One more dance?

[SeaBiscuit]

The fellow who bought my last boat invited me to go bottom fishing today. Boy, that was going to feel strange! Riding shotgun on my ol' girl?
Got a late start, as we had to wait for the local "banker's hours" bait shop to open. Jon (the new owner) brought his friends Dave (first time offshore) and 13 year old Taylor along.
3 foot chop to start the day. Decent ride out at 27 mph or so. I caught myself constantly thinking back to the many trips I already had on this boat. Ghosts of fishes slaughtered.
The deal was I was gonna pick some spots to fish. Looking at the shot last night, warm water had pushed in a lot, so I felt staying around 35 miles would be OK. Sure enough, warm water 69 -70 just 30 miles off in 100 feet. Talk of wahoos mixed in with the macks from the commercial boys.
Started off very slow. Very, very slow. Wind due N, anchor course from the East (pushing hot water) made for a very strange beam to the seas kind of situation. Picked some trash and only one nice, fat red grouper, while sharks seemed to find us every place we dropped. Winter time.
Around noon, Dave went into his cooler and out came the FRUIT! I noded to the captain who, seeing the nana, yelled at poor Dave so loud, he scared him silly. The offending fruit went flying off and the bite picked right up.
Nothing remarkable, just a slow pick from one spot to the next. Never got that good stop, but ended up with 9 keepers, all red grouper. Everyone on board seemed to have enjoyed a fine day on the water.
The seas laid flat for the return trip and Jon let the yammies drink. Home in one hour from 37.5 miles away.
I took a couple of fish, shook hands with my new friends and assured the ol' girl that someone else would be giving her her bath tonight!

Cheers,
SeaBiscuit

[mrfishy]

Awsome job Nick was that your Whaler or another boat?

[Stripersniper]

Isn't it a weird feeling? I went through the same thing when I sold my Hydrosport to a good friend of mine. Felt odd the first couple of times out but he didn't feel comfortable running offshore so I had to drive. And that felt good.

[SeaBiscuit]

Awsome job Nick was that your Whaler or another boat?

Thanks Michael. Yes, it was my 23. I sold it a few weeks ago.
SeaBiscuit

[hunt4fish]

Graet post Biscuit,whats the next boat on your list since your whaler is gone?

[SeaBiscuit]

Graet post Biscuit,whats the next boat on your list since your whaler is gone?

Thank you hunt4fish. Not sure what the next boat will be. Looking at small Contenders.
SeaBiscuit

[Bite Me]

I'll bet those groupers still shuttered when they heard the hum of those yammy's.

[Sea Draggin]

Started off very slow. Very, very slow. Wind due N, anchor course from the East (pushing hot water) made for a very strange beam to the seas kind of situation.

For what I heard, it was slow for everybody.

I almost shed a tear, thinking about riding on the Grady and not actually owning it. That is a fish killing machine.

She's getting somewhat of a face lift this week. New painted on pin stripes to replace the vinyl. I guess I'll have to be careful gaffing now. What am saying, maybe Greg will leave me some touch up.

Should be ready tomorrow I think.

[TriAngler]

May be the 2nd best bath that old girl has ever received! Great story, Nick - I've heard of sea tests before - but showing the buyer post check cashing that the 'biscuit raises fish - now that's classy, brother - brave,too!

Thanks for the smile. Maybe you've put a new twist on the old addage about the two best days of a boat owner's life.

K

[Deep C]

Nick
Looking back like that is something I have never got used to. I dropped off the Reel Delight in OC a few years ago when we took her out of charter service. The owner has arthritis problems and wanted to sell her to get a smaller more managable boat. I figured it was the last time I would run her.
Now I have had several encore runs with her. I feel weird every time I step on her now. Starnge after raising her from engine hour "0" through two sets. She feels foreign each time.
I'm glad you had a good catch...