It dawned a little breezy and grey this morning as we all stood around on the dock and decided to make the run out and see what mother nature would throw at us.

Captain Scott Bussen wasn't too hesitant and we left for the wide open ocean with 3-5 ft seas predicted to increase to 4-6 late in the day. The winds were in the 15 to 20 knot range as we cleared the protected waters off of PC, headed roughly E to the fishing grounds. The seas were an honest 3 ft with white caps as the Relentless II trudged onward with hopes of big grouper in her great big diesel heart.

The first drop of the anchor revealed some red snapper and a 15+ pound grey. Capt Scott said we needed to make one adjustment with the anchor and we would be covered in fish. The anchor was set and the lines went over. Immediately the rods bowed as the fish smacked the baits dropped into the depths. A couple snapper and a small scamp came over the side as the anchor tore loose from her set.

Capt Scott ried several times to re-anchor us over the mass of fish that lit up the fish finder like a 4th of July fireworks display! The wind and current would not cooperate so we started drifting and picking up what fish we could get.

A 25# grey came over the side and a 38-40# amberjack. Something huge broke off on the rocks below. A grey took out about 50 ft of line to lodge itself in the rocks below. Capt Scott worked on him for a few minutes and handed the rod back to the angler with the grouper out of the rocks!

We moved here and there a bit in an effort to find the "motherload" of fish that wanted a bait dragged in front of their noses. More grey grouper & scamp came aboard, and then some dolphin (mahi-mahi) joined in the party - we boated a few after a bunch came loose either during the aerial shows or just after - fun fish. The dolphin were joined by some sharks that basically ruined the party.

Through all the bad weather, big waves, and wind, Scott kept putting us on fish.

The weather kept getting worse. The wind over-powering the current. 3 to 5 ft seas turned 4 to 6 as promised with some larger waves easing by the boat as we kept at it. More grey grouper, more break-offs by the great grandaddy! A 20# red snapper joined the boat. Another large grouper got off 1/2 way to the boat when two lines got tangled. More small snappers, a small red grouper, a kingfish slashed a bait at the back of the boat. Then it was time to head in.

The Relentless II handled the windblown waves and rode wonderfully. We were dry as the spray beat at the boat rolling across the waves.

Tally for the day - in the fish box:

7 greys from 12 to 28 pounds
1 amberjack real close to or at 40 pounds
1 20 pound red snapper
1 scamp
1 tile fish
2 schoolie dolphins

Thanks, Capt. Scott - Awesome Day