3-17-12 GOLIATH! FPI

capt_toddtt · March 2012

We have spent a ton of time in the Fort Pierce Inlet lately fishing for a variety of species using a variety of techniques. Occasionally we get hooked into something very powerful and after a short fight it's gone. Pretty sure we were dealing with Goliath Grouper so we decided to gear up and drag one of these mystery bites to the surface. As you can see we were correct in our assumption. Bait was live Ladyfish.

Gently towed her to the shallows and removed the hooks lodged in her jaw then a few photos and off she went - healthy and jewelry free.

Sea Era · March 2012

Your assumption was right on, that is a great catch in the inlet.

rowerybo · March 2012

sweet catch

18mav · March 2012

COOL!!! thats a BEAST! :grin

Fi$h2nguyen · March 2012

Awesome. What type of gear did you use?

dale4fishin · March 2012

awsome catch,,,,way to get him in...congrats

capt_toddtt · March 2012

Fi$h2nguyen wrote: »

Awesome. What type of gear did you use?

Old school Penn Senator 6/O with the drag literally hammered down (meaning tapping the star drag with a hammer). 200 Lb braid to 480lb steel cable. 12 oz. knocker rig and HOLD ON! With the drag set like that you can very very easily get pulled out of the boat. We tether the reel to the boat and try to remember to let go if it gets ugly.

Go Mongo · March 2012

Awesome catch!

Fi$h2nguyen · March 2012

capt_toddtt wrote: »

Old school Penn Senator 6/O with the drag literally hammered down (meaning tapping the star drag with a hammer). 200 Lb braid to 480lb steel cable. 12 oz. knocker rig and HOLD ON! With the drag set like that you can very very easily get pulled out of the boat. We tether the reel to the boat and try to remember to let go if it gets ugly.

:thumbsup sounds exciting!

Bearmatic · March 2012

That is a great catch, hope they lift the ban soon. That is a great cookout meal you got there. Wish you had a video of the excitement.:fishing:beer

JRXP2011 · March 2012

What a monster! Congrats on the great catch, how long was the fight?

305tillimove · March 2012

Jeez that things huge. Congrats!

Capt.AW · March 2012

Nice one!! That's the biggest I have seen from that spot.

capt_toddtt · March 2012

The fight on these guys typically lasts just a few minutes (10 or so in most cases) but it is an absolute a$$ kicking experience. At times I'm not sure who had who hooked

I would liked to have video'd it and next time we will.

Martin Local · March 2012

i have been doing the same thing on some of my favorite spots with 250 braid on a 6/0 and cable leader and still cannot stop them. i have got some true monsters to conquer when i get a rope and chain:fishing

capt_toddtt · March 2012

Martin Local wrote: »

i have been doing the same thing on some of my favorite spots with 250 braid on a 6/0 and cable leader and still cannot stop them. i have got some true monsters to conquer when i get a rope and chain:fishing

Oh yeah there some real river monsters out there that are simply to powerful for the gear you and I are using - but heck that's what makes it fun

I had one over the weekend that flat out broke my 200 lb braid - not over structure either - it just failed. Very exciting.