND FRIED SHRIMP. WE ATE SHRIMP FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THEY RAN OUT. THOSE WERE HARD TIMES BACK THEN BUT WE HAD FUN JUST PREPAARING FOOD TO EAT AND TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.
THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK MEMORIES WITH YOUR REPORT.
PA
SEMPER FI

[Reel Addiction]

BBB. what a small world we live in. I have been out of town all week visiting clients and have not seen your report. This morning, I was visiting one of my favorite clients in Gainesville, Ed Ellett and he shared with me your posted photos and adventures. He got my blood pumping for some fishing and shrimping activities so I log onto this site and bingo, I see your post. From Ed's report, you all did great. Thanks for sharing. By the way, do we have places in The Big Bend where we can cast net for shrimp?