Sheepshead trip - Ponce Inlet 11-24-11

.
I have not been able to add to much to the blog lately as it's huntin' season and I'm afraid that takes precedent over fishing for me. However, dad talked me into going sheepshead fishing after he had some pretty good action a few days ago. I think he had caught over 15 off some docks he likes to fish near the inlet at Ponce. He also had one big drum about 8lb.

The only problem on our trip was the tide was extremely high and strong. It was so high it was over the dock at the lighthouse launch. The tide was so strong even a 2oz. lead would not come close to being able to keep your bait alongside the dock pilings. The other issue and probably the real problem was the passing front. It had apparently knocked the bite off to a dribble.

The weather was partly cloudy and pretty windy. forcast was for NNE @ 15-20 mph but it was not quite that strong. The high was about 73 and the pressure was 30.2. Apparently the small front had passed thru late in the afternoon the day before.

We had some crabs and shrimp for bait. Dad had even caught a few on barnacles he scraped off the piles on the last trip.

We caught a total of (4) sheepshead (2) black drum a big pigfish and a pile of bait stealing pinfish. I even caught a spot tail pinfish which Dad nor I had ever seen before.

Spot tail Pinfish!

The sheepshead were all just undersize and we were not able to put a keeper in the boat. Given the poor bite I guess we did o.k..

The drum was the big catch for the day. He was about 7lb. and I caught him under  a dock on a piece of fresh dead shrimp. The other drum I caught was just undersize so he got a reprieve and made it back over board.

7lb. Black Drum!

The only problem with fishing with shrimp is the bait stealing pinfish. If the big fish are feeding the pin fish are not as much of an issue but when the bite is slow, look out. Of course, If you have fished for sheepshead much you know they don't really like shrimp that well. You will catch a few on them but you'll catch 10 to 1 with crabs.  One more tip, keep a tight line and when you feel the first bite you better set the hook hard. Don't give him any slack either.

As soon as this weather settles out a little the bite should pick back up.

Good luck,
Larry S.

Tarpon Quest 2! August 17,11

    .
    Tarpon Quest 2! August 17, 2011

I couldn't resist chasing the tarpons around Wednesday morning! I did not have a partner to fish with which is not the best idea but I took a chance. I glassed a number of bait pods and finally settled on one with some nervous bait after studying them for a bit I was able to see several tarpon roll in them. I grabbed my gear and put in.

There was a pretty good swell and the surface was a little rough which made finding the bait once I got out there a little hard.

The action was real good! I snagged a pogy and casted him back in the pod. Within 10 minutes I got a strike and the line started heading east. I set the hook and a slob of a tarpon in the 140-150# range rocketed skyward. He thru the hook on the first jump which was probable a good thing since I was by myself. I snagged another pogy and immediately had that one stripped from the hook. The next bait got the same result.

The next pogy made it about 5 minutes before the line started to leave. I set the hook and pulled the pogy right out of his mouth without ever sticking him?

Once again I snagged another pogy and heaved him back into the middle of the school. In just a few minutes the rod pulled down and I set the hook, grabbed the camera and was able to just catch her first and only jump.





The tarpon immediately headed east for deep water. I hooked her in 18' and in 12 minutes we were in 45' with 3-4' swells but remarkably the fight was over at that point. I tugged her on board for some pics and turned her loose.





I was a little uncomfortable with the conditions, especially since the fish had almost pulled me over trying to get the pictures. I decided not to push my luck and headed for the beach.

The tarpon action is really great right now but no telling how long it might last.

    Good Luck,
    Larry S.

PS, I have several people inquire about which PFD I am using. It is a pretty decent vest and has held up well. It gets a little hot but that is probably true for the others as well. This one is a Bass Pro Shops vest. It is reasonably priced and here is a link where you can find out more about it.......