Horsehoe Beach Fl
Posted: October 13th, 2014, 9:03 am
Well, pulled Ol' Pro out from under the barn, loaded up with gear and planned to leave at 5AM Saturday morning with my son and a couple of his friends. Started off on the wrong foot as one friend (the one I had buy the groceries) who will remain nameless, overslept and my son had to go roust him out of bed. Wanted to leave that early so that by the time we traveled from Valdosta, we would still have enough tide to get out and fish the incoming. Well that 50 minutes wasted waiting on him meant the water was out of the park ramp. We got out, but had to pull the boat about 100 yards. Should have gone out the main street ramp, but all the parking was taken.
I was given a report not to go south due to the red tide, so we headed toward pepperfish key. This was an extremely low tide as the visible moon was pulling the water as it was setting. Started about 3 miles offshore where we found 4 foot of water and worked our way in all day. We caught shorts and had pinfish harassing us, but only two keeper trout. Caught several that were 1/8th of inch too short. The floating grass was terrible and we had very little wind movement. Heard there were reds in close so just before the high tide with the water really moving, we moved in and tried to get on a point. Several boats were dotted along the shore. I told the boys to fish straight off the back of the boat. One decides he knows better and throws to the right and hits right on top of the oyster bar and hangs up with the reel with the braided line. When I finally got it pulled off, it had pulled us out of the grass and into the current and nearly into an oyster bar. Got the kicker going and was just able to escape a bad scrape. Decided that fishing up close was not the best with this crew, so back out to drift we go. No red tide, but still catching short trout. Ran in about 5 took showers, which were sweet, because it was hot as blazes on the flats. Headed to Cross City and ate at the Cypress Restaurant. Had a great steak and oyster stew. Had to get some med supplies for the one who overslept and who busted his butt at the boat ramp (oh that karma).
Everyone overslept Sunday morning, so we made breakfast, checked the tide and decided to go to the little shop that sells ice cream, sandwiches and pizza for lunch. Good lunch. Out we go. This time I ran south, but not far. Hardly any floating grass. Again, short trout and one short flounder. The crew and the captain pooped out about 3:30, so in we went. Cleaned the house, took showers and we were off. Passed the game warden coming down to Horseshoe as we were headed out of town. Stopped in Live Oak at the Dixie Grill and had some great fried chicken for dinner. Washed the boat, put up the gear and back to the house.
The fellowship was great, the Ol' Pro ran good, with the exception of my Garmin GPS Map/Sounder decided to die. All in all, it beat the heck out of working!
I was given a report not to go south due to the red tide, so we headed toward pepperfish key. This was an extremely low tide as the visible moon was pulling the water as it was setting. Started about 3 miles offshore where we found 4 foot of water and worked our way in all day. We caught shorts and had pinfish harassing us, but only two keeper trout. Caught several that were 1/8th of inch too short. The floating grass was terrible and we had very little wind movement. Heard there were reds in close so just before the high tide with the water really moving, we moved in and tried to get on a point. Several boats were dotted along the shore. I told the boys to fish straight off the back of the boat. One decides he knows better and throws to the right and hits right on top of the oyster bar and hangs up with the reel with the braided line. When I finally got it pulled off, it had pulled us out of the grass and into the current and nearly into an oyster bar. Got the kicker going and was just able to escape a bad scrape. Decided that fishing up close was not the best with this crew, so back out to drift we go. No red tide, but still catching short trout. Ran in about 5 took showers, which were sweet, because it was hot as blazes on the flats. Headed to Cross City and ate at the Cypress Restaurant. Had a great steak and oyster stew. Had to get some med supplies for the one who overslept and who busted his butt at the boat ramp (oh that karma).
Everyone overslept Sunday morning, so we made breakfast, checked the tide and decided to go to the little shop that sells ice cream, sandwiches and pizza for lunch. Good lunch. Out we go. This time I ran south, but not far. Hardly any floating grass. Again, short trout and one short flounder. The crew and the captain pooped out about 3:30, so in we went. Cleaned the house, took showers and we were off. Passed the game warden coming down to Horseshoe as we were headed out of town. Stopped in Live Oak at the Dixie Grill and had some great fried chicken for dinner. Washed the boat, put up the gear and back to the house.
The fellowship was great, the Ol' Pro ran good, with the exception of my Garmin GPS Map/Sounder decided to die. All in all, it beat the heck out of working!
