St. Mark's 3/1-3/2
Posted: March 3rd, 2008, 7:29 pm
Warning: Long report with not much "catching" involved.
My son and a couple of his buddies are on Spring Break, so they came down for a day and a half of fishing. We headed down Friday evening after I got off work so we could get a relatively early start. As usual, stayed at Shell Island
. We stayed in separate cabins because I was on a different sleep schedule than the three 21-year olds 
. I was up early and ready to roll, but I had to shake the boys loose at 0815 (15 minutes after they promised they'd be up). After some sombering around, I finally got them in the boat by about 0915. Stopped by the oyster bars on the way out of the river. Nothing. Headed East and attempted to get in some skinny water. Couple things I learned: 1) 19' NauticStar with 4 grown ups and a load won't do skinny.....spent a good portion of the time standing in the water "unsticking" the boat, and 2) you won't sneak up on much with (3) 21-year olds enjoying their Spring Break and a boat that requires a lot of pushing. Spent more time in the skinny water trying to make it work than we should have, so decided to head to the St. Mark's reef and see if we could pick up some black sea bass. No joy. Headed back to the oyster bars and John picked up only his second trout, about 19". We headed in, ate/ 
at the Riverside, and I was back to bed. Based on the fact that I had to shake them loose the next morning suggests they didn't go straight to bed.
Sunday, we make the same stop at the oyster bars, then head for Stoney Bayou. Couple boats in the channel, so decided to run slowly East from the bayou mouth toward Palmetto Island. Didn't go 30 yards before we hit a rock...not the motor, the boat. Nice chunk of fiberglass and some deep cuts in the fiberglass indicate I need a good fiberglass repairman. We decide to head back to the oyster bars and picked up another nice trout. Saw several schools of small trout and reds cruising over the bars, but only got the one. Called it a weekend and watched the boys head off to Panama City Beach to finish their Spring Break (watch out Chalk).
Had a great time with the boys, despite the lack of fish. The kids are growing up fast and I enjoy every minute I get with them. Weather was very nice to boot. Can't wait for the next time.
John and his 19" trout on Saturday. The look on his face suggest this is ole' business for him.
Pic of the sun trying to burn through the cloud of smoke from the fires (wondered if they were controlled burns).
My son and a couple of his buddies are on Spring Break, so they came down for a day and a half of fishing. We headed down Friday evening after I got off work so we could get a relatively early start. As usual, stayed at Shell Island
. We stayed in separate cabins because I was on a different sleep schedule than the three 21-year olds . I was up early and ready to roll, but I had to shake the boys loose at 0815 (15 minutes after they promised they'd be up). After some sombering around, I finally got them in the boat by about 0915. Stopped by the oyster bars on the way out of the river. Nothing. Headed East and attempted to get in some skinny water. Couple things I learned: 1) 19' NauticStar with 4 grown ups and a load won't do skinny.....spent a good portion of the time standing in the water "unsticking" the boat, and 2) you won't sneak up on much with (3) 21-year olds enjoying their Spring Break and a boat that requires a lot of pushing. Spent more time in the skinny water trying to make it work than we should have, so decided to head to the St. Mark's reef and see if we could pick up some black sea bass. No joy. Headed back to the oyster bars and John picked up only his second trout, about 19". We headed in, ate/ at the Riverside, and I was back to bed. Based on the fact that I had to shake them loose the next morning suggests they didn't go straight to bed. Sunday, we make the same stop at the oyster bars, then head for Stoney Bayou. Couple boats in the channel, so decided to run slowly East from the bayou mouth toward Palmetto Island. Didn't go 30 yards before we hit a rock...not the motor, the boat. Nice chunk of fiberglass and some deep cuts in the fiberglass indicate I need a good fiberglass repairman. We decide to head back to the oyster bars and picked up another nice trout. Saw several schools of small trout and reds cruising over the bars, but only got the one. Called it a weekend and watched the boys head off to Panama City Beach to finish their Spring Break (watch out Chalk).
Had a great time with the boys, despite the lack of fish. The kids are growing up fast and I enjoy every minute I get with them. Weather was very nice to boot. Can't wait for the next time.
John and his 19" trout on Saturday. The look on his face suggest this is ole' business for him.
Pic of the sun trying to burn through the cloud of smoke from the fires (wondered if they were controlled burns).
