MHC BFT verses Military Operation

[fish doctor]

Well let me start out by saying this BFT season is a part of my life I will never forget and one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life. I have recently retired from the Military after 21 years of service and then serving again recently as a civilian in Darfur. I want to give special thanks to Captain Ken Mullen on the Swell Rider for taking me under his wing, and teaching me first hand how to Bluefin. We had a good season on the Swell Rider landing 4 slobs one of which cored out at 530lbs . Also thanks to allot of folks I met this season and who gave me tips for success, HC Canyon Mike & Tara, #1 Gaffman Shane, Crew of the Hooked up who helped Ken and I get the big one in the boat, The Box, The Crew of the Irie, The Lisa Marie, Fish Finder Joe Shute, Jason at Homers and Birdhunter.


In many ways going after the BFT is much like a military operation:

You have to plan, which includes gathering intelligence talking to your buddies on other boats, finding out what the other guy is doing and where the Run-Off is going to fish in the morning

You have to prepare your gear Pre Combat Inspections, stretch leaders

Gather supplies, fuel, water, bait, food, emergency items, your weapon is your rod & reel and your ammunition is a ballyhoo with some type of lure

Brief your plan to the crew: Do whatever the Captain says he is always right

Implement your plan

Load your mode of transportaion for insertion to the battlefield. Leave your base camp at O'dark 30 head to the LZ/Rally Point.

Begin your Combat Patrol with the Captain on point the Mate providing rear security and your spread enticing the enemy waiting for the ambush.

Once you have engaged the enemy (Hooked Up) several things must happen simultaneously just like in real combat, the adrenaline flows fast and there is allot of yelling

Contain your predator, gaff'em, spear'em, package them and evacuate the slob to the rear to turn over to the proper authorities, fast plane to Tokyo

Regroup, redistribute ammo and continue the mission searching for more slobs

Redeploy to base camp and get ready for the next mission

The danger element is definitely not to be taken lightly either you can get wounded or killed if your not careful. Just like real combat

And of course weather is always a factor

Well again thanks to all, it was a great experience, look forward to fishing with everyone in the future,

Tight Lines

God Bless America and Our Troops

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Cool writeup FishDoc! Very cool! Let me add one thing that I remember from this season...
The smell of the country fried chicken steak sizzling in FishDoc's kitchen. Make you wanna slap ya mamma for not knowin how to cook.

Congrats on a good season! It was nice to meet you.
Holwachagot

[fish doctor]

Our last day fishing Ken and I kept yelling "Holwachagot" all day, nice to have met you, firing up the grill today.

[#1Gaffman]

Awesome thread man.

Congrats on your Bluefin season. You guys worked hard and it showed at the end.

Now its time for you to catch a Blue marlin

[WAHOONBOX]

GREAT READ HERE DUDE! I HOPE IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF MANY MORE THREADS!

I HEARD THAT GAFFMAN WAS LABELED SGT SLAUGHTER...CARE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS?

[austin ensor]

cool thread!!! tooks like you had a good seasnon!

[swell rider]

It's always a good season when everyone makes it back safe. Thats been taught to me after 22 yrs of commercial fishing up in Alaska on the Bering Sea. I was getting frustrated after the first 4 fish I caught were short. I knew I knew how to catch um just were the hell were the big one's. Then 4 nice one's in a row 75,86,96.100 I'll take it we fished every fishable day except one or two needed some mental rest but we put our time in. Like I said in all my past post's what made this season is all the great people I met and will hopefully keep in touch with for years to come. As for now it's getting everything together for the charter season and the Commercial YFT, Wahoo and Mahi season. The Swell Rider will be operating full time out of Atlantic Beach and up to Hatteras out of Teach's Lair for the spring run of YFT. God I can't wait for the Blood to start flying. Capt. Ken Mullen


Swell Rider Sportfishing
www.swellriderfishing.com
910-233-1714
910-200-2502

[fish doctor]

Hey Box, yeah the #1 Gaffman was yelling at me like I was a Private on that first fish, it reminded of the basic training part of Full Metal Jacket, only the tables were turned the young bull was teaching and being the Drill Sergeant. See ya in the morning looking to learn some big boat stuff

[trollman]

that is a very cool read man. thanks for your service and your contributions here.

[Caveman Sportfishing]

Thanks again for sharing your experiences this past winter fishing for GBT.