Thread: Southern Comfort can be

measured in a number of ways. Yesterday's trip was easily one of my Northerner transplant yield that earns top-shelf celebration! 70% of my life has been blessed with fishing/crabbing in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and ALL of it's many tributaries(including Virginia). Florida not only has an abundance of Blue Crabs(East & West coast), but it allows each properly registered/tagged(free) recreational crabber 5 commercial-size pots(traps)! Marylander's would easily PAY to have that privilege! You see, MD. Commercial crabbing(pots) licenses are expensive, highly monitored(fines), and also have a significant waiting list. Commercial men actually sell/leave them in their will!! My recent top-tier item on my bucket list has put Mr. Snook utmost in focus with the season opening last week on Sept. 1st. Unfortunately, Mother Nature excluded my West coast agenda and further obligations puhed back my "opener" to yesterday's Labor Day ARMADA. I decided to diversify by including my 5 crab pots to be baited(previously cleaned fish carcasses) and left to work their magic while hopefully, I worked mine!
Although a new-moon phase congers up(at least for me), favorable bite factor, the tide stage/flow prove significant. Last Wed.(Sept. 1) was tide perfect, yesterday was measurably challenged, so I knew it was probably going to be a longer slug-fest. 1st cast produced a scrappy throwback Redfish(17.5") but as it sometimes happens- not always a good thing. Slow to moderate success, but nothing to enjoy my RTIC "ice bath". Even set out two Pinfish-traps, just in case I needed to up my game. Then(drumroll) @1:15... the thump, the blistering/deafening drag-scream, buttoned chin strap, appropriate prayers offered up- and it was ON like DONKY-KONG!! Fortunately, I have won more than lost in the past at these dances, but the possibility of line break/hook-pull looms large= Oyster shells, lime rock, wood/mangrove roots, razor-sharp gill plates etc.) 10 - 15 minutes(years, lol) later, I netted this 31.5" (keeper slot 28-33" West coast) Snook- Don't let my pieced together C.com decal confuse you- Lure of choice was 1/8 oz. 1/0 head, Albino rat-tail(4") plastic shad. Couldn't have hand-placed the hook location any better myself!
Now, back to my BONUS blue crab results=(37 in 6 hour soak)

Alrighty then...as the Holiday suggests = more Labor awaits!

Unfortunately, I'm out of paint, but hopefully you've seen my interpretation of what Southern Comfort means to me!

Oops...just found some more paint= Hopefully I'll get a chance to land one of these guys(hanging up @ramp site) on my med. light spinning gear!!


Hopefully, you all enjoyed your Labor Day...how do you define Southern Comfort??!

Thanks for Ridin'/Readin' about my Reelin' Rush!

u2s