Down South report Sails and Hoos

[Foul Hook'd]

Well I reloaded for round 2 down south, after missing Hoos left and right Friday. I went over everything, sharpened hooks, re-tied the rigs and Phil and myself were ready for action. Cleared the inlet @ 5am after loading up on pogies for the groupers, beautiful ride out @ 30kts. Lines in at the Rise and started working south towards the Hole. Come across a slight rip and the first fish of the day a small gaffer on ice @ 7:30am. It was a very long time before we got another strike, by lunch time I was ready to jump overboard.

But @ 1:30 I spied something on a distant rip, a free jumping Saildog, we head that way and enter the rip when the WWB gets hammered then gone. Reset and the WWB gets hammered again, drop back, it's on and burning drag!!!!!! Phil cranks away while I clear lines, shortly a low 40lb. Hoo feels the sting of steel. We feel alot better now, reset and the Planer gets slammed, missed. After redeploying the planer it acts like it has snagged a grass ball so I pull it in and hand line the leader in to check. Half way in the prop wash explodes behind the bait, I start dumping the leader, again the fish misses and again, but moves over and explodes on the right short only to miss. I don't know what it is but these Hoos are as aggressive as I have ever seen.

We spot some sort of container floating near by and make a pass and immediately the right short is smoked, I jump on the rod and the 30 is screaming, finally slow him down and a nice 25lb. Hoo on ice. Lets try that again, we find a small piece of reeds and grass and the same rig comes down and a small gaffer goes air borne, I drop back when there is a massive explosion on the bait then a second, I keep dropping then it comestight and a Saildog errupts and goes crazy. Luckily he went in and thru every line we had and never tangled anything up, then he makes a sizzling run and the 30 is starting to get low. Phil hurries to clear lines so we can chase him down, after 10 more minutes of jumps and end over ends I settle in for 20 minutes of tug a war. Finally wore him down and we get a quick pic then after a little boat side rest he was released.

We drag baits back inshore of the Rise without nary a strike we decide to finish off the day with some groupers, dropped on several spots without much luck. I decide to head in and stop on a # that has held Gags, first few drops produced small trash then I get hammered, I crank like crazy but the fish gets back in it's hole and cuts me off. Phil gets doubled up and his pulls off. Next pass I hook up twice , rocks got one and the other pulled off, this killed the grouper bite there so we move to another spot and pick up 6 fat BSB. By now its after 6pm so we stow the gear and head for home @ a nice 35kts all the way to MHC. Beautiful day on the water, slow for the most part but we did get a quick flurry of action and some pretty nasty strikes. The BWC Mini Jag hot pink head, blue crystal/pink skirt again was the winner of the abuse the Hoos dished out, thing looks used up, no eyes and 1/3 of the skirtting is gone, might need to get a new one May try again Sat. if the forecast holds at a big ground swell.

Foul Hook'd

[Ponce]

Nice job Roger, sounds like you guys had plenty of action.

[Anders]

nice report and congrats on the fish, thanks for sharing

[Going Deep]

Nice job on your fish Roger!

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Pretty hoos! Way to stick it out...looks like dinner will be rewarding.
Holwachagot

[Crazy Eyes]

Nice job Roger!!

Be careful Saturday, I should know that a lowly old hurricane wouldn't slow you and the little boat down!!

[Sea Draggin]

Good job Roger. Thanks for the hospitality with Jace. I appreciate it.

[clt_capt]

Congrats on the sail. Nice hoos. Glad to see you back in the saddle.

[Highhopes20]

Nice job.

[thoffman]

Nice job, I hope the weather will hold out for us weekenders. Good luck.