Jackpot Jimmy
08-19-2012, 02:51 PM
On Saturday the 18th, I got to fish with Ghetto Dad and his daughter Britney, “Kalico Klumper” and his wife Michelle, the L3gend Kevin Kim and his girlfriend Jang, along with the usual suspects.
Our first order of business was to look for some barracuda, which bit a little bit the day before. We went 1-2 on the barracuda before turning west to head out to the cod grounds for a little more action.
The grouper were once again there, but not as eager to jump the jig. A sardine on a dropper loop was the ticket for a grouper, ranging from about 14 inches all the way up to nine pounds. One of GD’s goals this day for Brit was for her to get a PIG grouper, and she caught not one, but TWO PIG GROUPER, one about 8-1/2 pounds, and the other 9.2 pounds!
9.2 Pounds!!!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_ToadGrouper.jpg
8-1/2 Pounds!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_ToadGrouper2.jpg
While overall these grouper were not all over the jigs like they usually are, some nice ones were caught on the jig. Just ask GD himself -->
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/GD_ToadGrouper.jpg
After limiting out on grouper, we headed in to the beach to put some fresh squid to use on a leadhead (or put some shrimp to use on a dropper loop). There was a strong downhill current so we were immediately pushed off the spot. But I got bit and swung like I was pulling a bass out of the rocks, and whatever it was, was coming up like a big sandy. And then about half way up, it felt like it was going through the rocks again, but it was coming up steadily. Then it gave an angry headshake – oh, is this what I think it is? A 13 pound flat thing came on board soon after.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/105_0703.jpg
After that fluke (pun intended), we repositioned on the rockpile and some bass started to bite, among some other things. GD’s next goal was for Brit to catch her first sheephead, which she did!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_Sheephead.jpg
A couple of sand bass came up like this one…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Jimmy_SandBass081812.jpg
…but it was mostly nice calicos coming over the rail. No toads, but decent sizes nonetheless. We ended up with 18 bass for our efforts on the inside.
Our total count was just under limits of rockfish (including limits of grouper), 18 bass, 1 cabezon, 1 sheephead, and 1 halibut. The structure bass session was a nice change of pace for the afternoon, seeing that surface action has slowed down some. But dreams came true today for one young lady, along with her happy dad. Brit took the JP today, beating all of the seasoned veterans. As for me, I now have a record of catching three legal halibut in one year, and my dad and I have a lot of tasty meat for now and later. Fun times.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_JP.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/105_0706.jpg
Our first order of business was to look for some barracuda, which bit a little bit the day before. We went 1-2 on the barracuda before turning west to head out to the cod grounds for a little more action.
The grouper were once again there, but not as eager to jump the jig. A sardine on a dropper loop was the ticket for a grouper, ranging from about 14 inches all the way up to nine pounds. One of GD’s goals this day for Brit was for her to get a PIG grouper, and she caught not one, but TWO PIG GROUPER, one about 8-1/2 pounds, and the other 9.2 pounds!
9.2 Pounds!!!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_ToadGrouper.jpg
8-1/2 Pounds!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_ToadGrouper2.jpg
While overall these grouper were not all over the jigs like they usually are, some nice ones were caught on the jig. Just ask GD himself -->
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/GD_ToadGrouper.jpg
After limiting out on grouper, we headed in to the beach to put some fresh squid to use on a leadhead (or put some shrimp to use on a dropper loop). There was a strong downhill current so we were immediately pushed off the spot. But I got bit and swung like I was pulling a bass out of the rocks, and whatever it was, was coming up like a big sandy. And then about half way up, it felt like it was going through the rocks again, but it was coming up steadily. Then it gave an angry headshake – oh, is this what I think it is? A 13 pound flat thing came on board soon after.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/105_0703.jpg
After that fluke (pun intended), we repositioned on the rockpile and some bass started to bite, among some other things. GD’s next goal was for Brit to catch her first sheephead, which she did!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_Sheephead.jpg
A couple of sand bass came up like this one…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Jimmy_SandBass081812.jpg
…but it was mostly nice calicos coming over the rail. No toads, but decent sizes nonetheless. We ended up with 18 bass for our efforts on the inside.
Our total count was just under limits of rockfish (including limits of grouper), 18 bass, 1 cabezon, 1 sheephead, and 1 halibut. The structure bass session was a nice change of pace for the afternoon, seeing that surface action has slowed down some. But dreams came true today for one young lady, along with her happy dad. Brit took the JP today, beating all of the seasoned veterans. As for me, I now have a record of catching three legal halibut in one year, and my dad and I have a lot of tasty meat for now and later. Fun times.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/Brit_JP.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/105_0706.jpg