Gandy Area, July 4, 2023

[carlf]

Happy 4th!!
Went back out this morning, headed to the grass flats northeast of the Gandy first. Got into a school of specs right away. But they were all 10". Cute little guys, lots of spots. Had a huge spec swipe at my jig right at the boat but it only grabs the tail. Sadness.
Headed over the the bridge once the sun got higher. Fished one set of piles with no luck. I could see snapper eating the chum I was tossing (pieces of lady fish) but none would eat a live shrimp or cut bait on a hook.
Went to another and s
Threw some chum. Snapper turned on fast. Had a limit of 11-12" snaps within 30 minutes. Couple of throw backs too.
Fished for macs when the tide turned. Had one good hit and that was it.
Not a bad morning.

[shot33gun9]

Nice work on the snappers, not a trout guy myself but good to hear we still have some. Tell me, how much fishing activity do you see around the area and where?

[carlf]

No one else was on the grass flats at daylight this morning. WHich I thought was strange given that the specs have been there both today and Sunday. There were also ladyfish and what I imagine are some bonnetheads, got cut off a couple of times. Next time I go, I'm heading out there well before daylight and see if I can't get into some more keeper specs before heading to the bridge for snaps.

There were a few other boats fishing the bridge both mornings but it was definitely not crowded.
Guy at the bait shop was getting fiddlers, said he's been catching keeper size sheepshead but no really big ones.

Boat wakes are horrible out there after midmorning. Most days by 11am, I'm ready to head to the house.
Apparently some guys dont understand "you are responsible for your wake", had a big center console come right past me throwing a huge wake. Not fun getting tossed around in a 15' aluminum boat.

[carlf]

[shot33gun9]

Very dangerous in a small boat

[seabird]

Jul 4, 2023 17:33:48 GMT -5 shot33gun9 said:

Very dangerous in a small boat

Thought boaters are supposed to slow down in vicinity of a bridge...slow no wake.

[carlf]

There were guys out there in kayaks and low-gunneled jon boats who were taking a beating more than me. And in less seaworthy boats than my deep semi-v!
I never felt unsafe, but didn't appreciate getting rolled around while at anchor. The NW-NE wind didn't help either.
Sundays Results. Macs were really nice ones, no ruler needed.

[shot33gun9]

Sometimes a big boat running slow will kick up a taller wake than it would running wide open

[carlf]

Yeah, most boater only read the "Idle Speed Only" or "Slow" part, dont pick up on the "No Wake" part.
If your drop a large boat off plane and the proceed at idle/hull speed, it will not produce a huge wake.
But if you drop the throttle back, with the stern still "squatted", without letting the hull settle evenly, then the wake will be worse than if you were still on plane.

The fender marked passage with high clearance is the only slow area. Most large boats avoid that and fly through to the east or west where ever they have enough clearance.