The menu says it's Fish Friday.
This has to be one of the luckiest/strangest catches in Boca Ciega Bay – or maybe it’s common here and I need to fish it more often. This last Friday the 24th I had Mariola out in Boca Ciega Bay for a easy day sail with family visiting from North Carolina. We noticed some bait jumping around the boat and I drug out our only fishing pole that is eternally rigged with a small silver wire leadered mackerel plug. It was deployed, stuck in the pole holder and forgotten.
The excitement of the jumping bait had faded as we sailed around the school with no results. Back to the rum punch and chin-waggin’. About an hour later my noon sandwich making was interrupted by a familiar noise I couldn’t quite identify. Finally I figured it out, drag flying out of a reel - fish on? As I began to reel, it was evident whatever was pulling back was big, I thought it HAD to be a big catfish or maybe a redfish. I’m still dumbfounded that the above fish would hit a mackerel plug drug behind a sailboat in the middle of the summer, in 9 feet of water at the East end of Boca Ciega Bay. The goofy fish measured well over legal – 26 inches. With no gaff or net, I had to drop the ladder and gently grab it by the mouth – a little tricky after 4 or 5 rum drinks. The capture and subsequent digestion of this suicidal grouper was a heroic team effort. It’s amazing how Mother Ocean always has a new surprise waiting out there for you – even minutes from your home port.
RumHead, unamed grouper and Cuzin Dave
- RumHead, “Delicious” and Cuzin Bubby.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Outstanding! He was sure lost.
That looks like dinner…. congrats on the whopper. I love grouper.
Ross
Congrats! Free dinner.
Lots of times I will toss a lure off the stern,tie the pole,loosen the drag and be surprised by fish.
It makes for a sort of simulated man over board drill.
Loosen the sails, grab the rod and steer the boat! Yahoo!
E.