I'd like to start this post by thanking Don (skinny's kid ) and Dave (billable ours) for the invite to fish on "Gypsy". We left the dock at 5 to calm seas and a little fog. At around 6 we hit a fog bank and slowed our progress to the cigar. After 45 minutes we cleared it and once again it was off to the cigar. We didn't get lines in until around 8:30 with glass like conditions. Around 9:30 a small king hit followed shortly by two small dolpin. Then nothing for awhile. We stopped at the weather bouy and caught a few lesser jacks. As we trolled from the bouy it started getting fishy. We saw bait on the surface and smaller fish being chased, tuna hit the surface but no strikes. Then we picked up a couple of small dolpin, followed by a 61 lb YFT, then a 55 lb YFT then a dophin and at 4 we decided to give it just 15 more minutes. 5 minutes later all hell broke loose, the port short took a hit and the drag was just screaming. In my best guess aleast 300 yards were gone on the TLD-25 and not slowing down. Don, Dave and myself couldn't clear the lines quick enough. Before we could get everything in Ted had to back down on this fish. We gained enough line to start the fight. Margret (Ted's wife) was on the rod and giving it all she had. Nothing she did seemed to get the fish to the boat. She got all but maybe 75 yards back on the reel and after that it was give and take. After an hour and fourty five minutes the little lady felt it was someone else's turn at the beast. Ted put Dave in the chair and the battle resumed. The next hour was just about the same. Only we could see the reel starting to fill up, then color in the water. After a full three hour battle the BFT was in the boat. Was this the new state record? No not close. It was the meanist 70lb BFT that hit the smallest rod on the boat. It's now 7 and along right back. What a wonderful day on the water with a great group people. Again thanks Ted and Margret (owners of the Gypsy), Dave and his wife Pat ( owner of the Billable ours) Don (Get Reel Lures) for a great day on the water

Sounds like a great day. Reports seem to be getting better lately.

Enjoy dinner

Jake,

Great report and thanks for going. It was great fishing with you. Dave has some pics he'll post and get to you of your fish. Thanks for the help in the pit and leadering that fish.

This fish kicked all of our butts. It was on a 50, but it went down and stayed down. It was stubborn as hell.

Thanks for posting the report Jake! I have to say one thing right up front, finding new friends is more important than finding fish...but finding both is a treasure. Once again the VBSF Board has yielded contact with a stranger, united in a common passion for fishing, that has proven to be a "really good Guy and fisherman" in the words of our host aboard Gypsy. Jake has a standing invite on two more boats! The fish are scattered around Virginia Beach hunting grounds. On any given day you can be in the right spot at the right time. Look for the same signs of life you normally look for, get to work and be patient. Seems the bite lately has been towards the afternoon, so hang in there and enjoy fishing with friends!
Tight lines.
Dave