Going 20 at 40

Every weekend we fish inshore or inshore tournaments; it's what we love to do. This last weekend, we decided to go offshore and fish wrecks, patches, and cans for big fish. Change things up, try new baits, and I wanted to see what the NauticStar could do offshore. It's amazing in the bay, but wanted to see it in the big water.

We launched from East Bay; it was an incoming tide, blue bird skis, and hot as can be. We headed straight for the cans outside the pass to catch bait. We pulled up, found the bait ball, and began to drop sabiki rigs and jig to catch some live bait. First drop I came up with four blue runners (hardtails) and a cobia in tow trying to grab one. Jake and I put a hardtail on our spinners that were rigged for live bait and threw one by the can and one out the back, put in pole holders, continued to jig bait. About 15 minutes later, Jake's drag started to go. It took about five minutes and he landed about a 4-foot shark. We had about six hardtails, a couple herring, and a couple cigars, and decided to head about seven miles out to a wreck we liked to fish.

Upon arrival, I dropped the trolling motor and set the i-Pilot to hold us over the spot. I dropped a 5 ounce vertical jig; it felt like I was hung for a second, and then it came off the bottom. It was a 30-inch gag grouper; they were closed, so it was released and dropped again. Next drop caught an 18-inch trigger on the jig; they were closed, so released. I handed Jake my jig and jigging rod to try and I dropped a hardtail. Jake bowed up and landed a 16-inch trigger. I felt heavy weight and landed a 24-inch gag group. Both species were closed, so both were released. Jake dropped the jig again, and landed a 20-inch gag, too small and closed, so it was released. We spent about another 30 minutes catching more triggers than we could count. When I tried dropping cut bait for bee liners and porgies, I couldn't get past the triggers. Jake looked at me and said, "I want to catch an amberjack." We loaded up and headed to a spot 22 miles out doing 40 mph. It was choppy but nothing I felt the NauticStar couldn't handle after running through Choctaw Bay and Navarre Sound.

About 20 miles out, we come across a small weed line with one patch about the size of the boat. While we were getting out our bay rods and baits, I saw a mahi jump in the line. I cast a Mirrolure Lil’ John XL on a ¼-ounce weight, jigged twice and was hooked up. I reeled the mahi to the boat so the school of three behind it would follow and Jake could hook up. Jake hooked up, so I pulled mine out and threw them in the cooler. These were 17- to 20-inch mahi, not too bad. I cast back out, hooked up, Jake pulled his and mine threw the bait. Jake got his in the cooler and cast back out and hooked up. I spent five minutes playing with the last mahi; it wasn't interested, and it wasn’t lit up anymore. We threw the third mahi in the cooler and headed to the wreck to catch amberjack.

We arrived, dropped the trolling motor, and set the i-Pilot. I dropped the vertical jig to the bottom, started retrieving while jerking up and my rod came to a stop. I fought for about five minutes and landed a 30-inch amberjack. While grabbing and unhooking, it broke my liter and the jig went overboard. Not having anymore jigs since I was just experimenting with the one, Jake put on a 3-ounce feather and I dropped a 7-inch jerks on a 3-ounce head. We stayed there for about 30 more minutes until the trolling motor battery died. We caught two more amberjack, using the same method of the retrieve and jerk, but Jake didn't catch his big one like he wanted. So, I guess we'll have to buy more jigs and go offshore again shortly. Especially since red snapper and gag grouper are both opening up over the next two weeks.

Anthony Watson of the Liquid Dream Fishing Team shares his fishing adventures weekly in the Entertainer.