2008 Pilgrimage to Harker's Island, NC

[SeaBiscuit]

Every fall for the past 12 years, a group of friends from all over converge on the southern most point of Harker's Island, NC. Fishing is the excuse, but brotherhood is the real draw. We each bring what we have. Boats, tackle, beer, venison, nuts, lots of beer, sunscreen and sea legs.

All daylight is spent on water, no matter the weather. North wind keeps us tight on the south facing beaches chasing kings. West & Southwest give us the nerves to cross the shoals on the beach and go east where there are 25 miles of coast rarely visited or fished by many.

Over the years we often had to deal with bad weather, but we always made the most of it. The unique coastal topography of the Cape Lookout region will give you a break even in the middle of a Hurricane, which observation, by the way, comes from personal experience. That may be one of the reasons why folks who make their living on and from the water (pirates, fishermen, boat builders and waterfowlers) have for centuries called the island home.

2008 was a fine weather year. North weather early in the week, variable during the middle part and Northeast again as the weekend arrived. Five great fishing days.
Following are my mental notes from those days, one day at a time. Many good friends came and went during the week. I am hoping that they too will contribute their memories and photos to this thread.

Friday, October 17.
With a cold front approaching, one crew (Julio, Fish Monger & the Beer mogul) decided to fish inshore, while another (Biscuit and Slip) wanted to give the east side one more try. Several near shore wahoo catches over the past few days, topped of by the 114 pound fish razorback already reported on, had us and half of Morehead city’s fleet dreaming of a special such fish of our own.
These big wahoos are caught each year between September and November within a few miles (5-20) off the east side beach. They are a by catch of the live bait king mackerel sport fishery which also peaks this time of year. There is one key requirement for a successful day of live baiting and that would be….. Fresh live bait!

"Looking bait"



After struggling in a mighty fashion trying to make bait on each of the two prior days, we knew that in order to catch the morning weather window out east, we’d have to make bait early. Extreme circumstances call for Extreme Measures. The good captain called Thursday evening at 9 to say that his Friday charter had canceled. He had the day off after working most, if not all of the days in August, September and first half of October. “Wanna ride?” I asked. “Bring your big net”













Bait was, obviously, made expeditiously and off to the East we rode on the Slip Slidin boat. Captain B was enjoying his day off, so he let me pick the place to fish and set up our 4 live bait spread. Arriving on the 1700 rock, we encountered only two big contenders fishing there, both of which were hooked up. With high expectations B and I put them out while Slip kept her on the bait marks. There was a bit of jockeying for position AWAY from the downrigger, but captain B proved smarter than me. Large amberjacks patrol every decent piece of bottom and wreck this time of year and they love live, light tackle fatbacks. On 20 lb test with 4 lbs of drag, reef donkeys can be quite the work out!

While settling into our slow troll rhythm, the downrigger bounced 4 times. Shark, shark, mystery fish that smoked the reel, but came unbuttoned having chaffed the leader a good 5-6 feet above the hooks and finally another smoking run, followed by a deep down slow and steady fight that had us all scratching our heads. Plenty of speed on the first run, but no subsequent runs, nor head shaking coupled with a lot of dead weight pulling. I resisted the temptation to crank the drag down on this fish and fought him steady. Glad I did.





Tail hooked smoker king of 30 plus pounds. Captain B handled him gently and send him off to grow into a tournament winner.

For the next couple of hours, we fished mostly on the famous Atlas tanker looking for some pelagics, as well as bottom fish. Slip drove the boat a bit too close to the wreck and then the following unfolded:
Big blow up on the medium shad knocked him out of the water and into the mouth of a fat gull that was waiting near by. A second blow up which looked like that famous video of the great white eating a bird gave the gull a heart attack as a 50 lb class amberjack ate the shad right out of the bird’s beak!

We did not get to enjoy our moment of laughter too long, as within seconds all 4 baits are off with the jack's gang mates. One in the holder and three fools cranking with the speedmasters nearly locked down and two thumbs on the spool. Talking about testing the tackle! One out of three made it to the boat and it would seem to me that that was one too many, but the Beast wanted to play. The school of jacks had stayed with the boat looking for more tasty treats to come, so the Beast obliged them. Heavy spinning rod with a 5/0 live bait hook and a nanny shad dangling just above the water’s surface. Brian would touch the water with the horrified shad and 3 or four jacks would break the surface trying to eat the thing 2 feet from the running Yamaha. He teased then in a very mean fashion, until he was clearly able to identify the gang leader, whom he proceeded to hook and land with heavy drag. When Brian is on a fish, you can trust that the tackle will be tested to the max. Glad my shit held up.



We tried bottom fishing around the wreck for a bit, catching one nice and very dark gag, before we decided to cut the day short in early afternoon to give the good captain a chance to spend a little precious time with the two special ladies in his life.



More to come later……
SeaBiscuit

[Sea Draggin]

Awesome Nick. Wish I had know you guys were around. I was just farting around down there myself on Friday with nothing to do. Back home now.

[WAHOONBOX]

WHAT A COOL READ.....AND RARE PICS OF THE BEAST TO BOOT........HE SHOULD BE DECLARED ILLEGAL WITH A CAST NET IN HIS GRIP

PONEYTAIL AND I SADLY MISSED THIS YEARS DINING ON THE DOCK EVENIG WITH BISCOTO, SLIP AND CREW ...I WAS IN A TREE AND SHE VISITING PARENTS

[gottaflylee]

Ahhhhh, what a great read with great pictures... I have been impatiently awaiting this report...well done guys
... Welcome home...

[merry marlin]

Thanks for the great report Nick, I bet Lil Biscuit has plenty of questions on your week. We'll have to plan an expedition with him soon...
Thanks for having me meet the rest of the Clan, I truly enjoyed our time together.
MM

[clt_capt]

Great report and sounds like an even better way to spend some time with family and friends

[Dave Sikorski]

Great report Nick.

I see a haircut has not been in the cards for the Capt.

Hanna is getting BIG!! wow.

I talked with Brian yesterday and it sounds like there is plenty of great fishing to be had right now.

Looks like life on the Slip Slidin is good indeed!

-D

[reelreturn]

Verrrry nice!!- look forward to more pictures and the rest of the story

[gradywhite273]

reads like a novel you just hate to put down, you want to turn the page, next chapter.... Outstanding stuff Mr Biscuit, purely outstanding.

[BOTTOM DWELLER]

Great report Nick, patiently awaiting the next days report! Anytime in the next few minutes is fine....