Keaton Beach 3-14-03 & 3-15-03

Use this area to post inshore fishing reports from the area. Please try to include relevant information such as:
Location, date, time, water conditions, weather conditions, baits, techniques, species caught, etc.
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Flats & Grubs
Posts: 16
Joined: February 6th, 2003, 11:47 am
Location: Perry, Ga.

Keaton Beach 3-14-03 & 3-15-03

Post by Flats & Grubs »

What a couple of great days on the water. We almost cancelled our trip thursday due to the weather forecast for rain fri. & sat. We decided to go anyway and i'm sure glad we did. Not a drop of rain either day.
Friday we left the marina around 9:30 with overcast skies and temps in the low 60's. The seas had a light chop from the wind, but nothing to really complain about. We headed out to around 7'-0" of water and started casting S.A. candy corn grubs on red jig heads. The bite was slow until around 11:00 when the sun broke and the temp got up to around 73. The best bet seemed to be a Cajun Thunder with a candy corn grub about 5'-0" below. We also tried live pinfish with no sucess at all. We caught specs all day long, but alot of them were shorts. We ended up with 9 keepers ranging from 15" to 19", no fish over 20".
Saturday morning the skies looked like it was going to rain, and there was a fairly dense fog. We decided to head on out anyway to the same spot we fished the day before. Around 11:00 once again the sun broke out and cleared the fog and clouds. We caught 2 keepers quick and then it just stopped. We were about the only boat out in deeper water. It looked like everybody was fishing in 4' to 5'. Since the sun was out and no threatening clouds we decide to head out to one of the artificial reefs. This was my first trip out that far in our 18' c.c. so my nerves were a little on edge. The trip out was perfect and the g.p.s did all the work. Had a little trouble anchoring properly and couldn't stay on the spot just right. We caught several black sea bass on live pinfish, but no grouper. The Mackerel were EVERYWHERE on our way out and in. I've never fished for them so I wasn't prepared with steel leaders or bait. I cast a grub at them several time with no luck. We came back in close to shore and caught 1 more keeper spec in about 5' of water to finish the day.
All in all it was a great relaxing 2 days of fishing. Thanks for all the great advice from everyone who post on this site.

Flats & Grubs
rx fisher
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Posts: 295
Joined: March 24th, 2002, 8:00 pm
Location: Tallahassee

Post by rx fisher »

I say fire the weather man, glad you had a good trip.
We got to get out on Saturday. Great day.
Come on back anytime.
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Sir reel
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Joined: January 22nd, 2003, 11:35 am
Location: Tallahassee

Post by Sir reel »

Thanks for a really good report. :D I know the feeling you spoke of about going out a bit farther for the first time. Its good that you do have that respect. Don't loose it. Question. how deep did you fish when you did go out?
Flats & Grubs
Posts: 16
Joined: February 6th, 2003, 11:47 am
Location: Perry, Ga.

Sir Reel

Post by Flats & Grubs »

We went out about 9.5 miles from Keaton. The water was between 25' &
30'. Started spotting Mackerel about 5 miles out. I forgot to mention that I tried trolling a Manns stretch 25 with no luck either.

Flats & Grubs
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tin can
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Joined: May 6th, 2002, 8:00 pm
Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Post by tin can »

Sounds like a very good 2 days. I remember my first trip offshore in my 17' CC. Ya have to pick your days. Glad you had a good trip.
What was I supposed to do today?
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wevans
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Joined: June 12th, 2002, 11:06 am
Location: Sopchoppy

Post by wevans »

I've been out 20 miles in my Bass boat "and they call me crazy :o ", but like TC said, ya have ta pick your days and be confident that ya can run in if it starts ta git rough :lol: I always try ta keep a pole for inshore, if I'm goin offshore and vice-a-versa :D
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
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Flats & Grubs
Posts: 16
Joined: February 6th, 2003, 11:47 am
Location: Perry, Ga.

wevans

Post by Flats & Grubs »

20 miles in a bass boat ! :o I definently don't have the experience or knowledge of the sea to try that yet. Maybe in a few more years, I have become hooked (no pun intended) very fast on saltwater fishing. Thanks for the advice, maybe next time i'll be ready for the Macks !
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