C-monsters

I just got the boat back from Breeze Fabricators, after they repaired some cracks in my t-top. They did a great job, and the repair looks great. Looking forward to taking my dad fishing, who is in from out of town. I had been having great luck, catching several keeper AJ's up to 40 pounds, lots of snapper/mingo/scamp/trigger, etc on previous trips, and figured we could catch our snapper, and hopefully get him to tangle with a large AJ for the first time. It was not to be.

First thing after we get the boat in the water, I find my bottom machine is not working. After about 10 minutes of searching under the console, I finally find the wire which has popped out of the crimp fitting, and we're off again. Seas were a little rough, but we plugged out to a spot which had been great. After about 3 hours, several break offs, countless 13.5inch trigger, 15 inch snapper, and only two mingo to show for our efforts, we decided to move. Seas had picked up a bit, now about 3 feet, and we had some trouble holding over the next spot. Decided to anchor, and that kept dragging, even with a lot of chain and scope. Decided it was not our day, and we started in. Ran great for 10 minutes, then stalled out. Kept stalling out at running speed, like a fuel intake problem. Checked/empied the fuel water seperator and filter, and the inline fuel filter, without luck. Progressed to not even being able to maintain idle. Finally gave in and called seatow from about 17 miles out. Unfortunately, the main VHFdoes not transmit. Couldn't hail anyone. Luckily had a backup handheld VHF, and that was able to reach coast guard, who relayed the message. Waited a couple of hours while the seas built to four feet and we sat at anchor. Dad starts puking over the side of the boat--never had been seasick in the past. Finally get underway for the 2.5 hour tow back in through the slop, and arrive at the dock at 9:45PM. Get the boat on the trailer, winch it up, only to hear a loud pop as a metal support supporting the winch gave way. Able to finally limp home at low speed to find a glass of Jack Daniels.

Final tally: two mingo(sorry no pictures, they were a whopping 14 inch or so), broken VHF, engine repair bills soon to come from Kenny @ Emerald Coast, broken support on the trailer, one newly seasick father, and a whole lot of frustration. At least we got in safely, and thank God we had seatow. He said the cost would have been over $3,000 for the tow alone.

Hope you all have a good Fourth, and better fishing luck thanwe did.

Tuna Man

:banghead:banghead:banghead BUT on the bright side..."At least we got in safely, and thank God we had seatow."

angus_cow_doctor

I have had similar days. Seemed like you woke up and the gods decided to punish you just for trying to fish. My lower unit locked up while coming through the pass at panama city one time. The worst part is that I had just renewed seatow that day, so it was not active yet. Luckily a dude in a cruiser was nice enough to tow me back to the dock.

Fix your boat, and be ready to try it again on another (and hopefully better) day!

lobsterman

It's days like that that make you wonder why you offshore fish. Trust me we all who have been on the water any length of time have had similiar experiences. Next time you will slay some fish and be right back in the thick of things.

__________________
AKA Jiggin Junkie
II Chronicles 7:14

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