TEAM JO-JO:
Monday’s crew consisted of Big Tom (MCC Mechanical Engineer), Big Steve, and Oneofthepack, as we eagerly hooked up for another journey to our personal Disney World—Delacroix Island—aboard the reliable Bay Flat Sr. The anticipation was high, and it felt like a reunion long overdue. It had been quite some time since we had gathered as a trio of MCC engineers for one of these adventures, and this time, the excitement was palpable. Retirement had opened the door for us to finally get back to doing what we love—fishing, catching, and simply being on the water.
Originally, we were supposed to be a foursome, with Big Herb (MCC Electrical Engineer) rounding out the crew. Unfortunately, Big Herb had to cancel at the last minute, leaving us with a menage à trois for the day, instead of the full squad. Though his absence was felt, the three of us were more than ready to make the most of it. Delacroix Island is no ordinary fishing spot for us—it’s like our own Disney World, a magical place where the waters are rich with possibilities, and each trip promises adventure.
It had been years since the MCC engineers—now all retired—shared the deck together. In our working days, time was scarce, and these trips were cherished but infrequent. Now, with all of us retired, we can start focusing more on the things that matter most—fishing, camaraderie, and making up for lost time. The hope is that this outing will be the first of many as we transition into this new chapter of life, filled with a lot more fishing trips and, of course, a lot more catching.
This trip wasn’t just about fishing; it was about rekindling old bonds, reliving the glory days, and creating new memories to match the old. With the Bay Flat Sr. cutting through the familiar marshes and the Delacroix breeze at our backs, we were reminded of why we love this place so much. Retirement has gifted us the time, and now we’re ready to use it wisely—on the water, chasing Silverwonders, Redwarriors, and, most importantly, the simple joy of being together again.
SIGNS:
· Sunday provided some good intel for today Monday.
· Good night sleep, Sunday had me worn out.
· Up at 3:30 AM for 4:30 Am meet up at Waffle House in Oak Harbor
· Big Tom & Big Steve were waiting for me when me showed up.
· Gave me 15 second safety speech re: crossing Hwy & open space around boat.
· Quick load up of Bay Flat Sr
· Loaded up Bay Flat Sr
· Yamaha Dream Machine still hot form Sunday trip
· Made a stop to go juice at Lionels.
· No buy dead bait today.
· As we motored down main bayou, mullets staring jumping out of the water, one hit the bottom, (inside of the Bay Flat Sr) now that be a sign.
· Off to spot # 59B on Team Jo-Jo map to start our fun day on the water.
CONDITIONS:
· Perfect
· Wind, W.S.W. 10-12 mph.
· Water status / conditions: slight chop, heavy chop across little lake
· Sky, sunny & clear
· Temp, cool, mild, warm, came in early before it goes hot.
· Water level, up 3-4”
· Water Temp , 79.70 F
· Salinity, 1.8
· Specific Conductance 6370
· Pressure, 30.15 R
· Water clarity on a scale of 1-7, 3 minus
· Mississippi gauge: 3.30 ‘
· Caernarvon Outfall: 638 ft3/s
· Tide, slack all day.
· Peak tide, 12:26 H 1.33’
· Peak tide, 22:54 L 0.66’
· Major Feed Time: 03:32 / 15:50
· Minor feed time: 03:09 / 16:20
· Tidal Coefficient: 85
· Plenty bait in water
· Shrimp jumping out of water.
· Large group of birds sitting on water where ship jumping
· Fish Activity
· Average Activity
· Boats out and about, 8 out and about
· ONEOFTHEPACK’S REPERTOIRE OF TECHNIQUES / STRATEGIES
· Be safe.
· Have fun.
· This be me daily therapy for ALL me aliments.
· Put some run time on the Bay Flat Sr and the Yamaha Dream Machine
· Gather Intel for future trips, and to share with fisherperson, (on Facebook) to help assist them in their choice of areas to fish, lures to use and presentation of same to the elusive Silverwonders.
· Catch what catch can.
· Learn what learn can.
· Put Big Tom & Big Steve on some fishes.
· See if fishes still at spot # 59B.
· Share / teach / introduce Big Tom & Big Steve all that Delacroix has to offer.
· Bring home some fishes for Big Tom & his family to enjoy eating.
· Find a spot # with the seven fundamentals / criteria of catching:
1 WIND AT YOUR BACK: (Most of the time directly on our backs, some cases we had to fish a cross wind, but it be at our back. With (2) Cajun anchors out we could have Bay Flat Sr to any of angle to wind that we wanted to fish it at.)
2 MOVING WATER: (This criterion was our challenge for the day, no current lines to fish and water just not moving, tide chart way off today)
3 WATER CALRITY: (Another challenge a 3 minus, not looking good at all, fish did not mine, but my confidence level was Real low.)
4 HOLDING FISH: (Team Jo-Jo spot # 59B on map)
5 PATIENCES: (On, on, on from start to finish, everything flowed mullet jumping in Bya Flat Sr)
6 SKILL: (Popping cork at times, but tight lining was the key, all we would do is drop lure straight down, then jig it like fishing white perch.
7 LUCKS: (Having the whole area to us, and having enough fish for Big Tom to bring home)
· Oneofthepack’s repertoire of Techniques / presentations:
· Anchor up cast & retrieve slowly along the bottom, with a twitch every now and then, tight lining…………………………………85% caught this way. Jigging up and down.
· Drift with the wind cast & retrieve (DWWC&R)……………DID NOT TRY
· Oak River Troll (ORT)……………….Did not try.
· Reverse Oak River Troll (RORT) ………..DID NOT TRY
· Oak River Skim (ORS) ……………DID NOT TRY
· Cork ……..15% caught with popping corks.
· Lake P Troll (LPT)…………….Did not try.
· Drop shot: Did not try.
· Dead bait……None
· Live bait………………None
· Oneofthepack ‘S repertOIRE of LURE DU JOUR:
· 3” H&H Purple Beetle, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head with gold hook……………Did not try
· 3” Chartreuse Glow Beetle, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head w/gold hook………….Did not try
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H ¼ oz. round white head w/gold hook……………Matrix Shad creole shrimp,
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H 3/8 oz. round white head w/gold hook……………DID NOT TRY
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with H&H 1/2 oz. round white head w/gold hook……………DID NOT TRY
· Matrix Shad Lemon Drop, matched up with 3/4 oz. round lead head w/ 2 trailers, ……Did not try.
· Tandem rig, ¼ oz. round H&H jig head with gold hook, matched up with Matrix Shad Lemon Drop …..Did not try.
AREAS / SPOTS / NUMBERS ON THE MAP FISHED:
Team Jo-Jo spot # 59 on map caught 90% here , caught 10% at spot # LC-5, stopped fishing around 10:40
OUR REWARDS:
· Lived to fish another day.
· (24) Silverwonders, (18) Miniwonders
· (75) White wonders
· (1) BIG Redwarrior 18.4#
· (1) Croaker
· (1) Channel mullet
· (1) Crab
· (3) Gaff Tops
· (1) Hardhead
· Early in AM we are motoring down you & a fish jumps in Bay Flat Sr, now that be a sign.
· Big Tom brought some peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, thanks man me needed that.
· Being on the water with 2 of the best fisherpersons me know Big Tom & Big Steve
· Cool fresh dry air in our lungs
· Lessons learned:
§ 4:30 AM perfect timing to leave abode, puts us ready to leave Lionel just at day light to run down bayou.
§ Birds diving-setting on water / shrimping jumping in Lake Pato Caballo with Silverwonders under them.
§ Large groups of birds sitting on water have fish under them.
§ Matrix shad creole shrimp lure of choice
§ Second up would be power prawn lure.
§ Concentrating of fish in deeper water 14-15’
§ Jigging lures up and down, white wonders cannot resist this type of technique / presentation.
§ Tide charts way off, never had any water moving today, slack all morning.
§ Live / dead shrimp did not need this fact for yesterday & today.
· Best fishing trip of my life, until the next one.
FISHERPERSON OF THE DAY:
Big Steve had his success with the Silverwonders, and was all over the Whitewonders, from observing Big Steve he has the skills & talent in the art of fishing and catching, but being at a little disadvantage due to fishing areas he not familiar with, me think he be a little short for honor today.
Big Tom, landed BIG fish of the day all (18.4#’s) had his share of Silverwonders, caught many Whitewonders, dominated crab division too, not for his ability to control his cork tangle up, and ability to get hook out of fish in a timely manner, he would been in line for honors today. Even with extra pints for peanut butter & jelly sandwich, he fell a little short.
Oneofthepack was just Oneofthepack and was in his element got on a roll at times, stopped to take videos for all to enjoy.
SUGGESTIONS:
Four horse area loaded with Silverwonders / Whitewonders and some Redwarriors, time is now, “You got to go to know”, just do it!!!!!
Be on lookout for diving birds, and those sitting on top of water too.
PONDER OF THE DAY:
“Somewhere, something , incredible is waiting to be caught.’”
Q&A:
When do you feel most like yourself?
TEAM JO-JO’S future stratagem:
Cancelled out Thursday trip due to weather, now looking hoping Big Rudy , Big Ronnie, & Oneofthepack can hook up for a trip Friday!!!!!! Until till then.
Good Fishing
Team Jo-Jo & Oneofthepack
釣り先生
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