Nice pic!! And given than the conditions are always much worse than the pics make it appear, I'm glad I wasn't out there!!

Leaving in a few hours to head back out again. Last weekend was a good reminder of how capable our boats are but they are still small boats in today's world. Hopefully it will be the pond out there they are forecasting.

Any video from that " adventure" ? Guessing too busy at the helm but asking anyway.

Glad it all worked out safely.

lol, NOAA has been off the mark quite a bit lately. I was out 53 miles in my buddies 26' crevalle (more of a bay boat on steroids) that morning along with four other guests. At around 35 miles I told him I don't care what the forecast says about laying down later, I don't like anything about what I'm seeing in any direction. We need a plan B or abort, continuing on to our 80-ish mile plan A destination was suicide in my opinion.

After some discussion he says its only another 15 miles to some plan B numbers. I didn't like that either, but as we neared that location the winds did drop around 9:30am and it appeared the captain had the first laugh on the forecast lull. We've seen this before out there on other trips too, so I couldn't make a compelling argument. About 45 minutes later though someone turned on the fan and it got real shitty real fast with no signs of getting better. A water spout trying to form about 100yds east of us was sobering indicator of things to come.

Our route back took us directly into the seas so we had to jog northward toward cedar key to angle over the waves instead of punching through them, which would have doomed us almost immediately. South towards hudson area was a hellacious storm brewing, so that direction was out of the question. At the time everyone onboard thought it was 8-10 out there, but I didn't think it was much above 6'. The problem was the short wave interval with the white caps on top and that was brutal, especially on a boat with very little freeboard on the bow. Needless to say it was very dicey for the first couple hours while making very little headway. The hydraulic steering alarm went off a few times as we started in to keep it interesting too, Neptune has no sense of humor...

My buddy ended up getting a little sick after the first hour and had to sit back at the stern with the others while I took over the helm for the next couple hours. We were taking on water constantly and getting smashed in the face with spray every 30 seconds or so. I had my InReach armed and secured to my waist. For a while there I really thought we would end up needing to be rescued. It totally sucked but we made it....

The 105 mile tampa buoy stat's told the story perfectly

But yet last weekend there were pontoons and flats boats out 40 nautical out of Cedar Key. Red Snapper fever..... So much to do over a fish that doesn't eat that great but any ham and egger can catch them and make instagram posts.

Yes I do but I am no longer posting up videos due the the crazy crap going on in this world as I may have said something offensive during the time videos were shot. Such is our world today.

Bones and I were talking about MaCraes this fall.

yup, I'll take scamp or even mangroves all day over AR's. It is crazy what goes on during these snap-shot seasons. Its also amazing there aren't more catastrophes way out there in the gulf. I can only imagine most of these people have not had their mettle tested far out at sea yet or they'd be a lot less intrepid about going out there in in BBQ boats.

I would add that most are lucky too that a limit of scallops can generally be had within a mile or so offshore or there would be a lot more horror stories during that season too.

I try to avoid being on the water during most holidays and especially scallop season. I'll be changing trailer hubs and bearings over the 4th...

Fall is fine if we get it before the fronts start rolling in. If we were talking right now, I'd rather slam my reproductive organ in a car door.

Dang Moose, sounds like you are throwing in the towel ?

Every 4ft LED light in my shop has a "noose pull chain"
Safe bet Bubba will not be coming to Area 442 !!