Hot Whiskey and dad, Howiecrom,and I left shem at 630 found the menhaden at the mouth of the creek, 2 throws, ~ 200 baits. Hit the approach bouys starting at #7 but only saw single and double AJ’s through the #2 bouy (which had large bait pod on it but we were already full). Last couple of weeks the bouys have had large schools of AJ’s, cuda, and a couple of cobia so we were suprised not to see anything, but there was a serious storm from 2-5am so maybe they went out/down.
Moved over to the 60 and again didn’t see much except a couple cuda. No spades, AJ’s, nothing. So, we set up a chum drift/troll with and got to watch a 12ft hammerhead circle for about 10 mins. Then the tide switched to incoming and things got interesting. Triple hookup on AJ’s and sure enough a big cobia follows the boat while we’re hooked up only to leave before we can get a shot.
Then, a small sailfish got in the wake. That’s right a sailfish at the 60! He came within 10 feet of the boat so easy to ID the fish, just tough to catch. Swatted at the menhadens, chased the plugs, and turned away from the fly at the last second but no hookup, just super cool to see.
I guess we chummed a bit too much cause the small sharks took over the scene. Went back to the bouys and found some AJ’s at #7,cuda at #8, AJ at #6, then large spanish and small kings at #4 so we set up a chum line again and 15 minutes later saw a large shark in the slick just before a line went off. The shark started chasing the cobia who practically jumped in the boat to get away. The shark then hit one of our menhadens and almost spooled the 40lb braid from the Sedona 8000 before spitting the hook. Cobia was 32in. so he went back (hopefully not to feed the shark).
Watching the anvil head build over C’town we were about to head in when a MAHI hit a menhaden right off the transom. Only a 10lb’er but Mahi at the #4 bouy? It was the only keeper of the day and right on time as we ran in between rain lines (pouring down 50 yards to stbd) and got the boat on the
quote:
Originally posted by miller470Oh, last week we cought a couple of cobia and I had a little leftover vodka from Bloody’s Sunday so I poured a splash on the gills and the fish settled down in about 5 seconds. Came in handy because that boat didn’t have a fishbox. I’ve had sailboat delivery skippers tell me it’s the way and it works. (I’d rather go by vodka than be beaten over the head) Humane and it keeps the blood to a minimum. Now I have a plastic handle of “rot gut” vodka for just such a situation.
Great trick with the vodka. Rum works just as well and lets you make mixed drinks for the ride home…makes the fish hemorrhage immediately and they die within a 30 seconds or so. I’m no peta fool but i prefer to kill them quick rather then let them suffocate and beat themselves up in the fish box. 
Congrats on a good day on the water!
It sounds like you guys are slow trolling menhaden, is that right?
right. we’ll pull up to the spot, drop the chum bag over the side and splash it around a couple of times while we drop freeline menhaden off the back and throw chuggers and swimming plugs. seems like the commotion sparks the curiosity of the fish and they’ll come right up (if there). if we don’t see a fish in a couple minutes, go to the next one. If we see fish and they don’t bite, we move on but come back later.
If the current is strong, I’ll keep the boat in gear just to stay near the structure so I guess that’s the slow troll. I’m trying alot of different stuff but I just don’t like pulling up the anchor so if I can avoid it I do.
I also hooked up an old blender bowl to a cordless drill to make chum, but it turns out you still have to cut the haden by hand first or the blender will clog. Any ■■■■■■■■ on cheap grinders will be great -or maybe just get a chum churn?
Going on Tuesday if anybody want to buddy boat to hit bouys, y-73, commanche, garden, and capers reef.
Mahi at #4 buoy is quite a rear.
GW 232 GULF Yam225
im more of an offshore fisher but trying to learn this closer to shore fishing. what do you mean number 4 bouy? is that in the shipping channel?
right, “c” bouy is the beginning of the Charleston Harbour Shipping Channel Approach Bouys. Then towards shore, there are sets, 1-2, 3-4, no #5 (anybody know why?)-6, etc with 17-18 just outside the rocks. usually a water color change about the #7 (40feet). My lingo reads #7 bouy is one of the approach bouys, then R2=rattlesnake, or R8=capers, etc.
There was a #5 buoy adrift a couple of weeks ago with a lot of dolphin under it. Buoy was tan.
Send lawyers, guns, and money - The poop has hit the fan.