Page 1 of 2

Redfish 12/17/06

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 7:08 pm
by tin can
Folks, if you didn't go today, you missed the most beautiful day in a while.

Launched at 9:30 this morning and headed to secret spot #1. Took an hour to get there. There was a gentle breeze out of the east and a bit foggy.By the time I arrived there was just enough water to ease in. Water was 53 degrees. Started easing along and had one miss a jerk bait. Threw right back in there and hung the bait on the oysters. I quickly broke it off and picked up my skitterwalk. Chunked it out there and let it sit for a few seconds and started wirking it back. It didn't move far before a nice red blew up on it.............and missed it. I stopped the bait for about 5 seconds (that's a long time!), twitched it once, and the fish blew up on it again.................and missed! We played this little game until the fifth time the fish blew up on it, it finally ate it. The first red was 29". I figured if the fish wanted to play that game I'd play along with them. Very few fish ate the bait on the first strike. Most hit it at least 3 times before they would eat it. Alittle while later I got a surprise. There was a school of nice trout hanging around. I caught 7 trout between 18" and 21".

When the tide stopped rising.......the fish shut down, too. While the water was slack, the wind quit for a while, then turned and came out of the southwest. I went all the way through the still water period without a bite. When the water started moving again...........so did the fish. But they wouldn't hit the topwater. They ran from it. So, I switched over to a soft jerk bait. The fun began again.

I never moved more than 1/2 mile from where I started this morning. The fish were there. With the exception of the still water period, I never went more than 5 or 6 minutes without catching a fish.

When I headed in at 3 the water surgace temp was 56 degrees, and there was a slight ripple on the water. It was a smooth ride back in.

The fish were not in the creeks. They were on the flats. Find the mullet and you'll find the reds..........and a few trout mixed in.

Total for today was somewhere around 35 reds and 7 trout. I caught 1 fish less than 18" long. The largest was 31". Most were between 21" and 24" long.

I've found them in holes before, and caught bunches in a hurry. This was the first time I've ever caught this many concistantly throughout the day.

I might have to go back a couple of days this week. But as sure as I do, they'll be gone.

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 8:10 pm
by birddog
And there it is. Just when I thought I couldn't get more depressed.... :lol:

Good job John. Thats a solid day :thumbup:

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 8:26 pm
by rocket
:o That's a banner day!!! Good job :thumbup: :thumbup:

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 8:48 pm
by flatpicker
:thumbup: :thumbup: Awesome report!

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 8:54 pm
by Redbelly
EXCELLENT REPORT! Better than working as I did today.... :cry:

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 9:16 pm
by Eerman
And I sat patiently by the phone all day...just waitin' for a phone call :smt010 I guess he just asks folks we he's trying to win prize money. :wink:

Seriously though, sounds like a banner day TC. Good to here the fishies still like to eat. :thumbup:

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 9:21 pm
by sundown
I figured today woulda been a good one...Think I'm gonna have to try it this next week but like you said, they'll probably be gone.........

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 9:39 pm
by Perch Jerker
Dang, that's an exciting report....to read on a Sunday night. :smt009 :thumbup:

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 9:39 pm
by Chalk
It was too nice not to be out there, which I wasn't....Sounds like a good day TC :thumbup: :thumbup:

Posted: December 17th, 2006, 10:04 pm
by mjsigns
Great Job TC-
Maybe this is a sign the fish populations are recovering... .
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Posted: December 18th, 2006, 6:19 am
by Charles
Holy crap. 35 reds? Great day, John. :thumbup:

Posted: December 18th, 2006, 6:48 am
by tin can
Eerman wrote:And I sat patiently by the phone all day...just waitin' for a phone call :smt010 I guess he just asks folks we he's trying to win prize money. :wink:
I made the decision to go at 5:45 yesterday morning. Next time I get up and decide to go, I'll call ya. :wink:

Posted: December 18th, 2006, 7:36 am
by Browning Slayer
Good job TC!! :thumbup:
Sounds like an awesome day!

Posted: December 18th, 2006, 8:15 am
by Reel Slow
Good job TC :thumbup: That is a heck of a day.

Posted: December 18th, 2006, 8:43 am
by wevans
Sounds like a banner day ta me :thumbup: :thumbup: