GREAT DAY FISHING!!!!!!!

Franco · #1 07-18-2006, 10:08 PM

Well tomorrow morning I get upat 5:00 am, have my coffee and head out the door about 5:30. Instead of going to work, I'll hop in the ol' pickup and head down to the boat ramp to meet Capt. Mike Maher. He is a local fishing guide here in Fla. A friend of mine went with him a few weeks ago and caught 20 plus snook and 4 or 5 redfish. We're gonna go out and catch some live bait for a couple of hours then we will fish for 3 or 4 hours. I'll finally get some good local knowledge to fill out what I have learned exploring on my own. My better half, bless her heart, bought me the trip as a birthday present, so now I'm cashing it in. Hopefully I'll have a good report tomorrow night!!

Mac_Attack · #2 07-18-2006, 10:36 PM

Nothing like getting the local pros to show you their tricks and hot spots. Last Saturday we went to the local tackle store and met a local charter captain who we spent about 1/2 hour getting some pointers. Sunday Dan put that info together which resulted in two tickets being filled. Your wife is a very special woman. Have fun! Billy Mac ;D

Blue_Runner · #3 07-18-2006, 11:59 PM

Sounds like a plan Franco. Definitely let us know how it goes.

P.S. Happy Birthday you old Crabby man!!

;D

C YENSEN · #4 07-19-2006, 02:12 PM

we want photos of the catch. ;D

Franco · #5 07-19-2006, 09:48 PM

We hit the outgoing tide this morning. Had about 2 dozen live baits in the well. We popped out of Sebastian Inlet and anchored about 50 yards of the tip of the north jetty. We were using spinning tackle loaded with 20 lb mono. We were rigged with a 1/2 oz egg sinker on the mono , the mono was tied to a swivel with about 12" of 40 lb flourocarbon leader and silver colored hooks. We hooked the baits (croakers, mojara's) thru the nose and pitched them into the rips at the end of the jetty. We left a lot of slack in the line, rod tip pointed straight up. Then you keep an eye on your line, when it starts to move you follow the line with your rod tip, you feel a hard pull instead of a slamming hit. Sull back once, not a jerk, but a firm pull. Once the fish realizes he is hooked hold on, line peels from the reels........fast. If it swims towards the rocks, most likely a snook, swimming towards the channel or the open water, probably a big red. We did the catch and release thing today. Hooked up plenty of times, got 4 reds to the boat, got at least 12 snook to the boat. Only grabbed a few out of the water to photograph, they were in the 10 to 25 lb range!!
Didn't weigh the reds, but they were bigger than any I ever caught, one was probably 25 lbs also. Here a just a couple of pics, photobucket has been giving me a fit!! *
Here is a Red in the water just before we released him he wouldn't pose for us!

Here is a nice snook the ended up with sore lips!!

Mac_Attack · #6 07-19-2006, 09:56 PM

Nice catch! *Looks like you had a blast! *Billy Mac *;D Happy Birthday!!!

Blue_Runner · #7 07-20-2006, 12:23 PM

:o Yeah baby! You are ready now!

Really nice fishies Franco! What is the limits on the reds down there?

I think 18" - 27 1/2" is a keeper here. Got the slot thing going. What kind of boat were ya'll on?

Also, thanks for describing the technique the guide used. Very helpful to know how the pros do it, huh? Pretty good to go 16 for 24 baits! Did he cast net the baits?

Franco · #8 07-20-2006, 03:15 PM

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SLOT SIZE LIMITS ARE, I'M A CATCH AND RELEASE GUY!!

WE USED SABIKI RIGS AND LITTLE LONG SHANK GOLD HOOKS FOR BAIT CATCHIN', HE DOES USE A CAST NET FOR SOME BAITS THOUGH

CAPT. MIKE HAS A 26' MID OCEAN CC - 18 YEARS OLD BUT RUNS LIKE A CHAMP

C YENSEN · #9 07-20-2006, 03:36 PM

nice fish, wish I were there.

Blue_Runner · #10 07-20-2006, 03:57 PM

Well if you get a legal red, you can "release" him into my custody ;D

Cool on the Sabiki rigs/gold hooks. I've caught all kinds of fish on gold hooks! Even a shark once.