Got an early start and the ramp was pretty much and easy in and out with one other boat launching behind us we were rigged for trout but I brought two trolling outfits in case the seas were really cooperating and I could make a run to some close numbers.
Pulling out of Mike’s basin Celeste told me the guys in the other boat were kind of laughing at the sight of the two stretch 30’s hanging on my trolling rods in the 17 foot Sailfish flats boat
. When we rounded Dog I realized we were going to see who laughs last as the seas were nice 1 ft rollers with a little light chop more than adequate for a run in my boat. About 5 minutes into the run out Celeste woke from her daydreaming and realized we weren’t at dog Island reef and asked what was up, I told here we are going to use those 30’s and not just look like we did. We ran to a 40ft area that had some live bottom and trolled some areas real quick to see how things were running, but I realized I wanted to go to my furthest number first and work back to these so we headed out a little further while the morning sun was still getting up. We must have really beaten the crowd because for a while we were the only ones out there (not for long) and it was nice to get to our public number and not have anyone to share it with. We trolled our pattern for 30 minutes or so marking fish with no takers and then I tried a little off the mark where I knew other structures were and found a ton of bait on the screen and could see them on top too between the bait balls I could see some big echo’s, and just then we got our fist hookup! Celeste made quick work out of the fish and after disconnecting him from the chartreuse purple backed stretch 30 the tail of the tape was 25 and in the box went the first ever KEEPER grouper into the Celestial Crab. Now I have managed a number of 21 7/8in fish in my boat but that was the first to pass the mark, so a few high fives later and we were back at it. By this time we have a little company and guess who it is? The guys form the ramp pull up and put down right on the fish and being that they are up and down I yield to them, but warn them I was trolling the spot and hope they didn’t mind me circling the area. Being a pleasant group of guys they had no problems with me running through the spot and we both fished it for a while I never did see them pick any thing up, but I hope they did well and leaving a little while later I did let them know we had one in the box and that those 30’s weren’t just for show
We headed back to our fist spot with a big boat running around our number then setting a drift right in the middle of it making trolling impossible so we headed back to our spots toward Dog Island and set another trolling spread this time with a red white and chartreuse. One of Carrabellefish’s (Cody’s) numbers came into view and I headed that way and right past his spot I see a nice bottom rise and then Celeste’s nice bottom grabbing for the heavy spinning outfit with the red/white on! I slow the troll to idle and she is having a time with the fish and drag is screaming off the reel!! What the hey!! She is looking at me & I her, and if you know her you'd know she just battens down the hatches and keeps grinding down on the fish. Soon I see a monster coming through the water column, but it isn’t the grey I was expecting nor the copper of its sparse cousins, but rather RED! Yes a huge redfish smacked the 30 and what a whopper, we netted it to ease capture and quickly removed the trebles to help the monster get back on his way, but I had to get a shot or two of my redhead with her first bull red! 40 inches and 25+lbs on the boga
We did a little reviving and he swam right on down to the bottom being very visible on the depth finder! We set the troll again and just minutes later I have the other rod go and it’s finally the captains turn and I make quick work out of my first keeper gag in my boat a respectable 24” hits the ice! We troll further in and surf up a sea bass then another gag that just missed the mark and went on to grow up. We hit my spot on the fuel gage for trolling and I told Celeste we’d hit the reef for Spanish and to see if the trout were up yet. One nice 20’’ Spanish and a 17” trout a quick release lure thief of a blue and we headed back toward Lanark reef hunting some better trout action. First spot I chose was a sparse grass/hard bottom area Todd, Jamie and I had done rather good at last trip down so we go to work and Celeste is up front saying something about a red I didn’t quite understand then her reel screaming. I move to the front to see what the commotion is and she says I told you “There is a big red” you didn’t listen so I just threw at him.
Well here is the scene!!
http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/ ... 300499.flv
And the result...
Well that about made our day and even though we did manage another keeper trout and Spanish for the day our highlight reel was over with that last red and with a tired puppy and two fisherpersons we headed back to Mike’s @ 3:30 to an empty ramp, but a full parking lot, happy to be off the water and to have had such a great time on it!
Tight lines folks and thanks for tuning in!
P.S. THANKS TODD!!!! None of this would be possible without your hospitality and friendship!
Also want to thank Cody!! Your number put that first red in the boat buddy!!
