I need a Back Up Plan

[Echo]

Fished the ocean today, not far, was in 30 feet. Yellow tails were okay, but not the frenzy I expected. Four people on a 20 foot boat, a pretty good East blow and I could n't go where I wanted to. Tommorow about the same. Tried fishing holes near and about 7MIle, Grount city..

Hey BOb, I tried the rice trick. I bought " Jasmine" rice. It never double like I thought it would. Soaked for 24 hours and nada. Looked good in water, but was expecting more product. Trying to boil water and see ehat happens.

Pips people sure are down to Earth and nice. Got a brand new, never rented Cape Horn. I'd never own a Cape Horn, but it will do. Sue, the black Lab is adorable.

Can ya hook a brother up. Winds look the same for tommorow. Need an other plan.

Thanks

Brian

[Echo]

Post Script...

Hot water added to rice makes a world of difference. So I have that fixed. Double the chum..

[Al B]

Hey Brian... good to see the updates. Is it tough to get to the snags? How's the bait catching? Tried any live baits drifted back in the slick? Damn man, I gotta live vicariously through you!

[Echo]

Snags a plenty. But I have to say I spooled all reels, 2500 with 20 lb red PP and 4000 with 40 lb Red PP, holding there own. Few loses, but wtf? Its expected. Tried to float a few grunts and small YT under a balloon. Nada takers.. One, very wise Pelican F ing with me all day.

Just not the day I wanted. Close friends, eager wife, was expecting more. But always tommorow, more confidence in virgin waters.. I'll get em, and will share.

Going to Square Grouper for dinner, thanks to who ever reccomended.

[Al B]

Go get'em man... I'll be reading for updates. (and resturant recommendations!)

Go hang out at the Loreli (sp?)... great place for a cold beer (although that can be said for most places)

[Water_boy]

You should enjoy the Square Grouper, I don't remember exactly but they have some kind of nut crusted grouper that was awesome.

Plan B = Spanish mack fishing. Get 4 or 5 blocks of chum, a bag of glass minnows, some light wire / long shank #1 or 1/0 hooks (the bait store will set you up) if you're using PP you should put 4' or 5' of 10# to 15#mono or Floro leader, (that could be why you had a tough time with the YT's, everything's very leader shy down there). Head out toward Springer Bank on the gulf side and anchor up in about 10' of water. The north tip of Springer is a 16NM run at N24 54.780, W80 56.280, Scooner Bank another mile of so beyond that at N24 57.440, W80 58.782, look for about 10' of water and anchor. I think the reason it's good between those two points is there's a good current. If you don't get any action in a half hour or so move a mile or so. If you don't want to run that far you should be able to run just about anywhere in FL Bay, the best action is about 10 miles out, look for grassy bottom. Over there you'll be in the shelter of the banks so it should be fairly calm. BRING A CHART (buy the Top Spot one if you havent't already) and watch were you're going, there are some shallow spots out there but they should be very easy to see. "Green you're clean, brown you're aground" something like that....

Look for other boats doing the same thing but keep your distance, you won't be alone. Also, chunk up one of those macks for bottom bait. Small hook, like a 1/0 on 10# mono and you should get mangrove snapper. Bigger chunks on wire and you'll be sharkin. If you have heavier wire live line one of those too. Keep some extras because they make good bait if you just want to fish near the 7 mile bridge pilings.

Also, try to find a place where you can catch some live pinfish, drift those around the pilings of the 7 mile bridge on a 40lb setup.

[Water_boy]

OK I'm bored... Spanish macks should be your game plan but if you don't want to travel much at all there's some decent bottom fishing around the pilings of the 7 mile bridge or a little further south at the Bahia Honda bridge, Bahia honda is about a 9 mile run, (good beach there for the ladies). First, go to a grass flat in about 5 feet of water, probably right out front of Pips will do, anchor up and chum up some pinfish and catch them with small bit's of bait (Squid, shrimp, ballyhoo, etc) use the smallest gold hooks they sell. If you don't know what a pinfish is, you will once you unhook a few. Go out to one of the deeper channels that run under the 7 mile bridge and anchor up current of one of the pilings. Chum and toss a live weighted pinfish out behind the boat, just like you'd live line a spot, use 40# mono leader. Use a smaller chunk on the bottom for the snappers. Could get a tarpon, snapper or grouper, again, if you don't get action in a half hour to an hour at one place move to the next piling.

[Capt Bob]

OK Brian....what time you picking your boat up from Pips's in the Morning...I'll get a cup of Coffee and meet you there at Porky's with one of my charts and a couple of game plans


looks like wind is going to hold NNE-NE with GUSTS to about 20 tomorrow

[Water_boy]

Hope it's better than that...

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT
MAINLY NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS.
SEAS BEYOND THE REEF 2 TO 4 FEET...EXCEPT HIGHER IN THE GULF STREAM.
SEAS INSIDE THE REEF 1 TO 2 FEET. NEARSHORE WATERS A LIGHT TO
MODERATE CHOP.

[Capt Bob]

Sue is a sweet heart of a dog, she is my constant companion when I'm there,,,she knows what pocket I keep the Dog Biscuits in...and she knows the sound of my truck...