Offshore report 4-4-09....ARS invasion

[goindeep]

Myself and Rich (fishonfishoff) headed offshore out of Bradenton at about 8am on a friend of Rich's private boat...went about 30 or so miles out in 115+ feet of water...We didnt do as well as the James Gang guys, but we had a blast and brought a few fish home. Using sardines, threadfins and live pinners, we stayed busy most of the day.

The Red Snapper were THICK today...we couldnt get past them to get the grouper at the 5 or so spots we fished. But as you all know, they are endangered and nowhere to be found . We must have caught 20-30 of those "scarce" ARS, a bunch of short gags and reds, a keeper Mango snapper (my personal best 18 inches), and Rich brought home a personal best 28 inch Gag. The captain also caught a remora, and I got a throw in decent Key West grunt.

At about 2pm the water turned into a sheet of glass and the bite shut down, so we headed back in...over all it was a great day. What a day to be out on the water, we couldnt have asked for better weather or company. We're definitely gonna be sore tomorrow



Heres a few pics.

[havetofish]

Damnnnnnn....some nice catches guys.

Rich,
Your fishing way to much...hehe

Steve,
Ya needed some huge baits...like that grunt...to get past them ARS's to the Gags

[inshorebasher]

nice job on them fish Steve, we were a little further out than 30 miles but our encounter with ARS's weren't as abundant. once ARS season is open its on

[Tommy]

Thats some nice ass Red's Steve, that first pic up looks like its on fire. Can't wait for it to open, gonna try and work up a trip for the first weekend of June. Love them head shaking fish. That frigging grunt woulda beat the grouper up

[jaeforceone]

those ARS should be subject to FILLET AND RELEASE.

[BigDawg71]

nice fish!

[bill jacques]

Great catch guys!!

[fishonfishoff]

Not fishing enough John....lol....long winter...got some catchin up to do. Not even close yet.

[grouperscooper]

Nice fish guys!!!!

Friggin shame ya had to turn ALL of them ARS back.The regs have gotten to be really stupid.

[fishonfishoff]

endangered species my arse !!!!!!!! they were everywhere.

[grouperscooper]

Apr 5, 2010 18:59:41 GMT -5 fishonfishoff said:

endangered species my arse !!!!!!!! they were everywhere.

Come on now!!!

You know that data they use is top notch!!!!

You guys damn sure found some nice fish regardless!

JUNE 1st isn't that far away.......then the bite shuts down.....isn't that how it works?

[fishonfishoff]

Usually does work that way. But hopefully not. We'll see what happens in June. Coutin the days...........

[eaglesfanguy]

Most impressive Schnappers there!

[ripnlips]

nice haul. i gotta get offshore again soon.