Return of the Carolina Casters (pic & vid intense!)

[big bend gyrene]

Been three years since the Carolina Casters last visited our big bend waters but with Jr. just a couple of years away from graduation and probable military service, Dad Caster called to see if a quick trip was possible. Quickly told him absolutely!

Lined up a two-day effort with Thursday, July 28 our first day on the water. Met the Casters at Staybridge in Tally at dark and headed for the coast. Was pretty shocked to see how much Jr. had grown in 3 years. Taller than Sr. now, and with a voice two octaves deeper. Seriously sounded like he could be Scotty McCreery's twin (had to sneak that one in for Dolphinatic as he's a huge Scotty fan). Got there and quickly filled the live well with bait. Jr. also caught a few fish inshore including this pretty mack.

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Ran out to 20" of water only to discover some seriously heavy seas. Couldn't figure out why it was so rough when the wind really didn't seem that bad and we were out at slack tide... from what I read later it was very distant effects of Don passing by on it's way to Texas. Turned out we couldn't anchor and circling over and over trying got us all feeling a bit green under the gills. Said “To heck with it!” and headed inshore to 6' waters outside the Ecky mouth and found decent scallop numbers. Didn't scallop long enough to limit, but almost certainly could have if we had started earlier. Scalloping proved to be a blast and as always provided a greater appreciation of what’s going under the water surface. Really magical fun seeing millions of pins working the grass. For those who may remember, last visit Sr. sprayed Sgt Stripes on my back and I blistered where he hadn’t adequately applied sunblock. Well, since I didn’t trust Sr. this go round Jr. sprayed my back and put a double Zorro Z pattern on me. Guess Sr. will be giving him a raise on his allowance or yet another AR15 for the good work. Back at the Staybridge we took a few pics of our treasure collection before Sr. cleaned scallops in their room with a plastic spoon I lent him.

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Day # 2 proved to be a MUCH different day than day #1. Waters were gloriously smoother and we had no problem anchoring. With a full baitwell, Jr. began to put on a clinic for Sr. snagging two gag grouper before starting a run of THREE cobia!

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Two were safely over the min limit but we decided to tag all three. Finished the fishing day laughing at Sr. lose what almost was certainly a nice cobe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JptEq-FOkc[/video]

and then watching Sr. finally bringing a fish to the boat, and a huge one at that… a nurse that went about 7 feet. Sr. was so proud of himself he had to give a Fred Sanford style soliloquy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14BDqRndOfA[/video]

All joking aside, ALWAYS a blast when the Carolina Casters are in town. Already looking forward to the next adventure, whenever it may be!

[qoutrage]

Good deal! 'Glad to hear (and see) you found them some action. Thanks for the report.. nice!

[Carolina Casters]

Once again Big Bend Gyrene (aka Capt Red Back) put the Carolina Casters on the fish !
Enjoyed the trip.... thanks again BBG.

Sorry about the sunburn.... thought SPF 2 would be sufficient for an old Marine -

[Ranaman]

Great job BBG! nice report as always!! FYI We all need a scallop tirp!

[big bend gyrene]

Got to post a follow-up and say that the Carolina Casters are good folk! Get home yesterday and see a package is waiting on me. Open it up and it's got three things in it, all of sentimental value...



First is my 16 year old boot-camp laundry bag. We used it to hold scallops and the Casters took it back to their hotel room so they could clean their scallops. Getting old enough had they not returned it, I wouldn't have remembered how I lost it so the return truly is much appreciated!

Second gift was a replacement set of pliers for the one that Jr. Caster flung at our nurse shark. Jr. Caster if you read this, know I've got the new pair sitting out unprotected in our humid wet weather to get it in just as good of working order as my old pair. Kidding aside, MUCH APPRECIATED!

Final gift, a tiny tube of 50spf Baby sunblock. Fine folk the Casters are, but I have yet to always find humor in their comedic efforts.

Carolina Casters, for your generosity I salute you!
BBG

[fishinfool]

I knew you were a first platoon kind of guy.

[big bend gyrene]

I knew you were a first platoon kind of guy.

Too funny, Fishinfool! Honest to God, at least in 1996 I remember those of us in 1st for having the reputation of being the nerdy smart guys (smart relative to USMC standards that is ), 3rd for being full of muscle-head rocks, but can't remember what in the world folks thought about guys in 2nd?! Maybe that they weren't that memorable / were the most expendable!

Apologies to those of you from 2nd who might read this.