Started off this morning first in line at the bait shop and in walked friends Kevin and Linda. Bait was scarce, but we managed to split a pound and a half of grass shrimp between the three of us, each fishing in our own boats. Kevin said he really only needed three shrimp anyway since he was fishing with three guys to which we all laughed and were on our way.
The water was flat calm and a warm 54 degrees (much better than the 48 degree trip weeks before). Set up in 56 feet of water about midway through the ebb. Set one rod up with eel and the other with grass shrimp. I was telling Linda today that I have not had a fish on eel in quite some time in response to her comment about most of her fish coming on eel. Long about 09:00 the rod with eel got a nice hit to which I swung for the fences. No such luck on the hook set, so I dropped it right back down. Not a minute later she was on it again, so I swung away. This time I struck pay dirt. The fish immediately headed down river and before I knew it she had 150 yards on me and all I could do was slow her down. I was by myself so there was no way I could drop the anchor and chase her, so I started hollering for the boats nearby. Luckily, one of them responded by dropping their anchor and coming along side. I jumped in and we begin chasing the fish down. Finally we got it to the boat and it's a tail hooked, 51inch fatty. A quick snare and some pictures and she was released to swim again.
The guys who dropped their anchor to come help unfortunately had too small a float on their rode and it sunk, so I told them to tie up along side until the tide slowed and they could get their anchor back. Great bunch of guys. We all had a great laugh when I told them that it would be better to keep my chase boat along side anyway.
After they moved off, Linda ( Diehard) and Al came by and tied off along side to fish for awhile. I was treated to a great meatball sandwich and plenty of laughs to finish out my day. It just does not get any better than this.
Ron
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