Slime on my biscuit

[SeaBiscuit]

Yesterday we saw a sail fish sunning on some weed patches, near some inshore ledges I like to fish. A plan was hatched to spend some mid day time there today to see if we could raise one.

Matt (JMS-ILM) moved up to first mate and designated angler for today. Leisurely start after a late breakfast. Spend time looking bait in the waterway. No luck. We decided to jig bait offshore. By lunch time we had 3 dozen nice cigar minnows and sardines. As we motored passed a couple of popular fishing spots, couldn't help but notice that the live baiters were busy fighting fish.

Slow trolling live bait is a Carolina tradition gone "global" with all these big money king mackerel tournaments. It is slow, boring, tedious, hot and messy. Unless.... Unless they are snappin'

One look at my bottom machine told me that the bait was shoaled up nice near my numbers. I could also see the green marks of gags holding tight to the steepest drops daring me to try them. No weed anywhere near, but what looked like a slight rip as well as the plentiful bait convince us to put them out. We were in 75 feet of deep green and clear water some 15 miles offshore.

15 minutes into the slow troll routine, my chart looks like a bird's nest around my numbers and boredom is already setting in. Matt hasn't done much of this kind of fishing, so he is alert and keeping an eye on the baits swimming just behind the boat. As I was making yet another turn, the long bait got to settle long enough to get blistered by what was certainly a king mackerel. OK first run on very light drag. I am now awake!

Matt settles in for the chase


This fish is staying deep, so we work to him and then away, trying to coax him to the surface. King tackle offers no margin for horsing a fish. 20 minutes and half a mile later, I am starting to wonder what's taking Matt so long. I see my fluoro top shop (20 -30 feet) knot, so I lean over to look. There 20 feet below the surface swims a slob! Matt says; "man, that's a big fish. My dad asked me to take him one for a fish fry". Easy 30 pounder. Off goes the king to yet another run only to tail whip & break the 30 lb fluorocarbon leader. Bummer! Matt is disappointed.

Looking for a little consolation, we drop the hook and try the gags. Slow, but we manage 3 quick ones, but only one keeper. My live bait survives a couple of minutes inside the grouper's house only to get violently eaten as I reel it back to the surface. Marks of suspended large single fish on my scope tell me there's more kings around but the light lines can't work as the current is backing into the wind hard. Up comes the hook and out go the live bait trolling rigs again. Nice king eats the medium bait within 5 minutes. This 20 lb class fish cooperates and is nearing the gaff within a few minutes. Swimming by the boat and only 10 feet or so away, he head-shakes and the # 6 treble hook pulls! Matt is starting to NOT like this live bait fishing crap! Until 5 minutes later that is. A pink skirted medium bait gets swirled at. As we both look at the commotion 30 feet away a nice king skies on that bait coming straight towards the transom. The first run was long this time.

Poor ******* blew himself out


We picked up and headed for home just as the afternoon breeze started up. We saw no sails, but in less than two hours on the spot we had some fast, large kingfish action and a gag to eat. Good afternoon with my friend Matt.

Cheers,
SeaBiscuit

[O-SEA-D]

That was an excellent report Nick. I really enjoyed reading it dude. Sounds like you and Matt had a great day of fishing.

Pretty work guys

[Proheat]

Very good report Nick!!!
How big can those kings get?

[unoyankeefan]

Nice catch guys.

[Deep C]

Now Nick... You have lived in the south long enough to know its not nice to say slime... They refer to it as "gravy"...
Pretty work...

[SeaBiscuit]

Very good report Nick!!!
How big can those kings get?

State record is 82 pounds, I believe Barry. World record 90 something from Puerto Rico. A 50 is big for NC. 30 and 40 pounders win most tournaments.
Nick

[shoefish]

Impressive job you guys... how'd the fish fry work out?

[hunt4fish]

Excellent read Biscuit,Glad you guys had a good day.

[indasan]

Been thinking about the sail chasing thing myself Nick. I didn't make it any further than Masonboro island all week, but the view on the 4th was anything but slow! Maybe that SW wind will stay off us long enough to slip off this week.

[worknot]

Excellent report as usual Nick.