Islamorada Yellowtail - 4/23

[2fastlx]

Got off shift at 8 and loaded the boat, was on the reef by 845. Was greeted with a 10kt north wind and a northeast current Set up on the first spot in 88ft and was SWARMED by speedos and runners. Had to pick up and move as there was no way to fish the tails. Moved to another spot in 93 and got two nice flags but they were WAYYY back and would not come up at all. Decided to pick up and try dropping out in 205 for verms and yelloweyes. At this point the wind had all but died and seas were slick. Did some drifts over a slope out in 205 and was getting some barely legals. Hit a few wrecks in the area with live pins and speedos - to no avail. I was starting to get pretty discouraged at this point, especially when the wind changed to 10kt out of the west -which combined with the current left us drifting at over 2kts. Decided to try one more yellowtail spot as we still had some chum and bait left. Hit my old faithful spot in 72' where I usually do well on 1 1/2 to 2lb fish, and the current was flowing right behind the boat - thank god. Gave a steady flow of chum and oats and had them balled up 50ft back. Managed to finish our snapper limit (30) of decent fish with a few 2 1/2 pound fish mixed in, and released about 10 that were under 14". Had a 20lb yellowjack eat a tail and break me off behind the boat, as well as a 13-14ft hammerhead rise up on two hooked fish - pretty cool sight to see. Boy was I glad to finally get some fish in the box, they day wasnt panning out so well at first, current into the wind with gin-clear water.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Way to perservere