WB Grouper, surprise 2/2/09

[KeepItReel]

Had a few hours to make it out on the water today. I've been busy with my 3 week old son named Fisher. Ocean was flat. Decided to do some recon work and check out some new bottom. I haven't had much luck with jigging ever..... so today I decided to commit. Grabbed the Saragosa 18000 and the jig bag. Couldn't find a mate, but I kind of wanted some time alone anyway. Left the inlet at noon. Arrived at the first stop 30 miles out in 90 feet in no time. Took awhile to find it, but eventually found the little hump with the big red blobs on it. First drop barely hits bottom and I bring up a 32'' gag. Hey maybe these jigs actually work. Second drop....24'' red. 3rd drop 25'' gag. So now I've been fishing 15 minutes and have 3 keepers. I release the smaller gag and he must have told his buddies since that would be the last bite at that spot. I hit a few other new spots and identified some good places to try another day. But nothing wanted to bite Released a pinkie, sea bass, and grunt miss a few bites, but couldn't land more grouper. Moved to a little crevice about 40 miles out that usually holds fish. Well I got rocked like I've never been rocked. Eventually get everything back, including the jig, and the leader is chafed 15 feet from the hook. This guy had me good. Had to retie the leader and jig and after drifting way off the spot by now I look up to see a beautiful little ledge on the sounder. Drop the jig down and it gets hammered. This boy tries to rock me but the drag is locked, he isn't going anywhere, hopefully the knots hold. It fought like a big grouper at first, then started running some, shaking its head, I'm thinking jack....more big tail beats...must be a grouper....please be a grouper....get a look 30 feet down, fish is five feet long, has brown sides......no copper sides.....its a redfish. 45'' redfish on a butterfly jig 39 miles off the beach....would have been a nice photo if I had a camera. Ran home at 42 mph. The only jig I used all day was a 112 g shimano flatside in squid glow.
Great day. I now believe in the jig.

[Jesse Lockowitz]

cool report, nice pic w/ the lil guy next to the fish!




Jesse

[Sea Draggin]

I haven't had much luck with jigging ever..... so today I decided to commit.

I now believe in the jig.

Same story, over and over. Working the shows, you would not believe how many people have said almost the same things as you did. Awesome and thanks for the pic.

The other story that was often repeated was the jigging saved the day in the last hour story.

[Joey Herring]

Good job!!! Had a buddy catch a 40 inch red trolling a horse hoo on a planner 2 weeks ago blue finning!!

[shoefish]

Great report and pic- some day little Fisher is going to be able to look back at that pic and pinpoint the exact time and date that he was doomed to a life of trying to outsmart the scaly ones Thanks for sharing!

[paul708]

nice report.
nice redfish on a jig. congrats

[themadgaffler]

nicely done. nothing like a good solo trip every now and then.

[di hrd]

Nice report. Way to stick to it. It is often much harder to commit to jigging it someone else is catching on something else right beside you.

I would have guessed cobia. It's time for them to be in that range also.

[KeepItReel]

DiHard, That's been my problem. We usually anchor and fish dead and live bait. The times I have jigged in the past I've got a grunt on the jig while my buddy is doubled over on a big grouper on live bait. Needless to say, the jigging doesn't last long. I liked the aspect of not anchoring today. I would imagine that it is hard to stay on the spot if it's rough.

[WhiteLakeBuc]

DiHard, That's been my problem. We usually anchor and fish dead and live bait. The times I have jigged in the past I've got a grunt on the jig while my buddy is doubled over on a big grouper on live bait. Needless to say, the jigging doesn't last long. I liked the aspect of not anchoring today. I would imagine that it is hard to stay on the spot if it's rough.

Awesome catch!

Jigging is about staying mobile and fishing many different spots. The name of the game is catching the active fish on a spot and moving on! Although you can pound a spot and get a few more reaction bites, staying mobile is key. To this day, I don't think I have ever jigged from an anchored position.

Rough - If you can get out 40 miles to fish, then it isn't too rough to drift and jig. Utilize the back troll technique with your boat to slow and control your drift.

Congrats on the fine catch and success!!!!!