More APs and Cobia vertical jigging 2/21

[di hrd]

Todays crew was three "die hard" fishermen form Va Beach. David, Bill and Jack.

After our last catch of AP and Cobia, I had many request for information on this fishery. These boys were the first to "take the class".

The seas were better than expected with the forecast NE moving SE and increasing 12-16 by 4pm. It never got above 5kts all day.

The very first drop we bowed up a quad. Me and David on the port and Jack and Bill on the starboard. Jacks for me and David and a pompano for Bill, White Trevally for Jack. It didn't take Jack long to get his AP along with several AJs and two more Trevally. David got his AP after many AJs and one massive shark that he brought to leader after a 30 min fight.

Two more cobia were taken on the jig when Jack and Bill doubled up on them shortly after the shark fight. Jack's went around 25 and Bill's was 44.

After the fill was had of that we went looking for some new spots. We ran over a giant fish mark in 180', turned and dropped on it. We hooked several small AJs with a couple getting sharked before the whole school came up to the top. There were hundreds of jacks busting the surface on jigs ripped through the crowd. Leaving that spot we stopped on a much more modest mark and Bill hooked the biggest AJ of the day. 100lb class, 54"FL 58"TL. On the same spot Jack caught a cool fish that is some relative of a Hogfish... just not the colors of the standard ones. Here are some pictures of the day.

First drop of the day. AP and White Trevally



David's AP



Biggest AP was Jack's 28lb



Twin APs



Double hook up Cobia



My first WT.



Bill's biggest AJ to date.




Jack's sub-species hogfish.

[Sea Draggin]

After our last catch of AP and Cobia, I had many request for information on this fishery. These boys were the first to "take the class".

A word of warning....if your going to take "the class," eat your wheaties boys, because your arms will hurt for 3 days after from cranking on fish. You will learn more in one day jigging with Dihrd, than a whole summer of trying to figure it out for yourself. I would highly recommend it.

Steve, Pretty sure that fish is a mature Spanish Hogfish, in a very dark mottled color phase.

[blueoceaneyez]

Y'all got it goin on.. I want to fish with you guys on them there spots one day!!

[di hrd]

Jim, that was the ID I was leaning to also. Cool little fish. He is going to have it mounted.

[gordy]

Awesome trip Steve... I won't soon forget it. Besides my arms won't let me. I'm feeling that AJ today.
Good call on the Spanish hog, that looks like him.
Can't believe you didn't post the best pic....lunch break...Dihrd style!

[controlled chaos]

pretty sick day!!! a rough one for that AJ though!!!

[Nauti Natured]

Awesome trip Steve... I won't soon forget it. Besides my arms won't let me. I'm feeling that AJ today.
Good call on the Spanish hog, that looks like him.
Can't believe you didn't post the best pic....lunch break...Dihrd style!

That is one of the best pics I have seen to date on this site. Love it.

By the way ... that is one MASSIVE reef donkey!!!

[Ponce]

Great report as usual, way to wear them out. I like that lunch picture as well.

[di hrd]

[QUOTE=gordy;499084]Awesome trip Steve... I won't soon forget it. Besides my arms won't let me. I'm feeling that AJ today.
Good call on the Spanish hog, that looks like him.
Can't believe you didn't post the best pic....lunch break...Dihrd style!


Man! I am trying to develop a good reputation on here. Pictures like that don't help!

Seriously though, I couldn't resist. Like a AJ flavored watermelon.

[masonboro]

Excellent report Steve!! I would sure like to try a piece of that Spanish Hognose!