Late report but good story-Wahoo 4/24 Same Ole

[bigfishhooker]

Left early Friday the 24th on the Sails Call with Lesley of Extreme Logging fame and as we clear Masonboro Inlet, I do a quick check of the gear, I don't see the gaff..probably somewhere on Eastwood Rd. Now this day and week is a great moon cycle...I've got 4 wahoo citations in previous years during this time of April so I know right away this trip will be interesting.

We head on out making 35-36 knots on a slick calm ocean. Push off about 5 miles or so NE of the Same Ole and find a 2 deg break over some decent ledges. 8:00am 3 baits and a teaser out and the Plug goes off. I know instantly from the run and head shakes that it's a wahoo.

Lesley clears the teasers and takes the wheel. Few minutes later we see the Tiger stripes and know what we've got. Lesley looks at me and mutters something about "Spanish Fly". I get the fish close and he reaches for the tail and tries to lift it in. It shakes free...now really light on the drag, he goes back in the water and we get him close again. Les goes to grab the tail and the hoo shakes loose even harder. Now I'm getting a little worried...Lesley is pretty stout and I'm thinking if he hasn't gotten it, we might be screwed. The fish comes by one more time and Lesley puts the claws on him and heaves him in the boat, and then gets outta the way. Fish of course goes nutz in the cockpit as Lesley does a dance across the transom, then to the cooler, and back.

I manage to get him under the throat and shove him in the box and we both explode in laughter. Little did we know that we'd be doing a good size mahi the same way about 30 min later. We had a few Blackfin come unbuttoned on some cedar plugs as we tried for the Carolina Slam later in the morning. Hit a few jigging spots for good measure. As we got off the boat, Lesley reminded me that I might have hooked him, but it was he that actually caught this one. A heckuva day to remember.

I'm off to pick up 2 new gaffs today while the wind blows, but thought I would share.

[cblocal]

That's the way to show the Hoo who's boss.

[Ace1st]

Way to go.....I hate when that happens though! Thanks for the repoprt

[Fish Hard Fear Nothing]

Awesome story...we had good luck with wahoo then as well.

[seaphase]

that's a nice hoo