Florida Chapter Anastasia State Park Gathering 2006

[cracker39]

Ira, here's a map of Coquina loop. These are all the names and site numbers that I was able to find. If any others have sites, let me know and I'll edit the map and post.



Kinda looks like a circled wagon train. Woody and his band have the rest of us surrounded.

[Ira]

Great job, Dale! Cool! And THANKS!

So all of the other sites are reserved by people not associated with us, I guess.

Looks good, because the way I see it, when I try to make that turn and pull into my site, I'll take out Woody and Ross's TDs without any problem at all.

Hope they're insured.

By the way, and I know it's too early to tell, but are you making any plans for heating? In South Florida, it's usually still A-O-K in November, but up there?

[Woody]

From my understanding there are more people in the group reserving sites that have not posted them yet.

Heat??? I would worry about it when the time come closer

Ira what day are you going up there. We are going up on Thursday in the am.

[cracker39]

I'll probably take my little ceramic heater I use in the bathroom to take off the chill when showering in the winter (did I say winter??? In Florida?). It will provide all the heat we'll need (if any).

[cracker39]

Woodie, the reservation site said they camp site check in time is 3PM. Has it been your experience that you can set up any earlier than that? We don't plan on arriving until Friday. We're looking at about 3 hours for driving time.

I figure Ira to have about 5.5-6 hours drive time. Is that about right, Woodie?

[Woody]

Woodie, the reservation site said they camp site check in time is 3PM. Has it been your experience that you can set up any earlier than that? We don't plan on arriving until Friday. We're looking at about 3 hours for driving time.

I figure Ira to have about 5.5-6 hours drive time. Is that about right, Woodie?

I will be there with others from the group on thursday and they ( Park Rangers) will let you in early if the site is already open. If you got there early and had to wait for it to clear then park down by us and we can wait together until it opens up. So I wouldnt worry about showing up earlier than 3pm. If you want Pm me and I will give you my cell phone number so I can see if your site is clear in the morning earlier or what ever you would like to do.

As far as the drive time, it is about 4 - 5 hours for us depending upon traffic. I am about 12 miles south of Ira so it should be about the same. It is pretty cut and dry for us as a drive. I do save a lot of time by avoiding I-95 until Jupiter by taking the Turnpike.

I would bring a heater just in case. one with a thermostst so you don't cook in your teadrop overnight. I found decent ceramic heaters at Walmart for around $15 bucks and they worked great made by Lasko. I know it can get cold up there if the cold fronts come through that time of year. As long as it don't rain (too much) it will be fun

[cracker39]

We'll probably plan to arrive between noon and 1PM. If the site isn't open yet, we can just visit the beach for a while.

My ceramic heater is a Holmes and it has a thermostat and 3 speed fan.

I'm hoping the bluefish have reach our costline by then. I'm going to make up some of my mustard sauce for cooking them on the grill if I'm lucky enough to catch any.

[Woody]

Sounds like a plan, I hope they are running also. I plan on some fishing also. Like I said before we will be there on Thursday so stop on by we'll be there aiready. See ya there

[Ira]

Gee, I thought the drive was a lot longer. I feel better now.

I'll be going up Friday morning, but now I really don't have to leave so early.

As far as the blues go, what are they, the smaller bluerunners? And do you fish off the beach for them? Also, what kind of bait?

Glad you mentioned this. Gotta pick up a fishing license at WalMart.

[cracker39]

Bluefish are one of the most fun fish to catch from shore. They are fighters. They get into a feeding frenzy, cutting through schools of bait fish and when this happens near shore, you just throw your baited hook into the school and wait for the action. When feeding, pound for pound, they are more ferocious feeders then sharks. Most people bottom fish for them using cut bait. When they are feeding in a school of bait fish, you can cast shiny lures and catch them...even just a hook with some aluminum foil on it will do the trick.

I fished for blues in Maryland a lot, mostly surf fishing. I've caught them up to 13 lbs. In Florida, you are more likely to catch 1-3 pounders, which are better for grilling than the larger ones anyway. The flesh is kind of oily, like makerel or tuna. That's why they cook well on a grill. I've never had anyone try my BBQ'd bluefish that didn't like it. Just talking about it makes my mouth water.

Here's a site with some good info on blues.

http://www.ncfishandgame.com/fish/bluefish.html

[Ira]

I know that blues are maniacs--used to fish them off of boats in New York. At the pier, we had the smallest ones that we called "snappers," and for them, we used what we called "shiners" for bait. Here in South Florida, they call the ones you're talking about, larger, bluerunners.

When the snappers were running at the pier, all you needed was a bamboo pole and float.

But I've hardly done any fishing off the beach.

[cracker39]

In Maryland, the small ones were called snapper blues too. I don't know how many of the big ones come this far south, but they start to leave Maryland between late sept and mid-oct, migrating south.

In late dec or early jan, I want to go over to Sepastian Inslet to try for the big winter flounder that come into the river to spawn and then migrate back out the inslet. That's a good place to pick up some blues too.

[surveytech]

Glad you mentioned this. Gotta pick up a fishing license at WalMart.

Ira,
If your surf fishing on the beach you wont need a license for saltwater. Only when you get into a boat do residents need a license for saltwater.
Non residents will need a license though.

Walter

[cracker39]

Fishing License? What's that?

One of the advantages of being over 65 is that you don't need one. That and getting to camp for half price. Now, if I could only get my gas at half price........

[surveytech]

Kinda looks like a circled wagon train. Woody and his band have the rest of us surrounded. :lol:

So who is going to have the best vantage point for the "Pirates in the trees?"

.