Yankee Capt 22nd-25th Pulley Ridge Trip
Snaphappy
Posts: 1,427 Officer
Trip started off well with no real traffic issues on the drive down Friday. Unfortunately that changed when I was leaving Marathon Bait and Tackle. I had a truck back into me while I exiting the parking lot! Only a minor set back then I was on my way. We left at 8pm to calm winds and beautiful skies. After watching a beautiful sunset (while listening to my Royals beat the Cardinals!) I went to bed only to wake to an even prettier sunrise. By this time we were well west of the Fort and only a couple hours from our first drift deep dropping at Pulley Ridge. Three of us put out trolling rods. I was the first to get bit but after pulling out 100ft of drag the hook pulled. Next was Joe, his Marauder style lure got smashed but somehow that fish came unbuttoned too. Finally Mike hooks up and he fights a nice 20lb+- wahoo to the boat.
Conditions for deep drop were near ideal. 10mph breeze light current ect however bite was just ok. We were seeing a pick of really nice yellow edge groupers, some quality queen snappers and a few grey tiles and snowys. By the end of the day I had decent bag of fish highlighted by a ten pound or so snowy. Joseph had the best fish of the day with a stud yellow edge he hand cranked from 600ft.
Just before sunset Capt Greg moved us up on the bank for the night fishing. Wind had started to pick up so he deployed the drift anchor. I was surprised by how manageable the drift was. Despite the wind blowing around 20 all that was needed was a 10 or 12 oz sinker. Quality fish started coming up immediately. Big beautiful red grouper, muttons, blackfin snapper, scamps and yellow mouth grouper. After a couple hours of this it happened.. the blackfin tuna found us. Big fish too up to 30 pounds. From 11pm until sunrise it seemed as if you catch a tuna on every drop. There were times I was actually frustrated because I couldn't get a bait to the bottom! When does that happen?! Most the big tuna came on bait while smaller ones could easily be had on jigs. Unfortunately even though the bottom fish were chewing on bait they didn't seem to to like the diamond or flutter jigs I dropped. Didn't matter though, all you needed was a whole squid fished just off the bottom.
Day two it was decided we would stay on the bank instead of deep dropping due to the conditions. I was stoked as I was having a blast. The day bite was nothing like the night bite mainly due to the disappearance of the tuna but we picked away at the muttons and red grouper plus some added variety. At times the action was a bit slow but the fish that were caught were all very impressive.
Back at the dock some of the catches were great some not as great. It really becomes evident who puts the time in at the rail but one thing for sure, everyone went home with fish. Another great job by Captain and crew on the best headboat in the state of Florida.
My finale tally 5 muttons, 3 snowys, 1 yellowedge, 1 big yellow mouth grouper, 1 scamp, 1 firetruck (no worms!), 1 black grouper, 1 cubera, one blackfin snapper, a bunch of blackfin tuna and some grey tiles. Some fish shared with others some released. Can't wait to go back!
Conditions for deep drop were near ideal. 10mph breeze light current ect however bite was just ok. We were seeing a pick of really nice yellow edge groupers, some quality queen snappers and a few grey tiles and snowys. By the end of the day I had decent bag of fish highlighted by a ten pound or so snowy. Joseph had the best fish of the day with a stud yellow edge he hand cranked from 600ft.
Just before sunset Capt Greg moved us up on the bank for the night fishing. Wind had started to pick up so he deployed the drift anchor. I was surprised by how manageable the drift was. Despite the wind blowing around 20 all that was needed was a 10 or 12 oz sinker. Quality fish started coming up immediately. Big beautiful red grouper, muttons, blackfin snapper, scamps and yellow mouth grouper. After a couple hours of this it happened.. the blackfin tuna found us. Big fish too up to 30 pounds. From 11pm until sunrise it seemed as if you catch a tuna on every drop. There were times I was actually frustrated because I couldn't get a bait to the bottom! When does that happen?! Most the big tuna came on bait while smaller ones could easily be had on jigs. Unfortunately even though the bottom fish were chewing on bait they didn't seem to to like the diamond or flutter jigs I dropped. Didn't matter though, all you needed was a whole squid fished just off the bottom.
Day two it was decided we would stay on the bank instead of deep dropping due to the conditions. I was stoked as I was having a blast. The day bite was nothing like the night bite mainly due to the disappearance of the tuna but we picked away at the muttons and red grouper plus some added variety. At times the action was a bit slow but the fish that were caught were all very impressive.
Back at the dock some of the catches were great some not as great. It really becomes evident who puts the time in at the rail but one thing for sure, everyone went home with fish. Another great job by Captain and crew on the best headboat in the state of Florida.
My finale tally 5 muttons, 3 snowys, 1 yellowedge, 1 big yellow mouth grouper, 1 scamp, 1 firetruck (no worms!), 1 black grouper, 1 cubera, one blackfin snapper, a bunch of blackfin tuna and some grey tiles. Some fish shared with others some released. Can't wait to go back!
Replies
Dudley, you always put a lot of effort and it pays off. Not to derail but shoot me a pm, I have not seen/heard from Jake and he's surely missed.
I got three PR trips lined up this summer, can't wait.
Cheers Dudley, great report!
Fish on boys, but leave a few for me, small ones!
Haha thanks for the kind words Bob. How's the knee?
John
I'm right here Art! Just less active on the board than previously
Will do bud. Get will soon!
Good fishing one day and the next day it can be anything. Windfinder was spot on this round 3 days out.