Fishing at Cedar Key . . . .

[Charles Brennan]

Took my Grandson, Dylan, with me last week to try our hand at scalloping and while we did catch enough for dinner for me and my wife, he decided on his next day off, he wanted to go fishing.
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So Saturday we took Short Rib, my 31 year-old 10 foot-8 inch rigid inflatable boat (RIB) over to Cedar Key.
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Been a long time since he fit into the boat shoes, shown at left; now he can't even fit into the ones at the right! 
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I honestly did not know what to expect. 
Growing up in south Florida and fishing both man and boy, in Biscayne Bay, Miami, the Atlantic Ocean and also down in the Keys, I had actually gotten just the least bit jaded. 
I generally knew what species and approximate weight I had on my line, before it ever broke the surface,    from so many years of fishing those waters.
Moving up to north central Florida was like the first day of school for me; so many new things to learn! 
I did know a couple of things:
1) Fishing in June most ANYWHERE in Florida, was not guaranteed any fish would be active in all that heat, unless very deep and very far off shore. 
2) My south Florida fishing hole instincts, where I could look at water and currents and decide what's a good spot or not, were now useless. 
Still and all, I mustered my down south tactics and decided to run out to Seahorse Reef, since on the charts at least, it had a fairly good reef relief as far as Gulf of Mexico reefs go.
(I know, I know. But until rent, gas, and groceries, go down, it's the Gulf of Mexico;    HE don't get what HE wants, until I get what *I* want!!) 
It was about 5 miles off-shore and I had never been there in my life, but I figured it was worth a shot.
Not seeing another boat anywhere on the horizon, was not overly encouraging,    but hey! I was out here and I had bait!! 
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And within minutes, we had a FISH!! 
OK, it  was a Remora and thoroughly disgusting to cook much less eat, mostly from its smell, or so I've been told.
We used to grab one while scuba diving and use the sucker disc on its head, to stick it on a buddy's leg, or on a scuba tank, as a practical joke. 
Remora use that sucker to hang on underneath a Shark (or occasionally, large Grouper) and eat whatever loose tidbits float by, while the Shark is devouring something.
Sometimes, they get a little too close to the mouth and accidentally get gobbled up along with all the other loose tidbits, an accident seldom if ever, noticed by the Shark.

After more research back on shore, (no cell service that far out into the Gulf) I discovered that if gutted, skinned, and bled immediately after catching, that it has a fine firm white flesh.
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The only other real knock on the fish, is that the amount of usable fish meat is rather small, compared to overall body weight, so you either need to catch big ones, or else catch lots of them.

Grandson taking up 6 feet, of a 10 foot boat.
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Apparently having a good time; and check the fit on those sunglasses.
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They fit him far better now, than back when this pic was taken; these are the spare sunglasses kept aboard and loaned to anyone, that needs a pair.
See??!!!??    Take care of things and they LAST!! 
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We missed a chance at a fish dinner by throwing all 5 of the Remoras that we had caught back, and I learned that I need to start watching what the locals do, (especially, the ones with fish in the box!) a lot more closely.
Charles Brennan

[Doug SC]

Loved the now and then photos. I'm surprised you didn't catch any lady fish. They will hit a spoon in a heartbeat but then get thrown back or maybe cut bait.

[Riley Smith]

Cool! I caught a big redfish one time with remoras on it! Scarred me to death as it was night ashore and as soon as that fish hit the bank that remora detached and started wiggling. I thought I had landed the fish right on top of a snake there in the dark!

[Frank B.]

Yep, I considered myself better than average when I lived on the coast.  Caught my share of Specs, redfish, sheepshead, flounder, white trout, and was decent at throwing a cast net for mullet when nothing else worked.  Also fairly good at wasting time and bait on hardheads and lady fish.  Moved up north and never have gotten this fresh water thing down.  Thinking about taking a guided trip just to learn how, particularly interested in Crappie.

You must have an early scallop season, Gulf county and St Joe Bay doesn't start till mid August.  May or may not go this year.  I love the catching process but hate the shucking process, haven't found anyone who will take that part on for me.
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[Charles Brennan]

Frank, B., Yes, St. Joseph Bay County and Gulf County is the Johnny-Come-Lately of the various scalloping counties. Aug 16 through September 24.
Steinhatchee is June 15 through Labor day, (9/7/26, this year).
Levy County, (Cedar Key) Citrus County, (Crystal River) and Hernando County, (Homosassa) are all July 1 through September 24, as are Frankin and Taylor Counties.

You need a good Tide Table, Up-To-Date-Charts, and a Maritime Lawyer, in order to be a water sportsman, any more.
Where I live, all these counties fan out in a Westward arc from me, making it easy to pick and choose where (and when!)    to go to next.

Hope this clarifies,
Charles Brennan

[Riley Smith]

Crappie are the thing up there Frank. One of my late cousins regularly slayed them at Ross-Barnett. Big ole slabs too! Best results are with a crappie pole and Slater's jigs in a sunken tree top! One of the best tasting fried fish you can find if it is coated with yellow meal Fish Fry 

[Frank B.]

Crappie are the thing up there Frank. One of my late cousins regularly slayed them at Ross-Barnett. Big ole slabs too! Best results are with a crappie pole and Slater's jigs in a sunken tree top! One of the best tasting fried fish you can find if it is coated with yellow meal Fish Fry 

Exactly why I want to focus on them.  I think they are the best tasting fresh water fish in the mid south, much better than the more commonly fished for Bass.  Lakes have to be deep enough to winter them.  Up here Sardis, Grenada, Bay Springs, Pickwick are all supposed to be good, but so far not for me.  But I'll get there.

I have some friends that are nothing but catch and release fly fisherman.  Very difficult for me to understand the concept.  I fish for food