Disappointing Afternoon At Playalinda Beach

It turned out to be a disappointing afternoon at Playalinda Beach but I'm still glad I made the trip.

When I made the snap decision to "hit the beach" and try for a pompano or two, it was about 11:30 am.

I got on my computer to check the tide tables and learned that the high tide was coming in and would be full at around noon.  It wasn't the best time to fish the surf but I decided to try it out anyway,

Picked up some live sand fleas at Mosquito Lagoon Outfitters on the way, and hit the beach only to find a misty fog enveloping the area.

A cold front was bopping around the area and there were a few cars in the lower numbered parking lots.  I planned to fish at lot #8 but they were working on renovating the walkways at #8 and #9, so I hit the next open area which was #10.

A group was unloading their beach "buggy" as I was driving in and a couple was leaving, so I decided to give it a try.

I opted on using only one surf rod, my Okuma Coranado baitrunner loaded with 30 pound braid and an Ande Tournament surf rod.

The surf was rough and I spent a few minutes trying to read the beach for a spot to fish.  I decided on an area where there was a rip and headed to stake out my spot.

About the time I got there, another surf fishermen staked out the area so I moved down from him a few yards and set up my rig.

I tied on a two hook pompano rig with a Sputnik sinker to hold bottom and tossed out two juicy sand fleas just past the first breaker into the deep trough.

I put the rod in the sand spike and waited for something to bite.

For the end of January, there were a lot of surf fishermen on the beach.  Everyone was spread out watching their rods, but nothing seemed to be hitting.

I took some pics of the beach and waited for 20 minutes or so before pulling in to check my line.  Both sand fleas were still on the hooks so I pulled up and moved about 20 yards up the beach to another area.

Again, I tossed out my baits and waited but nothing was hitting.

I tried longer casts way past the outer bar and shorter casts in between the two bars but nothing was biting.

A "snowbird" from Mass, stopped to talk with me if I had any luck and said that the only fish he saw caught was a sheepshead and a couple of whiting at Lot #11.   He told me everyone was after pompano but none were caught.

After he left, I moved on more time and after another 30 minutes without a bite, I packed up and headed to the house.

On the way, I decided to ride around East Gator Creek to see if any topwater action was happening.  

I was behind another car with Florida tags when it stopped and a lady passenger got out and started frantically waving about a gator on the opposite bank.

There were two 10 to 12 foot gators sunning on the bank which is normal on a warm afternoon but apparently she had never seen one that big.

I took a couple of pics and after she got through photographing it, took off again.

I stopped to take a short video below of another large gator swimming along the road before heading home.

Hopefully I'll get out tomorrow to try some fishing again.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.  

Glass Bottom Kayaks

When I took Elmo and Odie for a ride this afternoon over to Haulover Canal, I met a guy who rents glass bottom kayaks for night trips. 

I met Josh when I drove to the end of the road where the kayak rentals usually take over the area, but today the weather was cool and he was the only outfit there.

I never saw a "glass bottom" (lexan) kayak before so I stopped to take a few pics and ask some questions.

He told me the kayaks are imported and go for over $1,000.00 each.  He said that they were great for viewing the bio luminescence in the lagoon waters at night.

I've seen the luminescence a couple of times when I went shrimping in Haulover and it is really magical.

I took a few pics of the kayaks and of a lone boater fishing the deep hole at the west entrance to Haulover.  The fishermen were using cut crab for bait and had not caught any fish, that he told me about.

Anyway, I stopped to let Elmo and Odie out for a while while I flipped a plastic DOA shrimp around the bank.   The current was pretty strong and after about 20 casts or so, I decided to load up the "boys" and head back.

I talked to several fishermen who had their spots along the canal and only one reported catching and releasing an oversize redfish.

He said he would text me a pic, but I never got it.

Most of the guys along the bank were using shrimp and cut mullet for bait and everyone I spoke with complained about getting caught on the coquina and losing their rigs.

I've learned how to avoid that problem.  You put on a heavy sinker to hold bottom in the current and when you get a hookup or want to check your bait, reel like hell to keep the weight above the rocks.

I might head out there Thursday or Friday and kill a couple of crabs.

Who knows??

Till next time,

Tight Lines

Catching Bonnethead Sharks In The Indian River

I didn't know that there were Bonnethead Sharks in the Indian River until this afternoon when I saw a couple releasing one at the bank of Gator Creek.

Karen and I decided to take Elmo and Odie for a quick spin around the refuge after our daily walk around the block.

Because it was late in the afternoon and I didn't plan on fishing, I didn't bring along any bait.  

We loaded the dogs into the truck and headed out to Gator Creek to check out the fishing.  

I was surprised at how many fishermen staked out their spots along Gator Creek and Catfish Creek Loop.   Every good spot was taken and most anglers had at least a couple rods out with shrimp or cut baits.

As I rounded the bend near the second entrance to Gator Creek, Karen spotted someone trying to get the hook out of a fish.  She thought it was a stingray but when I drove closer, I saw that it was a small shark.

I pulled over to see what species it was and saw that it was a Bonnethead of about 4 feet long.

While the guy and his wife were trying to get the hook out of the fish, I got my cell phone out of the truck and took a few quick pics along with this short video (Click on Pic).

The angler that caught the fish thought that it was a big redfish until he saw the fin clear the water. 

I have caught juvenile bull sharks and a couple of black tips in this area of the Indian River, but this was the first Bonnethead Shark that I've ever seen landed.

After the release, we cruised the rest of the area but nobody seemed to be catching anything except hardhead catfish and stingrays.

On the way out of East Gator Creek Road, I stopped to let the "boys" do their duty and took a couple of pics of the sun going down.

I'm home for the week and will probably wet a line after my Dentist appointment tomorrow.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.