Really Big Fish, Really Big Fun

One of the best things about winter is I get to fish. Summer is great , we catch a bunch of fish but I am busy driving the boat and trying to coach clients on how to catch a big one.

Last week I took the Dead Fish WAY offshore for a fun trip with my son and a couple of buds. After making sure we had enough Triggerfish and Vermillions for everyone to have a fish fry we went BIG fish fishin'.

Edmund and I were the first to drop and we both hooked up right away with big fish. I fought mine for over 15 minutes but never gained more than two inches of line and eventually lost the fish to the wreck. Ed hung in there with his and landed a beautiful 50 pound Amberjack (top photo). Lots of high fives and celebratory remarks, the biggest Jack I have seen in a while. He said picking it up for the pic hurt way more than catching it!

Ed sat down and the rest of us went back at it. I hooked up again pretty quick and was able to control this fish a bit, I knew it was big, even if smaller than my first. After a prolonged tussle I pulled the Jack up to the boat, not realizing just how big it was until I gaffed it and tried to pull it over the rail. My son had to help me as I couldn't quite get him all the way out by myself ! At 75 punds it's the biggest jack I have got to catch myself in probably 25 years.

A happy Captain!
 

We stayed on the spot and Marshall and Will hooked up several more huge fish that couldn't be turned. They ended up keeping a 35 pound & a 40 pound fish to go with Ed's and mine. I went to smaller baits and caught another half dozen "regulars" along with a Grouper and big Snapper I released.

We were all wore out so we took a picture and headed back to Grayton...

A bus drivers holiday.. No wonder everybody wants to do this, it's fun!
 

Aside from one day off fishing I have been steady boat building and repairing. We have about got Capt Tyler's "Too Dead Fish" ready and he go to run it on her maiden voyage last week. The boat performed wonderfully and is faster than the Dead Fish , topping out in the high 30 knot range and cruising comfortably at 24 knots. The best thing is the bottom machine read good even at 32 knots !

Another happy Captain!
 

I have the "Heavy Metal" all tore apart, putting new carpet in the flats boat. I just got it back from the welders, new poling platform and some skid plates on the bottom for all those oyster bar hits.... Another week or so of boat maintenance, two weeks of tackle rebuilding I'll be ready for a new season. The cobia should be here in six weeks !

My son has been doing good on the Trout and Redfish here in the bay the past week-- Get out there and catch something! Take my word for it, It's a blast!