Steinhatchee Inshore w/pics. Saturday, 10-22 05 (Cobia)
Posted: October 27th, 2005, 6:54 am
On Saturday morning the boat was ready by 6 a.m. but with showers on the radar we waited a bit for the rain to clear. Hurricane Wilma was to our south and the weather in our area was questionable with NOAA calling for Small Craft Warnings. Around 9 a.m., my sister-in-law Sylvia, myself, and four excited kids boarded the Bare Necessities and left the Gulf Stream Marina/Motel dock not quite sure what to expect from the wind and weather. The plan was to stay close to the river and either catch sharks using 3 blocks of chum or if the winds were light, to catch pinfish and put them out for trout. Jason (10), Nicky (birthday boy who turned 
, Casey (6) and Kaitlyn (4) were chomping at the bit to put a hurt on some Steinhatchee fish.
Raining in Steinhatchee
Around channel marker # 22 a light rain began and by the time we hit the end of the No Wake zone it picked up to a heavy rain (good idea on waiting for it too clear up…). We continued idling offshore until the rain let up a bit then ran 2 miles to the north to the first Bird Rack. We anchored in 6 feet and put out a chum bag. As I was rigging rods the kids started catching catfish. As more catfish were caught I started getting behind the power curve keeping rods rigged and releasing catfish too. Too many catfish were coming over the gunnel with not enough time to re-rig the rods. Meanwhile, the rain is coming down pretty good at this point so the raingear goes on. After 40 minutes of rain and too many catfish, the kids continue to catch catfish (not a single pinfish) but the youngest is starting to get cold.
Catfish break (Sylvia, Kait’s, & Casey)
We decided to head in, put on dry clothes, have lunch, and go back out when the skies clear.
Grunts & Grits bristling w/ rods (fishing nearby)
On the way back we stop off at a favorite cobia marker and throw out a small catfish (still raining). After the third cast and drift I see the back of a fish come out of the water and take the catfish. As I set the hook the fish takes drag and heads for the marker. Here’s where it gets interesting. I tell Sylvia, who has never driven a boat, to put the boat into gear and motor forward to help pull the fish off the marker. The fish continues to take drag as I, even more excitedly, tell her to “Go forward!!â€
, Casey (6) and Kaitlyn (4) were chomping at the bit to put a hurt on some Steinhatchee fish. Raining in Steinhatchee
Around channel marker # 22 a light rain began and by the time we hit the end of the No Wake zone it picked up to a heavy rain (good idea on waiting for it too clear up…). We continued idling offshore until the rain let up a bit then ran 2 miles to the north to the first Bird Rack. We anchored in 6 feet and put out a chum bag. As I was rigging rods the kids started catching catfish. As more catfish were caught I started getting behind the power curve keeping rods rigged and releasing catfish too. Too many catfish were coming over the gunnel with not enough time to re-rig the rods. Meanwhile, the rain is coming down pretty good at this point so the raingear goes on. After 40 minutes of rain and too many catfish, the kids continue to catch catfish (not a single pinfish) but the youngest is starting to get cold.
Catfish break (Sylvia, Kait’s, & Casey)
We decided to head in, put on dry clothes, have lunch, and go back out when the skies clear.
Grunts & Grits bristling w/ rods (fishing nearby)
On the way back we stop off at a favorite cobia marker and throw out a small catfish (still raining). After the third cast and drift I see the back of a fish come out of the water and take the catfish. As I set the hook the fish takes drag and heads for the marker. Here’s where it gets interesting. I tell Sylvia, who has never driven a boat, to put the boat into gear and motor forward to help pull the fish off the marker. The fish continues to take drag as I, even more excitedly, tell her to “Go forward!!â€
