St. Marks 11/30/03 (for those that didn't go)

[Chalk]

My first offshore Report

While all you boys and girls were reading the Sunday paper in your fur lined slippers, myself and Tom Keels….Were digging on some grouper out of St. Marks…..Tom said he was fishing handicap (Georgia boy who fishes inshore and never caught a keeper grouper). Well the captain sure did make it a special day for me. I told him after a stellar day like to day, I was probably going to be spoiled…..Headed southwest of the bird racks early, watched the sun come up…The seas were a little more than we expected but we made it to the first spot…Trolled some Stretch 30s nothing…it got a little more brisk, so we anchored up on a spot……Tom put 4 keepers in the box, while my inshore wanting to set the hook arse was struggling with those dang circle hooks ….I managed to catch a grunt, nice rock bass and a short grouper…..Think Tom caught and released a couple short gags and one red grouper…Seas got worse so we headed in to some closer spots…..I appreciate the captains safety precautions coming in ……Got in and decided to troll up to the spot….after about 5 minutes…bam..Fish on……Chalk grabs the rod…..Rocked me up ……Toms moves the boat around while I keep the line tight…Fish out and in the boat……Chalks first keeper grouper…I’m whopped, stoked and ready for more……Caught 4 on LYs and the rest trolling......Tom caught some nice ones at the end.....Ended up with 10 grouper to 14 lbs, a few shorts, two grunts, two rock bass….Boat on the trailer at 1:00……Think I’m hooked…….Thanks for the ride Tom, had a blast

For the brethren of the Frogg…got wet going out, got Tom to stop, donned the Frogg Togg, it saved the day. Stayed warm and dry the rest of the day

Wife was curious to why my rod & reels and tackle box were still at home ..Glad we caught fish Tom, new camera helped too

Tom has more pictures.........

[Tom Keels]

I also had a blast. I must say though, old chalk couldn't quite get the circle hooks, but he sure was a quick study on the trolling game.

We caught 7 fish trolling, 6 keepers, 3 over 10 pounds. The 2 big ones went 12.12 and 14.2. The 14.2 was fish number 10. What a way to round out a limit. 4 fish came on the stretch 25 loud in Orange/chart, and 2 came on the Stretch 25 blue/sliver hologram. All fish came from less than 30 feet of water.

Chalk was having such a good time that he wanted to stay and catch and release fish! After the hour and a half of cleaning fish, he's glad we came in when we did. He is now spoiled for flats fishing and will be absolutely useless from now on. One good thing is he didn't want to keep any short fish or steal any numbers.

[wevans]

WTG I was itchin ta head on out there, but my sense of self-preservation told me that the Redneck did not belong offshore today heard ya'll talkin to a couple folks about the rough seas I stayed inshore and got narry a bite nor swirl on top water nor jigs Warm clothing was definitely a must today

[tin can]

Chalk, glad ya had a good day, even if ya are a gawga boy.

Now...........forget everything you saw and did today. and go back to catchen them trout. What you saw and did today is very addictive, and causes many marital problems when practiced on a regular basis.

[Chalk]

TC, I am a self proclaimed Georgia born, Floridian ......No I will not forget what I saw yesterday either...I'm just glad my GPS was in my bag .....It was off, Tom

[dstockwell]

Nice catch..wtg.

[CSMarine]

Good catch fellers. Soooo Chalk, yer building a 25 foot offshore now?

[dstockwell]

Yep Chalk is gonna have to scrap the PH, XF, and all those other inshore boat ideas and build a CS23..

[Tom Keels]

I heard him change the plans for the boat after the second keeper he boated.

[Chalk]

Nope still building the Phantom for the trouts and reds..this just justifies a second boat .....Wife said I stunk when I come in, said I smelled like a big fish......

[Reel Country]

good deal Chalk and Tom.

[Tidedancer]

Great report Tom. I want to get into the trolling game some day.