9/4 the day of first’s…Left out of Charleston around 5:30am for some bottom about 25 miles out with one first timer friend of mine.
About half way out ran into a small pod of very friendly dolphins that put on quite a show for us first time I have been that close to them while in my boat.
The bottom we went to was infested with undersized bsb. We grew tired of releasing them. We decided based on a tip to move to red banks.
We decided to mix it up a little and try some trolling about 5 miles for the south on the way there.
Spread Deployed and about 30 mins later the planer rod gets creamed…i grab the rod as my buddy is clearing the other lines. the fish was taking line quick even with full drag on a 30w. Finally able to gain on him after we put the boat in neutral. Get a couple of quarter jumps ITS A MARLIN!!! First Ever. Line goes slack after less than 5 mins in the fight, broke the dang hook.
Red Banks had no bites with live baits on the bottom drifted a few times and packed it up and went back to y73 and loaded up on big b-liners. Caught a big cuda that gave us an aerial show.
9/5 slow day around Comanche and y73 few more b-liners lots of cut offs at Comanche, thinking big sharks since they were going through some steel leaders.
We must have caught 20 Little Tuny’s over the two days, most on lite tackle. They are fun.
Ride in wide open it was the calmest ocean I have ever been on.
CltDeerHunter. Don’t buy ****ty hooks. Esp for your home-run rig. My motto is you either pay for it up front (quality rigging/tackle) or you’ll pay for it in the end (Lost daymaker)…
Keep up the good work man!
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
CltDeerHunter. Don’t buy ****ty hooks. Esp for your home-run rig. My motto is you either pay for it up front (quality rigging/tackle) or you’ll pay for it in the end (Lost daymaker)…
Keep up the good work man!
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
I agree fully about tackle, I normally don’t skimp in that department. These were rigged ballyhoo I picked up frozen from west marine. I only picked up one pack because we were planning on only bottom fishing. I have never bought rigged ballyhoo but given the plan and inexperience of the crew I figured what the heck. Hooking the marlin was 100% luck. It was still worth it in the end getting to see it and fight it for a few mins. I don’t believe I have any tackle heavy enough to have landed the fish. It broke right at the barb making me think the hook set was shallow meaning I might have lost it regardless of the hook breaking.
CltDeerHunter. Don’t buy ****ty hooks. Esp for your home-run rig. My motto is you either pay for it up front (quality rigging/tackle) or you’ll pay for it in the end (Lost daymaker)…
Keep up the good work man!
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
I agree fully about tackle, I normally don’t skimp in that department. These were rigged ballyhoo I picked up frozen from west marine. I only picked up one pack because we were planning on only bottom fishing. I have never bought rigged ballyhoo but given the plan and inexperience of the crew I figured what the heck. Hooking the marlin was 100% luck. It was still worth it in the end getting to see it and fight it for a few mins. I don’t believe I have any tackle heavy enough to have landed the fish. It broke right at the barb making me think the hook set was shallow meaning I might have lost it regardless of the hook breaking.
2006 pioneer 197 SF 150 4s
Never say never! All you have to do is touch leader for a tag/release. Contrary to popular belief on these boards, you don’t have to pull a billfish in the boat for it to count as a release.
Check out something called a Cayman rig when you get the chance. Its similar to the walmart rig you have there and you can make a half-dozen or so in the offseason.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fis
The ocean is always nicer on the weekdays when the rest of us are working. I’m gonna have to start fishing Monday-Friday and working the weekend. Nice snapper
