Alligator Point 6/12/04
Posted: June 13th, 2004, 7:34 pm
I had the pleasure of taking a fine fisherman, Steve, and a couple of his buddies, Randy and Billy, down from his hometown in Maryland out for a day of grouper fishing on Saturday. After dropping the float plan off at the marina, it was off to D. I. Reef to load up on some live bait for the trip. With that done we headed to the first hole with the anticipation of putting some grouper in the box early and then heading on out for some AJ's and Snapper. As luck would have it, the raw water pump on the starboard engine which the mechanic told me would be OK for the weekend until he could get one put in, WAS NOT!:evil: Long story-short, Cuda"B" ran hot only about 7 miles out. Well, I gave the guys the option of limping back and rescheduling or fishing the general area we were in and then limping back. They wanted to fish so we made the best of it. We stayed within sight of Dog Island, about 45ft with the water temp ranging from 82 in the AM to about 85 in the pm. The seas were nice, but it got very hot around lunch. There was still alot of the grass/algee in the water so our trolling efforts were unsuccessful. We bottom fished the area with primarily live bait and managed to put 7 keepers in the box. Had plenty of shorts and Steve even let a nice keeper go at boatside, by accident. 
All in all it was a nice day under the circumstances. I could only make about 9kts coming in so it took a couple of hours to get back at the dock. Thanks to Steve, Randy and Billy for making the best of a frustrating situation. Their next trip will be better. 
Ya gotta love it.
Capt. Jay
All in all it was a nice day under the circumstances. I could only make about 9kts coming in so it took a couple of hours to get back at the dock. Thanks to Steve, Randy and Billy for making the best of a frustrating situation. Their next trip will be better. Ya gotta love it.Capt. Jay
