Lanark 5/27
Posted: May 27th, 2006, 7:15 pm
Got to the ramp fairly early at about 7 a.m. Busy, but not crazy. A few inexperienced folks putting in, but overall not bad for a holiday weekend.
Wind SW 5-10, seas 1-2 all day.
Got some thread herring at the buoy, and went to my first number in about 50' of water. Several undersized grouper, then one 24" gag. Moved to another spot nearby, and caught a 17" red snapper (plus several just under snapper) and realized that the triggers were eating my bait up. Switched to a small hook, and kept 5 nice ones. I hate to clean them but they taste really good.
Kept feeding the little guys for another hour or so, and about 12 decided to head in. Brought all my stuff into the boat except the fly line, which had a live thread on a wire stinger outfit. Was washing my hands for the trip back when the fly line went off. Grabbed the rod (with my new Torium 30), and the soap on my hands made me almost lose the thing. Flipped the lever and son, we were on. Whatever it was was making a medium fast straight run away from the boat, and it ripped a couple of hundred yards of the 65 lb PowerPro out like nothing. I held the rod out with one hand and rinsed the other off, and finally put my gloves on. Managed to stop the fish before I was spooled, but it was close. I was praying for a monster cobia, but I suspected shark, but a big one.
Well, this guy kept me pumping for my life for nearly an hour, and I pressed him hard. Several times I got him close to the boat, and then he took off again and ripped a couple of hundred yards of line, no stopping him. Wanted to see what it was, or boat it if a cobia. I finally got the fish to the boat, and it was a big shark, probably 8' long and a couple of hundred pounds. Clipped the leader close, and let him go. He just about kicked my butt but it was fun and a nice break in for the new reel.
Time to head in, before the monkeys all go to the ramp at the same time. At the ramp at about 1, and no problem at all. Nice day, and enough fish for several suppers. One grouper, one red snapper, and five big triggers.
Luck,
EJ
Wind SW 5-10, seas 1-2 all day.
Got some thread herring at the buoy, and went to my first number in about 50' of water. Several undersized grouper, then one 24" gag. Moved to another spot nearby, and caught a 17" red snapper (plus several just under snapper) and realized that the triggers were eating my bait up. Switched to a small hook, and kept 5 nice ones. I hate to clean them but they taste really good.
Kept feeding the little guys for another hour or so, and about 12 decided to head in. Brought all my stuff into the boat except the fly line, which had a live thread on a wire stinger outfit. Was washing my hands for the trip back when the fly line went off. Grabbed the rod (with my new Torium 30), and the soap on my hands made me almost lose the thing. Flipped the lever and son, we were on. Whatever it was was making a medium fast straight run away from the boat, and it ripped a couple of hundred yards of the 65 lb PowerPro out like nothing. I held the rod out with one hand and rinsed the other off, and finally put my gloves on. Managed to stop the fish before I was spooled, but it was close. I was praying for a monster cobia, but I suspected shark, but a big one.
Well, this guy kept me pumping for my life for nearly an hour, and I pressed him hard. Several times I got him close to the boat, and then he took off again and ripped a couple of hundred yards of line, no stopping him. Wanted to see what it was, or boat it if a cobia. I finally got the fish to the boat, and it was a big shark, probably 8' long and a couple of hundred pounds. Clipped the leader close, and let him go. He just about kicked my butt but it was fun and a nice break in for the new reel.
Time to head in, before the monkeys all go to the ramp at the same time. At the ramp at about 1, and no problem at all. Nice day, and enough fish for several suppers. One grouper, one red snapper, and five big triggers.
Luck,
EJ
