32, 38, 47 lb grouper out of HI

di hrd · 07-27-2008, 04:12 PM

Had the extreme pleasure of fishing with Patrick Caton aboard The Little Clam out of HI yesterday. I had got a call from my friend David from Va Beach. He was going with a group of his boys and asked if I wanted to come up from Wilmington and ride along. I'm there!

The plan was to go the deep and look for snowy and goldens first, come inshore and look for Americans and gags. I was the only dropping jigs. On our first drop in 750' I hooked a good one on a 550g Glow Jager jig. The fish ended up being the largest of the day at 47 lbs. Our second drop I got a 32 lber on a 450 Jinkster jig. My boy David finished out the boat limit with his personal best 38 lber. The rest of the catch was snowys to 15 lbs blueline tiles to 8 lbs and one small yellowedge.

From there we came inshore and fished a couple spots that were covered up in Aj's. Everyone on board hooked up. David switched over to jigs and landed his personal best Aj around 45 lbs. I was using Yen Haw jigs. They were coming up and taking them 10' under the boat. A dive boat said they had seen some African Pompano but we couldn't get to them for all the jacks.

I was up for 42 hours straight and would do it again today. It was a fun one.

Here are some pictures.

47

32

38

group shot

Sea Draggin · 07-27-2008, 04:39 PM

Your a freaking Rock Star! Very nice groupers.

HOLWACHAGOT · 07-27-2008, 04:42 PM

Pretty work.
Holwachagot

masonboro · 07-27-2008, 07:50 PM

Good Job Steve!!!!

Wetspotnz · 07-27-2008, 07:58 PM

Some great looking fish there and pleanty of happy families and friends more than eager for a feed of some of the best eating fish around - well done.

paul708 · 07-27-2008, 08:12 PM

ABSOULTLY FANTASTIC
what a great trip, man they are some nice looking fish
thanks for posting that report and the pics with the OTI

Fishin-N-Wishin · 07-27-2008, 08:47 PM

Some real nice grouper you have there! Great catch!

clt_capt · 07-27-2008, 08:54 PM

Some serious pullage there. Nice work

spineyman · 07-28-2008, 06:15 PM

di hrd: I have been jigging for grouper for a while now and am still having a time catching grouper on butterfly style jigs. I have loaded the boat many times with leadhead jigs but catching grouper on butterfly has been scarce. What is the secret to your success. I am fishing in the Gulf in NW Florida.

Sea Draggin · 07-28-2008, 08:02 PM

I can tell you that the jig needs to make contact with the bottom on every drop for us. Its basically what referred to as a slow jig. Lift up, let it down trying to maintain contact with the jig and it has to bump at the bottom of the drop. If it doesn't make contact, let out a few feet. My experience was that even if it was only a few feet off the bottom, no bites.

07-27-2008, 04:39 PM	#2
Sea Draggin www.easterntackle.com Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 5,633 Credits: 9,452.7 Best Catch: The next bite on a jig.	Your a freaking Rock Star! Very nice groupers. __________________ . 30% OFF END OF SEASON SALE <----CLICK.................................Jigging Videos

07-27-2008, 07:58 PM	#5
Wetspotnz Yep, your gonna need stitches Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Auckland New Zealand Posts: 89 Credits: 1,771.3 Boat: 2006 2352 Trophy Home Port: Auckland & Tutukaka Best Catch: 400lb Black Marlin Occupation: Finance Company Director	Grouper Some great looking fish there and pleanty of happy families and friends more than eager for a feed of some of the best eating fish around - well done.

07-27-2008, 08:47 PM	#7
Fishin-N-Wishin Bite me Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: West Coast FLA Posts: 240 Credits: 1,841.7 Boat: 26' Pursuit Home Port: Hernando Beach/Hudson Best Catch: That depends...	Very Nice Some real nice grouper you have there! Great catch!

07-28-2008, 08:02 PM	#10
Sea Draggin www.easterntackle.com Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 5,633 Credits: 9,452.7 Best Catch: The next bite on a jig.	I can tell you that the jig needs to make contact with the bottom on every drop for us. Its basically what referred to as a slow jig. Lift up, let it down trying to maintain contact with the jig and it has to bump at the bottom of the drop. If it doesn't make contact, let out a few feet. My experience was that even if it was only a few feet off the bottom, no bites. __________________ . 30% OFF END OF SEASON SALE <----CLICK.................................Jigging Videos

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07-27-2008, 04:42 PM	#3
HOLWACHAGOT DON'T BE A BASSHOLE! Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,492 Credits: 5,692.2 Boat: REEL WAKE	Pretty work. Holwachagot

07-27-2008, 07:50 PM	#4
masonboro I love my rigging bucket Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Junction of the Monkey Posts: 105 Credits: 1,730.4 Home Port: Masonboro Boatyard, Whiskey Creek	Good Job Steve!!!!

07-27-2008, 08:54 PM	#8
clt_capt If Ignorance is bliss, Why aren't more people happy? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Raleigh, MHC Posts: 5,943 Credits: 8,625.9 Boat: Luhrs 36 Home Port: MHC Occupation: Supporting my Tackle habit	Some serious pullage there. Nice work

07-28-2008, 06:15 PM	#9
spineyman Anthony's Ark is a blowboater Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fishing out of Destin Posts: 264 Credits: 2,040.0	di hrd: I have been jigging for grouper for a while now and am still having a time catching grouper on butterfly style jigs. I have loaded the boat many times with leadhead jigs but catching grouper on butterfly has been scarce. What is the secret to your success. I am fishing in the Gulf in NW Florida.