Jack Hexter
06-02-2009, 03:07 PM
June 1 - Opening of snapper season in the Gulf. I was not going to fish, but got a call from Jay the evening beore, asking me to go. Met him at Anclote ramp along with friends Rich and John, loaded the boat and dropped it in. We caught bait at Anclote, then ran offshore to another bait spot where we caught more bait. Had teh well loaded with threadfins, greenbacks, pinfish, pigfish, grunts, you name it, we had it!! First stop was Hudson Weather Buoy about 50 miles off shore, looking for a cobia or three, but no one was home. 1 ½ miles later at a ledge, I put the first keeper gag in the boat. Next stop was another 23 miles where we caught most of our fish, gags and red snapper along with a couple of mangos. 10 miles further we ended up at a spring where we finished our limit on Gags 2 each) , Red Snapper (2 each) and AJ’s(1 apiece) as well as adding a couple more mangos. AJ’s were thick and mangos were swimming with them just below the surface. We had to drift cut bait to catch them as any live bait was inhaled by the AJ’s. While running home, Jay spotted a show of fish and stopped. We quickly put 4 big red grouper in the box. Got back to the ramp at 7:00 – LONG DAY. But it was about to get even longer. I was going to follow Jay home to help wash the boat. Got to 19-19A and got a call to turn around and come back to 19A & Anclote Road. They had a hub problem on the trailer. They had called Sea Tow trailer service and were waiting. I pulled my fish out of the boat and came home. Great day on the water – small swell, hot but not too much so. Lots of action.