Econfina 5/17

[GETtheNET]

It has been almost three years since a father and his two sons have fished the flats together, but on Saturday morning the highly anticipated fishing trip began. We decided to try our luck by heading towards the inlets and fish the shallow water. At approximately eighty thirty in the morning with the sun just beginning to crest over the tree tops and reminisces of old man winter whipping at our backs the first lines hit the water.

The skies, now visible by the rising sun, were clear and the seas at a slight chop just as the first sounds of drag leaving the reel whined throughout the boat. My father made a leap for the net as my brother lifted the rod and cranked the reel. Excitement was obvious as each person commented on what might be at the end of the line. Although it was evident we all had high hopes it was that first slot red of the day it ultimately did not matter.

The fight was on and just as the slightest silver color was seen below the murky surface the line snapped, but the mood on the boat did not change. My brother, now quickly tying on a new jig head, has to watch as my father and I briskly try to make another attempt to hook the one that got away.

We would soon learn, much to our disappointment, that most likely the fish that got away was none other than a feisty little Jack Crevalle and not the red fish we were looking for. Throughout the day the Jack Crevalles would continue to rip out drag and deliver a much needed wake up call.

Once we determined that the shallows were none productive, we cranked up the go devil and ventured out to deeper water against the solid three foot waves. Now, well established on a fast drift heading towards the coast, the sound of line fleeing from the reel is heard throughout the boat and this time my brother is making a desperate reach for the net. Seconds later my father has landed the first trout. The trout was no monster, but at seventeen inches it would do and in the cooler it went.

Now that the boat is guaranteed not to be skunked and the first trout is in the boat in a matter of moments, spirits are high. Several moments, maybe even an hour would pass before the next strike was felt. From then on, each strike was a slight glimmer of hope that a fish would be in the near future. It was not until about noon that we finally had the hot streak and within a matter of a couple hours we had twelve trout all around sixteen to eighteen inches.

Then at about two o’ clock, now with calm seas and a slight breeze, a three person limit and an overwhelming victory seemed to be within our grasp. We finally found the drift and our hope of catching three more trout seemed to be in the near future. On what was thought to be our final drift of the day, my father lands a nice twenty inch trout on a white gulp.

Now only two more trout were needed to end a perfect fishing day, but much to our surprise we were approached by an invasive species known as the sunrise skiff from Georgia. The excitement from the largest trout of the day apparently attracted some unwanted attention that resulted in the sunrise skiff trolling approximately fifty feet in front of us and directly in our drift.

Not too long after our encounter, a limit of fifteen trout were on board and a celebratory beer was consumed. Once the boat was loaded we headed back to Tallahassee feeling successful. We returned home with fifteen trout measuring sixteen to twenty inches as well as four nice flounder and one rock bass.

[Slough]

[Harmsway]

What a day!

[GETtheNET]

Here is a picture of the stringer, it has most of the trout on it, but none of the flounder.

[Ranaman]

Glad to see the report!! Great job Guys! How's the wife liking her new job?

[Hit-n-Miss]

Nice mess of fish. You found more trout than we did.

[MarkM]

Well Done!!!

[luceror]

Can see the family resemblance! Nice report, cool picture.

[bman]

Good read and a great stringer of fish!

[tallykenj]

Nice report.


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