Alligator Point - Offshore First report
Posted: November 4th, 2002, 7:44 pm
Got a late start Sun. but managed to get underway about 9 am. Stopped off at Dog Island reef to load up with pinfish went to check some numbers in close (35-40 ft) since water temp had dropped some since my last trip. Not much showing up on the bottom reader so went on out to 60 ft. Although NOAA bouy was reporting 2 ft seas, it was 3-4ft with 15kt wind most of the day where we at. Not bad, but I sure like those 2 ft days. Decided to hover instead of anchoring and hit two numbers with about the same result. Still throwing back about 5 shorts for every keeper at this depth. Didn't want to run any deeper given the late start, so ended the day with 7 or 8 keeper gags and picked up one 30 inch kingfish trolling stretch 30 on the way in, in 45 ft. Back at the marina about 4:30. Not a bad day for late out and early in. I've been hereing reports about grouper limits in 30-40 ft, but I still think you got to get to at least 80 ft to catch more keepers than shorts. Light winds and calm seas, Capt Jay