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MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2008
Reel Returns with Grouper
By Kwite Outta Line
NC Waterman
NEW RIVER INLET - I had the pleasure of fishing with two of my friends last Wednesday, Scott Erickson and Taylor Perdue. We had intentions of fishing for pelagics in the morning and bottom dwellers in the afternoon. The forecast looked like we would have decent weather for the day. We would be fishing aboard the REEL RETURN today. This is Taylor’s 26 Cobia with twin four strokes. After meeting at the ramp just before 6 we headed out of New River to some nice structure about 25 miles off the beach. The forecast was calling for 2-3 footers but at a 5 second period. This caused the ride out to be a little bumpy.
We reached our location and put a spread out of assorted chuggers, islanders, and cedar plugs. Most of the baits also had ballyhoo on them as well. The action seemed to start out great, with multiple strikes and knockdowns. One of the first kings we caught hit a chugger in the prop wash and came straight out of the water. It must have gone 15 feet in the air with the chugger in his mouth. We were hoping for some dolphin, but only ended up with small kings and one Spanish. This seemed to be the same routine for the next three hours. After our fill of small kings we decided to head to the bottom. After finding a nice piece of live bottom and a perfect anchoring job by Scott we began to fish.
After properly getting bait ready and tying on after school specials Scott came up with the first gag. We then proceeded to get 5 more gags in the next 30 minutes. We were on a great bite. One of the gags we caught hit like an AJ. The gag had nailed the jig way before it hit the bottom. At one point Scott was hooked up with a good fish and the albright knot failed. Five minutes later I pulled up the gag which had his jig and fluorocarbon still attached. I have never seen this happen before, but that just shows how strong the bite was. Scott also managed to pull up a sand tiger and get his jig back. Being well before noon and the water conditions improving, we decided to run out for some reds.
Running another 20 miles or so off shore we searched for some good looking bottom. After about 30 minutes and dropping the anchor 3 times we finally found the bottom we were looking for. Scott drops down an after school special and gets nailed by a red. Those reds hit extremely hard for how big they are. We proceeded to pick away at the reds for the next hour. We also managed to catch a few undersized scamps and some nice gags. Already having our limit of gags we released those few for another day. With a box full of grouper we decided to run for the hill.
There is nothing like a nice day of fishing with good friends!!! Thanks to Taylor for putting us on the fish and filling the box.
Tanner Gray
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