Lanark Report - Fog and Low Water!
Posted: January 8th, 2005, 9:29 pm
Buddy Al and I wandered through the pea soup to the Lanark Ramp at about 7 a.m. Bought an Annual Pass for the ramp, which was a (gasp!) $100!!! 
Only one other boat or trailer at the ramp.
The water was so low in the basin that I couldn't power the boat off of the trailer, had to push it off. Plugged in the spotlight and tip toed down the canal, which was all of about a foot deep. Ran aground just outside the first set of twin markers, and had to use my gaff to pole a few yards until the water was deep enough to barely float the boat. Taking our time, we finally got into enough water and idled out to the last markers. Still shallow, idled some more into the dense fog.
Finally went on plane and out on the route to the first stop in 45'. No legals, some shorts, sea bass. Out to 50', same deal. Finally, went out to 55' and they hit hard. I had three slam me to the rail and break the leader, until I finally woke up and changed out the 60 lb for 125lb mono leader.
Meanwhile, Al had boated two in the 33" range, which I had to gaff, just to be sure.
After I went to 125lb, I boated a red and a nice gag, then a mama sama red snapper, which hurt to release (but I did!
). We diddled around but no more legals came in the boat.
Moved back in to another 45' spot, and boxed two more gags in the 27" range. Total for the day: 5 gags to 33", none smaller than 26", one red grouper at 23". For a change, we caught quality fish.
All on alewives and grunt fillets. Fog never lifted, anthough it would break for a moment or two offshore, then back to thick. Was clear inshore as we came in at 3:00 p.m. Water temp was 59 degrees, wind out of the south (more or less) at less than 10knots. Seas about 1-2' chop on top of moderate swells, not too bad although it seem choppier than we would have expected from the light wind.
Luck,
EJ
Only one other boat or trailer at the ramp.The water was so low in the basin that I couldn't power the boat off of the trailer, had to push it off. Plugged in the spotlight and tip toed down the canal, which was all of about a foot deep. Ran aground just outside the first set of twin markers, and had to use my gaff to pole a few yards until the water was deep enough to barely float the boat. Taking our time, we finally got into enough water and idled out to the last markers. Still shallow, idled some more into the dense fog.
Finally went on plane and out on the route to the first stop in 45'. No legals, some shorts, sea bass. Out to 50', same deal. Finally, went out to 55' and they hit hard. I had three slam me to the rail and break the leader, until I finally woke up and changed out the 60 lb for 125lb mono leader.
Meanwhile, Al had boated two in the 33" range, which I had to gaff, just to be sure. After I went to 125lb, I boated a red and a nice gag, then a mama sama red snapper, which hurt to release (but I did!
). We diddled around but no more legals came in the boat.Moved back in to another 45' spot, and boxed two more gags in the 27" range. Total for the day: 5 gags to 33", none smaller than 26", one red grouper at 23". For a change, we caught quality fish.
All on alewives and grunt fillets. Fog never lifted, anthough it would break for a moment or two offshore, then back to thick. Was clear inshore as we came in at 3:00 p.m. Water temp was 59 degrees, wind out of the south (more or less) at less than 10knots. Seas about 1-2' chop on top of moderate swells, not too bad although it seem choppier than we would have expected from the light wind.
Luck,
EJ
