First offshore trip...

I was invited to participate in one of the first offshore trips of the season with our resident red snapper guru, Eric, former justice system whip and newly ordained Nordic god. Financial aid came in the form of Christmas gifts from wife and mother-in-law, possibly with divine intervention, since they arrived 5 days early and just in time to help pay for the trip. First things first...the trip was a blast.

 Good company, good fishing and guided to the fishing grounds by a battalion of dolphins...how much better can it get.

I was lucky enough to catch one of the largest red snappers of the day and it agreed to have it's photo taken before being relegated to the stringer.

We managed a pretty decent limit and luckily the cooler proved adequate. Although the fish look huge, fillets were more modest since 1/3 of the fish is head.

 

These  guys were hanging around the fish cleaning station where they helped with disposing of all portions of the fish not destined for the trip home. And they did a pretty good job.