PENSACOLA Tuesday Triggers, Snapper, and almost SPOOLED!

Captain Mickey O'Reilly · 02-09-2012, 01:43 PM

Headed out of Shorline @ 0700 with my dad, and found the weatherman to be accurate for a change. It was blowing a solid 15 with gusts up to 25! The bay was very rough, but we clipped right on through it. Exiting the pass was smooth, until we got around the point and it was a sloppy 2-3-4 NE wind chop. We continued on and I decided to stop at a public wreck on the way to try the new AJ jigging rod I just built. Another boat was anchoring up, and I asked if they minded us doing a couple of fast drifts by the wreck. They were pleasant, and had no problem with it. 1st drift, good bite, but didnt get the hooks in. Second drift, a 15 pound Snapper ate the jig and was released boatside. I noticed that the other boat was starting to fish, so we thanked them and headed to our original spots. Once on site, the bite was slow, mainly in part that we were just being hammered by the wind and waves! I darn sure wasnt going to put the hook out, so I just kept repositioning the boat. We caught some Rubys that went into the livewell, some short triggers, and Porgies. Around 1000 the wind died, the sun came out, and it got beautiful calm! We headed to another spot 6 miles further ESE and found the bite! We caught Triggers on every drop, but they were all just a tad too short! I got bored after catching so many shorts, changed rods and dropped a live Ruby. These were really big Rubies, and about two seconds after it hit the bottom, it got nailed! I figured Grouper, then the hook pulled! Reel up a mangled half dead bait, and dropped it right back down. Bam on again, and hooks pull, again! Now I was a tad frustrated, so I cut the bait in half, drop it, bam! Not nearly the bite of the previous two, but a good fish. Big Snapper as usual, released unharmed! I put my dad on the rod, and he got to catch his biggest Snapper ever! We messed around with the Triggers and Snapper for awhile longer then headed out to catch some live bait. We picked up some sand perch and a few Rubies, and eased over to a wreck to give it a whirl. We set the hook and got away from the wreck and dropped some live baits. I had rigged my new AJ spinning rod to use a live bait, and drooped a smaller Ruby and let it swim maybe 25 yards behind the boat while I was organizing things. I saw line start zipping off the Penn Battle 8000, and reeled up tight to set the hook. Holy hell! I have 400 yards of 65# powerpro and 75 yds of mono as backing on the reel, and trust me when I tell you I was getting spooled quite quickly! Drag was not the issue, this was just a big fish. It stayed high in the water column and stayed straight away from the boat. I yelled at my dad to get ready to dump the anchor and lets get after the fish, when it slows down. Joke on me as it scorches off, again, and now I can see my backing coming up! Now during these runs, I could feel the fish's tail hitting the braid and some healthy head shaking. As my dad headed up front to dump the anchor, the line broke! Reeled it all back and where the braid was broken it looked like it had been worn through with sandpaper! What a blast though! I have caught billfish and tuna on spinning rods, and have never had a worry about being spooled, or for that matter runs like this fish! We messed around for a bit longer, didn't do much, and headed back to Shoreline with no fish for the box, but some great memories to be sure!

PENSACOLA Tuesday Triggers, Snapper, and almost SPOOLED!-snapper12-002-jpg

PENSACOLA Tuesday Triggers, Snapper, and almost SPOOLED!-snapper12-007-jpg

PENSACOLA Tuesday Triggers, Snapper, and almost SPOOLED!-snapper12-011-jpg

PENSACOLA Tuesday Triggers, Snapper, and almost SPOOLED!-snapper12-013-jpg

lobsterman · 02-09-2012, 02:05 PM

Looks like a lake out there, glad everyone had fun catching the almost extinct ever illusive red snapper They have to be extremely illusive because the Feds can't seem to find many, therefore deeming them overfished.

Rammer Jammer · 02-09-2012, 02:35 PM

Great report and pics Capt. Look forward to many more. Hope things are well with you!

TheRoguePirate · 02-09-2012, 02:42 PM

Possible Shark tailwhipping your line and breaking it.

TRP

Captain Mickey O'Reilly · 02-09-2012, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rammer Jammer

Great report and pics Capt. Look forward to many more. Hope things are well with you!

Doing very well brother, hope things are going great for you and the family!

TRP I agree with you about it being a shark! Would have been fun to see what we could have done with it from a live boat!

SteveFL · 02-09-2012, 04:25 PM

Great read, thanks! THAT is why I carry more rod/reels than I used too. I agree probably a shark but you never know......

bigrick · 02-09-2012, 04:26 PM

Wow, talk about some smooth seas. Love days like that....

Trophyhusband · 02-09-2012, 07:16 PM

Great report. I love it when it's that calm. I'm hoping tomorrow flattens out like that so I can get some good video.

Realtor · 02-09-2012, 07:18 PM

what a great trip and post. Thank you.

grey ghost · 02-09-2012, 07:45 PM

Nice pics, great conditions!!!

02-09-2012, 01:43 PM	#1
Captain Mickey O'Reilly Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 407	PENSACOLA Tuesday Triggers, Snapper, and almost SPOOLED! Headed out of Shorline @ 0700 with my dad, and found the weatherman to be accurate for a change. It was blowing a solid 15 with gusts up to 25! The bay was very rough, but we clipped right on through it. Exiting the pass was smooth, until we got around the point and it was a sloppy 2-3-4 NE wind chop. We continued on and I decided to stop at a public wreck on the way to try the new AJ jigging rod I just built. Another boat was anchoring up, and I asked if they minded us doing a couple of fast drifts by the wreck. They were pleasant, and had no problem with it. 1st drift, good bite, but didnt get the hooks in. Second drift, a 15 pound Snapper ate the jig and was released boatside. I noticed that the other boat was starting to fish, so we thanked them and headed to our original spots. Once on site, the bite was slow, mainly in part that we were just being hammered by the wind and waves! I darn sure wasnt going to put the hook out, so I just kept repositioning the boat. We caught some Rubys that went into the livewell, some short triggers, and Porgies. Around 1000 the wind died, the sun came out, and it got beautiful calm! We headed to another spot 6 miles further ESE and found the bite! We caught Triggers on every drop, but they were all just a tad too short! I got bored after catching so many shorts, changed rods and dropped a live Ruby. These were really big Rubies, and about two seconds after it hit the bottom, it got nailed! I figured Grouper, then the hook pulled! Reel up a mangled half dead bait, and dropped it right back down. Bam on again, and hooks pull, again! Now I was a tad frustrated, so I cut the bait in half, drop it, bam! Not nearly the bite of the previous two, but a good fish. Big Snapper as usual, released unharmed! I put my dad on the rod, and he got to catch his biggest Snapper ever! We messed around with the Triggers and Snapper for awhile longer then headed out to catch some live bait. We picked up some sand perch and a few Rubies, and eased over to a wreck to give it a whirl. We set the hook and got away from the wreck and dropped some live baits. I had rigged my new AJ spinning rod to use a live bait, and drooped a smaller Ruby and let it swim maybe 25 yards behind the boat while I was organizing things. I saw line start zipping off the Penn Battle 8000, and reeled up tight to set the hook. Holy hell! I have 400 yards of 65# powerpro and 75 yds of mono as backing on the reel, and trust me when I tell you I was getting spooled quite quickly! Drag was not the issue, this was just a big fish. It stayed high in the water column and stayed straight away from the boat. I yelled at my dad to get ready to dump the anchor and lets get after the fish, when it slows down. Joke on me as it scorches off, again, and now I can see my backing coming up! Now during these runs, I could feel the fish's tail hitting the braid and some healthy head shaking. As my dad headed up front to dump the anchor, the line broke! Reeled it all back and where the braid was broken it looked like it had been worn through with sandpaper! What a blast though! I have caught billfish and tuna on spinning rods, and have never had a worry about being spooled, or for that matter runs like this fish! We messed around for a bit longer, didn't do much, and headed back to Shoreline with no fish for the box, but some great memories to be sure! __________________ http://www.angrybirdfishingcharters.com/ Captain Mickey O'Reilly Angry Bird Fishing Charters LLC 850-723-1274 Captainmickeyo@yahoo.com

02-09-2012, 02:05 PM	#2
lobsterman Jiggin Finatic Blue Marlin Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Okaloosa Posts: 5,877	Looks like a lake out there, glad everyone had fun catching the almost extinct ever illusive red snapper They have to be extremely illusive because the Feds can't seem to find many, therefore deeming them overfished. __________________ AKA Jiggin Junkie II Chronicles 7:14 Randy's Canvas & Marine Vinyls 850-279-4140 850-855-5314 cell Custom Awnings - Repairs Boat Cushions - Curtains and more

02-09-2012, 02:42 PM	#4
TheRoguePirate Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pensacola Posts: 530	Possible Shark tailwhipping your line and breaking it. TRP __________________ TRP

02-09-2012, 04:26 PM	#7
bigrick Mines Bigger Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Fort Walton Beach Posts: 1,243	Wow, talk about some smooth seas. Love days like that.... __________________ 2002 236 Key Largo w/ 2011 200 optimax

02-09-2012, 07:18 PM	#9
Realtor Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 2,670	what a great trip and post. Thank you. __________________ Jim Summers www.PensacolaSharkFishing.com www.PensacolaHouseHunter.com @CaptFatJax (Twitter)

02-09-2012, 02:35 PM	#3
Rammer Jammer Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,139	Great report and pics Capt. Look forward to many more. Hope things are well with you!

02-09-2012, 04:25 PM	#6
SteveFL Senior Member Trigger Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 219	Great read, thanks! THAT is why I carry more rod/reels than I used too. I agree probably a shark but you never know......

02-09-2012, 07:16 PM	#8
Trophyhusband Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 652	Great report. I love it when it's that calm. I'm hoping tomorrow flattens out like that so I can get some good video.

02-09-2012, 07:45 PM	#10
grey ghost Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 604	Nice pics, great conditions!!!

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