Alligator Point, Cuda"B", 7/25/09
Posted: July 28th, 2009, 10:12 am
After a client had to cancel, I had the itch to go anyway so I got together a last minute crew for Saturday and we left the dock approx 7:15. As usual, stopped off at D.I. Reef and loaded the livewell with pinfish and assorted other baitfish and headed due south to 100ft 
As we made the 1 hour, 15 min trip I was checking the Sirrus weather radar and it looked like the few morning storms were dying out and we would have a good day. Of course, as anyone who was on the water on Saturday will testify, that all changed around 1:30. But first we were able to hit three holes that were showing some fish, both on the bottom and what looked like snapper holding about 20ft off. First drop produced a nice Red Snapper that went 14lbs on the Boga. It was the first time out for Sherman and the biggest fish he has ever caught! 
The snapper hit a small live pinfish on the bottm. I had some of the guys using cut bait/squid and holding off the bottom and some with live bait on the bottom. We put a couple more nice ARS and a couple more decent Red Grouper in the box before moving onto the next stop. That is where we landed some very nice Red Grouper. We had 2 go 28inches and approx. 15lbs on the Boga, including this one that Gary caught. 
We put a couple more in the box before we started catching short Gag and Red grouper 
Once we started releasing fish, the big bite stopped, so we decided to try the next stop. Once we got anchored for the third time, we had a triple hook up instantly, all three were nice 22-23 inch ARS 
Then we began catching short grouper again. It was about this time that I began taking serious note of the darkening sky to the West. I once again pulled up the weather radar and new immediately that we were in for a ride. The squall line stretched from Lanark in a straight line south out to 50 miles. No way to go around it, no way to out run it, time to batten down the hatches. I told everybody to keep fishing while I made preparations. About 15 min. later, I pulled everyone off the deck and up into the helm and/or cabin, pulled anchor and began idling into the mess, my preferred method of riding out a storm. Of course the seas became quickly sloppy and confused and the wind gusted to about 35-40, but the worst part was the lightning which was striking every couple of minutes for about 10-15 minutes. Once that was over, it was mainly rain and sloppy seas. We had intended to be back between 3 and 4 so we had to leave earlier than planned due to the conditions not allowing us to make as much time.
Anyway, we made it back safe and sound and we all had a good time despite the "Storm"! Back at the dock, we had 7 Red Snapper, 5 Red Grouper and a couple Lane Snapper. All were quality fish which made for a nice box. :lick
As we made the 1 hour, 15 min trip I was checking the Sirrus weather radar and it looked like the few morning storms were dying out and we would have a good day. Of course, as anyone who was on the water on Saturday will testify, that all changed around 1:30. But first we were able to hit three holes that were showing some fish, both on the bottom and what looked like snapper holding about 20ft off. First drop produced a nice Red Snapper that went 14lbs on the Boga. It was the first time out for Sherman and the biggest fish he has ever caught! - Sherman's Red Snapper!
- IMG_3467.JPG (535.91 KiB) Viewed 2675 times
- Gary's 15lber!
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Once we started releasing fish, the big bite stopped, so we decided to try the next stop. Once we got anchored for the third time, we had a triple hook up instantly, all three were nice 22-23 inch ARS Then we began catching short grouper again. It was about this time that I began taking serious note of the darkening sky to the West. I once again pulled up the weather radar and new immediately that we were in for a ride. The squall line stretched from Lanark in a straight line south out to 50 miles. No way to go around it, no way to out run it, time to batten down the hatches. I told everybody to keep fishing while I made preparations. About 15 min. later, I pulled everyone off the deck and up into the helm and/or cabin, pulled anchor and began idling into the mess, my preferred method of riding out a storm. Of course the seas became quickly sloppy and confused and the wind gusted to about 35-40, but the worst part was the lightning which was striking every couple of minutes for about 10-15 minutes. Once that was over, it was mainly rain and sloppy seas. We had intended to be back between 3 and 4 so we had to leave earlier than planned due to the conditions not allowing us to make as much time.Anyway, we made it back safe and sound and we all had a good time despite the "Storm"! Back at the dock, we had 7 Red Snapper, 5 Red Grouper and a couple Lane Snapper. All were quality fish which made for a nice box. :lick
- IMG_3471.JPG (412.8 KiB) Viewed 2674 times
- IMG_3472.JPG (357.95 KiB) Viewed 2674 times
