Alligator Point 3/7/05
Posted: March 8th, 2005, 9:43 pm
I had the pleasure of taking a group of three, two of which were grouper rookies, out for a day of grouper gettin off A.P. David, Dan, and Ervin Mast had to schedule a late start around 9:00am, just as well, as I was unable to get Cuda"B" out of the canal until then due to the negative tide. After filing a float plan with the marina, we headed out to 50 ft. The seas were great (1ft) but I knew that wouldn't last. About a half mile out from the first stop, I decided to troll in. Picked up four gags on three passes but only one made it to the box. 
I was marking lots of fish so we tossed a bouy and anchored up. The crew stayed busy catching and releasing 15-20 short grouper while boxing 4, all gags. Decided to try a little deeper (62ft). Once again trolled in and had one good hit pull off on the first pass. Anchored up and watched the crew put a few more nice grouper in the boat as well as catching and releasing a dozen keeper red snapper.
I hope they are still there come April 21st. 
I decided move off of this sweet little snapper hole and try our luck a couple miles away. One of the guys hooked into a nice 31 incher going about 15lbs. His bass fishing days are over. 
The wind had picked up as predicted and we decided to head in, hitting one more spot in 49ft and boxing two more grouper. Made it back to the dock as the wind really started to blow and the rain began falling.
Total tally for the day: 13 grouper, 2 over 30 inches
11 gags, 2 red
12 red snapper released
50 short grouper released
2 more guys hooked on grouper fishing
The seas were gracious until about 3pm, water temp ranged between 59 shallow to 62 in 60ft. The bait was cut and whole LY's and spanish sardines. The stretch 30's were Gordon, black and gold, and black and silver. All caught fish. There was no grass to speak of and I think anybody would do well to start trolling over live bottom in the coming weeks. The grouper seemed to be "up" when there was good tidal flow. Three happy anglers and one tired captain. A great day on the water.
Capt. Jay
I was marking lots of fish so we tossed a bouy and anchored up. The crew stayed busy catching and releasing 15-20 short grouper while boxing 4, all gags. Decided to try a little deeper (62ft). Once again trolled in and had one good hit pull off on the first pass. Anchored up and watched the crew put a few more nice grouper in the boat as well as catching and releasing a dozen keeper red snapper.
I hope they are still there come April 21st. I decided move off of this sweet little snapper hole and try our luck a couple miles away. One of the guys hooked into a nice 31 incher going about 15lbs. His bass fishing days are over. The wind had picked up as predicted and we decided to head in, hitting one more spot in 49ft and boxing two more grouper. Made it back to the dock as the wind really started to blow and the rain began falling.
Total tally for the day: 13 grouper, 2 over 30 inches
11 gags, 2 red
12 red snapper released
50 short grouper released
2 more guys hooked on grouper fishing
The seas were gracious until about 3pm, water temp ranged between 59 shallow to 62 in 60ft. The bait was cut and whole LY's and spanish sardines. The stretch 30's were Gordon, black and gold, and black and silver. All caught fish. There was no grass to speak of and I think anybody would do well to start trolling over live bottom in the coming weeks. The grouper seemed to be "up" when there was good tidal flow. Three happy anglers and one tired captain. A great day on the water.
Capt. Jay
