Day 4 with Prince

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After watching Terry Scroggins catch an early limit on the St. Johns River, I headed to find Cliff Prince who was fishing nearby at the time. He was on the move to another area as we crossed paths.
After watching Terry Scroggins catch an early limit on the St. Johns River, I headed to find Cliff Prince who was fishing nearby at the time. He was on the move to another area as we crossed paths.
Terry Scroggins caught his limit south of the takeoff site and then promised he would head north shortly after. He indeed kept his word and headed towards Palatka to try and cull up from his early 12 to 13 pounds.
Terry Scroggins caught his limit south of the takeoff site and then promised he would head north shortly after. He indeed kept his word and headed towards Palatka to try and cull up from his early 12 to 13 pounds.
Cliff Prince was rotating through areas and baits at a high rate as he sat on two keepers at 9 a.m.
Cliff Prince was rotating through areas and baits at a high rate as he sat on two keepers at 9 a.m.
The picturesque Florida fishery never fails to provide some neat backdrops for anglers to fish around.
The picturesque Florida fishery never fails to provide some neat backdrops for anglers to fish around.
Although we are in Florida where it seems spinning rods aren’t welcomed, Prince used one diligently as he pieced together his final day.
Although we are in Florida where it seems spinning rods aren’t welcomed, Prince used one diligently as he pieced together his final day.
He’s out of here. Time to make some moves at the moment.
He’s out of here. Time to make some moves at the moment.
He waves to the loyal spectators that have followed him almost every day of this event.
He waves to the loyal spectators that have followed him almost every day of this event.
At this next spot he came out chunking and winding…
At this next spot he came out chunking and winding…
Hoping to put his bait in front of a hungry largemouth.
Hoping to put his bait in front of a hungry largemouth.
But before he gets ahead of himself he needed to retie after getting caught up in some junk a few casts prior.
But before he gets ahead of himself he needed to retie after getting caught up in some junk a few casts prior.
On to the next spot.
On to the next spot.
This is the lay of the land on the St. Johns River. At times it seems like a bass is a needle in a haystack and at other points they seem plentiful enough to be on every tree and grass patch on the expansive fishery.
This is the lay of the land on the St. Johns River. At times it seems like a bass is a needle in a haystack and at other points they seem plentiful enough to be on every tree and grass patch on the expansive fishery.
Prince hooks up. This could be keeper number three for him.
Prince hooks up. This could be keeper number three for him.
Stay down! Prince gets low to the water in hopes of keeping the fish down.
Stay down! Prince gets low to the water in hopes of keeping the fish down.
Prince gets it near the boat as it thrashes and splashes.
Prince gets it near the boat as it thrashes and splashes.
Oh gosh…that’s a good one. Prince keeps his cool though and patiently waits for the fish to tire out.
Oh gosh…that’s a good one. Prince keeps his cool though and patiently waits for the fish to tire out.
One more splash as Prince almost has this fish tired out.
One more splash as Prince almost has this fish tired out.
Got it! Keeper number three is a solid fish. Prince never got on pattern that produced quantity today, but rather every keeper was a solid fish.
Got it! Keeper number three is a solid fish. Prince never got on pattern that produced quantity today, but rather every keeper was a solid fish.
Prince breathes a sigh of relief as he hauls in this fish. It’s a good fish and it gave him close to 10 pounds with only three fish.
Prince breathes a sigh of relief as he hauls in this fish. It’s a good fish and it gave him close to 10 pounds with only three fish.
Prince and cameraman Todd Barnes share a thumbs up as it’s a good sign of the fish that live on this spot.
Prince and cameraman Todd Barnes share a thumbs up as it’s a good sign of the fish that live on this spot.
Prince gets back to work as Barnes stays focused on him.
Prince gets back to work as Barnes stays focused on him.
Rod bent and flinging his bait into action.
Rod bent and flinging his bait into action.
The shell bars have been very kind to Prince this week as he was running a postspawn pattern and rarely sight fished unlike most of the other anglers.
The shell bars have been very kind to Prince this week as he was running a postspawn pattern and rarely sight fished unlike most of the other anglers.
Prince tries to keep this fish from jumping as well.
Prince tries to keep this fish from jumping as well.
He kept the fish from jumping to try and keep it buttoned up, but that didn’t happen. It comes off, but Prince informs the crowd of spectators that he doesn’t think it was very big.
He kept the fish from jumping to try and keep it buttoned up, but that didn’t happen. It comes off, but Prince informs the crowd of spectators that he doesn’t think it was very big.
Next cast flies out…
Next cast flies out…
And he hooks up again.
And he hooks up again.
This school is fired up and this fish is a fighter. Prince stayed on the trolling motor to keep this one from jumping.
This school is fired up and this fish is a fighter. Prince stayed on the trolling motor to keep this one from jumping.
It digs at the boat and Prince keeps his cool.
It digs at the boat and Prince keeps his cool.
After about a minute fight Prince sits at the side of the boat to land the fish.
After about a minute fight Prince sits at the side of the boat to land the fish.
Bang! That will help the cause for the Palatka native.
Bang! That will help the cause for the Palatka native.
As he grabs the fish it comes off in his hand.
As he grabs the fish it comes off in his hand.
That’s a big fish landing for Prince.
That’s a big fish landing for Prince.
The spectators cheer him on as he knows that was a good fish to help his morning cause.
The spectators cheer him on as he knows that was a good fish to help his morning cause.
That’ll go on the big side.
That’ll go on the big side.
Prince hooks up once again. This was an impressive flurry that took Prince from two keepers to five in a matter of moments.
Prince hooks up once again. This was an impressive flurry that took Prince from two keepers to five in a matter of moments.
This one jumps just before it gets to the boat.
This one jumps just before it gets to the boat.
Cliff is in his groove and goes right to the passenger seat to land this would-be limit filler.
Cliff is in his groove and goes right to the passenger seat to land this would-be limit filler.
It shakes its head at the boat…
It shakes its head at the boat…
Prince grabs it and hoists it in the boat.
Prince grabs it and hoists it in the boat.
That’s five for Prince and now he has hawg hunting on his mind as it’s time to cull a couple of those solid fish.
That’s five for Prince and now he has hawg hunting on his mind as it’s time to cull a couple of those solid fish.
In the box she goes and Cliff is on the move. He headed north to try and catch a big fish off the bed. He estimated it at 8 to 10 pounds earlier in the week.
In the box she goes and Cliff is on the move. He headed north to try and catch a big fish off the bed. He estimated it at 8 to 10 pounds earlier in the week.
Prince did not see the fish on the bed when he arrived, but there was still activity in the area as an osprey finds its dinner.
Prince did not see the fish on the bed when he arrived, but there was still activity in the area as an osprey finds its dinner.
A nice little snack for the Florida osprey.
A nice little snack for the Florida osprey.
The osprey showcases some pretty impressive fishing skills by this bird. Prince would eventually head south again, but wouldn’t upgrade his bag. He finished the day with just over 18 pounds and finished 6th on his home fishery. Solid week for the Palatka pro.
The osprey showcases some pretty impressive fishing skills by this bird. Prince would eventually head south again, but wouldn’t upgrade his bag. He finished the day with just over 18 pounds and finished 6th on his home fishery. Solid week for the Palatka pro.