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Wow!!! How do you capture a day like this in one post...it took me a while to decide where to even share the day of billfish and offshore trolling, jigging, and dropping. Welcome to our world off NC.....Nov 20, 2010.
After asking no less than 15 people to join me offshore and getting negatory replies for reasons that included everything from surprise birthday parties to the football game in Chapel Hill, I was able to find a couple of fellow salty's to push offshore on Saturday. Tracking the weather pattern for the week we knew it was going to be BEAUTIFUL, the question was where to go and what to catch. With less crew than normal and Capt Wes itching to run the BERZERKER, we determined our course for the 5am Sat shove off. We loaded up Friday night with gear for trolling, jigging, and dropping and determined our plan of attack.. (I'll pause here and say that if you only fish one way, you are missing out. I have friends that only fish one style...that's ok if you only like your lovin' one way ..I say variety is the spice of life.) .
5am the boat hits the water and we're off....(Sorry CaptGorges, I tried to raise you at 5 am as we shoved off at the ramp.) Ride out of Masonboro was easy and soon after pointing toward the break, Shorty and I were settled into beanbags while Capt Wes dropped the hammer...easily made 33+knots in a slick ocean. At least that's what I was told...I was dreaming of the day that was about to unfold.
At 7:30 we were in our spot and I offered to take the wheel while Capt Wes put out his spread. (Quick note, Capt Wes has been planning his spread for a long time...he had to spend a few months away from fishing for work....needless to say, his planning paid off!!!)
While the last lines get set I steer offshore toward a nice ledge and one of the leaning post rods goes off....as I turn to the reel, out of the corner of my eye I see a jumper breach the water and quickly think to myself...”wow...nice wahoo sky bite!!!”....nope, it jumps again and “Sailfish, Sailfish, Sailfish!”. Time check...7:45am. Wesley grabs the rod and comes tight and Shorty clears the lines...we parallel the fish and then slowly circle it...Shorty takes the wheel and I grab the gloves, bring her alongside for a few quick pics and remove the hook for revival and release. 8am..release #1..
A quick Hi-5, and lines back in the water....work our spots a few more times hitting the same direction, same speed, same spread. By then I switch off the wheel and work back to the cockpit to admire a beautiful red, white, and blue islander Wes had rigged on the flat line..(GO USA!!!). Skipping like it deed it looked deadly. Barely got it through my mind when the clip pops.....I grab the reel and drop back....spool speeds up and I slowly slide up the drag............................FISH ON and another jumper!!!!!! Wesley and Shorty go back into action to clear lines and close the distance and at approximately 8:55, release #2!! “Hey Capt Wesley...how many sailfish flags you got?”....”None, they're hanging in my garage!!” Note to self....Flags in your garage do no good bro!!
We get 'em back out to work the area some more and see a Yellow Southport with a jumper behind it hooked up. The 2 man crew did well with what appeared to be a healthy release on the 3rd sail in a 1 mile diameter in less than 90 minutes.
After working the area a little while longer with no luck, we decided to pass some time until the 12:30 tide change by hitting some of our jigging spots while we wait for the wahoo bite to kick up. Heading a few miles over we pull up to some beautiful marks. As Wesley and Shorty bait up, I see some high marks and decide to be the first one to the bottom with a jig I had already set up. First drop of my new 300g Riley rod and HOOKED UP!! This fish felt like a small AJ....I got it's head up and on the way reeling it to the top it kicked REAL HARD and straight down like an AJ. But looking down, I could see tons of color way down deep and knew immediately that this was African Pompano...Good 'ol Shorty came to help me get it in the boat..estimated 35lbs.
After a few moves and the normal shorts and toss backs, I landed this Lionfish that got the stab and release...I know that they are supposedly great and I will hopefully have one of you smart guys with me to help clean it so I can enjoy it...for now, I'll say it, we're chicken. We added some Strawberry grouper to the box and then as a cherry to the day, Shorty caught this Queen trigger the size of a hubcap...that mean rims to those in the newer generation. Back at the ramp by 5:30.
Could not have asked for a better day off NC in November...then again, heard the Bluefin are here. I guess we could have landed one of those to close out the day.
Oh well, maybe next trip
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Originally Posted by Ponce
