Palm Valley Payback

I just picked up my new Carolina Skiff, a 218 DLV, with a Mercury 150 4-stroke, on a Float-On trailer.

 

 

 

 I've got to break in the engine this week, so we can hit the road, shooting new episodes next Monday. I can't wait to get it in the water! I load the boat with a little bit of fishing gear, just in case, and the cameras to get some footage of the new boat in the water. We head to the Palm Valley ramp, launch the boat, and look at the nearby shoreline and see my buddies Austin, Brandon, & Malachy fishing.

I yell out, " What are you guys doing here?"
Austin replies, "Hammering the flounder, come here, I'll show you!"
Austin whips out his phone to show me pictures of the two door mats he caught the day before.

I said, "Well, you guys owe me a trip anyway!"

After clearing the plan with their parents, the boys hop aboard to show me where the fish are. Well, we are here, and we are fishing... Might as well pull out the cameras! The guys had already cast netted live finger mullet that morning, so we pull across from the ramp, anchor up, and start to fish. The guys start telling me of all their recent catches, as they have been combing every inch of shoreline, in search of that perfect spot. These guys are living proof that you don't half to have a boat to live the Salt Life- they are at it every day! I think these three could catch a fish out of a mud puddle...
All of the sudden, Austin's line gets tight...

After a short battle, he has a nice flattie boat side.

Which is when I remember, I didn't bring a landing net.... Oops.
After a brief boat side fiasco, We somehow manage to fling the flounder into the boat.
Malachy decided to go artificial- tying on a half ounce C & H Alien jig tipped with a 3 1/2" fishbites paddle tail. Right before he casts, he said, "Flounder love these things."

and within seconds, he's hooked up! Not a big fish, but as Malachy exclaims, "Hey, it's a flounder! And I called it."

The next hour passes quickly, landing a few mangrove snapper, then it's Brandon's turn.
While slowly working his finger mullet back to the boat, the fish slams his bait and screams the drag.
"This isn't any flounder!" Brandon exclaims. And in no time, Brandon has a nice redfish boat side. With heavy thunderstorms rolling in, we had to call the trip short and put the boat on the trailer.

I enjoyed my payback trip, fishing with the guys, in their element.

You can follow these guys living the Salt Life everyday on their YouTube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/SaltwaterSlayerz
Til next time, livin the Salt Life
Slimy 5's,

Capt Don