Ars Efp Permit

I had one of those permits for the Aug-October, allowed 3 trips w 3 ARS per trip and supposed to fish for a 12 or 15 reef fish limit.

First trip was a washout - too rough and found that out too late as in when got to inlet. Too late to reschedule. Had to eat the trip.

Second trip was immediately after some kind of tropical thing - rough but I went anyway cause it was only 3 ft waves (beat the stuffing out of myself and boat) - 23 ARS 12-16 inches, no bigger ones at all - stopped releasing when i reached 20 (at maybe 4 diff spots - kept looking for larger fish). Did lose a couple to sharks or goliaths. 2 grunts - even had trouble catching grunts that day and 1 goliath of about 30-34 inches (per regulations never took it out of water or even touched it). Never caught one of those before.


The last trip was this past Sunday and with dad. The mullet run took a break in our area i guess - had to work for bait, if we had more larger baits... (had fish on the mullets and grunts) Would have loved to go out with 18 6-8 inch mullet instead of 24 4-inchers and 5 6-inchers. Had some frozen ladyfish and jack fillets.

Anyway, on the way out we seen a couple manta rays jump in the tannic water that extended about 3 miles out. Then bunches of sargassum weeds but nothing under them but file fish, and dad spots a rectangular white plastic thing (turns out to be a bag), size of a topsoil bag. Triple tail under it - head hanging out one side and tail the other. He caught it on a trout rod w little mullet - decent fight. Cool watching it come out and eat.


Then we proceeded to a good spot and got our butts handed to us by large ARS. I foolishly started with 60# leader and 5/0 hooks. The fish were pulling the hooks thru the line at the knot, even w palomar knots. Didn't break a single knot that wasn't on the hook itself. Crazy. Dad kept getting rocked cause he couldn't stop them from taking line on a 4/0 Senator set at 20# drag.

Bumped up to 80# leader and 8/0 hook - managed a 20# ARS (weighed with a scale) on a whole ladyfish fillet. Picture doesn't do fish justice - it is like 33 inches long.


Dad's was a little smaller, maybe 12-15#. Caught on finger mullet with jack fillet strip.


We also caught a couple flounder 16-19 inches but had to throw em back in since season is closed. Figuring out the flounder but still weird catching em so far from shore.

Anyway, that closes out my EFP adventure. Was very exciting to get the permit but the weather sucked... Still happy to participate

 

Thanks, Mak. Was a special opportunity and feel good to have been able to participate. Who knows - it is supposed to be random draw, so you never know. Maybe I'll get it again.

The goliath gave a good account of himself. I wanted to put him int he cooler - he looked "very edible".

Gonna grill some tripletail tonight - will cook it with squash & onions in a tinfoil pack, let it steam. There was a lot of meat on that fish.

 

Thx. Been fishing w him for 50+ years. Always fun.