Late Report from last Weekend Carteret Sword and yellowfin

[BlueH20Boss]

Hey guys...I just uploaded some pictures of our overnighter in the carteret last weekend. We had a very neat trip that included a nice swordfish that whooped on me for 2 hours.

-Broke GEI with everything but the kitchen sink at around noon on Saturday, heading for a spot in the Lindy that looked good on the shot from that morning. Beautiful ride out, with lots of life around the 50 line. We slowed up and trolled into the tip of the lindy from about 11 miles away, picking at some gaffer dolphin and raising a white that just smacked a few things around and took off. Our temp gauge was reading 99 degrees most of the way out, so after determining that was broken, we fiddled around with trying to bring it up on the main screen to no avail. Everyone around us was reading like 84 so we just went with a 15 degree difference and still managed to locate the break. We ended up moving into a nice pocket of water after trolling north into the deep of the Carteret, and set up with lots of bait around us. Ten minutes in the chunk one of the 50 wides went off and ten minutes later we boated a 50lb yellowfin.......I pat myself on the back for where we set up thinking it was going to be an 'on' night, but things went silent after that. I worked hard all night keeping things fresh, changing stuff up, netting squid, and fooling around with the boss's new electric reels. Later in the night, I rigged up a nice big trolling squid for a deep drop sword rig, and not more than 5 minutes after setting it at 135 yards deep, it bent over and I was sure we were on a nice sword. Unfortunately, the fish came unbuttoned after fighting him with the electric reel clutch (very very cool) and the bait came up without a mark on it. Re-rigged it and sent it back to the same area, where it sat all night untouched. Around 430am the entire charter was passed out, when my 150' deep tuna bait took off. I set this bait with a 10'' live squid and a glowstick close by, coupled to a 9/0 circle and 20' wind on 80lb floro leader (Clearly set up for a tuna fish not a big sword) Murphy's law held true, and I knew the fish was a good one. I opted to fight this fish myself (now i remember why I enjoy being a mate and LEADERING fish not angling them...talk about a pain in the ass haha!) I opted to fight it because I knew it was a good one, and most of the crew was asleep or groggy and I was not about the give up my second shot at a big fish for such a slow night. The fish worked me for 2 hours on a 50wide with 17lbs of drag, diving as deep as 250 yards, and coming up just out of sight of the boat. I couldn't help but thing it could have been a bigeye due to its behavior, and finally after a long wait that bright purple and silver glow appeared off the stern. The fish was very tired, but still had enough to make two more passes up the port side, and divebombing back under the corner coming dangerously close to the trim tabs. I was basically dead on my feet and my forearms did not have much left, and after a couple more cranks, my buddy paul stuck him off the stern, and we got a tail rope on him. Perfect hookset in the corner of the mouth, and not a knick on the entire leader!! When we yanked him onto the boat, we were guessing around 185lbs, but had nowhere to store him large enough, so we had to ice him on the deck in large contractor bags...(Guess you could call it a sanford and son body bag!) The fish stayed cold, but lost a lot of weight, weighing in a respectable 160lb at the scale. We finished off the trip raising 5 more whites that morning, and catching two. The water looked great, but those damn yellowfin were playing hide and seek again. Another boat I was talking to that night went 6 for 8 and caught one 50lb on a flounder pole which must have been fun!! Alright, Here are some pictures, and I hope all of you guys catch em up this weekend..I will be down in Topsail Island NC for the week! Until next time.

[clt_capt]

Nice report - good catch - even for a slow bite

[Ace1st]

Way to go guys! Cool pictures. Thanks for the report.

[marlin magnet]

Congratulations guys. Making Ocean City proud.

[Big Jay]

Nice work cap! We definitely saw you guys out there at one point. Remember the express without the tower. We were in the 305 albemarle.

[BlueH20Boss]

Thanks for the words fellas, it was a special catch for sure. Can't wait to get out again. I will be in Topsail Island all next week, anyone have any kayak fishing tips for the beach and back bay in the jet boat for flounder? Any of you NC guys are welcome to give me some tips! Can I catch a King mack in the surf there this time of year?