Fished Hatteras yesterday. As I suspected the weather/seas forecast for Sunday was TOTALLY wrong and we fished flat seas in the Gulf Stream on a light westerly breeze. We had 21 strikes. Had 4 yellowfin on - 4 different times. The only problem was too many fish. We were fighting a nice yellowfin on a spreader bar- with a ballyhoo stinger, which the yellow fin had hit --when a nice wahoo struck the spreader bar and bit it off -with our yellow fin. We had 5 cowboys from Oklahoma on board who had never been offshore before. That was interesting -I have never worked as hard in my life. At 2:30 after the 4th - 4 yellow fin hook up - they told us "no mas- we can't take it anymore" -they were completely wasted.

We were south of the south triple 000's--9 miles south of the Rockpile. there was a 13 degree break there-top water temp 77 degrees, and we nver moved from the first hook-up spot, which was 3 min. from the first bait in the water. Every boat down there loaded-up. I let the cowboys keep 1 fish a piece that avereged 50lbs each. We lost or released the rest. Guys, I'm telling you -- if you can get out on fishable weather - go for sure. It was as good as I have seen. No exaggeration. Fished blue and white Islanders and sea witches and black and red Islanders and sea witches. All meat - on all 10 rods. They hit both equally well. Go get them --if you can go- now's the time.

dammit...I knew it.....Great job buddy...way to get your new boat bloody quick!.....I've gotta get in on this action !...Bob

Bob, Let me know when you are going. If I'm going that weekend -- we can work out a channel or cell phone set-up. Nobody is talking on the radio down there - so you've got to get some "day-before scoop" on the dock -but it sure would be nice to have another Va. boat or two to work with once we are out there. Don's location data on my post on Friday was exactly right. We hooked up the first rod out before I could set anything else -very near where Don said his man caught them-I got a 2nd confirmation on Don's location with another boat at Teaches on Sat. night. It really helps to work together on this site.

Kent

Absolutely Kent....I'm trying to get a trip together this weekend...not sure if it's gonna be OI or HI....depends on the wifes plans for going out of town ...

....I'll letcha know....Bob

We are going to try it again!!
Great job Kent!!

Bob, let me know what you decide, we'll try to hook up down there.

Todd

Great Job Kent!! Sounds like some awesome action!! Glad the numbers worked for you. If I hear, I'll tell it!!

Oh Yeah, it was super good fishing. Thank you for the reponse on Friday, that location was dead on. Based on the movement of that low-pressure on Friday and Saturday there was no way it was going to be as big as the marine forecast said. We went there Saturday afternoon and rigged-up baits in a hell of a storm that night, but come 5:00am Sunday morning it was completely still, but pouring rain, that abated at 6:00am. Good sized ground swell on the way out, but it was very fat and not steep, even the swell dropped out by 12:00 and it went flat calm.There was what looked like a 21 foot outboard with one engine fishing with us on one side and an aircraft carrier launching jets on the other--quite a sight. Nothing really big -biggest was 55. It was really cool getting these guys some fish. The biggest thing they had caught was a 5 lb bass from a lake on their farm in OK.

Thanks for the report sounds like you guys had some fun.I am going to head that way soon just not sure exactly when yet.

green with envy! sounds like quite the riot down there!!!!! no trips for me until after june ... new boat ... need new permit ... no permits until june arg!!!!!!

keep at em guys, i will have to just soak up the stories from here on the board for now....

bo

Bob, let me know what you decide, we'll try to hook up down there.

Todd
[

Tod....we're hitting Oregon Inlet Saturday morning...leaving VABeach at 0400 and hopefully launching by 0600 - 0630.....too much going on to make a HI run right now.....hopefully the water will move back in....Bob

Woody, you don't need any permits for those yellowfin! If you catch a bluefin, just cut him off and let him go, except for sushi, they are not that good to eat anyway; we very rarely kill a bluefin. No permits are need for anything else down there.

Bob, get up with somebody from Pirate's Cove or the fishing center and check on catch locations, I heard they are making LONG runs to the fish out of Oregon Inlet. They may be going way south.

yea...the water is pretty far out everywhere right now....hopefully it'll push back in........Bob

[/quote]Woody, you don't need any permits for those yellowfin! If you catch a bluefin, just cut him off and let him go, except for sushi, they are not that good to eat anyway; we very rarely kill a bluefin. No permits are need for anything else down there.

[/quote]


Gradyman ... It has always been my understanding that you do need a permit from NMFS for any highly migratory species.

This is from their FAQ section ... www.nmfspermits.com

Q: Do I need a recreational permit to fish for or land tunas, sharks, swordfish, and/or bilfish?
A: Yes, vessel owners/operators who recreationally fish for or retain regulated Atlantic tunas (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, albacore, and skipjack), sharks, swordfish, and billfish in Atlantic Federal waters, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, must obtain an HMS Angling category permit or a HMS Charter/Headboat permit. However, General category vessels may fish recreationally for HMS so long as they are participating in a registered recreational HMS tournament and fishing under tournament rules. Vessels fishing exclusively in state waters are required to obtain the HMS Angling permit if they wish to keep their regulated tunas (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, and albacore). Vessel owners/operators should check their state regulations regarding the retention of sharks, swordfish, and/or billfish in state waters.


Bo

You do need a Permit It is called the Atlantic HMS angling(recreational) Permit.It is Needed for The Following: Blue Fin, Yellow Fin, Skipjack,Albacore & Big Eye Tunas.Additionally you need it for Swordfish,Sharks and all of the Billfishes.The permit costs 22 Dollars and can be had through the NOAA web site you can print your permit .I laminate mine and put it in my overhead compartment.

I am sorry. I stand corrected. I always believed that NMFS permit, which thankfully I do have, was for bluefins only. My mistake.

Kent,

Congrats on the fish and great job!!! Makes the new boat worthwhile.

Mike

I was down there a month ago when he had that Rampage down there, It is a sweet Ride.

You can get your permit on line now and they will be valid from the date issued through May 2007.

http://www.nmfspermits.com/

[quote=Donna Sea,Apr 27 2006, 07:19 PM][quote=woody2,Apr 24 2006, 09:38 PM]green with envy!  sounds like quite the riot down there!!!!!  no trips for me until after june  ... new boat ... need new permit ... no permits until june arg!!!!!!

keep at em guys, i will have to just soak up the stories from here on the board for now....

bo
[/quote]


You can get your permit on line now and they will be valid from the date issued through May 2007.

http://www.nmfspermits.com/

[/quote]

cool they must have just started selling them for 2006. thanks!