First trip of the year 4/17 for Tile. Gear all set, rigging completed. Going on a different head boat out of Pt. Pleasant this year. I'm sure @GreenFan15J has heard of the Gambler as it is primarily a tuna boat. Got 4 other planned trips for '25 and one booked for '26. Will be fishing The Gulf twice and the local canyons twice. Will squeeze in a few inshore trips basically to hang with the wife on a meat hunt for the usual suspects. Tight Lines!!!
We scrapped plans last night to head offshore today. Thankfully so.... ocean's flat as a lake, but it's storming/raining its ass off.
You guys ever use this Penn Line Spooler? DOes it provide enough tension? https://www.amazon.com/Penn-HD-Line-Winder-Black/dp/B07JDFPZX2
It weighs 7lbs. that should provide pretty good base weight.I'm not so sure about the line tension but there's a workaround I'm sure.
First trip of '25 coming up next Thursday. Headed to the canyon for some Goldens. Taking my new Pulley Ridge gear with me on a trail run as The Gambler is a head boat that closely resembles the American Patriot just not as big. Will be bringing my Pulley gear just to make sure I'm good for the October trip. Tight Lines!!
So far, all the weather models are looking good for 4/17-18. Gear is all set and I start packing today for Tile trip 1 of 4 for '25. Sea Bass season opens 5/19 so I'll be on that marathon as well. When the bonita return, I'll be jigging for them and blues as they both make great baits for deep dropping. Deep drop rig: 80lb mono topshot, 7/0 offset circle hooks, 6-18" branch lines depending on how many tangles happen. 2-4lb lead attached via swivel. Everything is crimped. Lets go fishin!!!
6 hooks?!? settle down ace btw, I ended up getting a 7' Proteus MH for that BGMQ 14000... havent used either yet.
Just back from Grand Cayman. 3 weeks and only got out twice. First trip on a 52 Viking with Get Bent charters. Hooked 2 Wahoo on a Pink Nomad DTX. Boated one. Found the Mahi on an FAD. Started to boat them when a squall blew in horizontal rain no visibility. Drifted for tuna but no love. Made Wahoo Ceviche. Later, Wahoo with onions and peppers. Cooked the Mahi along with some Shrimp Curry so good. Second trip back at the FAD collected 7 Mahi mostly chickens. Drifted for Wahoo had one circling the boat for 20 minutes eating every chunk we threw at him but not interested din the hook baits. We were using 50lb Titanium leaders. I wanted to switch to Fluro leaders but my captain said we would get bit off and scare away the wahoo. Fucking smart fish. Deep dropped for snappers caught 2 Queens and 3 Popeyes. Last shot was deep dropping for Sword but no love. Saw Guy Harvey free diving at the FAD. Sauteed the snapper in olive oil with salt & pepper. Fried the balance in a Beer Batter. We used most of the Mahi for chunk bait so I cooked up the balance as Fish Tacos. Diving was brilliant. Did 8-2 tank dives one with my daughter saw turtles, spotted eagle rays, Horse Eyed Jacks, Ciero Mackerels, Barracudas, Southern rays, Lobsters, Crabs, etc. Great trip, wish somebody would have turned off the fan.
6" branch lines.. I usually rig branch lines in 6", 12" and 18" sizes. I use them depending on how many rods are in the water nearby. The shorter the branch, less tangles but harder to keep bait on the bottom. Long branch lines means more hookups but again depending on how many rods, more tangles.
wind won't stop blowing here in FL (unless it's a day I cant get out of work)... needed a livebait for that wahoo. What size DTX did it eat? I have a pink 165 that always gets smashed by something, but no wahoo yet.... Hopefully offshore this sunday
mailman just dropped off a pair of these guys... (blue and pink) they look great.. hopefully the mahi and sailfish agree https://evolutionlures.com/products/flyboy-6-broadwing
Wow looks nice. Let me know how they do. Have the Nomad Flying Fish lures 5.5" and 8". Broke the wings never had a bite.
we'll see....while definitely not as fancy they cost 1/4 the nomads. at $12 if they catch fish without ballyhoo they'll pay for themselves rigged em up this afternoon...
