CRABBY WEEKEND

Home in Port Charlotte
low of 64, high of 81
very comfortable

After a very non-traditional Thanksgiving holiday in Key West, during which we visited Captain Tony's, Sloppy Joe's, Schooner Wharf and of course, Margaritaville.  Instead of turkey, we enjoyed local caught oysters on the half shell and clam chowder.  Other meals included Cheeseburgers in Paradise, Grouper fish and chips, cajun blackened hot dogs and my daughter couldn't resist having a turkey burger.

We returned home for the weekend and found out the marine forecast was for winds of 15-20 knots.  Knowing my daughter wouldn't enjoy choppy seas we left the boat on the lift and instead she went to visit a friend while I fished the canal behind our house.  I bought two new lures at Fishin' Franks and got some free lessons on throwing my bait castnet.  Both lures caught fish and I enjoyed several brief battles that included acrobatic flips and jumps.  I landed one small ladyfish and released her alive and well.

After practicing throwing the castnet in the yard I took it down for my first real throw.  I actually caught a nice size pin fish, which is one of the best baits you can offer in these waters.  My second throw was a dud but my third throw netted two VERY nice size pins.  I kept them alive in a bucket with an aerator to give them oxygen.  At sundown I live baited a line and fished it until some underwater thief stole it off my hook.   No fight, just a bait burglar.  With the next pin fish I hooked him in the bottom, near his tail.  This one lasted on my line for over an hour.  There was a lot of activity surrounding my bait and I could see several good size fish surveilling him but still, no bites.  It was getting late and I was getting eaten by mosquitoes.  I retrieved my bait and used the last two pins to bait my crab pot.  I left it on an overnight soak and in the morning found it paid off nicely with the two blue crab shown above.  Those boards are 2x6 so you get an idea of the size.

As I close this blog chapter, we are deciding how to steam those crab up.