St. Andrews Bay 7-24 through 7-28
Posted: July 29th, 2006, 4:34 pm
Hope everybody's keeping cool. Was out of town last week on business and spent last week in Panama City with my family. Thought I'd report back to everybody.
Bit the bullet and sprung for a slip at Baypoint for the week. They have a really fine facility that seems to be very secure. Also the best price of any place I checked. Only problem is no place to park a trailer. That was not an issue for me so that worked out well even if it left my wallet considerably lighter.
Fished St. Andrews bay each day for a couple of hours. Got out at first light the first couple of days to fish last of incoming tide on grass flats behind Shell Island. I had slayed the trout in that area last year on topwater. Turns out that I shouldn't have bothered so I slept in and fished in the late afternoon the rest of the week.
No trout, no reds and no spanish this trip. Surprising given previous trips over there. But, never failed to bring back dinner. Also able to show my wife, dad and one of our good friends a good time. Mangroves and flounder were the catch of the day each day. Mangroves near docks in Grand Lagoon. Flounder also around the docks but we did better for them in 14' over sandy bottom behind Shell Island.
Also caught every kind of saltwater trash fish known to man
. It would have been better to throw dollar bills in the water than to throw a gulp jig on the grass flats. While the net effect would be the same, you at least wouldn't have to unhook catfish! The same jigs fished super slow over sandy bottom in 14' was pretty effective for flounder but still about a 5:1 catfish to flounder ratio. Live finger mullet, mud minnows and small pinfish turned out to be the best option.
One of the Baypoint guides said that trout fishing was slower than usual this year. He thinks it's from the red tide. It sure isn't from a lack of baitfish in the water.
Inexperienced jet skiers and boaters who rent those pontoon boats were out in full force. You would think they could figure out that it is not considerate or safe (probably not legal either) to come within 10 feet of a boat on anchor going wide open. I had this happen several times. As amazing a display of stupidity as I've ever witnessed -- also annoying. Fortunately, most folks you run into over there, including the jet skiers, are pretty good people. Overall a very nice week on the water.
Bit the bullet and sprung for a slip at Baypoint for the week. They have a really fine facility that seems to be very secure. Also the best price of any place I checked. Only problem is no place to park a trailer. That was not an issue for me so that worked out well even if it left my wallet considerably lighter.
Fished St. Andrews bay each day for a couple of hours. Got out at first light the first couple of days to fish last of incoming tide on grass flats behind Shell Island. I had slayed the trout in that area last year on topwater. Turns out that I shouldn't have bothered so I slept in and fished in the late afternoon the rest of the week.
No trout, no reds and no spanish this trip. Surprising given previous trips over there. But, never failed to bring back dinner. Also able to show my wife, dad and one of our good friends a good time. Mangroves and flounder were the catch of the day each day. Mangroves near docks in Grand Lagoon. Flounder also around the docks but we did better for them in 14' over sandy bottom behind Shell Island.
Also caught every kind of saltwater trash fish known to man
. It would have been better to throw dollar bills in the water than to throw a gulp jig on the grass flats. While the net effect would be the same, you at least wouldn't have to unhook catfish! The same jigs fished super slow over sandy bottom in 14' was pretty effective for flounder but still about a 5:1 catfish to flounder ratio. Live finger mullet, mud minnows and small pinfish turned out to be the best option. One of the Baypoint guides said that trout fishing was slower than usual this year. He thinks it's from the red tide. It sure isn't from a lack of baitfish in the water.
Inexperienced jet skiers and boaters who rent those pontoon boats were out in full force. You would think they could figure out that it is not considerate or safe (probably not legal either) to come within 10 feet of a boat on anchor going wide open. I had this happen several times. As amazing a display of stupidity as I've ever witnessed -- also annoying. Fortunately, most folks you run into over there, including the jet skiers, are pretty good people. Overall a very nice week on the water.
