Florida Adventures

[oc1]

What is it with all the whiting lately?

You have the bright silver Gulf Whiting (Menticirrhus littoralis.) at home.  On the Melbourn side it's probably Southern King Whiting, Menticirrhus americanus with faint dark mottling.  The littoralis.seems to get larger but americanus is usually more abundant.

[Jighead]

Nice! Props on all the whiting, too. They're running thick on the east coast right now, too.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Got my kayak wet for the first time since last summer. Went down to the manatee river to join my coworkers volunteering building an oyster reef. The plan was to help for a few hours and fish with my coworkers after. But I got down there late and they all got spousal summons, so I spent most the time fishing by myself. No complaints. Weather fell apart after a few hours but I managed to extend the trip by hanging out between some wind-blocking mangrove islands.

Do bonefish make it that far north? I caught what I thought was an odd looking ladyfish but released without photo evidence.

Great relaxing day on the water. I need more of that in my life.

[MACflyer]

Nice! Whiting look a little like bonefish? Not sure if bonefish are this far north.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Nice! Whiting look a little like bonefish? Not sure if bonefish are this far north.

I've seen a lot of whiting up close. The fish in question looked a lot like a ladyfish, but with a mouth more down-turned, sorta like a whiting.

Problem is, I tend to realize something was interesting after I already released it. Not that I'd have kept a bonefish, but I woulda taken a pic. Of course I could be wrong in a different way. Wouldn't be a first.

[oc1]

It looks like somewhat murky water probably with a silty bottom.  It's not bonefish habitat.

[steelfish]

cool catch Jason, whats gear you used for that light kind of fishing?

[JasonGotaProblem]

It looks like somewhat murky water probably with a silty bottom.  It's not bonefish habitat.

Sounds pretty conclusive. I'm convinced.

cool catch Jason, whats gear you used for that light kind of fishing?

All were caught on my budget BFS setup  (my Abu blackmax with lightened spool on a 5' long 2-6# rod) I was throwing smallish free line shrimp at the mangroves and letting the current drift it along. I haven't fished that one lately. I forgot how laser-precise it casts.

Couldn't keep a shrimp in the water more than a few minutes. Very active day. Lost a few big'ns when my 12# flouro broke when I tried to put the brakes on, but I probably wouldn't have gotten as many hits on heavier line.

[jgp12000]

Well I had my annual computer based "Risk Management" training
drilled into my head at work,also ladder safety, funny videos on that too. So "stuff happens" I will take this opportunity to share I am anal with paddle leashes & rod floats especially in kayaks.I do not want to lose any gear from my meager collection...

[JasonGotaProblem]

My son asked what the cord around my paddle was. I told him it's called the 'O.C.S.' you can see it in the bottom left corner of the last pic.

he thought "oh crap strap" was the funniest thing he'd heard all week. He's 9.

I've always considered cork grips a form of rod float. Might not make it come back to the surface but it'll sink slower. As a rule I don't bring anything out on the kayak that would break my spirit if I lost it. But I kinda need that terror of flipping to keep me from trying anything crazy, otherwise I trust my balance way too much.