After being blown out on Sunday Hoop called Monday mid morning with a promising weather forcast for Tuesday . With some gentle proding and a little bullshiting he talked me into taking a day off to go . Did a little shifting of work schedules and had to work a little late monday night and the rest of the week but worth it for a shot at some late season BFT..
This trip was going to be a "return the favor trip" for Will (Get Reel). Will took hoop and I out for an increadable day of toggin on Sat. He put us on our limit of togs, most being in the 5 to 7 lb class but a few corker chins breaking 10 lbs. We were then going to take him and buddy Paul for a day of tuna fishing up on the bank on Sunday. We splashed on sunday in plymouth and as we poked our noses out around the gurnet we were met with a ugly NW wind and white topped 4' to 5's with a few bigger ones tossed in to add insult to injury.. That was not happening so we headed for the barn with out ever wetting a line.. Mission scrubbed
Now yesterday however was a completely different animal out there. Lite SW breeze bright sunny skies and 46 degrees at 5am makes for a perfect November day to go fishing in New England.
We met Will and Paul in Plymouth at 5AM splashed the boat and were headed out under the cover of darknness. Plan was to stop off the gurnet to see if we could put a few macks in the livewell for slow trolling. Mission Acomplished.
Hoop set a coarse for the SW corner and I went below and made up some liveing and slow trolling rigs for the macks.. 45 mins later we are on station with approx 30 other boats, 4 working boats, acres of birds, enought bait to feed thousands of tuna for weeks and alot of very hungry whales. It's all good.
We Set the riggers and deployed the 5 rod slow trolling spread including sluggos, live macks, diving plug.
Trolled among about 30 other boats with a few hooking up really early and saw 2 other boats hook up but no joy for us. After a few hours we finaly get our shot and the starboard long rigger goes pop FISH ON just as the reel starts to scream drag the Port long rigger pops but the fish never comes tight. Swing and a miss.
Hoop is at the helm, Paul and I are clearing rods, and Will is belted up and on the fish like white on rice. 20 min and the fish is at boat side. Paul has leader in hand and i am waiting for the gaff shot and POP Parted leader 12" from the hook. Clean break, no chaffing or curlie line just a clean break.
Heartbreaker for sure but that is the game. Leadered fish so we are 1 for 1 with a release not of our choice..
Reset the spread and trolled for hours without another sniff. Things just seemed to die except for the whale show which was worth the price of admission. I don't care how many times you see bubble feeding humpbacks it never gets old when it is up close and personal (Less then 100 feet away) Will got to smell Whale Breath
Saw a few familiar boats out there Working hard for thier clients, Capt. Dave (Relentless) and Capt. Dom Nice dusky Dom.
After watching the fleet pretty much break up on the SW corner by early afternoon and no good chatter on the radio we desided to make a 10 mile move to find some feeding fish. Pulled up and hoop ran us around the back side hopping for some feeding fish.. 20 mins later we are setting the spread which as become mostly meat. No sooner do we get the spread set the long starboard rigger goes off "FISH ON". Hoop is still at the helm and this time Will and i clear rods while Paul Belts in and gets on the fish. This fis is a little more fiesty and gives paul a workout for almost 40 mins. After the last parted leader we desided to get out the Poon.
We get this fish boat side i get leader in hand and Will Nails it hard in the gill plate but it doesnt stick. We are still hooked up so we swing it around for a second shot and will nails it again deep in the head. This time it sticks but as he is pulling it back to the boat the dart pulls again. Again we are still hooked up so paul was able to pull in to with in Gaff range and i got a hook into her.
A little stumbling and fumbling but this fish is hauled over the side and game over.. She tapped out at 58 1/2". 2 for 2. We tail roped her and droped her over the side for the bleeding and cooling while we cleaned the deck and reset the spread.
While setting one of the first long riggers i had a swing and a miss on a live mack while paying out line. Get the spread set and after 15 mins or so we desided to dress and pack the fish in the bag.. Hauled her back on baord and Will had the honors of cutting out the gill rakes and gutting her. We packed her full of ice, packed her in the bag and covered her with ice and zipped it up. @ 58 1/2 inched everything fit jin ther bag but the fork tail.. Shortly after getting the fish in the bag and cleand up we here that sound again POP ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ FISH ON #3
This time I take the helm, Will and Paul clear rods, and Hoop mans the rod. I gotta tell ya after that Battle with the 209 pound big eye this summer that went 1 hour on a 50VSW at 25lb's of drag Hoop is a different man. He made this cookie cutter 58" fish his ***** in less then 10 mins from the time he picked up the rod to the time it was released at boat side and we were resetting the spread..
Pretty sweet rod work there Hoop..
Well we reset the spread with hopes of getting 1 more hookup so everyone had a turn on the rod but daylight was burning and it didn't happen. I am very cool with not getting on the rod. As i told Hoop the day before it was my turn to be pit monkey and everyone else would be on the rod before me.. Hoop and I really wanted to hook Will and Paul up with a nice BFT this season. Will has had us out on his boat several times and is a great guy and fisherman. After 2 canyon runs and a some great toggin this was the least we could do..
Tally for the day was 1 kept at 58 1/2", 2 realease at boat side about the same size (Cookie cutters) and 2 swings and misses) We had a great weather window, warm and sunny skies, a whale show that people pay money to see, BFT Steaks For everyone, and the best crew of guys i could hope to fish with .. If this is the end of the season for me i can honestly say i am good for the season. Ending it on a high like this is all one can ask for..
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but thank you..
