Trophyhusband

We left the dock a little after 5 am and spent about 15 minutes trying to pick up croakers. We only got a few and headed out. I had my father-in-law and Ramon, a co-worker of my wife's. Ramon had only been out the sea on a cruise ship. I offered him a dramamine, but he turned it down. I told him that at the slightest hint of a headache or any strange feeling, he needed to tell me and he would not be in violation of boat rule #1 (rule #1: Don't be a vagina) and I would have him drive the boat and take the dramamine. All was good for the hour ride out, but shortly after stopping to fish it hit him like a ton of bricks. I told him I would take him in, but he declined. I started fishing and quickly hooked up on one of my knife jigs. I tried to get Ramon to reel it in, but he couldn't. It ended up being a bull red. I kept asking if he was ready to go in, and finally he said OK (I was about to call it myself, but later he thanked me for giving him the chance to try shaking it off). I ran him in and my father-in-law decided to stay on land too.

I picked some "ledges" I've never fished before, but couldn't find any actual ledges. I picked up a couple triggers, a flounder, and a few squirrel fish on the bait pole and a shark the AJ rod. The numbers I have for those spots are not very precise and I decided that I would spend more time searching on a calmer day. I picked out a wreck I had never been to and set off. When I got there, my fish finder lit up so I started jigging. The wind was moving me about a knot to a knot and a half and i was worried that my jigs wouldn't be heavy enough to get to the bottom, but they did.

I was using the plain knife that Millertime had caught 7 or 8 AJ's on a couple days ago and I had caught the bull red with earlier. First drop down I hook up. I landed the him and wouldn't you know it, he was just legal. I tempted the fishing gods, throwing him back because I wanted a bigger one. I reset for another drift and dropped down a second time, and hooked up a second time. This one was undersized. That makes 10 or 11 AJ's and 1 bull red, for those keeping score. Third drift, third drop, third hook-up. This was the fish I was looking for. He was strong and I knew he would have been big enough to put on ice. I had drifted quite a ways off the wreck and thought I was safe, but I just couldn't get him turned around. Despite my best efforts, he made it to the wreck and broke off. After a moment of silence and salut4e to a fine jig that gave it's life for the cause, I tied on "The Tiger" and reset my drift. Once again I quickly hooked up. Again this was a nice fish. When I got him to the surface there was no doubt he was a keeper so I gaffed him. He may not have been huge by some peoples' standards, but at 36" he was a personal and boat record.

After getting him bled and on ice, I tidied up the boat for the ride home and decided to do a little catch and release for the camera. I hooked into another monster, but again I just couldn't gain much on him. He eventually broke off. I made one last drift and again hooked up. I boated and released this one and decided it was time to head for the barn.

I noticed there was a lot of weeds and an occasional turtle. I was only able to make about 11 knots so I figured I might as well troll. I set out two poles with dolphin lures with bonita strips, but the only thing I picked up was a couple bonita (both his at the same time).

I decided to make a quick stop at the Thomas Hayward since I have not been there in a while as see if it was still holding AJ's. My fish finder was showing a lot of fish but I did a couple passes without getting hit. On the third drift I hooked up, but I had no idea what it was, it just felt different than normal. Once I got him up I saw why. I had snagged a juvenile AJ in the tail. After that it was really time to get home. I had a great time out there, sometimes it's fun to be out fishing alone.

sniperpeeps

Nice report, sounds like those knife jigs are money

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still flippen

Very cool vidieo Looked like fun!!

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Trophyhusband

I can't believe how well they work. I'll be building more.

MillerTime

That was one hard working and successful jig. Too bad it is lost forever. Sounds like you had a great time today. I gotta go find me some used knives to make some of my own.

Trophyhusband

That was a great jig. Good thing there are more. I caught another fish on the top hook too. Since it was a little smaller it bent, so both top and bottom will be getting the 7/O hooks.

Realtor

Nice, I like it alot!!!

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Jim Summers
www.PensacolaSharkFishing.com

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MillerTime

I like the one hook at the top and bottom. The jigs I had bought have two assist hooks at the top which is really a pain when you get back hooked near the same place.

oxbeast1210

Nice what lb test do you put on your jigging reel also what lb leader?
I'm thinking of getting into it just trying to get an idea of what I need.

Nice video, I wonder how big the beast that stole millertimes favorite knife was!
Thanks

MillerTime

I use 65lb power pro and a 80 lb leader. I have had a few break offs on the leader but never broken the main line.