100% Small Baracuda

Yes. Have taken 4 groups in last 2 weeks, caught over 250 between those 4 trips. About 20% small fish mixed in with the keepers.

Best bite was 12’-20ft over 25-30ft water. Brush piles mainly, some spider rigging in open water over creek channels also.

Lake Hartwell, Ga

Spot on!!!

My motto is “ Mind your own damn business “!!!!!

If it’s legal and he’s acting responsible and ethical then go on about your business.

Just like someone from an entirely different area, to tell someone else what they should do!!!

Piss off

Awesome man!

Definitely have the boat and gear to do it right.

I know and have fished the humps many times. Unfortunately as you may know they get hammered daily, it’s gotten to the point that a lot of days you need a pile of pilchards to get a consistent bite on the Marathon hump.Not saying that artificials won’t catch them but it greatly increases your chances with live bait. Problem is you need hundreds to keep the action going, I only fish it anymore if I’m there at first light.

I catch my pilchards by using lights on the main reef and cast netting them. I start this by anchoring on the reef in 40-70 ft deep depending on what #s I am fishing and recent action. Chum heavy , very heavy. Fish will be mainly yellowtail, Mangrove snapper and Grunts, some other species , some Mutton Snapper, and occasionally a grouper.

The pilchards will show up, give them time to get fairly thick and close to the top and make a throw. Can also use a sabiki to catch them but I get impatient with the speed of that.

Bad part is you need to be chumming by 3am or so to load up on bait, before daybreak if I have my bait then I head to the hump. Fish the hump until bite stops or gets to hot then I rest during the day and escape the heat.

The easiest thing to do if you want fish in the box is to target the yellowtail and Mangrove as soon as the sun sets. Use the same method as I mentioned above. Make sure your sonar is turned on Manual and not Auto, depending on your sonar you will turn it up between 60-70% sensitivity roughly, this will allow you to see fish slightly above the coral or on hard bottom. Find you a couple spots before dark and save the #s and come back to them or immediately fish them.

Bring a minimal of 4-6 boxes of chum, if you don’t want to do that then don’t even leave the house. You will be wasting your time. It takes time for it all to come together, normally grunts or shorts will be the first hour, sometimes couple hours. Stay patient if the fish are there, free line for the bigger yellowtail, I catch bigger and more mangroves the last 10 years or so by dropping to the bottom and fishing a slack line with my finger on the line.

Use split shot or egg sinkers about 2 ft above your bait, use as much weight as needed depending on current, use a swivel between sinkers and bait. If current stays too strong then it’s normally not a great bite.

Cut squid, ballyhoo and my favorite (pilchards ) all work. Fresh caught pilchard will out fish the others most of the time.

Hope not too much info, obviously the storms and wind play heck on the night fishing sometimes. But your 44 footer can handle a lot I’m sure.

Last thing, don’t ignore the coral humps in the 8ft- 35ft range. This can be very productive at night!!! Day fishing for them in the summer can be tougher. As you know tides play into everything, if the current is too strong on the main reef, then come back in to your patch reefs and start the process again. It will go quicker because of shallower water.

Good luck and hope you do well.

Need more info.

What size boat you have?
Size of gear(rods,reels)
Are you fishing Gulf side or Atlantic?
Are you staying on a certain canal? Again is that Bayside or Ocean side?


Been fishing Marathon for over 20 years, so many species to fish for. Be glad to help you with more info.

Lol, I think you and I would get along well!!
😂

This is correct.

Highly unethical, if someone brings a GPS on my guided trips I will end the trip immediately, I also watch for people using cellphones to mark locations. Most people will follow the rules once they are told… most!

Agreed… Tarpon is not going to likely survive being gilled by an arm, doesn’t make any sense.

This here… if I’m keeping meat .

Haven’t been on here long but have definitely noticed that trend .

Great info

Yes… had one similar to this years ago and it went missing or broke, can’t remember which.

I’m gonna order one, they do the trick on sharpening.

Lol

Probably a bit much, got carried away