"Young Guns" It seems like the youngsters have really been putting a hurting on their elders this summer. I don't know why but they have had the upper hand nearly every trip. For instance the first trip I had was with Guy and his son Joey from New Jersey. We started off the day catching Ladyfish. Which is always a tough but enjoyable task. Guy and Joey had their struggles as most clients usually do when it comes to getting the Lady's into the well from the water. Eventually they both got the handle on it and were able to put a good 10 to 15 Ladyfish in the well. All loaded with bait it was time to drop down a 2 foot Ladyfish on a 20/0 Eagle Claw Circle Hook and see what was hungry down there. I went over the instructions with Guy and Joey and I told Guy to make sure he held his son in the boat because we didn't want to loose him overboard. They both seemed to tense up a little when I told them that. Nevertheless they were fearless and did exactly what I said to do with the bait. I was in the front running the Minn Kota Rip Tide trolling motor barking out instructions on what to do. Two seconds later Joey was on his way out the boat. Fortunately for him though his dad was right there to spot him and keep him aboard. I floored the trolling motor to get as far away from the structure as possible. The line started to burn off the spool but guy added the strength of his hand to help slow the fish down. Eventually we were able to pull it from the structure and the fight was now up to Joey to keep him from going back. He did and this is what he was rewarded with. Can you believe it? The first bait dropped down and the biggest fish he has ever had on and Joey lands it. What a way to start out the day.
I knew Guy was proud of his son but I also knew he couldn't wait to get his turn at one of the Monsters of the deep. He was probably thinking, "Well if my son can land one that big on his first try, I wonder how big of one I can get." I believe any father would have thought that. I baited the 20/0 Eagle Claw Circle Sea hook up with the biggest Ladyfish in the well. I dropped it down for Guy and within two minutes he was absolutely destroyed. He may have burnt two or three layers of skin off on that one fish alone off of his thumb. Poor Guy just didn't know what he was in for. The next 45 minutes Guy was beaten and bruised over and over again until we ran out of every Ladyfish in the well. He could not believe the shear power and brute strength of the fish he was being man handled by. At one point I asked him, if he thought it would be no problem for him to get a big one especially after his son caught one on the first try. He sheepishly admitted to me that he did. Out of Ladyfish we had to go and search for some more bait. We spent the rest of the morning looking for them but to no avail. We decided to get a bite to eat at the Waterfront Restaurant while we were waiting on the tide to change. I had one of the biggest chicken bacon and cheese sandwiches with onion rings that you have ever seen. I rarely ever have to cut a sandwich in half to eat it but I always have to there.
With bellies full we renewed our search for the Lady's. Eventually were able to find a nice pod that produced a good 10 Lady's or so. I think the fellas almost had as good a time catching the Lady's as they did the big fish. Guy was ready, at least he thought. I baited up the Cape Fear Man O' War 25 to 50 and dropped the extra large Lady down. Let the beatings begin. The next five baits were engulfed and Guy was subsequently taken behind the wood shed on each occasion. Guy was not about to quit however. He put everything he had in each battle but it just seemed the fish were all a little to big. We were down to our last bait and the end of the trip. I baited Guys rod up one last time and he made the most of it. This Lady wasn't eaten quite as quickly as the others but it was eaten. Guy thumbed his reel and I helped him pull the fish away from the structure with the trolling motor. In 10 minutes or so Guy finally had a fish he could be proud of. A picture of a Jewfish big enough to go back to New Jersey with and brag about.
My next trip was a two dayer with Ken Reardon, son Skylar, and Skylar's friend Steven. I guess they liked me because they chose me over the Keys and Palm Beach. It kind of made me feel good. I knew I had to produce so they wouldn't be disappointed. I told them how important the Lady fishing was going to be and that we had to get as many in the boat as quickly as possibly because the tide was done early. We failed and only managed to put four in the boat in the first hour. We had to leave though. It was more important to go with what we had rather than try and get some more bait. I am not sure who dropped first. I think it was Ken. Ken is a very accomplished fisherman who used to own a 36 foot Contender with triplets on it. I knew he has had plenty of time in the offshore waters. But my type of fishing is nothing like that and Ken soon found out. He dropped that big ol' Lady down and it was inhaled and Ken was in for a quick whoopin. Next it was his son Skylars' turn to see what he could do. Like father like son, he was knocked out in the first round. Finally it was Steven's turn. Wouldn't you know it the smallest guy on the boat lands the biggest fish of the day. With Ken's help of course. Look at the smile on his face that was one proud youngster.
Off we went for some more Lady's but they never really materialized once the sun was up. We landed many trout and mackerel but only a few Lady's for the rest of the day. However, we were able to get a great bite a the Waterfront Restaurant. It was their second day eating there and it was probably one of their favorite parts of the trip. Each day the boys took my advice and got the same thing I did. I really enjoyed all three of them. Ken had some great stories for us during lunch and I also found out Skylar is one of the best soccer players in his state. I used to play soccer when I was in Junior High and I know how good of an athlete you have to be to play that sport. They also told me Steven was a starter on his high school tennis team. I have a little place in my heart for that sport as well. I dropped the fellas off at the dock and they informed me they would be a little better prepared for the Ladyfish the next day. They promised they would be.
I picked the fellas up at 6:15 the next morning. Wouldn't you know it they showed me how to get it done. We found a big school after striking out at the first hole. Ken, Skylar, and Steven landed a good 20 or so Lady's. We went straight to the Jewfish haunt and quickly realized they were not interested. We only managed 3 hits in the first hour. Then over half of our bait died. I couldn't believe it. Oh well, you gotta play with the hand you were dealt. We kept plugging and working until Ken hooked up. He knew he had a big fish but nothing like some of the ones from before. Sure enough he was right. It wasn't a huge Jewfish but it was a huge Snook. It went 19 pounds on the Boga. He was really amazed how hard it pulled on lock down heavy tackle.
For whatever reason the big Jews just quit biting. I don't know why but they did. I decided I had enough and went to a sunken barge I knew about the was not to far away. We anchored up on it and tossed out a couple of dead Lady's to see if anything wanted to eat. Sure enough Steven get slammed while sitting down. The fish drags him to the edge and Ken luckily saves him and the rod from going over. It was Ken's turn to take over now. He did a great job of pumping the fish away from the cover. I knew there was a lot of bad things down there that could have broken him off but he was able to keep the fish out of the structure. What a fat beauty. He finally managed to land a nice sized Jewfish.
Ken, Guy, and the teenagers have all vowed to come back and put a hurting on those fish next time. They all tell me it will be different the next time around. Ken told me he has to get one of the Huge ones. I mentioned to him during the trip that a diver had told me of a 900 pound plus Jewfish that lives there. Ken says next time he will bring his wire rod with tuna harness to put in on that bad boy. I would like to see it. Right now I am a little scared to try and go after that big one. Especially after feeling what a 300 pounder could do to ya.
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I knew Guy was proud of his son but I also knew he couldn't wait to get his turn at one of the Monsters of the deep. He was probably thinking, "Well if my son can land one that big on his first try, I wonder how big of one I can get." I believe any father would have thought that. I baited the 20/0 Eagle Claw Circle Sea hook up with the biggest Ladyfish in the well. I dropped it down for Guy and within two minutes he was absolutely destroyed. He may have burnt two or three layers of skin off on that one fish alone off of his thumb. Poor Guy just didn't know what he was in for. The next 45 minutes Guy was beaten and bruised over and over again until we ran out of every Ladyfish in the well. He could not believe the shear power and brute strength of the fish he was being man handled by. At one point I asked him, if he thought it would be no problem for him to get a big one especially after his son caught one on the first try. He sheepishly admitted to me that he did. Out of Ladyfish we had to go and search for some more bait. We spent the rest of the morning looking for them but to no avail. We decided to get a bite to eat at the Waterfront Restaurant while we were waiting on the tide to change. I had one of the biggest chicken bacon and cheese sandwiches with onion rings that you have ever seen. I rarely ever have to cut a sandwich in half to eat it but I always have to there.
With bellies full we renewed our search for the Lady's. Eventually were able to find a nice pod that produced a good 10 Lady's or so. I think the fellas almost had as good a time catching the Lady's as they did the big fish. Guy was ready, at least he thought. I baited up the Cape Fear Man O' War 25 to 50 and dropped the extra large Lady down. Let the beatings begin. The next five baits were engulfed and Guy was subsequently taken behind the wood shed on each occasion. Guy was not about to quit however. He put everything he had in each battle but it just seemed the fish were all a little to big. We were down to our last bait and the end of the trip. I baited Guys rod up one last time and he made the most of it. This Lady wasn't eaten quite as quickly as the others but it was eaten. Guy thumbed his reel and I helped him pull the fish away from the structure with the trolling motor. In 10 minutes or so Guy finally had a fish he could be proud of. A picture of a Jewfish big enough to go back to New Jersey with and brag about.
My next trip was a two dayer with Ken Reardon, son Skylar, and Skylar's friend Steven. I guess they liked me because they chose me over the Keys and Palm Beach. It kind of made me feel good. I knew I had to produce so they wouldn't be disappointed. I told them how important the Lady fishing was going to be and that we had to get as many in the boat as quickly as possibly because the tide was done early. We failed and only managed to put four in the boat in the first hour. We had to leave though. It was more important to go with what we had rather than try and get some more bait. I am not sure who dropped first. I think it was Ken. Ken is a very accomplished fisherman who used to own a 36 foot Contender with triplets on it. I knew he has had plenty of time in the offshore waters. But my type of fishing is nothing like that and Ken soon found out. He dropped that big ol' Lady down and it was inhaled and Ken was in for a quick whoopin. Next it was his son Skylars' turn to see what he could do. Like father like son, he was knocked out in the first round. Finally it was Steven's turn. Wouldn't you know it the smallest guy on the boat lands the biggest fish of the day. With Ken's help of course. Look at the smile on his face that was one proud youngster.
Off we went for some more Lady's but they never really materialized once the sun was up. We landed many trout and mackerel but only a few Lady's for the rest of the day. However, we were able to get a great bite a the Waterfront Restaurant. It was their second day eating there and it was probably one of their favorite parts of the trip. Each day the boys took my advice and got the same thing I did. I really enjoyed all three of them. Ken had some great stories for us during lunch and I also found out Skylar is one of the best soccer players in his state. I used to play soccer when I was in Junior High and I know how good of an athlete you have to be to play that sport. They also told me Steven was a starter on his high school tennis team. I have a little place in my heart for that sport as well. I dropped the fellas off at the dock and they informed me they would be a little better prepared for the Ladyfish the next day. They promised they would be.
I picked the fellas up at 6:15 the next morning. Wouldn't you know it they showed me how to get it done. We found a big school after striking out at the first hole. Ken, Skylar, and Steven landed a good 20 or so Lady's. We went straight to the Jewfish haunt and quickly realized they were not interested. We only managed 3 hits in the first hour. Then over half of our bait died. I couldn't believe it. Oh well, you gotta play with the hand you were dealt. We kept plugging and working until Ken hooked up. He knew he had a big fish but nothing like some of the ones from before. Sure enough he was right. It wasn't a huge Jewfish but it was a huge Snook. It went 19 pounds on the Boga. He was really amazed how hard it pulled on lock down heavy tackle.
For whatever reason the big Jews just quit biting. I don't know why but they did. I decided I had enough and went to a sunken barge I knew about the was not to far away. We anchored up on it and tossed out a couple of dead Lady's to see if anything wanted to eat. Sure enough Steven get slammed while sitting down. The fish drags him to the edge and Ken luckily saves him and the rod from going over. It was Ken's turn to take over now. He did a great job of pumping the fish away from the cover. I knew there was a lot of bad things down there that could have broken him off but he was able to keep the fish out of the structure. What a fat beauty. He finally managed to land a nice sized Jewfish.
Ken, Guy, and the teenagers have all vowed to come back and put a hurting on those fish next time. They all tell me it will be different the next time around. Ken told me he has to get one of the Huge ones. I mentioned to him during the trip that a diver had told me of a 900 pound plus Jewfish that lives there. Ken says next time he will bring his wire rod with tuna harness to put in on that bad boy. I would like to see it. Right now I am a little scared to try and go after that big one. Especially after feeling what a 300 pounder could do to ya.
Make sure you check out the new fishing magazine called 
Be sure to check out my good friends Maverick HPX. He is really looking forward to moving into a larger boat for him and his wife. He is willing to let it go for 20,500. Click on the link 
