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Date: Alive
Title: June 20, 2004
Date: 21 Jun 2004
Time: 20:50:19 -0400
I was cruising in this week; the seas were calm, less than a foot and placid. Everyone on the boat were napping after a long, active, hot day on the water. Some were crashed out on the bean bags, one laid out on the bow cushion, another curled up on the seat in front of the console, one was swaying back and forth on the helm bench next to me, and our best mate, Little B, was flopped back on one of the rear seats letting the Honda’s hum him to la-la land. We fished deep making for a hour and a half ride in. As the captain, there’s not much to do but keep the compass heading lined up and watch for slumbering sea turtles. Don’t want to hit a 200 pound turtle. The ‘solo’ ride gives plenty of time to think. If I could do it again, knowing what I found out, what would I do different? Tomorrow what am I going to do? Mentally going through a tackle check. I was going over things in my mind and was distracted by a school of flipping bait fish. Pods of bait were in every direction. One unlucky cluster was being pounded by bonita. The bonita were running amuck. Blasting through the school of scaled sardines so fast they were vaulting themselves out of the sea. Wow. What a dynamic environment I float on! During the course of the day/week, we saw families of dolphin play in our wake, turtles popped up at random, schools of bait on the surface, as well as, so thick below the surface they blacked out the sonar screen, hordes of amberjack chasing a topwater plug, a couple of 200+ pound jewfish that yanked two men around the gunnel like they were dogs on a leash, shark encounters, screaming reels from kingfish and grouper letting people know that their shoulders, arms and back weren’t as strong as they thought. In deed, the Gulf is alive from top to bottom. I thought what an honor it is to spend quality time in the Gulf of Mexico with some fine folk. My career choice is demanding, can be frustrating, often expensive, tiring, yet so satisfying and fun that it makes balance. People create the balance. I’ve met some great folk. I’ve been blessed. Brian Hornsby, best mate, is a gift to me and such an asset to our parties I’m sure they’ll be disappointed by the mate on their next charter outside of Steinhatchee. Trout have been best on the deep grass beds; 7-10 feet. Bump jigs or shiner tails over the top of the grass to ice down some fine trout. If you’re seeking trophy trout, fish day break or late on the skinny grass and limerock with topwater plugs using gear that you can cast a long way. I’ve heard grouper are biting in 45 feet on hard bottom on frozen and live bait. Squid in 45 foot of water; Pat McGriff says it every month. I’ve been running deep to 75-85 feet to insure a box of grouper. The best bait has been fresh caught live scaled sardines, but frozen Spanish sardines or herring have worked quite well. Live pink mouth grunt are trophy grouper bait. Be patient. Or, use the head or steaks off a pink to target big grouper. Take care of yourselves and your tackle. Capt. B