With the chances of tuna at about 1-5 per trip and averaging 50 pounds I got a call from a person that had engine problems and did not want to waste time looking for clean water. We went to a rig and got bait and then 25 miles SE from the pass for a shot at tuna. All we got was a bonito and there another boat got a blackfin. When we landed a 4 1/2 foot baracuda we decided to end this adventure and put some fish in the cooler. Prior to the start it was agreed to only give the tuna an hour or so. By this time all were ready to pull on something.
With the seas building I ran to the NE to get some protection from the land. Even 20-30 miles out there is some salvation as opposed to the entire gulf hitting us head on. Once on location we quickly got a limit of amberjack. The bite was hot as it took 40 seconds from locking in the reel to pulling the reef donkey out of the rig. I only broke off 2 times while getting the 6 man limit.
With the seas not getting any better I opted to take a shot at one rig a lot closer to shore as opposed to running to some in the immediate area. This was a good call. Once tied up to the rig I had to be the deck hand for all 6 of them. Good thing they all knew how to rig as a few sharks got the best of us at times. They love to attack the sinkers and at $5.00 each or better It hurts. My 250 pound leader crimped and large circle hooks are also not cheep. I have to go about 70 miles one way to get more. No stores down here.
We got a nice limit of red anapper with the biggest being 17.3 and a nice gag grouper. The highlite of the trip was a 12.1 mangrove snapper which is hanging in the middle top row.
I was told later this could have qualified for the state top 10 but I did not follow through with it because it had already been filleted.
Life is Good!
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Fishing is not a matter of life or death. It's more important than that.
CAPT HOOP -- OUR FREEDOM
Venice, La.
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