Labor Day @ The Hatch (offshore)

RevJoeyFitz · September 2021

Windfinder called for flat seas and a buddy of mine who has a nice bay boat wanted to try to run out a little ways. So he, his son and myself headed out of the ramp about 7:15. Expected the ramp to be full, but only a couple of boats were out.

Headed out about 20 miles to a sunken shrimp boat for bait. Sabikied about 3 or 4 doz threadfins and sardines. Headed to some numbers in about 40 ft. Put out a flat line on a stinger, 2 live baits on bottom and a few baits of shrimp and squid. Got 4 good sized porgys and pink mouthed grunts off the squid.

After about an hour or two, we wanted to move to another spot less than a mile away. Decided to troll there. Had a Clark spoon out, the flat line and a diver plug. Immediately got hooked up on the spoon. Landed a nice 22” to the fork Spanish. Kept trolling and about 10 min later saw a king ripping up the top of the water in the spread. Finally got the sardine. Landed my buddies first king, prob about 15-20 lbs. About 20 min later something knocked down the plug. Had it on for about 5 min and the hook pulled.

About that time we arrived at the next spot and put down the spread on the bottom. Got hooked up on a couple of fish that rocked us up, Got a few small grouper, and caught a lot of small grunts, which we threw back. Decided we had enough and started heading back to the ramp.

Other than Windfinder lying to us, all in all it was a great day!