Capt. Philip Watson
Hey everyone the water is warming and the fish are FIRING off! Take your pick and we can probably go catch it this month. One of my favorite fish to target when clients request big fish is to take them to the amberjacks. They fight so hard they don’t call them Reef Donkeys for nothing! This type of fishing can make for some exciting sight fishing with some top water action.
These fish are curious by nature and will come check out your boat. Once anchored on your spot, throw some live chum out of your choice. I prefer to chum with whitebait and use a grunt for my actual bait. Once these fish re-act to your chum, don’t stop, keep throwing it out. You have the possibility of getting them fired up enough to crush about anything you throw at them. Go big on your tackle with a minimum of 40lb fluorocarbon leader and a 7/0 hook.
The trip I want to highlight this month are some of my great clients, The Gaytan’s and Lingdinger crew from Michigan. When we left the dock, they requested a picture with a big fish and some dinner, so we headed out to tango with amberjacks. The day was flat calm, and the water was super clear. First spot was a freshwater spring in the middle of the gulf. Once anchored the jacks started swarming the boat. With my well full of Pigfish and Pinfish I started my chum. In short order we were hooked up on our first big jack, and one by one they all brought one in. After we had enough punishment, we moved to some grouper bottom at 90 feet and picked up 5 healthy red grouper and bucket full of snapper. What an amazing day!
Just Kickin Back Charters
Captain Philip Watson
Anna Maria Island, Fl
www.justfishfl.com
941-226-1100