May 29 - Giant Trout - Sea Monsters - Hippy Shots - Night Snook

My buddy Randy from La Jolla was in town for the memorial day weekend and we managed to get in some fishing while he was here. I'd been chanting how much better the fishing is in Florida than in San Diego so the pressure was kind of on to put my friend into some fish or risk looking like a real idiot. We managed to catch a huge variety and number of fish which made me pretty happy. The species count while he was here included redfish, bluefish, snook, trout, ladyfish, lizardfish, mangrove snapper, and the wily sailcat. Randy totally outfished me but when you're guiding it's better to focus on your guest. In fact, some people claim that its HARDER to guide someone to fish than to actually catch fish. This must be the case because god knows I'm a much better fisherman than Randy. Report follows.

How's this trophy trout? The trout fishing was completely off the chain.


We were in fish right from the first cast which was a huge relief considering I'd mentioned how good the fishing would be like 400 times the night before.


You have to give this needlefish points for trying. How are the teeth on these things?


Sadly, at the end of the day, Randy was eaten by a huge lizardfish. That's what happens when you outfish the Hornetbear. Really bad stuff. Remember this at tournaments.


I styled this osprey with a hairdrier to get this shot. Notice how nice and poofy he looks.


I told randy this was a huge snook and to pose for a picture with it. Joke's on you buddy.


Action! Non Stop Action!


Pretty nice flounder! This flounder was lucky I didn't have a cooler or ice wih me. I think if you don't have ice to preserve the fish you're being a real putz by keeping it. keeping a dead fish on a stringer or cooking in the Florida sun is a great way to make them taste like crap. The secret to preserving fish is mix the ice with sea water. This makes a super cooled salt slurry which makes the fish preserve perfectly. Seriously. It's the best way to ice down a fish.


You just never know what you're gonna get out there...


Hippys love sunrises. They also love goofy hats. Therefore they love this photo.


Got out night fishing too. Didn't get anything huge but had some really big blowups. Actually, the night fishing was the toughest of all the  fishing we did. Night fishing is usually a total slam dunk but it was pretty tough going.


Another massive trophy fish for Randy. Well... He though it was.


Lots of mullet under the lights, too. Lights with lots of mullet don't seem to have that many snook.


Tons of bait everywhere but the snook just were not there yet. The tide was the last part of a incoming which just wasn't doing it. I think outgoing is better at night.


That was it for the fishing. I am going to say we pretty much scored. Super steady fishing and lots of variety. Now to dazzle you with some Jacques Costeau style stuff. read on!

the conditions were quite clear in this spot.


You hippys know you're all freaked out over this shot. You love it.


I felt pretty safe even though these were everywhere...


Sawfish! You never see those. What a tremendously skilled diver I am.


Jacks everywhere! What an incredible dive.


Whale Shark! Amazing! This is the dive of a lifetime!


Hey! What the hell are all these people doing standing around 50 feet under water? I've discovered Atlantis!

_________________
http://www.hornetbear.com
“When I found the skull in the woods, I called the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns.”
- Jack Handy

Comments

[Chris]

You are the only reason I still go to florida sportsman No motor zone.

Keep posting your pics there.

Thanks...............

[tony]

sweet