Lower Keys 5/23 - Found a bucket but lost one too!

[4wheelangler]

I get a cal Sat afternoon from Swordfish about driving south for a night of fishing. Of course this being a long weekend I was a bit aprehensive at first.

So we meet up in Fl City, go to Don's, get gas and head south. On the drive down I mention I want to buy one of those screw lid buckets and low & behold a few minutes later I spot a bucket on the side of the road. I rip a quick U and we grab up a nice screw lid bucket in great shape. Eirie cooincidence.

Anyhow, traffic was actually pleasant and we finally make it down to the first spot and Swordfish immediately jumps the first Tarp of the night. I had trouble dialing in to his method and casting into the wind, besides they were a finnicky bunch so I didnt jump any tarps this time. He ends up jumping around 4 more at this spot. We move over to spot B and up comes a very decent grover 12"+. Swordy jumps a few more Tarps and then came the rain!!
We duck into my van a bit too late and ride out the remainder if the downpour. We reluctantly head back out and continue fishing the area. We split up and I soon hear a whistle, Swordy is hooked up to a keeper snook, we didn't have a net so it breaks loose as he lifts it. As he walks by the chum bucket I ask him to give it a shake and the rope comes up empty. Apparantly the waves broke the handle off and the current swept it away.

All in all we ended up with two keeper grovers 12 & 14+, two horse sized grunts, numerous tarp hookups, and a very nice snook hookup. Considering the weather delay and howling winds it was a great night.

Juan, feel free to fill in any details I might have left out.

[BRunner346]

nice report. the tarps are a guaranteed hookup down there now.

[fishnfool73]

Nice report next time remeber a landing net.

[regulator70]

next time drill 2 holes 3 inches under them rim of the bucket for your rope to go thru. that eliminates the use of the handle, which usually means lost bucket in rough seas.

[permitchaser]

next time drill 2 holes 3 inches under them rim of the bucket for your rope to go thru. that eliminates the use of the handle, which usually means lost bucket in rough seas.

i tel another tip also tie all buckets if u have pick up trucks last time last time going back home lost my 15 gal bucket flew off my truck another time last year winter i bought a brand new shrimp net at jacks to catch shrimp and crabs fly away also from the bed of truck also a hoop net another time googan moments LOL ALWAYS TIE ALL YOUR CHIT WELL BOYZ

[BRunner346]

damnit PC use a period every once in awhile . here you can borrow some of mine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[permitchaser]

damnit PC use a period every once in awhile . here you can borrow some of mine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

lol i will let you do that for me TEACHER

[BigDobber]

I thought shook season was closed in the keys now?

[fishnfool73]

Closed season is my favorite time to fish for them in the Keys/ Monroe as they seem to bite nice this time of year. Besides a 20 -26 inch snook is fun on light tackle annd if you can't keep them you appreciate the fight more when you don't care if it is a slot or not.

[swordfish]

Hehe, yeah, the fight was amazing, I loved the runs, I thought it was a tarpon till my reel started to sing!

It was good, save for the rain, Ive yet to miss at my spot and that makes me feel truly blessed... Especially when its something that all know about, yet dont take advantage off... Memorial day saturday night and If we saw 3 people fish it would be calling it much! You can score big if you put youre time in... The snapper are INSANELY fat over there, they look like small footballs!

-sword