DaParson's Fishing Adventures

Dewey and I snuck away this morning out to the North Jetty. Wind wasn't too bad - but the combination of wind and waves kept us on the outside of the Jetty towards the end. Fished past Shrimp Boat. There were many boats on the water today ... some closer than others ... but didn't see anyone really tearing the fish up. We fished the end of an incoming tide and left when the tide slacked up. Water was 77.4 degrees - and very clear early - but grew murkey as the day continued. This was the first of two Reds on the day. All the rest were Shark.

This was the typical size shark for the day. We caught about 18-20 Atlantic Sharp Nose - with one going to about 4-4.5 feet. We also caught 2 Blacktip Shark - one about 4 ft - the other about 3ft. The bait of choice today was cut shad, cut mullet and my great fishing buddy Dewey caught some sandtrout and whiting that we fished with. We caught Shark on the bottom - drift lining - and on a balloon line. We caught the Reds on the bottom on cut Whiting.

This was the last Red of the day. He was very healthy and fat - he was about 45-46" long. Again - this is the same pattern that held this time last year - lots of 3-4ft Shark with an occasional Red or Jack mixed in. The wind should die down in the next couple of weeks - I am looking forward to that.

For the first time in about three weeks we were able to get out to the Jetties. The wind was ESE at about 10 early - but built through the day. The water was beautiful inside the channel - but to much waves to fish it. It was dirty outside the Jetty - we found some semi-protected water and fished there. Dewey provided us with some fresh whiting caught on dead shrimp. Cut Shad, Mullet, and Cut Whiting were the baits of choice - we caught 2 Bull Reds and numerous shark. It was good to be out on the water.

We caught about 15 Shark this size and a bit smaller. Some were bathtub shark - the size of the little plastic shark you play with in the bathtub - (I don't - but Bucksnort says he still does ... grin) Most all the shark were Atlantic Sharpnose - with the dots down their sides - but there was no real size to them.

Here was the last Red that Wayne caught. It was good to be out on the water, but I will be glad when the wind lays down a bit. All in all - a good day fishing.

Dewey, I and Lynn B. headed out to the Jetties this morning. Last night - checked the weather forecasts - South winds at 5 - 10. This morning about 4:30 - rechecked them - South East Winds - 10-15 subsiding later in the day. What we found? Winds 20-25 from the ESE .... so much for weather forecasts! Fished a strong incoming tide - fished Moon Rock and Cement Ship. Could not get out to the end - too much wind and waves. It was a bumpy day of fishing. With high pressure dominating - we couldn't find much bait fish - didn't see many birds working - and didn't even see many dolphins working. All that added up to a day of fishing - 1 Bull Red - 2 Atlantic Sharpnose Shark - 10-15 Whiting, Croker, Sandtrout.

Here is a small Atlantic Sharpnose Shark we caught. He was the smaller of the two we caught on the day. 

Dewey and I headed out to the Jetties today. There was a strong SE Wind in the morning that turned more eastwardly later in the morning. The waves were too much to fish out at the end in the channel - but we were able to find a spot on the leward side of the Jetty. The water temp was 76.1 and we fished a tepid outgoing current We found some stucture that held some fish and Dewey took out a light rod and began to haul in the sand trout, whiting and croaker. He turned 1/2 pound of dead shrimp into 47 fish (not counting hardheads) with about 40 being keeper size! I kept harassing him about Crappie fishing at the Jetty - but he did provide us with some bait for the big rods. The first fish that hit my balloon line was a 4 to 5 foot spinner shark. He hit the bait - the jumped clean out of the water. At first my mind thought "Tarpon" - but it is too early - and it was clear that it was a spinner shark. He put on a tremendous show - but I lost him when I chewed through the ...

I caught this Jack after I put one of the sand trout Dewey caught under a balloon. It was a wonderful fight - with the line being fairly far away from the boat - his initial run almost spooled me. After I turned him - it was a long tedious fight with three good runs. I really don't know what this Jacks are good for - but they do put up a whale of a fight! 

Dewey and I had the pleasure of taking out fellow 2Cooler - Brad - aka Palerider - out to the Jetties today. The weather looked good with a front approaching later this evening - water temperature was great at 71.2 - we had a brisk incoming tide - small baitfish were busting all around - we had everything going our way ... except for the fish! We moved 4 different times - fished at all the "hot spots" that usually produce - but it was just s-l-o-w fishing today. And for the life of me - I cant figure out why! We fished with Crab, Shad, Shrimp, Whiting and Sand Trout - floated, ballooned and on the bottom. Just one of those days!

This is the only Red we caught on the day. One Red - One Drum and Palerider caught several sharks - one at about 4 foot. We wondered what could have been the problem with the fish. At first we thought it was some kind of Divine Retribution for picking on Bucksnort - but we figured that couldn't be it - because we usually catch fish - and we pick on him ALL the time. (grin) Finally we came up with the theory that the Fish were just full of Easter Candy from the previous weekend. Still - although the fish didn't cooperate - it was great meeting a new friend - Brad - and always good to be on the water. Can't wait till next time to put it on the Reds.

Digital Cameras are wonderful. And they take great pictures - IF YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO SET THE FOCUS RIGHT!!!! Don't I feel BRILLIANT!!!!! Danny Webb, Dewey and I hit the Jetties today. On the day, we caught 9 Bull Reds, 4 Black Drum, 4 Sharks and various Gaftop and Hardhead. The water was in very good condition - 71.8 - with a slight SE wind. We were able to fish out towards the end by Honey Hole. All fish were caught on Cracked Crab and Cut Shad. We couldn't buy a bit on Shrimp.

Things were fast and furious at times today. Here is Danny with a double of two bull reds. While he was venting one - another Rod took off and he grabbed it. I really do feel bad about the bad focus of the picture. 

Here is one of the Black Drum that Dewey caught on the day. 

Here is Danny with one of the four Black Drum we caught on the day. 

Here is Dewey with a nice Redfish. 

Although we didn't catch many Black Drum today - we did catch this one and 3 others. We speculated that the Drum Run may have eneded earlier - but we also weren't fishing close to the Jetty either. We fished more in open water today. 

Dewey's rod went off - the fish swam toward the front of the boat. Rather than wrestling all the lines - he handed the rod to me. So we tag teamed this Redfish!