It was an epic trip to say the least...
We battled 4-5ft seas and 10-15knot winds and 115degree heat indext, to ride out and try for some Big GOM Amberjacks, and Warsaw Grouper. It was a bumpy ride....VERY BUMPY RIDE. Once we got out of the freeport jetties, we took a look around, and there was not a single boat out there. I don't think any captain in his right mind would have agreed to take his clients out as far as we wanted to go in those conditions, that day. MAD PROPS TO CAPTAIN COBY AND DECKHAND JOHN of COWBOY CHARTERS, for braving the seas and taking us out as far as they did. There was a little chumming involved on the ride out, and I'll admit, I was one of them . The seas were a bit more forgiving once we reached our stomping grounds!
Once we did make it out to the rig (about 70-80 miles out of freeport), KrazyQ and WilsonB are hooked up on the first or second drop. KrazyQ hooks up to a very nice Horse Eye Jack, and WilsonB, a very nice keeper Amberjack! I have a feeling it's going to be a good day! I managed to catch an Almaco Jack and an undersized AJ on back to back drops.
Some of us started feeling the effects of heat exhaustion and mild seasickness, and have to take a short break. Gary(Longgar), Baosabi, WilsonB, and Duke battled the heat and seas like Champs!!! They went at it non stop. Duke hooked up to a couple a very large UFO's that broke off on rig legs. He battled adversity all day long, but toughed it out, and never stopped fishing! Gary(Longgar) and Baosabi were the MVP's for the day. They landed multiple AJ's up to 50-60lbs and Bao won the big fish pot with a 60-70lb Warsaw on a Diamond Jig!!
We were ready to go home, and I made the final drop to try and hook up with a big AJ or Warsaw of my own. I hit bottom and take two cranks off the bottom.....BOOOM! My rod doubles over and my reel is going apeshit! YESSS!! Finally! Redemption!! Well, on the first run, the fish dumps about half my spool and doesn't slow down! I knew then, that it was not an AJ or Grouper. SHARK!! BIIIG SHARK!! Damn thing had me railed for a good 30mins, and we ended up passing the rod down to 4 different guys before we landed IT... About a 200lb 8ft long Hammer Head!! By far the biggest fish I have caught on rod n reel. Best of all, I caught him on a spinning outfit, my Smith AMJ52EX and Shimano Saragosa 18K! What a battle!
Total death toll:
12 Amberjacks up to 50-60lbs. Kept 5
8 almaco jacks
1 Warsaw Grouper @60lbs
1 Horse Eye Jack
1 3lb beeliner
1 scamp grouper
2 kingfish
1 200lb, 8ft long hammerhead shark, on spining tackle.
And Gary(Longgar) caught 1 Dolphin on diamond jig!!
Stay tuned for the video! Working on it right now.....ETA: 1 hr...
