Getting the trip together after chasing weather reports was not fun. My wife was home sick and we were running out of crew real fast as we pushed to Sunday. Owen and Ray responded to the challenge, and glad they did. We were going to follow a Rudee boat out, but they got a late start and we led the way pressing straight from Little Creek.

A word about the weather...read the reports, trust your instincts, have a plan, abck-up plan, and a back-up back-up plan, pray. If the trip isn't put together you can miss a great day. Good days can get bad, fast, or stay great.

Turned into the flatest day I have seen in a long time. Almost spooky.
As always the Ches Entrance has weather of its own.

We wanted to try some new tactics and set-ups this run. Near the Hot Dog we put out some high speed lures on the run in. Nothing this time. Slowed down and set-up for a quick pass at the Hot Dog and trying to get these guys on some fish early. Again frustrating. Marked fish all over, but worked through patchy weeds which fouled the spread. Don worked his butt off for nothing there.

Moved to our A Plan, meeting up at the 10F Lump North of Cigar. Our Rudee boat was out there on fish when we got there. Don reset and we were on a nice BFT. Again, the seas were smooth and the sky bright. We set up for a lot of splash in the spread, birds, teasers, and my secret weapon (more hints later). I think we had another knock-down there as we continued toward the Wx buoy. About 8 nm SE of the Bouy found an organized weedline and worked it due east. I spotted some floating dunnage and we circled thru it as the reels lit off with Mahi. Just about everything worked, Bird followed by a Green Machine, B/W skirted Hoo, Don's rigs, you name it.

Throughout we trolled at 7 knots, a 7 rod/plus spread, and the secret weapon teasing away.

We made the turn back passing 4 miles south of the Wx Bouy and ready to pull in lines about 1430. Radio reports had some big fish coming up, but it sounded like only a few boats were out. We saw 3 or 4 Rudee boats during the day. Between the 50F line and the 100 with a splashy spread out, and the secret weapon. That's when Don sreams like a little girl "BLUE MARLIN"...OK it was manly, but you did scream. He dropped back on it and was shoulders high in the middle flat for 2 or 3 minutes...or a lifetime according to Don. He wacked the lure but didn't hook-up for us.

Bottom Line:
Two ways to not catch fish 1) Don't go out, 2) Don't have line in the water.
Cigar, Lump and Wx Buoy has good for BFT in the 30-50# range, weedlines held Mahi, and there are some billfish here when you find quality water.

Tight lines.
Dave

Good job Dave...glad you guys got into em....sorry the Blue didn't bite but it's fun just watching them whack at the baits sometimes.....Bob

Good job Dave...glad you guys got into em....sorry the Blue didn't bite but it's fun just watching them whack at the baits sometimes.....Bob

Pretty work, what size range for the mahi? How big was the blue?

One nice Bull 37", two gaffer 24-28", 2 chicks about 21". Also lost a gaffer at the boat. There were plenty out there.
Tight lines.
Dave

Click to view attachment[quote=Billable,Jul 10 2006, 06:56 AM][quote=EARLYTIMES,Jul 10 2006, 06:38 AM]Pretty work, what size range for the mahi?  How big was the blue?
[/quote]

One nice Bull 37", two gaffer 24-28", 2 chicks about 21". Also lost a gaffer at the boat. There were plenty out there.
Tight lines.
Dave

[/quote]
BFT was a 36" Fork, as reported to HMS for comparison.

Pretty work guys!!!

Great job, guys!!! You make me regret my decision to stay in the Bay on Sunday. I figured it would be fairly good conditions, but not that calm! But, I had to check out the maintenance we performed on Saturday. Thanks for the invite, Dave, and I will take you up on it another day. Would have loved to have seen that Blue Marlin in the spread....

Just got an update report from our Rudee boat that stayed and worked the Lump north of Cigar. They kept one of the 14 BFTs that came to boat! All schoolie size. Also kept 7 Mahi, mixed gaffer and chicken. At one time 5 rods went off with BFT.
Good job Gypsy!!!
Tight lines.
Dave