A good catch from the Florida Elbow

[harbison]

   A good catch from the Florida Elbow

Friday, February 28, the weekend weather forecast is picture perfect;  calm winds, zero overcast, and a very sunny 70+  degrees.  What a way to begin our 39 hour adventure deep into the very heart of the Florida Elbow. There is only one slight potential problem, the Gulf of Mexico water temperature has been holding steady at sixty six degrees; that's cold for our Florida fish. Will the cold water keep the fish from feeding? Is, 'A good catch from the Florida Elbow' possible this time of the year? Only one way to find out; let's go see together. Sit back, relax, and join me as we board Hubbard Marina's Florida Fisherman ll:

Captain Bryon request the opening of John's Pass Bridge:

Soon beautiful Madeira Beach, Florida, will be only a distant memory:

We who call Florida home love to showcase our beautiful state. Joining us today are Mr. John Richardson Sr. and John Junior. John Sr., from Oaktown Indiana, is celebrating birthday number eighty with a warm weather overnight fishing trip. Back home in the Hoosier state the Richardson family were expecting a day time high of twenty-four, and nighttime lows of 10 to 12 degrees. Our 70 is a heat wave to them.
John Sr., chef Tammy has gone Mexican. What a way to begin our great adventure:

Let's hit the bunks. We have a very long day ahead of us. Twelve midnight; Captain Bryon tames those mighty diesels and calls for 'battle stations.' Let the fun begin. The fishing is slow. Never-the-less, we are catching some very nice fish. John Junior is proud of his first ever red grouper:

The before dawn catch is not up to our standards, but still impressive:

John has never seen a ramora before. The 'sucker-fish' amazes him: Everything grows big on the Elbow!

Talk about some nice red grouper:


Man!  Those things can fight:


Hold on! Mr. Chris Larosa's flat line just had a big hit. Some very fast, strong, creature plowed into his live pin fish. On an on goes the great battle. Finally, color! The color of a beautiful black fin tuna. Quick! The gaff. What a trophy:

Oh no! The dreaded lion fish have really invaded the Elbow. Mr. Larry Miller:

Mr. Michael Wells, that 16 & 1/4 inch lion fish is a near record:


Let's go looking for the mighty amber jacks. We want a fight!
Look at the fish on that screen:

Joining us from Jonesboro, Maine are Mr. Travis Galligher, and his fourteen year old daughter Ms. Kassandra Cox. Kassandra, what's the weather like back home? Bob, when we left it was fourteen degrees. This seventy stuff is like Summer to us. John & Kassandra are fishing spots 6 & 7 on the  middle of the stern. John, a very strong young man, hooks a fish as strong and fast as he is. That big live pin fish was just too much for any Elbow fish to resist. On & on goes the great battle. John follows the runaway fish from the stern to the bow of the Florida. Still no end in sight. Finally! Color, the silver color of a mighty amber jack. Quick! The gaff. What a prize. Follow the great fight two minutes ten seconds into the video at the end.


Now those are some nice American reds. The American beauties have been properly vented and are almost ready to go back home.. See you in June:



It's been a very long day. We have now been fishing for over eighteen hours. We are hungry! Tammy time. Warm weather, companionship, fishing, and a fine Tammy steak dinner. What a way to watch the sun sink the horizon:

Wow! What a meal; we are stuffed. Let's try to catch a few more fish:
Mr. Richardson, you can be proud of that mangrove snapper. Sir, the Hoosier sate can be proud of their native son; I know your dad is:


Mister Carl Kisner, fishing spot # 48, that's an Elbow sized trigger fish:

Mr. Eddie Sumrall, spot # 5, June is going to be something else:


Nine P.M. let's hit the bunks. We are tired. Take us home Captain 'Coach' John; take us back to Madeira Beach.
Six A.M.; now that was a quick night. John's Pass Bridge is beautiful even before the sun comes up:

By our standards the fishing was slow, however,  Is, 'A good catch from the Florida Elbow' possible this time of the year? Mr. Chris Larosa, what do you think?


Our friends from Indiana & Maine will go back home with memories to last a life time.     John Sr., sir it has been a real pleasure to celebrate with you eighty years on this earth. It was a real honor welcoming you to fishing in the Sunshine state. I hope you enjoyed your trip as much as we enjoyed sharing our Florida with you. Kassandra, that jack pot money will go a long ways towards a warm jacket for that fourteen degree Maine weather. Girl, Jonesboro will never be the same.



Check out 'Good catch from the Florida Elbow.' (Click on the Youtube link)

Bob Harbison   Florida Outdoor Writers Association

[fluke - u]

 ....Great story Capt.  ....

[harbison]

   Thank you sir! It's a real honor to share with our Northern neighbors.

[Hunter 2]

Thanks for the report and pictures Bob.  It's  currently 13 Deg here in NJ.

[Kenny]

Another great trip and story to read...at least it's not freezing everywhere 

[harbison]

     Thanks guys!  That 13 sounds a little on the cool side.
It not exactly  freezing here in Florida. However, we do have a severe Arctic Blast coming through Thursday evening. By Friday our temperature is going to plunge all the way down to 72:

Looks like it's going to be a few days before we reach even 80. That's cold for us!  

[Ms Fish]

We love your reports! The 70's is cold?  LOL We wouldn't mind that; even 50 would suffice right about now.  Can you eat all the types of fish you produce? Most I think you can, but some I'm not sure of. Also, aside from Blue and Yellow Fin, are the black fin tuna just as good to eat?   

[Reel McCoy]

Yet another great report from the Sunshine State 

[harbison]

    Thanks guys.
Yes! We can eat virtually everything we catch. Even the lion fish are good eating. Not sure how black fin compares to yellow fin tuna. I have never tried either. Hopefully someone on here will be able to tell us.   Best!  Bob

[njbob49]

Thanks for another great report Bob.  Sorry to hear about that severe Arctic blast you are having with the temps going all the way down to 72.  It is 16 degrees right now in NJ so I really feel for your suffering.    

I sent you a PM about a month ago that I thought you would like but never got an answer back.  I hope you got it. 

Tight Lines,
Bob G 

[harbison]

        Thank you sir we are indeed suffering here in Central Florida. For the first time in a week I actually had to turn off the AC last night  We survived! It's back on now. 
If I did not answer your PM it's because I did not see it. Please send me an E. Mail;
    tharb333@aol.com        Best!   Bob

[njbob49]

Email sent Bob. I think we need to hold a winter coat drive for you so you don't freeze with all those Arctic blasts you are getting in Florida.   

Tight Lines,
Bob G 

[harbison]

     Sir, thanks for that E. Mail. It brought back many fond memories.
Hopefully we have had the last of our Arctic blasts. As a rule the last of February begins our warmer weather season. My daughter & I both have heavy Cohart jackets. I took mine on the boat once with me this year; luckily I only needed it for a couple of hours before the sun came up. My next overnight trip will be 3/14. That's shorts time for us!  
    Take care!   Best to all of our Northern friends.  Bob & Dee