Just read the current issue of SWS. Author of a story about fishing Galveston Bay for redfish mentioned the author's fishing buddy, JP Greeson. Is there another, or have you been travelling?

Yep, that's me. You must have read a Larry Bozka story. Boz is a heck of a guy and a person I am proud to call one of my best friends. Just got off the phone with him earlier today ... talking shop.

That is indeed J.P. Greeson in all of his angling glory (all kidding aside, J.P. is one hell of a fisherman ... he's been known to teach me a thing or two over the years).

About the piece: It is in the March '08 issue of Salt Water Sportsman, and profiles the process of fishing what we call the "Artificial Tides" of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW). When heavily-laden tug-pushed barges are approaching, they draw a tremendous amount of water off the banks in the process. Accordingly, a lot of forage ... from crabs to finfish ... is pulled off of the banks and over the GIWW ledge.

Collectively, it presents a great near-constant-current scenario in waters that by their manmade nature are as wind-protected as it gets. When it gets tough around my home waters near Galveston Bay, I often grab a batch of Berkley Gulp shrimp and an aerated bucket of inshore-sized Black Salty baitfish and head for The Ditch. Between those two offerings, artificial and natural, I almost invariably come out of the place with some great photos of quality fish ... especially redfish.

Check out that story for more info, and if I can help in any way, feel free to drop an email to me at larry@coastalanglers.com. I haven't tried the artificial tide GIWW rodeo in Florida, but know from talking with the subject of the piece, Capt. James France, that it has really paid off for him and his partner Gene Lessman when they are fishing FLW Redfish tourneys farther west from Alabama to, and through, the Texas Coast.

Also of note in the March issue of Salt Water Sportsman ... a photo of a fellow out of San Diego who, on a long-range trip, took one of three yellowfin tuna (aboard the Intrepid) that weighed in at more than 300 pounds. Buddy, that's a beast.

I reckon it gives J.P. and me a mark to shoot for ... albeit a very large mark ... when we make our long-awaited long-range trip aboard the Freeport, Texas-based Big E this summer. The photo is on page 22; check it out.

That's a whole bunch of primo sushi to pull in with a rod and reel.

Tight lines to all ...

Boz

It was an interesting article. Good magazine with some good useful tips, too. My 2nd year subscribing. If you ever get up to the Jersey coast, look me up on Long Beach Island.

Steve, do you fish in in Barnegat bay here in NJ? I live in PA but dock in Toms River area and fish the bay and ocean out of the inlet here. Frequent Sarasota FLA when I head south to fish.

Hi Mike,

I'm on the southern portion of LBI and usually fish the south (Little Egg) inlet and bay. But sometimes fish Barnegat Bay and the north (Barnegat) inlet area. And the inshore areas. Have a 20' cc so I don;t venture too far offshore usually.

We've started going to the Keys -- Marathon last Nov and hopefully Easter Week in Islamorada. Great fishing, but tough without my own boat. Did some dock and kayak fishing, will also try the bridges this time. JP had provided a lot of good info to my KEYS thread inquiry back in the fall: "Marathon fishing in November"

I run from Toms River area to BB marker, the channel, and out the inlet along the coast of Island Beach State Park area. I have a 23 ft walk around that gets me offshore a few miles comfortably. I fish in the Gulf out of Sarasota when I'm down and have fished in Key Largo. Heading back down in April and putting a trip together now.