Redfish
12-31-2008, 09:01 AM
First, let me say, as this year comes to an end, that I have a whole lot to be thankful for. I have a great family, two great kids who like to fish, a boat that I absolutely love, good health, and I live in a region where I can fish pretty much anytime I want. My job is one where we have two weeks off at Christmas/New Years. If it got any better, I don't think I could stand it. Yesterday's fishing really just put a very nice exclamation point on what has been a totally awesome year.*thumbsup*
First, the weather: It was so pretty yesterday--near perfect conditions for a day on the water. We left the Suwannee River about 10:30 AM to run across a dead-flat bay. The tide was low--I mean low--sun was shining, temp about 45 degrees. Crab traps with their tops visible were common for most of the run across the long (abut 3 miles) flat to my favorite creek. Suzy Q blowed mud for most of the run, but we hit the creek mouth just right, and a little trim and a little more gas when she bumped a time or two and we were in the creek. Oyster bars looked like mountains. Did I mention that I love this boat! There was an old couple pulled up on one of the bars when I got there in a J-16. Only other boats that could get in at this point are airboats. I blew past the want-a-be crowd when I left the river. Old mom and pop spent the next hour scouring the bars for edible oysters. (Now I know why we had such a hard time picking up a mess the last time we were over there. And I thought I was the only one that knew about that secret spot) Anyway . . .
We spent the next few hours fishing the creeks. The water has warmed up considerably since Thanksgiving (from the mid 50s to 66 F yesterday) as we have had unseasonable warmth. Trout (specks) have scattered and these guys were a little tougher to find, but we managed several nice trout. Reds, on the other hand, were ready and willing. We caught a bunch of shorts, several keepers, and put two nice slots in the livewell.
We got a late start (I waited on low tide), but it was so pretty that I had a hard time getting off the water. We left just in time to get home by dark. Didn't have the camera with us, but Catfish45 wanted his pic took with this very nice 27" (that's the top of the slot) fish he caught, so we took the pic in the yard at home. Check out the color on this fish--classic bronze of a winter-time Florida creek fish.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=1855
First, the weather: It was so pretty yesterday--near perfect conditions for a day on the water. We left the Suwannee River about 10:30 AM to run across a dead-flat bay. The tide was low--I mean low--sun was shining, temp about 45 degrees. Crab traps with their tops visible were common for most of the run across the long (abut 3 miles) flat to my favorite creek. Suzy Q blowed mud for most of the run, but we hit the creek mouth just right, and a little trim and a little more gas when she bumped a time or two and we were in the creek. Oyster bars looked like mountains. Did I mention that I love this boat! There was an old couple pulled up on one of the bars when I got there in a J-16. Only other boats that could get in at this point are airboats. I blew past the want-a-be crowd when I left the river. Old mom and pop spent the next hour scouring the bars for edible oysters. (Now I know why we had such a hard time picking up a mess the last time we were over there. And I thought I was the only one that knew about that secret spot) Anyway . . .
We spent the next few hours fishing the creeks. The water has warmed up considerably since Thanksgiving (from the mid 50s to 66 F yesterday) as we have had unseasonable warmth. Trout (specks) have scattered and these guys were a little tougher to find, but we managed several nice trout. Reds, on the other hand, were ready and willing. We caught a bunch of shorts, several keepers, and put two nice slots in the livewell.
We got a late start (I waited on low tide), but it was so pretty that I had a hard time getting off the water. We left just in time to get home by dark. Didn't have the camera with us, but Catfish45 wanted his pic took with this very nice 27" (that's the top of the slot) fish he caught, so we took the pic in the yard at home. Check out the color on this fish--classic bronze of a winter-time Florida creek fish.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=1855