St. Marks Scallops

[MudDucker]

Getting ready to take the Scout Troop on its annual scalloping trip (that is if my new steering cable comes in in time and works!). Thinking about St. Marks. Anyone been there lately?

I am at the Cape right now and saw a slew of boats out in St. Joe bay, but didn't have time to check out what luck they were having.

[bman]

Yes there are... should be a member report up soon that shows a quick limit!

[Steve Stinson]

It just so happens that I can give you a report on both locations.

St. Joe Bay is very stired up and the water is darker than I have ever seen it along the US 98 side. Andrew and I were there a week ago Friday and did not do real well. In addition to the water conditions, there is floating grass EVERYWHERE which didn't mix real well with my jet-foot outboard. There are a few folks scalloping back toward the fire tower and just outside the canal going to Presnell's, but the ones we spoke to were only finding a few scallops.

Now the good news -
St. Marks is covered up in Scallops around the Black Rock area. We were there yesterday and got our limit in a couple hours. Some of the spots we used in the past had been picked over, but the scallops that are still remaining are large. Most of the folks scalloping are currently just South of or just East of Black Rock. You may already know this, but Black Rock is one very large rocks surrounded by multiple smaller rock piles, so idle when you get within a 1/4 mile or so of the coordinates for the main rock.

In addition, Shield's Marina will rent you a pontoon boat or a deck boat if your steering cable does not arrive on time. If you need help covering the cost of the rental, fuel and oil, call me at 509-3116. For such an occasion as a Scout Troop trip, myself and perhaps a few others on here may be able to help cover the costs.

Steve Stinson
President
NFGFC

[bman]

It just so happens that I can give you a report on both locations.

St. Joe Bay is very stired up and the water is darker than I have ever seen it along the US 98 side. Andrew and I were there a week ago Friday and did not do real well. In addition to the water conditions, there is floating grass EVERYWHERE which didn't mix real well with my jet-foot outboard. There are a few folks scalloping back toward the fire tower and just outside the canal going to Presnell's, but the ones we spoke to were only finding a few scallops.

Now the good news -
St. Marks is covered up in Scallops around the Black Rock area. We were there yesterday and got our limit in a couple hours. Some of the spots we used in the past had been picked over, but the scallops that are still remaining are large. Most of the folks scalloping are currently just South of or just East of Black Rock. You may already know this, but Black Rock is one very large rocks surrounded by multiple smaller rock piles, so idle when you get within a 1/4 mile or so of the coordinates for the main rock.

In addition, Shield's Marina will rent you a pontoon boat or a deck boat if your steering cable does not arrive on time. If you need help covering the cost of the rental, fuel and oil, call me at 509-3116. For such an occasion as a Scout Troop trip, myself and perhaps a few others on here may be able to help cover the costs.

Steve Stinson
President
NFGFC

Good Man

[redbelly7]

Just curious guys, are they any folks around the St Marks area that clean the scallops for money like over in Keaton?

[MudDucker]

Thanks Steve for the report and for that awesome offer! I was going to check with Shields for a back up plan to see what they rent.

[MudDucker]

Steve, I checked the charts and while I've fished around Cobb and Grey Mare, I haven't heard of Black Rock. I see a Black Rock Creek. Is that the area?

[Redbelly]

Black Rock is the first rock you will see going east from the light house, maybe 4 miles? I will try to post the numbers later on, or if someone else can sooner please do it.

[kenfly]

Went out of aucilla sat and ran west toward st marks and we got out limit in about 30 min, ran west just past the rock, ps the farther east out of st marks you go the more clouded thee water gets, at aucilla you can't see a thing, just FYI fishing was about as slow as I have ever seen it

[MudDucker]

Well, it seems I will have no luck with my repair. The new cable came in yesterday and after three hours of grunting and groaning, my mechanic friend go the new cable pulled. Then went to put it in the helm gearbox. The gearbox took the cable about half way and then froze up. I wasn't there when they took the cable out, but when it froze, one of the two guys who pulled the cable said, yep, I was afraid of that. The gearbox was acting funny when we pulled the cable. First I'd heard that or I would have ordered the gearbox as well.

Oh well, gearbox on order and call into Shields to see if they have a rental available.

[Hit-n-Miss]

Mudducker here is the #'s for blackrock RG Black Rock
N 30 03.955
W 84 07.138 We did great there sat and every other time we have been this year.

[Hit-n-Miss]

Steve, I checked the charts and while I've fished around Cobb and Grey Mare, I haven't heard of Black Rock. I see a Black Rock Creek. Is that the area?

I can give you a specific area good for low tide if you want. When is your trip?

[MudDucker]

We will be there tomorrow, Saturday.

[MudDucker]

Here goes ... got to St. Marks Friday evening. Staying at a friends place that is attached to the old covered boat storage of Shields marina. Great place to stay, very convenient. Got up at 5AM, but all adults and scouts sleeping soundly. Since the Marina didn't open for awhile, I let them sleep until near 7. We had decided that in order to get on out there this morning, we would have a quick cereal breakfast. I had forgotten how well I like Frosted Flakes! Go over to Shields and they have a 20' pontoon ready to go. Load everybody up head out. Of course, I received the talk to go slow and watch the depth finder. When I switched on the depth finder, it showed 384 in the river. I turned it off most of the day, but when on, it would either show 161' or 384'. Checked when we stopped and nothing apparently wrong with the transducer. On the way out, ran through a small patch of grass and the motor overheat alarm goes off and the kicker slows to idle. Back hard to remove grass ... still hollaring. Tilt the motor up and find one blade of grass hung on the motor mount that I guess was pushing against the intake grates. Before the day was over, we had all decided that this was the most sensitive alarm ever made! Ran to black rock as suggested. My "navigator" left my full size garmin in the van, but I had packed my handheld. I had to take it away and steer and read the gps until we found black rock. There was one boat pulled up near it fishing. Hardly any boats around, except boats fishing. We anchor and go to looking. Found a few. The we started move north and east and found some shallower water and started finding more scallops. I looked around and suddenly we were a part of the scallop armada. Got all we wanted to clean and headed back in. The sand bar party at the river marker was in full swing. Lots of eye candy, but we had young eyes, so we kept going in. I had forgotten that I didn't have the patience for slow pontoon boats, but this experience rudely reminded me. Got in and got the boat check in with no problem. All showered and I treated them to riverside cafe.

We came back and I fell in love. Across the canal was this good looking well tanned blond in a black bikini ... CLEANING THE BOAT and doing a very good job at it. I don't think I've ever seen anything sexier than that. The guy with her is one lucky son of a gun! Now my butt is tired and I am going to pass out.

Thanks for all your help, especially Steve and Hit and Miss! The boys all had a GREAT time!

[rockyg]

Good post. Would be even better with pics........of the blond.