St. Joe Bay 4/11/09
Posted: April 12th, 2009, 8:10 am
Early in the week I called Chalk to see if he was up for a trip to SJB. Of course he was, so Saturday morning we met at the City Ramp. As we loaded the boat with our gear, Chalk says he nearly died a few minutes earlier. Seems a big SUV and a 18-wheeler tried to make a sandwich out of him coming through Tyndall just before Mexico Beach. Evidently the SUV tried to pass the 18-wheeler while Chalk and other traffic were coming towards them. The SUV passed him on the right side (think ditch) and the 18- wheeler passed him on the left. Head on. 
With the near death experience behind us, we headed out into the Bay. Most of the Bay looks horrible. The water is pretty skanky, but there are some nice areas if you look around. 1st spot produces a couple of nice reds on topwater, a decent trout or 2 and several short trout, as well as a few misses.
Anxious, to find some good trout we move on. We spent most of the a.m. moving and shaking, with Chalk picking up several trout, mostly shorts, but a decent occasional keeper. Finally, late a.m. we get on a decent trout bite and its 1 trout after another for a while. Most of them in the 16"-17" range, but they're keepers at least.
The sun finally comes out as the clouds move east. The trout bite doesn't react much for us, but Chalk still manages to put several more in the box. And they're getting better. Now they're in the 18" range. Finally, I get a decent trout on a Super Spook. The only keeper trout I caught all day.
There was a ton of water in the Bay with the full moon tide. I hate a big full tide in SJB and I told Chalk we ain't leaving til the water falls out. He asked how much food did I bring?
Mid-afternoon the tide did finally turn and the high water receded. Redfish began popping up everywhere. Sight-fishing! You gotta love it. We started picking them off and even Hunter got into the action. Sizes ranges from 27" - 30". They were pigs and very hungry.
Caught the fish today on softbaits, topwater, and spoons. What a good day on SJB. Hunter and I enjoyed it Chalk. Can't wait til next time.
With the near death experience behind us, we headed out into the Bay. Most of the Bay looks horrible. The water is pretty skanky, but there are some nice areas if you look around. 1st spot produces a couple of nice reds on topwater, a decent trout or 2 and several short trout, as well as a few misses.
Anxious, to find some good trout we move on. We spent most of the a.m. moving and shaking, with Chalk picking up several trout, mostly shorts, but a decent occasional keeper. Finally, late a.m. we get on a decent trout bite and its 1 trout after another for a while. Most of them in the 16"-17" range, but they're keepers at least.
The sun finally comes out as the clouds move east. The trout bite doesn't react much for us, but Chalk still manages to put several more in the box. And they're getting better. Now they're in the 18" range. Finally, I get a decent trout on a Super Spook. The only keeper trout I caught all day.
There was a ton of water in the Bay with the full moon tide. I hate a big full tide in SJB and I told Chalk we ain't leaving til the water falls out. He asked how much food did I bring?
Mid-afternoon the tide did finally turn and the high water receded. Redfish began popping up everywhere. Sight-fishing! You gotta love it. We started picking them off and even Hunter got into the action. Sizes ranges from 27" - 30". They were pigs and very hungry.
Caught the fish today on softbaits, topwater, and spoons. What a good day on SJB. Hunter and I enjoyed it Chalk. Can't wait til next time.
