Another Wednesday Afternoon trip on the PainKiller.
Left the dock around noon. My son had art camp, so he had to stay home (don’t get me started on that topic) - his pal Jake, Jakes dad, Jimmy and Capt Jay rounded out the crew. Although the forecast said NE winds, the buoy was reading 2.3 every 8, with winds around 10 knots, so we pointed towards the GT hole and off we went.
Not a bad ride, around 40 mph. Arrived and lines in by 1:30. Plan was to bottom fish and wait for the afternoon bite. Hooked up with every drop. Got freight trained every other drop. Bent hook, screaming drags, grunting fisherman. We pulled up the usual bottom fish, with a colorful trio of Strawberry grouper, B-liner, spanish hogfish. The reef donkeys started to wear us out, so it was time to troll.
Just as we started to troll, the wind picked up. Running eight lines was difficult. The center bird had to come in.
Slow trolling, first silver torpedo turned out to be a king. Lots of short strikes, slinger sized mahi. We put two in the box, lost five.
The seas were growing larger (4 by 4s), the food was running low, we decided it was time to head home. We left around 5 pm (usually fish until 6.30), and had a rough, wet ride home at 36 mph. Teeth rattled the last ten or so miles.
All in all, a fun day for July. Highlights had to be Jakes first Mahi and our boats first spanish hogfish.
Tight lines,
Jason
PS When is the wind going to stop howling? I remember when the ride home used to be smooth?.now we get beaten up both ways!
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