MARKSOUTDOORS.COM

GULF OF MEXICO JUNE 2005

David Bross Mobile, AL USA

Left Dauphin Island's Billy Goat Hole around 6AM. Seas were about 1 foot, almost calm. On board was me, Arceli, Willie, Darcy and Donald (a family friend). We had a wonderful trip out to our favorite oil rig about 30 miles south of the lighthouse in about 125 feet of water.

Darcy piloted the boat for awhile, doing a good job of following the GPS. Later, she would catch some nice vermillion snapper making it a good day for her. She was especially excited to see the dolphins and sea turtles.

I couldn't wait to try for some big fish...amberjack, etc...on the new fishing combo my wife gave me for Father's Day. I know...it's not Father's Day yet but she let me have it anyway. It's a new Ocean Master rod with a Shimano Torium reel. This is the first time I've had a rod and reel just for me!

We ended up with about 20 vermillion snapper, 2 mangrove snapper, 1 lane snapper, 1 trigger fish, some grunts, a dogfish and a spade fish. I also had several hookups and losses on my new outfit.

I started out using only a 40 pound leader on my gear but ended the day with 100 pound. It paid off, as did live bait about 40 feet down! I boated one good sized amberjack and our friend caught a large barracuda. Whew, those amberjacks are like freighttrains! But the new gear worked great! I love it!

We stopped at another rig on the way home, in about 100 feet of water but didn't even get any bites.

All-in-all, another wonderful day on the Gulf. Now I have to figure out where I stored my wood for smoking....um, smoked amberjack!