A friend of mine and I attached his 18hp Mercury 2 stroke on the Hullabaloo last evening for a little test. As usual things rarely go the way you may expect. I am thinking we will crank up the throttle, pop up on plane and be skipping across the surface of the bay a high speed. Not so unfortunately.
The motor boat performance may have been a disappointment but God's closing for the day was awe inspiring!
If you do not know your Maker seek Him and be delighted!
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. Jeremiah 29:11-15English Standard Version (ESV)
Well over 20 Osprey hunting over the flats in a large group. They were in the air for hours diving one after the other. We would see them pluck a fish from the water time after time.
It is the new year but God is not bound by time. Today is the day of your salvation. You are forgiven in Jesus name and He awaits your return to Him. A willingness to give your life back to the one who has given you life is all you need. It not by works but by Grace through Faith! Ephesians 2:8-9
The bay has been abundant with bait fish and the grass on the flats is thriving like I have never seen it!
Joe did most of the catching.
As we pulled up to the ramp on our way home we were able to free an entangled Pelican. Very gratifying to see it fly off to continue its service to creation.
Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens." Genesis 1:20
Six hours in the quest for fish. You never know for sure what you will encounter out on the bay and you may know what species are currently biting but catching them is a different story. The conditions were warm with very light winds today. The sky was blue with puff white clouds above. We very quickly encountered fish.
There were Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorini) just about everywhere we went and on this day we caught more of their species than others. I am making a mental note to look for them every September late in the month.
The first fish I was able to catch was another pelagic. I do believe this is only the second I have caught over the years. The first one I think was back in 2008. It is a bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix).
Both of the aforementioned species are equipped with razor sharp teeth and are eating machines! If you do not use wire leader you will be cut off 9 times out of 10!
Everything was in abundance. We saw a large sea turtle and have been seeing more in the last two years than in all the previous years of this life combined. The bait was everywhere in huge numbers and large individual sizes. It is a joy to see creation thriving!
Winter is on it's way and the creatures are using this time of abundance to stock up on calories! Good time for fishing!
They only righteous Puffers are those who were designed that way!
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Another incredible day on the water! Last year around this time of the year we began the best Red Drum catching month of our measly little lives! This year looks like it is going to be another spectacular season for fishing these beauties!
We were next to the only ones on the water in comparison to most days. I suppose Labor day had take is full measure of leisure lust from the the conformists.
We each were able to catch a respectable fish.
Of course the ones that go away would have been record breakers!
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters. Psalms 29:3
Stayed over night on a small island in Tampa Bay last evening. My brother and I had been planning the excursion for a couple weeks!
This is an island my father used to take us to and I would guess this is the fourth time I have stayed the night there.
It was a beautiful sunny day followed by a rainy afternoon. We went on a Monday believing there would be no one to out on the water. We had three four boats stop and over fourteen individuals wandering the small island. Lots of folks enjoying creation.
Joe caught a jack as the storm approached.
After the rain subsided enough to put the steak on the grill we cooked it up and ate it with glee.
We then basked in the glow of a most amazing sunset!
As night fell we retreated to the fire and when the time was right my brother crawled into his tent and I climbed into my hammock which promptly broke under my every increasing girth. Don't worry I fixed and and fell asleep as a cool breeze blew the entire night.
God by His Grace and through His Word has been so faithful to us. Our Family could not be stronger and we grow ever closer as the time moves us closer and closer to our exit from this amazing planet He has gifted us. There is nothing complicated about life although it has it's sorrows His Joy can be had through it all. It is quite reasonable to expect with reliance on Him that you can make the right choices and maintain innocence vital to all your relationships.
Well what can I say we went fishing again today! You never know what you will reel in and that is part of the fun!
The sun was bright, the sky blue and the water was a clear, cool, yellow-green but were the fish biting? Yes!
Wow we caught two really fine specimens. We caught Snook and Spotted Sea Trout and although we did not catch him I saw a fine Red Drum swim by!
You know what makes all this really special? Every last thing about it is a gift. We did not ask to be born. We did not bring any of these creatures into being; nor could we. We are not even responsible for the next beat of our hearts. It is all a gift no strings attached from our Father in Heaven! It is all God's Grace!
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
My brother had Monday off so he called Sunday to say. “Let’s go fishing”. We headed out from Ballast Point Park at around 9:00 am and motored out for the 12:00 pm high tide.
It was a silver and grey day at the start but the wind died down and the blue skies opened up above soon enough.
We spent a some time beach at Pine Key aka (beer can island) before fishing around a channel marker just to the East.
Brother caught this fine specimen an Atlantic Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus.Strangely of late Joe who is usually the last to want to head home is always the first to suggest we pack it in. Something about not wanting to be to long away from his baby.
Many thanks to the Creator of the Universe for His handy work and for being the Love we all share!
Had a photo shoot at Union Park a Metro Development Group community. Working with colemedia meant I had air cover while on the mission to shoot the Union Park Bridge entrance from multiple angles.
Thanks to Tyler Johnston the man behind colemedia for capturing the goings on with his little airship and expertly producing this little video on his custom built supercomputer.
