Great trip! I couldn't dream of going that far.

Last Wednesday we took my V (175 HP two-stroke) with four guys and full dive gear on a lobster trip. 28 miles out. The current was ripping and we were having trouble with the anchor, so we ended up idling all day to stay on top of our divers. Then ran back nearly 35 miles due to making an out-of-the-way stop on the way in. I gotta admit, I was starting to get nervous about fuel (I have no gauge). We burned 50 out of 60 gallons.

Regardless of size I've never had a piece of fresh dolphin I didn't like. We always skin em like in the pic. Then cut the meat out and cut out the bloodline and red meat that was next to the skin - kinda like double filleting. Belly definitely make nice durable strip baits for flounder when we don't have flounder belly. Holds up real good to multiple bites and unsolicited attacks by Mr. Crabby.

I don't blame you for being bummed about losing the big on that way. On my first offshore trip on my V out of Hatteras, NC I was on the gaff when the first 12 lber came to the side. I wiffed about 3 times and the hook pulled. I was totally bummed out for about 10 minutes until the next one hit.

Maybe we'll do a V offshore run some time.
I usually launch from Belmar - the ramp behind Mac's Bait & Tackle.

That WAS a perfect marine forecast to go offshore and I'm PROUD of you.
Never mind losing the fish..........doesn't matter. You went out there, you got on some fish, and made it back.

Good for you.

Nice video! I've been wanting to make a Mahi trip in my boat for a while now. What kind of lures where you trolling? I heard Mahi can be had around 15 miles out this time of year of Cape May. I have an Aquasport 215 DC with a 200 Johnson 2 stroke. I have plenty of fuel capacity to make a run (100 gallons) but I just don't like the idea of being much further than 15-20 off.

Why make runs that far or by yourself or even when the forecast ain't that great????????

Cause you cant catch dolphin from your couch baby:clap: Way to buck up Skunk!!!!!

A buddy of mine had a Suzuki D175 on a 21' Pioneer, we could fish 165mi on 45g's.....Zuk's are good about that......

Alright, I'm only gonna show you once but this is how you control a wild Phin in the boat.
(he needs to work on his time, 4 secs is way too slow:you:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijPpvSPzGxU

Great stuff.

I too will splatter some blood on my boat and say a big one just got away!!!:hi:

Maybe one day I will go out far (stellwagon) and do some cod fishing, but not just ready yet.

rkc

See if this works.
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0527070857.mp4

Hog tie a fish....never would have thought of that.

The Mahi Hogtie is a secret now fellas and should be treated as such. If word gets out we no longer get to laugh when they go apesh*t on other peoples boat

Its easy to do but difficult to refine. I saw a guy on Norm Isaac's BGFW do it in about 3secs from start to finish and it was a beautiful thing.

Best technique Ive found is to grab the leader and detach it from the mainline(you can do this after the tie-up also but I find it easier before). Then grab the tail and force the fish into the back corner of the boat, it will naturally bow up. Get about 4-5 wraps leaving a hole/gap in the last wrap to feed the leader back into creating a hitch, repeat if necessary. Turn around, give a sh*t-eatin grin and ask why they haven't got lines back in the water yet:you:

Thanks for the tip, thats a neat trick, but in this case it threw the hook as it fell off the gaff.
But I'll try to remember next time I'm trolling 3 rods, driving the boat reeling the fish, clearing the other lines, and gaffing the fish all by myself....