More Rockness monsters from GSP

Here are some more pics of stripers that I have caught recently at gallatin Steam Plant.

[TimAub]

Nice. Those will make some nice eating.

[Alphahawk]

Nice fish! I grew up in Gallatin and fished at the Steam Plant a lot in late 60's early 70's. Have not been back there since maybe 1983 or so. Someone told me it is no longer open to bank access.....is that so?

Regards

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Nice fish! I grew up in Gallatin and fished at the Steam Plant a lot in late 60's early 70's. Have not been back there since maybe 1983 or so. Someone told me it is no longer open to bank access.....is that so?

Regards

Yeah that is true only boats!

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Someone told me it is no longer open to bank access.....is that so?

Regards

You can blame 9/11 for that Alpha.

We used to go there with ultralight spinning rods, split shot and a single gold hook. For bait we'd pull the green slimey moss off of the rocks, put it on the hook and cast it out to the current catching skippes all day long.

[bd-]

9/11 was just an excuse. They were looking for a reason to shut down bank access for a long time.

There were too many people doing drugs and breaking into cars in the parking lot, and there were too many fishermen absolutely trashing the place.

Guys would gather at the boils to fish for stripers and catfish and they would net a bucket full of shad. Then, when they were done, instead of throwing the unused bait back in the water, they'd discard it on the bank. I have no idea why.

I fished up there a few times a week back then, and I remember the big piles of gizzard shad all over the path very well. It drew tons of buzzards, along with the occasional raccoon and stray cat. The buzzards pooped everywhere. TVA put up signs one year saying "Fishermen Do Not Throw Fish On Bank," but a few months later someone tore down the signs. They put them up a second time and those didn't last either.

I think people who ran the Plant were running very short on patience anyway, and when they had a reason to shut down public access without people getting mad, they jumped at the chance.

As usual, a few slob individuals pretty much ruined it for everybody else.

bd

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by bd-

There were too many people doing drugs and breaking into cars in the parking lot, and there were too many fishermen absolutely trashing the place.


bd

We had our hitch receiver stolen up there and a hubcap off grandad's truck.

[bd-]

My girlfriend had a purse stolen out of my car. The security guys up there always seemed more intent on catching teenagers "parking" and so they could maybe catch a glimpse of boobies instead of focusing on actual crime prevention.

bd

[Saltwaterwalt]

Hello Tn Jugger, I'm new to the site, joined mostly to get local information as I'm a new transplant to the area (retired from Dept of Army) and settled in Old Hickory. I see, like on a lot of other sites, there are some real fireworks at times! In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" heh,heh.

Those are some dandy rockfish and I sure want to catch one. For whatever reason, not holding my mouth right or whatever...I've caught every fish in Ky/Tn waters but a rockfish. And just moving here, I think the GSP is my next quest to get one.

I do release fish, especially bass, and all my trout (don't like bones) but I love to eat fish and see anything wrong in keeping one or two for a fresh meal if the urge hits me once in awhile. That said, If I ever do catch a rockfish, I'd naturally be curious to try one as table fare. So why wouldn't a big one be good to eat? And how big is too big? I like whites and hybrids, and after trimming out the red and soaking over night in some lemon water, I think they're great. Something different about a rockfish?

Originally Posted by Saltwaterwalt

Hello Tn Jugger, I'm new to the site, joined mostly to get local information as I'm a new transplant to the area (retired from Dept of Army) and settled in Old Hickory. I see, like on a lot of other sites, there are some real fireworks at times! In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" heh,heh.

Those are some dandy rockfish and I sure want to catch one. For whatever reason, not holding my mouth right or whatever...I've caught every fish in Ky/Tn waters but a rockfish. And just moving here, I think the GSP is my next quest to get one.

I do release fish, especially bass, and all my trout (don't like bones) but I love to eat fish and see anything wrong in keeping one or two for a fresh meal if the urge hits me once in awhile. That said, If I ever do catch a rockfish, I'd naturally be curious to try one as table fare. So why wouldn't a big one be good to eat? And how big is too big? I like whites and hybrids, and after trimming out the red and soaking over night in some lemon water, I think they're great. Something different about a rockfish?

It does not matter what size the fish is really, they are some of the best tasting fish in our waters. Just like you said cut out the red meat and then I soak mine in salt water for 24 hrs to pull the rest of the blood from the meat. That rockfish that I caught in the vid was my first and it was a cold November night so he did OK and was released! He was actually caught while jug fishing, when I said that he was too big to eat because that is what I had always heard. But when I caught my next one he went home and was consumed several times..... Just do not over do it catch a good one to take home and then release the bigger of the two fish limit that you catch. You will make allot of folks in here happy for that!

[bd-]

Originally Posted by Saltwaterwalt

I love to eat fish and see anything wrong in keeping one or two for a fresh meal if the urge hits me once in awhile.

I think most people here feel that way. "Moderation" is the name of the game.

I personally think the best eating fish are the schoolies from about 20 inches up to 15 pounds. The real huge ones can be a little tough, especially since I usually bake or grill striped bass similar to the way you'd prepare salmon.

You do have to trim the red meat and the fat off the filet, and I usually soak in orange juice for a couple hours instead of lemon water overnight.

bd

[Saltwaterwalt]

I always keep a camera in the boat, so if I catch a hog, a couple good photos and back he goes. Yeah, guess I'm not thinking big enough on these stripers...lol. You guys are talking about 30 pounders +! I should be so lucky. As far as eating, I was thinking more like a 10 pounder, which is my favorite catfish size. Think I'll hit the steam plant this week, say hello if you see me, easy boat to recognize, it's a Ranger flat boat with a poling platform, not a lot of those on the lake
PS I'll be the one screaming insanely if I land my first Rock.

[bd-]

Two suggestions if you're new to the Steam Plant.

1. Treat the area around the canal as if it were a no wake zone. Running on plane in such a small, crowded area is unsafe, and besides, boats zooming in and out will shut down the fishing pretty fast.

2. As you arrive in the area of the discharge canal, watch out for the rock pile on the edge of the channel. There used to be an island there but it has eroded away. There is a small metal pole marking the rocks but it is hard to see, and it has been claiming some props this year.

bd

As bd stated watch the rocks on the left side as you are approaching the canal, raise your motor as you go in and you will do fine. The weather needs to be freezing for good striper fishing, there will still be some in there but more abundant with colder temps! I would go about 3/4's of the way up and anchor, catch some skips(if they are in there) get some planer boards and run you line about 10 to 12 ft out from the planer and let the skips free swim out of the back of the boat. Put your rods in the rod holders and sit back and relax. Make sure that you have heavy duty tackle, line ect. I use abu Garcia ambassador 7000's with 50 pound braid, 6/0 octopus hooks. all loaded up on 7 ft med hvy Ugly stik tigers! Good luck! One more thing do not put any weight on your line, just a swivel and hook and let them free swim. Just place the skip and planer board down in the water and let the current take it out for you.

[SAMBOLIE]

Originally Posted by bd-

I think most people here feel that way. "Moderation" is the name of the game.

I personally think the best eating fish are the schoolies from about 20 inches up to 15 pounds. The real huge ones can be a little tough, especially since I usually bake or grill striped bass similar to the way you'd prepare salmon.

You do have to trim the red meat and the fat off the filet, and I usually soak in orange juice for a couple hours instead of lemon water overnight.

bd

Do you recommend marinating whooping crane prior to grilling?