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We went through east pass at 7am,first stop was yamaha and fished all over it with nary a bite eased over to O tower got a few bites on a drift so decided to anchor beside it. Started catching real nice snapper and grouper that were just short, finaly put a 23er in the box a few more snaps and short groups, then the hog hit me hard pinned me to the gunnel and it was on, after some serious gruntin a 32in 20lb gag lay on the floor of the boat . We stayed a little longer and decided to run to some numbers in 45ft, on the way a turtle gave up a nice patch of rocks where we landed some more shorts and saved a good waypoint. Last stop was at a rock ledge in 45ft where some more just short gags were released, landed a 26in redfish and a 8lb gag and headed home. The bait of choice were northern macks, the water temps were 66. I needed that

Sounds like a blast, Pennfish. Sea turtles are great at revealing good grouper holes.

I say this every year when it comes up but just so you know..

If you catch a keeper redfish in federal waters you are NOT allowed to keep it.

Nice gag BTW. I just hope those snaps stay around for the next 22 days.

WTG ....I hear Cobia can be indicators of bottom structure as well, anyone else heard or seen that to be true in the open water......

sorry it may have come across that the red was put in the box when in reality I know the regs and the fish was released

Chalk wrote:WTG ....I hear Cobia can be indicators of bottom structure as well, anyone else heard or seen that to be true in the open water......

Cobia move, but I've definitely found cobia hanging around structure in the spring (late April-early May). Not sure you would ever see a cobe like you would a turtle while running 35 mph though.

Over the past few months, every time we hit the grouper holes, there is a huge sea turtle there to greet us. Sometimes "he" comes right to the boat. Not real sure about how accurate it is to say that they "mark" grouper holes, but it is interesting that they are there quite consistently.

I think those turtles sleep at ledges on the bottom and they apparently don't go far once they get surfaced. That is what I have heard.

Nice report Penn. Thanks

Here is a picture of that Grouper

If you will hold that fish out towards the camera it will make it look big. (just kidding, that is a big gruppa)