Well ya'll, momma said I could use the income tax money to buy me a boat. So, I bought a buddy's Hydra Sport. It's a center console 17' boat with a 70hp Evinrude. We got her all cleaned up this past week and decided to go fishing this morning.
And, wouldn't ya know it. One of the biggest, and most windy fronts of the spring happened to come in this morning. Winds 25-35mph and cold coming down. Being the die hard fisherpeople that we are, me, momma and the kiddo's decided to brave the weather and waves to try and catch a fish. And, boy did we catch a fish!!
We figured the only safe place to put in and try to fish would be the Galveston Yacht Basin. So, we headed over to Galveston. Smitty's bait camp was open and we got some finger mullet, squid and shrimp there. Loaded up some ice and off we went to the ramp. Only one problem. I forgot the key to the boat!! Ooooooops! Oh well, momma and the kiddo's got another 1hr of sleep as we went back to the house and got the key.
We got to the ramp and put her in with the wind a whipping. Headed out the marina and the waves coming in from the Seawolf area were just huge, 3-4' monsters. So, we cut across to the left and rode along the North shoreline of the channel. I know a good place to set up for some bull reds or drum. Me and my buddies have caught many at this spot. It's well protected so we thought we'd give it a try.
We pulled up to within about 50yrds of shore and dropped the anchor. I let her drift back so we could throw our rods over into the hole and channel. It was a little slow and after about thirty minutes I decided to get up and get a drink and something to eat. I put my rod in a rod holder up front. Melissa and the kids were fishing at the back of the boat.
Wouldn't ya know it, about the time I'm reaching into the cooler for a drink I look over and my rod is bent double! Holy cow! I thought it was going to break With the boat rocking and rolling I almost break my neck trying to get over to the rod and it's fish on This big ole fish was headed for the channel, and momma and the kids's lines. Uh oh!!! Real in the lines! Real in the lines! Momma and the kiddo's were frantically reeling in lines. And my fish was headed to the back of the boat and the channel. Whew, they got them out of the way just in time. Then we played musical chairs as me and the fish went around the back of the boat and to one side and another. Finally I got it up to the side of the boat. Get the net momma! Momma slid that net under the fish just like a pro. The net was barely big enough. But the fish was mine!
Turned out to be a 37inch bull red. I hadn't used my redfish tag yet. So, I used it on this nice fish. It weighted 17lbs. It's the biggest redfish I've ever caught and was the first fish on the maiden voyage of our new to us fishing boat.
We only stayed out for about thirty more minutes cause it was getting more windy and a lot colder out there. On the way back in we had it a bit rough. The wind and the waves were bigger. We all got pretty wet on the way in. But, it was all worth it to go fishing with momma and the kiddo's
Here's a few pics of me, the fish, and my boys. BTW, we were using finger mullet for bait, on circle hooks, fished on the bottom, with a Carolina rig and a long 40lb Berkley Big Game leader.
![[Linked Image]](http://s716.photobucket.com/user/BrianNesbit/media/fishing%20pics%202%20003_zpsjlygjfqx.jpg.html)
Nice Fish Too!!!!