Keaton Off Shore

[Steve Hendley]

I took my 17y/o son and a friend of his fishing yesterday. We arrived at
Keaton Beach Marina around 7:00, no long line like there was Saturday.
Got lifted right away and headed out to catch pin fish. After filling the live-well with pin fish we headed off shore. NOAA was forecasting 1 foot seas or less, WRONG, more like 2 to 4 foot seas, but we trudged along and after about 50 minutes we were at our first set of numbers.
On my first drop to the bottom my rod tip bent over and the fight was on, 5 minutes later I boated a 12lb AJ, then my son and his fiend were hooked up.
Ended up boating 5 AJ's after throwing back the 2 smallest we had a 20, 12 and 10 pounder. This was our first experience with Amber Jack, what a blast.
Caught a 2 gags on stretch 30's and more red grouper and gags in 65 foot of water on live pin fish. Ended the day with 3 AJ's and 7grouper .
After a lull in the wind and seas through th middle of the day the wind pick backup and and we had another rough ride back to Keaton, but it was worth it, we caught fish most all day, don't know how many short grouper caught but action was nonstop most of the day. But I cant get over the power of an AJ, wow what a blast.
SH.

[tin can]

Good deal, Steve. Now you know why AJ's are called reef donkeys.

[dstockwell]

wtg Steve, then AJ's will do a number on yea.

[birddog]

You haven't caught a fish until you've caught an Amberjack! WTG.

[Chalk]

WTG....

[Yardarm]

WTG Steve,
Nice report
Wait till you hook onto a 30 or 40 pounder. Better have you feet planted well.

Uncle Dave