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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 20, 2017 10:55:51 GMT -5
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Post by SkyJay on Jun 20, 2017 20:57:22 GMT -5
would love to see a slot/seasonal harvest
implemented on these guys.
theyre in my opinion beyond substanable
levels now, and would open up a fun exciting
fishery for many a family fun fishing day.
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Post by tears143 on Jun 20, 2017 21:29:17 GMT -5
would love to see a slot/seasonal harvest implemented on these guys. theyre in my opinion beyond substanable levels now, and would open up a fun exciting fishery for many a family fun fishing day. Tag system like Alligator. |
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 20, 2017 21:33:30 GMT -5
They do need to Let Us Catch the Big Ones when We hook into Them.
The Bigger Goliath Grouper are Eating the Smaller Groupers from what I have been Reading & Hearing.
Look at How Many Times Anglers have Hooked into the Monster on the End of the NS Pier.
I even did that about 20 Years ago.
Catch Him & Just Maybe the Gags will Rebound at the NS Pier.
In My Opinion, with Us being Given a Chance to Catch & Keep them, the Keeper Limits of the Other Grouper May Increase within a Couple Years from Now.
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Post by SkyJay on Jun 20, 2017 21:46:50 GMT -5
i couldnt agree with you more.
those guys wont let you pull a mango
from the bottom offshore, thats why we
had to figure out how to get em up in the water column.
And still, even then they catch up with
one from time to time, that coupled with giant and I mean giant Barracudas some wrecks offshore
have become almost unfishable.
Goliaths have to eat too. A strange phenomena
weve experienced lately is theyve become picky.
They dont seem to be interested in Red Grouper,
they only want the Gags!
Snapper? Mangos, and Yellowtails only thank you very much.
Wont touch a Lane, Vermillion or ARS.
Theres only about a million of em under the
Skyway.
I cant see as it would hurt to have some lucky
families harvest a few per year.
And then like you said, maybe the Gags
will come back.
I know one thing... If I was a Gag swimming
along minding my own business and came
up on some of those Volkswagens that live
at SSP I would vacate the premises immediately! lol
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 20, 2017 21:58:22 GMT -5
Since I have been Retired I have been doing a Lot of On-Line Reading & Watching a lot of Shows on the TV about the Goliath Groupers & what they are doing to the Fish Environment. We Need to Pull Up & Eat a Few of them. I just wonder what the Goliath would taste like now since they have gotten so big. I bet the Meat is Tough to Eat. I think that that Scamp Grouper that I Caught Last Year was the Best Tasting Grouper that I have ever had.  That would be Tough to Beat.  I hope that that Gag in My Freezer don't hear Me Typing This. LOL  |
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Post by SkyJay on Jun 20, 2017 22:15:49 GMT -5
Up to about 100 pounds theyre not too bad.
Ive caught and eaten a few in my days before
the ban.
Fed the whole trailerpark one night 😂 lol
the filet was about 4 ft long, 2 1/2 ft wide,
and I'd say about 4 or 5 inches thick😳
we dug a big fire pit, and placed concrete
blocks around the hole, with a big ole
section of grill grating draped over the top.
Slapped that puppy on there for about 15
minutes on both sides and "walla"
winner winner Grouper Dinner.
Used a big ole flat head ice/snow shovel to
flip it over.
We ate on that thing literally for days!
What a sight it was.
wish I still had the pics, but they've moved
on somewhere to a galaxy far far away a long long time ago.
Scamp quality? no
but imho waaay better than Kingfish.
Didnt need very many hushpuppies either.
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 20, 2017 22:24:29 GMT -5
SkyJay:That had to be a Great Sight !
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 20, 2017 22:29:13 GMT -5
I will never forget catching that Gag 20 Years ago & that Goliath under the NS Pier swallowed My Gag whole & then Broke My Rod when He went back under the Pier.
Scooter Laughed His butt off & could not light his cigarette for laughing so hard.
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Post by SkyJay on Jun 20, 2017 22:40:17 GMT -5
I wonder how Scooter is doing these days.
Haven't heard any news about his health in quite some time now.🙁
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 21, 2017 8:25:15 GMT -5
I wonder how Scooter is doing these days. Haven't heard any news about his health in quite some time now.🙁 Next time when I see Mike, I will ask. |
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Post by blacktip on Jun 21, 2017 14:00:34 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea.
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Post by SkyJay on Jun 21, 2017 20:14:51 GMT -5
Big Mike says ole Scooters ok but still having problems. May need another surgery. Long Live The King!  |
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Post by SkyJay on Jun 21, 2017 20:20:33 GMT -5
meanwhile back to the GGs
My GW buddy infirms me, forget ever
having a shot at a real Giant.
The whole reason for the ban was to
protect the Older Larger fish, because it
takes so long to reproduce.
Look for a size limit simular to
Snook and Redfish targeting smaller
non breeders.
Just my 2 cents.
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 21, 2017 22:13:00 GMT -5
SkyJay:Bill(Scooter) really looked good in that Picture. He was the King of the Free-Lining. I used to Fish with a 3 oz. weight with a Pinfish until I Met Him.
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Post by SkyJay on Jun 21, 2017 23:11:23 GMT -5
Yes he did.
I remember one time on Viking Fleet
he pulls up a nice Red Grouper.
When the mate went to take the fish he
was like no no no no...
and he put the Red Grouper in his freakin livewell!
Later in the trip we stop at a wreck, and he
reaches in the well, grabs the Red Grouper,
and fires it down,
much to our amazement.
All of a sudden his rod bows over and line starts
peeling off of his reel.
The battle that unfolded in front of us was a
legendary tribute to this world class fisherman,
lovingly known as "Scooter".
He expertly handled the monster on the
end if his line in fairly short order for an Amberjack
aproaching 100 pounds.
Especially when you consider the fact he
was fighting this beast from his chair!
Sooner than later, color was called, and
out came not 1 but 2 gaffs.
The hooks hit sure, and the giant AJ
was hoisted to the deck.
And Scooter reached down, removed his
10/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Hook from the
behemouth's mouth, lit a smoke and rebaited
his hook, like he'd just caught a Bluegill.
Toughest man I've ever known.
Artist, craftsman, and Steward of the Sea.
There is, and always will be, only one Scooter.
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Post by Mackerelman on Jun 21, 2017 23:26:25 GMT -5
Scooter & I were both Carpenters but We never worked together but We Fished together at the Skyway. On the job that I was working on in Tampa, I heard that someone on another job got Hurt trying to stop a Gazebo from falling off of a Trailer. A couple months had passed & I did not see Him. Then one Day I saw him at the NS Pier Fishing. I could not believe that it was him that got hurt. After being stuck in the Wheelchair, He built up the Strength to anything with His Hands & Arms. It was Funny Fishing with Him. He would get out of His Van with His Rod & Bait Bucket in one Hand. He would get to where He wanted to Fish. Put a Pinfish on the Hook & Light a Cigarette. After the Cigarette was Lit, He would lower the Pinfish into the Water. Ten to Fifteen minutes Later He would Pull up a Big Gag. That was when He turned Me on to Freelining Pinfish & Grunts. He was Always One Hell of a Nice Guy & One Hell of a Fisherman. |
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Post by skywaypa on Jun 22, 2017 6:53:52 GMT -5
I saw a guy on a NC pier try to stuff a 40" redfish into one of those playmate style coolers. It was hysterical. Even better was the fact that it was over slot, the guy's English wasn't great and I was trying to explain to him that he had to put it back. Can't wait to see a 400lb grouper sticking out of a 100qt igloo.  |
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