All went pretty well on our Bahama run. Fishing was poradic but fair.
After leaving Cat Cay we popped a Blue and a sail on our way to Bimini. I was hoping that it would signal the start of something consistant. Guess it wasn't meant to be...
John Rogers, Ruggerdude and Scott Walsh joined me next. They drew a tuna bite the first afternoon that was almost intantly inhaled by what I would imagine to be a big mako as the run was pretty quick. We missed a sail and raised a blue that day and really had little else except cudas to keep us occupied.
The next three days resulted in raisning billfish each day, a few wahoo bites, a few missed mahis but some extrordinary yellowtailing. Among the visitors that we had slid through while doing that was a nice hog king mackeral and several ceros. A big horse eye jack off the dock was even bested by John.
Their last morning was rainy and windy. The baits hit the water and instantly we were in some nice gaffer dolphin. A nice clean shot at a marlin that we whiffed marked the end of their run but at least we had a good slug of mahi to send them home with.
The next group were Dan and Don. Two wild ones from Milwaukee. The came out of the gate smkin with a blue and a few mahi the first day. Don's new shoes needed some tread work as his arse blended with my deck three or four times that day. His pronounced hopping around every time we hooked up earned him the name "Bimini Cricket".
Each of their days they beat the heck out of mahi and tails with a white, a sail. a few ceros,a big fat amberjack and a 80lb class tarpon off the dock to boot. The dockmaster asked us to leave his "pets" alone after that. Playing hard at night and fishing hard all day had my mate hurting pretty good.
The next group was True Blue John, Two friends and Johns girl Cathy. They too had a good amout of mahi and missed a billfish the first day. Day two was supposed to be a bottom fishing run but the wind started puffing at close to thirty from the southwest threatening to close the cut. We missed a blue comming out of the gate but managed a nice fat yellowfin a few minutes later to make up for it. Cathy was at bat when the weather worsening was about to force me to call the day early. Then a beautiful white piled on the bird. Not as big as the Chub Monster but a good fish that would win most any of the northern tournaments in the 80lb class. My mate flew home that day.
The next day blew like hell and I sent the gang bonefishing for a few hours. I was hoping that they would just get a shot or two but they came back with 8 and 14 fish for each pair.!!! That afternoon we nailed a sail and mahi.
Then the weather really turned sour. 10' rollers had the channel getting out just about impassible. I tried a few inside spots for bottom fish with no luck then snuck through a break in the rollers to the back side of the reef where atleast we picked some cudas. Their last morning the rollers were now pushing 12-14' and we flagged the whole morning, opting instead to rent a golf cart and just enjoy Bimini.
As they left the next group landed. A split group consisting of two New Yorkers and a father-son pair from South Carolina. There was a hole in the breakers to get out of and we again slid to the back side. Thistime we trolled a couple nice yellowtails and a Black grouper to join the cudas. Something happens to ones judgement when cooped up in fishy country. The next morning we just decided to plow out into the big water. 8-10" and sloppy was the start and when we hooked a good blue I woke up and realized I couldnt maneuveragainst the conditions to get to the fish (Forward or BAck). So, I watched 600 yards of peremium Sufix melt off into the the stream and pull the hook when we reached the knot. A mahi was it for that day.
The next day offered up slightly better conditions but fishing was slow except for the tails and some big macks. The next provided even nicer conditions and we were rewarded with a nice 70-80lb yellowfin and a bot full of tails along with the usual cudas and macks. Their last morning proved to be similar to the John Rogers group with a hot bite of mahi and a final missed marlin.
So that was that. Running home this morning I had an oil line let go and it killed an engine about 40 miles out from home here. I'll find out the extent of the damage tomorrow.... Pics will follow...
Welcome Back! I will be in Miami the first week of May. Get that beast running so I can get a day offshore with you. Sounds like everyone had a great time fishing with you.
Well she's turning but slow. No clue as to what her problem is yet. 8 hours and only succeeded in finding where the oil leak was... The filter split! The little batteries that fit in the albemarle just dont have enough juice to crank her to where she can light up so tomorrow I'm going to try hammering her with an 8d...
I love fishing the Bahamas. Been doing it since I was a kid......Them tournaments in the Islands are top notch. We'll be fishing the Bert/Hat shootout this yr.....Just got word that team Black Bart took largest Blue (571 lb) in the first leg of BBC.
I'm on my way to the boat for the day, new generator,exhaust system, new shaft,props and the waterless shaft seals that are lubricated by an oil resevoir and underwater light. Almost ready!
Now that I am best friends with my diesel mechanic since the rebuilt Detroits and transmissions$$$$$, do you want me to get his opinion on your motor problems? Everyone will recommend new Yanmars but maybe he has some other way. Call me if you want to talk to him.
Ken,
I spent the day looking at the dumbest $%#*! mechanic on earth yesterday. He just kept trying to start it... I finally had to scream"It's broke dumb a$$!" Tear it apart and find whats broke!"
Well the dunce just gave me a blank stare. The manufacturer cut me a great deal on a new one with this one as a trade...No I gotta find someone competent to rip this one out so we can get underway. I don't get it. Working 7 days a week is something I have no problem but these primadonnas dont work weekends...
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
