Ol Pedro
10-15-2023, 09:53 AM
We shoved off at 3 pm to light winds and and a smallish swell. We made one unproductive stop and off to the elbow we went. I counted 11 lights in the distance as we anchored up by our selves. The wind/swell made it a little hard to fish with the lines running from 20degrees off the port to straight back to 30 degrees starboard then straight down. We had quite a barn dance for a while. The first fish hit the deck around 10 pm. We had shots of fish throughout the night . We caught lots of Squid after midnight with 2 customers filling a few gallon bags for supper. As dawn approached the wind started to die and the seas lied down. We had around 20 Yellowfin on ice from 25 to mid 60lbs when we pulled the pick. Capt. Mike took us to the weather buoy for a shot at Mahi/Jacks/ Tunas. By now the ocean was glass slick with no wind. We caught some Amaco Jacks and chunned heavy as we slowly drifted. Had a double on and lost both . Landed a single that took out half of the rods on the port side. We started to put some fish on the deck and had one going on heavy gear on the starboard bow when the fish went nuts. It broke off as we watched the biggest MAKO that I have ever seen in the Atlantic break the surface and swim down the side of the boat. That was better than the Whales last week and is one of my top ten things that I have ever seen on the water. Well that ended our bite so we headed for port with the Jamaica pulling in to the buoy as we left. We were running towards the clouds as the wind increased. Laid down for a nap when it was still calm and slept a couple hours ! I was awakened by bumpy seas as we steared into the storm. We backed into the slip with no time to lose. We loined/collered fish at the dock in the rain. Seems to be a common theme for us this season. We are truly blessed to have fish to cut. Our final score was 27 Yellowfin, 10 Jacks, and 1 small Mahi.
We caught on Butterfish, Sardines, and live Squid. I was disappointed that we didn't catch more on Squid as we had plenty left . No jig fish not that we didn't try. 80 lb leader was the ticket and I wish that more of our customers would spool up with it. We lost way too many fish to the wrong tackle. The tackle train wreck of the trip happened when a customer hooked up with a mooching rod and 50lb line. Hats off to Capt. Walt , Jay, and K Pop for risking unwanted piercings and finger snares to get that fish. They should have mounted that wad of death and put it in the cabin with a warning , don't bring a spoon to a machete duel. We had 2 gentlemen show up with 2 matching Accurate jigging reels with 5' rods. They asked to be rigged up for bait. We couldn't do it without wasting most of their braid. We put short top shots on and rigged their jigs. I got them 2 proper bait rigs.(my rods have caught at least 12 fish and I haven't fished!!!). They never touched their new toys. We also had new reel seize after one fish. The sales persons who sold this totally wrong stuff should be ashamed of themselves. If your not sure what to bring than rent from the boat. It was a well timed trip with a great group of people.
We caught on Butterfish, Sardines, and live Squid. I was disappointed that we didn't catch more on Squid as we had plenty left . No jig fish not that we didn't try. 80 lb leader was the ticket and I wish that more of our customers would spool up with it. We lost way too many fish to the wrong tackle. The tackle train wreck of the trip happened when a customer hooked up with a mooching rod and 50lb line. Hats off to Capt. Walt , Jay, and K Pop for risking unwanted piercings and finger snares to get that fish. They should have mounted that wad of death and put it in the cabin with a warning , don't bring a spoon to a machete duel. We had 2 gentlemen show up with 2 matching Accurate jigging reels with 5' rods. They asked to be rigged up for bait. We couldn't do it without wasting most of their braid. We put short top shots on and rigged their jigs. I got them 2 proper bait rigs.(my rods have caught at least 12 fish and I haven't fished!!!). They never touched their new toys. We also had new reel seize after one fish. The sales persons who sold this totally wrong stuff should be ashamed of themselves. If your not sure what to bring than rent from the boat. It was a well timed trip with a great group of people.