Harbison

Monsters of the Elbow & Forty Fathom Break

Part 1:

Friday means deep water time for the Florida Fisherman, Hubbard's Marina. The moon phase is perfect for an all out assault on the 'Monsters of the Elbow & Forty Fathom Break.' Thirty dedicated anglers wait to board the Florida Fisherman ll. This is going to be all out war.

Our first mate, Will, goes over Coast Guard mandated safety regulations, we are ready.

Joe, our trusted mate, shares his vast knowledge. For the battles sure to come we must be at our best. Thanks Joe!

Look at those clouds. This could be a wet one.

We are hungry. Tammy to the rescue with Philly cheese stake sandwiches.
What a way to start our adventure:

Let's go to bed early. Fighting those monsters for over twenty hours is going to take every bit of energy we can come up with. This is going to be a real test;
Twelve midnight, Captain Hubbard eases back on those two huge 1,150 HP Cats. Let the battles begin. Immediately Mister Randy Moore, Chicago, shows a nice American red who the boss really is:

Look at the size of those Elbow mangrove snapper:

Even the porgies are monsters:

The Florida Fisherman ll provides a family atmosphere. Ms. Lisa Garrett & son Cody Kowalski are welcomed aboard with open arms. They can really fish:

Mister Craig Hammock is in for a real fight. Believe me, Craig has seen nothing yet!

Oh No! The amber jacks are getting even bigger & much stronger. The battle is in doubt.

These guys are playing no games, neither are we!


Richie, a Florida Fisherman regular, fought this monster to a stand still. Persistence won the great battle. Way to go Richie, what a fighter.

Mister Randy Moore takes the great fight directly to the enemy:


Mister Andre Spradley, Clermont, Florida, takes no hostages. Really glad to have this fighter with us:

Now this is a new one on me. We are doing very well on AJ's long before the sun makes it's appearance. Mangrove snapper have been slow.
Finally, a glow in the East. Wonder what the day will bring?
Ever see a Queen trigger fish:

The mangrove snapper are making an appearance. Did not see too many last night:

Even Tammy can't believe her eyes:

Tony, Mister Tony Baker, what a nice mangrove snapper:


Andre has mastered the tricky, hard to fool, mangrove snapper:

Man! Elbow mangrove snapper are huge:

Matt knows the secret. No more free meals:

Lisa is some fisher girl. We are so proud of her:

Like mother like son. Mister Cody Kowalski:

OK! Let's push out to the Forty Fathom Break, what a ledge:
Craig, congratulations on a fine scamp grouper. Way to go!

Ken, what a fine gag;

Gag grouper at 240':

Mister Tony Baker, that sure is a beautiful red grouper:

Sure is nice to have Jon & Natt, FWC, with us. They studied, took samples, and tagged fish all day long. We, all of us, need this on the water data:

It is really getting hot. That roof over our head while we are fishing, and the very cool air conditioned cabin are life savers:

submariner

Either you have a commerical license for those fish or that red snapper was ??????????

MackMan

Awesome pics

hsiF deR

After all it's highly illegal to take a picture with a fish....

Looks like a good time. Do you have a link for the boat?

__________________
Genesis 27:3 - Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.

grouper22

That porgy was ridiculous! Nice haul....

JoeZ

Thrown back?
Wtf, dude.

Great report as usual, Mr. H.

Jason

Bang up job again!!!! Man, I wish you would have got a better pic of the Queen Trigger, kinda shadowed but I know she was purty!!!! Stud AJ, ya'll are killing me!!!!

Longbow14

we can tell those fish eat well. hot dang I love reading your reports sir.

capt mike

I am a captain out of Orange Beach Al. and have been incensed with your posts for months. I want to come ride with you all and see this as it happens. Please post contact info as the wife and I want to get out of town for a few days! Being a reef builder and captain I don't get to fish often so this may be a great getaway for us!
Keep up the commentary its great!

Harbison

All American red snapper were immediately vented & released. The look-a-likes are mutton snapper, 100% legal. We keep no illegal fish. In addition, exact counts are constantly taken. When someone reaches his/her limit, no more. I too wish I had a better picture of the queen. She came at a very busy time, did not have time to adjust the camera.

Captain, we would be honored to have you & your wife.

Hubbad's Marina, Madeira Beach, Florida
(727) 393-1947