South West Florida

george

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Staff member
Alexa wakes me up at 5am to get ready for an offshore grouper trip in the Gulf. I had to give a double take when checking the forecast as the 1-2 and 65 degree prediction changed to 48 degrees and a steady 15 out of the north. We're in a 31 Yellowfin rigged for this fishing this area. Due to the long run to get to 100 feet of water down here most boats are rocketship centers that get you there fast . . . In calm seas.

Being I'm here in suuny Florida all of my winter gear is back home. There's nothing like the splash of cold saltwater in the face as you brave 3-5s. It took us two hours to get there, but it was worth it.

It's a special site to watch people crank up fish and puke at the same time. Most of these folks are mid westerners and I didn't have the heart to video them. I wanted to really bad but I didn't. This was lock and load fishing at its finest. Using a number of different small live baits we proceeded to slaughter them.

One thing about this place there is no shortage of species. We had: Grouper, porgy, mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, bluerunners, a few yellowtail snappers, vermillion and a few more I hadn't heard of before. When all was said and done we packed up and made it back in 1 hour and 15 minutes in flat calm seas.

As anglers we all have those special days tucked in the back of our minds and this was one of them!

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IMG_1681.jpeg
 
WOW!!!!!
I was invited on a 42 Freeman a few years back on a Gulf trip out of Galveston. Like you, it was lock and load after the hour long run in 2-4's, but the big Cat still made a comfortable 30 kts on the way out. Big Red Snappers on every drop!
 
WOW!!!!!
I was invited on a 42 Freeman a few years back on a Gulf trip out of Galveston. Like you, it was lock and load after the hour long run in 2-4's, but the big Cat still made a comfortable 30 kts on the way out. Big Red Snappers on every drop!
I did that trip about 20 years ago. It was great!
 
Alexa wakes me up at 5am to get ready for an offshore grouper trip in the Gulf. I had to give a double take when checking the forecast as the 1-2 and 65 degree prediction changed to 48 degrees and a steady 15 out of the north. We're in a 31 Yellowfin rigged for this fishing this area. Due to the long run to get to 100 feet of water down here most boats are rocketship centers that get you there fast . . . In calm seas.

Being I'm here in suuny Florida all of my winter gear is back home. There's nothing like the splash of cold saltwater in the face as you brave 3-5s. It took us two hours to get there, but it was worth it.

It's a special site to watch people crank up fish and puke at the same time. Most of these folks are mid westerners and I didn't have the heart to video them. I wanted to really bad but I didn't. This was lock and load fishing at its finest. Using a number of different small live baits we proceeded to slaughter them.

One thing about this place there is no shortage of species. We had: Grouper, porgy, mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, bluerunners, a few yellowtail snappers, vermillion and a few more I hadn't heard of before. When all was said and done we packed up and made it back in 1 hour and 15 minutes in flat calm seas.

As anglers we all have those special days tucked in the back of our minds and this was one of them!

View attachment 74646View attachment 74647
Great outing, George!!
 
Alexa wakes me up at 5am to get ready for an offshore grouper trip in the Gulf. I had to give a double take when checking the forecast as the 1-2 and 65 degree prediction changed to 48 degrees and a steady 15 out of the north. We're in a 31 Yellowfin rigged for this fishing this area. Due to the long run to get to 100 feet of water down here most boats are rocketship centers that get you there fast . . . In calm seas.

Being I'm here in suuny Florida all of my winter gear is back home. There's nothing like the splash of cold saltwater in the face as you brave 3-5s. It took us two hours to get there, but it was worth it.

It's a special site to watch people crank up fish and puke at the same time. Most of these folks are mid westerners and I didn't have the heart to video them. I wanted to really bad but I didn't. This was lock and load fishing at its finest. Using a number of different small live baits we proceeded to slaughter them.

One thing about this place there is no shortage of species. We had: Grouper, porgy, mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, bluerunners, a few yellowtail snappers, vermillion and a few more I hadn't heard of before. When all was said and done we packed up and made it back in 1 hour and 15 minutes in flat calm seas.

As anglers we all have those special days tucked in the back of our minds and this was one of them!

View attachment 74646View attachment 74647
Great Trip, George.

The Grouper bite must be very hot right now. A neighbor of mine is down in FL now and just sent me photos of a Grouper trip they made today, also in the Gulf. Many beautiful red Grouper caught on his trip with several in the 20# class!

That's some seriously good eating there, my friend.
 
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