Story and Photo by Mark Browning
Every year my family and I head down to the Dockside Inn and Resort in Ft. Pierce and spend Memorial Day Weekend visiting, cooking out, and fishing! Saturday morning we were up early and my uncle, mom, brother, brother’s girlfriend and I headed out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet on my uncles 21′ Mako Bottom Line. This was the first year my mom was able to make it. She hasn’t been fishing since 1989. She was very excited at the opportunity to go fishing with her boys. The seas were really licking up and the ride out was rough! We started fishing around 9:00 a.m. in about 120 feet of water. We fished our way out to the edge of the Gulf Stream. Once we hit the Gulf Stream man, it really kicked up a notch! We trolled around a bit a decided that the beating we were taking wasn’t worth it. We started heading back in to calmer waters. As we crossed over the ledge we got a knock down on the outrigger at about 10:38 a.m. in 220 feet of water. I turned from the helm and grabbed the rod. Once I tried to set the hook I realized that it was definitely a good fish. As my brother strapped the fighting belt on me we could see the fish jumping. Thirty minutes into the fight the dolphin came to the top jumping again trying to shake the hook. I did not give him any slack and he dove deep taking all but the nitty-gritty of the line left on the Penn 30. After an hour and fifteen minute fight and six long runs later we finally could see a green blob coming to the surface. I swore this fish was foul hooked because I would reel down and when I pulled up he just wouldn’t budge. It seemed that the only way I could make any head way was when my uncle would quarter the fish. He finally came to the surface about 50 yards away from the boat with his mouth wide open. He was not foul hooked. He was just a huge fish. As I pull him to the boat my brother made a perfect gaff but struggled to pull the fish into the boat. Once he was in the boat we couldn’t get him to fit in the fish box! The celebration began!! To top off the day, my mom caught an eighteen pound bull and my brother caught in a small cow on the long line. They were all hitting on bare ballyhoo. This catch was by far my biggest dolphin and the most memorable Memorial Day Weekend fishing adventure. Thanks Capt. Joe for weighing my prize catch!
Caught: 5/25/2013
Stats: 50 pounds 64.5 inches
Fight time: 1 hr. 15 minute fight
Reel: Penn 30 Gold
Caught aboard: 21′ Mako Bottom Line owned by Joey Browning
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