Oh yes, another Pier Rat-Tortugas fishing adventure. Welcome to my Dry Tortugas fishing homepage for the year of 2002. The annual trip aboard the MS South Florida Fishfinder has once again come and gone.
We booked our trip a year in advance as we always do. And since last years trip was so good we chose to go the weekend of July 19th-21st 2002. The weather was awesome once again! We
loaded up in three vehicles with all our tackle, coolers, and almost everything including the kitchen sink. We had everything we needed to complete this "Mass Chaos of a trip." Fishing with us were some new faces. Some rookies and some seasoned old salts went along to make up Team Pier Rat.
MEET THE CREW
- Bobby Wummer (aka: The Pier Rat)
- Jeff Mcdonald (aka: The Penguin)
- Kevin Umphrey (aka: Big Kev)
- Billy Wummer (aka: Capt. Billy)
- Pauline Bloom (aka: The Medic)
- Howie Tuman (aka: Sam Scott)
- Uncle Joe
- Andy (aka: LadyBug, Butterball, Buttercup etc)
- Cousin Chris (aka: Double "C")
- Chris "Crispy Cream" (aka: John Jones)
- Matt Tuman (aka: Capt. Matt)
Here's the photo of the entire Pier Rat Tortugas Fishing trip 2002. Starting at the top left: Howie Tuman, Capt. Matt, The Pier Rat, Big Kev, The Penguin, Capt. Billy, Bottom Left:Uncle Joe, Capt. Crispy, Pauline, Andy (Buttercup).
We arrived at the dock in Key West, Florida around 3:30 pm on Friday afternoon. We boarded the boat and were under way in no time at all. Everyone met up on the sundeck and began rigging, as we all enjoyed the four hour ride out to the fishing grounds known to all of us as the Dry Tortugas. The Fishfinder
was looking great as always and I was glad to be back on board and ready for three days of "EXTREME FISHING!" I brought the video camera along to get it all the Mass Chaos at High Volume on tape.
I started fishing when the boat made its first drop, and didn't sleep for the entire three days. But I can't say that for the rest of my crew. They tried to hang with the Pier Rat, but just couldn't do it. Crispy and Big Kev were up the longest next to me
Big Kev managed to win both the biggest fish as well as the biggest kingfish on this trip. He caught a 40 pound smoker king mackerel (kingfish). He took home $430.00 cash! It was really funny to see Kevin get drunk on this trip. After he caught his winning king mackerel he started having a few rum and cokes. And one mixed
drink led to another. Well, after a few floaters on top of all that soda Big Kev was feeling no pain at all. I last saw him with a hook and leader wrapped around his right hand passed out at one of the tables up on the sundeck enjoying the second afternoon of our trip.
As for Captain Billy (my younger brother), he gave it his all to try and top Kev's kingfish, but it just wasn't his lucky day! Billy is pictured here with a runner-up kingfish that could have been a contender when it came down to the end. But, as you can see his king mackerel came up a little short.
Yep, judging by that proportionate sized bite mark I think Mr. porpoise had a little tasty treat. As a matter of fact the porpoise were all around the boat at the time that Billy brought in his mutilated catch. Nice try little brother....better luck this year!
Now here's a once in a lifetime photo. This is a GIANT goliath grouper (aka Jewfish) that Big Kev also caught on this years trip. I have the whole thing on video, I must say it was a sight! It all started with the Penguin fishing a large live blue runner down deep. He was expecting a fat kingfish but that didn't happen.
Penguins rod doubled then tripled over from the stress of the huge unknown fish! The mate thought the Penguin was caught on bottom and took the rod from him to break it off. Then quick thinking Kevin came to the Penguins rescue and stole the rod back from the mate, but then forgot to give it back to the Penguin. The fish fought hard
for thirty minutes and Big Kev most definitely worked up a sweat. As the wind-on leader came back onto Penguins TLD-25 reel, the huge goliath grouper rolled out from under the boat and surfaced "belly-up." The fish was photographed then released. The captain of the FishFinder said he estimated the fish at over 500 pounds! The fishing
rod thief aka: "Big Kev" had struck again! (LOL)
The three days of fishing in the Dry Tortugas came and went so fast this time. Here's a photo of our catch from the entire boat. We all enjoyed a nice dinner at the Green Turtle Inn on our way back out of the Florida Keys. I can't wait until this years trip.
We rented the entire FishFinder for this years expedition. I'll be sure and update that Tortugas adventure when July comes back around. Until then, wishing you bent rods, and screamin' reels!
