With the small weather window, I decided to get see if the Fat Jax was still able to float.
Not a early start, launched at SCM about 0830 or so. headed SE to the first spot. My Friend had hand surgery a while back, he said I wanna learn how to drive the boat, and you can fish.. KOOL I said... he he
First spot, marking good fish, made a drift, with a couple short bumps. Here comes a fella with a trolling motor. while setting for another drift, he plops down right on top of spot (rather small area) well, me having the etiquette I do, I said "Okay, sport, you can have it....
Next spot, (I'm still squinting my eyes.)
There was a boat with a dive flag circling the area. I figured they were looking for their spot to anchor, with them being under power and on the move, I went in for a quick drift before they went in the water. When they made a pass closer to me, I said "Your ladder is down" their response was, Our buddy is in the water, and were waiting for him to surface." (Or something close to that.) I have never seen a dive boat waiting on the surface UNDER POWER riding around waiting on a diver to surface. I said "lets move on out of here, and get away from the poor SOB under the water, I don't want to be the one to hit him when he comes up.
3rd area, couldnt buy a bite.
4th area, ACTION!
Water was extremely clear everywhere, saw something just rippling the surface (water was like glass BTW), turned out the be schools of "Cuda's. neat sight, shudda took some pics. Neat thing to see.
After a drift figuring where the fish were holding, we caught a small Bonita (about 12 inches long, cute little fella) and the AJ/s came out of the dark after him.... he he I could hear his screaming... ha ha They didn't get him, my friend pulled him to the safety of the Fat Jax.... Wished him luck and tossed him back in. (He might have though his chances were better with us though...)
Nothing for a couple drifts, then I hooked another BoBo, this time a 'Cuda came from under the boat and sliced him off, just behind the gill plates. Fast to. I dabbled the head and he took a few shots at it. You know F'ing around with it...
Then my friend hooked another smaller fish, and a larger fish took it for a ride. Steve (my friend) took lighter gear this trip because of his hand being weak and not to over use it during the healing process. Steve had this happen several times, and ended up breaking a bice rod, and stripped the gears out of the reel....
I got a nice hardtail about 14 inches, put a circle hook in him, and down he goes. In my "minds eye" during the small short rips of the drag, I envisioned something like slowly dropping a soft hot dog into a meat grinder..
Another hardtail 14-15 inches long, same set up as before, it was on, nice grab, and here we go, After several nice AJ's, I was getting sunburned (I put the sunscreen in the boat when I got home) and Steve's hand feeling the use after recent surgery, we headed North.
Everything released (cept the bait)
Great weather, and another great day on the GOM.
Gonna be rough for a few days.
ta Jax 4/25/24
Not a early start, launched at SCM about 0830 or so. headed SE to the first spot. My Friend had hand surgery a while back, he said I wanna learn how to drive the boat, and you can fish.. KOOL I said... he he
First spot, marking good fish, made a drift, with a couple short bumps. Here comes a fella with a trolling motor. while setting for another drift, he plops down right on top of spot (rather small area) well, me having the etiquette I do, I said "Okay, sport, you can have it....
Next spot, (I'm still squinting my eyes.)
There was a boat with a dive flag circling the area. I figured they were looking for their spot to anchor, with them being under power and on the move, I went in for a quick drift before they went in the water. When they made a pass closer to me, I said "Your ladder is down" their response was, Our buddy is in the water, and were waiting for him to surface." (Or something close to that.) I have never seen a dive boat waiting on the surface UNDER POWER riding around waiting on a diver to surface. I said "lets move on out of here, and get away from the poor SOB under the water, I don't want to be the one to hit him when he comes up.
3rd area, couldnt buy a bite.
4th area, ACTION!
Water was extremely clear everywhere, saw something just rippling the surface (water was like glass BTW), turned out the be schools of "Cuda's. neat sight, shudda took some pics. Neat thing to see.
After a drift figuring where the fish were holding, we caught a small Bonita (about 12 inches long, cute little fella) and the AJ/s came out of the dark after him.... he he I could hear his screaming... ha ha They didn't get him, my friend pulled him to the safety of the Fat Jax.... Wished him luck and tossed him back in. (He might have though his chances were better with us though...)
Nothing for a couple drifts, then I hooked another BoBo, this time a 'Cuda came from under the boat and sliced him off, just behind the gill plates. Fast to. I dabbled the head and he took a few shots at it. You know F'ing around with it...
Then my friend hooked another smaller fish, and a larger fish took it for a ride. Steve (my friend) took lighter gear this trip because of his hand being weak and not to over use it during the healing process. Steve had this happen several times, and ended up breaking a bice rod, and stripped the gears out of the reel....
I got a nice hardtail about 14 inches, put a circle hook in him, and down he goes. In my "minds eye" during the small short rips of the drag, I envisioned something like slowly dropping a soft hot dog into a meat grinder..
Another hardtail 14-15 inches long, same set up as before, it was on, nice grab, and here we go, After several nice AJ's, I was getting sunburned (I put the sunscreen in the boat when I got home) and Steve's hand feeling the use after recent surgery, we headed North.
Everything released (cept the bait)
Great weather, and another great day on the GOM.
Gonna be rough for a few days.
ta Jax 4/25/24
