Week of March 21

[Upnorth]

Was down for the yearly trip to the keys. Had the toughest fishing I've had in the fifteen years we've been heading down. Only one tarpon (two jumps, two seconds, and off), no snook, no jacks. Plenty of good sized lady fish (as usual - too many actually) and decent mangrove action on Sat, Thurs and Fri. Caught one on Sat that was probably six pounds. Used mojarra and live shrimp. Bait was plentiful all week - including a ton of mullet. Brought down a mesh bait cage I bought from Cabelas and the predators (nurse sharks, cudas?) had torn five holes in it the first two days. Sewed up the holes with fishing line and reinforced with chicken wire and it worked good then as long as it was out of the current. Was filleting snappers and tossing the carcasses in the water Friday and heard a crunching sound and looked over and there was a 12 foot crock eating the carcasses. He wasn't afraid of me at all - and as quietly as he appeared it was spooky. Wouldn't want young kids running around unsupervised.

[crashmister]

Where were you?

[Upnorth]

I was in Key Largo fishing from shore.