30 years to retirement, 850,00 RPM’s...! Leland, you like me, are a poor estimator - I’m 9 years deep into my “5 year retirement plan”!
Just keep going through Matlacha to the stop sign on Stringfellow, then right up through the palm groves to Pineland and dump the Gheenoe in and point it WSW. We’re the third dock north of PeJuan Cove - the crooked one!

Leland, Mel and I are getting into town on Wednesday and I’ll be running offshore every day if the weather allows or working the pass for tarpon and snook if it’s too rough out deep. You are more than welcome to jump on anytime and we can get you over to the island camp as well. Our rental house is right on the water and we are keeping the sled tied up out back.

I do appreciate the offer but I will be trying to shoot a whitetail right in it's delicious heart.

Info for those coming to Terry's who might want to fish inside:

We just spent a long weekend on the boat in the vicinity of Terry's. its coming back from last year's red tide, but not all the way yet. Fish under the phosphate docks look mostlynormal. Mangos, sheep head were normal abundance and size. Lots of tarpon 20-30 lbs, did not see any big ones. Snook VERY abundant and some BIG ones, maybe more than normal. No goliath grouper, where normally I see a dozen, 40-300 lbs.

Fish generally seemed fairly abundant, reasonable numbers of mullet jumping . Plenty of minnow type bait. Lots of swirls in the water, something eating size. Schools of rat reds along the shoreline striking at minnows, right on the beach. Lots and lots and lots of fishermen. If the presence of those guys is a good indication, the fishing is good. Oyster beds are coming back, no legals yet, but plenty of 1/2 inch little guys. Sorry, no oysters for the gathering this year. By next year we will eat well. I did not look for pin shells, figured that was a lost cause.

One negative. It looks like the red tide killed off the gastropod fauna in the local Gulf. Shell on the beach looked radically different from normal, no fresh dead, lots of types missing entirely and what was there was all old, bleached out and a lot less of it. Even considering its the end of summer and its been calm, this is different.

Saw several sick cormorants. Not sure what thats about. The other cormorants were eating well.

Ya'll come!

Roll call! Who’s coming?

Casey & Teresa McKnight
20 SF staying on Cabbage Key
Pulling in Thursday

me an rufus will be in van down bye da rivar
lulu left me coppal a monthz ago fer cletus
hart broke

sam

Terry, Marsha, Seafari Dougie and grandson Kayden.

The Greene brothers we’ll be at Bokellia

My bride has other plans...:eek:
Will probably do a day trip solo...
May need taxi service ! Uber is not into
boating as of yet.. ;)

Not to worry Bones, we can come get ya in the 'ol clunker! Maybe you could find Spidey and spend the night with him in his van down by the Peace River! Due to his women troubles, I suggest a rear facing chastity belt just in case!! :)

Connor and Karen Davis, Thursday, I think.

Myself, Mel, Autumn and our friends Scott and Julie

Saturday November 9
 

Bring you Inshore gear. On Saturday morning Florida Sportsman writer and fishing guide Capt. Ray Markham will give a short “Inshore Tactics” talk at Cayo Costa about gear, tackle and targeting’ for those in attendance, and then fish with each of us for a few hours before the afternoon fish fry. Even old salts like Spider Crab can pick up a few pointers from a “trout whisperer’ like Ray.

Ha Ha! Sounds like a WILD RIDE is on the agenda...������

Hoping to meet everyone on saturday....

My crew consists of Jenan, Jonas, and Ansley. We are keeping the boat at Placida Harbor. We are planning on arriving on Friday. Launching at Eldreds. We are looking forward to a great weekend!

20-25 people are confirmed....T-3, Cabbage Key dinner on Friday?

Sounds good with us.

What time Friday?

Fish fry and MOAG - v2 planning Saturday nite at T-3’s?

Friday Kmoose and Co. will be “bringing home the bacon”. 4:00 PM Friday - Casey’s at Cabbage Key bar - Fish stories and/or Boat stories. Saturday 10:00 AM, Inshore Tactics with Captain Ray Markham -meet and greet at Casa de la Costa (1 mile north of Captiva Pass. (See my personal page for waypoints, etc.) 4:00 fish fry - with DonV “on the basket fryer”.

No Guarantees
 

Lucie and I would like to attend. The ‘79 MA is not showroom but water ready. Some suggested I bring the for sale ‘77 Seafari. Not so interested unless specific parties. I would like to fish and relax. Waiting on a response from GFS for sleeping arrangements.

Vezo

Boy, are you brave!;)

Maybe Spidey can join them!! What a threesome..... :eek:

I'm hoping we will be able to bring the "bacon" but it is late in the year so it all comes down to weather. We may want to look into contingency plans for seafood if necessary like shrimp and or a box of snow crab to steam wouldn't be a bad substitute. Knowing where to get it down there would be a good thing to know before hand. That said, if we make a contingency plan for failure we should likely overcome it and beat them up good Friday.

Forget showroom quality, my 23 is in need of a bunch of work, but she still will be gathering worthy/Bahamas bound anytime.




I'm in!

Yikes.

Light spin?

Ken, 1) Sandy is bringing a smoked brisket, 2) shrimp and stone crabs readily available in Matalacha on SR 78. 3) Mullet is usually available at Jug Creek (Bokeelia) and 4) There’s a Publix just south of the 4 way stop on Pine island.

Local stone crabs...yum a yum yum. So sweet and delicious.

Well, I have been monitoring the red tide bloom and decided to pull the plug on our reservations. The fwc map this morning had made a huge jump to red and I decided to call our AirB&B host who lives on the water and she confirmed it is as bad or worst as last time.

The other major concern was that the samples offshore were just as bad as inshore so there was going to be no escape for us. That and Mel is an asthmatic and my granddaughter was coming so it just isn’t worth the risk. Hope to catch you guys next time.

Ken brings up a good point. Haven't experienced redtide in some time. Last time was at our wedding reception on Siesta Key and when the afternoon sea breeze filled in, the place cleared out. What'a think?

Very surprised, but the Mote Beach reports are saying about the same thing. It came on fast, 3 weeks ago there was no sign of anything around Cayo or near it. Guess its just been too warm for too long. Not going to let it stop me.

Cayo Costa Gathering - CANCELED
 

Ken and I talked today. I also spoke with a commercial fisherman on Pine Island and he said “it is not good” and it has now moved up into parts of Pine island Sound and southern parts of Charlotte Harbor. There are reports of respiratory issues with some people.
Based on this current situation and with a heavy heart I think we should CANCEL this Gathering.
As is the case most times, when dealing with Mother Nature, you’d better just get out of her way.

Well crap!!! There will be another time. I was ready, bought fish fry mix, hush puppy mix, oil, propane, etc. for the May gathering at River Palms, because of Mother-in-law health issues forcing me back out then and now Red Tide problems causing us to cancel this gathering, I'm getting a complex.

One of those better safe than sorry things!!

Well Crap II - I think I'm past the deadline for refund cancellation at Cabbage Key.

Casey, If the Wells family wouldn’t refund ask if they will shift your deposit until the Spring and I’ll meet you down there then.

Wow, nice gesture... damn I was looking forward to this one.

On a positive, the Grouper are heading inshore in Hernando Beach...

Michael.

Terry - I’ll take you up on that offer if things don’t work out. Since I’m past the 2 week deadline, can you suggest anyone particular to plead my case to?

Just wanted to quote your heart.