The Gulf’s distant Middle Grounds is a very fishy place. The Gulf Fisheries Management Council and NOAA list it as an HAPC — Habitat Area of Particular Concern; anglers have found it to be a habitat area of particular productivity. Even though the live bottom here rises only a few feet to perhaps six or seven above the surrounding sea floor, the Gulf tends to be featureless, making this “high relief” hardbottom coral area 80 and more miles west of Tampa worth a long ride.
But that long ride does limit effort somewhat. Traditionally — and still — effort here has been limited to larger, faster charter and private boats, and to big partyboats like the cat-hulled Florida Fisherman II out of Hubbard’s Marina. That option isn’t so great in the speed department (cruising at 12 knots or so), but qualifies as comfortably big, at 75 feet, carrying up to 50 anglers. It makes fishing the Middle Grounds affordable for a lot of folks who couldn’t afford a private charter. But not all those folks can give up a full weekend for a 39-hour overnight trip.
Thus, “In 2015, we had the idea of a go-fast hydrofoil-assisted cat to fish the Middle Grounds,” says Capt. Dylan Hubbard. “By the summer of 2017, we were running the first-ever USCG-inspected hydrofoil cat for long-range fishing in the Gulf.”
The whole idea of these “12-Hour Extreme” trips means anglers need to commit to only one day to fish the Middle Grounds, since the Flying Hub 2 can cruise offshore at 30 to 40 knots, thus running two to two-and-a-half hours each way, allowing seven to eight hours of fishing. The concept is intended to bridge the gap between the speed and luxury of pricey six-pack charters and the slower, heavily populated big partyboats, with more elbow room, more intimate setting and more personalized service.
All About Big Fish
Curious about this opportunity, I booked a Wednesday 12-hour trip in June (red snapper time!) along with my amigo Adrian Gray, with the IGFA. At 5 a.m. sharp, 15 anglers plus Capt. Joe Drew and one mate, Skipper (not her legal name, but don’t dare call her anything else!), left the dock at Hubbard’s Marina on Johns Pass (St. Petersburg) for a 2.5-hour run northwest…