Scallop trip with TheFermanator..

[RidgeRunner]

To the forecasters--If you have no ideas what the weather is going to do, please don't guess at it...

Pick up TheFermanator and head to Homasassa for a scallop trip. The weather was kinda dicey. Wind chop and a fairly stiff current tried to spoil an otherwise good time. Weather Underground was only calling for a 30% chance of rain. After waiting on a band of rain to move through, we made it to the now murky scallop grounds that was so productive last week. Got a few, not what we went for.

We listened to the Merc screaming and rattling for a very busy trip up and down the Homasassa. Determined that the non-skid wasn't non-skid enough, anchor inadequate, (not enough chain) bent a fluke to he// from not having a cleat front and center on the bow, could use a smaller prop, a little less motor height, what have I forgotten?? Oh yeah, pictures.. I took the camera, but didn't take the first picture. Might have some video of the Wellcraft violently pitching and rolling in the chop caused by the 10 to 15knot winds while the anchor rode was tied off to the midship cleat.(friends in another boat just bought a Go PRO)
Ferman, McGivered the anchor rode on the second spot so the vessel stayed pointed into the waves.. We were only on the water a few hours before another squall line was bearing down on us from the north and the wind was building from the south, we decided to call it. Pint, pint and a half is what we ended up with. Worst conditions I have ever scalloped in. As for the distinguished gentleman from Zepherhills, what a nice guy, all of the aforementioned was no problem for the Fermanator. I had a good time, good conversation.. class act..
Time to clean the V and modify the old girl for the next trip...

[jasoncooperpcola]

Sounds like a good time at least.

Is that what happens when you take Ferm? You find out issues you didn't know you had?

When I finish the V, I might head yalls way for a trip.

[THEFERMANATOR]

It was a GREAT trip, despite the weather. Anytime on the water makes for a great day even if you get rained on. If I go out a few more times, I'll end up bankrupting myself and buying another boat that I can't afford right now. Getting ready to start cooking dinner. Gonna make some scallop linguine alfredo with broccoli out of em.

[phatdaddy]

at least ya'll got to go. we 've been trying to get a trip up for 3 weeks

[Destroyer]

You guys down south have it made and don't know it. You got Scallops, Crawdads, Bonefish, and a bunch of other fish that we northern guys only see in the fish store display windows. Ok, admittingly with NOAA you can't fish for all of them anymore, but at least they're out there somewhere.

[macojoe]

Yes you guys are lucky!! I went to the Fluke grounds today and was or you might as well say I was skunked today! Never would I have thought the area I would go would get fished out!! But the dragers have been doing a number on them there for a few years now and Kenny, my son, and I got just 16 fish today in 5 hours!! just a few years ago we would limt out with 200 pounds in that same time frame

[THEFERMANATOR]

They're still out there. We went offshore and limited out on gags in 25 feet so we shot back inshore and 3 of us limited out on scallops in an hour and a half in that same area ridge. In a few spots I was actually having to make 2 dives as my hands couldn't hold all of them at one time to put em in the bag(4 and 5 at a time). Unfortunately I have to clean em all tommorrow.