The Jawbreaker fishing team was able to host a great charter for the 14th annual HCS Kingfish tournament on Saturday. After winning last year's event, I felt good about our chances. We had the Cornwall plumbing group, and a few of their friends, for a long day of bouncing around in the rough waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With 15-20 knot winds and seas in the 3-5 foot range, we did not back down.
Our goal was to get out to 65' and fish for grouper, and of course, put out a flatline for Kings. Our livewells were stuffed with beautiful threadfins, sardines and pinfish. We reached our spot, anchored up, freelined a few baits behind the boat....and fish on! In the first 10 minutes we had a small 12# king in the boat. Nice start, but we needed more size to make a showing at the weigh-in.
Well, these guys were busy catching grouper and I was busy checking and changing baits. Finally, at about 930am we had a decent fish on....had a decent fish on, the wire leader broke after about a 20 minute fight. Ouch! Before we could start crying about the loss, the other flatline went off and Nate brought this 21.5# Kingfish to the gaff. Good job Nate! At least, we had a decent fish to weigh now.
We caught some nice Gag grouper and short Red grouper on this fishing charter out of John's Pass, as well as snapper, bonito and Kingfish. We had 4 Kings in the bag and weighed our biggest(21.5#) back at the weigh-in at the Elk's lodge on Madeira beach,FL. Out of 65 boats, only 10 Kingfish were weighed in. We placed 2nd to some guys that brought in a 38# King...Wow! Anyway, it always feels good to place in a Kingfishing tournament in the Tampa Bay area with all of the tight competition.
Call Jawbreaker Fishing Charters Inc. if you are ready to enter one of these exciting events. We provide everything you will need to compete with the best fishermen in Tampa and St.Pete. Call Today!