Snuck one in last night amidst the stream of endless low pressure E/NE blows which have limited my opportunities for canyon trips this year. The mahi and yellowfin go on the grill shortly
Reading the non NOAA tea leaves it seemed a bare 36 hour window existed for a little guy like me to sneak south and spend the night. Ignoring NOAA we left in a SW breeze Sun AM and hammered out at a bare 21 knots in a confused 3 with the odd 5 mixed in. Lots of time passed and by 12:30 we were fishing 10 miles north of the wall on a 70 -> 72 degree break in 3-4's.
I hate crowds so I picked a special spot of my own which was canyon deficient. It worked; 2 went down hard in 70 fathoms; one 60 pound yellow to the boat just on the warm side of the break. Further S in 100 fathoms we found 74-75 degree water; slicks and Skipjack's namesake everywhere. We also found FAC conditions; the tea leaves had in face showed a hole in the winds and we were in it.
With visions of sugar plum fairies and deep baits going wrrrrr we saved a couple skippies for the night. Working the deep we found a diffused weedline; a sort of pale yellowbrick road and followed it to the sun.
Whack, whack, wiz, wiz, the window washer came a knocking and we, or specifically I could not get it done. The white came in like a thief; stole one, then two ballyhoo and whacked at a couple lures. I got the pitch bait back and in its face; felt the pickup and turn; waited and ...was limp. I think the circle hook trick needs to stay in Mexico from this point forward.
Westwards and inshore again; 2 more 50-60 pound yellowfin amidst a horde of skippies and 20 pound blue marlin baits.
At sunset the school rose in a flashing horde; and 4 or 5 rods went down. We bridled up 2; one died, but one stayed live for 1/2 hr slow troll. No eyeballs were poked and at sunset we had one zippie and healthy blue/purple bait. Left to its own devices it sought 75' on its very own and we agreed that was a good place to swim.
We didn't want it to be lonely so rigged up one of Pomponsset's finest squid and dropped it down 100'. The squid was on its downward descent when the skipjack rod bounced once hard then nothing. 2 seconds later "i'm getting bit" and the squid rod started clicking much faster than drop speed. This is all with the sun down all of 10 minutes; lots and lots of light. We blew the hookup or the swordfish was small. When it all sorted out we had a dead skipjack with its throat and gills slashed like Jack the Ripper and a billed up squid rig with only a tube left. 0 for 1 on swordfish in 2009 but a pretty interesting experiment to keep in mind for future trips.
The night was awesome - FAC, warm and the Milky way and shooting stars to keep us company. We had a 20 pound bull mahi eat a flat line and hang by the transom. Till we gaffed him and he went ape.
I went to nap at 12:30 and woke up to my favorite canyon sound - screaming drag and and screaming crew - "we're getting spooled".
NOT! I got the boat going and after the fish; 2nd run then a deep dive; then the angler started to gain; he got back to the topshot; had the fish turned; when POP. Nothing. Leader forensics indicated the Mark of the Shark.
Just like the tea leaves suggested; the wind came out of the NE at 3:30; I started the troll at 4; had another 50 # yellow by 5; then was inundated by skipjack and baby yellows..
W/ the NE building I left the wall and bait at 7:30 and banged a troll north till 9; no fish on that troll; I had lost the bubble but was either smart or experienced enough to pick up and run at 9. By 11 I was passing the Fingers; right when 44008 reported NE 15 to 19 winds. Glassed out from the top of the Dump on home; fish in the box as well as a pretty good mix of action for the entire trip.
My last coffee at work was like 11am today.....but now READING your post ruined me for the night.....I've got the caffeine JITTERZ!!! LOL ~ wish I could see all that ACTION!
Damn- you made a lot of a narrow window- WTG!
Rich
nice job larry and crew, great read...the circle hook will work just give it time...whites are not the easiest bills to bait and hook.....have any extra skippies floating around, I could use them come friday and sat
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GREAT REPORT LARRY
