1eyefishing
...just joking, seriously.
I headed out Monday morning early in 45°(!)
Early is VERY early here, as it cracks daylight at 5:30 a.m. and sun has risen by 6:15...
Got to the bait store and guess what...no live shrimp.
Call the other store, no live shrimp. Guess we're fishing with no live shrimp today.
Headed out in perfect conditions, rising tide, offshore breath of wind less than 5 mph, and very clean and clear emerald water of the western panhandle. Hit the beach front first thing armed with pompano jigs and hermit crabs. Unlike last week with the shrimp tipped jigs, nothing falling for my stuff this morning.
After a couple of hours, I noticed a large pod of cow-nosed rays meandering westward along the second sandbar. Thinking that cobia may be traveling with (under) the school, I ease up in the boat and begin throwing my cobia jig in front of and under the group. A dozen casts later, but whodda thunk it, a very large ray has swooped down to the bottom and eatin my jig! Let me just say that they are fast and powerful! After an extensive battle with many runs on the drag, I finally got the tired out ray to the boat. Now to get my cobia jig back! I have to hold the 36" wide critter by the leader with his back to the side of the boat (don't even know if they have a stinger, but not taking any chances!), and wrestle my jig out of his toothy maw with a pair of needle-nose pliers. In the process, I rip some of the best and flashiest dressing off my jig.
Strike one!
Shortly, I come back into the bay to one of my go-to spots in order to revive my spirits. I have never struck out here, and I know the big snappers are here hot and heavy and ready to do battle. First cast with a 50 lb rig, braid, and a 40 lb leader, heavy jig and a gulp ripple mullet, I get steamrolled, taken into the structure and broken off.
Strike two.
No problem, at least the fish are here and ready to do battle. I take 5 minutes to tie another 40 lb leader onto the 50 lb braid. Add my jig and ripple mullet and second cast. Bam! Same results.
Strike 3!
By now I am flustered, and in order to speed up the process of getting my bait back in the water, I just tie the jig directly to the 50 lb braid and toss it for a half an hour with no results.
So I decide to cut it short, come back to camp and clean up the boat and make phone calls to find bait for tomorrow....
Early is VERY early here, as it cracks daylight at 5:30 a.m. and sun has risen by 6:15...
Got to the bait store and guess what...no live shrimp.
Call the other store, no live shrimp. Guess we're fishing with no live shrimp today.
Headed out in perfect conditions, rising tide, offshore breath of wind less than 5 mph, and very clean and clear emerald water of the western panhandle. Hit the beach front first thing armed with pompano jigs and hermit crabs. Unlike last week with the shrimp tipped jigs, nothing falling for my stuff this morning.
After a couple of hours, I noticed a large pod of cow-nosed rays meandering westward along the second sandbar. Thinking that cobia may be traveling with (under) the school, I ease up in the boat and begin throwing my cobia jig in front of and under the group. A dozen casts later, but whodda thunk it, a very large ray has swooped down to the bottom and eatin my jig! Let me just say that they are fast and powerful! After an extensive battle with many runs on the drag, I finally got the tired out ray to the boat. Now to get my cobia jig back! I have to hold the 36" wide critter by the leader with his back to the side of the boat (don't even know if they have a stinger, but not taking any chances!), and wrestle my jig out of his toothy maw with a pair of needle-nose pliers. In the process, I rip some of the best and flashiest dressing off my jig.
Strike one!
Shortly, I come back into the bay to one of my go-to spots in order to revive my spirits. I have never struck out here, and I know the big snappers are here hot and heavy and ready to do battle. First cast with a 50 lb rig, braid, and a 40 lb leader, heavy jig and a gulp ripple mullet, I get steamrolled, taken into the structure and broken off.
Strike two.
No problem, at least the fish are here and ready to do battle. I take 5 minutes to tie another 40 lb leader onto the 50 lb braid. Add my jig and ripple mullet and second cast. Bam! Same results.
Strike 3!
By now I am flustered, and in order to speed up the process of getting my bait back in the water, I just tie the jig directly to the 50 lb braid and toss it for a half an hour with no results.
So I decide to cut it short, come back to camp and clean up the boat and make phone calls to find bait for tomorrow....