We left the marina around 7:15am and headed out into 3-4 foot seas. It was a long, slow ride that put us at our first fishing spot around 10:30am. We were fishing in 110 ft. and I had high expectations of catching some big fish like the previous trip. The first 15 minutes found me with no bites and a few of the guys around me catching small white & red snapper. We stayed in this area for about 20 minutes with only barely legal red snapper and beeliners going in the box. It was quite discouraging to watch every short red snapper thrown back only to be devoured by the numerous porpoises circling the boat waiting for a handout. Time for another spot....
We moved to another spot with about the same results. The deckhand informed me that I was not catching fish due to using an 80# mono leader. I inform him that I have caught plenty of fish with the setup I was using and informed him that we just were not on any fish. The box proved that
He hands me another pole with a 25# leader. Same results. The only thing being caught was small snapper, grunts and a few small triggers. Time to move again.....We get to another spot and start picking up a few better snapper.......not big, just better. I got to the point where I just sat there holding my pole trying to avoid a tangle with someone else. Then, my rod bends over. After 10 minutes or so, I haul up an 8 ft. nurse shark.......yeah
At least I caught something is what I was thinking at this point. My dad was fishing next to me and he managed a few nice red snapper around 18". He got a little ticked at the deckhand throwing back his numerous 15 7/8" red snapper only to watch them float away on the surface or be eaten by the porpoises. I'm still sitting at "BIG FAT ZERO" on a keeper fish.....any fish. We move to another spot. As soon as we stop, there are two big mahi circling behind the boat. The deckhands stop what they are doing and start throwing baits at the mahis. I freelined an LY out the back just for the heck of it. After a few minutes, they disappear. The deckhands go back to work and I go back to sitting. A buddy of mine finally hauls in a 8lb. red grouper.....this would be the first and only grouper put on the boat for the day
The captain has the courtesy to put us over one more of his numerous small snapper holes. A few more snapper are put in the box and numerous others released. At 1:30pm the captain informs us that it is time to head in. Surprisingly enough, I was happy to be going back in.
We arrive back at the dock around 4:30pm and unload all our gear......for me, no fish
We snap a few pics and head out for a nice dinner at Capt's Table.For most of the guys, it was a very disappointing day. I don't think the captain made much of an effort to put us on any decent fish and barely even stayed on the spots he stopped at. Out of 30 guys, there were probably 60 or so keeper red snapper and only 1 grouper for the day. Lots of white snapper and my dad managed a nice lane snapper. We spent 9.5 hours on the water and barely fished 3 hours total. Not impressed with this trip by any means, but enjoyed the fellowship with my dad, son and a few good buddies.
Guess I'll change my leaders before I go out next time and maybe I'll have better results
They seem to work good on them Carrabelle grouper and snapper 
