Running Off to the East Side....

[Dave Sikorski]

I've always wanted to spend the night in the deep on the black boat out of MHC, and that dream came true last weekend.

Capt. Brian and I have discussed making the trip a number of times over the years and weather and schedules finally let it happen. With a great deal of excitement I headed south on Friday morning w/ Taylor. I guess my excitement transferred to my gas peddle, b/c I made it down in world record time, a little over 6 hrs to go 415 miles. The new bypass in Washington NC on rt 17 not only takes away the radar traps through town, it definitely makes the ride a lot easier.

Marty and Brian spent all day Thursday and Friday prepping the boat and their gear for a weekend of nothing but cranking and killing. I could tell they were equally excited as I was the half dozen times I called on the ride down.

Taylor and I met up with Justin to do our food shopping and get everything in order for the next day.

We arrived at the Run-Off at 4:45 and much to my surprise a familiar face from the past was waiting in the cockpit. John McGinty (OSeaD) rounded out the crew. Regs require a second captain on overnighters, so John got the call. Will(Pirates Pride)made the ride down from Greenville to celebrate his 21st b-day and help with the slaughter.

The fish had no idea what was headed their way as we cleared the inlet into a choppy southern sea. 180 degrees was out heading until the first change greeted us in 22 fathoms.

It wasn't long before the first gaffers and slingers of the trip had met the cold steel of the gaff, and the kill box full of ice.



After about 2 dz. fish hit the box, Capt B decided to work a little deeper and look for a wahoo or billfish bite. Unfortunately we got them both, but at the same time. I was on the bridge when Brian said we'd be getting a bite from something pointy any min, and sure enough there he was. A blue one hooked himself on the bridge pole and began taking drag like only a big marlin can.

Justin hopped in the chair and began cranking, while the rest of us cleared lines. Within 30 second or so the line had gone limp, and Justin brought in a cleanly cut piece of spectra mainline. As far as we could tell, the lure head slid up the wire on the marlins initial run, and a wahoo tried to have it for lunch, an all too often occurrence in toothy speedster land.

We snuck through the next break and picked up a few more mahi's, then had a white come up on the left flat. He snuck around the spread until Marty hooked him on the right long. Taylor jumped in the chair and the cranking began. Brian gently backed down on fish, and while Taylor's angling technique was less than stellar, I touched the leader and Box and I removed the hook and sent the broken billed whitey on his way.











..........

[clt_capt]

How big of a freezer did you have to buy? Sounds like an awesome trip.

[Dave Sikorski]

We finished the day picking off a few pars of gaffers, and about 2 hours before sundown we crossed to the east side.

Hopes were high as we shut down the engine and put down squid baits just before dinner. We were drifting along a nice grassy edge in 1000 fathoms, hoping for a sword.



As the sun finally set, a few mahi's entered the underwater lights, along with fliers and some baby sails. That pointy thing from Marty's other report also jumped in the boat, but nothing came along to play with the squid baits.

Capt. Brian made the decision to head back in before the morning so we could drop a few more squid baits and start trolling nice and early.

Before the run rose we had a sword slice a bait in half, and pulled a shark off at the surface, but it just wasn't to be during the dark of night.

Frying pan shoals was reporting gusts to 29 as the sun rose Sunday morning, but the weather out in the stream was nice and manageable. We once again went to work looking for a wahoo bite, but had to settle for mahi's once again.

Brian pulled us into a nice change in 50ish fathoms and we proceeded to box day 2's limit in no time. We had the dink rods out this time, and the fly rod was working just as well. With fish from 5-35lbs, you never knew what size you were going to tangle with next. By the end of the bite we even broke out the bow to try our hand at picking them off the teasers.

I didn't get as many pics as I would have hoped from day two, but I bet you can imagine the scene, one that is definitely familiar to the deck of the Run-Off.



With a box full of 2 days worth of mahi's and seas building, I requested that Brian find us a few bottom fish. He picked a spot 10 miles inshore from us, but not before deploying the Bahama Lure high speed gear.

It wasn't long before a 20 lb gaffer couldn't resist the lures, and joined us as Mahi number 80 for the trip.

While heading to the bottom spot we rigged up our spinning rods with some bottom rigs and proceeded to bail beeliners, sea bass, and triggers until in was time to go.

We were out of squid and just about out of energy when Brian pointed the bow to the hill. 36 hours on the black boat had taken it's toll on the anglers, and we all found a place to nap for the ride in.

I know Capt. Brian spent the whole trip in wishing we had killed a wahoo or 10, but we were all more than pleased with our box full of meat, and weekend full of fun.

Thanks again to Brian, Marty, and John for another GREAT adventure on the Run-Off.

See you next time.

-D

[Dave Sikorski]

600lbs of Mahi's hit the deck on this one Fred. I have plenty in the freezer, and my friends and family will be well fed for the next month of so.

-D

[Going Deep]

Damn fine write up along with some great actions shots.

Congrats to all that participated on what seemed like a great adventure to the blue water


You boys had some sore hands after all them fish were clean

[clt_capt]

600lbs of Mahi's hit the deck on this one Fred. I have plenty in the freezer, and my friends and family will be well fed for the next month of so.

-D

The line from Jaws goes "I think we're gonna need a bigger boat" - With Capt B and Marty, it should be "We're gonna a bigger dock"

[FLATLINER]

Damn Dave!! Great report!! I sure hope you like Mahi!!

[Agitated88]

Some very nice pictures to go along with one hell of a report. Thats Mahi Slaying 101 right there...damn!!!

[gottaflylee]

Sweet, now I see thet you have ruined Will and his dad is going to have to buy another boat...

Congrats on a great trip guys and Dave, next time I execpt to see some of the Bow action shots...slacker...

[liv2fish20]

Super Sweet Action!!!!


CONGRATS ON A GREAT TRIP



Ted