We have been fishing a couple of times in last couple of weeks and I think the water is just too cold at the nearshore reefs. We did catch our share of black sea bass, but the rest of the bottom fish have possibly moved further off-shore. The sharks were here in big numbers a couple of weeks ago, but now they too seem to have moved on. We put about 25 nice baits in the dock aquarium, but the otters figured out how to lift the lid, and now were're cleaned out. Next time: tie down the lid!

I should have been fishing today as the wx was great. Instead after I went with PGP to catch some bait yesterday afternoon, I figured I'd make a bait cage today for the dock to improve the ARS and grouper catch probability this season and hopefully make sure I always have good live bait before a trip.

After 2 trips to Home Depot, 7 pieces of 10 ft rebar, hog wire, welding, a bunch of zip ties, 4 noodles, and a day of work, I've got a Salifish Marina 4 ft high, Live Bait Cage!

Let's see how it works for us this year. I've got a load of pin fish, mullet, and a sheepshead to toss in there tomorrow, if they make it another night on the dock in my floating net and the otter doesn't chew through it for a snack.