Well, here is part of the report and story as I remember it.

THE PLANNING: After many emails and PM’s a year ago we decided to take one of those famous Tortugas fishing trips with Captain Yuri. It took many emails throughout the year to get in accord as to what gear we were all going to bring and some got together to order lead and vertical jigs so we could get discounts. Rods were made, reels were bought, and many lists came and went. We picked a moon that would not create so much pull and would result in weaker currents. We hit the jackpot as the current was minimal.


I am basing this report in the order of the date in the pictures. Since it was constant fishing, short resting periods, lots of rigging, plenty bait cutting, etc… the order of the events may have changed in my mind. I also tried to see what everyone in this trip was experiencing but focused a lot more on my fishing.


CLOSE CALL TO A NO GO: As many know that week almost got thrashed by a developing low pressure system that canceled many other trips on different boats, but fortunately for us a mild cold slowed down the low down and in the words of Captain Greg “it stabilized itself”. I think we almost became mini meteorologists, and oceanographers, LOL…. The good thing is that the bad weather created a nice environment for a feeding frenzy (so we think). The ocean was a bit dirty from the previous low pressure system and passing weak cold front. What a great time to fish (well not so great at the beginning for some of us).


THE BAIT: It was known that it is imperative that we take all kinds of oily baits to the Dry Tortugas but it was pretty hard to gather bait before the trip, at times we all tried to go out at some point and got drenched in water doing so. We collected a few runners, macks, and jacks. We decided to stop trying and to catch bait on the day of the trip. On the way up we did the norm, stopped at Jacks and got some fresh ballyhoos and some threadfins (in case we went to a wreck), we then passed by the Yellow Bait house in hopes for some frozen gogs but they had none, we passes by Atlantic fisheries and loaded on fish dip and slab of frozen gogs (BINGO! They had them!). We tried for cudas and other baits at channel 2 but these were on the other side of the driving bridge so we moved on, we passed by 7 mile bridge and found nothing there. We then went to get some pins that “SOMEONE” though was useless but I insisted and they caved in. After Rory netted the pins and Ricky, Nelson, and myself got a few of the bigger ones (Rob was the vigilante taking care of our gear), Rory got some sardines that were in the mix and Rory said “why not throw another cast?”. And so he did and got some more. We took the white bait just in case. We were more confident and went to the boat and met Jorge, kewl guy. Nice to meet you and fish with you.

THE FIRST DAY, FRIDAY:

THE RIDE OUT: Since on Thursday the weather was a little strong the plans were to go to the Fort and start fishing in the morning but we got to the boat early and Yuri decided we had a good window to go out right away so we left about an hour early and started fishing just before midnight. The ride was a little rough when we hit Rebecca’s Shoal and the waves according to the captain were about 5 to 7 feet. To me it felt like much more as I saw some higher waves that surpassed my head level (maybe it was the motion sickness that started to kick in due to my age, LOL)…Nelson was the first to start chumming followed by Ricky, and then I started roaring. What a relief it was to chum it all out. Luckily I had plenty fish dip and then fried chicken with a couple of beers before I let it all out joining Nelson and Ricky on the chum fest.

FISHING STARTED: All we needed was 3 ounces to get to the bottom but I chose 5 ounces for my mutton rod and 8 ounces for my grouper rods to be used with large baits ( I did target them on every stop). Others chose 6 ounces and even 8 ounces to get to the bottom quicker. Since the water was murky I stuck with 50lb leader most of the time and when the bite slowed down or the fish got bigger and the sun was out I switched to 50 pound fluorocarbon at times switching to 40 pound leader. After the water was chummed up the muttons started chewing within an hour of us being there. The bite was great from the get go. Two of the crew went to bed while the rest continued fishing. The first night was all about the muttons while a few sharks came by and collected their Tortugas tax. We started with a variety of baits pinfish, cut bu runna, and George had fresh gogs that he used. We caught some muffins and some decent pinks but the bite slowed down. I then took out my little spinner with a 60 gram vertical jig and got a bu runna so George and I cut it and got more decent size pinkies with the strips we cut. So we kept every bu runna we caught after that. Other baits were used and just about everything that hit the water got chewed on. Also I think Rob tried the Lucanos and Jorge tried the Aki jig for a bit. The yellow tails were very aggressive and so we got many of them most were over 20 inches. I got one that was 26 inches (5 pounds), so I kept it.

THE VERTICAL JIGGING GOT STARTED: Early morning. I started jigging and got a football sized blackfin tuna, then came a couple of jack crevales, and I had a nice fight on the Saltist 4500 I tighten the drag all the way and the hook pulled. Jorge started jigging as well and ended with another nice jack crevale that was released. (We only kept one for bait). I then tried again with the looser drag (about 18 pounds), and then the trouble maker got hooked, SEA DONKEY! Rory and I were on. I spent quiet a while to pull mines in and Rory pulled his sea donkey in a bit easier since he had that huge 18K. We did not want to waste space in the cooler because we saw that the bite was kind of hot on the muttons. And each of those donkeys filled a 150 quart cooler with no problem. After the donkeys the bite slowed down and we moved to another spot. Rob got hooked on the Lucanos a few time the aki jig did not. The rest of the day was red groupers on live and butterflied “PINFISH” and we also got some nice flag yellow tails. I believe that Rob and Rory were using the white bait for those. We looked for the box of squid but could not find it, then realized we left it in one of the trucks. Jorge, Rob, Rory, and Ricky jigged the most. They pick a few nice and some short muttons and groupers. I only jigged when the bite slowed down.

THE SECOND DAY, SATURDAY:

It went by as we continued to try the jigging and baiting until we figured that we need to drop the jigs first before any bait and that was the ticket to some nice groupers and muttons. I got one of the biggest muttons of the trip on a vertical jig while Jorge got another two and Rory got a nice one as well. We were taking the pics when Nelson got hit on bait and pulled the other biggest mutton, both were 16.2 pounds on a digital scale. Rob kept on trying the Lucanos with Rick and both got nice red groupers and short ones as well. Rob got a real nice hit but his tiny Lucanos jig hook broke. Rory and Jorge continued with other muttons on the jig while I was using bait. We spent the entire day moving from stop to stop and we picked at the fish with the jigs on every first few drops. We would run to be the first ones to drop the jigs or bait, we had a small competition to see who got the most muttons and the biggest mutton, LOL….Ricky got creative and found a new secret bait, ended with a nice size pinky and I tried it as well with a much smaller cut bait and it worked. Then Nelson got creative and used a second hand bait that a red grouper had spit and BANG! He got hit on it but it was a short red grouper. The day went by and Ricky got a nice hit when all of a sudden his line felt like he was pulling dead weight, his nice size black got cut in half by a shark 
This night we had the famous Yuri fish dinner and let me tell you it was all that people talk abound and then some. It was some great fish. I understand now how Robert started eating fish.

Jorge and Rob kept picking at the pinkies while we all slept I between naps. They got some live gogs and played with the kings for a bit. We ended with 3. Jorge had a massive hit that he could not stop. I went to be after that.


THE THIRD DAY SUNDAY:

It was the shark and kingfish saga! Every mutton or yellow tail would turn into a toothy critter (well it happened all trip long but it was more often as on this day). Nelson was the only one awake all night and he caught up with catching muttons I had a nice black grouper that cost me three tries to get it out of the whole when I felt my line vibrate, a king cut my sinker off when I had the fish a good 20 feet from the surface. Lesson learned: Spray paint my shiny leads in the future… We kept on fishing for yellow tails to see if we got some flags we ended catching some in the 24 inch range. Nelson, Jorge, and Rob kept on picking at the muttons while most of us were trying for more groupers and then they joined us as well. The morning slowed down and was time to go so we had to rearrange all coolers and drink all drinks since we had run out of fish space. The smorgasbord followed with Ricky eating his first Hot pocket ever, LMAO!!! He kept hearing hot pocket this hot pocket that until finally he had one.

BACK ON LAND! We unloaded and carpeted the floor with our catch, started to get ready to load all our stuff when we went to check the truck I opened it and Rory and I got hit by a MASSIVE! Nasty smell of the squid that was left on my cast net in the truck bed (the net still dipped in fabric freshener! LOL Well my truck stinks a mile away, I have to park in the far corner of the lot, LOL…Some got their fish cleane for 30 bucks an hour. I regret not doing so! I just finished cleaning mines a few hours ago and what a mess I have in my back yard. My neighbors are going to love the smell tomorrow afternoon, LMAO!!!!

Well that’s the end of some of the stories/report here are some pics for those that skipped all the mumbo jumbo I just wrote, LOL!

Getting ready and loaded to the max.


At the temporary dock


The bookie


The one that kept on fishing while others slept and ended tied with most muttons holding his winings, he wishes that was the prize money, LOL


some bunks


Other bunks


The rest stop


The kitchen


jet engines taking off


Why not take a pic of the high tech crapper? LOL


Rory


Herb


Jorge


Robert


Ricky


Nelson


The rest of the story:

























Kings can be brutal!






I don't think so! LOL

The carpet

The filet

Some munchies

The wait

And the more wait



Special thanks to John and Clarise for the bait and of course the Captain for the other bait and great dinner as well as for everything else.

Video coming as soon as Ricky and Rory give me their takes.

Hope you all enjoyed! Until next time.


Edit: Added the fish tally


The final tally as given by the 6 fishermen was:

Nelson (rare):
11 muttons… (biggest at 16.2 lbs)
3 reds
1 scamp
2 tails in the 18in range
1 cero mackarel


Jorge (offshorefishin_2):

Limit on muttons...(biggest at over 15 lbs)
6 red grouper, plus one released
2 big kings
1 big jack cravelle
And countless yellow tails released


Rory (PhishingPhanatic):

16 muttons...(biggest at over 15 lbs)
2 red grouper
1 gag grouper
2 king fish
1 big Amber jack
1 cero mackarel
And countless Tails released, kept two 24 inchers


Robert (WhoDey):

Limit on muttons....(biggest at over 12 lbs)
1 Big Mangrove snapper
4 big porgies
2 kings
3 reds Groupers
Over 10 yellow tail flags and countless more released

Ricky (Rijkaard):

16 muttons (biggest at 15 lbs 15 oz)
6 groupers + 1 devoured by sharks,1 gag grouper,1/2 black grouper (had to pay the mafia in grey suit....) ,1 strawberry,1 rock hind, red groupers
1 porgy
2 kings
4 tails over 20" (biggest at 24")
1 5' lemon
1 spotted moray eel
countless smaller tails and smaller sharks

Herbert (Cudaman):
Limit on muttons, over 4 released (biggest at 16.2 lbs)
Over 15 yellow tails released one at 26" kept, one at 24" kept
2 black black groupers
4 red groupers, plus about 4 red groupers released
1 football size blackfin tuna
1 big amberjack....several small ones
2 kings
3 cero mackerel
2 jack crevales over 12 pounds, kept one for bait because of gaft on head
1 small Almaco jack released
1 horse eye jack released


A variety of other groupers were caught and released by just about all the anglers on board.

About a total of 160 fish kept
The biggest muttons caught were at 16.2 pounds by Nelson (rare) and by Herbert (cudaman)
The most muttons caught by Robert (WhoDey) and by Herbert (Cudaman)
Jigging worked best at first drop
Dead bait worked better by switching to different baits as often as the bite slowed down

Very very cool guys! Sign me up for the next one!!! Im in like sin!

-swordfish

Now thats snapper and grouper fishing. I would go on a trip like that for sure. Nice catch guys!!

WOW!!!! I am green with envey....Great report and catches guys, those are some flags for sure.

I gotta try one of those trips sometime, that is for sure!


Now I gotta look at the pics again..................

Great job guy's! Welcome to the Yuri addiction. Great report and pic's herb. Can't wait for the video.

wow you guys really did some work

Next time I will not miss it you suckers - lol

What a awesome report Herb. Great catches and whopper size mutts etc...

Love the broken jig. Must have been a nice crunch on that drop.
Brother Nelson - bro Ricky and Rory and Sir George bueno as usual

So happy I built your rod the way I did Herb since the rod came off the dryer just Wednesday night. Usually 72 hours cure but this time 48 were good huh? Nasty bend - lol

You guys did sooooooo good. Proud of you all. Good thing that the trip was this past weekend due to what is brewing down south right now.



Sry George for the K.W.C but you surely understand.

Guys we got to get together next weekend Sat or Sun to exchange some tales and for a special something we been planning - get it?

What a flag! Great pics. Can't wait to hear all the stories when we fish together. I'm glad to see Rob is eating fish now. You guys are wrong for giving Ricky a hot pocket. Don't eat that man it will kill you!!! I like those nice big kings too! Good stuff!!!!

Pretty Work

Wow Awesome Job guys!

INCREDIBLE TRIP GUYS!!!! Bet that was a blast with the jigs, except for those donkeys

Well, not quite it did not completely dry, Rob noticed that condensation got into it. May have to touch it up a bit. But the rod is a beast and the guides were lined up perfectly. The mono did not touch the rod at any point on the massive bends it got. I got 5 groupers on it, 2 black groupers and 3 red groupers. The sixth I got on the jigging rod.



This weekend sounds great!



It sure was man, we did enjoy the fight with the donkeys even if I complained like a baby about my back all trip long, LOL....Rory and i asked the captain for one more try at them and hope for smaller ones for the smoker, but we didn't find them again.

Thanks everybody, and Pat you ain't kidding next Yuri trip is already in the plans, LOL
Also planning a jigging trip on the Yankee Capts, hopefully the 2 day one in February or March.

With the right setup, those donkeys aren't that bad. I was actually wanting to hook another one the last morning, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I was using a Saragosa 18k on a 250-500g Hopper jigging rod with 65 JB solid core, that was more then enough for anything I hooked on the jigs.

It doesn't get any better all kind of nice fish .

RIDICULOUS...OVER AND OVER AGAIN...Favorite pic is all the fish layed out on the deck and you guys posing....oh yea did I mention, RIDICULOUS?!..

Herb that is not condensation. Could be some micro bubbles.

Lay the rod in the sun "not full sun" for half a day.

Thanks guys.


Ron,
I'm going to let it rest for a couple of weeks while I get my reels serviced. I had a similar thing happen with a rod from Chaos or T&R, went fishing with it too soon. When it's not completely dry water condenses in the surface and the dries out. You can see no micro bubbles, it only happens when the weather is very humid or at morning time. You did an excellent job on that rod man.

Awesome report and VERY nice catches! Looks like you guys had a blast

Awesome report, and even better fishing!

All I can say is WOW!!! You guys brought it home. A Truly amazing trip. Grats to all. Besides the bruiser fish, I kept looking at the gear and tackle in the pics, lol. It would be great to hear what combo worked best and for what etc... I would love to go on one of those trips with you guys, meanwhile, I'll keep putting in the time and learning as much as I can.
Thanks for the amazing report, it felt like I was there

This was a super sweet trip.. could someone point me in the direction of the cost of the trip, my boys are nagging me, I want to tell them its too expensive!!! LOL
Seriously.. would LOVE to go, this would be food for the year!!! Do they filet for you after? or its up to you?

Those jacks were sweeeeeet by the way.. I couldn't imagine fighting one without some heavy equipment!!

Charles

We all had different gear to bring- You can use Penn 4/0 as well with no problems. If one huge advice I can give you is; start buying all the small stuff "NOW!" Hooks- 3/0 thro 8/0 25 each or more. I also had a pack of 10/0 for big gruopers. I went through a pack of 7/0 hooks of 25 like nothing. The sharks & kings if around will cut you off & you will go through alot. Lead, buy it was well in bulk. (4-16oz) I started off with 8oz and could have went down in weight cause current wasn't ripping, but I'm used to 8oz of lead for fishing in the keys. Leaders 20lb-100lb. Etc...You get the point; start getting all this small important stuff out the way. BNring some back up gears as well. You never know.

For big black grouper, I had a 6/0 wide 80lb (I will get him next time)
I had a saltiga 50 with 50 lbs Mutton/grouper
Avet LX with 40lb
Avet LX with 30lb
Accurate 870 with 30 (Taking it to T&R for a lower gear)
Penn 6000 with 20

IMO, I love the Saltiga low ratio just to get them off the bottom. I moved up to the 50lb because I was getting hit hard with the 30lb, shark were cuttimg me off & something big was giving me problems with 40lb, & the 50lb was just right. I had a leader of about 6-8ft of 40lb/50lb. If I was fishing alone in the morning, no more than 2ft cause I had to either flip or gaffed the fish by myself. Herb likes using the high gear ratio for some bottom, but I only like it on the Keys Bridge & not so much for bottom fishing from that deep. I didn't come to this trip with jigging in mind, but got a taste and now I have an idea. Rory's rod is nice, I picked it up at Capt. Harry's for him & it worked great with his Saragossa 18k.

The trip for 3days- $3600/6 is $600 each & we all tipped Yuri well with a few from the pool winnings giving him extra. We went on a half day more trip Thurs- Sunday was about an extra $100 more from each of us for that half day trip.

Awesome report guys

You're welcome Johnster.

Here is some of what I brought:

Conventionals:

Accurate BX600 4:1 w/ 80 lb braid, topshot 60 lb mono on a GF850H Calstar. For Groupers
Accurate BX600 6:1, w/ 40 lb mono on a GF800L Calstar. For Snappers
Accurate 665 6:1, w/ 30 lb mono on a 7’ custom. Backup ---used for for catching gogs with sabiki and 5oz weight
Jigmaster500 backup reel-did not come out of the bag

Spinners

Saltist 5000 w/ 30 lb mono on Chaos 15/30 rod Flatlining and freelining bait for king fish
Saltist 4500 w/ 50 lb braid on OTI 350gram rod Jigging only
Daiwa Tournament SU 4500 w/15 lb braid on Gloomis live bait rod Bait and light jigging

Hooks

20 11/0 circle hooks---- for groupers --used all, lots of shark cuts
20 10/0 circle hooks---- used half
50 7/0 circle hooks ----used only one
50 6/0 circle hooks ----used about 1/2
25 4/0 circle hooks -----used all of them
25 3/0 circle hooks…to catch snappers for bait ----used about 15

Lures/Jigs

10 assorted red hawk jigs ( 1/2oz to 3oz) for king fish and night blackfins ----used 5
Vertical jigs, Flutter jigs, Aki jigs (Lucanos), Big spoons ---about 100 of all kinds mostly light colors were used
Big plugs (red/white, blue, green bombers, etc) ---did not use

Trolling lures, just in case ---did not use

The weights are around this much:
(2) 1lb weights ---none used
(5) 10 oz weights ---none used
(25) 8oz weights ----used 5
(30) 6oz weights ---none used
(30) 5 oz weights ----all used
(20) 3oz weights -----used 10
(10) 2oz weights -----used 5
(0) 1 oz weights ------used none

Leader wheels
2 wheels of 25 yds each with 80lb test mono
1 wheel of 25yds with 60lb test mono
3 wheels of 25yds each with 50lb test mono----used one wheel
1 wheel of 25 yds with 50lb flouro ----used it
3 wheels of 25 yds with 40lb test mono ---used 2.5 wheels
1 wheel of 25yds with 30lb flouro
1wheel of 25yds with 25lb flouro ---used it
1wheel of 25yds with 20lb flouro
Ended up borrowing a wheel of 100lb mono for the groupers. -----used it

Also took extra spools of 80, 50, 40, 30, and 8 pound test lines

Others brought a little different assortment but generally were the same size gear.
Cudaman.

Damn man this is some good stuff

Gonna use that as reference and what might come from Ricky and Rory and George

Good stuff

Yea guys, I honestly didn't think it was like that in terms of gear really. But I guess once you do throw in all the cut offs, etc etc, into the equation then it all makes sense, awesome.

Totally ridiculous guys!!!! I can't wait for our trip in November. You guys really got me siked now!!!!

:au

This is a great list. Mine was similar, but my main go-to hook for snapper fishing was a 5/0 circle. I brought about 100 and used close to 50. I used 50 lb leader for most mutton fishing. You need to have a variety of lead, since you never know how the current is going to be. We were lucky on this trip with perfect current, and I never needed more then 6 ounces to hold, but I've also been out there when 12 ounces got swept away like nothing.

my gosh you all did so well and by using the jigs. wish i could do a trip like that but gotta save money though. again... pics are awesome man.