Stone Crab!

I had a last-minute charter request; the guests had a charter cancel and wanted to get out. Their preference was offshore fishing. With east winds at 15-20mph, the conditions were suboptimal. But, the Free-Spirit is a capable vessel with a 10ft beam and a deep vee hull, it was doable. An East wind makes nearshore water leeward and calmer close in. We went about 5 miles out and it was a bit bumpy. Solid action on Atlantic Spadefish, not the best eating, but they fight hard and are often hungry. Guests have reported they eat just fine. Keeper grey snapper, and several breakoffs on large fish likely Goliath Grouper or Shark. We boated 2 Goliaths and lost maybe 6 more. Lots of action. Then we went inshore to calmer waters to find snook and snapper.

May is usually a calm sea month, but we had out share of windy conditions. The shallow grouper bite has been good with several keeper Reds and nice Gags plus Mangrove and Lane Snapper on live bottom. Artificial reefs produced gags, snapper and Spadefish.

We have had a long period of strong wind 20mph with gusts to 30mph. Despite the winds good inshore fishing for Seatrout and Mackerel with several keepers. A few Trout 24" to 29" were caught and released. I expect the winds to laydown and will be heading offshore this week.