Sat/Sun West Atlantis report

[captkev]

Overnighted in West Atlantis Saturday/Sunday. Many thanks to TMack for the intel on the canyon and gear! Conditions were much sloppier than expected on the ride down, the evening troll, the overnight and in the AM, looks like the forecast was missed by 12 hours or so by every model that I looked at. Had a steady 3-4 foot breaking sea with a 15kt wind out of the NE on the overnight, in sharp contrast to the 2-3 ft, light and variable forecast that was predicted. Also had a wicked rainstorm along with thunder and lightning to add to the fun. However, glad we slugged it out as it proved to be another great canyon trip in mid-August. 65 lb yellowfin on the troll, rainbow squid bar with green machine stinger on the top of the wall, 150 lb sword on the overnight in the bottom of the canyon and nice mahi to 20 lbs off the flyers. Zero mahi on the troll, but they readily hit bait. Had a minor electrical issue with the boat on the overnight so at first light, with conditions still pretty sloppy, we headed for the barn. Decided that we weren't through fishing quite yet, so we picked at more mahi on the flyers that we came across, worked our way up to the lanes, and backed out of it for some pics and a quick hello to Mei Ying as they came across our bow. Figuring that we would be back on the dock at noon at the pace that we were running and since the seas had flattened out nicely, that was way too soon to end the trip. Lines back in, ballyhoo spread at the top of the lanes and the decision was made to troll till 11:30 and then head in. Right call. 20 minutes into the troll, out of the cockpit comes "Marlin!!" A white marlin zips across the spread, hits a ballyhoo on a gray chugger and puts on a fabulous ariel show. Pics taken and back over the side. Lines back in, two rods pop and back comes two ballyhoo halves, who knows. It's now 10:30, someone says it would be great to finish with a double. 11:10, two rods go down and a double bluefin come in, pics taken, one goes back over the side the other in the box, time check says 11:29. A perfect end. Great trip and a great crew!

[Reel Pursuit]

Damn nice job there , Kevin! Lotsa variety, gotta love that.

[keithj]

nice sword!

[Fishypantsmagoo]

Congrats on a solid trip! We fished The canyons over the weekend in the Big Game Battle.

6 yellowfin to 60#
1 mahi to 20#
3/3 white marlin

[BIGJAHOOTIE]

WAY TO GO ON SWORD, WAS THE BILL WEIRD, ANYWAY AWSOME

[Albatross32]

great job!!

[ChrisMa]

Thanks for the trip, Kevin

Glad I was able to be part of it.

We definitly stuck it out and made an epic trip even with alot against us.

Couldnt have been better..

[riggedandready]

Nice trip, thanks for the report! Hope to go Wednesday!

[soohos]

Thanks for the info on the way in , We saw a rip just north of the lanes and one fish break is that where you picked up the bft ? We had our tails between our legs after getting beat up all night . First time in 20 something years I got sick . Cant belive my brother in-law was able to stay up all night fighting getting sick and chunking all night to finnaly put a 60lb-er on the deck . We had a bite when we first set up , Then chafed one off at 230 , then picked up the yellow at 5 , he had 8 butter fish left then we were headed in .

good job on the extra fish on the way in thats how you make a trip !

I saw your lights go out and thought you had headed to the barn . I should have called over when you went dark but I was in survival mode .Got to love small boat canyon fishing with a crew of two and one is down for the count. Already looking for the "2ft smooth sea's with vairiable wind " that turns into 15kn north wind all night followed by 3-5ft 4 sec period .We thought we were in for a 8 hour ride home .

Both of us are always looking to get some more canyon exp. on a larger boat if anyone is looking for a couple deck chunkers


Derek
"Mei Ying "

[backman]

Nice trip Kevin - you have my respect for slugging it out in the deep V rock and roll hull. I've been through that type of "oh my god its not dying like ist supposed to" night enough times to know what it took to stay there and dig up the sword. Well done!

Thanks for the info on the way in , We saw a rip just north of the lanes and one fish break is that where you picked up the bft ? We had our tails between our legs after getting beat up all night . First time in 20 something years I got sick . Cant belive my brother in-law was able to stay up all night fighting getting sick and chunking all night to finnaly put a 60lb-er on the deck . We had a bite when we first set up , Then chafed one off at 230 , then picked up the yellow at 5 , he had 8 butter fish left then we were headed in .

good job on the extra fish on the way in thats how you make a trip !

I saw your lights go out and thought you had headed to the barn . I should have called over when you went dark but I was in survival mode .Got to love small boat canyon fishing with a crew of two and one is down for the count. Already looking for the "2ft smooth sea's with vairiable wind " that turns into 15kn north wind all night followed by 3-5ft 4 sec period .We thought we were in for a 8 hour ride home .

Both of us are always looking to get some more canyon exp. on a larger boat if anyone is looking for a couple deck chunkers


Derek
"Mei Ying "