CK Jigging for grouper,AJs, and Snapper 11/26

[Jimsfishobsession]

I finally got to get out and go fishing again. It's been like 2 weeks. That's the longest I've gone without fishing since I can remember. If it wasn't work holding me back it was the weather and the wait was worth it. The weather was perfect yesterday: 1-2 foot seas, 5 mile wind. We tried a few spots between 20-45 feet with not much action, just small fish and 57 degree water. So we went to 70 feet. The water was 65 degrees and the grouper bite was fantastic. One after another on bucktail jiggs and cut bait we put 2 gags in the box right away, and all the rest were big reds. That was the only problem. Too many red grouper that kept the gags away. We landed around 40 reds before we decided to move since we can only keep one each. My buddy John never caught an AJ before so I figured we could have a little fun with the AJs. RIGHT AWAY double hook up on the vertical jiggs ( we had our limit both fish well over the 30 inches required ) we caught 30-40 AJS. We had cut bonito on the bottom for grouper or mangroves but the red snapper showed up and were too aggressive to let anything else bite so we saved some bait and had fun with the jiggs. Too bad red snapper season is closed for another 6 months I guess the tight limits on AJ, Red snapper, and Red grouper are working because we caught over 100 fish yesterday and could only keep a few. Maybe it's time to loosen the limits.





bait

[triumphrick]

Awesome trip. We are going off Bayport this Friday and was wondering if we can use the jigs on the Benington (Tanks) reefs. Or are they effective only in the deeper water? Also, did not know the red snapper were not legal this time of year!! We better read up a little bit on the limits and the fish. A yardstick only tells so much...again, great fishing trip!!

[Jimsfishobsession]

I'm not sure how deep the water is in the spot your talking about but I use them in 30 feet or deeper. The red snapper season is closed on the gulf side in federal waters untill june 1,2009. good luck on your trip

[triumphrick]

Hello, Jim. Tried to pm ya, but no luck. We did the trip this past friday and after about 25miles we were only in about 30' of water. Was wondering how far offshore are you headed. Thanks.

[Jimsfishobsession]

We were almost 50 miles off shore at our deepest spot. but usually only go 30-40 miles out this time of year.