2020 Excel Merritt 10 day

[MarkT]

No BFT for me but I didn't try all that hard. I did get 9 YT between 22 and 38#, an 86.2 gulf grouper and 3 Wahoo between 29 and 34# and a Dorado.
It was my windiest, roughest 10 day but the fish were fairly willing. Plenty of YT at the rocks in the dark. I could've had an easy limit but over 250# of YT was more than enough. All Wahoo were on bombs and I was high stick on them!

[Hamachi]

Way to go Mark! Grouper is the best fish out there!

[MarkT]

I totally agree but don't tell the Wahoo that I said that.

When we got to the spot on the Ridge that the Capt said was a good spot for Grouper everyone dropped down with a Mac on a dropper loop. I flylined a Sardine, caught a small YT, trimmed its tail and sent it out without weight and got the big one... again!

[Benni3]

That's a big grouper,,,, great job man,,,,,,

[sabaman1]

Nice job Mark! Sounds like you had a good time. Thanks for sharing your adventure!

[Swami805]

Nice grouper, sounds like a fun trip

[scrinch]

Big bait = Big fish 🐠! Good job, Mark. Sounds like a rough but fun trip.

[Donnyboat]

Thanks for posting mark & nice picture of the grouper, nice fish alright, you will get some good fillets out of that, cheers Don

[oc1]

caught a small YT, trimmed its tail and sent it out without weight and got the big one

Wow; that's tricky.  Never heard of trimming the tail.  Good going with it all.
-steve

[MarkT]

caught a small YT, trimmed its tail and sent it out without weight and got the big one

Wow; that's tricky.  Never heard of trimming the tail.  Good going with it all.
-steve

You want it to flutter but not swim super strong so you cut off the tail flutes. No sinker but it sinks slowly towards the bottom looking vulnerable, and tasty! Bait can be a Skipjack, small YFT or small YT.

This is the hook, a 20/0 circle and a 6/0 J that goes into the bait by the dorsal fin. The circle isn't hooked into the bait.

[Hardy Boy]

We should try that at Cedros for some of the big grouper there................... good idea. Nice fish.

Cheers:

Todd

[IcantSwim]

Nice grouper! The excel is by far the nicest boat I have ever been on. Can't wait til jump on her again.

[Gfish]

Alright! The guy that think/fishes outta the box scores!
Where'id that method come from?

[steelfish]

Where'id that method come from?

I dont know if some guys are using it somewhere else, but thats kind of normal technique for fishing big groupers with the panga captains here in Baja, small YT with the tips of tail fins cut on freelining.


BTW great catch Mark

[Swami805]

Man bait, works good at times on big tuna too.