Offshore Winter Wahoo

There was a small weather window to take advantage of the Wahoo that gather in winter around the storied offshore pinnacles of East and West Flower Gardens. We left the dock at Galveston Island, TX at 22:00 on an exceptionally dark and frigid night. We plowed through the ink black temperamental waters of the Gulf of Mexico on mission to land these incredible beasts from the deep. We arrived at the Flower Gardens just before sunrise and started trolling at first light. There were minimal results at first, but Cpt "Sharky" Marquez is not one to give up easily. With a few careful tweaks of speed and lure selection he began to stage his comeback. Within no time, the deck was alive in a frenzy of action. One fish after another found itself surrendering to the gaff with a triple hook up finally. With a heavily laden box of very healthy winter Wahoo, 10 in all, the good Captain and crew headed for shore. The ride back started out with minimal disruption, but the Gulf of Mexico had a different idea. She always has a different idea. The weather window unexpectedly closed, and we found ourselves in dropping temperatures, building 4' seas and increasing fog with 85 miles to go! Captain "Sharky" tightened his grip on the helm and throttles and flawlessly piloted the 36' Contender to the mouth of the Galveston jetties and then on to the dock. As every good mariner knows, you have to have the weather to make a great fishing trip truly EPIC!