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I went out fishing on the reef just off here yesterday afternoon. The fishing was good - caught plenty hind that weighed 3/4 to 1 pound on soft plastic swim bait (Berkley Salt Water Power Bait). The fish were not really photo worthy, so yesterday I shot some pictures of the reef itself.
This is from the outside of the reef. Current, wind, and seas here are all toward the reef, so the drift into it is quite fast. I paddle to out to just beyond the dropoff at the outer edge and can usually get in four or five casts in the drift before I have to paddle back out. Getting caught in a breaker on the reef would be disastrous - the yak would probably carry across, while I would get pounded on the coral. Sometimes I think to myself that I can get one more cast in before bailing, then, as I cast, I wonder what I am going to do if I hook a good fish. More than once I have had to open the bail on my reel with a fish on and haul ***** from the breaker zone. I have saved a couple of fish, but most of the time the fish will get down into the reef while I am paddling out and I wind up with a breakoff.
The seas were only about 2 to 3 feet yesterday.
This is a shot from the start of a drift.
Here is a breaker down the reef from me.
Waves just beginning to crest - where I am thinking "one more cast".
The top of the reef.
A small wave coming into the reef.
Looking back at the reef from the inside.
I had a tense moment yesterday coming inside the reef, right before that last picture. I was in a position that looked safe to pass, but was still further into the reef than I normally pass through it. The seas were not large so I figured it was safe to try the new route. I was also thinking "this might not be a good idea".
As I started my crossing, a large wave unexpectedly appeared and suddenly I was surfing down the face of it. I had to brace hard with my paddle on the right side to keep from broaching - and suddenly saw bare reef ahead. Thankfully, the wave broke coming into the bare reef - but left me high-centered on it. The wash from the next wave was just enough to float me free. I got away with the mistake, and learned a little more respect for the sea.
The coming home shot.
This is from the outside of the reef. Current, wind, and seas here are all toward the reef, so the drift into it is quite fast. I paddle to out to just beyond the dropoff at the outer edge and can usually get in four or five casts in the drift before I have to paddle back out. Getting caught in a breaker on the reef would be disastrous - the yak would probably carry across, while I would get pounded on the coral. Sometimes I think to myself that I can get one more cast in before bailing, then, as I cast, I wonder what I am going to do if I hook a good fish. More than once I have had to open the bail on my reel with a fish on and haul ***** from the breaker zone. I have saved a couple of fish, but most of the time the fish will get down into the reef while I am paddling out and I wind up with a breakoff.
The seas were only about 2 to 3 feet yesterday.
This is a shot from the start of a drift.
Here is a breaker down the reef from me.
Waves just beginning to crest - where I am thinking "one more cast".
The top of the reef.
A small wave coming into the reef.
Looking back at the reef from the inside.
I had a tense moment yesterday coming inside the reef, right before that last picture. I was in a position that looked safe to pass, but was still further into the reef than I normally pass through it. The seas were not large so I figured it was safe to try the new route. I was also thinking "this might not be a good idea".
As I started my crossing, a large wave unexpectedly appeared and suddenly I was surfing down the face of it. I had to brace hard with my paddle on the right side to keep from broaching - and suddenly saw bare reef ahead. Thankfully, the wave broke coming into the bare reef - but left me high-centered on it. The wash from the next wave was just enough to float me free. I got away with the mistake, and learned a little more respect for the sea.
The coming home shot.
LIVIN THE SALT LIFE 
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