Offshore Dog Island 5-17-12

[EddieJoe]

David and I headed down to Carrabelle yesterday morning for an offshore trip, still worried about the weather kicking up "unexpectedly". Since the NOAA weather boys seem to be incapable of forecasting with much precision even a day before, I was going back and forth between re-scheduling and going. Just the previous morning they had gone from 20% rain predicted to an 80% chance by the time it was already raining like crazy, and that was "updated" only when the marine radar was lit up like a Christmas tree. As it was yesterday, 40% was predicted at Apalach, which turned out to be 0% all morning, as it was cloudless until 1:00 p.m. and generally a beautiful day altogether. Oh well, we went, and it was a nice trip.

Cool morning, calm seas, except for a pretty healthy swell running from the south. This kept me from putting the hammer down on the Suzuki, as when I did we started to do a Burt Reynolds style "launch and land" off of the swells. Decided to go to my deepest spot at 75', which normally would hold lots of red grouper this time of year. This was a 23 mile run from East Pass and it took nearly an hour. Once there, we anchored up and found bites were slow, but when they came they were big, beautiful fish. Only problem was, they were all nearly identical 11 lb Red Snapper (weighed on the Boga), which were vented and well released, with great reluctance but dutiful speed. One just legal red grouper also came aboard, but due to potential shrinkage on ice I threw him back, too. After catching more red snapper even after moving around but no grouper, we decided to head in to 45' areas as our moral and legal conservation resolve was being tested to the painful point.

Back in state waters, we were in sea bass territory, but with liberal chumming we managed to boat two pretty nice gags to rest on ice, while releasing a couple of just sublegals. This turned out to be our final tally: 2 gags. I released all of the sea bass, since I have to be dedicated to catching a bunch of them to make it worthwhile.

At the dock, we cleaned up and vowed to go back on June 1 (weather permitting) to visit our red snapper friends again. A fellow boater out of the Club with a huge Everglades powered with twin 350 yammers and six guys did his usual zillion miles offshore trip, and I saw he had caught some schoolie kings and a couple of nice AJ, in addition to a couple of red groupers.

Today it is blowing, so Eddie the weatherman made the right forecast, even if NOAA didn't.

Luck,

EJ

[neckmoe]

14 days till we can keep them Snappers! Can't wait.

[DWilliams]

Thanks for the report. NOAA guys are making it tough to be legal and throw darts at a board for forecasts. 1-2 all week then bam 3-5 on the weekends, sounds like a conspiracy.

[Jumptrout51]

St. George right now.
Doesn't look windy to me.