Almost Skunked

[clayton86]

Well found out when the flights back state side are gonna be today and figured its a good time to go fishing for the last time while deployed. Theres a new unit here from Ft Carson thats been going every night bringing back shark, some tuna looking things, snapper, grouper, eels, u name it they have been catching it out there several sharks a night as well some good sized ones to pushing 5ft.

So I went out to try my hand one last time. I didn't have anything to catch bait fish really I was out of the smaller sabiki rigs only had one pole just bare minimum really. Well I ended up snagging a "spot" like this little sunfish looking thing so I threw it on a hook and tossed it out there. Maybe 5 minutes into having it out there my pole goes sliding down the railing and i grab it and look into the water to see a shark on the other end of my line easily over 4ft and as big around as me thrashing on the surface. Thats about how long the fight lasted it busted my steel leader the snap part. So I threw the sabiki rig back on lowered it in this time I snagged what looked like a baby cuda it had lots of teeth and for only being maybe 9" it fought like hell. I decided not to use it as bait and threw it back in after digging the hook out out of its side. After that the waves were getting kinda bad couldent get anymore smaller baitfish but was watching sharks like crazy out there I counted at least 7 of them at one point with there fins outa the water like a jaws movie.

So I started to head back ran into the Ft Carson guys they had a few snapper already and a few Kuwaiti officers stopped me to ask if I caught anything. I had just gotten past the turn around and tossed a bullet jig in for the heck of it and decided to "troll" as I walked back just giving it little twitches as I went. I took maybe 3 steps and bam fish on I couldn't believe it I had a little grouper on and landed it. did a quick photo op and tossed it back in. tossed the jig out and continued my walk back. Caught 1 more my PB grouper to date maybe 1.5-2lbs lol this one I watched take it seen it chasing the jig then I seen the jig disappear and I crossed his eyes like I was home bass fishing. Same deal quick photo op and tossed him back as he was spiting crab parts at me well i was trying to get the hook out he was hungry cuz his mouth was stuffed with 3 good sized crabs then my 1.5oz jig.

I think im gonna go out once more tomorrow for another crack at a shark before I go back to WNY.

this is the fish I though might be a baby Cuda

[BassinLou]

Sounds like you had a good time. Welcome Home!!!

[clayton86]

Not home yet but soon they said I should be on the first flight out of here because I have kids so if I'm on the first flight it will be within the next 4 weeks.

[MCS]

Nice fish, those r the kinda groupers I would get fishing around docks n jetties in St Pete the few times I went. Fun to catch. Have a safe flight.