St. Marks 2/1
Posted: February 2nd, 2006, 9:17 am
Well, Birddog snuck up on me and pointed a gun at my head again yesterday. Made me get my fishin stuff and go with him.
We launched at the lighthouse around 1 P.M. The water was low, but rising. He put the blind fold on me as we idled out the canal. I don't know where we went, but it was a long ride. With the water as low as it was, we started out on the flats, drifting toward a creek mouth. Got to the creek mouth just about the time there was enough water to get in. Man, the water was moving. Started fishing up the creek, drifting with the rising tide, and the south wind. Birddog would kinda let the boat drift up against the bank when we came across a good looking area. That worked pretty good until he tried to drift up on a 10' alligator, sunning on the bank. Neither of us saw the gator until the gator made a quick exit from the bank, about 3 feet from the boat.
I think Birddog soiled his trousers. 
Not long after that we drifted through a nice outside bend with a deep hole. I threw in the hole and almost immediately got bit, but missed the fish. Birddog, being the courteous, ethical fisherman he is, threw right in on top of my bait, and caught my fish. 22" red, in the box. We kept riding the tide until the creek narrowed to the point you couldn't turn the boat around. High tide was supposed to be at 4:38 P.M. It's now 4:40 P.M., and the water is still flowing in. So, birddog fires the trolling motor up, and heads back toward the mouth of the creek. We came to a spot he had looked at on the way up. I made my cast. Fish on, as soon as the bait hit the water. Birddog soon realized this might be the biggest red either of us had ever caught. In an effort to help, he came back by me, grabbed the middle of my rod, and bent it down, saying "Don't put too much pressure on the fish". Well, when the line got slack in it, my monster fish threw the bait. 
I sure am glad birddog knew just how to help. We continued on toward the mouth of the creek, and Birddog managed 1 more puppy red. We reached the creek mouth at 5:30 P.M., where Birddog blind folded me, and we headed toward home.
Seriously, this was not the best catching day we've ever had. But it was indeed a learning experience. The water was clear enough to see the bottom in 5' of water. The creek was holding more mullet than we've ever seen in one creek. With a south wind and rising tide, it was difficult to slow the boat down enough to effectively fish. We saw and spooked several good reds on the way up the creek.
Tally for the day, 1 red in the box, and 1 pup landed. Again, not the best day of catching, but a beautiful afternoon to explore a creek, gain some knowledge and experience, and enjoy fishing with a good friend.
Thanks for the ride, Birddog.
We launched at the lighthouse around 1 P.M. The water was low, but rising. He put the blind fold on me as we idled out the canal. I don't know where we went, but it was a long ride. With the water as low as it was, we started out on the flats, drifting toward a creek mouth. Got to the creek mouth just about the time there was enough water to get in. Man, the water was moving. Started fishing up the creek, drifting with the rising tide, and the south wind. Birddog would kinda let the boat drift up against the bank when we came across a good looking area. That worked pretty good until he tried to drift up on a 10' alligator, sunning on the bank. Neither of us saw the gator until the gator made a quick exit from the bank, about 3 feet from the boat.
I think Birddog soiled his trousers. Not long after that we drifted through a nice outside bend with a deep hole. I threw in the hole and almost immediately got bit, but missed the fish. Birddog, being the courteous, ethical fisherman he is, threw right in on top of my bait, and caught my fish. 22" red, in the box. We kept riding the tide until the creek narrowed to the point you couldn't turn the boat around. High tide was supposed to be at 4:38 P.M. It's now 4:40 P.M., and the water is still flowing in. So, birddog fires the trolling motor up, and heads back toward the mouth of the creek. We came to a spot he had looked at on the way up. I made my cast. Fish on, as soon as the bait hit the water. Birddog soon realized this might be the biggest red either of us had ever caught. In an effort to help, he came back by me, grabbed the middle of my rod, and bent it down, saying "Don't put too much pressure on the fish". Well, when the line got slack in it, my monster fish threw the bait. I sure am glad birddog knew just how to help. We continued on toward the mouth of the creek, and Birddog managed 1 more puppy red. We reached the creek mouth at 5:30 P.M., where Birddog blind folded me, and we headed toward home.Seriously, this was not the best catching day we've ever had. But it was indeed a learning experience. The water was clear enough to see the bottom in 5' of water. The creek was holding more mullet than we've ever seen in one creek. With a south wind and rising tide, it was difficult to slow the boat down enough to effectively fish. We saw and spooked several good reds on the way up the creek.
Tally for the day, 1 red in the box, and 1 pup landed. Again, not the best day of catching, but a beautiful afternoon to explore a creek, gain some knowledge and experience, and enjoy fishing with a good friend.
Thanks for the ride, Birddog.
Sounds like a good time was had 
...So, I will call you next week with my plan...Then you can pass that information to the wise partner of mine....Whatcha think 
