Unforgetable St. Marks 5/31/2008
Posted: June 1st, 2008, 11:42 pm
Unbelievable
With the wife and kids gone for the weekend, and my boat back from the shop (new stator and power pack) I was finally ready to do some serious fishing. Put the boat in at the lighthouse 31 May 08 around 7:00am. Parking lot was full and I was third in line. Prepped the boat and put it in the water and parked on the grass. When I returned to the boat water had filled the back of the boat. (forgot to put in the plug).
I put the plug in and headed out. Bilge pump worked hard while I made way to the flats. Made one long drift that ended well inside of death rock. Picked up 15 pinfish, and a small blue crab that had hitched a ride on the chum bag. Next run was well south of the white markers. Fought several sharks to the boat and all were released unharmed. Note to self- sharks longer than four feet do not come aboard for de-hooking. Picked up a 16” trout on a gulp. Picked up a 16” bluefish on a live pinfish. The real thrill of the day was a little after three o’clock. I was headed back for the ramp at 10 knots and the fish finder showed a ton of fish under the boat. Not believing what I was seeing, I put the motor in neutral and threw a gulp off the transom and immediately hooked up with a nice trout, he pulled a self release boat side. I made my way further south and west very close to the lighthouse, and just outside the white markers and dropped the anchor. I had a few pin fish left and the little crab in the live well. I put the little crab under a bobber and threw him off the starboard side of the boat close to a sand bar. I turned my attention to the bait well and put a pinfish on a hook to go over the port side. Out of the corner of my eye I see my bobber (crab) start moving swiftly from port to starboard. 
As I watched and grabbed for the reel, I saw a huge silhouette against the sandy bottom of what I thought was a large shark. By the time I grabbed the pole, the fish had come toward and around the transom within 15 feet of the motor. At this point I had 25’ of slack in the line and a Giant Tarpon flew out of the water with his mouth agape and casually spew my hook back toward the boat. This was my first visual interaction with a game fish in the 125# plus size. His head an dmouth were as big as a bowling ball and his eye as large as a half dollar, and his scales were shiny as mirrors and as large as quarters. He crashed back down in the water and was gone in an instant. It was over. I let out a shout I am sure everyone within 3 miles could heard. Pure Adrenalyn Rush..... Absolutely the most awesome spectacle I have ever witnessed on the flats in my 30 years. I will never forget that day. I don’t care how much the fuel costs for that trip, or any future trip. I am forever hooked.
Totals for the day:
1 - 17" Trout
1 - 16" Bluefish
1- flathead
6 - Sharks 1- 4' +
1- Really bad sunburn
1- heck of a experience with a Tarpon
With the wife and kids gone for the weekend, and my boat back from the shop (new stator and power pack) I was finally ready to do some serious fishing. Put the boat in at the lighthouse 31 May 08 around 7:00am. Parking lot was full and I was third in line. Prepped the boat and put it in the water and parked on the grass. When I returned to the boat water had filled the back of the boat. (forgot to put in the plug).
I put the plug in and headed out. Bilge pump worked hard while I made way to the flats. Made one long drift that ended well inside of death rock. Picked up 15 pinfish, and a small blue crab that had hitched a ride on the chum bag. Next run was well south of the white markers. Fought several sharks to the boat and all were released unharmed. Note to self- sharks longer than four feet do not come aboard for de-hooking. Picked up a 16” trout on a gulp. Picked up a 16” bluefish on a live pinfish. The real thrill of the day was a little after three o’clock. I was headed back for the ramp at 10 knots and the fish finder showed a ton of fish under the boat. Not believing what I was seeing, I put the motor in neutral and threw a gulp off the transom and immediately hooked up with a nice trout, he pulled a self release boat side. I made my way further south and west very close to the lighthouse, and just outside the white markers and dropped the anchor. I had a few pin fish left and the little crab in the live well. I put the little crab under a bobber and threw him off the starboard side of the boat close to a sand bar. I turned my attention to the bait well and put a pinfish on a hook to go over the port side. Out of the corner of my eye I see my bobber (crab) start moving swiftly from port to starboard. As I watched and grabbed for the reel, I saw a huge silhouette against the sandy bottom of what I thought was a large shark. By the time I grabbed the pole, the fish had come toward and around the transom within 15 feet of the motor. At this point I had 25’ of slack in the line and a Giant Tarpon flew out of the water with his mouth agape and casually spew my hook back toward the boat. This was my first visual interaction with a game fish in the 125# plus size. His head an dmouth were as big as a bowling ball and his eye as large as a half dollar, and his scales were shiny as mirrors and as large as quarters. He crashed back down in the water and was gone in an instant. It was over. I let out a shout I am sure everyone within 3 miles could heard. Pure Adrenalyn Rush..... Absolutely the most awesome spectacle I have ever witnessed on the flats in my 30 years. I will never forget that day. I don’t care how much the fuel costs for that trip, or any future trip. I am forever hooked. Totals for the day:
1 - 17" Trout
1 - 16" Bluefish
1- flathead
6 - Sharks 1- 4' +
1- Really bad sunburn
1- heck of a experience with a Tarpon
