lighthouse 8/19, aucilla 8/20

grim reeler · Post by **grim reeler** » August 22nd, 2006, 8:38 pm

Took the wife and kids out saturday.

Put in at the fort with the regular compliment of idiots at the ramp, ran down the river and let the kids fish directly east of the light house. I bought the kids some shrimp and put them to work catching pinfish. My little girl (3yrs in 2 weeks) caught the smallest trout I have ever seen, along with a number of pifish, putting her 5 yr old brother to shame. He caught up later. I put the some of the pinfish they caught under a CT that provided the wife with a few trout and a couple sharks. The kids got to catch plenty of fish and really enjoyed the little shark that kept chasing the pinfish they caught up to the boat.

The heat wore everyone out and we headed back up the St. Marks looking for manatee. We were rewarded with two adults and a calf. headed back to the landing and grim was the only one still awake when we backed the boat in the driveway. I didnt hardly wet a line myself, but a very enjoyable day none the less.

The next day....

Got on the aucilla by 7:30 and headed out for serious fishing. Had a healthy bite early with a couple keepers mixed in. Mixed in a few sharks and cats. My buddy about got yanked out of the boat by an overslot red that rewarded his too tight drag with a straightened hook. The bite ended ~ 10:00-10:30. Just beat a thunder head to the landing and headed home by noonish. We fished top water, pinfish and shrimp (left over from saturday) and jigs.

Post by **birddog** » August 22nd, 2006, 8:44 pm

2 good trips.

Post by **Eerman** » August 22nd, 2006, 8:45 pm

Pretty eventful weekend.

grim reeler · Post by **grim reeler** » August 22nd, 2006, 8:58 pm

Manatee pics...

Post by **trout fisher** » August 22nd, 2006, 10:10 pm

Thanks for sharing.

BKTomblin Jr · Post by **BKTomblin Jr** » August 23rd, 2006, 5:25 am

"gr" A family that plays together say's ------- Ah,you know it

Good job

Hit-n-Miss · Post by **Hit-n-Miss** » August 23rd, 2006, 8:22 am

How far up river did you see the manatees?

grim reeler · Post by **grim reeler** » August 23rd, 2006, 9:47 am

Hit-n-Miss wrote: How far up river did you see the manatees?

Not far. Maybe a mile past the powerplant - around those new private docks. Probably closer to half a mile.

Post by GC » August 23rd, 2006, 10:56 am

Sweet!!

Hit-n-Miss · Post by **Hit-n-Miss** » August 24th, 2006, 2:44 pm

Thanks, are they always in the river this time of year?

My wife loves Manatees. Have you ever snorkled with them in the river? Are there any areas that always have them, springs in the river that you know the location of? The water looks clearer than usual.

Post by **Will_Fish_4_Food** » August 24th, 2006, 7:34 pm

Family fishing is the best.

Post by **Jumptrout51** » August 24th, 2006, 8:05 pm

Manatees are good. Try the Kraft Original.

grim reeler · Post by **grim reeler** » August 24th, 2006, 8:16 pm

Hit-n-Miss wrote: Thanks, are they always in the river this time of year? My wife loves Manatees. Have you ever snorkled with them in the river? Are there any areas that always have them, springs in the river that you know the location of? The water looks clearer than usual.

I am not real familiar with the river, but I think there are usually manatee in the st marks and the wakulla rivers in the summer. The last time I saw them was above US 98 on the wakulla. I had actually heard they were in the wakulla this time, but went up the st marks instead. A boat that stopped to look at these manatee told us he had seen 9 a few days earlier. There very well may have been more further upriver, but we didnt go far past these. I dont see why you couldnt snorkel with them here. The water was nice and cool.

Post by **Redfish Jim** » August 24th, 2006, 8:26 pm

Jumptrout51 wrote:Manatees are good. Try the Kraft Original.

I hope there ain't no Greenpeace spies on this board

Hit-n-Miss · Post by **Hit-n-Miss** » August 25th, 2006, 8:01 am

Thanks G R , does anyone have some gps coordinants for springs in the wakulla or the st. marks. My wife has swam with them at Homosassa and they swam right up to her. It would be nice to do it this close to home.