Since we were off from school, I slept until 8:30, went to vote, texted David to make sure he had bait, got home to hook up the boat, grabbed a quick lunch, stopped for a couple dozen bait, and launched at Acapulco at 12:30. I got 2 27 inch fish pulling boards and corks in 15 to 25 feet of water along with a 22 incher and a couple of gar. With the wind blowing 20+ out of the north, I spent the first hour looking for signs of life near a wind break. My little bit of action was in the vicinity of Elbow. I didn’t try any deep down rod or spoon fish due to the overcast conditions. It was a raw, blustery afternoon, and I saw just 2 other boats in the distance. The fish were released to fight another day:sunglasses: Boat was back on the trailer around 4ish so that I could put it up and make a 6:30 PAC meeting for the club. I plan to try the river this weekend. It’s getting to be that time!
James what kind and how do you pull floats if you dont me asking. I pull the ole cajun thunder clacking style saltwater corks with a 7-8’ flouro leader behind them. Are you doing anything different like weighing the bait down or anything? Just wondering. Thanks.
Didnt realize your express would move like i saw it move on sat…lol… But at the same time i never looked at your signature and just saw you got a 175 back there…lol… 40mph+?
Lol! The boat is actually rated for a 200 but does fine with with the old 175. Most of the time 42-45 mph is top end. 48 is the most I’ve ever gotten it to do by myself with flat calm and not much of a load. It’s plenty fast enough.
For pulling, I use Redi-rig corks. They have a release and function like planers in that respect. Lead is usually average water depth I’m pulling +or- 5 or so feet. I’ll go longer without any buckshot on the line and slightly shorter with a splitshot. I’m not overly scientific but it works for me.
I have completely forgot about those style of corks. Tom showed them to me a couple yrs back. That would make things a whole lot easier than messing with an 8’ leader…lol…you rig them with a swivel and bead like a board so it doesnt mess with the fish?
Going shrimping this weekend and also heard the trout bite is on fire so gonna do that a lil while in Beaufort. Then its back to the stripes. I have said for 3yrs straight that i was gonna fish for stripers at the top of the lake hard during the winter and always end up crappie fishing…lol…but def gonna do it this yr. Probably gonna take alot of “putting time in the water” but only one way to find out.
I fished jakes all of jan and Feb this yr and never went home without at least 5 keeps. Hope i can find them up that way like that.
Once you get over any discomfort of fishing unfamiliar shallow water, working the 2 rivers is a blast! It’s a whole different world up there. I joked last year that I was catching good fish so shallow that I had to wipe mud off their bellies before putting them in the box:sunglasses: As for Jakes Cove, I have had some spotty success in February when I’ve decided to fish it.
Yes. I use the same bead setup with the Redi-rigs as planers. Works great!
