Boat in the water just after 6 and headed out in search of red snapper. Fun trip with my normal fishing partner and two 18 year olds completely new to going offshore. The new kids were blessed with a great ride out in my small Wellcraft. With about 3 miles to go my motor bogged down. ??? Figured it out quick, I had a fuel delivery problem. Had some kind of milky “hand lotion” locking up one of my fuel filters. Still don’t know what that was. Got everything back together in short order (freaked them kids out!). Quick to fill our 4 man limits on some giant beeliners,stinky pinkies, caught a few white grunts, and of course gorilla bsb’s. Never caught a single grouper or red snapper. One of the boys chummed over the rail but hung in there tough all day catching fish after fish. Broke both boys in on some big aj’s and one got his first remora tattoo on his arm. The boys thought me and my buddy were nuts! Our high light of the trip was an 8’ hammerhead. It circled our boat and quickly found one of my kingfish drift rigs. One of the boys fought the shark for almost an hour before it finally straightened out the hook and got off. Last 5 miles in was real snotty since the wind picked up.
I’ve spent too much time away from bottom fishing so I was a little out of my game, been playing with souped up mud motors too much this summer. Had a blast with the young fellows and they had an epic day they will never forget.
Being superstitious is bad luck.