Variety Catch

[Blue_Runner]

Variety Catch on 6/26 Free Agent Charters Oregon Inlet, NC. Not me but I wish :'(
http://reelbuzz.com/fishreports/caton/images/P6240009.JPG

[reelapeelin]

BR, looks like fun, but I gotta tell ya half those dolphin shoulda been tossed back...too small...not to toss cold water, but obvious the Capt. is after numbers...I wanna go after QUALITY fish...

[trout25red]

BR, looks like fun, but I gotta tell ya half those dolphin shoulda been tossed back...too small...not to toss cold water, but obvious the Capt. is after numbers...I wanna go after QUALITY fish...

I would say more than half. Those could be much bigger. I snapped this pic on the charter trip I was on last weekend.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/trout25red/Jeremysdolphin.jpg

[Blue_Runner]

Note: this captain doesn't even fish for dolphin. He just happend upon some grass lines on the way to the bottom fishing grounds....sometimes he will pull a high speed bait on the way out to try an catch a Wahoo. I'd say it was ok for him to catch those peanut dolphin considering a lot of other offshore boats put that many or more peanuts in their creel every single day!!

[reelapeelin]

To each his own...that Capt's just tryin' to make a livin' and I don't FAULT him for it...it's just that for me, peanuts go back and a few good fish go home...and the point that lotta other boats do it too is all the more reason I don't...I don't look down on the ones that do...it's just not for me... ;) :)...

Nice Mahi, there Trout...

[trout25red]

thanks RAP, but I didn't catch that one. However, I did have the only one on a topwater popper. I threw it right behind one that was hooked up...and POW! It exploded on my popper. But back to those little chicken dolphin, It doesn't really bother me too much if the capt kept those. Our captain that day kept 3 that size until we agreed it was time to troll faster with bigger baits to keep the little mahi's away. If it were so bad, I guess they would put strict limits on these fish. There are no creel sizes out of Louisiana. How about the rest of the country? Are these fish protected at all? I guess they would be if needed.

[reelapeelin]

The good news about dolphin is they are one of, if not THE fastest growing fish in the ocean...we generally keep only 20+lbers so that culls most...not sure of SC limits if any... :)...

[Blue_Runner]

RAP when you gonna take me out for some of those 20lb Mahi?? ;D ;D That sounds like fun. I've only caught one Mahi in my life and it was right at 20lbs.

Trout, bet that was awesome to cast for a fish of that caliber! "Exploded on your popper" - I don't doubt that at all!

The one I caught was on a big sportfisher at trolling speed. There was little fight, as the boat didn't slow down and that 20lber "skipped" in on her side, tryin to jump, but only manging to flop and skip.

Sure would like to actually fight one on some lighter tackle.

[reelapeelin]

We were trollin' along, I happened to be the only one watchin' the set...from about 100 or so yards a whole school of Mahi on a dead run started breaking the surface comin' right at the lures...I yelled, "here they come!"...5 rods bent, 4 of us grabbed what we could (knocked boat outta gear)...1st fish in was about 25lbs, then capt grabbed the other line still out...rest of fish were 20-35lbs...talk about your Chinese Firedrill!!... :o...

I just wish V20s could get out to where the Mahi play... ;) :)...

HEY BR...if it was my boat, I'd tell ya to jump on anytime, but I'm hitchin' a ride and splittin' the gas myself!... ;)...

[Franco]

Hey Oz, you can take a V20 out here for dolphin,kings and wahoo, and in the winter you just make a 20 mile tow and you go for sailfish within 5 miles of the beach!!

[reelapeelin]

I've been thinkin' about Sailfish Alley for years...is that offa Palm Beach...that's what I wanna do...better get to it before I go horizontal...how's late summer, early fall for those Mahi?... 8)...

[Franco]

They go out of fort pierce inlet and stuart, an hour tow at the most, palm beach is pretty hot also, The Mahi are here late spring and fall, dead of summer is too hot for nearshore, the rivers heat up with fat trout, reds, snook, pompano in the surf, grouper on the wrecks, just dead summer seems to slow down a bit

[reelapeelin]

Fall/Early Winter on the Sails?...are the Mahi close then, too...like to take a V20 ARMADA after 'em!!... 8)...

Didja get the CC?... ;D...post pics of both in the driveway!... ;D...

[Franco]

I work with the guy who owns it, he mentioned in conversation he was thinking of going bigger next year. I made an offer ( pretty cheap I think) and he agreed. I gave him a deposit, he said take my time, I just gonna sell mine first, will be in the paper first week of july i hope - busy week, birthday today, Daytona race saturday, 4th on monday - then I'll finish the odds and ends I need to do to sell it

[trout25red]

Trout, bet that was awesome to cast for a fish of that caliber! "Exploded on your popper" - I don't doubt that at all!

The one I caught was on a big sportfisher at trolling speed. There was little fight, as the boat didn't slow down and that 20lber "skipped" in on her side, tryin to jump, but only manging to flop and skip.

Sure would like to actually fight one on some lighter tackle.


yeah BR it was a blast. That was my first and only time catching mahi. I usually fish trout, reds, flounder (I think called fluke on the east coast) and occasional snapper/grouper. This was a charter out of Venice, LA. My V20 will never go that far out. It wasn't that rough, but I know what it could have been like if a thunderstorm moved through. Those guides use 26 CC Glacier Bays. Those babies ride the rough stuff without slowing down...but you better be seated or holding on good.