Downtime2

Maybe one of the guys will do the report. I be too tired. You know how we old folks are. Teaser pics...

Sniper Spear-It

awesome post man. nice mess of fish

SSI

NaClH2O

Wow you guys caught some beast. Looks like a great day on the water.:bowdown

countryjwh

now thats a mess of fish!!clap

reelhappy

good catch guys. glad ya had some fun. thanks.

scot

atlantacapt

Here's a quick version...others can post more details...

After a long break from fishing the Palmetto seriously,we went out deep withthe one day weather window. Crew was Wade, George (lobsterman), my girlfriends step-dad, Wade's friend Jason and I. I had found a bunch of hardtails and pinfish Monday PM, so we were chock full of bait.

Seas were a mixed 2 to maybea 3 inin the AM and glassed off nicely throughout the day. The big surprise was the complete lack of current way offshore. Made for an easy fishing day. Ran 45-50 miles SSE to some rocks and wrecks. First deep spot produced 3 or 4good AJ's - biggest was 40ish lbs. This spot also produced two nice groupers to 25 lbs. After we had all had enough from pulling on fish in 400+ feet, we moved east to some "shallow" ledges. On the first ledge (275 feet) we got another good AJ or two, had one on thatI hooked 100-150 feet off the bottom and just could not control at all until hooks pulled halfway through the fight - definitely would have been our biggest AJ of the day.Wade had a similar situation with a stud grouper. He had his head turned and he was 30-40 feet off the structure when he got pulled back in with a locked down drag.

We then came backup the hilla bit into 250 feet, then 225, then 190, picking up a gag/red or two along the way. In 180 feet we found a great area or ledge/low rock and the gags were on fire. Kept 5-6 more until it was 3:45 and we were still 42 miles from the rocks. I would have loved to stay and get our grouper limit in and around this area, but we had to get back in range before family members began to get nervous (and the SSI was pretty full). Cleared Destin pass with the last rays ofsun fading. Ride home was beautiful with glassy seas and the setting sun. I'll post pics when i can get them off of the camera.

Total tally was:
10 groupers (I think) to 25/30 lbs, all good grade.
4 AJ's to 40-45, many released
1 Almaco Jack
Many snappers released on the shallower stuff
A World record sized white snapper caught by Mr. Wade Hatten himself (he can comment on that one :toast)

Great day on the water. From 10 miles on out there were hundreds of Man-o-wars. We also saw a nice floating 55 gallon drum about 40 miles out. Had all kinds of growth on it. If only the water was a little warmer...

That's a wrap for 2008... Happy New year to all!:letsdrink

Cameron

Downtime2

LOL Yep, shoulda tooka pic of the white. Thought I had a keeper grouper on....

hebegb

damn nice mess of fish there guys!

reelfinatical

^ How big was it?? Way to go Downtime!

Downtime2

Guessing around 5 pounds...