We made two trips this past week. Both days the seas were a choppy 1' to 2' and very tolerable. We were able to run 30+ mph all day but only needed to hit a couple of spots to get some fish.
DAY ONE - Broke the Freeport jetties at 0630. We made a run to the A19's. We picked up a couple of limits of snapper, all 18" to 25". No big sows. We had a couple of amberjack's and lost a few due to not getting them away from the rig quick enough. Day 2 would have a solution to that problem!!
We would have a few kings but the 'cuda were thick and would leave us nothing but heads. We did manage to finally catch one of the 'cuda's and it scaled just under 40#'s back at the dock.
We moved to some underwater structure around noon but were potlicked! No big deal, as the bite turned off like a light switch. Nothing would bite.
We started the run back in hitting several weed patches and rigs as we went. We could mark fish but could not get them to bite.
All fish were caught on sardines except for the amberjacks which were caught on live bait that we caught at the A19 rigs. Day was overcast and the wind was non-existant. Beautiful day on the water. Made it back to the dock at 1830.
DAY TWO - What to do today? We decided to run back the the A19's. After filling up at the dry stack storage place, 80 gallons, we broke the jetties at 0615. At about 30 miles we get an overheating alarm on the port engine. Must have picked up some seaweed. We look but nothing. We try a few things to get the alarm to shut of but nothing works. The captain decides we are closer to the A19's than we are to the dock so we are going fishing!
We decided the engine wasn't running hot and it was just a faulty sensor but the motor would only turn 2000 rpm's. That last 20 miles to the rigs was going to take a while. We made about 15 mph with one engine turning 3200 rpm's and the "overheating" engine turning 2000 rpms. We run through a small shower and rach our destination. There are already a few boats at the rigs and a few were on the way.
We get tied off and start to fish. The fishing started off slow. We picke up a few snapper and started catching some live bait. Today Mr. Amberjack is not going to be as fortunate as yesterday. We break out the "broomstick". A 5' fiberglass rod about 3/4" diameter at the tip. It has a roller tip and TWO other guides. Strapped to this beast is a just as ugly Penn Senator 6/0 spooled with 80# mono we stripped off the weedeater spool!! We had to dig way back in the closet for this rig!
We never lost an amberjack today! Kept a limit up to 45#'s. We ended the day with limits of snapper, limits of amberjack, a few lane snapper, one dog snapper that was about 10#'s or so. We never left the rig. What a day. lots of other boats came and went. We trolled some larger deep diving crankbaits when we left. Hooked up to a king right away but he became a snack for a hungry 'cuda. At least we got half of the king. Made a couple more runs around the rigs and picked up another king. Made one more run and nothing. Capt. says bring them in we are headed for home. Bam - Bam, double hook-up!! Tow more kings in the box bringing us up to 4 and we make the run north back to the dock. We break the jetties at 1900 and head for the dock.
This was the two best days I have ever had offshore. The weather, the fish, the boat, my buddies. Everything fell into place.
Photos to follow as soon as I shrink them down.
DAY ONE - Broke the Freeport jetties at 0630. We made a run to the A19's. We picked up a couple of limits of snapper, all 18" to 25". No big sows. We had a couple of amberjack's and lost a few due to not getting them away from the rig quick enough. Day 2 would have a solution to that problem!!
We would have a few kings but the 'cuda were thick and would leave us nothing but heads. We did manage to finally catch one of the 'cuda's and it scaled just under 40#'s back at the dock.
We moved to some underwater structure around noon but were potlicked! No big deal, as the bite turned off like a light switch. Nothing would bite.
We started the run back in hitting several weed patches and rigs as we went. We could mark fish but could not get them to bite.
All fish were caught on sardines except for the amberjacks which were caught on live bait that we caught at the A19 rigs. Day was overcast and the wind was non-existant. Beautiful day on the water. Made it back to the dock at 1830.
DAY TWO - What to do today? We decided to run back the the A19's. After filling up at the dry stack storage place, 80 gallons, we broke the jetties at 0615. At about 30 miles we get an overheating alarm on the port engine. Must have picked up some seaweed. We look but nothing. We try a few things to get the alarm to shut of but nothing works. The captain decides we are closer to the A19's than we are to the dock so we are going fishing!
We decided the engine wasn't running hot and it was just a faulty sensor but the motor would only turn 2000 rpm's. That last 20 miles to the rigs was going to take a while. We made about 15 mph with one engine turning 3200 rpm's and the "overheating" engine turning 2000 rpms. We run through a small shower and rach our destination. There are already a few boats at the rigs and a few were on the way.
We get tied off and start to fish. The fishing started off slow. We picke up a few snapper and started catching some live bait. Today Mr. Amberjack is not going to be as fortunate as yesterday. We break out the "broomstick". A 5' fiberglass rod about 3/4" diameter at the tip. It has a roller tip and TWO other guides. Strapped to this beast is a just as ugly Penn Senator 6/0 spooled with 80# mono we stripped off the weedeater spool!! We had to dig way back in the closet for this rig!
We never lost an amberjack today! Kept a limit up to 45#'s. We ended the day with limits of snapper, limits of amberjack, a few lane snapper, one dog snapper that was about 10#'s or so. We never left the rig. What a day. lots of other boats came and went. We trolled some larger deep diving crankbaits when we left. Hooked up to a king right away but he became a snack for a hungry 'cuda. At least we got half of the king. Made a couple more runs around the rigs and picked up another king. Made one more run and nothing. Capt. says bring them in we are headed for home. Bam - Bam, double hook-up!! Tow more kings in the box bringing us up to 4 and we make the run north back to the dock. We break the jetties at 1900 and head for the dock.
This was the two best days I have ever had offshore. The weather, the fish, the boat, my buddies. Everything fell into place.
Photos to follow as soon as I shrink them down.
