In Florida

[RockyRaab2]

Fished out of Crystal River today. I caught the first fish of the day - a ray estimated at 120 pounds and five feet across, plus a shark, a cobia, and half a dozen gag grouper, including the big one of the day at 30" and about 20 pounds. Tried for but could get a hook set on several snook.

Pictures to come when I get a chance.

[TubeDude]

Excellent.  Glad you got the opportunity to fish that area.  Unbelievable range of species and fishing habitat within a short run.  Lotsa goodies to bend your stick and stretch your string.

Just be careful about bragging about catching non-trout species on a Utah board.  Anything without spots or stripes is trash fish, ya know?

[RockyRaab2]

Yuppers. But it is my mission to broaden the troutaholic horizon.

For got to mention that on our way in we stopped to try for snook and my first cast I hooked up with a monster gar. Got him to the boat but declined to bring it aboard and cut him off. Big bastid.

[jjannie]

Hey good to hear of places maybe we'd like to visit someday!  Can't wait to see the pics! Did you charter a boat or do you have family or friends who took you out? Sounds like fun either way.

[Cowboypirate]

Watching for photos. I love to hear about adventures outside our small bubble

[Bduck]

Yuppers. But it is my mission to broaden the troutaholic horizon.

For got to mention that on our way in we stopped to try for snook and my first cast I hooked up with a monster gar. Got him to the boat but declined to bring it aboard and cut him off. Big bastid.

Oh Yea, I have fond memories catching of Alligator Gars, a true fighter and prehistoric monster.  When you see the long snout with teeth all limbs with digits must remain at a distance. Have fun in Florida

[RockyRaab2]

The couple I'm visiting arranged for a trip aboard a former charter captain. Very nice 26-ft center console. We went out only about five miles and used live pinfish for bait. Caught what he said would likely be his year's best haul of gag grouper (we lost count at a dozen in four hours) and all big to really big. His best ever went 32 inches and we caught two at 30, for example. Sadly, the season on those was closed, so no take home. Cobia was open - there's a cobia tourney going on now - but we released mine as being a bit small.

As soon as I figure out how to get photos from my phone to a real computer, I'll post some.

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Beautiful start to day


First gag



Fishing buds



Getting bigger



Baby cobia


Biggest grouper of the day

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If I look disheveled in those pictures, it's because I'd already fought a huge ray and a moderate shark to the boat, neither of which we got photos of. By this time, I was at about a 4 on the 10-point pain chart and was - to be honest - whooped.

[wiperhunter2]

Looks like a great day Rocky, some great weather there as well. Great fish porn, thanks for sharing your pics and report.

[SkunkedAgain]

Way to go Rocky, that sounds like a really fun trip... Glad you were able to get on that one... That would be great to have a connection like that so you can make such a haul... Congrats and glad you had a good one... Jeff

[RockyRaab2]

My friend really hooked me up (pun intended) with a great captain. The guy no longer does charter trips, but used to get from $700 to $1000 a day for trips. He asked me for $50 in gas money. Not happening. I peeled off a few Benjamins. I think I might get asked back.

[SkunkedAgain]

Wow that's great to get to go with a guy like that.... For sure the extra cash will be appreciated and help the odds of a next time...