This is an offshore and inshore.
Based on Scotty's recommendation we headed out of the fort at 0815 toward Ballard and points SE. Seas were 1-2 with a 3 mixed in, temp was 69. Found some good bottom and trolled stretches, lost one on the bottom I am pretty sure, with braid. Found a really nice spot and anchored up only to lose the anchor. That pretty much screwed the pooch for any bottom fishing. Lots of grass out there. Lots of silty water.
Headed NW and trolled, nada. Drifted over some good looking bottom with squid, LY's, and live pins about 1100-1230, nada. Got Mangroves and lizards. Seas died wind shited from SSW to W.
Decided to try the flats and headed toward Cobb. Tide was coming out so we put the trolling motor down and put it on a west track. Temp was 71.1 Got into the trout big time. About 200 yds SW of Cobb and drifting W. Tons of 14'ers, and 5 limits of 16"-24". Caught on shrimp under a CT, or less so on a candy corn under a CT. Most of the strikes were when the shrimp was close to the surface. I should have tried a topwater but never had the chance. All caught in 2.5 - 3'. Water very silty, could not see the bottom in 2.5'. Wind came out of the N at about 7.
I still need instuctions on trolling for grouper. Not where to go, but how to do it. I also still need an anchor. ARRRRRGGGGHHH, again. Wanna buy a boat?
St. Marks, 11/10/05
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
St. Marks, 11/10/05
for petes sake
You'll get the hang of the trolling DB 
I've never used braid on my rig, but these rules should apply to it even more 
I tighten the drag just enough to not release line while trolling "and sometimes let it veryyyy slowly release line", I never troll faster than 6 mph, and usually keep it at less than 4.5 mph, I always go by what my GPS tells me the speed is "the Ocean can play tricks on ya" and lastly, I put my hand on the pole "lightly" to see if I feel it bumping bottom, if it is, I slow my speed a tad or bring in some line 
I've never used braid on my rig, but these rules should apply to it even more I tighten the drag just enough to not release line while trolling "and sometimes let it veryyyy slowly release line", I never troll faster than 6 mph, and usually keep it at less than 4.5 mph, I always go by what my GPS tells me the speed is "the Ocean can play tricks on ya" and lastly, I put my hand on the pole "lightly" to see if I feel it bumping bottom, if it is, I slow my speed a tad or bring in some line “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
