Thanks for the report Snapper. It was really good to see you again, to really see you, without your mane and beard!!! lol
That was simply the most fantastic trip yet. The trip included entry into the Destin Rodeo, and Auburnfan and I are still on the leader board for the Overnight division with her 26 pound wahoo and my 36.6 pound grey grouper. Her's is pretty much sure to stand, and we will just have to wait and see about the grouper division. (that is gutted weight, by the way)
Earl was on cloud nine when he pulled in his first keeper grouper (a red, at that). The reds were simply jammed up. Couldn't get a snapper bite for all the red grouper and scamps. He did manage a keeper genuine red snapper on that hole as well. I was worn out reeling up and throwing the catch back. Even with the shorter limits than we are used to, a short is still a short. There was no end to the action, and Capt. Jim was not hesitant to move to better grounds when the bite quit. His philosophy is that we are out there to catch keeper fish, and he is not a happy camper if the fish are not biting, or the anglers are not pulling in keepers.
I personally had a ball Thursday nite. After a short nap (to let the sharks figure out that we were not there solely for the purpose of feeding them) I went out about 2:30 or 3:00. What a sight! The boat was surrounded by a pod of porpoises drawn to us by the flying fish and squid attracted to our lights. The porpoises were chasing the smaller fish, almost playfully, before chowing down. One flying fish, trying to escape his fate, found himself on the deck of the boat. The show lasted until almost dawn, and the mate on deck, George, said he had never seen such a spectacle. All would be quiet and suddenly we would hear a whoosh and there would be a 200 pound porpoise cruising across the surface before splashing down, only to surface again and hit from the other side, as if they knew we were watching and wanting to make sure we had a real show. There was a newborn following along his mother's side, as well as some older calves out showing off with the adults.
I stripped off the 16 oz lead that we had been using to bottom fish and replaced it with an 8 oz, just to see what would happen if I let it out behind the boat. The current was screaming, and the porpoises were breaking off a lot of the rigs on the port side. I fished the starboard with my Penn 320 GTI, 60# test Yozuri hybrid and a cigar minnow. I was so excited with the first kingfish that I could hardly contain myself. My catch for the evening was four kings and an equal number of small sharks. I really did not want any more kings, but it was so much fun, I could not resist one last shot. I fed the cigar minnow out and held it near the boat, feeding it out gradually to try to avoid the dumb old sharks. I felt the strike and set the hook easily, but this one was different. Instead of the steady resistance I had felt with the other kings, this one ran, and I mean ran!
I got him turned and started to reel, trying to remember to stay cool and not rip the hook out of his mouth. As I was fishing with flurocarbon leaders, I knew the chances of me getting this big guy in were slim, so I tried to stay calm. George was by my side, as he had pretty much gotten the idea that if he left I would soon be calling for a gaff. He caught site of the fish, and said it was a bonita that we could use for bait later in the day, then said, "No, it's a black fin, it's a black fin!" I almost dropped the rod I was so excited. My first tuna! He ran one more time, but we soon got him on board and I proceeded to make so much noise I woke the whole boat. Needless to say, all the men on board were soon out in force, but that was the only tuna caught that night. One was brought on board while trolling on the way home Friday afternoon.
Friday saw some pretty impressive grey grouper caught, a huge hammerhead released (we thought that would be the grouper to knock mine out of the running in the Rodeo, the way he came up) as well as some real nice snapper and the fourth wahoo of the trip. We sighted a school of dolpin on the way home, and Capt. Jim circled several times while we trolled some light tackle, but we could not round out the triple. But I guarantee you, we will be back, and anybody that can get away should commit to the next trip in May. Capt. Westbrook runs a quality operation. You will not be disappointed unless the weather does not cooperate.
Badcuda should be posting some pretty impressive pics when he returns from his long weekend.
24k
Congrats K
2 Day trip
Overnight deep sea fishing: Destin, FL
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