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No Fooling: Trip Was Worthwhile

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Billy Nobles, left (with "Reel Animals" partner Mike Anderson).

As you know, this is a weekly fishing report. And if I told you I had been out fishing, you would immediately assume I was either a fool and/or a liar.

Those of you who know me know I am not a liar, so with that said I'll tell you about the last time we were out last week.

Captain Chad Manning, Lenny Caccipo, Jack Thompson and I went offshore the day after Christmas on the 30 Dorado. The weather forecast was for 1- to 2-foot seas and north-northeast winds at 5-10 mph. We left Apollo Beach at around 7 a.m. and ran to a range marker. Manning threw the net one time, hauling in around 400 perfect offshore baits, and we were off.

Rounding the northwest corner of Egmont Key, the seas were already 3-4 feet and winds were north-northwest at 10-15 mph. I almost turned around and headed home. Captain Kenny Hyatt told me they had caught a grouper in 32 feet a couple of days earlier, so we checked out some spots and had nothing.

Originally we were wanting to run out to the 90- to 100-foot spots, but with conditions worsening, we stopped again at our 40-foot spots and the bottom machine looked like a light show. For the next 2 1/2 hours, the action was non-stop. Our catch included mutton snapper, mangrove snapper to 6 pounds, amberjack and red and gag grouper.

After the tide changed and the front passed, our bite slowed. The seas were now 5-6 feet and the winds were a strong 20 mph.

With more than 150 pounds of fish in the well, we headed home.

Catch captains Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. on Sun Sports and on the "Reel Animals Fishing Show" on Saturdays from 6:30-7 a.m. on WFLA, Channel 8, and on Sundays from 8-10 a.m. on WHBO, 1470 AM. To book a charter, call 1-866-GAMEFISH or visit www.reel

animalsfishingshow.com.

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