Saw a decent weather window and a 3-4 degree break over the Norfolk so decided to go for another overnigher with Mike Kim, Dewight, and my son Michael Jr. Arrived at the Norfolk around noon Sunday. Water went from 69.5 gradually to 73.5 with a nice color change just outside the Norfolk. Deployed the full spread since I didn't see any weeds in the immediate area but were soon greeted with weeds, weeds, and more weeds with only brief periods of relief. We were cranking in the center rig checking it for weeds (nobody likes to check the WWFB) with the old standby green machine/bird and a huge fin followed it. I dropped it back and for a brief 30 seconds, hooked up a nice blue marlin. But he launched and exploded pulling the hook. Continue to troll and find great marks along the north wall and porposes feeding on something. Work that area hard but nothing comes up. Guys are tired of shaggin weeds so we go catch some blueline tiles and seabass stopping when the guys say that is enough meat.

Got about an hour before sunset so I calculate the drift which is going to about 1.2 knots due North. Seems kinds of fast for the light winds so I assume the current is also running to the North. Set up on the South wall near the mouth. This time I wanted to fish for both swords and tuna so I put 2 big squids out with lights on floats with one about 250 feet and one at 150 feet. The other 2 lines are butters on floro leaders with 7.0 circle hooks. We chunk butters most of the night. Man that is a lot of work. No hits on any rig all night.

Once our drift takes us out of the canyon, a huge school of Atlantic Mackerel, aka Boston Mackerel hang out with our swordlight. I'm talking a thousand or more of these suckers. So we decide to fish for them. First the sabiki rig. Works very well. Catching up to 5 at a time on a light spinner is good fun. They also hit a gotcha plug, a storm, and just plain squid on hook. Could have filled the fish box with them but nobody on the boat knows how edible they are so Mike Kim kept just a few. Used a couple for live bait sending them down but nada.



Winds stayed down below 10 knots the whole night. Never settled out completely but was not uncomfortable, just some gentle waves. Still a whole mess of weeds around so put a minimal spread out so the shagging is not too difficult. Had a wahoo bite off around the 600 line at 45 fathoms. Nothing else on the troll so we head back before the seas pick back up.



Great trip. I will admit the highlight was playing with the mackerel at night on the sabiki rigs. Also saw some cool meteor showers overnight that is probably hard to see in the city. Sure hope the tuna show up soon.

Mike

Rat Farts!!! We've been waiting and hoping that you guys slayed the tuna!! Well may be next trip. Congrats though on your haul...nice tiles in there Mike! Thanks for the report!

Mike,
We couldn't get a crew together so I worked. Still would have preferred hitting the water. Sounds like a great trip overall, action and meat...great work. We may see if the fish are moving in tomorrow...it's got to be any day now. Good luck and thanks for the report!
Tight lines.
Dave

[quote=Billable,Oct 22 2007, 03:18 PM][quote=skinnys-kid,Oct 22 2007, 03:02 PM]Rat Farts!!!  We've been waiting and hoping that you guys slayed the tuna!!  Well may be next trip.  Congrats though on your haul...nice tiles in there Mike!  Thanks for the report!

[/quote]
Mike,
We couldn't get a crew together so I worked. Still would have preferred hitting the water. Sounds like a great trip overall, action and meat...great work. We may see if the fish are moving in tomorrow...it's got to be any day now. Good luck and thanks for the report!
Tight lines.
Dave

[/quote]

By the way, Smoked Boston Mack...outstanding. Also makes a great Blue Marlin bait!
Dave

Thanks for the report .That fish in the photo is a Tinker Mackerel.They are great Swordfish bait also.

WTFO, where the Tuna Be? I too thought you guys were going to get the hits. I even entered your number in my phone, then I remembered that I needed to get one or two things done before Sandy leaves for NJ this Weekend.

Im still Waiting! The weather report always says it's going to cool, then they up all the temps daily???

The weather usually breaks right around my BirthDay every year.The 29th hint,hint leave all presents neatly wrapped in the cock pit of the Mega Bite.

Ill leave you a barometer.

As always you give the best reports. Sounds like an awsome night to be out on the water (you seem to pick those pretty good too). I'm kind of a star nut so that would have flipped me out to see all those "shooting stars". I may have heard something about Haleys Comet passing close by, could have been the small chunks associated with that.

I'm sure glad to hear about the GM/bird gettin hit. I drive the capt crazy with my insistance (constant whining) to keep that guy wet on the WWB 80% of the day (even though the only thing its ever caught was a FA). You can bet I'll let him know Mr. Blue paid a visit

You guys are on your game, man! If the tuna were there you'd'a got em.

Mike

Eric...I'd go to NJ with Sandy and hit a headboat trip!!! You can send your raffle donation in to me before you leave!!

I think this armchair raffle idea is bad, let the man in the arena win the bucket!

Tinker mackerel. Thanks for the fish ID. It was like blue planet under my boat most of the night with these guys swimming around. It would have been very interesting to watch if a predator showed up to that school of mackerel.

Throw out a Get Reel Blue and White mini bar and the Tinker Macs will mate with it.

Thanks for the report Mike....Sorry you guys had a slow night in the canyon.

I was hoping to hear that some tuna were around, you guys sure have put your time in out there this year.

Keith

you'll get them next time mike. next time brine those suckers up and bring some home to me. great sword baits!!!!!!! hope you get back out soon
casey

Those tinks also give a clue for matching the hatch. I'd be trolling blue/white and purple/black 9" baits.

Mike,

Amost the same experience we had the week before except we had a ton of squid come up. No tuna, no swordfish, no sharks, nothing, except for great weather and sea conditions. We thought we were going to kill it with the temperature breaks and great drift, but nada.

Well, I guess we'll get them next time.

Mike