BigBendFishing.Net

Friday
After work I decided to stop by the place on the west side of Goose Bay that I like to walk in to. Rode one of the bikes with the utility trailer to work and debated where to leave it, so just took it all the way in with me. Riding a bike through the marsh pulling a trailer is a no joke work-out. Easier to just walk the bike. Didn't do anything throwing 7M and Catch 2000 MirrOLures. Did catch some nice mullet in the castnet. Dropped them in the cooler. Nice roe in them.

Just before I got back out to the highway I decided to change into the dry clothes I had with me in my pack for the ride home. As soon as I got out of my wet, muddy duds, I suddenly realized. The breeze has died. I have no breeze at all. Somebodies enjoying themselves at my expense. Here come the sand-gnats.

I imagined the conversation that might have taken place if anybody had seem me.
"Hello. St. Marks Wildlife Refuge."
"Hello, St. Marks Refuge. I'm over here on the Live Oak Island Highway, and there's some naked, crazy guy having some kind of fit out in the marsh."
"Naked, crazy guy thrashing around in the marsh? Okay, we know who that probably is. Just leave him alone and we'll ask his wife to have a word with him when he gets home. Does he have a bicycle with him?"
"Yes."
"Yep. It's him, alright. Thanks for the call."

On the way home I saw an armadillo rooting around on the side of the road and a new form of amusement popped into my head. You've heard of polo. You may have heard of bicycle polo. Betcha' never heard of bicycle/armadillo polo. A very short game. It doesn't last long before the ball gets away. Saw two more at different times further up the road. Both those balls got away before they were even in play.

Saturday Afternoon
Drove down to Wakulla Beach and walked in to West Goose Creek. All afternoon on the rising tide. Didn't do anything on 7M, Catch 2000 or TopDog Jr. MirrOLures. Didn't catch any mullet in the castnet. It's been a while since I was last at WGC, but I seem to remember there being a lot more mullet and a lot more bait around back in August.

A couple of dolphin separately chasing mullet. Saw one hit a high rate of speed in a straight line, juuust under the surface, for about 80 yards. Actually, once he got going most of him was above the surface with a bulge of water flowing over him. Don't know what he was after, but it was a very impressive display. Wish I could swim like that. He was haulin'.

Thursday I noticed when there's an airboat running around in West Goose Creek on a calm day I can hear it from Live Oak Island. Today I noticed when there's an airboat running around in West Goose Creek on a calm day I can hear it from my house, up near Wakulla Gardens. I thought that's what I was hearing when I was out in the yard this morning, but wasn't sure because it sounded like more than one. Then I get to West Goose Creek this afternoon and there were two of them playing around back in there.

And people that have them profess to wonder why other people don't like fan-boats.

Charlie.....good story. I enjoyed it.
What's happened to the fishing? I went to the flats from Aucilla River Wednesday...and two of us didn't get the first hit from anything. Went to places we had "tore em up" before too. Not one bite.
Puzzeling!

Good job Charles..... I'd be interested in seeing a picture of your bicycle/armadillo polo mallet if you don't mind post'n a picture of it??

Maybe you could give us a bit more information on the techniques you've developed for an "Offshore"... Uh.... I mean an "Offside_Forehand"

Your experience with teeny critters going for the "sweet meat" reminds me of a similar one that I had. Several years ago, Saint Joe would allow folks to go onto their property and cut firewood. I was standing on top of a pushed up pile of brush that contained some good oak that I wanted. Apparently some fireants had taken up residence underneath where I was standing on top of the pile. Also let it be known that a chain saw apparently sets up a vibration that is very annoying to a fireant. By the time I figured out that something was eating on me there was a major assult going on well up my britches legs. Didn't take my shirt off.... but everything else was flung in one direction or another and it was a while before I could safely put my pants back on!

Sounds like an interesting two days We was getting ready to take out when the two airboats put in at Bottoms They are some kinda loud up close, they put on a show for the wife out on the exposed flats but I will say that they where very courteous about their prop-wash and made sure that they did not blast us when they took off

Sir reel wrote:Good job Charles..... I'd be interested in seeing a picture of your bicycle/armadillo polo mallet if you don't mind post'n a picture of it??

Well actually, in bicycle/armadillo polo there is no mallet. You have to strike and steer the "ball" with your wheels and feet.

Edit-If you crash and land on the ball it's considered a personal foul. No real penalty, because the ball's going to be gone before you can get up and get back on the bike. Game Over.

Charles an airboat ran between us and Liveoak point Saturday morning around 10:00....Yellow or white roe ?

Yellow or white roe?

Both, and well developed in most of the fish I've been getting. I've been catching a few that have undeveloped or no roe, but those seem to be the exception.

Incidentally, on this end I seem to hear how popular red roe is in Asia. On that end, in Japan anyway, it seems the yellow roe is the most popular, with red roe being more expensive. But it's the white roe that brings in the $$$.

Of course any of it has to be fresh, or it won't sell at all.

According to the wife, if there were any justice in the world mullet would have four gizzards.