Port Canaveral Offshore 02-014-11

HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of Fish CAUGHT ............... BUT......... all except a handfull of them were either RED or BLACK!!!!!! This trip was taking a couple guys from the cold country out to do some fishing on the reef. 8A was our spot for the day. We started at my favorite break in the ridge line, which usually keeps fish moving through from the low side. This trip however the bottom current was a little different, and the setup did not work as good. All we were getting was Black Sea Bass, lots of them, and nice sized. Using "Chicken"rigs with 2-hooks, we usually pulled 2 up at a time. {%image_id=19330%} The big problem is that Sea Bass are quickly becomming so abundant that catching anything else is very difficult. Our target specis on the reef this trip was trigger, and we know they are there, but before the bait reach's the bottom, a Sea Bass is on! I cannot imagine the Black Sea Bass population without harvest being allowed. they already dominate the ocean floor. {%image_id=19329%} We finally pulled anchor to drift different parts of the ridge, and about everywhere we went, same thing ......Sea Bass. You would think Grunts would be the nuscience fish, but every once in a while we would catch one, and it was actually a nice change from the Bass. {%image_id=19328%} We finally hit a spot where Trigger was found, but Sea Bass rapidly took over, then the Red Snapper started comming up. These were not as big as we were finding here a couple days ago, but keeper sized fish were caught. I kept working a line on a light tackle spin setup to give the guys some fight, and a nice sized ARS finally beat the Sea Bass to it for some drag peeling. {%image_id=19327%} As we were ready to head in, with sea's nearly flat, and winds calm, 2 Cobia were seen cruising, so we drifted towards them. A bait was offered, and they took a look, but headed to the bottom, not to be seen again. Water temp at 8A was 65deg when we first arrived, and hit 67 by the time we left. Still a little cool. We did see a few Manta's putting on an aerial display, and a Sailfish do likewise. There was a lot of small bait in the area ('fry' sized), so it was bound to gain a few followers. {%image_id=19326%} With Sea Bass and Red Snapper closed, Vermillion Snapper and Shallow water Groupers closed for seasonal closures, Deep Water Groupers closed beyond 240', what is left for us to take home for dinner? In a month or so the waters will warm, and Pelagics will show, but the fishery managers are already scheming to make drastic changes to that, despite NO DATA to support any overfishing at current limits! At least our boat has the speed to move around from site to site to try to find something we can keep. So, We will Catch all We Can, and Keep What We are Allowed, and hope that someone in the Government Grows a Brain! CBS news coverage of NOAA's coruption, and new legislation that will stop its anti-fishing policies may be a fisrt sign of some hope for Anglers. Captain Henry ACME Ventures llc http://www.acme-ventures-fishing.com/ 321-794-7955 602 Glen Cheek Dr., Cape Canaveral Fl. Deep Sea Fishing Charters Port Canaveral "wile e Coyote"