Great Day - Good Fishing

While others to the north are still digging out from the mess left by Sandy and struggling to stay warm without power in their homes (if still standing), yesterday here was beautiful and the temps nearly normal (high 70s).  So, I decided that since the westerly or northwesterly winds were below 20 mph that I might as well spend the $2 and get in an afternoon of fishing -- thought of fishing the afternoon until sunset since the low-tide was to be at 6:23 p.m. (same as the sunset).

I arrived at Amelia Island Park around 2:00 p.m. and expected to be fishing the outgoing or changing tide with some hopes of getting to that point where I caught that beautiful Red fish (or Red Drum).  First task as usual was to pull-in to the shore and catch some of the little mullet for bait before heading to the point where the currents run swifter and made casting the net more difficult.  After a couple throws, I had ample bait for getting started and continued on along the beach toward the ocean.  Since the point was still covered with water and lots of Pelicans and Seagulls, I chugged along the sand until I reached the rock jetty where I made a u-turn and followed the narrow strip of sand on the ocean side of a long, deep tidal pool that stretched back to the point I had my sights on.  The narrow strip of sand by the ocean was already occupied by a couple of 4-wheelers and fishermen were in the waters up to their knees -- casting for bait or fishing the surf.

I'm pretty sure that stretch of the beach, (where the outgoing tide meets the ocean waves) probably had lots of Blues chopping through the waters -- sharks too with the high tide having just occurred.  I focused on getting closer to that point with some hopes of another big Red fish or some Spotted Sea trout so, I continued along the edge of the tidal pool until I felt it to be not too risky for the Jeep to sink in the sand (with the water still splashing ashore -- and slightly around the tires).

Content that I had gone as far as I could with the Jeep, I began to pull rods, supports, bait and coolers to the water's edge on this beautiful, sunny and pleasant day -- stopped to lather up with sunscreen first.  I already had changed the rigging on both lines earlier in the morning when I had Tiger and Molly on harnesses and leashes outside the RV and I changed out the reel on the longer surf casting rod to another backup reel (with lighter test line).  Both lines now had one ounce egg sinkers with steel leaders and a single hook for the bait fish, allowing them to float down the beach and hopefully entice a nice Red fish or big Flounder to chomp down (day before I had seen another guy next to me land a nice 5 pound Flounder from the point).

Well, the first thing I caught was a three foot sand shark -- beautiful looking but, lots of those teeth and a nasty disposition.  Fortunately, I had dug out the rubber/cloth fishing glove (one of two I had bought a week or two earlier) and should have had it ready the day before to unhook the two foot shark I caught then -- had a real mess getting that one unhooked and untangled from both lines.  This time, it went much quicker and more smoothly to get the shark back in the water and swimming away -- after it seemed to swim the shallows in front of me looking to bite me first before heading back out to feed some more on the mullet.

A little later in the afternoon, a few older people arrived on the other side of the tidal pool and setup chairs by their vehicle and seemed to be watching me as I leap-frogged one pole after the other, walking them up and down the beach from one pole support to the other.  Eventually, I did hook into another Red fish and brought him in to unhook and measure -- only measured 16 inches so I released the beautiful fish back into the shallows.  During some of the slack times or inactivity, I walked the shore and cast my net into some of the small holes in the sand by the shore to replenish my supply of live bait.  On one of these casts with the net, I brought in the biggest mullet I had ever seen -- it measured over 16 inches and it had some of those larger scales on its body like the Red fish so, I decided to let this one go too.

As the sun dropped toward the horizon in the clear blue sky over the river, the trio of older folks folded up their chairs and departed -- maybe I had entertained them enough or maybe they were headed for an early-bird senior special at some restaurant nearby.  Though I had been happy earlier about wearing my bathing suit on such a beautiful day, the early evening seemed to be bringing a little chill even with the sun still a half hour from setting.  I remained hopeful, though I avoided wading anymore in the water (alert too for any shark coming through the shallows), and the rewards finally came with the gentle waves from the ocean as they began to lap onto the shore and into Nassau Sound.  No longer drifting on the current of the out-going tide, my lines were now holding straight off the beach and the action began on one rod and then the other as the hungry trout began to arrive and feed.

I missed a couple but, managed to hook and land three really nice Spotted Sea trout -- all over the 15 inch minimum size.  I reluctantly fought the impulse to stay and fish into the darkness but, my already slightly chilled body told me to pack up and head out while I could still see the fringes of the hole the tidal pool had created.  Only two other vehicles remained as I pulled away and skirted the edge of the two or three foot deep hole in the beach.

Now if only I could have found my camera, I would have attached some pictures of the bounty of fish I had caught or the platter filled with headless trout ready for the grille (tonight).  It seems I have permanently misplaced the camera or someone stole it from my Jeep while I had been at the beach.  Luckily, I still have my wallet and cell phone (knock on wood).

Today, I will spend cleaning and hunting both vehicles again for that missing camera -- I know it had been in the RV where I had last taken a couple pictures of Tiger occupying the driver's seat.  The pictures aren't in the folder so, they must still be in the camera -- perhaps Tiger didn't approve them and has hidden the camera from me (I know he likes the little string handle it had too).