BigBendFishing.Net

I know I'm technically out of the big-bend area, but I hope you don't mind a drifter!

I'm out of Panama City and I've been looking for a fishing message board for the florida panhandle area.

Anyway, as I was leaving St. Andrews State Park this past week, I saw one of you guys truck with the "Bigbendfishing.net" decal on the back, so here I am!

Here are some reds my son caught off the jetties here in St. Andrews State park:

My son first, with his first redfish ever (a 10lb whopper!) followed by couple pics of my buddy Mike with a 13.5 pounder. My son also caught an 8lb'er (not pictured) and darn the luck if it wasn't just a tad too big to keep.





And here is my buddy Mike, who was here on military leave.





I am so blessed to live right here in paradise. In fact, last evening, Jaime and I went to the end of my street, jumped in the bay, netted up bait and waded out and wore out the trout.

Welcome aboard 7MR-11.

Those are some nice reds!

If you saw one of our decals in P.C, it was most likely Chalk. If you see the truck again, look around for the guy in the yellow sun dress and blonde wig.

You'll find we have folks from all over posting on our forum. In fact, we're international. So jump right in and join us.

Pretty fish!

Welcome Aboard 7MR-11
WOW Nice fish ! Them is whoppers

Now just tell us the details of your technique.

Sweet.

Welcome aboard 7MR-11 ....That was probably me, you saw....Technically I live in PC, so it has been officially made part of the big bend fishing area ...

Oh nice! Then I can be 'grandfathered' in eh?

sweet!

As far as technique goes, there's not much to it, we netted up bait right there in the kiddie pool area of the park (caught a couple kids in our net.. wow, parents get really p.o'd about that for some reason)
then we waded out to the jetties and climbed up. We caught them on pin fish, croakers and glass minnows. Caught 3, lost 3. The fights lasted anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Had we been in the grass-flats, we could have taken our time and really wore them out, but on the jetties you have to horse them in or it's game-over. Most times it's game-over anyway since they instinctively run down in those rocks.

We had several different riggings, all on light spinning reels, I had a 1/2oz egg sinker on 12 lb test, then a barrel swivel, then about 2 foot of 30lb test mono (Power pro I think) followed by a mustad #2 live bait hook. Mike was free lining 12 lb test with a uni-knot holding his 30lb test mono leader, followed by an Owner 1/0 (or was it a #1? not sure). Jaime was rigged like me and also caught a couple grouper... it was a very fun day, I had 4 on the following day and lost every darn one of them (the current was very fierce the second day), but still, nothing like getting spooled!
Oh and those reds were putting on a show, they were busting top water on these gigantic pass-crabs that were being stirred up by the current and swirling eddies. Ok, I've rambled enough!
I just had a full week off, and now it's back to work

Thanks for the kind welcome.

-George

Greetings 7MR-11 and good morning.

Very nice job of fish'n report'n and picture'n In addition....if in fact it was Chalk's vehicle you saw the sticker on.... we obviously welcome folks to our group who are way beyond being "drifters" so there's no need what so ever to apologize

We're like a bad infection...we keep on spreadin'

Greetings 7mr-11 from another Panhandle drifter. I'm down your way near 'bout every weekend relieving you folks of excess trout. Good lookin' reds.
od

Thanks for the kind welcome..

save a few trout for me!

Very nice redfish, I am envious.