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Random Quote: LIFE IS SHORT FISH HARRRDDDDD.......
Sorry to hear about the troubles Bob, I'm sure things will turn around soon for you!!
Anyone done any fishing? Just got back from Jersey and was hoping to hear of all kinds of striper being caught and some offshore reports also!!
Saturday was the first time I had fished in a while, heard the striper fishing has been bad & the green fishing has been really good. We fished in the sbcc striper tourney, my buddy let me borrow his boat which was really nice of him. Went up the river and floated big gizzards and herring over points and creeks. Caught two fish around 10 pounds and that was it. Went down south towards river forks and had one of the big gizzards get nailed so we knew it was at least a teenager, the bait was probably 2 pounds. It ended up being 21 pounds but a good fish b/c heard nobody was catching. That was it for the day, the team that won caught a 34 and 25 pounder, pretty sick. We missed 2nd by like a pound and ended up in 4th.
Great job Grouper!!! I went out of Orange beach for tuna. we left the Dock at about 12:30 AM an got out about 4:00am. Caught 1 Blackfin at the first Rig we stopped at and when it got light out and the fish did not turn on we move to another . We were catching fish there from the first drop till 10:30 when they slowed down there. at that rig we left with 2 YFT (about 40# each) and 22 BFT (UP TO 22#). We quit keeping BFT at about 9:30 because we did not want any more. We went back to the first rig and in the next hour of fishing we finished out our limit of YFT caught a bunch more BFT and smaller YFT and a 6' shark. Quit fishing at 12:00 and were back to the dock around 3:00. I'll be getting some pictures soon hopefully I may need some help getting them posted.
How was the grouper bite Mike?
__________________ Sea Fox 236 CC Pro Series
250 Suzuki
In Lake Lanier
Sea Vee 340I
twin Yanmar 440hp
in Orange Beach, Al (GOM)
Man...that is awesome, I love catching tuna & also favorite fish to eat. I would like to drag my boat over there one day from PC, maybe we can tag team them.
Grouper, I am regularly looking for people to join me on my boat, instead of hauling your boat over, you can just ride out with me. I have plenty of room and most of the time only a couple people (if I can find that many). I did not realize haw hard it is to get people to go fishing!!!
__________________ Sea Fox 236 CC Pro Series
250 Suzuki
In Lake Lanier
Sea Vee 340I
twin Yanmar 440hp
in Orange Beach, Al (GOM)
I hear ya, especially when I go down to the coast with my whole family, I end up having no one to fish with. When we were in high school & college we would have walked on water just for the opportunity to fish anywhere with anybody. Now, it seems impossible to get a fishing trip together and we have boats and places to fish! Thx for the invite & would love to take you up on that. We should have an informal fishing tournament or something on the lake soon.
went fishing thurs and fri. went to an area not too far from 3x5. Only caught a few grouper, but killed the b-liners. Also did pretty good with the triggers. Got rocked up twice with big baits. TLD 30's with 100lb power pro and drag locked down. freight trained and could not stop them from getting back to the hole. Gary had 14 grouper on thurs between 15 and 20 lbs. pretty much same heading, but closer in than where I was. I guess I ran past the grouper. We did catch some big snappers to the West, and Gary said they let three go that all weighed 18-19 lbs.
Well, we're back from Keaton Beach and had a great time! I usually fish blue water and this was a major adjustment for me. We drove down Thursday evening, ( Reeldog, didn't see you) and pulled into Keaton Beach about 11:00 P.M. Launched the boats about 8:30 A.M. for some pre-fishing on Friday. Crew was Capt. Craig ( Craig's Marine Canvas), My son Zac (13 years old), and myself. Seas were flat as we cleared the inlet and worked our way out to 60' of water. Marked a few spots, and caught a few grouper ( most undersized). Kept fishing and finally caught the 1st keeper. 32" Gag, and morale is getting better. Could have sunk the boat with Black Sea Bass, Snapper, etc. Not what we were looking for!
Day 2, Tournament Day!
This is a tourney for the American Cancer Society, and all money was well spent! That's what you're suppose to say when you don't win! We left the docks at 5:00 A.M. and seas were a little sporty. Rain gear on, 30 miles here we come. Fished for 7 hrs.( weigh in closed at 5:00), and was 1 gag short of our limit. ( released plenty of fish 1/2" short).
16# Gag won the tourney, 14.81# was 2nd. Our largest was 11.5#
Learning to bottom fish this trip with someone who knows, was priceless. I would have been lost without him. We had a blast, Zac caught at least 40 fish! I'll definately go back. Now I need a Bluewater fix!! Here's a few pics from the weekend.
As is typical, my weekend was spent doing yard work while the rest of you guys were slaying them. I did release some undersized goldfish in our new pond in the back yard.
My brother did try crappie fishing off our dock Saturday night but didn't have any luck. He said things were looking good until a big otter came up and surfaced inside the boathouse. All the fish disappeared after that. Any body have any good suggestions on getting rid of an otter? It looks like it might be suffering from lead ingestion soon if we cannot find another way.
Mike, didn't know Craig was your fishing buddy. Craig helped me out with a little project a couple of years ago based on my brother's recommendation. Seems my brother Kerry, has known Craig for awhile.
We finally got the trailer bunks on the Whaler done...dropped it in the water at the Azalea Drive ramp on the Hooch...did the work in the parking lot...then took a little spin from there up to 400. Its shallow, and you have to be careful, but its beautiful. Imagine what this city would be like if we had a navigable river....
Anyway...I'm in negotiations on another GW...seller is out of the country at the moment but we aren't too far apart. We'll see what happens....
Brian - good luck on your negotiations. Hope you are back on the water on a regular basis soon.
Back in the early 90's I used to make the trip you describe on the 'Hooch several times a week. I had a 15' aluminum bass style boat with a 25 HP tiller steer motor. I would put in at the Azalea Drive ramp and run up the river. Generally I would run up to Island Ford and drift back down trying to catch trout. You had to pick your way around some shallow areas but it was great fun. My office was at 285 and 400 so I woud take the boat to work and fish the evenings during the spring and summer. During that time of year, the river provides a nice natural A/C. Even caught some fish.
Mike, I am going back this weekend... I should have a pretty good crew this weekend, How much do you want Mike? I gave away about 75# of cleaned Tuna steak Monday to our employees. Looks like the weather is going to be great!!! When are you going to bring the Cape Horn down? It has been none stop action jigging Blackfin lately with a few Yellowfin thrown in. We have been having a hit on almost every drop!
__________________ Sea Fox 236 CC Pro Series
250 Suzuki
In Lake Lanier
Sea Vee 340I
twin Yanmar 440hp
in Orange Beach, Al (GOM)
went fishing thurs and fri. went to an area not too far from 3x5. Only caught a few grouper, but killed the b-liners. Also did pretty good with the triggers. Got rocked up twice with big baits. TLD 30's with 100lb power pro and drag locked down. freight trained and could not stop them from getting back to the hole. Gary had 14 grouper on thurs between 15 and 20 lbs. pretty much same heading, but closer in than where I was. I guess I ran past the grouper. We did catch some big snappers to the West, and Gary said they let three go that all weighed 18-19 lbs.
That is cool...the last trip I went on they were all in 130', all the spots I hit in deep water had nothing on them. Might have to bring the big tiagras for that tournament this summer, that is a good sign though. Let me know how your projects are coming along for the gln. Trying to re-plan for the Bahamas trip, my cousin and wife can not go now, both their mom's were diagnosed with cancer, awful. Might be taking my kids this year now which will cost twice as much.
I'm fishing a tournament in new smyrna beach end of May, have you ever fished over there?
I was not lost at sea. I'm just a little slow on the uptake. Seems that when THT changed to new format they stopped sending emails to notify me that someone has posted. So there I am wondering why there has been no traffic on our Lake Lanier forum.
Finally, today, I go directly to the site and see that I have missed over a month of posts. So, of most concern was Bob's loss at the dock. Those SOBs. It's been 15 years for me and I have yet to be hit. I do, however, take all electronics off the boat every night just to be safe. Bob, not sure if you have towed your boat from your dock yet but I am always at the ready to give you a hand. Brian, hope you get your 25th or is it your 26th Grady. I'll be up to the lake today and stay the weekend if you want to spin by and say hello.
Harv
__________________
21' Seaway Seafarer / 115 HP Suzuki
21' Malibu Sunsetter/ 265 HP Mercruiser Inboard
Harv, good to hear from you. the docks sure look better with some water under them. I am going to try and get my boat over to the ramp (Tidwell) on Sunday. The boat will start and run at idle but starves for fuel over about 800 rpm. So I should be able to limp over. But thanks for the offer. Wave if you see us headed down the lake.
Harv, Good to hear from you! I've still got the coordinates for your dock, gonna try to get on the lake soon. I'll swing by and see if anyone is around.
Reeldog, How was the tuna trip this weekend? I'm trying to put together a rig trip with friends. I'll definately stay in touch and let you know when the Cape will be heading out to your waters!
Trip was great!! My dad and brother cam this trip along, and the guy from last trip joined me again. We ended up with 5 YFT and who know how many BFT. We were done fishing for Tuna by 9:15 and went rig hoping on the way in. Caught our limit of AJs, a scamp and some other assorted bottom fish. I had forgotten to include the fact that I broke a fishing rod on the first Yellowfin of the day. It was a 130# class rod with full roller eyes. I was using 60# leader and as soon as the fish hit and I took it out of free spool; "snap!" I did get that Fish in (45# YFT) with just the reel on the but of the rod. I am going today to get my money back from BPS and will never buy any of their house brand rods or reels again. This was one of the higher quality $300 rods, I would not expect it to break the first fish I catch on it... I have also had problems with a few of their house brand reels in the past. Hope to see you down soon.
__________________ Sea Fox 236 CC Pro Series
250 Suzuki
In Lake Lanier
Sea Vee 340I
twin Yanmar 440hp
in Orange Beach, Al (GOM)
stripers 
