Andrew Kittler and Crew, Three-Quarter Day Offshore Grinder

Took Andrew Kittler and his crew out on a three-quarter day. Six guys, offshore, running out early to catch the light and beat the heat.

The setup

The Gulf Stream edge was sitting close, three miles southeast of Molasses and seven miles southeast of Alligator. Northeast to east breeze, ten to fifteen knots easing through the day. Hawk Channel was two to three feet, the Straits a little sharper on a five second period. Water was hot, right around 88 degrees at Vaca Key before the sun was up.

That kind of setup should have fish on it. In theory.

The grind

We found weed. Plenty of it. Scattered patches, some short lines, a couple longer stretches when the current pulled the sargassum together. Worked them all. Slow trolled, pitched baits at anything that looked alive, moved on when it did not pay.

Every day is not a wide-open bite. Some days the ocean makes you earn every fish, and this was one of those days. Picking singles, resetting, hunting the next sign. No hero stops, no five-baggers, just steady work and steady bites when we got them right.

Dinner in the box

By the time we pointed it back toward the dock we had enough for dinner and then some. Not a photo-limit day, but a real day of offshore fishing with a crew that put in the work.

Andrew and his crew stayed with it, kept the baits in the water, and took what the ocean gave them. That is how you catch fish on a tough day out here in July.

Always a good time aboard DirtyBoat.

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