Ecofina Report

[baylitter]

Put in about 7:30 am on the low tide,managed to get out of the river with all the pieces of my boat connected. Water was flat as concrete so decided to pitch top water around the bars for reds. Managed one hook up and a few bites but nothing to show for it. Moved to the flats and the going was Tuff. No breeze to be found and not much water moving , had to troll several times just to cover ground drifting. Ended the day with 9 trout 15 to 19, most on new penny / chartreuse, little deeper in 5 to 7,more shorts than usual, 1 flounder and couple sea bass so can't complain. On a side note had a C130 over us for about 2 hrs and smoke and flares on the horizon, never heard a mayday or any traffic for that matter. Anyone have any idea what was going on?

[Dubble Trubble]

Put in about 7:30 am on the low tide,managed to get out of the river with all the pieces of my boat connected. Water was flat as concrete so decided to pitch top water around the bars for reds. Managed one hook up and a few bites but nothing to show for it. Moved to the flats and the going was Tuff. No breeze to be found and not much water moving , had to troll several times just to cover ground drifting. Ended the day with 9 trout 15 to 19, most on new penny / chartreuse, little deeper in 5 to 7,more shorts than usual, 1 flounder and couple sea bass so can't complain. On a side note had a C130 over us for about 2 hrs and smoke and flares on the horizon, never heard a mayday or any traffic for that matter. Anyone have any idea what was going on?

Good day on the water!!

On the C 130 thing. One of two things:

1: We were there about a month ago and there were two choppers that did the smoke thing and would go and hover low on the water, They did this most of the afternoon we were there.

2: There ARE two bodies out there somewhere from two different incidents in the last week. I don't think they have found either one yet.

Dubble

Links:
http://www.wctv.tv/content/news/Florida ... 64231.html

http://www.wctv.tv/content/news/Coast-G ... 86661.html

[cast-n-stone]

Headin that way shortly, hope to have as good a day as you! Will report findings.

[Hit-n-Miss]

Sounds like a good day


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[silverking]

On a side note had a C130 over us for about 2 hrs and smoke and flares on the horizon, never heard a mayday or any traffic for that matter. Anyone have any idea what was going on?

Sure it was a C-130? There could be multiple aircraft conducting searches, but I had a P-3 Orion fly over twice yesterday and the second time it banked and headed off in the direction of Keaton.

Same engines, but the P-3 is distinguishable by the pointy prong extending below the tail section.

[SS-342]

We saw and heard the choppers and heard the aircraft. We were a few miles south of Rock Island and the choppers flew over us toward land. In an hour or so they came back, went out to the same place and competed with the airboat inshore with their noise making.

Don't know which is worse!

We had two FWC airboat petrols ahead of us headed towards Keaton but they were not in the parking lot when we arrived. Those boys are equipped to handle whatever comes alone.
As many insects as there are now close inshore, I'd hate to go where they might have gone.

Good report baylitter. Keep um coming!

[zload]

On a side note had a C130 over us for about 2 hrs and smoke and flares on the horizon, never heard a mayday or any traffic for that matter. Anyone have any idea what was going on?

Sure it was a C-130? There could be multiple aircraft conducting searches, but I had a P-3 Orion fly over twice yesterday and the second time it banked and headed off in the direction of Keaton.

Same engines, but the P-3 is distinguishable by the pointy prong extending below the tail section.

Are there Russian or North Korean subs hanging around Econfina again?

[silverking]

On a side note had a C130 over us for about 2 hrs and smoke and flares on the horizon, never heard a mayday or any traffic for that matter. Anyone have any idea what was going on?

Sure it was a C-130? There could be multiple aircraft conducting searches, but I had a P-3 Orion fly over twice yesterday and the second time it banked and headed off in the direction of Keaton.

Same engines, but the P-3 is distinguishable by the pointy prong extending below the tail section.

Are there Russian or North Korean subs hanging around Econfina again?

Could be. Those sneaky commies are probably poaching reds and trout.

[SS-342]

"Are there Russian or North Korean subs hanging around Econfina again?"

I doubt the Econfina but you can bet they are somewhere off our coast. We are off theirs!

I heard stories of WW11 German subs sank off our coast and Miami movie ticket stubs were found in what came up.

[baylitter]

I should have said a really big plane rather than c-130 like I knew what I was talking about when I don't It was a big plane with 4 motors that looked to be military. Very very low!! Not sure if any espionage was taking place but did circle twice when I pulled out my new gulp colors.

[FTReelty]

Maybe they just running drills. We say them Thursday from st. Marks. We had 7 keeper trout. Most pretty nice. 17/19 inches. We beginners but hopefully gettin better


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[GaryDroze]

Air Force C-130 Hercules has much longer wingspan, bigger tail, and shorter length than Navy P-3 Orion. That tail extension on the P-3 is all avionics (electronics) equipment. P-3 is a bit faster, but the Hercs are more versatile, being employed for 5 decades as gunships, cargo mules, troop transport, and weather recon. Not that I'm biased or anything.

Gary
US Air Force Academy, Class of 1983

[silverking]

Navy P-3 Orions are a four-engine turbo prop multi-use platform that provide advanced warning of submarine patrols and threats to the surface fleet. They are also used to track storms as hurricane hunters or in search and rescue missions, flying crews of 7 to 30. They can fly low and slow to stay on station for hours, often feathering a couple engines. The majority of P-3s are used in anti-submarine warfare squadrons, although modified versions are also integral for recon duty.

Fly Navy!

SK
USN, 1980-1988
VQ-2 and Naval Aircrew Candidate School Drill Instructor, 1,200+ hours in P-3s.

[FishWithChris]

One of the reasons I love fishing that area!!!

We've had F22's, 35's, A10s, 18's, P-3's, 18's, various whirleybirds, etc...

My favourite was definitely the A-10's we've had overhead.. they banked and lapped us a few times, making low passes... reminded me of when I lived in South Mississippi and being out on the field late afternoons for baseball practice and having the A-10's fly overhead... man I did a lot of bearcrawls for not paying attention to practice

[onefishtwofish]

I heard a helo coming at my house on Wednesday and it sounded like a Chinook. Maybe not quite as whump whump whump, but close-did not sound like the typical Life Flight helo. Turned to see what it was and it was not a helo, it was a V-22 Osprey. First I have ever seen in flight in person. Flew right over my house and fairly low. I had a phone in my pocket and was so surprised I did not even video it.