11/20-21. Ponce Inlet reds.

[troutman561]

Hello all. First fishing report on the new forum since I joined on the recommendation of some FS forum people...

Friday:

After my previous Ponce inlet fishing attempt 2 weeks ago I figured it would be a good time to hit the inlet again with Sudeep. We got out of school and headed down to the inlet and got on the water by 3. We anchored up and immediately started catching bluefish. These things were everywhere and we couldn't get a bait past them for longer than a minute or so. I couldn't find any bait to net so we were using mullet I froze from a previous trip. After an hour we had run out of mullet and we continued to catch Blues on some small frozen greenies. At this point I decided it would be a good idea to use Bluefish chunks as bait hoping that a nice big chunk would last a bit longer than the mullet did against the blues.Well wouldn't you know it, first cast and Sudeep is tight with a good fish. I pull the anchor and maneuver the boat while Sudeep sat on the front cooler to fight it(he doesn't have sea legs yet). We get it up to the boat and see it is a fat red. It runs a few more times but I finally get the net on it and as I pulled it in it bent the net! I was shocked at how fat this fish was compared to its size. It measured out at 44in and who knows how wide for a big first red for Sudeep. Unfortunately I did not get a good pic of him holding it but if you look close you can tell how fat it was, esp. after you consider that Sudeep is a fairly big guy at 6ft tall and 210lbs..



We snapped our pics and revived the fish to watch her swim away strong. I was using slightly larger hooks than last trip so she was hooked perfectly in the side of the mouth instead of in the throat. We set back up and about 5 minutes later we get tight with another big red and by this time Sudeep is tired so he hands the rod off to me half way through the fight. I make quick work of the fish and a solid 42in red comes in the boat.



While this one looks longer/bigger than Sudeep's, it was at least 10lbs less and just looks bigger due to how I was holding it. All in all a great couple of hours on the water. I wish the sun would stay up longer!

Saturday:

Saturday morning I headed out to the inlet at 6am to fish the incoming tide to see how I could do. The guy who I was supposed to fish with was a no show so I was out solo. I set up and break the ice with a double hookedup of stingray followed by a consistent blitz of blues. I was using chunked bluefish again and getting consistent action but nothing good. I called it a day around 11 and went to get something to eat and pick up Josh who just got out of work. We head back to the inlet and get fishing around 1:30 to work the outgoing tide. We netted some mullet and got a by-catch of a mojarra and a pin fish. We set up in the inlet and once again the blues were all over us. After a bit Josh gets a solid hit on a chunk and the fight is on. Once again the anchor is pulled and I am on the wheel while Josh worked the fish. Josh made quick work of the fish and I net another fat 44in red. After all the months Josh and I have been fishing the Port Orange area we finally get a solid fish together(we should have been fishing the inlet more, oh well). This was Josh's 4th and biggest red to date.



We revive her and set her on her way. After this we set up again and I throw the mojarra down and almost instantly get hooked up with something big! It was running hard and bringing me near the end of the spool as Josh was pulling the anchor. I had to put a little more heat on it and pop! My line goes slack and I reel in to see the line severed near the hook on the 40lb fluoro leader. One of the bluefish must have put a small cut in the leader that I missed and it gave way. At first I was thinking I had a shark on but the line was not roughed up from a sharks skin. The ID of what I lost will remain a mystery forever, but it happens. Anyway, soon after this we packed it up and headed in. Cant wait to get back out there.

Question: How long do these reds usually run the inlet like this?

Oh yea, almost forgot. I was upset to see a boat I have seen every time I have fished at or around the inlet throw a much larger than slot red into the cooler. Unfortunately this is probably a common occurrence by this person. It is a 20 something foot aluminum boat with an E-tec.. Not to play holier than thou but it is a shame people break the law like this so blatantly in front of people.

[GT Fish]

Nice job Ryan! Those are some slobs!

[ReelSaltFish]

Awesome job! I was out there for the first time last Friday and got mauled by bluefish as well. Were you close to the jetty on the side near the refuge area? Do you normally anchor or drift the inlet?


http://www.reelsaltfish.com

[troutman561]

Thanks guys...

Reelsaltfish, I anchor up south of the channel about halfway through the inlet. I just did the same today and got in and out with catching bait and 2 reds within an hour... I will post the report in a few..

[prowlin4reds]

Nice job Trout, quality fish indeed. Your buddy Sudeep looks like he couldn't be happier. As fas as the dirt bag and the over slot red...take a pick of the boat numbers and call fwc next time. Great job on your fish!

[sharkatak1089]

He's back..

[troutman561]

Who is back?

[sharkatak1089]

Who is back?

You asking that question leads me to believe that you haven't the slightest clue who I is...but in the meantime, nice redfish

[Fins0003]

Nice reds!