Ran a few back bay trips this week. All three I tried to get out onto the reefs for flounder. Two of the trips we came back in due to the choppy conditions. One we came in because of a little dudes sea sickness. Again, due to choppy seas. Suffice to say, the weather prognosticators got it very wrong as far as the sea state was concerned. Each trip was an absolute blast in its own way. The personalities onboard, the shared laughs, the ribbing, the bonding. Michael and his group came out on Wednesday. We tried to get out front, but the chop was a bit much. We stayed in the back and landed a ton of croakers. Wanting so.e fish to eat they kept fifty. Cleaning them was a chore, but they had a nice bag of meat to show for their efforts. Thursday I had Matt and his gang onboard. We made it out front and fished the reef for about an hour before his son started feeling ill. We came back inside and played with the croakers for awhile. Then we took a ride to get away for the voracious little buggers and tried for flounder. We had quite a few hits, dropped one, and then Joe landed the buzzer beater for the win. Last drift of the day, just about to call it, he nailed a 17" keeper. Perfect ending to a fun day. Final trip for the week was a fun trip with long time friend Tim. We planned to hit the reefs, but as usual, the forecast was off. Bumpy seas and increasing wind forced us into the back bays. We skipped the croakers and hunted for flounder. We tried various areas, and most appeared fishy, but luck wasn't on our side. After a lot of well intended, but fruitless drifts, we decided on a hopeful long shot. It paid off. We found some sweet bottom contours holding bait fish and worked the area over. Tim got hammered, dropped back and was rewarded with a rod bending, drag pulling flounder. It measured 22.5 inches. It made our excellent, though fishless day even better. In subsequent drifts Tim hauled up another just short flounder. I landed a doggie. Not my day. Once the tide finally turned the drift was all messed up and the little bite we had died out. We called it a day. If I haven't said it before, I'll say it now. I love what I do. This is what I plan to do in retirement. Regardless of having to get up at 4 am, or struggling with over stuffed sharks in the sand, this is the greatest "job" in the world. I get to follow my passion and share it with others. Nothing better. Well, maybe just one thing, that being family and being married to the love of my life. But this gig is definitely the icing on the cake... Tight Lines!