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Two of my Atlanta friends came to town to fish with their boys. They called about the possibility of going on an offshore for Snapper. I was sure with it being opening day the popular guides were all booked and phone calls confirmed that. Then I got really lucky....

I called Rock Landing Marina to see if they had any suggestions and they said Blake Gardner had just moved back to Panacea.
I have been watching Blake with Reel Smoker Charters bring in great boxes of fish for years and had always wanted to go our with him.
When he moved South a year or so ago I thought I had missed my chance.
A quick call to his cell phone and we were booked for Monday Morning- Opening day of Snapper in Federal Water

We were greeted by perfect weather and clam seas - 1 foot swells

And great color on the fish finder


Snapper were on instantly...


And a few of these guys that we had to throw back


Kids did great! They never quit and even brought up some big ones

including this beast

That ate one of these:


Easily caught 100 snapper... the smaller ones were released while we looked for bigger. Also a good number of Bliners, BSBs and other fish.

The ride home was comfortable - Blake runs a 32foot Cape Horn with twin 300 Yamahas!

The box and board were full


And Happy Kids!


Blake was a blast to fish with. Took care of things for the kids and was very patient with them.
He also made us feel like we were fishing with friends... not paying clients.
I can recommend him without reservation
If you call tell him Barry with BigBendFishing sent you:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Smo ... cation=ufi
Call/Text/or Email
Capt Blake
(229)821-7800
reelsmokercharters@yahoo.com
Barbara Gardner
(850)509-7585
reelsmokercharters@yahoo.com

How much would he charge for a full day? What size boat does he run?

A 32foot Cape Horn with twin 300 Yamahas It will run 50mph

$1200 for 6guys for a full day...
That was not bad when you divide it up!

Great day. I'll be chasing some tomorrow, but probably won't get out to 105'.
Thanks for posting
EJ

What a smashing trip!
Thanks for a great report bman.

Awesome

Slayed them!

the smile on those kids faces is awesome...congrats on a great trip

Nice work Barry! I see that CH all the time; nice ride.

Glad you and Tyler could escape for a day.

WOW that is awesome!
How far off shore did you all have to go?? Ball-park ?

Thanks

Take the pics down NOW the NSA will likely see them and send them to NOAA/Gulf Council who will shorten the season again due to the recreational overfishing of the endangered ARS...

By the way, nice report!

mjsigns wrote:WOW that is awesome!
How far off shore did you all have to go?? Ball-park ?

Thanks

40 -50 miles

Thanks Barry !

I'm going out with a small group (hopefully next weekend) an forwarded the contract information to the leader !

Bman
We got out today in some fairly rough conditions even though the wind was light. Might have been left over from yesterday.
Well, after an hour of travel to the spot at 18 kt, anchored up in 75'. Instant hit. From then on, legal snapper on every drop, just a matter of choosing your best two. My biggest came on a butterfly jig. We could have kept a 100 each, all legal.
Two of us, one 10 pounder, two sevens, one five. Stopped at two other places for grouper and kings but nothing else in the box. A beautiful day overall.

May go tomorrow, again. With this asinine federal derby season not much choice.
EJ