Garone Custom Rods deep drop charter 6/15-18

[Garone Custom Rods]

Late report from the second of three 2.5 day deep drop charters aboard a non sponsor out of Point Pleasant. Everyone had a nice haul of fish with 14 different species caught including golden tile, blueline tile, rosefish, seabass, mahi, yellowfin tuna, mackerel, white hake, squirrel hake, silver eel, hammerhad shark, mako, snowy grouper, and northern grouper.

Day one had its highs and lows. We went down south to try and fish snags for snowy and northern grouper but all the spots we hit were almost barren. Great structure and tons of bait but the big boys just weren't home. Ralph Molinaro ended up with the only snowy grouper as well as the only northern grouper of the trip. Everyone else was busy catching big mackerel which later came in handy as great baits. About mid day we decided to make a move inshore to put some fish in the boat. We bounced around catching nice blueline tiles with some knucklehead seabass mixed in. While moving between spots we had some lines out the back and had a nice bonus going 4-4 on yellowfin tuna from just over legal size up to about 40#. We tried another snag at the end of the day but again nobody we were looking for was home except a few big blue line tiles and a nice hammerhead released boatside by Robert Wheeler.

Once we lost the light it was time to make a steam three hours north. Everyone got some rest and when the boat stopped a few guys set up for swords and sharks. Overnight one angler went 0-2 on swords loosing one to a pulled hook and the other chaffing the leader both at color. He also fought a hammerhead to the boat before we cut the leader. Later on just around first light Ross Dale hooked and landed a 100# mako which made some nice steaks.

Day two we started out shallow because the wind had picked up. We had a nice pick of small to medium sized goldens with flurries of 3-5 fish on at a time. As the day wore on we bounced around and found some nicer 5-15# goldens. Unfortunately the conditions kept us out of the deep until the last couple hours of the trip. On our way to the last area we had another shot of yellowfins this time going 3-3 on nicer 50-60# fish. When we arrived in the deep we had a pick of 5-10# goldens and a few rosefish but on the next drift Captain Jeff had us dialed in on the fish. The next couple drifts we had 2-5 fish on most of the time with some double headers, big rosefish and nicer goldens up to 25#. I landed a nice fat 20# the second to last drift and was lucky enough to land the pool fish literally as time ran out on our final drift which weighed between 36-37# on the hand held digital.

Thanks so much to everyone who came as well as Captain Jeff, Captain John, along with makes Dominic, John, and Maria in the Galley for helping to make this such an enjoyable trip. I can't wait to do it again in a few weeks!

Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Southbound!







Me and Ralphs haul halfway through day one



Tuna!





Andre had the hot hand with tuna going 2-2!






Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes, this time I found 2!

[Tunarun]

I enjoyed your report and photos! Thanks for sharing them with all of us. I also recognized that fellow reeling left handed that and the grip gave his identity away. His shirt looks dry too. lol Dennis

[PAFireGuy]

Very nice Mike.
Hope to get out with you on one of these trips.

[MVP]

Great report Mike. How does it work with tuna caught.
Whos tuna gear are they using
Are they split evenly or does person who caught them keep them

[SaltLife1980]

Great report and nice work Mike!

[hartattack]

Nice

[Garone Custom Rods]

Originally Posted by MVP

Great report Mike. How does it work with tuna caught.
Whos tuna gear are they using
Are they split evenly or does person who caught them keep them

Guys brought trolling gear. I am not sure how the Voyager usually does it with fish on the troll but this time guys who caught kept their fish.

[bunker dunker]

great trip!!!!!!!congrats to all.

[Garone Custom Rods]

Originally Posted by Tunarun

I enjoyed your report and photos! Thanks for sharing them with all of us. I also recognized that fellow reeling left handed that and the grip gave his identity away. His shirt looks dry too. lol Dennis

Dennis Ralph's sweat glands were well behaved on this trip!