SeaBiscuit fishing report September 23

[JMS-ILM]

ok i will attempt to recount the story of our surprise purple striped visitor......

anchored up over a promising looking spot, and had put a couple keeper red groupers in the box but the bite was slow. the current was backing into the wind and made anchoring precisely a challenge. so we werent right on top of the fish....they were down there and they were hungry we just could not get right. Biscoto put the light line out with a dead bait and as he was feeding it back, something ate half of it. put the another bait on and send it back. with the current and wind fighting like it was, the light line sunk down below the boat and was picked up by a small shark. i think the Biscuit was somewhat perturbed at this point. so he blows up a blue balloon attaches it to the leader and says to give him one of the prime live cigar minnows residing in the well. the baloon acts like a sail and gets the bait back from the boat, as did the strong swimming minnow attached to it. 10 mins go by without much action.

i had dropped my bottom rig down and was immediatly cleaned of bait by trash fish. i hear the clicker on the light line rod in the t-top give a quick zip and look back to see the balloon bob up and down. seconds later the fish come back for the scraps with, got stung by the hook and took off for bermuda. as the thin braided line ripped thru the water and the balloon shot across the surface, Kevin said it reminded him of the scene in "Jaws" when the fish was towing around the yellow barrels. the clicker is now wailing with all of about 2 lbs of drag pressure. i grabbed the rod and watched line melt off the spool. i was pretty sure we had a decent king mackeral on. the fish stayed up top and ran probably 150-200 yards off, then went a little deeper and just slugged it out. this led us to believe it might be a dreaded false albacore. after about 15 mins i was getting pissed about possibly wasting all this time on a silly little tunny. the 30 ft fluoro topshot broke the surface and i could see a long silver fish under the boat. ok, so its a nice king. the fish then headed towards the surface about 25 yards from the boat and stuck his purple head and scissor jaws out of the water as if to look at us. all kinds of hollering and grabbing for gaffs ensues. 30 seconds later Kevin sticks him perfectly and flops the whooped fish on the deck. the fish had one point of the two treble hooks in his lip, and when Kevin touched his pliers to the hook to pull it out, it fell right on the deck.....talk about lucky! all this from an anchored, dead boat.

i sure do hope this was a sign of whats to come in the following months. you just never know what critters roam inshore in the fall. looking forward to a busy next couple months....thanks to Biscoto once again on a trip to remember.

[slip slidin]

Back to back great days on the Seabiscuit. Congratulations on the first wahoo to hit the deck on the new Biscuit. Great stuff fellas. Congratulations on another fine catch. Great shot of the little trigger in his "mobile home". Never know what you're gonna run across on the water. I also hope that the wahoo bite is a sign of great things to come for the fall. Ya'll definitely got the first day of fall started off right. Slip.

[TriAngler]

When making a very long voyage, the anxiety of miles to be driven is quickly erased once those miles are in the rear view mirror and the anticipation of arrival takes its place.... And so it is with finding the catch after a long respite from the hunt. A day with friends aboard the Mare Biscotto is just the cure for nearly any thing that ails ya.

As if the bruise under my right arm is not testiment enough to a great day offshore, the pictures of fish and fishermen's smiles posted here against calm Carolina seas say it all - soundly punctuated with two 178 qt coolers brimming with limits of goobers and their assorted friends.

The Wahoo was a treat for sure. As Matt settled at the bow and retrieved line from the initial run the "King" made, Captain Nick and I just cleared the bottom rods in favor of watching the fight. A second and third run by the fish registered two thoughts - not a King? or What a King!... Handling the gaff on my side of the boat, I just made out the stripes when Matt ventured a peak over the gunwale and screamed WAHOOOOOO! Fish in the boat, we were amazed at how lightly he was hooked. Nice work, Matt. For those of you who love bottom digging - always take the time to drift a light line. You just never know who will come calling.

We always take time to visit the various flotsam and jetsam we encounter when moving from place. We are boys, and that is what boys do. There's always the possibility of a gaffer or two swimming beneath. And, there's just cool stuff out there. I wanted to collect the loose ball bouy to add to my pile in the garage, so we brought it aboard and were delighted with the stowaway surprise - two of them actually, as just around the corner from the trigger fish was a little crab who'd also taken up residence in this marine mobile home. COOL!

Now, some would have this fishing report end with tired bodies and a cooler heavy with the catch - but that would just be half the story. On arrival back at the hacienda, a well practiced and smoothly orchestrated game plan came to pass. Nick treating the Seabiscuit to a drink of fresh water to quench the salt and I cutting fish in the backyard, Little Biscuit arrived on the scene and put spark to fatwood. Soon the gentle flames of an expertly built hickory fire licked Wahoo loins and Grouper filets into tasty submission. All the while, Biskette kept watchfull eye from the kitchen window where salad and potatoes and (ahhh) chocolate chip pumpkin bread joined the show. We showered up as the repast was assembled and then sat down - today's version of the Biscuit family- joined hands and thanked our Father for the blessings.

Life is good, God is great - and my cup runs over and over. Thanks for taking me fishing boys.

K

[WAHOONBOX]

WOW...........COULD BE THE FIRST EVER QUAD AUTHORING OFA SFC EPIC !! I CALL THIS TOTAL TEAMWORK RIGHT DOWN TO FORK & PEN

[shoefish]

I don't know what I admore more- the fishing acumen of all of you guys or the respect and admiration that you guys have for the ocean and all of its wonders. It's just a joy to read your reports, and I always look forward to them with great anticipation.

[TriAngler]

5:30 and I'm headed home Panko coated grouper and hushpuppies in the deep fryer. Woooo hooo - may have to cook some field peas with fat back, too.