Florida report. Oct. 3rd - 26.

[Chris]

went on a TAD trip to Florida and brought some fishing gear. I met up with a guy I met through facebook named Zach, owner of Breezy Brothers Destin (was a paddle board rental but he's now doing fishing trips. check him out on FB  https://www.facebook.com/breezybrothersdestin?fref=ts  )
the first week here was cold. first cold snap of the fall and it put a damper on the fishing. the shark bite practically shut off. I had expected this due to a recent report posted on another site, but it wouldn't keep me from fishing. I arrived on sat. Oct. 3rd and finally made it out that Thursday night. Zach had caught an 8lb (ish) southern ray and offered it up for bait. sent it out on the 80W on a DEEP drop looking for a tiger. Not much action that night but as we were dozing off around 11pm the ray got picked up and it was a screamer! I took my time getting to it, harnessing up first and then threw the reel in gear. came tight and it was heavy. pulled a little drag at strike (40lbs) then the line parted. unfortunately the sand bar was full of debris and broke me off. had class in the morning so we packed it in.

that weekend I searched around for 130lb line to spool up my 12/0 and respool the 80W. nobody had 130 so I went with 100lb. gave me about 200yrds extra on each reel. that was a mistake. the next four days was full of disappointment as I broke off on several large fish due to the line being cut through by debris and im sure one was a blacktip hitting the line. one that stands out was on my 12/0, fish picked up a 5lb chunk of jack crevalle and peeled drag for about 45 seconds before the line sheered off on something sharp. I had about 8" of frayed line and nice long slice in it.

we did land fish though. we took a family of three out one night and got them on some blacktips and sharpnose with cast gear. great way to introduce them to the sport and we stocked up on bait.





Zach also landed this beautiful female blacktip. she was pregnant so we got her back in right away.




a few nights later I got this sand bar on some jack and the 12/0.




hit the bay bridge and was afforded an excellent picture opportunity with the 80W which resulted in no fish being landed....


respooled both reels with 130lb hi seas quatro and was finally confident id be able to land one of these fish. as fate would have it, I didn't get any big sharks after that. haha.

after two weeks of tossing prime redfish baits and landing many sharpnose, blacktips and catfish on them,


I finally found some small bull reds.








also got my new PB bull red at 47.25". caught on my rainshadow RCLB80 XL and spinfisher 5500.





was a fun, busy 3 weeks. the changing weather threw the bite off a little bit and I wasn't properly prepared when it was on. it happens and that's fishing. we caught a lot of fish that aren't pictured as well. Spanish mac, bluefish, rays etc. we were very mobile and trying to keep a lowprofile while fishing so a lot of fish were landed and released as quickly and quietly as possible. especially on the pier.

[Eric H]

Very nice Chris aka pierfisher, low profile, cat guy...

This report makes me was get my land based gear out.

Quit being such a stranger on the boards.

[TheCraftsman]

Sometimes.. I wish i lived in Florida.. Lol
Great report, looks like a great time!

[vdisney]

What an awesome way to spend 3 weeks, chu da man Chris.............Verne

[spideyjg]

How do they get 5+lb baits out? Cast them?

[TheCraftsman]

How do they get 5+lb baits out? Cast them?

Ive yet to see a rod rated 80 oz😮😮

[spideyjg]

How do they get 5+lb baits out? Cast them?

Ive yet to see a rod rated 80 oz😮😮

Of course but they still have some way to get them out. I just have never heard what. RC boats, catapults, trained albatross?

Jim

[TheCraftsman]

How do they get 5+lb baits out? Cast them?

Ive yet to see a rod rated 80 oz😮😮

Of course but they still have some way to get them out. I just have never heard what. RC boats, catapults, trained albatross?

Jim

Im totally down to invent a bait a catapult with you:)

[spideyjg]

Im totally down to invent a bait a catapult with you:)

I'm thinking a drone with a release to fly out and drop baits.

Jim

[Eric H]

Kayak

[LONGCAST JOE]

@Spideyjg & TheCastmaster...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3PX74gr9RM
There's DIY versions of this concept. Best thing about it is it can launch a whole or half mack
Kinda cool, for AOs within 100 feet or so of where you can park a vehicle. I don't see lugging an air-compressor and power supply onto the sand to often.
JOE

[Chris]

I have no need for a pneumatic bait launcher. I can cast my baits easily in the 100yrd range and the gut is usually closer. Big baits get kayaked out. If it's too rough to kayak, Tom thumb usually has a good supply of beer and the freezer is full of fish and steak.

this is a typical bait that will get kayaked out. big chunk of blacktip, 24/0 XXHD circle, 3/32" coated cable. took this one out about 350yrds and it did get picked up but what I brought in was a full bait with classic hammer teeth marks.

[Chris]

Very nice Chris aka pierfisher, low profile, cat guy...

This report makes me was get my land based gear out.

Quit being such a stranger on the boards.

you need to eric. those hammers are in and who knows what else is around. fish baits for the smooth hammers and if the tigers and bulls did push up, soak ray all night long.

[Castmaster]

Awesome report!  Thanks for sharing.

[Chris]

a few more random pics.



parking lot fishing. there's only two spots I know of you can do this and you have to get there late and leave early.





helping Cole land his sharks.







measuring a big tipper. if I remember right she was 5'7". decent size for a BT.