Another O'dark hundred departure from Richmond with "No Regrets" in tow, picking up new girlfriend (NGF) in Williamsburg headed to Rudee with my 3 sons. After many delays we are making our first offshore trip of the year and the boys are apprehensive about bringing along an untested "skirt". But she's an Aries... and tells me that means she likes to jump into new things and then figure out how to deal with them. I'm more comfortable with the solunar tables (than the astrological charts) showing a good day generally and a major period between noon and 3pm. The weather report is favorable..... but never being accurate, I am prepared with a dose of injectable anti- nausea med ( It's O.K., I'm a Doc)
Overboard at 5am running a bit late, and having no good idea where to fish, the satellite shots being useless, we decided to head for the canyon.
To call the conditions sporty is an understatement. Bone jarring head sea was more accurate. New girlfriend was still smiling... until we made a brief stop at the Fingers.... Then ,size of the boat and motion of the ocean took on a whole new meaning... Looking a bit green, she decided to lay down.. generally a bad decicision.
In recent trips my kids have taken to calling me AHAB for uncertain reasons (more about that later). However, I am feeling more the part of Captain Bligh, and facing this mutinous crew, there is no turning back. I press on and make the Canyon by 8 am. Slowing to trolling speed,It is clear that NGF is not going to do well. Despite my insistance that we are going to troll ,not chum, she is at the rail. I begin to fear that her liver is going over with the next one. So being the pirate captain that I am, I demand that she show me her booty.( It's O.K. I'm.......) With the speed of a wahoo strike, she's dosed up. In 30 mins she's at peace, rather thick tongued and ready for a little(6 hr) nap. We tuck her in, in a little "out of the way" corner. I sure hope she will view this as merciful.
Finally we are on the troll at the tip/sw corner> We find a school skippys and stay with them catching a few on feathers. Things are otherwise slow, Then my eldest sees a big fish clear the water and engulf our G&H pink seawitch WWB behind a pink bird. Believing this to be a billfish based on son's ID we put youngest son on the rod as he needs one more species for his master angler qualification. However no greyhounding and the fight goes deep. Much later we see color and a nice 46 lb. yellowfin. Clean gaff shot and into the box. Necropsy shows the tuna to be feeding on skippys.
Back on the troll, we have a vicious hit on a port flat line. Line is peeling off on a "blistering" first run that eldest son tries to to tame by thumbing the spool.... rookie mistake. I never did like the smell of burning flesh . Somehow the 80 lb braid pops and it's over.
Later in the morning a similar strike occurs on the same flat line and the 80 lb braid snaps before anyone can pick up the rod. I cannot figure why unless the rod tip was wrapped or the braid dug into the spool.The drag was fine and the rod should have snapped before the line. I'm remembering why I don't use braid on my trolling rigs without a long top shot of mono. Curious how the biggest fish seem to find the weakest link in the trolling arsenal.
It's now past noon, NGF is still out cold but sleeping with a smile on her face. I'm feeling better about the whole trip. Turn over the helm to middle son who seems always to be at the helm when we find fish. Youngest son is running the spread , oldest son is in charge of fish i.d. and his beer. Think I'll take a nap too.
I am awakened by heightened activity in the stern, and realize that I have missed a double header on skippys. Passing back thru this same area we hook up up a bigger fish and middle son gives up the helm to land a 25 lb yellowfin.
Back at the helm, middle one decides to head across canyon to the mouth of the north wall. We see a lot of surface activity in that direction and come across loads of pilot whales and porpoises. Time to wake Sleeping Beauty. I want her to have some good memory of this trip and the seas are calm now.
At that very moment, all 3 sons see an albino pilot whale, which I verify, just as it dives under the boat. The whole Ahab thing is getting a bit weird.One son comments that he is glad the whale went under rather than over us.
We continue around the deep dropping fleet into the 50 fathom area and hook up another big fish. Somehow, young son is on this one again and works a 40 lb yellowfin to the boat. A 28 incher jumps on one of the lines that we are clearing and I get to play with it until NGF puts down her camera and gets some pullage. She gets to release this fish and appreciate the gorgeous water color and clarity and a sense of why we love being out here.
It's been a long and successful day, and I am reminded of the addage- always leave the party while you are still having a good time.
The trip in was smooth for 30 miles and then increasingly sporty and wet.
The boys are happy. NGF has rallied> I'm hearing Mitch Rider singing " she's not too skinny she's not too fat.." I guess that makes her a keeper.. right in the slot. Wonder if she'll want to go out again?
Final Talley:
5 yellowfin
numerous skippys
two mystery burnoff/breakoffs
one jumped off dolphin
One "Great White Whale"
Final impressions:
Tuna tastes great and is less filling( So was eldest son's beer)
Braid sucks on the troll
G&H lures rock
Ahab beats Bligh and lives to tell about it this time
Skirts onboard are not just for lures... so long as..
...Injectable phenergan is in my emergency kit
It's amazing how much time and effort is put into anticipation, preparation and the discomfort of just getting there to satisfy the addiction for just a few hours. Generally its worth it ...kind of like dating. Hey NGF want to do it again?
Bob B