Bate Gets A New Hat, And A Crab :-)

Sky and I thought we would change it up tonight and go to the Pier, not to catch fish but to catch crab - Blue Crab.

We got to the Pier a little before sunset and rigged up our 'recreational' crab traps that we bought from Mastry's Bait Shop on 4th St. 17th Ave. South in St Petersburg.  Very friendly, helpful and knowledgable folks there at Masters.  A local bait and tackle haunt on the peninsula for the last 38 years.

It was our first night time fishing experience.  The Pier at St. Petersburg at night, especially on the weekend is a very fun and interesting place to be.  Just after sunset swarms of fishermen and women with rods in hand and many with elaborate gear totes and coolers in tow populated the Pier.  There was festivity in the warm summer air.  

We're definitely coming back but like most times you do anything for the first time, you find yourself unprepared.  There is a list of things we should have brought with us.  Among them, snack food and drinks.  We're starving!!

Well, we caught one crab and it was a Stone Crab, not a Blue Crab and I learned from one of my fishing buddies that it is against the law to keep them but you can break off the claws and throw body of the crab back into the water.  It will grow new claws within weeks.  So we did.  Here's our catch.  

OK, it's not much but it doesn't' really matter how much you catch but that you get out there and have some fun and that we did.

Oh, by the way, I bought a new hat !!

Pier Fishing in St Petersburg

Another beautiful day for fishing in St Petersburg

Added a few new fishing buddies today out on the Pier in St. Petersburg.  This is Jamiel.  He's been fishing on this Pier for about 10 years.  He was casting this huge net.  Maybe next time I see him I'll make a video.  It's amazing to watch.  He makes it look so easy and man, today the tiny Green Backs were abundant.  He was hoping for the larger ones but this is what he brought up today.  He gave me a bucket full, kept a bunch and left the rest for the birds.  The birds were very  happy about that.

This is Cooper.  He rides his little electric car from Gulp Port via public transportation.  He a fine old guy.  Today he caught a few Sheeps Head.  We was fishing with tiny fiddler crabs.  

Well, here's my catch for the day.  Mangrove Snapper.  Yumm.

St Petersburg - Tampa Bay Waterspouts

Wild and wacky weather can be fun to watch and sometimes it makes for good fishing.  I took this picture from the Tampa Bay Times.  My homeless fishing buddy, Allen, saw one of these a few evenings ago right off the Pier in St. Petersburg.  Sorry I missed it.  That must have been exciting.