Wrightsville Beach Exploration Trip 1/3/09

[WhiteLakeBuc]

After sitting around for a few days, we finally got a decent weather window so I called up Di Hrd and we planned a mission to go exploring. Our goal for the day was simple – to find new honey holes. Pulling out of Masonboro Inlet, we were greeted with a light offshore wind that gradually built the farther out we went. Our first stop, I pulled up over some structure about 30 miles out and within a few minutes we had plenty of lively baits for the day. The first area to explore was 12 miles so off we went with an arsenal of jigs, live bait, and mashed potatoes (old ass mushy cigar minnows) and a mile short of the target I marked a small piece of bait and turned to investigate. This area was very interesting, there was not much relief, but paying close attention to the sonar, I noticed a hard bottom with a few scattered outcrops. This spot was on fire, high marks, bait marks, marks on the bottom, so I positioned the boat just up current and we deployed the arsenal……… Live bait, dead bait, and jigs. Bombs away……….

Steve was the first to score with this false albacore, his jig was stopped about halfway to the bottom. Falsie into the box to be used another day……




Next drop we all were covered up in AJ’s. This spot was loaded with AJ’s up to 40lbs. So we wail away on their ass for a while on the jigs.




My next drop found this citation trigger……….





We play around in this area a little long landing some decent 3lb B-Liners and pinkies. Then off we go looking for more ground. Everyone gets situated and I get on the throttle, check out the gps to make sure we are on course and about a quarter mile after the boat planes out I run across another nugget. This spot was a live bottom with about 2 feet of relief that came up, plateau on top then gradually dropped off again. I turn to investigate and see some REALLY NICE marks on the bottom. Position the boat just up current and bombs away, jigs and bait to the bottom. Capt. Wes didn’t have time to get his reel in gear before he gets cracked by a nice red grouper. Watching his fight, I get cracked and soon we have two decent reds in the boat. One on the jig and one on bait.





The next drift would result in epic results……… Di Hrd doubles over, Capt Wes grunts and I see his rod buried, then I get cracked and game on!





Then Di Hrd pulls his fish over……..





Three bites results in 2 female hog’s and a nice red grouper. Hmmmm………I think this spot may have some potential. Next drop and things are kinda slow……… We are all anxiously waiting for that next bite when I get cracked. After pulling about 15 feet of line on 25lbs of drag, I realize that I have a good fish here. Up comes a nice bull hog…….



After the picture and a few high fives, straight to the bottom again and BAM! We all get cracked… My fish pulled 25 lbs of drag like nothing and ran straight by some coral, chafes my leader, and breaks off. Capt Wes puts another nice red grouper in the boat and Di Hrd comes up with this bull hog.




We stay on this spot for a few more drops that resulted in red groupers and the bite slows so off we go. By now, it is around 1:30 and we have not made it to the area that we really wanted to check out. So I make the call to push on off and explore for the remainder of the day. Wouldn’t you know it, about half a mile short of the waypoint, I come across another nice live bottom. About 2 feet of relief, no ledge, just scattered hard bottom with coral outcrop and this place is lit up like Clark Griswald’s house on Christmas Eve. This spot would result in a ton of red grouper and a few triggerfish. By now, we need one more grouper to finish off our 3 man limit so we decide to go to the area we had originally planned to explore which was only a mile away at this point. Upon arrival, I begin scanning the area looking for bottom. Search…….. search………search……….. BINGO! I see a nice nugget so we stop’n’drop. It is getting late and this would be our last stop before heading in. Right off the bat Di Hrd scores our final grouper with this killer fireback.





Then I jig up this nice queen trigger.




Then both Di Hrd and Cpt. Wes get their queens.








This spot was LOADED with triggerfish. We caught quite a few and the average size was citation.
Famous last words are: “One more drop!”
7lb trigger





We pack things up and head in with a three man limit of grouper, 4 hogs, citation triggers, and some fatty B-liners. The jigs, live baits, and mashed potatoes were the baits of the day.





Our mission was simple and accomplished. You never know what is down there…….. our last exploratory trip before Christmas resulted in Di Hrd wrestling this 19lb mutton snapper in the boat.

[quackkilla76]

no trim tabs were needed for that ride home... looks like a great trip....

[cravertosu]

Holy Good God!! Those are some awesome fish!! The sort of day I dream about!! Just awesome! Those are some HUGE Hogs!!

If I wasn't heading home soon, I'd probably be in withdrawal seizures right now!

[sportfishingusa]

HOOOOOOOLY CHEEEEEEEEEEET BATMAN!! NOW THATS GETTING JIGGY WIT IT!

very nice fish and report..

have not seen a trigger that big up in nj in a long time!! and on a jig

i got to get my arse down there and get into the jiggin!

[ice cream man]

WLB.............What a great report, congrads on those impressive Citations & thanks for the release that BIG Bull Hog Snapper...........you the man!............ICM

[di hrd]

Thanks for putting up the report Pete.

I love the surprises. I have been fortunate to have more than my share.

The jig bite was on fire on the first few stops. I lost half a dozen to kings. After putting a 4" wire trace and wire assist I had no more king bites... so take your chances and use ugly/cheap jigs.

From now till March it will get nothing but better as all the fish move offshore.

My next trip will be in targeting 100 lb amberjacks. Hopefully the weather will be in line this week.

[weekender]

some really great looking fish guys, congrats to all.

[Going Deep]

Damn fine mess of fish...first mutton I have ever seen caught in this area

[Sea Draggin]

Very nice freestyle trip. You guys are the shiznit! The telephone report didn't do the killing any justice.

[swell rider]

Great report on what looks like a great trip...Out of all the grouper I catch I'll take those triggers anyday, one of the best eating fish around.. Ken

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