BigBendFishing.Net

I asked for boat equipment advice in another group in this forum, got great advice, bought a little black and white plotter/fish finder and all the required stuff. Finally got my nerve up to head for salt water (never navigated a vessel small or large in salt). Put in at St. Marks, saw a porpoise right off. Headed south, got to where I could see ocean in the distance and saw a bald eagle to the left so I pulled over to watch. Saw tails. I quickly rigged a Johnson spoon and started casting. I had 2 get off and decided I wasn't setting the hook correctly and then I caught my first redfish ever (small but pretty). Didn't have much more action until I snagged the bottom (translate: hooked a hog.) It took about 15 minutes to get him to the boat. He may have been a keeper or bigger but I wasn't prepared with ice and a big cooler so I let him swim. I am now hooked on redfish; what's next?

Congrats on a great start and it's good to see you appreciated the wildlife you noted, along with your good fishing day.

What's next? Lot's of time and money

If you could see ocean brother, you went too far south!

I like a mixed bag day sometimes on St Marks or Aucilla or Panacea or Shell Point or Carrabelle or Ochlocknee Bay. I am a red whore too, but some days it just fun seeing what will hit. Drift the grass, you will find the depth and the color they want. Get a drift sock, they are cheap and they make your day better if it is a little breezy by controling your drift. Get one with a marker. We turned ours lose one day while fighting a cobia (did not want to lose it on the sock when it got close to the boat). Just motored back later and picked it up, no biggie.

What Scoop Sea said.