Ochlocknee Bay 9/8

[mbweimar]

Got a late start yesterday and ended up on the water around 2pm. The incoming tide was ripping through the bay so I headed to the bridge to find bait. I spent the first hour or so collecting bait then headed back to the oyster bars. After several hours of unproductive fishing, the wind died down enough for me to move out into a little deeper water. No luck here either, and it was still a little rough. I was just about ready to call it a day when I noticed that the wind had completely stopped blowing all together. It was dead calm so I decided to run out to the shoal. No luck here either. Great.

I had an awesome front row seat to a beautiful sunset, and headed in before it got too dark, and THATS when the action started. The tide was coming out by the time I got to the mouth of the bay and man was it carrying some bait with it. Reds were blowing up all round me. Tails so close to the boat I could have reached out and grabbed them, so I went to my go-to top water bait: The black and gold Skitter Walk. First cast BOOM! as soon as it hits the water it goes under. I felt the fish so I set the hook, and immediately started pulling drag. I fought this thing for a few minutes, but it really seemed like forever. I could still see reds blowing up all around me. Finally got the fish to the boat and surprised, and a little ticked off that it wasn't a red, but a BIG sail cat. I quickly threw him back and got my bait back in the water. A few casts later, I get slammed again, and pull in a bigger sail cat. I couldn't believe the luck. All these feeding reds around the boat and I manage two sail cats in a row. But just when I think my luck couldn't get any worse, here comes a boat with no lights on trying to sneak up on me. Yep, FWC. After a quick check he was on his way and took all the feeding reds with him. Needless to say, my day was over.

I've been growing more and more fond of these big sail cats around the bay. I've caught several big ones in the surf around alligator point and they put up a HELL of a fight for their size. Who knows, I might get up enough courage eat one!

[EddieJoe]

Great report. I've had the same experience with the big sail cats. They will out compete most everything for your bait or lure, so if you are in a school of them you got to move.

Some people eat them, but I don't advise it. The slime alone is enough to gag a maggot.

EJ

[DixieReb]

There's a lot of big cats out in that bay, they are sporty. If you like channel catfish, you will like sailcat. I don't skin them, fillet down both sides and leave the dark red meat on the skin.

[ontiltttttt]

I've been surf fishing Alligator Point for the past few weeks and I agree that the sailcats are EVERYWHERE. I did manage to get my bait to a few keeper reds at high tide but the ratio of catfish to redfish is like 20:1. At least the cats put up a good fight! As for table fare, they're actually not bad! I filet and skin them, dip 'em in some Zatarans Fried Fish seasoning, and drop 'em in the hot oil

[SS-342]

Some days it goes like that. Seems you would not of had any luck, if not for bad luck. The cats do pull but I leave an area if more than one is caught. They can mess up a good line with slime. Years ago we ate them but now throw them back. Just think what they would do to a cooler! What a mess.

Thanks for the report.

[wevans]

As for table fare, they're actually not bad! I filet and skin them, dip 'em in some Zatarans Fried Fish seasoning, and drop 'em in the hot oil

This is what I do also I sure do hate cleaning the livewell afterwards though

[Badbagger]

Great report there Miles!

[2true]

Sweet Sail.