St. Marks 7/8
Posted: July 8th, 2005, 10:45 pm
Good day on the water! Hoped to eek out a trip today before the storm starts to roll in tomorrow. Put in at the lighthouse at 7:00am and headed straight out to the Bird Rack. The winds and waves were pretty calm and the skies clear and everything looked good to head out a couple of miles or so.
Having never been right up next to the Bird Rack before, I was really surprised to see a number of really SHALLOW areas nearby. One might assume that by going out three miles you'd be in deep water...not so.
After reading some suggestions last week about targeting cobia, I figured the Bird Rack would be a good place to start. Also figured this would be a good chance to start experimenting with Sabiki rigs to catch baitfish. Tied the Sabiki to an old Johnson reel and dropped it along side the boat, riding just above the grass. Within 20 minutes I had two scaled sardines in the livewell and landed two trout [15" (released) and a short] on a CT. After that, the bite slowed and the winds had pushed me further off the Rack.
Moved over a few miles to the East Flats and did a number of drifts in there for the rest of the morning. Fished close in, a few miles out and in the middle - just depended on where the bite seemed to be or where it wasn't.
Further out, picked up a nice little shark on one of the sardines. This was the first time I've tried having a live bait line drifting behind the boat - and it paid off! It's a hoot to turn around and run to that rod as the drag is going "zing!" and the bobber is scootin' across the water. Later in the day picked up a nice 21" trout and a my first bluefish on pinfish. Also lost several unknown fish after picking up the "zinging" rod and trying to set the hook.
In the afternoon, I set up a drift on the rising tide that took me all the way up into Big Cove. On that drift picked up a bunch of shorts, an 18" Spanish (my first one of those too!) and a 22" trout. All caught on DOA under a CT. The Spanish was foul hooked in the side! I couldn't believe he made it to the boat when I saw that... The 22" trout had to go back in the water since I already had the 21"er...
At the entrance to Big Cove, in about 4' of water, a solid 6' shark cruised under the boat. Another first. That changed my plans about hopping in the water anytime soon...
Tried for a Red up in the Cove but no luck. Did one more drift and headed to the hill at 5:00.
The best fights of the day came from the bluefish and the 22" trout. That blue cruised all over the place before I even knew what he was...
Totals for the day:
Trout:
15"
21"
22"
stopped counting the shorts at a dozen
1 Spanish
1 Bluefish
1 shark
3 catfish
Thanks to all who posted information about Pinfish and Sabiki rigs. The Sabikis don't work all the time, but they caught fish every once in awhile and that was generally enough to keep a pin or sardine behind the boat most of the time. Tipping the hooks with ham doesn't seem to help.
Having never been right up next to the Bird Rack before, I was really surprised to see a number of really SHALLOW areas nearby. One might assume that by going out three miles you'd be in deep water...not so.
After reading some suggestions last week about targeting cobia, I figured the Bird Rack would be a good place to start. Also figured this would be a good chance to start experimenting with Sabiki rigs to catch baitfish. Tied the Sabiki to an old Johnson reel and dropped it along side the boat, riding just above the grass. Within 20 minutes I had two scaled sardines in the livewell and landed two trout [15" (released) and a short] on a CT. After that, the bite slowed and the winds had pushed me further off the Rack.
Moved over a few miles to the East Flats and did a number of drifts in there for the rest of the morning. Fished close in, a few miles out and in the middle - just depended on where the bite seemed to be or where it wasn't.
Further out, picked up a nice little shark on one of the sardines. This was the first time I've tried having a live bait line drifting behind the boat - and it paid off! It's a hoot to turn around and run to that rod as the drag is going "zing!" and the bobber is scootin' across the water. Later in the day picked up a nice 21" trout and a my first bluefish on pinfish. Also lost several unknown fish after picking up the "zinging" rod and trying to set the hook.
In the afternoon, I set up a drift on the rising tide that took me all the way up into Big Cove. On that drift picked up a bunch of shorts, an 18" Spanish (my first one of those too!) and a 22" trout. All caught on DOA under a CT. The Spanish was foul hooked in the side! I couldn't believe he made it to the boat when I saw that... The 22" trout had to go back in the water since I already had the 21"er...
At the entrance to Big Cove, in about 4' of water, a solid 6' shark cruised under the boat. Another first. That changed my plans about hopping in the water anytime soon...
Tried for a Red up in the Cove but no luck. Did one more drift and headed to the hill at 5:00.
The best fights of the day came from the bluefish and the 22" trout. That blue cruised all over the place before I even knew what he was...
Totals for the day:
Trout:
15"
21"
22"
stopped counting the shorts at a dozen
1 Spanish
1 Bluefish
1 shark
3 catfish
Thanks to all who posted information about Pinfish and Sabiki rigs. The Sabikis don't work all the time, but they caught fish every once in awhile and that was generally enough to keep a pin or sardine behind the boat most of the time. Tipping the hooks with ham doesn't seem to help.
On the bright side, some of the biggest trout I have caught were not too far from where the sandbar ends and the water goes back to two to four feet. That boat sure is getting you out to the fish! 