Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...ingpics001.jpg
I'll add pics in the morning including an awesome sunrise on the ocean. *Ruff was the word of the day as a SW wind blows up the coast of Chincoteague, VA. *No protection provided by land. *Anyway, I was able to troll up 7 nice rock and 4 blues. *The first fish hit while I was puttng the second line out. *Thought it was gonna be "one of those" days, but alas it wasn't. *Of those 11 everything was 35" - 39". * Headed home I found a nice birdplay right behind the breakers and caught about a dozen 25-28" rock on storm shads, light tackle. * The ocean temps are still 52'ish, in mid *??? January. *It was a nice morning and came home to temps in the 70's ??? ??? *Got to work on my trailer this afternoon as a had I brake that was hanging up. *She's clean and ready to go again, soon as work and weather permit.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...ingpics006.jpg
Was too rough to get many pics by myself. Only got a pic of this dink.


Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Pretty work! Did you head south or north? Any size to the blues?

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I fished north of Chincoteague today. Most fish caught in 45-50' around the MD/VA line. Blues were 35-36" and meaner than heck. Chewed up a mess of shads. Birds and bait widely scattered as far as radio would carry. Wach to OC sounded about the same everywhere. I'll bet this next front tightens things up ;)

Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I need to get out there and fill a cooler with some bluefish. Need some shark bait for the spring. Might try to talk my friend Brian into an Ocean run this week. He's got a cuddy & curtains ;)

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Sounds like you had a good trip after all. They sound like some big blues. Bet that enclosure kept you nice and warm during the ride.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Honestly, I would have turned around in those conditions before the enclosure. *Rough as could be, but I stayed dry, which is comfy this time of year.

SP, you talking about Brian on "Diamond Ring"?

Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Great pics...know what you mean about turning around.

Blue

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

No, Brian Hill. Friend of mine here in Parksley.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I'm glad somebody is making good use of this warm weather, I had to work 34.5 hrs. this past weekend.

Keep up the good work.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Nice pics, Love that sunrise but it requires getting up early on a day when I dont have too.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

If you see the sunrise from the water, you got a lot better chance of catchin some fish.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Turbo, I was 14 miles from the dock when I snapped that pic. *Early bird gets the worm ya know...but the second mouse gets the cheese ;D

Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

nice job slot. i here they are tearing up the stripers here about 3 miles off the inlet in OC. im jealous

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Everybody I've talked to said this is one of the best striper seasons in a long long time.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

It has been a good season, as good as any in the last five years. I think a little cold weather will actually help get these fish schooled up a little tighter and make finding them easier.

Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Turbo - you obviously haven't talked to me!! What sucks is the weather. Those fish that ya'll are slaying should be down here by now. >:( So I guess your good year equals a bad year for us. Its ok I suppose, since we've had like 6 or 7 good years in a row until not :-/ :P :-*

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

BR, you should drag your V down to the beach and catch one of those 500 pound bluefin tuna's they are catching off of Cape Fear. *Was reading the OIFC fishing report today, they said they hooked about an 80 inch bluefin 6 miles off of Ocean Isle Beach on the 15th.


http://oceanislefishingcenter.com/fishing_report.cfm

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

GBFT...I'd be all over that if I could get there and back in a days time. Heck, if I could catch a 500lb anything within 20 miles of the beach I'd be all over it. You all could keep the striped mullets. 50# rock becomes fish food, I mean bait when we are talking big Bluefins.

Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I just don't know if my TLD 20 would bring him in ;D

Would probably look like that Etech vs. Yamaha video, with the Bluefin being the etech of course.

Friend of mine used to rub elbows with a millionaire friend of his. They fished all over the world together, (on the millionaire's nickel) and my friend said they caught like a dozen giants in one day. The biggest he landed was 600 lbs. He said they looked like volkswagons darting through the water.

Sounds like fun, but definitely dangerous and especially dangerous on a small boat! Certainly profitable though if you hook up. Thousands for a fish sounds pretty good!

I'll stick to the 100 lbs or less category for now. ;)

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Oh yeah and fishing from 4 am til dark for a week without a touch would be depressing too. Those boys do an AWEFUL lot of boat riding to get those fish.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I've got some equipment that I'd be willing to bust trying. ;D *I've been on some of those long boat rides and they can suck. *Still, the thrill of hooking up one of those monsters witihin sight of land mmmmmmmmm, I'd just like one shot...

Heck, I'd be happy to fight him for 10 minutes and cut him loose.

Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I'd be happy as long as he didn't drag me in!

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I saw a report of two guys catching a bluefin in a creek near Morehead City. They were in 4 feet of water and in a 16ft Carolina Skiff. Wasn't a 500 pounder but it looked as big as a person.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I caught a 111 pound bluefin 10 miles from the CBBT in December a few years back. We had giants rolling all around us and I was praying we would hook a smaller one.
They come closets here in the winter. The conch fishermen will usually see them and will tell you if you know any.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Air: Looks like your cold weather is on the way.


I would like to hook up with a 100 # Blue Fin one day. Went out on Topless a few years back, Had a great time but I only managed one around 35#. More were caught but we had to share the rods.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I'm thinking about quitting my job and fishing full time.



I can't, but its fun to think about.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

DITTO - although I've often wondered if it would get boring? I like to think that it wouldn't!

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

I had the opportunity a few years ago to try my hand at the Charter business. It really didn't seem like a good way to provide for my family. It would have been fun, but I know I made the right choice on that one. They say the best way to make a small fortune in the fishing business is to start with a large fortune... ;D

Airslot

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

BC (before children) I fished recreationally 5 outta 7 days. I worked second shift 4 on 4 off and could get in 2-3 hrs. on work days and all day on off days. I don't think it would get old, but you make anything your job and there will be days when you would rather be doing something else.

When I retire I am going to fish every day, except on days when I ride my motorcycle.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

Seems when you talk with guys doing the charter buisness either small boat or good size one most of them are retired from something else. I have met a couple guys doing it as young men but I have never met one that had two nickels to rub together in his pocket.
When I was in Key West last year went out on a charter boat. Nice 36 footer. Talked to the captain on the ride out. He said he captains for the fellow who owns this boat and three others down there. He says the owner makes a decent living, enought o get by but thats it. He prefers to be the captain for hire works out better and a lot less hassles. During the off season he does a lot of transporting big boats north and south for wealthy people and that pays decent.

Re: Had to work for them, but they are there...
 

You are right Willy, retiring, then taking up pro fishing seems to be the way to go.

I'm hopeing that I can just fish when I get there and not have to make money.