Econfina 12-01-2007
Posted: December 3rd, 2007, 9:45 am
My son Jackson and I arrived at Casa de Bradfield around daylight for a day of grouper fishing and diving. We loaded the boat with gear and were cruising down the river just before 8. Seas were getting sloppy so we trolled the last 3 miles to the first spot with only lizardfish and grass to show for it.
Arrived at the first spot and more of the same. Grass and trash. Frank's buddies Earl and Ricky along with Jackson's help, decided to load the boat with grunts while Frank and I suited up.
Frank hit the first spot by himself and got a nice stringer of grouper and hogs.
Next spot was a ledge we found last year but had never dove it. It was small with hundreds of small (12") grouper and seabass on it. I managed to find the section that held some fish. Luckily for me the holes in the ledge were about 4" too shallow for the grouper to hide in, so we named tthis hole "OSTRITCH". Managed to get 3 back to the boat, and lost one to to a shaken shaft.
Went to our honey hole and the fish were spooky and scarce. Frank scored a zero but I went on an exploration trip out into the sand away from the ledge and found a couple of nice fish to finish my limit.
Trolled 4 or five more places with nothing but a couple of short gags. By now the seas were flat calm and we could see bottom easily from the surface. Frank made one more dive and picked up his final keeper of the day.
Water temps were 63-65° and the vis was top to bottom in 27 feet and shallower.
Ended the day with 10 gags to 30", 1 hog, umpteen grunts and seabass. Back at the hill at 4:30.
Arrived at the first spot and more of the same. Grass and trash. Frank's buddies Earl and Ricky along with Jackson's help, decided to load the boat with grunts while Frank and I suited up.
Frank hit the first spot by himself and got a nice stringer of grouper and hogs.
Next spot was a ledge we found last year but had never dove it. It was small with hundreds of small (12") grouper and seabass on it. I managed to find the section that held some fish. Luckily for me the holes in the ledge were about 4" too shallow for the grouper to hide in, so we named tthis hole "OSTRITCH". Managed to get 3 back to the boat, and lost one to to a shaken shaft.
Went to our honey hole and the fish were spooky and scarce. Frank scored a zero but I went on an exploration trip out into the sand away from the ledge and found a couple of nice fish to finish my limit.
Trolled 4 or five more places with nothing but a couple of short gags. By now the seas were flat calm and we could see bottom easily from the surface. Frank made one more dive and picked up his final keeper of the day.
Water temps were 63-65° and the vis was top to bottom in 27 feet and shallower.
Ended the day with 10 gags to 30", 1 hog, umpteen grunts and seabass. Back at the hill at 4:30.
