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Headed to the ENP for a solo camping/fishing trip. Slight winds from the E/NE so I decided to camp in the backcountry on the Plate Creek Bay Chickee. It faces the East, so I figured the breeze would blow any mosquitos or no-see-ums back into the small cay that is behind the chickee. Fortunately, I was right! Beautiful clear skies both at night and during the day, cool temperatures meant good sleeping! Fishing was good. I focused on areas to the south and ended the two days with nice catches of snook (smaller, but 14 for the two 3/4 days that I fished), reds (3), trout (3), Spanish Mac (1) and assorted ladyfish, jacks and catfish.
The highlight of the trip occurred on Saturday at the very beginning of the incoming. I was at the mouth of a river, poling around. Saw a huge triple tail but couldn’t get her to eat; then a couple of sheepsheads. Then, a huge boil a little offshore. I could see a slick and dark shapes in the water—figured it was a big school of reds. Turns out, it was a school of what looked like hundreds of black drum—big ones! I had been throwing soft plastic paddle tails and a pink/white bucktail jig most of the morning. As they moved into the mouth they were all around the skff—tried both baits; no luck despite several well-placed casts. They moved into the river and I followed them up on the trolling motor well to the side so as not to spook them. Tied a copper colored spoon and made a few casts; no luck. Kept following them up the river as they foraged about. Tied on a yellow jig and a GULP shrimp. Bingo! Game on! One man fight and then landing the fish was challenging to say the least! She filled up the net! Just about 35”, not sure of the weight but she was hefty!
What a great two days spent enjoying the beauty of God's creation. I'll try to share some pic's later--computer is backing up.
The highlight of the trip occurred on Saturday at the very beginning of the incoming. I was at the mouth of a river, poling around. Saw a huge triple tail but couldn’t get her to eat; then a couple of sheepsheads. Then, a huge boil a little offshore. I could see a slick and dark shapes in the water—figured it was a big school of reds. Turns out, it was a school of what looked like hundreds of black drum—big ones! I had been throwing soft plastic paddle tails and a pink/white bucktail jig most of the morning. As they moved into the mouth they were all around the skff—tried both baits; no luck despite several well-placed casts. They moved into the river and I followed them up on the trolling motor well to the side so as not to spook them. Tied a copper colored spoon and made a few casts; no luck. Kept following them up the river as they foraged about. Tied on a yellow jig and a GULP shrimp. Bingo! Game on! One man fight and then landing the fish was challenging to say the least! She filled up the net! Just about 35”, not sure of the weight but she was hefty!
What a great two days spent enjoying the beauty of God's creation. I'll try to share some pic's later--computer is backing up.
