DI Reef---and bad boat/launch manners

[BrogensDuck]

Headed out of the Lanark launch around 7:30 and headed right to the reef in pretty bumpy water. Got to the reef the only boat there and fought 4-5 ft rollers until we got far enough away from the reef where we could actually stand in the boat. The ticket for the day...5.5 ft of water. Seemed like every time we caught a fish, it was spotty and 5.5 ft water. We caught a bunch of 14.5" trout, a few nice ones for the cooler, 2 Rock Bass, 3 baby grouper, and several Blues. Pretty much all caught on DOA. BUT...the best trout of the day (20") was caught on my ultra-light with a TINY bucktail jig that I had drifting out the back of the boat for pinfish. That was fun.

What was not fun was when several big boats felt it was o.k. to motor right in front of our drift and/or set up right next to our drift. One boat came so close, his buddy went to the back of the boat and started to reel in their trolling rigs. I gave him the arms out gesture of "what the heck is your captain doing?" and he gave us a look as if to say "he's a jack@ZZ...sorry." We laughed it off, but it happened with several other boats throughout the day. The worst was when we got to the log-jam at the landing which was made worse by 1) a lady who apparently was backing a trailer for the first time (turn, back, turn, forward, turn, turn the other way, back, turn, etc. etc.) and 2) the family who backed the trailer in the water, decided to have social time, then decided it was a good idea to go inside and chat for a while, then come back and have some more social time THEN put the boat on the trailer, more social time, then finally drove off. I am always amazed.

BTW...The water inside the sand-bar near the docks was CRYSTAL clear yesterday. Great looking water and bottom.

Overall, GREAT day to be on the water, great scenery and a safe return home.

[BAD BEHAVIOR]

Great report and welcome to north Florida Big Bend boat ramps!!! You should try Ecky or the lighthouse on a Saturday around 3pm. Take your blood pressure meds with you!! Yesterday at Ecky it took about 20 minutes to put it on the trailer and there were no yahoos there, just really crowded.