Memorial Day 2010 Fishing Report

[Blue_Runner]

Team Reel Slick (22ft Clearwater CC w 150 yamaha) and Two Moons (20ft Kencraft Challenger w/ 200 rude) teamed up over the weekend to do some offshore fishing at Cape Hatteras NC. The weather man's forecast was highly debated prior to the trip and at times the trip to HI for a good soul cleansing seemed unlikely. Finally, on the day before departure we all decided it would be worth it to go so we booked a 4 bedroom house literally a hop skip and a jump from Teache's Lair Marina on the south end of Hatteras Island.

Thursday May 27

Up early on Thursday after staying up late on Wednesday getting tackle and provisions in order. We left out around 8:30 am for the 6 + hour drive to paradise. We arrived on schedule just after 2:30. Team Two Moons got off a little earlier than us and beat us to the cottage by a half hour or so. The weather was looking good so we spent as little time possible unloading in order to board the SS Reel Slick to do some inshore fishing and look for a cobia. Hung a right out of the inlet and toward a cluster of boats working a tideline off of Ocracoke. We put out a couple of #2 planers and clarkspoons in hopes of getting a few spanish or blues while looking for Mr. Cobia. We ended up getting only 2 average spanish and probably a dozen small blues. Saw 2 cobia but the were gone before we knew it and not interested in our offerings, so we made our way back to the cottage to get ready for the next day.

Friday May 28

Arose at quarter til 5 am to what appeared to be calm winds. We were at the launch by 5:30 am and promptly greeted by 20 - 30 knot wind gusts as soon as the boats slipped off the trailer. The wind changed and the sound went from gentle 1 ft chop to whitecaps in a period of 5 or 10 minutes. No sooner than we got the boats in, we pulled them back out. Bummer. Back at the cottage, a few crew members decided to get a little shut-eye while waiting to see if the wind would lay, while the rest of us just waited...and waited. Finally at noon the wind laid down and we were off again - this time with both our inshore and offshore tackle, just in case. We made our way to the inlet, which was not flat calm but plenty "do-able" and headed out. We decided on a 150 heading which is basically straight out to Hatteras Canyon, passing by the "Rock Pile" just a few miles to the north. Arrived at the Canyon to 5 charter boats working the temp break in around 700ft with scattered flyers. Not long after the lines were in, I happened to be on the starboard side when the Shimano BeastMaster 20/50 2 speed started to sing. And sing it did. I asked Cory to slow the boat as much as possible to try and slow the beast and get some much needed line back on the reel. The fish finally settled down as I began the slooooooow process of thumbing 200 yds of 40lb high vis back on the reel. At two different points during the fight I had to put the rod back in the rod holder to work the fish...sweat was dripping from my head and I was breathing as if I had just run 5 miles. After several minutes ~ 15 min? - we had color off the stern. What happened next I will never forget. Slick (owner of Reel Slick) was on the gaff as the fish came up off starboard and we realized it was a big yellowfin. I wound the leader all the way to the tip and a split second after I proclaimed, "that's all I got" the rod broke in half! Slick stayed calm, leadered the fish up with one hand, stuck the YFT in the belly with the other and drug it over the rail! I crashed out on the bow, exhausted, but the happiest man in the world!

Here I am with my very first big YFT on a small boat:



While I was reeling in the YFT, G-money yelled out saying there was a False Albacore on the port teaser. I bought the teasers (actually daisy chains) and cut the hooks off to run off the cleats as teasers....so I thought. Come to find out I did not cut the hook off one....the one this skip jack tuna decided to hit. Without looking I told Garrett to take the
teaser away and see if the "so-called FA" would bite a hook bait. G realized it was hooked and hand lined him into the boat.

Me and the skippy:



After all of this we proceeded to put 3 gaffer dolphin in the boat. As we were preparing to leave, all lines were in except the WB, so Corey reeled it in to just between the two teasers until one of us could put it away. I happened to glance over as a sail came up and nailed the bait 10 feet off the stern. He peeled off quite a bit of line and jumped 4 or 5 times
before pulling off. After that we headed back to the hill after a very productive 3.5 hours of fishing.

G-Money with the big YFT:



Cory with the YFT:



Back at the marina to get the official weight - 43.5 lbs!!



Saturday May 29th

On this day we got a late start and decided to head further south than the prior day. There were several boats fishing the area when we arrived. We had a few knockdowns and had fish on at least 3 times but they came unbuttoned. Finally we were able to get a slinger dolphin to the boat, but that was it for Saturday.

Sunday May 30th
I'm not really sure what happened on Sunday. We ended up running a long way south only to turn and run north back to the canyon, then later to the rock pile. What a slow day. The water was absolutely perfect with a beautiful weedline and plenty of fliers. We only had one knockdown all day and it came on a plug in the propwash - some type of needlefish, gar-looking critter about 3 feet long (no pic). We did see a cobia on the weedline but could not entice him to eat.

Total for the trip:

1 - 43 lb YFT
4 - Dolphin from 7 - 12 + lbs
1 - 10 lb skipjack
0 for 1 on sail fish
2 spanish mackerel
1 wierd fish (released)
30 - 40 small bluefish (all released)
3 cobia spotted but none landed

I saw a sweet V20 Dually with a tower. It looked like a great place to look for Cobia!!! Anybody we know???



I don't have dolphin pix yet as my phone is screwed (got wet) and I'm counting on my buddies to send them to me to post. I will update the thread if they send them. It was a great trip with great people...one to remember for sure. I can't wait to do it agian.

[Stinky_Hooker]

MAN awesome trip!


Got some ginfe eats there too!!

[nipper]

Great trip. Ginfe eats?

[Road King Cole]

Excellent! Congrats!

I just don't understand the pictures of the other guys holding the fish YOU caught.

[joe7670]

Sound slike a great trip!

[Blue_Runner]

Thanks guys!

RKC - I have to admit there is no way I could have caught that fish by myself. With Cory driving the boat, G-money rigging/clearing lines, Slick on the gaff, it was truly a team effort so I have no issue with them getting some pix of the YFT. Really it is just as much theirs as it is mine.

It was a first for us but hopefully not the last!

[Flyfishin]

What a trip.

Cold Beer, Blue Water and Great Friends.

I videoed BR figfhting the Tuna for 15 minutes, What a fight!

BR, Cut some 1" Thick Steaks last night. The top loin of the Tuna was beautiful.

FF

[Blue_Runner]

(By the way FWIW, G-Money = FlyFishin)

Fly, I cut two 1" steaks, marinated in a little soy (all I had) and let the holland preheat for 1 hour to about 415 degrees before putting them on for 2 - 3 min. per side. It was out of sight!

[phatdaddy]

hey br i had fresh snapper on the holland tonight
no pics, but snapper season opened in fl today and we went and got our 4 snapper.

[Blue_Runner]

Nice Phat - do you mean ARS or other type of snapper? I've never had it.