Well we made the run from va Beach to Hatteras yesterday with Myself, Mike (rockn Robin), Don (Skinny skid) and Paul and boy did we have a fun day....left my house at 0330AM with Still Think'n in Tow and made it to Cape Hatteras at 0630....we were underway by 0645 after stretching our legs a bit..Made the run due south out of the inlet about 30 Nautical miles to where we thought the water was going to be based on the latest non cloud covered sat shot. Upon arriving we only found water about 66 - 67 degrees and about 8 charters trolling the exact same area...we put lines out and trolled the semi-break where the water went from 62 - 66 fairly quikly but we had no hits for a while. We pulled lines and started running due east to find the water...between the 500 and 1000 Fathom line we found the 72 - 76 degree water and started trolling in there.

Mike (Rockn Robin) spotted a beautifiul weed line right in a nice rip so we trolled this line...We had a few big spreaders out and we noticed the Dolphin were running away from our spread...we saw them actually jumping away from our baits so we pulled all the big gear out and put out some skirted Bally hoo with some Get Reel skirts....Bam...finally the long rigger goes down and right after the short rigger goes down...get a couple of nice dolphin in the boat...put the spread out again and while trolling spotted a little 2x4 boart with a bunch of dolphin swimming underneath...put the breaks on and started chopping up old Ballyhoo for a little chunking...left the long lines out just in case something else came along and let them sink down while stopped....

After getting about 3 schoolies and loosing about 5 schoolies while messing around with em we pulled the long lines in and had a couple of nice Dolphin on them....

Ended the day keeping 7 Dolphing from about 8 - 17 pounds..we could have stayed and bailed all day but we wanted to troll for some Wahoo or Tuna...We never did find them...I believe the Tuna and Wahoo had moved north of us to the 400 line..we were fishing the 000 line between 500 and 1000 fathoms.

getting ready to troll back in Mike asked me how fast I thought the southport would go...that's all I need to hear...lines in...secure all gear...hammer down....Seas were flat calm like a summer lake and got the boat going around 51 MPH with Full tank of gas and full crew onboard...awsome baby....

got home around 9PM last night...cleaned the fish and boat and hit the rack...long day man...Don's got some picture and hopefully will post a bit later.....Bob

An awesome day on the water!! The dolphin saved us for sure.
Here' the pics...

Paul bailing...note the flat seas...blame the weather guesser for getting it wrong..





Talked with several people back at Teach's that stayed home because of the forecast. It was a bit hard getting out, swells were steep and close together, but the winds died off and the seas flattened out to nothing...looked like a hot August day out of Rudee!!

Thanks for the trip Bob!!

Kent, Where'd you go?? We tried to call but couldn't get you...how'd you do???

--Don

Forgot to mention about the ride home...If you every want the sensation of flying across the water...ride in that Yellow Beast!! Mike asked Bob what he draws...at 51 MPH I think its like half a prop blade!!!

I was really hoping we were going to jump a wake coming home...may be next time!!!

Great Job guys. We left Sat am and ran south too. Slow day for us--four strikes -3 nice gaffer dolphin and 1 mystry strike that was probably another dolphin. Man, that water was a long way out, we had to go to 200 fathoms to find 77 degree water. You are right-- we saw a guy on the dock with 8 wahoos, all of them very small - they came from up north. Once again the forecast 180 degrees WRONG.The place was a lake!! Water Dog out.

also -- sorry guys --I tried you on the radio too but no connect. We need to work out a channel or cell phone thing. Interesting point on the spreader bars, I was running 5 of them in our yellowfin spread. I bet that caused my problem on the dolphin.No tunas in sight either.

Kent

That water was a ways out there, but man it looked fishy when you got to it. We saws slicks all over the place. With the tuna north of Hatteras, that means they are heading this way!!!!

Glad you got some action Kent.

--Don

I agree it won't be long, although it seems to me that the water temps are really cold for May. I know that NE blow last week pushed alot of cold water to the west but 44014 at the Cigar has never really gottten above 50 degrees. Looks like some warmer, east of the 100 fathom line, but that is going to be a long run as fuel price is going to be a factor now, for sure. The charters at Hatteras do not seem to be running as hard, I pass them on the way out easily and my boat - while doing a lot of things well (one thing it will definitly NOT do. is run 51 knots) is really not all that fast."Still Thinkin" looks fast sitting on the trailer. I have heard they are trying to save fuel. Those guys must struggle to make a living, because the have very reasonable charter rates. I am going to come back up from Hatteras and give the Hot Dog a shot in about two weeks.Maybe we'll get a warm up on the temps by then.

Sounds like you guys had fun anyway.You dont see many calm days like that down there this time of year.

We had a blast..even though it was a 19 plus hour day....

Hey...I look like a midget with all those other guys..that's it...I'm finding some short friends to fish with !....

Bob, You need to meet my brother...6'5" and 270...I look small next to him!!

Nice job guys

Maybe sometime this year I will make it out there.

Bob,
51 MPH??
I could have kept up, I you would have given me a 10 mile head start, or a tow rope!

Mahi, Mahi at the next MNG?

Good job guys. You'll forget all about that long day when your sittin down at the table. LOL

knot