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Based on the tide & feeding times for the day 4 of us (whendrix, gray, norm & myself) left the ramp shortly after 9 to venture offshore. Now we first stopped at the Marina for some bait and a few snacks and inquired about the Grouper bite, and the information was not good. Seems based on last years red tide the 50 - 60 ft spots were not holding many fish they were just starting to come back because the red tide killed a lot of the bait fish, and they recommend 70 - 80...... I am not going 50 miles.

First stop was in 62, and its low tide, we were going to fish the second high of the day. Everyone else placed a variety of frozen and live baits (yes we found some to catch) I continued with the rig for the flat line for Kings. Was funny when the others were wondering what I was doing with balloons when I rigged the flat line, but they will see. First bait on the flat line was stolen after less than 5 minutes.... Re rig back out with and the second will not be stolen, and put the King in the box.



OK its a King, but maybe its a good start and things will get even better..... Well it was pretty much the beginning of the end as bottom fishing was horrendous. We tried we moved, etc, etc with not much luck, it was tough... Gray put a small shark in the box and whendrix added a Grunt and other than catching more Grouper baits that was it, so I was time to head in.

Guess are highlight of day came from (i would guess) a Keaton resident expert, or so he thought... We pulled in to the only spot to stop and use for the cleaning station and was promptly greeted by this guy we shall call Sheaphead Fred, or I guess that was the name his buds gave him.

(SHF) You gonna park there
Yes
(SHF) You don't want to if you going to stay over night cause with the tide change it could ground your boat.
Thanks, we are just stopping to use the cleaning station.
(SHF) That's a nice King, where did you all go
62 ft
(SHF) Why did you go way out there, have you been to the crane (the crane is a public wreck #)
Because of last years red tide
(SHF)Red Tide, we have not had a read tide in 3 - 4 years

This guy would not get over, nor could I convince him, until he asked his buddy if we had a red tide, when the bud said yes, SHF really looked confused.

Anyway to make a long story short, whoever this guy was also had a secret bait for catchin AJ's off the crane (of course would not divulge that info) They run out to crane 20+ miles to get there 2 AJ's and run back in... YEA right.

Good company with friends on the water, mighty hot, and little catchin.... King is in the brine and will hit the smoke tomorrow for the dip.

Nice fish and trip Don

Good king, Don.

Looks like the weather was good ! The grouper bite has been funny like you say. We have seen quite a few small grouper and some nice ones but they have little intrest in biting. Seemed the hook & lines could only manage 1 bite per spot. Its too hot for all that..maybe things will get better in a few months ! Kings make for some fun action , just not as much fun on the dinner table !

Nice King They are fun to catch Seas looked good, thanks for the report......

Don,

Based on the dives I've done this year off St. Marks there are virtually no fish in the 40-60 foot range. We have done best on grouper in 15-30 feet.

Thanks Tom... Is there any idea on the recovery time, or all the old numbers now no good, and will we have to hunt out new ground..

nice king, D.

dstockwell wrote:Thanks Tom... Is there any idea on the recovery time, or all the old numbers now no good, and will we have to hunt out new ground..

I know one number in particular that we dove at the end of December last year that was virtually devoid of fish. We dove that number a couple of weeks ago and it was a thriving ecosystem again. Other spots that we checked are still virtually empty. The symptoms are the same on all the spots without fish (meaning higher predators). There is no bait (minnows, ormamentals, crabs, etc.) or grunts on any of these spots. Any spots that have grunts (even just a few) all have some grouper on them. My theory is whatever brings in the grunts also brings the other fish. It's probably some other type of fish or coral or a combination of them that makes the difference in a have or have not spot.

It's funny. Those who dive can relate. You can tell when you are on a spot with fish the moment you enter the water. You can actually hear the life on the reef. It sounds almost like rice crispies (snaps, crackles and pops). On the spots where you don't see fish, you cannot hear anything.

My Pa-inlaw always said when he caught a grunt, "Where there's grunts, there's grouper".

Thanks for the report Don, and yeah, that is a nice king.

Thanks for the info..