Dave
05-04-2008, 04:41 PM
No, there was no distress call - May 1 was the day Jack and I ventured offshore to take advantage of the mild sea condition forecast that finally came to the Crystal Coast. It was also a day of "firsts" for the skiff and me.
First trip since I moved the console and cooler seat forward - what a great difference that made - 22" behind the seat vs the stock 11" ;D
First trip offshore that I set up a small trolling spread to check the skiff's wake and how the skiff pulled the lines from the rod holders.
First grouper in the skiff - undersized but still a grouper!
First trolled "take-home" Atlantic Bonito.
As usual, Jack was waiting for me at the ramp for an early start. The sea conditions were forecast 2-3 feet with 10-15 MPH SW winds, changing to S in the PM. Sunny skies prevailed. Mid morning the seas calmed to just about flat for a short while and then the wind shifted and the winds picked up and the seas rose somewhat higher than predicted. Not a problem but it slowed us down and kept me from really wanting to venture too far out in the newly rising head sea.
I also learned a couple of lessons:
1) When you're 16 miles SE of Beaufort Inlet and you set your GPS to the 240 rock, you're probably not headed in the right direction if you're tracking on course and can see the Cape Lookout Lighthouse off your starboard bow. *001*
2) When you are using someone else's camera, make sure you know how to use it.
We ended the day with (1) Bonito and (9) BSB in the box. Most of the bass were just over legal size with the largest going 14 3/4".
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/Grouper3.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/BleedingtheBonito.jpg
Check out more pics of this day by visiting this link: http://carolinaskiffowner.com/album.php?albumid=38
I've also included my opinions of the flavor and texture of Atlantic Bonito and offered two simple recipies for this fish, which can be viewed on the "Cook Book" forum - http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?p=22063#post22063
Dave
First trip since I moved the console and cooler seat forward - what a great difference that made - 22" behind the seat vs the stock 11" ;D
First trip offshore that I set up a small trolling spread to check the skiff's wake and how the skiff pulled the lines from the rod holders.
First grouper in the skiff - undersized but still a grouper!
First trolled "take-home" Atlantic Bonito.
As usual, Jack was waiting for me at the ramp for an early start. The sea conditions were forecast 2-3 feet with 10-15 MPH SW winds, changing to S in the PM. Sunny skies prevailed. Mid morning the seas calmed to just about flat for a short while and then the wind shifted and the winds picked up and the seas rose somewhat higher than predicted. Not a problem but it slowed us down and kept me from really wanting to venture too far out in the newly rising head sea.
I also learned a couple of lessons:
1) When you're 16 miles SE of Beaufort Inlet and you set your GPS to the 240 rock, you're probably not headed in the right direction if you're tracking on course and can see the Cape Lookout Lighthouse off your starboard bow. *001*
2) When you are using someone else's camera, make sure you know how to use it.
We ended the day with (1) Bonito and (9) BSB in the box. Most of the bass were just over legal size with the largest going 14 3/4".
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/Grouper3.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/BleedingtheBonito.jpg
Check out more pics of this day by visiting this link: http://carolinaskiffowner.com/album.php?albumid=38
I've also included my opinions of the flavor and texture of Atlantic Bonito and offered two simple recipies for this fish, which can be viewed on the "Cook Book" forum - http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?p=22063#post22063
Dave