E.G. Simmons County Park (Dec 1-13)

Thursday- It was an uneventful three hour trip here using back roads (98 and 39). We got into a nice site (74) which is on the canal making it possible to launch the kayaks without taking them to the launch. We got set up and drove over to Hunter Pass to fish. We ach caught a quite large ladyfish. Not good eating, but great fight when hooked. We then went to Ybor Grill just down the road and had Cuban and steak sandwiches. Excellent!
Friday - Fished Hunter Pass here in the park from shore, but nothing biting.
Saturday - John cleaned the road dirt off the motorhome that we collected in the rain on the way down. In the evening, we drove to Apollo Beach to see if there was any action there, but nothing, so we tried again where we fished yesterday and John caught a ladyfish. They have really improved the beach at the park.
Sunday - We will miss this church (Sun City Center UMC) next year when we stay in the Inglis area. The contemporary service is excellent. Checked out Apollo Beach in the evening, but nothing there.
Monday - Gave Apollo Beach another try early, again nothing. We waded out next to the boat ramps and Joan hooked up with a couple large ladyfish and a puffer. We went over to Hunter Pass, but only got more ladyfish, puffer fish, and lizard fish.
Tuesday - It was a rainy day until late afternoon when we tried fishing again from shore at Hunter Pass. We had a good incoming tide, but again no fish.
Wednesday - We have wanted to see if Ft. Hamer Park in Parrish has reopened, so we drove over to check it out. They have added a new parking lot and pavilion and other parking barriers. This is one of our favorite places to launch the kayaks, but was closed last year. While we were in the area, we decided to go to O'briens Farm for BLTs and strawberry shortcake. Yum!
Thursday - We finally were able to put the kayaks in here and although it was still windy, we managed to find some sheltered areas. John hooked a very nice snook that took his kayak into the mangroves and got away. Fun while it lasted. We both caught small, ten inch, sea trout in this area behind mangroves near the flats. We then paddled over to the inlet to the canal and John caught two fourteen inch trout (one inch shy of keeper). At least we finally caught some fish. We were treated to a pair of bald eagles nearby. After dinner we fished from shore again, but caught nothing, despite a great incoming tide.
Friday - The temperature dropped significantly, so we had a down day. John tied Clouser flies while Joan knitted premie hats. We did manage a walk to the end of our canal.
Saturday - Cool and windy this morning, but warmer than yesterday. We walked down to Panther Point and talked to a man who runs a local chapter of Heroes On The Water. He was helping a group of vets learn to kayak. What a great ministry. They all did great and had a wonderful time. In the evening, we went back over tobHunter Pass to fish. John managed two trout that this time were only a half inch too short to keep. Getting better anyway.
Monday - One more time at Hunter's Pass from shore yields one more trout barely under the 15" minimum length limit.
Tuesday - Our foursome launched back at Blackburn Point at low tide and fished various areas, but nary a bide for any of us. We saw a large number of birds and enjoyed the overcast sky that kept the heat down.

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