Fishing Charlotte Harbor Area (bill, grocery, rain)

[Messing About]

Originally Posted by wpc691

MA - I don't think I've seen any comments since you got the Key West 196. I'm looking for a house, will move next May. Was thinking of a little bigger boat, but the 196 would let me get out some places that a bigger boat wouldn't - and I assume the gas bills are now less painful. Are you comfortable outside the harbor with a couple of passengers aboard?

Really? Seems like I posted a ton on this thread since buying the 196. You can always go to my blog on blogspot too.

Anyways, I absolutely love the KW 196BR. For me it is the perfect hull for this area. Gas bills are relieved a bit, although I can't seem to stop going WOT on the final approach home, past the Charlotte Beach Complex.

I am learning to work the flats and enjoy it more than I ever thought I would. It's also a lot cheaper on fuel. I have been 5-6 miles off shore on nice days with 2 to 3 passengers plus me and the boat does great. I agree with BH though, Captain plus 1 or 2 is about all you want aboard if everyone has a rod in hand.

Gag grouper harvest opens up again Sept 15. I hope to bring some home this season.

[Harbor Hopper]

5 of us went out cruising Sunday. Put 70 miles on the boat. Anchored up at the Cayo Costa sandbar with about 40 other boats. Friends from MI got lots of cool shells to take home, and found one sea star. After the baby's nap and lunch, we grabbed some fuel and more beer, and headed out to the gulf and to the north of Gasparilla Island. Seas were 4-5 ft following, so not bad at all. Too rough to anchor in the gulf though. So we pulled up on the sandbar near the gasparilla causeway (one of our favorite places to hang out). Saw numerous dolphins pass by, and some young girls found two large lightning whelk shells (looks like the large conch shells in the keys). Made it the 23 miles back just before dark. Best part, NO engine problems! That's always something to celebrate!

[Messing About]

Good report HH. Pics? We love pics!

[Harbor Hopper]

Originally Posted by Messing About

Good report HH. Pics? We love pics!

I know, we are horrible about taking pics. Our guests took some, so I will hit them up.

[wpc691]

Thanks, MA. I tried the blog, but couldn't get a history list, and going back 1 page at a time got too painful.

[daFrogMan]

Originally Posted by wpc691

Thanks, MA. I tried the blog, but couldn't get a history list, and going back 1 page at a time got too painful.

I'm there all the time.
Messing About in South Florida

[Messing About]

I'm finally ready to go fishing tomorrow. Anyone else?

[Messing About]

Finally got my first keeper Redfish. 26" long, 6 pounds alive, 1.92 pounds of fillets.
Tackle: 30lb braid with a 30 pound floro leader, 3/0 circle hook, free lined, no swivel.
Bait: huge hunk of cut pin fish.
Caught in Bull Bay, near Boca Grande Pass, on a falling tide.

The live shrimp available today was really slim pickens. I hit two bait shops between 7 and 730AM and no one had a delivery nor were they expecting deliveries after the storms and waves in the Gulf last night. I took 3 dozen of the smallest shrimp I've ever fished with, LOL. But it was enough.

I was catching and releasing handsize sheepshead and grunts, using a 1/0 hook, freelined with shrimp. Finally, after 3 hours of releasing babies I caught the biggest pin fish of my life. I cut him up to a huge hunk of meat and put it on a 3/0 circle hook. I left it on a 15 minutes soak and decided today wasn't going to be my day. The tide was going down and I had come through 1' of water to get to the 3' hole I anchored down in. I needed to go before I couldn't get out. I started putting my gear away and the corner of my eye saw my rod, pop...pop........pop....pop.

When I realized what it was, I sought devine intervention. "Oh God, please let me get him in the boat." With no net and no crew I just let him fight until he was wore out. When he rolled over at the side of the boat I used the lipping tool to get him landed. I measured him at 26" and dropped him in the live well. I kept him alive for the ride home so he'd still have nice color for the photos.

Sorry for the big story, but this was a big deal for me. We always remember our first.

[daFrogMan]

Saweet! Congrats! Nice story.

Originally Posted by Messing About

Finally got my first keeper Redfish. 26" long, 6 pounds alive, 1.92 pounds of fillets.
Tackle: 30lb braid with a 30 pound floro leader, 3/0 circle hook, free lined, no swivel.
Bait: huge hunk of cut pin fish.
Caught in Bull Bay, near Boca Grande Pass, on a falling tide.

The live shrimp available today was really slim pickens. I hit two bait shops between 7 and 730AM and no one had a delivery nor were they expecting deliveries after the storms and waves in the Gulf last night. I took 3 dozen of the smallest shrimp I've ever fished with, LOL. But it was enough.

I was catching and releasing handsize sheepshead and grunts, using a 1/0 hook, freelined with shrimp. Finally, after 3 hours of releasing babies I caught the biggest pin fish of my life. I cut him up to a huge hunk of meat and put it on a 3/0 circle hook. I left it on a 15 minutes soak and decided today wasn't going to be my day. The tide was going down and I had come through 1' of water to get to the 3' hole I anchored down in. I needed to go before I couldn't get out. I started putting my gear away and the corner of my eye saw my rod, pop...pop........pop....pop.

When I realized what it was, I sought devine intervention. "Oh God, please let me get him in the boat." With no net and no crew I just let him fight until he was wore out. When he rolled over at the side of the boat I used the lipping tool to get him landed. I measured him at 26" and dropped him in the live well. I kept him alive for the ride home so he'd still have nice color for the photos.

Sorry for the big story, but this was a big deal for me. We always remember our first.

[wpc691]

Nice red, MA. Thanks for the story and the pix. It's 55 and raining here, so anything involving warm water, boats, and fish is appreciated.