ECONFINA 9-19-07

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Location, date, time, water conditions, weather conditions, baits, techniques, species caught, etc.
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dolphinatic
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ECONFINA 9-19-07

Post by dolphinatic »

Watching that footage the other day of jsuber catching redfish made me want to go look for a few myself. A buddy of mine had the next 2 days off and wanted to go also, so we decided to go give the Econfina a try.
We got to the ramp around 8:30am or so and I met Bad Behavior backed in to the water. He informed me that it was quite windy out there and that they were "takin it to the house." We decided to give it a try anyway and headed on out.
Got to our first spot just west of the mouth and I started throwing topwater. The trout started smacking the plug right away, but the windy conditions made it hard to set the plug. I did manage to get a few though....
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The action slowed a bit with only the shorties hitting, so we decided to move out to deeper water.
We stopped out in 10 ft. and started fishing the bottom with jigs and various gulps. The rock bass were quite plentiful and so were the sharks...
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We were drifting quite rapidly due to the wind and I almost debated trolling while drifting :lol: We covered alot of water and managed a few nice fish and a few breakoffs...even the pinfish got in on the action...
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About 1:30pm or so, we decided to call it a day and head in before the tide got too low at the mouth....especially with a wind blowing out of the north pushing all the water out too. This is where the day started to suck. About a mile from the mouth.....running about 1/3 throttle.....we felt a thud and the boat slowed. It was almost like we hit a big pile of mud....not the usual BANG when a lower unit collides with a rock. Well, we trimmed the motor to find this.....
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See anything missing????? In case you didn't notice.....no lower unit :evil: The Econfina had just claimed another one!!!! About that time, my phone beeps telling me I have a message. It was Rocket calling about work. I returned the call and told him our predicament. He offered to come down, but said it would be a few hours. My buddy decided to just go ahead and call for a tow. I thanked Rocket and told him that we would manage. Tow Boat said it would be 2 hours, so we anchored and figured we would just fish a little....we had the time :roll: The water was only 2.5 feet and I debated just getting out and start walking (suddenly I was reminded of the scene in Dumb & Dumber when Harry decided to walk home from Nebraska when Lloyd took the wrong turn :lol: ). About 2 hours later, our ride showed up....
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We hooked up and started the slow ride in....
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Not a view you ever really want to see.....

We got back to the ramp about 6:30pm and braced ourselves for financial hit that was about to occur.....both in the rear.
Here's the first one....
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Here's the second one....

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In case you can't see, the tow bill is being written....... :o

Needless to say, boat tow insurance is definately worth the investment.

It was a good day fishing, but all that seemed to be negated by the last 5 hours of the day. Still awaiting the other bill :cry:

Word of advice.....Econfina + Low tide = Go somewhere else Not that most everybody on this site doesn't know this anyway :roll:

Down for now, but not out. See you guys at Mashes on the 6th :thumbup:
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Post by birddog »

Dang. :o Hate that happened.

I'm way overdue for the same thing. It's just a matter of time. :roll:
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wevans
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Post by wevans »

DANG that sucks :smt011 which is why I seldom fish East of Shell Point :-D did ya have insurance on the rig?
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Barhopr
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Post by Barhopr »

tuff luck man. Sorry :smt010
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dolphinatic
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Post by dolphinatic »

Got insurance on the rig, but he didn't have tow insurance. My buddy thinks his insurance will cover the tow, but regardless the tow guy charged him full price......$158 per hour :o :o :o You do the math....
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Post by Steve Stinson »

Man, that puts a tear in my eye. Hope you guys get the foot replaced and back on the water soon.

Everybody on this forum should have a couple other forum captains cell phone numbers in their wallet to avoid those tow bills.

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Post by snatch-n-reel »

:o :smt010 :smt009
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tin can
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Post by tin can »

Hate to see the lower unit problem. :-?
What was I supposed to do today?
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Chalk
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Post by Chalk »

Never run 1/3 throttle coming in...either wide open or idle :lol:

Glad you made it in and :thumbup: :thumbup: for Rocket offering to rescue ya

Ya caught some fish though :thumbup: :thumbup:
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SHOWBOAT
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Post by SHOWBOAT »

sorry Dolphin. Icky claimed my prop Sunday (just the second time out since I had to replace it after being rearended while trailering). The Hewes stuck at the mouth should have been my clue...
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Post by dolphinatic »

I run full throttle on my boat.....you know how it is though when you're on someone else's boat, you let them run it how they're comfortable. We've run that route many a time with no problems, but you know how that goes :roll:
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Post by Redbelly »

Sorry for your boat.
Work 2 fish 4 days

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wevans
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Post by wevans »

dolphinatic wrote:Got insurance on the rig, but he didn't have tow insurance. My buddy thinks his insurance will cover the tow, but regardless the tow guy charged him full price......$158 per hour :o :o :o You do the math....
Check the policy, many have tow ins. included at no extra cost :-D :beer:
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Carlabear
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Post by Carlabear »

Your boaters insurance should have peril that will cover some of the damage. I have sea tow insurance to cover the tow bill. I have it and it is only 148.00 year with 2 people covered with it and I have 2 boats I use it with. You can get info at any marina on it and it covers further than 25 miles in the gulf.

Ecofina is bad bad boy at low tide especially with north wind. I run a route in and out from bird rack new rack and come in on east side of econ and do OK . I'm sorry I don't have that number with me in the gps at the camp.It could be any of us except by the grace of God. :cry:
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Post by bman »

crazy photos....
When you described it I thought the bolts broke but the case sheared.... :o :o
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