We took a trip out with captain Steve Hess in Panama City beach, with little expectations since it's been no higher than 45 with below freezing at night,and 58 deg water temp. We had been waiting for a calm day so we could get out since there since we got hear last Saturday.
So as we pulled out of the harbor Captain Steve put the hammer down and we cruised at 40 mph to his first spot. 1st drop from Tara and I both resulted in 2 large trigger fish , GAME ON. If we didn't catch 1 or even two at a time every drop to 70ft of water we were robbed of bait and had to reel them up and rebait.
We ended up catching so many it started to get old, so off we went to the next spot and we caught either red snapper or red grouper and more triggers evey drop again .
Off to the next spot were we we looking for some smaller fish to use for livebait,and again Every drop ended with about 30 Vermillion snapper back to back to back.
I was wanting to go out further and go to an amberjack spot, hooked up one 10in. snapper and 5oz of lead and a 4/0 circle hook. The first drop to 80ft he was explaining to me how they bite and I said like this? FISH ON again 1st drop, we'll it broke off, 2nd drop FISH ON again, this one pulled off just as we saw color. Now I'm bummed losing 2 big fish, 3rd drop FISH ON this time we got it in and when I said we, I mean the Captain had to grab the rod tip so it wouldn't break the rod. He says they're not called reef donkeys for no reason. They pull like a Amish mule. 30lb amberjack
Long story short I have never had a trip like this before, what a blast!!!
Thanks to Captain Steve for creating a more than memorable trip.
