Stradivarius v.s Atlantis. Fri- sun

**MermaidHunter** · 10-10-2011 08:27 AM

I got the chance to take a trip on this gorgeous vessel. Great boat even better crew of guys and the best calzone I think I've ever had. And we even caught fish, a lot of fish. Here are the highlights. Full reports and pics to follow.

Had a flat ride out and a perfect drift on Friday night. Sea state was perfect. Had two sword hookups. The first one ran and sounded on the starboard side then no joke 1.5 seconds later splashed up on the port side while tangling the line in the rudder. Fished stayed buttoned and we could take in line but we were rapped around the rudder. Mike had said that he wanted a sword and he was on this fish so we tried everything we possibly could to get her unwrapped. No happy ending the fish came unbuttoned and we have 200 yds of mono that is now chaffed to shit.

About an hour later something hits a whole butter fish about 30 ft deep. Doesn't run just kinda feels like nothing. Were thinking it's a mahi so I'm cranking away and whaaaam fish takes off splashes about 100 yds from the boat. All I hear for the next 15 mins is " it's a Ray" " cmon 75 yds to go" . Fish has me dancing back and forth across the transom. We see color and and becomes obvious its not a Ray. Swordfish on get the gaff, get the poon, the poons not set up theres no time. Gaff is sunk in one clean shot the swordie is on deck looking a little tired. We even got a free extra hook out of the deal because mr swordie had fought a battle once before and came out victorious. But he could not overcome the powers that surround stradivarius.

Saturday morning on the troll yellowfin were just jumping into the boat. 5 rods going off at once with 5 guys on deck and 11 lines out gets a little interesting. Went 4 for 5 on that one.

Other highlights, that I hope will be touched on in greater detail are

The best hooked mako ever

The ass man gaffer who is also a chunking machine

The spinach pepperoni calzone

Big f in marlin in the spread

Green machine that came back without a stinger( I think that was our wahoo shot)

Fishing 100 miles out and feeling like your in a hotel

There's more I'm just a little tired from cutting and vacuum sealing until 2 am. Will get pics up tonight. Rumor has it there's a video or two as well.

Thank you mike for the great trip. Boat was and is awesome. The company was fantastic. And the fish were biting. Stradivarius indeed does raise fish. Now I need to play catch up at work for the 2 days I missed.

**Fortunate One** · 10-10-2011 09:12 AM

Anthony talking about calzones, there was more junk food on board than Craig could deal with. I think his eating habits were changed for the worse.

It was a great trip. I'd post more but I have to get down to the boat and finish cleaning to "owners" standard.

We got the sword, but the marlin still eludes. I watched that marlin come in. I was in the tower looking back at the spread. It was a beast. That was by far the largest I've seen out there. It's just a matter of time before the hookup happens. I've had them come up into the exhaust tubes.

I believe I got some video on either my camera or Paul's camera. I'll check mine tonight.

I know when that wahoo shredded the lures. We were northeast of a head boat and the water was fishy. Next time I troll through that without a sniff, I'm going to switch the spread to something with wire and swimmers.

On the drift.

More tuna on the deck.

**Seaker** · 10-10-2011 09:48 AM

Great job knew just freakin knew I shoulda blown everything off

The Strad just brings em in...Nice work Cappy and Crew!!!!!!

**getreel** · 10-10-2011 11:06 AM

Great trip, great crew. I'm still cleaning fish. There are going to be some happy recipients of some fresh fish. The sushi rice is cooking. Now the next tough decision is wether to have swordfish, mako, tuna or mahi for dinner. The only thing missing from the selection is the wahoo. Next time...

PS - Bill we missed you onboard this trip, at least the Klondike bars made it.

Will

**On The Edge** · 10-10-2011 12:34 PM

Stradivarius is a fast, smooth beautiful boat that raises fish. Those qualities alone are a dangerous combo, add a good capt and crew and what you get is an unforgettable offshore experience. All that and a Klondike bar at 2 am in the pit. Does it get any better? I think not.

Cappy Bill was truly missed on this trip for sure. And I can only hope we did him proud in our attempt to fill the massive fish box that Stradivarius sports.

In my book 1 for 2 in one night on swords is really good, An easy limit of quality yellows is nothing to feel bad about (Even if we did drop a few), add to that a cooler full of Mahi and a mako, and seeing that massive marlin come up was in my opinion the highlight of the trip. That was a BIG ole blue girl that would have been nice to cross off the bucket list.
We will mug her next time. But we were able to get Mike a sword on his first season out with Stradivarius.

To Mike i can only say.
Thank you Sir. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you finally, and an honor to fish such a fine vessel, The craftman ship that went into her build is second to none, her amenities and equipment are first class all the way, and her fish raising abilities speak for themselves. I sincerely hope to be considered in future excursions.

**Captbillb** · 10-10-2011 01:04 PM

Mike, Will, John, and all,
Believe me, I'm sorry that I couldn't make this time around as there was little doubt in my mind that what actually transpired would match the expectations.
GOOD GOING!!! That's four trips to the 'Edge' with stellar results, and another 'first' for the STRADIVARIUS.
You can be sure that I'll be along if there's another trip in the near future.
There truly is something special about snacking on a Klondike Bar in the dead of night while plying the depths for the pelagics that roam there. Maybe that 'Good Mojo' works on the fish, as well