Getting Close

[~~Snakeman~~]

Here's the list I have for the fishing trip on the last day of the month, Thursday the 30th: Bryan B.C., Monty, Joe Georgia, Howard Jax, Johnny B. Fishin', & Professor Pandion. If any of you will not be making it, or if there are any additions I am unaware of, please let me know. As it stands, this will be a full day trip, from 7 to 3. I will be your mate. I will try not to get in your way.

We should catch a mess of snappers. We will enjoy the heck out of the day.

~~Greg~~

[Joe/GA]

Sounds great, Greg! Thanks for setting it up! :D

[Bryan/BC]

Really looking forward to getting together with everyone! Many Thanks Greg. :)

[JAGS]

Gregs a great guy! He first set us up a couple of years ago to fish with him and every trip with him has been "one of the best fishing trips" my family and I have been on. Very much looking forward to getting down there and doing it again in a couple of weeks.

[~~Snakeman~~]

It's always been a gas fishing with your family, Randy. We'll be doing it again the day after the all day trip. The way I feel right now, after only a morning trip in snotty seas, I figure to be a whipped puppy by the time both trips are done.

For the all day trip,on Thursday, if the conditions are right, i.e. not much current &/or a north wind, we might venture out into deeper water than we normally fish in, like 350 feet. There we would hope to catch snowy grouper & Kitty Mitchell grouper, bigger than normal vermilion snapper, & rose perch. If the conditions are not right for that, we'll stay in closer, fishing between 90 & 140 feet, expecting yellowtail, mutton & mangrove snappers, as well as other reef fish.

Today's trip was a little slow, with 5 guys fishing, but we still managed 4 legal muttons, and a handful of yellowtail & mangroves. There were a couple of cero mackerels caught, which doesn't happen often here. We also caught a bunch of blue runners, which I will smoke & turn into fish dip for the two upcoming trips.

I'll not be fishing this coming week, so I'll be extra ready come the thirtieth.

~~Greg~~

[Don c]

Like OPRAH, am crying my eyes out cause I wasn`t invited.
You cad you Mr. Snakeman. :(

[~~Snakeman~~]

The invitation to you is open ended, my friend. I didn't think you'd be able to make the flight, but if you're up to it, come on down.

~~Greg~~

[Eddie]

Well, catch-em-up, fellas. Think of me when you're hauling in those big snappers....

[Mont]

Greg, if the boat is going again Friday morning, I want in. My flight lands at 5:45PM on Wed the 29th. I should be in my room at the Best Western Seaspray Inn by 7ish.

[Don c]

Thanks Greg, just kidding. Am lucky to just make it to the bathroom.

[Bryan/BC]

Now THATS the important thing Don!!! :D

[~~Snakeman~~]

Mont: You are on board Friday morning. Don, may your luck continue to hold.

~~Greg~~

[JBFishing]

I just got off the phone with the professor and we are planning to get there by 7am. Looking forward to meeting Bryan and seeing the other Groupers once again. I'll be bringing the GG Banner.

JBF

[JAGS]

I may have to have Greg give me a call about an hour before you guys are back to port so I can meet all of you and check out the great catch you will be bringing in.

[~~Snakeman~~]

Randy: If all goes as planned, the boat will be back at the dock at 3. If plans change, I'll let you know.

~~Greg~~

[JAGS]

Thanks Greg, I will plan that way. It would be nice to put faces to a few names here on the board.

[Bryan/BC]

Heys JAGS-- no problem recognizing me-----------I'll be the good looking one :D

[Bryan/BC]

Yo Mont--- Did you get my email??

[~~Snakeman~~]

Having met most of these guys & seen pictures of the rest, believe me, it can get scary. This trip oughta be around Halloween, not Thanksgiving.

Speaking of which, y'all have a great Thanksgiving.

~~Greg~~

[Bryan/BC]

Seems I have "mislaid" your telephone numbers Greg-- can you email them again please

[Mont]

will these guys go inshore if the forecast holds up?

THURSDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. NEAR SHORE...SEAS 2 TO
4 FEET BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE AFTERNOON. WELL OFFSHORE...
SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS.
SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

THURSDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. NEAR SHORE...SEAS
4 TO 6 FEET SUBSIDING TO 2 TO 4 FEET AFTER MIDNIGHT. WELL OFFSHORE...
SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS.
SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

FRIDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. NEAR SHORE...SEAS 2 TO
4 FEET SUBSIDING TO 2 FEET OR LESS IN THE AFTERNOON. WELL OFFSHORE...
SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET SUBSIDING TO 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE AFTERNOON.
INTRACOASTAL WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

[Joe/GA]

I wondered about that, too, Monty. It doesn't look real good for bottom bumping. :(

[JAGS]

But how close are their reports? But then again looking out the window here on the beach of Hutchison Island the wind is howling and she is really rough out in this area anyway. Did some pier and bridge fishing this morning and did not catch anything for the table. Caught alot of small grunts, puffers, pin fish and snapper. Headed back out to try again for the afternoon and evening. Anyone have any good inshore spots to share?

[Mont]

we have a major front coming through here on Thurs that is supposed to drop temps 50 degrees. Same one is hitting over there about 24 hours later. Here, they are calling for gale warnings on Friday. Last time one came through like this, we got a 47 MPH gust at the airport.

[~~Snakeman~~]

The two to four part is where we fish. Going further out, like I had hoped may not be comfortable enough to do. I have fished this boat in 4 to 6. It is a wide beamed lobster boat & handles seas really well. The crew will not put us in danger, not make us uncomfortable. These forecast seas are typical for this time of year. It is certainly more comfortable in the summer, but this is not bad.
I am more worried about the guys getting rained on Friday. Bring foul weather gear if you have it.

I just picked up a case of bottled Bud for the trip. I figure we may want one with the fried chicken I'll be picking up Wednesday & one on the ride back in.

~~Greg~~

[Joe/GA]

I'm game! I've done some rockin' and a rollin' before! :D

[Mont]

Greg, shoot me a PM with your phone numbers. It's going to be tight for me to make dinner at 7 on Wed. I hit the ground in PBI at 5:45 PM, have to rent some wheels and check in at the hotel. A physical addy for the tiki bar would help, along with one for the marina so I can google it up and print it out before I leave.

[JAGS]

Boys the seas have flattened out a bunch overnight here at Hutchison. I am even seeing small fishing boats out in front of the room this morning and I have not seen any boats out there on the ocean sense we got here.

Hope to meet you all Wendsday night!

[Joe/GA]

Greg, shoot me a PM with your phone numbers. It's going to be tight for me to make dinner at 7 on Wed. I hit the ground in PBI at 5:45 PM, have to rent some wheels and check in at the hotel. A physical addy for the tiki bar would help, along with one for the marina so I can google it up and print it out before I leave.

Good idea. If you can post those addy's here, Greg, I can do the same.

[Mont]

Joe, you flying down or driving?

The addy for the boat is 200 E 13th St.
West Palm Beach, FL. 33404

[Joe/GA]

I'm driving Mont. Thanks for the addy.

[~~Snakeman~~]

That address is good. That is the Riviera Beach Marina. The Tiki Hut is in the Marina, maybe 100 feet south (face the water & hold out your right arm, Joe). of the boat. I probably won't be there much before 7:30 myself. I have your cell number plugged into mine, Mont. I'll check & see how close you are before we order any food.

Mont, to get from the airport to the marina, go north on Australian avenue to 45th street. Turn right & go to U.S.1. Turn left on 1 (Broadway), go north & cross the big overpass at the Port. Turn right at the light just north of the bottom of the hill. You are there. Park anywhere.

~~Greg~~

[Mont]

I got mostly packed up this evening. I have a few things for manana, then a short morning at * wor*k and I head for the big airport. Greg, I got your email and for the rest of you, my cell is 281-808-1949. Sea y'all tomorrow!

[JAGS]

This is Randys wife. Just wanted to let everyone know that I outfished him again today. Did yesterday also. Although we were catching sail cats but we like the meat. We brought in 25 of them yesterday and I did about 15 them. Joshua and Randy got the rest between them.
Today though, Joshua (by himself) and I both caught nice sheepshead and Randy didn't. :D
We all caught more sail cats though.

Also, just wondering if any of the wives are coming to the Tiki bar get together? Randy was planning on bringing Joshua and I. If it is only men, maybe I should let Randy and Joshua come alone.

[Joe/GA]

Yup. Yup. I'm pretty much ready. Just a few more things to throw in the suitcase and I'm ready. I'll be on the road sometime between 0900 and 1000. My cell is: 912-322-1705

[Joe/GA]

We all caught more sail cats though.

Also, just wondering if any of the wives are coming to the Tiki bar get together? Randy was planning on bringing Joshua and I. If it is only men, maybe I should let Randy and Joshua come alone.

I didn't know anyone actually kept sail cats! Really? You eat them?

My wife is not able to come with me and I don't know about the others. Bryan's wife, Carolle, will probably be there. Perhaps Greg's wife too? I dunno.

[JAGS]

We ate them (sail cats) for supper tonight. There is very little meat to the fish so you have to only keep the big ones. Flavor depends on how you cook them also. They weren't as good tonight as the last time but I did it different.
Last time, baked in butter with garlic and lemon, really good. Tried fried in butter tonight with a seasoning and not as good.
Jeri

[~~Snakeman~~]

Come on Jeri! My wife & my aunt & Bryan's wife will be there tomorrow night.

I have not done so in a long time, but I have eaten sailcat. Not bad at all.

I am not surprised you & Josh out-fished Randy. As I recall, that happens on a fairly regular basis.

~~Greg~~

[JAGS]

Greg you are right, but as I recall the last couple of days fishing I spent as much if not more time playing mate. Baiting and casting Joshua's line, helping him get his prize catch up over the wall and taking Joshua's and most of Jeri's fish of the hook for them. But I would not trade it for the world. The look in his eyes as the pole doubles over and almost pulls him over the edge of the wall, him cranking his heart out, and the look of pride when he shows off what he just caught. Yep thats what its all about!

[~~Snakeman~~]

You better believe it! I was just razzin' ya. Seaya tonite. ~~Greg~~

[Joe/GA]

I'm outa here! See y'all tonight!:D :D

[Mont]

I am heading that way. Sea y'all tonight.