Guys,
I haven't posted any pics yet. There is a lot going on here.
Three days before my arrival, The beach looked like a lake from a north wind.
Sure enough, When I get here, it all changed.
There were four foot waves breaking 100 yards off the beach today. It is so rough, I haven't even been able to catch any fresh bait.
I paid a visit to my man Keith today and he provided me a 20 lb rainbow runner and a ray of the same size.
I just finished chunking them up and have 8 nice sized baits in the freezer.
To top it off, there is a beach renourishing project going on here. There are dredges about 300 yards off the beach pumping sand through some giant pipes onto the beach with bulldozers moving it around. I am not discouraged. This might be a good thing.
I'm just waiting for my time. ;)
Sounds...., interesting?
Hey hunter....is the cat for sale?
Daron, I hope the weather turns in your favor. I also hope the shark gods smile on you. You put the time in and deserve it. Can't wait to hear about the trip!! Good luck
Bob
Daron, Nate and I will most likely be over to Navarre late Saturday afternoon. Just to the West of y'all is a public beach access, it is generally exceptional sharking. You should check it out, shouldn't be any beach renourishment going on.
In my experience here in AL, it is futile to shark or surf fish with all that going on.
Quote from: ChileRelleno on May 11, 2016, 02:02:31 PM
Daron, Nate and I will most likely be over to Navarre late Saturday afternoon. Just to the West of y'all is a public beach access, it is generally exceptional sharking. You should check it out, shouldn't be any beach renourishment going on.
In my experience here in AL, it is futile to shark or surf fish with all that going on.
Was that area the "nude' beach?
Quote from: handi2 on May 11, 2016, 02:11:42 PM
Quote from: ChileRelleno on May 11, 2016, 02:02:31 PM
Daron, Nate and I will most likely be over to Navarre late Saturday afternoon. Just to the West of y'all is a public beach access, it is generally exceptional sharking. You should check it out, shouldn't be any beach renourishment going on.
In my experience here in AL, it is futile to shark or surf fish with all that going on.
Was that area the "nude' beach?
No, that is further West.
Quote from: ChileRelleno on May 11, 2016, 02:02:31 PM
Daron, Nate and I will most likely be over to Navarre late Saturday afternoon. Just to the West of y'all is a public beach access, it is generally exceptional sharking. You should check it out, shouldn't be any beach renourishment going on.
In my experience here in AL, it is futile to shark or surf fish with all that going on.
Sounds good John. Red flags up again today.
This shot was from Monday before the winds and waves picked up. The dredge in the background. My boy doing a little shelling.
This is the beach today. Ugh! Not too bad, but I know how nice it can het here. The surf is supposed to be flat come the weekend.
I really like this condo. Nice and peaceful only a few steps from the water.
Looks pretty nice now, those waves make for an exciting kayak bait deployment however.
Daron, PM me a contact # for Sat, please and thanks.
John,
We might want to consider way west. Like Pensacola. Its getting pretty chaotic here. The Bulldozers are getting close. Moving a ton of sand in a hurry.
The sediment is turning the water brown from the dredges. I know this is something that has too be done. They are closing the beach 100 yards at a time. I'm thinking by the weekend, they will be right in front of us.
I'll give you a call brother.
I think Pensacola will be our best bet. I hate to drive that, but I don't see any other option.
No need to go to P'cola, there is a prime sharking spot just 4.25 miles West of you.
Drive West, you'll get past the last of the houses and it is the first public access on the left.
I've been here several times now, popular local sharking spot, even the Polk Bros shark here.
I think that the so-called Beach Renourishment is horrible, it may be great for those who believe a beach should never change, but Mother Nature has other ideas. One good storm or a few years of normal longshore flow and its just a huge waste of money and man power.
Plus all that new sand isn't that pure white that Florida's panhandle beaches are renowned for.
It kills all the sand fleas and ghost shrimp that the surf species love to feed on, greatly effects surf fishing for months.
They were just talking about the ill effects of dredging on the Pensacola Fishing Forum. It kills many little creatures that the surf fish love to eat.
I agree! Going against Mother Nature, you will always lose.
Sorry to hear this Daron, you wait all year and then you have to deal with dozers.
Pack up, move and go get that trophy! ;)
You are so right Chilie no sand fleas, no Pompano, less Whiting, shore birds, etc. and so temporary this fix, beach renourishment my ####.
Where I'm at Cape San Blass, it changed yearly, lots of light house foundations migrate out to sea in my lifetime, as the shore line retreated toward the Bay. Sand build up on the cape, maybe 100 years ago, it was lots bigger with sand extending miles southward of it's current location in my youth. Great Sharking water.
Good thinking John. I won't run out of public access to the west.
I had no idea this was going on until last week.
17.4 million dollars for this project. 1.3 million cubic yards of sand.
Daron,
With some help and that shark hunting nose you'll find those finned torpedoes. I was thinking the same as Sal, you work all year for this time and they have tons of sand ruining your spot.
Best of luck and tight lines, pal
Dom
Daron --
There is probably a monster -- just hoping you don't move down the coastline a bit.
Good Luck!
Best,
Fred
Last time I was at the spot I marked on Google Earth I saw some really nice sharks on the sand.
8'+ Dusky, several 6'+ Spinners and some that managed to get away.
It is a hot spot.
Saturday will be best in the AM and Sundown till Midnite in conjunction with the tidal flow.
http://www.tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/navarre-beach
I want to be out there by 4pm and fish for fresh bait.
I will see you then John. I know right where you are talking about. The Dozers are right in front of my Condo now and the beach is closed.
The beach is however much larger. They will be past me in a day or two and I will run baits out here. Sharks gotta eat.
I'm thinking they will be cruising to see what all the commotion is. The dredges up close are only pumping the sand. They are dredging it up a couple miles offshore.
My boy is loving all the shells and creatures washing up.
See you soon.
Daron,
I like your thinking here. The dredging activity may actually draw sharks to the area to 'capitalize on the disturbance'. I wouldn't be afraid to fish 'behind' the dredging activity. Hopefully the reopen the beach, and move past while the tides are still in your favor. If you can position your bait near an outflow area, that would be good too.
I foresee a shark on your future.
Best of luck, & keep us posted.
Hey dude, years back when I had a condo near an inlet, they had to renourish routinely. it would make a mess just as you show, but the drum and I gotta think the sharks also would be ON from all the grub getting churned up on the bottom. good luck!
John,
I went to the spot and fished from around 5pm to dark for bait and didn't catch anything.
I was using sand fleas and shrimp. Nobody else was catching either.
I'll see you in a couple hours and we can show them how its done.
I have a couple chunks of Ray and some Big fish heads.(Grouper and Jack) Bring what you have.
We are three and 0. Time to make it four. ;)
Keep the faith bro' :)
John, Robin and Me fished for about 6 hours last night. We had no luck. Such is life.
It ain't over yet.
Quote from: ChileRelleno on May 13, 2016, 03:05:47 AM
Last time I was at the spot I marked on Google Earth I saw some really nice sharks on the sand.
8'+ Dusky, several 6'+ Spinners and some that managed to get away.
It is a hot spot.
Saturday will be best in the AM and Sundown till Midnite in conjunction with the tidal flow.
http://www.tides4fishing.com/us/florida-west-coast/navarre-beach
I want to be out there by 4pm and fish for fresh bait.
I use the same tides chart for Sandy Hook NJ. It works great for us.
Joe
Nate and I met up with Daron to soak some baits, and Robby (Army of One) showed up later to join in the fun.
We moved several miles west away from the beach expansion and set up camp, ran baits and settled in.
Daron had a big Grouper head (throat still attached... Heresy!) for bait but it didn't get touched.
We had one very short run on my 12/0 baited with a hunk of Cownose Ray, and a single unproductive hit on a surf rod baited with strips of Spanish Mackerel, neither produced. Oh well, better some time fishing than no time fishing, though some catching never hurts.
Thanks for the update. Touch to beat fresh ray when targeting sharks.
I had some guys stop by that have been catching plenty of Pompano using the fake bait called Fish Strips. They said it was way better than any other bait. It stays on the hook.
Pink and white.
My boy Mike showed up yesterday with his wife Allie. Good to spend time with them. We surf fished for a couple hours in the evening. I was using sand fleas and frozen as well as live shrimp.
Mike tossed only artificials. Nothing, not even a strike or nibble. I am really starting to think the dredges have the fish freaked out.
There is 100' of extra beach now.
Man, I'm getting Fat! Me and my Wife Teri.
It wasn't a total loss, My Youngest boy Dustin cleaned up on the shells!
Time to switch up the game plan. Mike and the ladies headed out to chicken bone in Pensacola this morning, so they could do some paddleboarding and Mike can fish. Me and Dustin are hitting the sound side here in Navarre. We need to start catching something.
Nice pics bud, keep those lines in the water, it's the only way.
Dustin got himself a nice collection of shells, looks like he's enjoying the trip the most.
You're on the beach with your family and I'm working, I say you're doing good ;).
Just an update. Mike caught a nice Ladyfish on poppers and he hooked into something that just ran until it popped the leader. He was fishing a Battle 3000 I believe. Probably a Red or Shark.
Nothing wanted my Shrimp on the Sound Side.
We had a late lunch and headed back to Pensacola with the Heavy Equipment.
Dropped some nice Ray Steaks about 300 to 400 yards out right before sunset.
Two 12/0's out ready for action.
Unfortunately, It ended up just like before. Had a few clicks, but no commit.
We ran out fresh again about 10pm, with the same results.
The biting bugs came out as well and I called it about midnight. 40% Deet didn't phase them.
I only have one more day here and I think my dream of a 10 footer is going to have to wait.
I Think it was a combination of the weather and the conditions.
We fished every part of the area with a bait Variety I haven't had available before. It just wasn't in the cards.
It will make it that much sweeter. ;)
If nothing else, This was one of the most relaxing Vacations I have had.
Good Food, Family and Relaxation.
We got pounded with Heavy Rain and Storms last night into Late afternoon today.
Good reading. Always good to be on RR.
Daron, maybe it's time to get on a boat out to the oil rigs. You have the hardware for it. Time to chase a real monster strapped into a chair with that Everol.
Daron, two nights ago I was out fishing on the jetty, doing the evening's bugs-and-termite-dance--not getting a single bite..;)
Enjoyed your write-up and photos here.
Quality time with friends and and family, is what it's all about.
Chad
Dang'it Daron, sucks to hear that the skunk got ya.
If you're planning a dedicated fishing trip later in the year please give me a heads up.
If I have some vacation time left, I'm up for putting in some serious time on the beach getting after some big'uns.
Noon till Midnite kind of time.
I got to spend a lot of Quality Time with my boy, Dustin. Something that gets neglected at home because I'm always working.
I could have fished more, but Vacation isn't about me being away from the family. I try to do things we all like. Unfortunately He doesn't have the patience for fishing.
Out of the 13 days I was there, I only took the kayak off the truck twice. Once with you and Robin and once with Mike.
Both with about 7 hours of Shark time. Surf fished for about 10 more.
I have no regrets. My total time fishing was only about 24 hours.
I really wanted to do an all nighter, but when you are getting chewed up by bugs, it kind of takes the fun out of it.
They were terrible at Chicken Bone. I still have welps.
Yesterday, I had a very rewarding encounter with Dustin. He is Autistic and has a problem with open spaces like parking lots and the like. You have to hold his hand or he will freeze up.
He wanted a newspaper and a soda from the Circle K. I pulled up at the very edge of the lot and he said "I'll be right back".
He jumped out of the truck and walked right in and right out all by himself. I couldn't believe it! :o
I knew right then, our last day was going to spent shelling. He earned it. ;)
Life is Good!
Beautiful story Daron.
Sal
Daren that was a heart felt story.
Joe
Good Man, Daron --
We all think we have plenty of time that we will spend with our loved ones -- until the time passes away -- then it is too late.
Dustin will always treasure and remember the good times with Dad -- and your memories will never go away.
But they need to be made first --
There are more important things than reels and fishing.
Our spouses, our kids, our families, our friends.
And none of these qualities can be truly bought for any amount of money -- they are priceless -- because the purchase price is our time, love, sharing, and commitment.
Dustin is a lucky fellow.
Best,
Fred
Daron, count your blessings with Dustin and mark those milestones.
He is magnitudes ahead of my 17 yr'ol eldest son Ammon and his level of autism.
Dustin's communication is very good, he blew me away when he spoke up about not touching firearms when I inquired about a safe place to leave my pistol at the condo. You're doing a great job from what little I see, and that is all we can do as fathers.
Lol, Nate was talking about Dustin's shell collection to his sister the next day.
I guess you can be glad that he isn't a neural normal teenage young man and having to deal with him sneaking beers and his stash of pron mags. ;)
Family always comes first.
Thank you all for the Kudo's. Living with a special needs child has its challenges.
I couldn't do it without my Wife. She is truly a godsend. Dustin is 23, but he acts like he is 8.
He has a memory sharp as a tack, but has a meltdown once in a while.
Like you said John, You can only do the best you can do.
This Vacation was a real success for me, even though I didn't have any fish to show.
I'm shooting for a week in September. I need to get with Mike on this, but this will be a Men only fishing trip.
No going out to eat, no shell hunting. Just fish. I have a nice little stash of bait now thanks to Keith and Robin.
I bought a Coleman Extreme 120 Quart cooler at Wal-Mart last year.
I bought Eight ten pound bags of Ice Saturday. Put four bags in, then 40 lbs of bait, then the other four.
I got home just a little while ago, after 30 hours, It was a solid cube of ice. I had to take a hatchet to it to get to the bait.
A Hammer wouldn't do it. For less than 60 bucks. This cooler is well worth the money.
Problem is, with it being so big, I'm sure you would break the handles if you tried to pick it up full.
Daron as you know I like talking with your son. He is very smart in my book. He is also very polite and caring.
Great thread, Daron.
Something about shelling that levels the playing field no matter how young, old or condition...it turns us all into kids hunting for treasure. ;D
A follow up to finding the treasure is identifying the finds. I sure love finding the Olives and Dustin found quite a haul!
http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/seashell-identification/
Steve