Miami 12/21/14

[Miami_Chris]

Quick report from today. Almost cancelled the trip due to having the flu, but the forecast was looking good, and I know the wind is going to kick back up sooner than later, so I toughed it out. It was pretty bouncy on anchor for the 22 footer, but very doable. Most fish were taken from 70-100 feet out on the reef. Mackerel were a pain in the ass chopping all our ballyhoo in half, and busted off some big bottom fish, but managed a nice catch.

20lb black that hit a blue runner chunk on 40lb fluro. My personal best.


Buddy with a nice red grouper on a live ballyhoo


Our final tally, the small muttons ate live ballyhoo on the bottom.


Grouper season is almost over, they are all over the reefs, get out there if you can dudes

[permitchaser]

Verrrry nice MC nobody chum the water?

[Miami_Chris]

Thanks permitchaser, noone chummed haha. I am lucky enough to not get seasick, and the dramamine worked for everyone else

[phillybass]

Nice catch

[permitchaser]

Everybody look happy and with color

[gruntking]

real nice black man how deep were you fishing ?

[Miami_Chris]

Fished from 70-100, the black came in 70 feet.

[grouperking]

this off where?

[permitchaser]

this off where?

bro ,if that's Miami behind MC it could b off Bear Cut, Gov cut...

[Miami_Chris]

We launch out of matheson hammock, and fish the reefs south of fowey

[permitchaser]

That's a great area .

[ilovefishing]

Nice groupers boss

[kblue]

Nice catch...

At the moment, almost only thing I can see is reel seat ... and your rod seems to have no reel seat.
Can you tell me the spec of the rod you catch 20LB black with?

[permitchaser]

Oh boy...

[Miami_Chris]

Yea the rod doesn't have a reel seat. It's an 8ft 20-30lb shikari live bait blank with wire guides. Mounted the reel with the clamp and used blue loctite on the screws so they don't vibrate loose while it's in a rod holder. I still prefer a reel seat, but I love the action, so I deal with it, and always check for tightness

[kblue]

Thanks Chris

red locktite may be much better but you will need heat gun to loose the screws. I could appreciate that rod will reflect very well live bait's movement, specially before the bite... Does the reel come with clamp or did you buy custom clamp?

For PR drift fishing, I also conclude I need reel seat. I figure hook probably set by boat being drift not by fisherman...

[Miami_Chris]

I used the clamp that came with the reel. Thought about an aftermarket, but the reel stays put, so haven't bothered. I'll be fishing this set up on the July PR trip. You should jump on a local drift boat and see how drift fishing works before we head out in July. You'll learn a lot, and those fishing around you in July will greatly appreciate it

[kblue]

I used the clamp that came with the reel. Thought about an aftermarket, but the reel stays put, so haven't bothered. I'll be fishing this set up on the July PR trip. You should jump on a local drift boat and see how drift fishing works before we head out in July. You'll learn a lot, and those fishing around you in July will greatly appreciate it

Yes, I will keep that in mind once I have my rod is ready... I have two drift boats around me, Helen and City pride out of Hillsborough inlet.

What kinda of reel you got there? Your rod seems made of E glass blank?

[Miami_Chris]

Penn fathom 25n, and yea it's e-glass

[LINESIDER]

Nice catch...

At the moment, almost only thing I can see is reel seat ... and your rod seems to have no reel seat.
Can you tell me the spec of the rod you catch 20LB black with?

lmao i knew it, when i saw it thought of that rod u wanna build, just need different guides for braid

[snapperfanatic18]

nice haul and eats!