1-7-2012 Port Saint Lucie Offshore Fishing Report:

Fin Addict Joined: May 12, 2009 Posts: 180

First trip of 2012 aboard the AF. Taking Matt Bonnell and Jen Husar offshore for their first trip on the AF. Just looking to enjoy the day and see what we can catch. We left the ramp at 5:30am and headed to our NE bait spot. Quickly loaded up on goggle eyes and blue runners and headed out to the Hill.

Stopped to snap the first sunrise pics in about 50ft of water.

Here is Jen all smiles after loading up the wells with baits...

We had the joy of seeing the sunrise twice today... Peekout out of the clouds in about 100ft of water...

Heres Matt snapping the second sunrise as well...

We arrive at Push Button Hill and have lines in at 7:30. Fish on at 7:38. Heres Jen fighting the first BFT of the day and its a nice one.

Here is Jen holding up her first BFT. This fish wore her out (so she thought) until what she brought up later in the morning (see below)

Here is proud Matt snapping some pics...

Next up is Matts turn...

Matt catches a Skipjack. (Just a reminder to fellow forum members to make sure you have your HMS permit for your boat if you plan on keeping these.)

Here is Vindawg and crew trolling on the Hill... How did you guys make out today?

After putting a double header in the boat of two more BFT, Jen is on her first Skipjack.

Here is Quick Decision. Rick emailed me from North Carolina. Said he has been reading my reports and wanted some help on baits and bites in our area. Nice chatting with you on the radio today. Were you able to hook up on the baits? How did you guys make out today Rick?

Shortly after snapping the QD pic the port rigger pops and FISH-ON... Jens turn and she has something big. Heres Jen & Matt all smiles fighting this fish near the boat.

She fought this fish for about 20 minutes or so before we see it. It is fighting like a Bonita down below the boat. All the sudden I get a glimpse of it and it is a monster Skipjack. Biggest one ever caught on the AF... Great job Jen and congrats.

Notice the teeth marks near the tail. Something wanted this guy for breakfast.

Here is My Other Honey Pete trolling the Hill for some BFT

Heres Quick Decision trolling by again...

After filling the box with BFT and Skipjacks we decided to make a run offshore and look for weeds. We didn't see any rips on the way out to the Hill so thought this would be our best bet. Make it all the way out to 900+ ft with nothing but a few scattered weeds. We make a swing SW and come back in off the ledge straight out from the Loran Tower and stop on some awesome weeds in 368ft.

We worked this area for a few hours with nothing to show for it. Had what I thought was a Frigit working the area and fish busting at the surface just below the bird and flying fish scrabbling everywhere. We make a run over and drop in some liveys but nothing. The bird looked just like a Frigit but had a white head. Anyone know what type of bird this could be?

Decided to run in to shallower waters in hopes of finding more weeds. Spotted this coconut floating but nothing underneath.

Jens 2nd favorite catch of the day.

Saw a lot of these out there today. Luckily for beach goers it was a west wind today.

Found a small rip in 60ft with some weeds and put out some more livey’s. Quickly hooked up on a small Atlantic Sharpnose shark for some photo ops.

This was Jens first shark ever.

Called it a day around 2:30pm and headed for the ramps.

Todays Tally:

3 Skipjacks - Biggest one weighed in at 8 lbs
6 BFT - (Matt, I found one buried in the ice when I got home. Lunch will be great on Sunday)
1 Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

How did you all do today

Heres some pics Matt took when he got home. Thanks for the pics Matt.

How did your comparison taste test of the Skipjack to the BFT go Matt?

Tip of the week

As requested, here is the Daisy Chain and lures I make. The Daisy Chains I make came from a post Uncle Buck did back on the old software and the lure is something I developed.

The Daisy Chain:

Install 1/4oz egg sinkers inside (5) 3" rubber squid skirts. Make sure you buy the sinkers with a large enough hole for your leader material.

1). Using 60lb or 80lb Fluorocarbon, roll out a few feet, leaving it attached to the spool.
2). Put on a 3" Green/Yellow plasic squid, weighted end first so it's pointing to the spool.
3). Put on a proper size crimp for the leader material you are using (don't crimp).
4). Repeat steps 2 & 3 until you have 5 squids and 5 crimps.
5). Now using the last crimp you installed, crimp on a small swivel.
6). Place a tape measure on the floor and align the head of the squid next to the swivel with the zero.
7). Crab the next crimp inline and slide it to the 12" mark and crimp it.
Cool

. Slide that squid to zero and repeat this process until all 5 crimps are crimped 12" apart.
9). Now cut off the leader material 12" above the lead squid and either tie a loop knot or crimp a loop in it.

This process allows you to assemble one in about 5-10 minutes and also insures no wasted fluorocarbon.

Double click on any picture then click on the enlarge ICON to expand the picture for full view of the pictures.

The BFT Lure:

1). Using 60lb Fluorocarbon, roll out a few feet, leaving it attached to the spool.
2). Put on a White Pearl Duster, weighted end first so it's pointing to the spool.
3). Put on a large pink bead.
4). Repeat steps 2 & 3 until you have (3) Pearl Dusters and (2) beads. Do not put a bead behind the last Duster.
5). Now put a 1" pc. of Aquarium aerator pump tubing and a crimp for your size leader material.
6). Now add a #4 long shank hook and crimp it. slide the tubing over the crimp and hook shank as shown below.
7). Place a tape measure on the floor and align the head of the lead Duster with zero.
Cool

. Now cut off the leader material 24" above the lead Duster and either tie a loop knot or crimp a loop in it.

This process allows you to assemble one in about 5-10 minutes and also insures no wasted fluorocarbon.

If you try them out :fishing: , let me know how you made out. If you have any questions, just email me at rw2rules24@yahoo.com and I will help you in any way I can.

Fin Addict Joined: May 22, 2009 Posts: 165

Nice trip everyone of your posts brings alot of information with it. Nice catch and some even better pictures Thanks for your time posting them. Gene
_________________
we never know but we always go

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:33 am Post subject:

Very nice trip and great pictures to boot! Thanks for posting. Lot of smiles there.
_________________
Jim Summers
www.PensacolaSharkFishing.com
www.PensacolaHouseHunter.com

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:01 pm Post subject:

You got it going on again AF, Thanks for showing us your trip.

DQ
_________________
Bertram 31 FBC (Runem Hard & Fishem Wet) --~~---<*)((((<>(
IN GOD WE TRUST
'Life may be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well fish'!


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