St. Marks 7/29
Posted: July 30th, 2005, 9:12 pm
First, to answer Cranfield's question, no it wasn't daylight here.
The gate at the refuge was open when I got there at 0530, so i went right on in. I launched at the lighthouse pool and was running before 0600. I headed straight to my secret redfish hole (that I stole from Birddog
). I arrived just after first light to find mullet jumping everywhere, and redfish tailing on an oyster bar. After quite some time, and much frustration, I finally coaxed one into biting. After a 5 minute fight, I measured and released the 31" red. I don't have any idea how many reds were in the area, but they wouldn't cooperate. by 0800 the sun had gotten up a bit, and all movement shut down. So I moved south a little bit, in search of a trout. It was dead calm, and mirror slick.I did not catch a fish until about 0945, when a gentle breeze came out of the southeast. Between 0945 and 1145 I managed a 16", a 17" and a 19" trout, all caught on a glow grub with chartreuse tail, under a cajun thunder.
Two interesting observations. 1) Those were the only 4 fish I caught. No ladyfish, no spanish, not even a Stockwell. 2) High tide was at 0805. I was there from way early until near noon, and never found any moving water. The water in the lighthouse channel might have been 6" lower at noon than when I put in.
Not a banner trip, but the 31" red made it worth the effort.
The gate at the refuge was open when I got there at 0530, so i went right on in. I launched at the lighthouse pool and was running before 0600. I headed straight to my secret redfish hole (that I stole from Birddog
). I arrived just after first light to find mullet jumping everywhere, and redfish tailing on an oyster bar. After quite some time, and much frustration, I finally coaxed one into biting. After a 5 minute fight, I measured and released the 31" red. I don't have any idea how many reds were in the area, but they wouldn't cooperate. by 0800 the sun had gotten up a bit, and all movement shut down. So I moved south a little bit, in search of a trout. It was dead calm, and mirror slick.I did not catch a fish until about 0945, when a gentle breeze came out of the southeast. Between 0945 and 1145 I managed a 16", a 17" and a 19" trout, all caught on a glow grub with chartreuse tail, under a cajun thunder.Two interesting observations. 1) Those were the only 4 fish I caught. No ladyfish, no spanish, not even a Stockwell. 2) High tide was at 0805. I was there from way early until near noon, and never found any moving water. The water in the lighthouse channel might have been 6" lower at noon than when I put in.
Not a banner trip, but the 31" red made it worth the effort.
