BigBendFishing.Net

Put the boat in at the Fort at 7:30am. The tide was low and the air temp was a chilly 40 degrees. Me and Ben (Mako) had bundled up for the ride down the river. At 25mph the air temp felt like 25 degrees. We passed by Rock Island and noticed two tents. Apparently someone had reserved the island for the weekend. When we reached the mouth of the river, there was a boat anchored near the edge of the channel. I slowed down. There were going after the sheephead in the 25’ hole in the middle of the channel

The fellows in the boat signaled that they hadn’t caught anything so we went on our way…..When we got out in front of the lighthouse; the wind was coming out of the West at 10-15 knots and that kept us chilled even at a low speed. There was a thin layer of clouds in line with the lighthouse that was obscuring the sun and its warmth.


We figured the fish would be in deeper water so we headed out a little beyond the bird rack to start an easterly drift. The water temperature in that area was 57.5 degrees and averaged 8-10’ deep with 10’ visibility. We drifted and cast jigs for the better part of an hour, before I caught the first fish. Thinking it would be the only fish of the day, and I wanted proof we didn’t get skunked, I had Ben take a picture. Here I am holding a poor innocent rock bass hostage

…

..We moved in closer to the shore to try a different area in shallower waters and start another long drift. We both got several hits on our jigs as we passed over “Peters Rockâ€

Kewl pics.

Nice, detailed post. Thanks!

We were up the St. Marks in the morning, just south of 98, then around the oyster bars in the East River in the early afternoon, and up the East River in late afternoon, looking for trout and redfish. Got one of each. That's five of us fishing in two different boats.

And you think that's embarrassing???

When we hit the docks late in the afternoon a guy told me he caught 57 lbs of trout and redfish working the East River in the morning and 'the cut' in the afternoon.

Live and learn, I guess.

MJ, did you see how far off the shore of that Island those campers had their boat anchored? I wonder how that got to it. I saw no "dingy" to get them over to it, and it wasn't a pleasant day for a swim.

Good report

Did you walk into the bait store with that mask on? You could probably get free shrimp.

Doctor Jones-

You all have nothing to be ashamed of, you caught fish and didn't get skunked. Fishing is fun and that's what it's all about, mostly fun. If you catch fish that's just a big bonus. If you catch fish and fill the cooler, that's even a bigger bonus. If you went out fishing and had fun you succeeded in my book


Rocket-
I figure those folks came in two boats, and left the "older boat" at anchor. I checked them and the boat out when we headed back up river. They anchored the old Robalo. Nice boat. All the vinyl and the bimini had been replaced.... They just left that boat there to give the impression they were still there...





I went around behind the island to see if anyone was home at the campsite. ... nobody home! A real priate would have taken the spoils, but I'm not a pairate at heart.... I might camp there one day if I can find out how to make reservations....



It was obvious they had vacated the camp and gone fishing.

On this trip I took 70 pictures, and the ones I posted are the best. Here's one more of the post-sunrise on the river.



There was a fellow of the Florida Sportsman board that has some fantastic shots of the actual sunrise on the river. His pics are worth mentioning because they are absolutely awesome....http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=316402
Ya'll have a good'un

MJ

Nice pics MJ.

Those really are some nice pics.

MJ - Yer sure right about fishin and not catchin. Beats workin no matter how you look at it. Plus not catchin gives you an excuse to get back out and try again!

MJ, sounds like y'all had a good time, fish, or no fish. It's an interesting report anyhow, with great pictures. 'Think, I like the lighthouse one best.
Next trip, y'all a slay'em.

AWESOME report and pix. Thanks for an entertaining read.

goutrage- we definitely had a good time. Good company, good food and drinks, plenty of sunshine. The pictures help me document details about the trip I wouldn't otherwise remember.

I downloaded my tracks from the GPS and the trip computer showed 41.1 total miles for the day. Quite a day of traveling on the Flats.....