Florida fishing 2/21~23
So many things on this trip went wrong and so many things went right.
Things that went wrong:
a. I should never BRING a cooler. I should buy one on site. I got charged $100 because my cooler was an extra check in item for my flight. If I had the option at that time, I would have left the cooler at home. Which ended up getting destroyed by the baggage handlers!!
b. I forgot my toothpaste.
c. It was raining in Florida.
d. It's a heck of a lot warmer in Florida than in California. I didn't have any shorts.
Things that went right:
a. The dude at the baggage claim was also a fisherman. He helped me arrange to get reimbursed by the airline. (Thank you Joe from Bitter's Bait and Tackle in Orlando!! www.bittersbaitandtackle.com)
b. Although it would rain all day, when I got out to fish, it would stop. Coincedence or miracle...you be the judge.
c. Tim's (Sinker) reputation allowed me to hook up with Joe from Strike Zone, who also hooked me up with a rental reel and lent me one of his really nice rods!
d. Tim's sincere friendship with Bill (Twister) allowed me to have one heck of time out at sea!!
e. Sports Authority was having a sale on shorts.
So now, the fishing report.
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Thursday, Feb. 21
5:30pm After a long day of work, I decided to take Tim's advice and go to Strike Zone. WHAT AN AMAZING SHOP!! Talked to Joe and Eric, who explained a lot regarding inshore fishing.
6:30pm After negotiating and pleading (begging) Joe agrees to take me out to the Sebastian Inlet for some Red Drum, Tarpon and Snook fishing.
10:30pm We head out to the inlet.
11:00pm We're at the inlet. Joe explained to me about the tide situation and that the best time is when the tide is going out.
Joe demonstrated his skills and landed a Red Drum. What a beautiful fish!! I didn't land anything, but I did hook up with a tarpon that proceeded to spit out my bucktail and leave. I can't tell ya how true the saying is "A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work". THANK YOU JOE!!
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Saturday, Feb 23
After extensive discussions with Bill (Twister) we decided to go out and fish offshore on Capt. Ralph's boat. As instructed, Bill told me to come to his house between 5:30am ~ 6:00am...I arrive at 5:45am. (That's precision people!! LOL!)
5:45am In Bill's garage, amongst all the household furniture in boxes, kids toys and typical garage items, was this. The world's sexiest lure...
Yes, ladies and gentlemen...that's a Ken doll lure. Who also has war wounds to prove his worthiness as a lure!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!
6:30am After picking up coffee for 10 cents at Bill's second home...we head to Capt. Ralph's home. Where they were already preping the boat for a day of fishing. She was a beautiful 38' cruiser!!
7:00am We're finally ready and head out!!
Yeah, we were FLYIN!!!
There's the Sebastian Inlet Jetty...
There's the beginning of a beautiful day...
As Bill reported, we tried a little of this...a little of that. Nothing really wanted to bite it seemed. I'm guessing that the rain from last night and the storm that's waiting to happen had an affect on the fish. So we trolled a little...like for 2 hours.
Here's Bill setting up a Ballyhoo rig..
Here's Eric (dad) and Erica (daughter). Doesn't Erica's expression tell how the fishing was?? LOL!!
Well, after getting hit twice on the troll by a couple of cute Dodos, a black sea bass that hit my squid, another black sea bass that hit Capt. Carl's vertical jig and a King Mackeral that hit Bill's vertical jig...that was pretty much it for the fish count.
In the meantime, the radar was telling a different story.
Titled "GET THE HECK OUT OF THE WATER!!"
That red spot is a storm. The center of the screen is where we're at...you get the picture??
It took 2 sets of eyes to make sure we're heading the right direction and not about to run into another boat...
Two hours of pounding waves and just total wetness...we're back inside the inlet...where things were a lot calmer.
Can you see the rainbow??
So now it's 4:30pm...we're back at the dock. The boat gets a well deserved washdown and looks ready for the next trip.
Well, I wish my report had more pictures of me fighting a big fish and my knuckles getting all bloody from banging it against the rails...but that didn't happen. But in a weird way...I'm glad it didn't. Cause now I have a reason to go back to Florida...REVENGE!!! If everything happened in this weekend...then I wouldn't have the burning feeling inside I have now. So Tim...Bill...next time we're gonna kill some fish. And we're gonna kill LOT'S OF THEM!!
Thank you for your hospitality, generosity and being just amazingly great people. If you ever have the chance to come to California, I hope to reciprocate as best as I can.
FJ74
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Originally Posted by ymin72
