Wrightsville Beach Gulfstream Report---First Billfish Of The Year

**Squid** · 05-27-2008 07:22 PM

Yesterday I joined friends Stacy and his girlfriend Casey onboard Stacy's 23' Kencraft the "Timberwolf".
Ran across a very good edge inshore about 15 miles with a 3 degree break. Fearing that the edge would be full of mackerels, we steamed on out and threw them in around the 150 line.
Trolled for a while and saw no life.....go offshore and no life as well. The place was a desert. Started second guessing myself about bypassing the edge but from the radio talk it didn't sound like it was much hotter and sure enough, it was full of mackerels. (The guys who stayed with it managed to pull a few mahi's from it though.)
Finally had a wahoo aired out on the flat line only to cut the bait behind the hook.....drop back to him and he airs out behind my bait and lands on the opposite short rigger bait. Hooked him up and killed him in short order.
Trolled our way back inshore and found a very slow pick of mahi's along the way. Gaffers and flip-flops mixed up and in no real central location---spread out everywhere.
Around 3 or so we began to clean up to go home when the right short goes off. The reel only clicked about twice so I figured it was another flip-flop, I pushed the drag to full so I could skip him across the surface. Cleared the teaser and the fish came unbuttoned. Soon after the left flat is screaming, also only to come unhooked. Then the left short bends over and springs back straight. Ok, this sucks....figure we just got schooled by a bunch of mahi's.
Make the call then to head back home so we slow the boat to clear the lines. As soon as we pull the throttles back, the right flat begins screaming. I look back only to see the silhouette of a sailfish waving in the wind. Since Stacy had never caught one I put him on the rod. After a very short 5 minute fight he was beside the boat for a photo op. Brought him in for a very quick picture then fully revived and swam off strong. This was the first for Stacy but I assured him it would not be the last for the year.

All and all, a very slow day trolling but some great times spent with some great friends---wouldn't trade it for anything.