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!:highfive 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!!:yikes 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.:banghead 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!:Rofl
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.:banghead 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.:biggrin 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):Rofl later, I netted this 31.5" (keeper slot 28-33" West coast) Snook-Attachment 408460 Don't let my pieced together C.com decal confuse you-Attachment 408461 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!:cheers2
Now, back to my BONUS blue crab results=:highfive(37 in 6 hour soak)Attachment 408462Attachment 408463Attachment 408464Attachment 408465

Alrighty then...as the Holiday suggests = more Labor awaits!:Rofl Attachment 408466Attachment 408467Attachment 408468

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

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!!:yikes
Attachment 408469

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

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

u2s

Found some more paint...:Rofl

Attachment 408490

u2s

Very Nice! Those crabs have some good size to them! Thanks for sharing.

I like the way you sent your labor day. Thanks for taking us along.

A very healthy sized snook to be sure. I know you enjoyed the crab also, having heard you talk of the in the past. My biggest snook and redfish last week were both in the 24” neighborhood. While the snook was short, the red would have been perfect for dinner. Wanting it fresh and no signal to check on dinner plans with my queen, it went back in the pool. My waters and yours face some different challenges and I felt it right set it free. There will be others. Maybe when I go Sunday. Like seeing your successes with them, keep the pics and tales coming.

Wow those crabs look yummy!

Wowser. Great job Up2. Yummy for sure. When's dinner?