Sinker
05-14-2006, 01:58 PM
Went out on the Pastime Princess for a Mangrove Moonlight Madness Trip. Left out of New Smyrna Beach at 7:00PM on the 100' all aluminum vessel Capt. by Mike Mulholland & Capt. George Richford.
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour1.jpg http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour2.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour3.jpg http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour4.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour5.jpg http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat3.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat1.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat2.jpg
I arrived late so ended up fishing the Bow. Just like in California the place to be is the Stern. I missed my favorite spot of course being the Port Side Corner of the Stern.
I actually ended up fishing the very point of the Bow and although I caught a few fish nothing like the guys at midship and back.
The Capt. and Crew were very friendly and the boat was very clean. So much nicer than the ones down out of Sebastian. Hell even the head was clean, no odors, had soap and paper towels.
The galley served up some great grub - Eggs, Bacon & onion sandwiches MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm.
I will indeed go out on this boat again but will arrive early and stack claim to a spot on or near the Stern.
We headed out of the harbor with blue sunny skies and no clouds, on the trip out (about 2 hours) we watched the moon come up over the water blood red in color and then climb high to a bright full white moon.
Bait seemed to be Squid although something more like Humboldt squid I believe cut into small square pieces and some type of bait fish. I heard someone say sardine but they looked nothing like any Sardine I have ever seen.
Well the Captain got us to the fishing grounds and no screwing around circling the spot. Anchored up and called lines in. I hit bottom and hooked up. Brought a small snapper to the boat, unhooked it and let it go. Figured this was a good sign to hook up so quickly.
Unfortunately from there the action was not at the Bow. I did manage a Moray Eel and 10 Red Snapper with only one making it to size that I gave away.
I did get one of the deckhands to take a pic of me with an UNDERSIZED Snapper - hard to believe it was undersized but missed it by half an inch. The one that was a keeper just made it. So all 10 where very close in size. Also landed some other small fish that I ended up using for bait. Here is one of my undersized Snapper that had to go back into that big swimming pool:
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1560_Small_.JPG
The sounds from the back of the boat were great. Laughter - hookups - hooping and hollering as it should be.
Even though I did not do that well I guess I have to remember I have no experience yet out here. With my son finished up with his surgeries now I will be getting out at least once a month and will get this figured out no problem.
I have to give some big time credit to the First Mate Erick as he was hooking GOOD sized fish and handing the rod off to kids, young ladies and folks who hadn't hooked up themselves.
A great team on this boat for sure.
I believe that Capt. Mike one of the owners who was along for the ride hooked and landed the Jackpot fish. He is supposed to send me a picture of it with him so you can see what a keeper size Snapper looks like. OK better than keeper - it was a hell of a fish no doubt.
Things operate much differently than on the CI (805) California Boats. Hate to make a determination on this though as I need to get a good feel for it and the boats are laid out differently without large live wells fore and aft.
Most of all the salt air was a nice friend that I have missed over the past two years only seeing occasionally.
Here are a few pics I did get.
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1553_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1559_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1562_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1561_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1565_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1564_Small_.JPG
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http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour1.jpg http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour2.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour3.jpg http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour4.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/tour5.jpg http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat3.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat1.jpg
http://www.pastimeprincess.com/images/boat2.jpg
I arrived late so ended up fishing the Bow. Just like in California the place to be is the Stern. I missed my favorite spot of course being the Port Side Corner of the Stern.
I actually ended up fishing the very point of the Bow and although I caught a few fish nothing like the guys at midship and back.
The Capt. and Crew were very friendly and the boat was very clean. So much nicer than the ones down out of Sebastian. Hell even the head was clean, no odors, had soap and paper towels.
The galley served up some great grub - Eggs, Bacon & onion sandwiches MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm.
I will indeed go out on this boat again but will arrive early and stack claim to a spot on or near the Stern.
We headed out of the harbor with blue sunny skies and no clouds, on the trip out (about 2 hours) we watched the moon come up over the water blood red in color and then climb high to a bright full white moon.
Bait seemed to be Squid although something more like Humboldt squid I believe cut into small square pieces and some type of bait fish. I heard someone say sardine but they looked nothing like any Sardine I have ever seen.
Well the Captain got us to the fishing grounds and no screwing around circling the spot. Anchored up and called lines in. I hit bottom and hooked up. Brought a small snapper to the boat, unhooked it and let it go. Figured this was a good sign to hook up so quickly.
Unfortunately from there the action was not at the Bow. I did manage a Moray Eel and 10 Red Snapper with only one making it to size that I gave away.
I did get one of the deckhands to take a pic of me with an UNDERSIZED Snapper - hard to believe it was undersized but missed it by half an inch. The one that was a keeper just made it. So all 10 where very close in size. Also landed some other small fish that I ended up using for bait. Here is one of my undersized Snapper that had to go back into that big swimming pool:
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1560_Small_.JPG
The sounds from the back of the boat were great. Laughter - hookups - hooping and hollering as it should be.
Even though I did not do that well I guess I have to remember I have no experience yet out here. With my son finished up with his surgeries now I will be getting out at least once a month and will get this figured out no problem.
I have to give some big time credit to the First Mate Erick as he was hooking GOOD sized fish and handing the rod off to kids, young ladies and folks who hadn't hooked up themselves.
A great team on this boat for sure.
I believe that Capt. Mike one of the owners who was along for the ride hooked and landed the Jackpot fish. He is supposed to send me a picture of it with him so you can see what a keeper size Snapper looks like. OK better than keeper - it was a hell of a fish no doubt.
Things operate much differently than on the CI (805) California Boats. Hate to make a determination on this though as I need to get a good feel for it and the boats are laid out differently without large live wells fore and aft.
Most of all the salt air was a nice friend that I have missed over the past two years only seeing occasionally.
Here are a few pics I did get.
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1553_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1559_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1562_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1561_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1565_Small_.JPG
http://www.getbentflorida.com/gallery/data/500/IMGP1564_Small_.JPG
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