Drove down with Mike(Rockin Robin) and met up with Neal(Wirebender) to fish on Wired Up. Winds still blowing Friday night but calming somewhat. We got up and decided to go for it. Ran the inelt with no problem. Seas were up, 5-7 swells with a NNE wind causing a good chop on top of that, but the Gillikan ate it up.

Ran out to the Rock Pile and started trolling. Crossed over the Pile and found a temp break from 64-68 degrees, bird activity, and a clear color change in the water. Seconds later, the shot gun(Boone bird with Blue/white Islander) goes screaming! Takes the spool down to the backing. We're thinking big wahoo. Clear lines and Mike goes to work on the fish and Neal does his thing at the controls. Get line back and eventaully get color, big yellowfin. I finally stick the gaff, and in comes the first tuna of the year, 60#s.

Reset spread and keep working the area. Next time threw, the GRL B/W Conga Line goes screaming, Mike drops back the opposite bait( black green Mini bar) and has a fish scream right across the water and nail the bait. As I'm holding on, the left flat(green/black Heavy D) bounces. We're fighting fish and clearing lines. Mike gets his in first and then mine, 2 more YFT topping 55 pounds. Heavy D was bit off at the trolling weight. TIP...run cable through your trolling sinkers. I've heard wahoo will attack the sinkers, too...now I believe.

Same area as the water is pushing out, Have a hook up on pink blue witch and knocked downs on blue and white Mini Bar and black and green Mini Bar. Boat 4th 55 pound YFT. Makos showed up and slowed the bite. Headed for the barn to clean and eat our tuna at Dinky's.

Sunday... "A" game is on. Winds died off Sat night after dinner to nothing!! George and his buddy Harry were down in Buxton, so they joined us for a fishing trip. Nearly the first boat out of the marina and headed for the channel. We know where to go, what to pull and have the crew to boat more of those 60# tunas. Neal goes to power up and port tranny doesn't feel like going out today. Return to the slip to check things out to find no quick fix to get us out there. Call the trip with conditions we live for out of Hatteras. Still a great time. Thanks fellas! Bigger tuna await!!

Bummer on Sunday. Thanks for the report. It is good to see action that steady.

Pretty work Don and crew! Those are some pretty tunas you've got there, sounds like a great day,

-Chris

Good Job Captain Neal and Crew......Nice Slobs !...Sucks on the Engine....Get a new Southport Express !.....Bob

Had a great time down there with Don and Mike, sorry to George and Harry for not being able to get out sunday, that was one of the hardest days ever since it was so nice out, but we will get it again. Don and Mike did a great job in the pit saturday . I think we all got the rust out. Looking forward to the next trip.

Great job on the tunas...sorry about the engines neal
Todd

Great job guys!

Neal,
Great job Saturday, sending all my positive vibes to your drivetrain, bummer. You had the right crew. Best of luck with her for a speedy and inexpensive fix!
Tight lines.
Dave

Good Job on the TUNA'S!!!!

Bad job on breaking your boat !

Fix it, and get back out there !

Did you try hitting it with a hammer???? In my experiance beating on things with a Hammer always makes them work.

Good jobs guys!

Nice fish guys! Gotta hate the broke boat syndrome.....I'm with Eric, never underestimate the healing powers of a nice hammer.

Nice TUNA!!!

I love Dinky's.....it's got the coldest beer on the island.

Great fish on Saturday. Sorry to hear about the engine trouble on Sunday - that's what ideal conditions in Hatteras can cause - we've fallen victim as well (spun a prop on an ideal day down there). Hope it's an easy fix for you Neal.

Nice spring Tuna boys!! Neal, sorry to hear about the engine troubles. Hope it's not too bad on ya.

....................wishin I was there but had to help out with our 8 week old son. It's a lot of work taking care of that little terrorist. We had a nice time sitting on the beach enjoying the sun and warmth (finally). The rest of the time was spent changing diapers, rocking, burping, feeding, wiping up spit-up, changing my clothes, changing his clothes............how do babies get poop on their shoulders?

I think I got the GREEN LIGHT for a day next weekend. I'm sure it's gonna BLOW like a mother.

BK

Thanks for the attempt on Sunday Neil. We've all been in that unfortunate situation before, standing on the dock and forced to tell a disappointed crew that the trip is a no go. A mechanical failure that does not involve the Coast Guard, Paramedics, Sea Tow or a lawyer is no big deal at all. The tunas get a pass this time, and we'll make up for lost time when the cards are right. Besides, like Don said, everyone knows tuna don't bite on a calm sea! Tight lines!

Luckily this didn't happen when we were spinning around chasing tuna on saturday in ne 25kt winds. We figured it was just the transmission cooler which is not a big deal to fix, it is just getting the mechanic down there. Once down there should be able to fix it in an hour or so. The last word I got was he was supposed to be heading there the end of the week. Word of advice for everybody, when parts replacements are done on a twin engine boat, it makes sense to change both parts on boat engines at the same time. I have been doing that on most items, but not all. My transmission cooler was changed on the stbrd engine last summer, but not the port. The port is the one that broke down yesterday. It is normal wear and tear, but since I bought the boat used, it has been difficult to determine what has been changed out and what hasn't.

B.O.A.T. =Break out another thousand (2,3 or 4 thousand if its 200 miles away with no mechanics you can trust or know).
I feel your pain.

Rudee inlet slipmate

Water Dog
Kent