Offshore Tomorrow (20 Oct 09)

[Dave]

I know this is a little late but I tend to firm up offshore plans only a day or two ahead of time....

We'll be heading out for the 240 rock early tomorrow morning (ramping at the new Bft ramp), and want to extend an invitation to any skiffers that would like to buddy boat out with us.

The wind and sea reports look good but you should (IMO) have a 198 or better to make the trip and hold enough fuel to get 30 miles out and back, with room to spare. A working VHF and GPS/FF is a must. We'll be bottom fishing primarily, so a 27 gallon tank is plenty (with gas to spare) for all skiffs up to and including a 258. An anchor with a minimum of 300 feet of rode is nice but may not be necessary (since you will have buddies in the area) if you just want to drift fish the bumps and holes, which is what I mostly do. We'll be fishing in 85 to 110 feet of water for bsb, snapper, grouper, and the like. If you want to go, contact me and I'll give you the details, including what type of rigs and bait I recommend.

For those that need it, I'll pass out a short list of GPS numbers to those going, when we meet at the ramp.

Dave

[Whatever]

Hope you catch them as usual Dave....I am heading out of Masonboro Weds. morning to pull some king rigs...out to the WR 4 (Aprox. 28 Mi. offshore) area and back..Same invite extended to any one that wants to team it up....;D...27 Gals. is always enought to get there, throll and few hours and back...*thumbsup*


2412

[joe28540]

Dave,
I hope that you have a very productive day. I wish that I was able to go. We have been very busy this past week. I am looking forward to wetting a line in the morning but I will only have a couple of hours. If you go again in the near future let me know.

[Redfishray]

1stSgt how did yall do?

[Dave]

1stSgt how did yall do?

*thumbsup* ...will post a report soon as I work up the pics *thumbsup*

[Dave]

It was one of those days the sportfishing fleet often says is too nice to catch fish. The slightest hint of a breeze welcomed us as we slipped into a small cove by the ramp, to catch some live bait, preparing for our trip offshore. With a dozen hard-heads in the livewell, we made our way to a spot some 17 miles from the inlet.

Locating the wreck and pausing just long enough to "find the drift", we dropped down to see what might be hungry this morning... Gunner with cut Spanish Mackerel and I with a 6 oz stingsilver. I believe it was his first or second drop when Gregg grunted something that I recognized as a good fish on! We sized it up as a grouper and sure enough, it was a nice 26" keeper. With that beauty on ice, I returned for another drift. I dropped down, gave a few pumps, and thought at first I had hung the wreck but upon pulling to free the jig, my effort resulted in a series of throbbing pulls from the terminal end of the line, letting me know I was hung into a big fish... that may have took me into the wreck. In an moment of panicked stupidly, I cranked down hard on the drag wheel and pulled back in an attempt to force the fish out... POW, there goes my (almost) new deep-jigging rod, broken cleanly at the top of the foam padded grip, just above the reel. To add insult to injury, my line apparently cut off at the other end, just as the rod broke, and so I wasn't even able to retrieve the rod blank.

I scrambled to get another line in the water as Gregg is bringing in his second grouper, this one a little short of 24" so he returned him to grow up. Not long after that I hung a second fish that I was sure was a keeper grouper but it came loose after a short exchange. Our first hour and we were into some big fish, with one in the cooler... and so, I made a decision to stay near shore and work a couple more wrecks in the area.

About mid-morning, the earlier (one foot) seas glassed over, the sun warmed up and the ocean teamed with bait everywhere, false albacore rising all around us, and schools of amberjack showing themselves around and under our boat almost the entire day long. Later in the afternoon, large schools of spadefish appeared, finning the surface... so close and unassuming, that Gregg thought he might be able to dip one up with the net ;D

Throughout the day, as the bottom fishing slowed, Gregg broke out his spinning rod and slung a stingsilver to one of the many schools of alberts that continued to frolic within casting distance of our drift. On one of those episodes, he hooked one, only to have it come loose almost immediately. All morning, with the ever presence of so many AJ's, I was glad they weren't in a feeding mood, but as the day wore on, I was starting to think about how to entice one into a little action. I took the lead off my bottom rig and hooked up a live bealiner to no great interest of the AJ's. Gregg tied on one of his classic striper plugs and hefted it out in the middle of a school of alberts as I warned him that his giant chugger might scare away ALL the fish ;D He must have been 75 feet from the boat when he announced he had a blow-up and as I turned to look, I saw a wave of water right behind his plug that looked like that scene in "JAWS"......Man, that was an AJ, plowing the ocean's surface, dead on the heals of his top water plug! A few more casts with the same (follow, hit and miss) results and I went for the camera to record the action. Naturally, the action stopped when I readied myself on the bow deck to snap a picture. Back to my bottom fishing I went and Gregg soon returned to join me, this time with his killer oyster toadfish lure. Half a dozen toadfish in the boat and he scrapped that rod and tried again for a top water bite with the AJ's. I didn't think much of it (being successful) but it wasn't long before one got fired up and took the bait... and the battle was on! It was a good fight while it lasted, but eventually the determined AJ made it to the wreck and he and Gregg parted ways *kickrock*

As the afternoon wore into early evening, the baitfish rose to the surface, the spadefish kept us company, and the AJ's continued to lurk beneath our skiff. The day was winding down and as we readied for the short run back to the inlet, we washed the bait residue and fish blood off the skiff decks and then...Gregg tossed one of our remaining live mullet out and away from the boat. Holy Mother of Jesus, a pack of AJ's charged that poor fish, driving it to the surface and exploded all around until one lucky fish sucked it down - gone in 3 seconds! I've caught my share of AJ's over the years, and many on the surface with live bait, but to see a half dozen 30# AJ's attack a 10" mullet tossed amongst them is an exciting experience all by itself, made all the more exciting on the calm and quiet still waters we had on this day. The only thing missing from that moment was a hook connecting the mullet to a fishing pole and the both of us were promptly scurrying about the boat to remedy that little detail!

I think we had three live ones left in the tank as I made up a leader to snap on my 15-40# class Penn Sabre rod, in order to live line one to the reef donkeys. In the mean time, Gregg hooked one up on his toadfish jig and tossed it overboard, but missed the strike.

I gently tossed the tethered bait overboard. Folks, it was like watching fish in a fish tank, the water was so calm and clear. As the mullet hit the surface some 10 feet from the boat, a school of AJ's rushed to meet the fleeing victim, frantically leaping from the surface, desperately trying to stay just ahead of the huge and gaping mouths that followed. I had the reel in free-spool, lightly thumbing it to keep the spool from overrunning as the big fish gulped it, diving down and moved away from the school. When I was satisfied the fish had the bait well into it's mouth, I tucked the rod butt above my belt, pointed the rod in the fish's direction, the rod tip in the half raised position, and with my knees slightly bent and resting against the side of the skiff, I engaged the reel to lock the drag, and readied myself for the pull of the fish to drive the #12 circle hook deep into its jaw... the rod bent hard, as the drag from the Fin-Nor 16L stripped off line like it was nooooo problem for this fish. I probably had 20 pounds of drag and immediately cranked the star tighter to keep the fish from reaching the wreck... I guess a little too much ... (40 pounds of drag is available on these reels) the drag weight (evidently) exceeded the weak spot near my knot, just above the swivel, as evidenced by the tag end of the line after retrieving it... the second foolish and costly mistake of the day *001*

One more bait and one last chance, with lots of hungry, lit up AJ's just under the surface, circling for their next meal ;D Gregg tied up the next leader line as I tied a 100# barrel swivel to 50 pound braid. Checking the GPS and realizing we had drifted well away from the wreck (while cleaning up the boat) I decided to re-set the drag back to something in the neighborhood of 20 pounds. We double checked the knots and baited up with the single remaining live mullet, a good half pounder. Over the side it went and the race was on, as the AJ's swarmed the terrified bait, over-powering it in short order. As before, I let the fish take some line before engaging the drag, hook set... and the battle was on! Several minutes into the fight, the fish sounded well into the depths and shortly thereafter, the line popped as if to have once again broken off! He's gone, I announced, as Gregg looked at me with a puzzled look on his face. I cranked up a turn or two and (what) the fish is still there... the rod bent over and we continued the fight for a few more minutes, until I turned the rod over to Gregg to finish him off - at the end of the day, this fish had more fight left in him than I did ;D. We brought the mighty fish (estimated to be in the 40 pound range) into the boat just long enough to take a couple shots of it before revived it at boat side, allowing it to swim free again. What a great ending to a beautiful day on the ocean!

Dave

This one's a keeper.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/GreggsGrouper_20091021_002.jpg

You fellows in the NE should recognize this old favorite striper lure. No, that is not the wake of the AJ I witnessed, only the relatively mild disturbance of the surface plug, as Gregg worked it through the water.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/StriperStriper_20091021.jpg

AJ took the above lure and put up a strong battle before breaking off.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/AJonStriperSwiper_20091021_001.jpg

Toadfish lure... deadly, when tipped with a fresh mullet strip ;D
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/OysterToad_20091021_001.jpg

AJ hooked up!
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/AJ-TakingTurns_20091021_001.jpg

The battle goes on...
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/AJ-TakingTurns_20091021_002.jpg

and almost won...
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/AJFriends_20091021_001.jpg

A last attemp to dive, before a little side trip...
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/AJattheBoat_20091021_002.jpg

coming aboard for a picture...
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/AJonMulletGregg_20091021_001.jpg

and another one, before setting free.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/AJonMulletGregg_20091021_002.jpg

[Whatever]

Great report as usual Dave....*Cheers*

[Gary13]

Great job guys!!!!

[ballen]

Awsome report!! I always enjoy reading them!

[MartyJ16]

Great reading! Are you sure you didn't ghost write for Hemingway??*thumbsup*

[brokebeach5011]

Nice

[Gunnar]

What a beautiful day to be on the ocean. :cool:

I'm going to replace that 3 year old line on my spinning rod, put a shock leader on and land one of those big bad AJ's on that rig next time.rotflmao

The fishing wasn't so hot, but we did both have several chances at some nice grouper. Those buggers are crafty, you get about 2 seconds to try to pull them away from their hole after they grab the bait. Usually they win that battle and once they're back in their hole it's all over and time to tie on another rig.*kickrock*

Thanks Dave, seems like I get to see or do something new every time you take me out on the big pond. *018*

Gregg

[Harry]

I liked this part ..........

As the mullet hit the surface some 10 feet from the boat, a school of AJ's rushed to meet the fleeing victim, frantically leaping from the surface, desperately trying to stay just ahead of the huge and gaping mouths that followed.

Great report and photo's Dave.

Sure beats the hell out of swinging an eastwing claw hammer and putting a roof on the house huh?
Glad your back on the water *Cheers*

PS
Yes,
I noticed the popper Gregg was using, looks mighty familiar. Great plug !!

[tcfisherman]

Great report Dave, along with being a good fisherman, you sure can tell a story that kept me on the edge of my chair, thanks......Tc

[Dave]

Thanks fellows... story telling comes easy to me ... using an eastwing claw hammer is a little more difficult... and painful. rotflmao

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/CarpentersFinger_20091024_002.jpg

Dave

[DWood]

Thanks fellows... story telling comes easy to me ... using an eastwing claw hammer is a little more difficult... and painful. rotflmao

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/CarpentersFinger_20091024_002.jpg

Dave

Dave,

I love reading your reports. You ought to be an outdoor sports writer for one of the magazines. Ever think about submitting one of these to NC Wildlife Magazine? I'll bet they would print this one. *thumbsup* By the way,
you're supposed to hit the other nail *clonk*rotflmao!!! You know, the one with the little round head on the end of the nail. rotflmao

Hope to talk to you sometime between 11/8 and 11/21 when the wife and I will be at MHC fishing. If you'll send me your phone number via SM I'll keep it confidential:secret: and call you for either some numbers or perhaps a fishing trip with us (you can bring the wife if yall don't mind fishing in a 198DLV*yay*.
Dan

[MartyJ16]

Thanks fellows... story telling comes easy to me ... using an eastwing claw hammer is a little more difficult... and painful.

Dave

rotflmaorotflmaorotflmao

[Dave]

Dan, :secret:don't tell Harry, but I'm using his fishing forum to write a book, one post at a time... "Old Men and the Sea" rotflmao

LOL, my wife was looking on when I smashed my finger with the hammer... and just to show her I'm a better carpenter than that, I rared back on the next nail and smacked it again *004* .... after a few expletives, I wiped away the spontaneous tears, put a big smile on my face and came down from the ladder, hauled out the compressor and nail gun, and got on with the program *laughing*

I'll send you a PM soon.

Gunnar, it occurred to me that we could lure them AJ's away from the wreck and fire them up with a few live baits tossed out amongst 'em before offering them a top water plug from a 20 pound spinning rig. 22 years ago, in September of '87, Teresa (my wife) live baited (a pin fish as I recall) a similar weight AJ (near the same wreck) and it took her 30 minutes to wrestle it to the boat, using a 30 pound class king stick, spooled with 20 pound mono.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/Teresa-35lbAmberjackSep87001-1.jpg

[Gunnar]

Gunnar, it occurred to me that we could lure them AJ's away from the wreck and fire them up with a few live baits tossed out amongst 'em before offering them a top water plug from a 20 pound spinning rig. 22 years ago, in September of '87, Teresa (my wife) live baited (a pin fish as I recall) a similar weight AJ (near the same wreck) and it took her 30 minutes to wrestle it to the boat, using a 30 pound class king stick, spooled with 20 pound mono.



;D I've already taken off the old line and respooled with 300 yards of 15# mono and put on a 30#flourocarbon leader. I'm ready rotflmao My crew was disappointed that I didn't bring back any fish for them this time, as I wasn't going to share my first grouper with them.:rolleyes: They did a good job for the day and probably enjoyed not having me there as much as I enjoyed not being there. Let's go fishing*014*

Gregg

[Dave]

;D I've already taken off the old line and respooled with 300 yards of 15# mono and put on a 30#flourocarbon leader. I'm ready rotflmao Let's go fishing*014*

Gregg

Okey Dokey... soon as the seas calm down, we'll give it another go! ;D

Dave

[Redfishray]

1stSgt, AWESOME PICS, AWESOME REPORT, AWESOME FISH!!! That is incredible how calm it was! I have never seen AJ's at the top like that...how did yall get em up? chumming? We usually have to drop live hardtails 200' down to catch em... How deep was the water where you were?

Thanks for the good report!!

[redneckredfishr]

Dave and Gunnar,

Nice job. *Woot*

[Dave]

How deep was the water where you were?



Thanks for the encouraging words FG... We were in less than 100 feet. I rarely bottom fish in more than 125 feet. Lots of AJ's in this area, between 60-100 foot of water... wherever there is good structure (wreck or artificial reef) is a likely place to find them, always in schools and many times, especially in calm sea conditions when they are around tall structure, (that reaches within 40-60 feet of the surface) they can be seen roaming 10-30 feet down, under the boat.

Dave

[Eel]

AJs?? I'm jealous.

Nice fishing, guys. *Cheers*

1stSgt, the reds are schooled up on the flats right now. Its almost too easy. Gotta get you out there on them whenever the wind lays down.

[Dave]

1stSgt, the reds are schooled up on the flats right now. Its almost too easy. Gotta get you out there on them whenever the wind lays down.

Sounds like a plan to me ;D

Dave

PS - I was thinking the same thing about you and those AJ's... decisions, decisions rotflmao