Windy Today And Tomorrow, Saturday looks good

Wind from SW

Looks like Saturday we'll be back on the water

Tell tale features of windy conditions are apparent today as the wind veers to the SW and is destined to move around to the NW.  Temperatures are still in the mid-eighties so everything remains tolerable.

Wind is up, beer time!

Hot outside cool inside
Bottled by Fish Brewing Co., Olympia, WA.

While the temp and the wind are both up, it's time to taste test some new beer and wine. This one is very good and organic too!

Night Fishing In The Conch Republic

I had my first taste of night fishing last evening, I went out with Keysmon, Capt. Dave Leahy on his boat. Although I don't have any pictures to show you the action, we caught an array of fish. Our target fish was the always, highly sought after, Snook; no luck in that department but we did put together a nice catch of large Mangrove Snapper,  Lady fish and a Jack or two.

Capt. Dave offers trips on the Fl. Bay and surrounding area to any one who would like to go out and bend a rod.  I observed that Dave is a highly knowledgeable, competent and successful fisherman and would recommend him if you ever get down to the Keys and you don't want to spend hours getting to the fishing grounds.

I hope that I will get another opportunity to evening fish with Capt. Dave before heading back to NJ.

Incidentally, there is a link in the right margin of my Blog to his fishing Blog, Keysmon. I have also included a link to his site on this post, just click on following link:  http://keysmon.blogspot.com/

SUNSET 3/27/2011

Aaahhh, just starting to relax!

Johnny, From Boston, First Back Country...Loved It !

Johnny caught the first and last fish of the day

What, me worry?

A picture of contentment!

Fish on

The little one that did not get away

Johnny,  from Boston, an avid deep sea fisherman, had his first taste of the Back Country with light tackle. The result, he loved it! We caught Spotted Sea Trout, Jacks, Lady Fish and even managed to catch a Lizard Fish. At one point we had a Spinner Shark on but that soon vanished for the lack of correct tackle; Johnny also had a big fish on but lost it after a few anxious minutes.

Do you think that this is easy, dealing with aqua blue water. 80 degree temperatures in the winter and catching fish? DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR ME , I HAVE ACCEPTED MY FATE.

Wednesday 3/23/2011 Fishing Day

Wednesday 3/23/211
Wind: Calm
Bay: Smooth
Temp: 80

With the wind expected to be less than 5-10 Kts for the next few days, my Flats boat is called Front and Center. Back country today, reef fishing the next two days.Yahoo!

With my scheduled summer migraton drawing nearer each day, I have to make the best of every opportunity. Sailing one day, fishing the next Etc., can't get enough of this stuff. Right, Mr Smith? (Paul Smith)

A couple of videos are included for your edification, enjoy but excuse me for the wind noise.

Tuesday 3/22/2011 Sailing Day

Tuesday: 3/22/2011
Wind: 12 Kts ENE
Bay: Light to medium chop
Temp: 80

Today I am going to meet Roland, his wife Barbara and another couple Rick and Mary for lunch at Nest Key. Nest Key is one of two Keys in the Everglades that you can land on, camp and have a campfire, however, no pets is the rule.

I left about 10AM, Roland was scheduled to leave at 11:30 but got delayed, Barbara took responsibility for that; Rick and Mary left about the same time as I did but their distance to sail was shorter.

I took one video as I was sailing toward Nest Key, however, when we anchored and went ashore for lunch I left my camera on board. I'm a slow learner.

Enjoy the short video and I hope that you get the same sense as me, about the water color, sky and the scenery.

It was a great day for a sail, after about an hour on Nest Key, I headed back home as did Rick and Mary; Roland and Barbara are staying out two more days to take advantage of the great weather pattern we currently have.

Reefing a Gaff Rigged Sail Boat

After making a small comment on one of my recent posts about a couple of Cats sailing around with loose reefs tied in, a chap named Bill Stanard sent me this attachment on how to reef a gaff rigged sail boat. Bill, as you might recall has been building a catboat of his own, called, CLEMENTINE. Click on link to be taken to Stanard Boat Works and Clementine.  http://www.stanardboatworks.com/Lynx/pictureTable.htm

Thanks for the info Bill, I will pass it along via Post, this post.

 http://www.woodenboat-digital.com/woodenboat/20110102?pg=96#pg96 Reefing a Gaffer!

http://www.woodenboat-digital.com/woodenboat/20110102?pg=96#pg98

Two Cats, IBIS and LEE MARIE framed by our typical winter sunset

Photo by: Mary and Jim DuGranrut

 Many thanks to the DuGranrut's for sending us this picture of  IBIS and LEE MARIE enjoying the last moments of this sunset. With our visit to the Keys (six months) winding down each sunset on the Florida Bay has more meaning. When I get back to NJ, all my sunsets are over land; I guess that the sunrise over the Atlantic will have to suffice. Looking forward to getting back to LEE MARIE'S home port on the Barnegat, next to one of my favorite haunts since 1958, Beaton Boat Works. Ah yes, it seems like yesterday that I showed up at Beaton's, purchasing my first Sneak Box, Pop Beaton's second effort called SHADOW.Since then, I have owned several sailboats, all of which have been kept either at Beaton's or next door at Mike Lee's. This year marks my fifty third year either at Beaton's or Mike Lee's.
Yikes!

A Gathering Of Cats And Kittens

Jack, Rolands friend!
Jack's son sailed around the world
It is rumored that Jack is now looking for a Sanderling for the Fl Bay

A Sandpiper and a Handy Cat from Ibis' view




(Pssst, tighten that outhaul)

 

With a reef tucked in, all boats enjoyed a wonderful day on Buttonwood Sound

IBIS and company



IBIS from behind



Sailing along

Sea Bean

Motor mounted to Starboard (interesting)

The other day an impromptu gathering of Catboats occurred on Buttonwood Sound, just off the Upper Keys Sailing Club. It included a couple Marshall Sanderlings and a few smaller craft, a Sandpiper and a Handy Cat. Unfortunately, Lee Marie, my Marshall and me did not make the event, sorry to say.

With the wind up all craft had at least one reef tucked in for comfort and less wear and tear on the gear. I have included some pictures here that were sent to me by William Low and Roland Barth. Enjoy!

SUPER SUNSET THEN A SUPER MOON

The Evening Of The Super Moon 3/19/2011

Twilight

Ibis, with Roland and Barbara enjoying this special evening

Meeting up with Ibis

On this special night of the Super Moon, Roland and Barbara met me out on the Bay for an evening sail.

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – While tonight’s Perigee Moon for March 19, 2011 is called a “Supermoon”, NASA tells news that the “super” in the word Supermoon refers to the rare beauty and illusion that the Moon will create this evening. At first glance, tonight’s full Moon may not have a proportional difference than any other night. But as NASA explains to news, when tonight’s full Moon is observed behind foreground objects like trees and foliage, it will appear “supersized” and brighter.



How big will tonight’s Moon appear? NASA predicts that this evening the full Moon may appear as much as fourteen percent larger than on average. And while the Moon may appear substantial supersized tonight, NASA explains it’s all an illusion. Tonight’s illusion is the result of the Moon’s orbit passing closer to the Earth.



But here rests the irony.



As NASA explains to news, tonight’s full Moon may appear fourteen percent larger but it is not that much closer to the Earth than on average. As NASA adds, “the moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times.”



There is more to be excited about tonight’s Moon besides it enlarged appearance. It will appear also thirty percent brighter that a normal full Moon. The last time this happened was March 1993. And yet, tonight’s Moon tonight is only fifty thousand kilometers closer to the Earth to create this spectacle.



But should you be alarmed about the Moon’s closer proximity to the Earth tonight? No, says NASA. They explain the Earth already has enough “internal energy.” “The Earth has stored a tremendous amount of internal energy within its thin outer shell or crust” explains NASA to news, adding “the small differences in the tidal forces exerted by the moon (and sun) are not enough to fundamentally overcome the much larger forces within the planet due to convection (and other aspects of the internal energy balance that drives plate tectonics).”



If full Moons are not to your liking, meteor showers are just around the corner. Lyrids arrives on the evening of April 21, peaking after midnight. Eta Aquarids will light up the sky with an impressive meteor show on May 5 in the early evening. Perseids drops in a full moon the evening of August 13. A partial lunar eclipse lit up the sky on June 26. Another partial can be seen in just days from now on June 4, 2011.



So while tonight’s “perigee moon” may appear as the biggest and brightest full moon in almost 20 years, there is always something exciting to capture in the sky.

Just Hanging!

North wind 15-20 Kts

Waiting for the wind to subside, it did!

Scott, checking the gear

All set to go



Scott's Shimano Stradic 3000CI-4, non-metalic carbon infused reel

 On the dock waiting for the afternoon sun to get high in the sky, that's when the Bay warms up and so do the fish.

An Alluring Evening In Tavernier Creek

DOA Swimming minnow

Millie's bucktail, "the best tail for your buck"

Top water Popper

Here are a few of the lures that we used to catch some small fish in the Creek. We were just out to have some fun on the water and watch another sunset, while fishing.

Out On The Water Once Again

So, Friday saw a trip to World Wide, lunch under the Tiki Hut, fishing on my dock and finally a trip to Tavernier Creek in the late afternoon.

Small Barracuda

Jack Crevalle

Baby Grouper

Scott, left and the Deer in the headlights, me, on our way home at dusk

While in the ocean side of the creek, we picked up several species of fish on various lures, Barracuda and  Crevalle Jacks were the most common.

Waiting For The Wind To Subside

Just dreaming, 30K, not yet!

Scott, with my new rod

Scott and Rob outside World Wide

Big doings at lunch, searching the catalogue

Getting bait for the dock experience

Back at the dock, still waiting for the wind to lay down

Friday, the wind is still blowing this morning, a trip to World Wide Sportsman is in order. While at World Wide I picked up a new rod, like I need another one, and we had some lunch out on the dock. Grilled Grouper sandwich and some coconut shrimp, crossed our lips, then back home to the dock to do a little Mangrove Snapper fishing.

The wind did finally ease off and we loaded up to go fishin!