Shell Point 3-21-08
Posted: March 21st, 2008, 8:04 pm
My brother was down from Birmingham this week and wanted to go fishing. He and Dad drove over and we put in at Shell Point at daybreak on a bottomed out tide. We ran west toward Piney Island in the howling wind. There was a "light chop" and the water was foaming tea brown. We gave it a shot. Nada.
I had the idea to run back behind Piney Island and get out of the wind. Trying to avoid the breakers in the channel I took a "short cut." 4ft....4ft.....3.5ft.....blink...blink...blink...and there we were, stuck. The tide was coming in, but none to fast. So it was time for a long walk pulling the boat against the 15 knot wind in 62 degree water. Figured, I got us in this mess, I'll get us out. While we were stuck my brother tried the trolling motor, only to discover the trolling motor was not working to begin with. hmmm.... at the time we had bigger fish to fry.
Walked her out and headed into Dickerson Bay to see if we could get around some oyster bars. Got there only to discover that we were still not shielded from the wind, the oyster bars were were up on the sand and now the motor was not peeing.
No doubt we picked up some trash when I took it muddin'. 
Ok, so the boat is a mess, covered in mud, we've got tackle strewn everywhere and both motors with issues. Time to regroup. We pulled over to the Panacea Marina, straightened things up a bit and I cut the barb off of a jig head, straightened the hook and cleaned out the pee hole.
Take two. Headed out and eased down the channel close to the Bottoms Road ramp. Dad picked up a flounder on a Gulp Shrimp under a Cajun Thunder. Ok, so we got the stink out of the boat. About that time the wind laid down and we headed back out to the flats. Things looked up after that.
Got my first fish on the fly. I know it's a dink, but after the morning we had I'll take anything.
Dave with his first Apalachee Bay Trout.
Dink trout all day, but it made for fun. Especially on the fly rod.
Ran over St. Marks to see if we could find a Red at the top of the tide. It was beautiful over there. Crystal clear water and no wind. Also no Red.
Put her back on the trailer around 4:30 and headed home. Memories made.
I had the idea to run back behind Piney Island and get out of the wind. Trying to avoid the breakers in the channel I took a "short cut." 4ft....4ft.....3.5ft.....blink...blink...blink...and there we were, stuck. The tide was coming in, but none to fast. So it was time for a long walk pulling the boat against the 15 knot wind in 62 degree water. Figured, I got us in this mess, I'll get us out. While we were stuck my brother tried the trolling motor, only to discover the trolling motor was not working to begin with. hmmm.... at the time we had bigger fish to fry.
Walked her out and headed into Dickerson Bay to see if we could get around some oyster bars. Got there only to discover that we were still not shielded from the wind, the oyster bars were were up on the sand and now the motor was not peeing.
No doubt we picked up some trash when I took it muddin'. Ok, so the boat is a mess, covered in mud, we've got tackle strewn everywhere and both motors with issues. Time to regroup. We pulled over to the Panacea Marina, straightened things up a bit and I cut the barb off of a jig head, straightened the hook and cleaned out the pee hole. Take two. Headed out and eased down the channel close to the Bottoms Road ramp. Dad picked up a flounder on a Gulp Shrimp under a Cajun Thunder. Ok, so we got the stink out of the boat. About that time the wind laid down and we headed back out to the flats. Things looked up after that.
Got my first fish on the fly. I know it's a dink, but after the morning we had I'll take anything.
Dave with his first Apalachee Bay Trout.
Dink trout all day, but it made for fun. Especially on the fly rod.
Ran over St. Marks to see if we could find a Red at the top of the tide. It was beautiful over there. Crystal clear water and no wind. Also no Red.
Put her back on the trailer around 4:30 and headed home. Memories made.