Three More Spanish Mackerel

Another Day at the Pier

Three dollars and three more fish in the freezer -- getting pretty full but, still room for more.  Far less action for the five or six hours spent on the pier but, always worth watching and enjoying the faces of the new spectators who come to see what the pier has to offer.  Many of them, get the biggest thrill just standing next to one of the Pelicans that tend to hang around the nearest fish cleaning station -- especially the one near the restrooms and the end of the pier.  I tried feeding one of them the three heads and guts from yesterday's catch but, only got a hiss and a clapping of its big ugly bill.  Seems he may have been full from the earlier gutting of some dozen or more Spanish Mackerel by two Asian guys -- both of them had long pants on and kerchiefs around their chins and necks so, suspect they had been there early in the morning (and had more action).

Not as many Mackerels seemed to be around and that included the King Mackerel perhaps because of the storm the night before.  Many of the usual guys were just standing ready and watching the southeast waves and water for the possible approach of Cobia -- none seemed to show while I was there and only later in my fishing day did any of them spring to action (false alarm played on them by another young guy and his younger son).

The "Old Warrior" - (34-1/2")

Most of the days entertainment came from watching some more of the Redfish being hauled up or being lost at the water's surface -- one or two broken lines and another broken landng net that let one nice fish drop through after the netting gave way.  One of the most beat up fish measured about 34-1/2 inches and had so many wounds on its head and body that it looked like and "Old Warrior" but, as soon as it was dropped back to the water's surface with the landing net, it swam from the net and dove immediately to the bottom.

Really Beautiful Redfish

Another beautiful Redfish was caught by a young black guy and the battle started on the east end of the pier and came halfway back along the east side, then back all the way around the end and along the west side, (around that light pole I had trouble with the other evening).  This guy had a really small rig for the size fish he had on and some of the locals joked about the "Walmart Rig" he was using and doubted that he could even get the fish in -- they also encouraged a younger kid in an orange shirt (think his name was Scott) to tag along and help the guy.  Eventually, the fish wore out and the Walmart rig didn't break.  I didn't see what the fish measured but, the guy had to be about 6 foot 5 inches tall so, the fish had to be over 3 feet, I think.

Beautiful Beaches too.

Today should be cleaning day and getting ready for the short move west along the Gulf Coast to Navarre Beach but, I have checked on the sunrise and fishing charts to see that an 8:07 a.m. to 9:07 a.m. outing may be on my schedule -- long pants and long sleeved shirt perhaps.  Looks like I will feed the cats and go spend another $3 for one more shot at those Spanish Mackerels -- better get some ice on the way, I think.  Maybe grab a kerchief so I look like a local (note the kid in the picture above).