We got to the lighthouse at almost 7 and there was hardly enough water to launch the Key West but we got it in. Had to use the trolling motor to get down the canal though. Once out in the channel we were greeted by 1-2 foot seas with a short period. We decided to stay close and troll a while. Started in 15 feet with maulers and rapalas. First fish was a short gag. The next fish I marked on the recorder and said "get ready". Boom the rod bent double. 28" gag in the box on the blue fire tiger rapala. Trolled a little more and got another short gag.
We decided to move a little more ESE and troll along the crab pot lines. Marked some great bottom along the way but only picked up lizard fish. As the day wore on the seas calmed more and more. Finally made our way out south of Marker 24 in 30 feet of water, intended to troll, but the grass was way too thick. Threw the marker on some bottom and got the anchor to stick the first time. Sonny dropped down half an ly and I dropped down a jig with a Fishbite. Both hooked up as soon as we were on bottom. Sonny with a short gag on a grouper stick, me with a short red on my calcutta 250 with 16# line.
Next few drops for me were grunts, but Sonny hooked into something huge. Turned out to be a 40" bull redfish. A quick picture and back he went.
I put out the king rod with half an ly and went back to my jig. The next drop for me and the fight was on. Back and forth finally produced a 22" gag, which was much more fun on the light tackle than some of the big ones. Sonny hooked up again this time with a 25" gag. Then the king rod went off and stopped. I started reeling and the fish didn't move for a while, then it bolted and stopped. After I finally got him off the bottom, I knew what it was, and 5 minutes later we had another gag in the box, this one about 23". The next drop for me on the jig I got freight trained into the rocks. Then I hear Sonny yelling and his rod tip is in the water. After a grueling battle, I helped lift a 30" gag into the box.
No sooner was the lid closed than the flyline went off again. This time it was a bigger fish. After about 10 minutes another 40" redfish came boatside and was released.
We ended the day by getting freight trained into the rocks on the king rod again and breaking the 7 strand leader. We decided to call it a day and ran in on flat calm seas and we were back at the lighthouse at 3:00.
Total Tally:
7 gags to 30"
6 Grunts
1 16" Rockbass
2 40" reds
about a dozen shorts caught and released
