Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

All I can say is WOW what a trip! *Having this much fun with your clothes on should not be legal *;D

Finally got the chance to take the Blue Runner offshore. *Went about 20 miles out to the gulfstream out of Hatteras Inlet NC. * The temp break was actually at around 12 miles where the water turned cobalt blue.

The bite was on almost immediately on Saturday and again on Sunday. *We fished Islander rigs rigged with ballyhoo on Shimano TLD and Penn outifts. *I did put one stretch 30 - red and white - down deep on wire and it had the most tremendous hit I've ever seen in my life. *In the blink of an eye the line was broke! *

Day one we managed 5 nice dolphin and a wahoo. The wahoo came in on mono and was the first offshore fish ever caught on the Blue Runner. *8) *He weighed 15 lbs. *The dolphin went from 15 up to around 18 or 19 lbs each. * *Day 2 we had 6 nice dolphin. *Each day we lost some fish too. *The very first dolphin I had beside the boat I missed it with the gaff and he got off! *I was soooooo ticked! *That quickly faded away once we had a double flopping around in the boat only a few minutes later *;D

First day we burned 45 gallons of fuel and went about 115 miles. *Day 2 we burned about 40 and recorded around 100 miles total.

Here's the pix:
Wahoo - 1st fish caught
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010011-4.jpg
Me and my fin-man Snead
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010025-2.jpg
We trolled 5 rods, could have trolled more had we hooked up the flat line release clip. *
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010010-3.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010016-2.jpg
Those mahi sure know how to pull. *Here's Chad
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010013-4.jpg
Chad on the gaff using the bench seat
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010014-4.jpg
Miller with his first offshore Mahi
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010015-4.jpg
Luckily we didn't catch any huge bulls - they wouldn't have fit in the box
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010030-1.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...y/S2010029.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...y/S2010031.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010032-1.jpg
The seat boxes on each side made awesome "fighting chairs". *I wish I had a pair of swivel gimbals mounted on them the rest the rod butt on. *
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010023-2.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010024-3.jpg
Chad and Miller
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...y/S2010028.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010017-2.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...S2010018-3.jpg
This was the best trip of my life so far. *We had a great weather, great fishing, and a great time. *Can't beat it. *;D

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

Awesome man!! Those mahi are gorgeous!

You got a nice mess of groceries right there! 8)

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

Those there some good viddles. This from a trip I was on last SEPTEMBER.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...NDFLIPPER2.jpg

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

Thanks Stinky, those Mahi are some jumpin fools too. *We had a couple that slashed and jumped clean out of the water BEFORE they piled on to our short lines...it was a site for sore eyes. * One other time a batch came through and hammered our entire 5 line spread. * :o Two stuck and the rest got away. *After that we cut the motor, sat down and re-rigged all 5 lines before going back at it. ;)

I've only been offshore on a big boat about 4 times. *This was my first time on my own. *I learned alot. * We all did for that matter. *I'm ready to go again!

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

Thats awesome man. I fish mine offshore regularly for snapper, kings, Ajs and such, but the blue water fish (mahi, hooters, tuna, etc..) are out of my reach. I could get there and back on my 18's range, but just dont feel safe doing it. ;)


We should take the Robalo out there soon though. We are dying to stretch her legs and see the blue stuff, just waiting on some stable weather patterns. 8)


What color pattern lures and all were working for you? :)

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

Great Pics. Blue, looks like you all had a great time. ;)

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

They hit everything, blue and yellow dolphin baby dolphin colors, pink and orange, green and white. Being rookies we weren't really picky when it came to picking our lures. Actually the lures we bought only cost $3.99 ;D The real islanders cost like $25 a piece on up.

The stretch 30 I put out was red/white.

Its a rich mans sport, and unfortunately I'm not rich :-/

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

So for the most part yall were using rigged hoos? :)

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

You aint kiddin about it being a rich man's sport. My buddy that I go with figures he's got over $10K in lures alone, not to mention the 2 speed reels he has.

Re: Hatteras Report May 25 - 27 MAHI MAHI
 

Dat's right Stink, rigged ballyhoos. Each day gas, bait, ice and boat launching fee cost $200 ($150, $20, $15, $15 respectively).

This does not count the gas it took to haul the boat 380 miles there then 380 miles back home. Or the room for 3 nights at $170 a night.

The good news is I can hardly tell my wallet is in my pocket any more.....before this trip I had to take it out when driving cause it hurt my arse ;D