Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I moved to Texas 2 yrs ago and hadn't fished the Gulf offshore. I had a 24hr trip set up for last year but it was cancelled for weather. Rescheduled this year for 9-26 (24hr) trip out of Port Aransas / Deep Sea Headquarters on the New Pelican.
 We departed Sat at 6PM to return Sun 6PM. Weather was warm, humid and the Seas were great.
It was a full boat of 18 anglers 2 deckhands and 2 Caps... we motored for ? Hours (I lost track) Deck hands made Chicken rigs with circle hooks and heavy sinkers and rigged rods for those who wanted it. Bait was cut Squid rings and when dropped on the reef drew quick hookups of a nice grade of Vermillion Snappers. The boat reset twice till we caught limits. Then time to move to Red Snapper town. We used frozen Sardines and quickly were into a good grade of fish. I hooked and was battling the mother of all Red Snapper's and was close to color when the line went limp... I kept reeling and reeled in a huge Snapper head. I figure a good sized Shark was latched on to my fish till the end.
After Snapper Town we moved again to Kingfish Town. On the way deckhand rigged us up with short wire leaders, J hooks and a small egg sinker. Once to the spot we basically flylined dead Sardines. Quite a few were caught along with some Barracuda and Raindow Runners... alas no Kingfish for me bur did land a Rainbow runner (a lot of Spunk for a small fish).
While we were fishing for Kings the Cap and crew dropped some large baits on heavy gear for Amberjack. Cap tapped me on the shoulder and told me to "get on it" as an Amberjack was hooked. Tough critters and definitely a loud thud when they hit the deck... overall a great trip though by the end I was running out of juice. I just turned 70 and I'm feeling it, though I don't think it's my age compared to my mileage...

Cool

NICE!!!

When I was a kid we had family outings on half-day head boats out of Port Aransas for kingfish (King Mackerel).  They would have flats of frozen ribbonfish / cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus) for bait.  The ribbonfish were by-catch from the shrimp boats.  The head-boat outfits were rigged with an egg sinker and three single hooks spaced on wire leader; so there's a front middle and rear hook in the ribbonfish.  Everybody would catch at least a couple kingfish over 3 to 4 hours fishing.  There were a lot of kingfish and ribbonfish in those days.

A couple fo guys had ribbon fish for bait. I think they bought them at the bait shop on the docks... They did well, better than the Sardine slingers...

Cool

I feel ya, almost 70, whatever I do though it seems to be more mileage than years.
Rainbow Runners are around here but no get yet. Prized for their fighting ability.

Nice fish Cool. Those are some nice size vermillions: very tasty. Grilled AJ is great too.

I haven't been able to eat any of my catch yet. Had to fly out to my hometown In  Kalifornia right after the fishing trip for my wife's 50th class reunion. I look forward to some beer battered Snapper and grilled AJ. Ima fire up my Big Chief smoker for a small batch of AJ... When I lived in Antioch on the Delta I would smoke Striped Bass, Sturgeon and Salmon. Smoked some Leopard shark once but left it in the brine to long rendering it waaaay to salty. Not wanting to waste it I took it to Hugo's (my favorite Pub) and started handing it out to the bar full of patrons. Everyone loved it as they all ordered many more rounds of beer. I looked over to the bar owner George who gave me a huge "thumbs up"... needless to say I had a few beers on the house that night...

Cool

nice sized fish, good eating for many days and good stories to tell, it seems like a great fishing trip.

You are looking good Ed. I didn't know you lived in Antioch at one time. Did you know Sal DiMercurio?

Smoked sturgeon was one of my favorites. Haven't had any in probably 30+ years.

Awesome trip, thanks for the report!  You waited a year and I would say it was well worth it! - john

Thanks Ran ! I was born in Antioch and lived there until 2 years ago when I migrated to Texas. Sal was a local  fishing legend... my Dad knew him and I had met him in my early years. I went to school with a Madalyn DiMercurio, not sure if she was a daughter, grand daughter or niece... No more smoked Sturgeon in Cali, can't keep them any more.
https://i.imgur.com/0cJnRPX.jpeg
77lbs back when you could keep um...

Fabulous trip man,,,,

 Epic fishing and great report. Thanks for sharing your adventure !!