Sunday we went out of cocodrie with my brother and mom’s boyfriend in his big 22 foot bay boat. We went try spots I never fished before out of west timb, but they were all duds. I only caught one trout and a bunch of hardheads and ladyfish. We could’ve went to tried and true trout spots back west, but with it being midmorning I wanted to go rig fishing before any storms popped up since its new to me and the last two trips were so much fun. The wind was wiping 10-15, but the 2 foot slightly choppy seas were still fishable. We hit 2 rigs a few miles out landing 3 big jacks on jigs and my brother caught his first ever lemon fish free lining mullet. My biggest jack was 31 pounds. We didn’t have a big enough anchor to fish in the waves at some rigs and water wasn’t as clean as last time. On the bottom with finger mullets and dead shrimp we hooked into bluefish, Spanish mackerel, drum, undersized snappers and sheepshead. We didn’t stay too long though with the windy conditions but it was fun and I can’t wait to go back and get some more cobia.
On the way in I decided to try a calm spot for bullreds on the backside of last island where my buddy went catch a few whoppers right off the beach last week. Curtis and I use cut catfish to catch the bullreds since the sailcats and hardheads will steal any other bait you usually put out there except for themselves. My brother and duane aren’t as big into fishing for big fish as I am, so after 15 minutes they wanted to roll out. Catching whopper fish is my passion. I get bored with easy fishing for the same small school trout. To me its like only deer hunting for just does, fun at first then it gets dull imo.
Right when we were leaving my line started humming. I opened the bail, tightened the drag then flipped into something big. It jumped and I knew I had massive shark. I thought I finally had me one big enough to keep and I didn’t want to put that beast in duane’s boat to break everything when measuring him so Laura and I jumped in the chest water with my measuring tape and pliers. Found out my girl was braver than I thought with that big shark just a few yards away. After battling him into the shallows I realized he was a 6 foot sand tiger, so I let him swim free unharmed. It was my first sand tiger and quite the experience.
Maybe this coming weekend I’ll go after the trout hard for a change. The full moon should have some big mommas on the sand!