Gaggin ~ Not Cancer Related ~ Tampa Bay Grouper - Updated

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Skiffin16
Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
edited November 2011 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Gag grouper that is....

A few photo's of gag grouper that my buddy Josh and I caught yesterday.

With the grouper season closing again on the 16th of November, and finally a very nice day forecasted.

Josh and I had a chance to take the HEWES (my boat) out in Tampa Bay under the Skyway Bridge and dig up a few nice fat grouper.

Josh had a nice 26" in the photo below, and I managed a fat 28".

JB's 26" Grouper

John's 28" Grouper

You're allowed to keep two each over 22"...we dug three up on our first spot, never could get a fourth that was 22" or over.

Beautiful day, awesome memories, it's great to be alive and doing the things that I love...

Best,
John
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Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
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    Hi John
    That is some very nice looking fish my friend, probable it will just be my luck I will finally get to Tampa when fishing season is closed

    Oh well guess I will get the scuba equipment out but can’t let the wife know
    Hondo
  • pattyanny
    pattyanny Member Posts: 544
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    Wow!
    That is some big fish John! Looks like you had a great day out on the boat! Good to hear! Yes, it is great to be alive!
    Patty
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
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    pattyanny said:

    Wow!
    That is some big fish John! Looks like you had a great day out on the boat! Good to hear! Yes, it is great to be alive!
    Patty

    Gaggin fish!!
    Like Roz said, those are some butt ugly fish :)

    I sit here imagining how nice it must have felt being out in the bay with the fresh air and warm sunshine and it makes me smile, I can feel the warmth. Then I look out my window and see the snow and shiver :(

    But yes, life is good and it's great to be alive!!
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
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    :)
    Sounds like a good day had by all. The best fishing day I think I ever had, and there were quite a few when I lived back east was when my daughter was about 10 or 11, we went Salmon fishing in the Pulaski in upstate New York, standing in the river in chest waders, fish and swirling water, I can close my eyes and I'm back there. Speaking of ugly fish, carp out of the Susquehanna river aren't tooooo pretty either.

    Linda
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
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    I'm Jealous
    Looks like a perfect day on the water. Can't wait until Jim can get back to fishing. He spends several hours each day just rereading his Florida Sportsman and Sport Fishing mags and dreaming of the day we can get on the water again.

    Blessings to you.

    Debbie
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
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    jim and i said:

    I'm Jealous
    Looks like a perfect day on the water. Can't wait until Jim can get back to fishing. He spends several hours each day just rereading his Florida Sportsman and Sport Fishing mags and dreaming of the day we can get on the water again.

    Blessings to you.

    Debbie

    Florida Sportsman
    I used to read that mag religously...but it's a mere shell of what it used to be.. I suppose a casualty of the economy, and internet...but they do have a pretty good tv show now.

    As Jim is an avid fisherman also, I know that he has heard of DOA Fishing Lures.

    Last year there was a lady on the board that I offered support and my experience for her husband going through similar to the cancer I had.

    They were also in Florida...eventually I figured out her husband was Mark Nichols, owner and founder of DOA.

    Since then I have met Mark at one of the Florida Sportsman sponsered fishing tackle shows in Tampa.

    It was pretty cool as he knew me as soon as he saw me and we chatted for a long time....and invited me down to his area for a fishing trip.

    Mark has since finshed and doing very well..giving seminars and promoting the sport and his lures.

    By next year Jim and you will be out causing fear in fish once again...

    I'm so bad that in January 2009 when I was diagnosed and knew that fishing was the least of my worries...I was still hoping for future fishing adventures as 2008 was a banner year for pompano, grouper and snapper for me, LOL....

    Best,
    John
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Florida Sportsman
    I used to read that mag religously...but it's a mere shell of what it used to be.. I suppose a casualty of the economy, and internet...but they do have a pretty good tv show now.

    As Jim is an avid fisherman also, I know that he has heard of DOA Fishing Lures.

    Last year there was a lady on the board that I offered support and my experience for her husband going through similar to the cancer I had.

    They were also in Florida...eventually I figured out her husband was Mark Nichols, owner and founder of DOA.

    Since then I have met Mark at one of the Florida Sportsman sponsered fishing tackle shows in Tampa.

    It was pretty cool as he knew me as soon as he saw me and we chatted for a long time....and invited me down to his area for a fishing trip.

    Mark has since finshed and doing very well..giving seminars and promoting the sport and his lures.

    By next year Jim and you will be out causing fear in fish once again...

    I'm so bad that in January 2009 when I was diagnosed and knew that fishing was the least of my worries...I was still hoping for future fishing adventures as 2008 was a banner year for pompano, grouper and snapper for me, LOL....

    Best,
    John

    fishing
    Fishing again! YES Then we will be posting east coast fish pictures. LOL

    Debbie
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Florida Sportsman
    I used to read that mag religously...but it's a mere shell of what it used to be.. I suppose a casualty of the economy, and internet...but they do have a pretty good tv show now.

    As Jim is an avid fisherman also, I know that he has heard of DOA Fishing Lures.

    Last year there was a lady on the board that I offered support and my experience for her husband going through similar to the cancer I had.

    They were also in Florida...eventually I figured out her husband was Mark Nichols, owner and founder of DOA.

    Since then I have met Mark at one of the Florida Sportsman sponsered fishing tackle shows in Tampa.

    It was pretty cool as he knew me as soon as he saw me and we chatted for a long time....and invited me down to his area for a fishing trip.

    Mark has since finshed and doing very well..giving seminars and promoting the sport and his lures.

    By next year Jim and you will be out causing fear in fish once again...

    I'm so bad that in January 2009 when I was diagnosed and knew that fishing was the least of my worries...I was still hoping for future fishing adventures as 2008 was a banner year for pompano, grouper and snapper for me, LOL....

    Best,
    John

    John
    You are going to need a bigger boat just in case we all show up at the same time to go fishing. That would be a great time for a reunion say about June 2012 at John place in Tampa. Ha ha ha

    Hondo
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
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    Hondo said:

    John
    You are going to need a bigger boat just in case we all show up at the same time to go fishing. That would be a great time for a reunion say about June 2012 at John place in Tampa. Ha ha ha

    Hondo

    great idea
    Hondo, you may be right about the boat. June 2012 sounds pretty good to me. We love Tampa/St.Pete.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
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    Glenna M said:

    Gaggin fish!!
    Like Roz said, those are some butt ugly fish :)

    I sit here imagining how nice it must have felt being out in the bay with the fresh air and warm sunshine and it makes me smile, I can feel the warmth. Then I look out my window and see the snow and shiver :(

    But yes, life is good and it's great to be alive!!

    Glenna
    You got snow on the mountain already??? Sending warm thoughts and sunshine your way from California!

    Deb
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
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    osmotar said:

    :)
    Sounds like a good day had by all. The best fishing day I think I ever had, and there were quite a few when I lived back east was when my daughter was about 10 or 11, we went Salmon fishing in the Pulaski in upstate New York, standing in the river in chest waders, fish and swirling water, I can close my eyes and I'm back there. Speaking of ugly fish, carp out of the Susquehanna river aren't tooooo pretty either.

    Linda

    Linda
    My father used to drag us fishing up in Polaski all the time. Our paths continue to cross. Lol.

    It's snowing like mad here today. :( I bet well have at least 6". I'm not amused.
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
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    Linda
    My father used to drag us fishing up in Polaski all the time. Our paths continue to cross. Lol.

    It's snowing like mad here today. :( I bet well have at least 6". I'm not amused.

    small worlds
    Yes, our paths seem to do just that, I bet you have even been to the Lycoming Mall a time or two also.My sister was to fly out of Wilkes-Barre today ,and be in AZ 5:30 my time, flight canceled cause of the snow, so she has to wait until tomorrow at 1:30...she said they have almost 5 inches and still snowing...sometimes I really do miss seeing the stuff...but not when it cause delays and power outages.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
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    osmotar said:

    small worlds
    Yes, our paths seem to do just that, I bet you have even been to the Lycoming Mall a time or two also.My sister was to fly out of Wilkes-Barre today ,and be in AZ 5:30 my time, flight canceled cause of the snow, so she has to wait until tomorrow at 1:30...she said they have almost 5 inches and still snowing...sometimes I really do miss seeing the stuff...but not when it cause delays and power outages.

    Lycoming Mall
    I worked there, for 7.5 years. Lol. From November 98 - March 2006. That was when I was GM @ McD's.
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
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    Lycoming Mall
    I worked there, for 7.5 years. Lol. From November 98 - March 2006. That was when I was GM @ McD's.

    :)
    Since 2 of my sisters and I lived in Sweet Valley we would either go to Lycoming or the Wyoming Valley Mall. Those 2 sisters and my mom all live along Hwy 118 probably 10 or 15 miles from Rickets Glen State Park...dang...next time I get home I'll have to look you up.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
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    Linda
    My father used to drag us fishing up in Polaski all the time. Our paths continue to cross. Lol.

    It's snowing like mad here today. :( I bet well have at least 6". I'm not amused.

    Dawn ~ Swimming Pool
    And just think, I was in my swimming pool cooling off after a little yardwork this afternoon....

    Funny how just a few miles down the road (from PA) make such a big difference...LOL.

    JG
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Dawn ~ Swimming Pool
    And just think, I was in my swimming pool cooling off after a little yardwork this afternoon....

    Funny how just a few miles down the road (from PA) make such a big difference...LOL.

    JG

    JG
    :P
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Options
    osmotar said:

    :)
    Since 2 of my sisters and I lived in Sweet Valley we would either go to Lycoming or the Wyoming Valley Mall. Those 2 sisters and my mom all live along Hwy 118 probably 10 or 15 miles from Rickets Glen State Park...dang...next time I get home I'll have to look you up.

    Linda
    Not sure if I told you that I lived off 118 when I was married. Unityville.

    Definitely let me know when you are going to be here again. I would meet you somewhere.
  • connieprice1
    connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
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    Trick Photography
    John, Wow! Those are some nice size fish you guys caught. The photography is also awesome. I wonder how you make a 28" fish look like a 4 footer! Oh Well, that's another story. I miss talking to everyone on here. Your friends, Homer & Connie
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
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    Linda
    Not sure if I told you that I lived off 118 when I was married. Unityville.

    Definitely let me know when you are going to be here again. I would meet you somewhere.

    the world gets
    smaller...will do, I try to go bacl 4-5 times a year, this year my journeys took a detour , so family is coming here
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
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    Trick Photography
    John, Wow! Those are some nice size fish you guys caught. The photography is also awesome. I wonder how you make a 28" fish look like a 4 footer! Oh Well, that's another story. I miss talking to everyone on here. Your friends, Homer & Connie

    Homer
    It’s all in the angle you take the picture, really the fish is only 12 inches long and John is almost normal, almost that is. Then removing the fist and re-taking the picture of just the fish and placing it back into John hands and there you have it a little big Fish.

    John the only way I am going to believe you catch fish that big in Tampa is to be right there and see it for myself. And even then not until I eat the fish am I going to not believe I am dreaming about the hold thing. He ha he :+}

    It is so nice to be able to live need the water.
    Hondo