Back to the Grind Vol. 1....

[Capt_John]

Now that I've left the TCI, I've decided to keep my fishing reports up to date. But now things are a bit different. After looking at some other jobs, I've decided to go back to commercial fishing for the rest of the winter at least and possibly through the rest of the year. I got up with my good friend Joe Hifko who I've commercial grouper fished with for the past 12 years off and on. I worked for him full time for several years growing up and I'd always get a day or two in with him when I'd come back home from wherever I was fishing since then. It's definately not the caribbean. And as the pics show, no where near as warm. But it's damn nice to get back to some straight up fish killin'. We're gonna hit them hard until they close the grouper fishing in Jan. I'm sure we'll hassle a tuna or two in between as well. The fishing has been pretty good the past few trips. We fished Wed. amd today with pretty good success. We leave the dock about 7:00 and fish until about 3:00 each day trying to catch as many gags as we can. We've been averaging 3 - 4 boxes of grouper each trip. Today we even had Kilsong ride along with us. He was wanting to see if his Jigging master rods could hold up to the inshore gags and try out some new tackle that he sells in his shop. Things definately worked out for him today. Here's some pics from the last two days and we'll be out again everyday the weather will allow us next week, so hopefully more reports are coming soon.

[swell rider]

Glad to see you got a good load of Gag's John. Latest rumor I heard from the guys in florida is there going to be proposing closing all groundfish inside 40nm in 2010. I think it's time for me to head back to Alaska to work...Ken

[dunn6253]

Good luck Capt. John, looking forward to more of your reports in the future.

[gottaflylee]

Great report John, looking forward to more...
Was that you inside that hood...hard to tell, use to seeing you in short sleevs...
Welcome home Bro, nice to talk to you the other night...

[Custom Canvas]

Awsome Catch!

What do those grouper bring in per lb?

Glad to see your doing well John and welcome home!

[Jared D]

Yikes. Thats a whole lot of gag!
What is the method you use to catch them? I see sardines in the background, and cut bluefish.

Swellrider... PLEASE tell me thats a joke. All bottomfish closed? I am in Florida, and havent heard that yet, but I will definately put my ear to the tracks now. We HAVE to all get together and stop this!

[Robja]

Nice catch John. I would say ya'll more than paid for the fuel on that trip.

[clt_capt]

Great report - Nice to see you on the fish. Thanks for sharing your world.

[Capt_John]

Yikes. Thats a whole lot of gag!
What is the method you use to catch them? I see sardines in the background, and cut bluefish.

Swellrider... PLEASE tell me thats a joke. All bottomfish closed? I am in Florida, and havent heard that yet, but I will definately put my ear to the tracks now. We HAVE to all get together and stop this!

We use Precision electric reels to catch the fish, but we hand crank sometimes also. The main bait we use is spanish sardines, but frozen menhaden and bluefish cut in chunks has been working good too.

[WAHOONBOX]

GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK IN DA SADDLE BRO.....I MEAN PIT!