Quick Keaton Beach/Big Grassy trip - Sea Hag
Posted: August 1st, 2014, 10:48 am
Ran over to Keaton Beach yesterday morning as it was time to get the Yamaha serviced and I use Big Bend Marine so I figured since I was driving over may as well dunk the boat. Tides were not the best and it was going to be hot but a bad day of fishing is always better than working so...
I was by myself so decided to use the lift, first time going to the marina since Sea Hag took over. Pulled up about 6:45 or so, not a soul anywhere, no trucks parked on the road, nobody loading etc. I started to think the marina was closed but when I pulled up to the lift a guy literally came running out of the door to work the lift. I went in and paid, no check in questions like before and they issued a small red tag when I paid with instructions to give it to the life operator I just assumed it was proof I paid but thought it was strange that it was a plastic "tag". The young man handled the lift as well as any of the guys before, was a little slower since only 1 guy but no big deal.
Went north between Dekle Beach and Adam Beach fishing from between 4' - 7', lots of floating grass and matted grass no way a topwater was going to work, I got lots of grass on my jig/jerkbait too. There was lots of grass covering the bottom, some of the areas I had marked as potholes were solid grass now. Water was 80 degrees on arrival and somewhat stained, it seemed to have more particulate matter than a few weeks ago (further south), I could see bottom out to about 6'.
Caught some shorts and lower slot trout, and a few ladyfish. Moved out to some points as the tide started out and fished in the 7' - 8' range again a few trout and ladyfish. Bite slowed significantly as the tide approached low and by then the sun was beating down pretty good. Decided to run down past Big Grassy and try an area that had produced some trout mid-day the week of July 4th. Got down there and the water was way more cloudy than it was a few weeks ago when it was gin clear. Somebody was already fishing the area I wanted to drift through so I ended up throwing at some potholes with only a lizardfish to show for my trouble.
Headed in and almost misjudged my arrival as I knew the marina web page said they were closed from 12:00 - 12:30, pulled up to the dock right at 12 thinking I would be sitting there for 30 minutes but same guy came running out and had me loaded within a few minutes. There was not a single other truck parked on the road. No change in cost for the lift and when I was strapping the boat down I found the little tag on one of the transom eyes, I assume just verification that the lift fee was paid.
One guy pulled in to the lift as they were loading me, and I saw 10 - 15 trucks down at the county boat ramp, not sure if people were avoiding the lift or just too hot for fishing
The new truck/trailer parking area across the road from the county ramp was really nice, I pulled over there to unload the boat prior to taking it to Big Bend, lots of paved parking available, small picnic shelter and trashcans etc.
Didn't see any scallopers North and very few down around Grassy.. probably smart enough to wait for cooler weather!
I was by myself so decided to use the lift, first time going to the marina since Sea Hag took over. Pulled up about 6:45 or so, not a soul anywhere, no trucks parked on the road, nobody loading etc. I started to think the marina was closed but when I pulled up to the lift a guy literally came running out of the door to work the lift. I went in and paid, no check in questions like before and they issued a small red tag when I paid with instructions to give it to the life operator I just assumed it was proof I paid but thought it was strange that it was a plastic "tag". The young man handled the lift as well as any of the guys before, was a little slower since only 1 guy but no big deal.
Went north between Dekle Beach and Adam Beach fishing from between 4' - 7', lots of floating grass and matted grass no way a topwater was going to work, I got lots of grass on my jig/jerkbait too. There was lots of grass covering the bottom, some of the areas I had marked as potholes were solid grass now. Water was 80 degrees on arrival and somewhat stained, it seemed to have more particulate matter than a few weeks ago (further south), I could see bottom out to about 6'.
Caught some shorts and lower slot trout, and a few ladyfish. Moved out to some points as the tide started out and fished in the 7' - 8' range again a few trout and ladyfish. Bite slowed significantly as the tide approached low and by then the sun was beating down pretty good. Decided to run down past Big Grassy and try an area that had produced some trout mid-day the week of July 4th. Got down there and the water was way more cloudy than it was a few weeks ago when it was gin clear. Somebody was already fishing the area I wanted to drift through so I ended up throwing at some potholes with only a lizardfish to show for my trouble.
Headed in and almost misjudged my arrival as I knew the marina web page said they were closed from 12:00 - 12:30, pulled up to the dock right at 12 thinking I would be sitting there for 30 minutes but same guy came running out and had me loaded within a few minutes. There was not a single other truck parked on the road. No change in cost for the lift and when I was strapping the boat down I found the little tag on one of the transom eyes, I assume just verification that the lift fee was paid.
One guy pulled in to the lift as they were loading me, and I saw 10 - 15 trucks down at the county boat ramp, not sure if people were avoiding the lift or just too hot for fishing
The new truck/trailer parking area across the road from the county ramp was really nice, I pulled over there to unload the boat prior to taking it to Big Bend, lots of paved parking available, small picnic shelter and trashcans etc.Didn't see any scallopers North and very few down around Grassy.. probably smart enough to wait for cooler weather!