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Date: Fishing Report by Brian Faulds
Title: May 19, 2004
Date: 25 May 2004
Time: 10:44:31 -0400
Hello et al, Well, I took a little while getting this e-mail out...I was recovering from a days work on the water... biceps... forearms...hamstrings...lower back...and brain fatigue!!! May 19, I had the pleasure of being in the company of 5 great Anglers...I don't exaggerate here. These Anglers were fairly inexperienced on big fish and big water and managed to put almost 200 lbs of fish in the box (most of it Grouper)!!! We were out with Capt Brian Smith (our June charter host), on the "Sea Cat", in 60-70 ft of, calm (1-2 ft seas) water, running out of Deadmans Bay, off of Steinhatchee FL. The morning was easy going with a steady bite of large (15-20lb) Gulf Amber Jack (a very different fish than Atlantic AJ!) and an occasional Grouper. However, for some of our party who were new to this type of angling, they were surprised to find their breath stolen (and I mean this literally), by what is affectionately called a "Reef Donkey" (Gulf AJ)!!! The bite tapered out around noon and the Capt. switched to plan "B". 4 rods went into the "rocket launchers" and we trolled around with Magnum stretch 30's (a very large plastic fish that dives down to 30-40 ft with a irresistible vibration that stimulates a reaction bite). It was a welcomed respite for all of us as, we were just plain tuckered out from teaching, a very hard pulling species of 20lb fish, how to come "uuup" (some of us with spinning tackle)!!! We took turns watching the rod tips for a bite indication and grabbed a bite to eat. The trolling didn't net us much more than "savvy" on this style of angling and we pulled in the tackle and headed off towards fish'yier pastures. It was mid-afternoon when we discovered just how fast "big water, big fish" action can get. After the better part of a day we had become conditioned, to what could be called, a medium steady bite. This changed. Good golly, Miss Molly, our world exploded with feverish action as, one by one the silence of the water was broken by an attempt to say, "fish onnn" !!! The bite was so hot and fast, we were rocking the Mates world !!! Half way through the frenzy a fella, who makes his money with gaff and pliers, was begging the Anglers to slow down (of course we all pretended like we were deaf)!!! 150 lbs of Grouper later it was time to go. What a great day of fishing, memory, and the experience of a lifetime. 193 lbs of Grouper (mostly Red & Gag) and AJ's. It is noteworthy to mention here that 1/3 of the angling crew were women who landed some of the biggest fish...solo...! Alright you guys, are you ready for your day on the water??? Blue Skies, Calm Seas, and Tight lines! -Brian Faulds "Courage comes and goes. Hold on for the next supply." -- Thomas Merton