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 "Reef Donkeys" as we refer to them locally earn their name and
their respect from all who tangle with them. Amberjack are a fish that we are blessed with
here in Lousiana. The abundance of deepwater, free-standing oil and gas platforms has
provided these heavyweights with enough good habitat to at least partially offset the
pressure of commercial fishing. We fish for these bruisers with full grown, live hard tails and we hook them with giant circle hooks and 300# leader. We are typically fishing around 200 feet down in water up to 500 feet deep. Typically we try to use the boat to our advantage when we get into bigger fish since usually the angler alone can't turn one of these guys away from the structure in time to prevent a cut off. So when we get a pick up, we cruise away with the boat, with the drag locked down...trying not to give an inch. once we have cleared the structure, we release some pressure and settle into a fair fight. We still lose a
lot of big fish...but either way, its pretty exciting!
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