Offshore fishing (Full episode)

GULF COAST - This week on "Outdoors" Jason goes offshore fishing with a group of experienced fisherman.

Radio personality Sean Sullivan, outdoors man Joey Gates, outdoors writer Aaron White, Fox Ten photojournalist Vania Kuy and Captain Chance McConnell were part of Jason's crew.

Captain Chance set the course for the deep water rigs. The seas were running about two feet as we headed for open water.

Out in the Gulf of Mexico, the bottom droped off quickly from to 15 miles out. The transition is very gradual when you get out 40 miles, its about 200 feet deep. By the time you get to the deep water rigs, the water can be as deep as 2000 feet.

On board the boat there was a special type of grill called the Big Green Egg.

Jason said this charcoal grill makes the perfect steak. It is set in aluminum casing so it doesn't roll around the deck during the rough seas.

The big green egg is a great place to cook dinner if you are heading out. With this type of grill you can enjoy steaks and fresh vegetables like Jason did that night.

Jason and his crew reached the Petronius Rig late at night.

The tower design of that rig is 2,000 feet high and is possibly the tallest free-standing structure in the world. It is a deep water oil platform operated by Chevron Marathon Oil.

An estimated 50,000 barrels of oil are extracted daily by the rig. The platform is named after Petronius, the Roman writer. The water is 1,700 feet deep below the platform. Construction costs was approximately $500 million dollars.

When fishing for blackfin tuna, you want to keep the line tight, especially when the water is deep. There is a lot of stetch in mono so you don't want to let your rod down and pump the fish up. You just want to hold onto the rod and crank them up as quick as you can. Fishing for blackfin tuna can give you a major work out.

Yellowfin Tuna, along with dolphin and billfish, feed at a variety of depths. However, these fish are most commonly caught near the surface. Flying fish are a primary food source for species like Tuna. These fish have unusually large pectoral fins. They actual jump up out of the water and glide using their fins to escape predators. Jason spotted some tuna feeding on flying fish, and it was time to pull out a spinning rod rigged with a large Spro topwater bait.

After an unsuccessful attempt at trolling around the rigs at sunrise, it was time for Jason and his crew to head north and fish for grouper and scamp along natural bottom.

Jason dropped live pinfish down in 200 feet of water and in search of the bottom fish.

Scamp are a type of grouper found in depths between 100 and 300 feet. They are typically between 5 and 15 pounds in size. Scamp are excellent to eat. The fillets have a white, flaky appearance and a mild flavor.

Scamp and other grouper live near the bottom. They like to hang around the coral and sunken wrecks and you have to reel very quickly to get them away from these obstructions. Some fish will take you into the bottom and hang you up. Hard work doesn't always pay off. Check it out as this fish wins the battle.

Scamp are a type of grouper found in depths around 200 feet. Scamp are excellent to eat but are often found well offshore . They are also hard to catch because they're found close to the bottom. Fishing regulations state no more than five fish per angler.

Most scamp are about ten pounds, and the world record is 29 pounds.