Lines in around 130’, looking for a hoo. Trolled south of R-8, then east, then north. Lots of bait, a five pack of small sails(no takers) and a school of mahi deep(no takers). Finally found a hoo in 165’ as we worked the last area before the bottom dropping. Got him in the box(35#). Got sharked up a bit in 200’ and moved 1/4 mile to another spot. A hoo swam up to the boat and we fed it chunks and 2 rigs on 80# flouro. It wouldn’t touch anything with wire on it. Popped it off both times on the flouro and went back to bottom fishing after we tried in vain for a 1/2 hour to hook the hoo. This is when it got good. PJ sticks a 25# ARS in the box and Bad Apple follows it up with a high teens scamp. I yank a 12# red grouper in followed by a 10#scamp of my own. Bad Apple then scored a high teens gag and I landed its twin on the last pinner. Throw a couple triggers on top and it was time to go. We borrowed a few bags of ice from Rat-L-Trap(thank you) and headed in with with 100 pounds of meat and only a few fish to clean. Perfect day on the lake and good eats for the next few days.
Just curious, did you say the hoo you saw broke off 2 rigs, ie, you hooked it, broke it off, then it came back and bit again? Not doubting you, just didn’t realize they’d do that.
Just curious, did you say the hoo you saw broke off 2 rigs, ie, you hooked it, broke it off, then it came back and bit again? Not doubting you, just didn’t realize they’d do that.
Yes, the hoo was floating with us while we were drifting. We fed him ballyhoo and pinkie chunks as we franticly rigged something up. The only hooked chunks he ate were on flouro(2 times). Their teeth are so sharp he probably never felt the hook, hence, we had multiple shots that didn’t stick. It was a first for me.
we managed a wahoo last summer that had a shiny red/black ilander in him complete with a sharp mustad 8/0 hook. definitely the highlight of the day, when do you ever get tackle back?
