LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
I know i know. I've been missing lol. Well in that time I've been moving forward in pursuit of a new career, trying to maintain grow my current business in the meantime, and FISHING!
My buddy and I always have this discussion about how we feel waking up 1am prior to a canyon trip. That feeling in the pit of your stomach. Nerves, the fact it's 1am, you're about to run in the dark, 70 miles out, 3 hours from land. Whether or not it's worth it or not is subjective to who you explain it to. On days like today...there is no debate. It 100% is.
I had the pleasure of running the boat with some outstanding individuals on Monday the 12th. Onboard I had one of my best friend's, another good friend, a Marine just returning from Afghanistan (also a good friend and brother of my best friend), and a good friend of his. My buddy had served in the Marine Infantry as a designated marksman. He was deployed for 6 months in Afghanistan, specifically Helmand Provence. He returns from leave in less than a week so we had to run it and get him out.
We broke Little Egg at 3am and were met with a little stiffer wind than expected. We took some spray as we pointed her S-SE to the edge. Chugged along in the dark. We reached just shy of the 100 line at about 0630 and went lines in. Just after setting the spread we had two knockdowns on the flats with Islander/Hoo combos. One leader came up slightly chaffed...Marlin. Rigged em and sent em back out. Moments later we had another knockdown on the right flat, then left flat goes down solid and we're hooked up. Thought tuna for a second then a nice white airs out. We put the Marine on her and we had a nice White Marlin release at about 0700.
Lines back out I climbed on the tower. I was looking for signs of Tuna on the feed. We trolled for maybe another 15 min. At 0800 on the dot I heard that sound...a rod getting knocked down. I quick turned...right flat islander/bally was knocked no taker. Marlin...again...had to be. I knew it was coming...I just didn't know exactly what the extent of "it" was we were about to experience. In a flash I saw the most absolute MONSTER Blue Marlin I've ever seen. She absolutely destroyed the left flat. Then with the islander/bally firmly set in her mouth she blasts a Sterling Tackle splash bar ripping the hook bait off.
The 50w starts screaming. By the time we cleared the lines we're down to 1/4 spool. I jump on the sticks and we're hotrodding. It looked like something from the Great Barrier Reef or Panama...not NJ. Her head came out of the water and we got an idea of the size. Water pouring over the transom we got some line back on her. Marine was on her initially. He surrendered the rod. Then it came back to him. An hour into her the reel handle broke. My buddy swapped it out.
Back in the game she went deep. Last thing I wanted. We didn't want to kill this fish but were hoping for some shots of her that would last a lifetime. Well it turned into a slugfest. We did all we could. I was pulling line onto the reel as the angler cranked. I took her at one point while my first mate worked the sticks in this "chess game". We estimate this fish at over 500 by a GOOD amount. Possibly 700-800. On the 50w with full drag she would get to the boat and then just seemingly walk away under 30+ lbs. of drag.
The swivel would touch the surface, I would reach, and she would go for the wheels everytime. Finally 2.5 hours into the battle...she got the best of us. We took a calculated risk and instead of spinning away from her clever antics and letting her take more line, we opted to try to get that leader. She got into the rudders and it was over. Crew went silent. All I could say was "Good job fellas...it was no one's fault". Boy I felt like crap.
Everything happens for a reason though... Back on the troll at 1130 (2.5 hours on that Marlin). Trolled for 15 min. or so when those glorious signs of tuna feeding arose. Tuna chicks, smell of fish in the air, and pods of Risso's swarmed the boat. Next thing we know 5 out of 7 rods get knocked down. 1 came unbuttoned but 4 met the gaff and hit the deck. Live weights were between 50-70 lbs.
We were all tired, beat up, and had some cleaning to do so we pointed her towards home at 1200 almost on the dot.
It was one of the most rewarding trips I've ever had the pleasure of running. We owe a great debt to the service men and women of our country. They face adversity, violence, and unimaginable hardship on foreign soil so we don't have to on the soil we call home. It was my pleasure to have everyone on board and was very glad we could put Shawn on the fish. Here are some photos from his deployment.
Finally here is the video i put together last night. Show's all the important and fun stuff from the trip that day.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by jaws
