LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
NIKI'S FIRST YFT
DOUG'S FIRST YFT
gutted and ready for the bag
Back at the dock with a very happy Niki
Our ride for the day
My bounty, one of 3
I got a call from some old clients, a couple that I met on the Fishin Days, they booked a trip for Sunday with Jeff Quigley on the Island Girl, 30 ft express, out of Odens. Jeff doesn't have a mate on the boat does it all himself. They have been wanting to fish with me again so they asked Jeff if it would be alright if they brought their own mate, Jeff said sure. Apparently Sat didn't go well for Jeff. The crew said they were experienced, NOT, they went 1 for 3 on the yellow bellies. Sun morn off the dock at 6:00, its great fishing out of Hatteras, 20 miles to lines in. Jeff turned me loose to do the rigging. The BFT bite has been pretty good and all his rigs were set up for that. So we bust out the rigging bag and go to it. Short ride out and lines in within the hour. Was a long morning. Radio was silent a couple boats below us had a couple fish by noon. About 1200 the crew was getting a little discouraged when all the sunned it happened. RT FLAT, LT FLAT, BOTH SHORTS EVERYTHING DOWN AND THE WATER WAS EXPLODING, right on! 4 came tight and it was on. 2 anglers cappy at the wheel and I cleared the mess. What a drill. A few over and unders, let 2 stretch out kept 2 close, Niki was a trooper, she got the first one to the boat, stick and sling, take the rod from her and hand her another. She screamed I can't do another, I told her to just keep the slack out of the line and take it easy. Jeff kept all the lines tight While we slung #2 in the boat. I took that rod and shoved #4 in Doug's hands. Didn't take long and #3 doing the dance on the deck, what a bloody mess. I snatched #4 out of Nikis hands and put Doug on it and #4 was doing the dance of death, just right. Four for 4, just right. Hurry rerig and get back to it. The fish were funny, scattered schools on nothing, no temp break, bait just pop up at random. Well about an hour and a half later Jeff says something don't look right, we tangled the shotgun with the rt long. Crank em in, got the mess at the rod tip when out of the corner of my eye I see the rt flat bend over and start ripping, behind me the lt flat and the rest of what was out there fell like dominos. Three came tight, okey doke. Break out the knife and cut the mess loose. Niki in the chair Doug on the gunnel. Clear the gear and here we go. One tuna down, two tuna down Doug got #3 to the boat. I had dehooked the 2 on the deck and slid them to the other side of the boat to gaff #3, perfect stick in the head, luckily I had about 4 wraps, my hands were slimy so when I went to lift the fish the gaff slipped out of my hand into the water but stuck good in the fish so I just slung it in the boat. Three for 3. What a day 7 for 7 on the Yellow Bellies, perfect. That don't happen often. I want to give a big thanks to Doug and Niki for the invite and Jeff for letting me do what I love to do. I will post pics when I get them from Doug, it was a bloody mess, got to love it. If you feel up to it and want to get dirty and do the do I highly recommend getting up with Jeff for small boat fishing.
Looks Like I got a ride for the Big Rock. Guess Jeff was happy with my performance. He won the small boat category last year and has taken home a check the last 3 yrs.
Professional freelance mate available for charter, private commercial hire. Will travel.
Reply With Quote
!!
