I’d like to start out by saying sorry for the late post as being just wore out and Comcast are to blame. I struggled with the decision of staying in closer around the ledge or head out to the deep for a magical rip loaded with billfish the size of Buicks and dolphin free jumping in the boat. On Tuesday, for once, I opted to go for it. So, we rolled out of Shem Creek, Mr. Keys, Tommy Gun, and myself around 2am for the long ride to the deep. We had lines in as the sun started to sizzle. We trolled and trolled and trolled, pushing deeper and deeper, but the reels remained quiet as well as the ocean. 300’, 500’, 700’, 900’, 1100’, 1300’, 1500’…nothing, but one slinger and 2 knockdowns on the plug rod that came unbuttoned. Suprisingly, there was no mutiny on the boat as Mr. Keys and Tommy Gun stayed ready, but it never came. I pushed all the way out to almost 69 miles from the rocks, almost 1700’, but never found or saw anything. (Fast forward to 8pm as I talk to another boat cleaning a bunch of fish…"How’d you do? Crushed ‘em! Limited out and threw back at least 20. Where at? Hmmm, that was only 6 miles farther out where we were…I fell short by 6 miles!). So, plan B time. Pulled up baits and ran back to 220’ and trolled over the ledge a few times, nothing! So, looked at the wind, empty coolers, and plotted a course for some good bottom since Tommy Gun had never bottom fished. Well, the bottom dwellers didn’t disappoint us and in no time the crew had smiles back on their tired faces.
Here’s Tommy Gun with just 2 of many fishes (not a bad first bottom trip for Tommy Gun in my opinion, 
):
In the end, coolers were filled with pinkies, porgies, b-liners, triggers, grunts, and scamps. We even got 2 more dolphin on light spinning tackle that followed our chum slick right to the boat. Rode in at 25mph, before running close to 35mph once we got about 8 miles out. Great day on the ocean in the 'ol bayboat with a great, hard-working crew that never gave up or complained!
"The probl
