Today was one of those days that make a guides job to easy and spoil you. I had 2 paying customers, and a buddy/mate on board for a full day offshore. We got off the trailer on a low tide, 12 dozen live shrimp and we were on our way. A little bumpy but I trusted the weather man that it was gonna lay down as soon as the land heated a little and the wind layed down. Headed out to the longest run to some underwater structure, got some dons potbellys jigs, and shrimp with pinch weights and went to work. Lots of nice sheephead were coming in.
The average fish being about 16" or so. A ton of big bluefish, a few went in the box for the smoker. Jacks, bluerunners, pigfish, a real nice fight with one of the big goliaths but he finally got tired of playing with us and humbled us right down. A nice suprise came from this 26.5 redfish. Caught on a dons glass minnow tipped with shrimp. Beautiful fish, I love the pale color of the ones I get on the wrecks.
Fishing slowed down, so I wanted to run to more structure and along the way check the buoys for tripletail. Folks if the wind and water lay down enough to see, the tripletail are there and eager to please. We run about 25 balls, and went 4 for 4 on the fish we saw. Only one was legal at about 19" but they are a blast to catch and exciting for folks to sightcast to. A freelined shrimp will work, but if your having trouble being accurate, try a popping cork or really any cork with a leader to a live shrimp. It works, the slot fish we landed today tried for everything he was worth to swallow the cork. then saw the shrimp and slammed it. Lots of fun.
Ran out of buoys so we headed to our last stop, and this is where a great day became spectacular. The water was warm, and the permit were on station. I had no live crabs, and we had many fish pass us up, but freelined live shrimp worked. Perfect cast were required as they were SPOOKY, but my guys got the job done.
We caught and released about 6, and kept 2. A 27, and 28lb one for each guy. Great to see. Back to the dock, cleaned a few fish, got the old boat on the trailer and called it a day. Days like today keep me awake at night excited about tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great seafood festival weekend and see you on the water.
Capt Charlie
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Originally Posted by dtobias
