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Date: What's so special about Wednesdays?
Title: March 30, 2005
Date: 04 Apr 2005
Time: 15:05:54 -0400
Wednesday Special What’s so special about Wednesday? Wednesday s’ I run a special where individuals can buy a ‘ticket’ and go offshore fishing without having the need to put together an entire charter party on their own. The Wednesday special came out of people’s needs, stemming from the logistical difficulties of getting family or friends together on a single day with everybody’s scattered schedules due to work, children and so forth. For a hundred and twenty five bucks you jump on and go. It makes life simpler for some. I’ve found out that some are using the trip to scout out the charter prior to signing up the rest of their crew for a full charter. Whatever reason someone goes I’m cool with it because it’s an opportunity to met and fish with fresh people. Anyway, that could explain the title but the title comes from the following story I could have easily named “Little Johnny goes to sea”. Mack Thomas, his wife Leigh, daughters Rachel (10) and Tyler (6), Shawn Elders, Lil’ Johnny Blakely (14 yr old son of local crabber Mike Blakely), Lil B and myself set out last Wednesday for adventure on the Gulf. Mack wanted his wife, Leigh, to catch a big ol’ grouper and his girls to have fun on the water. Shawn was there wanting a fatty but with had the go with the flow attitude. For Lil Johnny it was his first time offshore without having to pull traps with his father. Lil Johnny was locked on go. You see, he and his father have picked up fish carcasses from my boat for crab bait and he was more than ready to pick up an entire live fish, on his own. His excuse for the trip was to graduate MIT (mate in training). Lil B was showing him the ropes and knots to be a mate. I listened and watched as Lil B went through the ‘how to’ sessions and was impressed with Lil B and how Johnny paid attention picking up things, even the details. I, also, saw through Lil Johnny, in the mirror of my mind, and further appreciated his attentiveness because he was a Jack Russell terrier receiving training in a hen house. I was amazed he kept focused long enough to learn anything; but he did. But when school was out…he turned on full fish mode. After picking up the bait traps, we went to 58’ to troll, briefly. As the trolling routine was explained, I could tell Lil Johnny was interested in what was about to happen but expected to simply bottom fish. Wednesday is a mix day where I get to troll around looking for new ‘to me’ bottom while moving along to proven waypoints. Some for you and a little for me type of thing where everyone benefits. That is why I trolled first. As ‘luck’ would have it, within five minutes one of the four trollers bucked flat indicating that a ten pound plus “bream” had slipped the cork under the water. FISH ON! Johnny on the spot, he reeled in the first grouper. A twenty six inch good grouper hit the ice. The trolling gig was successful as time didn’t tick to long before one of the poles bowed over to the glory of another grouper. A few were short, but, in general, the trolled up grouper were better than average size. In a flexible rotation, everybody was having fun reeling in some quality grouper. The technique was working to the point I had a bird in the hand. Do you change what is working? A spank on the bottom does a body good. When no other boats were around and once we passed over a great known bottom, I decided to stop trolling after a peek-a-boo. I trolled a peek over waypoint ‘Lamar2’ (65’) and counted back like a NASA blast-off. Five, four, three…one, zero… and minus one and “crap it ain’t happening minus two”. I glanced back at the GPS to see if I was off when Lil B shouted “Fish On”. “Thank God” I thought and turned to see Lil Johnny cranking. As he reeled, the rod bopped down and up. At times, the drag slipped letting line off. We knew it was a big ol’ goodn’. Thump, thump…get a little and give a little. Talk Johnny down steady. Talking Lil Johnny down was like hand feeding a German Shepard a grilled steak and saying chew your food. Thankfully, Lil Johnny decelerated and worked an eighteen pound gag grouper to the boat. From there we turned to put the boat on hook, over that same good bottom. Leigh got in her zone. A step to my left on the port side, she snagged three fine grouper, “mono a mono” girl style with a 1-900-GROUPER sound track. “Mack, you want to handle this one? It might be about you, buddy” I said. Anyway, the crew took on some five to seven good groupers before pulling off. We trolled around some more afterwards to pick up more grouper. The grouper picked up on troll were eight to eleven pounds. They were good fish. It was fun to watch the pole flatten out on the take. Goodness, everybody evolved to pit crew efficacy to bring in the live line, with fish, as well as, the three dead lines. People working together in a sport fishing adventure is a wonderful thing to watch evolve. It’s a treat for the captain and a learning experience for all aboard. Grouper are biting in 42-70 feet on frozen and live bait. Actually, live bait isn’t necessary, work around to good bottom where grouper are feeding and any bait will work Not to say I wouldn’t have live bait on board. Trolling big lipped lures is working, as well. A great way to find new bottom. The take home lesson is bop from A to B using a combination of trolling and bottom fishing to get a fine box of grouper. For trout fishing, work the three foot grass with jigs and shallow plugs and expect a good result by end of day. The trout are on go mode; it’s up to you to be mobile to find the nest. Thanks for reading and take care or yourself and the tackle. Capt B To paraphrase a deceased patriot, I regret that I have but one life to give to my fishing. JOHN VOELKER (ROBERT TRAVER 1964)