Northern Fla. Panhandle

[Schoe]

I rode into St Joe a bit ago and while Joyce was at the drug store I ran down to the Marina to see if there were any brave souls down there fishing. To my surprise there were about a dozen people there . I did see a couple small Trout caught but that was all. Most everyone was fishing inside the protective wall and were out of the 20-25 MPH wind except for three adults and two small kids that were fishing on the outside breaker wall getting soaking wet from the over spray from the waves hitting the wall. I have never wanted to catch a fish that bad. (well maybe a couple of times). Schoe

[Schoe]

It has been a while since we had gone out fishing so we ventured out today to the Inland Canal. We had planned to go Crappie fishing but that didn't work out.

It was a beautyful day out on the water, but the fishing wasn't all that great although we caught enough to keep us occupied.( you are probabably thinking we are spoiled, yes we are)

The trusty ol Croakers were really slow as I think we caught 14 that we kept and also caught a 3 lb. hardhead Catfish, two undersized Black Drum, and Joyce caught a 15" Red Fish which all added up to a fun day again here in Fla. I forgot to mention that I managed to get 2 Blue Crabs in the boat after loosing several.

Here's a couple of todays pictures. Schoe

[Sharon]

Hey, glad you got out there, looks like it wasnt too cold up there after all.

[KajunPCB]

nice mess of croakies..when nothing else is biting they can definetly save the day.

[capt.kirk]

Bet those Live Croakers would call in the Big Flats over in the river or
in the Dead Lake Kirk

[Illinoisgiller]

Happy to hear that you are still getting on them Schoe.:cool: Mike

[Schoe]

Yeah Mike, I was beginning to get cabin fever and needed to get out. It's a little after 10:00 AM today and Joyce said it is 61 degrees already.

Our daughter Annie is flying down today and was supposed to come into Pensacola at 6:30 this evening but just called and said she took a voluntary bump due to overbooking for a different flight into Panama City which will arrive an hour earlier. What a deal, they gave her a $400.00 voucher and it will save me about 6 hrs. of driving time. Nice huh?

It looks like Annie will have great weather this week in the 60s and 70s. We have a lot of different plans for the week that I hope she enjoys as this is her first time in this area of Fla. Schoe

[Illinoisgiller]

Isn't it neat how some things work out? I'd bet she will enjoy the time down there :cool: . Those panhandle fish better watch it now with three of you on the hunt. lol Mike

[Schoe]

I hope you are right Mike. I would like to get her out to the Salt water at least once and up in the river too around Wewa. It would be nice to get a video of her reeling in a nice Flat. Schoe

[Schoe]

Too bad for Annie, but it looks like she may be going back to the frozen north without going off shore because of the wind and rain. Tomorrow will be her last chance and that looks pretty dim. I know a couple of places about 7 to 10 miles out that she could more than likely catch something but I won't attempt to go with winds over 10 MPH, 5 to 10s I can handle.

Got a call from a gentleman that works at a bait and tackle shop that has a good friend that is one of the areas top Crappie fishermen that has offered to take me along sometime later in the week. Hopefully I have a good report and pics. Schoe

[capt.kirk]

Annie,sorry you didnt get to go out in the Gulf for some fishing,Hope
you enjoyed your short vacation anyway.:) Kirk

[capt.kirk]

:party0045::party0045:Its Raining Bigtime:party0045::party0045:
:party0011: Kirk:party0011:

[Schoe]

That is great news. I hope Georgia is getting a bunch to help your Rivers down there. Schoe

[Stump Bumper]

Me too! I'm sweating it big time. Sure hope the river comes back up before July. Talked to Maurice (wewamohawk) the other day and he told me that the Fish and Game folks, doing a creel survey, shocked up a 67 pound Flathead in the Dead Lakes just last week. Took two of them to haul it aboard and get it weighed and measured, then they put it right back. Also Kirk, a fella from Georiga caught a 45 pound Flathead in the exact same spot I fished in the Bristol tournament. I sure can't wait to get back up there....Ray

[capt.kirk]

Well it poured buckets full about 4 hours and quit,we are supposed to get more in the morning but all its doing now is just soaking in thru the first
layer of dust.Thats a couple of pretty good fish you mentioned,are you
going to fish that hole again when you come up?Last couple of days i
have been setting in the boat siteing in Sues pellet rifle,the rest of the
week i think i will put a peice of red string on some fishing line and see
how many lizards i can catch,WHO is BORED???:confused0018: Kirk

[Stump Bumper]

Well, if you are planning on using Cajun Red to lasso them lizards....they will never see it coming....LOL....Ray

[capt.kirk]

Just usin a peice of red yarn on a 10 ft peice of 8lb line like a fly rod,
the problem is the catch an realese,got 1 of the striped buggers bout
7 inches long and when i went to get the yarn out of his mouth he
clamped down on my finger and had to shake him loose,next time i
will rub his belly and put him to sleep then take him loose.:icon_biggrin:
Kirk

[Knothead]

you think maybe they make good flathead bait?

[capt.kirk]

Knothead,I dont know if they would catch a flathead,they got pretty
small mouths:confused0024: Kirk
Just messin with you there Knothead,I do know that they make good
bass bait,if they go skippin across the water it dont take long for one
to get sucked up by a bass or big gill,best not to kill them they are
bug killin machines.:icon_biggrin: