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St. Marks 12-09-2007

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 9:39 am
by Tom Keels
This actually could be in inshore reports.

Sonny, Jackson and I decided to sleep in and let the tide come in some. We put the boat in at the lighthouse at 10:30 with very little water, but enough to get out.

By 11 am we had 3 gags in the boat, 23, 27 and 33" respectively. Water was slick with a slight roll to it. We hit a couple of different places and ended up trolling up to a few numbers I had 3 miles away. As we approached the area I could see the dark outline of the rocks. 10 seconds passed and we both doubled up. 2 more gags, 1 keeper, 1 right at 22 that went back. As we brought in these fish, we could see several more trying to take the baits from them. We turned around and went back over it again. Sonny hooks up with a good fish and I reel in the other rod with the CD14 rapala, working it like a jerkbait. I watch 2 gags explode on the lure but one comes off. We land these fish 24" and 26", and set up for another pass.

Just as I get turned around, some piece of fecal matter in a Pathfinder comes screaming up to the spot from well over a half mile away. Falls right into my troll line and follows me through my spots. Then as I turn around to go back he turns first, gets to the spot, cuts off the motor and throws a marker buoy. :smt013

I can't believe my eyes. So I proceed to troll around his boat within 5 feet several times without a bite. The guy never says a word, which tells me he knew what he was doing.

Having my father in law and 6 year old son on the boat is probably the only thing that saved me. :smt011

He finally got tired of me trolling around his boat and left, so we drifted with cut bait and caught a few nice rockbass.

We put the boat on the trailer at 3pm with a ice chest we could barely close.

Baits for the day were Blue hologram stretch 25, and the Blue firetiger CD14 rapala. All fish caught within sight of the lighthouse in less than 20 feet.

Image

Image

Ignore the date, its in the wrong format.

Final tally:
6 gags to 33"
7 rockbass

1 a**hole in a white 22 foot Pathfinder with a t-top and a dog.

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 12:07 pm
by Sir reel
Sure hope you got a picture of that 33"!! Glad you had a great bite long enough to make the day before the squatter showed up.

.....

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 12:09 pm
by mullet
nothing worse than a number thief!! :smt013 :smt011

Re: St. Marks 12-09-2007

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 1:22 pm
by Chalk
Nice day on the water :thumbup: :thumbup:

Tom Keels wrote:1 a**hole in a white 22 foot Pathfinder with a t-top and a dog.
I left that part out of my report, my intruder was in a 23' Glasstream and I was redfishing :o

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 1:26 pm
by Reel Cowboy
Sorry to hear about your admirer.

Glad you got some fish :thumbup:

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 6:07 pm
by BlindHog
I want to see a picture of that 33# monster. I bet the cheek patches and throat on that would feed 2 people. I couldnt get over there to look at it, had to run to a meeting at 5:00. Congrats.

Ps wasnt that fish bigger than Jackson?

BlindHog (Carl Vinson)

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 6:47 pm
by Reel Fun
Oh Yea.....very nice :thumbup: :thumbup:

All fish caught within sight of the lighthouse in less than 20 feet.

You just can't beat that CLOSE IN grouper CATCHING...nice job, thanks for the post..... :thumbup:

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 8:04 pm
by Eerman
Sweet day :thumbup:

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 8:22 pm
by Tom Keels
Pics added.

Posted: December 10th, 2007, 8:32 pm
by rocket
Wasn't me, I was at work and both my dogs were at home :wink:
Nice haul on dem groupa :thumbup:
You need to keep some big egg weights on board, toss 'em like hand-grenades when the a-holes show up.

Posted: December 11th, 2007, 2:53 pm
by Barhopr
nice trip Tom. Thumbs down on the lazy fisherman. must have been from the FS Forum :smt005

Posted: December 11th, 2007, 4:05 pm
by birddog
Good day Tom, I mean other than the POS. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Re: St. Marks 12-09-2007

Posted: December 11th, 2007, 4:33 pm
by dolphinatic
Tom Keels wrote:Just as I get turned around, some piece of fecal matter in a Pathfinder comes screaming up to the spot from well over a half mile away.
1 a**hole in a white 22 foot Pathfinder with a t-top and a dog.
Hmmmm......sounds like somebody I know, but he was probably working or separating his boys :roll: :lol:

Posted: December 14th, 2007, 8:21 am
by Tidedancer
That is a great trip Tom. :thumbup: Thanks for sharing

Posted: December 17th, 2007, 7:52 pm
by RodBow
There's hope...