Went out Sat. on the SHORE THING based out of Willis Wharf (Exmore) on a 26' CPK. Classic which Pete, the boat owner, had built in '05. Basicly 3rd year rookies we have had limited sucess in our 1st 2 years. We've caught a few yellowfin, 2 whites, a 63in. wahoo, and a few small dolphin (never bailed yet) in the previos 2 seasons, but still come home skunked more often than not when others report catching fish. I've learned a ton from this website and pick Don's (Skinny's kid...old family friend) brain constantly.
We got skunked 2 weeks ago (Sat) - our 1st trip this season - on dead calm seas, with most boats reporting rotten luck as well.
This Sat. as we got lines in at 7:30 we were anticipating some knockdowns due to the bit of chop on the water and cooler water temps. We worked the southern rim with no luck all morning, all the while hearing blue marlin and yellowfin hook-up chatter on the radio (72). We decided to run the 50 fathem line south past the 44 fathem wreck, and slow the boat considAerably (from aprox.6.0 to 4.5 knots). At 11:30 our 1st action comes when a 40# wahoo leaps 6ft out of the water nailing our starboard flat. He never came tight. He hit a pink skirted ballyhoo, so I decide to swap out the flats and shorts with anything I have that has pink in it.
Not 5 min. after changing them out HE shows up. A blue marlin is swating at a pink/blue skirted hoo on the port flat. A guest on board tries to free spool but the blue had already left and was messing with the teaser 20' off the cleat! He leaves the area and we are all looking at each other in amazement at what we just saw. We didn't even have enough time to reflect because immediatly after my "re-hooing-up" the pink/blue and getting it back out he shows up again.This time he is on another pink/blue on the starboard short. I was standing right there, pick up rod, free spool, wait 5 sec., and slam home the rod. Nothing. Didn't even have time to cuss because he goes to the other short and pounds it. Pete's guest is on the rod and doesn't have to do anything but set the hook as the the reel is already screaming.
He's hooked to a GET REEL pink/blue 'smoker' (I think he calls it) that Donny gave me a couple of years ago. I had just re-rigged it the night prior going to 150# leader from 130#. The fight lasted 1hr 10min. with initial run taking easily half the spool. We got him to within 100yds twice before his other two major runs. I think Pete ran the boat perfectly, alternating between quartering away from the fish in order to regain line and keeping fish directly behind boat when he runs (also to give angler a break from cranking). I was able to leader the fish beside the boat. It was hard to keep him there as he still had a small amount of fight left and the line kept slipping in my gloved hand (I would not wrap the line....BIG fish made me nervous). I got him up to where Pete could grab the bill in a hook removal atempt, but the fish shook his head and the line broke. We all watched him swim away at a pretty brisk pace. We all then watched my GET REEL lure now drifting behind the boat....... They don't float....... In fact they sink aganizinly slow.
Pete and our 2 guests claim him to be 10' long from tip of bill to tip of tail. I'm a carpenter and say no question 8' and probably pushing 9'. Won't take a guess as to the weight.
An awsome start to our season. Now I hope the 'bills' go away for awile and the 'meat' shows up.
Thanks to Don and especially this board for the 'share the knowledge' attitude which makes all on this board better, more informed anglers.


Mike

great job on the blue. sounds like your luck is changing

Mike,
Great work and great report. That's what keeps the board alive, and as for the Get Reel Lure you lost, I'd buy several more if I were you, you'll always pull it out with confidence after watching it get slammed!
Tight lines.
Dave

That's fantastic! I love to read posts about relatively inexperienced anglers hammering blue marlin and big meatfish, especially when they get their info off this website. Awesome!

Very nice indeed!!!

Awesome, Awesome job Mike!!! That's a great read. I looked back at what I gave you and it was a "T.C.B." that the Blue took. No matter what it hit, that's an awesome day. You guys have paid your dues over the last couple of years...now its time to reap the benefits!!! Congrats again!! I know Pete's not much of a computer guy, so give him my congrats when you talk to him again!!

Good job guys. I was out there also. We stopped at the Lumpy Bottom first and managed one King Mackerel and then moved out to the canyon. The only action we had was getting covered up with skipjacks one time. Something did hit the long rigger hard and then dropped the bait. I free spooled it, threw it back in gear and the fish grabbed it again. He dropped it after 10 seconds and was gone.

Thanks guys,

Hopefully this is the ice-breaker for the season and we can contribute more to this board.

Thanks again,
Mike

Thanks guys,

Hopefully more posts will soon follow.

Mike

Great job on the blue one!......That is what makes this board so great, having people that will share info to help others.
Look forward to more posts!
Keep em tight!

That is a great story. Looks like I need more pink.

Every guy needs more pink in his spread. Great report!