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It was the kind of day when Mother Nature is going to drop her defenses, open her bountiful arms and invite you to come get what you can. So, the Verados were brought to life in complete darkness and we pointed the Southport toward blue water for her maiden Wahoo pursuit.
The Fair Curves of Southport
With faint assist from starlight we eased through the ever changing waters of Carolina Beach Inlet. One pair of eyes (JMS) on the port watching for the hill, another pair (SeaBiscuit) watching the shoals to starboard, and mine robbed of night vision, focused on the electronic breadcrumbs I had scattered along the channel the evening before. Clearing the sea bouy, we favored safety in the darkness and made 30 knots the first hour, then eased into a comfortable 45 or so with first light showing. 67 Miles later we deployed the spread about 7:15am, made one turn across the break and marked bait stacked up from the 190 ft bottom to about 100 ft - pocked with thick red arches on the fringe....
The planer rod dipped hard, Matt crank crank cranked - nope -dropped back a bunch, brought the line tight and then thumped it like a bass player auditioning for Seinfield - that did it....BANG we're tight with a good Hooski. Just then the right rigger made a nervous twitch, then another, then zzzzzzzzzzziiing we're doubled up with good fish - this one enticed by a Harrington "Natural". Nick says there's no feeling to match handlining a slob, Matt adds a little death from above - and voila - WAHOO-N-BOX. For a brief moment, I feel the lady southport relax - "ahhhh finally", she says.
Meanwhile the rigger fish is still burning drag. We come around to put some string back on the Formula and the water erupts - SAILFISH! Pushing 75lbs and good size for our area, this beauty came out of the water with her hat on backwards and running low, lit with purple and gold, she tailwalked from one horizon to the other. Turns out this fish was foul hooked just below the dorsal - and nearly dead by the time we could bring her alongside. Determined to do our best, "Keep her in the water!" patience paid off and after 20 minutes of swimming her along side, the colors came back and she paddled away to fight another day.
Now, you have to wonder how many Hoo bites we missed during the sailfish revival dance - but what a great feeling to release the Sail - with a gleam in her eye:
We find the bait again and quickly learn that approaching from the front porch gets us trashed by teenage Kings marauding on the high side of the break - but the back door, there we find hungry Wahoos. Some hungrier than others...
There he is! - on the planer rod again - this time manned by SueBee's dad John "JP" Pedrazzani - visiting from the North and hoping for his first Wahoo. The planer soon comes to and Matt and Nick team up once more to hand line and gaff - this time with Nick over the transom and standing in the splash well.
Now what happened next, well ....requires a bit of speculation. Who knows what makes a fish bite. Some would say it is pursuit of food...nothing more. Some would say it is a reaction to stimulus. Others have suggested it may even be territorial. But all of these theories are for a fish still in the water.
This fish came to the gaff okay...but grace was nowhere to be found when gaffer and gaffee came across the transom. In that split second, the hefty hoo with it's toothy grin seized the moment to eat Greek for breakfast - yielding to a primordial drive that would not be denied - the beast saw a Biscuit sammich and said - "I gots to have me one of these!" CHOMP
Our mission was blood on the boat - but it was supposed to be FISH blood - now we've got a bleedin' Biscotto coloring the scene, as well. Could've used a stitch or two - but a good soak in the brine and some gauze/tape would have to do. As for the why fish bite theories - I have a new one - their sense of fashion for fishing footware - as Gottafly would say, "What a crock!"
Busted again wearing the gayshoe...
Oh yeah - here's JP with his first Biter....I mean Wahoo. Nice job on the planer rod JP!
A couple more loops through the back door nets us another 40lb class Wahoo and one that came unbuttoned from the bridge pole on the WWB line.
Number three:
Feeling good with the bluewater bite and needing to get home at a reasonable time, we paused for a half dozen dinner plate sized (pun intended) trigger fish - and then put her in the wind for the home port.
One for the smoker and three for the grill:
Man - it's great to be alive. I'm just happy to be here.
OH - and as for that biter with a good sense of fashion? Well, turnabout is fair play, I always say!
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