Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
May 28, 2005
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
MAKING FISHING MEMORIES ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
The Farr family journed all the way from Colorado and Tennesssee to experience the casual elegance of the Plantation on Saint George Island. The major-league celebration was another huge family reunion. On the clebration agenda was a final day dinner party for the entire family(15) and the dinner entre was caught that day super fresh grouper and snapper. It's like the taste diffence between frozen and fresh off the boat shrimp. In a descriptive adjective, AWESOME EATS!
As the folks boarded Topknots at first light, this Captain was enlightened regarding the large dinner soiree for the evening festivities. I immediately needed a private consultation with Topknots and she advised me to just go for it.
So, we were off into the brine as the new day's brilliant sunrise warmed us off the port bow. Just exactly is there anybody out there who could be kind enough to inform me about how many brilliant sunrises remain. The familys' mission was R&R, replenish, restore, retreat, recharge spririts with the simple pleasures. They would live it up and slow it down on this day while getting a full-tilt, cardio workout pulling on big fishes. As we ran east-southeast along the lush beaches of Saint George Island, the anticiaption level onboard was as thick as Kentucky cream. For you unenlightened, that is can't-stir-it thick. All of these anxious anglers had orders from the opposite gender to catch dinner or suffer the female wrath. For you unenlightened, never allow this to happen, it is devastating.
The pressure to deliver fish is a heavy burden on the Captains' shoulders, but what's new. So, we stopped to cast net a bunch of pogies to add to the pinfish in the bait tank. Yes, the pogies are here in mass. At nautical sunrise the pogies are dimpling on top, but, sleep in and forget it, they sound(disappear).
The first numbers were a natural, coral bottom about 9 nautical miles south of the east end of SGI. The show on the color scope only enhanced the anticipation to a fever pitch. Live baits were dropped in unison (first fish wager) and whammo, whammo, whammo. Count 'em, that' three! The mate expertly handled the bow boys, I got the stern guys. The 150 quart Igloo box was bloody again, immediately. One of the sharpest pencils in the box turned to me, smiled and said,"what took you so long Captain," obviously thrilled that he was to escape some considerable wrath. In fact, he was feeling quite the hero with an 8 pound gag to feed the masses. Oh, the simple pleasures of making it easy to take it easy on the Forgotten Coast. Happy folks playing on my natural playground again, HOORAY!
The dinner extravaganza would include fillets of trigger, black sea bass, red snappers, white snappers/grunts and did I mention gag and red group-groups. These gorgeous finny creatures are our shared natural treasures. My anglers arrived at my dock with smiles and expanded egos. They were the essence of cool when they showed the girls that they brought home the bacon and even intended to fry it up in a pan. Browny points and favors all around. Life is so simple, just go along to get along.
Till next tide, may the sun shine bright on your face and your fishing line always be tight,
Captain Alex Crawford
www.topknots.com
[email protected]
(850) 653-1325
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