Fishing Port Aransas in the Spring

" Spring Fever "

May 14, 2000

"Near Record Hammer"

While fishing with Capt. Scott Wigal we caught this 195 lb SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD on "Sweet Dreams", a twenty-seven ft Proline w/twin 200 hp outboards. Pictured are owner Gene Franz of Elgin, Texas, and Chaylen Richards (8) of Aransas Pass, Texas. The seas were 4-6 and choppy, accompanied by 20 kt winds out of the NE. Tried bottom fishing with very little luck, so we picked up the bottom rods and put out two big baits on International 50SW's. Within 25 minutes and on the second "run" I hooked the fish and handed the rod to Chaylen. "Chay" wore down in 10-15 minutes. Gene took over the rod and brought him in "gaffing range" at about the 65 minute mark. Normally we wouldn't kill a shark we don't eat, but we knew it was close to a state record! As it turned out, it was just nineteen pounds shy of the current mark of 214.

May 4, 2000

Well, the wind finally let us get out for a day ! Seas were 4-6 ft, just rollers, no white-caps at all. Ran east 25 miles and started trolling.

Picked up a couple of nice BLACKFIN TUNA (20&25lb) in the first hour of fishing. Things slowed, so we anchored on a structure and started bottom fishing, bending rods on RED SNAPPER. Managed to put 12 keeper " REDS " in the box, along with a nice LANE SNAPPER and a small GAG GROUPER. Also caught and released two undersized COBIA and an undersized AMBER JACK.

It was getting late, and we started toward the dock. The anglers requested we try for a SHARK, so we made one more quick stop and put out a big bait on an " 8ft steel " leader. It didn't take long before we got a run. The angler fought the fish for about 5 minutes, never gaining, and then the line fell slack. Pretty sure it was a "BIG SHARK". The line looked "tail cut" or wore on stucture. In any case, hate for one like that to get away without a picture.

All- in -all, it was a pretty successful venture !

Whatever your goal in life, "Hope you catch the BIG ONE"

Tight Lines, Capt. Andy Sutherland

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