False Albacore 12-19 (with pics)

[SteveGibson]

Headed out this morning with a good friend, Capt. Rick Grassett of Sarasota. We entered the Gulf of Mexico via Big Pass and headed south. Our goal was false albacore (little tunny) on fly.

Wasn't much going on, but we noticed a good amount of birds off Casey Key about a mile north of the Venice Inlet. Nothing was happening, but we tucked that infor away. On the way back north, we drifted the same area and pods of albies began busting minnows. They were fast, moving and hard to zero in on. We figured our best bet was to drift the general area and maybe they would erupt near us.

I hooked up on a Myakka Minnow tied on a No. 1 hook. The hook pulled after a couple of minutes. I hooked another a few minutes later, but lost that fish, too.

Rick finally hooked up and landed a 12-pound after a 5-minute battle.

That was it.

On the way back, we found a 10-pound tripletail hanging out around a crab buoy and hooked up for a few seconds.

Good day nevertheless.

[Thunderthumbs]

Thanks for the pictures Steve. Once again, you come through with some great stuff just as the doldrums of winter are setting in here. To top it all off, I'm getting ready to move to Montana in January, and in doing so, probably won't be able to make a trip to Florida this winter. Again, I will be forced to live vicariously through those of you who can fish those beautiful waters.

I'll have to see if I can send some gratuitous fish porn from the frozen lakes of Northern Montana...you know, just to make you jealous...lol.

TT.

[saltydancindave]

Howdy Thunderthumbs, too bad we won't be able to enjoy your ceremonies of flyfishing master pirate fish catcher because you'll be up on the snow covered plains with the buffalo for the winter! Should it be of any interest, Southwest Airlines has been advertising $49 to $109 tickets to Orlando, Denver & other locations on the TV here for next year

[J Castwell]

Well, even though I can't get there, it is fun to see the pictures. tks...

[SKershaw]

Rock on, Steve! Thanks for the report! Wish I could have seen one of those FAlbies with a Myakka hanging out of it's mouth! That would have been hot!

[Thunderthumbs]

Well, SaltyDancinDave, you shouldn't tempt the willing. I'll definatley be doing some checking on it, but it's not very likely that I'll be able to get down there...I'll be trying for sure though. Dan, the friend from Michigan who joined us last year will be down there again this winter for several weeks and is now looking to spend several months out of the year down there! He bought a camper after he got back from his trip last year!

I hope all is well, and I also hope to see you guys if it's at all possible, but if not, I'll definatley be thinking about it.

TT.

[saltydancindave]

I hope all is well, and I also hope to see you guys if it's at all possible, but if not, I'll definatley be thinking about it.

TT.[/quote]
Guess we weren't even thinking about it & forgot to have a secret pirates meeting this fall to plan a FAOL 2009 Florida Fish-In, probably because of the economy. There's still time; if there's enough interest in the annual event for January (maybe too soon, but not for those in the 3 feet of snow on North Dakota) February, March or April.

[Thunderthumbs]

Well, I don't need a fish in date to get down there anymore, I just need the time...lol. You guys have all been fantastic hosts, so I'll be coming down for years to come, fish in or not, and like you said, if we can get together, great, if not, well, such is life, there's always next year.

Take care in the new year,
TT.