So, I cruise out on the boat today. Head out to the Gulfstream to hopefully find some Dolphin to bring home to put on the table, or a marlin that felt like dancing a bit. Didn't find a single sign of life. No birds, no bait, no nothing. I haven't seen it that lifeless in a long time. Oh well. Still had a little bit of time left, and a block of chum in the box. Head on over to one of the deeper reefs that happen to have produced some fish in the past that was on the way back in.

Chumslick goes out, and we instantly have fish swimming around the transom. Nothing worthwhile, but fun on light tackle. Smaller yellowtails, jacks, houndfish, etc etc. I notice that there are some larger fish streaking around in the tail end of the chumslick, so I stupidly grab bass rod that I know I can launch a bait about a quarter mile with. Get a couple of brutal hits, losing a handful of baits in the process before I hooked into this wee little beauty.

Pretty d**n fun to catch on a MH flippin stick and an old Shimano Cardiff. Just a hair on the large size to even think about bringing home. Oh well, still a great fight. Stripped out drag like a freight train.

Sounds like a ton of fun to me. Even smaller jacks and yellowtails can be fun on the right equipment. And I bet that last one did put up a fight!

Jeff

Sweeeeeet

Got to love it Eric.

Donkey! Bet that was a heck of a fight.

Congrats! As a kayak angler, I actually purchase all of my gear knowing that it will be used in both fresh and salt. Of course, as a kayaker, we have a slight advantage with regards to drag and fighting larger fish. We can use lighter tackle, because the kayak acts as a form of drag as well.

Eric,

I bet you that little Cardiff's drag slipped just a wee bit!

Glad you got out, how are those engines running?

what kind of fish is that? The only saltwater fish i have caught are flounder and blue fish in the surf, but that fish looks fun.

Nice!!!

Eric,

I bet you that little Cardiff's drag slipped just a wee bit!

Glad you got out, how are those engines running?

Running like new now. Took some work, but that old monster is turning over like a champ now.

what kind of fish is that? The only saltwater fish i have caught are flounder and blue fish in the surf, but that fish looks fun.

Amberjack. Fun, hard fighting fish. Usually found around offshore reefs.

Very Cool!!

are amberjacks off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina? Im heading back there next September and wouldnt mind strapping into one.

Amberjack, arguably the hardest fighting fish in the ocean, at least compared to the marlin and tuna I have caught. I caught this one off Singer Island with spinning gear, it's browned out as it's been on ice for a while.

Awesome catch mate.

@ Alex, if there were only 1 fish on my bucket list it would be a Grand Trevally down in your neck of the woods.

@ Alex, if there were only 1 fish on my bucket list it would be a Grand Trevally down in your neck of the woods.

I think we call them Giant Trevally/GT's.

I live too far south to be able to target them.

Nice donkey!

Right now my dream is a tarpon on bass gear. So far I'm o for 1...