Reef donkeys
 

Out on the Atlantic with my son and wife.
Doing some bottom fishing - my son was complaining he never
catches anything challenging : so i went over a wreck where i knew some
Amberjack were known to be. He was hooked into this monster for long enough to satisfy that need for a challenge. They don't call em reef donkeys for nothing. Sweating and cussing for about 20min on pretty light gear.Good fun.
Our next big trip is Key largo florida for christmas , gonna drag the boat down and try to capture kiss and release some sailfish.

Looks like 30 lbs of smoked AJ,, fo-sure...

Ya JJ we caught a enough to wear my son out out but we don't eat many as they are pretty heavy with worms here especially the big ones. doesn't effect the taste or hurt ya but the wife can't seem to get past those long stringy things hehehe.
i read your post about the keys last year , probably the most comprehensive play by play info on the keys i've ever read.
Where are you camped out in the keys? maybe we can get together when i'm down 20-27 Dec. Ya i know only a hard core nut leaves home to go fishing on christmas. Ah hell life's short.

NICE FISH!

Nice fish.
Any of you "Keys" guys know where a bonefish might be found? I went bonefishing one time in Mexico, and it was addicting.

I caught a 70 pound Amber Jack out of Miami a few years ago- Like bringing up a frickin' Volkswagen!!!

Here is a thread I created some time back for the Florida Fly Fishing Forums.

Wade Fishing The Keys. (this is the same post on two different fora)

http://forums.flyfisherman.com/forum...-keys-pas-deux

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/f...-keys-pas-deux

As for Bones on the flats,, you need a guide,, or you need a couple years and a lot of time to pay your dues and learn.

I've been fishing the Keys for 40 yrs and consider myself an advance-novice, with better luck than most..

Tight Lines..

Nice fish! Long ago, I speared an amberjack about that size near Sombrero Reef off Marathon. The last I saw of my $7 spring steel shaft (1968 prices) was as the fish swam off with the spear bent along its sides. Alas...

Great catch and sure it put some stress on the forearms of your son. :D

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