We left the dock at 11:30am hoping the weatherman was wrong - glad we ventured out! Capt Jay, classmate Brian and neighbor Gregg rounded out the crew. We made great time to the Scarp in search of our first Mahi-Mahi of the season. Lines were in just after 1:30 and ZZzzzz- our first strike. I saw flashes of color - only to be disappointed by a barracuda. The flashes were from the sea witch.
Then the mahi-mahi started - we boated one. Seemingly a long time later we had our second in the box. We chased a weed line and only found trouble with scattered weeds. The ocean was full of life - birds, flying fish, marking fish through the water column. Just frustration at the surface.
As our time was limited, and the dream of limiting out on Mahi-Mahi was not going to be realized this trip, we decided to try our hand at the now opened grouper season. We found a spot in 200 ft just outside the MPA and it was game on! Scamp in the boat! Sand tile next. Then AJ, AJ, AJ and big brown shark.
We moved in to shallower water and filled the rest of our trip with B-liners and a trigger fish. We ran in at 55 mph.
Home by sunset.
Tight Lines,
Jason