Congrats to Shane Hollar and Morris Vickers who boated an 80 inch bluefin today aboard the Bird Dog. I'm pretty sure this is first blood for the Bird Dog as far as bluefin goes!! The Black Pearl is riding thursday hoping to get started Friday morning so stay tuned.
We have been doing good withe kings but they are getting further offshore every trip. The grouper and kings seem to be holding around the Atlantic Ledge area. I talked to several people who did well with the blackfin and wahoo Sunday from the 100-400 all the way to the scarp. I'll be heading to morehead soon to search for Bluefin Tuna, We will keep you posted more consistently soon as we are trying to move into our newhouse.
Well we have had a lot going on. Tripp, Hunter, Keith, Kurt and I fished the US Open catching quite a few teenage fish but couldn’t zero in on a big one. Then Forrestt Taylor asked me to fish with him in the Pro Division side of the Rumble and we put the “That’s My Dog” in the winner’s circle, as Robbie, Capt. Roger and Jeff Lee put the “King Hunter” in the winner’s circle for the regular tournament. That my friend is an Ocean Isle Sweep!!! Here is how it shook down. On Friday most of the Pro boats were heading to Morehead or Cape Romaine Frosty and I had a little captains meeting and headed for the Old River Channel Sea Buoy. We tossed lines out at 8 am and immediately had a triple hookup. I carried one rod to the bow while Frosty handled the two rods in the back. My fish and one of his pulled off so our concentration went to the last fish of the 3 still hooked up. It turned out to be a 40.59 which sent us in high five mode. On day two Brian Keith and the boys held down the Pearl as Frosty and I headed back to the same spot as day one. Seas were5 to 6 feet and the Ocean was on the verge of being dangerous. Brain and the boys stopped between Yaupon Reef and Yaupon Pier right beside the King Hunter. A few minutes later we heard the 2 boats conversation a new Robbie and crew had a good one. It turned out to be 35.60 pounds and good enough for first place! This is a great group of guys and is kinda special because I had just mounted a new 275 Verado on the boat a couple of months earlier. Frosty and I trolled for hours with no strikes and then the reel went off and we boated a 19.76, which held us at the top.
Sunday Keith and I took Tripp, Hunter and Austin to the 90’s and had some good luck with the Kings catching several fish and one in the mid-twenties. Tuesday of couple of my buddies from Ohio, Ben and Andrew met me at the boat to do a little fishing. The seas kept us from going after the Grouper and Kings but that didn’t stop them from whipping up on the Spanish!
Fall is just around the corner, there are more mullets than I remember seeing in long time. The blues are abundant, the spanish are chewing so anytrime the beach bite of Kings should fire off. The grouper are biting sporadically but this will only get better. Tripp, Kurt, Rick Best and I set out to bottomfish a couple of days ago and did well with the grouper, b-liners and trigger fish. Stay tuned it should get interesting soon.
Sorry for the lack of reports but I have been battling a bad virus on my computer.This eventually made us have to reboot the computer and I lost everything.But we are back on line and ready to go.Last Saturday I had the pleasure of fishing with a group of guys which made the trip fun just listening to them joke around.This will make the Captain's job easy everytime.We broke the inlet about 7 and ran to Holden beach pier and quickly caught bait.Then decided to go and give Yaupon a try.Just before arriving I noticed I was being closely followed by the DOG.The THAT"S MY DOG.Which is good fishing friend Forrest Taylor.We deployed the lines and before I could get them all set BAM short rigger goes off like a missle.With a short 10 minute fight I sank the gaff in a 10-12 lb king.The rest of the day we picked at the blue fiah and spanish and never did find another king.We also fished into the nasty East wind which didn't help things.All in all a good day on the water.Can't wait to see those guy's again alot of fun.Enjoy the pictures and stand by as it is time for the fish to show up any day now.
Sunday morning Big E, Jonas, Hunter, Tripp, Preston and myself struck out in search of the elusive spade fish. We started by collecting jelly balls off Shallotte Inlet and headed for the Sherman. When we arrived the Dive Boat was on the wreck so we had to wait until he broke anchor the claim the spot. Capt. Keith on the E-Z NOW set anchor just off our port side and we went to work. Soon we had them chummed in and the fight was on. We caught several before it became to crowed and we headed for the barn. Fall is just around the corner so hang on.
Well got a call from one of my good friends and wanted to take his brother fishing for his birthday.On that note we found two surprise's out there in the ocean.We left the inlet around 7 and caught bait just outside the inlet.We turned the Miss Janelle towards a ledge that I have found about 10 miles off Ocean Isle.Upon arriving the water looked good and seemed to be life around with spanish jumping.The first fish was around 15 lbs and a nice start for Kip's brother whom had never been out.After that everyone got a turn on the rod and that's when the first citation spanish hit.We made short work of him and landed a 6.1 lb spanish good for a N.C. citation.Shortly after that Kip's dad got the chance at a good fish. After a short 10 minute or so fight I gaffed a mid 20's king.With a small lull in the action we were all relaxin and joking having a good time and all of a sudden two lines just exploded.Each one of them went in different directions.We finally manage to get one to the boat and it was a mid 20's fish again.The other fish was still running and we were not making alot of head way.After almost seeing the knot on the spool twice we finally start gaining ground.By this time Kip is soaking wet with sweat.After a 45-50 minute fight the big girl rolled up and everyone went crazy.She wasn't hooked good so we had to take our time.Then I got the shot I was waitin for with the gaff and she was our's.The secound N.C. citation of the day a 35.1 pound king.The fishing is great and is only going to get better this fall so come go fishng and stand by for more reports.
North Hess had his first experience with Spanish Mackeral and it was a good one! It took us a while to find them but then it was on!! He put them in the boat like a PRO! The wind has been blowing for last 9 days or so but it has to let up one day soon. Before to long we will start to cool off for fall. I told Capt. Chris earlier today I am ready to put a sweatshirt and shorts on to catch the first fall run!
We had a trip booked for this morning and got to the dock and one of the guys said this feels like the Deadlist Catch without the ice.I told him if we went it would probably feel just like that.So we all decided it was best to wait for a better day.Last Thursday me and Tripp took a great group of guys fishing and had a ball.We started at the 90's and caught a couple of kings and then they wanted to go looking for something a little bigger.Little did we know what was in store for us.I set a course for the Shark Hole where it has been a little slow all year.Pulled up and found some good marks and deployed the baits.We trolled for a about 30 minutes and caught a small dog shark and another short strike.When all of a sudden I saw a wake headed for the long-line.Everyone focused on the bait and the most concerned was Tripp.The line came tight for just a second and then the aerial ballet took place coming straight at the boat.I picked the rod up and caught up to the fish and passed it off to clear the other lines.Before me and Tripp could get the lines cleared the same fish came back through the spread and ate a secound bait.I put both anglers on the bow and started to chase the fish when my young mate finally got a good look at the fish.He came running back to the helm and said I can't gaff this one it's to big so I gave him the helm duties after we got close.After about a 20-30 minute fisght we sunk the gaff in a 22.5lb Bull Mahi.The guys on board were excited to say the least and for the mate he was on the radio before he hit the bottom of the fish box.Another good day on the water and as soon as the weather clears we'll be back at it so come on down the best fishing is yet to come.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)