Extreme Measures Bottom Fishing MHC, NC 4/24

[Dave Sikorski]

After my Easter weekend trip on the Run-Off I was yearning for another trip down to Morehead City. The fish in the freezer was just about gone, so it was time for a little replenishing.

I couldn't find any buddies who wanted to make the ride south, but that wasn't going to change my mind. As Wednesday afternoon rolled around I packed the truck and headed down the road. With a little traffic in the mix I arrived to Marty's house in time for a fish taco and to meet "Shortfin" and his wife. It was good to sit around in BOX's war room and BS like I have many times before.

In standard big heart fashion, Marty told me to stay there for the night. Not that I got any sleep, I was anxious as can be. I was going bottom fishing with the Beast in the morning!!

5:00 seemed like it would never get there. After staring at the ceiling for what seemed like forever, my alarm finally rang. I made a little lunch, and headed to the dock. Brian was waiting at the Gulf Dock and after a little hold up by Morehead City's finest Bill arrived and we loaded up his rods and other tackle. Bill has been a long time client of Brian's, and the stories he had to tell were priceless.

We had all of the bait we needed, and headed straight for a cluster of dots on the GPS screen. The Contender made short work of the swell and chop and the fishfinder showed the "bottom love" we were looking for. After setting the anchor we sent a few baits to the bottom, and tap tap tap tapp aptpatpaptpatp.....A few nice sea bass hit the deck. Then a mess of Beeliners started to play, along with a few silver snappers and a keeper American Red!




Brian let us play with the little fish to get warmed and the non stop bites kept us pretty busy. The Beeliners proved to be very willing too cooperate, and a few more short Americans came to play before going back in the drink. It was non stop action, and there wasn't a moment all morning that at least one of us wasn't hooked up. Bill had a close encounter of the toothy kind nearly got REALLY personal with a smooth dogfish. He's gonna need a patch for his jeans, and right where it counts


Brian sent down the first grouper bait of the day, and in about 15 seconds he was hooked up.





It didn't take long, and I brought my first grouper over the rail.



Bill then got into the mix with a grouper of his own.



Brian started with some butterfly jigging, and it didn't take long for him to put a serious bend in that skinny shimano rod.



What ever it was made a few good runs, and the leader finally parted. Bill got bowed up pretty quickly too, and put a king in the boat.



We continued to pick away at the beeliners and had no problem finding enough grouper to play with to get our limit.



Before pulling anchor and moving to another spot to play Brian and Bill convinced me to send the butterfly jig down to the jacks we were marking below the boat.

On about the third drop, the rod bent over and I hung on for dear life.



That little rod and reel did just fine and after a decent fight a nice jack came over the rail.





What a friggin workout.

A skinny bluefish, a trigger, and a few more beeliners and bass kept us busy at spot number's 2 and 3, and as a rain squall pushed through, Bill and Brian hid under the t-top while I hooked into another jack on the butterfly jig.



I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

The day wore on with non stop pullage from snapper, bass and sharks, and we finally surrendered to time and headed for the barn.

The weather had laid down from the morning, and we made the run back at 35+knots as the Contender showed what it is made of.

We offloaded the cooler and cleaned fish until the sun went down.

It was about as good of a day on the water as I could have hoped. Non stop pullage, and nearly all were about as good as you can get for the table.

If you have room in your freezer and a strong back, you need to give Brian a call and get out for some pullage. The fishing is hot right now on the bottom, just make sure you eat your Wheaties.

-D

[Dave Sikorski]

WHAT A DAY!!

Do yourself a favor and drop Brian a line.

http://www.extrememeasurescharters.com/















Thanks Brian and Bill for one heck of a day!!

-D

[Squidnation]

Damn - thats just plain silly - great job dave and Brian.

[Shortfin]

Great pics and what a day !!!!

[Mako Wish]

Nice pile of B-liners and Groupers.... Congrats on the Blue one on Friday.... I saw the Run-Off with some MONSTER Mahi's yesterday... Capt. Brian has been a busy fish catchin machine this week....

[SeaBiscuit]

What a great bottom trip! Can't go wrong with brown and red from the NC bottom. Outstanding!
If I'm not mistaken there's an American red snapper hiding in one of those pictures. Don't know how B does it, but he finds them rascals just about every time. Now if only I could convince him to take me fishing for them sometime!
SeaBiscuit

[slip slidin]

Yeah baby! Great stuff Dave. Pretty work to all. What are you doin to that gag man? I wonder how Capt B likes that Calcutta 700?

[Dave Sikorski]

It's what that Gag did to me that was the problem. That was the last fish of the day for me and I could barely lift my arms.

Biscuit....I caught about 5 Americans that day.....Luck of the Polish?

Capt. B definitely knows how to find them.

-D

[brandon558]

outstanding stuff....nice report and great pics.

thanks for sharing man!

[extreme-measures]

Dave, as always it was a total pleasure having you aboard. It certainly was non stop action. " What do you want to catch next?........Yeah we can do that!" Looking forward to next time, hope your shoulder holds up Thanks again, Brian.