I met Mr. Jim Cheeks from Denham Springs, La. when we were living in an RV after Katrina. His wife power walked around the KOA camp ground we lived at for 9 months before we were able to come back to live here in Empire. She had mentioned her husband loved to fish and had a boat. He took me to Lake Pontchartrain a few times and I showed him the Empire area. I had not seen him in a few years but I made a point to look him up when I was up there at Christmas time. All his family was there this year because they HAD to do some remodeling in the house to make the doors bigger etc. Jim's wife is now in a motorized chair and is 2 1/2 years into Lou Gerigs disease. The 3 son in laws and 2 sons got all the work done in record time and had a free day today.
We hit the water a little after 7 and were fishing at 8:10. Our target fish was lane snapper or candy snapper as they are also called.
The limit on these is 10 per person and 10 inches min. total length. They are better eating than the red snapper as far as I am conserned. We got everybody into the rythum and the catching started. In an hour we had a good mess of fish and they kept on comming. We were catching 2 white trout to each lane snapper and also had the usual redsnapper (out of season), short triggerfish, hardhead catfishwhich all went back on a regular basis. We did manage a few croaker to add to the box. After 2 hours of bailing fish I gave them a little more time to play before making a move and switching gears.
We went out about 13 miles more and I attempted to find some amberjack. Did not mark much at the first rig so after about 10 minutes we moved on to a rig I knew held Reef Donkeys. Bear in mind these kids were from Paduca, Ky., Memphis, Tn., and Ark. They thought when we started they were getting big fish and never had such hot fishing ever. On the second rig I had Jim run the boat and I dropped the bait. I made sure the next guy up was belted up and ready. Dropped down about 10-12 seconds and as soon as I locked in the bait it was engulfed by an amberjack and the fight was on.
Sorry about the picture. Have to clean the lens. His form was not textbook and the fish melted his arms and back. He stuck it out and that was it for him. I have to admit it was a nice one. His arms burned so bad I had to hold it for him.
The next one went down the same way just as quick. Drop, Stop, and Fight. This one also was stuburn and they were all impressed by this type of fishing. Big old bass in this pond Bubba.
After the 4th one we decided they had enough amberjack although I could have taken 6 and the bite was stupid we already had a lot of meat in the box.
We went back to the place we started at and put some more trout and another Lane in the box. Wanting to get in at a reasonable time we quit at 1:30. There was a lot of fish to clean and they had a 3 hour drive home. We ended up with 82 pounds of mixed reef fish and 4 nice amberjack. The day was not rushed and very relaxing for them. I ran my butt off and loved every bit of it.
Even though they were pressed for time they did stop by the house and visit with Jo-Ann for about 5 minutes. I am very glad they did. This was a very nice way to end the year.
Wishing Y'all a very good New Year.
Life is Good!
)
reef donkey
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