Here is my report for our first 2008 offshore overnighter.

Norfolk Overnighter Report.


Saw a decent weather window Friday and Saturday (17-18 Apr 08) so decided to spend the night on the boat again. With my crew of me, Lanie, Mike Kim, and Lupe, we headed out after work on Friday to slick calm seas. Arrived at the Norfolk Canyon and found water to 61 degrees but it was ugly in color and not much life. But we put the trolling spread out anyways just in case. Not a bump on the troll, trolling past sunset to take advantage of the near full moon. Here is our obligatory sunset pick over the Norfolk Canyon.

Drifted all night for swords and think we had at least 2 sword runs but they came unbuttoned. Had several runs of big blue sharks during the night but had no interest in those. Had bluefish shred our baits during the night so had nothing to show for all night fishing. Winds were nice and calm but picked up a bit after midnight but still manageable.

At sunrise after our coffee, we dropped on the Osterfriesland but only managed bluefish and hideous conger eels. Well OK, lets go try something very different and deep. Find a nice spot in 850 feet of water and start bailing Black Bellied Rose Fish. These little fish are very tasty, better than BSB (my opinion) but have to work a heck of a lot harder for them. So we work this area and catch a whole bunch of these Rose fish. Here is a typical stringer (got to use a bunch of hooks to make it worth the drop).



Then in the same area, we start picking up the best eating deep drop fish, Golden Tiles. They have the taste and texture of lobster meat, no kidding. Lupe gets a 14 lb Golden Tile.



Mike K get a very nice, very fat, 30 lb Golden Tile. (it had a belly full of baby crabs)



I get a 14 lb Golden Tile. These fish are so beautiful.



Had so many different fish come up today, I'm not sure I remember them all but caught bluefish, blue sharks, hake, conger eel, blue line tiles, golden tiles, BSB, black bellied rose fish, and even what I think was a Red Vermillion Snapper. Beautiful weather and even made it home before the winds kicked up too bad.

Until next time.

Great report...I've heard those golden's are like Lobster !....beautiful fish....Bob

Beautiful job Mike...great looking fish and another terrific report..Congrats!! The entire time we were hunting for the water on Still Think'n, we were wondering how you guys made out.

Nice Report that Golden Tile will taste good. Here is a photo of your wreck going down.

Great work Mike! Beautiful Fish and a beautiful trip!
Best,
Dave

Those rose fish are awesome eating !!! The whitest meat around.

Nice report and pics.

Nice job on the fishing and a great report. That sunset photo was something thanks for sharing.

Mark

Golden Tile fish are so beautiful. great report

Mike,

Great report and Pics!!

Enjoy the tablefare.