Who's Going Offshore This Weekend?

[Dave]

Still four days to go but it looks like the weather is stacking up for some unusually fine fishing conditions, especially on Saturday!

Dave

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/reef_927.png

[Whatever]

We will be seen you guys up there this coming Saturday for the "Tackle Box KMT"...Just had to fish one more...since those manheaden and smokers are moving up that way...;D;D.. Looking to cross to the "East Side", somewhere close the "1700 Rock"...:secret:

[Eel]

Who's Going Offshore This Weekend?

I may be "offshore", if the swell forecast holds up and we have 1' @ 8 seconds by lunchtime on Saturday, with a light north wind and sun to light up the surf. Of course, "offshore" to me is 2' of water right up on the beach. ;D

I'm ready to see an acre-wide pumpkin patch. *Cheers*

[Ed&Brenda]

Dave did you get my message last week.

[CFISHN]

Hey Dave ...........

Take some nice pic's for us northerners .....

[DWood]

If you go off shore be careful! Hope it holds out till next Monday!*yay*

Make some good pictures for us.*Cheers*

[Eel]

Its setting up for a good weekend to catch some surf reds. High tide in the middle of the day, no swell, light north winds. *Woot*

Maybe one of those 30-40 reds a day weekends. *008*

[Redfishray]

Yall are killing me...its gonna be ROUGH here this weekend. PLEASE post pics if yall get offshore.

[Harry]

Not sure how to read that chart, But I'm a dummy.;D

Please explain
Thanks

[Gunnar]

Not sure how to read that chart, But I'm a dummy.;D

Please explain
Thanks

e.g. Saturday at noon on the first chart; the wind is out of the east at less than 5 mph.

The second chart at Saturday noon the wave height is less than 2' every 8 seconds(period).

It doesn't get much better than that around here. Dave, do you need a mate:rolleyes:

Gregg

[wjsmith82]

Good luck guys.

[Dave]

Here's the reefcast this morning. It's changed only slightly. What is not apparent, (unless you know where the lat/lon coordinates shown are located) is "where" on the ocean surface I've selected to give me the sea conditions. In this case, I've selected a location approximately 25 miles south of Beaufort Inlet (see broad area reefcast map here: http://fryingpantower.com/North_Carolina_Offshore_Weather_Forecast.html ) by clicking my desired forecast location (on that map) to reveal the current wind/sea condition forecast.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/reef_127.png



When planning a trip offshore, I'm not only concerned with that day, but take into consideration the days leading up to and the days following the target date. To help illustrate this, I've added some notes to a copy of this chart (see chart below), and will explain my thought process.

As you can see, (from the days leading up to Saturday, our target date) the seas are forecast to be 4' or less, with a steady drop in wind speed and wave height beginning Thursday about midnight. Also note the lengthy period, (days after Saturday) that the wind and seas are forecast to remain low, with only significant shifts in wind direction throughout the entire period (before, during, and after our target date). Wind direction can be very important. For a following sea, coming and going, I prefer to see the wind direction be out of the north on our way offshore and turn southerly for our return trip back to land. For this trip however, considering the mild sea conditions and predicted wind speeds, wind direction should be noted, but not be a major cause of concern.

Now, zoning into the target date, and now concerning myself with the wind/sea conditions, from the time we board at the ramp, to the time we return to the ramp, I'm going to consider how the seas will be on the way out, how they will progress during the fishing day, and how they will be for the return home. The planned trip will take us (approx) due south on the way out, to our first fishing spot, with an estimated trip time of 1.5 to 2.0 hours. Assuming we will be in that same area when it's time to return, our direction of travel will be approx due north for our return home, and will take about the same amount of time... a judgment call must be made (as the day progresses) based on the actual wind/sea conditions, to insure we will leave in time to safely (and with reasonable comfort) get back to shore at the desired time.

Other consideration: General weather conditions... sun, clouds, thunder, lightening, rain. There is no rain predicted for this day and several of the preceding days, including the day after. Sunshine for our target day, forecast to be low of 49, high of 61... considering boat travel speed, need warm, layered clothing and sunblock.

Dave

Shown here, for our trip out, the wind should be out of the NE, shifting to S/SW in the afternoon, with seas of 3' and dropping. With the wind and seas dropping throughout the day, fishing aboard the skiff should be pleasant, particularly as the swell time increases (seas flatten) and the day warms up. The light seas and predicted winds (from the S/SW in the afternoon) should make for a relatively fast and decent ride back to shore.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/reef127edit.jpg

[Dave]

Dave, do you need a mate:rolleyes:
Gregg

*Cheers*

No longer have my cell phone... will send you a PM *thumbsup*


Dave did you get my message last week.

I did Ed, thanks. PM on the way.

Good luck Hector... you're on the right trail with that plan... best fall/early winter kingfishing on the planet, just east of those shoals!!! Might take a couple of passed over 30 minute rock and the "D" wreck while you're over there... BIG kings can show up there (and 1700 rock) any time of the day *thumbsup* In my past kingfishing days, I would cross the shoals in the fall, heading out to the Atlas Tanker, looking for birds working, fish breaking water. If I made it all the way to the tanker, I'd drop lines at and within 2 miles of the tanker, troll for an hour or so, and then head back toward the shoals, again, looking for birds and fish, and working all the wreck and rocks as I returned. Caught lots of kings at the tanker but my biggest always seemed to come from one of the other three spots... and usually mid afternoon. Live menhaden can be hard to find this time of year. My second choice is taylor blues, usually in abundance in and around the inlets... with two guys in the boat, working over diving birds, with the barbs smashed down on the hooks, you can catch and tank several blues in short order, casting anything shiny. When I couldn't find live bait, my favorite late season king bait was a green seawitch (with light 1/4 oz egg sinker) tipped with a mullet strip, slow trolled... just enough to keep the bait dragging steady on the surface.

Catch 'em up Eel. I haven't found a willing partner (at the right time) yet, but the conditions do look perfect for some serious beach redfish action Saturday and Sunday.

Dave

[Whatever]

Thanks for tips Dave...My plans are to head out to Atlas and start pulling there (Pirate plug with dead cigar minnow) three on top and a nice snake looking Ribbon fish on the port downrigger, towards the 1700 to start..Hopefully I will find some live stuff (May have to resort to Capt. Stacey) and use that at 1700, start working my way to 30 mile and back to the hill 5-6 hours later..Just have to see what's working out...;D I am sure looking foward to this trip I have heard nothing but how great the fall bite is up there....*thumbsup*...I am trying to get up there mid day Friday if so I am up for a little close shore action in the afternoon, maybe inlet to AR 315., I'll be on 16/72.....*Cheers*

[Dave]

Well, good luck to you Pal. I haven't been across the shoals in many years, not since they took down the east and west slough buoys. slot-machine and redneckredfishr have gone across quite a bit this year and have had great success on kings east of the shoals. PM them and they might be willing/able to give you some current information and (maybe) a few of their secret numbers, assuming they are not fishing the tournament ;D

Dave

[Whatever]

Thanks Dave this is what I have in Mind......:secret: Head straight to Atlas and then Back track back to the Hill.....*Cheers*


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