Grouper fishing ,Ecofina, July 24th
Posted: July 26th, 2004, 4:39 pm
Someone needs to tell the red grouper they are in small numbers and need protecting because they are showing up for lunch in large numbers and keeper size fish 21 - 24 inches. We could hardly catch a gag because of the hungry reds. 
Any left out of Ecofina late Saturday am due to motor problems and had to change boats but got on a 30 foot contender with twin 200s. Nice Ride!
Thanks Billy!
The seas were supposed to be 2 or less but were actually roling chop 2 feet with a few 3s. There was a nice breeze blowing from the southwest. We could still ride 40 miles an hour without any discomfort. What a great boat!
Anyway got within 1/2 mile of our regular fishing hole and spotted some nice live bottom at 32 feet. Put down a live pinfish and grouper candy lys and the bite was on! Caught out 6 fish limit of nice red grouper in less than 15 minutes. We stayed there and at 1200n had almost our limit of gags also. Had 12 fish with 3 gags almost 20 lbs.
Left there and moved to the west in about 40 feet water and spotted some more nice bottom. Caught one more nice gag and one nice cobia. Had a great day on the water. With the T top didn't get too hot and nice breeze all day.
Stopped out our first spot on the way back in at 300 and they weren't biting. There wasn't enough water movement then I guess but we had plenty of nice fish and didnt like the thunder we were hearing although there were no threatening clouds around close.
Got back in to Ecofina and there was a huge grey cloud with rain on the hill.
We did get in safely even though there was small amount lightening! That's the only thing about summertime fishing I dislike! 
The water was clear but you couldn't see the bottom, but the bottom was lcean. We didn't pull up any of that brown sludge we had the few weeks earlier.
Several of the fish we caught had brown crabs in their stomachs we have seen swimming offshore.
One of the large gags we landed, I had hung and it got away on the way up to the boat and guess what????? It hit my friends rod and he landed it. It still had my sailors choice bait in its mouth. Talking about a hungry fish. The large gag groupers were hitting hard and wanting to swim out.
Several hit like sharkes. What a great trip!
Any left out of Ecofina late Saturday am due to motor problems and had to change boats but got on a 30 foot contender with twin 200s. Nice Ride!
Thanks Billy!
The seas were supposed to be 2 or less but were actually roling chop 2 feet with a few 3s. There was a nice breeze blowing from the southwest. We could still ride 40 miles an hour without any discomfort. What a great boat!
Anyway got within 1/2 mile of our regular fishing hole and spotted some nice live bottom at 32 feet. Put down a live pinfish and grouper candy lys and the bite was on! Caught out 6 fish limit of nice red grouper in less than 15 minutes. We stayed there and at 1200n had almost our limit of gags also. Had 12 fish with 3 gags almost 20 lbs.
Left there and moved to the west in about 40 feet water and spotted some more nice bottom. Caught one more nice gag and one nice cobia. Had a great day on the water. With the T top didn't get too hot and nice breeze all day.
Stopped out our first spot on the way back in at 300 and they weren't biting. There wasn't enough water movement then I guess but we had plenty of nice fish and didnt like the thunder we were hearing although there were no threatening clouds around close.
Got back in to Ecofina and there was a huge grey cloud with rain on the hill.
We did get in safely even though there was small amount lightening! That's the only thing about summertime fishing I dislike! The water was clear but you couldn't see the bottom, but the bottom was lcean. We didn't pull up any of that brown sludge we had the few weeks earlier.
Several of the fish we caught had brown crabs in their stomachs we have seen swimming offshore.
One of the large gags we landed, I had hung and it got away on the way up to the boat and guess what????? It hit my friends rod and he landed it. It still had my sailors choice bait in its mouth. Talking about a hungry fish. The large gag groupers were hitting hard and wanting to swim out.
Several hit like sharkes. What a great trip!
.....Glad you caught some and had a spare boat to boot 
...... 
Sure we will, I'll drive too 
