PELAGIC PIRATE OFFSHORE GOM GOUPER /MARLIN TRIP 8-18

[TITLEWAVE]

Left the pass late Saturday morning with the kids for a little bottom bumping action. After stocking up on ice and Fuel Friday night for the early start, we fell prey to a leaking coolant hose just before leaving the pass. Luckily, we diagnose and head back to the marina for parts after the alarm goes off and John's head-up awareness. After John helps me put together a quick fix, we test out the repair and it look good. So we get out, albeit a late start.
To try and warm up before the bottom fishing, we deploy a couple trolling lures and score a giant Kingfish. Jamie reels in his first Kingfish ever. He's on the board.
When we finally arrive at the spot there is no action. On to the next, still no action. Super hot conditions so we all decide to jump into the glass-flat gulf to cool off. We move West for better action and find it. Instant bites and everyone is hooked up. By mid-afternoon we've got a fish box full of Red Grouper, Scamp, and a B-Liner. Released almost a dozen nice snapper and three sharks in the process. Everybody is beat so we decide to try for a little trolling action and swing out a little deeper before heading in.
Within about 20 minutes we score a Wahoo. John steps out on the swim platform to gaff the fish and he gets slashed by the Wahoo...and stuck with the giant stainless steel hook. Luckily, the hook did more damage than the Wahoos' teeth and he walked away bloody, but not in need of serious treatment.
Not long after the baits go back in the water and the long rigger goes off. This time we look back and see a bill slashing across the top of the water...and it's got big shoulders! We're on with a blue marlin, and this one is buttoned up good. It puts on a big show, sounds, and then comes up grey-hounding several times next to the boat. Then it dumps the spool again so we are back to work backing down on the fish. John hooks me up by handling the boat beautifully in the process and we work together to keep the line tight.
After about a 30 minute fight we land a blue marlin in 300 feet of water. All the kids huddle in the tower to watch the whole show. Incredible way to finish the day after a nearly disastrous start. Jamie scores his first Kingfish, Wahoo, Red Grouper, and Scamp ever. John goes home with a nice gash in his shin, but a huge smile on his face. Great trip, and what meant the most is that the boys were all on board to see it go down.

[Bogart]

summer fun no dought you wore those boys out...