Finally, taking time and going offshore in two weeks. Will post pics.

I've never been offshore fishing. I do fish off of the pier in Jacksonville Beach, Fl. We catch Kingfish up to 60 pounds, Redfish up to 40 pounds, Cobia, jewfish, tarpon up to 7 foot long, jack crevalle in the 40's, and a whole lot of others!

Some days we have as many as four kings on at a time with a deck that is 20X40, but we are all friends and one of us will start calling on where each angler needs to go, as far as dipping under who and getting the tourist and spectators out of the way (off the rail so the anglers can move around as needed during the 30 minute fights).

Somedays the only thing we catch is a sunburn.

If you want to make alot of friends, just show up with a big patio umbrella!
here is a sample. It's a 41 pound King.

The largest Kingfish ever caught off a pier was here in Jax Beach. It was 63 pounds. Funny thing is the "worlds largest kingfish competition" is in Jacksonville, and we catch larger fish off the pier than they do in the contest. The prize in the contest for first place is over 100,000 bucks.

Go figure.

Caught many out of boats and always wondered how those Pier Guys do it? Same for the CObia. Every one I have ever caught laps the boat numerous times before landing. How you guys keep them out of the pilings I'll never know.... Great pic...

Hey Mouse where you guy going? Oregon INlet has been on fire the last few weeks.

Did a five day trip off the west coast and when we hooked up, there were multiplse plus many with rods in the water. One of the funnest things was to follow your fish down the rail screaming, "Coming down, over, over, under, over.

Went down south to Charleston, SC. Had an absolute blast. First time offshore in such a small boat. The smallest I've ever been out in the past was a 50'. Normally, I'm out on a 60+ and even had an ordeal once in one of those but that's another story. This time it was a 26 foot with twin 250's. It was great. Never worried abiut that size boat. Had to go out 60 miles to the fishing grounds but hooked up both days with Dolphin. It was kind of slow but a lot of fun. Boated 14 dolphin all together. 5 the first day and 9 the second. My son was able to reel in 8 fish total. He had a blast. Now he says freshwater won't ever measure up. lol

I still owe you all the picks. The link I got only allowed for tiny photos. So I asked for them to send them directly to me.

Sometimes we do lose them because of the pilings.

Catching them is a coordinated tangle. We usually do pretty good. The first 10 minutes the fish runs away from the pier, the next ten weare reeling in the 300-400 yards of line it took on the initial run. The last 10 minutes is the hardest part...fighting right next to the pier. It isn't too bad, except for when it gets near a piling or goes under the pier. We strain our lines to the breaking point trying to lift the head and turn the beast. Eventually we hang a gaff from a rope it get it!

Pics?? Lets see those fish from SC....

Here are some pics.

Thundermug, sounds like you boys do it the same way we do it in nc. You can't beat a good day on the pier. It is like no other sport-especially when a king hits and just about dumps the spool or the sight of a cobia crashing the baits. What live bait do you find the best? We have best luck with bluefish.