St. Marks, 7/10, also

[tin can]

Launched at the Lighthouse pool at 0615. Headed west to a ditch/channel I've been successfull fishing before. Spent the first half hour catching pinfish. I usually don't use pins, but, after reading recent reports, thought I'd try to increase my chances for a keeper trout. I should have fished for trout that first half hour.

The water surface temp was 84 degrees at 0645. Water was lightly stained. Threw a pin under cork out the back and started fishing at 0715. Fished until 1400. Water got much more stained on the falling tide. Water surface temp at 1400 was 90 degrees. IT'S HOT OUT THERE!

The water was fairly clear early. High tide was at 0830 +/-. Some time between 0930 and 1000 the floating grass started getting thicker, and the stained water started moving in. Several large floating grass "islands" passed through.

I caught several small trout as soon as I started fishing. However, keepers were few and far between. After the tide turned the bite slowed. But, being the stuborn individual that I am, I stayed with it. Most of the trout, and all the keepers came on a Catch 2000. A few were caught on a jig and grub under a CT, with a 3.5' leader. A couple were caught on a bottom fished jig and grub. The only bites on live pins were sharks.

Summer time is here. The water is hot. I would think unless there's a lot of tide movement, we're in for some slow days.

Tally for the day:

18 trout, only 4 keepers.
2 ladyfish
4 sharks
3 stockwells

[Redbelly]

Water was 90 degrees? It will start boiling soon, and then you can scoop up the trout already cooked!

[Flats Rascal]

I also put in at the LH just around 6:15. Nice breeze till around 9am or so. Then the wind died. Man it was hot! The little lady fished with small live shrimp and caught catfish, several small sharks and trout. Several short trout and three keepers - 16, 21 and 22. I decided not to put a single shrimp on and throw a variety of plastic I had never used - no keepers. Saw several large turtles (I understand jellyfish are part of their diet) and Shovel Head? sharks. Decided to head to the rack around noon for a swim.

Man, it was hot.

[dstockwell]

At least you got a few.

[tin can]

FR, I'm pretty sure I launched right behind you. I think you were in the pool waiting on the little lady when I rushed out. I was in the 17' Key West with the home made deck on the front.

[ALMAR]

HEY , JOHN, YA DIDNT GIVE ALL THEM TROUTS A SORE MOUTH DID YA? CARL AND I WERE GOING TO GO IN THE MORNING BUT HE BACKED OUT ON ME. I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO WAIT TILL THURS. MA WONT LET ME GO BY MYSELF ANYMORE AND CARL SAID HE COOULD GO THURS. WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER PAST THE BIG BAR OUT PAST THE BIRDS ROOST, WE FISHED THE TROUGH JUST PAST THE BAR LAST WEEK AND DID REAL GOOD, THEN WE CAUGHT ALL OF THE KEEPERS ON TOP WATER IMITATIONS I MAKE OF THE DALTON SPECIAL AND THE TOP DOG BUT LIKE YOU SAID IT GOT SO HOT ABOUT 10 A.M. WE HAD TO COME IN.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE PIN FISH SEEM TO ATTRACT A LOT OF SHARKS AND CATFISH SO WE DO NOT USE THEM ANYMORE.
KEEP THE REPORTS COMING, I LEARN A LOT FROM THEM.
THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA
PA