7/16 - Lanes - threading the needle

[backman]

We stuck in a solid B yesterday, slipping into a 6 hour flat calm stretch perfectly.

Lots of analysis showed an opportunity for a very tight blue water trip yesterday; the pertinent question being where and when.

We decided "when" was a 2 AM departure which led to a very comfortable 3 hour - 21-22 knot cruise in a following sea timed at sliding through Muskegat channel at slack high water. We never banged, we never bumped - Christian and Matt slept for 2 of the 3 hours.

"Where" with no recent sat shots was to be somewhere in the Lanes with a bit of an edge. WE found "where" at 5:10 about 65 miles from the dock with a creep from 71 to 73.5 degrees in a mile. Lines in, 20 minutes later the sneak in the dawn came calling; rubber bands and clips started popping, a fin in the wake - here comes whitey. Christian free spooled its target of the moment - a Braid Bigeye rocket on the shotgun and got the lure into it. He stayed tight for a couple minutes, long enough to get excited and the cockpit cleared before it thre the hook. 0-1.

We worked south and west because its what I do on lanes trips looking for good water. We found a mixed up mess of warm water above; cooler water below with fingers of 71-73 next to fingers of 68-70 degree water. Rat mahi were everywhere on the pots; unlike last year, they were all 3-5 pound shakeoffs.

South and west, south and west - finally at 10 we found what we were looking for. On one of the 50-60 fathom rips we found a SE/NW visible break, blue on one side, grey on the other, 70 in the grey - 75+ in the blue.

A large mahi came out of a pot on the grey side; 1st gaffer of the year for us. Whitey # 2 came out of the grey also; in 69 degree water to cut 3 out of the 4 ballyhoo in the spread in 2, then vanish without a trace.

The blue side was weedy but calm, we made a big circle into it with nothing to show for it, then pointed back at the rip when finally a rod went off long and hard. Matt's 1st yellowfin was shortly on the deck; as with everyone else this year a solid 45-55# class fish. Meat for me - the hell with the crew!!

A couple more blue passes - nothing then back across the rip into the gray. "Luke - follow the cold side".

Follow it we did and one of my TLD's with good old pinky on the other end sang its soprano song long and hard. We belted Matt in again and a good long while later had a nicer class yellowfin at deep color. A bit of shuffling for photo op's occured and wham - perfect gaff shot and a rally nice yellow - 60# class was on the deck. Meat for the crew.

W/ us 63 miles from Devils Bridge and weather coming in behind us it seemed wise to work N and E into the cool side a bit, pot hopping our way homewards. Many mahi attacked, many got released; we also had the 3rd white of the day come out from a pot and ambush us when we weren't either paying attention or taking a knockdown seriously.

At 1 PM we felt the SW start to pick up and we picked up also, nice comfy 23-24 knot ride home in a following 3' sea with a 12-15 knot SW on our tail. Once more - through the sound at slack - no wind against tide banging; tied up anc cleaning by 4 PM.

No home run here but a well planned and executed double.

[tmack92]

Great report, feel like I was there with you

[Reel Pursuit]

Nice job Larry and crew.
No guts, no glory. Glad it worked out for you guys.
I think your report also confirms that the bite has moved up onto the shelf.

[Albatross32]

Great job Larry!

[Albiemanmike]

Scientifically perfect as always! Good on ya LB!

[SaltyDog]

Nice run Larry, balls to you for making it happen, the little guys fleet are setting standard so far this year

[G.jones]

Well done Larry!! We waited till about noon on thursday and pulled the plug on the overnighter, forecast just wasn't getting any better.