Extreme Measures Amberjack Wrasslin Report 5-28-09

[French]

After a few days of king and spanish fishing at Bogue Inlet Pier, the weather broke for my Dad and I to wage a brief war with the local Amberjack population on "Beast Jr", Captain Brian Harrington's 25 foot Contender. The purpose of the trip was to put my Dad, whose only offshore fishing trips had resulted in big ugly skunks, on as many tackle busting bruiser fish, of any species, as possible until we couldn't take anymore. Our last attempt to inshore fish for Amberjacks as a family bonding excercise ended in the big ole ugly skunk, so I kept my fingers crossed. Nevertheless, we hoped for a weather window and went to bed with a small boat ride and mystery awaiting us.

Thursday morning turned out great great weather wise, and Captain Brian met us at the waterfront with a mischevious grin. I guess he knew that he was about to watch some punishment. We headed up the river in his 25 foot contender to net pogies. I spotted a batch and Captain Brian soon had the livewell stock full. We turned back towards the inlet for the bumpy 16 mile ride into the small SE swell. Even though it was pretty calm, that little boat with twin 150 Yamaha's going full blast made for a fun ride.

We pulled up to a live bottom that Captain Brian had marked, and there was not another boat in site. We marked fish close to the bottom, so I figured we would sink the pogies down and live bait for the amberjack or jig. Not so said the Captain. "Watch this."

First question was, "do you boys want to go light with the spinning tackle, or heavy with the conventional?" Against my better judgetment, I said spinning tackle and Dad agreed. Mistake number one was made, and we would never recover.

We each hooked a pogie through the back on a circle hook, and Captain Brian took about ten pogies and bounced them off the side of the boat into the water. Within 10 minutes, we had a HUGE school of 25-50lb amberjack swimming right on the surface right beside of the boat, almost like at an aquarium at feeding time. My biggest regret was, we should have alternated while the other recorded video and took pictures, but we were too excited. IT WAS ON!
<img src="http://www.sportfishermen.com/photos/data/500/AJ1.jpg" />

<img src="http://www.sportfishermen.com/photos/data/500/AJ2.jpg" />

<img src="http://www.sportfishermen.com/photos/data/500/AJ3.jpg" />

<img src="http://www.sportfishermen.com/photos/data/500/AJ4.jpg" />

These were just a few. We have some unreal video footage of the fish flying around the boat hitting the pogies. I will post the video as soon as I can get the DVR to cooperate with my desktop. When I do post the video, keep in mind, I am no Wahoonbox with the video camera.
As fast as you could put a bait in the water, you were hooked up. We even started playing games, like holding the bait just out of the water until the biggest one attacked it. It was a blitz like I had never seen before up that close. Within the first hour and a half, Dad had landed 13, and I had landed 11. I had soaked through my shirt, and was really huffing and puffing for air, and my back was absolutely throbbing. We took about a five minute break while Captain Brian tossed a few more pogies to the jacks, then we alternated two fish each before I cried "Uncle." I, very coyly said, "I think we got what we came for. Can we go try to catch a king now?" In fisherman's language, this was a clear white flag, a surrender of the lowest sort. I was whipped, and not too proud to admit it. When we left, the amberjacks followed the boat for about 100 yards. They still wanted to wrestle, but I took the countout.

I gave my dad a big hug, and we headed back inshore to some structure to try to find a big cobia or a king mackeral. King fishing in the previous weekends Swansboro Open was slow, and most of the cobia had moved north, so the change in plans was almost as much a chance to feel a cool breeze and take a rest as it was a chance to seriously fish. While slow trolling the pogies, a small cobia swam up that ate my bucktail, but we could not find any kings. At the bouys at the mouth of Beaufort Inlet, we found two more cobia (one big one), but they were lock jawed. We went back into port around 12:30, drenched in sweat, absolutely exhausted, but I was thrilled that in 2 hours, I was able to let my dad feel pullage that he had fished over 50 years to get. It was a pleasure to finish the day eating lunch with Captain Brian and the legendary Wahoonbox at BeachBumz Restaurant.

If you guys are looking for either an offshore big game adventure, or an inshore light tackle busting muscle tearing war with amberjack, cobia, red drum, or king mackerals, with a friendly FLEXIBLE captain and the hardest working first mate in the business, please check out Extreme Measures Sportfishing. http://www.extrememeasurescharters.com/ and off course, the Beast http://www.runoffsportfishing.com/


Thanks Brian and Marty for a great time. My dad and I will remember it for the rest of our lives.

Jonathan French

[calebw]

Sound like you had your fair share of pullage. By the way the pictures are not showing up.

[French]

[Dave Sikorski]

Great report and CONGRATS on a great day w/ dad.

Glad to hear Capt Brian hasn't changed since my last trip.

What's that funky Dennis Braid looking rod on the rocket launcher?

-D

[SeaBiscuit]

What's that funky Dennis Braid looking rod on the rocket launcher?

-D

That would be B's Dennis Braid stand up rod Dave

Congratulations French and dad on a day of world class pullage. More so on the quality father - son time.

SeaBiscuit

[WAHOONBOX]

GREAT FISHING REVIEW HERE FRENCHY...IT WAS NICE TO HAVE LUNCH WITH YOU AND YOUR DAD.....AND THANKS FOR THE COMP LUNCH!!!

[crappiekrazy]

Oh yeah, I've seen that grin many times. I think Brian gets more fun out of it than we do. Great report, thanks for sharing it with us.

[merry marlin]

Big boat or small boat, Capt B will always make sure you get a workout!!!
French, thanks for sharing that very productive short day on a beautiful ocean...
MM

[2kidsfishing]

It is always great to see a father-son fishing. Wore out biceps make the stories that much better. I pray that me and my sons have many years left fishing together like you. Great job guys! I know you had a great time with great people.

[BTH284]

Yep, caught those Jacks "right there" on that piece of bottom." "All you want"

Nice work glad you dad got some pullage and sore arms/back.