Panama City 7/20-7/21

[chumhead]

Well, my friend Walter came over from Mississippi with his friend (and prospective CS buyer) Virgil, to do a little fishing......we spent half the day fishing offshore yesterday, then came back in, showered, had some dinner and went back out for night-time redfish.......

Went offshore yesterday and sabiki'd some bait, then hit my favorite spot......we caught red snapper, spanish and a king mackeral (25 lb).....(sorry, no pics yesterday). After a bit of rest (temps were almost 100 degrees) we grilled some fish and went to hit the redfish. Tides were only moving about .5 feet all day, but we still managed to get Walter onto a rather large male....
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/chumhead/PICT0020-1.jpg?t=1185062336

Got up again this morning to rain, and what looked to be a terrible day but said "what the heck" and headed out anyway......and I'm glad we did. About 30 minutes after heading out into a light sprinkle, the skies cleared up and the water laid down just as we were heading offshore. We sabiki'd up a bunch of scaled sardines and hit the same spot as yesterday. Also ran into a pod of about a dozen tarpon feeding in the pass, but had not gotten bait yet and had nothing rigged to throw....ugh!

Started off with my local fishing friend Joe hooking up to a nice 7 lb red snapper...
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/chumhead/PICT0026-1.jpg?t=1185157047

Then he caught another snapper and a 24inch grouper....
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/chumhead/PICT0025-1.jpg?t=1185156972

Virgil (the prospective CS buyer) then tied into another legal grouper...
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/chumhead/PICT0028-2.jpg?t=1185062809

I caught a 5 lb red snapper, and a couple of 4 lb mangrove snappers (no pics),
but Walter managed to entice this 24 lb cobia to take his bait....
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/chumhead/PICT0021-2.jpg?t=1185062912

Gotta go fire up the grill.......

chumhead

[Loki]

Very nice chumhead, looks like I could learn a few things from you!


Loki

[sportskiff]

LAWDY, LAWDY,LAWDY,,,,,,,,,
Chumhead, ya don't mess around, do ya???????????
BTW, get a camera and tote it with the boat!!!!!! I LIVE for this stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gimpy

[chumhead]

Yeah, fishing has been good the last few days, how unusual for it to cooperate when I have company along! lol.....Went back out today, caught another 6 keeper red snapper and a grouper but had to release several that were just an inch or two short, as well as a few short amberjacks. We were fishing an artificial reef made from an old Navy Lcat Hovercraft and were also taken to school by a couple of fish that made the wreck before we could turn them, most likely large amberjack or grouper.

Couldn't have asked for better weather...comfortably running 32mph, 8 miles offshore. Virgil appears to be totally sold on a Carolina Skiff, commenting after 3 days of fishing that he thinks it "makes gas" instead of uses it. He also said that the ride was just as good, but "100 times drier" than his 23 foot AquaSport. He had expressed concerns at dinner last night about maneuverability since they navigate a river to get back home that evidently has some tight turns, so on the way out fishing today we "busted a few moves" making turns and circles at 25-30 mph......he said it was plenty good enough for him.

My camera is still in the back of their truck, but we're heading out in a bit to try for a couple more bull reds, so I will get it back and post a couple more pics later (hopefully a few more bull reds as well).

chumhead

[sportskiff]

Chumhead,
the wife says she'll adopt you, papers will arrive shortley... (heeheehee) ;) NICE, man, NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember , I know where a 198dlv is sitting for 10.5 with a t top and accesories If your guy (who I expect to see here shortly,btw, can't believe he's thinkin bout a skiff and ain't on here!!((nudge, nudge)),) may be interested. Ya tell him a good handle on here for him be shy-boy, heehee.
NICE FISH, man, NICE FISH!!!!!!!!!
gimpy

[chumhead]

I will pass the info of the DLV on to Virgil, I pointed out a DLV we saw on Saturday, and he said he will look at them as well, but sounded like he was wanting a 21-24DLX. Will also extent an invite to this forum in my next email.

chumhead