A Day in the Deep: My Offshore Fishing Trip from Sunrise to Sunset
Some days on the water feel like work. Others remind you why you fell in love with fishing in the first place. This was one of the good ones — a full day offshore, chasing whatever the ocean threw our way, from sunrise until the last light faded. No cell service, no deadlines, just blue water and the thrill of the unknown.
Here’s how it went down — the fish we found, the mistakes we made, and why I’ll never forget this day.
4:30 AM – Harbor Lights and Pre-Trip Rituals
We pulled into the marina just as the sky was starting to bleed from black to purple. A light breeze stirred the air, and the docks creaked quietly. It was one of those mornings where the coffee tastes better, the gear feels lighter, and your gut says, “This is going to be a good one.”
We were fishing aboard a friend’s 29-foot center console, rigged for offshore work. Rods were pre-rigged the night before — trolling setups with 50-wides, spinning rods with poppers and jigs, and bottom rigs just in case. Coolers were packed, sandwiches wrapped, and the bait — fresh mackerel and a few ballyhoo — was iced and ready.
By 5:15, we were throttling out of the harbor into the gray dawn.
6:30 AM – The Steam Out and the First Sign of Life
It took a little over an hour to run 30 miles out, past the nearshore reefs and into deeper bluewater. Water temp read …