14 July 2007 Fishin' Chix PRB Orange Beach

The alarm clock went off at 0400, time for another Fishin Chix adventure. I launched the boat and arrived at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Al at 0520. By 0545 Roxanne, Allyson, and Sara were on board awaiting the go signal from Capt Wes. 0600 and were off, a quick stop to get the freshest of live shrimp straight out of the net (Thanks Chris!!), and straight to the trout flat.

Our drift across the grass flat yielded no strikes, bites, or looks, so to the pass we went. Finding the right fish on tournament day is never easy. The legal size reds were nowhere to be found today, by anybody, save the one boat that brought back both of the tourneys legal fish (Congrats Alissa and Bruce). But we did find SOME redfish, just not ones small enough by tournament rules. The first of these fish was quite a battle for Allyson; lasting 35 min and torturing the rest of us with laughter (to the point our cheeks hurt!).

As the fish neared the boat I noticed that it was tail-wrapped; and upon further inspection we found that Allyson had NOT hooked the fish. Rather she had lassoed the fish by the tail, the hook never stuck in the fish!!! And again the boat explodes in laughter.

Sara was up next and looked like a pro on the bow with a BIG bend in the rod. She had taken some lessons from Allysons fiasco and hooked her fish in the mouth, the proper way. 10 min later she had her fish boat side.

I pulled up one last time and again Sara hooks another big bull which we land and release. With the reds not working like we needed them to we decide to change gears and try for a King Mackerel. To the bait boat !!

After some telephone recon we head for a local wreck that the Kings have been inhabiting these last few weeks. It only took us minutes to get the first bite, but 20 min or so to hook one. Roxanne landed this one, our first King of the day, on about our 5th bite.

Running out of time I quickly reset and within 15 min we had put two more Kings in the boat. One of them a nice 10.5lb fish that was just out of contention for third place. It was lines out at 1100 per tournament rules and a beautiful ride back to The Wharf for food, drinks, and awards.

Thank you so much ladies for my best Fishin Chix event yet. Sara , Roxanne and Allyson you guys were awesome!!

And thank you very much, Claudia, Capt. Wes and all the Fishin Chix crew that makes these tournaments possible and thanks to Covenant Hospice for all the work they do, we are glad to help raise money in any way we can.

Capt Josh