Illinois man has trip of a lifetime out of Venice
Troy Kirgan was invited to Louisiana with a friend from Illinois for an annual offshore fishing trip. He was hoping to continue a streak of outstanding trips. What he didn’t expect was to land one of the largest snowy groupers to be caught in the state.
Kirgan was fishing as a guest of mine aboard the Our Forte’, a 34-foot Freeman, on a trip out of Venice targeting deepwater species near the Mississippi Canyon. The annual visit from the Illinois group has become something of a tradition, and they seem to bring good luck every year.
This year, my longtime fishing partner Daniel Loup and I decided to do something a little different and focus on some deepwater species they had never experienced before.
Something special
With calm seas and favorable weather conditions, we set out with plans to target grouper, tilefish and possibly try for a swordfish later in the day. Fishing in approximately 850 feet of water, we used Daiwa Tanacom 1200 electric reels paired with Banax Deep Drop rods that were spooled with 80-pound braided line and custom deep-drop rigs assembled during the offseason.
Around 9 a.m., the outing went from somewhat uneventful to unforgettable.
I noticed one of the rods that Kirgan was tending to in the holder bent over so hard it was nearly touching the water. I was at the helm keeping us positioned over the structure while managing several lines, and as soon as I saw that bite, I knew it was something special.
Kirgan managed the rod while I coached him through the fight. Years of experience with deep-drop fishing told me this fish was no ordinary grouper — possibly a nice Warsaw grouper. As the fish dug toward the bottom structure, Kirgan carefully backed off the speed of the electric reel and worked the fish away from danger.
The battle continued until a massive shape appeared from beneath the boat.
When we got our first look at it, everyone was stunned. It was an absolute giant snowy grouper.
The fish was boated and placed in the ice chest, but the excitement only continued to grow as we realized just how rare the catch might be. I joked with Kirgan about the magnitude of the accomplishment. I told him it was like me going to Illinois, never hunting deer before, and shooting a 200-inch Boone and Crockett buck. That’s about the equivalent of what he had just done with that grouper.
IGFA regulations
Back at Cypress Cove Marina, the fish tipped the scales at an impressive 67 pounds. According to available records and research, the largest Louisiana snowy grouper recognized under International Game Fish Association (IGFA) standards weighed 60 pounds, meaning Kirgan’s fish exceeded that mark by 7 pounds. Further research suggests the largest recorded IGFA Snowy was 70 pounds.
Despite its remarkable size, the catch is not eligible for official IGFA recognition because it was landed using an electric reel. This is the second grouper caught aboard my boat that surpassed existing records but could not qualify under current IGFA regulations.
I’d love to see Louisiana establish a separate electric-reel record category. These reels have become extremely popular, and having a dedicated category would be great for record keeping and competition, while still preserving traditional IGFA standards.
Records or not, it was an incredible experience. It always seems like amazing things happen to people who are new to offshore fishing. Seeing someone from out of state catch a fish like that and create a memory they’ll never forget — that’s what makes these trips special.
Whether it ever finds its place in a record book or not, Kirgan’s giant 67-pound snowy grouper will remain one of the most memorable catches ever made aboard the Our Forte’. When seasoned charter captains text me to congratulate me on a fish, it really puts into perspective just how rare a catch like this is for weekend anglers.
-Joey Coco
