Freelining Trout @ Flat Bridge 10/19

Arrived at the flat bridge about 11:30 pm last night. It was high tide and just about to turn to outgoing tide. I started at "flattie rock" spot #1 and didn't see anything going on. Needlefish were hanging around and I only saw a few mullet. I jigged some gulp swimming mullet on the bottom slowly but the tails kept getting bit off. Didn't feel like flounder from the way they were striking the bait. I tried gulp shrimp new penny but nothing. So as I'm jigging around the light, this guy is walking down towards me carrying his castnet. Now first of all, the bridge is a rather long bridge. Plenty of space and plenty of lights to find bait. It just so happens there wasn't that much bait on the northside of the bridge. Anyway, this guy continues to walk down towards me, and I see he's looking in the water trying to find something to throw on. I'm thinking to myself, this guy better not come down. Sure enough he does eventually walk down to where I'm fishing and looks for bait. Fortunately for me, there wasn't any bait in the water. But I bet if there were baitfish around, he wouldn't think twice about throwing that net right next to where I'm fishing. Some people just don't have any sense.
Eventually he walks away without throwing the castnet, and I'm definitly feeling alot better now that he's gone. I continue jigging and then a car pulls up next to me and this black guy gets out. I can tell he's unloading the fishing gear because he's grabbing poles and buckets. I'm thinking to myself....REALLY?!?. This asshole decided he was going to fish right on top of me...and it wasn't just him either. The car drove away to park, and several other black guys came walking up...I had about 4 guys fishing right on top of me now! I'm looking around and I see SEVERAL open light posts and fishing spots....the whole entire southside of the bridge was open in fact. I just couldn't believe it...this is why I don't fish on weekend nights. It's when the assholes come out. Most fishermen are cool, but it's people like these guys who don't know any better. Just plain ignorant. Normally I would stand my ground but again, I'm by myself here and there's 4 other guys.
So I play the better man and just move. I crossed the bridge, and low and behold the gold mine of baitfish was there. The mullet were so thick all along the southside of the bridge, I couldn't believe it! However I picked the wrong night to forget my bubbler for the bait bucket! DOH! Luckily I had the trolling bucket which drops right in the water. One cast of the net and I had at least 20 mullet...no lie. I fished a little bit near Aunt Catfish but no hits. I saw down at the next light something was busting the bait so I moved down one light. Thats where I freelined another mullet and caught 2 trout! First one was just short at 14.5" and second was a bigger 16"! I could've kept the last one but I gave them both a release. Besides I just ate trout earlier in the day so I was good. I then moved 2 more lights down to the far eastside of the bridge. Again, mullet like crazy. I ended up catching only 1 more trout down there and it was a short 13". Surprised to see no ladyfish hookups tonight but I'm sure they were out there. There was just too much bait in the water if that is such a thing. :)
Oh, so at the end of the trip I was walking back to my car and briefly talked to the assholes that took my spot earlier in the night. I saw they had a big fat slot red in the cooler. Looked like a nice fish. I should've told them I like to be kissed when I'm F******! Yeah, I'm still mad about that.

14.5" Seatrout


16" Seatrout


13" Seatrout