We picked up a group of five from Punta Rassa looking to bend the rods, and for some meat for a meal or two. Took off at 7 AM heading west around the lighthouse. 

​First stop was in about 110 ft of water where we dropped down cut squid. We picked up a few vermilion snappers before one of the rods doubled over, and just that quick it is rocked up and broke off. The second rod goes off, and history repeats itself. Redo the drift, and it was Deja Vu. Rods doubled over and couldn't turn the handle. Some big bruisers down there!  

Made another pass and right towards the end, another rod doubles over, and this time we would have revenge! Our first red grouper for the box. 

We picked up a few more vermilions, but grouper bite shut down, so we pushed on out. 

Set up shop and the bite was a little faster paced with some decent vermilion coming up. Landed a few short red grouper and worked north a bit and dropped down. It was game on! Guys got the hang of the lift up reel down technique and put a hurting on the grouper, and also picked up a beautiful fat mangrove snapper.

Got ready to drop the hook on the spot as it looked like Christmas when the group said they were good on fish and decided to head in so they could enjoy some fresh fish for dinner as they were headed home the following day. 

Guys were a lot of fun to fish with, with lots of joking and kidding all day. Weather could not have been any more perfect. We had smooth seas all day. Had a blast and look forward to seeing these guys again soon.

​We headed out from Punta Rassa at 7 AM in search of some rod benders. Set the hook out in 90 feet over a nice piece of structure, and it was game on. 

A couple of big hits produced bent over rods, and break-offs let us know they were there and ready to play. Vermilion and lanes came up along with a couple of mangroves. A couple more huge hits and break-offs. 

Steve and Kent both got their shot at an excellent red grouper and boated them. Next was Jill, who caught our biggest red grouper of the day at 31". 

We moved off to another big piece of structure looking for some variety. The windy and sandy bottom around the area made it a tough anchor. We caught on the backside and man did we have some big thumps and hookups. It was tough as we probably had 15-20 hookups of big fish off the bottom, and only got one of them, which turned out to be a huge ray (surprising in 100 ft of water). The others had some giant shoulders.

Moved around a bit more and picked away at some lanes and vermilion. Made the run back in and were met by the rain. It was a fun day to be on the water in SWFL.