Left the dock at 11.30 am, with Capt Jay, Woody and his son, me and my son, and neighbor Lance. It has been a while since we had a decent weather window, so off we went.
Weather was iffy?plan was to run from MI to the scarp. Funky swell slowed us down. Storm was sitting over the scarp, so we decided to hit the parking lot and wait out the storm. The bottom was on fire! Lots of big endangered BSB, plenty of b-liners, silver snappers, and the host of other bottom dwellers. We hit a few spots, and watched the storm dissipate over the gt hole. So charted a course to the hole, and we were off.
Funky swell continued, but we prevailed. Big weed patches 14 miles short of the hole, pitched some baits to the very small schoolies, but not keepers. We pushed on.
Arrived at the hole, and set up our spread. SLOW. We went deeper. Marked fish, then a HOO struck one of our baits - short strike - we watched him break the surface. Excitement continued. We hit another mark in 600 feet and a mahi was hooked up! As I was bringing him in, the line started screaming! It was bait for something large, very large. Three of us took turns. We were thinking GRANDER! 100 lb WAHOO? Yellowfin? This thing was down deep. Goliath Grouper? Finally get a view, after almost an hour - and see a brown shark?!? WTF? I want my mahi back, and my precious short trolling time! He tail slapped the boat and off he went. Wow! What power! Dreams were shattered - and I think nightmares created with the kids!
Our newest plug, small spanish with treble hooks, gets hit. Peels line then spits the hook. Turns our the hook bent? So much for expensive plugs with cheap hooks!
Getting late, last pass, and Woody is up with a 34 pound Wahoo! HIs first. NIce fight.
Time to run home. Storm clouds around us, but never a drop on us!
Great to be back in the blue water, always better with our kids!
Tight lines,
Jason
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