Slammin the Grouper out DI !!!
Posted: December 21st, 2006, 6:42 pm
A buddy calls me Monday night and informs me that NOAA calls for 1 ft. or less for Tuesday. He wants to take the "company" boat out for a day of grouper fishing and invites me for my numbers 
I told him that I would be happy to meet him and spend the day on the water aboard his 34' boat if all I needed to bring was the "black book." We met up with the other guy at the dock with the familiar name "Deason." Left the dock at 10:00 AM or so and headed out for a beautiful day of fishing.
Stopped off at the first spot in 40 ft. and proceeded to fill the bottom of the boat with rock bass. We put a few in the livewell just in case being we only had a dozen or so live pinfish. We stayed about 25 minutes then headed for the first grouper spot.
Got to 70 ft. and dropped the lines. Kind of slow at first but we were marking nice structure and fish all over the place. Eventually the fish turned on and the keeper grouper started filling the icebox. Stayed on this spot for 2 hours or so and boated numerous fish, almost all keepers. When the bite slowed, we decided to try the "REEF." When we got there, the bottom machine looked like a multi-colored brush fire burning off the bottom. The bite was on quick and in no time we at our 4 man limit. Then the red snapper got in on the action hitting live pins and spanish sardines. Every one was 16"+.......too bad the season is closed
When the bite eventually slowed, we decided it was time to head toward the marina before it got dark.
We stopped off at one more spot in 65 ft. on the way in. Caught 3 more keeper size gags just for fun off the small rock bass.
The dark got us just outside Panacea, but we made it back without incident. What a great day on the water !!!!
Will post pics when I get them from "D."
TOTAL FOR THE DAY:
4 MAN LIMIT OF GROUPER INCLUDING 2 REDS (22" - 30")
1 TRIGGERFISH
NUMEROUS ROCK BASS
BAITS USED WERE LIVE PINFISH, LY'S, SQUID, SPANISH SARDINES, LIVE ROCK BASS.
THE GROUPER BIT WELL ON THE LY'S AND ROCK BASS. SNAPPER BIT THE SARDINES AND PINFISH. NOT MUCH ACTION ON THE SQUID EXCEPT FOR THE "RUBY LIP SNAPPER" A.K.A. GRUNTS.
I told him that I would be happy to meet him and spend the day on the water aboard his 34' boat if all I needed to bring was the "black book." We met up with the other guy at the dock with the familiar name "Deason." Left the dock at 10:00 AM or so and headed out for a beautiful day of fishing. Stopped off at the first spot in 40 ft. and proceeded to fill the bottom of the boat with rock bass. We put a few in the livewell just in case being we only had a dozen or so live pinfish. We stayed about 25 minutes then headed for the first grouper spot.
Got to 70 ft. and dropped the lines. Kind of slow at first but we were marking nice structure and fish all over the place. Eventually the fish turned on and the keeper grouper started filling the icebox. Stayed on this spot for 2 hours or so and boated numerous fish, almost all keepers. When the bite slowed, we decided to try the "REEF." When we got there, the bottom machine looked like a multi-colored brush fire burning off the bottom. The bite was on quick and in no time we at our 4 man limit. Then the red snapper got in on the action hitting live pins and spanish sardines. Every one was 16"+.......too bad the season is closed
When the bite eventually slowed, we decided it was time to head toward the marina before it got dark.We stopped off at one more spot in 65 ft. on the way in. Caught 3 more keeper size gags just for fun off the small rock bass.
The dark got us just outside Panacea, but we made it back without incident. What a great day on the water !!!!
Will post pics when I get them from "D."
TOTAL FOR THE DAY:
4 MAN LIMIT OF GROUPER INCLUDING 2 REDS (22" - 30")
1 TRIGGERFISH
NUMEROUS ROCK BASS
BAITS USED WERE LIVE PINFISH, LY'S, SQUID, SPANISH SARDINES, LIVE ROCK BASS.
THE GROUPER BIT WELL ON THE LY'S AND ROCK BASS. SNAPPER BIT THE SARDINES AND PINFISH. NOT MUCH ACTION ON THE SQUID EXCEPT FOR THE "RUBY LIP SNAPPER" A.K.A. GRUNTS.
That was a good'un
Actually, they bit the rockies better than the pinfish. If it is not legal, I promise never to do it again 