My long weekend report....

[Stinky_Hooker]

Thursday:


I started out leaving work early Thursday and getting to Dauphin Island about 1pm. I got to the house and got everything unloaded, the boat on the lift and finally headed out to pull the shrimp net later that evening. I caught good croakers, but very few shrimp. I figured since the trout bite on croakers was great this time last year I would be ok.

Perfect croakers!!


I hit a few rigs that night in search of the illusive freckled one. (Illusive to me at least). I managed one 16” trout and a nice 29” red. He weighed 9.2 lbs. Yes, I have a digital scale now and I am excited about posting actual fish weights instead of guessing. *;D

Here is the red, what fun on 12lb test! He was released unharmed.



I headed in about 12am for some sleep. I decided that maybe the morning bite would be better.







Friday:
I got up a little late Friday morning to head out again. I remembered before getting in the boat that I had put out pinfish traps the night before. I checked them and was pleased! I had about 4 dozen of these.



I pulled for bait and caught a lot of croakers once again. I got a few decent shrimp including one of the biggest I have ever seen, but still not really enough shrimp to speak of... No worries I fished anyways. I had a little less luck than the day before and came in with a big skunk in the boat. However, on my run in I seen a blackfish on the surface under a plastic bag. He went down as I ran past him and then came back up. I quickly re-rigged a rod for free lining a live shrimp and put one of the couple I had left on. I eased up next to him and tossed it. My cast was a little off and he took no interest. I threw it a second time and this one was on the money. He took it and the fight was on!! I had him online for about a minute and he pulled the hook. WOW they are strong! :shock: Then he came over and started milling around in the shade of my boat. *What silly fish! *;D *He, of course wouldn’t take a bait after that so I moved on.


I got back to the house as the wife was supposed to be down after work today and I didn’t want to miss her arrival. Later that evening after she got there we went to eat at Beudeans. I had been craving soft shells and I had heard good things about this place so we tried it. I don’t know if it was just this night in particular, but I was severely disappointed. The service was very s-l-o-w and the crabs were very small. I mean it may just be me, but if I pay 18.00 for two crabs I would like to taste them!!

*
Anyways, we headed home, full but slightly frustrated for some R&R. I had missed a call from a friend so I called him back. He had overlooked my being down at DI and was inviting me on a fishing trip further north. I was very grateful but had to decline. He did suggest I try the new cut through at the West end that Hurricane Katrina caused. I had heard good things about it, but wasnt sure if the bite was on there or not. I decided I would go for it.





Saturday:

Mrs. Hooker opted out of this trip as it was her first night down. Her only desire since the kids weren’t there was to sleep in. I can’t blame her, she is the best mom in the world and as with any good mother her needs always come last.

I got up and took some of my pinfish along with his recommendation of artificials and headed west. I got the boat anchored up and waded to shore right at daybreak with my gear.






As he explained on the phone I could see the trout busting bait in the surf all along the beach. I set up a live bait rod with a pinfish and then picked up my artificial rod. I chunked my Fin-S out and as soon as it hit the water BAM, the fight was on. I glanced back to see line peeling off of the rod setup with a live pinfish so I ran back and got it too. I held one between my legs and the other in my hands and alternated reeling the one that wasn’t peelin drag. I finally just walked backwards with them both and got the fish on the beach.….two nice 2.5ish trout. The next two consecutive casts yielded the same results. Wow 4 trout for four casts. :shock: *I kept on a pecked away 8 fish total with the biggest coming on a live pinfish. He went 3.5 #. 2 were on live, the other six artificials. NICE *8)











Here is a shot of the Hooker anchored up:





I headed home and the Mrs. and I hung out. We rode bikes around the Island and done all that silly stuff young lovers do. * ;D

We even walked around the bird sanctuary. Here is a pic of the Mrs. While we were out.




We also went to the Estuarium and man they got some nice fish in them tanks. There was a flounder in there that had to go 5-6#. :shock: Oh how I wanted to filet and fry him. *;D

We had a late lunch at The Island Steamer on DI and were thrilled with the food, service and price. We shared a huge seafood platter with fish, shrimp, shutup-dogs, crawfish, oysters, crab, crab claws and fries. We were both stuffed and there was food left. All for about 25.00 tip and all. *:o Now THAT is a place I will return to. *8)

We had a couple of our friends down this night as they are moving to Baton Rouge in a week or two. He is a Coasty and has his orders. They are probably our best friends and will be missed so went spent the evening hanging out and grilling with them.



Sunday
In spite of our friends down the wife says she is DEFINITELY going fishing with me this AM. We got up early and repeated the trip I had made the previous day. We got to the beach and made our casts. The live bait rod was the first to go and it was handed off to Mrs. Stink. While she fought that one I landed another good eating sized trout. I then ran down the beach to help her as she yelled and her eyes did this>>> *:o



The result was this nice 5lb 4ozer. *8)










This was her best trout ever, heck it would have been MY best trout ever. *::) I knew it would happen, it doesn’t matter if that girl goes once a year, she will get THE best fish that one time. I wouldn’t have it any other way. *8)


We worked a little harder for our fish this day, but still left with 6 good fish and headed home.




The rest of the day we relaxed a little and packed up to come home. It was a great weekend and a good time, but of course way too short. I plan on taking a solid week off next year for our anniversary, but couldn’t with my preceding illness. I ate up most of my vacation time for that. *:(

Overall it was a gorgeous few days though…I really couldn’t ask for more. The boat ran great, the weather was pretty and the wife was hot. *8)

Here is a picture of a couple I released into lake crisco last night....fish with grits!! Its a southern thang...I dont reckon most of "yall" would understand. *::)