GROUPER TROLLING 9/22

Salty Dawg44

Launched at daybreak at the Barge Canal ramp. The new dock was put in Monday afternoon, and the little parking area has lines painted for spaces.




Ran out to the place I usually begin fishing and put out 4 lines, two for Grouper and two 12# rigs for Spanish. The water was glassy calm and the power plant smoke was going straight up.




Only got 1 Spanish, but schools of Jacks kept me busy.




Got 4 Gags, 2 were just short and were released as was one that was 26". I released that one because I had just put one in the box that measured 32".



Fished till noon and headed in. Back to the house at 1:30.

Grouper Genius

Nice.

Too grassy for trolling last weekend. Hopefully it's clear for Saturday.

Rick1-2

nice and calm nice catch

Salty Dawg44

Really wasn't too bad, just a few scattered clumps of Sargassum.

OFFSHORECHICKEN

how deep did you find them, and what kind of plug is that? looks cool

Salty Dawg44

OFFSHORECHICKEN wrote: »

how deep did you find them, and what kind of plug is that? looks cool

I stayed between 12' and 25'. The plug is a Magnum Shad Rap, but that's the only hit that I had on it.

one more drift

Congrats, that looks like a great day of fishing! Flat seas and a nice catch to boot. Trolling for grouper is something I definetly want to try this fall.

Ruff One

Nice Pete! That's definitely a keeper. You've got my trolling blood pumping.

mburke001 aka TripleB

:thumbsup

Redbonz

Nicely done, great to see some Grouper coming aboard again.....

xmuskyguide

Good fishin' trip. :thumbsup

barhopper51

Thanks for the great report.

Biggary16

Way to go Pete. Nice Groupa!

wvinfl12

Looks great Pete!.......one day we will get with you.....home slab leak right now dealing with, tough to get away now.

Wishin i was fishin

Good deal! We caught a mess of silver trout and whiting there Saturday. Also broke off a cobia boat side. I was surprised to see the improvements.

Fishesman

What's your typical four rod set up Pete? Heavy rods to the outside using outrodders and two light rods in your prop wash? I rarely run more than two heavy rods, but I'm not using outrodders. It seems two light rods down the middle would tangle easily. I can't imagine running four rods solo. Lol

Salty Dawg44

Fishesman wrote: »

What's your typical four rod set up Pete? Heavy rods to the outside using outrodders and two light rods in your prop wash? I rarely run more than two heavy rods, but I'm not using outrodders. It seems two light rods down the middle would tangle easily. I can't imagine running four rods solo. Lol

The other way .

Off the rear rod holders I pull my Grouper rods with diving plugs. In under 20' of water you don't need to run them too far back. They are bent butt 30# class rods with 50# braid line and a 6' leader. The bent butt rods have the tips lower to the water.

On the sides I have fully adjustable cast stainless steel rod holders. The lighter rods for Spanish, Kings, Jacks, etc go there. They are 9' downrigger rods with 20# mono line and smaller plugs that only go down about 5 feet or so. Those are run out a good bit farther than the deep rods, and in a sharp turn of the boat cross over the top of the deep line, but stay above and clear, and don't tangle.

Fishesman

Gotcha! That makes sense. Thanks.

Salty Dawg44 wrote: »

The other way .

Off the rear rod holders I pull my Grouper rods with diving plugs. In under 20' of water you don't need to run them too far back. They are bent butt 30# class rods with 50# braid line and a 6' leader. The bent butt rods have the tips lower to the water.

On the sides I have fully adjustable cast stainless steel rod holders. The lighter rods for Spanish, Kings, Jacks, etc go there. They are 9' downrigger rods with 20# mono line and smaller plugs that only go down about 5 feet or so. Those are run out a good bit farther than the deep rods, and in a sharp turn of the boat cross over the top of the deep line, but stay above and clear, and don't tangle.

capt louie

Nice trip Pete.