Friday June 7, the Florida Fisherman ll, Hubbard's Marina, is ready, once again, to challenge the American red snapper. It's ARS pay back time. No more free meals. Will they be hungry? Let's go see. Captain Bryon, a veteran with many years experience, leads the charge. Tammy has the galley loaded with enough food and drinks to feed a small country. OK! Let's eat. What a way to begin our thirty nine hour adventure deep into the very heart of the famous Florida Middle Grounds. Now this is one group of excited anglers. Perfect weather, AC bunks, and the show stopper...Tammy's melted cheese meatball sub. Talk about heaven on earth, talk about challenging the premier fish of the entire Gulf of Mexico, We are ready, let's go get um!
Twelve thirty Saturday morning Captain Bryon slows those two big cats down. Now there is a thirty foot ledge loaded with fish. Are they hungry? Mister David Lee, sir, who is winning that battle, you or the fish? David gains an inch and looses two. The outcome is in doubt. That thing is really pulling. Finally, color, the color of a big red grouper. Nice going David, nice going indeed:
Trevor, sir you are really taking the fight to the hard to catch mangrove snapper. Good going sir:
Here comes the American red snapper. Gary, fishing spot # 28 leads the way:
Scott, what have you hooked into? What a fighter. Nice going partner. That's a beautiful American red:
Finally, the sun makes an appearance. The Florida's number one box is almost full. Mister Craig Scott, a real expert, can teach us all a lesson in catching the elusive Mangrove snapper:
John, now that's one you can be proud of:
Now this is getting serious. We are taking it to the ARS. No more free meals:
We are starved. Tammy, what's for lunch? How about beer batter dipped special seasoned fish sandwiches and potato salad? Tammy, words will never tell how much we appreciate you:
:
Back to the fights. Now that's a Middle Ground's size vermilion snapper. Craig, way to go partner, way to go:
Any guess on what kind of porgy that is?
Next month partner, pay back time:
Hans, sir you can be proud, very proud, of that nice yellow mouth grouper. We do not see too many of them on the Grounds:
Talk about beautiful. Bet those mahi don't make that mistake again. Boy! One, two, three, jumps. Priceless!
Tammy, guess what? In addition to a very fine American red catch, we have hundreds of mangrove snapper, as well as some of the biggest vermilion snapper you have ever seen. And those darn grouper have out pulled us. We are starved. Guys, this evening I have gone Italian. In addition to a huge garden fresh green salad, how does great big meat balls, spaghetti, and Texas toast sound? Tammy, we are way too busy eating to say anything:
Today we are honored to have, fishing in my old spot, number 5, fellow forum friend Mister Robert Taylor with us. Robert brought his good friend Mister Thomas S. Ziminski with him. In addition to a fine grouper & mango catch these two real sportsmen caught their two day limits of American red snapper. Guys, please do not be strangers. The Florida Fisherman ll needs you!
Robert (L), & Tom, it has been a pleasure fishing with you. You are family:
Will they be hungry? Need you ask?
In the money jack pot winners:
It's ARS pay back time. The fishing was great, the companionship outstanding, the weather was picture perfect, and the food, well! we all know about that.
This just in, The Florida Fisherman special charter Sunday 39 hour trip limited out, two day limit, on ARS before 5 P.M. In addition, the last 12 hour trip also limited out. No more free meals, and boy, are they ever hungry. Is next Friday here yet?
Bob Harbison Florida Outdoor Writers Association
