BigBendFishing.Net

Well, the hub kit that came for the ole seapro was the right hub but had the wrong bearings, so we decided to sneak in one last trip this month by borrowing a boat. I guess 530 was too early for the cat:



It was a strange drive, I never pull the boat with my truck down, I pull it to meet Bobby and he pulls it, so it was a bit of a strange drive or maybe it was because I looked at the radar and we actually had a serious discussion in his driveway about whether it was worth going.



But we decided we could handle the rain as long as the lightning stayed offshore. Turns out the borrowed boat ran good, the rain wasn't that bad and while the plan was to chase Spanish, the first stop netted a keeper trout on the first cast so we had high hopes.



Our team dynamic was a bit off though as our roles were reversed for this trip.



But, after the excitement of several large bluefish, I caught our lone Spanish of the day.



However, we never found another Spanish the rest of the day, found the one and the blues in 5ft, we tried all the way out past the stake line out to 12ft and even tried trolling spoons near the stake line. We spent too much time chasing Spanish for the smoker. We still ended up with a nice mixed bag with 5 keeper trout, one Spanish, 4 blues and a very nice seabass. We caught almost everything in 4-5ft in the rock garden, one trout did come from 3 ft but it was a fluke. The margherita lime chicken and iguana daiquiri trout tricks were the preferred color as usual. Topwaters poppers in chartreuse bones and pink bones were not very strong even with the overcast sky. A newpenny chatterbait was solid as well, as was a purple death broke back corky.

doomtrpr_z71 wrote:Well, the hub kit that came for the ole seapro was the right hub but had the wrong bearings, so we decided to sneak in one last trip this month by borrowing a boat. I guess 530 was too early for the cat:



It was a strange drive, I never pull the boat with my truck down, I pull it to meet Bobby and he pulls it, so it was a bit of a strange drive or maybe it was because I looked at the radar and we actually had a serious discussion in his driveway about whether it was worth going.



But we decided we could handle the rain as long as the lightning stayed offshore. Turns out the borrowed boat ran good, the rain wasn't that bad and while the plan was to chase Spanish, the first stop netted a keeper trout on the first cast so we had high hopes.



Our team dynamic was a bit off though as our roles were reversed for this trip.



But, after the excitement of several large bluefish, I caught our lone Spanish of the day.



However, we never found another Spanish the rest of the day, found the one and the blues in 5ft, we tried all the way out past the stake line out to 12ft and even tried trolling spoons near the stake line. We spent too much time chasing Spanish for the smoker. We still ended up with a nice mixed bag with 5 keeper trout, one Spanish, 4 blues and a very nice seabass. We caught almost everything in 4-5ft in the rock garden, one trout did come from 3 ft but it was a fluke. The margherita lime chicken and iguana daiquiri trout tricks were the preferred color as usual. Topwaters poppers in chartreuse bones and pink bones were not very strong even with the overcast sky. A newpenny chatterbait was solid as well, as was a purple death broke back corky.

Solid. Glad you went and got some.. I sat still thinking the weather was going to get to us...bad decision on my part

That 4-6ft depth does seem to be the most active, I’ve been finding as well.

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Those Spanish are deliscous in ceviche if you haven’t gone down that road. One is perfect for that as well

Double post

luckywsp wrote:Those Spanish are deliscous in ceviche if you haven’t gone down that road. One is perfect for that as well

I have only had ceviche with scallops, shrimp, and squid. I need to try it next time with a Spanish, normally I throw it on the grill or smoker for me and let my wife have a trout.

Nice catch! How do you fix the blues?

Juan wrote:Nice catch! How do you fix the blues?

Normally I throw them on the grill with lemons and old bay, but this time they are getting fried because I try to give my parents fresh fish when I can and my dad likes them fried. I think they're pretty good fried with some spice to them but I wont try to freeze them.

Juan wrote:Nice catch! How do you fix the blues?

I smoke the bluefish, they absorb the flavor superbly.

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Getting a little off topic. But anyone smoking ANY fish would do Themis favor by brining and setting up a nice pellicle. This is a salmon smoking link. This is where I learned about the pellicle, boy you can do it w any fish. I never ever smoke any fish without brining for 4-12 hours ( depends on thickness) and setting up the pellicle overnight. Then rub and smoke. ( a pellicle is a laquor type coating that you get after you brine and put in the fridge for a while, the smoke and rub stick better and make an excellent bark. Please try for yourself ( my brine is 1/4 cup kosher salt and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar per quart of water. Thank me later fish smokers

https://honest-food.net/how-to-smoke-salmon-recipe/

I've never brined them, I'll have to try it. Normally I throw Dillodust on them and smoke them just with the rub.

doomtrpr_z71 wrote:I've never brined them, I'll have to try it. Normally I throw Dillodust on them and smoke them just with the rub.

Brining is critical, and the pellicle make a huge difference too

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Y’all ever had the smoked fish from Mineral Springs?


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Red Beard wrote:Y’all ever had the smoked fish from Mineral Springs?


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Sure, but mine is better. So is my dip

Red Beard wrote:Y’all ever had the smoked fish from Mineral Springs?


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Their Hot Mess dip is some of the best I have ever had. SG, those filets look impressive!!!

We need a potluck soon [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

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Salty Gator I do not doubt your smoked fish is good and looks good too.


I smoked a lot of fish working at Mineral Springs, and ate a lot too.


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