20 July 2008

Capt DP, Seth and I went just north into Alabama to do some Bass fishing. We left Pensacola around 1630 on Saturday, arrived at our lake camp at 1845, and got in a half hour of fishing before the sun went down. One lone Bass fell to Seths bait that evening, but the morning bite should be much better, we hoped.

The alarm clock rang at 0515, a quick bite and to the lake! The Bluegill fishing was awesome! I wish I'd taken pictures of some of them, they were huge. I must have caught 15 or more Bluegills over 9" long by myself, Seth and DP were wearing them out too. WOW!

The Bass fishing was notably better than last nights. We boated 7 of the fish that bit, including these two brutes. I lost another one about the same size earlier in the morning...he ate a cricket, on 8 lb, I didn't stand a chance.

18 July 2008 P.M.

Jared, Jenny, Jim, and David had about three hours to kill this evening, I had just the entertainment they were looking for. We left from Shoreline Park at 1700, Redfish bound! Once in the Pass and set up, the catching began.

The Catfish bite was fair, with a few Bluefish thrown in. All of which was rudely interrupted on three seperate occasions by GIANT Redfish. 100% Redfish-of-your-life, giant Redfish! Jim and David both did great jobs with these fish.




What a great way to end the day, or begin the night, however you want to look at it! I hope to see you guys back again next year, Thanks again.

18 July 2008 A.M.

Mike and his family met me at Shoreline Park at 0630 for 6 hours of fishing. We procured a well-full of live Cigar Minnows and headed for a few Snapper holes a few miles from the beach. The fish were home and ready for breakfast. Before the bite slowed we had amassed 4 nice Red Snapper, 2 solid Mangrove Snapper, and a big King that ate the unweighted Cig on the 12lb outfit.



We moved about 4 miles to another spot and again the unweighted Cig gets eaten. Ten minutes into the fight and I'm sure this isn't another Kingfish. When we get color we see a legal...that's right, legal, Amberjack...ON A TROUT ROD!!! How cool is that? Pretty cool if you ask me!



We also boated another King and our biggest Snapper of the day, before moving inshore to try our hand at a Redfish. And thats how we finish the day, with a big Redfish.



A nice box of fish, and home in time for lunch and a nap.



Thanks again guys, it's always a pleasure to fish with you.

13 July 2008

Mike, Lynette, Heather, Eric and I got away from Galvez Landing just before 0630. The morning was beautiful and, with a slow rolling 2' swell in the Gulf, Snapper was on tonights menu!

We swung by the bait boat to fill our well with live Cigar Minnows and headed for a near-shore reef. The current was really running when we arrived, not making the fishing any easier, keeping the baits anywhere near the wreck was a chore. But, as usual, with a little patience and perserverance, we succeeded. After putting 5 nice Red Snapper and one Mangrove Snapper in the box the wind started picking up. None of us were too into taking a beating, so we decided to head it to the Pass.

We got to the Pass and recieved poor news from a few of the other guides working the area. We tried for three drifts or so without a bite, not even a catfish. Of course, by now the wind had subsided so we made the run to the Mass in search of some Mackerel. Well...that didn't work out either. The first bait out got hammered, and we never got another bite. A half hour later I get a call from my Dad, who tells me there are a few Reds being caught in the Pass. Man, I just left there!!!

Can you guess what happens next? That's right. Back to the Pass we went! Good thing too, first drift and BAM!!! Second drift...nothing. Third drift...BAM!!! And so on for four of the biggest Redfish in recent months.




The bite slowed as the clock wound down and we returned to the ramp, ready for a little lunch and a nap.



Thanks again guys, I had a great time.

11 July 2008

Joe, his sons Schyler and Spencer, along with their friends, Andy and Caleb hopped onboard at Shoreline Park at 0630. A quick stop at the bait boat, and we were at the Massachusets and fishing in no time. Although the conditions could have been better, it was a little bumpy, Spencer still scored first with a nice Spanish Mackerel.


The bite was slow, we caught a Remora, and put a few miles on our baits. Then it happened... one of the rods began dumping line...a lot of line. Andy stepped up to do battle, and he was doing a great job. We were gaining our line back and everything was good.
One of the boys piped up with "Hey, LOOK, there's a Dolphin!!!"
Immediately I begin my no,no,no,no, chant...(I have a pretty good idea of what's coming)
Andy goes,"Hey, he stopped fighting."
I'll bet he did...we just made one dolphins day.
This is what we came up with.


The sea conditions were deteriorating and the dolphins were everywhere, we decided to take it into the Pass and try to find the Redfish. These boys had the touch for this, doubling up on the first drop. The pictures speak for themselves.




The last bite of the day, a shared catch by Schyler and Andy, turned out not to be a fish at all...



What an awesome morning! These guys were so easy to fish with (and a lot of fun to mess with) thanks again, I'm looking forward to next time.

07 July 2008

I met Johnna and Stan for an afternoon trip out of Galvez at 1700. It was a georgeous afternoon and the catfish bite was ON! Among all the catfish, we also found a nice flounder for dinner and this grouper that was a half an inch shy of the state minimum 22", along with a few other shorter grouper and snapper.


Our three hours ran up just before sunset, which was made even better by the dolphins swimming by. It was a wonderful afternoon with great people. No matter what was or wasn't biting, the FISHING was great, even if the catching was slow.

Thanks again, Johnna and Stan, I hope we get the chance to do it again.

04 July 2008 Pensacola International

We left out a little after midnight on Thursday on the Buy The Yard, my Dad, Gary the owner and his son Kevin, Brian and Bill all headed for the Middle Of Nowhere, Gulf Of Mexico.

 Fridays sunrise found us around 60 miles offshore with beautiful conditions, light winds and seas less than 2ft. The baits were deployed and it wasn't long before one of our reels was screaming. Brian got the rod to the chair and began battling the fish. 10 minutes or so later we had our first fish of the weekend boatside. I grabbed the leader and Bill sunk the gaff home in a nice Yellowfin Tuna. High fives all around and the baits are reset for round two.

We were seeing tunas all around but they weren't interested in our offerings. Activity was everywhere, there were whales swimming all around the boat, tunas busting the surface, birds working over bait. You couldn't ask for a better scenario. The fish, however, must have missed the memo about eating our baits. We spend the majority of the rest of Friday covering water and not getting bites. 

Just before sundown we got a flurry of strikes but were unable to get a hook to stick. We stopped at our overnight swordfishing grounds to shower, eat, and get some sleep, preparing for another full day of fishing on Saturday. We set out the Swordfish rigs, ate a great surf and turf dinner of steak and shrimp, cleaned up, watched the squid, flying fish and baby dolphinfish swimming around the boat, and everyone prepped for bed. By the time we had settled down it was pushing midnight, I managed a really nice nap earlier in the afternoon, so I took the first watch.


I started getting things ready for the next morning, rigging baits and checking tackle, cleaning up the cockpit and looking up at all the stars. Around 0215 the 130# class rod got hit, took about 6 ft of line and stopped. I got to the rod and let the fish start making off with the bait, the drag lever went to strike and I started winding, and that big rod started bending. 

As the clicker clicked away, I made my first attempt to rouse the troops, I screamed "FISH, FISH, FISH!!!"

This did not phase either Bill, nor my Dad, both of whom were asleep no more than 12 feet away in the OPEN bridge. 

"I'M HOOKED UP AND NEED HELLLLLPP!!!" 

Again, no response. 

"YOU SORRY (deleted for the sake of underage readers) GET UP AND HELP MEEEEEE!"

This WAS responded to, first by Bill with a mighty "huh?", followed shortly by my Dad with, "whaaaaaat?"

"I HAVE A FISH ON, GET DOWN HERE!"

I get back "OH!!!", in stereo.

By now I am standing on deck trying to tame a 130 with nothing more than a bear hug and knock knees while an angry fish pulls in the other direction. I wish I had a picture of that, I had to look ridiculous. As the half-asleep cavalry nears the battlefield, stretching and yawning, I can see the light, he's not far away now! There's really no time to get into the chair so I wound the light to the rod tip, standing there like some contorted stork in a tug of war with an ox. Bill grabbed the leader and pulled the fish boatside. We get our first good look...SWORDFISH!!! Sweet! I get the rod back in the holder and rush over to help Bill. As the most alert person on board (everyone else has made it out by now) I'm the logical choice to deal with this fish. I reach out, grab the fishes bill, make sure all of my crew is out of the way, and hoist my prize into the boat. What am awesome feeling, I was stoked! 

We measured the fish as just shy of the Federal minimum of 47" (from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail) so back in the water he went. High fives and more yawns and they were all ready to go back to bed... and I was wired! I re-set the baits and stayed up for the rest of the night, waiting for the reels to sound again. It didn't seem very long before the eastern sky began to lighten. I pulled the baits, one of which was cut off, and readied all the rods to start trolling.  

By 0500 most everyone was up, the engines were started and baits were set. Most of Saturday was uneventful...especially for me, I held on until around 0815 before I checked out for my nap...'til 1300. Later in the afternoon a nice Dolphin pounced on the long line, followed by a Wahoo about 45 minutes later. 1700 and we needed to go to make the scales with a little time left over, just in case. 

Although none of our fish were huge, our 56.2 lb Tuna held on to First place!!

What a great weekend!!! Thanks a ton to everyone, I had the BEST time. Thanks Gary, for the invite, and for giving my Dad and I a chance to get back out there together. If anyone needs flooring, go see Gary at Gene's Floor Covering 4021 W. Navy Blvd. Pensacola (850) 456-3360

This past week has been overwhelming. My wife's been out of town, kids in town, had some minor boat issues, fishing trips, tournaments, ...I could go on and on. Needless to say I've been behind on everything and I apologize for taking so long getting these pics posted. Here are highlights from this past weeks fishing adventures.