Well, chalk up a new experience, trolling the bay for Grouper and Bull Reds with a Mann's stretch 30....
I have recently found a spot where an old bridge was removed and large pieces of the structure is in place with 20-30 feet of bottom relief in places. The winds and cold fronts have been keeping us in the bay and very nearshore, so making use of the new Humminbird side imaging sonar, finding new fishing spots has been the play of the day. Already, the new spots I found nearshore were productive for red snapper, and now the new spots in the bay are productive as well.
The most productive plug was the chartreuse Mann's stretch 30, I had removed the treble hooks and substituted a 8/0 long shank hook as a stinger on a new swivel. In addition to the 27" gag grouper, we caught and released a bull red 37", but someone forgot the camera in the truck :)) so he went back with no picture. Prime trolling speed was 3 kts and the rod with the 80 lb braid caught the fish, the same plug on a mono line and similar rod caught none.
So spend the money for the braid and change the hooks on the big lipped plugs, catch the winter cold fronts just after frontal passage and by all means, check the solunar tables in this period. Today was a peak feeding period from 12:30 to 2:30, we caught both fish around 1:00-1:30 and then it shut down.
