Lanark Vacation
Posted: May 23rd, 2004, 3:11 pm
Took a week's vacation at Lanark, and stayed at a nice little fishin' cabin on the bay. Wonderful time. The better half was with me for several days, a couple of friends went on the fishing parts. The Report:
Sunday: Checked in, watched the Sunset with a Corona and lime, grilled a grouper fillet that I brought with me and the bride and I enjoyed. Wind 10-15 k plus out of the S.E.
Monday: Wind 10-15k again out of the S.E., until about 4 p.m., when it slacked off. I dropped the Ghost Rider in at the ramp, and motored out to Dog Island Reef. Water very choppy and turbid, managed a couple of ladies and a bluefish, then struggled offshore to a close in number. Seas still 2-4', with swells. Drifted, caught 4 undersized grouper, came back in. Boiled up some nice shrimp for dinner.
Tuesday: Still Windy. Spent the day roaming around the coast with the wife. Had a nice lunch and dinner in Apalach.
Wednesday: Buddy Al came down to meet me at the ramp at 0630. I was iced, baited, and ready. NOAA forecast NW wind <10k, actual was still 10-15 out of the South, seas 2-4. We tried Dog Island Reef, water turbid, caught a few ladies, not much else. Decided maybe we could make it to a close in spot, if we went slow. Loaded up with blue runners and thread herring first, and pounded at 10-12k out to the spot. My back was already killing me and we were not happy at all.
At Spot One I freelined a thread on my International 965 Casting Outfit, and immediately got a screaming clicker. The king came to the gaff in a few minutes, and the back started to ache a little less.
Dropped the grouper rigs down, and suddenly Al's rod was bent double, and the drag was coming off. Not a grouper. A bit later, the 50 lb cobia came to the boat for the first time, with a smaller one along for the ride. Al wanted me to stick the fish green, but I refused. We had a few words, but he loosened the drag and continued to fight the fish. Second time to the boat, he asked again, and even though I didn't want to do it yet, I stuck the beast, and it went nuts on the gunwale before I could get it in. Back in the water it went, but still hooked. We took a wave over the stern, and Al and I were not friends for a few minutes. Next time to the boat, I got it in, and with a nice whack with the billy, in the box. The smaller cobia then took my bait, and I was on for a couple of minutes, but it shook the hook. We managed six or seven 20 lb blacktips after that fish, but no grouper.
So, about 1:30, we motored three miles to another spot, and anchored.
Wham, wham, wham. Gags, two red grouper, until ten in the box. No more room in the boat and no more room in the bag limit. Back at the dock by three, and we were happy guys. Total: 50 lb Cobia, one 15lb king, 10 grouper, 23-28".
Thursday: Had to drive to Tallahassee to work.
Friday: Buddy Dean took me out in his 21' Kenner Bayboat. We loaded up with bait and motored to a tower before the sun came up. On the way out, a king skyrocketed in front of the boat, slipped over the bow, and landed in the boat! We dived for cover, and Dean gave him a whack! They were jumping in the boat! Was gonna be a great day! Had to be!
First to the tower, and the AJ's were ravenous. We put two nice ones in the boat, and wrestled three or four more each for fun, and released them unharmed in the water. Left to go to a 55' grouper hole. Seas were calm, winds light and variable. Caught three at hole one, and then went to Hole Two in 45'. Finished the day with nine grouper, 22-26".
Total: 2 AJ's, about 25lbs each, nine grouper, one "virgin" king.
Saturday: Beautiful day, went driving around with the wife, nice dinner at the Owl Cafe in Apalach.
Sunday: Pack and out, back in town. Many fillets have been vacuum packed and are in a nice cold home in my freezer. I am sore but happy.
Picture below is of fish box during the first good fishing day. Too lazy to hold up any individual fish. The cobia's tail is peeking out of the bottom of the shot.
Regards,
EJ
Sunday: Checked in, watched the Sunset with a Corona and lime, grilled a grouper fillet that I brought with me and the bride and I enjoyed. Wind 10-15 k plus out of the S.E.
Monday: Wind 10-15k again out of the S.E., until about 4 p.m., when it slacked off. I dropped the Ghost Rider in at the ramp, and motored out to Dog Island Reef. Water very choppy and turbid, managed a couple of ladies and a bluefish, then struggled offshore to a close in number. Seas still 2-4', with swells. Drifted, caught 4 undersized grouper, came back in. Boiled up some nice shrimp for dinner.
Tuesday: Still Windy. Spent the day roaming around the coast with the wife. Had a nice lunch and dinner in Apalach.
Wednesday: Buddy Al came down to meet me at the ramp at 0630. I was iced, baited, and ready. NOAA forecast NW wind <10k, actual was still 10-15 out of the South, seas 2-4. We tried Dog Island Reef, water turbid, caught a few ladies, not much else. Decided maybe we could make it to a close in spot, if we went slow. Loaded up with blue runners and thread herring first, and pounded at 10-12k out to the spot. My back was already killing me and we were not happy at all.
At Spot One I freelined a thread on my International 965 Casting Outfit, and immediately got a screaming clicker. The king came to the gaff in a few minutes, and the back started to ache a little less.
Dropped the grouper rigs down, and suddenly Al's rod was bent double, and the drag was coming off. Not a grouper. A bit later, the 50 lb cobia came to the boat for the first time, with a smaller one along for the ride. Al wanted me to stick the fish green, but I refused. We had a few words, but he loosened the drag and continued to fight the fish. Second time to the boat, he asked again, and even though I didn't want to do it yet, I stuck the beast, and it went nuts on the gunwale before I could get it in. Back in the water it went, but still hooked. We took a wave over the stern, and Al and I were not friends for a few minutes. Next time to the boat, I got it in, and with a nice whack with the billy, in the box. The smaller cobia then took my bait, and I was on for a couple of minutes, but it shook the hook. We managed six or seven 20 lb blacktips after that fish, but no grouper.
So, about 1:30, we motored three miles to another spot, and anchored.
Wham, wham, wham. Gags, two red grouper, until ten in the box. No more room in the boat and no more room in the bag limit. Back at the dock by three, and we were happy guys. Total: 50 lb Cobia, one 15lb king, 10 grouper, 23-28".
Thursday: Had to drive to Tallahassee to work.
Friday: Buddy Dean took me out in his 21' Kenner Bayboat. We loaded up with bait and motored to a tower before the sun came up. On the way out, a king skyrocketed in front of the boat, slipped over the bow, and landed in the boat! We dived for cover, and Dean gave him a whack! They were jumping in the boat! Was gonna be a great day! Had to be!
First to the tower, and the AJ's were ravenous. We put two nice ones in the boat, and wrestled three or four more each for fun, and released them unharmed in the water. Left to go to a 55' grouper hole. Seas were calm, winds light and variable. Caught three at hole one, and then went to Hole Two in 45'. Finished the day with nine grouper, 22-26".
Total: 2 AJ's, about 25lbs each, nine grouper, one "virgin" king.
Saturday: Beautiful day, went driving around with the wife, nice dinner at the Owl Cafe in Apalach.
Sunday: Pack and out, back in town. Many fillets have been vacuum packed and are in a nice cold home in my freezer. I am sore but happy.
Picture below is of fish box during the first good fishing day. Too lazy to hold up any individual fish. The cobia's tail is peeking out of the bottom of the shot.
Regards,
EJ
