Mashes Sands 8-18-2007

Use this area to post offshore 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.
Image

Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels

User avatar
Tom Keels
Site Admin
Posts: 4712
Joined: December 11th, 2001, 8:00 pm
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Contact:

Mashes Sands 8-18-2007

Post by Tom Keels »

DWilliams invited Andre and I out for a day on the water. We were all itching to do something, but the latest vis reports had us worried about diving. We decided to head out with both fishing and diving gear and attempt to do both.

Left the mashes ramp around 7:30 and by 8 we had about 40 pinfish in the livewell. DWillams punched in a number 28 miles away, but then said, lets try a close number first.

We arrive at the first number and get anchored. Nothing for almost 5 minutes so I put my rod in the holder. 10 seconds later our first gag of the day hit. 22 1/2 " and in the box. 30 seconds later Dwayne was bowed up and brought this nice beauty.

Image

We had 2 fish in the box by 8:30 and were feeling good. However, the water color had us worried about diving. We struck off for deeper water in hopes of better vis.

We arrive at the next spot in 60 feet with decent show on the bottom, but no bites in 10 minutes. I decided to suit up and have a look. Water on the surface looked pretty good and I felt ok going down the anchor line. But at 50 feet I could not see the end of my gun and it looked like someone had turned out the lights it got so dark. I turned around and right back up the rope I went.

With nothing to show for this spot we ran around looking at others hoping to find something. We did and anchored up. It wasn't long before fish we coming over the gunnel.

Image

DWillams Big Red

Image

Image

Image

I was bringing up my 5th fish of the day and it was a good one. Got him all the way to the surface and went to lift him in the boat and the circle hook tore out of his mouth. 12 pound gag back to the bottom. That shut the bite down on that spot. The seas were starting to lay down so we decided to run back west a few miles and check out some of DWillams' loran numbers.

First place we found close to the number was small and didn't look like much unless you were right on top of it. But it looked pretty good on the machine.

Image

We all dropped down and the action was fast and furious.

Andre's Gag

Image

Image

We lost several nice fish on this spot and cannot wait to get back and dive it to see what's there.

A quick fishbox count revealed we had our 3 man limit so we packed up and headed for the hill. We made it back to the dock at 2:15 and loaded the boat. As we were, the FWC Survey guy comes over and asks all kinds of questions about the day and measures quite a few of the fish. This is the first time I have been surveyed ever. Makes you wonder about the "best available science" they use for the bag limit reductions. :-?

Great day on the water and a lot of fun. Not too hot on the water, but cleaning fish took it out of me. Thanks Dwayne and Andre for a great trip.

Tally for the day:

12 Gags to 15 pounds
3 reds to 14 pounds

Only 5 or 6 throwbacks all day and no trash fish.
Tom Keels
Site Founder

Image
User avatar
CATCH 22
Posts: 791
Joined: May 16th, 2006, 8:57 pm
Location: Wakulla

Post by CATCH 22 »

Dayum, Yall ripped em good :thumbup: :thumbup:
You’ve reached middle age when all you exercise is caution.
User avatar
RodBow
Site Sponsor
Posts: 2586
Joined: March 14th, 2004, 10:53 am
Location: Tallahassee (native)

Post by RodBow »

Fantastic. And found more dive spots.
use your opportunities ...

218 Carolina Skiff
25 Bayliner Deck
snatch-n-reel
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1233
Joined: April 13th, 2007, 1:53 pm
Location: Tallahassee fl.

Post by snatch-n-reel »

Well Done :thumbup: :thumbup:
Let me get them Numbers!!!!!!!!
User avatar
Chalk
Moderator
Posts: 11995
Joined: March 9th, 2002, 8:00 pm
Location: 30° 13' N, 85° 40' W
Contact:

Post by Chalk »

Nice trip :thumbup: :thumbup:
Good Times
Posts: 868
Joined: April 28th, 2007, 8:35 am
Location: Hopkinsville, KY

Post by Good Times »

Great day on the water TK.
User avatar
Barhopr
Site Sponsor
Posts: 3736
Joined: September 25th, 2006, 10:21 pm
Location: Bainbridge/Beacon Hill

Post by Barhopr »

good looking trip guys.. Tom. you look a little hot in the wet suit :lol:
VIVA la BT

Image_______________Image
User avatar
Tom Keels
Site Admin
Posts: 4712
Joined: December 11th, 2001, 8:00 pm
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Contact:

Post by Tom Keels »

Barhopr wrote:good looking trip guys.. Tom. you look a little hot in the wet suit :lol:
Notice my next picture I had taken it off.
Tom Keels
Site Founder

Image
User avatar
Barhopr
Site Sponsor
Posts: 3736
Joined: September 25th, 2006, 10:21 pm
Location: Bainbridge/Beacon Hill

Post by Barhopr »

Thought you had lost your mind there for a little while. TOO HOT
VIVA la BT

Image_______________Image
User avatar
Tom Keels
Site Admin
Posts: 4712
Joined: December 11th, 2001, 8:00 pm
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Contact:

Post by Tom Keels »

It's just a 1/2 mil skin I wear to keep the jellyfish and coral off of me. While it was wet and we were running I was quite cool. It didn't take long after we stopped for me to change.
Tom Keels
Site Founder

Image
birddog
Site Sponsor
Posts: 7516
Joined: May 22nd, 2003, 9:30 pm
Location: Thomasville, Georgia

Post by birddog »

Dang. :o Thats a fine August grouper trip. :thumbup: :thumbup:
GULP! free since 1970.
User avatar
Eerman
Site Sponsor
Posts: 3671
Joined: February 11th, 2004, 9:05 pm
Location: Tallahassee

Post by Eerman »

Awesome trip :thumbup:
"Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh man....I could be eating a slow learner."
Ron Wilson
Site Sponsor
Posts: 1609
Joined: April 7th, 2005, 5:58 am
Location: Albany, Ga

Post by Ron Wilson »

Dayum. Ya'll put it on 'em. Thanks for sharing. :thumbup:
"Plan for the worst."
User avatar
Tidedancer
Site Sponsor
Posts: 2741
Joined: October 2nd, 2002, 7:30 am
Location: Carrabelle Beach, FL

Post by Tidedancer »

:thumbup: Great report TK
DWilliams
Posts: 316
Joined: February 12th, 2002, 8:00 pm

Post by DWilliams »

Tom's is stretching the truth a little, we caught them all on rotary reef on squid.
Post Reply