7/15 Fun Mixed Bag

Marlinman

The wife had her best friend from Casselberry staying with us for the weekend, so we decided to treat her to some east coast fishing. The morning started with a great breakfast at the Old Fish House, and I go to launch the boat and scoot back over to the restaurant while the girls enjoyed their mimosas. Before leaving I grab the rod with a Mirrodine tied on and after a couple tosses pull a 13" trout from under the dock. Get the girls on board and off we go to hit the shallow reefs off the beach. On the way we see big schools of something crashing bait in the 35' range. I stopped and again grab my Mirrodine, on a Shimano 2500 have you, and give chase. BAM...fish on and drag is screaming. After a few minutes and a great fight a small bonita comes over the rail. Regroup and motor to another crashing school and this time it's Lisa's turn (wife's friend w/ very limited angling experience). Bam...another fish on and she's got a better fish this time. After 10-15 mins including multiple drag screaming runs a very nice light tackle bonita comes over the rail.
 
Next up is the wife, and she's ready to join the action. I get her on the first school we see and after a few casts...fish on. The drag was screaming but between good gear and experienced angler, she brings another nice fish on board.

Now it's off to the reef and we get a mixed bag of various grunts, a short mutton and this big girl on a bonita strip drifting behind the boat...

She was right at 5' long and I gave a conservative weight guess of 80lbs. It was a great fight on 8000 spinning gear and got her close enough to cut line right at hook and then away she went. Overall great day and maybe I can take credit for a "redneck beach slam"...trout, bonita, grunts, mutton and a nurse shark.

duckmanJR

Nice work Kevin!   I bet the ladies were thrilled with their battle....those things really fight on Trout gear.