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Post by Laxcoach on Jul 11, 2023 15:50:47 GMT -5
Ran out around 9:30am by myself. My MOB+ decided to shut down the engine about 2 miles out. The FOB wouldn’t reconnect. Decision time: bypass it while alone running out 15+ miles or go home?
I bypassed the MOB+ and decided to be extra careful when leaning out to the outriggers.
I ran and ran. I got to 20 miles and didn’t see a single weed. I decided I was already in for $ of gas, might as well keep running.
Around 23 miles out I spot 30 birds circling and diving. Hallelujah. It’s a beautiful weed line. And it was clean. No scattered weeds around it. Both north and south there are birds grouped up feeding.
Got a double hookup in 5 minutes, and it never slowed down. I probably caught 15 fish, throwing back anything under 23”. I kept 8, including two nice tall little bulls one 26” and one 28”. They are much heavier than the cows.
Anyway, I had at least 3 double hookups and 1 triple. It was the best dolphin day of the summer for me. The dolphin were so thick in one spot, that the water looked green. The cool thing was that the birds were swooping down and splashing the water above them - not feeding. It was almost like “wake up, we are hungry.”
I could have stayed and got to my limit. But I caught the last bull at noon, and decided it was time to get back and work.
I would like to get some opinions: who prefers ballyhoo and who prefers lures when trolling? I’ve switched to almost exclusively lures and I can’t tell a difference in the hit rates. Plus it’s way easier to troll in scattered weeds.
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mgd
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by mgd on Jul 11, 2023 17:59:29 GMT -5
We came upon that line and you We went north Kept 4 that didn’t need measured and one 19” Jack Biggest I’ve seen Also had a decent fish get whacked probably by big cuda Lots of action Trolled it north for 8 miles then turned around About 20 min later long hoo gets slammed and after about 15 min nice 20# cow Wrapped it up and headed home Attachments:
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tank85
Junior Member
Posts: 25
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Post by tank85 on Jul 11, 2023 18:02:31 GMT -5
I am not questioning you, this is an honest question. I thought the limit was five per person. I only ask because I’ve been out by myself and only kept 5 because I’ve been getting checked every other time I’ve been out.
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tank85
Junior Member
Posts: 25
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Post by tank85 on Jul 11, 2023 18:02:52 GMT -5
Also congrats on the catches.
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mgd
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by mgd on Jul 11, 2023 18:22:35 GMT -5
I am not questioning you, this is an honest question. I thought the limit was five per person. I only ask because I’ve been out by myself and only kept 5 because I’ve been getting checked every other time I’ve been out. In state waters it’s 5
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Post by Laxcoach on Jul 11, 2023 22:15:39 GMT -5
I am not questioning you, this is an honest question. I thought the limit was five per person. I only ask because I’ve been out by myself and only kept 5 because I’ve been getting checked every other time I’ve been out. It’s 10 in federal waters with a max of 54 per vessel (odd number). I make sure to have my Simrad route tracking on just in case FWC has questions. Also, when I pack it in, I stow all my gear and run hard to the inlet. There is no question on the Simrad that I may have been fishing in state waters. I’ve never heard of anyone having an issue.
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Post by Laxcoach on Jul 11, 2023 22:24:56 GMT -5
We came upon that line and you We went north Kept 4 that didn’t need measured and one 19” Jack Biggest I’ve seen Also had a decent fish get whacked probably by big cuda Lots of action Trolled it north for 8 miles then turned around About 20 min later long hoo gets slammed and after about 15 min nice 20# cow Wrapped it up and headed home Was that you that got out there somewhere between 11 and 11:30? I was probably even with boca by then. I’m in a 22’ center console that is Bahamas blue on the top half of the sides. I couldn’t tell how many people were in the only other boat I saw out there. Someone started out just north of me. They were stationary for a bit, then headed north. that’s a hell of a fish. Congrats
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Post by plastered on Jul 12, 2023 4:25:38 GMT -5
Nice to see some decent size fish being caught.Way to go.
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Post by plastered on Jul 12, 2023 4:51:35 GMT -5
Laxcoach I troll 7 lines 4 with hoos 3 lures while fighting a fish the other ballyhoo tend to get hit .
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mgd
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by mgd on Jul 12, 2023 9:51:33 GMT -5
Finding this in the cows belly makes ya want to hook up a throwback when in a school and toss it way out Attachments:
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Post by Laxcoach on Jul 12, 2023 10:28:37 GMT -5
Finding this in the cows belly makes ya want to hook up a throwback when in a school and toss it way out That reminds me. One of the keepers I caught spooled line hard for 2 seconds. I thought it was going to be big. When it came in, it was whole, but looked like this. It doesn't look particularly toothy to me. And what is kind of amazing is that whatever tried to eat it came from in front of it. Attachments:
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Post by conchydong on Jul 12, 2023 14:30:11 GMT -5
Looks like a billfish (Marlin) slash.
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