Oh well, I was just hoping to catch a few white trout anyway
So I went over to the DI Pier about 6 and got my wading gear together (just lures).
Started fishing just after 'safelight' just west of the DIPier.
Saw just a few scattered mullet and ladyfish in the surfline and jumped a few of the skipjacks (on a silver spoon) as I proceeded southward.
The water in the Gulf was fairly clear with a 1 foot SW swell breaking gently on the bar and beach.
Winds were NW at less than 10 and it clouded up right at daybreak.
As expected, the swells and winds from 'Gustav' had changed the location of the bars and tidal pools along the beach.
At the first point (about a half mile from the DIpier) the water was just too shallow to expect much 'fishingwise' especially with the tide falling rapidly.
There was a break in the dunes there that showed the extent of last week's maelstrom
Waves had completely overswept the island in places and the sand had been pushed into Pelican Bay.
I walked that inside beach along Pelican Bay and came across a more fishable looking spot I apropriately called "Bucket Point"
I could see mullet rolling along with some needle fish which eagerly followed my spoon.
Near the end of a retrieve I saw the needlefish start jumping out of the water and a huge wake arose and beelined for my spoon like a 'heat-seeking missle'.
THUMP! and I was on baby
It didn't take long for me to realize it was an oversized redfish that bulldogged several 40 yard runs of my 8# line.
It took at least 15 minutes to subdue the beast who was then kind enough to pose for me before getting a spaghetti tag and a good release
No points or groceries, but I was charged up after that battle.
I figured there might be some smaller reds around and waded out casting a DOA shrimp near the mullet schools.
That paid off with this 17" red
A little while later I spied what looked like a redfish tail sticking out of the sun reflection on the water.
I cast the DOA a little ahead of it and THUMP! I was on again
Only this one ran more and shook it's head more
Finally I got a good look at it and eventually landed it...
A 24" wide cow-nosed ray had impaled itself on my DOA
After another successful C&R I headed back over to the Gulf beach to try there again.
A bit farther down I found another point that was just what I was looking for...
In about a dozen casts of the spoon I landed 5 nice specks (16"-19") before they got wise to me and split.
After that the ladyfish moved in and that was all I could catch there.
With noon coming on and the sun now heating up the nearly beezeless air I started heading back north, but decided to detour to the Pelican Bay side for the return trip.
"Bucket Point" still looked fishable so I decided to try some Gulp baits.
A couple of thing about Gulps I learned:
1. pinfish and baby jacks LUV the curly tailed ones
2. 10 month old Gulp shrimp are good for only one fish at best
Still I caught a couple of specks (released) and several white trout (up to 1#).
Just before leaving there, I spied what looked like a blue mullet swim by
My first thought was it was a flying fish, but then said "Naaaaa."
As I started back I saw a familiar blue spot on the water heading for the backside of the point.
When it came into the shallow water it spooked and jumped up on the beach
No doubt what it was now!
As if to put icing on the cake I stopped by my sis' house to check the dock light again.
Since the day had been hot & dry the breaker reset. I guess the overnight shower at the island had shorted the plug.
Also I checked their crabtraps and got 30 nice bluecrabs (threw back several spongers) to bring home for a boil.
What a day it had been, I even got 3rd place for the 14" white trout in the ACFA tourney
Thank you Lord!
P.S. Where were ya Gumbo?
