Headed out yesterday morning from Wappoo cut around 6:30 to a calm harbor, headed out front of Morris Island for some easily attainable menhaden, and headed to some numbers in 90-100 foot for some bottom fishing and live baiting and were not disappointed.
Got to first spot around 8:45 and threw out a rig with two menhaden on free line behind the boat while we rigged bottom rods. Got two rigs to the bottom and ZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGG, live bait rod goes off! Couple of small runs and up comes a 12 or 15 pound king…in the box he went!
First 10 fish hit the box, vermillions, jolt-head porgies, BIG triggers, BIG BSB, and then we found the endangered ARS…we caught 7 that were easily 20 pounds, all vented and released safely. It really is getting old catching so many and not keeping ANY.
About an hour in another live bait rod went off, and after 10 minute battle got him to the boat, looked to be a 20+ pound king, but once he saw the boat he made one last run and threw the hook.
Kept on them most of the day, did bring up a nice 22" Gag Grouper, released safely, and a BIG amberjack. Only brought up 4 sharks all day, all sharpnose, no real size to them.
All in all a good day, a limit of vermillion, nice size king for dinner, triggers, porgies, grunts, BSB, all will fry up nicely for an upcoming fish fry…
I titled this thread “wappoo cluster” to bring up a little issue at the ramp. There was a triple axle trailer with Contender all over it, back of truck said “Hay Fever,” parked in the most ridiculous spot possible. He pulled straight away from the ramp and took the first spot on the right side. Granted, he pulled all the way to the bushes, but the trailer was 10’ out in the aisle way. This would not have been a problem if he was farther away, but blocking that part of the road made a hell of a time for any truck/trailer to turn and get lined up to back the boat in to the ramp. While we put in, watched 4 others have issues with the offending rig, and while pulling out we witnessed th