I posted a few weeks ago asking advice about heading out to near shore reefs for the first time. Thx everyone that responded, wanted to give y’all an update as I hit capers inshore reef for the first time today.
So i left SI about noon, chart plotter showed about 14 miles. I’m in my 20v pathfinder and up until today the most adventurous I had been was crossing the harbor a couple of times. It took a few miles to figure things out, but with trim tabs all the way down, keeping around 25mph it wasn’t too rough. It was a new feeling when I lost sight of land and there wasn’t another boat in sight, slightly scary but made me feel kinda alive in a way I haven’t felt for a while. Get to my spot and I’m looking for structure but not quite sure if what I’m seeing on my sonar is what I need to
be fishing over. It kinda looks like maybe 10’ changes in depth, and I’m pretty sure I can see fish. So I’m jigging with the fake fiddler, nothing, try a clam, nothing, keep moving around, until I get to maybe the 5 or 6 spot and it’s on. I literally can not stop catching BDB’s on clams. The sinker his the bottom, I tighten the line, and I get a hit. Nothing bigger than about 13”, but I Amy remember catching so many fish. I caught a couple on a jug and even on a light vudu shrimp.
But no sheeps. So, if you are catching like this should I have moved to a different spot, I tried bigger baits, coming off the bottom, but all I could catch were the BSB’s, which, btw, areva ***** to fillet.
I left after about 3 hours, tbh I wasn’t feeling great as the boat was really roling around
pretty good. Had a bit of a scare on the way home when the engine, F150, revved up
to max but seemed to be in neutral. I checked the prop and there didn’t seem to be any issue, and kept it at 3500 for a while, then edged it up and it was fine. Engine has just been serviced so no ida what could have caused the issue
Anyway, really enjoyed being out there, need to think about what kind of fishing i want to focus on. Thanks for all the help and
glad you got out there and caught some fish D…BSBs are prolly gonna be on about any nearshore structure, but if you were targeting sheeps try being on the edge on the edge of the structure…finding sheeps and catching sheeps are two different things so just keep at it…once you learn the bite you’ll have fun targeting them…thanks for the report…
I’m looking to get out to Capers soon. Been to other near shore reefs and love the fishing out there. Unfortunately, so far the wind hasn’t cooperated. If you ever want to buddy boat out there let me know. It’s always best for us smaller boats to buddy boat out there. Let me know if interested.
quote:Originally posted by Bonzo72
glad you got out there and caught some fish D…BSBs are prolly gonna be on about any nearshore structure, but if you were targeting sheeps try being on the edge on the edge of the structure…finding sheeps and catching sheeps are two different things so just keep at it…once you learn the bite you’ll have fun targeting them…thanks for the report…
Thanks Carl,was definitely fun, gonna try and get out there some more for sure.
Messin, buddy boating sounds like a good idea, PM me and we can keep an eye on the weather.
The roughest part of the trip was getting back into the waterway behind Sullivans, actually got wet.
Ya done good. And on spades…don’t let people convince you to use light tackle…unless you like a long fight. If you are fishing for dinner, bring a med-heavy rig.
/Ed Kidney last Spring…rest his soul.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Ya done good. And on spades…don’t let people convince you to use light tackle…unless you like a long fight. If you are fishing for dinner, bring a med-heavy rig.
/Ed Kidney last Spring…rest his soul.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Ya done good. And on spades…don’t let people convince you to use light tackle…unless you like a long fight. If you are fishing for dinner, bring a med-heavy rig.
Wow, I’m gonna research Spades, how do y’all fish for them, are they on the bottom as well?
/Ed Kidney last Spring…rest his soul.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Ya done good. And on spades…don’t let people convince you to use light tackle…unless you like a long fight. If you are fishing for dinner, bring a med-heavy rig.
/Ed Kidney last Spring…rest his soul.
Wow, I’m gonna research Spades, how do y’all fish for them, are they on the bottom as well?
It’s not really that hard, they show up in large schools on the wrecks and reefs in the spring. They’ll come up to the boat for a look-see. They are very leader and hook shy, so you’ll need a flouro carbon leader and a small circle hook. Their favorite food is cannon ball jelly fish cut into little pieces, but we caught ours on little bits of shrimp.
There was a guy on the reef with an iPilot and they were pulling fish out of the water every drop. We had to drift through the school.
It was a lot of fun.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 23 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 19 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Ya done good. And on spades…don’t let people convince you to use light tackle…unless you like a long fight. If you are fishing for dinner, bring a med-heavy rig.
/Ed Kidney last Spring…rest his soul.
Wow, I’m gonna research Spades, how do y’all fish for them, are they on the bottom as well?
It’s not really that hard, they show up in large schools on the wrecks and reefs in the spring. They’ll come up to the boat for a look-see. They are very leader and hook shy, so you’ll need a flouro carbon leader and a small circle hook. Their favorite food is cannon ball jelly fish cut into little pieces, but we caught ours on little bits of shrimp.
There was a guy on the reef with an iPilot and they were pulling fish out of the water every drop. We had to drift through the school.
It was a lot of fun.
Thanks a lot, I was using my Ipilot out there as well, worked pretty well. I was looking up Spades last night, are they good eating My wife said they were to nice looking to eat
When they are at the surface, are you throwing bait at them with no weight? or do you fish with a Carolina rig to the bottom?
I tried once last spring bottom fishing them with no success. I want that to change this season
quote:Originally posted by drterry
quote:Originally posted by claim
quote:Originally posted by drterry
[quote]Originally posted by claim
Ya done good. And on spades…don’t let people convince you to use light tackle…unless you like a long fight. If you are fishing for dinner, bring a med-heavy rig.
/Ed Kidney last Spring…rest his soul.
Wow, I’m gonna research Spades, how do y’all fish for them, are they on the bottom as well?
It’s not really that hard, they show up in large schools on the wrecks and reefs in the spring. They’ll come up to the boat for a look-see. They are very leader and hook shy, so you’ll need a flouro carbon leader and a small circle hook. Their favorite food is cannon ball jelly fish cut into little pieces, but we caught ours on little bits of shrimp.
There was a guy on the reef with an iPilot and they were pulling fish out of the water every drop. We had to drift through the school.
It was a lot of fun.
Thanks a lot, I was using my Ipilot out there as well, worked pretty well. I was looking up Spades last night, are the
