Post by SkyJay on May 24, 2009 14:17:16 GMT -5
Decided to brave the weather on a hunch, Early Thursday (5/21/09) morning. My theory was that the fish, or at least the Grouper would be on the move/feed, with the aproaching low pressure from the south. My theory proved to be somewhat, on the money. And then some. 
... SJ
Arrived at the Pier Thursday at 7:00 am (at least that's what it says on my pass, but it sure seemed alot earlier).
actually however, my adventure began well before then, so I'll start from 4:00.
Upon arrving at the pier the first time that morning, I discovered my faithful Baitwell pump had bought the farm on the trip over, leaving me with 3 dozen DEAD Corn Fed Pinners, I'd been feeding for about 3 weeks.
Back to Walmart. (Again LOL)
Loaded up on Fresh Bait, on the First of the Incoming, and headed South, as fast as the law allowed.
Weather wasn't near as bad as I expected, but still made fishing a challenge, due to a brisk breeze.
Overcast skies gave way to brief periodic sunshine throughout the day, with exception to about a 2 hour afternoon barnstormer. (more on that later)
Tried my luck Freelining a couple baits to east in the Alley but no luck.
Picked up what was to be the first of a plethora of shorts, in the hours to come fishing between the spans on a Pinner, so I decided to change tactics.
Pinned a dead Threadie to the bottom about piling ***, and a livie on another rod. Started freelining rubble between bridges, but no go for about another 45 minutes. (tide was Rippin in).
Next bite was on dead Threadie. Brief tussle... nice fish...
(keeper?), ROCKED UP!
A swing and a miss.
Re-Tie bait down... Bamm!!!
Tarpon On! 1 Jump, and a tail walk between spans... east bound truck. See Ya, and thanx... Not bad!
Bait down, 10 minutes nothin. Pinfish rod clicker goes off,
nice short.
Last big bite morning incoming.
And I'm already suffering from adreenaline overload.
Paul shows up, and commences to putting on a Snapper clinic as
the incoming slows to a trickle.
Pulls 4 Big Fatties, before I can even get baited up!
(Gotta get me one of them Van Stall Spinners)
Put a couple keepers in the box, and made a mental note of "Pauls piling", for later... LOL (Thanks Paul)
The invasion began.
Opting for a spot with a little less folks, and a lot more elbow room I hot footed it back up to about halfway, and set up on the first rockpile of the day, for the outgoing.
Tide slacked, so I just killed time caught a few more baits and chilled. Decided to put out a couple bottom rods till the current picked up enough to freeline.
John (HaveToFish) showed up just in time, and we started fishing the outgoing tide, with very little success, so we moved a little further out to another rockpile.
Spots were becoming limited as the day wore on, and I didn't want to get stuck at a dead zone so We kept on the move pretty much all day. Problem was only luck we were having was Flipper, which was especialy irritating, because there WERE fish being caught, only not by us.
Saw lots of Short Grouper come over the rails with a couple Keepers mixed in, got some bites, but nothing like I expected the start of the tide to produce.
Got rocked once or twice, and finnally John did pick up a few Shorts, on cut bait.
Started thinking about a nap, as I'd zero sleep the night before, as the tide began to romp.
The skies started getting darker , and darker until finnally all hell broke loose, so everyone raingeared up, and hit the truck for a ride.
Ran in to Conrad AKA "TheFishSlayer", shook hands and said "howdy".
Settled just past the last restoom, as the weather aparently slacked off, and tried things out between the bridges again, but the current was still ripping too hard.
Shot the breeze with Nick for a while as round 2 rolled in with a vengance.
Had just gotten through talkin to Nick about Waterspouts, when all of a sudden, dancing down the pier comes a bunch of garbage cans and folding chairs.
Before you could say "Fish On!", we were
bombarded by at least a 45 mile an hour wind, and stinging rain, accompanied by heavy lightning.
Just then right in front of our eyes, about 150 yards west of the Alley a mini waterspout formed and lasted about 2 minutes.
An awesome thing to see!
Mother Nature at play!
(She scared the Doo Doo out of Skyjay LOL)
Everyone looked dazed like they had just seen a ghost or something.
What a trip!
Anyways, back to fishin...
Freelined a couple baits to no avail as the storms departed, and finnally got bit, about piling number ***.
At this point I'd lost so many fish, I don't really remember, but this went on for about 2 hours.
Freeline a bait out, Bamm, Rocked Up, Short, Or FLIPPER!
Lost count how many fish lost to that SOB!
At least 2 or 3 Keeper Grouper, and a bunch of shorts. several Snapper 1 a REAL Goozer, about 312 Pinfish, and a nice Trout!
Got a nice bite, and gave it all I had, by what had to be a Mogan. Got her out of the rocks, 3 times, only to lose her to a frayed leader.
Finally put a nice fish on the Bridge that didn't quite make the tape.
Lost, or missed several others.
Plethora of shorts, all around.
And then... Nothing.
John left, and I said to myself, I gotta get a nap.
Caught some bait and piddled, till tide change, and started Snapper fishin at dark thirty.
Pauls pling did not let me down.
It was one right after the other for about the first hour and a half of the incoming. Got some FINE ones to. (cut Greencacks, and Threadfins)
Culled out 3 big'ns gave a couple away but released any under 12". Limited out on Snapper, and said to myself...
"man we gotta get a nap"...
Fired up the Grill, and had me some Fresh Skyway snapper sammiches.
mmm mmmm mmm Good!
Took a break, tied some rigs, and killed some time, and hit the corner for the heck of it to see if the WTF fish, was lurking about.
Fed Flipper a couple Lady Fish, Jumped a Juvie Poon, and gave a Mudfish, a serious Jaw ache, and called it a day on the heavy tackle.
Did a little piling scouting with cut bait, and 20 lb. test, and hit a few more Snapper, a few shorties, and a 27 inch Cobie, that was a heck of a fight on my little pole.
Finnally settled in for a nap about 4 am as at that point I'd been up with no sleep for about 44 hours!...
The next thing I remember is car doors slamming, and having to pee like a horse.
I climed out and headed for the head, as first light greeted the day. A glorious morning it was to be!
Trucky, Trevor, and Mandy showed up, and commenced to give te early squidders a class on proper fishing spot set up, and the Tide came rolling in.
I set up on the inside, to try for that elusive keeper, and see If I couldn't increase my average size on my Snapper stringer.
Trucky and Trevor beat up the Gags under the bridge, and just watchin em and bein there was worth the price of admission.
I got a couple more snapper, fed Flipper a couple more, and had a ball on the shoties myself.
One that was almost breakfast for The Mudfish that followed him up.
I swear it's like fishin at the Florida Aquarium or something!
If the damn Pelicans ain't divebombing ya, the Dolphins, and the Jewfeltas think you're there to feed them! LOL
Trevor bows up on a big fish, and the fight is on. Turns out to be a Big Ole Mudfish and fish of the day. (Nice job Trevor)
Incoming slacked, and I stocked up on bait.
Suprised to find really nice fat Pinners on the inside about piling ***
Loaded up the well, and started to Freeline the outgoing, again to no avail!? WTF?
Not too much going on for a while, and the Sun came out. Got pretty hot and the tide continued rolling out at a heavy rate.
Trucky and his gang called it a day, and I climbed in the van for a nap, felling somewhat dejected I couldn't get just 1 keeper Grouper in like 30 hours of fishing.
Got some good snores in and woke up feeling somewhat rejuvenated.
Sent out a bait (Big Pigfish), and Bamm, not 75 yards out
Big Gag On!
Looked left and right ... no Flipper, as I cranked with all I had. No rocks to deal with... Just pilings... Stay calm...
Keep crankin...
COLOR!! Oh my God... Don't come off Baby, Don't come off!
Hooked Good! Here she comes watch your head folks! FLOP!!!
KEEPER on deck! (And a Toad To!) (Thank Ya Lord!)
Yee Haww!
27 1/2 '' SkyWay Sundowner Blackie! It don't get no better than that!
High fives to everyone.
Time to Re-Bait, and get back in there!
And the invasion began. LOL forgive them father for they know what not they do!
LOL
Next rockpile... Nothin...
next one down, bait in... rollin, rollin Bammm. Big fish on!
NOOOO! Rocked. Again! Play her a tune... No go... Slack up... Still nothing... Bammm Pelican flys into my line.
So... there I was nice fish rocked up, with a frikken bird dangling on my line.
Oh well. Broke her off.
Time for a smoke.
Guy gives me a nice 10 " KeyWest Grunt, out he goes... Bamm Fish On!... Gone.. Dammitt. Tell Tell littl curly Q on the end of my leader. Bad Knot! Shoot!
Have a sammich as tide starts to die. Guy catches a nice Trout so I figure what the hey I'll give it a shot.
Send out a live Greenie on a float.
Swing and a miss.
Next bait out...
Bamm !!! Nice fat 21 1/2 inch Trout in the box! Good lord what a trip.
Tide slacks so I start to load up to go to the house.
Decided I'd stick a LadyFish head on the bottom, while I did my chores.
Forgot to mention it earlier, but Truck spotted a Big Brownie, with her boyfriends in tow daisy chaining earlier that day.
It was apparent after several attempts at a hook up, they weren't interested in feeding, and they just tooled away like a bunch of horny teenagers.
Flash forward...
As i'm putting things away I see the squidders to my left get all exited, and start pointing at the water, and Ooohing an AAhing.
Acting on instinct, I quickly reel in by bottom rig, 86'd the sinker, and popped on a fresh livie.
All in the knick of time as another group of swingers swam towards me. Trying not to spook em, and not lead em too far I gently pitched my Pinfish out in front of them.
There was again 1 Jumbo female about 5 foot long, and 3 or 4 little ones this time which makes me think this was a different batch of fish than we had seen earlier...
And then, all of a sudded Blamm Bloop Bloop, some A Hole blops a 4 oz lead right on their heads. And they vanish!
Thanks a lot BUTTHEAD!
I Raced to the other side just as they were regrouping.
I ran down about 50 yds ahead of em, held my bait in the water and waited, and gave em a little time to settle down.
The female slowly circled along, boyfriends in tow, and I was shaking like a leaf!
Finally it was time and I again gently pitched my bait out in front of them. NOTHING! Dam.
Reel in and run down a little further. 3rd cast.. Dead on target!
She sees it!
OOhh Hoooo Hoo here she comes...
Bammm The little one grabs it! Shoot.
Oh well Fish On!
10 minutes of piling jockeyin later 33 incher in the net, and on the deck! Yoo Hoo! (the feller in the Snook picture on GoinDeeps Thread netted him for me thanks dude, I can't rememder yer name, But Thanks for your help ole buddy!)
Keeper Cobia.. In the box! I Love That Old Pier!
Total hours spent fishin- About 34, (in between naps)
Total hours sleep in 48 hours- about 6
Total Legal Fish Landed-
1 27 1/2 inch Gag Grouper
1 33 inch Cobia, the hard way.
1 23 1/2 Trout.
Legal Limit of Mangrove Snapper, anchored by 2 18 inchers,and a 16
Not the most productive trip for the box, but one of the most memorable ever!
If y'all ever get a chance to fish with John, or Wayne, take em up on it! Stand up guys both of em, and a hoot to fish with.
Finished up with 2 pelicans 18 or so dolphins, lost count on the Short grouper, a throwback 27 inch Cobe, and lord knows what I've already forgotten, way my Alzeimers has been flaring up! LOL
Saw a waterspout, couple reel good lookin girlies, got some Sun, and spent good times with good friends. It Don't get much better than that Folks!
Fish On!
"SkyJay"
P.S. This Message Brought To You By Wal Mart Brand Ibuprophen. Don't Leave Home Without It !!!LOL
... SJArrived at the Pier Thursday at 7:00 am (at least that's what it says on my pass, but it sure seemed alot earlier).
actually however, my adventure began well before then, so I'll start from 4:00.
Upon arrving at the pier the first time that morning, I discovered my faithful Baitwell pump had bought the farm on the trip over, leaving me with 3 dozen DEAD Corn Fed Pinners, I'd been feeding for about 3 weeks.
Back to Walmart. (Again LOL)
Loaded up on Fresh Bait, on the First of the Incoming, and headed South, as fast as the law allowed.
Weather wasn't near as bad as I expected, but still made fishing a challenge, due to a brisk breeze.
Overcast skies gave way to brief periodic sunshine throughout the day, with exception to about a 2 hour afternoon barnstormer. (more on that later)
Tried my luck Freelining a couple baits to east in the Alley but no luck.
Picked up what was to be the first of a plethora of shorts, in the hours to come fishing between the spans on a Pinner, so I decided to change tactics.
Pinned a dead Threadie to the bottom about piling ***, and a livie on another rod. Started freelining rubble between bridges, but no go for about another 45 minutes. (tide was Rippin in).
Next bite was on dead Threadie. Brief tussle... nice fish...
(keeper?),
ROCKED UP!A swing and a miss.
Re-Tie bait down... Bamm!!!
Tarpon On! 1 Jump, and a tail walk between spans... east bound truck. See Ya, and thanx... Not bad!
Bait down, 10 minutes nothin. Pinfish rod clicker goes off,
nice short.
Last big bite morning incoming.
And I'm already suffering from adreenaline overload.
Paul shows up, and commences to putting on a Snapper clinic as
the incoming slows to a trickle.
Pulls 4 Big Fatties, before I can even get baited up!
(Gotta get me one of them Van Stall Spinners)
Put a couple keepers in the box, and made a mental note of "Pauls piling", for later... LOL (Thanks Paul)
The invasion began.
Opting for a spot with a little less folks, and a lot more elbow room I hot footed it back up to about halfway, and set up on the first rockpile of the day, for the outgoing.
Tide slacked, so I just killed time caught a few more baits and chilled. Decided to put out a couple bottom rods till the current picked up enough to freeline.
John (HaveToFish) showed up just in time, and we started fishing the outgoing tide, with very little success, so we moved a little further out to another rockpile.
Spots were becoming limited as the day wore on, and I didn't want to get stuck at a dead zone so We kept on the move pretty much all day. Problem was only luck we were having was Flipper, which was especialy irritating, because there WERE fish being caught, only not by us.
Saw lots of Short Grouper come over the rails with a couple Keepers mixed in, got some bites, but nothing like I expected the start of the tide to produce.
Got rocked once or twice, and finnally John did pick up a few Shorts, on cut bait.
Started thinking about a nap, as I'd zero sleep the night before, as the tide began to romp.
The skies started getting darker , and darker until finnally all hell broke loose, so everyone raingeared up, and hit the truck for a ride.
Ran in to Conrad AKA "TheFishSlayer", shook hands and said "howdy".
Settled just past the last restoom, as the weather aparently slacked off, and tried things out between the bridges again, but the current was still ripping too hard.
Shot the breeze with Nick for a while as round 2 rolled in with a vengance.
Had just gotten through talkin to Nick about Waterspouts, when all of a sudden, dancing down the pier comes a bunch of garbage cans and folding chairs.
Before you could say "Fish On!", we were
bombarded by at least a 45 mile an hour wind, and stinging rain, accompanied by heavy lightning.
Just then right in front of our eyes, about 150 yards west of the Alley a mini waterspout formed and lasted about 2 minutes.
An awesome thing to see!
Mother Nature at play!
(She scared the Doo Doo out of Skyjay LOL)
Everyone looked dazed like they had just seen a ghost or something.
What a trip!
Anyways, back to fishin...
Freelined a couple baits to no avail as the storms departed, and finnally got bit, about piling number ***.
At this point I'd lost so many fish, I don't really remember, but this went on for about 2 hours.
Freeline a bait out, Bamm, Rocked Up, Short, Or FLIPPER!
Lost count how many fish lost to that SOB!
At least 2 or 3 Keeper Grouper, and a bunch of shorts. several Snapper 1 a REAL Goozer, about 312 Pinfish, and a nice Trout!
Got a nice bite, and gave it all I had, by what had to be a Mogan. Got her out of the rocks, 3 times, only to lose her to a frayed leader.
Finally put a nice fish on the Bridge that didn't quite make the tape.
Lost, or missed several others.
Plethora of shorts, all around.
And then... Nothing.
John left, and I said to myself, I gotta get a nap.
Caught some bait and piddled, till tide change, and started Snapper fishin at dark thirty.
Pauls pling did not let me down.
It was one right after the other for about the first hour and a half of the incoming. Got some FINE ones to. (cut Greencacks, and Threadfins)
Culled out 3 big'ns gave a couple away but released any under 12". Limited out on Snapper, and said to myself...
"man we gotta get a nap"...
Fired up the Grill, and had me some Fresh Skyway snapper sammiches.
mmm mmmm mmm Good!
Took a break, tied some rigs, and killed some time, and hit the corner for the heck of it to see if the WTF fish, was lurking about.
Fed Flipper a couple Lady Fish, Jumped a Juvie Poon, and gave a Mudfish, a serious Jaw ache, and called it a day on the heavy tackle.
Did a little piling scouting with cut bait, and 20 lb. test, and hit a few more Snapper, a few shorties, and a 27 inch Cobie, that was a heck of a fight on my little pole.
Finnally settled in for a nap about 4 am as at that point I'd been up with no sleep for about 44 hours!...
The next thing I remember is car doors slamming, and having to pee like a horse.
I climed out and headed for the head, as first light greeted the day. A glorious morning it was to be!
Trucky, Trevor, and Mandy showed up, and commenced to give te early squidders a class on proper fishing spot set up, and the Tide came rolling in.
I set up on the inside, to try for that elusive keeper, and see If I couldn't increase my average size on my Snapper stringer.
Trucky and Trevor beat up the Gags under the bridge, and just watchin em and bein there was worth the price of admission.
I got a couple more snapper, fed Flipper a couple more, and had a ball on the shoties myself.
One that was almost breakfast for The Mudfish that followed him up.
I swear it's like fishin at the Florida Aquarium or something!
If the damn Pelicans ain't divebombing ya, the Dolphins, and the Jewfeltas think you're there to feed them! LOL
Trevor bows up on a big fish, and the fight is on. Turns out to be a Big Ole Mudfish and fish of the day. (Nice job Trevor)
Incoming slacked, and I stocked up on bait.
Suprised to find really nice fat Pinners on the inside about piling ***
Loaded up the well, and started to Freeline the outgoing, again to no avail!? WTF?
Not too much going on for a while, and the Sun came out. Got pretty hot and the tide continued rolling out at a heavy rate.
Trucky and his gang called it a day, and I climbed in the van for a nap, felling somewhat dejected I couldn't get just 1 keeper Grouper in like 30 hours of fishing.
Got some good snores in and woke up feeling somewhat rejuvenated.
Sent out a bait (Big Pigfish), and Bamm, not 75 yards out
Big Gag On!
Looked left and right ... no Flipper, as I cranked with all I had. No rocks to deal with... Just pilings... Stay calm...
Keep crankin...
COLOR!! Oh my God... Don't come off Baby, Don't come off!
Hooked Good! Here she comes watch your head folks! FLOP!!!
KEEPER on deck! (And a Toad To!) (Thank Ya Lord!)
Yee Haww!
27 1/2 '' SkyWay Sundowner Blackie! It don't get no better than that!
High fives to everyone.
Time to Re-Bait, and get back in there!
And the invasion began. LOL forgive them father for they know what not they do!
LOLNext rockpile... Nothin...
next one down, bait in... rollin, rollin Bammm. Big fish on!
NOOOO! Rocked. Again! Play her a tune... No go... Slack up... Still nothing... Bammm Pelican flys into my line.
So... there I was nice fish rocked up, with a frikken bird dangling on my line.
Oh well. Broke her off.
Time for a smoke.
Guy gives me a nice 10 " KeyWest Grunt, out he goes... Bamm Fish On!... Gone.. Dammitt. Tell Tell littl curly Q on the end of my leader. Bad Knot! Shoot!
Have a sammich as tide starts to die. Guy catches a nice Trout so I figure what the hey I'll give it a shot.
Send out a live Greenie on a float.
Swing and a miss.
Next bait out...
Bamm !!! Nice fat 21 1/2 inch Trout in the box! Good lord what a trip.
Tide slacks so I start to load up to go to the house.
Decided I'd stick a LadyFish head on the bottom, while I did my chores.
Forgot to mention it earlier, but Truck spotted a Big Brownie, with her boyfriends in tow daisy chaining earlier that day.
It was apparent after several attempts at a hook up, they weren't interested in feeding, and they just tooled away like a bunch of horny teenagers.
Flash forward...
As i'm putting things away I see the squidders to my left get all exited, and start pointing at the water, and Ooohing an AAhing.
Acting on instinct, I quickly reel in by bottom rig, 86'd the sinker, and popped on a fresh livie.
All in the knick of time as another group of swingers swam towards me. Trying not to spook em, and not lead em too far I gently pitched my Pinfish out in front of them.
There was again 1 Jumbo female about 5 foot long, and 3 or 4 little ones this time which makes me think this was a different batch of fish than we had seen earlier...
And then, all of a sudded Blamm Bloop Bloop, some A Hole blops a 4 oz lead right on their heads. And they vanish!
Thanks a lot BUTTHEAD!
I Raced to the other side just as they were regrouping.
I ran down about 50 yds ahead of em, held my bait in the water and waited, and gave em a little time to settle down.
The female slowly circled along, boyfriends in tow, and I was shaking like a leaf!
Finally it was time and I again gently pitched my bait out in front of them. NOTHING! Dam.
Reel in and run down a little further. 3rd cast.. Dead on target!
She sees it!
OOhh Hoooo Hoo here she comes...
Bammm The little one grabs it! Shoot.
Oh well Fish On!
10 minutes of piling jockeyin later 33 incher in the net, and on the deck! Yoo Hoo! (the feller in the Snook picture on GoinDeeps Thread netted him for me thanks dude, I can't rememder yer name, But Thanks for your help ole buddy!)
Keeper Cobia.. In the box! I Love That Old Pier!
Total hours spent fishin- About 34, (in between naps)
Total hours sleep in 48 hours- about 6
Total Legal Fish Landed-
1 27 1/2 inch Gag Grouper
1 33 inch Cobia, the hard way.
1 23 1/2 Trout.
Legal Limit of Mangrove Snapper, anchored by 2 18 inchers,and a 16
Not the most productive trip for the box, but one of the most memorable ever!
If y'all ever get a chance to fish with John, or Wayne, take em up on it! Stand up guys both of em, and a hoot to fish with.
Finished up with 2 pelicans 18 or so dolphins, lost count on the Short grouper, a throwback 27 inch Cobe, and lord knows what I've already forgotten, way my Alzeimers has been flaring up! LOL
Saw a waterspout, couple reel good lookin girlies, got some Sun, and spent good times with good friends. It Don't get much better than that Folks!
Fish On!
"SkyJay"
P.S. This Message Brought To You By Wal Mart Brand Ibuprophen. Don't Leave Home Without It !!!LOL
