Indian River, FL

[schoolie monster]

We slowed way down and worked the area carefully. I let my dad cast alone for a while and had a drink and tried to spot a fish for him. After 10 minutes, I pick my rod up again and two casts later I hit another fish. Its a 4lb trout. Another 10 minute break, another two casts I hit another fish. It turns out to be a 3lb snook, not big, but decent and it completed the backcountry slam.

I was trying to let my dad have first crack at things the rest of the day.

We worked that area and other similar areas, but the one thing that was missing was the presence of the bait.

We had seen some nice snook in some downed trees earlier and Tod wanted to give that area another shot with some live shrimp. My dad got a small snook and I got a flounder and then my dad had a nice snook jump all over his shrimp. It was on for a few seconds and just came off. It woulda been his fish of the trip, at least 5lbs.

I switched over to a DOA shrimp to allow my dad to have the remaining live ones. I'm working the trees and have a subtle bump, another trout a bit bigger than the other one. We both got another small trout on the way out of the area to end the day.

Usually when I go down there, I'm rusty from a long winter up here, but I fished well and didn't miss much.

It was a great trip and the hotel we stayed at has a little sand bar and restaurant right on the Indian River, so it was cool to have a couple beers and a meal on the water. Even though it was windy, the temps were in the 80's during the day, mid 60's at night. It was a good break from the weather, being a dad and from work.

[BigBo]

That's cool stuff Greg. I always look forward to your off season reports. Haven't seen you on the boards lately and meant to ask Jules when I saw her the other day if she'd heard from you recently.
I'm envious. Warm weather and fish.

[schoolie monster]

BigBo,

I haven't been on much lately... just busy with the kids, the house and some changes at work. Mainly, the twins have hit the terrible two's and we're going to have alot of family visiting this summer. So, we're doing alot of work on the house to make it look nice.

I am lucky I can get that trip south in... it goes a long way to keep me sane. I really enjoy that type of fishing too.

[JohnR]

Greg - some day I'm going to make that trip down there. We can send G & K off with the kids and we'll just fish - howboutit?

[schoolie monster]

I think that's a great idea. I know you would like it and if you and I went down, I think we'd be more serious about fishing. I'm serious on the days with the guide, but I've made a pitiful attempt at the surf/wade fishing.

My dad and I pretty much loaf on the off days... of course, that's fun too.

There's alot of places to try too. My next trip will be my 10th since 2000. I'm starting to think I need to try something different. I really want to see the Keys.

The thing that's nice about where I go is the cost. I just wait for a cheap flight to Orlando which are common. Its an hour and a half to Sebastian. Cars are usually fairly cheap. Hotels aren't bad either.

Getting to the keys probably amps the cost up a bit and isn't as easy to get to... plus, at this point, I know my area fairly well, so there's a comfort level. And I'm very comfortable with Tod.

I'm taking Jess down to Mystic on Tuesday... KJ took Lyssie and Brit to Maryland, then to PA for the week. Its eerily quiet here. I never realized to what extent she and I are the quiet ones in the house. I'm sorry, but one kid seems like cake now. I'm almost bored.

She helped me with some engine maintenance today... and we started and ran the motor for a while. The boat is ready to rock except for a new prop. Almost forgot I dinged that last season... sucks that tropicland went down. Need a new honda place.

Later dude.

[Fish On]

Here's a couple redfish a buddy of mine caught in Galveston bay last weekend.

[Fish On]

OK, try again.