Headed out of Taylors at 3pm headed for the tower for Spade, Crew was my work partner Andy Marcum and his brother from California.

Tough day anchoring. Current was ripping and wind blowing a different way. I tried 2 times to set up between my Buddies boat (V20) and another. I then realized we would have to cross other boats anchor lines to make that happen.

I though I would be smart and set up on the the other corner and wait for the current to pull me into the tower. The current was moving in the right direction, but the wind kept us from getting into position, so we move again to the down wind side. We get right up next to the leg, but the current is pushing the baits away from the tower. Our buddy boat (Tracy burns V20) is right next to us also, they moved there also. V20 catches alot of fish, but they were small, he said he had never seen them that small before (he knows his small fish now).

We were catching next to nothing, maybe we caught 3 dinks. V20 heads for the barn, we see the up current side is clear and make our move.

2 tries and we are stern to the tower about 40 ft away with current taking our baits the rest of the way. We start bailing them, its game on. The fish were much bigger, with lots of broke off lines in the tower leggs. I was using 30# leader so we managed to get a few to the boat with barnicles attached to the leader. Last year I just attached the main line to hook.

We had a few good runs and managed a few 20-21 inchers that would have probably made weight, I had no scale with me so we only recorded one citation for release and threw back the others. Andy's brother netted the citation for me, probably the first fish he ever netted, I was getting worried, but it all came out good. We caught about 2 dozen fish and kept 4.

On a side note. I saw the charter guys let small boats tie off to them so they can get on the fish, that was real nice.
I also saw guys trying to hog spots, if someone needs to drop a anchor at your stern to get set up, pull in your lines and let them do it. Your not bottom fishing here guys.

Eric

Great report Eric. Persistance pays off.

Thats what I told my crew. Persistance and patience pays off. I never mentioned the luck factor.

Very nice report. Thanks

I’ve never even heard of a charter boat helping out the little guys.

Must be something in the water down there. Can you please send some up with the Rock fish next spring?

Very nice. Glad you guys had a good trip.